There are celebrations in the occupied Palestinian territories and in Israel after agreement on the first stage of a ceasefire deal to end the war on Gaza. But analysts point out there are serious outstanding issues. So, what’s next?
The young Ralphie Albert did not know why people would stop his grandad in the street.
Maybe just for a chat or possibly an autograph. Probably a selfie. It’s usually a selfie these days, right?
Albert’s grandad is the snooker legend Jimmy White. A six-time World Championship finalist, the Whirlwind is one of the most popular players to ever draw back a cue.
Now the 17-year-old Albert, the son of White’s daughter Lauren, is growing the family sporting legacy, signing his first professional contract with Surrey.
“Mum used to say ‘one day you’ll understand how famous he is’,” Albert tells BBC Sport. “People would go up to him in the street and I couldn’t understand what was happening because I just knew him as my grandad.
“It still happens today. We were in the train station going to The Oval to watch the cricket, and maybe three or four people came up to him. I was laughing because I don’t understand how big he is.”
The signing of a multi-year deal at The Oval, a week short of his 18th birthday, is the latest step in a year of progress for Albert.
A left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, he was first named in an England Under-19s squad as a 16-year-old last September.
He eventually made his debut for the national age-group side against a strong India team in June. Playing alongside Rocky Flintoff and Thomas Rew, he took 10 wickets in the second ‘Test’ in July.
In his second one-day game for Surrey, against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in August, Albert made 96 batting at number seven.
He returned to school at Epsom College in September, only to be called up for a first-class debut on a spinning pitch in Southampton as Surrey looked for a win against Hampshire that might have given them a fourth successive County Championship.
Albert took two crucial wickets and made a priceless 63 in the second innings, against an attack including India off-spinner Washington Sundar. Surrey won, but it was not enough to deny Nottinghamshire the title. This winter he will once again link up with the under-19s on their tour of the Caribbean, then possibly for the World Cup in the new year.
Clearly the cricket career is full of promise, but the snooker talent has not been passed on. Albert says tackling the baize is “impossible”, though that does not mean he cannot draw on his grandad’s experience as a world-class sportsman.
“You have to be pretty mentally strong in both sports,” says Albert. “They’re over a long period of time and one error can mess your whole game up.
“He just gives me advice across the whole mental side, how to be a good sportsperson and manage your game, expectation and stay in the moment.
“Ever since I was young he’d ask me the same thing: ‘How much are you giving it?’
Even without the snooker prowess, Albert is surrounded by sport in his family. His father John played club cricket for Malden Wanderers in Surrey and brother Sonny, two years Ralphie’s senior, was “never out” in cricket played in the back garden. Albert has inherited his grandfather’s love of Chelsea Football Club.
First identified for his bowling, Albert says it is now “50-50” as to whether he is stronger with bat or ball in hand.
“I like taking the game on, I like to be attacking when I’m batting,” he explains. “I enjoy playing shots, but also trying to be smart with my options.
“When I’m bowling I like to get in the competitive aspect of it. Creating pressure with the ball, building dots and then trying to play a game of cat and mouse with the batter.”
Chris Taylor, head of talent pathway at Surrey, agrees with Albert in the assessment of his skills, and highlights other impressive aspects of his game.
“In his first-team debut for Surrey, in the One-Day Cup, just before he bowled his first ball he looked around and changed the field slightly,” says Taylor. “It was moving extra cover or mid-wicket a bit straighter.
“For a 17-year-old to have the clarity even to check the field before he bowls his first ball, then make a change is a very small thing, but a real indicator he’s got an inner-confidence.
“Cricket intuition is so difficult to coach, but is one of his biggest strengths at the moment.”
Albert has played for Surrey through the age groups, yet it came as a surprise to some at the club when his famous grandfather was revealed by a social media post from White earlier this year.
Taylor, the former Gloucestershire captain and England fielding coach, says that is in keeping with the quiet nature of Albert, who can “answer a question with very few words”.
“He’s super passionate about cricket. When he gets home at night, he’s probably on his phone checking all the players and scores,” says Taylor.
