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Cruz Beckham, David Beckham’s son, left stranded after car breaks down

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Being the son of David and Victoria Beckham did not spare Cruz Beckham from an everyday inconvenience on Tuesday, when his car broke down.

The 21-year-old musician and his girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, were left “stranded at the roundabout” after their vehicle stopped working.

In a TikTok video, the couple appeared to be enduring the chilly, rainy autumn weather, with Jackie wrapped tightly in her coat.

Cruz kept things casual in a grey hoodie as he explained to fans: “We’ve broken down on the side of the road, so if anyone wants to send some questions, we’re bored so help keep us entertained.”

He added jokingly: “If anyone knows how to fix a car as well, we need help.”

Alongside documenting the breakdown on TikTok, Cruz posted an update on Instagram, sweetly telling Jackie: “I’d get stuck anywhere with you.”

Cruz Beckham and his girlfriend Jackie were left 'stranded at the roundabout' after their car broke down on Tuesday as he asked fans: 'If anyone knows how to fix a car we need help'

Cruz Beckham and his girlfriend Jackie were left “stranded at the roundabout” after their car broke down on Tuesday, prompting him to ask fans: “If anyone knows how to fix a car, we need help.”

Cruz kept it casual in a grey hoodie as he told fans: 'We've broken down on the side of the road, so if anyone wants to send some questions, we're bored so help keep us entertained'

Cruz kept it casual in a grey hoodie as he told fans: “We’ve broken down on the side of the road, so if anyone wants to send some questions, we’re bored so help keep us entertained.”

The pair tried to keep their spirits high by sharing a bag of Haribo Tangfastics while they waited.

Their roadside mishap came shortly after Cruz made headlines by posting a series of revealing pictures to celebrate Jackie’s 31st birthday on Sunday.

The couple, who were first seen together in early 2024, appear to remain firmly in the honeymoon phase and have frequently displayed their affection for one another.

On Instagram, Cruz marked the DJ’s birthday with several photographs of them kissing, including one in which he lifted Jackie in his arms while she wore a very skimpy black bikini.

Another image showed Cruz being tactile with his girlfriend as she posed in a glittering dress. He captioned the post: “Happy Birthday my love. you have no idea how much i love you.”

Cruz later appeared to reconsider one particularly suggestive photograph of the couple on a yacht and deleted it.

In the image, Cruz wore only blue Speedos while Jackie sat with her hand on his bottom, positioned close to him.

He subsequently removed the picture from the post after fans reacted with shock in the comments.

Earlier this month, the couple took another major step in their relationship by welcoming a golden retriever into their family.

The musician announced the news in a joint Instagram post with Jackie, sharing heartwarming photographs of them relaxing in bed with their golden puppy.

As well as documenting their car trouble on TikTok, Cruz also shared an update on his Instagram page as he sweetly told Jackie: 'I'd get stuck anywhere with you'

Alongside documenting their car trouble on TikTok, Cruz shared an Instagram update in which he sweetly told Jackie: “I’d get stuck anywhere with you.”

The couple kept their spirits up by tucking into a bag of Haribo Tangfastics

The couple kept their spirits up by sharing a bag of Haribo Tangfastics.

Their automobile trouble comes after Cruz didn't hold back as he shared a series of very racy images to mark Jackie's 31st birthday on Sunday

Their automobile trouble comes after Cruz didn’t hold back as he shared a series of very racy images to mark Jackie’s 31st birthday on Sunday 

Taking to Instagram, the musician marked the DJ's special day with several snaps of them kissing as he lifted Jackie up in his arms while she donned a very skimpy black bikini

Taking to Instagram, the musician marked the DJ’s special day with several snaps of them kissing as he lifted Jackie up in his arms while she donned a very skimpy black bikini

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Revealing their puppy’s new name, Cruz simply captioned the snap: ‘Sandy Jean Beckham.’

Cruz’s mum Victoria was quick to comment: ‘Sooooo sweet!!! We love you Sandy!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️,’ while Jackie penned: ‘ANGEL BABY.’

Meanwhile Jackie has been incredibly supportive of Cruz’s career after he played Reading and Leeds Festival with his band The Breakers in the summer. 

After the two festival shows, Cruz took to his Instagram to reflect on the biggest shows of his career so far as he paid tribute to Jackie – who is also his music manager. 

He wrote: ‘Last but definitely not least Jackie, you honestly have no idea how lucky we are to have you, not only do you take care of me but this whole operation, from creative to strategy to mgmt.

‘We are a team and would not be doing this without you. i really love you so much.’

Underneath the post Jackie then penned: ‘I love you.’

Justice Department Watchdog Declines to Investigate Handling of Reflecting Pool Case, Lawyers Say

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WASHINGTON – The Justice Department’s inspector general has refused to open an investigation into the government’s handling of the criminal case against a former Olympian who was cleared of intentionally damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to a letter sent Wednesday by the man’s attorneys.

The department’s internal watchdog informed David Hearn’s lawyers that their allegations of professional misconduct fall outside the inspector general’s authority. The office said those claims instead belong with the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility, according to the letter, which asks Inspector General Don R. Berthiaume to reverse the decision.

“Given the substantial public attention devoted to this matter, and the significant questions raised concerning the conduct of federal officials, declining independent review would risk undermining public confidence in the Department’s ability to police its own conduct. Such a result would be inconsistent with the purposes for which Congress established the OIG and would be a betrayal of its mission,” the letter says.

