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Anthropic’s (ANTHRO) confidential initial public offering prospectus has revealed its heavy dependence on a small group of big tech partners and clients, according to Reuters.
The hyperscalers Amazon (AMZN) and Google (GOOG)(GOOGL) have benefited. Anthropic routed
HALLOWEEN is just around the corner, and Butlin’s has announced some very exciting things coming to the park this autumn.
All three resorts – Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness – will be transformed in time for the spooky season.
Returning this year are the Spooktober breaks, which will turn the fairgrounds into ‘Scaregrounds’.
New this year is Skyline Gang Monster Mash Up, a Halloween-themed show where guests in the audience will vote for which member is scariest.
There will also be the Eerily Silent Disco and pumpkin carving as well.
Spooktober four-night breaks start from just £39 when staying on October 5 at Skegness.
Based on four people sharing a two-bedroom Comfort Room, this works out to £10pp, or just £2.50 each, per night.
All breaks come with access to the Splash Waterworld waterpark, as well as Skypark playgrounds and all live entertainment.
The holiday resort has also revealed what to expect from their October half term breaks too.
It will be the last time to see The Masked Singer Live, which ends later this year.
And they will also include firework displays as well.
October half term breaks start from £49 based on four people, or from £13pp.
Mike Godolphin, Entertainment Director at Butlin’s said: “With autumn well and truly upon us, our teams are busy transforming all three resorts for Spooktober.
“As the Home of Entertainment, next month is one of our favourite moments in the Butlin’s calendar, and we want families to feel the Halloween atmosphere from the moment they arrive on their holiday.
“There’s a brilliant energy across the resorts during this time of the year and we can’t wait to welcome the tens of thousands of guests visiting us this October.”
Earlier this month, Butlin’s announced eight new shows launching at the parks next year as well.
This includes Britain’s Got Talent and DreamWorks’ Madagascar musical.
Also new this year at self-serve bars across the parks, which are the first of their kind in Europe.
PAUL Gorton has revealed more awful details about his home being burgled, sharing how he’s lost thousands worth in personal possessions.
The star opened up about his home being robbed earlier this month and how he begged for the robbers to return what they have stolen.
Going into more detail now, Paul elaborated on how many items stolen from his home were expensive and/or irreplaceable due to sentimental value.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Paul said that his “pride and joy” was taken, a bicycle worth roughly five grand.
Paul also shared that his wife Kate’s jewellery box had been ransacked, with her grandmother’s ring missing.
He added: “It was costume jewellery, so it was only a couple hundred pounds worth of jewellery, but it did have Kate’s grandmother’s ring in there, it’s super sentimental.
“Completely worthless but worth everything to Kate, and it’s now gone, I presume it’s just in a bin.”
The BBC One star, who featured on series two of The Traitors in 2024, took to Instagram to share the news of the burglary with his followers.
He penned: “Came home to find our house had been burgled.
“Presume we’ve been watched and the day after we posted that we were on holiday, they broke in. 29th August at 9:30pm.
“The robber or robbers cut the broadband connection (presumably to cut the ring doorbell and any CCTV) and in doing so, told us when they broke in so the police and CSI are on it.
“We’re fine. House isn’t too bad. Robbed my bike. Ransacked my office and wardrobes etc.
“Kate’s jewellery stolen including her grandma’s ring which is probably worth nothing but it was everything to her. All material stuff can be replaced.”
The reality star urged the robbers to seek help as well as to return the items they stole.
He continued: “To the robbers, get off this path you’re on. It goes nowhere and it’s never too late to turn your life around.
“You’ve committed a crime for an unsaleable bike and cheap jewellery.
“PS. If you did rob me, throw the jewellery back on our drive and the bike as both are worthless to you.”
WASHINGTON — Expectations were low entering President Trump’s meetings with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, this week, after officials on both sides tempered hopes for a breakthrough. Yet the summit’s stark lack of substance surprised even the closest China watchers.
It was a visual affair designed to project a new phase of managed competition between a prevailing superpower and a rising one — a message that Washington and Beijing are ultimately capable of responsible leadership. But even a cursory look beneath the surface revealed the challenges ahead for the world’s most consequential bilateral relationship.
Industry pleas and bipartisan calls for Trump to negotiate a meaningful framework on artificial intelligence fell on deaf ears. A trade truce between the two sides was extended for a mere two months. And Trump again warned Xi not to assist Iran as the U.S. war there continues — a warning that, so far, has gone unheeded, with millions of dollars’ worth of crucial Chinese parts reportedly arriving in Tehran by the planeload.
“The U.S.-China relationship has settled into a managed stalemate. It has stabilized at the top without stabilizing underneath,” said Craig Singleton, a senior fellow on China at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
“The elaborate pageantry matters precisely because there is still relatively little substantive progress to showcase,” Singleton said. “Trump appears to value the personal relationship as an end in itself. Xi treats his relationship with Trump as a means to shape U.S. choices and forestall future competitive actions.”
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stand with Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan before Thursday night’s state dinner.
(Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)
The summit followed a playbook from Trump that has become familiar over the last decade, placing his direct relationships at the center of diplomacy and reducing the complexities of statecraft to blunt attempts at charm.
As he did during his lavish state visit to Beijing this spring, Trump repeatedly patted Xi on the back, a gesture considered highly inappropriate in Chinese political culture that nevertheless reflected Trump’s strategic focus on personal friendship.
He toured Xi around a series of controversial renovations to the White House, including the South Lawn — now paved over with a massive helipad designed as the presidential seal — and the Rose Garden, also paved over in order for Trump to host al fresco dinner parties.
Before entering a heavily gilded Oval Office, Trump walked Xi along a renovated colonnade now adorned with gold-framed portraits of U.S. presidents. He paused at one for his predecessor, President Biden, replaced with a mocking image of an autopen, suggesting the former president was incapable of signing documents himself.
Trump patted Xi on the back once more, and the two men laughed, in a moment that generated outrage online.
“Let’s be very clear on this one point,” John Delaney, a former Democratic member of Congress, wrote on social media. “The President mocking a former President in front of the communist leader of China is the most un-American thing an American president has ever done.”
Tim Cook, executive chairman of Apple Inc., during the state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
(Annabelle Gordon / Bloomberg / Getty Images)
Part of the state visit included a dinner at the White House that was attended by some of the country’s most prominent tech executives, such as Elon Musk, Sam Altman and Mark Zuckerberg. The tech giants’ presence at the event was notable given that there was heightened public interest in knowing how China and the United States are planning to regulate artificial intelligence.
During the visit, Xi called for artificial intelligence to remain “under human control” as the two countries race for technological advancement in the industry. Lawmakers and AI industry leaders have also called for guardrails on the nascent technology, which experts warn could soon surpass human understanding. Trump, however, has been reluctant to embrace limits on the industry, and it is unclear how much the topic was discussed while Xi was in Washington.
Xi Jinping’s remarks reflect growing concern within China over whether governments in Washington or Beijing will be able to contain a technology with potentially transformative capabilities, according to a U.S. official.
