An Oscar-winning actress has been revealed as the narrator for a documentary about King Charles III titled Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision, which is due for release in early 2026
Jamie Roberts and Hannah Roberts PA Senior Entertainment Reporter
22:53, 30 Oct 2025
King Charles speaks to Kate Winslet (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
A BAFTA-winning actress is set to lend her voice to a Prime Video documentary that explores King Charles‘s dedication to aligning nature and humanity. The documentary, titled ‘Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision’, is slated for release in early 2026.
Narrated by Titanic’s Kate Winslet, it will spotlight the work of The King’s Foundation, a charity established by Charles in 1990. Oscar-winning actress Winslet expressed her excitement about the project, stating: “It is a both pleasure and a privilege to be a part of this film, which is a fascinating insight into the King’s work as an environmentalist.”
She added: “I share His Majesty’s passion for protecting our planet and building sustainable communities, so it’s been really rewarding to work with The King’s Foundation on this exciting project.
“I know audiences will learn, laugh and feel inspired by what’s featured in the film, and I hope the impact of Harmony will be felt in years to come.”
Earlier this year, the Titanic star, who is now 50, became an ambassador for The King’s Foundation. She was also present at the foundation’s awards ceremony at St James’s Palace in June.
Known for her roles in films such as The Holiday (2006), The Reader (2008) and Revolutionary Road (2008), Winslet is also set to appear in the upcoming Avatar sequel, Fire And Ash.
The documentary following the monarch will delve into the King’s “harmony” philosophy, which views everything in nature as interconnected, including ourselves, as per The King’s Foundation. It will reveal how The King’s Foundation, based at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, has championed this philosophy through initiatives centred on community regeneration, sustainable textiles and traditional crafts.
Director Nicolas Brown said: “Working with Kate Winslet on this film has been transformational. She has the perfect blend of intellect and star power to tell this story like no one else could.
“His Majesty King Charles III has lived such an incredible life, striving to bring humankind into harmony with the natural world for over half a century. It’s an epic tale, full of drama, and Kate has turned it into a story that any one of us will relate to. We are so fortunate to have an artist of her calibre on the team.”
Kristina Murrin, chief executive of The King’s Foundation, added: “Through the film we hope that viewers will gain a better understanding of His Majesty’s Philosophy of Harmony, which is so central to our work at The King’s Foundation.
“We are thrilled that Kate is a part of this journey with us and look forward to sharing the film with the world next year.”
Produced by Passion Planet, the documentary will stream exclusively on Prime Video across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide early next year. Last year, Amazon released A Very Royal Scandal – a dramatised account of Prince Andrew’s infamous Newsnight interview.
Tensions have grown between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago over support for US military action in the Caribbean.
Venezuela has declared Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister a persona non grata, as the two countries continue to feud over United States military activity in the Caribbean Sea.
On Tuesday, Venezuela’s National Assembly voted in favour of the sanction against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has been sparring with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. It designates her as unwelcome in the country and bars her from entering.
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Asked a day earlier about the prospect, Persad-Bissessar told the news agency AFP: “Why would they think I would want to go to Venezuela?”
The two countries – separated by a small bay just 11km (7 miles) wide at its narrowest point – have been at loggerheads in recent weeks over the US military activity in the region.
Persad-Bissessar is one of the few Caribbean leaders to applaud the build-up of US military forces in the Caribbean as well as its bombing campaign against alleged drug-trafficking boats.
“I, along with most of the country, am happy that the US naval deployment is having success in their mission,” Persad-Bissessar said shortly after the first missile strike was announced on September 2.
“I have no sympathy for traffickers; the US military should kill them all, violently.”
But that stance has put her at odds with Maduro’s government. Just this week, Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yvan Gil Pinto told the United Nations General Assembly that the US strikes were an “illegal and completely immoral military threat hanging over our heads”.
Legal experts have compared the bombing campaign with extrajudicial killings, citing likely violations of international law. At least 13 strikes have occurred so far against 14 maritime vessels, most of them small boats.
An estimated 57 people have been killed in the US attacks. Their identities are unknown, and no definitive evidence has been provided to the public so far to link them to drug trafficking.
Relations frayed over US strikes
Labelling Persad-Bissessar a persona non grata is just the latest chapter in the tit-for-tat between the two countries.
On Tuesday, AFP reported that Trinidad and Tobago was considering a “mass deportation” of undocumented migrants, most of whom are Venezuelans, from its territory.
According to a memorandum reviewed by the news agency, Trinidad and Tobago’s homeland security minister, Roger Alexander, ordered a halt to any planned releases of “illegal immigrants” in detention.
“Consideration is currently being given to the implementation of a mass deportation exercise,” the memo said.
That comes after Maduro ordered the “immediate suspension” of a major gas deal with Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, citing the island nation’s reception of a US warship.
The island is hosting one of several US warships deployed near Venezuelan waters by President Donald Trump. Venezuelan officials have accused the US president of seeking to overturn Maduro’s government.
In cancelling the gas deal, Maduro accused Persad-Bissessar of transforming the Caribbean nation “into an aircraft carrier of the American empire against Venezuela”.
The Pentagon has so far deployed seven warships, a submarine, drones and fighter jets to the Caribbean, as well as another warship to the Gulf of Mexico.
The rate of the US bombing campaign has increased in recent weeks, with six strikes announced over the last week alone.
Its scope has also broadened, with strikes taking place this month in the Eastern Pacific Ocean near Colombia, as well as the Caribbean waters off Venezuela’s shores.
Some observers believe the Trump administration is using the US military to pressure and destabilise Maduro, who was re-elected last year in what the US has dismissed as a fraudulent election.
Persad-Bissessar, however, has been steadfast in her support of the US campaign, saying she would rather see drug traffickers “blown to pieces” than have them contribute to deaths in her country.
TOKYO — President Trump treated his time in Japan on Tuesday as a victory lap — befriending the new Japanese prime minister, taking her with him as he spoke to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier and then unveiling several major energy and technology projects in America to be funded by Japan.
Sanae Takaichi, who became the country’s first female prime minister only days ago, solidified her relationship with Trump while defending her country’s economic interests. She talked baseball, stationed a Ford F-150 truck outside their meeting and greeted Trump with, by his estimation, a firm handshake.
