Watching President Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska in the centre of Kyiv lead a minute’s silence to honour the tens of thousands of soldiers who have died on the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine war was a sobering moment.
European prime ministers and dignitaries had come to Maidan Square in Kyiv as an act of solidarity and remembrance as they set candles in front of the sea of crosses, photos and flags that now adorn this makeshift memorial for those killed in this conflict.
But equally, there is an acknowledgement from those gathered that when it comes to this war, there is no end in sight: the leaders who arrived in Ukraine to mark this anniversary expect to be coming back next year, too.
For Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, the trip was a moment to focus not just on sanctions, weapon supplies and territory, but to try to highlight the war Vladimir Putin is waging against women and children in Ukraine as he wages a “war on Ukrainian culture”.
Advertisement
“I think one of the things that’s been clearly happening, the way that so many children have been stolen, the ways in which, in the temporarily occupied territories, they are trying to change the education system, trying to choke out the Ukrainian language,” she said.
“It’s an attempt really, not just about territory, but to have a war on Ukrainian families, to have war on Ukraine history and culture and identity,” the foreign secretary told me in an interview in Kyiv.
Image: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska. Pic: Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters
But even as she arrived in Ukraine, issues at home plaguing the government and her foreign office brief were dominating the agenda, with the former US ambassador that she sacked, Peter Mandelson, arrested and taken in for hours of questioning by the police as Ms Cooper took an overnight train to Ukraine.
The foreign secretary, who sacked the ambassador just days into her job in September, reiterated her position that Lord Mandelson “should never have been appointed” and, in a rare flash of emotion, told me that “vile” emails were exchanged between Lord Mandelson and paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Advertisement
In one of the emails released by the US Department of Justice, Epstein replies to Lord Mandelson asking how being free from jail felt, by saying “she feels fresh, firm and creamy”. Lord Mandelson replied by calling Epstein a “naughty boy”.
“That’s just vile,” she told me. “It makes me feel so angry.”
“I’ve been really clear, Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed as ambassador to the US and I think some of what has been so, so deeply frustrating about all of this is that really at the heart of all of these should be the victims of Epstein, they’re women and and children who faced the most horrendous criminal exploitation trafficking and that really should be the focus.
“As you know, when I was home secretary, I made it a mission for the government to halve violence against women and girls over the next 10 years.
Advertisement
“That’s a strategy now that the prime minister has championed. And now, as foreign secretary, I am making tackling violence against women and girls something that is an international theme for us as well.”
Advertisement
Beth says she’s never seen the foreign secretary so furious.
On that issue, Ms Cooper used her time in Ukraine to meet female victims of Russian aggression and sexual violence and the “voices for children” charity with Olena Zelenska to highlight the plight of thousands of children stolen from their Ukrainian families by Russia.
Yevgen Zakharov, a civil rights activist working at the Civil Liberties Centre, told the foreign secretary on her visit there that Putin “wants to eliminate Ukrainian identity”.
Advertisement
“This is his crazy idea, a genocidal intent is there,” he said.
Throughout these visits, we heard stories of women in Russian-occupied territory being beaten, sexually abused, falsely imprisoned and sent to Labour camps.
Elena Jagapova spoke of how she was taped to a chair, beaten until bloodied, sexually abused and sent to a labour camp. Another, Julia, told us of how her children – then 10 and 17 – were abducted by the Russians, and her 19-month battle to get them back.
Ms Zelenska says more than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been stolen by the Russians as part of their campaign to eradicate Ukrainian culture, through repressing the language, forcing indoctrination and trying to brainwash children.
Advertisement
“We heard stories not just of torture, but also of this attempt to really destroy Ukrainian culture and identity as well,” said Ms Cooper.
“That’s why it’s so important that we provide support for Ukrainian families, support for Ukrainian services but, also, make sure that you could have the kind of special tribunal, the kind of court processes, international court processes, that can pursue exactly those questions and can make sure that there is some justice and accountability.”
Image: Ukrainians visiting the graves of their relatives in Lviv, western Ukraine. Pic: Reuters
The UK has made it clear to Ukraine that it will play a part in helping set up war crime courts when this conflict finally ends, in echoes of Britain’s role in the Nuremberg trials that punctuated the Second World War.
