major

Media reports and independent monitor describe the latest strikes on Ukraine as ‘one of the heaviest’ since war began.

At least nine people have been reported injured as Russia launched a major drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital and the surrounding region.

An air raid alert was in place over the Kyiv region early on Sunday, with the local military administration saying Russia was attacking with drones and missiles.

Some Kyiv residents fled to metro stations deep underground for safety as the attack continued in the morning.

Many regions across the country were also under air raid alert, while neighbouring Poland closed airspace near two of its southeastern cities and its air force and allied forces scrambled jets in response.

In a statement posted on X, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia had fired “hundreds of drones and missiles” overnight.

He said the strikes destroyed residential buildings and caused “civilian casualties”.

“We must maximise the cost of further escalation for Russia,” he said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the Ukrainian capital was under a “massive” assault and urged people to stay in shelters.

“In total, there are five injured,” Klitschko said on the Telegram social media platform, adding that they had been hospitalised.

An independent monitor described the attack on Kyiv as one of the biggest Russian strikes on the capital and the surrounding areas since the full-scale war began.

The Kyiv Post reported that the total number of aerial targets is still being assessed, but described the latest Russian attack as “one of the heaviest they had ever witnessed”.

Anti-aircraft fire rang out through the night as drones flew over Kyiv.

In the southeastern Zaporizhia region, the governor said Russian strikes there had wounded at least four people.

“Once again, residential buildings and infrastructure are being hit. Once again, it is a war against civilians,” Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said.

“There will be a response to these actions. But the West’s economic blows against Russia must also be stronger,” Yermak said.

Earlier, Poland’s armed forces said they had scrambled fighter jets in its airspace and put ground-based air defence systems on high alert in response to the Russian strikes in Ukraine.

The moves were preventive and aimed at securing Polish airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to Ukraine, the forces said.

Sept. 27 (UPI) — Humberto remained a major hurricane Saturday morning and is headed to Bermuda as another potential storm later threatens Cuba, the Bahamas and the eastern United States, the National Hurricane Center said.

Humberto, the eighth named storm of the Atlantic season, had maximum sustained winds of 145 mph as a Category 4, with additional strengthening forecast through the weekend, NHC officials said in a 5 a.m. EDT update. Humberto became the season’s fourth hurricane on Friday morning.

The eye of the storm was located about 375 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. It was moving northwest at 6 mph.

The forecast track has Humberto moving northward at a slightly faster forward speed through the weekend with a turn north-northwest on Monday night.

Swells generated by Humberto will start affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Bermuda this weekend, NHC said. They are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

“As Humberto gains latitude, a significant expansion in the surface wind field will likely occur while it passes west of Bermuda,” NHC forecaster Lisa Bucci said in a discussion.

NHC shows Bermuda in NHC’s cone early Wedesday as a major storm. Humberto will move eastward out to sea on Thursday.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect as of Saturday morning.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center of the storm, and tropical-force one outward to 105 miles.

Humberto became the Atlantic hurricane season’s eighth named storm on Wednesday. It’s the third hurricane after Erin and Gabrielle.

In August, Erin intensified into a Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph winds spreading across a 500-mile area. It did not make landfall in the United States but caused dangerous surf, rip currents and coastal flooding along the East Coast, with the worst conditions in North Carolina and Virginia.

Gabrielle formed in mid-September and also became a major hurricane, a Category 4. The storm dissipated into a post-tropical cyclone near the Azores on Friday.

Tropical Storm Chantal was the only storm to make landfall in the U.S. — South Carolina on July 6.

By Sept. 27 last year, there were 10 named storms with one other storm forming later in September.

Potential tropical cyclone

Another storm of concern in the Atlantic is Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, which is forecast to become a depression on Saturday night and Imelda early Sunday. A hurricane is projected for Monday night east of Florida’s northern coast.

In the 8 a.m. EDT NHC advisory, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was about 170 miles northwest from the tip of Cuba and about 180 miles south of the Central Bahamas. It was moving northwest at 9 mph.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Central Bahamas and San Salvador, while a tropical storm watch is in effect for portions of the northwest Bahamas.

Moving north-northwest through Monday, the storm is expected to track across the central and northwestern Bahamas this weekend and approach the U.S. coast early next week. Eastern Cuba is expected to see 8 to 12 inches of rain with the potential for up to 16 inches of rain in isolated areas, which the Bahamas is predicted to see 4 to 8 inches of rain, forecasters said.

“Moisture from the disturbance will lead to a threat of heavy rainfall well to the north across portions of the Southeast U.S. and Virginia into early next week which could cause flash, urban, and river flooding,” NHC said.

Swells generated by the cyclone, as well as Hurricane Humberto, will affect parts of the Bahamas this weekend and are predicted to spread to the southeast U.S. coast early next week. The potential for swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, NHC said.

In a crackdown against unregulated tourist accomidation, the Spanish government have removed over 50,000 flats on booking platforms, and are turning them into residental properties instead

According to the Spanish government, 53,000 tourist flats have breached the national Single Register of Tourist and Seasonal Accommodations and will now turned into permanent housing instead.

The illegal tourist flats failed to comply with regulations that have been in place since July 1, and crackdowns on accomodation platforms such as Booking.com and Airbnb have been asked to remove adverts for rule-breaking properties by the Spanish housing ministry.

For Brits who own holiday homes in Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez shared a post on X on Sunday that read: “We will demand that platforms remove 53,000 tourist flats for failing to comply with regulations. So that they can become permanent rentals for young people and families in this country.”

READ MORE: Stunning UK train journey named the best in the whole of EuropeREAD MORE: ‘Prettiest village in Wales’ is one of the UK’s best seaside towns

As of July 2025, the Spanish government introduced the nationwide system for regulating temporary rentals and The Single Rental Register requires all properties rented for short-term stays to be officially listed, ensuring compliance with local regulations. If a property is not on the register, it is not permitted to be advertised for temporary rental.

According to Travel and Tour World, this regulation aims to curb the growing number of unlicensed properties being offered through online platforms, which have become a source of tension in cities where housing shortages are particularly acute. The new law is seen as an effort to restore balance between the tourism industry and the need for affordable housing.

It means if a property is not on the register, it cannot legally be advertised online and Airbnb and the Spanish Ministry of Housing identified that less than 10 per cent of the listings that were turned down by the registry were on Airbnb. The crackdown comes as an aim to boost the housing sector by reclaiming properties previously used as temporary rentals.

The decision comes after months of scrutiny over the booming short-term rental market, which has seen platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com become a staple of Spanish tourism.

With this new move, Spain is effectively reclaiming valuable residential properties, thereby addressing the housing shortage in several cities, including Seville, Barcelona, and Marbella.