By the end of the day, Trump — by his administration’s count — came close to nailing down the goal of $550 billion in Japanese investment as part of a trade framework. At a dinner for business leaders in Tokyo, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced up to $490 billion in commitments, including $100 billion each for nuclear projects involving Westinghouse and GE Vernova.
“You’re great business people,” Trump told the gathered executives before the dinner. “Our country will not let you down.”
It was not immediately clear how the investments would operate and how they compared with previous plans, but Trump declared a win as he capped off a day of bonding with Takaichi.
Trump and Japanese PM swap warm words
The compliments started as soon as the two leaders met on Tuesday morning. “That’s a very strong handshake,” Trump said to Takaichi.
She talked about watching the third game of the U.S. World Series before the event, and said Japan would give Washington 250 cherry trees and fireworks for July 4 celebrations to honor America’s 250th anniversary next year.
Takaichi emphasized her ties to the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, her archconservative mentor who had forged a friendship with Trump during his first term through their shared interest of golf.
“As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Abe often told me about your dynamic diplomacy,” she said, later gifting Trump a putter used by Abe.
Trump told her it was a “big deal” that she is Japan’s first woman prime minister, and said the U.S. is committed to Japan. While the president is known for not shying away from publicly scolding his foreign counterparts, he had nothing but praise for Takaichi.
“Anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there,” Trump said. “We are an ally at the strongest level.”
Takaichi laid out a charm offensive, serving American beef and rice mixed with Japanese ingredients during a working lunch, where the two leaders also discussed efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Takaichi would be nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The two leaders signed black “Japan is Back” baseball caps that resembled Trump’s own red “Make America Great Again” caps.
Reporters arriving for the meeting were hustled past a gold-hued Ford F-150 outside the Akasaka Palace, which is Tokyo’s guest house for visiting foreign leaders.
Trump has often complained that Japan doesn’t buy American vehicles, which are often too wide to be practical on narrow Japanese streets. But the Japanese government is considering buying a fleet of Ford trucks for road and infrastructure inspection.
They vow a ‘golden age’ for alliance and cooperation on critical minerals
Both leaders signed the implementation of an agreement for the “golden age” of their nations’ alliance, a short affirmation of a framework under which the U.S. will tax goods imported from Japan at 15% while Japan creates a $550 billion fund of investments in the U.S.
Later, at a dinner at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo packed with CEOs including Apple’s Tim Cook, Trump reveled in the deals. Trump and Takaichi also signed an agreement to cooperate on critical minerals and rare earths.
Trump has focused his foreign policy toward Asia around tariffs and trade, but on Tuesday he also spoke aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier docked at an American naval base near Tokyo. The president brought Takaichi with him and she also spoke as Japan plans to increase its military spending.
The president talked about individual units on the aircraft carrier, his political opponents, national security and the U.S. economy, saying that Takaichi had told him that Toyota would be investing $10 billion in auto plants in America.
Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday, meeting the emperor in a ceremonial visit after a brief trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Trump is scheduled to leave Japan on Wednesday for South Korea, which is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Trump plans to meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
On Thursday, Trump is expected to cap off his Asia trip with a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. There were signs that tensions between the U.S. and China were cooling off before the planned meeting in South Korea. Top negotiators from each country said a trade deal was coming together, which could prevent a potentially damaging confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.
Boak and Megerian write for the Associated Press. Megerian reported from Seoul, South Korea. Mayuko Ono and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
Sanae Takaichi (C) acknowledges her fellow lawmakers after being elected as the new prime minister during the general assembly of an extraordinary parliamentary session in Tokyo, Japan, on October 21, 2025. Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA
Oct. 21 (UPI) — Sanae Takaichi was elected prime minister of Japan on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to lead the country.
Japan’s House of Representatives announced in a statement that Takaichi had been “chosen by open ballot” during a plenary session on Tuesday.
Takaichi, the Liberal Democratic Party president, will be Japan’s 104th prime minister. The Japan Times reported that she received 237 votes to Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda‘s 149.
The vote was held after the cabinet of now-former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned en masse Tuesday morning.
“To all citizens, I express my deepest gratitude for your understanding and cooperation, and I ask for your continued strong support for the next cabinet and new prime minister as they face domestic and international challenges ahead,” Ishiba said in a statement announcing the end of his coalition government.
Takaichi’s election was made nearly certain after her LDP agreed to form a new coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party on Monday night.
“We will work to realize policies that overcome domestic and international challenges, protect the livelihoods of the people and the peace of the nation and strongly advance Japan forward,” the LDP said Tuesday in a statement.
Ishiba announced his resignation in early September to prevent a split of his LDP following recent election defeats. Takaichi was then made the party leader.
Exiled former President Andry Rajoelina condemns takeover and refuses to step down despite defections in the security forces.
Published On 20 Oct 202520 Oct 2025
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Madagascar’s coup leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who seized power this month after Gen Z-driven protests forced the former president out the country, has appointed a new prime minister.
Randrianirina, who was sworn in as president last week, said on Monday that he had chosen businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo as the new prime minister because of his experience and “connections with the international organisations that work with us”.
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Andry Rajoelina, the former president, whom lawmakers impeached for desertion of duty after he fled abroad last weekend, has condemned the army takeover and refused to step down while in exile.
Rajoelina fled for his life amid the nationwide protests led by the “Gen Z Madagascar” youth movement, which initially erupted in September over persistent water and power cuts and soon expanded into calls for a system overhaul.
Rajoelina says he has travelled to a safe location, which he has not disclosed. Last week he also said that a resignation letter attributed to him was fake, and warned citizens that “lies” were being spread to “confuse” the public.
Randrianirina’s military coup has been condemned by the United Nations and by the African Union, which suspended Madagascar’s membership.
The little-known army colonel, who has long been a vocal critic of Rajoelina, the new president made his move when his soldiers rebelled and joined the anti-government demonstrations.
His appearance riding on an armoured car among the protesters and accompanying them to a main square to demonstrate meant he emerged as the leader of the uprising, which before that time had no visible figure in charge.
The country’s High Constitutional Court ratified the takeover within hours of it happening.
Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi appears back on track to become Japan’s first female prime minister.
Published On 19 Oct 202519 Oct 2025
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Japan’s governing party and the main opposition are set to form a coalition government, setting the stage for Sanae Takaichi to become the country’s first female prime minister, local media report.
