The site, located near Hartlepool, will be discussed during Tees Archaeology Day on Saturday, October 3, at Stockton Central Library.

The event will delve into recent early medieval research from across northern England.

A major focus of the day will be the Hart Manor site near Hartlepool, where a 2016 excavation by environmental consultancy Cura Terrae uncovered 365 burials.

The remains included infants, adults, and multiple graves, painting a detailed picture of life, health, and mortality in the early medieval period.

More than half of those buried were children, many of whom showed signs of childhood illness and nutritional deficiencies such as scurvy and rickets.

Some graves also reflected the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Adults who survived childhood often reached mature age, though their skeletons bore marks of a demanding life.

Evidence of manual labour, accidents, and repeated injuries was common, along with signs of violent conflict.

Thirteen adults showed injuries sustained around the time of death, including blade wounds and decapitation, suggesting a possible raid or violent event.

The findings collectively reveal a community shaped by vulnerability, hard work, disease, ageing, and violence.

Tees Archaeology Day will run from 9.30am to 4pm, with tickets priced at £25 for adults and £15 for students.

The ticket price includes tea, coffee, and a buffet lunch.

Bookings can be made through Hartlepool Art Gallery in Church Square by calling 01429 869706.

A second event, Tees Archaeology Fieldwalking, will take place at Marsh House Farm in Greatham on September 23 and 24.

Fieldwalking involves collecting every item you find on the ground within a gridded area for later archaeological assessment.

No experience is necessary and full training will be provided.

The fieldwalking event is free and open to ages 16 and over.

A Texas chiropractor and father-of-three has been confirmed dead after devastating flash floods swept through the Grand Canyon.

John Giusti, 46, is one of the two victims emergency services have recovered so far, family members announced in a GoFundMe campaign.

Giusti was living out ‘a lifetime dream exploring the majesty of the Grand Canyon when tragedy struck,’ said his wife, Janet. 

‘While our grief is as vast and profound as the canyon itself, we find a small comfort in knowing he spent his final moments surrounded by breathtaking beauty, living life to the fullest,’ his wife added. 

Giusti shared photos on Friday showing himself smiling against scenic canyon backdrops during the hike.

He had worked as a chiropractor for 19 years and was previously a partner at Whipple City Family Chiropractic in New York, according to his business profile. He later moved to Texas and worked at ChiroHabit in Indian Harbor. 

‘John was a real-life superhero to everyone blessed enough to know him. As a dedicated chiropractor, he truly lived to treat and heal, pouring his soul into helping others move through the world with strength and comfort,’ his wife said.

‘To his daughters, he was their ultimate hero. To me, he was my whole world,’ she added. 

‘The Giusti family is facing an unimaginable loss after John Giusti passed away in the flash floods of the Grand Canyon on Saturday August 29th, 2026,’ reads the fundraiser

Giusti had worked as a chiropractor for 19 years, trained martial arts and was preparing to run a marathon

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He and Janet were raising their three daughters in Granbury, Texas. An avid outdoorsman, Giusti also trained in martial arts and was preparing to run a marathon.

Giusti was last in contact with relatives at around 2pm on Saturday, shortly before the flooding began, his sister told the New York Times. As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe has raised around $700.

Park officials said that the body of a 46-year-old man was found on Sunday, before a second body was recovered on Monday. Neither victim has been formally identified, and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the deaths. The Daily Mail has contacted the office for comment. 

More than a dozen others remain missing, as authorities warned that forecast weather conditions could hamper ongoing rescue and recovery efforts. 

And while no information about the missing has been shared by officials, loved ones have taken to social media to provide updates about loved ones who were in the area at the time.

Officials said a second body has been recovered after severe flash flooding hit the Grand Canyon

Officials are still searching for about 13 hikers, who are believed to have been trekking on routes near the Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of the national park

Over 62 people were evacuated on Saturday amid the flooding

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Darlene Atchison posted on Facebook asking for prayers for the safe return of her son-in-law, Tim Smith.

