The majority of British voters support a private jet tax to help fill the budget gap created by Chancellor John Healey, exclusive new polling has revealed.
More in Common polling seen by The Independent has shown that 79 per cent back the move, which has previously been mooted by some backbench Labour MPs and is now supported by the new energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh.
The survey of 3,039 adults taken in September comes ahead of the budget next month, where the chancellor will be forced to make some tough choices on tax and spending as he tries to fund Andy Burnham’s commitments.
These include a £2 cap on bus tickets, ending rough sleeping, and removing VAT from energy bills, as well as finding at least £5bn to fund defence spending.
UK voters want a private jet tax on billionaires (AFP/Getty)
The private jet tax, which could involve an increase to fuel duty and hikes to air passenger duty,
would mostly hit billionaires because the super-rich account for most private aircraft usage. The poll also indicated that 56 per cent of those surveyed believe the rich do not pay enough tax.
Support for the move and other taxes on the wealthy, including equalising capital gains tax with income tax, is being pushed by a number of MPs on Labour’s backbenches as they seek to influence Mr Healey’s thinking ahead of the budget.
Chris Hinchcliffe, Labour MP for North East Herts, said, “Our constituents are clear on what they want: a tax on private jets to fund essential services is common sense for both our economy and our environment. Those at the top of society should pay their fair share to ensure that those suffering most from the cost of living do not bear the brunt.
With a majority of the public supporting the proposal, there is no better time for the government to introduce taxes on private jet fuel and on extreme wealth.
It is believed that a private jet tax could raise as much as £2.7bn if fuel duty on private-jet kerosene is set at 10 times the road-fuel rate (£5.295 per litre), bringing in an extra £1.5 billion a year, and if air passenger duty is hiked by 30 times its current rate, adding £1.2bn.
Myles Cummins, aviation campaign manager at a climate charity “Possible,” he said, “as this polling shows, a majority of Britons support a tax on private jets so that the richest in society can pay their fair share.”
Private jet passengers currently pay almost nothing in tax compared to ordinary people for their flights, while also producing an astronomical amount of pollution on journeys that only the obscenely wealthy can afford. In the cost-of-living and climate crises, that simply isn’t acceptable. The numbers are clear: people want a private jet tax, so why aren’t we doing something about it?”
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey departs after a weekly government cabinet meeting at Downing Street (Getty)
Katie Thompson, a former private jet pilot and member of Safe Landing, added, “Our industry as it stands is unsustainable. Transitioning aviation away from fossil fuels requires significant investment, but the costs should not fall on everyone. The fairest and most effective approach is to tax those who fly the most polluting aircraft: private jets.
The polling shows that the private jet tax is most popular among Labour (68 per cent) and Green (75 per cent) voters but even almost half of Tory (46 per cent) and Reform (49 per cent) voters back the move.
Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has previously pushed for changing air passenger taxes and raising duties on empty flights as well as looking at private jets.
Sebastien Pocognoli, the new Scotland head coach, told Sky Sports he felt
“We need to make sure that the balance stays right, and to keep what makes the Scotland team really strong, it was the cohesion and really proper DNA in the team, and the spirit needs to stay.
The Belgian are training in the La Manga sunshine for the first time this week as they prepare for their Nations League opener against Slovenia, with the game kicking off at 7.45pm on Friday.
His first squad saw five players handed their first full Scotland call-ups, with Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery called up after Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean withdrew.
Image: The Scotland players are training in La Manga ahead of their Nations League opener
The longer international break – with four Nations League matches – gives the new boss more time with his squad as he looks to make an impact as Steve Clarke’s successor.
“We have plenty of experience in the team, there are some new faces and young lads, and I think we have a good mix,” Pocognoli told Sky Sports News.
Image: Kristi Montgomery has been added to the Scotland squad
“The needed change was at this moment, because we follow the timelines, and the change is just about the things that we want to create on the pitch.
It’s also about performance in your club and injury, and at the same time you need to make the change.
“What was provided in the past is massive to use it for the future.
“It’s to find the right balance, like I said, so the experienced players will be important to continue to take care of this, and from the coaching staff perspective, we need to be aligned about what we want to achieve together.
“I want to see a team who are just really together; it’s quite basic – attack together, defend together – but that’s part of the Scotland mentality.”
Image: Oli McBurnie is included in the Scotland squad for the first time since 2021
The Pocognoli era officially gets underway in Ljubljana on Saturday, with a game against Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later.
The squad then fly to North Macedonia on October 3 before returning to Glasgow to face Slovenia again on October 6.
Scotland were demoted from Nations League A after a play-off defeat by Greece last year and return to the second tier for this year’s competition.
“There are many ways to be successful,” the 39-year-old added.
For me, in the Nations League, it’s about staying competitive and trying to be as high as possible in the ranking to go to League A.
“But just to recognise some principles on the pitch, recognise who are the leaders on the pitch, see some young lads playing, see team cohesion on the pitch.
“Also, to get the supporters excited. If we can combine with the result, and that’s why we do this job, I would be really happy.”
Scotland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City)
Defenders: Luis Binks (Brondby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City)
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese), Kristie Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers)
Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts)
Scotland’s Nations League fixtures
Slovenia vs Scotland – September 26, kick-off 2pm
Scotland vs Switzerland – September 29, kick-off 7.45pm
N. Macedonia vs Scotland – October 3, kick-off 7.45pm
Scotland vs Slovenia – October 6, kick-off 7.45pm
Scotland vs N. Macedonia – November 13, kick-off 7.45pm
Switzerland vs Scotland – November 16, kick-off 7.45pm
EU-Russia Sanctions Deal Reached After Last-Minute Deadlock
The EU-Russia sanctions regime has survived a last-minute political deadlock after European Union countries reached a compromise over demands to remove two prominent billionaires from the bloc’s sanctions list.
