George Clooney spoke with heartrending candor about the final moments of his sister Adelia ‘Ada’ Zeidler, who succumbed to cancer last December aged 65.

‘She died very quickly, and I was with her when she died,’ Clooney remembered this week while giving a masterclass at the Venice Film Festival.

‘And there was this feeling, being with her, holding her hand when she died, understanding how brief all of this is,’ he said, via Variety.

‘It was minutes ago that she and I were little kids together; Minutes ago we were holding hands as little kids,’ said the Good Night, and Good Luck director.

Clooney, who was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the festival, reflected: ‘Time goes fast. All of this. And so we have to find nothing but joy.’

Although Ada led a life outside the public eye, she was spotted with her world famous brother in Venice in 2014, the pair of them riding through a canal together during their visit to the city for his wedding to his wife Amal Clooney.

‘She died very quickly, and I was with her when she died,’ Clooney remembered this week while giving a masterclass at the Venice Film Festival 

Clooney previously described Ada as his ‘hero’ when he broke his silence on her death in a statement released the following day.

‘She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly,’ said the Ocean’s Eleven star.

Ada’s official obituary described her as a ‘talented artist’ in her own right who ‘died peacefully’ while ‘surrounded by the people she loved’ on December 19, 2025.

Three days after her death at a branch of St Elizabeth Healthcare in Kentucky, her funeral was held at Patrick Catholic Church in Maysville.

A decade before Ada’s death, Clooney remarked that he was ‘very close to’ his sister, in an interview with Charlie Rose on CBS This Morning.

‘And I’ve got a niece and nephew. My nephew was just made prom king from the high school that I went to where I was not named,’ he quipped.

Ada was born in Los Angeles on May 2, 1960 to Nick and Nina Clooney, just one year and four days before her movie star brother.

George and Ada Clooney hailed from a showbiz family – their father was a noted radio host and liberal activist, while their aunt was the celebrated jazz singer Rosemary Clooney, who also featured in the classic 1954 movie White Christmas. 

Ada and her brother were spotted in Venice in 2014, the pair of them riding along a canal together during their visit to the city for his wedding to his wife Amal Clooney 

Ada married retired army captain Normal Zeidler in 1987 and welcomed two children with him before he died of a heart attack in October 2004 

Ada is pictured with her son Nick, who Clooney quipped in 2015 ‘was just made prom king from the high school that I went to where I was not named’

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Ada was born in Los Angeles on May 2, 1960 to Nick and Nina Clooney, just one year and four days before her movie star brother; Clooney pictured with his parents in 2005 

Nina, a onetime beauty queen, shared warm memories of the way her children played with each other during their childhood in Kentucky, in a 2006 interview with HGTV.

She laughingly recalled arriving home from work to see George and Ada having a party with their friends and goofing around with marshmallows.

The children, she said, ‘would lick one side of’ each marshmallow ‘and throw them at each other. When I came in, there were marshmallows stuck all over the room.’

Clooney has also painted a fond portrait of the gentle environment in rural Kentucky where he and Ada passed their childhoods.

‘All the things we see on cable news of people being unkind to one another doesn’t exist,’ he said in a 2019 interview with the Nashville paper the Tennessean. ‘They have to get along. I was really lucky to be raised in a small town like that.’

Ada married retired army captain Normal Zeidler in 1987 and raised two children with him before he died of a heart attack in October 2004.

The bride’s brother reportedly gave a scripture reading at the Zeidler wedding, where Rosemary is said to have treated the guests to a song.

As the Telegraph Fantasy Football season heads into 2026-27, the award-winning experts at Fantasy Football Hub ccontinue to bring you the very best in fantasy football knowledge, tips and tools to help you rise up the ranks and win your mini-leagues.

Join the Hub and get access to all their great resources and expert tips.

 

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We really appreciate you bearing with us whilst we continue to make these improvements.

In the meantime, if you have any feedback or suggestions, please use the Contact Us chat feature on the website.

