Archive October 2, 2025

Cutting races short will stop protesters – cycling union boss

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty
Matt Warwick

Senior journalist for BBC Sport

The professional cyclists’ union’s president claims that slicing down major road races like the Tour de France will help to deter protesters.

After La Vuelta a Espana’s final stage was significantly canceled last month, CPA president Adam Hansen made the call.

According to Hansen, “Protesters should have the platform taken from them; if they don’t, they won’t enter a race.”

Following pro-Palestinian protests that led to scuffles with riders and the course being blocked in a number of locations, the Vuelta’s final stage, around Madrid, was postponed.

During the three-week Grand Tour, there were numerous protests and disruptions that primarily targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team’s participation.

According to Hansen, a former rider and Grand Tour stage winner, “We saw that protesters had two hours of live TV in Madrid,” which turned into protests rather than races.

Although I’m not opposed to protesting, it’s the last thing we want riders to be in danger because some riders were hit and pushed off their bikes [in Madrid], so this is not protesting. It crosses that line.

Bike races cost a lot of money, and organizers rely on host towns and cities to cover the cost of services like policing rolling roadblocks and protecting the public. However, Hansen thinks that limiting short races won’t deter protesters.

The protesters wouldn’t have had a platform if La Vuelta had been canceled on a Friday and the last three days had not been broadcast on TV. We demonstrated there was a platform by trying each day, Hansen said.

Because we turned off the TV, cancelling would have shown them that there was no point in attending bike races. Yes, doing something like that for [Vuelta organisers] Unipublic is a huge deal. However, today’s sacrifice must be minor for cycling’s long-term viability.

Tom Pidcock, who finished third overall, worried about my friends who ride for the Israel [Premier Tech] team, according to Britain’s Tom Pidcock.

They are riding because they have the chance to compete on bikes all over the world, not to support Israel.

Since then, Israel-Premier Tech has been denied an invitation to the second-tier Giro dell’Emilia race in Italy on Saturday.

The title sponsor of the Canadian-Israeli team, Premier Tech, has stated that it anticipates that Israel will be renamed after the following year.

In response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the hostage of 251, the Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza.

Mads Pedersen during La Vuelta Images courtesy of Getty

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Deadly Manchester synagogue attack: What we know about victims and attacker

By in News, World News

According to British police, a car was driven into pedestrians and a man was stabbed close to a synagogue in Manchester, northwest England, on Thursday, killing two people and injuring three others.

In response to the attack, which occurred on Yom Kippur, the most holy day of the Jewish calendar, police were dispatched to synagogues across the nation, according to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

What transpired?

Witnesses reported seeing a car being rammed into people walking in Crumpsall, a Manchester suburb, near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. A man was also reportedly stabbed, according to them.

A member of the public called Greater Manchester Police at 9:31 am (08:31 GMT) to the incident site.

At 9:37 a.m., GMP declared a significant incident. Greater Manchester Police firearms officers fired shots at 9:38 a.m., according to the police.

At 9:41 a.m. (08:41 GMT), paramedics arrived at the scene and treated the public.

The North West Ambulance Service of the National Health Service (NHS) announced in a statement that its personnel had treated patients at the scene and that seriously ill people had been taken to the hospital.

The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday of atonement, when many people who don’t frequent synagogues go to synagogues to pray and fast.

Police and other emergency personnel are seen escorting the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. [Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]

Where in Manchester was the attack, exactly?

The Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, which is located in Crumpsall, north of Manchester, was the site of the attack.

According to Manchester City Council, there are about 18 000 residents living in Crumpsall. The suburb’s transportation system and bus lines travel 3 miles (5 kilometers) to the city center.

Since 1935, there has been a Jewish congregation in Crumpsall. 1967 saw the completion of the large Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue.

What are the victims’ details known to us?

Three people have been seriously hurt in the attack, according to the police, and two have already died. Their identities have not been made public.

A member of the public is helped from the scene of a stabbing incident at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, in Crumpsall, Manchester, England, Thursday Oct. 2, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
[Peter Byrne/PA via AP] Helping an elderly woman flees the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue stabbing incident.

What are the attacker’s details known to us?

