Germans in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt will go to the polls on September 7 to elect a new parliament.

With forecasts indicating that the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is on course to win around 40% of the vote, which would double its support there compared to five years ago, there is a real chance the far-right party could take over a state government for the first time.

Former East Germany, which was under Communist rule between 1949 and 1989, has proven fertile ground for the far right. The AfD won 34.6% of the vote there in the 2025 federal election, while in Saxony-Anhalt that figure was 37.1%. This was far higher than mainstream parties on the left and right.

Much has been written about the reasons for far-right success in eastern Germany. Deindustrialisation, demographic change and depopulation, especially in rural areas, are all drivers. So too is the fact there is far stronger disagreement in the east with Germany’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia than is in evidence in the west, as well as higher levels of opposition to refugees.

Perhaps above all, there is a strong sense in the east of feeling “second-class citizens” in modern Germany, even more than three decades after reunification. Unemployment in Saxony-Anhalt is above the German average, standing at 8.2% in August compared to a national average of 6.5%. The median wage in full-time employment was also around €48,300 (£41,400), below the national level of about €52,000.

The election in Saxony-Anhalt takes place at a time when the AfD is already leading nationwide polls, and when the federal government and chancellor Friedrich Merz are vastly unpopular (with around 85% of voters dissatisfied). It is also happening in a part of the country where the far right tends to do best.

The AfD has come top in a state election once before, in Thuringia in 2024. But it did not get a majority of seats. Mainstream parties rallied around and formed a government between the centre-right Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), left-populist Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).

They rely on the support of Die Linke (the Left Party) to function and pass legislation. The CDU has long ruled out any cooperation with the Left Party at the state or national level because of the latter’s historic links to the communist regime in East Germany and continued ideological disagreements. But in practice, in Thuringia and the national parliament, this anti-cooperation line has softened.

In Saxony-Anhalt, as in most other states in Germany, parties need at least 5% of the vote to win any seats in the state parliament. If they fall below that level, they don’t get any. So all eyes will be not only on the result of the AfD, the CDU (which polling suggests is set to take 23% of the vote) and the Left Party (forecast to take 13%) but also smaller parties.

Polling has had the SPD hovering around the 5% mark, although its support seems to have picked up. The same goes for the Greens, while the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) looks set to miss out. If the only parties making it over 5% are the AfD, CDU and Left Party, the AfD could win an overall majority of seats. The BSW, which is hovering around the 5% mark, has also made it clear it would not block the AfD entering government.

The AfD’s proposals

The AfD’s manifesto in Saxony-Anhalt is extremely right-wing. Proposals such as ending the right to asylum and a moratorium on non-EU immigration could not be implemented. They are matters for the national not state government.

But other AfD proposals are legally feasible. These include changing the school curriculum to downplay the significance of the Nazi era – a programme one AfD politician, Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, sums up as: “More Bismarck, less Hitler”. This was a reference to Otto von Bismarck, who oversaw the unification of Germany in 1871.

The AfD has also suggested introducing the routine singing of the German national anthem in school assemblies and ending what it calls “inclusion” in mainstream education for children with special needs. Defunding the protestant church, which the AfD has accused of being too focused on social not theological questions, would also be a real possibility.

A particular worry is around Germany’s “constitutional protection” or secret services. There is consideration being given to setting up parallel offices in Saxony-Anhalt to protect sensitive operations in the event of an AfD administration. Many branches and elements of the AfD are under observation by German intelligence agencies on the basis of suspected extremism.

There will almost certainly be wider political ructions from this election if the AfD tops the poll, and even more so if it wins outright control of the state government. Any major changes at the top of German politics will probably wait until after elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg West Pomerania later in the month.

Mainstream parties will want to keep some appearance of unity until then for fear of losing yet more votes. But, at the very least, rumours of an early challenge to Merz are likely to step up a gear.

Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) finding out about his affair with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) will be the least of Max Branning’s (Jake Wood) concerns in EastEnders after he was taken captive by an enraged Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).

Ravi, as viewers know, has been on the hunt for clues for weeks, hellbent on finding out who it is that Priya was seeing while they were separated.

