Tigray was the centre of a devastating two-year war that pitted the TPLF against Ethiopia’s federal army.
Published On 6 Nov 20256 Nov 2025
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Ethiopia’s Afar region has accused forces from neighbouring Tigray of crossing into its territory, seizing several villages and attacking civilians, in what it called a breach of the 2022 peace deal that ended the war in northern Ethiopia.
Between 2020 and 2022, Tigray was the centre of a devastating two-year war that pitted the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) against Ethiopia’s federal army and left at least 600,000 people dead, according to the African Union.
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In a statement released late on Wednesday, Afar authorities said TPLF fighters “entered Afar territory by force today”.
The group, which governs the Tigray region, was accused of “controlling six villages and bombing civilians with mortars”. Officials did not provide details on casualties.
“The TPLF learns nothing from its mistakes,” the Afar administration said, condemning what it described as “acts of terror”.
The conflict earlier this decade also spread into neighbouring Ethiopian regions, including Afar, whose forces fought alongside federal troops.
According to Afar’s latest statement, Tigrayan forces attacked the Megale district in the northwest of the region “with heavy weapons fire on civilian herders”.
The authorities warned that if the TPLF “does not immediately cease its actions, the Afar Regional Administration will assume its defensive duty to protect itself against any external attack”.
The renewed fighting, they said, “openly destroys the Pretoria peace agreement”, referring to the deal signed in November 2022 between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigrayan leaders, which ended two years of bloodshed.
While the fragile peace had largely held, tensions between Addis Ababa and the TPLF have deepened in recent months. The party, which dominated Ethiopian politics from 1991 to 2018, was officially removed from the country’s list of political parties in May amid internal divisions and growing mistrust from the federal government.
Federal officials have also accused the TPLF of re-establishing ties with neighbouring Eritrea, a country with a long and uneasy history with Ethiopia. Eritrea, once an Italian colony and later an Ethiopian province, fought a bloody independence war before gaining statehood in 1993.
A subsequent border war between the two nations from 1998 to 2000 killed tens of thousands. When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, he signed a landmark peace deal with Eritrea, but relations have soured again since the end of the Tigray conflict.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s skeptical questioning of former President Donald Trump’s global tariffs has fueled speculation that his trade measures may be struck down, potentially upending the already fragile trade landscape.
The case centers on Trump’s use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs on imports. The law grants presidents broad authority to regulate trade during national emergencies but makes no mention of tariffs, raising constitutional questions about the limits of executive power.
During oral arguments on Wednesday, justices across the ideological spectrum except Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas appeared doubtful that Trump had legal authority to levy such blanket global tariffs.
Trade experts now warn that if the court invalidates Trump’s tariff policy, it could trigger a new wave of economic uncertainty, as the administration is expected to pivot quickly to other trade laws to reimpose duties.
Why It Matters
The outcome of this case could reshape U.S. trade policy for years. Businesses have paid over $100 billion in IEEPA-related tariffs since 2025, and a ruling against Trump could open a complex refund battle or force the White House to seek alternative legal pathways for its protectionist agenda.
Corporate leaders, already weary of erratic trade shifts, say a ruling either way offers little stability. “Even if it goes against IEEPA, the uncertainty still continues,” said David Young of the Conference Board, who briefed dozens of CEOs after the hearing.
Trump Administration: Faces potential legal defeat but can pivot to Section 232 (Trade Expansion Act of 1962) or Section 122 (Trade Act of 1974), both of which allow temporary or national security-based tariffs.
U.S. Supreme Court: Balancing presidential powers with statutory limits on trade actions.
Businesses & Importers: Risk being caught in regulatory limbo over refunds and future duties.
Federal Reserve: Monitoring potential economic fallout from prolonged trade instability.
Refunds Could Get “Messy”
Justice Amy Coney Barrett raised concerns about how refund claims would be handled if the tariffs are ruled illegal, calling it “a mess” for courts to manage. Lawyer Neal Katyal, representing five small businesses challenging the tariffs, said only those firms would automatically receive refunds, while others must file administrative protests a process that could take up to a year.
Customs lawyer Joseph Spraragen added that if the court orders refunds, the Customs and Border Protection’s automated system could process them, but he warned, “The administration is not going to be eager to just roll over and give refunds.”
Economic and Policy Repercussions
Analysts expect the administration to rely on alternative statutes if IEEPA tariffs are overturned. However, implementing new duties under those laws could be slow and bureaucratic, potentially delaying trade certainty until 2026.
Natixis economist Christopher Hodge said such a ruling would be only a “temporary setback” for Trump’s trade agenda, predicting renewed tariff rounds or trade negotiations in the coming year.
Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran warned the uncertainty could act as a drag on economic growth, though it might also prompt looser monetary policy if trade instability dampens business confidence.
What’s Next
A Supreme Court ruling is expected in early 2026, leaving companies in limbo over the future of U.S. tariff policy. If Trump’s powers under IEEPA are curtailed, analysts expect a new wave of trade maneuvers potentially invoking national security provisions to maintain his “America First” economic approach, prolonging the climate of global trade unpredictability.
Nov. 5 (UPI) — ADP reported Wednesday that jobs growth for October provided better insight after fears of further decline after September’s report.
Some 42,000 jobs were added over the month in companies with at least 250 workers following September’s drop of around 29,000, according to Automatic Data Processing Inc. However, a revision showed 3,000 fewer jobs in September.
“Private employers added jobs in October for the first time since July, but hiring was modest relative to what we reported earlier this year,” said Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist.
ADP data showed that small business lost around 34,000 employees.
“Meanwhile, pay growth has been largely flat for more than a year, indicating that shifts in supply and demand are balanced,” Richardson said in a release.
Job categories in utility, transpiration and trade gained 47,000, which offset losses in other job areas. In addition, around 26,000 jobs were added in health and education services with 11,000 in finance.
A decline in some 17,000 roles in the area of information services was seen despite the ongoing boom in the artificial intelligence industry.
But the manufacturing sector continues to struggle in the growing aftermath of tax-like tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in his bid to revive American manufacturing jobs.
Small business account for three of every four U.S. jobs, according to ADP.
ADP’s chief economist stated the shift away from growth in small business is noteworthy.
“While big companies make headlines, small companies drive hiring,” Richardson told CNBC.
“So to see that weakness at the small company level is still a concern, and I think that’s one of the reasons why the recovery has been so tepid.”
The payroll processing giant reported an average monthly growth of 60,000 jobs a month for the first half of the year, but that figure showed a decline in the year’s second half.
