A question mark remains around current host Kielty after RTE chiefs refused to confirm if the Co Down comedian would be returning in September.
08:51, 20 Jun 2026Updated 08:57, 20 Jun 2026
Kieran Cuddihy could soon be taking the reins on The Late Late Show as confusion grows over whether Patrick Kielty will sign a new contract.
The Kilkenny man has been at the helm of RTÉ ‘s Liveline since November after taking over from Joe Duffy, but a switch to Ireland’s top chat show could be on the horizon.
A question mark remains around current Late Late Show host Kielty after Montrose chiefs refused to confirm if the Co Down comedian would be returning in September.
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Cuddihy is now the favourite to replace Kielty if he doesn’t return. According to odds from Ladbrokes, the Kilkenny man is 6/4 favourite to land the gig, the Irish Mirror reports.
This comes as rumours that RTE will hand five potential hosts trial periods for a month each, with Cuddihy one of the names in the mix.
The other four include one-time favourite for the job Oliver Callan (2/1), former TodayFM presenter Dermot Whelan (3/1), IrelandAM presenter Muireann O’Connell (5/1), and current RTE TV presenter Maura Derrane (5/1).
There are also rumours The Two Johnnies could also be in with a shot. Their odds currently stand at 5/2.
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Miriam O’Callaghan and Ex-RTE presenter Claire Byrne are also in the mix.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes commented: “It looks like we’re in for a summer of speculation on the next face of the Late Late Show. It looks like Kieran Cuddihy is the early favourite, but there is no white smoke just yet.”
The World Cup action continues at rapid pace, with drama, excitement, goals and major talking points aplenty.
However, Paraguay still held on in San Francisco to win 1-0 in Group D against Turkey, who remain goalless and have been officially eliminated ahead of their final game as a result of head-to-head records now being used instead of goal difference as the main tiebreaker.
The day nine schedule had begun back in Group D in Seattle, where the USA built on their opening demolition of Paraguay to brush aside Australia 2-0 and guarantee top spot as the confident co-hosts cruised into the last 32 in front of another jubilant home crowd.
Day 10 brings another busy four-game slate at the World Cup, kicking off in Houston as two European nations go head to head with Netherlands vs Sweden in Group F.
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We then move north to Group E and Toronto, where Germany and Ivory Coast will be seeking to book their places in the knockout rounds after respective opening victories.
Premier League stars: Arsenal pair Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz are back in World Cup action today, as is Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo
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The first overnight offering for fans in the UK is from Kansas City, where Ecuador and Curacao clash following those initial losses.
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How to watch World Cup today
In the UK, Netherlands vs Sweden is being shown live and free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage beginning at 5:30pm BST ahead of a 6pm kick-off. Mark Chapman is on presenting duties, joined by pundits Thomas Frank, Micah Richards and Ellen White.
It’s then over to ITV1 for Germany vs Ivory Coast, where the programme gets underway at 8pm for a 9pm kick-off.
Ecuador vs Curacao is back on BBC One, with coverage commencing at 12:50am before kick-off at 1am.
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We stay on BBC One for Tunisia vs Japan, with kick-off at 5am. The coverage starts at 4:50am.
Could staving off memory loss be as simple as strategically wiggling your pinky fingers around every day? That’s what TikTokers are claiming.
Dubbed “pinky time,” the viral exercise is fairly simple: you hold your hands in front of you with your palms facing each other. Then, you interlace your index and middle fingers, touch your ring fingers to your thumbs together, and move your pinkies up and down for several seconds. (Watch how it’s done here.)
“Just seven to 10 seconds a day of this exercise can help protect against Alzheimer’s and improve brain plasticity,” one wellness influencer, Ana Lučić, says in one of the earliest videos on “pinky time”.
If your pinky can move this easily, Lučić says, it’s “a sign your brain is in great shape,” because “loss of fine motor control often mirrors cognitive decline”.
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If your pinky can move this easily, TikToker Ana Lučić says, it’s “a sign your brain is in great shape,” because “loss of fine motor control often mirrors cognitive decline.”
Those who post about pinky time say they do it at the same time each day. (One TikToker claimed she and her friends observe “pinky time” at 7:45pm on the dot every night.)
Is there any truth to the TikTokers’ claims? Neurologists we spoke to say that research does suggest structured finger exercises can stimulate the brain, support neuroplasticity and help ease symptoms of mild cognitive impairment in older adults.
That’s because finger exercises boost cognitive health by engaging the massive area of the brain’s motor cortex dedicated to the hands and fingers.