After spotting a cosy moment between Priya and boss Max earlier this week the penny finally dropped for Ravi, who responded by kidnapping Max on the night of his stag do, bundling him into the Boxing Den where he intends to exact his revenge.

After years of betrayals and affairs, have Max’s sins finally caught up with him?

Elsewhere on the Square, Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) agreed to let the Hawkins clan stay at No. 1, despite having discovered that they set fire to their own home in a bid to claim on the insurance – to no avail.

And Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) struggled to hide her feelings for Max – that is, until Clive (Jason Durr) fixed the electrics at the community centre, which led to sparks of a very different kind.

With the credits having rolled on tonight’s visit to Walford, check out what Thursday (September 3) edition of the BBC One soap has got in store for you.

What happens next in EastEnders? New spoilers for Thursday, September 3

Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) eagerly awaits Max’s arrival so that the stag do proceedings can commence, unaware of the danger his dad faces just around the corner at The Boxing Den.

With Ravi having waited weeks to confront the man Priya has been sleeping with, will he exact revenge on Max? He’s made it clear on at least two occasions previously that he would kill the man in question if he ever found him, so Max is certainly in peril.

However, we know he is still very much alive come New Year’s Day – courtesy of the flashforward episode – so while death may not be on the cards at this moment in time, one can’t help but wonder just how far Ravi will go.

And speaking of Max, has Linda finally put her feelings for the lothario aside in a bid to move on with Clive? As she prepares for their date, she very much feels ready to move on – that is until Kim (Tameka Empson) lets slip that Max played a key role in saving the community centre.

When Clive shows up, he reveals that the centre is secure, with Linda left reeling as a result. Now that her wish has come true, the question is: can she and Clive move on with their lives together?

Or is Max still lingering in the back of her heart?

EastEnders airs these scenes Thursday September 3 at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

MORE: EastEnders New Year shooter ‘confirmed’ as fans are on the case

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People from Belfast have helped fund three maternity mobile units, which are being refused entry into Gaza

A debate and proposal at Belfast City Hall about three Irish maternity vehicles sent to help pregnant Palestinian women in Gaza has descended into a slanging match over the word “genocide”.

A motion to lobby against the blocking of the maternity units turned into an intractable culture war row at the September meeting of the full Belfast City Council on Tuesday with unionists on one side of the debate, and the rest of the parties on the other.

In the end the “Mobile Maternity Units for Gaza” motion, proposed by Independent Councillor Paul Doherty, and seconded by Independent Councillor Paul McCusker, both of them former SDLP representatives, was passed, but without the support of the DUP, the UUP and the TUV. Representatives from the Gaels Against Genocide volunteer group gave a deputation at the start of the meeting on the issue.

READ MORE: Greens fail to hold up Belfast Council’s £4.6million artificial intelligence plan

READ MORE: Fleadh bliss, then back to business…Belfast Council in August

Practically, the successful motion means the council will write to all the NI Executive ministers, calling on them to make “urgent” representations to the Irish Government, UK Government and other relevant international bodies to secure the immediate and unrestricted entry of three mobile maternity units, sent by Irish volunteers Gaels Against Genocide, to Gaza.

The motion states: “This council notes with grave concern the continuing genocide and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the devastating impact on pregnant women, newborn babies and families requiring urgent medical care. It further notes that three mobile maternity units have been developed to provide safe and secure maternity and newborn care for women and babies in Gaza.

“(We) commend the extraordinary fundraising efforts of Gaels Against Genocide and communities across Belfast, the North and across Ireland which have made these three mobile maternity units possible.

“Many Belfast residents have contributed directly to this humanitarian effort, demonstrating the depth of solidarity in our city with Palestinian women, babies and families. (We are) deeply concerned that, despite these efforts and the urgent humanitarian need, the units have not been permitted to enter Gaza, and believe that humanitarian medical aid must never be blocked, and that pregnant women and babies must be protected in all circumstances.”