But the visit showed a surprising alignment of visions between the U.S. and Chinese presidents, embracing fierce competition that avoids miscalculation and conflict. Both stressed the importance of dialogue, with Xi invoking the concept of the Thucydides trap, a historical paradigm that holds that rising powers inevitably clash with established ones.
“I don’t think anyone will be surprised if there are no significant agreements,” said David Ochmanek, a senior researcher at Rand. “My sense is that Xi sees little reason to compromise with us on anything right now.”
Trump and Xi arrive for a state dinner in the East Room of the White House on Thursday night.
(Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty Images)
The two men are expected to meet twice more this year, alongside other world leaders, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, and the Group of 20 summit in Miami.
“We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy one, and should be kept within bounds,” the Chinese president said Thursday from the Cross Hall of the White House. “It should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which one either wins or loses. China and the United States must hold the line of no conflict, and no confrontation between us.
“Our two militaries should maintain regular dialogue, and improve mechanisms for crisis communication and prevention,” he continued. “The Thucydides trap can be overcome.”
A HUGE new land is opening at a European theme park you may have never heard of.
Efteling in the Netherlands is one of the oldest theme parks in the world, and often compared to Disneyland for its fairytale themes.
And now has revealed that it will reopen its Raveleijn land on December 1 after a €20million (£17.2million) upgrade.
The star of the show will be the new €5million (£4.3million) Ravenring attraction.
The new ride features 18 winged vehicles seating up to 36 people, inspired by the Raveleijn ravens and takes them on a flight-like ride.
The new city at the park will also have a new show launching at the same time called Battle for the City.
Read more on travel inspo
The €10million (£8.6million) show will be packed with stunts and follows a dark force awakening on two characters’ wedding day where a battle then breaks out.
A total of €5million (£4.3million) has also been spent on upgrading the surrounding area including the De Verslaeghen Draek Inn which has a menu inspired by recipes travellers have collected from around the world.
There’s a new souvenir shop too – In den Ravenkorf – where visitors can pick up costumes, toys and other Raveleijn products.
Raveleijn originally opened back in 2011 and has been closed for nearly a year for upgrades to take place.
The area is themed around the story of five children who pass through a secret gate and transform into “brave riders”, according to the park.
They must then defend the city against evil.
Director of Product, Marketing & Image Koen Sanders: “The sets have been extensively revamped and Raveleijn is getting a brand-new show packed with spectacular stunts, created in collaboration with the French theme park Puy du Fou.
“At the heart of the story: when evil arises, the heroes of Raveleijn join forces.”
THE Wanted singer Nathan Sykes is set to become a dad for the first time!
Taking to Instagram, the musician revealed his wife Charlotte is pregnant with their first child with a sweet photobooth video.
Nathan and Charlotte shared a video of themselves in a photobooth with an ultrasound strip to reveal the pregnancy news.
Charlotte captioned: “We’ve been keeping a little secret…Baby Sykes is officially on the way 🤍”.
The video – which saw Nathan cradle his wife’s bump and the pair pose for various snaps – confirmed baby Sykes is due in April next year.
Numerous fans and friends took to the comment section to congratulate the pair.
Nathan and Charlotte tied the knot in 2025 after several years together.
They wed in an intimate North Yorkshire ceremony at St Mary’s Church, Birdsall, with just 61 guests in attendance.
The pair were first seen together in public photos in November 2018 and announced their engagement in December 2022.
Nathan rose to fame in the The Wanted along with the rest of the boys in 2009 and stayed until the band went on “hiatus” in 2014.
The star once briefly dated Ariana Grande and they have a song together, Almost Is Never Enough, which he recorded after going solo.
While he has been with Charlotte, who is a HR Manager, for near a decade now – with the exact story of how they met not shared publicly.
By Deborah DayAssistant Editor, Fast Break Desk
A two-part docuseries about Melania Trump arrives later this year, the first lady revealed Wednesday. The new project follows the January release of director Brett Ratner’s documentary, which made $16.7 million worldwide at the box office and was universally panned by critics.
“It will come out this year, and it will be very different what is in the movie,” Trump told “Fox & Friends” ahead of her appearance to ring the New York Stock Exchange opening bell. “It’s more [like a] conversation one on one with me.”
Trump indicated that the docuseries will cover new ground.
“So when I was traveling and doing all of the filming, the director was asking me questions, and there’s some private questions that I will answer that people never heard before,” she said.
The Times has reached out to Amazon Studios for more information on the project, which does not appear in press materials, though Ratner teased the new “chapters” in an Aug. 11 Instagram post.
“Here we go again….” the director wrote. “The saga continues …. can’t wait to share with everyone around the world the next two chapters of MELANIA, THE DOCU SERIES!”
Ratner’s film followed the first lady in the 20 days leading up to President Trump’s 2025 inauguration, promising “exclusive footage capturing critical meetings, private conversations, and never-before-seen environments” as Melania “orchestrates inauguration plans, navigates the complexities of the White House transition, and moves her family back to the Nation’s Capital.”
Critics, however, found the cinematic experience lacking.
“I’m hesitant to call ‘Melania’ propaganda because I can’t imagine anyone watching this movie and thinking that Melania Trump comes off well,” Times film critic Amy Nicholson wrote in a February review. “If this vapid, airless, mindless time-waster had subversive designs of being a satire about the first lady of the United States, there’s not much it would have changed. Yet somehow, ‘Melania’ is exactly the film that the first lady wanted to make — her company was paid $40 million for the rights to this self-greenlit production — and no one around her warned that it was a very expensive bad idea.”
“Melania” was Ratner’s first film since six women accused him of sexual assault in 2017. In February 2026, The Times reported that the “Rush Hour” filmmaker appeared in the unsealed Epstein files in photos with unidentified women and the financier, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
In addition to the initial $40 million Amazon MGM Studios paid to license the project, the marketing and promotion budget was reportedly another $35 million.
Coleen Nolan reveals heartbreaking family feud ‘I lost those relationships’(Image: ITV)
Coleen Nolan has opened up about a sad family rift in which some members of her family have ‘never spoken to her again’.
The beloved presenter returned to screens on Wednesday (September 23) for Loose Women. Along with Coleen, the panel consisted of Kaye Adams, Janet Street Porter and Jane Moore.
While on the show, the conversation turned to the topic of Earl Spencer’s book – which has made plenty of headlines. “I think that’s the thing when you’re writing your memoir. You can only do it from your perspective and your truth,” Coleen said.
She then shared that she waited until her mum and dad passed away before writing and releasing her own autobiography. Coleen said: “My mom and dad weren’t alive because I knew it would really hurt my mom to hear some of the things that I was going to say my truth about my dad.
“He was a brilliant dad. But had his moments where he wasn’t, and that would have upset my mom.” Coleen then shared that, due to her memoir, a family rift erupted.