“The hands occupy a disproportionately large amount of the brain’s motor and sensory cortex,” explained Dr. Shaheen Lakhan, a neurologist and pain medicine specialist in Miami. “Activities that require dexterity, coordination, timing and learning can engage multiple brain networks simultaneously.”
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But the specific movements used in the “pinky time” trend have not been studied, so it’s important not to confuse a viral exercise with a proven medical intervention, Lakhan told HuffPost.
“And we should distinguish between brain activation and dementia prevention,” he said. “Just because an activity activates the brain does not mean it prevents Alzheimer’s disease.”
The value of an exercise like pinky time isn’t focusing on the pinky – it’s the challenge involved.
“Learning a novel coordinated movement recruits brain networks involved in attention, motor planning, sensory processing, timing and learning,” Lakhan said. “The question isn’t whether the pinky moves; it’s whether the brain is being challenged in a meaningful way.”
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One of the most important concepts in neuroscience is that the brain adapts to challenge, he explained. “Neuroplasticity thrives at the intersection of novelty, complexity and repetition.”
Luis Alvarez via Getty Images
“Performing fine motor tasks or rhythmic finger movements stimulates these neural pathways,” said Dr. Shae Datta, a clinical assistant professor in the department of neurology at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. “Things like guitar, playing piano, tai chi and other martial arts, working with your hands, and art should all help strengthen these brain pathways.”
What is fascinating is that hand-brain exercises can serve as a window into broader brain function, the doctor said.
“Coordinated movements require communication among sensory, motor, attentional and executive networks,” he said. “In that sense, they are often exercising far more than the fingers themselves.”
There are other drawbacks with pinky time, besides the lack of research on the specific movements. Pinky time provides repetition, but it lacks enough complexity to suggest it would substantially alter long-term cognitive trajectories, Lakhan said.
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“As I often tell patients, cognitive decline isn’t prevented by a single movement. It’s resisted by a lifestyle that continuously asks the brain to adapt,” he said.
That’s why it’s a great idea to take up a hobby that calls upon a lot of finger movement, said Dr. Shae Datta, a clinical assistant professor in the department of neurology at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.
“Performing fine motor tasks or rhythmic finger movements stimulates these neural pathways,” she said. “Things like guitar, playing piano, tai chi and other martial arts, working with your hands and art should all help strengthen these brain pathways.”
Other well-studied activities that have been shown to reduce the risk of dementia include reading, playing board games, crafting and dancing.
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As for the TikTokers’ claim that you need to do finger exercises – or finger-heavy hobbies – at a designated time every day, that’s bunk. Move those digits whenever you want to get the benefits, Datta said.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested after a series of incidents across west Edinburgh and Leith on Friday evening left four people injured and taken to hospital, with police saying there is no further risk to the public.
Four people are in hospital after a topless man who appeared to be wielding a large knife marched through the streets of Edinburgh.
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A number of locations were locked down following what police have described as a “series of incidents” at a number of locations across the west of Edinburgh and Leith.
Four people were injured and have been taken to hospital.
Police confirmed a 36-year-old man had also been arrested.
We previously reported how a topless man was caught on a video which has been shared online in which he appeared to be marching along the Leith Walk with a blade.
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Another clip appeared to show a man with several blades attempting to gain entry to a shop by smashing the window as staff fled and locked themselves inside before lowering the shutter.
Another video appeared to later show a man lying on the ground being treated by paramedics.
In the clip a male voice can be heard exclaiming: “Oh my days – holy s**t,” as the individual gets closer.
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A clip uploaded to TikTok shows several marked police SUVs and cars as well as ambulances on scene with concerned passersby watching from behind police tape.
A black vehicle can also be seen within the cordon with the driver side door wide open with officers appearing to be searching it.
Leith Walk was closed by police following the incident on Friday night and a large cordon was put up while buses in the area were diverted.
Elsewhere in the city a delivery rider was pictured lying injured on the pavement on Telford Road earlier in the evening.
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Locals also reported Sighthill Park being taped off by police following a serious incident.
Police Scotland have now confirmed a 36-year-old man has been arrested. They’re also no further risk to the public.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 36-year old man has been arrested following a series of incidents at a number of locations across the West of Edinburgh, and Leith, during the evening of Friday, 19 June, 2026.
“Four people were injured and taken to hospital for treatment. “Enquiries are ongoing, however, we believe there to be no further risk to the public at this time. “Members of the public are thanked for their assistance.”