An Airbnb spokesperson said: “The vast majority of non-compliant listings are not on Airbnb. So we are calling on other platforms to join Airbnb’s ongoing enforcement effort with local authorities,” according to The Independent. The rental platform added that 70,000 more Airbnb listings have shown a registration number since January and will no longer be allowed to function as short-term rentals.

Airbnb said: “Those listings (that show a registration number) are the ones that our customers love, leaving us with no significant business impact. We are setting the ground for a new and resilient business model in Spain.”

The Independent further reported that from the withdrawn tourist flats, 16,740 were discovered in Andalusia, 8,698 in the Canary Islands and 7,499 in the Valencian Community and for Spanish cities, Seville saw 2,289 cancelled registrations, Marbella 1,802, Barcelona 1,564 and 1,471 in Malaga.

Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected]

A MAJOR supermarket with 340 branches is set to close a site tomorrow.

The supermarket specialises in frozen food but also stocks a wide-range of well known brands such as Muller, Birds Eye and McCain.

5

5

Heron Foods was first established in 1978 after operating as a local butcher in Hull under the name ‘Grindells Butchers.’

After Anthony Grindell sold the business to his sister and her family, the name was changed and the chain started to grow.

The company now runs 343 locations across the UK, however it will suffer a huge blow.

It has now been announced that the Scunthorpe store is set to close its doors for the final time.

In the Heron Foods Scunthorpe Facebook group, one of the admins wrote to the chain’s loyal customer base to announce the news.

The post read: “Dear Valued Customers, we want to thank you for your continued support and loyalty to our Heron Foods store in Scunthorpe.

“It’s been a pleasure serving the local community, and we’re incredibly grateful for the relationships we’ve built over the years.

“We’re writing to let you know that our Scunthorpe store, located at Jubilee Way in the Parishes Shopping Centre, will be closing down.

“This decision was not made lightly, and we understand it may come as disappointing news to many of you.”

It was also revealed that the shop will close its doors for the final time before the weekend has even finished.

The post continued: “Our final day of trading will be the 27th September, and until then, we’ll continue to offer great value and service.

“We encourage you to visit us before we close to take advantage of our remaining stock and special offers.”

The account added: “While this location is closing, we remain committed to serving our customers across the UK. You can continue to shop with us at nearby Heron Foods stores.

“Thank you again for being part of our journey in Scunthorpe. We’ll miss you!”

Customers flooded the comments section of the post to express their immense disappointment at the decision.

One user wrote: “Shame you always have good bargains, going to miss you.”

A second stated: “Shame it’s shutting down always go in there every week.”

“Not good for the town yet again another good shop to close,” claimed a third concerned resident.

While this location is closing, we remain committed to serving our customers across the UK.

Shop adminFacebook

While a fourth commented: “It’s an absolute shame for the wonderfully helpful staff.”

And a fifth added: “Feel sorry for all the people that use the shop in the town that get their good bargains etc.”

However, the chain is launching a new site in Byker, Newcastle which is set to open its doors to customers on October 16th.

The company is also investing in a refurbishment in its Fulwell shop in Sunderland that is due to reopen at the start of October.

In August 2017, B&M purchased the chain in a reported £152million acquisition.

5

5

5

A HUGE carmaker has issued a UK recall, over fears that the brake pedals could fall off one of it’s vehicle models.

Earlier this year, Stellantis, the parent firm of French car manufacturer Citroen issued a huge recall of its motors fitted with Takata airbags, after they were linked to a number of fatal accidents.

1

The recall left 120,000 motorists unable to drive their vehicles, and now more models are being recalled, for a separate issue.

Citroen has urged anyone with a current C3 model to stop driving their cars, due to an issue with the break pedal.

The carmaker revealed that a problem with the assembly of the brake pedal box could result in the car’s brake pedal falling off, which would stop the mechanical brakes from being applied.

“During our regular quality process checks, an investigation revealed that certain right-hand-drive Citroen C3 and Citroen C3 Aircross could have a pedal box assembly that is not to the correct specification and is at risk of loss of brake capability,” it said.

“If this were to happen, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) and the electronic parking brake would remain fully operational.

“We are initiating a stop-drive action to protect all customers of the Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross affected. Customers will be provided a replacement vehicle whilst their car is checked and, if necessary, rectified.”

C3 models affected

All of Citroen’s current C3 range is affected by the recall.

This includes the following models:

• Citroën C3 (2025-present)
• Citroën e-C3 (2024-present)
• Citroën C3 Aircross (2025-present)
• Citroën e-C3 Aircross (2025-present)

Around 1,110 of these cars have so far been delivered to UK drivers, according to Stellantis.

The new Vauxhall Frontera and Vauxhall Frontera Electric models are also affected by the recall, however, these cars have not yet begun to be delivered to UK drivers.

What to do if you’re affected by the recall

If you own one of the affected models, you should stop driving it immediately.

This is because Stellantis has issued a “stop drive” recall, a rare warning that is put in place when the fault caused by the recall is so dangerous.

Courtesy cars will be offered to anyone affected by the recall, whilst their vehicle is checked, and, if required, fixed, by dealerships.

Airbag recall

Earlier this year, Stellantis issued another “stop drive” recall, to owners of the Citroen C3 (2009-2019), DS3 (2009-2019), Citroen C4 (2010-2011), DS4 (2010-2011) and DS5 (2010-2013).

This is due to faulty airbags, with the vehicles all requiring repairs.

The recall was prompted by concerns over airbags supplied by the now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata, whose components have been linked to fatal accidents.

In one recent incident, a driver in France was killed after a minor collision resulted in metal shrapnel from a faulty airbag hitting them – prompting an immediate reaction from the company.

A spokesperson for Stellantis said at the time: “The company’s focus is on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible.

“Working hand in hand with our Citroen retailer network we are working to maximise the number of vehicles we can repair every day.

“To increase our repair capacity further, work is ongoing on introducing additional airbag replacement sites at convenient locations as well as repair at home options.

“It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers will be inconvenienced in the short term.

“However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs.”

Bianca Adler, who is aiming to become the youngest female to conquer the world’s highest peak, has admitted her devastation at having to turn around when so close to the summit

A girl who is in the process of attempting to climb Mount Everest has been praised on social media after her latest update revealed the toll four days in the mountain’s ‘Death Zone‘ had had on her – before things took an even worse turn. Climbing Everest is a complicated process, which typically requires mountaineers to spend months training both physically and mentally, as well as acclimatising to such high altitudes.

Bianca Adler, 17, is already the youngest female to reach the summit of Manaslu [the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres] and Ama Dablam [6812 metres], and now she has her sights set on the world’s highest peak too. The teenager is documenting her progress, with her clip on TikTok going viral, with a staggering 26million views in just 24 hours.