EU ambassadors agreed on Tuesday, 22 September, to delist Russian-Uzbek metals billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman.
In exchange, EU countries will renew restrictions covering roughly 3,000 other individuals and entities for three years rather than the usual six-month period.
The breakthrough came only hours before the sanctions were due to expire.
The dispute had become an uncomfortable test of EU unity over Russia at a particularly sensitive diplomatic moment, with Ukraine’s future and Arctic security also dominating meetings around the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The agreement prevents the broader sanctions list from lapsing while highlighting increasingly complicated negotiations among the EU’s 27 member states over how restrictions against Russia should be maintained.
What Caused the EU Sanctions Deadlock?
The disagreement centred on whether Usmanov and Fridman should remain subject to EU sanctions.
France pushed to remove Usmanov from the list, while Luxembourg sought to remove Fridman.
Other EU members were uncomfortable with the proposed changes.
Latvia emerged as the final major obstacle to an agreement.
Because EU foreign-policy sanctions require unanimity, one member state can prevent a renewal.
That created an urgent problem.
The existing restrictions were scheduled to expire at midnight on 22 September.
Without agreement, sanctions affecting nearly 3,000 individuals and organisations linked by the EU to Russia’s actions against Ukraine could have expired.
Those targeted include senior Russian political figures, as well as companies and organisations.
After several rounds of negotiations, Latvia agreed not to block the compromise
EU Russia sanctions negotiations in Brussels as member states reach a last-minute compromise.
Usmanov and Fridman Removed From Sanctions List
The most controversial part of the agreement is the removal of Usmanov and Fridman.
Usmanov is a Russian-Uzbek businessman whose interests have included metals, mining and telecommunications.
He was placed under EU sanctions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Fridman, meanwhile, is a co-founder of Alfa Group and has challenged sanctions imposed against him.
Luxembourg supported removing him from the list while facing a multibillion-dollar legal claim connected with the sanctions.
Their removal became the price of securing a wider agreement.
The EU did not abandon its broader sanctions regime.
Instead, member states agreed to continue restrictions against the thousands of other listed people and entities.
Sanctions Extended for Three Years
One of the most significant elements of the compromise is its length.
Rather than renewing the individual sanctions for another six months, EU governments agreed to a three-year extension for the remaining listings.
That is important because sanctions renewals have repeatedly created opportunities for individual member states to demand concessions.
A longer renewal period reduces the frequency with which the entire list must return to the negotiating table.
The EU says it intends its Russia sanctions to increase pressure on Moscow and to target people, businesses and sectors connected with Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Measures can include asset freezes and travel restrictions.
The broader EU sanctions architecture also includes extensive restrictions affecting finance, trade, energy and technology.
Why Latvia Initially Objected
Latvia has traditionally supported a tough European approach to Russia.
Its geographical position and history make Russian security policy particularly important in Latvian politics.
Latvia was therefore reluctant to support removing two wealthy businessmen from the sanctions list while Russia’s war against Ukraine continued.
The dispute was ultimately resolved through a wider diplomatic compromise.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said France had agreed to begin discussions with Latvia about joining a French nuclear-deterrence initiative.
He also said France had committed to strengthening its military presence in Latvia, especially in air defence.
Latvia ultimately abstained rather than blocking the sanctions agreement.
That allowed the wider package to proceed
Latvia played a central role in negotiations over the EU Russia sanctions renewal.
Ukraine Criticises the Delisting Decision
Not everyone has welcomed the compromise.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has criticised the removal of Usmanov and Fridman.
Kyiv has consistently argued that it should maintain economic pressure on people and businesses it considers connected with the Russian system while the war continues.
From Ukraine’s perspective, sanctions are not simply symbolic.
Kyiv sees economic restrictions as part of a wider strategy designed to limit Russia’s ability to finance and sustain its military operations.
The dispute therefore exposes a difficult question for Europe.
EU governments broadly continue to support sanctions against Russia, but disagreements can arise over individual listings, legal challenges and the evidence required to maintain restrictions.
Why EU Sanctions Require Compromise
EU sanctions policy can appear complicated because decisions must balance political objectives with legal requirements.
The European Commission describes restrictive measures as a foreign-policy tool intended to influence policies or activities while targeting responsible governments, organisations, companies or individuals.
The Council takes decisions on adopting, renewing or lifting sanctions.
Unanimity makes maintaining unity important.
That gives every EU member considerable influence.
It also explains why a disagreement involving only two names threatened a sanctions list covering thousands of people and entities.
The September negotiations provide a striking example of how that system works in practice.
EU Sanctions Have Expanded Since Russia Invaded Ukraine
The European Union has progressively expanded sanctions against Russia since Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Those measures grew dramatically after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Individuals, companies, and sectors of the Russian economy are covered by the restrictions.
The EU says the objective is to weaken Russia’s ability to sustain its war while increasing economic and political pressure on Moscow.
Russia has repeatedly criticised Western sanctions, arguing that they harm both European economies and Russia.
The effectiveness and economic consequences of sanctions continue to be debated, but they remain one of the EU’s principal non-military tools in responding to the war.
Sanctions Drama Comes as Zelenskyy Meets Trump
The timing of the Brussels dispute was particularly important because major Ukraine diplomacy was simultaneously taking place in New York.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to the United Nations General Assembly for talks with world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy’s priorities included strengthening Ukraine’s air defences and discussing a possible agreement to reduce attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Ukraine is particularly concerned about Russian strikes on its energy system as another winter approaches.
