I never thought I would presume to say that I know how the Prince of Wales feels – but sadly I can now do so.  

Should he twist or stick, reach out to Harry on his return to England or shun him?

Should he act like a wiser big brother or decide that relations have deteriorated too far for that?

Every fibre in my body screams out, go for a reconciliation, see if it is possible. Isn’t that what family means? Doesn’t the New Testament tell him as a future Supreme Governor of the Church of England to turn the other cheek?

Certainly, the tale of the prodigal son has the message of welcoming a renegade member of the family back into the fold. The principle is the same towards a brother – life is warmer together and colder apart.

And yet my drive for a happy family reunion is brought to a screeching halt when I think of one of my own brothers. We have not spoken for eight years and have no intention of doing so. I don’t even know where he lives.

In fact, I am ashamed of admitting this as everything above indicates that we should meet and reconcile. But sometimes theory and reality clash, and they certainly do in our case.

The added sadness is that, like William and Harry, we were once very close. 

There is a 13-year gap between us, and my mother often said I was like a second father to him, changing his nappies as a baby, taking him in the pram to the local playground, spending time with him as he grew up.

It is hard to pinpoint the moments when the relationship soured and the bond snapped. I left home for university and saw much less of him. When I did return home, we squabbled. Somehow it turned to distrust and dislike.

When he was an adult, we also had very different views as to how to look after our ageing parents. 

One result was that when he lived in the family home, he limited access to my mother, initially at my expense and later my children’s. He would say that she was too unwell to see them, which I found unlikely as she adored her grandchildren.

It ended with a complete blackout of all news about her – including her decline, so much so that we were not informed of her death by him or even the funeral.

Hurtful, especially to my children who should not have suffered because of whatever went wrong between he and I.

Did I try to improve the relationship earlier? Yes, although looking back I cannot be sure if I tried as hard as I could have done.

I do take part of the blame for the fall-out, but definitely not all of it. I also know that we are not alone in our fraternal enmity.

Harry, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet have recently returned to Britain – but relations between the brothers are complicated

It is surely significant that the very first example of brothers in the Bible – Cain and Abel – is not a story of lovey-dovey harmony with violins in the background.

Instead, it is a tale of a dysfunctional relationship, of jealousy and anger that gets so out of control that it results in one murdering the other. Biblical fratricide is at the extreme end of family feuds. 

Most, thankfully, only feature stubbornness, pride or a sense of betrayal – just ask the Gallagher brothers, who admirably completed their Oasis tour last year after a decade of bubbling animosity, or Brooklyn Beckham, who has severed ties with his family so publicly on social media.

‘Just pick up the phone and make up,’ I hear you cry in exasperation. It’s perfectly sensible advice, but it is not that easy.

For a start, there is a feeling that this is not my task but the other person’s. He offended me, so he should take the first step!

Yes, it might be healthy to reconcile, but pride means I will respond but not initiate. The trouble is that when both parties feel that way, the impasse continues.

Another obstacle is embarrassment. It is awkward to say, ‘Hello, it’s me’ after so long not speaking and plenty of blue air when we did. 

I know the best way would be to write down a couple of lines so as not to blurt out something mangled, but that still begs two questions about how the other person might respond.

The Waleses and the Sussexes are not thought to have communicated for some time

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What if he spurns the effort, repeats past insults and slams the phone down? Do I really want to expose myself to that rejection?

Alternatively, what if he accepts, and warmly welcomes the rapprochement? That is wonderful in many ways, but it does come at a cost of having to let go of my own resentments at past hurts and wipe the slate clean.

Maybe I’m just not ready. It is much cosier being wrapped in a blanket of anger and victimhood. It also saves me having to ask where I might have gone wrong.

This is why I do not advise Prince William to offer the hand of peace to his brother. Sometimes a wound is best left untouched.

Instead, he could turn away and let go of the relationship completely. 

