live

It is the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany

While there are still six weeks to go, Christmas festivities are already starting. Towns and cities across the UK are starting to be decked out in lights, decorations and entertainment.

Christmas markets have become increasingly popular in recent years, and they are sure to get everyone into the festive spirit. Manchester Christmas Markets opened this weekend, as well as Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market.

Timber huts are now lining Birmingham’s streets alongside traditional food, drink, handmade gifts, decorations and jewellery. Visitors can tuck into schnitzels and bratwursts while sipping German beer and hot chocolate.

Where is Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market?

The market takes over the city centre, making it hard not to join in. Stalls and entertainment sit in Victoria Square and New Street, between Corporation Street and the Bullring.

This year, there is a slight change due to roadworks. There will be no stalls between Nando’s and the Apple Store on New Street.

When is the market open?

Birmingham’s Christmas Market opened its doors on Thursday, November 5 and will run until Thursday, December 24. It is open every day during that time period.

Monday to Thursday, the market will open from 11am to 9pm, while on Fridays it will stay open until 9:30pm. Saturday hours are 10am until 9:30pm, and Sunday hours are 10am until 9pm.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

What is on?

Musicians from Germany will entertain crowds at lunchtime and in the evenings from Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends. The German House Band will play a mix of Christmas songs and family favourites.

On Monday evenings, a talent slot is open to new and up-and-coming musicians. The two best acts from the Monday sessions will be given the chance to perform in a prime-time December slot.

The big wheel and ice rink also make a return to Centenary Square. These attractions will run until January 3.

How to get to Birmingham Christmas Market

Birmingham’s three stations, Snow Hill, New Street and Moor Street, are within walking distance of the market. It can also be accessed by Metro tram stops and bus services.

There are plenty of car parks near the market, but drivers are advised that the market is located within Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone, which may incur a fee.

Amy Dowden MBE on Instagram: “A year ago today, I had just made it home from hospital in time for Strictly, after undergoing another mastectomy. 🎀 The start of November over the last three years hasn’t been easy. It’s been a time of year I’ve dreaded, bringing back so many emotions, memories and challenges. But fast forward a year, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far I’ve come , of my body and my incredible Strictly family, who have supported me every step of the way.💖 What an incredible show after such an amazing week I’ve had! Feeling truly grateful for everything! 🙏🎀 Life really is precious. Never take a moment for granted. Remember to get out there and LIVE life! 💖💖”

19K likes, 176 comments – amy_dowden on November 7, 2026: “A year ago today, I had just made it home from hospital in time for Strictly, after undergoing another mastectomy. 🎀 The start of November over the last three years hasn’t been easy. It’s been a time of year I’ve dreaded, bringing back so many emotions, memories and challenges. But fast forward a year, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far I’ve come , of my body and my incredible Strictly family, who have supported me every step of the way.💖 What an incredible show after such an amazing week I’ve had! Feeling truly grateful for everything! 🙏🎀 Life really is precious. Never take a moment for granted. Remember to get out there and LIVE life! 💖💖”.

instagram.com

Iranian state media report blasts in Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and the cities of Jask, Sirik and Bandar Abbas.

In Jim Ruland’s twisty and mordantly funny novel “Mightier Than the Sword,” four academics toiling in the English department at a tiny college in Flagstaff, Ariz., fall way off the tenure track by committing heists. Beset by a college culture that venerates football and disparages the liberal arts, Ruland’s working class strivers are barely scraping by, and vent their frustration by striking at the very heart and soul of a rah-rah student body that venerates jocks and can’t distinguish Billy Collins from Phil Collins.

Ruland is also an acclaimed nonfiction writer; his book “Corporate Rock Sucks” is the definitive history of L.A.’s great punk record label SST. I recently talked to Ruland about Flagstaff, fiction and football.

✍️ Author Chat

What is it about heist stories? They have eternal appeal, it seems.

