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AI is driving the stock market to record highs, dominating countless debates about the value of human labor, and radically rewiring the way schools approach education. It’s also causing a stir in the art world, with media artist Refik Anadol poised to open Dataland, the world’s first museum of AI arts, inside the Frank Gehry-designed Grand L.A. complex in downtown Los Angeles next spring.

A first-look at the Infinity Room gallery at Dataland.

(Dataland)

The 25,000-square-foot museum was originally scheduled to open this year, but Anadol announced Thursday that the opening has been pushed back to spring 2026. Anadol also unveiled a sneak peak at the Infinity Room, one of the museum’s five discrete galleries. The immersive room features Anadol’s distinct swirling colors and images and will be infused with AI-generated scents, creating a multisensory experience powered by its very own AI model, called the Large Nature Model.

The Infinity Room design dates back to 2014 when Anadol created his first immersive data sculpture at UCLA. He described it as an exploration into the future of the Light and Space movement. It was essentially a 12-by-12-foot cube, with mirrored walls, ceiling and floors. Projectors emitted pulses of black-and-white imagery that used data as a pigment. To date, the Infinity Room has toured 35 cities and been viewed by more than 10 million people.

Another look at the Infinity Room, which has been viewed by 10 million people on tour.

(Dataland)

“The work emerged from my exploration of the idea that information can become a narrative material capable of transforming architectural space into a living canvas. The question driving me was simple but profound: What happens if there is no corner, no floor, no ceiling, no gravity?” Anadol wrote about his concept for the Infinity Room in a blog post on his website. “At DATALAND, Infinity Room enters a new era. This iteration embodies the technical and conceptual leaps our studio has made over the past decade. Where the original used generative algorithms, this new incarnation incorporates our decade-long research into what I call “machine hallucinations” — the dreamlike, surreal realities an AI can generate from vast datasets.”

The Infinity Room is meant to be a multisensory experience.

(Dataland)

In an interview last year, Anadol said “ethical AI” is essential to his practice. Unlike most large AI models, Anadol secured permission to use all of his sourced material, and said all of the studio’s AI research was performed on Google servers in Oregon that use only renewable energy.

The airline made an announcement this morning

easyJet has today made an announcement, aimed at people aged above 17 and three months. The airline is launching applications for its 2026 engineering apprenticeship programme, with roles available at a number of major UK airports.

This comes at a time when the UK Civil Aviation Authority estimates that 27% of the aircraft engineering workforce is set to retire within the next decade, and after new research commissioned by easyJet suggests more needs to be done to encourage young Brits to consider a career in engineering.

Some 65% of the 2,000 16-24 year olds surveyed said they had never considered a career in the field, with many deterred by misconceptions about their suitability for the profession. Over half (59%) believed they lacked the right qualifications, while 34% said engineering was never presented as an option at school and 21% thought it was too expensive to pursue.

The study also highlighted a gender gap, with only 36% of young women considering a career in engineering, compared to 52% of young men. In reality, an apprenticeship offers an accessible alternative route into the profession, providing the skills, experience and confidence needed for a successful career in engineering.

As well as this, the research revealed a growing trend among 16-24 year-olds expressing an interest in pursuing a career with a purpose. Over half (52%) expressed a desire to be in a role that benefits society, with more than two-fifths (44%) stating they aspired to a career that would help tackle climate change.

A further 43% identified engineering as a profession that could help achieve these goals through activities such as developing lower-emission technologies. In an effort to dispel misconceptions and support young 16–24 year olds in their ambition of a purpose-driven career path, easyJet is welcoming its next batch of aspiring engineers, offering an apprenticeship programme that will provide essential skills while earning and learning on the job, without the barriers of traditional routes to access the profession.

Speaking about the call for more apprentices to join its ranks, Brendan McConnellogue, Director of Engineering and Maintenance at easyJet said: “Today’s young people are motivated by purpose – they want to solve problems, travel, innovate and play their part in building a more sustainable future.

“Our engineering apprenticeships give candidates the chance to gain valuable experience working on our state-of-the-art fleet of aircraft while helping to deliver on aviation’s commitment to decarbonisation.

“This programme not only provides a pathway to grow professionally but also allows apprentices to make a meaningful contribution to the success of our operations throughout our network. We’re looking forward to opening the doors to applicants from all backgrounds who are ready to take their first step into a rewarding career in aviation.”

Aviation Minister, Keir Mather, said: “This engineering apprenticeship scheme marks an important step in continuing to build a highly skilled aviation workforce fit for the future.

“Initiatives like easyJet’s unlock exciting, flexible routes into aviation, backing an expanding sector whilst offering young people valuable opportunities and long-term careers – helping deliver our Plan for Change.”

Applications for the 2026 intake are now open, with spots up for grabs across all of easyJet’s major engineering bases nationwide including Luton Airport, London Gatwick Airport, Manchester Airport, Liverpool Airport, Bristol Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport. Those with a minimum of 2 GCSEs at grade 3 and above or equivalent (SCQF Level 4) Scottish Qualifications in English and Maths are urged to apply here

October is a busy month for the stock market, because it’s when companies start reporting their operating results for the quarter ended Sept. 30. As has been the case for the last few years, Wall Street will be laser-focused on the tech giants powering the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, because they typically deliver the fastest revenue and earnings growth.

Meta Platforms (META -0.37%) is one of those companies. It’s scheduled to release its third-quarter results on Oct. 29, and management’s guidance points to a further acceleration in its revenue growth, thanks largely to AI. The upcoming report could be a very positive catalyst for Meta stock, so here’s why investors might want to pay attention.

Image source: Getty Images.

Look for accelerating revenue growth

More than 3.4 billion people use at least one of Meta’s social media apps every single day, which include Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Considering that is nearly half the population of the entire planet, finding new users is getting harder and harder, which is why the company is focused on boosting engagement instead.