Kyiv has also sought additional Patriot air-defence systems.
The diplomatic push comes as Russia and Ukraine continue exchanging long-range drone and missile attacks.
The sanctions debate in Brussels therefore had consequences far beyond an administrative deadline.
A failure to renew the measures would have sent an entirely unique political signal at the same moment Ukraine was seeking continued international pressure on Moscow.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends Ukraine talks in New York as the EU renews Russia sanctions.
Greenland Security Talks Add Another Geopolitical Dimension
Ukraine was not the only major security issue on the agenda.
Trump also met Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in New York.
The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a new security agreement allowing an expanded US military presence on Greenland.
The agreement follows months of tension over Trump’s demands concerning the strategically important Arctic territory.
Instead, it expands American security access while Denmark and Greenland retain sovereignty.
The agreement reflects growing concern about military competition in the Arctic, including the activities of Russia and China.
Greenland’s geographical position between North America and Europe makes it strategically important for missile warning, Arctic surveillance and North Atlantic defence.
Why Greenland Matters to European Security
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Although geographically part of North America, it has deep political and economic links with Europe.
The Arctic is becoming increasingly important because of security competition, shipping routes, critical minerals and climate change.
Russia possesses an extensive Arctic coastline and substantial military infrastructure across its northern territories.
China has also shown growing economic and strategic interest in the region.
Those factors have increased Greenland’s importance to NATO and the United States.
Earlier in September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Nuuk and announced a €200 million EU investment package for Greenland.
The package covers areas including connectivity, hydropower, critical raw materials, housing, tourism and small businesses.
The EU described Greenland as a strategic ally and trusted partner.
Ukraine and Greenland Highlight Europe’s Security Challenge
At first glance, the stories of Russia’s sanctions, Ukraine, and Greenland may seem separate.
But they increasingly connect through the same broader question: how Europe responds to a changing security environment.
In Eastern Europe, Russia’s war against Ukraine remains the most immediate military threat.
In the Arctic, competition involving Russia, the United States, China and European states is increasing Greenland’s strategic importance.
Meanwhile, European governments are trying to strengthen their defence capabilities while managing sometimes difficult relationships with Washington.
The sanctions dispute demonstrates another challenge.
Even when EU countries agree on the broad objective of pressuring Russia, it can be politically difficult to reach agreement on specific measures.
What Happens to the Russia Sanctions Now?
The immediate crisis has been resolved.
Usmanov and Fridman will be removed from the sanctions list, while restrictions against roughly 3,000 other individuals and entities will continue for three years.
That longer renewal provides more stability than the previous six-month cycle.
But the controversy is unlikely to disappear.
Questions will continue over whether individual sanctions are legally sustainable, whether additional people should be listed and whether existing measures are effectively limiting Russia’s ability to finance its war.
There will also be debate over whether removing prominent individuals weakens the political message behind the sanctions.
Supporters of the compromise can point to the preservation of restrictions against thousands of other targets.
Critics can argue that individual delistings risk creating pressure for further exceptions.
Both issues are likely to remain part of European foreign-policy discussions.
What to Watch Next
Several developments will determine where the story goes from here.
Ukraine will closely monitor the results of Zelenskyy’s talks in New York, particularly regarding air defence and possible efforts to reduce attacks on energy infrastructure.
EU governments will continue assessing sanctions enforcement and possible future measures against Russia.
Latvia and France are expected to discuss deeper defence cooperation.
Meanwhile, implementation of the Greenland security agreement will show how far the United States expands its military presence on the island.
These developments all form part of a rapidly changing European security picture.
Conclusion
The EU-Russia sanctions dispute came dangerously close to the deadline before European governments finally reached a compromise.
France had pushed to remove Alisher Usmanov from the sanctions list, while Luxembourg sought to remove Mikhail Fridman.
Latvia initially resisted the plan.
The eventual agreement removes both billionaires but preserves sanctions against roughly 3,000 other individuals and entities for another three years.
The decision avoids what would have been a significant breakdown in EU sanctions policy.
But it also demonstrates how difficult maintaining unanimity among 27 countries can become.
The timing makes the episode even more significant.
As EU diplomats negotiated in Brussels, Zelenskyy was in New York pursuing further international support for Ukraine, while Trump, Denmark and Greenland signed a major new Arctic security agreement.
Together, the developments underline how European security now stretches from the battlefields of Ukraine to the Arctic.
The sanctions crisis may have been resolved for now, but the larger questions surrounding Russia, Ukraine and Europe’s future security are nowhere near settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the EU-Russia sanctions expire?
No. On 22 September 2026, EU ambassadors reached a compromise that renewed the wider sanctions regime covering roughly 3,000 listed individuals and entities.
Which Russian billionaires were removed from EU sanctions?
The remaining individual sanctions were extended for three years, rather than the usual six-month renewal period.
Why was the EU deadlocked?
France wanted Usmanov removed, while Luxembourg pushed for Fridman’s delisting. Latvia initially objected to the compromise, creating a deadlock because EU sanctions decisions require unanimity.
What are the EU sanctions against Russia designed to do?
The EU says its sanctions aim to increase pressure on Russia and limit its ability to sustain its war against Ukraine.
What is happening with Ukraine talks?
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is holding high-level talks in New York, including discussions with US President Donald Trump, with air defence and a possible energy-related truce among the issues on the agenda.
What is the Greenland agreement?
The United States, Denmark and Greenland have signed an agreement allowing a larger US military presence on Greenland. The agreement does not transfer sovereignty over Greenland to the United States.