But when that moment comes is hard to see. Those who gathered in Ukraine on Tuesday did so with a weariness that has come to characterise an attritional war in which Russia isn’t winning, but neither is it defeated, as Europe and the US give enough support for Ukraine to fight on, without the firepower – or sanctions against Russia – for it to truly succeed.
Mr Zelenskyy warned on the eve of the fourth anniversary that Putin had already started World War Three and Ukraine was the outpost, the frontline pushing Putin back.
Advertisement
Ms Cooper doesn’t want to use that language, but she does acknowledge that Russian aggression is here to stay, and allies must support Ukraine for however long it takes.
To that end, the UK introduced another sanctions package on Tuesday, and is pushing the US and Europe about a maritime services ban to make it much harder for Russia’s shadow fleet to transport Russian oil.
The frustration is that the US, in trying to pursue peace talks – and reportedly in favour of Russian demand that Ukraine cede the 20% of the Donbas territory not under Russian occupation as part of any truce, is reluctant to squeeze Russia economically right now.
So this war grinds on. For the Ukrainians and allies, one glimmer of hope is that Russia is now losing more men that it can mobilise on the battlefield.
Ukraine hopes that if it can increase the casualty rate to 50,000 Russians a month, then Putin might be forced to consider conscription, which could prove politically difficult and begin to stall his momentum.
That Russia has sacrificed an estimated 500,000 lives in order to gain less than one per cent of Ukraine’s territory tells of the attritional war in which these two sides are locked – and with the horrific loss of life.
Advertisement
In the meantime, Britain and Europe will try to put more pressure on the US to bring in more aggressive sanctions against Russia, to financially starve Putin’s war machine.
But for all the signs of solidarity on Tuesday, there is little to show in the way of concrete steps to peace. Ukraine hopes for a game changer in the coming months, but is reconciled to more anniversaries like today.
Which Epstein survivors are attending the State of the Union?
Approximately 14 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, or the family of survivors, are expected to attend the State of the Union tonight.
Sky and Amanda Roberts, the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Ariana Baio25 February 2026 01:45
Advertisement
Watch Live: Trump delivers State of the Union address in the midst of poor polling
Independent Video25 February 2026 01:42
President and First Lady head to U.S. Capitol
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are headed to the U.S. Capitol, where he will deliver his State of the Union address.
Advertisement
(REUTERS)
Ariana Baio25 February 2026 01:37
Senator Mark Kelly says he will attend speech to show resilience
“I’m going to be in that room tonight. I want him to look out and see me and to know this: that he and Pete Hegseth failed. He’s not going to intimidate me or keep me from standing up for Arizona or the Constitution,” Kelly said in a video posted on X.
Ariana Baio25 February 2026 01:24
Advertisement
House Minority Whip not attending address
Rep. Katherine Clark, the House Minority Whip, is not attending the State of the Union address – joining a group of Democrats in boycotting the president’s address.
“What we have seen from this president is a series of lies, of disrespect for the American people. He campaigned that he would lower costs on day one, he would keep people safe and secure, and he has done just the opposite,” Clark told ABC News.
Clark said she would spend Tuesday evening talking with constituents while Trump is “spewing his misinformation.”
Advertisement
“While he is spewing his misinformation tonight,
Ariana Baio25 February 2026 01:00
‘God help us:’ Chuck Schumer gripes about planned length of Trump’s address
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer griped about the planned length of Trump’s State of the Union address this evening after the president said it will be “long.”
Advertisement
“Donald Trump said he is going to talk for a very long time tonight,” the New York Democrat wrote on X. “God help us.”
“Not sure what he thinks there is to celebrate, because America is a mess thanks to him,” Schumer added.
Brendan Rascius25 February 2026 00:52
Advertisement
‘I’m not giving it back’: Trump jokes that he’s keeping US Men’s hockey gold medal
After being presented with an Olympic gold medal, President Donald Trump joked that he was “not giving it back.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the Republican president hosted members of the U.S. men’s hockey team at the White House after their historic gold-winning game at the Winter Olympics in Italy over the weekend.
Brendan Rascius25 February 2026 00:30
Advertisement
Republican Senator invites man sentenced to prison for violating Clean Air Act to SOTU
Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said she invited Troy Lake, a man who served federal prison time for violating the Clean Air Act, as her guest to the State of the Union.