 

Telegraph Fantasy Football: last week’s insights

 

Captain Fantastic

Man Utd’s 39 per cent-owned midfielder Bruno Fernandes (£6.5m) netted a hat-trick and added an assist as the Red Devils thrashed Ipswich at Old Trafford. Team-mate Bryan Mbeumo (£4.4m) also got in on the action with a goal himself.

Maresca’s City slickers

After a sluggish GW1, Enzo Maresca’s side sprang into life in GW2 with an emphatic 4-1 win at Crystal Palaces. Erling Haaland (£8.3m) and Rayan Cherki (£4.5m) both returned doubles as last year’s runners-up put the Londoners to the sword.

Resolute Gunners

Arsenal have picked up where last season finished, restricting their opponents to limited chances and returning back-to-back clean sheets. The injury to Cristhian Mosquera (£3.7m) may open the door for Ezri Konsa (£3.5m); if the latter looks primed to start there could be a flurry of activity with TFF managers acquiring the champions’ recent recruit’s services.

 

Visit the Telegraph Fantasy Football Stats Centre for all player points  >

 

Telegraph Fantasy Football Tips: Game Week 3

The Telegraph Fantasy Football player list has been analysed ahead of the upcoming games, and these look like the best players to transfer in:

 

1. Rayan Cherki (£4.5m)

The aforementioned France international already has four attacking returns in his two appearances this season and looks likely to start in the No.10 role at home to hapless Coventry City on Saturday.

2. Igor Thiago (£4.6m)

Last season’s Golden Boot runner-up has yet to score in the league this season, but a home game against a Black Cats side who lost their opening away game at Ipswich is the perfect platform to get off the mark.

3. Nico O’Reilly (£4.2m)

Deployed predominantly in one of Manchester City’s No.8 roles last time out, the attacking full-back-cum-midfielder could do as well as some of his attacking colleagues against the newly promoted Championship winners.

 

You can follow the latest Telegraph Fantasy Football news and discussions throughout the year on Facebook, Twitter and Fantasy Football Content Hub

Vitor Matos’ side fell to defeat away to Southampton in their first loss of the campaign

Cyle Larin scored his fifth goal of the season as Southampton beat Swansea 3-1 to humble a table-topper for the second home match in a row.

Larin, who is the joint-top scorer in the Championship, netted either side of Finn Azaz and Leo Scienza strikes to make it 13 games unbeaten at St Mary’s in a row.

It followed Saints hammering previous leaders Millwall 5-1 10 days ago, although Swansea – who netted through Zan Vipotnik’s penalty – stayed level on points at the summit.

Swansea made five changes from the side which drew with Wrexham at the weekend and failed to have a shot on target in the first half – with the majority of their efforts blocked long before reaching Daniel Peretz.

On the other hand, the hosts were rampant as they eased through the Swans’ lines.

Scienza and Ryan Manning were the first to find open spaces behind their opposition in the fourth minute, but after their neat interchange, Azaz skied high into the stand.

But five minutes later the Republic of Ireland international found the bottom corner with a low left-footed shot, after Flynn Downes had powered through.

It was Azaz’s first goal in seven attempts against Swansea, his second of the season, and just the second goal the Swans had conceded in 2026-27.

Larin was the second player to go from putting supporters in the Chapel Stand at risk before scoring.

The Canadian snatched at a half-volley after a corner in the 25th minute, before sliding home eight minutes later.

This time James Bree had made the run in behind the porous defence before squaring to Larin for his fifth league strike of the campaign, after two blanks.

Midfielder Downes had an opportunity to completely put the game to bed two minutes before the interval but he hooked over the crossbar after a Larin knockdown.

Swansea boss Vitor Matos sent winger Ronald on at half-time and he brought immediate energy by bundling a shot over.

It was contagious for the away side, and within 10 minutes of the restart they had pulled a goal back.

Bree pulled back Vipotnik at the back post before the Slovenian picked himself up to fire into the bottom left corner from the spot – his seventh straight penalty success.

Despite a far more even balance of play, Southampton still had the better chances, as Keven Schlotterbeck’s poke forced a good save and Larin’s improvised header bounced narrowly wide.

And Scienza – who had seen a lashed shot battered away – secured the three points 12 minutes from the end by calmly slotting into the corner after being released by Kuryu Matsuki.