The historic ongoing shutdown by the Republican-controlled federal government resulted in a suspension in data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which typically is at the forefront of detailed job data. In addition, a temporary stop in SNAP benefits is poised to heighten food insecurity in the United States.
Alan Carr has fled the UK ahead of the final of The Celebrity Traitors, as he’s convinced he’s the ‘most hated man in the country’ after killing off his co-stars
Paul Robins News Editor and Mia O’Hare Senior Showbiz Reporter
17:39, 02 Nov 2025
Alan Carr has decided to leave the UK before the Celebrity Traitors final(Image: BBC)
Alan Carr has fled the country before The Celebrity Traitors finale, declaring: “I’m the most hated man in the UK.” The comedian brutally eliminated beloved actress Celia Imrie in full view during Thursday night’s episode, and revealed his backstabbing antics on the programme have left him deeply unpopular.
Nevertheless, the 49-year-old confesses he reckons his fellow celebrities are “thick” for failing to spot his obvious eliminations. Chatting whilst taking his nephew and niece to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Alan said: “That’s why I’m in America.
“I’m the most hated man in the UK. I’ve had to come here to Orlando to get away from it all – everyone hates me. My Christmas card list is getting smaller and smaller.”, reports the Daily Star.
Yet he reckons his showbiz mates should have spotted his blatant murders – particularly as he struggles to hide his reactions. Speaking to Heart radio in Orlando, Alan – who also eliminated his mate Paloma Faith on the programme – added: “I’ve got loads of celebrity friends, but are they thick?
“I’m giggling when people are murdered. When they don’t come down for breakfast, I just stick cheese in my mouth.” He went on: “It’s stressful murdering every day… I’m getting a taste for it.”
Fellow Traitor Cat Burns, 25, confesses the spotlight is all “a bit mad” and revealed she is managing it by “mainly just staying at home”. Meanwhile, recently eliminated star Kate Garraway has backed Alan to triumph in the competition.
The Good Morning Britain host declared: “I think he’s going to win. I don’t know. I’m going to say it now.” She revealed that his strategy has been to burst into fits of laughter during loyalty challenges, particularly whilst playing a round where contestants had to share two truths and one falsehood.
She explained: “The flaw in the plan was everybody slightly flickered, their eyes changed so when you say ‘are you a mother of five’ they just go yes because they’re relaxed about that. But on every single one Alan looked guilty, even on the ones that were true.
“So therefore I think his thing is that he looks guilty and the more he mucks up and the more he sweats and the more he can’t get out loud ‘I’m a Faithful’, then the more it plays in to ‘Alan’s just being Alan’. And I think that’s going to be the genius.”
The Celebrity Traitors finale broadcasts on Thursday at 9pm on BBC One.
As the Netherlands gears up for a snap parliamentary election on October 29, less than halfway through parliament’s usual four-year term following the collapse of the ruling coalition, the likelihood of another win for the country’s far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) is mounting.
An outright win is next to impossible. The Netherlands has always had a coalition government formed by a minimum of two parties due to its proportional representation electoral system, under which seats in parliament are awarded to parties in proportion to the number of votes they win.
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The PVV, headed by Geert Wilders, also won the most votes in the last election in November 2023. It then partnered with three other far-right parties – the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), New Social Contract (NSC), and the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) – to form a coalition government.
But in June, PVV made a dramatic exit from the coalition government over a disagreement on immigration policy. PVV had wanted to introduce a stricter asylum policy that included closing borders to new asylum seekers and deporting dual nationals convicted of crimes, but the other parties demanded further discussions.
In a dramatic move, Wilders took to X to announce that the failure by other parties to agree to PVV’s plans meant it would leave the coalition.
Coalition partners slammed this decision and accused Wilders of being driven by self-interest. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz said at the time that Wilders “chooses his own ego and his own interests. I am astonished. He throws away the chance for a right-wing policy”.
Following the pull-out, Prime Minister Dick Schoof – an independent – announced that he would resign and a snap election would be held this month.
Then, in August, the NSC’s Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp also resigned after he failed to secure support for new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza and the humanitarian situation in Gaza City. In solidarity with Veldkamp, other NSC party members left the coalition, leaving only two parties remaining.
Now, with an election imminent, opinion polls suggest the PVV will secure the most seats in the 150-seat parliament. While a winner needs 76 seats to form a government, no single party ever makes it to that figure, which has led to a history of coalitions.
According to a poll by the Dutch news outlet, EenVandaag, on October 14, the PVV is projected to secure 31 seats. The centre-left Green-Labour alliance (GroenLinks-PvdA) is polling at 25 seats, and the centre-right Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) is polling at 23.
PVV’s former coalition partner, the centre-right VVD, could take 14 seats and the BBB, four. So far, the NSC is not projected to secure any seats at all.
Frans Timmermans (left), leader of the Green Left-Labour Party (PvdA), Henri Bontenbal (centre), leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Party (CDA), and Geert Wilders (right), leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), in The Hague, the Netherlands, September 18, 2025 [Remko De Waal/EPA]
Immigration fears
At the end of September, EenVandaag polled 27,191 people and found that the main sticking point between voters – and, hence, between the leaders, PVV and GroenLinks-PvdA – is immigration. Half of all voters said it was the key issue on which they would be voting this year. Housing was the second-most important issue at 46 percent, and “Dutch identity” came third at 37 percent.
While the PVV is firmly anti-immigration and wants to impose a much stricter border policy and asylum laws, GroenLinks-PvdA would prefer to allow a net migration figure of 40,000 and 60,000 migrants per year.
Tempers are running high over this issue. Last month at The Hague, a right-wing activist known as “Els Rechts” organised an anti-migration protest that attracted 1,500 attendees. According to reports, protesters threw stones and bottles at the police, set a police car alight and smashed windows of the left-wing Democrats 66 (D66) party offices.
While left-wingers argue that the immigration issue has been wildly hyped up by the far right, they are losing control of the narrative.
Esme Smithson Swain, a member of MiGreat, a Dutch non-governmental campaign group that calls for freedom of movement and equal treatment for migrants in the Netherlands, told Al Jazeera that the far right in the Netherlands and in the United Kingdom, more widely, had “constructed a narrative that there is a migration crisis”.
“They’ve managed to construct this idea of a crisis, and that distracts our attention away from populism, away from arms trades, away from social services and the welfare state being sold off.”
Whatever its merits, the right-wing message that immigration is at the root of many social ills seems to be taking hold. The far-left, pro-immigration BIJ1 party, which rejects this message, is not projected to win any seats at all in this election.