Lake pleaded guilty to violating the federal law, regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, in June 2024 for instructing his employees to disable monitoring systems that ensure heavy-duty commercial trucks are complying with emission requirements under the act.
Lake served approximately seven months in prison before being pardoned by Trump in November 2025.
“Troy is a hardworking American who was unfairly targeted by the Biden Justice Department. President Trump made the right call in pardoning him, and we look forward to attending tonight’s address,” Lummis wrote on X.
Advertisement
Ariana Baio25 February 2026 00:00
What to expect from Spanberger’s rebuttal
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is delivering the Democrats’ affordability-focused rebuttal to Trump’s State of the Union address.
Spanberger, who became the first woman elected governor of Virginia in November, is expected to focus on affordability, domestic instability and how “ordinary citizens” are pushing back on the administration, according to a preview of her speech seen by the New York Times.
Advertisement
“Virginians and Americans across the country are contending with rising costs, chaos in their communities, and a real fear of what each day might bring,” Spanberger said in a statement.
“I look forward to laying out what these Americans expect and deserve — leaders who are working hard to deliver for them.”
Spanberger will speak on behalf of Democrats as a rebuttal to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union (Getty Images)
Ariana Baio24 February 2026 23:30
Lincoln Project airs video mocking Trump for being ‘stupid’ ahead of SOTU
Ahead of the State of the Union address, the Lincoln Project, a political action committee opposed to Trump, aired a video mocking the president for losing his tariffs case at the Supreme Court.
Advertisement
The video is a compilation of clips from Trump’s press conference Friday in which he lashed out at justices for ruling against him and declared the final opinion wrong.
“Donald, you must feel so dumb,” a voiceover says. “Even dumber than usual.”
James Sefton, 65, and his wife Ellen, 66, were killed when a booby trap device exploded under their car
A fresh appeal for information has been made over the killing of a former police officer and his wife by a car bomb in 1990.
Advertisement
James Sefton, 65, and his wife Ellen, 66, were killed when a booby trap device exploded under their car in Belfast. It happened on Wednesday June 6 after the couple had left their home on Lyndhurst Gardens and driven towards Belfast city centre.
Mr Sefton, who was driving, was fatally injured and died in the Mater Hospital. Mrs Sefton was critically injured and transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital. She died the following day.
The new appeal for information has been made by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) which is probing the murders at the request of the Sefton family.
Advertisement
Assistant commissioner Amanda Logan, who is leading the commission’s investigations team, said the family is seeking the truth around what happened.
She said even the smallest detail could help.
“It’s over 35 years since James and Ellen were killed,” she said.
“Their family is seeking the truth about what happened and we believe there is someone out there who may hold the vital piece of information that could make a difference to the investigation. Even the smallest detail could help us understand what happened and why.”
Advertisement
Ms Logan added that the suffering of the Sefton family was “representative of the pain of so many victims, survivors and families”.
“People are still suffering, deprived of information and with no accountability,” she said.
“Our job at the commission is to try to deliver answers for people who have been searching for them for decades.”
The witness appeal will involve distributing posters and an organised leaflet drop in the areas relating to the investigation.
Advertisement
Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live?Making us your preferred source on Googlemeans you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simplyclick here.
Tanya Petrie was a former pharmacy technician at the prison
Husna Anjum Senior Live News Reporter and Abigail Neep
00:46, 25 Feb 2026
A woman has been jailed for smuggling drugs into prison in what was called a ‘criminal conspiracy’. Tanya Petrie, 61, is a former pharmacy technician at HMP Bristol.
Hailing from Worle, Weston-Super-Mare, she was caught after police caught her retrieving a package from a residential wheelie bin in Somerdale Avenue in Bristol. She then attended the prison, where police say she was detained, searched and subsequently arrested on suspicion of being part of a conspiracy to take prohibited items into prison.
Advertisement
Bristol Live reports Petrie was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday, February 12, of conspiring to bring or convey a list A prohibited article into prison and sentenced to six years behind bars. She previously pleaded guilty to conveying a list B prohibited article into a prison.