Representatives from the DUP, the UUP, and the TUV all said that they supported the maternity units entering Gaza, but would not support the motion over the use of the word “genocide.” On a poll in the chamber, 14 elected representatives voted against the motion, from the DUP, UUP and TUV, while all the other parties, including two independents, that is 38 councillors in all, voted to support the motion, and it was passed.

Councillor Doherty said: “This motion tonight is not about politics, it is not about creating division, it is about a basic question of humanity. Three mobile maternity units have been built, and they are ready.

“They were created for women giving birth in conditions that no woman should ever endure. As representatives of Gaels Against Genocide have clearly outlined, these units were created because their maternity hospitals have been damaged and destroyed, because medical supplies have been restricted and doctors and nurses are trying to provide care in circumstances that are almost impossible for us to comprehend.

“Above all of that, women are giving birth in the midst of a genocide. And still these units are being prevented from reaching people they were built to help. That should shock all of us, and should be absolutely deplorable.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Micheal Donnelly said: “The Israeli genocide has already claimed the lives of over 73,000 Palestinians. Over 38,000 of these have been women and children, and 21,700 specifically children.

“The denial of Palestinian national human rights has been the most totemic national democratic struggle of our era. Netanyahu and the Israeli right wing are intent on trying to annihilate the Palestinian people and the full colonisation of all their lands.”

He added: “There can be no justification for preventing life-saving maternal care from reaching pregnant women. Mobile maternity units must be allowed into Gaza urgently, safely and without obstruction.”

DUP Alderman Dean McCullough said: “I would respectfully ask the proposer if he is willing to remove the reference to genocide. It is obviously a contested term, and I appreciate members will hold very strong opposing views on it. The deputation at the outset of the council was a very sincere one, which I don’t even think mentioned genocide.

“(He could drop the word) for the sake of getting the consensus, which I think would be quite something in Belfast City Council. Because we are very clear, any right-thinking person or party wants maternity units in Palestine or any other conflict zone. If we focus on humanitarianism, we need not even debate.”

He asked Councillor Doherty to omit the word from the motion, to which Councillor Doherty replied: “No I will not accept that. This is absolutely a genocide.”

Alderman McCullough said he was “disappointed” with the reply, and added: “The loaded language, which is unnecessary, leaves us no option but to oppose that aspect. But we absolutely support the humanitarianism.”

He added: “I do not accept that Israel is committing genocide, and I reject that allegation. I appreciate the sensitivities of the subject. The International Court of Justice has not found that Israel is committing a genocide, so I will not support Belfast City Council pretending that we can make a ruling when the international court itself has not.”

TUV Councillor Ron McDowell said: “By and large the motion as it stands is a largely inoffensive motion. I don’t think anyone would be against the sentiment.” He asked: “So why will you not adopt a motion of consensus, by focusing on the things that we agree on, and dropping the political element.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Ryan Murphy made a “point of order” and asked if there was “a conflict of interest with Councillor McDowell’s speaking on the subject.” Councillor Murphy raised a “fact finding mission” by Councillor McDowell as an official guest of the Israeli government which took place last year.

Councillor Murphy said: “I am interested around when he went out to Palestine, was this issue of trying to diminish, or to not use the word genocide, discussed when he was doing that visit?”

Amidst calls across the chamber from Alderman McCullough, the Lord Mayor Róis Máire Donnelly said such declarations were “down to the individual.” Councillor McDowell said he was “looking for consensus not division” and said Councillor Murphy “lowered the tone of the debate.”

People Before Profit Councillor Michael Collins said: “I think there is something really cynical about the unionist parties trying to suggest it is all on the rest of this chamber, somehow, to get this motion over the line.

“You can nitpick on whether it is a genocide, but the Genocide Convention has deemed it a genocide, Amnesty International has deemed it a genocide, and the UN itself has deemed it a genocide.

“We know the DUP and Ron willingly go over to do meet and greets with Zionist ministers, and whoever else. We know you don’t have a problem with apartheid, with bombing innocent civilians in Gaza, and you have defended every action Israel took, and defended them to the hilt. We know you have no problem with illegal settlements.