The attacker was shot, but police did not reveal who he was.

The Greater Manchester Police posted the phrase “one man has been shot, believed to be the offender.”

The attacker is reportedly dead, according to the police. In an X-post, it stated that “it cannot currently be confirmed due to safety concerns surrounding] his person having suspicious items.”

What has been the government’s response?

Starmer left a meeting with Danish presidents of the European Union early to deal with the incident.

According to Starmer, “we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe,” adding that additional police forces are already being deployed to synagogues across the nation.

Starmer added, “This is all the more horrific because it took place on Yom Kippur, the most holy day in the Jewish calendar,” in an X post.

In an X-post, Starmer’s Labour Party member of the British parliament wrote: “I’m horrified to learn about this incident at a synagogue I’ve been proud to visit. Everyone affected shares my thoughts with me.

Armed police officers stand with their weapons inside a Police cordon near Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, on October 2, 2025, following an incident at the synagogue.
Near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, armed police officers posing with their weapons [AFP]

What’s happening right now in the field?

The Greater Manchester Police have urged residents to avoid the area while the officers deal with the situation.

They added that many of the people who had come together to worship in the synagogue were initially confined for safety, but have since been displaced.

Following the attack, the police claimed they had “declared PLATO.” The British police refer to an incident that is being investigated as a Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA), in which assailants move swiftly through a location, trying to kill or hurt as many people as possible. This does not imply that the incident has been labeled a terrorist attack.

For people to inquire about their loved ones and friends who might have been present at the scene, the police have opened a public portal and a casualty bureau. Additionally, the portal asks those who were injured and are now safe to report it online.

Has the UK experienced any other hate crimes?

Yes . Recently, there have been more instances of anti-Semitism in the UK.

The UK-based Community Security Trust (CST), which promotes the welfare of British Jews, reported 3, 528 anti-Semitism in 2024, which is the second-highest level of anti-Semitism ever to be reported by CST in a single calendar year. In 19% of the cases, synagogues were the subject of damage.

The highest number was recorded in 2023, which included 4 296 incidents.

Gillian Anderson leads cast of epic Netflix Western perfect for Yellowstone fans

By in Entertainment News, News

Following a brutal conflict between two families, the upcoming drama follows.

Gillian Anderson is returning to screens in a new Western show that might be perfect for Yellowstone fans. Netflix has just dropped first look images for The Abandons, a period drama set to premiere on December 4.

The star-studded series follows two opposing families who are connected by “awful” circumstances. The series follows the matriarchs of two very different families, one of wealth and privilege and the other of an abandoned family of orphans and outcasts, bound by love and necessity, in Washington Territory in 1854.

A star-crossed love, a silvery land underneath, two crimes, an abominable secret, and a pair of families find their fates intertwined. The collision is a rehash of the struggle of the haves and have-nots in a society where justice is hardly possible.

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On Wednesday (October 1), the streaming giant took to social media to share exclusive images of the cast wearing Western clothing.

The series of photos is led by actress Lena Headey, with Anderson largely a distant second.

Fans of the Emmy-winning drama will recognize Heady as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. She portrays the feuding matriarchs of the new show in her opposite role.

Fans were quick to express excitement following the teaser images. Taking to Netflix’s Instagram comments section, one raved: “FINALLY!!!!”

I’m going to lose my head, a second viewer said. While a third wrote, “December 4 can’t be here soon enough,” Gillian appears to be so cool.

Another person compared the upcoming season to another enormous drama. They remarked, “It’s] like Game of Thrones, but set in the wild West!”

Kurt Sutter, author of Sons of Anarchy, wrote The Abandons. Otto Bathurst, the director of Peaky Blinders, and Stephen Surjik, the director of The Umbrella Academy, work together.

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Love, Simon actor Nick Robinson, Booksmart star Diana Silvers, and Lucas Till, an X-Men: First Class alum, complete the group.

Lamar Johnson, a star of The Hate U Give, and Aisling Franciosi, a best-known Irish actress, make up the cast, along with other cast members.