She said: “Now, because I wrote those things, I had my dad’s side of the family, a couple of his sisters who never spoke to me again because of that, because they never saw him like that, and he was their golden boy, he was the only boy in the family. They absolutely idolised him.
“Even though I said he was a great dad, he drank too much for me and I didn’t like him when he was drunk and those kinds of things. I had to accept that. I lost those relationships.”
Jane Moore then asked Coleen: “Do you think that’s because you did it publicly? If you’d have that conversation with them privately, would you have carried on speaking to them?”
Coleen replied: “No, they were never, ever, ever gonna believe that. They just didn’t see anything bad at all. And, that’s okay.”
The TV star has been open about the relationship with her father – who died in the 90s – over the years. In 2024, she explained on Loose Women how she would be “scared” whenever her dad Tommy would return home from the pub at weekends.
“My dad was quite a big drinker and I think he’s the reason I became almost phobic about, well not about drink but about drunk people,” Coleen said. She added: “And even now I love when people get tipsy and have a good time but as soon as they cross that line to where their personality changes I have to leave.
“I can’t stand it because I don’t know whether it’s gonna go aggressive, you can see it in their face can’t you? That’s where I’ve gotta leave, and that stems from, as a kid, watching my dad.
“He was a brilliant dad but at weekends he’d come home and he was the quiet drunk and that scared me more because I knew he was in that mood. So that sent me the other way.”
Loose Women airs Monday to Friday at 12:30pm on ITV1.
Miranda Hart is making her television comeback with Celebrity Traitors(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative)
Miranda Hart has explained why she decided to sign up to Celebrity Traitors following her “long term ill health issues.” The comedienne, 53, is best known for fronting her eponymous sitcom in the late 2000s but took a break from the spotlight after becoming increasingly unwell.
The TV star previously told how she had suffered a “tick-borne illness” while living in the USA as a teenager. At one point, she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, before eventually being diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2020.
The Celebrity Traitors will mark Miranda’s first mainstream television appearance in six years, and she has now explained that she jumped at the chance to take part.
She said: “My decision making in life generally, and certainly work, is follow the joy. I haven’t done much TV work for a long time, having only recently come out of long-term ill health issues and when I was offered this, my whole body sort of relaxed, I smiled, and I just wanted to jump about like a schoolgirl with joy.
“It’s just fun. It’s outdoors, it’s games. All the stuff I love. It’s play basically. And I’m passionate about encouraging people to play more generally, and this game is that in spades.
“It’s a brilliant television show – the only flaw in taking part is that as a fan of the show it will be less fun to watch it with myself in it!”
Despite her new lease of life, the former Call the Midwife star, who secretly got married in late 2024, is still living with elements of her illness and is struggling to a point but has been able to manage her symptoms and insisted she felt well enough to join Claudia Winkleman’s hit BBC game show.
She added: “I’m still living with elements of ME, and that brings fatigue and pain to manage, but I have come to a point where I feel well enough to step out, and that’s also partly why I’m doing this.
“The joy of mucking about on television again will hopefully outweigh some of the challenges. And I think it will be challenging on my body, so it’ll be interesting, and it’ll take some courage as this is a big next step.
“When you live with a chronic illness, it’s invisible, so people don’t know that you’re sitting there in pain. But then it reminds you that everybody’s got their thing. So, I’m also really looking forward to making friends and looking after each other and hopefully they can carry me up a hill or whatever we’re going to have to do!”
Miranda, who will appear alongside the likes of Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh, and Love Island host Maya Jama, even teased that there could be a nod to her sitcom past.
She added: “When someone said on Instagram, “Oh, I hope you gallop in the castle,” I foolishly replied, Right, I now take that as a dare.” So that was idiotic of me.
“I will have to at some point gallop down a corridor. I’ll gallop when no one’s watching…or who would be the best person to encourage to gallop?
“I don’t know. I mean, Kenny probably doesn’t even know who I am. So, if I could get him to gallop…I could get a new generation galloping.”
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Simon Reeve shares insights into the dangers he encountered(Image: ITV)
Presenter Simon Reeve has shared some of his near-death experiences while filming his new BBC series.
For his brand new series, Wilderness with Simon Reeve, the host returns to screens with four new expeditions to some of the world’s wildest and most remote places.
From trekking deep into Papua New Guinea’s jungle-clad mountains and diving with sharks in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, to exploring Canada’s Yukon and crossing almost 3,000 miles of Mongolia by 4WD, horse and on foot, these journeys promise to be bigger, wilder and more ambitious than ever.
With such major expeditions throughout the series, Simon has shared insight into disasters that almost cost him his life. Sharing his thoughts with the BBC, the 54-year-old was asked to elaborate on his near-disasters, which he revealed he had “several”.
Explaining the hair-raising moments, he said: “In Papua New Guinea, I had a makeshift bamboo chair in our camp. It looked pretty sturdy, right up until the moment it collapsed beneath me and a sharpened length of bamboo speared straight through the side of my t-shirt. It missed me. But it was close. Definitely a near-disaster.”
He also shared insight into a terrifying moment in Canada. He continued: “Even supposedly safe Canada was tricky.
“After getting up in the night to film the Northern Lights, I was half-asleep, freezing cold and fumbling with the stove in my tent.
“A burning log tipped onto the bone-dry mossy floor and suddenly there was a trail of fire heading towards my bed. In a bit of a panic, I kicked the log out through the tent flap and then extinguished the remaining flames with the nearest available liquid: a bottle of what I’ll call ‘Trucker’s Tango’ beside my camp bed. Thankfully I have a very poor sense of smell.”
The star also said: Then there was Bear Cave Mountain in the Yukon. Every night-time trip to the outside loo involved thoughts about what if I slip on the ice in my long johns, knock myself out and become breakfast for a wolf or a grizzly? It was one of the most remote places I’ve ever been.
“We were about 100 miles, as the crow flies, from the nearest other humans. It was like being in the middle of an ocean – except the ocean had bears.”
Wilderness with Simon Reeve will consist of four episodes which are 60 minutes each. The series is produced for BBC Two and iPlayer by The Garden, part of ITV Studios and co-produced by The Open University. The series has been written and presented by Simon Reeve.
Wilderness with Simon Reeve airs Saturday at 7:45pm on BBC Two.
SHE has faced a tough few years, but standing centre stage in a pop-up stadium built and named in her honour, Shakira has well and truly nailed her big comeback.
Nearly quarter of a century after her debut UK hit Whenever Wherever, she is about to embark on a sold-out residency in Madrid.
Over 21 nights, she will perform for more than 600,000 fans after pulling off one of the most impressive career revivals ever.
The concerts are the finale to her 127-date Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour — the highest-grossing Latin tour of all time, and the fifth most lucrative female tour in history.
And Shakira herself is enjoying it just as much as her rapidly- expanding fan base.
In an exclusive chat, the Colombian superstar — who, despite her age-defying looks, turns 50 in February — said: “I feel more secure and more confident than ever; so much more than when I was in my 20s, which is something I never would have believed or expected.”
