Noah, aged three, was last seen at 3pm on Tuesday, Suffolk Police said, when he became separated from a relative after visiting the playground in Merriam Close in Brantham, near Manningtree

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A massive search operation has been launched for a young boy named Noah, with police urging local residents to check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings. The non-verbal autistic youngster went missing after a trip to a playground, with Suffolk Police confirming he was last spotted at 3pm on Tuesday, when he became separated from a relative at the playground in Merriam Close in Brantham, near Manningtree.

The force confirmed the three-year-old is autistic, non-verbal and has partial hearing loss.

A Coastguard helicopter was observed circling the village, which sits close to the estuary of the River Stour.

Officers said Noah is believed to have bolted down an alleyway beside the playground towards a nearby new-build housing estate. The three year old is white with curly ginger hair and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt featuring TV character Bluey, shorts and white trainers.

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesperson said: “Emergency services are currently in Brantham conducting searches. Residents in the area are asked to check their gardens, sheds and outbuildings.”

The BBC reported that more than 100 people had joined the search effort on Tuesday evening, reports Essex Live.

An HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “We are assisting Suffolk Constabulary with an incident at Brantham by sending an HM Coastguard helicopter and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Felixstowe and Holbrook.”

Anyone who believes they may have seen Noah is urged to get in touch with Suffolk Police, quoting CAD 203 of September 15.

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Mikel Arteta admitted it was ‘not easy’ to keep a lid on the ‘inevitable’ hype surrounding Max Dowman after the teenager helped inspire Arsenal to victory over Ipswich in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The Arsenal boss decided to hand both Dowman, 16, and Marli Salmon, 17, their first starts of the season at Portman Road, with the visitors making nine changes to the team that defeated Sunderland.

Entering the tie as the overwhelming favourites to reach the fourth round, the Gunners dominated proceedings from minute one and it was Dowman who opened the scoring with a piece of solo brilliance early on.

Picking up possession from Eberechi Eze, the youngster drove forwards with purpose and danced past Cedric Kipre before beating Christian Walton with an effortless finish to cue rapturous celebrations amongst Arsenal’s travelling support.

Noni Madueke doubled the visitors’ advantage with a superb strike of his own in the 16th minute before Dowman took centre-stage again at the start of the second half to increase the advantage.

Mikel Merino made it four on the hour-mark and while Ipswich reduced the defict through Anis Mehmeti and ex-Arsenal man Chuba Akpom, Mikel Arteta’s men held on to secure their progression in the competition.

The English champions will discover their fourth-round opponents following Manchester United’s clash with Brighton on Wednesday.

‘It’s a joy to have him, Marli [Salmon] as well,’ Arteta said when asked about Dowman’s latest masterclass at his post-match press conference.

‘Being 16 years old and playing with the physicality that they have to be able to handle that level… it’s remarkable.

‘It’s inevitable that we’re talking about Max when he scores and creates the moments that he has created tonight. It’s normal.’

Asked how he planned to contain the hype surrounding Dowman, Arteta replied: ‘Depending on what he does on the pitch, it’s not easy.

‘I understand but what we have to do is look after him.

‘He’s 16 years old, you don’t see that in this league. In other leagues in Europe, that’s a totally different context.

‘But in this league, with the demands that the league, the players and everything puts on you, we really need to make sure that every time we throw him in it’s in the right context with the right preparation.

‘And that’s what we are trying to do. We want to make sure that he’s ready to handle it when we throw him in at every level.’

While acknowledging Dowman’s tender years, Arteta said that he would be treating the England Under-19 international like any other member of his first-team squad.

However, the Spaniard was keen to stress that the youngster’s workload would have to be carefully ‘managed’ in order for him to keep producing on a consistent basis.

‘It’s not just that he can run past somebody, there are a lot more things where we have to look after him,’ Arteta went on.

‘He will dictate that in terms of how he behaves in every single day and how many reasons he gives us to play him because he’s part of our squad like anybody else.

