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Iranian media reported “massive explosions” in the southern Strait of Hormuz, with Fars citing unnamed military sources as Trump says US won’t strike Iran before midterms.

Saudi civil aviation authorities say Houthi attacks on Abha and King Khalid International airports have killed three civilians, including two women, and injured 36 others.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree says the group has thwarted attempts by Yemeni government forces to advance toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

MACKLEMORE’S replacement on Ed Sheeran’s under-fire tour has been revealed and the stand-in singer has spoken out on Gaza live on-stage.

Brit singer Ed‘s Loop series of US gigs descended into chaos when his support act and pal Macklemore was dropped by promoters over his pro-Palestine stance.

Billionaire businessman Robert Kraft banned the American musician, real name Benjamin Haggerty, from his stadium after he made a speech on stage in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

At the time, Robert deemed his words “hate speech” and the move sparked a mass exodus of support acts who all quit 35-year-old Ed’s tour in solidarity with the Thrift Shop hitmaker.

Ed continued to perform alone, but he has now been joined by surprise guest, The Fray’s Isaac Slade.

The rock band’s former frontman, 45, opened proceedings at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, with his band’s hits, which included How to Save a Life and You Found Me.

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Despite politics taking precedence over performances during the Loop tour, Isaac had his say.

He told fans: “What’s happening over there [in Gaza] is wrong, but if we’re going to get through it, we’re going to need people to step into that middle place, that common ground.

“That bonfire in the middle of the field that sees both sides, that understands that peace is not a lack of conflict. Peace is not a blank canvas that we need to guard and be polite.”

“[Peace] holds enough beauty, enough tragedy, enough sorrow, enough joy and life if we learn how to integrate it and hold each other in balance.

“We will find a way through this together”.

It isn’t the first time that Isaac, who quit The Fray in 2022, has appeared on the tour.

He also took to the stage in Toronto in August.

Following the Macklemore controversy, which saw Billie Eilish‘s brother Finneas, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, and Danish pop star Lukas Graham withdraw in solidarity, Ed spoke out.

Ed insisted in a statement that he would not be drawn on voicing his own views on the Israel/Gaza conflict publicly but is committed to ensuring his gigs are a place of “safety and sanctuary” for people from all ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds.

He also made it clear that he was not personally responsible for Macklemore’s departure and had been trying to find a solution with promoters and billionaire Robert, who owns Massachusetts‘ Gillette Stadium.

New England Patriots owner Robert had accused Macklemore of having a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”.

It was Macklemore declaring “Free Palestine” ahead of his protest song Free Hind’s Hall, written about pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University, which sparked the controversy.

In his own statement, Macklemore insisted his stance was a “criticism of apartheid and genocide” and not of the Jewish people.

Ed wrote on social media: “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.

“I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

He added that fans at his shows did not want a “political forum” and that despite his apolitical stance he is “not complicit”.

Ed and Macklemore’s friendship goes back 13 years and the latter said he hoped it would continue despite them having had “difficult conversations”.

The other acts also highlighted their friendships with Ed and their gratitude for being given the opportunity to perform on such a high-profile tour, but said they could not continue with clear conscience knowing a fellow artist had been “silenced”.

Yemen’s government announces major offensive against Houthis, as Iran says ‘there is no military solution’ to conflict with US.

IT’S beer season! The world-famous Oktoberfest has landed in Munich, its original location, where locals don traditional lederhosen and sip on steins of foamy nectar.

But why leave all the fun to them?

There are plenty of nods to the traditional beer-drinking event here in the UK and dress-up is often encouraged.

Whether you’re an avid pint drinker or simply want to revel in the fun, these experiences will leave you bottoms up . . .  one way or another.

ALBERT’S SCHLOSS: The Bavarian-inspired Albert’s Schloss is hosting a special event until October 25 at its locations in Manchester, London, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Visitors will be able to knock back the Big Six brews served at Munich’s Oktober-fest while listening to a live oompah band blasting out traditional music.

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OKTOBER-BREAST

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Go on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday to witness the ceremonious wooden keg tapping, performed on stage using the traditional method – a big wooden mallet.

Expect special Bavarian sharing platters of pork knuckle, bratwurst and kraut, too.

Entry is generally free while the Das Big Six Bier Masterclass costs £55pp. See albertsschloss.com.

OKTOBERFEST UK: Don’t live near a big city? The official Oktoberfest UK travels far and wide across the country, bringing its large beer tents to mid-sized towns and coastal regions, as well as larger cities.