The idea of people getting away with something is always appealing, right? There’s a mixture of motives, and many of the stories have characters that you don’t expect to be involved in such a thing, which is the case in my novel.

It’s even more engaging for the reader when it’s poor lovable saps trying to pull off something big.

In my book, the main characters aren’t even very good writers. I didn’t want this to be the kind of story where their exceptional literary gifts make them master criminals. These are working-class teachers who are victims of the class struggle, and they are being exploited by the university. They have this pretense of respectability, but they are treated poorly.

Your novel takes place at a fictional college in Flagstaff, Ariz. You taught at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, right?

I did teach for three years in Flagstaff — two years as a teaching assistant, and one year full time, because how could I turn down the allure of a low five-figure salary?

Author Jim Ruland

(Edward Colver)

In the novel, the school is all about sports culture. The administration pumps all their money into the football team, while the English department languishes.

The book is set in 1993, and that was the beginning of the growth of creative writing classes at colleges. And it was a big money maker for a while in the ‘90s until the growth stalled, and all of that stopped. The idea of a heist at a football game was that it was the next step up from robbing a bookstore. I like unusual settings for big heists, like Steven Soderbergh’s film “Lucky Logan” where the characters rip off a racetrack. Or [Stanley] Kubrick’s “The Killing,” which is also a racetrack theft that I allude to in the book. I’m not so much trying to critique football other than make the obvious swipes at it. It’s more like: Here’s this venue where you’re going to have a lot of money and people who are enthusiastic about violence.

Your novel is an ensemble piece, shifting between four major characters. How is that for you?

I really love that aspect of it. It’s almost cinematic. You can get someone in trouble and then move to the next point of view, then some time passes and you can go back.

You tend to toggle between fiction and nonfiction. Does one inform the other, or are they different muscles?

I think they help each other. When I run into something in fiction that I don’t know, I’m more apt to just push forward, instead of getting lost in a research hole, which can happen in nonfiction. I’ll just dig in and know I can figure out the answer later.

It’s definitely a case of the grass being greener. When I’m in the middle of a fictional story, I’m like, “Man, it would be really easy just to write what actually happened here.” And then when I’m working on a nonfiction book and hit a snag, I think, “I’d really love to make something up right here.”

What crime novels do you admire?

The Richard Stark novels by Donald Westlake. I loved those and reread them all before writing my book.

This Q&A was edited for length and clarity.

📰 The Week(s) in Books

(Los Angeles Times photo illustration; book jacket from Knopf)

Lawrence Wright, one of America’s greatest investigative journalists, turns his forensic eye to the death penalty in the U.S. in his new book, “Redemption.” Yet according to Julia M. Klein, Wright’s book makes for a baggy read. “Wright sometimes loses the thread, indulging in digressions that detract from his study of transformation and redemption,” she writes.

Anna Holmes, founder of influential feminist website Jezebel, has written a slim, potent book called “The Power of No,” about the power of a woman’s right of refusal in the public and private spheres. “I don’t purport to be good at it,” she tells Meredith Maran. “But I’m more cognizant now of wanting to say it, at least.”

A scant four years after publishing her Pulitzer Prize-winning stunner “Demon Copperhead,” Barbara Kingsolver has returned with “Partita,” a love story about musicians that is also “a meditation on how a composition is different each time a musician plays it,” according to Heather Scott Partington.

Finally, Catapult Books, a beloved local indie publisher with a national reputation, is being sold, reports Emily St. Martin.

📖 Bookstore Faves

Annabelle’s Book Club L.A.

(Felicia Lasala)

Annabelle’s Book Club L.A., the brainchild of Annabelle Chang, is decked out like a birthday cake at a “sweet 16” party, all bright pastels and a beribboned book display shaped like a flowing Victorian dress. The store’s inventory is primarily geared to young readers, the inventory subdivided by categories like “Riveting” and “Intoxicating.” Annabelle’s location on a busy stretch of Studio City’s Ventura Boulevard has made it one of L.A.’s most Instagrammable bookstores. In an email exchange, Chang tells us what’s selling at her store.