Simply put, the longer each user spends on Meta’s apps, the more ads they see, and the more money the company makes. AI is a huge part of that strategy; Meta uses the technology in its algorithms to learn what content each user likes to see, so it can show them more of it. During the second quarter of 2025 (ended June 30), this drove a 6% increase in the amount of time users spent on Instagram compared to the year-ago period, and a 5% increase for Facebook.

Meta adopted a similar strategy for its ad-recommendation engine to target users more accurately on behalf of businesses. During Q2, this led to a 5% increase in conversions on Instagram, and a 3% increase on Facebook. This typically means Meta can charge more money per ad because businesses are yielding a higher return on their marketing spend.

The social media giant generated $47.5 billion in total revenue during the quarter, which was a 22% increase from the year-ago period. That marked an acceleration from the first quarter when revenue jumped by 16%. Management’s guidance suggests the company delivered as much as $50.5 billion in revenue during the third quarter, which would represent even faster growth of 24%.

That would be a very bullish result for Meta stock on Oct. 29.

Here’s an even more important number to watch

Meta’s AI strategy also involves developing new features, like its Meta AI chatbot which can answer complex questions, generate images, or even join your group chat to settle debates. It only launched in late 2023, yet it already has almost a billion monthly active users.

Meta AI is powered by Meta’s Llama family of large language models, which are improving so rapidly that they already rival some of the best models from leading start-ups like OpenAI and Anthropic, even though those companies had a multiyear head start on development. But in order for the Llama models to continue improving, Meta has to invest heavily in data center infrastructure and chips to unlock the necessary computing power.

The company came into 2025 expecting to allocate somewhere between $60 billion and $65 billion to capital expenditures (capex) for the year, but it has since revised those numbers to $66 billion and $72 billion. Meta would only spend that kind of money on AI infrastructure if it expected a positive financial return, and the signs are already there considering the company’s growing engagement, higher ad conversions, and accelerating revenue growth.

A further upward revision to Meta’s 2025 capex forecast on Oct. 29 would probably be bullish for its stock, because it might be a signal that management expects an even bigger payoff than originally anticipated.

Meta’s stock looks like a bargain heading into Oct. 29

Meta shares are trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 25.7 as I write this, making it the cheapest stock in the “Magnificent Seven,” which is the group of tech titans driving the AI revolution forward.

PE Ratio data by YCharts

Personally, I think Meta deserves a much higher valuation considering it grew its earnings per share by a whopping 38% in the second quarter, outpacing the earnings growth of every other Magnificent Seven company except Nvidia.

Typically, investors will pay a premium for a company that is growing quickly, so there might be some upside on the table for Meta stock through multiple expansion alone. If the company’s third-quarter results match or exceed the high end of management’s guidance on Oct. 29, that could be the spark that ignites a powerful rally for the stock into the end of the year.

MOLLY-MAE Hague has announced the release date for series two of Behind It All – and it’s just days away.

After the first series scooped up an NTA for best authored documentary, fans have been early anticipating the next installment of the Love Island star’s show. 

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Now, Molly has revealed that series two will drop on October 18, as the trailer for the new series was released. 

She penned: “SURPRISE!!!… This is your 11 day countdown🎬 ‘Molly-Mae behind it all’ Series 2, Part 1 is coming to @primevideouk on the 18th of October (my favourite month of the year😭)… 

“I’m so excited for you all to see what’s been going on behind the scenes. Things have been crazy!!!”

The dramatic new trailer starts will Molly climbing onto her private jet, and sees the star juggle a busy working life with her two-year-old Bambi.

Fans and friends of the star flooded to the comments to share their excitement. 

Molly’s sister Zoe Hague wrote: “AHHH S*** HERE WE GO AGAIN” and Molly’s best pal Taylor said: “We go again!!!!!!!” followed by fire and heart emojis.

The first part of the Molly Mae: Behind It All documentary launched on Amazon Video on Friday, 17th January 2025.

Three episodes immediately landed with the new reality show’s arrival, each roughly 30 minutes long.

This was followed by a second batch of three episodes four months later.

NTAs 2025: Lineker’s shock win and Molly-Mae’s tears, backstage with some of this year’s winners

Prime were blown away by the ratings and were particularly thrilled by the huge numbers of young female viewers which Mollie, 26, brought to the streaming service.

A few months ago a TV insider said: “Molly-Mae: Behind it All was the most watched show by females in the UK in the hugely valuable 18 to 35 age group.

“That’s a crucial market for the streamer to tap into.

“Viewers were obviously hooked by the ups and downs of her relationship with Tommy, but also inspired by her juggling her love life with being a mother to their young daughter as well as running a business.

Inside Molly-Mae’s life

Take a look at the influencer, business owner and reality TV star’s journey to fame

“Prime is so keen to get it back on screen that production has already kicked off on the second season which will either drop later this year or early next year.”

NTA win

 This year, Molly-Mae’s show won an NTA – but it was a win that wasn’t without its backlash.

She beat out the likes of Amy Dowden‘s Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me which followed her cancer journey and Boyzone‘s Sky docuseries.

The late Rob Burrow also lost out for his piece, There’s Only One Rob Burrow, which documented his struggle with motor neurone disease.

She issued a statement on social media after a number of viewers complained about the National Television Awards result on social media.

Sharing a picture of herself on the stage, she then wrote: “Last night at the NTAs I shared a category with people whose stories will always be more powerful and inspirational than mine.

“I see that, I believe that and I want to acknowledge it again here.”

She continued: “It was only right to dedicate this award to the late Rob Burrow and his family and to the remarkable people in my category … this win belongs to them.”

However, even though the former reality star acknowledged that other nominees were ‘more powerful and inspirational,’ she thanked her fans for voting for her.