She added of her pop renaissance: “I’ve never been more in love with my career, so I’m grateful to still be able to do what I do and just know that people are connecting to that.”
This year has been a game-changer for Shakira. Her World Cup anthem with Burna Boy, Dai Dai, topped charts globally and became one of the biggest hits of 2026 so far.
The video has had more than 1billion views since May, contributing to her becoming the most-watched female artist on YouTube.
The same month, she performed to over 2million people in a single night on Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro — one of the highest- attended concerts ever.
But in Dai Dai, she sings: “You’ve been this brave all along, what broke you once made you strong.”
It is a reflection of her last few years, when life was challenging.
Shakira’s 2017 album, El Dorado, was not received as well as expected, and five years later came her highly-publicised split from Spanish footballer Gerard Pique.
The couple, who never wed but have sons Milan, 13, and Sasha, 11, announced their separation after 11 years together in a public statement.
He was alleged to have moved on with another woman while they were together, although he has not spoken about the circumstances.
Things were made worse when Shakira was dragged into court by Spanish authorities over a tax dispute, in which she claimed she had not spent enough time in the country to pay the taxes they said she owed.
In 2023, she settled on one case of tax evasion, forking out €14.5million in unpaid taxes plus interest, a €7.3million fine and a €432,000 payment to waive a suspended three-year prison sentence.
At the time, things were looking bleak. But she started to turn it around, funnelling her anger into her music, which attracted a whole new generation of fans.
Then in May, a Spanish court ordered the country’s tax authority to refund €55million of taxes, ruling that the cash was improperly collected during the dispute.
Her epic, two-and-a-half hour concert tells the story of a wronged woman who comes out the other side.
At one point in the show, during song TQG,she is seen trying to reprogramme men’s behaviour.
Later, she is depicted as a lone wolf protecting her cubs, and then duets with her sons, who appear on screens for the track Acrostico.
The message is clear as she tells the crowd: “Love is beautiful. But self-love is more beautiful.”
The gig features a set of some 25 songs, more than a dozen extravagant costumes, fireworks, flamethrowers, twerking and Shakira on the drums and guitar.
It is a triumphant moment of celebration and, during her carnival-inspired, multi-coloured performance of Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), she beams from ear to ear.
Shakira hopes her concerts leave fans, especially women, optimistic about the world, as that’s certainly how she feels after the ordeal she has gone through in recent years.
She told me: “I hope women walk away feeling empowered and excited about what’s ahead of them, knowing that they are the ones who decide how to tell their story and what they want to take away from everything life throws at them.
“It’s been such a revelation to realise that the worst I ever imagined could happen . . . and that I can still find this level of happiness again.”
In Madrid, as well as the temporary stadium built in her honour, there is an entire 30-hectare village of attractions based on the Hips Don’t Lie singer.
And she’s bound to rake it in as there are high-profile sponsorships, including a museum about Shakira in partnership with Amazon.
A whole Disney area inspired by the star’s voice role in Zootropolis 2 is another key attraction, along with a library, in partnership with Penguin, promoting authors from South America.
During the residency, hotel bookings in Madrid are up 15 per cent from 2025, while Ryanair added 225,000 seats on flights to the hotspot ahead of the shows, which are generating hundreds of millions for the city’s economy.
Shakira, who has sold 100million records during her career, has now relocated from Spain to Miami with her sons to start afresh — and she is flying high.
She proved as much on the global stage when an estimated 1.5billion footie fans watched her perform at the inaugural World Cup halftime show in July.
And although she sang alongside acts including Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber, it was Shakira who stole the spotlight.
Her success is a testament to her grit and temerity, with music insiders revealing she is hands-on with every detail of her career.
A source said: “Shakira has worked harder than anybody for this comeback — it’s taken blood, sweat and tears.
“There have been sleepless nights, relentless workouts and a back-breaking schedule, but she loves it and wants to prove to other women what is possible. She pulled an all-nighter with her band last Wednesday just to rehearse for the show in Madrid, not finishing until 8.30am.
“This is very serious to her. She wants to stay at the top for years to come.”
Shakira also teamed up with another in-demand pop star, Zara Larsson, earlier this summer for a remix of her song Eurosummer.
And last week, she released a collaboration called Agua with fellow Colombian star Maluma.
Now, all eyes are on what’s next for Shak, who has barely stopped in her quest to win back her superstardom.
As for a 13th studio album and future collaborations, she teased: “I’ve definitely chatted with a few people recently who would be really fun and unexpected, but I won’t ruin the surprises . . . ”
Although her tour is coming to an end, Shakira shows no signs of slowing down.
She has hinted that she wants to return to the UK, where she has not performed since 2018.
On the prospect of headlining Glastonbury, where she sang on the Pyramid Stage in 2010, she has said: “It’s such an iconic place to perform.
I’d love to go back to England and perform at Glastonbury.
“That would be like the cherry on top for this amazing year I’ve been having.”
As for a break? I wouldn’t count on it. She said: “I take days here and there to rest, but as long as I still have energy and inspiration, I love to stay working.”
MILLIE Bobby Brown has shared the first picture of her second baby and revealed its gender, after adopting another child again aged 22.
Yesterday it was revealed how the Stranger Things actress and her husband Jake Bongiovi, 24, had added another addition to their growing brood.
Now, Millie Bobby Brown has thrilled fans by sharing the first picture of her son .
The TV star, who adopted her first child in August last year, shared a picture of her hands placed over her new baby’s.
Posting the snap on Instagram, the mum-of-two wrote: “Hi little guy!”
The star’s news has already had over two million likes, including from stars like David Beckham, 51, Chrissy Teigen, 40, and Amanda Holden. 55.
READ MORE MILLIE BOBBY BROWN
Millie and husband Jake announced that they had adopted their first child just over a yearagoo.
At the time she wrote: “This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption.
“We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.”
She signed off the post, writing: “And then there were 3, love Millie and Jake Bongiovi.”
The Stranger Things star married the son of Jon Bon Jovi in 2024.
People reported that the couple had married in a private ceremony at Villa Cetinale in Tuscany, Italy in May 2024, with Millie taking her husband’s last name.
They met in 2021 and announced their engagement in April 2023.
The couple now live in the state of Georgia.
KATIE Price has revealed why she’s still wearing her engagement ring from conman ex-husband Lee Andrews despite their split – and if she’s spoken to him since her bombshell Good Morning Britain appearance this week.
After ending her marriage to Lee, 43, the former glamour model was played a voice note from him on GMB on Wednesday, in which he insisted “there’s been no wool pulled over anyone’s eyes”.
On the latest episode of her podcast The Katie Price Show, Katie held up her hand to sister Sophie, 36, and said: “I’m still wearing my ring but on the other hand because I love the ring.
“I’ve taken Lee out of [my Instagram] bio now. Enough is enough now, it gets to a point where you can tolerate so much…
“I did what I had to do. It doesn’t matter what people say about whoever I’m with. I have to do what I need to do.