“He’s got a skillset which is very attractive. What we have seen so far is his character is up to it, which is the biggest compliment.
“He’s going to be a genuine all-rounder, able to win a game with ball and bat, and in all formats.”
Understandably, the buzz around Albert comes partly because of his superstar grandfather. Now, as his development continues and with a professional contract in his back pocket, he is ready to carve his own path, rather than simply be known as Jimmy White’s grandson.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a need to prove myself,” says Albert. “It’s a great thing that he’s my grandad, an elite sportsman.
When Debenhams announced its latest Designer collaboration was with Ashish , I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. When they announced the face of it was Kim Cattrall; well, you better believe I was counting down in my calendar to snap up some items from it.
Although the first look at the pieces has been around for over a week, the collection only just officially launched on the Debenhams website today, and everything is now available to shop. I was lucky enough to get my hands on some pieces early, and there are four pieces that I think are an absolute must-buy from the whole collection.
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Let’s start off strong, with one of my absolute favourite pieces in the entire collection. This pink faux fur coat is a showstopper, and it’s the absolute bringer of joy in any wardrobe. The second I put this on, I felt quite literally like a movie star, and it gave me such an intense dopamine hit that I couldn’t bring myself to take it off for at least 15 minutes.
The faux fur is thick, soft and luxurious feeling, and it’s made with absolutely impeccable quality. The sizing is also generous; I’m typically a size 14, and will regularly size up to a 16 in jacket for added room, and the size large in this was plenty big enough to squeeze chunky knits underneath (not that you need it – this will keep you warm in an arctic blizzard with nothing but a mini dress underneath.) All in all, absolutely faultless, and my favourite piece out of everything in the collection.
If there’s one thing Ashish is known for, it’s sequin mini dresses, so it was a given that this collection would feature several different styles. You can imagine my joy when I spotted this version of the brand’s iconic sequin mini for a much more affordable £110 (the designer’s sequin mini dresses typically cost around £2k) which comes in a hot pink colour that pairs perfectly with the faux fur coat.
The dress is another generously fitting size – I opted for my usual 14, but could probably have gotten away with a size smaller. However I like that it has a more relaxed, straight cut rather than a figure-hugging shape, as it gives it a much more cool, laidback and effortless look. Well, as effortless as a hot pink sequin mini can be any way.
My one caveat with this dress is that it’s quite delicate. I lost five sequins just trying it on, so if you’re planning on wearing it for a party, you’ll either need to limit your dance moves or resign yourself to the fact you’ll leave a little pink sequin trail behind you. It does come with extras though, so you can always quickly reattach any that you’ve lost along the way.
This was a bit of an unusual choice for me; at 5ft 4” I tend to avoid longer skirts and dresses for fear of them drowning me, however I took a chance on this one and I’m so glad that I did. It’s deceptively flattering considering its simple tube skirt design, and the stretchy material makes it a dream for wearing for dinners, whilst bloated or even whilst pregnant.
This one I would definitely recommend sizing down in as it’s very roomy and stretchy, but even on my height the skirt wasn’t so long it trailed on the ground and can be worn with all styles of shoes from heels to flats. The colours and print are also unusual enough to be a stand out whilst still being wearable and easy to style, and who doesn’t love a subtle bit of sparkle?
The final top pick of mine is the Spray Paint faux fur coat. This has been the star of the campaign with Kim Cattrall, and it’s not hard to see why. Just like the pink version, the faux fur is luxuriously soft and thick, and it’s heavy enough to feel warm and cosy without being uncomfortable to wear. The colours are so vibrant and, again like the pink version, bring an instant dopamine hit to any outfit.
You could of course save this for a special occasion, but you could just as easily wear it with jeans and a T-shirt to bring some fun and joy to a basic outfit combination. You also have the added bonus of being able to remove the waist belt and wear it as a faux fur scarf, which gives you even more styling options.
Just because we’re switching to coat weather doesn’t mean we have to wave goodbye to vibrant colours until next spring. Helen Skelton recently showcased to her fans and BBC viewers that autumn doesn’t mean just shades of dark red, purple, brown and grey – pastel pink can be all year round.