She added: “I’m so grateful for the recognition but even more grateful to have stood alongside such strength and inspiration. [White heart emoji]

“To everyone that voted … I am absolutely blown away. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

At the time of the ITV ceremony broadcast, Fans slammed the ceremony as they thought that ‘more worthy’ nominees should have gotten the gong.

Taking to X, one fan fumed: “Molly Mae winning an NTA over Rob Burrow or Amy Dowden is everything that is wrong with the world.”

A second stated: “If you want to know the state of tv these days… Molly Mae documentary beat Rob Burrow documentary. What wild times we live in.”

“All those wonderfully powerful documentaries and Molly Mae won!?” wrote a third.

While a fourth added: “Molly Mae winning an NTA over Rob Burrow really reminds me how much I hate society today. And the mid-speech dedication felt false and completely inappropriate. His family’s face said it all.”

Molly-Mae: Behind It All Series 2 (Episodes 1–3) launches exclusively on Prime Video on 18th October. Episodes 4-6 episodes will follow in early 2026. 

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As many as 100,000 people in Berlin rallied in support of Palestinians in what was Germany’s largest Gaza protest to date. The demonstration, dubbed ‘All Eyes on Gaza’, demanded an end to German support for Israel. Police were filmed violently arresting participants.

When the 49th Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris called, Scott Evans, the host of the YouTube interview show “House Guest,” answered in disbelief.

“I was literally gobsmacked,” Evans tells The Times. “I wanted to make sure she felt the love and that we were ready to discuss anything she wanted.”

In its short-lived history, the Webby Award-winning, self-funded show has welcomed comedian Leslie Jones, Oscar winner Regina King and actor Keke Palmer. On Thursday, Evans entertained a guest with secret service stature.

During her visit, Harris discusses her book “107 Days,” which entails her experience as a presidential candidate during the 2024 election. She revealed to Evans he was the first person she discussed the book with outside of her team.

The housewarming vibes set the tone for a conversation that allowed Harris to speak with comfort and embrace emojis, a delicacy she had been without during her time in the White House.

Harris and Evans talking on “House Guest.”

(Ryan Handford)

As they discussed her book, Evans and Harris shared a cheese and anchovies pizza. The host made the choice to commemorate the day she found out President Joe Biden was going to drop out of the race for the house on Pennsylvania Avenue.

“The first day you found out that Joe Biden was not going to be running for reelection and that you got the go-ahead,” Evans said, “cheese pizza with anchovies is where you went.”

Harris reveals she found out Biden was going to drop out of the presidential race while playing with her niece’s daughters. She was in her sweatpants, with her hair in a ponytail, when the unexpected call went through.

“This is really happening and the only people staffing me are both under 4 feet tall,” Harris said. “My little baby nieces … firsthand witnesses to history.”

She recalls her team coming together immediately and turning her dining table from a breakfast setting to business. Work for her campaign began and as the day elongated and dinner time passed, they ordered pizza, including one with cheese and anchovies.

In her book, Harris calls the day she certified the election one of the hardest things she’s ever had to do. As vice president and president of the senate, it was her responsibility to confirm the election on Jan. 6, a date in infamy after the insurrection that took place on the same date in 2021. Evans asked her if there was ever a moment in which she didn’t want to take the high road.

“It was nonnegotiable in my mind that I would stand there and give it the process, the dignity that it deserves of showing what leadership should be about, which is a peaceful transfer of power,” Harris said.

“I was not going to let them, in any way, compromise every reason that I ran for president, which is that I do believe in the importance of the rule of law,” she added.

After conceding the election, Harris tells Evans she grieved and experienced emotions that resembled those she felt when her mother died.

“I choose not to allow circumstances or individuals disempower my spirit,” she added as an emotional Evans added: “If you can say that, if you can really believe that, then there are so many others of us who can feel confident in that as well.”

Ryanair has announced that it will be banning the use of paper boarding passes from November 3, with digital boarding passes replacing the paper version

Ryanair has changed the date that it will introduce a significant change that will impact all passengers.

The airline has decided to ban the use of paper boarding passes, which will no longer be accepted at the gate. Instead, digital boarding passes will become mandatory for all.

All travellers flying to or from any destination with Ryanair must download their boarding pass via the Ryanair app. These digital boarding passes will provide real-time updates to “minimise” disruption, store travel documents for “simple” check-in and offer access to features like Travel Assistant, live flight updates and Order To Seat.

Today, the budget airline announced that it “will move to 100% digital boarding passes from Wednesday, November 12, instead of Monday, November 3, ensuring a seamless transition for customers in the less busy travel period after the mid-term break.”

Are you concerned about the new policy? Comment below or email [email protected]

READ MORE: ‘I tried the strict new EU border system for Brits – one thing jumped out’READ MORE: Ryanair hand luggage rules explained as passenger hit with charge for water bottle

Ireland’s mid-term break, like the UK’s half-term, takes place at the beginning of October this year.

Earlier this year, Michael O’Leary, the airline’s chief executive, announced his plans to eliminate almost all airport check-in desks, stating it would “create a smoother, easier journey for everybody”. Back in July, the airline estimated that roughly 25% of Ryanair passengers still rely on printed boarding passes.

However, not all countries are ready to accept digital boarding passes. According to Ryanair’s website, airports in Morocco and Turkey (except Dalaman), and Tirana airport in Albania do not yet accept mobile passes. If you’re travelling from or through these airports, you should download your boarding pass from your email confirmation or from the app, print it out and keep it handy.

Speaking to The Independent’s daily travel podcast, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said: “Between 85 and 90% of passengers show up with smartphones. Almost 100% of passengers have smartphones, and we want to move everybody onto that the smartphone technology. The big concern that people have is: “What happens if I lose my battery or whatever I lose my phone?”

He added: “If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you’ve checked in before you got to the airport, we’ll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge. But you have to have checked in before you got to the airport.

“Also, if your battery dies or something happens, once you’ve checked in, we’ll have your sequence number anyway at the boarding gate, we’ll take you you’ll get on. So nobody should worry about it. Just make sure you check in online before you get to the airport and then all will be fine.”