‘Our family needs prayers for our wonderful son-in-law, Tim Smith and family,’ wrote Atchison. ‘Tim and two friends arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park but were caught in the flash flooding that swept through the Bright Angel Canyon Saturday afternoon.’ 

Some 62 others were evacuated from the park amid the flooding.

Park officials have asked anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek or had campground reservations in the area on the day the floods struck to contact the agency’s Investigative Services Branch. 

Darlene Atchison took to Facebook asking for prayers for the return of her son in law, Tim Smith (pictured center) 

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Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed in the devastating floods, preventing pedestrians from crossing the flooded area.

The flooding also knocked out the sole water pipeline that serves tourists and residents at the national park.

Beginning Monday, tourists will no longer be able to stay overnight at lodges and hotels within Grand Canyon National Park. The park is also asking year-round residents to conserve water.

‘These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources,’ the park said in a statement.

About half an inch to an inch of rain fell within just half an hour in the rocky area, where there is a steep drop in elevation, National Weather Service meteorologist Justin Johndrow said.

‘Most of it ran off instantly,’ he added.

Debris is seen being taken downstream during the flash flooding

Videos from the Grand Canyon showed mudslides tearing through the landscape as hikers filmed from a suspended bridge above.

Large mounds of debris could also be seen floating in the muddy water.

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By BREANNE DEPPISCH, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 21:27 BST, 31 August 2026 | Updated: 22:51 BST, 31 August 2026

The Supreme Court on Monday said President Donald Trump can proceed with construction of his White House ballroom for now, handing a major victory to the administration.

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The high court granted the Trump administration’s emergency request Monday to stay a pair of lower court rulings that would have forced it to halt construction of most above-ground components of the sprawling ballroom project.

The unsigned, 5-4 majority ruling is a major victory for Trump, and all but ensures he can complete construction of the sprawling ballroom project before justices can consider the legality of the project. 

It also comes despite opposition from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, who joined his liberal colleagues in dissent. 

Roberts had issued an administrative stay ten days earlier clearing the Trump administration to proceed with construction temporarily while justices on the high court weighed how to proceed. 

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On Monday, however, Roberts notably broke with conservatives on the bench – instead joining Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissent.

‘Construction of the ballroom has proceeded apace for the better part of a year. That construction is likely unlawful,’ Roberts said Monday, noting the majority ruling was ‘no victory for the separation of powers.’ 

President Donald Trump tours White House ballroom construction progress along the project’s exterior in May

From left, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett at the State of the Union in February. Roberts said construction of Trump’s ballroom project is ‘likely unlawful’ 

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Trump participates is seen in the East Room of the White House

The massive White House project is slated to include both a 90,000-square-foot above-ground ballroom, as well as an extensive underground component, which Trump administration officials have argued is critical for purposes of national security, as well as physical security. 

The high court concluded that hat the National Trust for Historic Preservation – or the group that sued the Trump administration over the ballroom project last year – likely lacked the standing to do so. 

They did not address the larger question of whether Trump had the legal authority to unilaterally order the project to proceed without congressional approval.

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‘Today, we do not pass upon the legality of the government’s East Wing project. We conclude only that, based on the submissions before us, the government is likely to prevail in showing that the Trust lacks… standing to challenge the project in federal court,’ the high court’s majority concluded. 

Celine Dion looked in great spirits as she waved to fans while leaving the Royal Monceau Hotel in Paris on Monday. 

The superstar, 58, made her first public appearance in two years on Friday ahead of her stage comeback. 

And waving goodbye to fans, Celine smiled as she kept it stylish in a brown crocodile leather jacket and black culottes. 

She paired the look with black leather heeled boots and shades. 

Celine is gearing up for her stage comeback three years after cancelling her world tour due to a debilitating battle with stiff person syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder causing severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms. 

In the past six years, she has performed only once, and she laid bare the brutality of the condition in her 2024 documentary, I Am: Celine Dion. 

The superstar, 58, made her first public appearance in two years on Friday ahead of her stage comeback

Her last public appearance came in the same year when she sang at an Elie Saab fashion event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but she has been spotted in the crowd at a Paul McCartney and a Coldplay concert since then.