Earlier this month, Hearn’s attorneys asked the inspectors general for both the Justice and Interior departments to investigate what they described as widespread “incompetence and misconduct” during the criminal investigation and prosecution. The lawyers said they had uncovered potential crimes in the Trump administration’s handling of the case, including witness tampering, obstruction of justice and the subornation of false testimony.

The Justice Department sought to dismiss the prosecution last summer after newly disclosed evidence from the Interior Department indicated that Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, was not responsible for damaging the pool’s lining. A District of Columbia judge subsequently dismissed the case permanently.

In their original request, Hearn’s lawyers argued that the evidence proving his innocence had been in the Justice Department’s possession for weeks but was “simply ignored.” They asked the inspectors general to determine why prosecutors “rushed to indict” Hearn, allegedly under pressure from Republican President Donald Trump. Trump had initiated a major renovation of the Reflecting Pool ahead of Washington’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

In renewing their appeal for an inspector general inquiry, Hearn’s legal team said the watchdog has the independence and investigative authority needed to examine alleged misconduct by the government officials involved in the case.

The lawyers pointed out that the Office of Professional Responsibility, while empowered to investigate certain forms of professional misconduct, reports to the deputy attorney general and the attorney general. Unlike the inspector general’s office, it is not required to make its work public or submit its findings to Congress.

Hearn’s attorneys also contend that the inspector general is the appropriate office to examine possible criminal wrongdoing within the government. They allege that prosecutors elicited false testimony from a grand jury witness and violated Hearn’s civil rights by pursuing a defective criminal case. The lawyers further want an investigation into whether U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, whose office prosecuted the case, broke ethical rules during a news conference announcing the charges against Hearn.

The U.S. attorney’s office did not respond to a request for comment when Hearn’s attorneys made the allegations earlier this month.

Michael Bromwich, who served as the Justice Department’s inspector general during the Clinton administration, is among Hearn’s attorneys.

“In a case such as this one, when some of the allegations directly involve the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, there is substantial reason to question whether any meaningful independent review would occur,” the lawyers’ letter says. “Your decision not to investigate would be consigning these serious allegations to oblivion despite the enormous public interest in the matter and the absence thus far of any accountability for the individuals involved.”

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

T.J. Holmes, Amy Robach’s Exes Marilee Fiebig and Andrew Shue Engaged

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Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig, the former spouses of T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, are engaged—just weeks after Holmes and Robach married.

Robach, 53, and Holmes, 49, both former Good Morning America journalists, exchanged vows on September 19 during an intimate ceremony in Holmes’ home state.

Their wedding came roughly four years after the Daily Mail first revealed the couple’s affair.

Robach and Holmes were suspended by GMA after their relationship became public in November 2022. Both later divorced their respective spouses, Fiebig and Shue.

Shue, 59, known for his role on Melrose Place, and attorney Fiebig, 48, began dating in 2023 and became engaged this past spring, People confirms.

“I don’t know how it happened, but there’s a happy ending,” Shue told the publication.

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach's exes Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig have announced their engagement – just days after their former spouses wed - pictured 2024

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach’s exes Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig have announced their engagement—just days after their former spouses wed, pictured in 2024

Former Good Morning America journalists – Robach, 53, and Holmes, 49 – tied the knot on September 19 in an intimate affair in his home state

Former Good Morning America journalists Robach, 53, and Holmes, 49, married on September 19 in an intimate ceremony in his home state

“This just happened to be our way of getting to know each other and being able to share ourselves with each other at a time when we both needed a friend,” Shue said.

Looking back on the end of his marriage to Robach, Shue said he “had to accept my own part in the marriage not working out for me” and acknowledge that he had not understood himself—or what mattered in a relationship—well enough to find the right partner.

“That has been an extraordinary gift,” he said. “Again, I don’t know how it happened, but I can say I’m grateful. I had to grow through a lot of pain and a lot of struggle and a lot of humility.” Shue added, “I think the magic of love is when you go from a need to giving.”

“You don’t know how you meet the person who’s right for you. It just happened,” he said. “And you can say how it’s just this kind of freak luck that this is how you ended up getting to know that person in a way that would allow you to reveal yourself and for her to reveal herself.”

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Shue and Fiebig for comment.

The couple’s unexpected romance was first reported in December 2023. Days later, they were photographed getting into Shue’s green Jeep Wrangler for a getaway.

They had reportedly been dating for about seven months and connected over the experience of watching their marriages unravel in the public eye.

Each of them divorced their partners, Shue is pictured with Robach

Both Shue and Fiebig divorced their former spouses; Shue is pictured with Robach

Fiebig is pictured with Holmes in 2013

Fiebig is pictured with Holmes in 2013

Melrose Place alum Shue, 59, and attorney Fiebig, 48, began dating in 2023 and got engaged this past spring, People confirms. Shue told the publication: 'I don’t know how it happened, but there’s a happy ending - pictured March 2024

Melrose Place alum Andrew Shue, 59, and attorney Marilee Fiebig, 48, began dating in 2023 and became engaged this past spring, People confirms. Shue said, “I don’t know how it happened, but there’s a happy ending,” pictured in March 2024

Fiebig reportedly finalized her divorce from Holmes in October 2023. Shue, a former soccer player and actor best known for playing Billy Campbell on Melrose Place, finalized his divorce in March.