‘The only thing we need to manage is to constantly be aware that he needs to be prepared to do what he needs to do.

Arsenal switch their attentions back to Premier League matters with a trip to the south coast to do battle with Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton this weekend.

The north Londoners boast a 100 per cent record at this embryonic stage of the season, winning seven from seven in all competitions.

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I have some bad news for you: the days are about to get shorter. Already, sunset is creeping forward every day, and the evenings are getting longer.

Although there might not be anything we can do about it being dark outside when we leave work, or the fact you’ll have to spend more money on your leccy bill, there is one thing we can help with: seriously stylish lamps.

They say you should have three sources of light in every room, but if you ask us, when it gets to cosy season you can ditch the big light and rely on one good, warm lamp. And ideally a fireplace, if you have one.

If you’re looking for ambient lighting that will give your home a warm glow all winter long, we’ve found some floor, table, ceiling, and wall lamps that will do just that.

We’ve thrown some rechargeable options in there, too, and tried to keep the energy rating A-okay (or as close to the beginning of the alphabet as possible).

By GETHIN HICKS, REPORTER

Published: 19:11 BST, 15 September 2026 | Updated: 22:56 BST, 15 September 2026

It follows claims the health board failed to ensure the safety of a mental health patient found dead in her hospital room

The biggest health Board in Wales is facing legal action following the death of a mental health inpatient. The Health and Safety Executive is prosecuting the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – the health board that covers the whole of north Wales.

It follows an investigation into the death of 67-year-old Susan Elaine Logan, who was a patient in the Ablett Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital in December, 2024.

In an inquest opening it was heard that Mrs Logan, of Maes Ffyddion, Rhuddlan, was found dead in her room on December 23 after she had hanged herself with a dressing-gown cord.

The charge against the Board is that it failed to ensure her safety. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

The case is listed for hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on November 16.

A spokesman for BCUHB said it would be inappropriate to comment on the matters until the conclusion of the case.

This case is not the first of its kind for the health board. In December, 2023, the Betsi Cadwaladr Board was fined £200,000 at Llandudno Magistrates Court for failing to ensure the safety of Dawn Owen, 47.

The court heard staff had failed to remove ligature points at the Hergest unit of Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

In May, 2024, the assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, Kate Robertson, found that neglect contributed to the death of 37-year-old Benjamin Harrison, from Denbigh. He was found hanged on the Ablett mental health unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital, the inquest heard.

Ed Sheeran has been dealt a major blow after four of his support acts across his Loop Tour have withdrawn from the line-up, standing in solidarity with Macklemore

Ed Sheeran’s tour has been plunged into chaos. Four of his support acts, including his touring band across the North and South American leg of his Loop tour, have pulled out in solidarity with Macklemore.

The rapper was dropped by the tour promoters after saying “Free Palestine” on stage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During the performance, the musician, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, said he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they haven’t been forgotten.

He said the only reason he said yes to the tour was to speak on a huge platform; the singer said this was at odds with Ed’s ‘apolitical stance.’ A petition was launched demanding he be removed from the remaining dates of the tour.

Ed has since spoken out, saying the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour was made by the promoter. He added that he was “not complicit” in the decision.

Now, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Lukas Graham, and Finneas have all issued statements, confirming they have withdrawn from the tour. Rowe and Lukas Graham would have been replacements for Macklemore on Sheeran’s remaining U.S. dates, while Beoga was serving as Sheeran’s touring band. Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year.

“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas said on Instagram. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”

Rowe and Beoga each cited their country’s history in their statements explaining their decision. “We are Irish people who understand colonialism. As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be,” Beoga said.

Rowe called Sheeran a friend and said the British singer-songwriter changed his life, but said he couldn’t stand with people who are being silent over the ongoing conflict.

Meanwhile, Lukas Graham praised Ed, saying the band were “grateful” for what they have shared over the years. In a statement shared on their official Instagram account, the band said: “It’s hard to watch families in other parts of the world burying the people they love.”