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The flight travelling from Athens to London Luton, took off with between 20 and 50 passengers, still waiting landside at the airport.
Budget carrier Ryanair blamed border delays for the chaos, while the airport attributed the disruption to congestion caused by “additional processing requirements”. One traveller described to the BBC witnessing a “mega queue” stretching several hundred people deep at both security and passport control, all enduring scorching conditions.
“These poor people were pleading with the Ryanair staff to let them through – one guy was crying, another guy looked like he was about to explode,” they recalled. Airport authorities stepped in “to maintain orderly operations” after “a number of passengers expressed their dissatisfaction”, officials acknowledged.
A spokesperson explained there had been “periods of congestion at passport control in the departures area due to high passenger volumes and the additional processing requirements associated with travel to non-Schengen destinations”.
They added: “As is currently the case at many European airports, passenger flows on certain routes may experience increased processing times as new border-control procedures continue to be implemented and refined.”, reports Birmingham Live. Another passenger voiced their fury on Twitter, condemning Ryanair as “utterly disgraceful you left my daughter (and half your passengers) at the gate in Athens today”.
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In response, Ryanair issued a statement confirming that “a number of passengers” failed to board on time “due to delays caused by border control at Athens airport”.
The airline continued: “All passengers that were at the boarding gate when this flight from Athens to London Luton boarded, travelled without incident.”
Greece has now backtracked on its commitment to spare British holidaymakers from the European Union’s forthcoming biometric border controls. Britons will instead face identical Entry/Exit System (EES) registration requirements as all other non-EU arrivals this summer.
The Greek Foreign Ministry acknowledged the reversal, confirming it possessed no information suggesting that “specific nationalities are temporarily exempt from the relevant procedure.”
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Residents may have already seen the sign, but this Wednesday (June 24) will be residents’ first opportunity to try the new Smashbox takeaway on Market Street.
Howfeners can head down during the restaurant’s first week for a 25 per cent discount on all items, from shakes to the famed smashburgers themselves.
Owner Muhammed Haque said: “We’re really looking forward to opening – we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to get everything ready.
(Image: Smashbox)
(Image: Smashbox)
“This is going to be our fourth location, and we’re looking at potentially opening another one soon too.
Nine people are currently fighting for life in hospital following a devastating train crash in Bedfordshire. Emergency services attended a collision involving two East Midlands Railway trains on the railway line in Elstow, near Bedford, at around 5.15pm on Friday evening (June 19).
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Tragically, the driver of one of the trains was pronounced dead at the scene. In an update this afternoon (Saturday), Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said 28 out of more than 80 people remain in hospital for treatment today, including nine people who are in a critical condition.
She told reporters at a press conference: “Tragically, the driver of one of the trains died in the collision. His family have been informed and our deepest condolences are with them, his friends, and his colleagues at East Midlands Railway.
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“The driver’s family, as you would expect, are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time. Over 80 people were treated at hospital last night. As of this morning, 28 remain in hospital, and nine are in a critical condition.”
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The two trains involved were the 4.40pm departure from Corby and the 3.50pm departure from Nottingham, both to London St Pancras. A major incident was declared following the collision. An investigation is underway, with a Rail Accidents Investigation Branch van and a Deutsche Bahn vehicle seen on nearby Ampthill Road, which has been closed off this morning.
King Charles said he was ‘greatly saddened’ by crash, and is being kept regularly updated on developments. “His thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson added.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Network Rail said on Saturday morning: “We’re deeply saddened that a railway colleague has tragically died following the incident near Bedford. Our thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues, and with everyone affected.
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“Our teams are on site working closely with the emergency services and industry partners. We want to thank the emergency services and the wider railway family for their professionalism and swift response. In the meantime, we ask passengers to please check before they travel.”
But if you’re finding it hard to choose, why not pick the movies and shows leaving the subscription service soon? After all, you won’t have a chance to do so again any time soon.
Here’s what’s on its way out in June 2026 from today on in the UK, per The Independent:
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Leaving Saturday, 20 June
1) North Shore
Starring Game of Thrones star John Bradley alongside Downtown Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt, the six-episode show’s synopsis reads: “When a UK minister’s daughter dies mysteriously in Sydney, a London detective must team up with his Australian counterpart to unravel the mystery.”
This Romanian rom-com focuses on “two young artists, a violin player and an actress, [who] fight to achieve their dreams and keep their relationship together during Christmastime.” It stars Raluca Aprodu, Dragoș Bucur, and Ducu Darie.