Holmes has two children from his first marriage and shares one child with Fiebig.

Robach and Shue did not have any children together, but often praised their ‘blended family’ as Shue’s three sons were joined by Robach’s two daughters when they tied the knot in 2010.

Robach and Holmes announced their engagement on October 14, 2025, during an episode of their podcast Amy & T.J.   

‘We are sharing with all of you that we are engaged and we’ve been engaged for just about a month now,’ Robach told listeners. 

‘We wanted to let you all know before anybody else was able to. We’ve learned that lesson, I guess, in the past about our relationship,’ Holmes added, appearing to refer to Daily Mail’s exclusive report. 

In 2022, exclusive photos obtained by The Daily Mail showed the co-workers cozying up at a bar in New York City and spending alone time at their apartments.

A mere two weeks before Thanksgiving, they were seen enjoying a weekend getaway together at a secluded cottage in Upstate New York. 

At the time, inside sources told The Daily Mail: ‘Everyone knows that Amy and T.J. have been close friends for a long time now, running together and even socializing as a foursome with each other’s spouses.’

Their friendship evolved in June of that year, if not sooner, ‘when they were in London together filming the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee for ABC and staff were buzzing about the intimacy between them.’ 

Up until then, their relationship, both on and off air, had seemed platonic since they began anchoring Good Morning America in 2020. 

The duo launched their self-titled podcast in 2023, with the first episode releasing on December 5, exactly one year after their exit from GMA

The duo launched their self-titled podcast in 2023, with the first episode releasing on December 5, exactly one year after their exit from GMA

They started hosting GMA together in 2020 in what sources said was a platonic relationship at first

They started hosting GMA together in 2020 in what sources said was a platonic relationship at first

After their secret was out, Robach and Holmes said they hit ‘rock bottom.’ 

During a June 2024 episode of their podcast, Holmes told their guest, singer-songwriter Rachel Platten, that the couple attended her concert the night before, and Robach has been ‘wiping tears from her face.’ 

Robach gushed over the musician before sharing how the 2015 hit ‘Fight Song’ had resonated with her.

‘We know a little bit about walking through some darkness and coming through the other side and when the worst has happened,’ Robach said. ‘And I’ve thought I’ve hit rock bottom before and I actually hit rock bottom.’

She professed that the track had become her ‘anthem’ at the time of the couple’s dramatic ouster from the morning television program.

Holmes, meanwhile, characterized the process of letting go as ‘weird’ but ‘freeing.’

He said the experience was necessary to find ‘where I’m supposed to be,’ but conceded: ‘It sucks. It sucks even more than you think.’

The duo launched their self-titled podcast in 2023, with the first episode releasing on December 5, exactly one year after their exit from GMA. 

The duo launched their self-titled podcast in 2023, with the first episode releasing on December 5, exactly one year after their exit from GMA

The duo launched their self-titled podcast in 2023, with the first episode releasing on December 5, exactly one year after their exit from GMA

Robach and Holmes were ‘temporarily removed’ from the show in 2022 after rumors of their affair began to circulate. They were officially let go on January 27, 2023. 

Shue wiped all traces of her from social media just days after news of the infidelity broke.

New York Congressional Candidate Brad Lander Says Israeli Forces Detained Him in West Bank

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Left-wing congressional candidate Brad Lander said Wednesday that he had been “detained” by the Israeli Defense Forces while taking part in an olive harvest in the West Bank.

Lander, the former New York City comptroller campaigning for Congress in the Nov. 3 election, shared a photo on X showing him looking sternly into the camera from a bus. Other passengers in the image appeared to be using their phones and seemed largely unbothered.

“I’ve been detained by the IDF, along with a group of rabbis & volunteers,” Lander wrote. “We were simply harvesting olives in a grove near Nehalim in the West Bank.”

Brad Lander was detained in the West Bank. @bradlander/X

It was not immediately clear whether Lander, who is seeking to represent New York’s 10th Congressional District, had been involved in any activity beyond gathering olives.

“The occupation is a crime under international law. Harvesting olives isn’t a crime under any law I know,” he added.

Lander, who is Jewish and has repeatedly criticized Israel, defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) in the June primary after mounting a challenge from the party’s left flank.

Philly Officer Slain in Line of Duty Promoted to Sergeant at Funeral

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PHILADELPHIA — Thousands of law enforcement officers from across the country gathered in Philadelphia on Tuesday to remember Shane Seiber, the officer who was fatally shot in the line of duty on Oct. 10. Prosecutors allege that an armed man opened fire on Seiber and his partner.

During the funeral at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel announced that Seiber had been posthumously promoted to sergeant.

Seiber spent 10 years with the Philadelphia Police Department after serving a decade in the U.S. Air Force, including two deployments to Iraq.

Police officers from Pennsylvania and several other states filled the memorial service as they came to honor the fallen officer.

The casket of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber is escorted into Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Police Officer Shane Seiber will be remembered at a funeral service after being killed in the line of duty. Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media

Members of law enforcement escort the casket of fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber into the Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Seiber and his partner had been dispatched to West Philadelphia after reports of a man brandishing a firearm. Prosecutors say Eric Lewis confronted the officers from behind, asking why they were at his home.

