The stars never aligned for her at the Olympic Games. She ran in two – Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 – but was never at her best and even when she was two years ago, a last-minute injury stopped her competing in Paris.
She was all set to try again for Los Angeles in 2028, which was to be the swansong of her career.
That was before the devastating cancer diagnosis in May 2025.
Even then Ciara decided to share her news publicly. It was those qualities again of resilience and determination to fight and in doing so provide inspiration to those who would find themselves in a similar situation.
That was who she was, in athletics and in life – an inspiration to others
I have many memories of Ciara including surprising her at home in Portaferry with the BBC Sport Northern Ireland Personality of the Year in 2023.
Filming in Portaferry was always fun because her mum, Catherine, would always lay out a welcoming spread of scones and cake and tea.
It’s Catherine and Ciara’s dad Chris, her husband Thomas and family that are in my thoughts today.
When I last spoke to Ciara, her relentless positivity remained undimmed.
Her infectious personality, quick wit, and smile left a lasting impression and her achievements on the track will serve as inspiration to others to never lose hope in the pursuit of dreams.
Time is rapidly running out for Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who are preparing for one last grueling push to reach voters in the mayoral election by Tuesday. With the UC Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll showing a dead heat, the two are expected to fan out across the city over the weekend, hoping to generate some free news coverage, a burst of social media posts and face-to-face contact with voters.
Bass is planning another appearance Saturday with real estate developer Rick Caruso, who was a ferocious critic of the mayor in the wake of the Palisades fire but mended fences with her in recent months. She also has a rally that day in Westlake with organized labor and a tour of small businesses in Boyle Heights with state Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles).
Raman heads Saturday to a Halloween block party in the San Fernando Valley and an event in downtown L.A. featuring workers from Unite Here Local 11, which has sent canvassers to knock on doors on her behalf. On Sunday, her agenda includes a church service in Boyle Heights and a door-knocking event in Northridge.
“This movement is reaching every corner of Los Angeles, and this weekend, we’re taking that energy all over this city,” Raman said.
Mayor Karen Bass speaks to volunteers who are phone banking at her campaign headquarters on Oct. 25, 2026, in Los Angeles.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Bass and Raman had already ramped up their schedules in recent days. The mayor appeared Thursday evening with Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, one of her endorsers, at a news conference about streetlight repairs in Hollywood. The following morning she was in Encino, talking to residents frustrated with Raman’s performance in their district.
In an interview with The Times, Bass summed up her packed itinerary using a single word over and over.
“Voters, voters, voters, voters. And that’s what I’ve been doing,” she said. “I’m just exhausted. Voters and media, from early morning until late at night.”
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Raman, for her part, tried to develop an overarching theme around her events, standing outside Department of Water and Power headquarters in downtown L.A. on Tuesday to highlight the issue of soaring electrical bills and heading to Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday to ding the mayor over her oversight of SkyLink, the elevated airport people mover that is behind schedule and $1.4 billion over budget.
Those and other news conferences were built around her promise to provide greater oversight as mayor. But over the weekend, Raman is expected to dial back the policy a bit, heading to two Día de los Muertos events and going trick-or-treating with her twins.
The Garcetti gang stumps for Raman
With the battle for L.A. mayor now in the home stretch, one longtime political figure has managed to stay largely out of the public eye: former Mayor Eric Garcetti, who served at City Hall right before Bass.
We can’t say the same for many former members of Garcetti’s political and government teams. Over the last few months, they’ve been popping up at a number of Raman events, and a few have had pivotal roles with her team as she runs for mayor.
Nithya Raman, center, joins supporters including registered nurse Kerry Cavazos, left, with SEIU 121 RNs, at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 20.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Raman has been relying heavily on campaign strategist Jeff Millman, who was a Garcetti advisor on and off throughout his mayoral tenure. She’s turned to Rick Cole, a former Garcetti deputy mayor now on the Pasadena City Council, for policy guidance. And she has Dae Levine, a onetime Garcetti communications director, staffing her within City Hall.
But there’s more. The city’s former heat officer, Marta Segura, who was pushed out earlier this year, appeared at Raman campaign events focused on her support from environmentalists and Latinos.
Former high-level Garcetti advisor Rick Jacobs has shown up for several Raman news conferences, including a recent one celebrating her endorsement from County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. In 2020, a member of Garcetti’s security detail accused Jacobs of sexually harassing him. Jacobs denied harassing anyone. The city paid $1.8 million to resolve the officer’s lawsuit.
Jacobs, a consultant, counts the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters as one of his clients. However, he is not working with their independent expenditure committee supporting Raman.
Other onetime members of Team Garcetti have pitched in financially.
Renee Dake Wilson, a former Garcetti planning commissioner, has donated at least $30,000 to independent expenditure committees backing Raman, plus an additional $3,600 directly to her campaign. Former Garcetti aide Leo Daube, now working for Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, has donated $2,800 to Raman since she entered the race.
Finally, Raman has relied on Jamie York for help with research, matching funds and compliance with city and state ethics rules. York was part of Garcetti’s campaign team in the 2017 election, helping with campaign fundraising.
State of play
— CARUSO CRACKS: After months of hedging, billionaire Rick Caruso revealed that he intends to vote for Bass, following nearly two years of sharp criticism of the mayor’s record. “For the love of LA, I must put the past behind me,” he said. Caruso said it’s not an endorsement.
— RATTLED BY ROBO-RAMAN: Raman’s campaign filed a lengthy ethics complaint against Thrive LA, a pro-Bass advocacy group, over its decision to set up an AI chatbot phone line mimicking Raman’s voice and mocking her record on homelessness. Thrive LA responded by saying it played by the rules and that its satirical chatbot is protected free speech.
— BATTLING FOR SMALL BIZ: Bass and Raman have been sparring over their approach to small business, with the mayor accusing her rival of ignoring those constituents. Business owners offered a more complex picture.
— SWITCHING TEAMS: Political operative Solomon Rivera left his high-level post in the mayor’s office earlier this year, resurfacing a few months later as principal officer with Unidos Con Bass, an independent expenditure group. Ethics experts questioned whether his change in jobs runs afoul of a law prohibiting coordination between outside campaigns and their favored candidates. Rivera’s lawyer said no coordination occurred.
— DSA DELAY: The Democratic Socialists of America once again postponed a vote on whether to rescind the L.A. chapter’s endorsement of Raman, over concerns she hadn’t taken a tough enough stand against Israel.
