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Selling Sunset star Emma Hernan reunited with her on-and-off boyfriend Blake Davis after the latest season wrapped filming.

Selling Sunset’s Emma Hernan has revealed the real reason she reunited with her on-and-off boyfriend Blake Davis.

Emma, 33, introduced Blake to her friends Chrishell Stause and Chelsea Lazkani in season nine, and Chrishell had her doubts about the coupling.

Blake, 28, also has a real estate background and seemed completely smitten with the reality star. He even proposed to Emma, but she soon ended the relationship.

Now, the O Group agent has confirmed she is back together with Blake, despite her friends’ concerns.

Opening up to Tudum, she explained: “If I really cared about making myself look good, I would’ve stayed broken up with him or would’ve said, ‘Nope, we’re not together.’

“But ultimately, with relationships, there’s back and forth — and I think that that’s OK to show.”

Diving into why she reunited with her ex, Emma continued: “I had a realization at the reunion that I was [thinking too much] about what other people think.

“If I want to go spend time with this person, why am I so concerned about what everyone else is going to say? After the reunion, I went to go see him, and we’ve been traveling and been together ever since.”

During the reunion, Emma revealed she was back in contact with Blake.

It also came to light that Emma had “lied” to Chrishell about going to the Bahamas for Blake’s birthday, which has played a part in souring their friendship.

The duo were at a Beyoncé concert when Emma abruptly left.

Chrishell revealed: “You [Emma] told me that you were going to Boston to see your family and that’s why you had to leave early. That’s what you told me.”

She went on to add: “The next day she shows up in the Bahamas with Blake.”

The 44-year-old claimed she disliked Blake because the relationship causes Emma to “flake” on their friendship.

But Chrishell’s disappointment didn’t end there, the actress also claims Blake has problematic views.

Back in May, a fan took to Instagram and asked Chrishell: “What’s happening with you and Emma? Hot topic on Reddit.”

She responded: “Ask her about her MAGA bf who told me pronouns are dumb and that he likes to use the N word. I just can’t with that. Too old to allow that in.”

The social media comment sparked online conversation and press coverage which didn’t exactly paint Emma in a favourable light.

During the season nine reunion, Chrishell opened up about the post, claiming Blake revealed his views during a conversation in her kitchen.

“He told me proudly [that] he openly uses the N-word. He thinks that people [who] don’t sing lyrics with all the words, he thinks they are the ones that are too woke,” she explained.

Emma, who was there during the chat, fired back with: “He never said the word woke. He never said that.”

She went on to explain that Blake expressed that “he’s friends with a bunch of rappers and they try and get him to say it [the N-word] and he says no”.

Emma also argued that Chrishell’s post was not an accurate representation of what Blake said, and that he never voiced any political views.

Selling Sunset Season 9 is streaming now on Netflix

BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha and tactics correspondent Umir Irfan join Sam Harris to discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold’s tough return to Anfield with Real Madrid.

READ MORE: Liverpool ‘back to their best’ as they dominate Real Madrid

WATCH: On-the-whistle reaction on BBC iPlayer

Warnock said: “There is a great player in Conor Bradley, but he needs to stay fit and get a run of games to build up a relationship with Salah. These things can take time, even with the best players.

“Trent leaving has had an impact on Salah. Their partnership, if not exactly unnoticed, was almost taken as read. Yes, they are world-class individuals, but it was also a partnership.

“They really complemented each other. Trent could go inside, draw people towards him, which freed up more space for Salah. And when Salah drove at people he had the ability to feed Trent because teams were backing off.”

Alexander-Arnold’s comfort in possession with his fellow defenders, plus the ability to move into midfield, means his presence is also sorely missed elsewhere.

Warnock said: “I think Ibrahima Konate probably misses him as well. He knew he could give Trent the ball under pressure. I think it is having an impact on the right-hand side of the pitch, both in defence and attack.

“Liverpool also created a box system in the centre of midfield, which they did so well, when Trent was in the side.

“There was a lot of praise given to Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, but Trent was a big part of that as well. Losing that extra body in the midfield area, when he was in there, is also missed because opponents were drawn to him, fearful of what he could create.”

Jeremie Frimpong, signed in a £29m deal from Bayer Leverkusen to compete with Bradley for the place vacated by Alexander-Arnold, has had his Anfield start curtailed by hamstring injuries.

Warnock said: “The biggest issue with Frimpong is not only injuries, but what is his best position? At Bayer Leverkusen he spent a lot of time as a right wing-back.”

Dominant football win moves defending La Liga champions to second place in the standings, five adrift of archrivals Madrid.

Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford struck for Barcelona as they earned a 3-1 win over Elche in La Liga to bounce back from last weekend’s El Clasico defeat and move back into second place to trail leaders Real Madrid by five points.

Barca continued to struggle in defence and Elche had chances to cause an upset on Sunday, scoring through Rafa Mir, with the striker also twice hitting the woodwork.

Hansi Flick’s Barca have failed to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive league games, in the midst of an injury crisis.

The champions were missing Pedri, Gavi, and Joan Garcia among others, but were able to bring on Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo following spells out of action.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal underwhelmed in last week’s defeat by Real Madrid after coming back from a groin issue, but looked more spritely against Elche.

Coached by Eder Sarabia, a former Barcelona assistant coach under Quique Setien, the ninth-placed visitors came to play and impressed.

Barca took the lead after nine minutes when Alejandro Balde drove forward and fed Yamal in the area.

The winger took a touch to set himself and then whipped a clinical finish past former Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena, a teammate of his last season.