Presley Gerber’s Death Being Investigated as Suspected Overdose
The Presley Gerber death is being investigated as a suspected overdose after Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber’s son died at the age of 27.
Gerber died on Sunday, 20 September 2026, at a rehabilitation facility in California.
Santa Monica Police said officers responded at approximately 9:35am to a report of a possible overdose.
When officers arrived, they found an adult man who had died. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner subsequently identified him as Presley Gerber.
Police have said detectives are investigating the death as a suspected overdose and that there is currently no indication of foul play.
However, an important distinction remains: an overdose has not yet been officially confirmed as Gerber’s cause of death.
That determination will be made by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner following its investigation and testing.
What Police Have Said About Presley Gerber’s Death
According to Santa Monica Police, emergency services were called on Sunday morning following a report of a possible overdose.
Gerber was pronounced dead at approximately 9:45am.
The investigation remained ongoing on Monday as authorities worked to establish exactly what happened.
Police said there was no indication of foul play at this stage.
The medical examiner is responsible for officially determining both the cause and manner of death.
Until that process is complete, reports describing Gerber’s death as an overdose should make clear that the case remains the working line of investigation rather than a final medical conclusion.
Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, who died aged 27.
Medical Examiner Has Not Confirmed Cause of Death
Initial reports about a suspected overdose quickly circulated following Gerber’s death.
But the official medical investigation remains crucial.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that the investigation was continuing and that limited information was initially available.
Further examination, including toxicology testing where appropriate, can be required before a definitive cause of death is established.
That process can take time.
It means headlines saying Gerber “died from an overdose” would currently go further than the confirmed evidence.
Gerber’s family confirmed his death through a representative.
His parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and his younger sister, Kaia Gerber, have asked for privacy as they deal with the loss.
The family’s statement described it as a very difficult and painful time.
The family has not released any detailed public statement about the circumstances surrounding Gerber’s death.
Their request for privacy comes as international attention focuses on the tragedy because of the family’s prominence in the fashion and entertainment industries.
Cindy Crawford with Rande Gerber and their children Presley and Kaia Gerber.
Who Was Presley Gerber?
Presley Walker Gerber was born in California in 1999.
He was the eldest child and only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber.
His younger sister, Kaia Gerber, also became a successful model and actress.
Growing up with one of the world’s most recognisable supermodels as his mother meant that Presley was familiar with the fashion industry from an early age.
He eventually followed his mother into modelling, too.
Gerber made his runway debut as a teenager and went on to work with several internationally recognised fashion houses.
His modelling credits included major brands such as Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana.
He also appeared alongside his mother in a Pepsi advertisement connected with the 2018 Super Bowl.
Following Cindy Crawford Into Modelling
Crawford became one of the defining supermodels of the 1980s and 1990s.
Both of her children eventually entered the fashion industry.
While Kaia developed a particularly high-profile international modelling career, Presley also appeared on major runways and in fashion campaigns.
His distinctive appearance and family connection meant attention followed him from the beginning of his career.
But Gerber also became increasingly open about aspects of his private life that were considerably more difficult.
In later years, he publicly discussed mental health and substance-use struggles.
Presley Spoke Openly About Mental Health
One of the most important parts of Gerber’s public life recently was his willingness to discuss mental health.
He created a social media series calledMental Health Mondays, using the platform to encourage more open conversations about emotional wellbeing.
Gerber discussed some of his difficulties and the tools he had used to manage them.
Rather than presenting himself as someone who had everything figured out, he talked about struggling and trying to learn from his experiences.
He expressed hope that speaking publicly about his mistakes and difficulties might help other people going through similar situations.
That openness became an increasingly significant part of his public identity.
Presley Gerber previously spoke publicly about mental health and personal struggles.
Remembering Presley Beyond the Circumstances of His Death
The intense interest surrounding Gerber’s death is understandable, particularly because he was part of such a famous family.
But his life should not be reduced solely to the circumstances in which he died.
He was a son, brother and model who also attempted to use his public platform to encourage conversations about mental health.
His Mental Health Mondays project reflected a willingness to discuss subjects many people find difficult to address publicly.
Gerber spoke about personal difficulties because he hoped other people might feel less alone.
That part of his story deserves recognition alongside the continuing investigation into his death.
Conclusion
The Presley Gerber death remains under investigation following the 27-year-old model’s death at a rehabilitation facility on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
Santa Monica Police say officers responded to a report of a possible overdose at approximately 9:35am.
Detectives are now investigating Gerber’s death as a suspected overdose, and police say there is currently no indication of foul play.
However, the official cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
That responsibility rests with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
Gerber was the only son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber and the older brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber.
He followed his mother into modelling while also becoming increasingly open about his mental health and personal struggles.
His family has requested privacy during what their representative described as a very difficult and painful time.
Until the medical examiner completes its investigation, the precise cause of Presley Gerber’s death remains unconfirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Presley Gerber when he died?
Presley Gerber was 27 years old.
When did Presley Gerber die?
He died on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
Where did Presley Gerber die?
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner and media reports, Gerber died at a rehabilitation facility in California.
Was Presley Gerber’s death caused by an overdose?
That has not yet been officially confirmed. Santa Monica Police say they are investigating the death as a suspected overdose. The medical examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Is foul play suspected?
Police said there is currently no indication of foul play.
Who are Presley Gerber’s parents?
His parents are supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber.
Who is Presley Gerber’s sister?
His younger sister is model and actress Kaia Gerber.
The situation surrounding David Grey and Hibernian is becoming increasingly uncomfortable as a poor run of results leaves the Easter Road club searching for answers.