Shane Seiber

Shane Seiber, a 40-year-old father of two and Air Force veteran, served with the Philadelphia Police Department for a decade before his death. (Philadelphia Police Department)

A verbal dispute reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation before Lewis allegedly fired. Seiber was struck three times, while his partner was hit 12 times. Lewis was taken into custody following a standoff with SWAT officers. Authorities allege he had two handguns — including one taken from the officers — as well as a shotgun.

The casket of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber is escorted into Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Police Officer Shane Seiber will be remembered at a funeral service after being killed in the line of duty. Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media

Philadelphia law enforcement officers escort the casket of fallen Officer Shane Seiber into the Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

FOX 29 Philadelphia reported that Seiber’s partner was Officer Hector Rodriguez III, a 33-year-old father of five. Rodriguez survived the shooting.

Law enforcement officials mourn for slain Philadelphia cop

Officers escort the casket of Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber from the Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Philadelphia Prison Guard Honor Guard members gather outside Cathedral Basilica to honor the life of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Police Officer Shane Seiber will be remembered at a funeral service after being killed in the line of duty. Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media

Members of the Philadelphia Prison Guard Honor Guard stand outside the Cathedral Basilica during services honoring fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Lewis, 35, was previously acquitted in a separate murder trial, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said. Krasner described the earlier case as the result of a “deeply flawed” investigation.

A Bucks County Sheriff's Deputy mourns outside Cathedral Basilica as law enforcement gathers to honor the life of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Police Officer Shane Seiber will be remembered at a funeral service after being killed in the line of duty. Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media

A Bucks County sheriff’s deputy mourns outside the Cathedral Basilica as law enforcement officers gather to honor fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker used her eulogy Tuesday to announce an annual public-service internship program in Seiber’s memory. She remembered him as “a giant of a man” and “clearly a gentleman of the first class.”

New Jersey State Police officers gather outside Cathedral Basilica to honor the life of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Police Officer Shane Seiber will be remembered at a funeral service after being killed in the line of duty.
Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media

New Jersey State Police officers gather outside the Cathedral Basilica to honor fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Parker also highlighted Seiber’s previous military service, noting that he spent 10 years in the Air Force and completed two tours in Iraq before becoming a Philadelphia police officer.

Funeral for Philadelphia cop who was killed in an ambush

Law enforcement officers attend the public viewing for Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber at the Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Members of the West Chester Police Honor Guard gather outside Cathedral Basilica to honor the life of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Police Officer Shane Seiber will be remembered at a funeral service after being killed in the line of duty. Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media

Members of the West Chester Police Honor Guard gather outside the Cathedral Basilica to honor fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Seiber was remembered during funeral services after being killed in the line of duty. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Seiber is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their two children, Finn, 7, and Emily, 3.

New Jersey State Police officers gather outside Cathedral Basilica to honor the life of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Police Officer Shane Seiber will be remembered at a funeral service after being killed in the line of duty. Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media

East Brunswick, New Jersey, officers gather outside Cathedral Basilica to honor the life of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Police Officer Shane Seiber will be remembered at a funeral service after being killed in the line of duty. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Funeral for Philadelphia cop who was killed in an ambush

The casket of the late Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber is escorted into Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. (Kyle Mazza/CNP for News Media)

Nearly 4,000 Migrants Await English Channel Crossing, UK Borders Chief Warns

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Nearly 4,000 migrants are currently living in camps in northern France as they wait for an opportunity to cross the English Channel to Britain in small boats—roughly twice the usual number.

Duncan Capps, the Home Office’s Border Security Commander, told MPs that French officials estimate around 3,800 people are staying in camps between Calais and Dunkirk.

He also told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee that migrants commonly make “seven or eight” attempts before successfully reaching the UK.

Asked how many people were waiting to cross the Channel, Mr Capps said: “I think the French estimate at the moment is that there is almost 3,800 people between those two camps.”

“Previously it was broadly about 2,000 between them.

“So our understanding now from our French partners we work with closely is almost double what we would normally expect.”

He said the unusually high numbers reflected both the scale of the migrant presence and the growing difficulty of making the crossing from the Calais-Dunkirk coastline.

“There are a lot of people in the camps at the moment, which I think is bad in one respect because a lot of people are there but it also represents the fact that the French are making it very difficult, particularly in the Dunkirk-Calais area, to get across,” he said.

Migrants board a smugglers' dinghy off a beach near Boulogne, northern France, earlier this month

Migrants board a smugglers’ dinghy off a beach near Boulogne, northern France, earlier this month

Mr Capps added that the strategy was to make Channel smuggling financially and operationally unviable by increasing the risks of acquiring boats and engines, being intercepted and receiving a prison sentence.

The people waiting to depart are mainly single men. The most frequently recorded nationalities are Eritrean, Sudanese, Somali, Ethiopian and Afghan, he said.

Small boat crossings have fallen by 43 per cent compared with the same period last year, with just under 21,000 people making the journey so far this year.

Rob Jones, director general of operations at the National Crime Agency, said the growing number of migrants in northern France was “not a good thing”, indicating strong demand but also showing that people were struggling to reach the UK.