What prompted you to open the store?

I’ve always been an avid reader, and during the pandemic, I received so many requests for book recommendations that I decided to start an Instagram account and blog to share some of my favorite books. In early 2022, I also started selling books at pop-up events like the L.A. Times Festival of Books. After seeing the overwhelmingly positive response, I started to think about creating a store where my curation would be more permanent. As I researched bookstores in L.A. and across the country, I realized that there weren’t any Y.A.-focused ones, and I wanted to fill that gap in the market.

Romance and Romantasy are the hottest genres in publishing. Why do you think that is so?

I think romance has always been popular because love, connection and the desire to be understood are fundamental to the human experience. Women’s stories, especially those focused on their desires, have historically been dismissed as unserious, but romance has always had a huge, loyal readership. Now, the publishing industry recognizes that these books aren’t just culturally relevant, they’re commercially successful.

As for romantasy, I think BookTok has been a huge catalyst. TikTok really gave users a way to share their enthusiasm for these books and find a community of like-minded readers. What might once have felt like a niche interest has become a total cultural phenomenon.

Who are your customers?

Our store is young adult-focused, but we truly aim to have something for everyone. I’m thrilled that our customers are readers of all ages, whether it is kids who are just beginning to discover their love of reading, teenagers coming by with their friends after school, or adults shopping for their book clubs.

What’s selling right now?

“Hollywood Ending” by John Green, “Threshing Day” by Rebecca Yarros and “Exit Party” by Emily St. John Mandel.

Everyone seems to be writing off books, yet it seems that those obituaries are highly premature. Why will books continue to prevail in a digital world?

In a digital world, teenagers and young adults are gravitating toward physical media and the genuine connection it offers more than ever. Every day, teenagers visit Annabelle’s Book Club L.A. to browse new titles with their friends, attend our author events or simply unplug from their phones and read in our book nook. It’s also been so exciting to see the resurgence of independent bookstores in L.A. and beyond. It’s a true testament to the unmatched power of storytelling to bring us together, especially in a digital world.

Annabelle’s Book Club L.A. is located at 12200 Ventura Blvd., Studio City

One housemate will be crowned Big Brother’s 2026 winner in just a few hours

Big Brother’s favourite to win has been revealed just hours before the live final.

It’s been eight weeks since the ITV2 experiment returned to our screens with a fresh batch of contestants. They have since faced brutal co-star feuds and tricky shopping tasks all in the battle for a huge £100,000 cash prize.

The remaining contestants are Twinks, Rochelle, Yasmin, Samuel, Lynx and Catrin. Fans are now voting for their 2026 champion, with the results set to be announced on Thursday (November 5) at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

Although many viewers are convinced Rochelle will take home this year’s crown, recent betting odds suggest she could miss out on the prize. Bookmaker Coral believes tonight’s final could be the closest in history, at least if its odds are accurate.

They have revealed that Twinks is the 4/6 favourite to be crowned the winner, but Rochelle is hot on her heels at 6/5 in the outright betting for this evening’s final.

“This looks set to be one of the closest Big Brother finals in history, as there is very little between Twinks and Rochelle in our outright betting,” said Coral’s John Hill.

Hill added: “Twinks just edges favouritism following what has been a rollercoaster ride in the Big Brother house since her arrival. We expect her to be in the final two with Rochelle, and the majority of our punters are backing the former to be crowned the winner.”

Both contestants have gained considerable support over the last few weeks, although Rochelle has attracted backlash at several points in her ITV journey.

Odds for the other finalists place Yasmin at 10/1, while Samuel sits at 20/1, Lynx is at 50/1 and Catrin sits at 66/1.

Ensure our latest Big Brother stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

The live final will be hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best and they will return for a special reunion episode on Friday night (November 6). All the housemates will re-enter the house for the reunion, where they will revisit major moments from the series.