“I don’t understand you saying you just want to be humanitarian, the reality is you have a motion before you about three maternity mobile units that are being denied access to Gaza, and you can’t bring yourself to vote for it. That is on you, it is not on anybody else.

“The party that claims to be pro-life, and chastises everyone in this chamber, can’t bring themselves to support three maternity units for babies in Gaza.”

Councillor Ron McDowell said he was “misrepresented” and added: “I have a problem with apartheid, I see something wrong with illegal settlements, I support ambulances going into Gaza, I don’t support the wording of this motion and I have to separate the two.”

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Kim Kardashian has left some fans groaning with dismay over what appeared to be a heavily-filtered video of her 13-year-old daughter North West.

North, whose father is Kardashian’s third ex-husband Kanye West, posted a clip this week to the TikTok account she shares with her mother.

Wearing a long blue wig, trendy goth makeup and a black leather outfit, the budding musician – who is fond of experimenting with cosmetics on herself, family and friends – joyfully danced around to the classic 2006 Rihanna single SOS.

However some viewers found their attention drawn to North’s nose, sharing their scandalized reactions in the comments section.

‘Her contouring her beautiful nose is making me really upset. What is happening here??’ wrote one observer in a comment viewed by The US Sun.

‘Poor kid that she got influenced by her relatives to believe her face is not pretty enough as it is /: Bad parenting,’ sniffed another. 

The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Kardashian for comment.

North, whose father is Kardashian’s third ex-husband Kanye West, posted a clip this week to the TikTok account she shares with her mother, whom she is pictured with in 2023

North was firmly defended by her fans, one of whom wrote with a set of praying hands emoji: ‘be nice guys she has the comments on.’

‘I also had a Hot topic phase,’ one giggled as another wrote: ‘Man i wish i had that budget at 13 when i had an alt phase, yall dont get it.’

Still another mounted a spirited argument in favor of the look, writing: ‘y’all obviously didn’t have an alt phase when u were 13 and it shows. imagine having an alt phase as a 13 year old with UNLIMITED BUDGET AND CONNECTIONS. of course she wants to express herself let her be. nothing about this is inappropriate.’ 

North, who has embarked on her own music career, ignited a social media firestorm when she revealed in August 2025 that she had obtained a dermal piercing consisting of two small metal balls under a knuckle of her right hand middle finger.

Dermal piercings are distinct from other piercings in that a tiny anchor hooked under the skin is used to keep the jewelry in place.

As a result, they come with risks like keloid scarring, infection and – if improperly looked after – even rejection by the wearer’s body. 

North’s mother, who has spoken often about being her primary guardian, was thus raked over the coals for allowing her to get a dermal piercing so young.

However North responded by posting a TikTok in December in which she mimed to the sound-byte: ‘Why are you crying? How old are you? Just pull it together,’ with a caption that read: ‘this is for everyone that’s mad over a finger piercing.’

Wearing a long blue wig, trendy goth makeup and a black leather outfit, the budding musician joyfully danced around to the classic 2006 Rihanna single SOS

However some viewers found their attention drawn to North’s nose, sharing their scandalized reactions in the comments section

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North, who has embarked on her own music career, ignited a social media firestorm last year by revealing she had acquired a dermal finger piercing 

However North responded by posting a TikTok in December in which she mimed to the sound-byte: ‘Why are you crying? How old are you? Just pull it together’ 

In May she dropped a music video for her song #N0rth4evr in which she appeared to have two facial piercings that were in fact faux 

Undeterred by the brickbats her mother was receiving, North then apparently unveiled two further dermal finger piercings on her Insta Stories in January. 

Then this May, in the music video for her first solo single #N0rth4evr, she was shown strolling through a graveyard with two stick-on piercings under one of her eyes and another one placed near the top of her nose.

Much of the video was grainy and choppy, in a nod to ‘found footage’ horror movies like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. 

Her follow-up single was a collaboration with a fellow ‘nepo baby‘ – Lil Novi, the 16-year-old son of rap legend Lil Wayne and R&B songstress Nivea.