There is at least an honesty in recognising that there are points of no return, nor does it trade a deeply held conviction for the thin reward of forced smiles and small talk at the next family occasion.

Therapists will argue that, despite the initial distress contact might cause, it could eventually lead to mutual understanding and a rich relationship. 

Maybe, but in my case, I would want to be convinced of the odds and there are no guarantees.

Giving up on one’s brother may be a painful situation, but at least it has been accepted, put in a box and stored away. It will be even more painful to reopen it.

Still, I am bothered by the fact that as a minister of religion I have frequently met with warring families and my usual response has been that they should err on the side of generosity.

But I also know that some hurts cannot be forgotten and some misdeeds cannot be undone: Prince William has endured the ignominy of his brother divulging their private quarrels to the world for a fast buck. My brother buried my mother without telling me.

This may not be as high a moral or religious a response to which I could aspire, but it is real. I regret it but won’t change it.

I truly hope that Prince William can do better than me, but he will know very well that much depends on the wounds already suffered and the likely response he might receive.

– Jonathan Romain is author of Confessions Of A Rabbi, published by Biteback.

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 01:26 BST, 6 September 2026 | Updated: 02:25 BST, 6 September 2026

At least 22 people have died after a fire erupted at a wedding party in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The fire started on Friday and continued into the early hours of Saturday at a building in Lingwala, a northern district in the nation’s capital of Kinshasa.  

Guests perished as they attempted to flee through the building’s narrow corridors.

Bodies of the injured and the dead were laid at the roadside by attendees who then rushed to help those who had survived.

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Pictures of the aftermath show the scorched exterior of the building spread across two floors.

The interior was also torched in the blaze with only burnt tables, chairs and decorations remaining.

The mayor of Lingwala, Norbert Mushinga, told the Congolese Press Agency that the provisional death toll of the blaze was 22 but said it could rise further in the coming days.

The exact cause of the fire at the wedding party has yet to be confirmed, although an electrical issue or wedding decorations may be to blame.

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Scorched table clothes and chairs pictured inside the wedding venue in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital city, Kinshasa

The destroyed exterior of the building which was damaged by the fire which spread across two floors

At least 22 people perished in the blaze but the death toll could rise further in the coming days

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Mr Mushinga added that attendees who were injured while fleeing the party were ‘transported to various hospital facilities’ in the surrounding area. 

Jacquemin Shabani, Congo’s deputy prime minister and interior minister, who visited the site on September 5 said: ‘It is a tragedy.’

Deadly fires are understood to be commonplace in the densely populated areas of Kinshasa.

Urban development in parts of the city without sufficient safety provisions such as fire services can lead to fires occurring.

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During the dry season, the likelihood of fires is significantly higher and several have broken out this year, according to Congolese media. 

Do YOU have a story? Email joshua.haining@dailymail.co.uk 

Roberto De Zerbi took aim at his attacking players after Tottenham’s goalless draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Spurs earned their first point of the new Premier League season following back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Newcastle United.

But De Zerbi was unhappy with the quality his side showed in attacking areas and highlighted an opportunity wasted by Spurs’ new summer signing Omar Marmoush.

De Zerbi also criticised Mathys Tel, who was replaced by Mykhailo Mudryk in the second half, by claiming that the 21-year-old French winger ‘takes too many wrong decisions’.

Speaking after Spurs’ draw with Forest, De Zerbi said: ‘I think we played well but in the last third we have to improve.

‘We have to take the better decisions. We have to keep more calm when we are very close to doing something important in the last third.

‘I remember the chance when Marmoush shot at goal, the way we had Robertson overlapping. If we take the right decision and we play with Robertson then on the second post there is Kudus to score like this.

‘Or how many crosses went over the second post? From Mathys Tel, two times, Savio, one time. Savio I think it’s the last decision. The ball from Pedro Porro on Mateus Fernandes when he played with Kudus and then for the header of Solanke, Mateus was completely alone to go forward to score.