Immigration “is a key term especially for right-wing political parties to win the election”, Noura Oul Fakir, a candidate for the BIJ1 party, told Al Jazeera. “We don’t focus on it because we look at everything that’s been going on from a systemic point of view, that every form of oppression is interlinked … This fight for equality and justice, it’s about more than just immigration, but it’s also interlinked with other issues that we see nowadays.”
A protester wearing a flag as a cape poses for a photo in front of a banner bearing the colours of the Dutch flag and reading ‘send them home’ during an anti-immigration rally in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 12 [Robin van Lonkhuijsen/EPA]
People ‘more emboldened to express racist views’
By January 1, 2024, the Netherlands was hosting 2.9 million migrants (16.2 percent of the population), compared to the average across European Union member states of 9.9 percent (44.7 million people in total).
Similarly, Germany hosts 16.9 million migrants (20.2 percent of the population); France, 9.3 million (13.6 percent of the population); Spain, 8.8 million (18.2 percent of the population); and Italy, 6.7 million (11.3 percent of the population), according to figures from the EU.
Mark van Ostaijen, an associate professor in public administration and sociology at Erasmus University Rotterdam, explained that immigration has become a mainstream talking point in “housing, care, educational and cultural policy domains”.
For instance, the Netherlands is currently short of 434,000 homes, including for 353,000 asylum seekers and 81,000 Dutch first-time buyers, according to figures commissioned by the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO).
Immigration has, therefore, been blamed for what is seen as a housing crisis.
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 316,000 migrants arrived in the country in 2024, 19,000 fewer than in 2023. But CBS also found that population growth is still mainly down to net migration, with the largest number of migrants coming from Ukraine and Syria.
“I think this is indeed something that will continue the electoral legitimacy of far-right parties, or right-wing parties, even more, given the fact that the Netherlands was already quite leaning towards the conservative angle,” van Ostaijen told Al Jazeera.
“This will be a topic that will haunt our politics and our democratic decision-making and discourse for quite a while,” he said.
Anecdotal evidence bears this out. Fakir has noticed a change in the experiences of immigrant residents she and her colleagues have spoken to in the country following the growth of the PVV.
“In their personal life [they have seen] a noticeable shift where people feel more free or emboldened to express racist views, both online and in real life. Others are telling them those classic things of ‘go back to your own country, or you’re not Dutch’,” she said.
For Nassreddin Taibi, a recent graduate who works as a political analyst and plans to vote for GroenLinks-PvdA, the anti-immigration protests at the Hague “further cemented polarisation among Dutch voters” and have caused centrist parties to fall into line with the right-wing narrative.
“These protests have influenced the discourse in the sense that centrist parties now say that cutting immigration is necessary to win back trust of voters in politics,” he said.
Nearly half of voters still undecided
While the far-right PVV is projected to win the most seats in this election, it will still face an uphill journey to form a government, as other parties such as the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) have ruled out joining a coalition government.
Furthermore, the PVV’s leader, Wilders, has not escaped controversy with his Islamophobic comments and anti-migration stance despite the rise in anti-immigration sentiment across the country as a whole.
Notable incidents over the years include Wilders’ likening of Islam to Nazism in 2007 and his reference to the Muslim holy book, the Quran, as “fascist” in a letter to a Dutch news outlet. His letter and comments led to Wilders being prosecuted for inciting hatred and discrimination, which he denied. In 2011, he was acquitted by a judge who ruled that his comments had fallen within the scope of free speech.
More recently, in August this year, Wilders posted an image on X that depicted a smiling, blonde and blue-eyed woman, representing the PVV; and a wrinkled, angry-looking elderly woman wearing a headscarf, representing the PvdA. It was accompanied by the words: “The choice is yours on 29/10.”
Fake news and misinformation have also driven the rise in far-right narratives, analysts say.
The Facebook page ‘Wij doen GEEN aangifte tegen Geert Wilders’ (We are NOT filing charges against Geert Wilders), which claims to be a PVV supporters’ page boasting 129,000 followers, said it does not intend to be “discriminatory, hateful, or incite violence”, but has nevertheless posted AI-generated images of this nature.
In one such image, which received 1,700 likes, a white family is seemingly being harassed by men of colour.
In another, a white woman is seen in a supermarket paying for groceries while surrounded by Muslim women wearing hijabs and niqabs, with the caption: “No mass immigration, no Islamisation, no backwardness of the Dutch.” The post received 885 likes.
While the outgoing home affairs minister, Judith Uitermark, has said the government is examining new ways to combat fake news, she added that the Netherlands is somewhat protected from the rise of extremism by its proportional representation system, under which no one party ever wins a majority.
Still, the Dutch Data Protection Authority has warned voters not to use AI chatbots to help them decide who to vote for.
And a large number are still deciding. EenVandaag found that some 48 percent of voters are still undecided about which candidate they will choose. If the GroenLinks-PvdA can disengage from right-wing talking points and, instead, focus on its own policies more, it may perform better than expected, analysts say.
This will be no easy task, however.
“We find ourselves doing this also as a civil society organisation, as campaigners, trying to fight off the narrative and fight off the kind of populist ideals of the far right faster than we can push for our own agenda as well. And I think a lot of the time that leaves left-wing parties in the Netherlands seeming a bit hollow,” Swain said.
Still, she says that she is holding out hope for this election, despite what feels like a “vast and growing far-right bulk of the population”.
“I think it’s very easy to kind of feel that division between ‘us and them’. Us campaigning on the left and this growing mass of the far right,” Swain said.
“We need to tackle fighting the influence of lobbying and of fake news in our political structures. And I think that becoming more united as a population would naturally fall from that.”
Moscow is accused of running sabotage and espionage operations across Europe, targeting nations supporting Ukraine.
Published On 21 Oct 202521 Oct 2025
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Authorities in Poland have arrested eight individuals across the country on suspicion of espionage and sabotage.
In a brief statement on social media, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that the case is developing and that “further operational activities are ongoing” without providing further details.
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The detentions come amid accusations that Russia is operating a network of spies and saboteurs across Europe.
Referring to the prime minister’s post, the coordinator of Poland’s special services, Tomasz Siemoniak, said that the detained people are suspected of engaging in espionage and planning attacks.
They were arrested due to “conducting reconnaissance of military facilities and critical infrastructure, preparing resources for sabotage, and directly carrying out attacks”, he said.
While Warsaw has not directly linked the arrests, officials have said previously that Poland has been targeted with such attacks in a “hybrid war” waged by Russia to destabilise nations supporting Ukraine.
Several other European countries have also pointed the finger at Moscow as they have suffered similar attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Polish authorities have detained dozens of people over suspected sabotage and espionage over the past three years or so.