Border Security Commander Duncan Capps, pictured left, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham inspect a surveillance drone at HM Coastguard Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, in Dover, Kent, in August

Border Security Commander Duncan Capps, pictured left, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham inspect a surveillance drone at HM Coastguard Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, in Dover, Kent, in August

He said the reduction in crossings suggested that the trafficking gangs’ business model was “starting to shake”. The NCA, he added, is “actively working” to predict how smugglers could adapt their methods.

The disclosure that migrants may attempt the crossing seven or eight times is likely to raise further questions about the Home Office’s claim that more than 50,000 small boat crossings had been prevented since the 2024 General Election.

Migrants intercepted by French beach patrols are not detained, meaning they remain free to make another attempt.

As a result, the Home Office total of 50,000 prevented crossings could include some individuals as many as eight times.

Mr Capps also revealed that two small boats reached the UK without being intercepted by Border Force last month. Both crossings took place on “busy days” in the Channel, and the vessels were not detected until they were around 2.5 miles (4km) from the British coast.

By that point, he said, there had been no opportunity to send Home Office vessels to intercept them in the Channel.

The typical charges smuggling gangs demand for an illegal crossing have ‘broadly come down’ to £840 to £1,700 (1,000 to 2,000 euros) a head, Mr Capps said.

Mr Jones said the unsafe dinghies used by traffickers typically cost them about £14,000.

Prince Harry Says Playdates Help Archie and Lilibet Settle in UK

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Prince Harry says his children are thriving in the UK after settling into family life with a series of “endless playdates” following their move from Montecito.

The 42-year-old returned to Britain with his wife, Meghan Markle, 45, and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, in August, bringing an end to six years of living in the United States.

Archie and Lilibet were initially enrolled at a local school, but the couple withdrew them just two days later over security concerns and moved them to a school closer to the family home.

The location of the family’s new property and the area around the children’s school have been kept private for security reasons. Meghan, however, has been seen at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds.

Speaking to GQ in an interview released yesterday, Harry said both children were “loving school” since beginning their new lives in Britain.

“It’s been nice to be close to friends, family, friends of friends and their children as well – to be able to have endless playdates to really, like, help our kids settle in,” he said.

Harry also described the significance of raising his children in the place where he grew up, saying he wanted to show them his childhood home and give them some of the positive experiences he had there.

He said enrolling Archie and Lilibet in the British school system “has meant a lot”, offering them an experience that is markedly different from their education in the US.

In an interview with GQ released yesterday, Harry revealed that Archie and Lilibet were ‘loving school’ in the UK

In an interview with GQ released yesterday, Harry said Archie and Lilibet were “loving school” after relocating to the UK

The Duchess of Sussex shared a sweet photo of Archie and Lili on Instagram that showed them running towards deer during a countryside walk (Instagram/@meghan)

The Duchess of Sussex posted a heartwarming image of Archie and Lili running towards deer during a countryside walk (Instagram/@meghan)

The family had previously been based in Montecito, California, before relocating after a summer holiday in Europe earlier this year.

“I think for kids at seven and five to be able to have that comparison and to have two completely different cultural experiences is so important today,” Harry said.

He added that when circumstances align and a particular decision feels right, “we lean into that”.

However, Harry’s comments also risk reigniting tensions with the Royal Family after he appeared to take a swipe at his brother, the Prince of Wales.

The Duke of Sussex said repairing his relationship with his family was “the most important thing” to him, but acknowledged that “some people don’t want it to work out”.

The remarks came at an awkward moment, with the interview released soon after Prince William, Princess Kate, King Charles and Queen Camilla held a private lunch with the Sultan of Oman in Windsor.

Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have both declined to comment, although sources claim senior members of the Royal Family have become increasingly tired of Harry’s repeated calls for “peace”.

Harry told GQ that “sibling disagreements” and damaged relationships between children and their parents were “massively relatable” issues that frequently arose in conversations with other people.

Harry (pictured with wife Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet) added that having his children within the British school system ‘has meant a lot’ and given them ‘a whole different experience’ compared to the US

Harry, pictured with Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet, said their move into the British school system “has meant a lot” and given them a “whole different experience” from life in the US

“People look at us, and go, ‘How are you going to work it out?’” he said. “Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.”

Harry and William have not spoken in four years. After quitting as frontline royals in 2020, the Sussexes widened the gulf by accusing the Royal Family of racism in their devastating interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Meghan has posted a selection of images and videos of her children, whose faces she keeps private, enjoying time in the countryside since they landed here.

‘The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements,’ a spokesman for Harry and Meghan said in a September statement.

‘The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family.’

Singer Joss Stone previously told Hello! magazine that Harry had discussed moving home with her at the 2025 WellChild Awards last September.

The 39-year-old mum of four lived in Nashville, Texas, before relocating back to the British Isles.

‘He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children,’ Joss revealed.

The Duke of Sussex (pictured in 2022 with wife Meghan, brother Prince William and his wife Catherine at their last public appearance together) said reconciliation with his family was 'the most important thing' to him, but added 'some people don't want it to work out’

The Duke of Sussex (pictured in 2022 with wife Meghan, brother Prince William and his wife Catherine at their last public appearance together) said reconciliation with his family was ‘the most important thing’ to him, but added ‘some people don’t want it to work out’

‘It was nice to share that with him because it’s exactly why we felt drawn to come back – for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends, and a strong sense of belonging and, most importantly, in a safe environment.’

In Nottingham last week, Harry revealed the one hesitation Archie revealed about school.