Viewers have been told to expect “big revelations, unfinished business and plenty of drama as they look back on the moments that had the nation talking and reveal where they stand now”.

Big Brother’s live final airs tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX

Iran says a ‘maximum deterrence’ plan is ready against any new US attack, warning of an immediate response.

Polls to start closing in waves across the country, with the earliest closures at 23:00 GMT in Indiana and Kentucky.

US president warns Iran to make a deal, as IRGC says two tankers have hit mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats are being contested on Tuesday.

Iran’s top diplomat tells Al Jazeera Tehran has reached a plan with Qatari mediators to reopen Hormuz within two days if the US meets its conditions.

It’s Halloween and our remaining 11 celebs are sinking their teeth into a spooky line-up of fresh dances on Strictly Come Dancing.

This week there’s a cameo from Sir Ian McKellen during the results show, Nikita Kuzmin as a vampire and there are two unexpectedly brutal twists.

For Halloween, three couples will be in the dance-off instead of the usual two and when one couple gets sent backing the judges will be voting to eliminate them, rather than save.

It’s getting brutal and we’ll be following tonight’s Strictly every quickstep of the way.

James on his exit

“The idea of doing that got me through the whole experience because you feel as a Traitor sometimes, when you see people have real life reactions that are bigger than the game, you feel bad, and I would have to remind myself they don’t have a game without you, literally, if no one’s doing this stuff, they can’t play, and they all want to play,” he said.
“So you are doing an important job here, so they all have something to do, and when they catch you, they’ll be really happy and they’ll like it, and it will feel good to just tell them and see that reaction.”

They said they had no work-life balance

A family who moved to Britain’s most remote inhabited island, where just 50 people live, say it takes seven hours to get a takeaway curry delivered.

Katy Phenix, 33, partner Josh Moore, 35, and their kids have relocated to Fair Isle for a quieter life after quitting the rat race of working long 12-hour days. She saw an Instagram ad to live and work on the Scottish island near Sheltand and registered ”on a whim”.

They applied to move to the isle – where there are more birds than people – despite never visiting before. Numbers are strictly controlled and new residents are only allowed in when others leave.

Interview process

They had to go through a rigorous interview process with its inhabitants and the National Trust for Scotland to ensure they were a “good fit”. Four months later, Katy and Josh moved to the UK’s most geographically remote inhabited island.

They were accompanied by their children, Hetty, six, and Teddy, 11, three dogs and four cats. Despite the huge lifestyle change, they said they are now living the “absolute dream” – and all the children miss from the mainland is a trip to McDonald’s.

But they say they’ve learned to be resourceful, getting an Indian takeaway on the Island ferry, which took seven hours from Shetland to their croft, in what they describe as a “military operation”. Katy revealed they can place the order with the Indian at midday, order a taxi to pick it up and take it to the island ferry.

It is then picked up from the ferry and heated up for dinner when it arrives. Apart from missing easy access to their favourite takeaway, Katy, an early years practitioner, and Josh, an electrician, said the move has been a dream.

No work-life balance before

They had almost no work-life balance and “lived to work” when they applied from North Yorkshire in March 2026. They sold their three-bed new build home in Redcar and are now renting a five-bedroom house with 17 acres of land and five outbuildings from the National Trust.

She said: “We had a really large mortgage in England, but now pay peanuts in comparison to live in one of the most beautiful areas of the UK. It feels like we’ve won the lottery. I don’t think you could get a bigger change of lifestyle – but as a family we are all loving it.

“We were kind of like passing ships in the night before. Neither of us thought there was any chance at all we would hear back from our application, but the more we researched into it the more we were totally hooked.”

Fair Isle sits about 24 miles south of the Shetland Mainland in the North Sea. After their interview in May 2026, they received their offer to move to the island.

Massive gamble

Katy, who now works around four hours a day Monday to Friday, said: “It was a massive gamble and a long journey. It cost us £8,000 for the move in July.

“The only thing we knew is that there was a five-bedroom house, and it had 17 acres of land and five outbuildings. We saw a floor plan, but that was out of date.”