Lil Wayne and Kanye worked on a number of songs together in the 2000s, including the 2007 release Barry Bonds and the 2008 single See You in My Nightmares. 

Their children’s new effort, entitled MULA THA ROOT OF ALL EVIL, is a cacophonous piece of music with a frenetically edited music video to match.

North materializes in the middle of the video with blue hair, seemingly wearing a set of grillz as well as a pair of spiky gauntlets.

North is one of the four children Kardashian and West welcomed into the world together – the others being Saint, 10, Chicago, eight, and Psalm, seven. 

Megan Lannigan and her husband, Scott, took part after her dad, Bobby McGinty, had three heart attacks while on holiday in Florida.

A Carluke couple completed a mammoth fundraiser for a great cause last month.

Megan Lannigan and her husband, Scott, took part in the Scottish Half Marathon in August to raise money for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.

They were inspired after a “really tough year” in 2025 which saw Megan’s dad, Bobby McGinty, have three heart attacks while on holiday in Florida.

Photographer Megan said: “I was crying going over the finishing line.

“I think it’s because of all of the work you put in, the money you raise, knowing we had it for CHSS, and seeing my wee boy, my mum and my dad at the finishing line was such a mixture of emotions that just hits you. We were on such a high after it.

“We were both aiming to go under two-and-a-half hours and we managed it in two hours and 19 minutes so we’re chuffed with that.”

Megan, 33, added: “At the time of the first cardiac arrest, myself, my mum and my husband all had to provide CPR. Thankfully, all of us are CPR trained, because we knew what to do, as chaotic as it was. He went down very quickly.

“That was followed by two heart attacks, and then he was in ICU in Florida for seven days before waking up. He stayed in intensive care until his surgery.

“He had his cardiac arrest on 25 August and a triple bypass in September. By some miracle and somebody watching out over us, my dad is here to tell the tale now and has been signed off by cardiology, which is amazing.

“That bit of time is a bit of a whirlwind in my mind. He was in multi-organ failure, there were questions about flights home to the UK, we had to get my brother out to America. As a family, we made the decision that Scott and I would come home with our wee boy Mason – that was the right call for our own priorities at the time. My mum and brother stayed out there with him.”

At the same time, Megan’s uncle, Frank Robertson, died of a stroke. The family was advised by doctors not to say to Bobby as he was awaiting surgery.

Megan added: “We couldn’t tell my dad because he was so unstable and waiting for surgery. We couldn’t risk high blood pressure or the stress of it. He was asking why Frank was not messaging him back, and we had to protect him from that news until it was safe.”

As the dust settled and Bobby came home, Megan turned to running “as a form of therapy” and used Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) service to help deal with the mental impact of what had happened.

Megan said: “I read a lot of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s information online, because so much of my trauma stemmed from the CPR and the fight or flight response after my dad had gone to hospital.

“I started doing a wee run here and there when I came home to try to clear my brain. I knew there was support there for people who had given CPR, or people affected by it, not just the people who had gone through it. Reading and listening to other people’s stories, and knowing people had got through this, helped.”

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After Bobby returned home, Megan’s thoughts turned to using her new hobby of running to fundraise. That led her to signing up for the Scottish Half Marathon.

It isn’t the family’s only fundraiser this year. Bobby, along with friends and family, is taking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on September 13. So far the group has raised more than £10,000 for CHSS.

Megan said: “We have both got this hobby now and we are already thinking about what we might sign up to next. It has come from a really awful time, but we have created a positive from something negative.”

And Elaine Thomson, community events and corporate fundraiser at CHSS, said: “We’re so thankful for Megan and Scott for taking part in the Scottish Half Marathon for CHSS.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with the family and friends involved in this year of fundraising for CHSS. They have been able to create a lot of great memories in 2026 from a difficult 2025.

“Watching everyone come together for one cause has been very inspiring.

“Fundraising for CHSS helps us to support the one in five people across Scotland living with one of our conditions.”

To support Megan’s fundraiser please go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/megan-lannigan.

If you’re living with the effects of a chest, heart or stroke condition or long Covid and are looking for advice and information, please contact Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0899. You can also text ADVICE to 66777 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk.