‘My son turned round to me and said, “Can I go to a school that doesn’t do math?”,’ he revealed.

‘I said, “Doesn’t exist.” And he went to this new school, and on the first day, and the first class, guess what it was?’

Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, took relations with his family to a new low, after he accused his ‘archnemesis’ brother ‘Willy’ of throwing him to the floor in a row over Meghan being ‘difficult’.

Yesterday, Harry said ‘scars stick around forever’ but urged ‘letting go of the past’, adding: ‘That’s something that I would encourage everybody to do. For me, there’s enough drama in the world and enough drama in people’s lives than to continue with issues with family.’

The duke said he was grieving his ‘complicated relationships’ with the King and the Prince of Wales but wanted to reconcile.

Hours after the interview was released, a Sussex spokesman insisted Harry had not been referring to William when he said that ‘some people’ don’t want to reconcile, as speculation mounted over who the apparent dig was aimed at.

The spokesman said: ‘It was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family.

‘The comment was made in a general context and was not directed at his family in any way.’

Harry’s reconciliation plea came as the Royal Family and Prime Minister gathered in Windsor for a lavish state banquet on Tuesday night.

Serial Rapist Andrew Luster Freed After 20 Years of 124-Year Sentence

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A California mayor has denounced the release of Andrew Luster, the cosmetics heir and convicted serial rapist who was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple unconscious women.

“The City of Glendora is beyond disappointed,” Mayor David Fredendall said in a statement after reports surfaced that Luster was living in the Glendora area. “We are outraged.”

Luster, the great-grandson of cosmetics pioneer Max Factor, was convicted on 86 felony counts involving the poisoning, rape, sodomy and oral copulation of three unconscious women. He was initially sentenced to 124 years in prison, but that term was reduced to 50 years in 2013 after a habeas corpus petition, according to court records.

Luster left prison on Oct. 11 after serving 20 years. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told The Los Angeles Times that he had completed his “full sentence as required by law.”

Fredendall cited California’s Proposition 57 as part of the framework behind Luster’s release. Approved by voters in 2016, the measure made certain nonviolent offenders eligible for credits and earlier release.

“A man convicted of repeatedly drugging and raping unconscious women was sentenced to serve 124 years in prison, has now been released after serving only 20 years in prison, under a sentencing framework that Proposition 57 helped create,” Fredendall said. “The State may argue that this was not technically an early release. It can point to sentencing credits, legal calculations, and administrative requirements. However, those technical explanations do not address the larger concern: how an individual originally sentenced to 124 years in prison for heinous crimes is able to walk out of a secured facility after only 20 years.”

What Was Andrew Luster Accused of Doing?

Luster was arrested in July 2000 after a college student accused him of raping her at his home, People reported. Her account was later supported by investigators who found a video showing Luster assaulting the unconscious woman.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said Luster, who was in his early 30s at the time, commonly targeted young women he met at college bars.

“Luster drugged his victims with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a highly dangerous drug banned in the United States, primarily because it is a drug of choice for rapists,” the office said in an October 2024 statement. “After rendering his victims into a life-threatening state of unconsciousness, Luster engaged in sadistic sexual abuse of their comatose bodies. In two of the attacks, Luster recorded his rape and sexual abuse of the victims.”

The assaults took place over nearly four years, from October 1996 through July 2000.

Andrew Luster Was Captured By Duane “The Dog” Chapman

Luster faced trial in 2003 on 86 felony counts involving three female victims. Before the verdict was delivered, prosecutors said, he escaped to Mexico. He was convicted in absentia and captured several months later by reality television bounty hunter Duane “The Dog” Chapman.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Tony Wold, who prosecuted the original case, called Luster “one of the most dangerous rapists I have ever prosecuted.”

Why Was Andrew Luster Released?

The original 124-year sentence was cut to 50 years in 2013 after a judge agreed with Luster’s appellate lawyers that a sentencing error had occurred, according to the court records.

California generally requires nonviolent offenders to serve half of their sentences, The Los Angeles Times reported. Luster also received 977 days of credit for work and good behavior.

Luster was initially approved for parole in 2024, but the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office challenged the decision. Prosecutors ultimately helped persuade a majority of parole board commissioners to overturn the release, prosecutors said.

“By drugging his victims into a coma-like state, Andrew Luster played Russian roulette with the lives of his victims so he could abuse their comatose bodies,” Wold said at the time. “Even now, he attempts to rewrite the history of his heinous crimes to falsely mitigate his culpability to gain early release. He remains a highly dangerous sexual predator. We continue to maintain he should serve his full sentence. He’s earned it.”

Luster, now 62, was released this month and began parole after the corrections department determined that he had served the full term required under state law.

Fredendall issued his sharp rebuke after learning that Luster had moved into the community, roughly 25 miles east of Los Angeles.

“Glendora stands alongside the victims of these crimes and reassures them that their pain and suffering will not go unnoticed,” he said. “Our Police Department will work with State parole authorities to ensure every applicable law and condition of supervision is followed. We will do everything within our lawful authority to protect our residents.”

The mayor added that Glendora residents should not have to question their safety because Luster is living near the city’s parks, schools, churches and community centers.

“They deserve better,” he said, “than explanations that hide behind the mechanics of a deeply flawed system.”

Oxygen reached out to Luster’s attorney, but did not receive an immediate response.