Sanae Takaichi, the leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Hirofumi Yoshimura, the head of the smaller right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (JIP), known as Ishin, are set to sign an agreement on their alliance on Monday, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday.
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Takaichi became leader of the governing LDP earlier this month, but her bid to become Japan’s first female premier was derailed by the collapse of her governing coalition.
Since then, the LDP has been working to cobble together a different political alliance, putting her chances for the top job back on track.
“The LDP has entrusted Takaichi with handling the coalition matter, while the JIP will hold an executive board gathering in Osaka on Sunday and a plenary meeting of lawmakers the following day before giving final approval to the agreement with the LDP,” Kyodo reported.
Japan’s leading Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper also said that Takaichi and Yoshimura were “likely to sign a coalition agreement after talks on Monday”.
Reports of a new coalition come after the LDP’s junior partner, the Komeito party, left the governing coalition after 26 years, plunging the country into a political crisis.
The sealing of an alliance between the LDP and JIP could lead to Takaichi’s election as premier as early as Tuesday, but the parties are still two seats short of a majority to pass the vote.
Should the vote go to a second-round run-off, however, Takaichi would only need support from more MPs than the other candidate.
The moves to form a coalition come just days before the expected arrival in Japan of United States President Donald Trump.
Trump is scheduled to travel to Japan before the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu faces two no-confidence motions this week as France’s political crisis deepens.
Published On 14 Oct 202514 Oct 2025
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France’s embattled prime minister says he backs suspending a pension reform until after the 2027 presidential election in a bid to end the political turmoil that has gripped the country for months.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, 39, announced on Tuesday that he supports pausing an unpopular reform that raised the age of retirement from 62 to 64 in the hopes of securing enough votes to survive two no-confidence votes.
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“I will propose to parliament this autumn that we suspend the 2023 pension reform until the presidential election. There will be no increase in the retirement age from now until January 2028,” he promised lawmakers during his policy speech, responding to a key request from the Socialists, a swing group in parliament crucial to his cabinet’s survival.
President Emmanuel Macron signed into law the bill to raise the retirement age, a signature economic reform that became the biggest domestic challenge of Macron’s second mandate as he faced widespread popular opposition to the changes and also sliding personal popularity.
Lecornu has faced an uphill battle since being appointed prime minister in early September. At the time of his appointment, he was the fifth prime minister in less than two years and faced deep political divides and a high debt load.
He ultimately stepped down from the post in early October, further deepening the country’s long-running political crisis. Macron then reappointed Lecornu as prime minister last week.
Lecornu faces two no-confidence motions by the hard-left France Unbowed and far-right National Rally parties. The two parties do not hold enough seats to topple Lecornu’s government on their own, but the prime minister could be ousted if the Socialist Party were to join forces with them.
The leader of the Socialists in the National Assembly said the decision to suspend the pension reform was a victory for the left.
Boris Vallaud did not explicitly say if his party would vote against the two motions of no confidence this week, but he said he believed in parliamentary debate and he would be ensuring the prime minister’s pledges be turned into actions.
Cyrielle Chatelain confirmed on Tuesday that France’s Greens party will support a no-confidence motion.
Earlier on Tuesday, Macron had warned that any vote to topple Lecornu’s cabinet would force him to dissolve parliament and call elections.
France, the eurozone’s second largest economy, is facing deep economic turmoil as Lecornu fights to keep his cabinet alive long enough to pass an austerity budget by the end of the year. During a speech on Thursday, he warned suspending the pension reform would cost about 400 million euros ($464m) in 2026 and 1.8 billion euros ($2.1bn) the year after and it should be offset by savings.
France’s ratio of debt to its gross domestic product is the European Union’s third highest after Greece and Italy and is close to twice the 60-percent limit fixed by EU rules.
France has been rocked by protests in recent months. In September, the Block Everything campaign spurred a nationwide wave of antigovernment protests that filled streets with burning barricades and tear gas as demonstrators rallied against budget cuts and political instability.
In October, about 195,000 people, including 24,000 in Paris, turned out for another day of nationwide strikes at the urging of French trade unions. The protests were triggered by widespread opposition to an austerity budget that the government has been trying to push through parliament.
Four days after he resigned as prime minister, Lecornu is returning to the post.
Published On 10 Oct 202510 Oct 2025
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French President Emmanuel Macron has re-appointed Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister.
Lecornu, who had stepped down from the same post on Monday, just weeks after taking office, returns in a surprise move after days of negotiations aimed at ending a political impasse in the country.
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Lecornu is tasked him with forming a new cabinet, Macron’s office said in a statement on Friday.
“I accept – out of duty – the mission entrusted to me by the President of the Republic to do everything possible to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and to address the daily life issues of our fellow citizens,” Lecornu wrote on X.
“We must put an end to this political crisis that exasperates the French people and to this instability that is harmful to France’s image and its interests.”
Speaking shortly after the appointment was announced, Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Paris, said that “everything has been so unpredictable that nobody knew what to expect.”
“This is just the latest twist in what has been a dramatic week in French politics.”
Macron had met with leaders of all political parties apart from the far-right National Rally (RN) and the far left France Unbowed party earlier on Friday at the presidential palace, informed sources told the AFP news agency.
Shortly before the meeting, the presidency in a statement called on all parties to recognise the “moment of collective responsibility”, appearing to imply he could dissolve parliament if they did not rally behind his preferred candidate.
Lecornu’s re-appointment demonstrates that “clearly Macron has run out of options,” said Butler.
Following the meeting, “we heard party leaders … saying that they felt Emmanuel Macron was disconnected from what they wanted to put across on the agenda, that he didn’t understand their concerns and they felt ignored, as if the meetings had made the situation even worse,” our correspondent added.
First appointed a month ago, Lecornu, 39, had come under increasing pressure in recent weeks as he struggled to pass a budget through the fractured French Parliament amid a debt crisis.
In naming Lecornu, Macron, 47, risks the wrath of his political rivals, who have argued that the best way out of the country’s deepest political crisis in decades was for Macron to either hold snap parliamentary elections or resign.
French politics has been deadlocked ever since Macron gambled last year on snap polls that he hoped would consolidate power – but ended instead in a hung parliament and more seats for the far right.
Sir Tony Blair met with Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street while still prime minister, following lobbying by Lord Peter Mandelson, the BBC has confirmed.
A memo written by senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft, dated 14 May 2002 briefs Sir Tony about “super-rich” financial adviser Epstein ahead of a meeting scheduled at 17.00 GMT that day.