— OIL-DRILLING BAN: The City Council voted Wednesday to phase out oil drilling over the next two decades, making L.A. the largest city in the country to do so. Bass’ office signed the ordinance Thursday.
QUICK HITS
Where is Inside Safe? The mayor’s signature program to fight homelessness went to South L.A., focusing on two sections within Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson’s district.
On the docket next week: Duh! Tuesday is the last day to vote in the election.
Stay in touch
That’s it for this week! Send your questions, comments and gossip to LAontheRecord@latimes.com. Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Saturday morning.
KATIE Price has issued a heartbreaking update on her seriously ill mum Amy after previously revealing fears she had just days left to live.
The former glamour model, 48, discussed her mother’s condition with sister Sophie during an emotional conversation on their joint podcast, The Katie Price Show.
KATIE Price has issued a heartbreaking update on her seriously ill mum Amy after previously revealing fears she had just days left to live.Credit: GettyKatie insisted her mum was still fighting despite her ongoing health strugglesCredit: Shutterstock
She said: “They had a bright pink cardigan so I bought it for mum because I know she’ll love it.” Sophie then asked whether Katie was planning to visit their mother in the coming days.
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She said: “Are you going up there this week? I’m going up Thursday or Friday this week.” Katie replied: “Well when she goes, you know, what we know is happening, I’ll be there all the time, staying over. So I’ll do that.”
Seen here with her family, the former glamour model, 48, discussed her mother’s condition with sister Sophie (second from left) during an emotional conversation on their joint podcastCredit: GettyKatie embraces her mum after saying she has “days left” to liveCredit: Youtube
She said at the time: “My mum’s dying at the moment and I haven’t been able to see her (because) I’ve got a cold… she’s got days.” Katie added: “I did promise my mum I’d see her tomorrow.”
It tells the remarkable true story of a resistance hero and his courage in the face of terror during World War Two
Number 24 has been hailed as ‘outstanding’(Image: IMDB)
There is no shortage of films about the Second World War, but this “masterpiece”, now streaming on Netflix, tells the long-forgotten tale of one man’s extraordinary bravery in the face of unimaginable terror.
The Norwegian film draws on the real-life experiences of resistance fighter Gunnar Sønsteby during the conflict. Starring Sjur Vatne Brean in the lead role and helmed by director John Andreas Andersen, Number 24 charts Sønsteby’s journey from 1940 through to the end of the Second World War.
Taking its title from Sønsteby’s most frequently used code name, Number 24 delves into how the Oslo Group carried out sabotage operations and assassinations throughout the war. The film is narrated by an elderly Sønsteby as he recounts his remarkable experiences to a group of students.
Both film fans and critics alike are utterly captivated by this raw and gritty war film, which currently holds a perfect score on the film review site Rotten Tomatoes.
One critic wrote: “Based on the real-life story of Norwegian hero Gunnar Sønsteby, director John Andreas Andersen delivers a gripping, often violent thriller that highlights the best and worst of humankind.”, reports Wales Online.
Another said: “This biopic about Gunnar Sønsteby, the most highly decorated citizen in Norway, explores the moral grey areas during war under brutal invading forces. Switching between the past and the present, the film sensitively contrasts justice and necessity.”
Meanwhile a third added: “The director crafts a mostly patriotic picture of a man solely dedicated to duty. It’s an uncompromising approach that often makes for a stirring watch even through a narrow lens.”
Fans were equally effusive in their praise. One wrote: “The lead actor is phenomenal. As a man of laser focus and few words, Gunnar commands the screen through the smallest, most restrained expressions and every one of them lands. It’s a masterclass in subtlety, and he delivers a gripping, believable performance.”
Another said: “Well worth watching! Makes me want to go and learn more about this incredible person. You will need a tissue at the ending. You will also need to use your pause button to read the subtitles at the end – they do contain useful information.”
While a third contributed: “Important WWII story of resistance in Norway. Thought provoking and moving. Different points of view from being in different positions when war comes into your life, your family and your country.”
And another wrote: “WOW! WOW! ! . Fantastic in every way My wife and I loved this. So realistic and well acted, directed,etc. Watch,enjoy and respect the Norwegian patriots.”
The cruise ship company, Villa Vie Residences, issued a statement explaining that it had to suspend operations because of the high cost of fuel in the wake of the Iran War
Passengers walk down from Villa Vie Residences’ cruise ship Odyssey, as it is docked at Sihanoukville port in Preah Sihanouk province on October 28(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Hundreds of tourists claim to have been left stranded in Cambodia, after the company running their 15-year-long cruise around the world suddenly ‘suspended’ the trip.
Passengers aboard the Ville Vie Odyssey, owned by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences have been left abandoned in Sihanoukville in Cambodia, with ‘no help with accommodation or onward travel’, according to reports.
They claim that residents on the ship were given just seven hours’ notice to leave with all of their belongings after a ‘6.30am’ announcement on an internal message board, the Daily Mail has reported.
In an official statement, Villa Vie Residences blamed the high cost of fuel due to the Iran War for the decision. This has created ‘unsustainable financial pressure’, and the company will seek additional funding over the next 60 days.
On cruise discussion sites, residents and former residents slammed the ‘floating disaster’. One of the passengers who claims they were told to leave includes Californian Randy Cassingham, who writes about cruises. He was on board with his wife Kit, and wrote a post titled ‘Abandon Ship!’, the Daily Mail reports continue.
According to Cassingham, the news of the eviction arrived around 7am Eastern time on Monday, October 26. Posted on the internal messaging board by Villa Vie chief executive Kathy Villaba, it read: “Good morning, everyone.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the fuel necessary to continue operations. As a result, the Odyssey will enter a temporary layup this afternoon, with crew remaining onboard to maintain the vessel and its essential systems. All residents must disembark by 2pm today.”
Anyone who was unable to remove all of their belongings had to speak to guest services and coordinate an ‘orderly return’ to take them away, the Daily Mail reports add.
Cassingham wrote that residents on the Odyssey had been ‘well aware of the problems’ on board and the announcement ‘didn’t come out of the blue’. He said it was a ‘cascade of problems piling up on one another, from the business model to mistakes by management to the mentioned crisis in fuel cost and availability, and more’.
Cassingham also slammed Villalba for failing to apologise and said: “She’s the freaking CEO, and couldn’t bring herself to say it’.”
The Daily Mail says the ship was launched in 2024, with the 720-capacity Villa Vie Odyssey promising a ‘new model of global living at sea’ by allowing residents to live on board for months or years at a time.