Hibs’ latest setback — a 1-0 defeat away to St Mirren on Sunday— extended their winless run to six matches in all competitions. It was another frustrating afternoon in which Grey’s side struggled to turn possession and attacking opportunities into the result they desperately needed.
For a manager who holds legendary status at Easter Road because of his playing career, particularly his unforgettable 2016 Scottish Cup-winning goal, the current situation is painful.
Grey’s connection with Hibernian is unquestionable. But football management is ultimately judged on results, and those results are creating increasing scrutiny around his position.
St Mirren Defeat Deepens Hibs’ Problems
Hibernian travelled to Paisley knowing a victory could ease some of the pressure building around the team.
Instead, St Mirren took all three points.
Jonah Ayunga scored the only goal of the match in the second half, leaving Hibs without the response they needed. The defeat continued a difficult sequence and added to concerns that the team has become predictable and short of confidence.
The result was particularly damaging because Hibs had opportunities to influence the match but again failed to make enough of them.
That has become one of the recurring frustrations surrounding the team.
David Grey watches Hibernian during their Scottish Premiership defeat to St Mirren.
Why Has Hibernian Become Stale?
Calling a football team “stale” can mean several things.
For Hibs, the concern is not simply one bad performance. It is the sense that familiar problems are appearing repeatedly without an obvious solution.
Grey’s team have struggled to create enough decisive moments in attack, while mistakes and lapses at the other end have proved expensive.
When confidence drops, players can become more cautious. Passes that would normally be played quickly become delayed, attacking runs become less frequent, and teams start looking predictable.
That appears to be part of the challenge facing Hibernian.
Opponents know what to expect, while Hibs have not consistently found alternative ways to hurt them.
A short winless run can happen to almost any team.
But when poor results continue, the conversation inevitably shifts from individual performances towards bigger questions about tactics, confidence, recruitment and management.
For Grey, that means scrutiny over whether he can find a way to reverse the decline.
Football can change quickly. Two or three victories can completely alter the atmosphere around a club.
The difficulty lies in finding that first victory when confidence is already low.
David Grey’s Special Relationship With Hibernian
What makes the situation especially difficult is Grey’s history with the club.
He is not simply another Hibernian manager.
Grey became permanently associated with one of the greatest moments in the club’s modern history when he scored the winning goal against Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final.
His stoppage-time header secured a 3-2 victory and ended Hibernian’s 114-year wait to win the Scottish Cup.
For supporters who experienced that afternoon at Hampden Park, Grey will always occupy a special place in the club’s history.
But legendary status as a player cannot protect any manager indefinitely from the pressures created by poor results.
Management presents an entirely different challenge.
Has Grey Reached the Endgame?
That is now the uncomfortable question hanging over Easter Road.
It would be premature to state that Grey’s departure is inevitable unless the club itself makes that decision. However, the combination of disappointing performances and a prolonged winless run inevitably increases speculation about his future.
The next few fixtures could therefore become critical.
Grey needs more than improved performances. Hibernian needs victories.
Managers often discuss fine margins, and there is truth in that. One goal, one defensive mistake or one refereeing decision can transform a match.
But over a longer period, results create their own story.
If Hibs cannot reverse their current trajectory, pressure on the manager will continue to increase.
Possession is useful only when a team turns it into meaningful chances and goals.
Hibernian have talented attacking players, but the team needs greater movement, quicker decision-making and more composure around the penalty area.
There also needs to be greater variety.
If opponents can comfortably anticipate how Hibs intend to attack, defending against them becomes much easier.
Grey must find ways of making his side less predictable, whether through changes in formation, personnel or attacking patterns.
Hibernian struggle to find a breakthrough during their latest Scottish Premiership defeat.
Confidence May Be as Important as Tactics
Football problems are not always purely tactical.
Confidence can have an enormous influence on performance.
When a team is winning, players attempt difficult passes, take shots earlier and make aggressive runs because they expect something positive to happen.
During a losing run, the opposite can occur.
Players hesitate. Supporters become anxious. Every mistake feels more significant.
That psychological pressure can create a cycle in which poor results lead to nervous performances, which then lead to further poor results.
Hibernian supporters have ambitious expectations for their club.
They want to see Hibs competing strongly in the Scottish Premiership, challenging for European qualification and making serious runs in domestic cup competitions.
Those expectations are reasonable for a club with Hibernian’s history and support.
The current frustration is therefore not simply about losing individual matches.
Supporters want evidence that the team is progressing.
If performances begin improving and results follow, the mood around Easter Road can change quickly.
But continued stagnation would inevitably make questions about the manager increasingly difficult for the club’s hierarchy to ignore.
The Players Also Carry Responsibility
It would be too simplistic to place everything on David Grey.
Managers select the team and determine tactics, but players must deliver on the pitch.
Experienced members of the Hibernian squad now have an important responsibility.
They need to provide leadership when confidence is low, maintain standards in training and help younger teammates through a difficult period.
The technical area cannot always solve individual mistakes, missed opportunities and poor decisions.
If Hibernian are going to recover, it will require a collective response from the manager and his squad.
What Does David Grey Need to Change?
Grey’s immediate priority must be finding a formula that makes Hibs more dangerous while maintaining defensive stability.
That may require tactical changes.
It could mean altering the formation, introducing different players or simplifying the team’s approach until confidence returns.
Most importantly, Hibs need energy.
A team described as stale must rediscover intensity — pressing opponents, moving the ball faster and attacking with greater conviction.
Occasionally one victory is enough to trigger that transformation.
There is something particularly uncomfortable about watching a club legend struggle as manager.
Grey’s contribution to Hibernian history cannot be erased by what happens during his managerial career.