Moscow denies the accusations, insisting that they are the result of “Russophobia”.
In May last year, Polish authorities arrested three men for an arson attack. In September, Lithuanian prosecutors broke up a network that they said planned arson and explosive attacks in several European Union states.
The same month, Latvia’s security service announced the detention of a man suspected of passing military intelligence to Russia, and British police arrested three people suspected of running sabotage and espionage operations for Russia.
The United Kingdom has also repeatedly accused Russia of orchestrating sabotage and spy operations on its soil and beyond. The Kremlin has accused London of blaming Moscow for “anything bad that happens”.
Drones increasing concern
This autumn, drone incursions have added to the European security concerns, with Belgium, Denmark and Germany among several countries reporting sightings.
The incursions provoked airport closures in both Germany and Denmark.
“We are at the beginning of a hybrid war against Europe,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. “I think we are going to see more of it … We see the pattern, and it does not look good,” she added.
Tusk pledged to urgently upgrade Poland’s air defences after NATO forces shot down several drones over his country last month.
The European Union, recognising the inefficiency of using multimillion-euro weapons to battle cheap drones, has reacted to the incursions with proposals to develop a “drone wall” on its eastern borders.
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Vicky Pattison has confessed to putting a halt on sex with her husband Ercan Ramadan
The Strictly Come Dancing star has invoked a sex ban with her husband
Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison has revealed she’s put a stop to bedroom antics with her husband while taking part in the BBC dance competition.
After achieving her best score of the series last weekend, bagging an impressive 29 points with professional partner Kai Widdrington for their spectacular Samba, Vicky and Kai have secured their place in Icons Week.
During a recent episode of the Get A Grip podcast, the 37-year-old confessed she’s steered clear of physical intimacy with her other half since starting on the show.
The frank admission came as Vicky outlined the demanding nature of the programme’s early weeks, explaining: “One minute you’re nervous, you’re messing up your dress rehearsal, you’re getting your period, you’re nearly throwing up behind the scenes because you’re so nervous.”
As Vicky shared her journey, the presenter quickly jumped in with: “Are you pregnant?”, reports Wales Online, reports Wales Online.
But Vicky cheekily responded that her husband hasn’t caught sight of her “lady bits in months”: “No, you’d have to s**g me to get pregnant, mate. Poor Ercan hasn’t seen the sight of my lady bits in months. He’s honestly sick of us.
“I’m like, ‘Well, you’re not getting any now, I’m doing Strictly, mate.'”.
Vicky has also confessed the pressure to start a family has been overwhelming.
Speaking on the Women’s Health Just as Well podcast with Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson, she shared: “My mum told me ‘If not having children is your trajectory, that’s fine,’ which I thought was powerful. I think we’re coming around to the idea as a society that a woman doesn’t have to have children to be fulfilled – and, for me, there’s still a huge question mark over motherhood.
She further added: “I’ve worked to finally get to a place where I’m proud of who I’m becoming, and the thought of taking a break… it scares me.”
Two iconic stars of the ITV soap Coronation Street have shared what their future with the soap is looking like after fans feared they would be leaving the show
22:49, 19 Oct 2025Updated 22:49, 19 Oct 2025
Legendary Coronation Street stars’ soap future unveiled after exit fears
Coronation Street legends William Roache and Barbara Knox have opened up about their future on the show, after accepting an award for their long service to television and amid fans’ fears that they are due to leave the show.
William, 93, and Barbara, 92, were awarded with the Outstanding Contribution to Television Award at the Variety Awards on Sunday (19 October).
Following the award, the pair both insisted they would not be leaving the show anytime soon, despite their combined 118 years on the show.
Coronation Street aired it’s first episode, starring William, in 1960. Four years later, Barbara appeared in an episode, and by 1972, she was back in a continuous role. When asked if they had plans to retire, both said they weren’t thinking about that as an option.
In fact, it was the work that kept them feeling young. The nonagenarians were asked what they do to feel young and Barbara responded: “Well honestly, I think we’ve had the opportunity to work, that’s the greatest thing.
“I don’t want to and I know Bill doesn’t want to retire, because stimulus from your brain gets you up. So we’re fortunate to have been able to do that.”
They were also asked what their advice would be for actors starting their careers and William joked that “the first 65 years” were the hard part. “When young actors come to me, I say the first 65 years is the tough bit, the rest is easy.”
Before he acted, William was a captain in the British Army. He started acting on a stage in Nottingham and went on to appear in various films and TV shows before landing Ken Barlow in Corrie. As he was in the first episode, he is the longest-serving castmate on the show. In fact, he is the longest-serving actor to play a continuous role on a show ever and, as such, has a Guinness World Record.
Meanwhile, Barbara is best known for playing Rita Tanner on the show. She is the second longest-serving Corrie member, after William.
Ant and Dec also picked up an award for Outstanding Contribution to Television, while Vernon Kay was given a prize for the Outstanding Contribution to Radio. Jamie Wilson got the same for Musical Theatre, and Olly Murs was recognised for his contribution to music.
ITV, who air Corrie, were celebrated as well. They were given the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Broadcasting. The network celebrated 70 years in the business this year.
Over 70 years, ITV has become a core part of British television. They are one of the leading networks in the country, with iconic shows such as Corrie, Emmerdale, Love Island and Britain’s Got Talent under their belt.
Florida-based wealth advisory J. L. Bainbridge disclosed a purchase of Eli Lilly and Company valued at approximately $45.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, according to an SEC filing released on Friday.
What Happened
J. L. Bainbridge & Co. Inc. significantly increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company(LLY -1.94%), acquiring 61,258 additional shares during the quarter. The estimated value of the purchase was $45.6 million based on the average closing price for the quarter. The position was reported in the firm’s quarterly Form 13-F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.
What Else to Know
This buy brings the position to 3.9% of J. L. Bainbridge & Co. Inc.’s 13F reportable assets.
Top holdings after the filing:
NASDAQ:MSFT: $164.85 million (13.9% of AUM)
NASDAQ:AAPL: $122.68 million (10.4% of AUM)
NASDAQ:GOOGL: $116.65 million (9.9% of AUM)
NYSE:GS: $71.43 million (6% of AUM)
NYSE:ETN: $59.86 million (5.1% of AUM)
As of Friday’s market close, shares of Eli Lilly and Company were priced at $802.83, down 11% over the past year and far underperforming the S&P 500’s nearly 14% gain over the same period.
Company Overview
Metric
Value
Price (as of market close Friday)
$802.83
Market Capitalization
$759.8 billion
Revenue (TTM)
$53.3 billion
Net Income (TTM)
$13.8 billion
Company Snapshot
Eli Lilly offers a broad portfolio of pharmaceuticals for diabetes, oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and other therapeutic areas, with leading products including Humalog, Trulicity, Jardiance, Verzenio, and Taltz.