Shirene Thomas, who is from Madison, Wisconsin, wrote on Facebook that she had been left ‘homeless’ by Villa Vie stopping business, reports continue. “This time in Cambodia,” she said.
“Note that as per usual Villa Vie has put their spin on things; they are offering no help with lodging, travel arrangements or anything.”
According to Thomas, she was ‘evicted’ at 2pm on Monday. She wrote: “They told us at 6.30am!”
In the message to residents, Villaba said that was all the information they had at the time, but the following day Villa Vie put out a statement explaining the ‘temporary layup’ was far more serious.
A statement from the company reads: “Villa Vie Residences today announced that it has suspended operations in Cambodia as the company works to address extraordinary increases in fuel costs and evaluate restructuring and recapitalization alternatives.
“Fuel costs have risen sharply in the regions where the company has been operating. On an equivalent per-cabin basis, monthly fuel expense that historically averaged approximately $1,800 has recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia.
“The company cannot simply pass increases of that scale on to residents, and the resulting shortfall has placed its current operating model under unsustainable financial pressure.
“The company is working with residents to coordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements. Villa Vie Residences recognizes that this is a difficult and disruptive period for residents, crew members, and employees, and is working to support those affected as plans develop.
“Since the conflict began in late February, we have taken significant steps to reduce fuel consumption, including slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port. Those measures have not been enough to offset the extraordinary increase in fuel costs, and we have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses.
“Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution. Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees while we work toward restructuring and recapitalization over the next 60 days. That work is ongoing, and no outcome is assured.”
Villa Vie Residences says it “continues to evaluate potential paths forward, but no financing or transaction has been finalized”, and that “the company will provide further updates as material developments occur”.
On Facebook, crew members told how they were ‘heartbroken’ at the news including Lucas Clyne, said the Daily Mail. He wrote: “As a crew member of Villa Vie Residences, it hurts to see residents leaving the place they have called home.
“For many people, this is not just a ship or a place to live. It is a home filled with memories, friendships, laughter, and moments that have become part of our lives.”
With six days to go before the November 3 midterm elections in the United States, Democrats are leading Republicans in national polls, but several key Senate races seem too close to call.
President Donald Trump has stepped up his campaigning, holding two Republican rallies in Texas on Tuesday before heading to Ohio on Wednesday. Ex-President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris are also hitting the campaign trail in Georgia for the Democratic Party.
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Here is what the latest polls say, what happened on the campaign trail and what to expect on Wednesday.
What do the latest polls suggest?
With less than a week to go before the midterms, a Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests the Democrats are ahead of the Republicans by nine points.
According to the October 22-26 survey, 47 percent of voters support the Democrats, compared with 36 percent who support the Republicans. When undecided voters’ leanings were taken into account, Democrats lead with 50 percent compared with Republicans’ 41 percent.
Trump’s approval rating improved by a percentage point to 32 percent, with 73 percent of US adults saying the cost of living was going in the wrong direction.
In Texas, where Democrats have not won a Senate election since 1988, James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton are virtually tied in the polls.
Trump has made several trips to the state ahead of the midterms, but the polls indicate a much tighter race than the president has suggested.
“The good people of Texas have probably never seen so much of President Trump. Four visits in seven weeks, which, to put that into context, is twice as many as we saw at the comparable period leading up to the 2024 election, which perhaps shows just how concerned Republicans are,” Al Jazeera’s Phil Lavelle said, reporting from the Texas coastal city of Corpus Christi.
Lavelle said local analysis suggested more Republicans have voted early than Democrats, but Talarico has also been courting Republicans dissatisfied with Trump.
“That doesn’t mean Republicans are voting for Republican candidates,” Lavelle said.
In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are also competing in a closely contested Senate race.
“I was a Republican forever, but I became an independent in the last two elections,” Michael Alexander, a Native American backing El-Sayed, told Al Jazeera.
“I don’t really vote for a party any more. I vote for who I think will do the best job.”
Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, but Republican incumbent Roger Marshall now faces a close contest against Democrat Adam Hamilton.
The race has brought Trump and his deputy, JD Vance, to the state.
“There’s a reason why we’re seeing not only US President Donald Trump but also Vice President JD Vance heading to Kansas because it’s actually in play,” Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane said.
According to The Associated Press news agency, both parties and their allied groups have committed about $71m to campaign advertising in the Kansas race, making it the most expensive Senate contest in the state’s history.
What happened in the US midterm campaigns over the past 24 hours?
Trump addressed two campaign rallies in Texas on Tuesday in support of Paxton.
In Corpus Christi, Trump pointed to a tanker that he said was carrying one million barrels of Venezuelan oil and called it a win for his administration. He also suggested the idea of making Venezuela the 51st US state. The Trump administration has signed an oil deal with Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, after abducting socialist President Nicolas Maduro in a military operation in January.
Trump also announced plans to roll back the Biden-era restrictions on methane emissions from oil and gas production, stating that it would help bring down energy prices.
Trump applauds after speaking at a midterm campaign rally at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas, October 27, 2026 [Kent Nishimura/AFP]
Fuel prices have become a huge election issue as the US-Israel war on Iran continues. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also joined Trump for a rare campaign-trail appearance in Texas.
In Alaska, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski has backed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor rather than Bernadette Wilson, the Trump-endorsed candidate.
What’s next for Democrats and Republicans on Wednesday?
Trump heads to Ohio on Wednesday for his third rally in the state this month, as Republicans try to defend a Senate seat being challenged by former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.
The US president is scheduled to speak in Chillicothe at 23:00 GMT. Republican Senator Jon Husted, who took over Vance’s seat when he became vice president, is facing Brown, who is seeking a return to the Senate after losing his seat in 2024.
The two are in a closely contested race, with more than $400m spent or reserved for campaign advertising as of October 8, according to an Axios report.
Republicans are particularly concerned in Texas, Ohio, Kansas and Iowa, where even a few percentage points for a third party could swing the outcome.
Trump is scheduled to hold rallies in Ohio on Wednesday and Iowa on Sunday.
Vance will be in Kinston, North Carolina, campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, who is running against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper. The vice president is expected to speak at 16:30 GMT.
In Georgia, former President Obama will campaign in Atlanta alongside Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms at 20:00 GMT.
Ossoff is running against Republican Mike Collins, while Bottoms faces Republican Rick Jackson in the governor’s race. Trump won Georgia in the 2024 presidential election.
Former Vice President Harris also begins a three-day visit to Georgia on Wednesday, with early in-person voting due to end on Friday, October 30.