The meeting was six years before Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
A spokesperson for Sir Tony, said: “As far as he can remember, Mr Blair met with him for less than 30 minutes in Downing Street in 2002, and discussed US and UK politics. He never met or engaged with him subsequently.”
He added: “This was, of course, long before his crimes were known of and his subsequent conviction.”
Emails seen by the BBC show Lord Mandelson pushed for the meeting, telling Sir Tony’s chief of staff Jonathan Powell that Epstein was “a friend of mine” who ex-US President Bill Clinton hoped to introduce to the PM.
The release of this and several related documents had previously been blocked by government officials due to concerns about the impact on UK-US relations.
Now the document has been released by the National Archives under Freedom of Information request, following the sacking of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador after fresh revelations about his friendship with the disgraced financier.
In the email to Powell – the current UK government’s National Security Adviser – Lord Mandelson refers to Epstein as “safe”.
The email on 7 May 2002 states: “Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB?
“This was frustrated – TB said at the time – in the office for reasons (he says) he was unclear about. I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies.
“He is young and vibrant. He is safe (whatever that means) and Clinton is now doing a lot of travelling with him.”
The email continues: “I mentioned to TB that Jeffrey is in London next week and he said he would like to meet him.
“I have ascertained from Jeffrey that he is flexible – he could be here any time from Tuesday onwards to fit round the diary – but would obviously need to know reasonably quickly so as to re-schedule accordingly. Can you let me know?”
There are three separate handwritten notes on the print-out of the email, some of which are illegible, but one appears to read “do you want to do this… Because you wanted to see Clinton by yourself… I know very little more about him”.
At the time, Lord Mandelson was a backbench MP, having twice resigned from the cabinet, but still a force in Labour.
Bill Clinton has acknowledged being a former associate of Epstein but said had no knowledge of his crimes.
Epstein was convicted in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a person under the age of 18 in 2008. He died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The National Archive has also released a schedule headed Trade and Industry Meetings with Industry, which includes a memo published on 14 May 2002. briefing Sir Tony about Epstein ahead of a meeting schedule for 17.00 GMT that day.
The briefing, written by senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft is marked R, understood to mean restricted.
In the memo Rycroft, who until March 2025 was the permanent secretary at the Home Office, wrote to Blair: “Jeffrey Epstein is seeing you at 5pm today.
“He is a financial adviser to the super-rich and a property developer. He is a friend of Bill Clinton and Peter Mandelson.”
Rycroft states “The background on Epstein is that he is very rich and close to the Duke of York”.
He adds: “Peter says that Epstein now travels with Clinton and Clinton wants you to meet him.
“He thinks you would find worthwhile a conversation with him about a) science and b) international economic and monetary trends.”
The memo was also sent to Powell and Geoffrey Norris, one of Sir Tony’s special advisers.
French President Emmanuel Macron greeted Belgian premier Bart De Wever, right, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 27. On Thursday, Belgian authorities intercepted a plot to attack De Wever and other Belgian leaders. File Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 10 (UPI) — A plot to attack the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and other Belgian leadership was intercepted by police in Antwerp, and three young adult men were arrested.
Prosecutors described it as a “jihadist-inspired terrorist attack.” During a search in the Deurne area of Antwerp, police found a homemade explosive that the suspects were planning to attach to a drone to execute the attack. Deurne is near the prime minister’s residence.
“The news of a planned attack targeting Prime Minister Bart De Wever is extremely shocking,” Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot wrote in a post on X. “I express my full support to the prime minister, his wife and his family, and my thanks go to the security and justice services, whose swift action has prevented the worst. It highlights that we are facing a very real terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant.”
Reports said that Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg and Dutch anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders may have also been targets. Defense Minister Theo Francken said he couldn’t confirm who else was a target but that he was not.
Francken said on Flemish public broadcaster VRT, “it is terrible for Bart and his family, and of course it’s Islamists again,” BBC reported.
The suspects were arrested on suspicion of attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group. They all live in Antwerp, the prosecutor’s office said. The oldest one, who is 24, was released Thursday night due to lack of evidence. The other two are expected to appear Friday before an investigating judge.
At a press conference Friday, Federal Prosecutor Ann Fransen said searches found a “bag of steel balls” and a 3D printer with “indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload.”
She said there have been 80 terrorism investigations in Belgium this year, which is more than the number of cases in all of 2024.
Five people were convicted in April of a 2023 plot to attack De Wever while he was mayor of Antwerp. De Wever is conservative and is the first Flemish nationalist to be prime minister.
Evidence was found in a building a few hundred metres from Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s Antwerp residence.
Published On 10 Oct 202510 Oct 2025
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Belgian authorities say they have arrested three people in connection with a plot to attack Prime Minister Bart De Wever and other politicians using drone-mounted explosives.
Federal prosecutor Ann Fransen announced the arrests on Thursday and said the group were under investigation for an “attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group”, according to Belgian public broadcaster RTBF.
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“Certain elements indicate that the suspects intended to carry out a jihadist-inspired terrorist attack against political figures,” Fransen told reporters.
“There are also indications that the suspects aimed to construct a drone to which a payload could be attached,” she added.
Fransen did not name their intended targets, but social media posts from senior figures in De Wever’s government indicate that he was on the list.
“The news of a planned attack targeting Prime Minister Bart De Wever is deeply shocking,” wrote Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot in a post on X.
“I express my full support to the Prime Minister, his wife, and his family, as well as my gratitude to the security and justice services whose swift action prevented the worst.”
Defence Minister Theo Francken shared a similar message on X.
“Prime Minister, Bart, all our support for you and your family. Thanks to the security services. Never surrender,” he said.
De Wever did not immediately comment on the case.
Belgium’s Gazet van Antwerpen newspaper said explosives were found by police in an Antwerp building a few hundred metres from De Wever’s residence.
Evidence included an improvised explosive device still under construction, a bag of steel balls, and a 3D printer, the newspaper said. Police believe the group were trying to build a drone capable of carrying an explosive payload.
Authorities did not release the names of the suspects but said they had been born in 2001, 2002, and 2007.
One of the suspects has been released, according to Fransen, and two are due to appear before an investigating judge on Friday.
Gazet van Antwerpen said De Wever has been the subject of previous threats. Earlier this year, a Belgian court convicted five people of making preparations to carry out an attack against him.
