Types

FROM competitiveness to narcissism – if Noel and Liam have what it takes to patch things up, you have no excuse!

WITH the whole world watching, the Gallagher brothers have been taking to the stage for the Oasis reunion tour – and off the back of their 16-year feud, have proven sibling reconciliation is possible for anyone (though the jury is still out on Princes William and Harry. . .).

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One of the most impactful relationships you will ever have is with a sibling, who can be a best friend and confidante from day one to the end.

But the dynamic is complex.

Just because you have the same parents, it doesn’t mean you had the same experience growing up.

Likewise, you can share DNA, but not the same outlook on life or values.

Fallouts will occur, and that can lead to long-held feuds.

In fact, one study found 28% of people had experienced at least one estrangement episode with a sibling.*

“Our siblings have known us in our formative years in deeply intimate ways, sharing baths, bedrooms, road trips and battles over broccoli,” says Ali Ross from the UK Council for Psychotherapy.

“During this time, there’s a tension between them being your closest allies and greatest threats.”

How do you navigate tensions when they reach boiling point, or bring up long-standing resentments that are now having a big impact?

“Those conversations can be painful and difficult, especially if this is unprecedented for you in your relationship,” says Ali.

“But they can also be helpful to establish a new way of relating as siblings. It can also be a relief to name the elephant in the room, or to expose that you’ve been misinterpreting something and dispel long-held assumptions.”

But sometimes forgiveness feels impossible, and the healthiest thing to do is to walk away.

Here, Ali explains how to cope with each type of sibling and their typical traits.

The Competitive Sibling

Whether it be over board games or job salaries, sibling competitiveness can seep into every crevice of your life.

Exhausting, right? Often it’s just light-hearted banter, but if micro-aggressions are thrown around by your sibling, it can put a strain on your relationship.

“The truth is, people like to be in charge of their narrative and identity – and the way people see themselves within the family, or when compared to siblings, can challenge both those things,” says Ali.

“It is how much you want to buy into that game.”

WHAT NEXT?

When you feel the competitive urge, acknowledge it’s just a reflex, then redirect your energy.

“If you’re casting judgements about a sibling without attempting to understand what it’s like to live their life, challenge yourself to genuinely, compassionately understand them better, then do this for yourself,” says Ali.

He suggests imagining a version of yourself that doesn’t have a sibling to compete with. What would you care about?

“Once you understand the context, the desire to compare and compete diminishes,” he says.

Fallouts will occur, and that can lead to long-held feuds

The Narcissistic Sibling

However much you want to forge a stronger relationship with your sibling, the reality is that sometimes it’s near-impossible.

Does it feel like they won’t take any responsibility for their actions, and don’t seem to be capable of any empathy for you or your viewpoint?

“These are signs of narcissistic behaviour,” says Ali.

“But rather than writing your sibling off as a narcissist and trying to change this other person’s way of being, it is more empowering to understand what you are encountering, what that means for you, and to consider how you are going to navigate that.”

WHAT NEXT?

Ask yourself if your sibling shows any signs of understanding you or caring for you.

“If they don’t, do you really want to have a relationship with them?

“The answer may be hard and upsetting, but it means you can move forward from a more informed position,” says Ali.

There’s a tension between them being your closest allies and greatest threats

Ali Ross

The Peter Pan Sibling

Some people might describe your sibling as a “free spirit”, but you only see them as a big kid.

Ali suggests thinking about why your sibling’s Peter Pan energy irritates you so much.

“Do you feel like you got too old, too soon, or took on more responsibility and feel resentment?” says Ali.

Perhaps you took on caring responsibilities for other family members.

“Ask yourself honestly if there are feelings of being a martyr on your part,” says Ali.

“Have you rushed straight in to put out the fire before anybody else smelled something was burning?”

WHAT NEXT?

Try telling your sibling how much you are struggling.

“Say something like: ‘This is the burden I’m carrying, and you’re not helping,’ and follow it up with some actual strategising to prompt a practical shift,” Ali says.

Our siblings have known us in our formative years in deeply intimate ways, sharing baths, bedrooms, road trips and battles over broccoli

Ali Ross

The Controlling Sibling

Is your sibling overbearing or dictatorial? It’s likely to come from a fear of being vulnerable, says Ali.