In Wisconsin, Marquette Law School will publish its latest statewide poll at 18:15 GMT.
Wednesday’s poll will also examine voters’ views on inflation, tariffs, the US-Israel war on Iran and Trump’s presidency.
Princess was left in stitches as she joked with her MumCredit: TiktokPrincess pulled a hilarious prank on her mum Katie PriceCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Now, fans have loved the prank she pulled on her mum — and how clearly it showed the closeness between them.
Taking to TikTok, Princess said: “I’m going to call my mum and ask her if she was in the delivery room when she gave birth to me.”
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When she rang, Katie asked why she wasn’t on video but Princess explained: “I’m at the doctors, and they’re asking if you were in the delivery room when I was born.”
“Was I?” exclaimed Katie as Princess giggled quietly in the background.
Olivia Attwood has been left shocked after she was denied entry into a designer store by staffCredit: InstagramA staff member roped off the area which prevented her from enteringCredit: Instagram
Taking to Instagram, Olivia posted a video clip captioned “Chanel said not today,” which showed the moment she tried to walk into a Chanel store.
However, a staff member instantly roped off the entrance and stopped the star from getting inside – despite her wealth.
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A shocked Olivia said: “He just shut the f***ing rope in my face.”
Olivia said he just shut the f***ing rope in my faceCredit: olivia_attwood/instagramOlivia sparked engangement rumours when she attended the Pride of Britain AwardsCredit: SplashOlivia and Pete previously tried keeping their relationship under wrapsCredit: InstagramThe couple recently hard launched their new romanceCredit: Instagram
Now, Olivia is in talks for a huge new docuseries – and everybody wants it.
A source told The Sun: “Olivia is ITV’s most commissioned star, making her seriously in demand.
“She’s currently in talks with streaming platforms to sign a multi-million pound deal to showcase her life on-screen, moving from presenting shows to being at the forefront.
“All the biggest celebrities are inviting cameras into their home and Olivia is set to follow suit.
“She’s had a huge year with her marriage breakdown, her career going global and a new romance with Pete Wicks.”
KATIE PRICE has been left furious after she was snubbed by the Pride of Britain Awards as she admitted she “didn’t get an invite.”
The former glamour model’s kids, Princess, 19, and Junior Andre, attended the Awards on Monday and were seen posing up on the red carpet.
Katie has revealed she wasn’t invited to the Pride of Britain Awards despite her kids making the cutCredit: GettyPrincess and Junior Andre attended the Pride of Britain Awards on Monday nightCredit: Getty
But, Katie didn’t quite make the cut.
While discussing their booming careers on her podcast, The Katie Price Show, she confessed they were invited to the prestigious event – but she wasn’t.
LUCY Mecklenburgh was left “fuming” after being forced to travel home barefoot when she lost her shoe between the train and platform.
The TOWIE alum, 35, took to her Instagram Stories to moan about the mishap following a night with fiance Ryan Thomas.
Lucy Mecklenburgh was left fuming after losing her shoe between the train and the platformCredit: Instagram/lucymeck1The TOWIE alum was left with just one black loafer following the mishapCredit: Instagram/lucymeck1
The mum of two was seen covering her mouth with her hand in shock as she stood in the vestibule wearing only one item of black loafer footwear.
Lucy looked glam in an oversized leather jacket and jeans, but her right foot was exposed as Ryan could be heard shouting: “Oh my god,” in the background.
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In his social media caption he wrote: “Lucy lost her shoe getting on the train”.
She then added in her re-post: “Fuming I love these shoes”.
The mum of two saw the funny side of the situationCredit: Instagram/lucymeck1It came following the Lucy and fiance Ryan Thomas’ cosy date day in LondonCredit: Instagram/lucymeck1The pair share two children togetherCredit: GettyThe couple recently listed their Cheshire home for saleCredit: Getty
Former Coronation Street star Ryan then shared a video showing Lucy laughing as she saw the funny side of her situation.
She sat perched on a train seat and giggled away as he filmed her reaction.
The blunder came after the couple spent a cosy date day in the capital.
They had a plush dinner at the Covent Garden Hotel complete with fizz and two courses.
Fuerteventura may be famed for its white-sand beaches, clear waters and dramatic volcanic scenery, but beyond the packed resorts an abandoned leisure complex paints a far darker picture.
But spare a thought for Harry Styles who had that happen to him — after being hypnotised on a video call.
Harry Styles was hypnotised on a video call which cut outCredit: GettyHarry revealed he was left ‘disorientated’ and slept for hours after the incidentCredit: Getty
The As It Was singer has revealed he was left “disorientated” and slept for hours after the incident, as he was so out of it he was unable to get the hypnotherapist back on the call.
He made the hilarious admission on stage at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night, when he spotted the therapist in the crowd at his concert.
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He told the crowd: “I got some hypnotherapy — and I spotted my therapist in the crowd, there he is. I’ll just share a quick story with you about my experience . . .
“We were doing it remotely. I was in London, he was in New York — and I was under, I was hypnotised.
“Then my wifi went out. The call hung up. He was trying to call me back — and I was hypnotised.
“I woke hours later, disorientated, with a lot of missed calls. Hypnotherapy — would recommend, it was the greatest nap of my entire life.”
I could always do with a kip but am not sure I’ll be following Harry’s lead with this suggestion.
He is currently deep into his 30-date New York residency as part of his Together, Together tour — and you’ll soon be able to see footage.
He is currently deep into his 30-date New York residency as part of his Together, Together tour — and you’ll soon be able to see footageCredit: AFPJohn Wilson has been filming Harry in the Big Apple since August, for a documentary being made by Universal PicturesCredit: Getty
It’s been announced indie filmmaker John Wilson has been filming Harry in the Big Apple since August, for a documentary being made by Universal Pictures.
The project will feature a mix of live performances as well as glimpses into Harry’s life, as well as stories from his army of fans.
Instead of it going straight to streaming services, like similar documentaries for other artists, demand is so high that it may be released in cinemas.
I gave his tour five stars when I went to the opening night, in Amsterdam in May.
So I would not need much persuading to get along to the pictures and see it all over again.
JAY’S SAY ON AI
Jay Aston believes it’s ‘cheating’ if countries submit songs produced by AI for the Eurovision Song ContestCredit: GettyJay, whose band Bucks Fizz won in 1981 with Making Your Mind Up, said: ‘I can see why people do it – it’s very lazy. It’s cheating’Credit: Getty
BUCKS FIZZ star Jay Aston believes it’s “cheating” if countries submit songs produced by AI for the Eurovision Song Contest, amid a brewing controversy about its usage.