The airline claims that utilising the myRyanair app improves passengers’ journey as they gain access to various useful in-app tools and services.

JAMES DeGALE will make his bare-knuckle fighting debut on Saturday night.

The former boxing world champion and Olympic gold medalist returns to combat sports against Australian Matt Floyd in Manchester.

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DeGale has been out of action since he retired from boxing in 2019 following defeat to Chris Eubank Jr.

The Londoner, who became the first British boxer to win both an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title, will be looking to get back to fighting for silverware.

DeGale tops a huge Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship card with the highly anticipated bout between reality TV stars Aaron Chalmers and Jack Fincham also on the bill.

SunSport brings you all the details you need ahead of Saturday’s huge BKFC 81 event.

When is James DeGale vs Matt Floyd?

• DeGale vs Floyd will take place on Saturday, September 27.
• The show will begin at 6pm BST.
• The main event will likely begin at approximately 10.30pm BST.
• Manchester’s AO Arena will host.

What TV channel is James DeGale vs Matt Floyd on and can it be live streamed?

• DeGale vs Floyd will be broadcast live on DAZN, which is available in over 200 countries with a subscription.
• If you are not currently a DAZN member, monthly and annual subscriptions are available.
• An Annual Super Saver subscription is a one-off payment of £119.99 for 12 months access (£14.99 per month if paying in monthly instalments). 
• And a Monthly Flexible pass, which can be cancelled at any time, is £24.99 per month.
• Alternatively, you can follow the action as it happens via SunSport‘s LIVE blog.

Who else is on the BKFC 81 card?

• James DeGale vs Matt Floyd; Light heavyweight
• Aaron Chalmers vs Jack Fincham; Light heavyweight
• Jonny Graham vs Navid Mansouri; Lightweight
• Jack Cullen vs Stanislav Grosu; Middleweight
• Jonno Chipchase vs Lewis Garside; Featherweight
• Dec Spelman vs Dawid Chylinski; Light heavyweight
• David Oskar vs Travis Dickinson; Cruiserweight
• Bartlomiej Krol vs Jon Telfer; Lightweight
• Joe Lister vs Sean Weir; Light heavyweight
• Keiron Sewell vs Patryk Pietrasik; Bantamweight
• Andy Thornton vs Matty Hil; Heavyweight
• Gaz Corran vs Danny Moir; Middleweight
• Benjamin Lowe vs Mikey Henderson; Middleweight

HOUSEHOLDS need to take and submit meter readings ahead of bills rising for millions this autumn.

Regulator Ofgem confirmed last month that prices will increase by 2% to £1,755 a year from October 1.

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Prices will rise by £35.14 per year for households, having reduced at the beginning of July when the price cap went down. 

This will affect 22million households who are on the standard variable tariffs.

Those who don’t take their electricity and gas bill readings as close to October 1 as possible, and are on a standard variable tariff as opposed to a fixed deal, could be faced with higher bills.

Some providers will even give you an extra fortnight to submit your reading, but double-check what applies at yours.

The October rise is 1% higher than industry experts anticipated. 

Those on fixed tariffs will not see their bills change from October. 

The energy price cap was first introduced in January 2019 and sets a maximum unit price that energy suppliers can charge households. 

Despite the price cap increasing in October, experts estimate that it will be reduced at the next three-month change in January. 

This will depend on geopolitical movements, weather patterns, and any changes in government policy. 

Experts also warned that any reduction in prices would be minimal for the foreseeable future. 

How to take a reading

The easiest way to take a reading is by taking a photo of your gas and electricity meters.

This means you have evidence in case you need to dispute.

You can send in your meter reading online via your energy account.

Some providers will also let you send in the numbers by text or through their app.

If you have a electricity meter then you will see a row of six numbers.

Five of them will be black and one in red.

Write down the five numbers in black, which are shown from left to right.

If you have a traditional dial meter then you need to read the first five dials from left to right.

If the pointer is between the two numbers then write down the lowest figure.

If it is between nine and zero then write down the number nine.

For gas meters you need to write down the first five numbers that are shown before the decimal point.

Digital imperial meters are four black numbers and two red numbers.

And for smart meters then you do not need to send your supplier a meter reading, it will be sent automatically.

Help available

If you struggle with your energy bills there are several ways that you can get help. 

The Winter Fuel Payment offers £300 to pensioners to help cover the cost of heating during the winter months. 

Struggling families can also get access to money for their energy bills through the Household Support Fund (HSF). 

Each council was allocated a slice of the £742million fund earmarked for extra support.

Additionally, millions will receive the Warm Home Discount, which is worth £150. 

This discount is means-tested and given to households on a low income or claiming benefits such as Universal Credit. 

British Gas also announced a £140million support package to help customers facing financial hardship. 

What energy bill help is available?

There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.

If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.

This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.

If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.

Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.

But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.

British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.

You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.

Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).

The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.

Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.

Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.

A third of the People’s Assembly of Syria seats will be appointed directly by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Syria will elect a new People’s Assembly on October 5, the first parliament to be chosen since the fall of Bashar al-Assad late last year.

The vote for members of the parliament will take place “across all electoral districts”, the state-run SANA news agency reported on Sunday.

The announcement comes as the new government seeks to rebuild state institutions and gain legitimacy amid regional and international efforts to stabilise the war-battered country.

A third of the assembly’s 210 seats will be appointed directly by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The rest will be chosen by local committees supervised by the electoral commission. The chamber will be tasked with approving legislation aimed at overhauling decades of state-controlled economic policies and ratifying treaties that could reshape Syria’s foreign policy.

The new parliament is also expected to “lay the groundwork for a broader democratic process” following al-Assad’s removal in December after nearly 14 years of civil war, SANA said. Critics, however, warn that the current system does not adequately represent Syria’s marginalised communities.