In it, Bianca shared footage of herself struggling to catch her breath after returning to her camp. Climbers are required to complete their ascent in stages, working their upwards via several camps along the treacherous route.

‘Death Zone’ sits at the ridge of Everest’s summit, some 8,000 metres above sea level and close to its peak of 8,849 metres. It is so-called as the pressure of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span.

Camp 2, meanwhile, which is located on the expedition’s more popular South Route, sits at approximately 6,553 metres high – and it is the trek there from Base Camp (5,364 meters) that Bianca is currently working on.

Barely able to speak, she muttered under her breath: “I just got back from Camp 2 and I’m at Base Camp and I feel horrible.”

Coughing and gasping for air, she continued: “My throat and my lungs… I’m so out of breath even though yesterday I was at 8,000 metres. I’m feeling the worst I have ever felt.”

In a follow-up video shared on Tuesday (September 23), a dejected Bianca explained that she later made it as high as Camp 4 (7,925 metres) but was “devastated” after being forced to turn around for her own safety.

“It’s so hard. I was feeling so good and so strong but I had to turn around due to something out of my control,” she explained, with the aid of an oxygen mask. “I can’t do anything about that and it would have been stupid to carry on.”

She elaborated on Instagram: “I had to turn around on Mt Everest at 8450m (400m below the summit). The winds were way too strong for what I believed was right for my own safety. I could feel my hands and toes going numb, the first step of frostbite.

“I couldn’t see anything, there was snow blowing everywhere. It was an extremely tough decision, but I always want to choose life over a potential summit. I felt strong, like I could summit, and was devastated.”

Bianca continued: “The next night, my Sherpa guides and I tried again from Camp 4, but I was too exhausted from the 10-hour effort the previous night, and turned around. After three nights, and almost four days in the Death Zone at 8,000m or above, we descended back down to Camp 2.”

She concluded: “On the summit push, dad got sick and stayed at Camp 2 whilst I went up. On the way down, he was still sick and I was exhausted. We both got diagnosed with HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema) and dehydration (which is normal for mountaineering). I still feel quite sick and extremely exhausted so taking time to recover.”

Scores of mountaineers were quick to praise Bianca’s efforts, however, offering words of comfort and encouragement. “I’m more impressed by how you handled this situation than if you would have pushed yourself to the top… now you can live another day,” one responded on Instagram. “That is what’s important. A true warrior.”

A second person noted: “Such a great effort and the summit isn’t what matters the most, sounds like it was extremely hard and you had to push yourself far but still had to make a tough, but correct decision, which is one of the most valuable and fulfilling experiences you can have in the mountains. So proud!”

Whilst a third individual confessed: “I can’t even imagine how thought that decision was, but safety is always number 1 and you made the right choice. The mountains will always be there girl, well done and huge congratulations on everything you achieved this season.”

The fourth in an occasional series of profiles on Southern California athletes who have flourished in their post-playing careers.

Before there was Mookie Betts, there was Bill Russell.

An outstanding outfielder in his first three major league seasons, Russell moved to the infield full time in his fourth year. It was a disaster.

“It was something I lost a lot of sleep over,” said Russell, who led the majors with 34 errors that year. “After the season, I just collapsed for a few weeks.”

Then he picked himself up and went to work on getting better and in his second year as a shortstop he led the majors with 560 assists, led the National League in defensive WAR and made the first of three all-star teams.

He went on to play more games for the Dodgers than any player in Los Angeles history.

It was a remarkable career, one that hardly needed a second act. But even after he left the stage, Russell never left the theater. Six months after his last at-bat — he struck out as a pinch hitter in the final week of the 1986 season — Russell was back in uniform as the team’s bench coach.

He later managed in the Dodgers’ minor league system, replaced Tommy Lasorda in that job at the major league level and, for the past 13 years, has worked in the team’s community relations department, coaching youth camps and appearing at schools, fan fests and other events. Since 2002 he’s also served as an umpire observer, partly because the job gets him a good seat behind the plate at Dodger Stadium.

If the team were to a pick a Mr. L.A. Dodger, someone emblematic of the team’s history and values since moving to Southern California, the soft-spoken, humble Russell, a Dodger for nearly half a century, would have to be in that conversation.

But it was his dedication to mastering the switch from the outfield to shortstop — becoming the first prominent player since Honus Wagner to make the move — that literally changed the direction of the franchise. If he hadn’t made it work, the Dodgers may never have had the courage to turn a minor league outfielder named Davey Lopes into a second baseman, where he became Russell’s double-play partner.

If he hadn’t made it work, the Dodgers may never have tried pushing a scatter-armed third baseman named Steve Garvey across the diamond to first, opening up the position to Russell’s right for Ron Cey. The resulting infield of Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey played together for 8 ½ seasons, longer than any quartet in baseball history, winning four pennants and a World Series.

“Each one of us had different talents,” Russell said. “It was tough at first but all of a sudden we started having success. It’s four brothers.”

From left, Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey pose before an old-timers game at Dodger Stadium in 2013. The infield quartet won four pennants and a World Series together.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Now Betts, a six-time Gold Glove-winning outfielder, has mastered the move too, helping the Dodgers to the cusp of their 12th division title in 13 seasons. However if Betts perfected the shift, Russell pioneered it.

“He was a great athlete,” said Steve Sax, Russell’s double-play partner his last five seasons. “He was maybe the fastest guy in the organization. The whole genesis of being able to move guys around was the thought they’re so athletic, why can’t they make the transition?

“And he proved that to be true.”

At 76, Russell is nearly four decades removed from his last of his 2,181 big-league games, all with the Dodgers. But he’s still fit, not far off his playing weight of 175 pounds. And while he was once among the fastest players in the majors, he now moves at a purposeful saunter rather than a sprint. Wire-rim glasses crease his once-boyish face and the mop of straw-blond hair he once tucked under his cap has gone white, leaving him looking more like a college English professor than a once-iconic athlete.

“I just enjoyed going to the park and being with the guys. They just make you feel young again,” said Bill Russell, who turns 77 in October.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

What hasn’t changed is his love for a game that has been his life and for a team that has become his family.

“I just enjoyed going to the park and being with the guys. They just make you feel young again,” said Russell, who often wears a wry smile that suggests he’s in on a joke no one else knows about.

“Billy’s very special,” said Peter O’Malley, the Dodgers’ owner and president throughout much of Russell’s career.

“He was stable. Popular with the fans for sure. He deserves more credit that he’s received.”

Russell grew up a short drive from both the Missouri and Oklahoma state lines in the kind of nondescript Kansas town where everybody knew their neighbors and hard work wasn’t a virtue, it was an expectation.