It’s not confirmed exactly what coat Helen is wearing, though it does appear to be this Brushed Relaxed Longline Coat from Dorothy Perkins. And not only is this a stunning piece to add to your autumn-wear collection, it’s currently 45% off.
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For her BBC Morning Live appearance, Helen donned this pastel pink maxi coat as she braced the chilly outdoor air. The Brushed Relaxed Longline Coat, which normally retails for £99, is currently on sale in all sizes (8 to 18) for £ 54.45, a significantly more wallet-friendly price.
Boasting a brushed texture that creates a soft, tactile finish, this maxi coat offers a relaxed fit design that enables comfortable layering over your favourite autumn and winter outfits. Featuring a longline silhouette that provides extra coverage and creates an elegant, sophisticated profile, Helen’s coat comes equipped with practical front pockets that add functionality without compromising the coat’s clean lines.
This Dorothy Perkins brushed longline coat is the perfect blend of timeless elegance and everyday practicality. Its relaxed fit offers a modern silhouette that’s ideal for layering over jumpers and jeans for those weekend catch-ups with mates.
This versatile design is perfect for family get-togethers or baby showers when you want to look stylish yet comfortable. This coat is set to become your go-to piece of outerwear, striking the perfect balance between comfort and sophistication for your casual daywear wardrobe.
Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea have won both the Player and Manager of the Month awards for September.
Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones is the WSL Player of the Month after scoring in all four of their games.
The England forward opened the scoring in wins against Manchester City, Aston Villa, Leicester City and West Ham United.
The 22-year-old topped a shortlist which also featured Aoba Fujino, Alessia Russo, Anna Sandberg, Maisie Symonds and Cathinka Tandberg.
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor, who led them to the 2025-25 title, is the WSL Manager of the Month.
Chelsea became the first WSL side to finish a 22-game campaign unbeaten last season.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Martin Ho, Manchester City’s Andree Jeglertz and Manchester United’s Marc Skinner were also shortlisted for the manager’s prize.
St Helens have announced head coach Paul Wellens is to depart the club following the recent conclusion of their 2025 season.
The 45-year-old was a club legend during his playing career and made 495 appearances for Saints before joining the coaching staff in 2015.
After moving into the head coach role for 2023, Wellens immediately guided Saints to a stunning win over Penrith Panthers in Australia to claim the World Club Challenge, but did not manage to continue the domestic dominance established under Justin Holbrook and Kristian Woolf before him.
However, with his contract at the Totally Wicked Stadium up at the end of this campaign, Saints have decided against offering him fresh terms to remain in charge.
Chairman Eamonn McManus said Wellens had been a “supreme ambassador” for the club and parting company with him was “the most difficult decision”.
Wellens told the club website: “Whilst I’m naturally disappointed my time at the club will be coming to an end, I also respect that decision and would like to thank Eamonn for his honesty in what I know would have been an extremely difficult conversation.
Wellens served as assistant coach to Holbrook and Woolf during a period of unprecedented success for the club as they won four successive Super League Grand Finals between 2019 and 2022, as well as the Challenge Cup in 2021.
He took over from Woolf following the 2022 season and went on to sign a contract extension with the club in 2024 to remain for the 2025 campaign.
During his time as head coach, however, Saints were dethroned by rivals Wigan Warriors, who began a period of dominance of their own during his tenure.
In 2023, Saints fell short of retaining their Super League title for a fifth successive season, eventually finishing third and missing out on the League Leaders’ Shield on points difference following a remarkable regular season campaign.
Their post-season hopes were ended by a 12-6 defeat at Catalans Dragons in the semi-final.
By comparison, 2024 was a difficult season for the club as Saints struggled with a large number of injuries and rarely looked in contention to win silverware.
They claimed the final play-off berth with a sixth-placed finish and pushed Sam Burgess’ Warrington all the way in their eliminator game before succumbing to a dramatic 23-22 reverse.
Despite an impressive start to this season, during which they scored a cumulative 166 points in their opening three games and conceded just six, their form tailed off around the midway point of the season and they eventually finished fifth.