“They’re taking power in a situation because they can’t bear the idea of not being in control. However, this feeling is often buried so deep that your sibling won’t recognise it for what it is.”

People under control can end up feeling resentment, but may be too oppressed to express their true feelings.

WHAT NEXT?

“Be aware that calling it out is a threat to their control in itself,” Ali warns.

“It is why they are likely to double-down on their control, or find another insidious way to try to resume or re-establish control.

“It is much better if the controlling person is left to try to figure it out for themselves, and you spend as little time as you can in their orbit.”

It can also be a relief to name the elephant in the room, or to expose that you’ve been misinterpreting something and dispel long-held assumptions

Ali Ross

The Disengaged Sibling

Of course, not all siblings are close.

Or perhaps you once were, but can’t make sense of how your friendship fizzled out.

“Too often, we draw conclusions too early, then base our response on that,” says Ali. There can be a multitude of reasons why your sibling is being elusive.

“Let’s say someone has been abused or neglected in some way [by the family], and they just want out. You cannot force someone to confront something if they do not want to, and you need to respect their space.”

Maybe you’re their problem, in which case, are you ready for some criticism?

“It might be that you are both very different people, and they’re just not that interested in having a relationship with you.

“This will hurt, but at least you’ll hear it for what it is and know what you are dealing with.”

WHAT NEXT?

It’s a tricky conversation, especially if it comes after years of distance.

“Say to them: ‘I feel sad that we don’t have much of a relationship, as far as I see it, and I don’t know why that is. Do you want to feel closer, because I do?’” says Ali.

“You can then try to suggest ways you can bridge that gap or, even better, leave it with them.”

US President Donald Trump has proposed a 21-point peace plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza.

The plan, shared with Arab and Muslim leaders in New York on Tuesday, reportedly sees Hamas barred from any future role in governing Gaza, potential military involvement from Arab and Muslim countries to guarantee security and a promise from Trump that Israel will not annex the occupied West Bank.

But how can the countries involved deliver on their part in any deal?

And how could President Trump push his plan through, in practice?

Presenter: Bernard Smith

Guests:

Thomas Warrick – Former deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism policy at the US Department of Homeland Security, and currently a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council

Daoud Kuttab – Journalist and columnist, director of the Community Media Network, and a contributing writer to outlets including Al-Monitor and Foreign Policy

Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka – Editor-in-chief of the Gulf Times and a Qatari journalist and commentator specialising in public diplomacy and communications

It’s been eight years since more than 700,000 Rohingya were forced from their homes in Myanmar, facing a campaign of mass violence, arson and sexual violence at the hands of the military.

The Muslim-minority Rohingya fled from Rakhine State in the country’s west, into neighbouring Bangladesh.

It’s where an estimated one-and-a-half million Rohingya live today – in the world’s largest refugee camp.

But, Bangladesh and aid agencies say the nearly decade-long humanitarian operation is simply unsustainable.

They are warning that severe funding shortfalls could push the crisis to the breaking point.

So, what’s hampering efforts to repatriate more than a million refugees?

Presenter: James Bays

Guests: 

Yasmin Ullah – Executive director of Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network and human rights activist

Farah Kabir –  Country director for Action Aid Bangladesh

Abbas Faiz – Independent South Asia Researcher with a focus on Bangladesh

Brit holidaymakers are being warned to make one urgent check before bringing their medication to the airport – or face potential action when they reach their destination

One of the major parts of packing up a suitcase for holiday is making sure you have the correct amount of medication.

Some people take pain-killers with them as a precaution, while others generally need to take a whole host of tablets on their journey due to pre-existing medical conditions. Whatever your scenario, there are some medicines which need extra attention before you set off on your travels.

Some relatively popular pain-killers are actually restricted in some places, according to experts at Which? who say it’s important to check if your pills are complying with the UK’s Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. If you’re leaving the country with medicine that contains a controlled drug, you’ll have to prove its intended use with a letter from your doctor.

Codeine or medication containing codeine can get you arrested in countries like Thailand and the UAE (United Arab Emirates). These can be found in certain medications, including Nurofen Plus and Solpadeine. Other strong painkillers, like morphine and tramadol, are prohibited, as these are known to be highly addictive.