The announcement came after last-ditch talks by outgoing premier Sebastien Lecornu failed to find a solution to crisis.
French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, his office has said, in the latest effort to chart a path out of the worst political crisis of his presidency.
The announcement on Wednesday followed two days of last-ditch talks with party leaders by outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu in a bid to break the country’s political deadlock, after his cabinet lineup, unveiled on Sunday, was rejected by allies and rivals alike.
The Elysee presidential office said in a statement that Lecornu’s discussions with various parties had concluded that a majority of lawmakers were not in favour of parliament being dissolved for early elections, and that there was “a platform for stability” that could make it possible for a budget to be passed by the year’s end.
“On this basis, the President of the Republic will appoint a Prime Minister within the next 48 hours,” said the statement.
Macron thanked Lecornu for his work since Monday to resolve the crisis, the office said.
Ahead of the announcement, it had been unclear whether Macron would opt to reappoint Lecornu or name a replacement, call snap elections or even resign himself.
Escalating crisis
In September, Macron tasked Lecornu – the fifth prime minister he has installed in less than two years – with forming a government after the divided French parliament toppled his predecessor, Francois Bayrou, over a much-maligned austerity budget intended to tackle a debt crisis.
But despite Lecornu’s promises of a departure from Bayrou’s approach, his cabinet, unveiled on Sunday evening, immediately drew fierce criticism from both the right and left for containing many of the same faces from the previous administration.
Lecornu resigned the following day, making his 14-hour administration the shortest in modern French history, but then added to the confusion when he announced he would hold 48 hours of talks at Macron’s request to try to agree on a new cabinet.
The move prompted renewed criticism of the increasingly isolated Macron, including from former premier Edouard Philippe, once a close ally of the president, who was one of many calling for presidential elections to resolve the crisis.
‘I tried everything’
Speaking to French TV earlier Wednesday, Lecornu said he had told Macron that the prospects of snap elections had diminished as there was a majority in the lower house opposed to the dissolution of parliament.
“I tried everything,” he said of his efforts to find a deal to end the crisis. “This evening, my mission is finished.”
He suggested that a more technocratic and less political administration could follow, saying that any new cabinet appointments should not harbour ambitions to stand in the next presidential elections.
He also pushed back against calls for snap presidential polls ahead of the scheduled 2027 elections, saying it was “not the time to change the president”.
“Let’s not make the French believe that it’s the president who votes the budget,” he said.
The French parliament has been sharply divided since Macron, in response to surging gains by the far right, announced snap elections last year, resulting in a hung parliament.
With no governing majority, the parliament has been unable to approve a crucial budget to tackle France’s growing debt crisis. Meanwhile, proposed spending cuts have prompted nationwide protests, while opposition parties – who are calling for early elections and are pledging to block any new cabinet – have seized momentum.
WITH temperatures falling and nights drawing in, it’s offically hot chocolate season.
That means it’s time for me to pull my Salter Chocolatier from the back of the cupboard.
Even at full whack, it’s less than a quarter of the price of the famous Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser, and Amazon has just discounted it for Prime Day, meaning that it’s now just £28.24, down from £34.99.
Read on for my full Salter Chocolatier review.
Salter Chocolatier Electric Hot Chocolate Maker, £34.99 £28.24 from Amazon
I spend a lot of time outdoors walking my dogs and in winter that’s often a freezing few hours in the mud, snow and rain.
Once home, a hot drink is essential and while I doubt my kitchen could create that country-inn atmosphere, I was intrigued to find out if the machine could create a rival to my pub-bought favourite.
I’m not a fan of instant hot chocolate so tend to swerve it as a drink option.
Thankfully, the Salter Chocolatier is a different matter entirely.
Pros:
Easy to use
Affordable
Handy milk frother
Works with plant milk
Easy to clean
Also great for lattes and cappuccinos
Cons:
Small capacity
Takes a few minutes
Sometimes chocolate isn’t fully mixed
May not be hot enough for some
Rating: 8/10
How I tested the Salter Chocolatier
It’ll come as no surprise that my main focus during testing was how well the Salter Chocolatier makes hot chocolate, and this function is the one I used the most.
However, I also prepared other drinks with it, including cappuccino, latte and iced coffee.
I considered how easy the hot chocolate maker was to use and how easy it was to clean afterwards.
I was also interested in the quality of the instructions.
I don’t like it when manufacturers supply just a brief product leaflet with their products and then expect users to download a full manual from their website.
Who has time for that? And what about those people who don’t use the internet, such as older consumers?
Finally, I considered how the product looked – was it merely a functional item or did it look good sitting on the kitchen worktop?
Salter Chocolatier review: quick summary
This is a great product. It makes amazing hot chocolate from scratch, though it doesn’t always mix the grated chocolate as well as I would like.
The milk frother is also good, but when using the thick hot froth function I found it impossible to get all of the froth from the jug to the cup.
It’s quite stylish in a minimalist kind of way, and it’s easy to clean.
It doesn’t take long to make your drink but the downside is that it only makes one cup at a time.
Salter Chocolatier review: full review
One of my early attempts at a cappuccino using the thick froth functionCredit: Lisa Burn
Salter Chocolatier Electric Hot Chocolate Maker, £34.99 £28.24 from Amazon
If you have purchased this then chances are you’re a bit of a hot chocolate connoisseur, or at the very least a big fan.
The machine itself is pretty simple. There’s a jug, lid, frothing ring, heating ring and base.
It’s very much like a mini kettle. with the addition of a function button.
This button has four options:
Thick hot froth
Light hot froth
Hot milk/ hot chocolate
Cold milk froth
Unboxing and setup
The box contains the jug, lid, frothing ring, heating ring and base so it’s simple enough to set up the machine.
There’s also a quick start guide and if you want a product manual you have to download it from the Salter website (sigh!).
However, if you’re hoping for a bit more detail on using the machine, you’ll be disappointed.
The instruction manual on the website is the same as the leaflet in the box and does not provide any further information.
Still, I guess that shows how simple the Chocolatier is to use.
Design and features
2
An indulgent hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream – yum!Credit: Lisa Burn
Salter Chocolatier Electric Hot Chocolate Maker, £34.99 £28.24 from Amazon
There’s an easy-to-see level guide inside the jug for the different drinks and froths.