Princess Kate Alters Elie Saab Dress for More Modest Look at State Banquet

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The Princess of Wales made a series of discreet changes to a new Elie Saab gown before wearing it to a lavish royal banquet held in honour of the Sultan of Oman last night, where she appeared alongside senior members of the royal family.

Kate, 44, arrived with Prince William in the striking floor-length creation, which featured flowing fabric, a dramatic cape, a braided neckline and an elegant keyhole detail.

The original design, presented during the Lebanese designer’s Spring/Summer 2025 Ready-to-Wear show, included a transparent overskirt layered over a considerably shorter dress, along with a much lower neckline.

For the formal royal occasion, however, the gown was noticeably adapted to create a more traditional and demure silhouette.

The sheer skirt was replaced with opaque fabric, while the neckline was raised and shortened, giving Kate’s version a more modest finish suited to the prestigious engagement.

She completed the look with one of her most recognisable royal accessories: the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara. Kate has worn the historic piece 15 times over the past 10 years, including at the previous royal state banquet in March.

Decorated with diamonds and pearls, the celebrated tiara has travelled through several generations of the royal family. Its former owners include Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, before it became part of Kate’s jewellery collection.

Hair stylist Tatiana Karelina previously told the Daily Mail that Kate’s frequent decision to wear the tiara is deliberate. The piece is said to flatter the princess’s oval face shape and work particularly well with her preferred loose waves and low chignon hairstyles.

The Princess of Wales altered her new Elie Saab gown to suit a royal banquet as she joined senior royals for a glittering reception honouring the Sultan of Oman last night

The Princess of Wales gave her new Elie Saab gown a royal makeover before joining senior royals at a glittering banquet celebrating the Sultan of Oman last night.

Kate, 44, put on an elegant display in the flowing dress with a dramatic cape, braided neckline and keyhole cutout as she arrived for the banquet with Prince William

Kate, 44, looked elegant in the flowing cape-style gown, which featured a braided neckline and keyhole detail as she arrived alongside Prince William.

Karelina also pointed to a practical explanation for the tiara’s status as a trusted favourite: its familiar design makes it easier to secure comfortably and safely in Kate’s hair.

The Cambridge Lover’s Knot was created in 1914 by royal jeweller Garrard for Queen Mary, who commissioned it using diamonds and pearls already in her collection.

The design was inspired by a tiara once owned by Queen Mary’s grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, who married the first Duke of Cambridge, the seventh son of King George III, in 1818.

Its appearance reflects a strong French influence, with a neoclassical structure formed from 19 openwork diamond arches and an oriental pearl drop suspended from a diamond lover’s-knot bow.

To create the bespoke jewel, Queen Mary repurposed pieces from her existing collection, including elements of the dismantled Some Ladies of England Tiara, pearls from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, and pearls taken from several of her favourite brooches.

She later removed the tiara’s upper row of pearls and returned them to the brooches from which they had originally come.

Queen Mary eventually left the tiara to the late Queen Elizabeth II in her will. The former monarch wore it on many occasions, including an evening engagement in 1955.

In 1981, Queen Elizabeth II presented the tiara to Prince William’s mother, Diana, as a wedding gift. Diana first wore it later that year at the State Opening of Parliament in November.

Following Diana’s death in 1997, the historic tiara was stored in a secure room at Buckingham Palace. It was later given to Kate, then known as the Duchess of Cambridge, in 2015.

When seen on the catwalk as part of the Lebanese fashion designer's spring/summer 25 Ready-to-Wear collection, the design featured a sheer skirt over a much shorter dress and a plunging neckline

On the runway for the Lebanese designer’s Spring/Summer 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection, the gown featured a sheer skirt layered over a much shorter dress and a plunging neckline.

She paired it with her favourite tiara, the Cambridge Lover's Knot, which Kate has worn 15 times in the last decade - including at the last royal state banquet in March

She paired it with her favourite tiara, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot, which Kate has worn 15 times in the last decade – including at the last royal state banquet in March

The Princess of Wales wore the Cambridge Lover's Knot at the state banquet for Nigeria's President and First Lady in March

The Princess of Wales wore the Cambridge Lover’s Knot at the state banquet for Nigeria’s President and First Lady in March

The Princess of Wales with Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi at the State Banquet at Windsor Castle yesterday

The Princess of Wales with Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi at the State Banquet at Windsor Castle yesterday 

Kate first wore the family jewel on December 8, 2015, when she attended the late Queen’s annual Diplomatic Reception in a touching tribute to her mother-in-law.

Since then, the mother of three has worn it 15 times – including for the royal wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa in 2023, the first state banquet of King Charles’s reign in 2022, and during US President Donald Trump’s state visit last year. 

And she had it removed from storage for last night’s high-profile royal engagement, as Kate accessorised the ethereal gown with diamond earrings and a bracelet that belonged to Queen Elizabeth. 

She joined the King, Queen and Prince William for the state banquet – just hours after Prince Harry’s interview insisting he wants to reconcile with his family.

The monarch was accompanied by William and Catherine, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester as they hosted Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said and his retinue in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.

William was dressed for the occasion in a white tie with the Windsor tail coat, his Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash with the Lesser George and other medals and decorations.

Camilla looked regal in a purple chiffon dress by Fiona Clare, while Charles sported the Sash of the Order of Al Said, an honour given to him by the Sultan of Oman earlier in the day.