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You can imagine being a queer teen in a Christian fundamentalist community in rural Australia is not an easy ride. In his debut feature Leviticus, writer and director Adrian Chiarella imagines how much harder that would be if there were also supernatural forces conspiring against you.

The film centres on the burgeoning romance between 17-year-old Naim – played by Joe Bird, who recently impressed in the wonderful Australian horror film Talk to Me (2022) – and Ryan (Stacy Clausen). The pair are forced to attend a fire-and-brimstone sexual conversion therapy session with a fundamentalist “healer” on a mission to convert the town’s gay and lesbian teens.

After sessions with this mysterious figure end in Exorcist-style convulsions and gouts of vomit, participants are pursued by an entity that looks identical to the person they desire most. In classic horror-film fashion, if a teen succumbs to their desire for the lookalike, they are torn to shreds in the midst of sex. Ryan and Naim are caught between their desire for one another and the fact that the person they become intimate with might kill them.

Leviticus is an excellent independent drama. The film’s success lies less in its execution of effective scares and horror tropes and more in the emotionally resonant, superbly acted depiction of a forbidden young gay relationship in an oppressive community. Save one or two jump scares, it is not an especially harrowing or nail-biting horror spectacle. But the film builds a desolate atmosphere and creates a complex and likeable young couple for audiences to root for.

Chiarella has based his screenplay on his experiences as a gay man growing up in Sydney, Australia, which he adapts with heady atmosphere into a beautifully desolate depiction of rural Australia.

With the success of Backrooms (2026), about horror lurking in an endless network of interconnected rooms, horror filmmakers and audiences are particularly attuned right now to in-between spaces and the inherent creepiness to be found in the blandly everyday. Leviticus follows other excellent examples of Australian mystery and horror cinema, from Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) to Wolf Creek (2010) and Killing Ground (2016), in using the unique starkness of the countryside to convey a distinctive strangeness and melancholy.

Leviticus was shot in rural townships west of Melbourne. It depicts the Australian small town as we might expect to see an oppressive southern gothic American backwater. Outside of the judgmental eyes of the town, romantic encounters take place in haunting liminal spaces. These include dilapidated barns surrounded by abandoned rusted machinery and across stretches of bleak, blanched grassland.

Mia Wasikowska is superb in the film as Naim’s young mother, Arlene. You might recognise her from films like Tim Burton’s awful Alice in Wonderland (2010) or Jane Eyre (2011). After such early career success, Wasikowska rejected Hollywood and fame for a series of interesting and unconventional independent films like Leviticus.

Arlene has converted to Christian fundamentalism after the death of her son’s father. Wasikowska articulates with moving complexity the tension between the love for her son and her anxiety around his sexuality within the context of the intolerant wider community.

The main conceit of Leviticus is simple but clever: transgressive sexual desire = death. The pursuit of teenagers by a relentless entity after sexual activity has been explored in the influential and acclaimed film, It Follows (2014) – a film that Chiarella cites as an inspiration for Leviticus. That film was similarly set in the downbeat environment of a small rural town. Its “monster” also in part represents the simultaneous excitement and anxiety of young desire. In Leviticus, however, the anxiety is a specifically queer one, where longing, self-acceptance and internalised shame battle for dominance in the young mind.

The film scholar Harry Benshoff influentially wrote about horror film through a queer lens, pointing out the tension between horror cinema’s popularity among LGBTQ+ audiences and the genre’s subtext of societal homophobia.

Monsters in some of the biggest horror films, from A Nightmare on Elm Street’s (1984) Freddy Krueger to Terrifier’s (2016) Art the Clown, have been interpreted as physical embodiments of the homophobic fear of repressed transgressive queer sexual urges. At the same time these figures have been paradoxically embraced as queer icons that challenge the norms of a repressive society.

In Leviticus, this subtext of queer horror is made into a conscious, deliberate theme. The film is perhaps a little too determined that audiences grasp its themes at the expense of being allowed to make their own interpretations. But overall, is a beautifully made, eerie and emotionally sophisticated horror film. Its two charismatic young stars are clearly destined for bright careers and Adrian Chiarella as a brilliant new directing talent in the genre.