They went on to add that children “deserve to grow up,” regardless of wherever they live. The band went on to reference Macklemore being dropped, adding: “Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge.

“I love Ed, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve shared. That hasn’t changed. But I can’t put these words out into the world and carry on with this tour as things stand. We’re withdrawing from the remaining dates. I’m sorry we won’t be there. This is a difficult decision, but it’s one I need to stand by.”

In a statement, Ed said: “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.” He went on to write: “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

The Mirror has approached Messina Touring Group and Ed Sheeran’s spokesperson for comment.

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We can forgive Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins) for getting embroiled in one grisly  Coronation Street killing. But two? That’s just careless.

It stands to reason that someone who works at Shuttleworth’s funeral services will see their fair share of dead bodies. That comes with the territory when you’re dating Weatherfield’s friendliest undertaker George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley).

Don’t be food by her bubbly mumsy demeanour. Christina’s got enough skeletons in her closet to keep George in business for a year.

She was no angel to begin with, arriving in Weatherfield to attend the wedding of her daughter, Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan), to Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard), with the intent to conn her daughter for every penny. However, like mother like daughter, Daisy turned the tables and ultimately departed alone with the swag.

Then of course, she was a suspect in the murder of Theo Silverton (James Cartwright), and because the monster hadhorrifically abused her close friend Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce),she had a killer motive.

She’s not afraid to cover her tracks either, after being caught lying about her movements on the night of Theo’s death and pushing George to implicate Summer to cover up her own dirty secrets.

Namely, that she had a compulsive spending habit and was up to her eyballs in debt.

After catching Christina embracing her ex-husband Lenny down the precinct, George managed to get the truth out of her. Christine was addicted to shopping and had been fraudulently opening credit cards in other people’s names—including Lenny and her housemate, Mary Taylor (Patti Clare).

Despite promising to get help, Christina continued racking up debts behind George’s back until Todd exposed her. Heartbroken, George left to stay with his cousin in Somerset, leaving his relationship with Christina in serious doubt.

Now Christina is trying to rebuild George’s trust – as well as the community’s – the last thing she needs is another secret coming out of the woodwork. Especially related to a murder.

Brace yourselves.

In upcoming episodes of Coronation Street, Christina is aghast to realise that she’s got a connection to another killing on the Cobbles… one that happened quite recently.

Christina’s delighted when George promotes her to assistant funeral director and goes out for celebratory drinks.

But when Bernie misses her celebratory drinks, Christina’s left mulling over her friend’s family news. When George asserts that kids are nothing but a worry, Christina’s left thoughtful. What’s on her mind?

Next day, in the undertakers, Christina observes George as he talks Tim Metcalfe and Lucy Parkinson (Anya Lewis) through plaque options for her mum, determined to learn all she can about the job.

George shows Christina how to use the computer to view Rachel Parkinson’s file.

When George explains that the deceased is Lucy’s mother, Christina’s quietly horrified and hurries out.

Well, that ain’t good.

Lucy’s mother was killed during a heated argument with Tim’s cousin Richie (Nathan Sussex), who Tim had persuaded to return home to so they could settle their differences. This led to Rachel’s untimely death at Richie’s hands, seemingly in self defence.

Now the traumatised teenage girl has been taken in by Tim and Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) although all is far from rosy. Lucy is deeply damaged by the loss of her mother and lashes out at Tim and Sally.

What is Christina’s connection to Lucy, and why do I get the feeling that it can’t be good?

Koumas wants a free-kick on the edge of the box but he’s not going to get one on this occasion.

I like the look of him, though, and have done for a while. I think he’ll play a decent role this season.

Oh! I though that was the moment Spurs scored against a Premier League team this season. Gallagher takes a pot shot in the box and it’s deflected off Kerkez and over…

OH! THEY HAVE SCORED, AND IT’S GALLAGHER!

