During the war, Israel severely damaged some of Gaza’s most important landmarks. Priority is given to restoration work at the Pasha Palace Museum and the Omari Mosque. Additionally, experts are attempting to recover the missing thousands of ancient artifacts.
Published On 4 Dec 2025
Legendary singer Tony Christie has opened up about standing by his wife Sue through her “painful” health battles, while crediting her as “his rock” as he faces his own dementia diagnosis.
This festive season, the 82-year-old singer has collaborated with Music for Dementia to create a moving new John Lewis-inspired campaign called “Give the Music Back.” The music’s ability to change the lives of dementia-stricken families is clearly illustrated in the advertisement.
Speaking in a new exclusive interview, Tony opened up about his personal dementia journey and how he and Sue lean on each other through their respective health challenges.
Tony received his dementia diagnosis in January 2023, whilst Sue has been living with fibromyalgia for several years, reports the Express.
The NHS describes fibromyalgia as “a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body”, with sufferers experiencing heightened pain sensitivity, stiff muscles and sleep difficulties.
When Sue described their unwavering support for one another, Tony said, “She’s been there for me, and I’m there for her.
We continue to support one another through difficult times. Sometimes the roles are reversed: she helps me manage my dementia, and I occasionally manage her fibromyalgia. Some days, the pain can be unbearable. I wish there was more I could do to help because it’s such a terrible condition.
When asked about the secret to a successful marriage, he elatedly said, “Sue is absolutely my rock.” We first met in Sheffield in 1968 at a nightclub where I was performing. I said to my bass player, Mike, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry,” and I took a closer look at her. I knew, but he thought I was crazy.
“The secret,” you ask? Humor . We laugh constantly as one another. Everything has its foundation in that. We’ve gone through a lot of things together, and we both face dementia the same way we always do: with humor and love.
Before I did, Sue spotted the symptoms and suggested I see a doctor. She serves as my ally and organizer, keeping me grounded. We genuinely like each other, though, most of all. That’s what matters, after almost 60 years of marriage.
Tony also expressed his gratitude for his positive attitude despite his health problems, saying, “I’ve been blessed. I’ve had the voice and talent for music that God has given me throughout my entire life. Doing what I love every day has always been the foundation of everything.
“The secret to happiness,” you ask? Family, music, and a healthy dose of self-awareness. I concentrate on what I can do instead of worrying about what I can do. I’m still singing. I’m still able to perform.
I still have connections with people. I have fans who have stayed with me for more than 60 years, a wife I adores, and grandchildren who I’m proud of. That is a well-lived life.
Tony also mentioned how music has helped him overcome his dementia symptoms, saying, “I sing every day, it makes me feel alive. I’m fortunate that since receiving my diagnosis, my voice hasn’t altered at all. Some claim that as I get older things get better.
“I’m so blessed to be doing my touring and performing.” The fact that music is one of the best treatments for dementia made me feel very fortunate to work in the industry. It restrains it.
Joe Root’s first Ashes century for England came on the opening day of the second Test in Brisbane, beating Mitchell Starc, who had six wickets to go.
After a late flogging of the pink ball under the Gabba floodlights on Thursday, Root led England 325 for nine after captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat. The team finished unbeaten on 135 off 202 balls.
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In the final test, number 11 batter Zak Crawley fumbled off a pair of ducks from Perth to score a respectable 76, while number 11 batter Jofra Archer scored a handy 32 not out in a never-broken 61-run partnership.
After Starc’s disastrous start, opener Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope both fell for ducks in the space of four balls, and the pair came together to rally England in a 117-run partnership.
Joe “keeps it simple,” Crawley told TNT Sports, “he just concentrates on the runs that needed to be scored on the day.”
“With or against him, he is the best player I’ve ever played.”
England enjoyed tea at 196 for four for dinner with Root and Crawley in charge at 98 for two on a hot, sunny afternoon.
The brilliant Starc, who defeated Wasim Akram to become the most prolific left-arm seamer in Tests with 415 dismissals when he took his third wicket after Harry Brook was caught in the slips for 31 against, thwarted their hopes of putting together a sizable total.
After the first game, there was a significant gap, but I felt calm today and was able to unclog my nerves, according to Crawley, who also scored two in the opening test.
“I made an effort to keep it simple. Because the pitch was getting a little flatter, I was gutted to leave when I did.
I adhered to my own clear plan. If they entered my area and onto my pads, I made an effort to hit the ball hard.
“I need to leave a little more outside the off stump, but there were still some loose shots in there, and I felt like I could play a few more on that side when I was in, and the ball was soft.”
Starc then slammed through the lower order to finish the day’s 6-71.
Starc described his accomplishment of moving above the former Pakistan seamer as “one of the best ever with the ball” as “one of the best ever with the ball”.
“I believe the pink ball still reminds me of a white ball, it was a good-paced wicket, and Root has batted well.”
When the ball goes soft, it is difficult to bowl with, according to the statement.
Australia surprised the world when they eliminated Nathan Lyon from their first home test since 2012 and selected Michael Neser for a four-pronged seam attack.
Steve Smith, the skipper of Australia, confirmed Travis Head will start for the hosts after his match-winning 123 in Perth, with Usman Khawaja out injured.
Josh Inglis, the wicketkeeper-batter, occupies Head’s customary middle-order spot.
Will Jacks, a spin-bowling all-rounder, was chosen to replace Mark Wood as England’s four-pronged seam attack.
The Afghan refugee who shot two US national guardsmen in Washington, DC, was a member of the CIA’s enigmatic Zero Units. Despite facing charges of war crimes, Soraya Lennie explains that thousands of Afghan commandos were relocated to the US after Kabul’s fall.
Published On 4 Dec 2025
Fin Smith, the fly-half for Northampton, claims that this autumn, he has had a hard time adjusting to dropping down England’s pecking order.
Smith, 23, made his first England start with a 26-25 victory over France in February, and he was still wearing the number 10 for the Six Nations victories over Wales, Italy, and Scotland.
However, after Smith’s summer tour with the British and Irish Lions, Marcus Smith was chosen ahead of him for three of England’s four autumn internationals, with Marcus Smith frequently being preferred on the bench.
It hurts to have your head around a few of the selection issues because you have such high expectations going in after winning the Six Nations and traveling with the Lions.
It is difficult to accept, he said. Although having that removed from you does hurt, I have absolutely loved how comfortable it feels to wear the England 10 shirt.
There is always someone who is unsatisfied, who might have a little bit of frustration, admits England assistant coach Kevin Sinfield, who admitted during the autumn that it was impossible to keep all three of England’s fly-halves content.
Smith claims that the coaching staff and the coaching staff communicate regularly and honestly.
Steve [Borthwick] heads up to you to explain where you are with selection and why he has chosen what he has, he said.
He is ultimately the one who chooses the team, despite the fact that I always have my side of the story and put my opinion forward.
“George absolutely did that, especially in that All Blacks game,” George said, “It’s not that I played badly; it’s just that sometimes in sport people get an opportunity and take it.”
Smith’s performances on the Lions’ Australian tour irritated him.
He didn’t put pressure on first-choice 10 Finn Russell, who had Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell preferred on the bench during the Test series, before starting the pre-tour against Argentina in Dublin.
However, he enjoyed playing alongside players he frequently plays against and being a member of an institution that his maternal grandfather, Tom Elliot, visited South Africa with in 1955.
The Lions’ initial 38-man squad included 12 Leinster players.
Four players were given to Northampton in Smith, Tommy Freeman, Henry Pollock, and Alex Mitchell, who had defeated Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-finals five days prior to the squad announcement.
According to Smith, “It was amazing as a life experience in terms of the some of the memories I made and the people I met.”
Simply put, “It was a fantastic group of people.”
I anticipated that James Ryan, a fellow Lion and Linster second row, would be very different from me. He is a little nasty when playing against him, but he is a prototype of Alex Cole from Northampton and England, with a very intelligent and dry sense of humor. I really liked him.
Watch this explanation of the conflict in Sudan.
The world’s worst humanitarian crisis has been brought on by the conflict in Sudan. What year did the 2023 fighting start? The two main sides are who? And what are the main causes of the current conflict?
Watch Sandra Gathmann’s explainer for Start Here Sudan to learn what’s going on.
This episode includes:
Tahrir Institute for Middle Eastern Policy’s Mahitab Mahgoub – Nonresident fellow
Writer and activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Al Jazeera English correspondent Hiba Morgan covering Sudan
Ahmed Soliman, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House Africa Programme
Confluence Advisory founder and director Kholood Khair
German Institute for Global and Area Studies, PhD researcher, Hager Ali
Horn of Africa Project Director, International Crisis Group, Alan Boswell
Published On 4 Dec 2025