“If there are things that I question, that’s for me to find out myself to make my decision. Things haven’t added up and I’m not happy about them. He is still in prison and I haven’t spoken to him.”
Speaking to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls this week, Katie candidly confessed that – despite everything – she still loves Lee.
She said: “I love him… but who is he?
“I love the man I met. I can’t take it. I was stupid to fall for him. It’s really sad.”
Katie also admitted she believes her ex loves her too, saying: “I do believe he did.
“I think he’s got himself in such a situation… where he copy and pastes what he says to women… I do believe he’s fallen for me.”
Katie then revealed the signs that finally made her open her eyes.
She said: “For example, one of the rings he bought me he said was worth £72,000. So I thought I’d better get it insured.
“So I took it into a shop and got it cleaned to get it insured. When they gave it back to me I said, ‘How nice are the diamonds?’
“They said, ‘They’re really good lab diamonds. They were grown in a lab. The ring is probably only worth about five grand’. Do you know how embarrassed I was?”
NOUGHTIES pop singer La Roux has said “she’s back” after disappearing from the spotlight – revealing a “nervous breakdown” ended her career.
La Roux – real name Elly Jackson – shot to fame in 2009 and is known for her number one single Bulletproof.
But it’s been a long time since La Roux released a new album and, ahead of her upcoming LP Old Flames, she posted on TikTok to tell fans she’s back.
She wrote: “You think you can hurt me?
“I literally wrote and sung this song, lost my voice, had a nervous breakdown and disappeared for 10 years.”
Speaking about releasing new music, La Roux told Another: “It’s been a long time coming, so I’m very eager to get back out there.
“Supervision [my third album] being totally marred by the [Covid-19] pandemic wasn’t ideal, so I’m very excited.”
She added: “I’d only just finished my last album when the pandemic hit, so I wasn’t ready to start making a new record instantly. You need a gap before you make new work.
“I started f***ing around with new sounds and new ideas. It took a couple of years to know if I even wanted to make another record or if there was any point.”
La Roux’s mum is actress Trudie Goodwin, who drama fans will know best for playing Sergeant June Ackland in ITV’s The Bill.
She previously shared the advice Trudie, 74, gave her on dealing with fame.
La Roux said: “She’s really good at saying things like, ‘Never have a drink when you do an interview’ – which I don’t always take notice of! And ‘Only give away what you need to give away’.
“And she says that if there’s paparazzi, just give them a picture and they’ll f**k off.”
HILTON has revealed 10 new locations are set to come to the UK – and one is coming to a major capital city.
The new hotels will form part of the chain’s “value-focused” brand.
Ten new hotels, operating under the Spark by Hilton brand, are set to come to major railway stations, stadiums, motorways and visitor attractions across the UK.
The locations, confirmed to open in Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster – among others will add a total of 672 rooms to Hilton’s portfolio.
Created with “value” in mind, the sites will provide reliable, comfortable and affordable accommodation.
Exact dates of completion and room rates are yet to be confirmed, however the company said the new locations could open as early as late 2026 through to 2028.
Paul Blackmore, vice-president of development for the UK and Ireland at Hilton, said: “With nearly 700 rooms in the pipeline, including the brand’s first hotel in Wales, Spark continues to gain momentum.”
Launched in 2023, Spark by Hilton operates more than 275 hotels worldwide, with more than 200 properties in development.
The budget conscious “premium economy” brand was designed to provide a reliable and value-driven stay at an accessible price point.
The 10 properties have been signed through an agreement between Hilton and UK hotel owner and operator AG Hotels Group.
An additional 53-room property in Dunfermline, Scotland is scheduled to launch in late 2026.
However this is set to operate separately from the 10 hotels included in the latest agreement.
Call the Midwife legend Stephen McGann has claimed he “cannot see” the resemblance as a new actor steps into the role of Dr. Turner.
The 12th season of the much-loved BBC period drama, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, concluded earlier this year with a heartbreaking finale. The death of Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) left viewers devastated, while the future of Nonnatus House remained uncertain due to advances in the NHS.
Before the show returns with season 16, a prequel titled Sisters in Arms is set to air this festive season. The three-part mini-series will be set during the London Blitz and follow familiar characters in the early stages of their careers, including Dr. Patrick Turner.
The adored GP first arrived in Poplar during the debut episode of Call the Midwife, which aired in 2012, and has since remained a favourite among fans. The character will appear in the prequel, with This Town actor Ben Rose portraying a young Patrick Turner.
Speaking about Sisters in Arms, Stephen, 63, has offered a playful glimpse into his marriage with the show’s creator, Heidi Thomas, who thinks Ben Rose is the spitting image of her husband. “I think he’s the image of Steve,” Heidi told Radio Times. “Steve can’t see any resemblance, so the audience are going to have to draw their own conclusions.”
Stephen was quick to chime in: “Do you know what happened? I’m in my house, and when the final casting was confirmed, my good lady wife and my son were conferring, going, ‘Oh, he looks like Dad, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he look like Dad?'”
Heidi laughed: “He does, he does, but you can’t see it, can you, love?” Stephen then confirmed: “I can’t see it at all.”
Stephen and Heidi first crossed paths in 1988 and exchanged vows two years later, when they were both 27. They spent their honeymoon in Tuscany before settling down in a quaint cottage in rural Essex, before moving to Cambridge. The couple share one son, Dominic. As per Stephen’s memoir, A History of My Family in Seven Maladies, he first encountered Heidi when he auditioned for her new play at the Liverpool Playhouse.
Call the Midwife will turn back the clock to World War II as bombs rain down in Poplar, East London, at a time when the National Health Service was non-existent. Set in 1939, it will see three familiar nuns in the early stages of their careers.
According to the BBC’s synopsis: “In September 1939, Sister Monica Joan is in her prime, Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina are young and zealous, and Nonnatus House is the beating heart of Poplar.
“Together with Sister Alice, and local GP Dr Kit, the nuns dedicate their lives to mothers, babies and those in need. But there is no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB, and no welfare state. Then war is declared – and life gets even harder.”
It adds: “While bombs rain from the sky, women give birth underground, families are shattered, children run wild, and whole streets are reduced to rubble. But courage, compassion and resilience triumph as the community unites in its efforts to survive.”
Created, written, and executive produced by Heidi Thomas, Sisters in Arms welcomes a new cast, including Coronation Street’s Hayley Cropper star Julie Hesmondhalgh as Sister Alice.
Theatre star Helena Wilson is taking on the role of a young Sister Julienne, though the original actress, Jenny Agutter, will be narrating the miniseries. Ami Metcalf, who played Lynette in the first Christmas special, is returning as Betty Buckle, the first wife of Fred Buckle, now played by Ciaran Bowling. Ben Rose also takes on the role of Dr. Turner.
The BBC has confirmed that Sisters in Arms will air on BBC One and iPlayer this Christmas, though the exact days and times are yet to be confirmed.
Call the Midwife is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
ONCE dubbed “the most boring man in football” Michael Owen’s choice to sign up for a fly-on-the-wall Amazon documentary about his family was unexpected to say the least.