His 2016 Scottish Cup winner will remain one of the most celebrated goals in the club’s history regardless of future results.
But professional football rarely allows sentiment to override performance indefinitely.
The board must ultimately judge Grey on whether he can deliver the results and progress expected from the current Hibernian team.
That makes the coming period potentially decisive.
Conclusion
The pressure surrounding David Grey and Hibernian has intensified after the 1-0 defeat to St Mirren extended the club’s winless sequence to six matches in all competitions.
The biggest concern is not simply the number of defeats. It is the growing feeling that Hibs have become stale, predictable and short of confidence.
Grey remains one of the most important figures in Hibernian’s modern history, but his achievements as a player cannot answer the questions he now faces as manager.
The situation is not necessarily beyond recovery. Football changes rapidly, and a couple of victories could transform the atmosphere around Easter Road.
For Grey, the coming matches could determine whether this difficult period becomes the beginning of a revival — or the painful endgame of his time in charge
Jury Convicts Jason Eaton in Vermont Palestinian Students Shooting
A Vermont jury has convicted Jason Eaton of three counts of attempted second-degree murder for shooting and seriously injuring three Palestinian college students in Burlington in November 2023.
The verdict was delivered on Monday, 21 September 2026, in Chittenden Superior Criminal Court. Jurors deliberated for a little under two hours following a six-day trial before finding Eaton guilty on all three counts.
The three victims — Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Aliahmad — were long-time friends who were visiting Burlington over the Thanksgiving holiday when they were shot while walking near Eaton’s home on 25 November 2023.
The Vermont Palestinian students shootingattracted international attention, particularly because it occurred weeks after the Israel-Hamas war began and amid heightened concerns about anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim violence in the United States.
However, authorities did not bring hate-crime charges, and investigators have not established a clear bias motive for the attack.
Three Palestinian students were wounded in a 2023 shooting in Burlington, Vermont.
What Happened to the Three Palestinian Students?
The three young men were walking in Burlington when Eaton opened fire.
All three survived but suffered gunshot injuries. The consequences were particularly severe for Awartani, who became paralysed from the waist down.
The victims were university students studying at different institutions in the United States and had travelled to Vermont to spend Thanksgiving with friends and family.
The case immediately generated widespread concern because of their Palestinian identity and the timing of the shooting.
Questions about motive consequently became an important part of public discussion surrounding the case.
But it is important to distinguish that discussion from what prosecutors proved in court: Eaton was prosecuted for attempted second-degree murder, rather than a hate crime.
Three Palestinian students were wounded in a 2023 shooting in Burlington, Vermont.
Jason Eaton Did Not Deny Carrying Out the Shooting
A central feature of the trial was that Eaton did not deny shooting the three students.
Instead, the dispute concerned whether he should be held criminally responsible for what he had done.
His lawyers presented an insanity defence, arguing that Eaton was suffering from serious delusions at the time of the attack.
During the trial, jurors heard evidence that Eaton claimed he believed he was receiving instructions from intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Israel’s Mossad, as well as what he regarded as divine commands.
There is no evidence that those agencies instructed him to carry out the shooting.
The defence argued that his claimed beliefs demonstrated he was legally insane at the time of the attack.
Prosecutors disputed that conclusion.
Jury Rejects Insanity Defence
The central question facing the jury was therefore not simply whether Eaton fired the shots, but whether he was legally responsible for his actions.
Mental-health experts offered differing assessments during the proceedings.
A defence expert testified that Eaton was legally insane at the time of the shooting. The prosecution presented expert evidence reaching a different conclusion and arguing that Eaton did not meet the legal standard for insanity.
After hearing the competing testimony and other evidence presented during the six-day trial, the jury rejected Eaton’s insanity defence.
Jurors found him guilty of all three attempted second-degree murder charges.
That verdict means the jury concluded he could be held criminally responsible for the shootings.
Eaton Had Previously Been Ruled Competent to Stand Trial
The question of Eaton’s mental condition had been examined well before the trial began.
In April 2026, Judge John Pacht ruled that Eaton was competent to stand trial following conflicting expert testimony about his mental state.
That issue was legally distinct from the insanity defence that was eventually presented to the jury.
Competency concerns whether a defendant is capable of understanding the legal proceedings and participating rationally in their defence at the time of the trial.
An insanity defence, by contrast, concerns the defendant’s legal responsibility for their actions at the time the alleged crime occurred.
Judge Pacht subsequently allowed Eaton to pursue an insanity defence, setting the stage for the competing psychiatric testimony heard by jurors.
What Evidence Did the Jury Hear?
The trial included testimony from the three students and psychiatric experts, as well as evidence related to the weapon used in the shooting.
According to the Associated Press, investigators linked the .380-calibre Ruger handgun to the attack.
Jurors were also played portions of a recording in which Eaton described the alleged voices and instructions he said he had experienced before the shooting.
The defence relied heavily on this material to argue that Eaton’s actions were the result of a serious psychiatric condition.
Prosecutors challenged that interpretation.
Ultimately, the jury accepted the prosecution’s case that Eaton remained criminally responsible.
Jason Eaton appears in court during the Vermont Palestinian students shooting trial.
Why Were Hate-Crime Questions Raised?
The identities of the victims and the timing of the attack prompted immediate questions about whether the students had been deliberately targeted because they were Palestinian.
The shooting happened on 25 November 2023, during an intense period of international tension following the start of the Israel-Hamas war the previous month.
The case consequently generated calls for authorities to investigate whether bias had played a role.
But despite those concerns, Eaton was not charged with a hate crime, and reporting on the case has said that no clear motive for the shooting was established.