She was sentenced on Monday, February 16, to six years and three months in prison. After being arrested at work, Petrie was searched while in custody and Petrie informed officers at Avon and Somerset Police that she had a package on her person and handed the officer a cling-film wrapped package.
Officers say this was later discovered to contain four packages of class B drugs, two packages of class A drugs (cocaine) and tobacco. Following further investigative enquiries, police believed that Petrie had made an earlier trip to Somerdale Avenue on the morning of October 9, 2023.
In an interview, Petrie revealed that she had taken money from the wheelie bin which she used to purchase SIM cards from a local garage. She then snuck this into the prison and gave it to a prisoner.
Officers conducted in-depth data analysis and identified two phone numbers which were being used within the prison. The phone was linked to prisoner Kyle Joyner, 32.
Officers discovered that Joyner had been using the phone to contact one of the occupants of the property in Somerdale Avenue, Casey Collins, 23, from Knowle West. Collins was responsible for placing the item in the wheelie bin that Petrie collected in October 2023.
Joyner, Collins and Petrie were all charged in the summer of 2024. Joyner and Collins pleaded guilty to conveying listed A prohibited items into the prison in January 2025 and were jailed for three years and two years and four months respectively.
Advertisement
For Joyner, this sentence will be served in addition to his existing prison sentence of eight years and eight months.
Senior Investigating Officer, DI Tim Seaman from the Serious and Organised Crime Team, said: “This case shows the proactive and determined work carried out by our team and our partners to uncover and dismantle a criminal conspiracy operating both inside and outside the prison walls.
“By working closely with colleagues at HMP Bristol, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Counter Corruption and the Regional Prison Corruption team within the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, we were able to swiftly identify the actions of a member of staff who was abusing her position of trust to smuggle dangerous drugs and illicit items into the prison.
“Such actions enable organised crime, fuel violence, and undermine the hard work of honest staff who dedicate themselves to running secure and rehabilitative environments.
Advertisement
“This investigation sends a clear message: our investigations into organised crime will identify those who facilitate organised criminality and we will work tirelessly with our partners, and use every tactic available to bring those involved in corruption to justice – regardless of their role or position.”
Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source
The rapper, who arrived at the stadium nearly three hours before the 7.45pm kick-off, joined the Swansea ownership group last July and made his way to south-west Wales after being at the Winter Olympics, where he served as Team USA’s honorary coach as well as a special correspondent for broadcaster NBC.
The Port of Middlesbrough, which is owned and operated by AV Dawson, has now been handed an improvement notice by the HSE.
Advertisement
The notice, issued on December 16, states the company failed to ensure risk assessment and system of work measures were implemented during the transport, handling and storage of steel pipes.
The full notice states: “You have failed to make and give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate, for the effective control and monitoring of your preventive and protective measures, by failing to ensure that the measures identified in your risk assessment and system of work document were being implemented during the transport, handling and storage of steel pipes on December 8, 2025.”
The firm must comply with the notice by March 13.
An AV Dawson spokesperson said: “We are cooperating fully with the ongoing HSE investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Advertisement
Cleveland Police previously said the HSE was leading the investigation.
The HSE probe remains ongoing.
AV Dawson previously said its thoughts were with the man’s family and friends.
The White Company officially launched its new concession inside Barkers Department Store in Northallerton, opening its doors yesterday (February 23).
Located on the first floor of Barkers High Street store, the new space showcases a curated selection of The White Company’s “signature collections, including homeware, clothing and accessories”, joining a line-up of established retail names.
The concession is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Pictures reveal the perfectly curated unit kitted out with luxury items and clothing, ready for shoppers to enjoy as the spring season approaches.
Advertisement
The White Company, Northallerton (Image: THE WHITE COMPANY)
The White Company, Northallerton (Image: THE WHITE COMPANY)
The White Company, Northallerton (Image: THE WHITE COMPANY)
Guy Barker, director at Barkers Department Store, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome The White Company to Barkers.
“This is a brand we have admired for many years, and we have been working closely with their team for some time to bring this concession to our store.
“As a family-owned independent department store, we are always looking to enhance our offering for customers and bring premium brands to the heart of Northallerton.