In March she announced her return to the stage for a ten-date residency in Paris beginning this autumn. Due to overwhelming demand, Celine has extended her run to include a further 16 performances from this September through to May 2027.

Celine opened up to Harper’s Bazaar this month about how she has been preparing for the shows, along with the insecurities she has been overcoming since her diagnosis.

The singer has been preparing for her shows with a rigorous workout schedule, which consists of 90-minute pilates sessions three times a week along with twice-weekly ballet classes with a local company.

‘It is a progressive condition. I don’t like to say “disease.” Disease makes you go like this,’ she said, scrunching her nose and saying, ‘”Kevin, you’re such a disease”.’

The interview was conducted at a recording studio at the Palms Casino Resort, a room decked out with an array of exercise equipment including weights, a treadmill, a reformer machine and a ballet barre Dion was stretching at. 

Following years of symptoms, Celine was diagnosed with SPS in 2022 after she faced a flare-up in 2020, at the same time as the start of the pandemic. 

For three years she isolated from fans, partly motivated by fears her fans would presume she was living a happy, full life yet still cancelling shows. She also developed an appreciation for nature during this time.

And waving goodbye to fans, Celine smiled as she kept it stylish in a brown crocodile leather jacket and black culottes

She paired the look with black leather heeled boots and shades

The singer looked emotional as she bid goodbye to fans

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Celine looked radiant and glowing with a bronzed swipe of makeup

The hitmaker waved to fans as she returned from rehearsal for her upcoming concert

Celine blew kisses to show her love

The hitmaker looked glowing and radiant

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She wore towering black boots to mark autumn

‘I love trees so much, and I had this vision of myself trying to disappear through the leaves,’ she said.

The trees were barren as it was autumn, a visual Dion saw as a metaphor for her own struggles. 

‘I was trying to tell them, I’m sorry, I don’t have any apples to give you anymore,’ she said, until a voice told her: ‘But we did not come for the apples; we came for the tree.’

The last time Celine performed on stage was at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Now she is preparing to return to the stage with a jam-packed exercise schedule in a period she describes as falling and getting back up over and over again. 

‘It’s been so long, I would like to offer them something to show how I’ve missed them,’ she said. 

Indeed, Celine has missed her fans, who she is well aware are the reason for her success.  

‘They paid for tickets,’ she told Harper’s Bazaar. ‘They bought my records. They gave me that luxury. So the least I can do is tell them that I’m alive.’ 

She is now ready to get back to work, even the more annoying bits of being a pop star. 

‘Well, girl,’ Celine says, addressing herself but speaking to the reporter, ‘if you don’t want to sign autographs and you don’t want to get yourself pretty and you don’t want to be disturbed because your pasta is going to get cold, you can always stay home. But look at what you have.’

In March, the pop icon announced she will play a 10-night residency at the 40,000-capacity Paris La Défense Arena in September and October.

Making the announcement on her birthday, she branded her comeback ‘the best gift of my life’.

She said in a video: ‘I’m so ready to do this. I’m feeling good, I’m strong, I’m feeling excited, obviously, [and] of course, a little nervous.

‘I’m doing great, managing my health, feeling good. I’m singing again, even doing a little bit of dancing.

‘But I have to tell you something very important: Over these last few years, every day that’s gone by, I felt your prayers and support, your kindness and love. I am grateful to all of you. I can’t wait to see you again.”

Her last public appearance came in 2024 when she sang at an Elie Saab fashion event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (pictured)

She has since added extra dates due to ‘overwhelming demand’, adding 10 more shows in the month of May. 

Stiff person syndrome is a rare neurological disorder which ’causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that come and go and can worsen over time’ – and Dion has previously detailed how it affected her signature vocals. 

The singer first revealed in 2022 that she was suffering from SPS and cancelled her remaining tour dates at the time.

In a video uploaded at the time to her Instagram page, the singer emotionally explained, ‘Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life.

‘Sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.

She added: ‘I’m working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again, but I have to admit it’s been a struggle.