‘Anyway, I’m very happy for the spirit of the team, for the organisation, with and without the ball. We didn’t suffer nothing. Their style of play is very clear, long ball and second ball. But even this second ball, we won many, many duels. They have good players and taking points in this stadium is not so easy.

‘We are not happy because we didn’t win, but I think this is the right spirit and the right way to move on in this moment. Because we started just last Thursday to work together and to create, to build the team, to build the organisation. It’s not enough the paper, the transfer market.’

When asked about Mudryk’s debut, De Zerbi then took aim at Tel’s decision making.

‘He’s not ready yet,’ De Zerbi said of Mudryk.

‘He’s working to reach the best physical condition. He needs time, he needs work. In that position, we have Mathys Tel, big potential. But also Mathys takes too many wrong decisions, and Mudryk. So, two big players, two big potential players.

‘But anyway, if we want to score, I think Marmoush has 15 goals. Solanke, the chance header for Solanke, I consider a chance to score. It’s not a shot on goal. But how many shots did Nottingham have today? I think, anyway, it was a good game.’

Asked how he can improve on Spurs’ mistakes in attack, De Zerbi replied: ‘Meeting, watching, analysing together with the players. Also, I think, winning the games, because, you know, the confidence, the enthusiasm, it can be crucial to find the right decision.

‘But I love these players. I spoke now about Marmoush. But Marmoush, we have to analyse if he has, or not, 15, 12 goals. I think, yes, because he has all the qualities, enough to score that number of goals. He has to improve, of course.

‘Like Domi Solanke, I think if Domi is fit, is in the best physical condition, the chance he had was completely different.’

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has promised to protect military members who deliver religious greetings at New Mexico’s Kirtland Air Force Base.

Hegseth wrote on X Friday that the Pentagon will “never cave” to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation after the nonprofit intervened to stop the religious greetings. The nonprofit’s president, Mikey Weinstein, had a five-word response to the Pentagon chief in an interview with The Independent: “Tell it to the judge.”

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation announced Thursday that it put an end to a “weeks-long blitz” of religious greetings from guards at the front gate of Kirtland.

The press release included two emails that a member of the Air Force wrote to the nonprofit’s president, Mikey Weinstein. The initial email sent Wednesday morning read, in part, “I’m writing because something is happening at the front gate of my base that is absolutely unacceptable, and frankly I’m stunned it’s been allowed to continue.

“For multiple days over the last couple of weeks, the guards have been greeting me with ‘God bless you’ every single morning as I come through. Not once, not twice… repeatedly, consistently, as if it’s an officially sanctioned script.”

The unnamed Air Force member said they want this “blatant violation of the separation of church and state” stopped.

While the Air Force member who wrote the email disclosed that they are not Christian, the nonprofit said they were one of 34 people who wanted the religious greetings stopped and that 24 complaints came from Christians.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation also shared the “thank you” email that the Air Force member sent Wednesday afternoon, by which time the nonprofit said the issue was resolved.

“I have gone through the same gate a couple times without hearing the religious greeting. After dealing with it repeatedly for weeks, seeing that change happen within hours is honestly incredible,” the email read.

The nonprofit says it has helped nearly 100,000 individuals, including active-duty troops and veterans, with issues of religious freedom in the military — 95 percent of whom are Christians.

But the issue of religious greetings at Kirtland is far from over with Hegseth now interjecting.

“The MRFF is a radical anti-Christian, pro-atheist group that attacks any/all faith inside the @DeptofWar,” Hegseth, who is a Christian, said in his Friday X post.

“We will never cave to them. The @usairforce will confront this. God bless our Airmen.”

The Independent has reached out to the Pentagon for comment.

Hegseth has been known to insert his religious beliefs into the military, whether it’s through monthly Christian worship services at the Pentagon or quoting scripture at a press briefing in March, telling reporters, “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.”