The events are running until October 31, with tickets still left in Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Chelmsford and Plymouth, among other destinations.

The huge tents can hold up to 1,000 visitors and are lined with long wooden tables where punters can knock back their pints while joining live sing-alongs. Expect brass bands, massive steins, plus food vendors selling bratwurst and currywurst.

Afternoon and evening sessions last four to five hours. Tickets cost from around £15 for standing and around £25 for seated. See oktoberfestuk.co.uk.

CAMRA BEER FESTIVALS: The Campaign for Real Ale is hosting events all over the UK until early November.

Instead of German lagers, the focus will be on British cask ale, real cider and perry.

Don’t expect any lederhosen either – just like-minded beer fans.

Festivals are taking place in Berkshire, Nottinghamshire and Dorset, among many other locations.

CAMRA members can typically enter free, while prices usuallystart from £3 for non-members, depending on the location. See camra.org.uk/events.

BIERKELLER: These Bavarian-style venues – in Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London – are hosting special bottomless brunches until the end of the month.

Visitors have 90 minutes of unlimited draft beers and steins (there’s also prosecco, or cocktails for the non-lager drinkers of the group).

Most locations serve pretzels on arrival, followed by your pick of Bavarian dishes such as Bratwurst in a brioche or pretzel roll topped with sauerkraut, cheese frankfurters and pretzel-bun burgers.

Those visiting in the evening can get stuck into fun games such as stein-holding competitions and pretzel-tossing.

Brunches cost from £35pp at the Nottingham venue.

See thebierkeller.com.

Strictly fans could see a change in the hosting format this weekend after complaints were made that it “didn’t work” last week.

While fans were happy to see Emma Willis hosting from the dance floor, they were unconvinced that Josh Widdicombe belonged in the role at her side.

“The Strictly producers will be in a bit of a pickle now,” one fan pointed out at the weekend. “The overwhelming view seems to be that Emma is perfect and should host downstairs alone, and Josh should be moved upstairs as he’s way more of a comedic, lighthearted chat sort of host.”

Former pro dancer Vincent Simone told the Mirror this week that he sees the upheaval in the presenting duties is a major “downside”.

“I think the only downside of this year is that there’s been way too many changes all in one go,” he said. “Some people like changes, like me. Some people don’t.

“I can imagine some people saying, ‘Oh, Tess and Claudia are not going to be presenting, I won’t be watching it,’ or, you know, some of the professionals that I used to love, they won’t be performing again, ‘I’m not going to watch it again.’

“So unfortunately, it is what it is. I think there’s been way too many new changes all at once.”

Saturday Kitchen Live underwent a huge schedule shake-up during the latest episode of the BBC One cooking show

Saturday Kitchen Live saw a new presenter on today’s episode.

The hit BBC One cooking show was back with a new instalment, welcoming chefs Jamie Oliver, Gennaro Contaldo and Julie Lin, as well as Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo, in the studio.

However, viewers expecting host Matt Tebbutt got a surprise to see the presenter absent and instead Donal Skehan in presenting duties.

Addressing Matt’s, 52, absence, Donal, 40, said: “Welcome to the show, Matt is away, so Donal can play!”

It appears that Matt is busy on another project as he posted updates to his Instagram Story about working on The Go To Food Podcast, writing: “Did a fun thing with these two smashers! Coming soooooonnn!”

Prior to Saturday Kitchen Live airing, BBC Breakfast spoke to Donal to hear what the show had coming up, where Naga Munchetty spoke about Matt’s absence.

Naga, 51, said: “Donal! Good morning to you!” with Donal responding: “Good morning, Naga, this might be a nice little palate cleanser for you. You know, no Matt this week, but I’m here!”

With Naga joking: “Well, yeah, this is definitely a palate cleanser, in terms of no Matt!” the BBC Breakfast host then put Donal on the spot, asking if anyone had ever told him his recipe hadn’t worked after releasing an impressive 13 cook books.

A shocked Donal responded: “Never. Why?” with Naga admitting: “Because I don’t think… I don’t think they’re always accurate. Especially when it, you know, comes to time and whatever. What do you think?”

With Donal replying: “Naga! Well, I think you’re completely wrong, firstly, and we have Jamie Oliver in the house to prove you wrong, because we’re going to do 20 minutes of straight-through cooking, showing you can make anything delicious in no time at all!

“So, er, my cookbooks aren’t tested like that, but Jamie’s are, and we’re going to… we’re going to do great things, and hopefully prove you wrong.”