‘All I know is singing. It’s what I’ve done all my life, and it’s what I love to do the most,’ the mother-of-three continued.

In May 2024, Celine gave a health update during an interview with Vogue and expressed that her ‘happiness has come back’.

She continued, ‘It has been a big burden on my shoulders, and a lot of that weight’s gone… because now I can just focus on reality. That’s wonderful.’

And during an appearance on Today also last year, the performer stated, ‘I believe in myself, in my bravery’ while adding that she will not let the disorder ‘control my life’.

‘I’m going to come onstage because I’m ready. And my vocal cords will not scare me because I’m going to be ready, and I’m going to hit those notes.’

The mistress who helped bring down jailed FBI spy Charles McGonigal has died suddenly at her home in South Florida, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Allison Guerriero, 52, passed away hours after sharing a flurry of 75 posts on X on Thursday, including a video of herself walking in the street demanding a spotlight on other Feds and another where she declared: ‘I hate the FBI.’

They were part of her unrelenting years-long campaign, often conducted on social media, against married McGonigal, 58, and her personal war against other senior figures in the agency.

Guerriero, a close friend of former New York City mayor and Trump stalwart Rudy Giuliani, died sometime in the evening of August 27, according to her devastated 80-year-old father Bill.

Her 18-month affair with McGonigal, the treacherous former head of the FBI counterintelligence in New York, helped blow the lid on his crimes, which included secretly working for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

He is serving six years and six months in federal prison, but Guerriero always believed he should have received a harsher sentence, telling the Daily Mail in 2024: ‘He’s a traitor.’

On the day of her death, she posted a selfie video of her strolling in her relatively new hometown of Boynton Beach, Florida, saying: ‘Hey, good morning everybody. Friends and enemies… of course I’m in the middle of all my PTSD from 9/11 but I’m actually breathing a huge sigh of relief…

‘Here’s the problem with Charles McGonigal. You know his name, but you never did before that. You knew Jim Comey’s name. You knew Chris Wray’s name.. all the names that you already know, you know. Why don’t you start looking for the names that you do not know?’

McGonigal was a special agent in charge of the FBI’s New York counterintelligence division

Her father, who lives in Guerriero’s former hometown of Florham Park, New Jersey, told the Daily Mail he has not yet been told the cause of death or the circumstances.

‘We really don’t know yet. We’re waiting to get access to the autopsy report. I believe they’re going to issue a death certificate within the next day so we can get her home and have her put to rest,’ he said.

‘It could have been an accident. She could have slipped. It could have been anything. We’re waiting for the death certificate so we know what happened.’

A Boynton Beach police spokesman told the Daily Mail that ‘there do not appear to be any signs of foul play at this time,’ but that the investigation is ongoing.

Police responded at 8.03pm Thursday to her apartment at 1499 S. Federal Highway in Boynton Beach. Police are awaiting information from the medical examiner’s office.

Former security consultant Guerriero was also close to Roger Stone, the Florida-based conservative lobbyist and ally of President Trump.

‘I heard from her by text on the day she passed away and she seemed in excellent spirits,’ he told the Daily Mail. ‘They were work-related. She was helping with some research.

‘Allison was a brilliant researcher and writer with an excellent knowledge of both law enforcement and our intelligence capabilities and a wide network of contacts. She was widely respected in that world.’

On the day of her death, Guerriero had shared a series of posts on X, including video clips of herself strolling in her relatively new hometown of Boynton Beach, Florida, saying: ‘Hey, good morning everybody. Friends and enemies…’

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She also shared an X post in which she declared ‘The FBI is evil’ 

Guerriero, who moved to Florida three years ago, was a cancer survivor and also battled severe and permanent injuries following a horrific fire.

‘She was a devout Roman Catholic. She was always trying to get me to go to Latin mass with her. She was an optimist. She had boundless energy, given her various health problems,’ Stone added.

Discounting suicide, he continued: ‘There’s no doubt that she would never take her own life. She was too devout a Roman Catholic. She would never do that. 