The company generates revenue primarily through the discovery, development, manufacturing, and global sale of branded prescription drugs, leveraging both proprietary research and strategic collaborations.
It provides pharmaceuticals for chronic and complex diseases worldwide.
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical leader that maintains a diversified portfolio of innovative therapies for high-burden diseases. Its scale, established brands, and strategic partnerships provide competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving healthcare sector.
Foolish Take
Florida-based J.L. Bainbridge & Co. boosted its exposure to Eli Lilly last quarter, purchasing roughly $45.6 million worth of shares even as the stock has endured a difficult stretch. Shares are down 11% over the past year, pressured by valuation concerns and, most recently, political commentary on potential weight-loss drug price cuts. The decline followed remarks by President Donald Trump, who suggested GLP-1 treatments like Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound could face price reductions—a move that briefly sent shares tumbling more than 4% on Friday.
Despite near-term volatility, Bainbridge’s purchase reflects long-term conviction in Lilly’s fundamentals. The pharmaceutical giant remains a dominant player in metabolic and diabetes care, with GLP-1 demand still far outpacing supply. Analysts at BMO Capital Markets called the recent selloff “overdone,” noting that most insured Americans already pay modest out-of-pocket costs for these drugs.
For Bainbridge, whose portfolio is anchored by Microsoft, Apple, and Alphabet, the addition of Lilly underscores a strategy centered on durable growth and innovation-led healthcare exposure. Long-term investors may see current weakness as a potential entry point into one of the most profitable franchises in global pharmaceuticals.
Glossary
Form 13-F: A quarterly SEC filing by institutional investment managers disclosing their equity holdings. AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of investments managed on behalf of clients by a fund or firm. Reportable AUM: Portion of a fund’s assets that must be disclosed in regulatory filings, such as the Form 13-F. Top holdings: The largest investments in a fund, ranked by their value as a percentage of total assets. Trailing twelve months (TTM): The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report. Stake: The ownership interest or position an investor holds in a company, usually measured in shares or percentage. Strategic collaborations: Partnerships between companies to jointly develop, market, or distribute products or services. Pharmaceutical portfolio: The collection of drugs and therapies a company develops, manufactures, and sells. Underperforming: Delivering a lower return or performance compared to a benchmark or peer group.
Coronation Street Becky Swain works on getting close again with her ex Lisa Swain next week, amid her plan to ‘oust’ Carla Connor out of the family on the ITV soap
00:00, 18 Oct 2025Updated 00:09, 18 Oct 2025
Becky Swain gets to work on winning over her ex Lisa Swain on Coronation Street next week.
A new preview reveals the moment the pair grow closer again, as they reminisce about the past and discuss the moment that tore them apart. Becky faked her death four years ago and fled to Spain, with it revealed someone was after her.
DI Costello helped cover it all up and now it’s been teased the pair are hiding much more, and that Becky is “a villain”. Corrie boss Kate Brooks has revealed that we’re yet to see just what Becky is fully capable of, but she’s out to “oust” Carla Connor from the family.
Lisa was ‘widowed’ after Becky’s fake demise four years ago, and in the past year she’s grown close to new partner Carla. Just months ago the pair got engaged, only for Becky to rock up – and now it’s clear she’s out to ruin it all.
While it’s not known what she has up her sleeve, we do know she’s desperate to have her wife and their daughter Betsy Swain back. She wants the family back together again, and Carla is stopping that.
Carla’s existence alone proves difficult for Becky’s agenda, never mind the fact Carla is clearly suspicious of her ‘rival’. So perhaps with Carla in Ireland, we’re about to see Becky make her first move.
In a new preview clip, Becky spends some time alone with Lisa amid trouble with Betsy after her arrest. The pair are on the sofa having enjoyed a curry and a glass of wine.
Lisa is a little tipsy, and the pair are debating whether or not to watch Game of Thrones “like they used to”. Becky very quickly reminds Lisa of the life they once had, and how they’d spent nights often at home with a takeaway and watching the telly.
Lisa is thoughtful as she remembers this well, but she quickly points out the reason it all stopped was because Becky died, or at last she thought. Becky guilt trips Lisa with a comment about it not being fun and games for her, having to hide out from criminals.
As she tells Becky how hard it was without her, Becky tells her she wishes she could turn the clocks back to a time that they were together as a family, wishing she could have stopped everything that led to her fleeing. Caught up in the emotions, Lisa agrees with her that she too wishes they could go back.
As Lisa appears emotional, Becky strokes her hair, leading to Lisa grabbing her hand and placing it against her face. This, and the fact that Lisa misses the way things were, leaves Becky smiling, no doubt believing she may have a chance of winning Lisa back.
But what will Lisa do, and is the moment on the sofa not what it seems? After all, Corrie boss Kate hinted Swarla, Carla and Lisa, could survive the drama with Becky, with twists ahead for the newcomer – but how far will Becky go to get what she wants?
Arab Barghouti tells Al Jazeera Israel wants to ‘silence’ his father amid reports Israeli guards beat him last month.
The son of prominent Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti says he fears for his father’s life in Israeli prison amid witness reports that he was beaten by guards last month.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday, Arab Barghouti accused Israel of targeting his father because he is a unifying figure among Palestinians.
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“We do fear for my father’s life,” Arab said from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Earlier this week, the family told media outlets that they had received testimonies from Palestinian detainees released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal that Barghouti was beaten by guards in mid-September as he was being transferred between two Israeli prisons.
Arab told Al Jazeera that the attack is the fourth time since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023 that his father has been assaulted in Israeli detention.
“They are targeting him,” said Arab, explaining that Israel sees his father as “a danger” because of his ability to bring Palestinians together.
A prominent member of Fatah, the Palestinian political faction that dominates the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs limited parts of the occupied West Bank, Barghouti has been in Israeli prison since the early 2000s.
He is serving five life sentences plus 40 years on murder and attempted murder charges, which he has consistently denied.
A Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll from May found that Barghouti was the most popular Palestinian leader, garnering more support than Hamas official Khaled Meshaal and PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
Palestinians had called for Barghouti to be released as part of the recent Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, but Israel refused to free him.
As part of the deal, Israel released 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, several of whom were sent into exile abroad. About 1,700 Palestinians who were detained in Gaza and transferred to Israeli detention facilities during the Gaza war were also freed.