‘The hard work we’re doing is nothing compared to what they’ve been through’

A couple who saw four of their close family members diagnosed with cancer in just four years are running 12 half marathons in 12 months to raise money for The Christie Charity after seeing first-hand the impact of its care.

Deb and Alex Beachell, originally from Manchester, will take on the ASICS Manchester Half Marathon this October as part of their challenge, having already completed eight races so far.

Deb and her wife Alex decided to take on the challenge after four members of their family, Alex’s mum and stepdad, as well as Deb’s dad and brother, were diagnosed with cancer over the last four to five years.

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The couple, who met at Manchester Pride 20 years ago and have been married for 13 years, say they want to give something back after The Christie’s care helped to give their family the all clear.

Alex, 49, said: “It started with my stepdad Alan before Christmas four or five years ago. We found out that he had cancer and he went to the Christie for treatment.

Deb, 48, added: “A year later my younger brother Paul, a week before Christmas again, got diagnosed with cancer and again was treated at the Christie. They were treated so quickly. From finding out they had it to starting treatment at the Christie happened in the blink of an eye. It was amazing the treatment they had.”

Deb added that her brother’s treatment was quite complicated and lasted a long time, including some complicated surgeries to remove his cancer.

Alex said: “And whilst her brother was being treated my mum Jill was diagnosed with cancer. And then at the end of last year Deb’s dad Derek was diagnosed with cancer as well. This was about the time that we were thinking of doing a challenge and wanting to run for The Christie and that really sealed out fate with doing it.”

Deb said: “It was just like we had to do it now. There was no way we couldn’t do it. It was that emotional thing with it being my dad as well – we just had to do something.”

The couple, who now live in Leek, said that all of their family has now had the all clear, apart from Derek who is waiting for his last scans following surgery to remove his cancer.

Deb said: “It feels like the hard work we’re doing is nothing compared to what they’ve been through. The speed of the treatment they’ve had, we’re just so lucky we’ve got them all with us today. Some are not so lucky, so we definitely count out blessings.”

In an effort to raise money for the hospital that has helped their family so much, the couple came up with the idea to run the 12 half marathons.

They came up with the idea in October last year over a couple of pints. Alex said: “We were in the pub and we were thinking of doing something for charity and then I thought, well why don’t we make it a proper challenge?

“So we decided to do one each month. It sounded like a good idea. Everything seems like a good idea after a couple of pints doesn’t it?”

Starting in March in London, the pair have ran one every month since and will finish their challenge in December in Milton Keynes.

So far, they have completed races in London, Llandudno, Blackpool, Chester, Leamington Spa, Birmingham and one from The Christie in Manchester to The Christie in Macclesfield.

The couple said the challenge has given them a focus and an outlet through the difficult times and has allowed them to clear their heads while training.

However, Alex said that the Blackpool race was particularly difficult for her, as her sister passed away just days before the race.

She said: “That was a really tough one mentally, because my sister passed away two days before unexpectedly. But we did it anyway. But it was mentally hard to get through it.

“I saw a group of people wearing matching t-shirts on the way round and I realised they had angel wings on and they were wearing them as a tribute to someone so that upset me on the way round, but in a good way.”

Deb said: “We’re so excited for Manchester. We’ve done a few runs between us over the years, but Manchester is by far our favourite because the atmosphere is fantastic.

“We’re both busy at work and have had a lot going on, so fitting in training runs and mentally getting ourselves out there has definitely been the hardest part. But a couple of hours out running is nothing compared to what people going through cancer treatment face every day.

“The most surprising thing has been realising just how many people we know who have been affected by cancer, either themselves or through family and friends, and have received treatment at The Christie.

“For families affected by cancer, just knowing there are people out there who understand what they’re going through and are prepared to support the work The Christie does is really important. And if it inspires anyone else to get up and start their own challenge to raise funds, that would just be amazing.”