Three minutes later, Torres doubled the hosts’ advantage, tapping home after Fermin Lopez broke into space down the left and provided an inch-perfect cross.

The striker revealed a T-shirt paying tribute to Valencia, his home region, a year on from the deadly flooding that hit Spain’s east coast.

Lopez and Rashford fired narrowly off-target while Pena saved from Torres as Barca squandered some presentable chances.

Mir pulled a goal back shortly before half-time. Barca tried to catch the forward offside, but he was in his own half when he was played in. Mir bent a shot past Ronald Araujo and Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and in at the far post.

Torres might have scored again before the interval, but Pena produced a superb save to tip his strike to safety.

Early in the second half, Mir clipped the top of the crossbar with a curling effort as Elche battled well.

Rashford sealed Barca’s victory with a superb finish after Lopez picked him out with a cross, for his second league goal of the campaign.

Veteran goalkeeper Szczesny pushed a Mir effort onto the post to save Barca sweating over their advantage in the final stages.

“It was very important to start strong and intense. From there, we could take the game where we wanted it to go,” Torres told DAZN.

“We knew the type of game they were going to play, and we started very strong. We were a bit off afterwards, but we found our spirit and our intensity again in the second half.”

Political Landscape & Key Contenders

Tanzania’s ruling Party of the Revolution (CCM) has dominated the country’s politics ever since its independence over 60 years ago. Incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Africa’s first female head of state, is widely expected to cruise to victory on October 29th.

In January 2025 CCM confirmed Hassan as its presidential candidate. In practice, the race is uncompetitive: Hassan’s two main competitors have been barred from standing. Tundu Lissu, charismatic opposition leader and 2015/2020 candidate of the opposition Chadema party, as well as Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, were both disqualified. With Hassan all but certain to win, 16 minor-party candidates who barely campaigned will fill the remainder of the ballot.

Vice-President under the late John Magufuli, Hassan reversed some of his hardline measures early on, by reopening political space and rejoining international vaccine efforts. She focused on completing mega infrastructure projects (such as roads, railways, and power) and has generally been credited with steady economic growth. Even with this, what remains undeniable is that her administration has returned Tanzania to an authoritarian style of government later in her term.

The Election Campaign Environment & Democratic Integrity

The campaign season took place under very tight restrictions and accusations of bias, with Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo effectively excluded, CCM ran largely unopposed nationally. State authorities reportedly attacked critics and journalists, by giving pro-CCM coverage nearly 24/7 while enforcing regulations to silence dissent.

For example, internet and social media were also tightly controlled: in the week before the vote Tanzania effectively banned “X” (formerly Twitter) for ordinary users, and on election day a nationwide internet blackout was reported.

For many Tanzanians and international observervers the process couldn’t be seen as anything but undemocratic. State security forces were omnipresent at rallies and polling stations; any public protests were swiftly banned. When small crowds gathered outside campaign events they were dispersed with force, and police warned that posting “inciting” political content online could lead to arrest.

Key Challenges and Threats

The election day triggered unrest in several major cities. Hundreds of young protesters took to the streets sometimes clashing violently with police. In Dar es Salaam and Mwanza demonstrators set buses and police posts on fire and security forces responded with tear gas and gunfire. Human-rights monitors reported that at least five civilians were killed (with some reports saying up to ten).

With dozens of unexplained disappearances of opposition figures and journalists in recent years, Hassan’s administration ordered an investigation into alleged abductions last year, but no official results were released. Prominent Chadema members remain on trial for “treason,” and several smaller opposition candidates were arrested in the final days just before the election. Combining these practices with the low turnout in urban areas especially among youth, suggests further loss of faith in the Tanzanian political system. All together, these threats mean that even a smooth tally would not resolve underlying tensions.

Regional & International Outlook

Regional bodies, such as observers from the African Union, the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) were present during the vote. The AU dispatched a 72-member mission led by former Botswana President Masisi and Nigeria’s ex-foreign minister Onyeama. In practice these delegations will issue preliminary statements after the vote and full reports in the coming weeks.

However, international reactions have been mixed. Most western observers have voiced sharp criticism: a statement by European Parliament members called Tanzania’s election “neither free nor fair,” and urged its global partners to defend democracy. While the U.S. and EU members’ embassies had previously expressed concern about the campaign environment, neither imposed sanctions.

By contrast, major developing powers have maintained a low profile. China and Russia, both deeply engaged economically in Tanzanian infrastructure and mining projects, have largely stuck to their policy of non-interference.

Signing a $1.4 billion deal with China for railway work and a $1.2 billion uranium mining agreement with a Russian firm this year, neither Beijing nor Moscow publicly commented on the vote, focusing instead on stable relations and continued investment. African neighbors similarly avoided direct criticism; the emphasis has been on observing procedure rather than questioning the outcome.

Future Scenarios & Implications

In the short term, this will bring continuity of policy: infrastructure projects under construction can proceed, and Tanzania’s economy, is likely to keep growing moderately, especially by investment from China and Russia, which see Tanzania as a strategic hub.. By sidelining credible opposition, the government sacrifices long-term political accountability and invites heavier criticism from human-rights NGOs.

Meanwhile, some youth activists have threatened further protests, declaring that Tanzanians are shifting into active citizens. Should street violence or international pressure grow, the election’s aftermath will set the tone for Tanzania’s next chapter. A smoothly managed outcome could cement CCM rule for years, but if the polls are viewed as a coerced victory it may instead erode trust in government and fuel future crises. Tanzania’s 2025 election shows how fragile stability without competition is. Unless the political space reopens, the country risks trading short-term order for long-term disillusionment.