For example, if you’re after a light or thick froth then you need to add 115ml of milk, but if you’re making a hot chocolate then you would fill to the max 240ml level.
There’s also a minimum level and if the liquid doesn’t reach this then the chocolatier will switch itself off as a safety precaution.
The jug comes with the frother already attached inside, but if you want to clean it or swap it with the heating attachment, you can simply lift it off.
This is tiny, but lives in the lid so you’ll always be able to find it if you remember to pop it back there after use.
The design is minimalist and there’s only one button to get the hang of.
Other than that, the chocolatier sits on its base like a regular kettle.
Operation and performance
2
A light foam on the latte – though I prefer the thicker froth settingCredit: Lisa Burn
Salter Chocolatier Electric Hot Chocolate Maker, £34.99 £28.24 from Amazon
The inside of the jug is smooth and easy to clean, which is always a bonus.
I found that both plant and dairy milks simply rinsed off the sides and even residual chocolate shavings came off cleanly without any effort.
You can’t pop the jug in the dishwasher, but you can use hot soapy water to clean the inside if anything does stick.
I never had that problem, though, and I think as long as you stick to the functions as set out in the guide then you’ll be fine.
You don’t need to wait long for your drink either – it takes about 4.5 minutes for a hot chocolate and around two minutes for a jug of froth.
A kettle is quicker but we’re not talking instant gratification here. It’s well worth the few minutes’ wait.
A kettle is quicker but we’re not talking instant gratification here. It’s well worth the few minutes’ wait
You need 35g of chocolate shavings per cup and you can buy these ready-grated, or as a powder from an array of retailers.
I decided to go for the real deal though and did it myself.
My favourite hot chocolate drink was made using 75% cocoa chocolate, which I grated before adding to the jug (be prepared for the grated chocolate to go everywhere!).
I’m a big white chocolate fan, but when I tried it as a drink, I found it a bit too sweet.
I also tried the Chocolatier with dairy and soya milk and both worked well, though as I don’t like dairy, my preference would always be plant milk.
For some reason I was surprised the finished hot chocolate wasn’t frothy; however, it’s not supposed to be, that’s a separate function.
You can always dress it up with a cream topping and mini marshmallows for the full pub/café effect.
It also wasn’t as hot as I expected but it was a pleasant drinking temperature, which was fine. I think some people might be disappointed it’s not warmer though.
I did experiment with the thick and light froth for coffee, but I wasn’t too impressed with the thicker option as it’s impossible to pour all the foam from the jug, resulting in a lot of waste.
There’s also a cold froth setting, which my daughter tried as she’s a big iced coffee and frappe fan.
I have never seen the point of cold coffee so avoided that one.
Salter Chocolatier review: the verdict
Wow! I loved the hot chocolate I made with this.
The texture was rich but not overly thick, while being creamy and smooth at the same time.
For me, it certainly beats standing over a saucepan of milk to make hot chocolate from scratch, or going for a cup of instant using the kettle.
I can see myself using this a lot.
Though I generally used a high-cocoa content chocolate it was perfectly sweet enough and not bitter at all.
I wasn’t so impressed with the frothing functions though, so will most likely save the machine specifically for hot chocolate.
The major downside to it is you can only make one cup of hot chocolate at a time and because it is drinking temperature when ready, the first person will have almost finished theirs in the time it takes to prepare a second cup.
Either that or one of you will be drinking it cold.
At £34.99 it’s less than half the price of the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser.
The Velvetiser wins out on looks though – this is functional, rather than pretty. However, the Salter model wins on capacity – 240ml compared to 200ml.
If you’re going to use the frother function regularly, or if you’re a big hot chocolate fan and want to invest in an automatic maker without spending a fortune, then I think the Salter Chocolatier is worth it.
Where to buy the Salter Chocolatier Electric Hot Chocolate Maker in the UK
You can buy the Salter Chocolatier Electric Hot Chocolate Maker from the Salter website.
WASHINGTON — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with President Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday at a time when one of the world’s most durable and amicable alliances has been fractured by Trump’s trade war and annexation threats.
Carney’s second visit to the White House comes ahead of a review next year of the free trade agreement, which is critical to Canada’s economy. More than 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.
Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state and his tariffs have Canadians feeling an undeniable sense of betrayal. Relations with Canada’s southern neighbor and longtime ally haven’t been worse.
“We’ve had ups and downs, but this is the lowest point in relations that I can recall,” said Frank McKenna, a former Canadian ambassador to the United States and current deputy chairman of TD Bank.
“Canadians aren’t being instructed what to do. They are simply voting with their feet,” he said. “I talk every day to ordinary citizens who are changing their vacation plans, and I talk to large business owners who are moving reward trips away or executive business trips. There is an outright rebellion.”
There is fear in Canada over what will happen to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Carney is looking to get some relief on some sector-specific tariffs, but expectations are low.
“Improving relations with the White House ahead of the USMCA review is certainly an objective of the trip, but opposition parties and part of the Canadian public will criticize Prime Minister Carney if he doesn’t achieve some progress on the tariff front at this stage,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.
Trump said Monday that he anticipated Carney wanted to use the meeting to discuss trade.
“I guess he’s going to ask about tariffs, because a lot of companies from Canada are moving into the United States,” Trump, a Republican, told reporters after signing an executive order related to Alaska. “He’s losing a lot of companies in Canada.”
Carney has said the USMCA, which is up for review in 2026, is an advantage for Canada at a time when it is clear that the U.S. is charging for access to its market. Carney has said the commitment of the U.S. to the core of USMCA means that more than 85% of Canada-U.S. trade continues to be free of tariffs. He said the U.S. average tariff rate on Canadian goods is 5.6% and remains the lowest among all its trading partners.
But Trump has some sector-specific tariffs on Canada, known as Section 232 tariffs, that are having an impact. There are 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, for example.
McKenna said he is hearing Canada might get some relief in steel and aluminum. “It could be 50% to 25% or agreeing on tariff-free quotas to allow the steel and aluminum to go through at last year’s levels,” he said.
The ties between the two countries are without parallel. About $2.5 billion (nearly $3.6 billion Canadian) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. There is close cooperation on defense, border security and law enforcement, and a vast overlap in culture, traditions and pastimes.
About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.
“The bigger prize would be getting a mutual agreement to negotiate as quickly as possible the free trade relationship,” McKenna said. “If the United States were to threaten us with the six months’ notice of termination, I think it would represent a deep chill all across North America.”