The former England striker turned pundit, 46, allowed cameras to follow him, his wife Louise and their children Gemma, James, Emily and Jessica as they balance family life with running a horse racing business in Cheshire.
And it was a distinctly left-field move from Michael, who – unlike celebrity documentary subjects David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and the larger-than-life Tyson Fury – has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
He is seen joking in six part series Meet The Owens that he is now best known as a “boring p***k” or “Gemma Owen’s dad” after she appeared in Love Island, raising questions about why he would agree to film the at-home-with style show.
And we can reveal that the ex-footballer – often referred to as ‘the most boring man in football’ – signed up for his TV payday after ploughing £13 million into his racing business pushed him to his financial limit.
While he may have other streams of income, accounts for Michael’s company Owen Promotions show it holds just £7,219 in cash and owes £2.3m to creditors.
It also has three outstanding loans, two of which were taken out in March 2022 and February 2024 with Leeds-based MR Denton Properties.
A further loan was taken out in February 2024 with Andrew Black, who co-founded Betfair.
Two other loans with Grosvenor Funding, which claims to offer “fast and flexible” bridging loans were paid off in 2023.
And all five loans were secured using parts of the Owens home estate – a 42-acre estate he bought in 2001 for £4million.
Speaking in Meet the Owens, which is now number 3 on the Amazon Prime UK chart, Michael revealed he has had to put “£12 or £13 million” into Manor House Stables to build it to its current level.
But he admits the business – which makes cash by persuading investors to back the horses they buy at auction – still desperately needs investors.
And he describes their current status as: “Premier League. Brighton, but not seventh, but kind of bottom half.”
Footage from the first episode shows the racing enthusiast giving pal Jamie Carragher a tour of the impressive grounds and stables, showing off a horse owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and another he owns along with Paul Scholes, Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves.
Drone shots show the impressive site from the air, while graphics also flash up on screen showing how the structure works – a handy guide for any would-be investors.
One source told us: “Michael is passionate about Manor House and racing, and he has done an incredible job on Manor House.
“The problem is that it is a big money pit and you can pour millions into it without any guarantee of winning horses.
“He loves it, and would never walk away, but it would be naive to say it hasn’t had a massive impact on his finances.
“And the pressure is never ending because as a business, you have to buy horses each year – for £90,000 or more – and try to find investors for them.
“Then the million-dollar question is whether or not those horses win, as the stables need winners to succeed.
“But the reality is that you only win a very small percentage of the races in which you have horses.”
Michael is now the sole shareholder for Manor House Stables LLP, which owns the stables, after director and co-owner Andrew Black resigned in March 2022 after six years.
Accounts show the company has healthy assets of approximately £13.6million.
Yet the source said the business still has a way to go before it becomes a money-spinner, rather than a money pit.
They added: “The Amazon payday has come at a good time for Michael, but he is also hoping the airtime for Manor House will attract more investors.
“The more money that comes in, the better the horses and the more winners we will see here.
“That will help the business move higher up the rankings among the top British stables.
“Michael loves racing and he is driven by passion for the sport, but he is also very competitive and wants to win.”
Previously, a source told us: “Michael is extremely determined to succeed in racing. He has poured millions of his own money into Manor House, and he will not stop until he’s at the very top.
“Signing up to broadcast this to the world was a huge risk for him, and he’s desperate for it to work.
“Michael is keen to show off how much Manor House is a reputable and successful stable, and he hopes putting the business on screen ends up being a help rather than a hindrance.”
A spokesperson for Michael declined to comment.
ANGIE Best has revealed that she’s back in hospital after a suffering ‘setback’ following her battle with colon cancer.
The former model, 74 – who announced that she was diagnosed with the disease in January – shared that she was cancer-free back in July.
“Colon cancer is a growth of cells that begins in a part of the large intestine called the colon,” Mayo Clinic states.
Angie, who is the ex-wife of football legend George Best, has been keeping fans up to date on social media after having traditional medicine, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as an alternative mistletoe therapy in Switzerland.
Taking to her page earlier today, Angie said: “Update my homies. I find myself back in the hospital.
“I have an infection. They think it’s bacterial. Bt I have to stay here a few days for results and to make it better.
There are several possible causes of bleeding from your bottom, or blood in your poo.
Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in your back passage.
Dark red or black blood could come from your bowel or stomach.
Blood in your stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it’s important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.
2. O: Obvious change in loo habits
It’s important to tell your GP if you have noticed any changes in your bowel habits that last three weeks or longer.
It’s especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo.
You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you’re not going enough or fully emptying your bowels.
Don’t be embarrassed, your GP will have heard a lot worse! Speak up and get it checked.
3. W: Weight loss
This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of. If you’ve lost weight and don’t really know why, it’s worth mentioning to your GP.
You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.
4. E: Extreme tiredness
Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body – anaemia. If you develop anaemia you’re likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.
5. L: Lump or pain
As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer.
It’s most likely you’ll notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage.
See your GP if it doesn’t go away, or if it affects how you eat or sleep
“See you on the other side.”
She captioned the post: “Slight setback but nothing that can’t be fixed.”
Many rushed to the comments section to share that she is in their thoughts, including her reality star son Calum, who wrote: “I love u and we have got this.”
Another said: “You are in my prayers.”
“Sending love and hugs and strength xx,” a third chimed in.
A fourth added: “Wishing you a speedy recovery sending love and prayers.”
After major surgery to remove a tumour from her colon in July, Angie told fans the incredible news that she is free of the disease.
Sharing her good news on Instagram, she wrote: “Bit different from all the miserable videos of the last 7 months. I’m a truly happy grateful girl, it’s over.”
In a video update, a relaxed Angie explained: “The chemo and the immunotherapy prior had shrunk my 30cm lump down to a little tiny bit that was attached to the colon.
“They shrunk it, now we go in and cut it out… A bit like an interior designer coming in and moving the furniture around, but it still works.
“So then it’s done, they sew you up, then they wait three days, and in those three days, they give you fluids only.
“So of course I lost so much weight, this is why I look so drawn, but I’m not worried about that because I’ve just been eating some shrimp tempura and I’m gonna gain that weight back again without no worries about that.
“On the fourth day, they give you your first meal, very sensible meal, all white.
“And then they wait for the next morning to see if you go to the bathroom.
“I did. And again the next day and again the next day, so everything was working as it should perfectly in my little colon.
“I’m so happy because now I can officially say with gratitude and love that I am cancer free and healing. All I’ve got to do now is get better.
“I’ve got to heal and I can do that. That’s what I’m good at. God knows it’s the only thing I’m good at.
“But I can’t come home yet because this was such a major operation. I have to wait eight days and sit and wait, but I’m gonna use that time to heal and get better.
“I’ve got so much I want to do. I’m going to reinvent myself at the ripe old age of 74. Wish me luck!”