‘She overcame enormous adversity in her life. I’m going to miss her tremendously.

‘She was obviously still very unhappy with the fact that McGonigal should have been charged with treason but instead was only charged with taking bribes. She was extremely aggravated.’

While the cause of death is unknown publicly, other sources have hinted at possible darker reasons behind it.

One told the Daily Mail: ‘She was getting threatened a lot by people online for her views. She certainly had enemies.’

Guerriero’s father countered that theory, saying: ‘She showed no concern that there was anyone trying to harm her or anything like that. I really don’t think there was anything suspicious, not from what I know about this.

Police responded to Guerriero’s apartment at around 8pm on Thursday 

Guerriero, who moved to Florida three years ago, was a cancer survivor and also battled severe and permanent injuries following a horrific fire

‘I’m skeptical that there may be anything nefarious here. Believe me, I’m her father and if there were, I’d be adamant about it.

‘Since she moved to Florida, she’s been the happiest I’ve ever seen her. She was treating herself very well. She was walking every day, exercising and eating right. She enjoyed getting up at dawn and walking on to the beach.’

Boynton Beach Police Department said ‘there do not appear to be any signs of foul play at this time’, but an investigation is ongoing.

Journalist and political consultant Ken Kurson, pardoned by President Trump over a cyberstalking allegation, said of Guerriero in a Facebook post: ‘I never met anyone like her. I can use adjectives to describe her – loyal, chaotic, irreplaceable, occasionally even brilliant. 

‘But those words fail to capture someone who boundlessly loved her family and hundreds of friends, supported them so intensely that their critics became Allison’s enemies, their struggles and hopes and aspirations her own… I am bereft.’

Guerriero was a former vice president of US operations for Israeli security firm Mifram while working in New York. 

She first met McGonigal in spring 2017 as a volunteer for the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation charity.

The then $200,000-a-year Fed wooed her over dinner, claiming he was going through a divorce from his wife, Pamela, whom he called ‘a nag’ who never agreed to sex.

McGonigal and his wife, Pamela, leaving Manhattan Federal Court after he was arraigned on charges of violating US sanctions in 2023

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Guerriero first met McGonigal in spring 2017 while volunteering for the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation charity

His family home was in Chevy Chase, Maryland, but he lived in a sublet apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn, following his 2016 New York appointment by then-FBI director Comey.

In the three years before her death, Guerriero was exclusively interviewed several times by the Daily Mail, spilling on the couple’s sex life and McGonigal’s treachery.

She said they first had sex in a black Ford Explorer government SUV after she showed him where she went to high school in Florham Park.

Shortly afterward, Guerriero moved into the Park Slope apartment believing the spook had separated from Pamela and was getting a divorce.

‘He did say she was an excellent mother but the marriage was dead and they were both moving on.

The former mistress added: ‘I don’t know if he actually was separated from his wife. I wish I knew. I don’t know what to confess. 

‘My priest is so sick of hearing me confess adultery that I don’t know if I did commit adultery.’

While they were together, McGonigal flaunted his relationship with Guerriero, taking her into the FBI’s main office in Manhattan and up to what she calls the ‘Kings of New York’ floor – introducing her as his ‘girlfriend’. 

McGonigal and Pamela leaving Manhattan Federal Court after he was sentenced in December 2023

He cleverly masked signs of his overall treachery, passing off any outward clues as part of his role. 

He took a trip to Albania during their relationship in 2017 and at one point asked Guerriero to accompany him to meet sanctioned metals magnate Deripaska, a crony of despot President Putin.

In early October, the couple were due to enjoy a meal for Guerriero’s birthday. But the celebration was abruptly canceled because the then-FBI director Christopher Wray came into town and McGonigal had to attend meetings.

‘So we went out either the fifth, sixth or seventh of October,’ said the former mistress. According to court papers, on October 5 McGonigal received $80,000 from his former Albanian intelligence official associate in a car parked outside a New York restaurant.

Guerriero cannot recall anything that happened the night they were out that would point to the handover. But she does now wonder if the celebration was a smokescreen.