The middle child in a family of five children, he attended a high school so small it didn’t have a baseball team. So he played basketball during the winter and baseball on sandlots and with American Legion teams during the summer. He was the kind of player scouts once described as “an athlete,” meaning he was smart enough and talented enough to excel at any position, though the Dodgers listed him as an outfielder when they selected him in the ninth round of the second amateur draft in 1966.

He gave most of his $14,000 signing bonus to his parents, minus the money he needed to buy a second-hand Chevy like the one his best friend drove.

Russell shot up the minor-league ladder, playing just 221 games before making the jump from Class A Bakersfield to the majors in 1969, doubling in his first big-league at-bat.

The adjustment from the minors to the majors was far easier than the change from the tiny mining town of Pittsburg, Kan., to the technicolor sprawl of Southern California.

“Coming to Los Angeles, you’ve got to be kidding me. A big city like this?” said Russell, who had rarely traveled more than 30 miles from Pittsburg before signing with the Dodgers. “My town was only 10,000 people so I had to grow up fast.

“I’m 20 years old, I’m in the major leagues and the minimum salary is $10,000. It wasn’t even $1,000 a month. But that was more money than I’d ever thought of. And I’m playing in Hollywood.”

After playing 18 seasons with the Dodgers, Bill Russell managed the ballclub from 1996-98.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Playing exclusively in the outfield, too, although Monty Basgall, a fellow Kansan and the former minor league infield instructor who scouted Russell as an athlete, was already plotting the move to shortstop, the most challenging defensive position after catcher.

“Shortstop is a difficult position,” said Derrel Thomas, a former teammate who played everywhere but pitcher during a 16-year big-league career. “A lot of people don’t give Monty Basgall any credit for what he did helping with the infielders.”

After some preparation in the instructional league and the minors, Russell made his major league debut at shortstop on the final day of the 1970 season, then played 47 games as a middle infielder a year later. But the move didn’t become permanent until Russell’s fourth season when he replaced an aging Maury Wills.

“I wasn’t in a position to say anything, really,” said Russell, who still speaks with a noticeable Midwestern accent.

“I had doubts about it, no question. But I figured my longevity in the big leagues, if I had [any], would come with moving to the infield.”

In fact, the move nearly ended his career. Russell made his first poor throw seven games into the season and by the all-star break he had as almost as many errors as extra-base hits. By then, he was also looking over his shoulder, expecting the Dodgers to put an end to the experiment.

“I’m surprised they didn’t,” he says now. “The fans got involved too. It wasn’t a standing ovation when I was coming back to the dugout after making some errors.

“At that time people brought transistor radios to the stadium. You could hear [Vin Scully] doing the game. I could hear him say something about me at shortstop. Talk radio was just coming on board and they were on me. It was a lot of negative stuff.”

Quitting, however, wasn’t an option.

“Maybe I was too dumb, I don’t know,” Russell said with a shrug. “I never thought about giving up or going back home. What am I going to do back home? I did say to myself, ‘I’m going to show these people I can play this position.’

“And I did. For 13 years.”

Through hard work and determination, Russell turned his fielding from a liability into an asset and the Dodgers began to win, reaching the World Series four times over the next nine seasons. And while Russell never won a Gold Glove — he twice led the majors in errors — he finished in the top five in fielding percentage by an NL shortstop three times, was in the top five for putouts four times and in the top three for assists six times.

He was understatedly brilliant, so much so that Cincinnati Reds’ shortstop Dave Concepcion once mocked Russell’s critics saying he didn’t know who the best fielder was “but I sure watch Bill Russell in the playoffs a lot.”

“He would never quit. Never,” O’Malley said. “Making that transition at the major league level, he deserves extraordinary credit for that.”

Almost lost in the focus on his defense was the fact Russell was a tough out, hitting better than .271 six times and excelling in clutch situations.

“That went all the way back to high school,” said Russell, who hit the shot that took his underdog team to the final of the Kansas state tournament. “It’s just a calmness. You can’t describe it. You can’t teach it. It is something that comes over you and you get a calm feeling that you’re going to succeed.”

As a high school infielder at Arroyo High in El Monte, James Baker was given his choice of uniform numbers. He didn’t have to think long before selecting one.

“I wore No. 18,” he said. “Because of Bill.”

It was the same number he had worn in Little League and American Legion ball.

“He was Mr. Clutch,” Baker, 61, said of Russell. “He was the dean of the infield.”

“The great thing about Bill Russell,” added Rick Zubiate, 57, Baker’s brother-in-law “is he wasn’t flashy. He made all the plays he was supposed to. Not only that, he had a presence and he commanded everybody around him to be better and expect more of themselves.”

Russell may be little more than a face on an old baseball card to Generation Z. But for children of the ‘60s like Baker and Zubiate, he remains the archetypal Dodger, one with a Dodger Blue resume that is unassailable. Which is why Baker and Zubiate braved rush-hour traffic last week to drive to Ontario, where Russell was appearing at an event for the Dodgers’ newest minor league affiliate.

“I loved him,” Baker said after asking Russell for an autograph.

And what’s not to love? He played more games and has more World Series at-bats than any player in L.A. Dodger history. He trails only Willie Davis and Garvey in hits and only Clayton Kershaw has matched Russell’s 18 seasons at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, right, hugs Bill Russell in the dressing room after the Dodgers beat the Phillies, 6-5, in Game 3 of the 1977 NLCS.

(Associated Press)

But he also managed in the team’s minor league system, was the bench coach under Lasorda for seven years, then managed the big-league team for parts of three seasons, posting the fourth-best winning percentage by a manager since the franchise left Brooklyn. And he still pulls on his old uniform — with the bright red 18 over his Dodger blue heart — several times a year to join former teammates including Garvey, Sax and Steve Yeager in reminiscing with fans at fantasy camps and clinics.

“We have fun out there,” he said. “People come from all over the country. [It’s] like you’re still involved in the whole scene of being a major league player.”

If the speed and power of Willie Mays is synonymous with the San Francisco Giants and the style and grace of Ted Williams is emblematic of the Boston Red Sox, Russell’s blue-collar work ethic and country-boy humility is the embodiment of the Dodgers since they moved to Southern California.

“Quintessential Dodger?” O’Malley said. “Absolutely right. From start to end, he deserves the credit. He was respected and liked by everybody.”

Russell stood out, O’Malley said, partly because he blended in.

“He was quiet,” he said. “But keen sense of humor. If he wanted to make a point or be heard, he could nail it with a comment. It was pretty darn funny.”

Yet Russell’s silent excellence often went unappreciated. A .263 lifetime hitter who had fewer home runs in his career than Shohei Ohtani has this year alone, he received just three Hall of Fame votes the only time his name appeared on the ballot. For a time, even his loyalty to the Dodgers went unrequited; for years after his last game as manager Russell felt unwelcome at Dodger Stadium, the result of a toxic stew of bruised egos, Machiavellian maneuvering and corporate mismanagement.