The garden centre is on the hunt for Santa’s little helpers

It’s that time of year where early planning for Christmas starts creeping in ahead of the festive season. A Cambridgeshire garden centre is hiring performers to help Santa spread the magic during the busy period.

Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough is inviting those who has a passion for Christmas, a love for people and a smile “that can charm a queue of both children & parents alike” to come forward and apply for the role as an elf in their Christmas grotto.

According to the job description, Santa’s little helper will:

• Jingle all the way through the grotto to welcome excited visitors, sprinkle a bit of Elf magic and help them meet Santa in the most magical way possible;
• Help manage timings so every family gets a great experience without long waits;
• Bring festive fun to the breakfast table as you entertain families with giggles, games and a sprinkle of North Pole mischief while they enjoy their morning with Santa;
• At their special Santa Paws events, the elf will also help treat the garden centre’s four-legged visitors to a magical moment with Santa, wagging tails, and all;
• Help keep the Grottos clean, tidy and stocked;
• Helping issue photos through our machines capturing the experience;
• Work closely with the wider team (and Santa!) to keep the Christmas magic alive.

Applicants must be 16-years-old or over when applying, have a basic DBS check to be completed prior to the start date, right to work in the UK and willingness to attend a short induction/training session before the grotto opens.

The cheerful elf will work between November 16 and December 24 part time for 12 hours per week. The job advertisement claims to offer a “competitive salary”.

Dobbies has a history dating back to 1865 and was founded by James Dobbie. The garden centre retailer claims to be the only one to have stores in every nation across the UK. Listed in the events for Christmas, Peterborough’s Dobbies Garden Centre will offer ‘Santa Paws’ where visitor’s four-legged friends can experience jolly fun in their grotto or meet Santa and his elves.

The garden centre will also host ‘Santa’s Breakfast’, which is a 90-minute experience featuring a yummy family breakfast, a visit from Santa and activities, games and a gift as well as the well-loved Santa’s Grotto offering children the chance to step into a North Pole village. It has an additional ‘Santa’s Quiet Grotto’ to offer children who may have additional needs a magical experience.

It has plenty of sites to visit and a great spot for afternoon tea

In our wonderful county, we have so many places to visit – and some have a history most people don’t know. One hidden gem in Cambridgeshire is the remote town of Thorney, just outside Peterborough.

The village, which has existed since the sixth century has an incredible history, despite being very small with just under 3,000 residents. Despite very much being a village now, it was once known as an island.

The village was previously called the Isle of Thorns thanks to it being a tiny island in the middle of the fens. It is now a quaint residential village that is easily accessible from Cambridge with a few historical attractions to stop at.

Thorney’s history

Thorney has a rich history that spanned many centuries. Archaeological research that has been conducted in the village revealed that there had been settlements in the area from the Iron Age, Bronze Age, and Roman Times.

In the 17th century, the Dukes of Bedford were largely involved in draining the fens to create a thriving village out of what used to be the island. A lot of the village’s surrounding land was perfect for farming, however nowadays, most of the agricultural cottages and farmhouses have been converted into homes.

In 1849, the seventh Duke of Bedford ordered a rebuilding of Thorney to turn it into a model village. The architect, Samuel Sanders Teulon, helped to design many of the cottages that are still a major part of Thorney today.

The model village improvements also include adding in fresh water and sewage systems, a gas supply, and the usual shops and schools for the area. Thorney’s design was based around medieval and Tudor buildings.

You can learn even more about Thorney’s deep history from the locally run Thorney Museum. With talks from local experts, you’ll find out everything you need to know about the village.

Tankyard

The focal point of the village has to be the Tankyard. Built as part of the model village project, the Tankyard was used to pump water to homes in the area and collect their sewage just by using gravity.

Bedford Hall is the 96 foot high tower attached to the beautiful Jacobean style building. Thanks to its height, the hall is impossible to miss. The hall is now home to many community events, such as discos and festivals. The building is well worth a visit just for its architectural beauty.

Tea at 18

After spending a day exploring the historic village , you can take a moment to sit down and enjoy an afternoon tea at Tea at 18. The luxury tea room is a staple part of the village and is well-liked by both locals and visitors.