Weeks later, she made a startling discovery in their apartment. A bag containing what she now knows was $80,000 in $100 bills, neatly rolled.

‘My mind went to them being what we call flash rolls, money you would give an undercover informant or an undercover agent for them to continue operating in the field,’ she said. ‘They were in a black plastic bag with gold writing, the sort you’d get from a liquor store. It wasn’t particularly hidden, it was just by the main door.’

Challenged, McGonigal claimed he had won the money betting on a baseball game. Guerriero listened patiently, but her suspicion antenna was beginning to twitch.

However, it was McGonigal’s confession that he was not divorcing his wife that led to their breakup on Christmas Eve, 2018 – three months after he retired from the FBI and later became an $850,000-a-year head of security for a bank.

‘He said he was staying married, that he and I were breaking up,’ said Guerriero. ‘I said, what the hell were we doing for the last 18 months?’

McGonigal’s decision to quit the relationship may have heralded his eventual downfall. 

Guerriero tipped off people she knew at the FBI about her suspicions in 2019 after reflecting on events.

Her accusations appeared to have fallen on deaf ears, although the wheels of justice obviously did begin to turn on McGonigal and he was arrested in January 2023. At the time, he and Pamela were living in Manhattan.

‘After Charlie and I had broken up, I had spent a series of weeks and months rolling everything over in my head,’ she said.

‘And it had occurred to me, this guy’s a traitor. He was accepting bribes to peddle influence. He was accepting bribes to work with Oleg Deripaska, who he invited me to meet in Vienna when we were still dating.

‘And every time I tried to talk to the FBI about it, they didn’t want to listen. I told his former boss, I told other people within their senior executive service and nobody did anything. 

‘The FBI and the United States Justice Department did not want to hear that their superstar was compromised.’

Last winter’s flu season was unexpected, beginning more than a month earlier than usual, external with the Super-K strain.

Super flu is not a medical term, and it does not mean the virus has become harder to treat, just that people are yet to build up immunity against it.

Flu vaccines are updated annually to ensure they are a good match for the type of flu circulating. Influenza viruses constantly mutate and experts have to predict these changes ahead of time.

This year’s vaccine has had a few tweaks, including one to better match subclade K.

It is not clear when flu will hit this year, and whether it will be a bad season. But experts often look to southern hemisphere countries, like Australia and New Zealand, to gain a better understanding of how the UK could be affected.

Their flu season peaks in July or August, and these countries have so far had a relatively mild year in terms of cases.

Dr Amanda Doyle from NHS England said it was best to be cautious.

“Last year’s flu season came early and was made worse by a new variant, which had a major impact for patients and put enormous pressure on urgent and emergency care services across the country,” she said.

“With the NHS experiencing its busiest summer on record, staff have started preparing for this winter earlier than ever – and with services already under significant pressure, it is vital that everyone offered the vaccine comes forward.”

The report found nine planned pieces of Executive legislation have yet to be put to the Assembly

The failure of Stormont ministers to agree a budget is “catastrophic” for public services in Northern Ireland, a think tank report has said.

The Pivotal tracker report also warned that with seven months until the Assembly dissolves, Stormont faces a “rush” to pass key legislation, including the flagship Good Jobs Bill.

The independent think tank’s report, Running Out Of time: The Performance Of The Northern Ireland Executive in 2026, argues that ministers have struggled to work together on shared challenges.

It said: “Increasing tensions risk allowing Northern Ireland’s social and economic problems to deteriorate further.”

Devolved ministers have failed to agree a budget for the current financial year, with departments operating on contingency budgets since April.

Ministers have consistently made the point that they need more cash from the Treasury to address a funding crisis facing public services in the region.

Launching the report, Pivotal director Ann Watt said in the past seven months, the Executive had made “pockets of progress but ultimately fall short in some big-picture ways”.

She said: “Deciding a budget is a basic element of good governance. The inability to do so is a serious failing.

“Northern Ireland has not had a multi-year budget in over a decade, which has restricted planning for public service delivery and transformation.