It began midway through the 1996 season when Lasorda, the manager who had groomed Russell in the minors then won with him in the majors, had a heart attack. A month later Lasorda stepped down and Russell took over on an interim basis, guiding the Dodgers to a playoff berth.

That earned him the job full time but it didn’t earn him unquestioned support throughout the organization. The low-key Russell was a striking contrast to the colorful and bombastic Lasorda, more Mr. Rogers than Bobby Knight.

“He’s named the manager following Tommy. That’s not easy,” O’Malley said. “And he did it in his own way.

“But things didn’t work out. Following Tommy was not an easy task.”

Critics who had preferred hitting coach Reggie Smith, Mets manager Bobby Valentine or triple A manager Mike Scioscia — all former Lasorda pupils — over Russell quietly worked to undermine him and 74 games into his second full season as manager, Russell was fired by the team’s new overlords at Fox, who also sacked general manager Fred Claire, replacing him with Lasorda.

By then a major rift had developed between Russell and his former manager, who privately questioned Russell’s performance to management and publicly questioned his qualifications to manage. As a result many pointed fingers for the firings at Lasorda, who strongly denied being involved.

Bill Russell observed umpires on behalf of MLB during Sunday’s Dodgers-Giants game at Dodger Stadium.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Either way, the relationship was irrevocably broken.

Russell left with a .537 winning percentage over parts of three seasons, a better mark — albeit over a far shorter span — than the one that took Lasorda to the Hall of Fame. After firing Russell, the Dodgers never made the playoffs under Fox, with the seven-season postseason drought matching the team’s longest since the late 1960s-early 1970s.

The hard feelings have softened some with the passing of both time and Lasorda, who died in 2021. (Russell, pointedly, was not invited to the funeral; Scioscia, Valentine, Garvey and Cey were.)

“I knew him better than anybody. I was like his son,” Russell said earlier this month, sitting at a patio table near the neat two-bedroom Valencia house where he’s lived for 20 years.

“I don’t want to bad mouth him but he wanted to keep managing. He just couldn’t accept not being there. That’s just the way it was.”

The slight wounded Russell, who took off his Dodger uniform for what he thought would be the final time. O’Malley, who was in the room when Bob Graziano, the former banker Fox put in charge of the team, fired the manager, invited Russell back to the stadium later that season. But the place where he had grown from a boy to man wasn’t the same.

So he went on to work as an advisor with a team in Taiwan, spent a season as bench coach in Tampa Bay and managed in the minors for both the Rays and Giants.

None of it felt comfortable.

“I was in the Dodger organization 30 years,” he said. “To go somewhere else, it wasn’t right.”

After managing the Shreveport Swamp Dragons to a last-place finish in the Texas League in 2001, he returned to Southern California — and Dodger Stadium — as an umpire observer for Major League Baseball, a job that lets him sit behind the plate and watch games.

As if he could imagine doing anything else.

“He’s brought a different perspective because he played at the highest level and he managed,” said Matt McKendry, MLB’s vice-president of umpire operations. “But, you know, Bill loves being at the ballpark and if he wasn’t doing what he’s doing for us, I think he’d be at Dodger Stadium almost every night anyway.”

Because for Russell it’s never been a stadium. It’s home.

It’s a nauseating, mind-boggling condition people literally lose sleep over, but help is at hand from a veteran of the skies who shares his best tips

Post-holiday blues are a nightmare, even more so if you suffer from jetlag after a long trip. Feeling like your body operates on a different time zone once you come back home is disorienting.

But there are ways to beat the nasty phenomenon, according to a travel expert who has seen and done it all. Even more remarkable is that these are simple tweaks that do not cost a thing.

Al Smith is a seasoned pilot, currently working as senior first officer for British Airways. He is no stranger to jetlag, having flown across time zones and seen sunrises from the comfort of his own cockpit.

He follows a strict sleep routine to ensure he is fresh as a daisy whenever he is manning a plane. In a recent edition of British Airways’ High Life magazine, he said: “After years on short haul, I had a rhythm – early starts or late finishes, never both.

“But long haul is a different game. These days, I spend at least one night a week wide awake under the stars – but that doesn’t mean I have to lose a night’s sleep.

“I plan ahead: sleep before departure, nap after landing and squeeze in a siesta when I can. The key?

“Prioritising rest and making time for it, no matter what time zone I’m in.”

Top 10 tips to beat jetlag

1. If the hotel curtains don’t close properly, grab a coat hanger with trouser clips and clip the curtains together. It’s a lifesaver for daytime sleeping.
2. Limit alcohol.
3. Don’t sleep for more than three hours on landing day. If it’s after 3pm, try to stay up and just go to bed early.
4. If you’re a tea lover like me and nothing else will do, invest in quality decaf tea. It’s perfect for enjoying at any time of day or night.
5. Strategic napping is essential – just don’t do it on a subway in Tokyo.
6. Turn your phone to dark mode and switch on ‘Sleep’ or ‘Do Not Disturb’ at bedtimes.
7. Don’t go shopping just to kill time on landing day – you will only buy things you don’t need. Early in my career, I woke up to find I’d cleared out the entire miniature toiletries section of Walgreens after landing in Seattle.
8. Don’t oversleep while recovering from jet lag – in my experience, it prolongs my adjustment time.
9. Get outside and do some light exercise. Sunlight is a natural reset for me and is essential when it comes to acclimatising.
10. If you’re trying to stay up, never sit on the bed! Trust me – before you know it, you’ll be on your back and spark out. You’ve been warned!

Among the most important things for people to get right is their sleep hygiene. According to Al, it helps the body adjust to a new time zone easier and more effectively.

He said of his own experience: “Every time we’ve moved house, my first priority has been: ‘How do I make my new bedroom feel like the best hotel room ever?’ I prefer total darkness when I sleep – I highly recommend plantation shutters with a blackout screen.

“Zero light is incredible and allows me to sleep both day and night. Temperature is also vital.

“I think I have a two-degree tolerance before I’m either too hot or too cold. Yes, it’s the UK – but it reached 40°C in the last few years.

“Air-conditioning is the way forward! And quality bedding is another must.”

One of the main symptoms of jetlag is insomnia and it’s something Al also had first-hand experience of. He told the magazine: “There have been occasions where oversleeping on what we call ‘landing day’ – a sacred day that should be free of tasks – has led to bouts of insomnia.

“It’s taken me years of flying to figure out that if I check the clock twice and it’s still within the same hour, it’s time to get up, have a warm drink (obviously not caffeinated) and watch a bit of TV. Otherwise, I spend the entire night tossing and turning.”