Authorities had initially said the vote would take place in September. The electoral commission previously indicated that polling in the provinces of Suwayda, Hasakah and Raqqa would be delayed because of security concerns.

Suwayda witnessed clashes in July between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes, while Hasakah and Raqqa remain partly under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

In March, al-Sharaa’s administration issued a constitutional declaration to guide the interim period until the election.

The document preserves a central role for Islamic law as well as guarantees women’s rights and freedom of expression. Opponents have expressed concern that the framework consolidates too much power in the hands of Syria’s leadership.

Al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander whose Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group played a key role in al-Assad’s fall, has also turned to regional diplomacy to bolster his government and Syria’s security.

He told local media that security talks with Israel are a “necessity”, stressing that any agreement must respect Syria’s territorial integrity and end Israeli violations of its airspace.

Netflix have released an exclusive clip of Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt in The Witcher season 4, which is coming sooner than you think.

During the highly-anticipated Canelo vs Crawford boxing match on Saturday night, Netflix released a brand new exclusive clip from season 4 of their hit show, The Witcher.

Fans had the chance to catch never-before-seen footage of Liam Hemsworth as the new Geralt of Rivia in a chilling new clip.

Moreover, Netflix also revealed the release date for season 4, announcing it will launch on October 30, 2025.

Via a pre-recorded message for those watching the fight, the famous Hunger Games actor said: “Hey everyone, Liam Hemsworth here. I am excited to announce that Season 4 of The Witcher will be streaming on Netflix, October 30th. Here is a quick clip of me in action as Geralt of Rivia.”

A chilling clip then played of Hemsworth as Geralt, channelling the same intensity and quiet strength that former Superman star Henry Cavill famously brought to the role.

Cavill played the character in the first three seasons of the Netflix series, but has been replaced by Hemsworth this coming season, reportedly leaving the series due to creative differences.

The official Netflix synopsis for The Witcher season 4 reads: “After the Continent-altering events of Season Three, Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri find themselves separated by a raging war and countless enemies.

“As their paths diverge, and their goals sharpen, they stumble on unexpected allies eager to join their journeys. And if they can accept these found families, they just might have a chance at reuniting for good…”

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Get the deal here

Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.

This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.

The Witcher season 4, which comprises eight 50-minute episodes, has been created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, who also serves as Showrunner and Executive Producer.

Alongside Hemsworth, the cast includes Sherwood’s Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes star Freya Allan as Princess Cirilla of Cintra, Whitechapel’s Joey Batey as Jaskier and The Matrix legend Laurence Fishburne as Regis.

Also joining the star-studded line-up are Hollyoaks actress Anna Shaffer, Doctor who’s Mimi M Khayisa, Bridgerton star Cassie Clare, Neighbours’ Mahesh Jadu, Meng’er Zhang from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Outlander icon Graham McTavish.

The Witcher season 4 is coming to Netflix on October 30, 2025.

As many as 16 million households are in danger of Freeview being taken off the air as the Labour government appeared unsure about securing its future

Millions of households across the country could lose a major television service as MPs warned of a potential blackout. Currently, 16 million Brits use Freeview and the network is seen as a lifeline for those who cannot afford subscription-based TV services.

However, its future has been thrown into doubt as the Government did not appear to commit to securing its future beyond 2034, when the digital terrestrial TV (DTT) licence is due to be renewed. There are fears ministers could scrap Freeview or make it available only via the internet, not standard TV aerials.

Stephanie Peacock, the media and culture minister, acknowledged the spiralling cost of running Freeview to public service broadcasters (PSBs) and households, while claiming fewer people are actually using it. She said the Government will work alongside broadcasters and other organisations.

She said: “We also know this is not an easy decision. The choices ahead are complex and must be guided by evidence, and that is why we are taking the time to get them right, drawing on data, research and the views of people across the sector and across the country.”

Freeview was launched on October 30, 2002 following the catastrophic collapse of ITV Digital almost two weeks earlier. The joint venture between the BBC and Arqiva (formerly Crown Castle) is home to the UK’s beloved networks such as BBC One and ITV1, as well as other digital channels like BBC Three, ITV2 and E4.

Since its inception, it has proven a worthy rival to the likes of Sky Digital and Virgin Media TV, but it faced greater challenges in recent years thanks to streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+. Such topics took centre stage in a heated debate at the House of Commons last week when MPs made an impassioned plea to save Freeview.

Parliamentarians also took issue with the lack of commitment from the Government to renew the DTT licence. Conservative MP David Mundell said: “Freeview is a universal service reaching 98.5 per cent of the UK population, including those in remote and rural areas.

“It is available at no additional cost over and above the licence fee. This is a crucial point: people do not need to pay any additional monthly bills to watch terrestrial TV; all they need is a TV set and an aerial.

“The options for watching TV have broadened in the last few years, with the arrival of TV streaming over the internet. Many of us enjoy those services, but the fact is that to do so, someone needs a high-speed fixed broadband subscription of sufficient speed and reliability, and not everyone has that.”

He added: “Millions of people are relying exclusively on mobile for access to the internet. Indeed, data from Citizens Advice suggested that, in 2022 alone, up to 1 million people cancelled their broadband subscription because of the high cost of living reports.

“Despite being a widely used and, in my view, essential service, it [Freeview] is currently under threat of being switched off within a decade. The licences that support terrestrial TV expire in 2034, and the Government have so far not provided a long-term commitment. Yet there is no need to consider switching off terrestrial TV in the mid-2030s, be that for political, technological or financial reasons.”

Labour’s Richard Quigley claimed that Freeview has helped many elderly viewers combat loneliness and warned axing it would add to the cost of living crisis blighting the country, reports Plymouth Live.

He said: “Three quarters of people say that terrestrial TV has helped to reduce loneliness, and among those aged 65 and over the figure rises to 87%. Additionally, I worry that any decision to switch off terrestrial TV could further exacerbate the cost of living crisis and deepen existing inequalities in our communities.”