Liverpool fail to deal with the corner – their set-piece woes continue. It’s Mamardashvili’s fault, actually, as he gets nowhere near the cross, and Gallagher gets up to head home.

Game on!

By ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 19:49 BST, 15 September 2026 | Updated: 21:22 BST, 15 September 2026

In an emergency move on Tuesday, President Donald Trump‘s appointed leadership panel at the Kennedy Center voted to shut down the iconic performing arts venue.

Trustees pushed for the sudden closure after declaring that the landmark has fallen into ‘dire’ financial ruin and physical decay.

The drastic action unfolded just hours after a DC federal judge blocked the panel’s bid to rebrand the building with Trump’s name – a controversial strategy the board insisted was essential to stave off imminent bankruptcy for the Kennedy Center.

To justify the immediate lockdown, leadership pointed to a terrifying partial ceiling collapse inside the main Grand Foyer earlier this month, arguing emergency structural work can no longer wait.

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Trump was reportedly enraged, with sources telling CNN that he ‘screamed’ at Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who also sits on the panel, on a call before the vote.

Individuals on the call reportedly said the president blamed her for spearheading the downfall of the center after involving the courts. 

Trump also jabbed the judge responsible for keeping his name off the building during the explosive call, sources revealed.

A draft resolution laying out a proposed two–year shutdown revealed that both the center’s top director and a structural consultant ‘consider the main building to be unsafe for continued occupancy, and anticipate further risk to the public and employees if the building is not immediately closed and renovations begun.’  

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Tuesday’s dramatic action marks the third time since February that the board has pushed to shutter the cultural landmark for a two–year overhaul. 

Workers prepare scaffolding ahead of removing lettering from the facade of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, following a federal judge’s order to remove Trump’s name from the institution

In an emergency move on Tuesday, Trump’s appointed leadership panel at the Kennedy Center voted to shut down the iconic performing arts venue with immediate effect

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Rep. Joyce Beatty and lawyer Norman Eisen speaker to reporters after a hearing on the Kennedy Center outside the federal courthouse in Washington

Trustees originally set a shutdown date of July 5, but legal battles have completely stalled those plans. 

Attorneys representing the board claim ongoing litigation has crippled their ability to carry out vital maintenance. 

However, the DC judge presiding over the case fired back during Tuesday’s hearing, reminding the board – as he had in prior rulings – that his original court order halting a full-scale lockdown specifically exempted emergency repairs.

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‘The Kennedy Center is in such a precarious fiscal position that it will not be able to support its payroll obligations, nor routine maintenance contracts within a matter of weeks,’ states a court filing, adding that ‘President Trump has offered to step in and raise the necessary funds to keep the Center from bankruptcy.’ 

Last month, the board voted to rename the property ‘President Donald J. Trump Plaza’ and add the text ‘renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump’ to the building by Sept. 8, with the new draft resolution proposing several similar ideas. 

Every year since the first Wimbledon Championship in 1877, a male player with a one-handed backhand has featured in the singles semi-finals of a grand slam. That 149 year streak ended at this year’s US Open when Stefanos Tsitsipas, the last remaining single-hander in the draw, exited the tournament in the round of 16.

This is a watershed moment for tennis, as it marks a break with the origins of the sport and the culmination of a five decades-long trend towards hitting the backhand with two hands on the racket. The popularity of the two-handed backhand has surpassed the single-hander to such an extent that the latter is now on the verge of extinction in elite tennis.

But does this matter? After all, sports evolve and athletes, coaches and sports scientists continually refine technique to achieve superior outcomes. Dick Fosbury revolutionised the high jump with the Fosbury flop in 1968. This development in high jump biomechanics unlocked new athletic feats and the straddle technique, previously dominant, became redundant. Perhaps the single-hander has, similarly, fallen victim to a superior technique.