A MASKED man who gassed trams with a highly flammable vapour in a UK city centre has pleaded guilty.

Ghalib Saeed, 31, let off butane gas inside Manchester Metrolink tram carriages on three “disturbing” occasions on March 15, 20 and 22.

4

4

4

Passengers on the trams reported hearing a “hissing sound” and seeing a man clad in a terrifying gas mask during the attacks.

A number of commuters complained they felt dizzy after the incidents but thankfully no injuries were reported.

Witnesses reported seeing Saeed board the trams with a gas mask covering his mouth and nose.

Passengers would then hear a hissing sound as he emptied gas canisters in the carriages.

People then reported a strong smell of gas filling the trams and said they developed “headaches” and were left feeling “dizzy” during the incidents.

Several reports were made to the police and Saeed was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of causing a public nuisance at the eleventh hour today.

He changed his plea just before a trial at Manchester Crown Court was due to go ahead today.

During a court appearance in April prosecution counsel Neil Fryman said: “The Crown says it’s very disturbing behaviour, a lot of people were affected on a number of occasions.”

Saeed was warned by the judge that the starting point for an offence of this nature is a prison sentence.

The case has been adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be written up.

Judge Elizabeth Nicholls warned Saeed that “all sentencing options will remain open.”

Saeed has been remanded in custody and is due to return to court to learn his fate in November.

At the time of the bizarre incidents Transport for Greater Manchester said: “We are aware of these incidents on Metrolink and are assisting Greater Manchester Police with their enquiries at this time.

“The safety of our Passengers and staff is a core priority – everyone has the right to feel safe and be safe across the Bee Network.”

At the time of Saeed’s arrest Detective Chief Inspector Paddy Connell, from GMPs City of Manchester Division, said: “We fully appreciate that incidents of this nature can cause concern in our communities, but I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there is any wider threat present.

“We have now secured the arrest of a man and are working hard to establish the full circumstances of the events that have been reported over recent days.

“As officers continue to work their way through all the evidence available, we are asking anyone who has any information to please come forward.

“This includes anyone who believes they have witnessed something suspicious, or similar to the incidents that we are dealing with.

“Our transport hubs are operating as usual, and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to speak to a police officer, who will be more than happy to discuss any queries you may have.”

4

The budget airline has issued a warning to all passengers travelling to the EU from October 12, as the new Entry/Exit System will replace manual passport stamping with an automated process

EasyJet has sounded the alarm over a series of “important changes” to border controls for Brits heading to the EU from next month.

The budget airline is warning passengers that from October 12 the fresh Entry/Exit System (EES) will swap manual passport stamping for an automated system that gathers biometric information.

This means your face will be photographed and fingerprints taken to help handle travellers “more efficiently,” the low-cost carrier explained, no matter which airline you’re flying with. It continued by making clear that youngsters under 12 won’t need to undergo the fingerprinting process.

READ MORE: Brits warned of little-known post-Brexit rule to visit EU starting in two weeksREAD MORE: Where is hot in October? Best European destinations for autumn breaks with £13 flights

EasyJet’s announcement stated: “From October 12, 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will replace manual passport stamping with an automated process that collects biometric data (facial photo and fingerprints) to help process travellers more efficiently. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting.”

It explained: “Non-EU nationals visiting one of the 25 EU Member States or 4 Schengen Associated Countries for short stays may be affected – read the full list of participating countries. You may experience longer wait times at passport control while the system is being rolled out.”

The Foreign Office had previously issued fresh guidance for all affected Schengen nations: “New Schengen entry requirements.”

From October 12 2025, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) will commence. When journeying into and out of the Schengen zone, for brief visits, you may be required to: “If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, this information will be taken at the border, before you leave the UK.”

“You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area. EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border once the system starts.”

READ MORE: Europe’s ‘cheapest city for beer’ where a drink costs as little as 65p

The European Commission has also previously outlined the reasoning behind the scheme, with a spokesperson explaining: “The EES is an advanced technological system that will digitally record the entries and exits of non-EU nationals travelling to 29 European countries, including Schengen Associated ones, for short stays.”

“It will capture biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial image, and other travel information, gradually replacing the current system of passport stamping. The EES will modernise and improve the management of EU external borders. It will provide reliable data on border crossings, systematically detect overstayers as well as cases of document and identity fraud.”

It continued: “The EES will thus contribute to preventing irregular migration and protecting the security of European citizens. Additionally, with the increased use of automated border checks, travelling will become smoother and safer for all. The new system meets the highest standards of data and privacy protection, ensuring that travellers’ personal data remain protected and secure.”

By the end of the six-month process for the EES scheme, it is anticipated that the rollout will be complete., reports Birmingham Live. This gradual approach is deemed crucial to allow border authorities, the transport industry, and travellers to adapt to the new procedure step by step.

Sept. 22 (UPI) — Gabrielle, a major Category 4 hurricane, was moving northeastward toward the open central Atlantic Ocean early Tuesday, after having passed Bermuda overnight, the National Hurricane Center said.

The eye of the storm was located about 305 miles east-northeast of Bermuda and about 1,855 miles west of the Azores, the NHC said in its 5 a.m. AST update.

It was moving northeast at 13 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, up 20 mph from Monday morning, making it a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect, but interests in Azores were urged to monitor Gabrielle’s progress.

Gabrielle had been traveling northwest and made a turn to the north toward Bermuda as it gathered strength last week. But the storm made a turn toward the east on Monday and passed east of the island Monday night.

Forecasters described Gabrielle as “an impressive hurricane” that is expected to gradually weaken over the next 24 hours.

“Gabrielle is forecast to approach the Azores late on Thursday,” the NHC said in a discussion on the storm. Interests in the Azores should monitor the progress of Gabrielle though it is too soon to specify the magnitude of potential wind, rainfall and wave impacts,” the NHC said in a discussion on the storm.

In its update, the NHC said Gabrielle is expected to see little change in strength through Tuesday, followed by gradual weakening into Wednesday.

The swells from the storm will continue to reach the U.S. eastern coast from North Carolina northward, as well as Atlantic Canada, the NHC said, adding that they are expected to continue through early this week.

“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” it said.

Gabrielle is the seventh named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

Last month, Erin became a Category 5 hurricane with 160-mph winds spreading across a 500-mile area.

A UK airport is reportedly in talks to increase its number of flights, with hopes to become a “major hub” for holidaymaker around Europe.

Huge upgrades are included in the plans which hopes to have the airport better connected to more destinations.

4

4

4

East Midlands Airport is having talks “already underway” with airlines about plans for more cargo and passenger flights.

Currently, passengers can fly to and from 70 destinations through East Midlands Airport.

These include countries in Europe and North Africa.

But new commerical director, Adam Andrews, revealed the airport wants to provide more one-stop connections for passengers.