MAKKAH: More than 60 early Islamic inscriptions and two historic wells in Wadi Al-Usaylah, northeast of Makkah, are providing archaeologists with a record of early Arabic writing and the pilgrimage routes used by caravans traveling to the holy city.
The six-kilometer-long, two-kilometer-wide valley was historically an important passage for travelers and pilgrim caravans arriving from Iraq and surrounding regions, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency, or SPA.
The inscriptions, carved into mountain rock faces, date to the seventh and eighth centuries — corresponding to the first and second centuries of the Islamic calendar. They include references to figures from the early Islamic period and offer scholars tangible evidence of changes in the form, structure and aesthetic development of early Arabic script.
Water was also essential to sustaining travelers crossing the arid landscape. Successive Islamic rulers established water infrastructure along the route, with two of the valley’s four original historic wells still surviving near the inscribed rock faces. Some of the wells are believed to date to the Abbasid Caliphate.
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites is carrying out a comprehensive preservation program along the corridor to protect the inscriptions and wells from erosion. The effort forms part of wider initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030 to preserve the Kingdom’s archaeological heritage while developing sustainable cultural destinations, SPA reported.
The Wadi Al-Usaylah findings add to a growing body of archaeological evidence documenting the development of writing and human settlement across Saudi Arabia.
In a July 2026 report, SPA said the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve contains thousands of archaeological inscriptions and rock carvings, including Thamudic and Nabataean writings as well as depictions of animals, hunting scenes and aspects of daily life. More than 400 archaeological and historical sites have been documented across the reserve, with some remains dating as far back as 8,000 BC.
Najran provides another extensive record of the evolution of writing in the Arabian Peninsula. In a September 2024 report, SPA described the UNESCO-listed Hima Cultural Area as a vast outdoor museum containing rock carvings and inscriptions in Ancient South Arabian, Thamudic and Islamic scripts.
Archaeological surveys in Najran have documented inscriptions from different periods, including tribal markings and writings in Thamudic, Sabaean, Himyarite and early Islamic scripts. The accompanying rock art depicts people, camels, horses, ibexes, hunting scenes and battles, offering clues to ancient communities and their material culture, SPA reported.
The continuity and development of Arabic writing are also illustrated by a bilingual inscription discovered and documented in 2024 in Alqan village in the Tabuk Region. According to an SPA report, the inscription dates to the fifth century AD and contains two lines in Thamudic script and one in early Arabic.
The Heritage Commission said the Tabuk discovery provided evidence that Thamudic writing continued to be used alongside early Arabic during the fifth century. It also offered new insights into the coexistence of the two writing traditions and the development of Arabic letter forms.
Together, such discoveries underscore the archaeological value of Saudi Arabia’s mountains, valleys and desert landscapes as repositories of written history. They also highlight the importance of systematic documentation and preservation to protect inscriptions and other remains from erosion and other threats while making them accessible for scientific research and cultural tourism.
For Wadi Al-Usaylah, the combination of early Islamic inscriptions and surviving water infrastructure provides a particularly important glimpse into the networks that connected travelers and pilgrims with Makkah during the formative centuries of Islam.
There is a lost EastEnders Christmas special which showed groundbreaking gay character Barry Clark come out to his homophobic dad.
In 1986, bosses on the BBC drama cast the first ever gay couple on the soap with Michael Cashman and Gary Hailes playing Colin Russell and Barry.
The two characters were the first openly gay couple to share a kiss in a British soap. Gary Webster joined EastEnders in 1987 playing Barry’s protective older brother Graham Clark who accepted his sibling was a homosexual man.
Former Minder star Webster has now revealed that an entire Christmas episode was filmed in 1987 around Barry emotionally revealing his sexuality to their father, who hated homosexuals.
Webster insists the unique episode was in the can and due to air on Christmas Eve but when he sat down to watch it, bosses had lost their nerve and left it on the cutting room floor instead airing an episode forcing on Pauline and Arthur Fowler’s broken oven and Sharon Watts coping with Christmas with her parents Angie and Den separated.
None of the scenes were ever shown on the soap.
Webster said: “I was very proud to be a part of that storyline, absolutely. “That was really groundbreaking writing. Not only having Colin and Barry’s relationship out there, accepted or not accepted. It wasn’t for effect it was a reflection of what was happening to people in those relationships.
“It was fantastic writing, the idea that his brother would be fully accepting of it as well, when everyone thought the brother would find it unacceptable. At that time they could have gone further. I remember we shot a whole Christmas episode of the father of Barry and Graham – my character – finding out his son was gay, and he wasn’t accepting of it. It had all been building to that culmination of the father coming into the pub.
“We filmed 15 scenes and it was a whole episode at Christmas. I sat down to watch it at Christmas and they had pulled it and had shot something else. I think they just lost their bottle a little bit at that time.
“No, never broadcast. I don’t what happened to it. All I know is that my parents were sitting down with my aunt and uncle, my current girlfriend at the time was sitting down with her parents on Christmas Eve. I’d told them I’m featured in this episode a lot, this is going to be a big episode. I was sat down on my own, I saw the opening scene and I suddenly realised, ‘Oh my god! This has changed. This is not the episode that we shot.’
“Back in those days if you got an episode on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day it was the pinnacle of your career. Then I thought, ‘I just look like I’m a big liar. Now I’m going to have to take the flak of people going, ‘Right, so you were going to be in a big episode?’ Everyone doubted me for years afterwards.”
Webster – who stars in new independent British horror movie Harbinger – believes the episode was dropped because bosses on EastEnders feared the British public weren’t ready for it.
Despite that history-making episode never making it to television screens, Webster says being a part of the Colin and Barry story is one of the proudest acting jobs of his long career.
He said: “To be a part of that storyline, to work with Gary Hailes and Michael Cashman who played Barry and Colin – I still keep in contact with them both – I look back on that and I am proud of my part of that storyline. It was EastEnders at its very best. “What everyone forgets, people in my industry and in that London scene, we probably lived in a bit of a bubble than what was going on in the rest of the country.
“I felt that maybe people at that time weren’t ready for that yet. But I think people are ready for it at any time. You have to have more faith in the public.”
Webster made a return to EastEnders in 2016 as new character Neville Peacock. The actor still watches the soap and insists it is vital it remains on screens as it is a hotbed of new talent.
He said: “EastEnders is in a battle but I still think the basics and foundations are great, the same with Coronation Street and all the soaps. They are a great breeding ground for great talent whether it’s in front of the camera or behind the camera. People still like that regularity of storyline and characters they now and love. It’s just getting it out there, because there are so many other platforms.
“I did about four episodes of EastEnders as a different character in 2016. There was some hope that I might return. Hope is one thing, reality is another. It doesn’t bother me if something doesn’t quite work out, that’s just the nature of the business we’re in.
“If they called me again I would be thrilled and honoured to be in the show. “I still think there is a lot of value to the soap operas. In this country we do them extremely well. It’s a hot bed for new talent, discovery of new talent across the board that we would lose at our peril. If we allow that to just slip away I think the industry would suffer across the board. I’m a great advocate of retaining all those returning dramas.”