The White Company, Northallerton (Image: THE WHITE COMPANY)
The White Company, Northallerton (Image: THE WHITE COMPANY)
The White Company, Northallerton (Image: THE WHITE COMPANY)
The White Company, Northallerton (Image: THE WHITE COMPANY)
“The White Company is synonymous with quality, style and timeless design, and we are confident it will be a wonderful addition for our customers and for the town as a whole.
Advertisement
“We look forward to seeing the new concession thrive and to welcoming both new and existing customers to experience it.”
To celebrate the launch of the new store, customers can enjoy a complimentary tote bag when they spend £50 or more, while stocks last.
Fans just got their first look at Outlander season eight after Starz dropped a video from the final series
Neela Debnath Screen Time Reporter
00:01, 25 Feb 2026
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Outlander fans have been sent into meltdown after US network Starz released a snippet from one of the episodes ahead of the official premiere next week.
In the short, minute-long clip, Jamie Fraser (played by Sam Heughan) is talking to his son-in-law Roger MacKenzie (Richard Rankin) after the pair are reunited following the MacKenzies’ return to the past at the end of season seven.
Jamie tells Roger: “There’s a man by the name of Cunningham. He helped open the new trading post. I’d be curious to ken what ye might think of him, anything ye might learn.”
Outlander: Blood of My Blood fans can get MGM+ free for a week
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Telly fans can get seven days of free access to binge top series like Outlander: Blood of My Blood with a free trial of Amazon Prime’s MGM+ channel.
Roger listens to Jamie and nods in agreement as Claire and Brianna MacKenzie (Sophie Skelton) walk into the room and she updates her mother on the children.
Brianna mentions her daughter Mandy MacKenzie’s (Rosa Morris) heart surgery: “She was on antibiotics for a while, had a few checkups but other than that…”
“Children are remarkable. Listening to her heart you’d never have known anything was wrong,” Claire responds.
Advertisement
Brianna reveals the children have at last gone to sleep after their long journey back to the correct time zone after they were initially reunited with Roger in 1739.
Jamie tells Roger and Brianna: “I still canna believe it, the sight of you here. We weren’t even sure if the letters would reach ye when we left them at the bank.
Outlander returns in trailer for the final season
“There was an inheritance, I suppose. We thought you should ken what had become of us.”
Claire adds: “We never would have dreamed you would have used them to find your way back to us.”
Advertisement
Roger raises a toast and poignantly says: “To coming home. To family. Slàinte.”
Many fans took to the comment section to share their thoughts about the footage as one person posted: “They’re all together again,” alongside crying and heart eyes emojis.
While a second said: “I hope to god they filmed the “hello the house!” Scene. Best reunion ever! (Since Claire and Jamie obvs) [sic].”
A third commented: “I know this math won’t make sense to everyone, but seven seasons were too few, and two more weeks to wait is too much!”
Advertisement
While on YouTube, one fan said: “The last droughtlander is almost over… now it’s time for the final chapter.”
A second person reflected what many others were thinking when they posted: “Ugh I’m not ready [sic]” and a crying eyes out emoji.
Someone else added: “It’s gonna be so fun seeing them together again, even if this show is ending it’s still gonna be fun to watch!! [sic].”
Advertisement
Outlander’s final series will be arriving on March 6 for those in the USA and on March 7 for British fans, with a total of 10 episodes airing weekly.
Outlander season 8 will premiere on Starz in the USA on March 6 and on MGM+ via Prime Video in the UK on March 7
**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
It tops up a claimant’s income to a guaranteed minimum level which is currently £227.10 if you’re single or £346.60 if you’re a couple. It can also open the door to other benefits such as help with health and housing costs.
However the rules state someone who is part of a couple will not qualify if their partner is under pension age, currently 66. Lib Dem MP Liz Jarvis questioned the rule asking of the impact it has on those in a “mixed age” relationship but on a low income.
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions she asked “what assessment” their Department had made “of the potential impact on levels of pensioner poverty among mixed-age couples of the requirement that both members of a couple must have reached State Pension age in order to be eligible for Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit.”
However, in reply, Stephen Timms, the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, said the rules were “important”. In a written reply, he said: “Ensuring that individuals can get into, progress and stay in work is important in helping them to continue saving for their own retirement and contribute to the wider economy.
“The requirement for mixed-age couples to seek financial support from the working-age social security system until both members of the couple reach State Pension Age ensures that, once in receipt of Universal Credit, the younger partner can access the same employment support that is available for customers below State Pension Age, including dedicated employment support for customers over the age of 50. The pension-age partner is placed in the no-work related requirements group.
“The Government recognises the critical role Universal Credit has to play in tackling poverty and making work pay and is taking important steps to support people with their living costs. For the first time ever, we have introduced a sustained above inflation increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance for all claimants. From April 2026, this will see the standard allowance uprated by 3.8%, followed by a further 2.3%.”
Prior to 2019 couples who were mixed age – where one was a pensioner and the other under pension age – could choose to claim either Pension Credit or working age benefits. Then in 2019 the government changed this so they would be treated as a “working age” couple for means-tested benefits.
At the time Age UK criticised it as “unfair” warning it would have a serious impact on pensioners with a younger partner. It warned it would put pensioners in a situation where they would be better off living alone and claiming Pension Credit than living as a couple receiving Universal Credit.
And earlier this year Independent Age, a later in life financial hardship charity, called on the government to end the rule. It said goverment figures showed that affected couples could be losing around £5,900 a year, with some losing as much as £7,000.
Independent Age Chief Executive, Joanna Elson CBE said: “Our helpline received a call from a 79-year-old who was unable to claim Pension Credit because their partner is 59. Under the mixed-age couples rule, they will have to wait until they are 87 before they can access this life-changing financial support.
Advertisement
“The UK Government has created a flawed system where two people of the same age can be treated completely differently just because one has a younger partner.” The charity is urging the UK Government to reverse the mixed-age couples rule, to enable couples to claim pensioner benefits once the older partner reaches State Pension age.
She added: “The mixed-age couples rule is unfair and must end. It is wrong that older people on a low-income with younger partners are locked out of vital financial support, forcing them to wait years for entitlements like Pension Credit. Independent Age supports couples where the younger partner is in low-paid employment or unable to work due to health conditions, or due to caring for their older partner. This rule risks pushing more older people into deep financial hardship.
“Who you fall in love with and choose to spend your later years with should not determine how much financial support you receive. Far too many older couples are forced to live on tiny incomes because of this rule. It’s time for the UK Government to reverse it.”
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activateor add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings
What’s in store for you today? (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Although the Moon is in Gemini this morning, it’s not long until it enters sensitive, intuitive Cancer overnight.
There’s also the beginning to Mercury Retrograde to look forward to tomorrow — very much a ‘calm before the storm’ type energy.
So, ahead of the potential heightened emotions and logistical complications these transits may bring, self care is key.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Wednesday February 25, 2026.
Advertisement
Like checking your horoscope every morning?You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.
Feeling social, spontaneous and ready to share things, just maybe not in a straight line. Conversations zip, ideas fly and your attention span is doing its best. This is a great day to brainstorm, connect or flirt with a fresh perspective. Just watch for scattering your energy like confetti, which is fun but messy. Write it down, follow up and don’t overthink everything.
Your mind is on money, values and a few tempting splurges, so keep an eye on your bank account. Conversations around finances or self-esteem may pop up, and you’re more flexible than usual about exploring new ideas. Just don’t let indecision sneak in. Trust your instincts but let logic have a seat at the table too. A thoughtful pause is worth more than buyers’ remorse.
With the Moon continuing its dance through your sign, you’ll feel extra chatty, curious, clever and restless. Emotions bubble up, but they’re wearing party hats and are light, expressive and eager to mingle. It’s a great day to share something, start a conversation or send that text you’ve been thinking about since last week. Say what you feel, then feel what you say and be yourself.
Finding emotional energy a touch distracting? Today, you’re feeling everything but processing it through thoughts. Memories, intuitions and inner dialogue swirl like a soft breeze through your psyche. Don’t rush to explain what’s going on, let your inner narrator take its time. Rest, reflect and be at ease with yourself. Your inner self knows the story and your mind is just catching up.
You may be feeling very curious, chatty and ready to chase shiny ideas. Your social sector is lit up, making this a perfect day to mingle, brainstorm or charm a crowd, whether digitally or otherwise. You’re magnetic without trying but do look to listen as much as you speak. With so many thoughts flying, don’t say more when you could say less. Stay sensitive to others’ vibes.