Outgoing tenants Deryk and Hollie and their four children have been a great help to Katy and Josh, passing on all of their crofting knowledge with a yearly planner and selling their sheep to help them start their own croft. There are seven children living on the island, five in school, one in nursery and an infant with two teenagers in high school on the mainland.

Hetty and Teddy were able to have calls with the school to help get them settled before the move. Luckily for them, there was a six-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy already on the island, giving them “an immediate best friend”.

Katy said: “The little boy and Teddy are off all the time mushrooming, fishing, they’re in our outbuildings making weird contraptions out of wood. Hetty is such a little animal lover, she’s been out with the sheep and we’ve got hens she’s with all the time. We’ve not had many challenges at all.”

With no high school, teenagers go to a school on the mainland with free accommodation and frequent trips home. Every half term the Fair Isle children will go to visit to meet their future classmates and ensure a smooth transition when they begin school.

The island has a pub in their bird observatory in the summer season, shop open four days a week, a Post Office and even has Amazon Prime. There is also a nurse on the island and when any situation begins to raise concerns, it takes a helicopter 15 minutes from Shetland and patients are airlifted off the island. Josh has found a lot of work as resident handyman.

Katy said: “He’s been out today fixing someone’s washing machine. He’s re-plumbed our house, he’s done everything.”

Slower pace of life

The significantly slower pace in life and family time has been the ultimate highlight for Katy.

She said: “We’re not stressed and overworked, we’re so much more present for the children. I remember Teddy once said ‘oh mum you’re so much nicer in the school holidays’. It was a throwaway comment, he didn’t mean anything by it.

“It stuck with me. I never wanted to be that mum, but it was kind of the way life pans out and you accidentally get there.

“This has just given us that time to breathe and be as a family. We do everything together and that’s made it totally worth it.”

What would typically look like a five-minute job can take residents three weeks to do, as they need to plan ahead for deliveries. They are also bound by the weather as the small plane or ferry may not be able to get to them as planned.

Learning how to shear and herd 30 sheep and a ram has not been the easiest at times, but it’s “all hands on deck”, and the children love it. Teddy uses his shepherd’s hook and chases the sheep as the family doesn’t have a sheep dog.

Katy said: “I think the massive misconception is that it’s lonely and there’s nothing to do. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Our lives haven’t actually changed that much. We’ve got something on every day.

“Everybody is here to help you out. I have a really good group of mum friends here. I do pilates and yoga. This is the most social I’ve ever been and Josh is quite an introvert, so he’s really come out of his shell now.”

Full calendar

Their calendar is always full with dress-up parties or harvest festivals. Katy is even learning the tradition of Fair Isle knitting from another resident to help keep the culture alive, a craft skill welcomed by the National Trust to maintain tradition.

Crofting and fishing were the other traditional occupations, but today the island’s economy is far more diverse. There are significantly more species of bird on the island than people, with over 350 different kinds.

To move to the island you have to wait for a current family to move away. National Trust for Scotland then reviews all applications to check for appropriate skills and applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed. Other desirable skills include direct experience in crofting and land management, trade skills such as plumbing expertise, joinery, or maritime skills.

Follow updates from the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony as the world’s best male and female footballers are crowned.

Shaun dealt red card! 

Shaun Wright-Phillips on Instagram: “Last night was a challenge, but as always, we dance, we smile, and we keep going! Thank you to all those who voted and supported as always 🙌🏾🕺🏾 #strictly”

5,020 likes, 64 comments – shaunwp98 on October 25, 2026: “Last night was a challenge, but as always, we dance, we smile, and we keep going! Thank you to all those who voted and supported as always 🙌🏾🕺🏾 #strictly”.

instagram.com

Polls show another tight race between Lula and Bolsonaro leading into today’s election.

Trump says the US is considering a possible attack on Iran as soon as Sunday, or it could reach a major deal with Tehran.