Deb and Alex will be running the Manchester Half Marathon on October 4. To donate to their fundraiser click here.

Two fire engines and police were on the scene in Navigation Road, off Walmgate, on Wednesday evening (September 2) after the blaze.

The fire had been extinguished by 5.30pm on Wednesday but cordons remain around the burned-out BMW car.

Seven police officers stood guard by the cordon across Navigation Road at the junction with Walmgate on Wednesday evening.

Some police officers were speaking to residents behind the tape.

Images shared with The Press showed the car engulfed in flames as residents stood outside their homes behind the cordon.

A passerby who witnessed the car exploding told The Press: “I was coming from Foss Islands Road and I saw smoke and realised it was a car well alight.

“It was clear there was something wrong. The driver had pulled up on the pavement and was trying to get things out of the car while it was smoking.

“He was clear before it suddenly caught fire and then started to explode – it was popping.

“The police arrived before the fire service and closed the road. They have been doing a great job keeping everyone well back.”

A woman living in flats opposite where the car burst into flames said she heard a “bang like a shot”.

“[I] ran outside and saw the smoke,” she said. “My neighbour in Hope Street said there were already some police there when the car went up.”

The incident came at a time when traffic had been building in Walmgate due to drivers being diverted from the York inner ring road which is closed at Fishergate due to storm damage.

There are plenty of great shows happening right up until the end of the year

What a summer of music we were treated to in Belfast!

As CMAT closed out CHSq with her second sold-out gig at the city centre music festival on Tuesday, it is officially time to say goodbye to festival season.

From Belsonic to AVA to the new Summer Series at Custom House Square, the music hasn’t stopped over the last number of months and as always, we love to see it.

If September has hit you like a ton of bricks and you are already marking your calendars for festival season 2027, do not fret – there are still plenty of fantastic gigs happening in Belfast for the remainder of 2026.

If you are a country fan, a rock music lover and everything in between, there are plenty of brilliant acts set to perform in Belfast over the next few months to get you through the impending darker evenings.

Here are only some of the upcoming gigs taking place in Belfast to close out 2026:

Freya Ridings

Where: Ulster Hall

When: September 6

Billy Ocean

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Where: Waterfront Hall

When: September 14

Anastacia

Where: Waterfront Hall

When: September 17

Jane McDonald

Where: Waterfront Hall

When: September 19 & 20

Megan Moroney

Where: The O2 Belfast

When: October 1

Duran Duran

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Where: The O2 Belfast

When: October 18

Katherine Jenkins

Where: Waterfront Hall

When: October 27

Westlife

Where: The O2 Belfast

When: October 27 – November 6

The Script

Where: The O2 Belfast

When: November 2

Cody Johnson

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Where: The O2 Belfast

When: November 4

The Fray

Where: Ulster Hall

When: November 13

Niall Horan

Where: The O2 Belfast

When: November 15 & 16

The Shamrocks

Where: The O2 Belfast

When: November 20

Picture This

Where: Telegraph Building

When: November 25

The Darkness

Where: Telegraph Building

When: December 1

Nathan Carter

Where: Waterfront Hall

When: December 10

Ash

Where: Ulster Hall

When: December 10

Razorlight

Where: Telegraph Building

When: December 13

Florence Road

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Where: Ulster Hall

When: December 14

Colin Graham

Where: Ulster Hall

When: December 18

The Tumbling Paddies

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Where: Ulster Hall

When: December 19

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter.

A man and a woman have been charged with burglary offences in Newport city centre.

A 33-year-old man was charged in connection with a burglary at a commercial address on Usk Way, Newport, on Saturday 29 August.

Rory Hiscox, of Chepstow Road, Newport, was charged with burglary other than a dwelling, and two counts of fraud by false representation.

A 33-year-old woman has been charged in connection with a burglary at a commercial address on Millennium Walk, Newport, on Tuesday 25 August.

Nicole Clarke, of no fixed address, was charged with burglary other than a dwelling, and theft from a shop on Cambrian Road, Newport, on Sunday 23 August.

Both defendants were remanded into police custody to appear at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 2 September.