READ MORE: Airport worker’s suitcase hack that means it comes off the plane first

Other countries with strict rules on medication are: Greece, Japan, and Mexico. Countries have different restrictions on how much a passenger can bring into the country. Still, a medical letter from a professional will be needed as proof.

If the person travelling intends to be outside of the country for a long period of time, they will need to apply for a personal license from the Home Office at least 15 days before the intended departure date. Which? also recommended keeping the medicine in its original packaging and bringing a copy of the prescription as back-up.

Full list of medications

While restrictions differ for every country, the experts said: “You should be especially cautious if you are planning on travelling anywhere with any of these, or with medical equipment such as syringes or an EpiPen, as you’re likely to need some form of written permission.”

• Codeine or medication containing codeine – typically found in Nurofen Plus and Solpadeine.
• Morphine and tramadol
• Opiate painkillers
• Antidepressants
• Sleeping pills
• Anti-anxiety medication (including diazepam)
• ADHD medication
• Cannabidiol

The government’s foreign travel advice medication advisory for Greece says: “Pharmacies across Greece stock a good supply of medicines, but there are strict rules around dispensing certain medicines, including antibiotics. Bring prescription medicines with you and carry a letter from your doctor stating the quantity required during your stay.

“Keep the medication in the original container with the prescription label. The name on the prescription must match the name on your passport.”

It’s been several days now since Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran.

The conflict has since escalated with each side launching dozens of strikes.

And because the warring sides don’t share a border, the attacks have largely been focused on air strikes.

While Iran may have the largest stock of missiles and drones in the Middle East, Israel’s air force is considered one of the most powerful in the world – and its air defence system, one of the most advanced.

And more crucially, Israel has the backing of the United States.

So is one military at a clear advantage?

Will the length of the conflict make a difference?

And are there other factors at play in this conflict?

Presenter: Nick Clark

Guests:

Mamoun Abu Nowar – retired Jordanian air force general

Marina Miron – military analyst and researcher in the War Studies Department at King’s College London

Justin Bronk – senior research fellow for airpower and technology at the Royal United Services Institute

The type of holidaymaker you (and your travel companions) are can have a big impact on the kind of getaways you’ll enjoy. If you’re the type to pore over endless reviews, book everything in advance and use a spreadsheet to tick off every detail, you’ll have a very different experience to the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type of traveller, who prefers to just grab their passport and see where it takes them, carry-on in hand.

Or perhaps you’re more the flexible type, who likes to plan a few things in advance, but leaves space for spontaneous fun? Or maybe you’re the one who breathes a sigh of relief as your super organised friend hands out colour-coded itineraries at the airport?

We gathered together some of the holiday heroes that bring getaways to life to find out how they do it – and to discover some of the clever ways Barclays can help your holiday go even further, whichever group you belong to.

The chief holiday officer

‘I create a visual itinerary for every trip,’ says Sian Downes, 36

Under the slogan “welfare not warfare”, protesters have come out in force in London, objecting to the British government’s plans to increase military spending while cutting back on social support.

Like its European allies in NATO, the United Kingdom is under pressure from the United States to take responsibility for its own security in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But the European public – most of whom are facing a cost-of-living crisis – may well object as much as the British.

So can NATO allies build a defence force strong enough to counter any threats from Russia without US support?

And how will European leaders address possible public discontent?

Presenter: Elizabeth Puranam

Guests:

Paul Beaver – defence analyst

Aaron Gasch Burnett – senior fellow at the Democratic Strategy Initiative, a political think tank

Jeremy Corbyn – independent member of the UK Parliament

Critics say the Cambodian government’s attacks on opposition members and activists have gone global.

On January 7, 2025, former Cambodian opposition politician, Lim Kimya, was gunned down outside a busy bus station in central Bangkok.

A former Thai marine confessed to carrying out the hit as a gun for hire, but two Cambodians with ties to their country’s governing party are on the run, suspected of organising the murder.

While Lim Kimya’s family and friends are seeking justice, Cambodia’s prime minister, Hun Manet, denies his government had any involvement.

101 East investigates the brazen killing and Cambodia’s increasingly repressive government.