“In a war zone where infrastructure is severely damaged, the identification process becomes slower.”

Soren Blau from the International Committee of Missing Persons discusses the challenges they face trying to locate and identify many of the deceased in Gaza.

There has been tension and, at times, the atmosphere has been cold between Vinicius and Alonso.

The incident that defined the current mood came in the final training session before the Club World Cup semi-final against PSG. Vini, who had started every match until then, was told he would be a substitute. He did not take it well and Alonso stood firm, determined to show that no player, however talented, is beyond instruction.

That dynamic has continued.

The manager has insisted Vinicius will not finish every game, that he needs to rest more, and Rodrygo will challenge him for a place on the left side of the attack. Alonso’s stance is rooted in authority and planning. Vini Jr, used to being indulged, has found it hard to adapt.

The coach’s approach is consistent with the way he was as a player: methodical, controlled and, on top of that, he has the personality to be unafraid of confrontation. He wants every member of the squad to understand who sets the tone. For him, managing Real Madrid means creating order, not deferring to star power.

Vinicius, meanwhile, feels treated like any other player when he expected a closer, more personal relationship. The warmth he shared with Ancelotti is missing, replaced by professional distance.

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr says he “didn’t want to offend anyone” when he and some of his team-mates clashed with Barcelona players after winning Sunday’s El Clasico.

The Brazil forward, 25, expressed his frustration at being substituted in the 72nd minute and went straight down the tunnel.

He returned to the Real bench later and, after his side’s 2-1 win, tried to confront Barcelona’s 18-year-old winger Lamine Yamal during unsavoury post-match scenes.

Vinicius was one of five players booked for their part in the incident, while Real’s substitute goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was shown a red card.

“El Clasico is like that,” Vinicius told Real Madrid TV. “There are a lot of things happening on and off the pitch.

“We try to maintain a balance, but it’s not always possible. We didn’t want to offend anyone, not Barca players, nor the fans.

“We know that when we step on to the pitch, we have to defend our side, and that’s how it was today.”

Lamine Yamal had angered the Real players by saying last week that Real ‘steal’ and ‘complain’.

After scoring Sunday’s winner at the Bernabeu, Real’s England midfielder Jude Bellingham said on Instagram:, external “Talk is cheap. Hala Madrid always.”

Alex Murdaugh

Richard Alexander Murdaugh came up in a prominent family, both in the legal and social realms of Hampton County, S.C. He attended the University of South Carolina and graduated from its law school, just like his father. Three generations of Murdaugh men served as the circuit solicitor, the South Carolina equivalent of a district attorney, for a region spanning five counties in the state. Randolph Murdaugh Sr. was the first in the family to assume the role in 1920. The family held such power in the region that many locals called the district “Murdaugh Country.”

Alex was a respected personal injury attorney before being convicted of the murders of his wife Maggie and youngest son Paul in 2023. He will spend the rest of his life in prison for the killings but maintains his innocence and is currently appealing his conviction. He also admitted to committing a slew of financial crimes, for which he was cumulatively sentenced to more than 60 additional years in prison.

The family law firm he previously worked for, Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick, was renamed the Parker Law Group. Alex’s older brother, Randolph “Randy” Murdaugh IV, still works at the firm.

Maggie Murdaugh

Margaret Kennedy Branstetter Murdaugh, who went by Maggie, was mother to sons Paul and Buster. She met her husband Alex when she was a student at the University of South Carolina in 1991, and they married in 1993.

She was 52 when she and Paul were shot and killed in 2021 at the family’s hunting property in Colleton County. Alex and Maggie were reportedly living separately at the time of her death.

Paul Murdaugh, pictured here in court in a still from the documentary “Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty,” faced significant prison time for allegedly boating under the influence.

(HBO Max)

Paul Murdaugh

Paul Terry Murdaugh was born on April 14, 1999, to Alex and Maggie. He grew up with a love of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting alongside his father and older brother. He was 22 and in his junior year at the University of South Carolina when he was killed.

Paul reportedly abused alcohol as a teenager and young adult, and his friends have said they called his intoxicated alter ego “Timmy” because his behavior changed significantly when he was drinking. In February 2019, Paul was accused of being behind the wheel of his family’s boat while drunk, crashing the boat into a bridge in the early hours of the morning. There were five other people on board with Paul, and one passenger, 19-year-old Mallory Beach, was killed in the crash.

Paul, who was also 19 at the time, had a blood-alcohol level three times over the legal limit when he was hospitalized after the crash. He was charged with felony boating under the influence two months later. He was murdered alongside his mother in 2021 before the trial for the charges he faced in connection with the crash could begin.

Buster Murdaugh

Born Richard Alexander Murdaugh Jr., the eldest Murdaugh son went by “Buster.” He attended Wofford College for his undergraduate studies and went on to study law at his parents’ alma mater, the University of South Carolina. By the spring of 2021, Buster had been kicked out of law school, reportedly for low grades and plagiarism.

Following the deaths of his mother and brother, Buster surfaced in news reports after increased interest in the family unearthed a loose connection between him and a man named Stephen Smith, a former classmate who was killed in 2015. Rumors of an intimate relationship between Smith and Buster, and of the Murdaughs’ involvement in his death, swirled, but Buster denied the allegations.

When his father was on trial for the murders of Paul and Maggie, Buster testified as a witness for the defense, saying that his father’s behavior on the night of the killings and the following weeks was not abnormal. He also said Alex was “heartbroken” on the night they died.

Buster married his longtime girlfriend Brooklynn White in May 2025. His wife is an attorney, but Buster never returned to law school.