No rules have yet been introduced to ban its use and Swedish broadcasters have admitted they have no way of testing whether songs submitted for the contest have used AI.
However, Norway has banned fully AI-generated tracks from its submissions.
In an exclusive chat at best magazine’s Heroes Awards, Jay, whose band won in 1981 with Making Your Mind Up, said: “I can see why people do it – it’s very lazy. It’s cheating.
“Obviously for Eurovision I do think it should be a really homegrown song.
“I imagine that it will happen. I don’t think it should, but if everyone’s doing it, then you’ve got to compete.
“But I think that we are influenced by so many things, even when we’re writing with pen and paper, we’re still influenced.
“The world is full of influencers – where do you draw the line?I guess we’re going to have to get used to it because we’re not going to stop it.”
The UK is yet to announce who will represent us in Bulgaria next May, but given we came dead last this year with Look Mum No Computer’s song Eins, Zwei, Drei, the only way is up.
Tate’s late summer vibe
Tate McRae poses in tiny shorts on the set of her new music videoCredit: Pierre-Ange Carlotti
IT’S still summer for Tate McRae as she poses in tiny shorts on the set of her new music video.
She looked sensational as she promoted her single Housewife, after the video racked up more than five million views following its release on Friday.
According to the Official Charts, it is on course to debut at No3 this Friday, while Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan’s collaboration Expectations is set to top the charts.
In fact, it looks like there could be lots of change in the Top Ten, with Taylor Swift’s Patient Zero down to No6, while Zach Bryan and Lana Del Rey’s new collaboration Lies is on track to go to No10.
And it’s good news for Fontaines D.C., because following the release of their album Dopamine Chamber on Friday, their track Marianne is at No8 followed by Six Shot Morning at No9.
SKYE’S THE LIMIT FOR FREYA
BRITISH rising star Freya Skye is about to set history aged just 17, becoming the youngest solo headliner at the O2 Academy Brixton in South London.
Freya, who has garnered millions of fans through the Disney film Zombies 4 and a stint on Junior Eurovision in 2022, has sold out her entire 74-date world tour across Australia, New Zealand, North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
She will play two nights at the 5,000-capacity venue in Brixton next month and across her tour, she’s sold 222,000 tickets.
It’s a groundbreaking start to her career, particularly as she is yet to even release her debut album.
But I’ve been told fans should expect that in 2027, with massive opportunities in the pipeline to turn her into the next British superstar.
The singer, who will tour the UK next year to mark 25 years since he won the show, said: “Adele got suspended for standing up for me . . . She punched a girl.”
SAM PLAN FOR TOUR NEXT YEAR
SAM FENDER is gearing up to return in 2027 and will announce a string of shows in the coming weeks.
The Seventeen Going Under singer has updated his website with a logo for “SF27” which teases “live shows, music, more.”
It comes days after a rumour that he could headline Glastonbury next summer, which would be amazing.
It’s been a quiet year for Sam following his busy 2025 which saw him go to No1 with his third album, People Watching, and play an extensive tour.
Although he hasn’t been out and about in 2026, his music has still been omnipresent, with his Olivia Dean collaboration Rein Me In becoming the longest-reigning No1 single of all time in the UK, with 23 weeks at the top.
Miley on Dolly good form
Miley Cyrus has returned to the stage for her first full-length concert in four years, fuelling hope she may finally tour againCredit: GettyMiley’s set included a cover of Jolene, to honour her late godmother Dolly PartonCredit: Getty
MILEY CYRUS has returned to the stage for her first full-length concert in four years, fuelling hope she may finally tour again.
She performed at the Hollywood Bowl in LA on Friday ahead of a second gig performance there last night, in a tentative return to live shows.
Miley has been open about how anxious she gets performing to big crowds, but looked in her element during her 18-song set.
This included a cover of Jolene, to honour her late godmother Dolly Parton.
Thanking fans, she said: “It’s been 20 years of us on this journey, this evolution, this meta-morphosis. You have not skipped a beat.
“I am so, so appreciative of your support. It’s been steadfast, and it’s been deeply felt. The appreciation I have for you is never forgotten on show days.”
DAYTIME TV ARE A RATINGS WINNER
Indie rockers Daytime TV are riding high with new single Meditate and forthcoming album RodeoCredit: Handout
INDIE rockers Daytime TV are riding high with new single Meditate and forthcoming album Rodeo, so there’s no stopping them, unless frontman Will Irvine’s rock ’n’ roll antics land him in handcuffs again.
The singer was arrested in America after being caught buying booze underage, but reckons his Scottish roots came to the rescue.
I’m told one cop said: “This guy’s from Scotland, He knows William Wallace.”
Incredibly, the officer handed back the band’s contraband, leaving them feeling invincible.
Will added: “They’ve given us back the beer and we realised we were unstoppable, because the police had given us booze.”
Will, John Caddick, Naomi Boschetti and Gareth Thompson hit the road last week, kicking off their UK tour in Hull.
If they make it through the tour without another run-in with the law, Daytime TV will be ones to watch.
Paris, France – France is counting the cost of a day of unrest after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets nationwide, in the largest mobilisation since protests over education reforms and the cost of living began last month.
At Place de la Republique, in the heart of the French capital, people on Sunday surveyed the previous day’s destruction in dismay: smashed windows, gutted buildings, looted shops.
“I find it unacceptable – absolutely unacceptable,” said Rabah, who has been living in Paris for more than 70 years. “Back in the day, we also demonstrated, but peacefully,” he said.
Staring at the burned skeleton of what used to be a newspaper stand, 56-year-old Claire was also shaken. “I love Paris so much, and seeing it like this makes me furious,” she said. “It’s absolutely appalling. I’m actually quite overcome with emotion.”
Nearby, the statue of Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic, was covered in graffiti. “Those who sow misery reap anger,” read one inscription.
A pedestrian walks past a damaged front window of a shop, in central Paris [AFP]
The student-led protests began in mid-September, caused by grievances ranging from overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages to systemic inequality and a lack of opportunity.
The movement quickly spilled out of the schoolyards and into the streets, tapping into broader social and economic anxieties.
On Saturday, these complaints converged in a mobilisation that saw a nationwide turnout of 550,000 people, according to authorities; unions and organisers put the estimate at 800,000.