One hundred and sixty guests were invited to dine on Scottish langoustine and Cornish crab, pot roasted Windsor pheasant and stuffed cabbage, individual baked Alaskas with Balmoral Plum and Windsor Estate honey ice cream.

It came hours after the King’s youngest son Harry insisted he wants to reconcile with his family, while denying he was taking a ‘swipe’ at his brother William when declaring: ‘Some people don’t want it to work out.’

The Duke of Sussex, who has not spoken to William for four years, admitted in an interview with GQ that he is grieving his ‘complicated relationships’ with the King and the Prince of Wales.

Charles spoke of the importance of the friendship between Britain and Oman at a time of ‘painful’ conflict in the Middle East.

King Charles, the Sultan of Oman and Queen Camilla at the banquet

King Charles, the Sultan of Oman and Queen Camilla at the banquet 

Queen Camilla and H.H. Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said walk in procession to the event

Queen Camilla and H.H. Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said walk in procession to the event

The Sultan and King Charles share a laugh at the banquet this evening

The Sultan and King Charles share a laugh at the banquet this evening 

And amid the continuing drama around Harry, he told the Sultan of Oman of his pride that both ‘our sons’ – William and the Crown Prince of Oman – had become joint patrons of the Jewel of Arabia expedition, a cultural and environmental trek through the region last year.

‘Your Majesty, there can be few happier symbols of success than a living relationship being passed from one generation to the next,’ he said.

His speech came at the end of a damp but successful day as the Sultan arrived at Windsor Castle at the start of a three-day State Visit.

Oman is one of Britain’s oldest and most trusted allies in Arabia and the British Government requested the state visit to emphasise trade, military and cultural links at a perilous time in the region.

Toasting his guests at the banquet, Charles said it was a ‘treasured moment to receive dear and old friends’.

‘Oman is one of Britain’s oldest allies and, after all these years, I pray, one of your closest friends,’ he said.

He said he had been ‘immensely fortunate and blessed’ to have come to know Oman well over many visits and praised both the late Sultan’s ‘inspired leadership’ and the present leader’s ‘energetic and far-sighted leadership’.

Turning to the current conflict, he said: ‘I would especially like to recognise, at a time when conflict has returned so painfully to the region, Oman’s enduring commitment as a trusted interlocutor to all parties.’

And referring to the Strait of Hormuz he said: ‘Oman’s noble efforts in trying to keep open one of the world’s most important shipping routes have been of great service to the whole international community, and particularly to the most vulnerable of those affected.

‘Oman’s role across the Gulf and her “constructive neutrality”, as you put it, matters far beyond Hormuz, and is worthy of our utmost respect.

‘The unique and special relationship we share helps to make the world and our peoples safe.’

The King also highlighted the environmental challenges facing both countries and the ‘promise and peril’ of AI.

He concluded: ‘Your Majesty, I hope this State Visit shows the importance the United Kingdom attaches to Oman, its monarchy and institutions, and to our friendship with you personally.’ 

Tuesday night’s 50-metre-long table, which runs the whole length of the room, was laid with 480 knives, 480 forks, 160 spoons and the Grand Service, commissioned by George IV, which runs to more than 4,000 silver-gilt pieces.

In a touching tribute, the centre 12-light St George and the dragon candelabra, commissioned by William IV in 1833, was decorated with pomegranates grown on a tree planted by the late Duke of Edinburgh around 50 years ago on the East Terrace.

The unseasonably warm summer has caused it to fruit so staff decided to use them as decorations, although they are not to be consumed afterwards as they are inedible.

For the first time, the salt on the table has been imprinted with the King’s royal cypher.

Among the guests were athlete Mazoon Al Alawi and sailor Mohsin Al Busaidi. It also marked Andy Burnham’s first state banquet as Prime Minister.

During Harry’s interview yesterday, the Duke was asked directly whether he really wanted to heal the rift with his brother and father. Harry replied: ‘Of course I do. With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That’s the key point.’

But in remarks widely interpreted as a dig at William, he added: ‘Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.’

Hours after the interview was published, a Sussex spokesman insisted the remark was not aimed at his older brother as speculation mounted over who Harry was referring to.

He said: ‘It was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family.

‘The comment was made in a general context and was not directed at his family in any way.’

Trump Celebrates Stephen Hubbard’s Release From Russia With Savage Swipe at Biden

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President Donald Trump hailed the release of Stephen Hubbard from Russian custody early Wednesday, while criticizing former President Joe Biden for what he described as a failure to bring the retired teacher home sooner.

Trump said he raised the case of the 74-year-old American during a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week and personally urged him to approve Hubbard’s release.

“Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president also claimed that Moscow did not seek a prisoner exchange or other concession for Hubbard’s freedom, saying the decision was made “out of respect for President Trump.”

Trump used the announcement to intensify his criticism of Biden, arguing that the former administration should have done more to secure the American’s return.

“Biden should have done the Hubbard release long ago! What a difference a President makes!” Trump wrote in a second Truth Social post.

Hubbard, a veteran of the US Air Force and National Guard from Big Rapids, Michigan, had been living in eastern Ukraine with his Ukrainian partner when Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russian forces detained him in April 2022. In October 2024, a court convicted Hubbard of serving as a mercenary and sentenced him to six years and 10 months in prison.