In response, Ms Peacock said: “The way we watch TV is changing rapidly. Over the past decade, we have seen significant shifts in how content is delivered and consumed. Increasing numbers of viewers are moving to internet-based platforms, both for on demand content and, increasingly, for live programming.

“DTT is guaranteed until at least 2034. Before making any decisions, we will carefully consider the challenges for public service broadcasters and, importantly, the impact on loyal daily viewers, especially those who rely on digital terrestrial services.

“The cost of DTT to the PSBs is substantial. As fewer people rely on DTT, the cost per house is going up and will continue to do so. I am aware from my visits and meetings with providers that as part of the network reaches the end of life, investment would be needed to carry on even the current services.”

The Mirror has contacted Freeview for comment.

ANTHONY JOSHUA looks ready to fight right now as he showed off his shadow boxing and hulking physique.

The two-time heavyweight world champion has been out since September 2024 when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois.

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But he posted a video online – showing off his incredible shape – shadow boxing outside.

Elbow surgery in May also kept Joshua sidelined – meanwhile shock talks to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul progressed behind the scenes.

Paul has since announced a November 14 exhibition bout against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis – who is FIVE STONE lighter.

AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn is still in talks with Paul’s promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian over a fight in 2026.

He told iFL TV: “They want to move forward with the Joshua fight around March 2026.

“But I said to him, ‘If you get chinned by Gervonta Davis, I can’t possibly make the fight with AJ.’

“Gervonta’s a 135lber. Obviously, they don’t think that’s going to happen but I don’t know too much about it.

“It’s an exhibition with bigger gloves? I don’t know. But they definitely want to go from Gervonta Davis to AJ.

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“The issue is, I don’t think we can wait till November to see how he gets on against Gevonta Davis.

“AJ is back in training with the view to fight in early 2026 so it’s very likely we’ll do our own thing. But we’ll see. We’re still talking.

“We do realise it’s a massive event. If he was to go in there and bash up Gervonta Davis, it wouldn’t be nothing much to boast about.

“It’s a cruiserweight vs a lightweight but at least he’s in there with a pound-for-pound fighter.”

Joshua, 35, is now set to return in January or February in a warm-up bout before turning his attention again to Tyson Fury, 37.

Fury retired in January following two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, last year but has teased a comeback in 2026.

Paul, 28, meanwhile made a heavyweight fight in November when Mike Tyson controversially made a comeback aged 58.

And over 100 MILLION watched Tyson lose his first professional fight in 20 years over eight shorter rounds of two minutes.

Paul then followed it up by beating ex-middleweight world champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, in June to earn himself a No14 WBA cruiserweight ranking.

But his next fight against Davis is not set to count towards his official record with the exhibition unable to be professionally sanctioned.

Paul fights in the 14st 4lb cruiserweight limit of 200lb while Davis is a champ in the 9st 9lb lightweight division of 135lb.

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Last fall, indie pop auteur Tei Shi immersed herself in the British Columbia backwoods during a creative retreat — an experience that helped her reclaim artistic control over her decade-long career.

Out Friday, the Canadian Colombian singer shares her most intimate album to date, “Make believe I make believe,” a 10-track record she’s self-releasing through Tei Shi LLC and the Orchard.

“Being back home, reconnecting with family and old friends, and working without any outside voices or pressure — no label, manager, or restrictions — allowed me to fully dive into my mind and emotions,” says Tei Shi in a statement.

The 35-year-old singer-songwriter attended the weeklong retreat in Vancouver Island, Canada, with longtime collaborators Noah Beresin (co-creator of the alternative hip-hop project Chiddy Bang) and Tommy English (the record producer behind many of Børns’ hits).

“The result is a really versatile collection that captures a wide range of feelings and touches on sonics from Canadiana to neo-perreo,” she adds.

Since emerging in the music scene with her breakthrough 2013 debut EP, “Saudade,” and follow-up 2015 EP, “Verde,” Tei Shi — whose real name is Valerie Teicher Barbosa — remains untethered to a genre, ebbing and flowing between dream-pop, indie folk and shoegaze.

Her new, fourth studio album expands on the 2024 LP, “Valerie,” her first independent project, which was released after departing her previous label, Downtown Records (then under Geffen), which left her feeling creatively wounded. With new control of her artistic vision, unfettered by the demands of the mainstream music industry, the move has allowed Tei Shi to release songs in both English and Spanish.

This time around, the artist leans into her multicultural identity, experimenting whimsically with what she has lovingly dubbed Canadianatón — a sonic palette inspired by her upbringing in Vancouver’s mountainous terrain and the melancholic Latin ballads she was raised with.

She digs further into the gritty neo-perreo sound with tantalizing tracks like “222,” featuring Loyal Lobos, and the sticky, synth-laden melody of “Don’t Cry.” In contrast, Tei Shi’s feathery vocals float lightly over a sensual bolero beat in “Aphrodite.”

In the album’s focus track, “Montón,” an upbeat reggaeton track, the artist surrenders herself to the natural motions of love and lust.

“‘Montón’ is a song about falling for someone, crushing hard and giving into it,” says Tei Shi. “I picture it as a late night with your bb, up all night just the two of you in your room, dancing together and tuning out the world.”

It also wouldn’t be a complete Tei Shi album without the thoughtful layering of ethereal beats, most evident in the advance single “Best Be Leaving,” which echoes the essence of legendary dream-pop band Cocteau Twins.

The “Bassically” singer also dropped details on her upcoming U.S. headline tour, which kicks off Sept. 26 in Los Angeles’ Lodge Room. Tei Shi will make a stop in 11 other North American cities, including stops in Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Toronto and more.

For full dates and ticket info, visit https://teishi.world/.