Donal then quipped: “I thought you were going to be nice to me after Matt’s out of the seat!” with Naga joking in response: “That was nice!”

Saturday Kitchen Live continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Our live updates on team news, weather forecast, prediction, toss, score and text commentary of the gold medal match.

Strictly Come Dancing hosts Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe have revealed all about the chaotic first live show, with them admitting to tears amid a ‘baptism of fire’

Strictly Come Dancing host Johannes Radebe admits he cried on the first live show, which was dubbed chaotic by fans.

The BBC programme’s hosts including former professional dancer Johannes, as well as Josh Widdicombe and Emma Willis have revealed all about the chaotic first live show, with Emma describing it as a “baptism of fire”.

Johannes admitted he was teary amid his live debut. He confessed to Ellie Taylor on It Takes Two that he was in tears in rehearsals for missing out on the chance to dance with a celebrity this year.

“In rehearsal, seeing them all come down in their outfits, knowing what they’re dancing that week, what they had to go through in the past two weeks, I was just like, ‘Ugh, I miss that^{.’ But I’ve got partners with me, so it’s fine,” he said.}

Josh even quipped that he wasn’t ready to say goodbye to one of the celebrities this week after they dance their movie-themed tunes. Whilst no one left this week, one will leave next Sunday.

Asked how he feels about the elimination, he said: “I feel really bad^{. I feel terrible already. Do you know what, I think I’m just going to do the Saturday show this week, and leave the other two to do the Sunday.}

“Last week, after the show, it was just joyous, everyone was really happy, and then Jojo went to us, ‘Wait till next week.'”

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“I don’t think I actually really thought about that until you’ve just brought it up, and you’ve just said how nervous you are, and now I’m like oh,” Emma added as they discussed the upcoming exit.

Emma also branded the first live show as a “baptism of fire”, whilst Josh seemed to reference the backlash to his performance for the first time, quipping: “It was incredible^{. It’s been very low-key since, no one’s talked to me about it.” He has been barraged with comments online about his appearance on the show, with critics pointing out one time he missed his cue.}

Former The Voice host Emma also said she felt bad how Josh was stood on one side of the stairs at the start, whilst her and Johannes walked down the same side of the famous Strictly stairs.

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

President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran “has never avoided” dialogue with the US, even though it’s been attacked three times during negotiations.

Fans have been discussing who they think might be named one of the three Traitors this evening.

One fan has picked out who they don’t trust, saying: “Miranda Hart is just too nice, so obviously it’s her. Michael Sheen could lie to me for ten episodes and I’d thank him for it. And Hannah Fry looks like she’s already done the maths on all of us.”

Another suggested: “The story about James Acaster having a panic attack or similar leading to the game being paused makes me think he’s probably not one.”

“I am really hoping for at least Bella and either James Acaster of Joe Lycett. Joanne, Miranda and James Blunt would also be cool and could pull it off,” a third wrote.

So who do you think will be given those coveted roles? I’d love to see Miranda Hart be named a Traitor but after last year and Alan’s success, Claudia may choose a different personality this time around…

Follow our build-up, field hockey rivalry history, score, photos and live text commentary stream of the match in Japan.

Xavier Becerra has made a campaign out of saying nothing. Steve Hilton will seemingly say anything to anyone as long as there’s a microphone.

Neither dynamic is promising for voters tuning into Wednesday night’s televised debate on CNN with the two candidates vying to replace Gavin Newsom as California’s new governor.

But don’t worry, Golden State voters — Times columnists Gustavo Arellano, Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria are watching every minute, every second, really, to bring you the zingers, gaffes and hopefully maybe even some insights.

*

Chabria: Let me start things off by saying my hope is that Hilton will push Becerra into specifics around issues including affordability, what we’re going to do about the coming Medicaid cliff, housing and education. California has been focused on raising up our most vulnerable and struggling residents for years — which is important.

But the middle class is suffering now, too, in all those areas. Hilton is right that the status quo isn’t working. That’s going to be a challenge for Becerra when he gets into office (and honestly, he could vacation in Hawaii until November and still get elected), so I’ll be looking for answers on how he plans to lift all boats.

Barabak: There will be much critiquing to come, so let me start by paying both gentleman a compliment.

Hilton has been campaigning hard, as though he has more than the merest speck of a chance of pulling an epic upset and somehow prevailing. Good for him!