Your mind may be multitasking but your feelings are harder to pin down. Career thoughts, long-term plans and public image are in the spotlight, and you’re juggling them brilliantly. But beware of analysis overload, as feeling isn’t a flaw, it’s data too. Conversations with authority figures or collaborators could open doors, so listen to those powerful but subtle nudges, as well as logic.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Big ideas, travel plans or spiritual ponderings may show up, and your heart is in the mood to wander, mentally and literally. Let curiosity guide you, but don’t forget to come back down to earth long enough to answer texts or finish what you started. Today, your balance comes not from stillness, but from graceful motion. Chase wonder but also pack sandwiches and a map.
Today’s lunar vibe highlights shared resources, secrets and soulful bonds, so expect thoughts about trust, intimacy or finances to surface. You’re ready to talk about the things most avoid, just try not to sting if someone can’t go as deep as you. Insight comes through conversation, so speak your truth with warmth. Mystery is still your magic, but clarity is your secret power move.
Your relationship zone is lit up like a dazzling disco ball. Conversations with partners, whether romantic, business or just brunch, may be fast, funny and revealing. You’re after great conversation and a little wordplay. Today, listening is just as appealing as speaking. Don’t shy away from emotional depth, as love or that brilliant idea could be just one sentence away.
Tasks, texts and to-do lists can multiply fast, but your sharp mind is up to the challenge. Today’s lunar energy highlights your work, wellness and routines, so it’s a great chance to rethink how you’re spending your time and energy. Try not to over-schedule yourself into a corner, as even the most efficient goat needs breaks. Multitask mindfully, communicate clearly and hydrate often.
Your brain is buzzing, your charm is at a peak, and your inner genius is ready to play. Creativity, romance and self-expression are in focus, so flirt with a new idea, text that intriguing someone or dive into a personal project. You’re not just thinking, you’re sparkling. Say yes to spontaneous joy and unexpected inspiration. Even so, don’t scatter your brilliance, instead focus your fun.
With the Moon continuing in quicksilver Gemini, your shell of calm may feel more like a carousel of thoughts and feelings. Your home life, inner world or emotional landscape is buzzing with activity, memories, conversations and an urge to do some rearranging. Give yourself a chance to relax and doodle ideas. Talk it out, write it down or chat with someone who gets you.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. Whether it is the latest politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.
Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
Our journalists work hard to deliver the most important stories from around the world
The Preston boss clearly wasn’t having any of the hype surrounding Swansea’s celebrity investor
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom claimed there was a ‘smell of weed’ in the tunnel during his side’s highly-anticipated clash with Swansea City.
Advertisement
Swans investor Snoop Dogg was in attendance for the clash at the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday night, with his arrival attracting a record home crowd, and a huge atmosphere ahead of kick-off.
Snoop was introduced to the Jack Army around 15 minutes before the start of the game, and did his part in geeing up the home crowd.
What unfolded was a surreal night that few in attendance will ever forget.
However, visiting boss Heckingbottom clearly wasn’t all that fussed, and dismissed suggestions the hype around Swansea’s celebrity investor had an impact on the game.
Having seen his side go ahead through Daniel Jebbison in the 26th minute, the Lilywhites boss was frustrated by their inability to see the game out, with Liam Cullen coming off the bench to net a stoppage-time equaliser.
After it was suggested to him that his players were potentially walking into an ‘intense’ atmosphere, the North End boss said: “It wasn’t was it?
“It was quiet. We kept them quiet. That’s how we played. Our fans were the loudest.
Advertisement
“We only let them have their occasion at the very end by conceding.
“So that’s the frustrating thing.”
Asked if he felt the atmosphere was potentially different to other games, he added: “I can’t tell. It’s only different for people who are here every week, isn’t it? It’s not different for us.
“We don’t play at Swans every week, so it’s no different for us.
Advertisement
Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
“We go away to Ipswich the other week, they were at it, their fans were at it, and that was noise all game.
“It was just a game for us and we kept, I felt, everyone quiet until the end.
“I think just the smell of weed in the tunnel is the only thing where we realised something was different.”