The boxers would make the perfect Christmas gift for men, or as a treat to yourself.
Read more Amazon Prime Day
Amazon’s Big Deal Days sale is running until tomorrow, but as one of the bestsellers so far, it’s likely that all sizes will be gone before the deal expires.
For more of the best discounts, read our roundup of the best Prime Day deals, which we’re constantly updating with more deals.
Amazon Prime Day: the 10 best deals
The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale kicks off today and runs until midnight tomorrow (Wednesday 8th October) – here’s our pick of the best deals.
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, £19.99 (was £39.99) – buy here
Poounur Fitness Smartwatch, £23.99 (was £129.99) – buy here
Ninja 7.6L Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer, £119 (was £218.99) – buy here
BaByliss Air Style 1000 £29.99 (was £75) – buy here
LKOUY Portable Charger, £12.99 (was £59.99) – buy here
The classic designer boxers have received brilliant ratings from shoppers, with over 5,700 five-star reviews on the Amazon website.
One wrote: “I recently purchased these Calvin Klein underwear for my partner, and he’s extremely pleased with the quality, comfort, and fit.
From the moment they arrived, I could tell they were made from high-quality materials, and they definitely live up to the reputation Calvin Klein has for premium undergarments.
The fit is absolutely spot-on, and my partner says they are some of the most comfortable underwear he has ever worn.”
Another added: “The fit is so precise it feels like Calvin Klein himself took my measurements.
Five stars is an insult, these deserve their own constellation.”
The love story between Noah and Nick in the Culpables Trilogy has flown all the way to London for a version of its own, and the second part has just wrapped up its filming – here’s what you need to know.
Find out all the details about today’s most-followed romance storyline
The countdown for the third and final instalment of Mercedes Ron’s Culpables Trilogy, Culpa Nuestra, has begun – but the UK fans are wondering when the London version will release its second and final film, Your Fault and Our Fault.
Just like the Spanish version, it follows the story of Nick and Noah, who fall in love with each other despite being step-siblings. And of course, all the drama. The British version starred Matthew Broome and Asha Banks as the lead characters, and both will reprise their roles.
As we await the second and third chapters of the story, we’ve listed some information to keep all Culpables on top of the news.
Continuing the dramatic yet romantic ending in My Fault: London, the second sequel shows Nick and Noah embarking on a life-changing adventure that threatens their relationship. Nick begins to work with his father, and Noah starts a new chapter as a university student at Oxford.
Nick and Noah are now separated and meeting new people, which will test their love for each other as they find themselves entangled with temptation, rivalries and betrayals. Fight for love, or risk losing everything.
For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror’s Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.
When are is the My Fault sequel coming out?
The sequel to Prime Video’s breakout hit My Fault: London is on its way. Good news for fans – Your Fault: London finished filming in the summer of 2025, and is expected to be out worldwide sometime in 2026.
As per the last part of the story, Our Fault: London has just started filming, and given the production timeline, it’s reasonable to expect that it will also be released next year. But news have yet to be confirmed.
If you haven’t been keeping up with the Spanish version of the film, both movies are available to watch on Prime Video. Its final part, Culpa Nuestra, will be released on October 16, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. My Fault: London is also available to stream.
As reported by Amazon, Your Fault: London will have familiar faces and some newcomers. Meet Louisa Binder, Joel Nankervis, Scarlett Rayner, and Orlando Norman.
Louisa Binder will interpret the role of Sophia, a beautiful and ambitious young woman who will stir some drama in the relationship between Noah and Nick, as she starts working at Leiste Enterprises. On the other side, Noah will be busy with Michael (Joel Nankervis), an Oxford student who becomes friends with her, but secretly wants more.
Scarlett Rayner will play Briar, a seemingly kind and manipulative strategist who becomes friends with Noah at Oxford, but is hiding something. Then, Orlando Norman as Cruz, Ronnie’s right-hand man in the underground racing world.
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Having tested plenty of the market’s best noise-cancelling headphones myself, I know how rare it is to see this spec list at this sort of price.
With 4-mic active noise cancelling, they block out the world so you can sink into your playlists, podcasts or plane movies in peace.
Battery life clocks in at a generous 22 hours, and the Rapid Charge feature earns you enough juice for three hours of listening on just a ten-minute charge.
They’re cleverly built too, with easy controls for calls, volume and tracks right on the earcup, and Tile tracking tech baked in so you can hunt them down in seconds if they go missing.
They fold flat, collapse down for travel, and even come with a bonus USB-C charging cable, which is a small but handy extra that makes them feel like a real all-rounder.
More audio savings
On the hunt for headphone deals? Prime Day’s providing big savings on top audio brands from.
GET ready, Prime members! Amazon’s next major sales event is just hours away.
In recent years, Prime members have been treated to two exclusive sales – Prime Day in July and Prime Big Deal Days, which typically takes place in October.
Amazon’s Prime subscription service gives you access to a treasure trove of benefits
Amazon Prime Day deals
Amazon’s last Prime Day sale kicked off on July 8 and ran for four days, ending on July 11.
We also spotted plenty of deals on Amazon devices such as Echo speakers, Fire TVs, and Ring security systems, plus major price drops on top brands and trending tech products, such as dash cams, and we’re predicting similar savings next week.
It’s the last major sales event from Amazon ahead of Black Friday – so make sure you don’t miss out, especially if you’re hoping to get a head start on your Christmas shopping or pick up a few affordable winter essentials.
Just remember: to take advantage of the deals, you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription (there’s a 30-day free trial), currently costing £8.99 per month or £95 per year.
Jump to…
When does Amazon Prime Day 2025 start?
Amazon’s second Prime Day sale of the year, Prime Big Deal Days, will take place on October 7, 2025.
The two-day shopping event ends on October 8, 2025.
In 2024, Amazon Prime Big Deal Days ran from October 8 to 9.
Amazon Prime Day: The best deals live now
We’ve rounded up a wide range of deals you can shop right now.