“Just tell it to the judge, little Petey,” Weinstein told The Independent in response to Hegseth’s X post.

Weinstein called Hegseth a “Christian nationalist” whose “favorite thing to do is to defecate all over the U.S. Constitution.”

The nonprofit pointed to a clause in Air Force Instruction, which states, “Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for free exercise of religion and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion.

“They must ensure their words and actions do not discriminate against any individual or group because of their faith, belief, or absence of belief, or extend preferential treatment for the same.”

Weinstein has threatened legal action against the federal government if the religious greetings continue, and against Hegseth himself, claiming libel over his X post calling the nonprofit “anti-Christian” and “pro-atheist.”

“Hegseth is spewing complete and total lies, and it’s reckless disregard of the truth. And why is that important? Because I’m a public figure. For public figures in America to win a libel suit, you can’t just show regular defamation. You have to show reckless disregard,” Weinstein said.

The unruly passenger was reportedly intoxicated and allegedly began shouting at a fellow traveller sitting next to him before the situation turned violent

A passenger had to be physically restrained and strapped to his seat with duct tape after chaos broke out on board an American Airlines flight.

The traveller, who was making his way from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey, appeared to be under the influence when he began screaming at the passenger seated next to him.

Witnesses on board claimed the incident turned physical, with the man allegedly attacking a fellow passenger, destroying his laptop, and hurling both racial and homophobic abuse.

Matters reportedly deteriorated further when the man allegedly shoved a female passenger and attempted to bite two others.

Juan Mejia, a retired police officer who was travelling on the flight, recalled: “Just like a light switch, all of a sudden, it went from quiet to yelling and chaos.”

“I turned around to look, and the poor gentleman that was sitting next to him in the aisle seat, the individual had his hands around his neck and was, like, assaulting him.”

Mr Mejia and a fellow passenger intervened to subdue the disruptive traveller.

Cabin crew provided duct tape, which was used to bind his wrists and secure his head and torso firmly to his seat.

The plane was diverted to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, touching down approximately 15 minutes later.

Local police arrested the passenger upon landing, while the FBI is reportedly considering federal charges, according to TMZ. American Airlines confirmed the flight had been diverted owing to a “disruptive customer”.

Once the passenger had been removed, the aircraft continued on its way to Newark.

A spokesperson from American Airlines stated: “The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we do not tolerate violence.”

They further added: “We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.”

Parents have been reminded when children should stay off school or nursery if they develop a range of common illnesses.

The Public Health Agency has published guidance setting out when children can return to school or nursery after developing conditions including chickenpox, diarrhoea and vomiting, measles, mumps and whooping cough.

The advice is intended to help parents reduce the spread of infections while also avoiding unnecessary time away from school.

Chickenpox

Children should stay off school for at least five days from the onset of the rash and until all spots have crusted over.

Conjunctivitis

There is no need to stay off school or nursery, although the school should be informed.

Diarrhoea and/or vomiting

Children should stay away for 48 hours after the last episode.

Respiratory illness, such as colds and flu

Children can return when they no longer have a high temperature and are well enough to attend.

Glandular fever

There is no need to stay off, but the school or nursery should be informed.

Hand, foot and mouth

Children do not need to stay off if they are well enough, but the school or nursery should be informed.

Impetigo

Children should stay off until lesions are crusted and healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotics.

Head lice

There is no need to stay off school, but the school or nursery should be informed.

Measles

Children should stay off for four days from the onset of the rash.

Mumps

Children should stay off for five days from the onset of swelling.

German measles (rubella)

Children should stay off for five days from the onset of the rash.

Scarlet fever

Children should stay off for 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

Scabies

Children should stay off until after their first treatment.

Slapped cheek

There is no need to stay off, but the school or nursery should be informed.

Threadworms

There is no need to stay off, although the school or nursery should be informed.

Tonsillitis

Children can return when they no longer have a temperature and are well enough to attend, with the school or nursery informed.