Buster Murdaugh, left, and his then-girlfriend Brooklynn White at the double murder trial for his father. He testified in his father’s defense.

(Jeff Blake / Associated Press)

Randolph Murdaugh III

Randolph Murdaugh III was Alex’s father and one of the men who established the Murdaugh family’s legal prominence. Like his father and grandfather, Randolph served as the solicitor of the 14th judicial circuit in South Carolina, which serves Allendale, Colleton, Hampton, Beaufort and Jasper counties. In addition to Alex, Randolph had three other children with wife Elizabeth “Libby” Alexander Murdaugh: Lynn Goettee, Randolph Murdaugh IV and John Marvin Murdaugh. The couple had 10 grandchildren.

When Paul got into the boat crash in 2019, Randolph was his first call. A year earlier, Randolph was honored with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor of South Carolina. A testament to his influence, the award recognizes lifetime achievements and contributions to the state.

He died in June 2021 after a long period of health problems — three days after Paul and Maggie were murdered.

Mallory Beach and her family

Beach was a teenager from South Carolina who was described by friends and family as a loving young woman with dreams of becoming an interior designer. She and her boyfriend, Anthony Cook, were friends with Paul, and in February 2019 the couple boarded the Murdaugh family boat with a few other friends before it crashed into a bridge in Beaufort, S.C.

Beach’s body was missing after the crash and was recovered about a week later. Her family brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the Murdaughs, which eventually cracked open inquiries into Alex’s finances. The family later settled with Maggie’s estate and Buster in 2023 for an undisclosed amount. They were brought into the case because Paul used Maggie’s credit card and Buster’s ID to buy alcohol. The Beach family also reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the convenience store chain where Paul purchased the alcohol, and in 2024, Alex’s insurance company agreed to pay the family $500,000.

Gloria Satterfield

Satterfield was the Murdaugh’s longtime housekeeper and nanny, who had a maternal-like relationship with Paul and Buster. She was the widow of David Michael Satterfield and had two sons, Michael “Tony” Satterfield and Brian Harriott.

In February 2018, Satterfield allegedly tripped and fell at the Murdaugh’s home and was hospitalized for weeks before she died at 57. Alex and Maggie were mentioned by name in Satterfield’s obituary as “those she loved as her family.”

When the cause of Satterfield’s death was being investigated, Murdaugh claimed Satterfield tripped over the family’s dogs, causing her to fall and hit her head, and he encouraged her two sons to bring a wrongful death claim against him. Murdaugh introduced Satterfield’s sons to Cory Fleming, a fellow lawyer, who represented them in the case and schemed with Murdaugh to collect on his homeowner’s insurance policies. The settlement was reportedly more than $4 million, none of which Satterfield’s sons saw.

Fleming was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for his involvement in the scheme and Murdaugh admitted to orchestrating the plot and intercepting the insurance payout meant for Satterfield’s family, depositing the money directly into his personal account. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for that crime, plus a slew of other financial crimes he pleaded guilty to in 2023.

Stephen Smith

Smith was born in Lexington County, S.C., and attended Wade Hampton High School, where he was classmates with Buster Murdaugh, graduating in 2014. He was found dead on a rural road in Hampton County in July 2015, and his death was initially ruled as a hit and run.

In 2021, South Carolina law enforcement reopened Smith’s case based on leads uncovered in the Murdaugh double homicide investigation. The Murdaugh name was mentioned over 40 times throughout the course of the investigation, according to a report from FITSNews, a local outlet. Detectives reportedly looked at Buster as a possible person of interest in the case, who was rumored to have been romantically involved with Smith, but the connection was never proved and Buster was never named a suspect.

Follow the build-up, analysis and live text commentary of the game as Madrid host Barcelona for Spain’s El Clasico.

Bellingham’s start to the season was inevitably difficult, having had shoulder surgery in July for a long-standing injury he sustained in 2023.

He missed 63 days of training and playing, including five matches for Los Blancos.

In his first appearance back in late September, he was welcomed to the pitch with a huge roar as his return thrilled the Madridistas.

“Bellingham has nothing to prove on Sunday,” said Real supporter Carlos Campillo. “He already does that with every game he plays in and every assist he makes. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone but himself.

Fellow fan Juan Antonio Lillo added: “It’s not a decisive game for him. He needs to keep picking up pace and getting a feel for the game. It’s just one more step towards reaching the level he needs to be at and he’ll get there sooner or later.”

Since Bellingham’s return, he has appeared in six more fixtures in all competitions, slowly increasing his minutes and trying to rediscover his best form.

For much of that stretch, however, his influence was limited – until this week, where his match-winning goal in the Champions League against Juventus reignited the Bernabeu’s belief – and perhaps his too.

“It’s a great feeling, a long time now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team”, Bellingham told US broadcaster CBS after scoring his first goal of the season.

“To score a winner here at home, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important, and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”

Bellingham shone in his debut season at the Bernabeu, scoring 19 goals in La Liga, but his form dipped slightly in 2024–25 as Madrid finished the campaign without a major trophy.

“I didn’t think last year was a disaster,” he reflected. “[It was] still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year.

“There were still good moments, but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager, he’s got that shape, how we want to play.”

IF you want some ultimate seclusion right on the ocean, there is a holiday cottage you can rent in the UK.

Hallane Mill is in the village of Charlestown in Cornwall, near St Austell Bay.

And with Cornwall often being overcrowded and busy during the summer, the quaint house is ideal for escaping the bustle.

Sleeping four across two bedrooms, the cottage is down a short driveway so don’t expect to see anyone else around.

But the main attraction is the beach right on the doorstep, with the small rocky patch all to yourself.

Guests have exclusive access to it for everything from wild swimming to paddle boarding

SANDS GREAT

I went on a Cornwall road trip that rivalled New Zealand with fairytale islands

BEACH IT

Ditch Cornwall for my seaside county – we have better beaches and attractions

It has an indoor dining area as well as a outdoor alfresco table area with hammock and barbecue overlooking the ocean as well.

Even if the weather turns, most of the rooms have views of the sea including one of the bedrooms and a cosy window seat in the back.

The cottage even has a log burner for when you visit in the colder months.

Previous visitors have raved about their stay with many saying they had already booked to stay again.

One said: “This place is where you have to pitch your self to see if it is real.

“Along with the amazing service amazing location amazing cottage and to top it all of the wildlife owls woodpecker seals hawk bats see you next year.”

Another said: “We have holidayed in Cornwall for many years but have never quite found the accommodation and location that has everything we could ever have dreamed of until now.

“Hallane Mill was everything we could ever want and more. The property was exquisite in every way our little slice of heaven.

Stays start from £987 for a week stay, working out to around £35 each a night.

If you want to explore the nearby area, there is also the nearby Eden Project.

The nearest pub is The Ship Inn, just over a mile away which has a beer garden overlooking the harbour.

Otherwise you can explore the village of Charlestown, which is known for being the filming location of Poldark.

And it is even being currently used to film the newest series of Death in Paradise.

The historic harbour village is even home to the world’s biggest private collection of shipwreck artefacts.

COOL OFF

I’ve been to over 50 countries – here are my cheap winter sun hols with £11 hotels

UNMASKED

Chilling unheard tapes reveal how cops tore apart smirking serial killer Ted Bundy

We recently stayed at the Pier House Hotel in Charlestown – everything you need to know.

Here’s another fairytale cottage you can book in the UK.

Real Madrid see off improved Juventus in UCL win, while Liverpool come back in Frankfurt and Victor Osimhen stars again.

Jude Bellingham scored his first goal since June as Real Madrid saw off a spirited performance by Juventus to win 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu and maintain their 100 percent record in this season’s Champions League.

The goal on Wednesday was created by Vinicius Jr, who in the 58th minute took on three Juventus players and made space to shoot. His attempt rebounded off the post for Bellingham to slot home his first goal of the season since returning from shoulder surgery.

Juve are winless since September 13 and have gone seven consecutive matches without a victory in all competitions. They have secured just two points from three Champions League games, while Madrid have nine points.

The Italians did, however, draw a number of fine saves from Real keeper Thibaut Courtois as they defied the record Champions League winners for nearly an hour.

The Belgium international stopper remained pivotal even in the dying moments as Juve applied the pressure in search of an equaliser, with Filip Kostic’s long-range strike needing to be pummelled away.

Liverpool come from a goal down in Frankfurt

Liverpool emphatically rebounded from a miserable run as it won 5-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday.

There were also comfortable wins for Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Liverpool travelled to Germany on a four-game losing streak that included Sunday’s home defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League. Among its recent setbacks was also a loss at Galatasaray in its second league-phase match.

Rasmus Kristensen gave the home side the lead in the 26th minute, but Liverpool levelled nine minutes later through former Frankfurt player Hugo Ekitike, who outsprinted three of his former teammates before firing a low effort under Michael Zetterer.

Ekitike didn’t celebrate but raised his hands in an apologetic gesture.

Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate headed in corners within five minutes of each other to give Liverpool a comfortable halftime lead.

Florian Wirtz provided his first Champions League assist in the 66th, setting up Cody Gakpo for a tap-in, and he did it again four minutes later for a low drive from Dominik Szoboszlai from 30 meters out.

Chelsea beat Ajax 5-1, while Bayern topped Club Brugge 4-0.

Nigeria’s Osimhen shines again for Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen continued his impressive scoring record in Europe to help Galatasaray to a 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt.

Osimhen netted two first-half goals to extend his scoring streak in continental competition to seven outings – with nine goals in that period – stretching back to Galatasaray’s Europa League campaign last term.

The Nigerian forward came close to a hat-trick on several occasions, notably in the 60th minute when his attempt was parried by Nikita Haikin, but Yunus Akgun tucked away the rebound for Galatasaray’s third.

Substitute Andreas Helmersen grabbed a consolation for Bodø/Glimt shortly after coming off the bench.

Substitute Roberto Navarro had an immediate – and stunning – impact as he helped Athletic Bilbao to its first points in this season’s Champions League, with a 3-1 comeback victory over Qarabag.

Navarro was brought on in the 65th minute, with the score 1-1, and gave the hosts the lead five minutes later with a delightful curled finish into the far corner.

Qarabag, which was surprisingly perfect going into the encounter, had taken the lead after just 49 seconds through Leandro Andrade.

But Gorka Guruzeta levelled shortly before halftime and also gave his team a two-goal cushion with full-time looming.

Follow our live build-up, with full team news coverage, ahead of our text commentary stream of the UCL tie.

Brookside icon Tinhead is returning to the famous close for a one-off episode twinned with Hollyoaks, and actor Philip Olivier has opened up about the character’s nickname.

Brookside legend Tinhead is making a comeback to the renowned close for a special one-off episode alongside Hollyoaks.

Both beloved Channel 4 dramas were created by Grange Hill mastermind Sir Philip Redmond, with Brookside subsequently inspiring the development of Chester-set Hollyoaks.

To celebrate Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary, the shows are joining forces for a landmark crossover episode, with Philip Olivier returning to his memorable role as Tinhead.

Tim “Tinhead” O’Leary made his debut in 1996 as the offspring of Carmel and Tommy O’Leary, portraying a wayward pupil at Brookside Comprehensive High School.

Throughout his storyline, Tinhead formed an intricate relationship with beloved character Sinbad, portrayed by Michael Starke, who served as a mentor figure for the rebellious youngster, reports the Manchester Evening News.

However, Tinhead was compelled to transform his ways following a devastating incident that nearly claimed his sister Melanie’s life.

His future seemed promising when romance blossomed with Emily, portrayed by Jennifer Ellison, and the couple wed in 2001.

Yet marital happiness wasn’t destined for the pair.

Following further involvement in unlawful activities, Emily perished during a burglary in 2002, leaving Tinhead bereaved at a young age.

Philip Olivier, 45, last appeared as Tinhead in November 2003 when Brookside broadcast its concluding episode.

However, over two decades later, he’s reprising his role as Timothy O’Leary, alongside Suzanne Collins as Nikki Shadwick, for a special Hollyoaks and Brookside episode.

How did Tinhead earn his nickname?

Despite the character’s actual name being Timothy, soap fans will recognise him by his unusual moniker.

Ahead of the rebooted episode, Olivier shed light on how his character acquired the nickname, revealing it was purely coincidental.

The actor shared: “There was a pretty rough school in my area with a really hard kid who everyone knew as Tinhead. This was before I got the part. The name was spray-painted on the side of a building near the school.

“I know a lot of Brookside writers used to live round that area so they must’ve drove past and remembered the name. People thought I’d suggested it but it was a coincidence.”

Olivier also disclosed that he had initially auditioned for a different role in the show before landing the part of the teenage troublemaker.

He elaborated: “Originally, I went up to play the character of Danny Simpson, then ended up playing the kid that bullied him at school.

“I auditioned for Danny then got a call a month later about this character called ‘Tinhead’.”

The Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover episode airs on Wednesday (October 22) at 7pm on E4.

The series will air over four gripping hour-long episodes.

Sean Bean is leading a new factual series delving into the lives of some of history’s most notorious criminals.

From Al Capone to The Krays and the Queen of Harlem, Original Gangsters sees the actor team up with experts to separate fact from fiction when it comes to their legacies.

The show’s first episode, which will air on November 4, is about the Peaky Blinders and it will see Sean Bean delve into the reality behind the Steven Knight hit series, which will be returning.

The synopsis for the episode reads: “Sean Bean unveils the real-life Peaky Blinders who terrorised Birmingham in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

“From the labyrinthine alleyways of industrial Birmingham in the 1860s through riots and deadly gang warfare where the city’s ruffians battled with police, to the early twentieth century where rogue street mobs coalesced to become organised and eventually united under the hand of one man: Billy Kimber.

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“With testimony from Carl Chinn, the world’s leading expert on Birmingham crime and the Peaky Blinders, discover more on the people behind history’s first intercity gang war.”

The Peaky Blinders street gang consisted largely of young criminals from working class backgrounds who engaged in robbery, violence and illegal bookmaking.

They were recognised by their signature outfits which included tailored jackets and flat caps.

They held control for 30 years until 1920, when a larger gang known as the Birmingham Boys, led by Billy Kimber, overtook them.

Still, the name “Peaky Blinders” became synonymous slang for many of Birmingham’s street gangs.

Episode two of Original Gangsters focuses on Al Capone – an American gangster and businessman who became famous during the Prohibition era.

Episode three looks at Stephanie St. Clair, known as the Queen of Harlem, who ruled Harlem’s numbers rackets in the 1920s.

Episode four explores Ronnie and Reggie Kray, and London’s original ‘Gentleman Gangster’ Billy Hill.

Original Gangsters with Sean Bean airs on Sky History from November 4 at 9pm

Who: Real Madrid vs Juventus
What: UEFA Champions League
Where: Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain
When: Wednesday, October 22 at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 6pm (16:00 GMT) before our live text commentary streams.

La Liga leaders Real Madrid host Italy’s Juventus at the Bernabeu Stadium, with both sides looking to improve their UEFA Champions League (UCL) ladder position in the Matchday 3 showdown.

Real, who are one of just six unbeaten sides remaining in the UCL and sit second on the ladder behind Bayern Munich, would want nothing less than three points against Juventus before their next fixture against English champions Liverpool on November 4.

Juventus are languishing in 23rd position in the group phase standings – near the elimination zone – with only two draws so far against Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal. They desperately need a victory against Los Blancos on Wednesday to keep pace with the leaders.

Here is all to know before their high-stakes encounter:

How did Real Madrid and Juventus fare in their domestic leagues this past weekend?

Kylian Mbappe extended his goalscoring streak to 11 consecutive games to help Real Madrid reclaim top spot in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at nine-man Getafe on Sunday.

After rivals Barcelona briefly displaced Real with a narrow win over Girona on Saturday, Xabi Alonso’s side restored their two-point advantage before next weekend’s Clasico.

Juventus lost 2-0 at Como in Serie A on Sunday, another disappointing result after five successive draws in all competitions for Igor Tudor’s side.

Juve slumped to seventh position in the standings, four points behind leaders AC Milan.

How many times have Real and Juventus won the UEFA Champions League?

Real Madrid have won the UEFA Champions League 15 times, making them the most successful team in history. They most recently won the title two years ago, in the 2023-24 season, beating German side Borussia Dortmund 2-0.

Juventus have won the trophy twice. Their most recent title was in 1996 against the Dutch side Ajax. Juve did make the UCL final as recently as 2017, losing 4-1 to Real Madrid.

What happened the last time Real Madrid played Juventus?

The two mega clubs last played on July 2 at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Real won the round-of-16 showdown 1-0, edging Juventus in a tight affair to reach the quarterfinals thanks to a second-half strike from Gonzalo Garcia.

The last time Real and Juventus clashed in the Champions League was on April 11, 2018, when Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic 98th-minute penalty sent Madrid through (4-3 on aggregate) to their eighth consecutive UCL semifinal.

Real Madrid team news

Alonso will continue to be without several starting-calibre players heading into Wednesday’s contest against Juventus.

Defender Dean Huijsen, who suffered a micro-tear in his left calf muscle during international duty for Spain in early October, is out of the squad. Initially diagnosed as a strain, the injury now threatens his availability for the Clasico fixture against Barcelona on October 26.

Austrian international David Alaba limped off during Sunday’s game against Getafe with a calf issue, and the 33-year-old is a game-time decision. If he is unavailable, then Raul Asencio would likely move into the starting XI.

The side is further weakened by the ongoing absence of four other defenders, as Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy are all sidelined.

Juventus team news

Coach Tudor will be without centre back Gleison Bremer as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery, with the Brazilian expected to be out until mid-November.

Also missing from the defence line is left back Juan Cabal, who continues to rehabilitate a thigh injury suffered in Juve’s 2-2 draw against Villarreal in the Champions League on October 1.

Winger Edon Zhegrova is questionable to play against Real Madrid after he reinjured his hip.

It is unclear which formation Tudor will deploy against Real after he ditched his preferred 3-4-2-1 setup during their upset loss to Como on Sunday.

Real Madrid’s predicted starting lineup

Thibaut Courtois (goalkeeper); Fede Valverde, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, Alvaro Carreras; Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono; Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe

Juventus’ predicted starting lineup

Michele Di Gregorio (goalkeeper); Pierre Kalulu, Daniele Rugani, Lloyd Kelly, Andrea Cambiaso; Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Teun Koopmeiners; Francisco Conceicao, Jonathan David, Kenan Yildiz

Head-to-head

Real Madrid and Juventus have faced each other 21 times in the Champions League, with Los Blancos having the slight advantage in total victories.

• Previous meetings: 21
• Real Madrid wins: 10
• Draws: 2
• Juventus wins: 9

Form guide:

Real Madrid: W-L-W-W-W (All competitions, most recent result last)

Juventus: D-D-D-D-L

American warships operating off Venezuela’s coast are not doing so without a credible threat. This comes from the presence of the Russian-made Kh-31 high-speed air-to-surface missile. Known to NATO as the AS-17 Krypton, the ramjet-powered weapon is available in both anti-radiation and anti-ship versions, with the ship-killer being the most relevant in this context. With this reality, combined with the steady drumbeat of reports raising the prospect of a military intervention of some kind in Venezuela, it’s worth looking closer at this unique capability within its arsenal.

While we have previously discussed in detail the different layers of Venezuela’s air defense system, it’s one of the key assets of its air force, the Aviación Militar Bolivariana Venezolana, AMBV, or Bolivarian Venezuelan Military Aviation, that is the launch platform for its Kh-31s. This is the Su-30MK2V Flanker multirole fighter, 24 of which were delivered between 2006 and 2008, and 21 of which survive in service today.

It should be noted that it’s not entirely clear whether Venezuela received both the anti-radiation Kh-31P and the anti-ship Kh-31A to arm its Su-30s. However, the Kh-31A, at least, appears to have been supplied, as seen in official videos showing AMBV Su-30s carrying the missiles while flying off the coast of Venezuela. Most recently, this kind of footage has been distributed by Caracas in an apparent statement of resolve against potential U.S. aggression. Venezuela has publicized its anti-ship quick reaction alert drills with these missiles in the past, as well. Moreover, the Kh-31P could also be used in anti-ship capacity, homing in on warships’ radars.

A video shows Venezuelan Su-30s using Kh-31s to launch a mock attack on a ship from an alert posture:

The development of the Kh-31 series of missiles began in the late 1970s in what was then the Soviet Union. The original requirement was for a high-speed anti-radiation missile that would be able to home in on and destroy the radars associated with then-new and emerging western air defense systems, such as the U.S. Army’s Patriot surface-to-air missile system and the U.S. Navy’s Aegis combat system.

The Kh-31A anti-ship missile entered production in 1990. Outside of Russia, it has proven an export success, with around a dozen operators, including China, India, and Vietnam.

Looking at the Kh-31A in more detail, it is fitted with an active radar seeker with a lock-on range of around 18 miles. The seeker works in both lock-on before and lock-on after launch modes. The missile also has a radio altimeter to ensure it can fly precisely at low altitude flight over water. All Kh-31s use a rocket-ramjet propulsion system to achieve sustained supersonic speeds. A rocket in the rear of the weapon boosts it to an optimal speed for the air-breathing ramjet to take over.

Combined with its high terminal speed, the Kh-31A has a penetration warhead, designed to punch through the side of a warship and detonate. This is in contrast to the high-explosive/fragmentation warhead in the Kh-31P. Making the missile harder to defeat is its ability to perform multi-axis maneuvers at up to 15G while skimming over the waves.

In terms of performance, the Kh-31A has a maximum range of 31 miles and a minimum launch distance of 9.3 miles. A longer-range version, the Kh-31AD, exists, with a maximum range of 75-100 miles, but it’s unclear if this was ever supplied to Venezuela.