That distinction matters. Describing the attack as definitively motivated by anti-Palestinian hatred would go beyond what has been established in the criminal case.
Victims Testified During the Trial
The students themselves played an important role in the proceedings.
During the trial, they provided evidence about the attack and its consequences.
Nearly three years had passed between the November 2023 shooting and the September 2026 verdict, drawing the conclusion of the trial a significant moment in a case that had moved through competency hearings, disputes over Eaton’s defence and several scheduling changes.
Awartani continues to live with particularly serious injuries after the shooting left him paralysed.
The physical and emotional consequences for all three victims remain an important part of the story beyond the courtroom verdict.
What Sentence Could Jason Eaton Receive?
Eaton has now been convicted of three counts of attempted second-degree murder.
Each charge carries the possibility of a severe sentence, and reporting from before the verdict indicated that Eaton could face up to life imprisonment.
His exact punishment has not yet been determined.
A sentencing hearing will therefore be the next major stage of the case.
Until the judge formally imposes a sentence, reports should avoid stating precisely how long Eaton will spend in prison.
It occurred during a period of heightened fear among Jewish, Muslim, Arab and Palestinian communities in the United States as the war in Gaza intensified political and social tensions.
The Palestinian identities of the victims brought international attention to the shooting almost immediately.
At the same time, the eventual trial focused heavily on a different legal question: whether Eaton’s claimed psychiatric condition meant he could be held criminally responsible for opening fire.
After hearing evidence from both sides, the Vermont jury answered that question by returning guilty verdicts on all three attempted-murder counts.
Conclusion
A Vermont jury has convicted Jason Eaton in the Vermont Palestinian students shooting, nearly three years after Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Aliahmad were shot while walking in Burlington.
Eaton admitted carrying out the November 2023 shooting. Instead, his defence argued that he was legally insane and therefore should not be held criminally responsible.
After a six-day trial and less than two hours of deliberation, jurors rejected that defence and convicted the 51-year-old of three counts of attempted second-degree murder.
The verdict resolves the central question of Eaton’s criminal responsibility, but the legal process is not finished. His sentence has yet to be imposed.
The case also leaves an important distinction in place: although the shooting prompted widespread concern that the Palestinian students may have been targeted because of their identity, Eaton was not charged with a hate crime and a clear bias motive has not been established in court.
Ozempic and Wegovy Mental Health Benefits Attract Researchers’ Attention
Ozempic and Wegovy mental health benefits are attracting increasing scientific interest after new research linked semaglutide—the active ingredient in both medicines—to better outcomes among people with certain psychiatric conditions.
Ozempic is best known as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is prescribed for weight management. Both contain semaglutide, a drug belonging to a class known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
However, researchers are increasingly investigating whether semaglutide could have effects extending beyond blood sugar control, appetite and body weight.
A large Swedish study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found semaglutide use was associated with a lower risk of worsening mental-health outcomes among people who already had depression, anxiety or substance-use disorders.
Importantly, this finding does not mean Ozempic or Wegovy has been proven to treat depression, anxiety or other psychiatric disorders. The findings show an association, and researchers say further clinical trials are required.
What Did the Study Find?
Researchers examined Swedish health data involving tens of thousands of people with diabetes who also had existing mental-health conditions.
Among the most striking findings, semaglutide use was associated with a 44% lower risk of worsening depression and a 38% lower risk of worsening anxiety. Researchers also reported a 47% lower risk of worsening substance-use disorder.
The broader research found fewer psychiatric hospital visits and less sickness absence related to mental health problems during periods when some patients were receiving GLP-1 medicines, particularly semaglutide.
These are substantial associations, but they need to be interpreted carefully. Observational research can identify patterns between medication use and health outcomes, but it cannot by itself prove that semaglutide directly caused the improvements
Ozempic and Wegovy mental health benefits investigated in new semaglutide research.
Another Study Looked Specifically at Bipolar Disorder
The research has become even more interesting following a separate large Swedish study involving people with bipolar disorder.
According to Griffith University, researchers analysed data from nearly 15,000 people with bipolar disorder and found semaglutide was associated with a 21% lower risk of psychiatric hospitalisation.
This finding is particularly noteworthy because bipolar disorder can involve episodes of depression and mania that sometimes require hospital treatment.
But again, the result should not be interpreted as evidence that semaglutide is a treatment for bipolar disorder.
Researchers are investigating the association and possible biological mechanisms, but dedicated randomised clinical trials would be needed before doctors could determine whether the drug has a direct psychiatric benefit.
How Could Semaglutide Affect the Brain?
The obvious question is why a medicine associated with diabetes and weight loss might have anything to do with mental health.
GLP-1 is involved in more than appetite.
Researchers believe GLP-1 signalling may influence biological processes in the brain, including inflammation and cellular stress. Scientists are therefore studying whether these pathways could partly explain the associations seen in mental-health research.
There may also be indirect explanations.
For some patients, losing excess weight or achieving better blood-sugar control could improve physical health, mobility, sleep or quality of life. Those changes could potentially influence psychological wellbeing.
Separating these indirect benefits from a possible direct effect of semaglutide on the brain will require considerably more research.
What Are Ozempic and Wegovy?
Ozempic and Wegovy are different branded medicines, although both contain semaglutide.
Ozempic is primarily used to help manage blood glucose in adults with type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is designed for chronic weight management in eligible patients.
Semaglutide mimics the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1. Among other effects, it can reduce appetite and slow gastric emptying, helping people feel fuller for longer.
The extraordinary popularity of these medicines has made semaglutide one of the world’s most closely studied drugs.