Sparks continued to fly between Kerry Katona and Paolo Margaglione during tonight’s Celebs Go Dating as she revealed her new boyfriends sweet gesture days after meeting

Despite joking, she had returned to Celebs Go Dating for free therapy, Kerry Katona seems to have come away with much more than that—meeting her now-boyfriend, Paolo Margaglione.

We’re on week three at the agency, and viewers are watching the couples love story unfold – and tonight, Kerry revealed exactly how she knew her boyfriend was the one.

During Wednesday night’s episode, Kerry told the agents she wanted to carry on dating Paolo, as she revealed that sparks had continued to fly off-camera after their date.

Spilling all to the agents and the fellow celebrities on the date at brunch, father of two Paolo said: “It was lovely. Kerry is a beautiful person. She’s got a great energy about her. As a person, she’s incredible.”

READ MORE: Donna Preston fumes ‘I’m out’ after Celebs Go Dating star’s vile commentsREAD MORE: Kerry Katona takes ‘savage swipe’ at exes days after meeting new boyfriend

Kerry couldn’t help but blush as she revealed that their relationship had been growing outside of the agency. “In fact, we’ve actually kept in touch,” she said, as Celebrity Big Brother star Donna Preston let out a huge gasp.

“We have actually spoken everyday and he actually sent me a care package,” which the celebs and agents cheering in delight, and Paul screaming, “what!” with a great big smile on his face.

Later catching up with Paul and Anna in the agency privately, Kerry continued to gush over her date, who is know her boyfriend. Continuing to gush, Kerry revealed she was ‘excited’ about what was to come in the future with the fitness instructor – who DM’d her on Instagram after their first date.

The pair then went on their second date, and the sparks continued to fly, with Kerry saying he was “saying all the right things.” Despite still being concerned about the 11 year age gap, Kerry told the cameras she didn’t want to date anyone else – and it looked like her wish continued.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the couple had moved in together, although Kerry was wary about going public with her new beau.

“Kerry is being very cautious with this romance,” a source told the Mirror. “She has been very wary about going public with Paolo and it impacting their relationship.

“She’s been down the route of high-profile, public relationships before and she doesn’t want anything to ruin things this time.”

The source added: “Kerry’s worries have caused some tense moments as she doesn’t want any exterior drama getting in the way.

“But Paolo isn’t overthinking it – he’s just really happy to be with her. He doesn’t see the problem and is telling her not to worry, they’re great together and should just enjoy what they’ve got.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

In the vast catalog of relationship science research, very little focuses on the second date — or at least beyond what it takes to land one.

There are ample studies about first dates and initial attraction, which are often conducted in speed dating-style experiments. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some researchers devote their entire careers to studying long-term relationship trajectories. But few delineations are made among the dates that make up the period between meet-cute and making it official.

Even under a pop-culture dating framework, which assigns some value to early dating milestones including the third date and the three-month mark, Date No. 2 falls to the wayside.

Yet the second date is psychologically significant, because it marks most daters’ first venture past “initial clearance,” said Bree Jenkins, a licensed marriage and family therapist and dating coach based in Los Angeles.

Instructions for a first date are clear: Introduce yourselves and decide whether you’re compatible. This “meet and greet,” as Jenkins called it, most often happens over coffee or drinks.

“The second date is different, because you have some level of psychological reassurance that the other person is interested,” Jenkins said. “So some of the anxiety comes down, and I think it’s a little bit easier for people to be more intentional about how they want to connect.”

The Times spoke with relationship scientists and dating coaches to determine what types of second-date activities might foster that early sense of connection, which ideally snowballs into successive dates.

Their insights distilled to the following criteria:

Keep it affordable

Money puts the pressure on, and the goal of a second date should be to take the pressure off.

Duana Welch, a dating and relationship coach and author of “Love Factually: 10 Proven Steps From I Wish to I Do,” said that when someone spends heavily on their date, “research shows that a lot of times, there’s a sexual expectation that’s implied or actually real.”

Such a dynamic can hinder daters’ ability to effectively gauge their compatibility, “so take that expectation away from it,” Welch said. “Do something that’s pretty simple and pretty low cost.”

In other words, don’t be stingy, she said, but focus on being generous with your time and compliments rather than with your money.

Get active, but don’t cut the conversation

General second-date advice suggests incorporating an activity as a divergence from the first date-style, sit-down conversation. Relationship scientists agreed but issued a caveat: Make sure you can still talk.

Paul Eastwick, a psychology professor at UC Davis specializing in the science of relationships, said that whereas in the past people might have interacted 10 or 20 times before they went on a first date, with the advent of online dating, “the archetype that people often have is, ‘I met you on the first date.’”

In that paradigm, a follow-up date is still ripe for introductory conversation, which can’t easily occur in many default second-date settings like a movie theater. Instead, Eastwick recommended a cooking class or immersive show — “something that permits interaction, but you’re also doing this third thing.”

Welch recommended a bike ride or museum stroll, as “people sometimes open up more where they don’t feel like they have to look right at each other.”

Lean into novelty

Lastly, the suggestion to try something new may seem like a cliché, but it’s also scientifically legitimate.

“Anytime that you have a novel experience, especially if it’s enjoyable, you’re going to release more dopamine,” Jenkins, the dating coach, said. “It gives people a way to connect and feel more positive emotion behind the connection.”

With all that in mind, here is a list of second-date ideas in L.A. that relationship experts can get behind.

CELEBS Go Dating fans were left unimpressed last night when new recruit Donna Preston’s date turned X-rated.

Comedian Donna, 39, joined the Celebs Go Dating agency in Tuesday night’s episode.

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She was thrown straight in at the deep end when she was blindfolded and sent on a date with Damian.

After he asked if she had pets, Donna replied: “I’ve got a cat.”

She then told Damian her pet is called Mr Big, to which he replied: “Mr Big? A nice, big pussy.”