But while the vast majority of demonstrators rallied peacefully, the scale of the violent unrest threatened to eclipse their message. In Paris, there was also heavy use of tear gas and stun grenades by the police, including before the start of the march, which set the tone for a tense day.
“I marched from the 10th arrondissement town hall to Place de Clichy. I was there from start to finish, and it was very peaceful – just all kinds of people, all of them nonviolent,” said Stephanie, a 23-year-old Parisian student.
“But once again, the violence was so spectacular that the actual message – the reasons behind the protesters’ grievances – was never conveyed,” she said.
Macron to address nation
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose second and final term ends next year, will give a televised address to the nation at 18:00 GMT on Sunday after meeting government ministers, his office announced.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said nearly 1,800 people had been arrested – almost half of them in Paris – and more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters had been injured in the unrest.
“Protesting is a fundamental right. Causing disorder through violence and in a concerted manner is not,” he said on Sunday.
During Saturday’s protest in Paris, Al Jazeera saw groups of black-clad, masked young men smashing shop windows with what appeared to be golf clubs before fleeing with bags of stolen goods.
In Marseille, France’s second-largest city, dozens of shops were looted and a group of people broke into the city hall before being forced out.
“Students and others have real claims they want to air which no one is listening to now because idiots are smashing everything,” said Benoit Payan, the city’s mayor.
In Limoges, footage showed flames engulfing the city hall as the fire spread through the historic building. Public buildings were also damaged in Bordeaux and other cities.
A protester holds a rock during the demonstration near Place de la Republique in Paris [Carl Court/Getty Images]
Police conduct has also come under scrutiny. France’s police inspectorate, the IGPN, had opened 36 investigations into alleged police violence since the high-school protests began, according to figures released by the Ministry of the Interior on October 13. The figure predates Saturday’s demonstrations.
Human rights lawyers have described some of their clients’ injuries as comparable to those seen in conflict zones. These include a minor who has lost his hand, another with his jaw smashed and a third pupil who lost sight in one eye.
“There is an increasingly systematic use of crowd-control measures that would normally be reserved for much more serious situations,” said Christophe Calvao, president of the Paris Young Lawyers’ Union. “This only serves to inflame tensions and make people even angrier.”
The government now faces the challenge of responding to widespread social discontent while trying to pass a budget aimed at bringing France’s public finances under control.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu wants to reduce the country’s deficit through spending restraint and tax measures – a move that will likely deepen public anger. Cuts to France’s generous welfare system have traditionally faced strong public resistance.
All of this takes place in a highly toxic political environment as parties harden their positions ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of the left-wing France Unbowed party and potential presidential contender who has sought to appeal to young voters, accused the government of fuelling the unrest.
“In Paris, aberrant leadership has opened the door to chaos. Those in charge no longer know what to do; the rank and file are afraid and are running wild,” he said.
Lecornu hit back. “This is YOUR political responsibility,” said the prime minister on social media, accusing far-left groups of orchestrating the violence.
Scott, from Cheshire, had visited Hurghada in Egypt twice before, but a taxi ride back from a nightclub on his last trip has put him off returning to the Red Sea destination for good
Scott had enjoyed a night in Hurghada when the scam took place
A Brit has vowed never to return to an Egyptian holiday hotspot after he was scammed.
Scott, from Cheshire, had visited Hurghada in Egypt twice before, but a taxi ride back from a nightclub on his last trip has put him off returning for good. Despite being warned by holiday reps to agree to a total fare before getting in, Scott and his friends ended up paying well over the odds by the end of the ride.
“The worst part is how it’s stuck with me. I’d been to Hurghada twice before and enjoyed it, but that one journey ruined the whole holiday. You forget all the good bits, and that’s the part that stays with you. It’s put me off going back for good,” Scott told the Mirror.
The incident unfolded after an evening out in the beach resort city, which sits on Egypt’s Red Sea coast.
“It was the strangest taxi journey I’ve ever experienced. We’d been told to always agree on a total price before getting in, so that’s what we did. But partway back, the driver pulled over and went off to get himself some food,” Scott explained.
When they got back to the hotel, the taxi driver announced a different, much higher price than they’d expected.
“When we finally got back to the hotel, he suddenly wanted us to pay per person. It felt like, these are tourists, we’re going to rinse them,” Scott said. The situation quickly escalated when the driver mentioned that they would call the police. Unable to speak the local language and unsure whose side the police would take, Scott focused on keeping things calm, and the group ended up paying more than they had agreed just to bring it to an end. “My friend was getting really anxious, and all I could think was, if the police turn up, who are they going to believe?” he explained .
“Honestly, it left me feeling really uneasy and quite vulnerable. We’d done everything we were told to do and agreed a total price before getting in, so when the driver suddenly demanded we pay per person, it felt like we were being taken advantage of just because we were tourists. Once he started talking about calling the police, that unease turned into real anxiety. My friend was getting really worked up, I couldn’t speak the language, and all I could think was, if the police turn up, who are they going to believe? In the end I just wanted it over, so we paid more than we’d agreed to keep things calm.
“It ruined the whole holiday. You forget all the good bits, and that’s the part that stays with you. Now I’d use Uber or a local app wherever I can, because you know the price before you get in. Having one guide or site that shows you which apps work in each destination and what an average fare looks like would give people that confidence before they even arrive.”
It’s experiences like Scott’s that led Confused.com to create its interactive global taxi guide. Travellers can search any destination to see which apps to use, what a typical fare looks like and the local tips worth knowing before they set off.
Do you have travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
They said the hotel was dirty and food on the all-inclusive trip was undercooked. They also claimed to see faeces in the swimming pool on more than one occaision
12:02, 12 Oct 2026Updated 12:06, 12 Oct 2026
Samantha Smithson with husband Dion Hart, their two children and Samantha’s parents(Image: SWNS)
A family say their £4,000 holiday was ruined by a “filthy” hotel which left their five-year-old on antibiotics. Samantha Smithson, 34, and husband Dion Hart, 31, took their two children – aged two and five- and Samantha’s parents away to Tunisia in August.
But when they arrived at their hotel on August 10, they were apparently put in a room that had just a double, which Samantha shared with the children, and a single bed, which Dion took. The couple also claim they found exposed cabling, wobbly balcony railings, a smashed light, and a shower tray that did not drain inside the room.
They said the hotel was dirty and food on the all-inclusive trip was undercooked, so they shelled out around £500 extra buying food from outside the hotel. They claimed to notice faeces in the swimming pool twice and alerted staff. Booking provider On The Beach has offered the family a partial refund of £496.