One of the released prisoners, Mohammad al-Ardah, told Al Jazeera Arabic that Israeli forces would carry out “barbaric” raids in the prisons each week, severely beating Palestinian detainees.
“The latest reports we heard about the great leader Marwan Barghouti is that they broke three of his ribs,” al-Ardah said.
The Israeli authorities have denied that Barghouti was beaten in September, with the Israel Prison Service telling BBC News that it “operates in accordance with the law, while ensuring the safety and health of all inmates”.
But Arab, Barghouti’s son, said the Israeli authorities have no credibility.
He also pointed to an August video that showed far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatening Barghouti in prison, as evidence that the Israeli government is trying to “silence” his father’s voice.
“We know that [Ben-Gvir] showed him an electric chair on his phone and he told him, ‘This is your fate’ … If that’s not a threat to his life, I don’t know what is,” Arab told Al Jazeera on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Barghouti’s son said the family has repeatedly asked Israel to allow international lawyers and the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit his father in prison, but their requests have been denied.
“They see him as a danger … because he wants to bring stability, he wants to end the cycle of violence. He wants a unifying Palestinian vision that is accepted by everyone, and the international community, as well,” Arab said.
“They [Israel] know what my father represents, and they don’t want that. They don’t want a partner for peace.”
A TOP Tory minister has said she fears her hotel room was bugged on a fact-finding trip to Taiwan.
It comes after a case against an accused Chinese spy, Chris Cash, collapsed last month when the Government refused to class Beijing as a threat to national security.
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The case against Christopher Cash was droppedCredit: AFP
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Alicia Kearns MP fears her hotel room was bugged on a trip to TaiwanCredit: Richard Townshend
Chris Cash, 30, and his friend Christopher Berry, 33, were both accused and denied spying for China.
Cash, a parliamentary researcher, received high level briefings from former MI6 spooks, ambassadors and ministers before he was dramatically arrested.
The former teacher, who had lived and worked in China, was accused of passing secrets to Beijing.
Starmer has since claimed that there was nothing he could do about the issue and blamed the former government for not designating China a threat when the offences took place.
The Daily Mail has now revealed that at the same time the Government was refusing to designate Beijing a threat, then foreign secretary David Lammy was doing just that.
He branded China an enemy of Britain during a debate in the commons in an effort to defend Labour’s surrender of the Chagos Islands.
The Shadow National Security Minister, Alicia Kearns, 37, has now revealed that she was a target during the alleged spy operation.
In what is thought to be a spy dossier, details of her hotel room in Taiwan were found.
When the senior Tory minister was on a fact finding trip to the country as chairman of the foreign affairs committee, she fears she was bugged by Beijing.
MI6 have launched a “dark web portal” to let Russian and Chinese spies get in touch
She told the Daily Mail: “They could have got in that room at any time.
“You can’t be sure that the room hasn’t got a bug or a camera somewhere.
“There could be photos of you walking around your hotel room naked.”
China had threatened that the mother-of-three’s trip would result in “repercussions.”
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The Prime Minister blamed the last government for not designating China a threatCredit: Getty
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Beijing said Alicia Kearns’ trip would have ‘repercussions’Credit: Getty
She worked alongside Mr Cash for a year and raised concern that others he met through work may have been exposed.
Chinese dissidents, victims of transnational repression and people intimidated in secret Chinese police stations in the UK may have all been laid bare to Mr Cash.
The Shadow National Security Minister continued, saying Mr Cash worked at the heart of government policy on China.
He gained insight from the Foreign Office, Home Office, Treasury and Department for Business and Trade according to Ms Kearns.
Mr Cash worked on key government policy around China including the TikTok ban on government devices and exposing covert Chinese police stations in the UK.
The alleged spy managed to speak to every top China expert in the UK, finding himself in a position to glean information as “valuable as gold dust” to Beijing Ms Kearns believes.
The revelations could raise more questions about why the case against the accused spooks was dropped.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper admitted: “We know China poses threats to the UK national security.”
“I am deeply frustrated about this case, because I, of course, wanted to see it prosecuted.”
Ex-diplomat Charles Parton previously told The Sun that the Government’s refusal to brand Beijing a threat clearly showed “a desire not to offend China.”
Mr Parton, who was due to testify for the prosecution, slammed the CPS for failing to find new witnesses after the Government pulled its national security official at the last minute.
He told The Sun: “They are both to blame. The Government for withdrawing.
“But the CPS should have got some evidence from experts to say, ‘Is China a threat?’
“Then the jury could have said, ‘Yes, national security threat,’ and now we’re going ahead and trying this case.
“That smacks either of interference by the Government or just sheer incompetence.”
Chris Cash and Christopher Berry both deny all charges brought against them under the official secrets act.
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Ex-diplomat Charles Parton slammed the CPS for failing to find new witnesses
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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The EU Entry-Exit System for travellers will start on Sunday October 12Credit: Getty
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Some travellers are worried about delays to their journeys this weekendCredit: Getty
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.
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”.
US travelers will be fingerprinted before flights in new October 12 ‘border’ law hitting 29 countries
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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Brits will need to have biometric checks instead of having their passports stampedCredit: AFP
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Only certain passengers travelling on the Eurostar will be checked in through EESCredit: PA
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.
Travellers to Europe, including Brits, will be subject to new entry registrations from Sunday October 12, 2025 under a phased implementation of the EU’s new digital border system.
The Entry Exit System (EES) requires non-EU citizens to register at the EU border by scanning their passport and having their fingerprints and photograph taken.
Travellers do not need to take any action before travelling and the process is free.
Registration will take place upon arrival at the EU border and may take slightly longer than previous border checks.
Checks should only take 1-2 minutes for each person, but may lead to longer wait times at border control upon arrival in the Schengen area.
In places where registration will be completed in the UK prior to departure, there may be longer waits at busy times.
The scheme is being introduced to digitise border crossings across the Schengen area and collate the information into a central database to more closely monitor the movements of non-EU citizens.
EES will also help to identify any suspected criminals and to limit travellers to 90 days of stays, in any 180 day period.
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EES is being introduced in certain places from October 12, 2025Credit: Reuters
Six in ten bosses say the tax burden is a growing challenge — a historic high for the survey and a big rise from just one in 16 making the claim towards the end of 2020.
Nearly half say regulatory requirements are the second biggest worry in a push for better performance.
It comes ahead of the two-year roll out of a new workers’ rights package which will heap more red tape on employers grappling with costs.
Concerns have been raised over giving day-one rights to workers and bolstered trade union rights.
Business sentiment is found to be weakest in the property sector, followed by retail companies, the research by the Institute for Chartered Accountants in England and Wales reveals.