He said: “We will build relationships with key decision makers and businesses from our region and its large three big cities to understand how we can work together to maximise the airports potential what they want from their local airport.

“This includes looking to increase the mix of leisure destinations, introduce business routes and enable year-round connectivity to the world.”

Increasing flight options during peak seasons, such as summer holidays, is in the works.

And plans for more flights during the traditional off-peak seasons are also being considered.

This would mean travellers are able to just go to their local airport for their flights rather than having to get across the country first.

Andrews hopes to draw on the airport’s success as the UK’s “number one express air freight hub” due to being central to both the country and world.

East Midlands Airport is strategically located between Africa, Europe and the US.

It has been a hub for low-budget airlines like Jet2, Ryanair and TUI Airways.

The airfield was originally built as a Royal Air Force station in 1943, before it was redeveloped as a civilian airport in 1965.

Busiest routes from East Midlands Aiport have been Alicante, Tenerife, and Mallorca.

But it has no direct access via a passenger rail network, with the nearest being East Midlands Parkway about four miles away.

Proposals have been made in the past for a dedicated railway station to be installed at the airport, but is unlikely to be completed for another decade or so.

Plans for East Midlands Airport come after it was announced over the weekend the Gatwick Airport would be getting a new full runway.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander signed off on the plan that involves a £2.2billion expansion.

The project will shift Gatwick’s emergency runway 12 metres north so it can be used alongside the main strip.

This will pave way for 100,000 extra flights a year from the second busiest airport in the UK.

4

ITV is currently going through major changes with a number one Good Morning Britain star reportedly set for ‘major change because she was solely contracted for GMB’

As ITV gets set for major changes, one Good Morning Britain star could be seeing their job change dramatically. Charlotte Hawkins, 50, has been a mainstay on the breakfast show for over a decade, but changes are in the air.

Charlotte is set to take news shifts across the ITV schedule, and made her News at Ten debut last week. It appears as though it will be the first of many appearances as part of the daytime merger with ITN.

According to a source, Charlotte will now read the news across the schedule. It will see her contract change from what viewers have been used to over the past 10 years.

READ MORE: New Celebrity Traitors teaser sends fans wild as release date confirmed – and it’s soonREAD MORE: Strictly told to ‘get on with it’ as fans hit out at BBC show almost immediately

The source told the Sun : “She’ll still read on GMB but also the lunchtime, evening and News at Ten. It’s a major change because she was solely contracted for GMB.”

The claims came as ITV’s daytime staple shows are set to have a huge shake up in coming months. As well as GMB coming under scrutiny, Loose Women and Lorraine are going to face cuts as part of the new cost-saving measures.

From 2026, Lorraine Kelly’s morning programme is to be shortened to a 30-minute slot. It will air from 9.30am to 10am rather than its current hour-long format.

As well as a cut in episode time, the show will also only be broadcast for 30 weeks out of the year. This will reportedly mean the stand-in hosts who currently replace the Scottish presenter when she is on holiday will be out of a job.

Lorraine recently professed her love for working in telly and told fans she is “not done yet” despite the cuts. On Tom Kerridge’s Proper Tasty podcast, she said: “I’ve been around for so long. I’ve been doing telly for over 40 years. It’s mad isn’t it?

“It’s absolutely crazy. I started in breakfast telly in 1984, and I’m still getting away with it. Extraordinarily. 40 years in TV last year was incredible. I got a BAFTA. ‘Here’s a BAFTA for being alive.’ I thought, ‘Hang on a minute, I’m not done yet.’

Loose Women is also facing significant changes. Like Lorraine, the lunchtime talk show will soon only be airing “on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year” according to ITV bosses.

The decision sees the show ditch some of its mainstay moments too, including its live studio audience. It’s thought the decision will also reduce its line-up of panellists as part of the shake-up.

Despite the change in regular shows, bosses believe new episodes of The Chase, the channel’s top-rated quiz show, will help. The show is set to be filmed over four months later this year, with production company Potato currently recruiting crew to work on the show between September and December.

Meanwhile, Tipping Point fans can breathe a sigh of relief after speculation that the show might be axed. No new episodes were recorded last year, which left fans concerned about the future of the series.

While the shows are facing changes, several past favourites are set for a more prominent place on the channel. It has been confirmed that new episodes of The Chase, Tipping Point and Deal or No Deal will be filmed later this year, which means the shows have secured a broadcasting slot in 2026.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

READ MORE: Maura Higgins says affordable £10 root spray ‘saves her life’ and covers grey hairs

A recent study named the cities in the country that are the safest to stay in or travel to – and this one took the number one spot

When choosing where to live, everyone will have their own preferences. Whilst easy access to green spaces and parks might be the top priority for some, others will focus on amenities and shopping facilities.

Nevertheless, many Scots would agree that few things matter as much as safety. Thankfully, Scotland’s villages, towns, and cities are typically very secure places to call home.

If you place safety above everything else, though, it can be challenging to know where in Scotland to put down roots. Luckily, a recent study has revealed the cities in the country that are the safest to reside in or visit.

OPINION

Milo Boyd

As reported by the Daily Record, the “safest cities” in Scotland were identified earlier this year by Reolink. Five cities across the nation were ranked by their ‘safety index’ score, which “shows the consistency of local police in managing crimes and maintaining peace within the city”.

Topping the experts’ list was Edinburgh. The Scottish capital achieved a high safety index score of 68.98. Reolink also discovered that 82 per cent of people living in Edinburgh feel secure. According to the experts, “continuous patrolling has been done in heavy traffic areas” of the city. Meanwhile, Edinburgh was found to have a ‘crime index’ of just 30.99.

Also, theft, dishonesty, and house break-ins are amongst the most common offences reported in the Scottish capital. Reolink declared: “Edinburgh is ranked as the safest city in Scotland. It has a safety index of 68.98 according to Numbeo, with the lowest crime index of 30.99. It usually reports cases of theft, dishonesty, house break-ins, and offences.”

“According to the reports, over 82 per cent of the residents feel safe living there. It’s a student-friendly city where continuous patrolling has been done in heavy traffic areas.”

Reolink also branded Edinburgh as being “significantly safer” than Glasgow. The specialists revealed that Scotland’s biggest city “has higher violent crime rates, which makes it less safe than Edinburgh”.

Trailing in second spot on Reolink’s ranking of Scotland’s most secure cities was Aberdeen. The Granite City was discovered to possess the “lowest violent crime rate and high safety standards”, achieving a safety index rating of 63.20.

Meanwhile, Inverness claimed third position as the nation’s safest city. Based on Reolink’s findings, the Scottish Highlands city boasts a safety index rating of 62.13.