The BBC declined to comment but a soap source said EastEnders had “a rich history of championing LGBTQA+ storylines and characters over its 41-year tenure”.
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GETTING paid to travel the world is the ultimate dream job – and one Brit who gets to do just that has revealed her top bargain sun spots to escape to on a budget.
Having visited more than 20 TUI hotels and resorts, Lucy Langtry has travelled all over the world for the past four years for the company as a public relations manager.
And as a result she knows the best sunny spots with cheap deals.
She said: “Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia have impressed me most for overall value.”
Though, for a closer-to-home great value destination she recommends visiting the Albanian Alps, where “the scenery felt pristine and there were hardly any crowds”.
One particular spot she recommends is the village of Theth, where temperatures reach up to 20C in October.
Read more on travel inspo
She said: “There were hardly any crowds – it felt like discovering a part of Europe that not everyone had caught on to yet.”
The small mountain village in Northern Albania is surrounded by rugged and dramatic peaks.
In the village you will find traditional stone houses as well as amazing hiking routes that include waterfalls.
TUI has loads of accommodation options in the capital, Tirana, which makes a great base for exploring both the north and south of the country.
And packages could cost you as little as £173 per person for three nights in October, including flights and accommodation.
If you want to head slightly further afield, then Lucy recommends travelling to Morocco – where temperatures reach up to 20C in December.
She said: “Morocco is such a strong one for value, especially TUI BLUE Tikida Gardens [in Marrakech] which feels like a little oasis.
“It is so calm and relaxing, with that proper switch-off feel that makes you forget you are only a short flight from home, and you can spend your days exploring the colourful souks right on your doorstep.”
A three night stay at TUI BLUE Tikida Gardens costs from £335 per person in December including flights and accommodation.
But there are other packages available if you want to spend less, including three nights at the Moroccan House Marrakech in December from £216 per person.
Or in Egypt, Lucy recommends visiting TUI BLUE Crystal Bay in Hurghada, Egypt, where temperatures reach 35C in September.
“Egypt has become the destination I recommend more than anywhere else, and TUI BLUE Crystal Bay captures everything I love about it.
“The hotel has a beautiful setting on the Red Sea, lovely pools, incredible service and a relaxed atmosphere that makes you feel like you are on holiday as soon as you arrive.
“It is the sort of hotel where you can spend the morning relaxing beside the water, have a long lunch and then head out into the desert for a completely different experience,” she said.
You could stay at the hotel in December for six nights including flights for £810 per person.
Or for a cheaper option you could head to Palm Inn Hotel also in Hurghada for seven nights in September, with flights and accommodation included, from £400 per person.
She added that while in Hurghada you can head on a TUI Musement excursion into the desert and watch the sunset from the top of a mountain.
She revealed: “It felt like another world. One moment you are enjoying a beautiful beach and a lovely hotel, then you are surrounded by this incredible desert landscape watching the whole sky change colour.”
Off Hurghada, you can also travel to Mahya Island, on a TUI Musement experience, where you will see clear water that “rivals photographs of the Maldives”.
For a hidden gem, she suggests heading to Jaz Elite Amara in Marsa Alam.
She said: “Marsa Alam is one of my favourite places in Egypt because it still feels less discovered than some of the better known resorts.
“The Red Sea is unbelievably clear and the marine life is incredible.”
Off the island you can head snorkelling with dugongs, also known as sea cows, as well as turtles.
You’ll get beautiful beaches ideal for a relaxing too.
She added: “It is perfect for anyone who wants a quieter side of the Red Sea, with incredible snorkelling right on their doorstep.”
Her final recommendation is Holiday Village AQI Skanes Resort in Tunisia costing from £436 for a six-night break in October, which Lucy commented is great for families.
She said: “The kids’ club was amazing. There was so much for children to do and the team brought such brilliant energy.
“You could see how excited the children were to go back each day, which I imagine is music to any parent’s ears.”
She added that the whole resort felt designed to make family holidays easy, with activities, entertainment and spaces where different ages could have fun.
She continued: “Tunisia itself really surprised me too.
“The beaches were beautiful, the people were incredibly friendly and the overall experience offered fantastic value.
“It is somewhere I would happily recommend to families who want plenty to do without spending a fortune.”
In an unusual move, Assembly candidate Cesar Portillo, a gay activist running in a Hollywood-Eastside district, disclosed Sunday that he was arrested nine years ago after being propositioned by an undercover Los Angeles policeman.
Surrounded by members of his family, his partner and supporters at a news conference at his Highland Park election headquarters, Portillo claimed that the campaign of his opponent, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, had begun a whisper campaign about the arrest and he chose to discuss it.
Goldberg flatly denied that her campaign had any role in spreading information about the issue. “We would never raise it,” she said in an interview. “We did hear rumors, but I told everybody this was not something we were going to do. I don’t think this is an appropriate issue to raise.”
Portillo, the director of governmental affairs at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said he chose to address the issue head-on because he “wanted to make sure people heard from me first rather than misinformation and smear.”
In a statement read to supporters at the news conference, he said: “Nine years ago, I was approached by an undercover police officer who propositioned me and then arrested me. I was not guilty. I was in my twenties and I did not have the money to fight this in court.”
Later, in an interview, Portillo said he pleaded no contest to the 1991 misdemeanor charge of lewd conduct and paid a fine of about $200. After his arrest, he said, he was automatically suspended from his job as an elementary school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District and resigned before the case was concluded.
The 36-year-old Portillo vowed to continue campaigning for the seat being vacated by Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles), who is running for mayor of Los Angeles. Villaraigosa and County Supervisor Gloria Molina, among others, have endorsed Goldberg. Portillo has been endorsed by numerous Latino legislators, including state Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles).
Portillo said he will release any officeholders from their previous endorsement if they so desire.
The March 7 primary is tantamount to election because the 45th Assembly District is so overwhelmingly Democratic in registration that there is no Republican on the ballot. The district runs from Hollywood through Silver Lake, Mount Washington, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, and Highland Park to the edge of Pasadena.
Prominent gay activist Morris Kight, a member of the county’s Human Relations Commission, said that what happened to Portillo reflects police harassment and entrapment of gays.
And Wallace Albertson, a longtime Democratic Party activist, added that she was appalled at “this kind of character assassination and smearing going on.”
Portillo charged that the whisper campaign had started in Sacramento when a legislator and a legislative aide were contacted by Goldberg’s campaign.
Parke Skelton, Goldberg’s campaign consultant, denied that that occurred. “It’s been whispered about for quite some time,” Skelton said. “Believe me, it didn’t come from us.” He said Goldberg has no intention of using “any issue about [Portillo’s] private life or criminal arrest” in the final weeks of the race. “This is a ludicrous battle to get in the middle of,” he said.
Skelton did say that people in Sacramento had called him about the arrest.
Anticipating that the arrest could find its way into the contest, Portillo’s campaign manager, Frank Berged III, said it was necessary to discuss the issue.