The missile is accelerated to a speed of Mach 1.8 by means of a solid-propellant rocket booster; when the solid fuel is expended, the engine is ejected and the inside of the missile body is transformed into a combustion chamber for the ramjet, which accelerates the missile to Mach 3.5 at an altitude of 53,000 feet, or Mach 1.8 at sea level.

Each round weighs 1,323 pounds at launch, of which 192 pounds consists of the warhead. The Kh-31A is a notably big missile, with a total length of 15 feet 5 inches.

A good indicator of just how seriously the U.S. Navy takes the threat posed by the Kh-31A can be seen in its decision to buy the missiles from Russia and repurpose them as anti-ship missile targets to test the air defenses of its warships. The resulting target missile was known as the MA-31 and is a topic that we have written about in depth in the past.

Today, the Kh-31A may be old technology and also a weapon that the U.S. Navy has had first-hand experience of defeating (albeit in non-operational scenarios), however, its potency as an anti-ship weapon shouldn’t be underestimated.

This is true especially considering the variety of U.S. naval assets now sailing in relatively close proximity to Venezuela, in an operation aimed at putting pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Kh-31A is a threat to be taken seriously.

The U.S. naval presence in the region includes the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG)/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), with more than 4,500 sailors and Marines on three ships: The Wasp class amphibious assault ship, the USS Iwo Jima, and the San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ships, the USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale.

Also deployed in the region are several Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers, a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser, and the Ocean Trader, a shadowy special operations mothership. The presence of a cruiser, in particular, shadowing the Ocean Trader, underscores the fact that the Pentagon is taking the threat to this vessel very seriously. After all, the Ocean Trader has no organic defenses against anti-ship missiles and has, at times, operated very close to the Venezuelan coast.

As for the Arleigh Burkes, it is worth recalling that the Navy has already made efforts to bolster the defenses of some of these. Those that are forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, feature specific kinetic and non-kinetic systems to operate in the face of anti-ship cruise missiles in high-threat areas, including off the coast of Syria, but also in the Black Sea, which is a nearly land-locked super anti-ship missile engagement zone. Other electronic warfare upgrades continue on various surface combatants across the fleet, including some that are radical in scope.

While these ships are capable of dealing with Kh-31s, and the Navy has learned a lot when it comes to defending against complex attacks on their ships over the last couple of years, that doesn’t mean they can ignore them. Its speed leaves very little reaction time, especially considering early warning would be limited if the vessels were operating very close to the Venezuelan coastline.

Exactly what the U.S. plans to do with its military assets in regard to Maduro remains unclear. Back in August, as the military buildup gathered pace, U.S. officials told CNN that it had ordered naval movements in the region to contain the threat from drug-trafficking groups.

As we have outlined in the past, the deployment of an ARG and various surface combatants, as well as other high-end assets, sends a very strong signal to Maduro and the cartels. The Pentagon could carry out airstrikes or even put a limited number of boots on the ground from international waters in a hurry via special operations raids should President Donald Trump so decide. These may be aimed at cartels linked to Maduro and not the regime itself, but they still would be unprecedented.

Were such a military option to be launched, it would be possible that Venezuela’s Su-30s, armed with Kh-31A missiles, would be called into action, although targeting a U.S. Navy warship would be a huge deal, with massive repercussions.

In recent weeks, however, Venezuela has flown its fighters directly at U.S. warships, a Pentagon official having confirmed to TWZ that a pair of Venezuelan F-16s flew close to a U.S. Navy vessel in September, as you can read about here. Other similar instances have reportedly occurred. With U.S. Navy vessels operating close to the Venezuelan coast, there exists the very real possibility of a surprise attack on these ships as these close encounters would have put fighter aircraft within the Kh-31’s launch range.

Aside from the Su-30/Kh-31 combination, Venezuela’s anti-ship missile capabilities are currently fairly limited.

The Venezuelan Navy has a single operational Mariscal Sucre class frigate, the Almirante Brión, part of a group of warships that were commissioned in the early 1980s. The Italian-made warship was supplied armed with eight launchers for Otomat Mk 2 anti-ship missiles. The same missiles, in twin launchers, were fitted to the Venezeulan Navy’s Constitución class fast attack craft, of which three are reportedly still operational.

Italy also supplied Venezuela with Sea Killer anti-ship missiles, which armed Venezuelan Navy AB.212 helicopters, several of which remain active, although primarily now used for assault and logistics missions.

The operational status of these Italian-made systems should be considered questionable. Even if still serviceable, they are a far less threatening proposition than the Kh-31A. Both missiles have subsonic performance. The Otomat Mk 2 has a range of around 110 miles, while the Sea Killer can hit targets out to a range of around 6.2 miles.

More recent anti-ship missile deliveries comprise the Iranian-made CM-90 (an export version of the Nasr) that were supplied by Tehran along with Peykaap III (Zolfaghar class) fast attack craft. These are also subsonic weapons.

The Venezuela Navy deployed Iranian-built Peykaap-III (Zolfaghar-class) fast attack craft equipped with CM-90 Anti-Ship Missiles (ASCM) supplied by Iran. pic.twitter.com/vc2aiSIKxI

— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) September 6, 2025

Although the U.S. Navy is now much more familiar with the threat posed by the AS-17 Krypton, and while its warships are fitted with air defense systems that are capable of dealing with just such a threat, among others, this remains a very potent weapon.

If Venezuela were to directly attack an American warship, it would very likely result in being at war with the United States. But if the regime was already in such a predicament, or if it was facing imminent collapse, such an act could become a greater possibility.

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