5) #Selfie
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The Romanian coming-of age flick follows a group of teenage girls (Flavia Hojda, Crina Semciuc, Olimpia Melinte, and more) who flee pre-exam stress by going on a seaside adventure.
6) #Selfie 69
Another of the Romanian movie series is set to leave on the same day. This comedy is a sequel to #Seflie, with some familiar names in the cast list. It focuses on “a trio of party-loving friends [who] make a bet: who can get married in three days” after a breakup?
7) The Secret
Based on a true story, this drama has a pretty juicy description: “A dentist and a Sunday school teacher begin a torrid extramarital affair that leads them to make a murderous pact.” Stars include James Nesbitt (Cold Feet), Genevieve O’Reilly (Andor), and Laura Pyper (Emma).
8) Who Are You: School 2015
This 16-episode Korean school drama involves “a bullied high school orphan [who] finds herself in the place of an identical-looking girl who’s gone missing” after losing her memory. Cast members include Yook Sung-jae (The Golden Spoon) and Nam Joo-hyuk (The Great Battle).
The arrests took place after searches on Thursday (June 18) at homes in Hartlepool.
The suspected heroin haul was discovered in the kitchen of a house on Gullane Grove. Two men, aged 22 and 30, and a 22-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.
Gullane Grove, Hartlepool (Image: Google Maps)
Suspected cocaine was seized at a home on Octavia Drive, where three women aged 41, 35, and 27, and a 19-year-old man, were also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.
The seven individuals were taken into custody and later released on bail pending further enquiries.
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Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Adrian Dack said: “We know the problems that drug dealing, and the ASB that comes with it, causes for our communities.
“These searches resulted from information provided to us by the public.”
“We always act upon information given to us, and we’d ask you to continue speaking to us. You can call us directly on 101 with or provide details online via our website.
“Alternatively, if you feel uncomfortable providing information directly to us, you can give information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
The World Cup 2026 is into the second round of group stage fixtures, with sides including England, Germany and France well-placed to put a foot in the round of 32 over the coming days.
Despite the fact that their opponents could finish with a better goal difference, Mexico have secured top spot in Group A thanks to a subtle change in group stage rules that is new for this World Cup.
For the first time ever, the tournament is using head-to-head records – rather than goal difference – as a tiebreaker for teams who are level on points in the groups.
This new rule is sure to influence the eventual round of 32 fixtures, so here’s more information on how it could affect the final group stage games.
What is Fifa’s new head-to-head rule?
Essentially, the new rule means that a team’s head-to-head record against another team is the first thing to separate teams who are level on points. This is the same as the system used in Uefa competitions.
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Goal difference is then used as the next differentiator, with the total number of goals scored in all group matches then considered before the highest “team conduct” score, which takes into account the total record of yellow and red cards.
Interestingly, if two teams still can’t be separated after all these criteria, then the team that is ranked higher “according to the most recent published edition of the Fifa/Coca‑Cola Men’s World Ranking” will go through.
In terms of tie-breaking criteria for the group stages, Fifa’s official website reads that the following criteria – in the same order as below – will be used to determine group rankings:
The greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned
Superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned (in other words, head-to-head record)
Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned
How does the head-to-head rule apply to Mexico?
For a team to secure top spot in a group after just two games, a group either needs to have two draws or for the team in first place to have beaten any team(s) on three points.
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Mexico have won both of their opening games, and they now sit three points clear of second-placed South Korea. However, they cannot be overtaken as they beat South Korea 1-0 in the game between the two nations.
The new rule means that England will top Group L if they beat Ghana and Panama fail to beat Croatia (Reuters)
How can the rule affect other teams?
The fact that some teams can secure top spot after just two games comes with both advantages and disadvantages for the other teams in the group depending on how they’ve performed so far.
In Mexico’s example, El Tri could opt to rest their entire starting XI, so the Czech Republic – who currently sit in third, two points behind South Korea – could benefit, leaving South Korea needing to beat South Africa to be certain of second place.
Who else could win their group on matchday two?
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As mentioned, the US have secured top spot thanks to Turkey losing to Paraguay, while Germany could win their group if they beat the Ivory Coast and Ecuador don’t beat Curacao.
Sweden can qualify as group winners if they beat the Netherlands and Japan don’t win against Tunisia, while Lionel Messi and Argentina can top their group if they beat Austria and Algeria fail to beat Jordan.
Finally, Thomas Tuchel’s England can ensure they qualify top of Group L if they beat Ghana and Panama fail to beat Croatia.
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