The popular café has something for everyone with a wide range of sandwiches, paninis, and rolls for the perfect lunch. If you have more of a sweet tooth, Tea at 18 also sells homemade cakes and pastries that are definitely generously sized.

The highlight at Tea at 18 seems to be the afternoon tea, where you can get warm scones served with fresh cream and jam, a selection of sandwiches, a slice of cake, and unlimited tea or coffee. The charming café is a nice way to finish the day off.

How to get there

Thorney is easy to get to by car and is around an hour from Cambridge. If you follow the A14 to join the A1, you’ll reach Peterborough and from there, join the A47 to get to the village.

If you prefer to travel via public transport, you can get a train to Peterborough and a bus that takes you right into the heart of Thorney.

Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) is left reeling in Coronation Street next week when Ross Wilkes (Ian Burfield) makes insensitive comments in light of Richie’s (Nathan Sussex) claims that he was abused by his wife.

Richie, as viewers know, is in prison for murder after his wife was found dead in their home.

Ross, meanwhile, has been settling into the Street following his arrival earlier in the year – and it was apparent from the offset that he wasn’t a nice person, with Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) unnerved by his presence.

Tyrone, however, is keen to get to know his father – which led to conflict with Cassie, who subsequently disappeared after a showdown with Ross – but things take quite a turn for the father and son in upcoming scenes.

In scenes set to air next week, Ross makes himself at home at No.9. Tyrone comments how he spends a lot of time at their house. In a bid to change the subject, Ross begins to talk about UFOs, regaling his son with a far-fetched tale about extraterrestrials.

The topic of conversation sticks in Ty’s head and he later shares his dad’s story with his mates at the Rovers. The lads find it funny and proceed to mock Ross, who isn’t pleased – but he masks his annoyance.

In a bid to make things right, Ty later invites Ross out to a meal with him and Fiz (Jennie McAlpine) at the bistro. The subject of marriage is raised and Tyrone proceeds to quiz Ross about his past relationships.

Fiz, meanwhile, takes the opportunity to stir the pot somewhat, revealing that Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) – who Ross has been seeing – was married four times.

The conversation subsequently shifts to Richie, with Ross belittling his claim that he was abused by his wife.

The subject – and Ross’ comments on it – will prove rather upsetting for Tyrone, who abused by ex Kirsty.

Later in the week, Ross confides in Tracy, revealing that he deeply regrets the remarks he made. Tracy responds by advising him to apologise to Tyron.

Ross takes her advice and seeks out his son to beg for forgiveness regarding the crass comments. Will Tyrone forgive him? And what’s more, will he feel able to open up about his own ordeal?

And ultimately, will Tyrone see his father for the manipulator that he is?

Coronation Street airs Mondays to Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX and YouTube.

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: Fiz makes chilling discovery about Cassie after her ‘death’ in Coronation Street

MORE: Fiz brings down Ross in new Coronation Street video as new Cassie evidence emerges

When asked how she felt about the documentary potentially winning the award, she shared: “I don’t know if I’d be able to get through my speech. I’d be crying quite a lot. So there’s a part of me that’s like, please don’t win because we’ll be out yet. But you know, it would be very, it would be a true honour.”

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By BREANNE DEPPISCH, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 20:41 BST, 8 September 2026 | Updated: 21:22 BST, 8 September 2026

President Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to restore access to an immigration voter database with just weeks until the midterm elections. 

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It is the latest in a flurry of election related cases Trump has punted to the high court for last-minute intervention.

Solicitor General John Sauer asked the justices to halt a lower court’s June ruling that blocked the Trump administration’s access to the DHS database – dubbed the ‘Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements,’ or SAVE – used to verify individuals immigration status.

Sauer assailed the lower court’s ruling as ‘indefensible’ and one that threatened the security of the looming midterm elections, which are now less than 60 days away.

Critics blasted the latest appeal by the Trump administration as yet another bid by Trump to shore up federal control over the voting process – which has long been run by individual states – and to disenfranchise voters ahead of the November midterms.

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A group of advocacy groups sued earlier this year to block Trump’s use of the SAVE database, arguing that the system was error-prone and outdated – resulting in the erroneous identification of noncitizens, who were then removed from the rolls.

The lower court judge, US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, sided with plaintiffs in June, ruling that the system in question ‘trampled on the privacy rights of American citizens’ and threatened to disenfranchise eligible voters.

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit also ruled 2-1 to uphold Sooknanan’s ruling earlier this month, prompting Sauer to file the emergency petition to the Supreme Court for review.

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Trump speaks at a Make America Great Again campaign rally on October 19, 2020

Demonstrators appear at a ‘Defend the Vote’ rally in Washington, DC. Trump has sought to crack down on mail-in voting, part of a broader effort to exert more federal control in elections 

A voter drops off a ballot in Washington, DC. Trump is urging the high court to halt a lower court order blocking his new restrictions on mail-in voting before the November midterms 

The new Supreme Court appeal comes as Trump continues to cite concerns of voter fraud and election security, despite scant evidence that either exists, and certainly not on a meaningful scale.

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 Critics argue the attempt is merely the latest bid by Trump and some in the GOP to disenfranchise voters who could Democrats regain control of the House or Senate majorities this fall.

‘Court after court has rejected the Trump-Vance administration’s effort to revive an unlawful system that puts Americans’ privacy and fundamental freedom to vote at risk,’ Skye Perryman, president and CEO of ​the advocacy group Democracy Forward, said in a statement.

‘Now, after failing to get its way in the lower courts, the administration is asking the US Supreme Court to intervene, despite the law being clear that [the Department of Homeland Security’s] actions cannot continue,’ Perryman said.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who oversees emergency appeals emanating from the DC US Court of Appeals, gave parties one week to file motions to the high court in its consideration of the case.

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Ivanka Trump faced a wave of online criticism after sharing a horseback-riding video that many viewers dismissed as out of touch with everyday Americans.

The clip, posted Monday on X and Instagram, shows a woman galloping along a beach at sunset, set to Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida,” a song about a fallen king.

It was unclear whether Ivanka Trump was the rider, but the post quickly went viral, racking up more than 15 million views on X alone. Although comments were restricted, users across the political spectrum quoted the post to voice their displeasure.

Many pointed to rising living costs across the U.S., contrasting them with the carefree lifestyle on display in the clip.

“Americans: We can’t afford gas, food or tuition,” GOP podcaster Melissa Witte wrote. “Trump Family: here’s a video of Kai’s luxury dorm, Ivanka riding a horse and we’re also gonna rename both New Mexico and Lake Ontario ‘America.’”

California Governor Gavin Newsom and MAGA journalist Eric Spracklen both highlighted that gasoline has surged in cost amid the ongoing Iran war.

“Real ‘Let them eat cake’ energy here,” wrote another user, while yet another questioned: “Is she racing to her nuclear bunker?”

“She turned off the replies. Of course she did. The corrupt Trump family is so out of touch with ordinary Americans,” the X account Republicans Against Trump added.

Trump has long faced accusations that he and his family have profited off the presidency. In his first year back in office, his personal income soared to $2.2 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. “I’m profiting because the stock market is going up. Everybody is profiting,” the 80-year-old president told reporters in July.

Compared to her father’s first term, Ivanka Trump has largely shied away from politics. She and her husband, Jared Kushner, recently paid $1.4 billion for an island off Albania, which they plan to turn into a luxury resort. However, the island turned out to be a nature preserve and the announcement of the American couple’s plans to develop it into a commercial venture led to weeks of nationwide protests in Albania.

In response to the horse-riding video, other users pointed to an August investigation by The New York Times, which reported that, under the Trump administration, wild horses are being slaughtered.

The outlet found that the Bureau of Land Management is “quietly” selling off thousands of horses to buyers for cheap, which can then be processed and sold overseas.

“Your dad is selling wild horses on federal land and shipping them off to be slaughtered,” wrote Headquarters, an X account formerly associated with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Not all of the comments were negative, though.

“Why is this pissing off liberals?” wrote one user. Have they never been on vacation in the Caribbean?…I don’t get it. Are we not supposed to enjoy life?”