Whooping cough

Children should stay off for 48 hours after starting antibiotics.

The PHA’s guidance stresses that symptoms and severity of illness will vary from person to person. If your child is unwell and you have concerns about their symptoms, you should speak to your GP.

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Robert Pattinson has been celebrated in recent years for the breadth and daring of his films and acting – but even still, Primetime takes it to the next level.

Playing real-life paedophile hunter Chris Hansen, a former Dateline NBC correspondent who broke through into primetime schedules (hence the film’s name) from 2004 to 2007 with his To Catch a Predator show, Pattinson takes perhaps the most creative risks of his career so far, flipping between a performance grounded in remarkable voice work as he imitates Hansen – already a popular meme – and wilder, unpredictable swings.

He’s never been so free on screen, something you can’t help but admire, and in a sense it feels like Pattinson – surely soon to be an Oscar nominee, if voters can get behind such an uncategorisable turn – has been building to this kind of performance his whole career.

Rather than rush through a potted biography, Primetime drops the audience directly into the scenario Hansen became so famous for – preparing to confront a suspected online predator on camera as part of a sting organised by the organisation Perverted Justice, lured to the house by an adult posing as a minor.

It’s unsettling from the start as we hear Pattinson’s Hansen practising his line delivery of the suspected paedophile’s quotes: ‘I will undress you and you will undress me’, ‘For a virgin to have sex, it hurts.’

This first sting shows a veteran (Tony Revolori) being confronted as soon as he mentions condoms to decoy Del Harvey (singer Phoebe Bridgers in her debut acting role) by Hansen. Pattinson theatrically enters from behind a curtain and walks down the stairs, asking if his target has a ‘big night planned’? This flamboyance breaks the tension and gives the first big clue that Primetime perhaps isn’t what you expected.

The second is Hansen breaking his stern onscreen character for a moment to give an enthusiastic thumbs up back to his producer Andie (Merritt Weaver) after the predator is tackled by police outside.

While the film is dealing with the very dark material of the programme, it also gets stuck into exploring the showmanship of Hansen as he becomes more and more used to being an entertainment star, not just a broadcaster, and as the reputation of To Catch a Predator grows.

Writer Ajon Singh, director Lance Oppenheim and Pattinson (also producing) have fun with this – Hansen is pleased to tell his fellow plane passenger all about how he singlehandedly convinced the network to commission the show, while he also wakes up his young sons in the middle of the night to watch preview tapes.

We’re also treated to a wonderful Pattinson freakout moment when How to Catch a Predator is pitted against Lost as it moves to its coveted new slot, making Hansen giddy with excitement.

In fact it’s former CEO of NBCU TV Jeff Zucker playing himself in this scene, another move blurring the line between fiction and reality in Primetime, which operates in a space Oppenheim has dubbed ‘docufantasia’. The movie’s big tonal fluctuations  – including an unexpected journey into the supernatural which doesn’t quite land for me, also make it harder to pigeonhole.

The emotional heart of the film is introduced by Dan Plum (Skyler Gisondo), a fictionalised decoy looking for his big break and not fully aware of what he’s signed up to until he’s thrust on set for a sting – and given a baptism of fire thanks to Crazyfrog73 (played by former child star Jonathan Lipnicki from Stuart Little), who drops his trousers to spray whipped cream on his genitals. Hansen is then dispatched by Andie to keep Dan in play after his emotional whiplash to how things unfolded.

However, with a great primetime slot comes great responsibility as the team start looking for a ‘whale’, someone considered part of the establishment, to sensationalise their coverage and attract higher viewing figures. But it drives more of a wedge between producer Andie and Xavier, founder of Perverted Justice.

Primetime raises questions over To Catch a Predator’s morality and grey areas, and leans into humour, some of it pitch dark, and far more than I anticipated given its topic. A lot of that can be credited to Pattinson’s highly charged performance, consistently dialled up to the maximum. The passion for his crusade turns Hansen a little delusional and slightly crazed as the pressure mounts; you can’t tear your eyes away from it.