But, rather than being turned off by his obvious innuendo, Donna quizzed Damian on his sex drive.

After claiming it’s “through the roof”, Damian admitted to having had “threesomes and a fivesome”.

Donna said: “A fivesome? Isn’t that a g*** b***? How was that?”

Damian replied: “It was good, I enjoyed it.”

But some viewers at home didn’t enjoy the exchange, with one writing on social media: “omg at Donna’s blind date tonight …. Their conversation was so risqué lol …. I was flabbergasted.”

And another said: “Donna & Damian are a bit much. Who has those chats on a first date?”

Ahead of her Celebs Go Dating debut, Donna spoke to The Sun about her previous relationships – confessing she once dated a murderer who is now in jail.

She said: “I’ve been in two long-term relationships and when I got out of that I went on a date and they ended up being a murderer.

“A real life murderer! He’s in jail though, so that’s nice.”

I Fought The Law is a new ITV drama based on the true story of Ann Ming’s long campaign to overturn the 800-year-old British double jeopardy law following the murder of her daughter

The upcoming ITV drama, I Fought The Law, tells the gripping story of Ann Ming’s relentless 17-year campaign to overturn Britain’s ancient double jeopardy law after her daughter’s murder.

Ann and her husband Charlie tirelessly fought to change the law that prohibited individuals from being tried twice for the same crime, following the tragic death of their daughter Julie in 1989.

Julie’s mutilated body was discovered by Ann hidden beneath the bath in her Billingham home, sparking her unwavering determination to bring the murderer to justice.

In 2006, Billy Dunlop was finally sentenced to life imprisonment for Julie’s murder. He had previously faced trial twice in 1991, but due to two juries failing to reach verdicts, he had been set free.

Here’s everything you need to know about the series, including its release date, cast, and number of episodes.

READ MORE: Sheridan Smith in tears as mum she plays in ITV drama makes emotional on-air confessionREAD MORE: ITV star Daniel York Loh devastated after finding brother dead from heroin overdose

When does I Fought The Law premiere?

I Fought The Law is set to air on ITV on Sunday, 31 August at 9pm.

Each episode will run for an hour, ending at 10pm, and will also be available for viewing on ITVX.

The episodes will be broadcast on Sundays and Mondays.

How many episodes does I Fought The Law have?

The series consists of four episodes, which will air on the following dates:.

Episode 1 – 31 August.

Episode 2 – 1 September.

Episode 3 – 7 September.

Episode 4 – 8 September.

The first episode’s synopsis reads: “In 1989, Ann Ming is distraught when her 22-year-old daughter Julie Hogg goes missing, but the police shrug off her concerns, suggesting that she must have fled to London to reunite with her estranged husband.

“Knowing in her heart that Julie would never leave her brother Kevin behind, Ann uncovers a mother’s worst nightmare.”

Who is in the cast of I Fought The Law?

Sheridan Smith stars as Ann Ming, and she is a 44 year old English actress and singer known for her roles in The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

Daniel York Loh plays Charlie Ming, with the actor having previously starred in Jade Dragon and Strangers.

Victoria Wyant stars as Julie Hogg, and the up-and-coming actress has previously starred in Foundation.

Enzo Cilenti plays DS Mark Braithwaite and he is known for his roles in The Last Tycoon, Domina and The Serpent Queen.

Other stars include Marlowe Chan-Reeves, Olivia Ng, Jake Davies, Kent Riley, Jack James Ryan, Andrew Lancel, Rufus Jones, Aimée Kelly, Bryony Corrigan and Buddy Wignall-Ho.

I Fought The Law is coming to ITV on August 31

DARREN TILL goes head-to-head with ex-UFC champion Luke Rockhold in a colossal fight for the MFB Bridgerweight title THIS WEEKEND.

Manchester’s AO Arena hosts the high-stakes bout with professional MMA fighter Till taking on former UFC Middleweight champion Rockhold.

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Till boasted a UFC record of 18-5-1 and has since transferred his skill to the Misfits ring.

The Liverpool born fighter, 32, has won his first two fights since making his Misfits boxing debut, convincingly defeating Anthony Taylor by TKO and Darren Stewart by unaminous decision.

“The Gorilla” will be eager to continue his form with a win over Rockhold and is favourite for the bout.

American retired MMA star Rockhold makes his much anticipated boxing debut on August 30.

The 40-year-old star is most remembered for becoming the seventh UFC Middleweight champion in UFC history just over a decade ago.

It will be a tough challenge for Rockhold as he makes the transition into boxing, but he will be hoping for a strong underdog victory against the in-form Till.

When is Till vs Rockhold?

• Till vs Rockhold will take place on Saturday, August 30.
• Streaming for the event begins at 7pm BST.
• The ring-walks for the main event will be approximately at 10pm BST.
• The bout will take place in Manchester at the AO Arena.

What TV channel is Till vs Rockhold on and can it be live streamed?

• Till vs Rockhold will be broadcast live on DAZN.
• The whole fight card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe via a DAZN subscription.
• If you are not currently a DAZN member, then monthly and annual subscription options are available to watch over 185 fights a year across boxing, bare knuckle boxing, MMA and kickboxing.
• An Annual Super Saver subscription is a one-off payment of £119.99 / $224.99 for 12-months access (£14.99 / $19.99 per month if paying in monthly instalments).
• A Monthly Flexible pass, which can be cancelled at any time, is £24.99 / $29.99 per month.
• Alternatively, SunSport’s live blog will bring you round-by-round updates from the huge card.

Who else is on the card?

Here are all the bouts taking place in Manchester:

Subject to change

• Darren Till vs Luke Rockhold; Bridgerweight
• Tony Ferguson vs Salt Papi; Middleweight
• Dillon Danis vs Warren Spencer; Light heavyweight
• Joey Essex vs Numeiro; Middleweight
• Ty Mitchell vs Sean Hemphill; Super middleweight