Completing the top five on the ranking were Glasgow and Dundee. The former achieved a safety index rating of 54.56, whilst Dundee’s safety index rating stood at 51.40.

Beyond Scotland’s cities, Reolink revealed that Orkney and Shetland rank amongst the nation’s most secure regions. The specialists noted that the archipelagos maintain lower crime figures when measured against other Scottish locations.

Reolink stated: “Safety ranks as one of the major concerns for people visiting and living in Scotland. It is necessary to inquire about the safety of everywhere you stay or travel.”

A MAJOR UK supermarket has slashed the price of all its Christmas chocolate tubs – and you don’t need a loyalty card to get the bargain.

With just under 100 days to go until Christmas, shoppers are being urged to stock up early and save money on their festive favourites.

3

Asda, today cut the price on its tubs of Celebrations, Quality Street, Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Roses – making them the cheapest on the market without signing up for any scheme.

A tub of Quality Street or Celebrations now costs £4.42, while Cadbury Heroes and Roses are just £4.92 each.

The supermarket said it wanted to give customers the best value possible ahead of the busy festive period, with no need to scan a card or download an app at the checkout.

The deals come as Asda recently unveiled its full Christmas food range for 2025.

It includes Hot Maple Pigs in Blankets, a Pigs in Duvet Wreath, a Festive Fondue Kit, Slow Cured Rack of Pork with Truffle Butter and Parmesan Crumb and a Pistachio & Milk Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur.

Retail experts say the price cuts could spark a supermarket price war as competitors look to match Asda’s prices in the run-up to December.

It follows a strong year for Asda, which was named one of the UK’s cheapest supermarkets by Which? earlier this month.

In August, a larger trolley shop of 190 items cost £474.86 at Asda – £11.03 cheaper than Tesco with a Clubcard.

Christmas chocolate price wars

Sweets under the tree are a big part of Christmas for British households.

Supermarkets often offer flash promotions giving shoppers a chance to get their festive favourites at a discounted price.

But these offers aren’t around for long.

Earlier this month, Tesco slashed the price of Quality Street tubs to £2.95.

The price drop gave shoppers a chance to stock up ahead of Christmas.

You’ll need to hide away the tubs to avoid the temptation of tucking in before December.

Besides the big chocolate tubs, other Christmas favourites are starting to land on shelves.

Cadbury’s Mini Snow Balls are one of the best-selling chocolate treats during Christmas time. 

How to save money on chocolate

We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…

Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.

Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.

Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.

Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.

They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.

Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.

So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.

3

3

Trump described the group as a ‘sick, dangerous, radical left disaster’ as well as a ‘major terrorist organisation’.

United States President Donald Trump has announced he plans to designate left-wing activist group Antifa a “terrorist organisation”.

Posting on his Truth Social platform late on Wednesday, Trump described the group as a “sick, dangerous, radical left disaster” as well as a “major terrorist organisation”.

“I will also be strongly recommending that those funding Antifa be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said.

It was unclear who or what exactly the US president plans to designate, with Antifa, short for anti-fascists, a loosely organised activist movement that lacks a distinct leader, structure or even membership list.

On Monday, senior White House officials said they would dismantle a “vast domestic terror movement” they claimed had resulted in right-wing activist Charlie Kirk being assassinated last week.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said the Trump administration is “going to channel all of the anger that we have over the organised campaign that led to this assassination, to uproot and dismantle these terrorist networks”.

Investigators have yet to provide a motive for Kirk’s killing – which authorities allege was carried out by 22-year-old Utah native Tyler Robinson – but many on the right of the political divide have blamed leftist ideology for the assassination.

Trump also threatened to designate Antifa a terrorist organisation during his first term.

ITV has suffered a major blow after several of its shows received official complaints to Ofcom, with Love Island and This Morning and Celebrity Big Brother amongst them

ITV has suffered a major blow after several of its shows received official complaints. The TV and entertainment experts at OLBG have analysed Ofcom complaints data to reveal the TV shows that have amassed the most viewer complaints in 2025, and several titles from the broadcaster have made the list.

Love Island has hit the top spot, with the ITV2 dating show, which recently crowned Toni Laites and Cach Mercer as its most recent winners, notched up 13,585 complaints.

It wasn’t looking good for its spin-off All Stars either, which is due to return next year for a third series, as the show, which brings back famous faces from the villa, received 2,264 in total.

READ MORE: This Morning, Loose Women and Lorraine forced to share new studio amid ITV cutsREAD MORE: Love Island update as Ofcom reveals why it’s dismissing record 14,000 complaints

Celebrity Big Brother also made the list, just a month after Coronation Street favourite Jack P Shepherd was crowned the winner of this year’s edition of the hit reality series. In total,1,224 complained to Ofcom about goings on in the house.

ITV1’s This Morning is a newcomer to the top 10. Towards the end of August, Rylan Clark, who was co-presenting with Josie Gibson, shared his strong opinions on illegal immigration in the UK, which generated 713 Ofcom complaints. Later that day, Rylan Clark took to Instagram to release a statement explaining his stance.

At first, he said: “I find it absolutely insane that all these people are risking their lives coming across the Channel. And when they get here, it does seem, and I think this is why a lot of Labour voters as well are saying there’s something wrong, it feels like, ‘Welcome, come on in’. That’s the narrative we’re being fed.

“Here’s the iPad. Here’s the NHS in reception of your hotel. Here’s three meals a day. Here’s a games room in the hotel. Have a lovely time and welcome.”

Hours later, Rylan took to his Instagram where he wrote: “You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women. You can be heterosexual and still support gay rights. The list continues. Stop with this putting everyone in a box exercise and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on twitter!”

In yet another blow for ITV, the recent NTA ceremony, which was hosted by Joel Dommett and saw BBC soap EastEnders scoop up several awards, whilst resident presenters Ant and Dec lost out their usual award to Gary Lineker, received 929 complaints.

Other shows to make the top 10 complaints include Vanessa Feltz’ eponymous Channel 5 programme, a natural rival to Loose Women, thanks to its air time. The chat show received 1,986 complaints in total, whilst GB News’ Headliners notched up 1,347 and Today With Samantha Washington by Sky News received 1,270. Filling out the Top 10 was Martin Daubney (with Alex Armstrong) on GB News, which received 301 complaints from viewers.

The complaints come amid major budget cuts for ITV, which will bring about massive changes to its soaps and Daytime output for 2026.

Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, announced the big changes in May, and insisted that they will allow the company to ‘deliver’ to the audience whilst also investing in other genres.

He said: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.

“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.

“I recognise that our plans will have an impact on staff off-screen in our Daytime production teams.” He added: “We will work with ITV Studios and ITN as they manage these changes to produce the shows differently from next year, and support them through this transition. “Daytime has been a core element of ITV’s schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award-winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade.”

Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage