Category News

Xhaka ‘probably signing of the season’ – Rooney

By in News, Sports News
AFP via Getty Images
  • 22 Comments

Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney says Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka is “probably the signing of the season”.

The Black Cats have been superb on their return to the Premier League and currently sit fourth after 11 games with 19 points, putting them well on the way to securing their primary objective of staying up this season.

Former Arsenal midfielder Xhaka has been a key factor in Sunderland’s strong start thanks to his experience and leadership skills.

He has played every minute of all their league games, scoring once and providing three assists.

This season he leads the way for the Sunderland in terms of assists, chances created, touches, successful passes, duels won, possession won and distance covered.

The 33-year-old was one of several summer signings following promotion from the Championship, joining from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £13m.

Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show: “Coming back to the Premier League you wonder if he can do it. Obviously with a promoted team as well coming up, what impact could he have?

    • 1 day ago

    • 6 days ago

Xhaka made 297 appearances for Arsenal, winning two FA Cups.

But he was something of a pantomime villain – and sometimes much-maligned – at the Gunners.

He was sent off five times for Arsenal and spent six weeks as captain in 2019, clashed with his own fans and was stripped of the armband.

But things went better under Mikel Arteta and he became an important player before leaving in 2023 for Leverkusen, where he helped them to their first Bundesliga title during his opening season.

“When he had the situation with Arsenal, when he fell out with the fans it showed his character to go and play for Arsenal again,” Rooney added.

“To get through that and then go and perform for Arsenal, and then at Leverkusen to be part of a team to beat Bayern Munich to the title for the first time in over 10 years has shown what a good player he is.

“Sunderland have got a very young squad as well. He’d almost be like a father figure and he’ll be a big help for the coach as well to be the in-between man as captain.

What information do we collect from this quiz?
The Wayne Rooney Show graphic

Related topics

  • Sunderland
  • Football

More on this story

    • 17 October
    A graphic of Premier League players from every team in the division in 2025-26 season, with the Premier League trophy in front of them.
    • 16 August
    BBC Sport microphone and phone

BBC star dies as tributes flood in for ‘highly talented’ legend

By in Entertainment News, News

A BBC star who worked for the broadcaster for 30 years has sadly died, with shocked former colleagues and friends sharing a series of warm tributes to the broadcasting stalwart

A much-loved BBC star who worked for the broadcaster for 30 years has sadly died. BBC cameraman John Williams has passed away, with former colleagues offering up warm tributes to the “well-respected” worker.

The news was revealed on Pebble Mill’s Facebook account on Sunday evening. The post read: “Hi, I’ve heard sad news from James French. John Williams, whom we knew was very ill, has sadly died. He will be much missed.”

A cameraman for the BBC, John was known for his work across various shows from the iconic Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham. The post was accompanied by a photograph of John, while filming for the BBC drama Howards’ Way, a popular daytime drama about the Howard family and the yachting world, which ran from 1985 to 1990.

READ MORE: Clothes laced with bacteria go viral as designers claim glowing skin benefits

Friends and colleagues swiftly flooded the comments section with their own memories, one sharing: “Had no idea he was unwell. A dedicated and highly respected cameraman.”

Another wrote: “Oh how very sad . Such a lovely, highly talented, and respected colleague. I was only reading his very touching tribute to sound recordist John Gilbert the other day in Prospero. How ironic we are now paying tribute to John himself. Rest in peace and condolences to his family.”

Another shared fondly: “Such a very lovely man to work with and a great mentor to all.” Meanwhile, a fourth penned: “I was forever in his debt. He was brilliant for helping me shoot my very first short film in early 90’s.”

John, who worked for the BBC for an impressive thirty years, wrote about his colourful career in the book, Shoot First, No Ordinary Life.

Previously discussing the book and his three decades at the Beeb, he had written on Pebble Mill’s website: “I like to think we were a family with all that entails, and that family still shows itself, meeting every month as pensioners support one another and reminisce on the good old days.

“My one hope is the BBC has not lost this family and is still there amongst my colleagues working in the brave new world.”

Meanwhile, the weekend also brought news of BBC Director General Tim Davie’s shock resignation over the alleged editing of Donald Trump’s speech of a Panorama episode. Davie handed in his resigned amid the fallout over the selective editing of a speech made by President Donald Trump for an episode of Panorama.

Article continues below

In a statement, he admitted there had “been some mistakes made” and that he had to “take ultimate responsibility”. The chief executive of BBC News, Deborah Turness, also announced her resignation following a newspaper report earlier in the week, which accused the corporation of selectively editing a speech by Donald Trump on the day of the US Capitol attack.

“I just want to breathe”: Protests over pollution in New Delhi

By in News, World News

A suffocating blanket of smog has engulfed India’s capital, permeating the air with an acrid smell as pollution levels soar, intensifying a public health emergency that has driven residents to demand governmental action.

By Monday morning, New Delhi’s air quality index had reached 344, categorised as “severe” and hazardous to breathe according to the World Health Organization’s recommended exposure thresholds.

In a compelling demonstration of public concern, dozens of protesters assembled in New Delhi on Sunday, calling for government intervention to combat the capital’s toxic air crisis as dangerous haze shrouded the city.

Children joined their parents at the demonstration, wearing protective masks and carrying placards, including one that starkly declared: “I miss breathing.”

New Delhi, home to a metropolitan population of 30 million people, persistently ranks among the world’s most polluted capital cities.

Every winter, a toxic smog obscures the skyline when cooler temperatures trap pollutants close to ground level, creating a deadly combination of emissions from agricultural burning, industrial operations, and vehicle exhaust.

Levels of PM2.5 – carcinogenic particles small enough to penetrate the bloodstream – regularly surge to concentrations 60 times above the UN’s recommended daily health guidelines.

“Today I am here just as a mother,” said protester Namrata Yadav, who attended the protest with her son. “I am here because I don’t want to become a climate refugee.”

At the protest location near India Gate, the historic war memorial, PM2.5 readings surpassed the World Health Organization’s recommended daily maximum by more than 13 times.

“Year after year, it is the same story, but there is no solution,” said Tanvi Kusum, a lawyer who explained she joined because she was “frustrated”.

“We have to build pressure so that the government at least takes up the issue seriously.”

Government measures to tackle the crisis have proven inadequate, including limited restrictions on fossil fuel vehicles and water trucks spraying mist to suppress airborne particulate matter.

“Pollution is cutting our lives,” declared a young woman who identified herself as “speaking for Delhi” and declined to provide her name.

Research published in The Lancet Planetary Health last year estimated that 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019 were attributable to air pollution.

The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, cautions that contaminated air dramatically increases children’s susceptibility to acute respiratory infections.

As evening descended on the smog-veiled skyline, the crowd expanded until police stepped in, forcing several activists onto a bus and seizing their protest materials, claiming they lacked proper demonstration permits.

Vogue Williams prepares for I’m A Celeb jungle shower with ice cold bikini dip

By in Entertainment News, News

Vogue Williams is set for a stint Down Under in I’m A Celebrity and appeared to be putting in the practice in Scotland’s cold waters

Vogue Williams looks to be preparing herself for jungle life as she took a cold dip in Scotland. While the UK weather might be a far cry from that Down Under, the I’m A Celebrity campmates get offered cold showers in camp.

And the presenter, 40, seemed to be embracing the shivering temperatures with her loved ones. Vogue spent the weekend at the Glen Affric Estate with her three children; Theodore, six, Gigi, five, and Otto, three. They were also joined by friends.

She lowered herself into the cold waters while wearing a skimpy two-piece black bikini. As she headed down the steps, Vogue fully submerged herself as she let out a shriek due to the water’ coldness.

READ MORE: I’m A Celeb’s Kelly Brook’s secret food stash ahead of jungle stint in Australia

There was no sympathy to be had, though. Instead, son Theo was heard laughing at his mum’s distress.

The upload to Instagram was paired with a comment from the star, which read: “A weekend with the girls in one of the most beautiful places on earth. You know you’ve had a brilliant time when you feel sad leaving.”

Now, it seems she will be preparing for a whole new way of life for a number of weeks. Her impending appearance comes 10 years after her husband, Spencer Matthews, was axed from show.

Made In Chelsea man Spencer, 37, was removed from camp after three days back in 2015. At the time, he was axed after he was taking steroids and didn’t tell producers beforehand.

Vogue has already had experience with tough shows in previous years. She won Bear Grylls: Mission Survive.

And her appearance will make her the second model to join this year’s camp. Kelly Brook also headed to Australia, despite saying she would never do the show.

A number of stars have already touched down in Brisbane. Among them is Emmerdale star Lisa Riley. The actress said in the airport she could cope with any creepy-crawlies. She said: “I’ve worked on a farm and it’s part of the job.”

Earlier in the day, Kelly had been all smiles after she touched down. She joked to reporters “I haven’t seen my auntie Sheila for a long time so I can’t wait to see her, and I’m so excited that you’re all so excited for me.”

Talking of her own creepy crawly encounters, the model joked there might be some in her “relative’s” garden. She added: “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m visiting a distant cousin.

Article continues below

“I’m looking forward to surfing. Like I said, I’m looking forward to seeing my distant cousin that I’ve not seen for a long, long time… the koalas and the kangaroos. So much to look forward to.”

Stock markets surge after US lawmakers move to end government shutdown

By in News, World News

Stocks from the United States to Japan have risen sharply amid hopes that an end to the longest US government shutdown in history is imminent.

US lawmakers on Sunday moved to end a five-week impasse over government funding, a boost for investors unnerved by signs of growing weakness in the US economy and the sky-high evaluations of firms involved in artificial intelligence.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 itemsend of list

After a group of centrist Democrats broke with party leaders to join Republicans, the US Senate voted 60-40 to advance a bill that would fund government operations through the end of January.

The funding package still needs to win final approval in the Senate and then pass the US House of Representatives, after which it would go to US President Donald Trump for his signature – a process expected to take days.

Stock markets in the Asia Pacific made large gains on Monday, while futures in the US also rose in advance of stock exchanges reopening.

South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI led the gains, rising about 3 percent as of 4pm local time (07:00 GMT).

Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng also rose sharply, advancing about 1.3 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

Taiwan’s Taiex rose about 0.8 percent, while Australia’s ASX 200 gained about 0.75 percent.

Futures for the US’s benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq-100, which are traded outside of regular market hours, were up about 0.75 and 1.3 percent, respectively.

The reprieve comes as investors are concerned that AI-linked stocks may be wildly overvalued and that Trump’s sweeping tariffs could be doing more damage to the US economy than has been captured in headline data so far.

Nvidia, whose graphics processing units are integral to the development of AI, last month became the first company in history to reach a market valuation of $5 trillion, a day after tech giant Apple surpassed $4 trillion in market value.

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ official jobs report has been suspended since August due to the government shutdown, several other analyses have pointed to a rise in layoffs in October.

Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an executive outplacement firm, said in a report last week that layoffs surged 183 percent last month, making it the worst October for jobs since 2003.

Betty Harford dead: Dynasty and The Paper Chase icon dies surrounded by family

By in Entertainment News, News

Dynasty icon Betty Harford has died. The actress died “peacefully with family at her side,” earlier this month her close friend has announced.

Her friend, Wendy Mitchell said on Facebook: “Betty’s son contacted me this morning and Betty Harford Naszody passed away peacefully with family at her side, noon on November 2, 2025, she was 98.” Just one day prior, she announced: “Betty is 98 and was living in Carpinteria, and the last I heard from her was two months ago, she had been recovering from the flu.

“However, I went by to see her and she did not answer. She’s not answering her phone anymore, so I’m afraid that she might’ve passed on.”

Betty was 98 at the time of her death, on November 2, in Santa Barbara, California. The actress was best known for her role in the ABC soap opera as cook Hilda Gunnerson, appearing throughout its nine-year run. She later returned for Dynasty: The Reunion in 1991.






Betty played cook Hilda Gunnerson in the ABC soap opera Dynasty
(
Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

As well as her role in Dynasty, Betty is also best known for playing Mrs Nottingham, the secretary of Professor Charles Kingsfield, in the CBS legal drama, The Paper Chase, between 1978 and 1979, as well as its revival on Showtime in 1983.

Over the course of her career, which spanned four decades, she appeared in various huge shows, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dr. Kildare, The Twilight Zone and The Big Valley.

She also appeared as Mrs Forbes in the 1959 movie, The Wild and the Innocent, before going on to make appearances in Adventures in Paradise, The Law and Mr. Jones. Betty also appeared in the 1979 movie, The China Syndrome, which was nominated for four Oscars just one year later.

Betty also played the older sister to Natalie Wood’s title character in the 1965 drama, Inside Daisy Cooper, which was directed by Robert Mulligan.






Betty was also best known for her role in the legal drama The Paper Chase


Betty was also best known for her role in the legal drama The Paper Chase
(
Alamy Stock Photo)

She was born in New York on January 28, 1927. And started her acting career in her 20s, securing her first job on the radio, Gunsmoke and docu-drama series, Crime Classics. However, her last role saw her voice Gumba in the 1994 video, Fun with Gumby.

She married California sculptor Oliver Andrews before the pair welcomed their son Chris in 1952. However, she and Andrews split in the 1970s. She went on to marry Hungarian actor Alex de Naszody, who tragically died aged 81 in 1996.

Betty is survived by her son, Chris, and her grandchildren. Fans have taken to social media to offer their condolences, with one writing: “Mrs. Gunnerson was always running around making food and being sane while the rest of Dynasty….were part of the ridiculousness. Rest in Peace, Betty!”

A second added: “My sincere condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.” “Such sad news I remember watching her on Dynasty,” said a third.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.