“The absence of even a single year budget at present is catastrophic for public services.”

Ms Watt also raised concern that some “flagship areas of policy are at risk of stalling”.

She said: “There is a big difference between the planned legislative programme and the number of Executive Bills that have come before the Assembly.

“The Executive appears increasingly fragmented and this clearly has an impact on its effectiveness.

“Instead of divisions and distrust, ministers need to find a path towards unity, common purpose and shared responsibility for improving services for the public.

“Right now, the public struggles to see the difference Stormont is making in their day-to-day lives.

“There is a risk that the election means more point-scoring and growing divisions along party lines.”

The think tank said the Good Jobs Bill faces a “race against time” to be passed.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald’s proposed legislation aims to reform terms of employment, pay and benefits, work-life balance and the trade union framework.

However, the DUP has maintained the Bill requires more work and has not backed it being brought to the Assembly to start its legislative process.

The Pivotal report said it is not the only major piece of legislation at risk of “falling by the wayside”. It said nine planned pieces of Executive legislation have yet to be put to the Assembly.

The report said this includes the 16-18s in Education or Training Bill, which was in the legislative programme for 2025-26 and still has not been tabled, and the Race Equality Bill which is also yet to be introduced.

Pivotal said other major policy goals are at “risk”, including the expansion of Magee College and the development of Casement Park.

It also said there is “still no plan to properly invest” in the wastewater system.

Pivotal said: “With no budget agreed, several Stormont departments face huge overspending in the current year – including shortfalls of around £250 million in education and £800 million in health.”

The think tank said there had been action in some areas, including education reforms and reducing backlogs in courts.

It added: “Looking at the performance of the Executive as a whole, many previous failures in behaviours and cultures have continued – political point-scoring often crowds out discussion of substantive issues, difficult or unpopular decisions are postponed rather than addressed, and others are blamed for problems rather than the Executive taking responsibility for solutions itself.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

With EastEnders love rat Max Branning (Jake Wood) having spent the last few months having it off with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan-Levy), his wedding to Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) was always going to end in fireworks. 

And sure enough, it looks set to be as explosive as hoped when their nuptials end in catastrophe next week, with actress Michelle Collins – who plays Cindy – warning that fans can expect her character to ‘go for Max big time’ after his secrets erupt. 

Recent scenes on the BBC soap have seen the pair bring forward their nuptials from New Year’s Day to this month, opting to share their wedding date with fellow Walford couple Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson). 

Turns out, that will be a decision to regret.

As the big day arrives, Max has gone AWOL, much to his family’s panic, who try to track him down before Cindy finds out about his disappearing act. 

Eventually, he turns up hungover at Peacock Palace, where he ends up getting into a blazing row with his former flame Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), during which it all comes out about his affair with Priya. 

Linda, who has been secretly harbouring feelings for Max herself, is disgusted that he has reverted to type, and he slinks off to the car lot where he finds Priya. 

She’s furious when he tells her that Linda now knows about what they’ve been up to, but their argument ends up being overheard by Max’s daughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa). 

Feeling let down by her cheating dad yet again, Lauren refuses to attend the wedding, and word soon spreads to Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), who soon give Max a roasting over his behaviour. However, they still manage to get him to the wedding venue on time. 

But just as Max and Cindy are about to say their vows, Linda and Priya arrive, and chaos quickly erupts. 

Teasing the drama ahead, Michelle Collins tells Metro: ‘Hell hath no fury like Cindy’s scorn! God help Priya is all I can say.’  

The star also suggests that Cindy could seek the ultimate revenge on Max, who we already know is central to the New Year’s Day episode, with this January’s flash-forward episode revealing he will find himself arrested and with someone threatening to shoot Lauren and Oscar. 

‘[Cindy] knows how to use a gun – she’s used a gun before,’ Michelle recalls. ‘I wouldn’t put anything past Cindy. 

‘You do not mess with Cindy. She loves hard, but she also will get revenge. Her revenge will be really hard as well.’

EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 7th September at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer. 