Samantha, an operations manager, from Canterbury, Kent, said: “It was the most horrendous experience. Our room wasn’t safe and I spent the whole week feeling anxious about the kids. I was in tears all the time, it was awful. We just couldn’t wait to get home.
“I do not believe that £496 fairly reflects what our family experienced or the significant difference between the holiday we paid for and the holiday we actually received.”
The family said rubbish was left out, and their towels were dirty. Samantha said the hotel had no air-con in the 40-degree heat. Playground equipment was broken, and the advertised spa and gym were not open, Samantha said.
Their five-year-old has been given antibiotics for 40-degree temperatures and gunky eyes since coming home, and doctors said it was likely caused by dirty water, Samantha said. Samantha and builder Dion booked the holiday, in the Abou Sofiane Sousse hotel and aqua park, through online-travel-agent On The Beach.
Samantha made a complaint on August 17 and on August 25, and was offered a partial refund 28 days later. Samantha, who shared the story on Talk to the Press, said: “It’s just unacceptable to book in more people than they have capacity for, and to take bookings for rooms they don’t have.
“I’m really disappointed that On The Beach didn’t help us at all. We trusted them with our money and have been completely let down. We spent the whole time trying to contact them, but you can’t speak to anyone.
“It was filthy everywhere; it was horrible. Our kids were hungry the whole time because the hotel food we had paid for was so bad, and dangerous.”
A spokesperson for On the Beach said: “We’re sorry that Ms Smithson was disappointed with her hotel stay and we have been in contact directly in an effort to resolve her complaint.
“A partial refund of the hotel cost has been offered and has not yet been accepted.”
Abou Sofiane Sousse Hotel and Aqua Park were contacted for comment.
At the Republican Party’s midterm convention, President Trump said he would make his crusade against transgender rights a major campaign issue ahead of the Nov. 3 election — calling the message that “men should not be playing in women’s sports” one of his party’s “great sound bites of all time.”
During a recent campaign trip, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a longtime LGBTQ+ advocate and likely Democratic contender for president in 2028, stood by his remark last year that allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports is “deeply unfair,” saying, “I haven’t been able to figure out how to make it fair from my perspective.”
For the second election cycle in a row, the rights of transgender people have taken center stage politically, despite their accounting for only about 1% of the U.S. population and many voters identifying other issues as far more important — splitting Republicans and Democrats, but also Democrats among themselves and putting the party on the defensive.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez, third from right, sits with other athletes at the CIF State Track Championship finals in Clovis on May 30, 2026.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
The politics are part of a much broader, international battle playing out in education, sports and the law, from local California classrooms and high school sports to the Olympic stage and the U.S. Supreme Court. Polling for years has shown most Americans oppose discrimination against transgender people, but also that a majority — including a substantial portion of Democrats — oppose transgender athletes participating in girls’ sports and children receiving gender-affirming care such as surgery or puberty blockers.
Republicans are pushing a well-funded message that transgender rights should be dismantled across the board, in healthcare, education, sports, the military and public spaces such as restrooms. Conservative mega-donors such as Elon Musk have spent millions amplifying that message in competitive races from Alaska to Ohio to Texas.
And to some degree, those tactics have worked. While many Democrats have ardently defended transgender rights, particularly in California, others in the party have sided with Republicans or softened their support.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appears with Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors in Dallas on Sept. 10.
(Anja Schlein / Dallas Morning News )
James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Texas, backpedaled from past votes by saying young transgender athletes shouldn’t be allowed to play “if it risks safety or fairness,” while others including Rob Sand, a candidate for Iowa governor, and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) have said they shouldn’t play.
Such messaging has dismayed transgender people and their families, as well as LGBTQ+ rights groups who have been trying to refine Democratic messaging on trans issues since Vice President Kamala Harris — another longtime LGBTQ+ advocate from California — responded to Trump’s anti-trans attacks in 2024 with a message some considered muddled.
Imara Jones, a transgender journalist and founder of TransLash Media, a platform built to spotlight trans people’s own experiences, said the party’s conflicting messaging “underscores the degree to which the Republicans have actually successfully weaponized trans issues.”
“You’re seeing a really sharp political calculus among Democrats,” Jones said, with those “in tight races, where they need to have Republican votes,” bending one way, and others who “want to make a statement about principle” and defending LGBTQ+ rights moving in the other.
Many Democrats in California say they believe the issue is a moral one and that Democrats only hurt themselves by ceding ground on human rights.
A volunteer for Toni Atkins, the former president pro tempore of the California State Senate, is silhouetted holding a Pride flag at the Harvey Milk Coachella Valley Diversity Breakfast, at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs Thursday, May 8, 2025.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“The solution is not to be ambiguous, but to be firm that we support basic human rights and the basic humanity of trans people,” said state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), a leader on pro-LGBTQ+ legislation running to replace retiring Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). “Then go on to talk about the big issues facing our country, like this illegal war, like the fact that Congress has done nothing to regulate AI, like the explosive cost of energy and child care and housing.”
A national conversation
Trump has signed executive orders to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports, prohibit federal funding for gender-affirming care for youth, oust transgender service members from the military and deny recognition of transgender and nonbinary identities on critical documents such as passports.
The Justice Department has sued California and other states over their trans-inclusive sports policies, and successfully threatened large hospitals into ending gender-affirming care programs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services barred federal Medicaid spending on gender-affirming medication or surgeries for minors.
Martin Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, speaks at Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington on Dec. 18, 2025.
(Stefani Reynolds / Bloomberg)
Trump campaigned on such policies, and he and other Republicans clearly see them as helpful in the midterms. In his convention speech, Trump said he’s been surprised more Democrats haven’t abandoned transgender rights given polling showing a majority of Americans oppose transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
“They say it’s an 80/20 issue,” Trump said, in an apparent reference to a January 2025 New York Times/Ipsos poll that found 79% of respondents believed transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports. More recent polls have shown a smaller majority opposed.
Demonstrators at a Rainbow Families Action march in Emeryville, Calif., on Dec. 8, 2025.
(Jessica Christian / San Francisco Chronicle )
Arne Johnson, a Bay Area father of a transgender child who helps run the advocacy group Rainbow Families Action, said being targeted by Republicans is scary, but watching Democrats “find ways to be more flexible about the rights of human beings” has been profoundly disappointing.