Best Amazon home deals
Prime Day is the perfect time to pick up big-name brands for lessCredit: Amazon
Treadmill Walking Pad Running Machine, £149.99 for Prime members (was £599.99) – buy here
LEENON Dehumidifiers for Home, £109.99 (was £159.99) –buy here
Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor (Newest gen), £26.99 (was £69.99) – buy here
Alexander Graham 3 Tier Heated Clothes Airer Dryer, £92.65 (was £109) – buy here
Slumberdown Sleepy Nights Electric Blanket King Size, £32.60 (was £42.99) – buy here
Slumberdown Feels Like Down King Size Duvet 13.5 Tog, £21.56 (was £31.19) – buy here
Yankee Candle Scented Candle Vanilla Cupcake Large Jar, £16.99 (was £29.99) – buy here
LEGO Botanicals Orchid, £29.99 (was £44.99) – buy here
LEGO Harry Potter Book Nook: Hogwarts Express Set with a Train Toy, £67.99 (was £89.99) – buy here
LEGO Halloween Barn, £9.99 (was £12.99) – buy here
Monopoly Harry Potter Edition, £21.99 (was £37.99) – buy here
MEGA Pokémon Charizard Action Figure, £14.99 (was £22.99) – buy here
Paw Patrol Adventure Bay Bath Playset, £19.99 (was £29.99) – buy here
PAW Patrol Fire Rescue Command Center with Marshall Figure, £37.49 (was £49.99) – buy here
AOLEVA Wooden Afternoon Tea Set for Toddler, £14.75 (was £17.35) – buy here
Pukomc 36/60in Toddler Trampoline for Kids, £26.59 (was £49.99) – buy here
LeapFrog Build-a-Slice Pizza Cart, £39.99 (was £59.99) – buy here
Best Prime Day deals on Amazon services
During the sales event, Amazon offers promotional deals and free trials on several services, including Prime.
Here are just a few of our favourite deals you can snap up today:
When was the last Prime Day event?
The last Prime Day sale took place between July 8 and July 11, 2025, giving bargain hunters four days to shop exclusive deals.
Prime members were treated to thousands of discounts across everything from tech and beauty to home essentials and fashion, with many items hitting their lowest-ever prices.
Here are the dates of past Prime Day sales:
2015: 15 July
2016: 12 July
2017: 11-12 July
2018: 17-18 July
2019: 15-16 July
2020: 13-14 October
2021: 21-22 June
2022: 12-13 July
2023: 11-12 July
2024: 16-17 July
2025: 8-11 July
Do I need to be a Prime member to take part in Prime Day?
Never been a member before? You’re in luck – Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for newbies.
This essentially gives you full access to the mammoth sale and all the Prime perks, without spending a penny.
Just be sure to set a reminder – you’ll need to cancel before the 30-day trial ends to avoid being charged the £8.99 monthly fee.
If you’re planning to keep Prime long-term, you can save by opting for the annual membership at £95.
How much is Amazon Prime?
An Amazon Prime membership costs £8.99 per month or £95 for the whole year – but with all the perks on offer, it could save you a fortune.
Amazon’s yearly subscription service gives you access to a treasure trove of benefits, from quick delivery to binge-worthy telly and exclusive discounts.
The annual membership works out cheaper than paying monthly, saving you nearly £13 over the year – perfect if you’re planning to stick with Prime long-term.
Not sure if it’s worth splashing the cash? Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new members (or anyone who hasn’t been a member in the last 12 months).
This means you can enjoy all the Prime perks, including access to the Amazon sale, without spending a penny – just remember to cancel before the 30 days are up if you don’t want to be charged.
The mega-sale features a mix of different deal types, including:
“Deals of the day,” which last a limited time – or vanish even quicker if stock runs out.
Limited “lightning deals” which appear and disappear in the blink of an eye once stock is gone.
Some offers (particularly Amazon’s own devices) will stick around for the full sale period.
How long will Prime Day 2025 deals last?
As mentioned above, Prime Big Deal Days is a two-day event that will take place between October 7 and 8, 2025.
The sale is slightly shorter than July’s Prime Day event, which gave shoppers four days of unmissable deals.
It was the biggest Prime Day event to date, with customers saving billions on deals across more than 35 product categories.
Our top tip? If you spot something you’ve been eyeing up with a massive discount, grab it quickly.
Hesitate and you’ll likely miss out – these deals wait for no one!
Does Amazon have Prime Day deals on everything?
Prime Day is a shopaholic’s dream, with discounts across virtually every Amazon department.
Here are several categories worth checking out:
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or hunting for gifts, you’ll find something on sale in whatever category catches your eye.
Can students take part in Prime Day?
Yes, students can get in on all the Prime Day bargains.
Amazon offers students a special Prime Student membership that comes with the same perks as regular Prime but at a serious discount – just £4.49 monthly.
Even better, students get an incredible six-month free trial (compared to the normal 30 days), giving you access to all the Prime Day deals without spending a penny.
To qualify, you’ll need:
A valid university email address
Proof of enrollment
The student discount lasts for four years or until you graduate (whichever comes first) – making this one of the best bargains going for cash-strapped students.
How do I cancel my Amazon Prime 30-day free trial after Prime Day?
If you’re taking advantage of an Amazon Prime trial to grab Prime Day bargains, you’ll need to cancel before your 30 days are up to avoid being charged the full membership fee.
Luckily, cancelling is a doddle – here’s exactly how to do it:
On your phone or tablet:
Open the Amazon app and tap the profile icon at the bottom
Tap ‘Your Account’
Select ‘Manage Prime Membership’
Tap ‘Manage Membership’ at the top
Hit ‘Update, cancel and more’
Scroll down and tap ‘End membership’
On your computer:
Head to Amazon.co.uk/gp/primecentral
Click ‘Update, cancel, and more’ below ‘Membership’
Click ‘End membership’
Select the yellow ‘Cancel My Benefits’ button
Click ‘Continue to Cancel’
Confirm by clicking ‘Cancel Membership’
Even after cancelling, you’ll still keep all your Prime benefits until the end of your trial period.
You’ll see the exact end date displayed on the screen after cancelling.
If you end up forgetting to cancel and get charged, Amazon may offer a full refund if you haven’t used any Prime benefits since the trial ended.
How often is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime Day typically takes place once a year in July.
The retail giant also hosts a second major sales event in October, known as Prime Big Deal Days.
In addition to these two events, Amazon runs regular sales throughout the year, including a Spring Sale in March.
The retailer also offers unbeatable deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so there are plenty of opportunities to save.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has stepped down, blaming deep divisions in parliament where parties acted “as if they all had an absolute majority”. His departure comes less than a month after taking office, throwing France into renewed political uncertainty.