I’m not sure it’s the most flattering portrayal of the journalist – who has already criticised the production – as he’s shown using his full onscreen credit when complaining about a broken vending machine. Meanwhile, a scene with his wife Mary (Anna Faris) may just hint, ever so slightly, at a foot fetish. The film also runs with the 2011 tabloid report of his alleged affair with a local TV journalist in Florida.

Having said this, the Primetime leaves you in no doubt just how much Hansen’s qualities – tenacity, drive and pizazz – all fed To Catch a Predator’s success.

Primetime premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, September 5. It releases in UK cinemas on October 30, 2026.

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EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Dante Moore threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 2 Oregon overcame a slow start to down resilient Boise State 34-27 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday.

After trading field goals to tie the game at 27 in the fourth quarter, Dakorien Moore scored on a 62-yard reception to give the Ducks the lead for good with 7:51 left to play.

Oregon has won 16 straight season openers at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks have 39 straight wins at home against nonconference opponents, the longest streak in the nation.

“I think, you know, we’ve learned a lot this offseason. There’s been times our practice where the offense has started super slow, and coach (Dan) Lanning said, ‘Hey, it’s adversity. What you gonna do?’ So it all just comes back to how we respond,” Dante Moore said.

He opted to stay at Oregon after throwing for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns last season when the Ducks went 13-2.

Oregon was hurt by 10 penalties for 90 yards, but had 497 total yards on offense comparted to Boise State’s 274.

“We won the game with total yards and some situations, but we didn’t really win the critical situations,” Lanning said. “They won some of those critical situations. They played better in special teams than us today. They did better on fourth down. We kind of gave them an opportunity, a chance to hang around.”

Boise State returned quarterback in Maddux Madsen, who threw for 181 yards and three scores in the opener after finishing last season with 2,334 yards passing and 18 touchdowns.

The Broncos, who join the rebuilt Pac-12 this year, went 9-5 last season in the Mountain West and fell to Washington 38-10 in the LA Bowl.

Boise State, which went into the game as 24 1/2 point underdogs, scored on the first series of the game, with Madsen hitting Cam Bates with a 13-yard scoring pass to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive. The Ducks tied it on Jordon Davison’s 1-yard dive early in the second quarter.

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A schedule of works are planned including maintenance and refurbishment

Drivers have been warned of disruption ahead on the M4 from Monday as a number of works are carried out. The areas affected will be Coldra, Coryton, Miskin, and notably, the Brynglas Tunnels.

There’s also plans for surveys to be carried out in the Pyle area.

Here, we’ve compiled information published by Traffic Wales detailing all the disruption ahead that you need to be aware of. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter.

M4 westbound

• Maintenance work will take place between junction 24 Coldra to junction 28 Tredegar Park, resulting in the Brynglas Tunnel being closed. A diversion will be in place between September 7 and 9 from 8pm until 6am.
• Resurfacing work will take place at junction 32 Coryton, resulting in the entry slip road being closed. A diversion will be in place between September 11 and 12 from 8pm until 6am.
• There will also be resurfacing work at junction 34 Miskin, resulting in the exit and entry slip roads being closed. A diversion will be in place between September 11 and 15 from 8pm until 6am.

M4 northbound

• At junction 32 Coryton, the exit slip road will be closed for resurfacing work. Diversions will be in place between September 8 to 9 from 8pm until 6am.

M4 eastbound

Maintenance work is being carried out from junction 28 Tredegar Park to junction 24 Coldra, resulting in the Brynglas Tunnel being closed. A diversion will be in place between September 9 to 11 from 8pm until 6am.

At junction 37, surveys will be carried out, resulting in the entry slip road being closed. A diversion will be in place between September 10 and 11 from 8pm until 6am.

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