Why the one-handed backhand matters

The one-handed backhand is arguably the most elegant shot in tennis. To execute it, the non-dominant hand pulls the racket back to coil the player’s hips and shoulders. As the ball enters the player’s hitting zone, the non-dominant hand releases and the racket whips through the ball while the other arm provides a counterbalance by extending in the opposite direction.

Its most skilled exponents, such as Roger Federer, Justine Henin and Stan Wawrinka, can produce explosive power in a balletic feat of flow, balance and timing.

The beauty of the one-hander is, in part, due to its superfluity. In tennis, aesthetics is incidental – shots are struck to win a point, not to beautify it. The pleasing aesthetics of the one-handed backhand is a delightful coincidence in which efficiency meets beauty.

However, one-handed backhands will soon be absent from the biggest tennis arenas. Why is this shot on the verge of extinction?

For a time in the early 2000’s, Roger Federer enjoyed exclusive dominance over men’s tennis. However, Rafael Nadal, a left-hander who was capable of generating more topspin than any player the game had ever seen, found a hole in Federer’s game – the shoulder-high backhand.

Nadal pioneered a heavy topspin forehand that would bounce above Federer’s shoulder, forcing him either to retreat behind the baseline or to hit the ball in the weak shoulder-high position. Nadal would pound Federer’s backhand until this elicited an error or a short ball that could be attacked. Shoulder-high backhands are not only technically difficult for a one-hander, but also energy sapping.

The development of the two-handed backhand on the run, best exemplified by Novak Djokovic, also meant that the advantage which single-handers had hitting wide balls no longer obtained. Two-handers could hit with an open stance when stretched, and this enabled them to generate more power on the run and to recover for the next shot more quickly.

The inherent limitations of the one-handed backhand were more easily exploited as strings, rackets and courts allowed players to follow Nadal’s template.

The development of polyester strings allowed players to generate unprecedented amounts of topspin. Racket heads grew larger and were designed to facilitate vertical swing-paths for the creation of topspin. Court surfaces were slowed, allowing topspin to have an even higher-bouncing effect.

As well as arguably the most elegant shot, the single handed backhand is one of the most difficult shots in tennis. Typically, the absence of the second hand on the racket requires the player to demonstrate more strength and better timing. So, the two-hander provides quicker rewards for young players and coaches as backhand competency can be gained more readily.

The rise of the two-hander might be thought the natural evolution of the sport. However, there is nothing inevitable about the demise of the single-hander – the development of the sport is in the hands of tennis authorities. Players respond to the conditions in which they are required to compete.

Tennis has been allowed to develop in a direction hostile to the single-handed backhand, much as it has been allowed to develop in a direction that is hostile to serve and volleying. The strategic contrast has been lost between the serve-and-volleyer, who rushes the net to take the ball before the bounce, and the baseliner, who stays at the baseline to play after the bounce. This contrast lay at the heart of many of the most compelling tennis rivalries – Björn Borg and John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. By contrast, leading players now are simply different shades of baseliner.

These two developments are not unrelated, as the single-handed backhand was the shot of choice for the best serve and volleyers such as Rod Laver, Sampras and Pat Rafter. The single-hander allowed for greater variety of spin and angles, and it was conducive to hitting while moving forward towards the net.

Federer has expressed hope that this is not the end for the single-hander. But we can do more than hope – the conditions of elite tennis can be reshaped in ways that are more amenable to the one-handed backhand. Here are my suggestions:

1. Polyester strings should be prohibited;
2. The maximum racket head size should be limited to 95 square inches to encourage slower vertical racket head speeds thereby limiting the production of topspin; and
3. Greater variety in court surfaces should be introduced, with an emphasis on the introduction of faster, lower bouncing surfaces.

Tennis authorities guide the evolution of the sport. The recent trend has been towards technical and tactical homogeneity. The sport is losing the contrasts that underpinned its compelling rivalries and stunning spectacles. Tennis needs to embrace again the beauty in diversity. With the demise of the single-hander, something skilful and beautiful is being lost.