And Becerra, who’s made himself exceedingly scarce, is stepping up and debating, as he should. And he’s not being cute about it, insisting on, say, a midnight appearance on local cable TV in Alturas. So props for that.

Arellano: I’m hoping that Becerra will once again channel his inner cholo, as I urged him to during the primary.

The Tío Xavier persona that Becerra supporters have trotted out — a kind, chuckling sage — isn’t what California needs right now. Becerra knows that the most loved uncles in Latino households aren’t the safe, boring ones but the ones who risked it all: the ones who came into this country without papers, who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps so that their kids could drive hybrids, and who proudly warble “El Rey” during the mariachi portion of the latest family wedding instead of sit quietly at the table.

We need the loco uncle, Xavier, not the fresa — uppity — one.

And I’m hoping Hilton will rebuke Donald Trump. I know, I know: there’s a better chance of England winning the FIFA World Cup than that ever happening.

But if there’s an iota of hope for the British expat to beat Becerra, it can only happen by him showing Californians that he’s willing to stand up to the loathed president instead of cozying up to him.

Otherwise, as a famous Brit once sang backed by sinuous xylophones, “Baby, baby, baby, you’re out of time.”

Trump repeats the claim that the US has “virtually total control” over the Strait of Hormuz during an event marking Hispanic Heritage Month.

US President Donald Trump reiterates that Tehran will not have a nuclear weapon.

Iran’s foreign minister says his visit to the UN General Assembly last week was mainly to outline Tehran’s position on regional conflicts and the critical security situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Named among the world’s five coolest neighbourhoods, it packs cafés, international food and welcoming pubs into a small pocket of a major city.

A £4.60 oat milk mocha might not be everyone’s idea of a bargain. But at Zennor in Govanhill, I’d argue it’s worth every penny – and the surrounding streets offer plenty of reasons to stay after the last sip.

The neighbourhood on Glasgow’s south side earned a place among the world’s five coolest neighbourhoods in Time Out’s annual list. Its appeal goes well beyond fashionable coffee shops, with a diverse mix of people, cultures and businesses shaping the area.

From Turkish börek to Pakistani street food, independent cafés to a pub named after a footballing legend, there’s plenty to explore. Some may say it’s all new coffee shops and no substance, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

A neighbourhood best explored on foot

Victoria Road is a natural starting point. Busy with dog walkers, friends catching up and people carrying takeaway coffees, it leads towards the green space of Queen’s Park.

Govanhill is one of Scotland’s most diverse neighbourhoods, reflected in its cafés, bakeries, takeaways and gift shops. You could easily spend hours browsing and stopping for something to eat.

Options include a flat white from a Transylvanian coffee shop or traditional Turkish börek from Pistachio. For me though, Zennor was the destination of choice.

On the corner of Langside Road and Dixon Avenue, Zennor’s second Glasgow location combines Scandi-inspired light wood and stainless steel décor with paper lanterns and the smell of freshly ground coffee.

Zennor’s seasonal specials are really where they excel, but I didn’t spot anything on there that caught my eye on this occasion, so I opted for a mocha. And you can’t pop in here without grabbing a sweet treat, such as their dark chocolate and sea salt cookie – utter bliss.

With oat milk, my coffee order totalled £4.60. It pains me to admit, but I don’t think that’s too steep these days, particularly when it’s this good. And it’s worth every penny in my opinion.

Where to head for a pint or a plate of pasta

Directly opposite Zennor is the Rose Reilly, my favourite pub in Govanhill. Named after the legendary footballer, it offers a welcoming atmosphere, a good choice of drinks and plenty of outdoor seating for sunny days.

For something more substantial, I recommend Pakistani Street Food for a samosa, Bar Vini for a generous serving of pasta and Errol’s Hot Pizza for the best pizza you’ll ever eat.

Together, these venues offer plenty of scope to turn a quick coffee visit into a longer afternoon or weekend exploring the neighbourhood.

More than a ‘coolest neighbourhood’ label

Govanhill’s fashionable reputation is only part of its story. The area faces challenges, and residents hold differing views about how it has changed, with gentrification a particularly contentious issue.

My view, however, is that its mix of people and cultures is what makes it such a lively and fascinating place to discover. The coffee may provide a reason to stop, but it is far from the only attraction.

There’s also libraries, craft spaces, workshops, community projects and events, and with great public transports links too, you’re never too far from other parts of the city. Other nearby neighbourhoods in Glasgow’s south side, like Pollokshields, Strathbungo and Mount Florida, are also full of fun things to do.