MORE: Linda confirms she is ready to move on as Kellie Bright’s ending draws closer in EastEnders

MORE: EastEnders’ Ravi rocked to catch Priya and Max – revenge is sure to follow

MORE: ‘Hell hath no fury!’ EastEnders’ Cindy will go ‘all the way’ in revenge against Max

Entering September, Saturn and Neptune are in retrograde, creating a sense of pressure and unease. This productive month could be off to a rocky start.

Gemini, Cancer and Virgo, conflicting perspectives could arise today. Try to use these to productive ends.

Keep looking forward, despite tensions that the cosmos bestows on you. This unusual energy will soon pass.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Tuesday September 1, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

As we enter September, the Moon in your sign is face-to-face with the diplomatic energies of Venus. This encourages you to choose your words with care, particularly amid the challenging tension between your ruler Mars and the restrictive Saturn. So, whilst usually you might wish to power forward, this new month may start more tentatively for you, Aries.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Someone else’s changing moods could leave you wondering where you stand. Rather than reacting, give things a little time. The intense pressure between Mars and Saturn suggests that forcing an issue will only create more resistance. Indeed, quiet persistence and a practical approach can see you accomplish more than getting drawn into an unnecessary conflict.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

A friend or group may have different priorities from yours today. And whilst lovely Venus encourages cooperation, strict Saturn’s clash with the go-getting Mars reminds you that patience can be more effective than trying to prove a point. The issue may be that something you closely identify with, be it a principle or financially, is one you are reluctant to budge on.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

You may be eager to make progress professionally, but obstacles slow your momentum. Don’t see this as a setback, but as an opportunity to double check your plans. Mars in your sign is making you highly determined, but perhaps impatient, and as restrictive Saturn squares Mars, you likely can’t rush. Look to things step by step. Once you accept this, the tension will ease.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

You may have been surprised by how old issues or grievances have come up of late. If there is a current situation where it feels someone is being unfair, as Mars and Saturn clash, it can be difficult not to simmer with resentment. If need be, look to talk to a trusted friend. Their perspective might not fully chime with yours but could help you to see a different way forward.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

The collective energies in Leo over the last month have likely given you some different perspectives on old issues. This may have seen some old hurts released too. The area you can apply these insights to as you enter September may be around group dynamics. Where things flow freely and light, you can see the opportunities; where not, you may prefer your space.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Relationships are firmly in focus, with the Moon opposing Venus in your sign. While you naturally seek harmony, today suggests that someone may test your patience. Listen carefully before responding and try to avoid being defensive. Your talent for meeting people halfway is in the mix, but Mars is bringing out a more assertive part of your nature, and you may use it.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Your workload or daily demands could feel more onerous. Rather than trying to tackle everything at once, focus on the priorities. Demanding Saturn encourages steady effort, even if progress seems slow. This is going to be the case for some time to come, so where possible, look to give yourself occasional breaks. If you don’t, you could end up becoming resentful.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Your ruler Jupiter is roaring through your sister sign of Leo and pushing to showcase that side of you that loves to open up and be adventurous and bold. So why might it feel things aren’t flowing? Well, it’s likely because of a bruising battle between Mars and Saturn, and for you, whatever expansive plans you have, ensure they are well planned, particularly financially.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Family or domestic strands may require a little diplomacy today – especially should people have different expectations. With your ruler Saturn trying to put the celestial handbrake on Mars, this might be seen by those close to you as you looking to control things. Diplomatic Venus chimes in to urge you to keep things light, so look to lead rather than impose your will.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Conversations may become more emotionally charged than expected, making it important to think before speaking. A carefully chosen phrase can achieve much more than a blunt opinion. Yet despite this, you could have a brilliant connection with someone, where your ideas mutually spark one another, and in a way that could stand the test of time.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

With Saturn and Neptune in retrograde, using resources carefully is to the fore. Yet, if you do have an idea or plan that you have thought carefully through and want to forge forward, don’t think you shouldn’t. Mars’ influence on the day can mean you find something hard to resist, but either your budget or someone close to you may make it difficult to get.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of September here.

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