But he said he’s also been encouraged by some more recent polling showing Americans moving back toward the middle on transgender rights, which he believes is in part due to people being deluged with anti-trans ads getting frustrated that the political conversation isn’t focused on issues they care more about, like affordability and healthcare.
Ramiro Sarmiento, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, which has tracked at least $50 million in anti-trans political ads this cycle, agreed, saying, “MAGA wants to talk about trans kids because they’re losing the conversation voters actually care about.”
Conservative groups reject that framing. Many deny tht transgender people exist, while others say they are working to protect cisgender children or defend religious beliefs. They have also scoffed at Democrats who have changed their positions in the lead-up to the election, with the conservative American Principles Project accusing Talarico of only pretending to shift away from his “gender radicalism” on sports in order to win votes.
Allison Schuster, a White House spokesperson, said the Biden administration “spent four years pushing a radical agenda” of gender-affirming care for children, while Trump “pledged to restore common sense” and has since “delivered by consistently taking strong action to protect children from these dangerous, life-altering medical practices.”
The fight in California
In California, transgender athletes competing in youth sports has been raised as an issue in the governor’s race, where Republican hopeful Steve Hilton has rallied against their inclusion, and featured prominently in the races for the next state attorney general and the next state superintendent of public schools.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez competes for Jurupa Valley High School at the 2025 CIF state track and field championships.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
Several Democrats running for Congress in the state have been criticized for their records on transgender rights, including San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, who is seeking the redistricted congressional seat of departing Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Bonsall), as well as Reps. Adam Gray (D-Merced) and Derek Tran (D-Orange).
Christian Martinez, a National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson, has accused Von Wilpert of having a “perverted agenda [that] pushes hormone treatments on kids,” and Gray of being “for they/them, not for Californians.”
Marni von Wilpert, a Democratic candidate for California’s 48th Congressional District, canvasses in a neighborhood Friday, May 29, 2026, in San Marcos, Calif.
(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office is fighting on multiple fronts to protect gender-affirming care and successfully rebuffed a Justice Department lawsuit over the state’s transgender sports policies. But pressure is coming not only from the Trump administration.
The California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees high school athletics, also revised its rules to ensure that transgender athletes in individual sports do not displace cisgender ones from rankings or medal podiums. And after local California teachers sued, the U.S. Supreme Court in March ruled against a controversial California student privacy law that precluded teachers from revealing a child’s interest in presenting in gender nonconforming ways in school to their parents if the child requested confidentiality, finding that the policy infringed on parents’ rights and the free exercise of religion.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers just passed at least a dozen measures aimed at bolstering LGBTQ+ rights, including by restoring an LGBTQ+ youth suicide and crisis hotline; helping discharged LGBTQ+ service members find housing and jobs; requiring California gender-affirming healthcare providers who are subpoenaed to inform Bonta’s office if they intend to respond; improving access to HIV prevention care and enhancing LGBTQ+ data privacy.
Newsom signed all those measures into law — his office said California “will not stand” for Trump’s “all-out assault on the LGBTQ community” — but vetoed a bill that would have barred future governors from allowing the extradition of abortion or gender-affirming care providers in California to states where such care is illegal, citing concerns about reduced executive discretion.
The 2026-27 state budget appropriated $66 million for gender-affirming care, including up to $30 million for underinsured patients in the Uncompensated Care Program, $26 million to assist organizations that provide such care and $10 million to cover care for poor children who lost it under the new Medicaid rules. Wiener called the latter a “short-term solution” that will protect kids while the state figures out a more permanent billing pathway under Medi-Cal.
A.W., a Bay Area mother of a transgender teenager who requested anonymity because she fears being targeted by the Trump administration, said her child’s gender-affirming care — a lifeline for him in recent years — was disrupted by the Medicaid rule change, and the state’s temporary fix was too little, too late.
A.W. said families like hers “shouldn’t have to make medical decisions based on politicians in Washington,” particularly for care so critical to her son and other kids. “If he had not had access to gender-affirming care, I don’t know where we would be,” she said. “It scares me to think about it.”
Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.
A source has claimed that even though the line-up of The Celebrity Traitors signed NDAs while filming the show, the finalists have become ‘a hot topic’ at showbiz events
22:50, 10 Oct 2026Updated 23:00, 10 Oct 2026
Claudia Winkleman hosts the popular BBC show(Image: BBC )
The Celebrity Traitors has been thrown into chaos with the finalists being “leaked”. The leaks have reportedly become “a hot topic at showbiz parties”, as bosses scramble to protect the identities.
On Friday, October 9, the BBC released record-breaking audience figures for the popular show, revealing that the third episode achieved a peak audience of 10.3 million viewers. Then, on Friday night, an estimated 9.6 million fans watched the fourth episode of the show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, 54 – but this could all be in jeopardy if the names get out.
While the all-star line-up signed non-disclosure agreements pledging to keep the game’s results secret until the episodes air, a source claimed that news of the final has leaked. Because of this, executives at the BBC are said to be on edge as the finalists are discussed at various celebrity events, with bosses hoping the names don’t become public knowledge.
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“Because of the leak, who makes the final is now a hot topic at showbiz parties,” the insider told The Sun. “It’s also spread how certain players get on, not helped by the fact that another source has been suggesting who’s been placed for interviews around the final.
“It’s vital the leaks don’t make it to gossip forums online and on social media, where fans can find the information. The BBC is hoping that anyone happening upon the info or hearing it from friends will help keep the secrets of the castle and stay quiet.”
The source added: “The problem is a small group will be aware of The Celebrity Traitors’ secrets, including those who work on the show, the celebrities who ran the course and possibly their close family and friends.”
The BBC show is so popular that even Prince William and Kate Middleton are said to be obsessed with it. Speaking on Palace Confidential on YouTube, Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English revealed that the Prince and Princess of Wales are huge fans of The Celebrity Traitors, which has an IMDb rating of 8.7.
“Now, William and Catherine are massive Traitors fans. I can tell you that now. They love the programme. Absolutely glued to it,” Rebecca said.
The 2026 celebrity spin-off of the psychological reality game show takes place at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, where a star-studded cast plays for a £100,000 charity prize pot. The show is currently in the middle of its broadcast run, following the massive success of Series 1 in late 2025, which was won by Traitor Alan Carr.
Currently, there are three Traitors – comedian James Acaster, 41, TV presenter Maya Jama, 32, and mathematician Hannah Fry, 42 – on the show. Actor Richard E. Grant, 69, was banished by the Faithful during the first roundtable.
Episodes air weekly on BBC One and are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.