CEO Alan Vallance said: “It’s Groundhog Day for Britain’s businesses as we enter another run up to a Budget with poor growth, strained public finances and a fear that business will once again bear the brunt of higher taxes.”
FOUR streets have been urgently evacuated over fears of bombs found inside a home in a UK seaside town.
A bomb disposal team is currently attending the scene and a person has been arrested in relation to the incident.
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Police arrived at the scene at around 4pm on Wednesday 8 OctoberCredit: UKNIP
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They responded to reports of the discovery of “suspicious items”Credit: UKNIP
The precautionary measure was taken after cops arrived at the scene in Margate, Kent, at around 4pm on Wednesday 8 October.
They responded to reports of “suspicious items” found in a flat at an address on Rosedale Road.
A bomb disposal team from The Ministry of Defence (MoD) are attending the scene in Rosedale Road and inspecting items.
Police and fire crews are also present and a cordon has been put in place.
A spokesperson for the force has also confirmed that a person has been arrested in relation to the incident and has been taken into custody.
Homes in Rosedale Road, Glencoe Road, Wharfedale Road and Malham Drive have all been evacuated.
One resident, Liam John, 28, told KentOnline: “I think everyone just shocked that there were loads of police and a bomb squad.
“It looks like I’m going to be on the street tonight, so yeah, there’s not much I can do really.”
Another local has described the incident as “all a bit crazy.”
Councillor Jack Packman has urged effected residents to seek help.
Thanet District Council has set up an evacuation point at Hartsdown Leisure Centre, where support and assistance is available to those in need.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Police have evacuated residents in four roads in Margate following a report of a property containing suspicious items.
“The precautionary measure was taken after Kent Police was called at around 4pm on Wednesday 8 October, to an address in Rosedale Road.
Dozens of families evacuated from homes and army bomb squad raced to scene after ‘suspicious object’ found under car
“Concerns were raised about items contained inside a flat.
“A cordon has been put in place and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from the Ministry of Defence is at the scene and inspecting the items. Kent Fire and Rescue Service crews are also in attendance.
“As well as in Rosedale Road, homes have been evacuated in Glencoe Road, Wharfedale Road and Malham Drive.
“Thanet District Council is managing residents’ welfare and Hartsdown Leisure Centre is being used to assist this process.
“A person has been arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody.”
A statement form Dane Valley Ward councillors adds that, at this stage, there is no cause for concern.
It reads: ““They have identified some items that require specialist examination, and as a precaution, a small number of nearby homes have been temporarily evacuated.
“At this stage, there is no cause for concern, and the situation is being handled carefully and professionally.
Postecoglou’s other two games saw him draw against Burnley and Real Betis.
However, he maintains he is not thinking about an exit and is hopeful of getting a result against Newcastle.
Ange Postecoglou jokingly makes dig at Marinakis as new boss opens up on Nottingham Forest trophy hopes
Postecoglou said on Friday: “I get it. It’s a valid assumption in modern football there’s always a manager under pressure, that’s part and parcel of what we do.
“I don’t think that way. I knew I was getting sacked at Tottenham three or four months before I did.
“It didn’t stop me winning something. It doesn’t enter my head. If I start worrying about what’s going to happen next week, I’m not performing the role I’ve been given.
“It’s not helpful to anyone. The things I control are the environment training, the way we play. I am strong in my belief we are not too far away.”
Coronation Street spoilers for next week reveal worrying scenes for Asha Alahan, while Kevin Webster wants revenge and Tim Metcalfe’s shocking past is confirmed
Coronation Street spoilers for next week reveal worrying scenes for Asha Alahan(Image: ITV)
There’s some big moments on Coronation Street next week, and some emotional scenes according to new spoilers.
Asha Alahan takes centre stage as she struggles to cope, with a hospital dash sparking fears about her mental wellbeing. Her family are left devastated, with questions raised as to whether she has attempted to take her own life.
There’s concern for Theo Silverton too as he continues to target his partner Todd Grimshaw amid his recent abuse. Abi Franklin is left out in the cold, and Kevin Webster takes brutal action.
The key storyline is Asha’s turmoil which she continues to hide from her loved ones. Her stepmother Bernie Winter is worried about her after recent events, with Asha avoiding work ever since the vile and racist abuse she faced weeks earlier.
Asha remains exhausted and hits the bottle, before telling Brody to mind the shop while she heads out. She leaves Brody panicked as he’s left in charge, with Asha suddenly heading down the street in tears.
But in a concerning turn of events we next see Asha in a bad way, having been found by Theo with Amy Barlow also at the scene. Dev races out and sees a paramedic tending to his daughter, while the paramedic asks Dev and Amy whether Asha may have taken any drugs.
Dev fears for his daughter at the hospital, where he’s met by Asha’s paramedic colleague Sienna who reveals drugs were found on his daughter. Bernie is with him, and she shocks her husband when she asks Sienna if Asha tried to kill herself. Will Asha be okay, and what has happened?
Later in the week Dev spirals over his daughter’s hospital dash. He tells his wife that he can’t help feeling angry that Asha was prepared to put the family through so much pain. So does this mean Asha did try to harm herself?
When Dev visits his daughter at the end of the week, it’s not clear if Asha is okay and if she is, what she will reveal. Elsewhere next week, Tim Metcalfe sparks concern as he faces someone from his past, leading to a worrying confession.
Tim recognises newcomer Trisha as someone he knew in the 80s. When he sees her again later while out for a drink with his wife Sally Metcalfe, Tim explains that they know each other.
Later in the week Trisha pops by at the cab office to see Tim, leaving Sally unnerved. She introduces herself as Tim’s wife, before berating her husband for being with Trisha instead of her.
Sally storms out, leaving Tim to reminisce about Trisha. But what he says about her leaves pal Brian stunned. He claims he was in a relationship with Trisha years earlier, but says he was only 14 years old and she was nearly 20.
Brian wastes no time in accusing Trisha of grooming Tim as a child, leaving her and Tim mortified. Brian urges Tim to face the fact that Trisha groomed him. When Sally finds out about the relationship, Tim admits that he was 14 when Trisha, 20, took his virginity leaving Sally shocked.
Also next week, Theo reappears after his sudden disappearing act last week. With him not being in touch, Todd is concerned for his partner, only for Theo to find an unresponsive Asha slumped on a bench in Victoria Garden.
He shouts for help before he faces a telling off from Todd. When Amy tells Todd that if it wasn’t for Theo things may have turned out very differently for Asha he’s left thoughtful.
Later in the week Todd lies to Theo on the day of Noah’s funeral, hiding from him that he’s got an appointment at the hospital to check for bowel cancer. He tells pal Billy Mayhew who agrees to go with him.