Busted’s Charlie Simpson cancels string of gigs amid James Bourne’s mystery health battle

By in Entertainment News, News

Fans are concerned after James Bourne’s health battle causes Busted’s Charlie Simpson to cancel DJ sets

Busted star Charlie Simpson has sparked concern among fans after cancelling a series of gigs following bandmate James Bourne’s mystery health battle.

A few days ago, Charlie and the rest of Busted told a crowd that James insisted they keep playing shows. “Mr James Bourne is really f*****g sick and we love him so much and we miss him”, Charlie said.

Matt Willis added: “We love him, we talked to him and we said, mate, do we pull out of this? What do we do? He said no – I want you to keep playing the shows.”

But now, Charlie has sparked concern by cancelling his DJ sets. In emails sent to those who tried to buy tickets, he said: “Thank you so much for buy tickets to Charlie Simpson’s DJ set at Gorilla Manchester.

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” Unfortunately due to the ongoing health issues of James and the strain that it is putting on Charlie and the rest of the band, he has had to make the difficult decision to cancel all upcoming DJ sets. “

It added that all tickets would be refunded in 3-5 working days. Fans flocked to social media to share their worries. One wrote:” This feels really concerning. Hoping hard that James gets good health as soon as possible. “

A second said:” It could just be that cos of the extra work that Matt and Charlie are picking up on the tour – it might not seem a lot to sing a few extra lines, but doing that every night along with anything else James might’ve done behind the scenes will take its toll. “Another said they hoped it wasn’t” bad news”.

A few weeks ago, James explained his absence from the show in a statement. As excited as I’ve been all year about the start of the VS tour, it kicks off tomorrow night in Birmingham.

“I’m so sorry to say that it has become clear that I am not in good enough health to play these shows,” I regret to say. He continued that there was a lot of information about his health state and didn’t specify what it was.

My bandmates, management, and I are all in agreement that I should concentrate on medical matters for the time being because there is a lot of information I still don’t have about my condition. I sincerely hope to be able to make a comeback in the future.”

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Irish singer CMAT reschedules UK tour after infected wisdom tooth requires surgery

By in Entertainment News, News

CMAT, an infected wisdom tooth, caused an infected wisdom tooth to make her upcoming UK tour impossible to ignore. She woke up with a “throbbing” jaw pain.

Irish singer CMAT has been forced to postpone her sold-out UK tour due to an emergency dental issue. The musician, whose real name is Ciara Mary‐Alice Thompson, was set to kick off the shows in October following the release of her highly praised third album, Euro‐Country.

In a statement on Instagram on Wednesday night, the Dublin‐born artist explained she couldn’t perform because of a painful, infected wisdom tooth. “I am devastated to say that due to an infected wisdom tooth, I need to reschedule all of my upcoming dates of the October UK tour,” she penned.

According to CMAT, she had a “throbbing” pain in her jaw when she woke up, which required an emergency trip to the dentist. She will need about two weeks of recovery time since her surgery is scheduled for the following week.

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She shared a picture of her swollen cheek, saying, “I can’t even open my mouth wide enough to laugh, let alone sing.”

I’ll also be unable to chew any food for the foreseeable, so if anyone has any suggestions for ice cream and/or soup, please let me know. “!.

Fans were made to feel sorry for the singer for postponing the upcoming dates. All tickets will be honored for the new dates, and those who can’t make it are encouraged to contact their ticket seller for a refund.

The tour was meant to include performances in London, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, and Glasgow over the next week. She concluded: “We are working to reschedule dates and will provide information on this as soon as possible.”

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Her Euro-Country album debuted at number two in the UK and topped the Irish album charts during a historic year for the artist. She won widespread praise for her performance on Glastonbury’s main stage in June, and the concert was attended by thousands.

Following the performance, CMAT confessed to BBC Radio 6 Music: “It’s worth noting that the two days beforehand, I was acting like someone who was about to go into war.” She added: “I was shaking with the fear. I couldn’t talk to anyone, I didn’t sleep, like I was ill.”

In 2022, CMAT released her debut album If My Wife New I’d Be Dead, and in 2023, she followed it up with Crazymad, For Me, both of which won the Mercury Prize.

The singer’s single Euro-Country, which was originally broadcast on Radio 1 in July, was refuted by the BBC.

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