When Theo later spots them together he’s furious. Finally next week, Abi continues her secret relationship with brother-in-law Carl Webster after her split from husband Kevin Webster.
Debbie Webster demands they end things, knowing the truth about their affair. She also urges Kevin to hire a lawyer as Abi “isn’t to be trusted”. Fearing she’s about to be exposed, Abi sends a message to Carl to warn him that Kevin knows everything.
However, Abi is mortified when she realises she’s sent the text to Kevin by mistake. As Carl attempts to get hold of Kevin’s phone to delete the text, will it be too late? It seems so as at the end of the week Kevin kicks her out of the home.
It was revealed during last night’s live show that there’s been a huge change to the way viewers can vote for their favourite celebrities and now fans have shared their thoughts
There’s a massive voting change on this year’s show(Image: BBC)
A huge voting change on Strictly Come Dancing has sparked fury among fans over fears it will alter the results. During last night’s (Saturday 27 September) first live show, host Claudia Winkleman revealed “this year it’s changing”.
Bringing in pro dancer Neil Jones to explain, he began: “This year for the first time on Strictly, vote will be online only,” before telling fans they would need to register for a BBC account to have their say.
In previous years, viewers at home have been able to call in or text to place their votes for their favourite stars but it looks like it’s all change this time around. Fans were understandably shocked by the news and took to X to share their frustrations.
One unhappy person expressed: “#StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly You have just alienated a huge part of your audience by getting rid of the phone vote. I cannot imagine my elderly mother & thousands like her, able to log on to register a vote on her favourite programme. Another strike against the elderly.”
Another viewer fumed: “So @bbcstrictly You’ve completely prevented any of the older generation that don’t possess a smart phone or computer from voting by making it online only. You should be ashamed #Strictly.”
Somebody else argued: “#Strictly very sad how exclusive voting is this year internet only. I have friends who have watched every series & always voted by phone. Not this year.
“They don’t have a smart phone or internet at home. I wonder how any others won’t be voting this year?”
While a fourth added: “Getting rid of the voting by phone is so wrong. I’m sure there are so many people who don’t have smartphones and who used to vote that way #Strictly.”
The voting change isn’t the only change that’s been incorporated onto the show this year, as head judge Shirley Ballas revealed at the end of the show.
For the last seven years, Shirley has been responsible for the gruelling decision of choosing which couple in the bottom two should leave if the votes are tied after the dance off.
However, now it’s been announced that the power is going to be shared between the four judges, with a different judge holding the power each week.
The change will start from next week, when the first couple will be eliminated from the series. As of yet, Strictly aren’t revealing which judge has the power, but the celebs are worried…
A video clip of the celebrities reacting to the news was played as Vicky Pattison said: “This changes everything!,” with Ross King adding: “I just can’t believe it!”
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal says: “I was nervous, but this is another level,” and George Clarke expresses: “Is it too late to run away?”
Viewers at home were once again unimpressed by the changes on their favourite show as someone said: “i think would’ve made more sense for it to be down to the public vote instead of a different judge each week but okay,” while another commented: “I was hoping it would be a ‘public vote if the judges are tied’ but nope.”
Ryanair had said that 206 million of its passengers already use digital boarding passes, meaning that around 40 million journeys could be disrupted once the new rule kicks in
Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary has said downplayed claims of ageism(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Fears are growing that people who struggle with technology could be blocked from boarding Ryanair flights.
The budget airline confirmed earlier this week that it will move to 100 per cent digital boarding passes from November 12. That means passengers who have bought tickets will not be able to download and print them prior to getting to the airport. This is an option that 20% of Ryanair passengers currently choose, according to the airline.
Ryanair had said that 206 million of its passengers already use digital boarding passes, meaning that around 40 million journeys could be disrupted.
The company’s boss, Michael O’Leary, said that his 86-year-old mother uses the Ryanair app to travel. However, the move has been met with criticism, with a number of campaign organisations accusing the airline of ageism.
Groups including Age UK and Silver Voice said the move will make flying harder for those who don’t have access to a smartphone or who struggle with technology.
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, told The Telegraph: “It’s a disgraceful move. They are effectively saying they don’t want older people as passengers. There’s a strong argument to say that it’s discriminatory.”
A number of concerned readers have written to the Mirror to express concerns about the change. One told us: “I have elderly in-laws who live in Spain. They won’t be able to download anything onto their phone. They’re not tech savvy, so what will happen when they travel to the UK? I appreciate the need to utilise technology, but that will not work for a lot of passengers.”
Another added, “This seems discriminatory to people, such as the elderly, who, for various reasons, are not able to use smartphones. By Ryanair’s own admission, some 10% of passengers do not use smartphones currently for boarding passes. It may backfire. Ryanair will lose these customers who will turn to alternative providers without such a policy.”
Mr O’Leary, who is 64 years old, was quick to downplay such fears. He said: “I’m old, and I travel from Ryanair on a very, very regular basis, and I use the Ryanair app, it is pretty simple, pretty easy to use.”
For those particularly concerned about the change, Mr O’Leary said that airline would be flexible, promising that “nobody would be cut off at the knees.” He said that it would be “reasonably forgiving” of people showing up with paper boarding passes through Christmas and into January, Belfast Live reported.
“The critical thing: If you’ve checked online before you get there and you lose your phone, we’ll have your name in the system,” he said.
“We will manually board you at the boarding gate so if your phone goes off, you lose your phone, your phone gets stolen, it is not going to make any issue as long as you checked in online before you got the boarding gate, which, by the way, would eliminate all the check-in fees at the airport.”
Mr O’Leary argued that it was patronising for people to suggest that the elderly would not be able to cope with the change.
“Actually, what you find is the old people firstly just get their kids or grandkids to make bookings for them, and then pretty quickly they’re adopting it themselves. And it is slightly patronising, this notion that old people can’t and won’t move to mobile technology or to the apps,” he said, Mail Online reported.
The change has been delayed by a week to November 12, to avoid UK and Irish half-term.
Ryanair chief marketing officer Dara Brady said: “To ensure a seamless transition to 100 per cent digital boarding passes for our customers, we will make the switch from November 12, which is traditionally a slightly quieter time for travel following the busy mid-term break period.
“Ryanair’s move to 100 per cent digital boarding passes will mean a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class “myRyanair” app, where passengers will also benefit from helpful in-app features, like Order to Seat and live flight information.”
Ryanair’s move to fully digital boarding passes follows other key ticket industries (such as festivals, music, and sport events) which have successfully switched to digital-only ticketing.