Researchers are now exploring potential effects well beyond weight loss—including cardiovascular disease, addiction, neurological conditions and mental health.
Neither medicine is approved specifically as an antidepressant or anti-anxiety treatment. Current research does not establish that someone without an appropriate metabolic indication should take semaglutide to improve their mental health.
That distinction is especially important when headlines describe the findings as a mental-health “benefit.”
The studies suggest an association worth investigating. They do not establish a new approved use for the medications.
Anyone taking medication for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or another psychiatric condition should not stop or change their existing treatment because of these findings without discussing it with their healthcare professional.
What About Previous Concerns Over Mental Health?
The findings are interesting partly because researchers and regulators have previously investigated whether GLP-1 weight-loss medicines could negatively affect mental health.
Earlier studies did not find evidence that these medicines were associated with an increased risk of psychiatric hospitalisation or new mental illness.
The newer research goes further by asking whether certain GLP-1 medicines might actually be associated with better outcomes in some patient groups.
Scientists still need to determine exactly which patients might benefit and whether the associations represent a genuine drug effect.
Not All GLP-1 Medicines Produced the Same Results
Another important detail is that GLP-1 medicines should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
In the bipolar-disorder research, the association with reduced psychiatric hospitalisation was seen with semaglutide, while researchers reported that other GLP-1 drugs did not show the same association.
That makes the results particularly interesting because it raises the possibility that semaglutide itself—or differences in how individual GLP-1 medicines work—could matter.
Researchers will need more evidence to understand why.
Physical and mental-health conditions frequently overlap. Someone living with diabetes or obesity may also experience depression or anxiety.
If a medicine prescribed for an existing metabolic condition were eventually shown to provide an additional mental-health benefit, that could have meaningful implications for patient care.
But researchers have stressed the need for stronger evidence.
Reviews of GLP-1 medicines and psychiatric conditions have described the evidence as promising but preliminary, with well-designed randomised controlled trials needed to establish effectiveness and long-term safety
Ozempic and Wegovy are prescription medicines that have recognised side effects and risks. They should be used under appropriate medical supervision and for clinically appropriate indications.
The latest findings therefore do not mean people should start taking semaglutide specifically for depression or anxiety.
Instead, they provide scientists with another reason to investigate how GLP-1 signalling affects the brain and whether semaglutide might eventually have applications beyond its established metabolic uses.
Large observational studies have linked semaglutide to lower risks of worsening depression and anxiety, while separate research involving people with bipolar disorder has found an association with fewer psychiatric hospitalisations.
Those findings are promising, but they do not prove that Ozempic or Wegovy directly treat mental illness.
The next major step will be controlled clinical research capable of determining whether semaglutide genuinely produces psychiatric benefits, which patients might benefit and how those effects occur.
Few Hollywood love stories have been as intertwined with the movies as the relationship between Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman.
They met on the set of a vampire action film, fell in love while both were in other relationships, married within a year of going public as a couple, and continued working together across multiple blockbuster projects.
Then, after 11 years of marriage, it all unravelled over the course of a slow, quiet separation that stretched across four more years before the paperwork was finally complete.
The Kate Beckinsale/Len Wiseman divorce timeline spans from their November 2015 separation to the finalisation in November 2019, but the full story of their relationship begins more than a decade earlier on a Budapest film set. is the complete chronological account of how they came together, the years they spent as one of Hollywood’s most visually striking power couples, and the events that brought their marriage to its end.
Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman together at a premiere during their marriage
How Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman Met on the Underworld Set
In 2002, Len Wiseman was preparing to direct his first feature film, a vampire-versus-werewolf action movie called Underworld. He cast British actress Kate Beckinsale in the lead role of Selene, a vampire warrior.
By Beckinsale’s own account, she initially turned the role down, believing a film about vampires and werewolves was not the type of project she was looking for. Wiseman called her back, and when she saw character drawings he had made that were clearly based on her likeness, she accepted.
At the time, both were in committed relationships. Beckinsale had been with Welsh actor Michael Sheen since 1995. The couple shared a daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, born on January 31, 1999. Wiseman had been married to his first wife, Dana, a kindergarten teacher, since 1994.
Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman share a loving gaze during happier times before their 2015 split and 2019 divorce.
The film was shot in Budapest, and in a detail that has been widely noted in the years since, Beckinsale personally asked Wiseman to cast Sheen in the film so that her family could join her on location. Wiseman agreed. Sheen auditioned and impressed the director enough to land a major role as the Lycan leader Lucian.
Both Beckinsale’s relationship with Sheen and Wiseman’s marriage to Dana ended in 2002 during or shortly after the production. By January 2003, Beckinsale and Wiseman were publicly seen together as a couple. They were engaged by June of that year.
Beckinsale has repeatedly pushed back against the narrative that she left Sheen for Wiseman. In a 2012 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said the popular version of the story, in which she was on set and simply ran off with the director, was “just not true”.
She said that if it had happened that way, it would have been very difficult to maintain a positive relationship with Sheen afterward, which they demonstrably did.
For his part, Sheen said in interviews that while the situation was “obviously not easy”, he never felt anything had happened behind his back. He praised Wiseman as a good man and a wonderful stepfather to Lily.
The 2004 Wedding and a Decade of Professional Collaboration
Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman married on May 9, 2004, in Bel-Air, Los Angeles. It was Beckinsale’s first marriage and Wiseman’s second.
The couple had no children together, though Wiseman took on a stepfather role with Beckinsale’s daughter Lily, who was five years old at the time of the wedding.
Their marriage was defined in part by an unusually close professional collaboration. They worked together across multiple high-profile films during the course of their relationship:
Underworld (2003): Where they met. Wiseman directed; Beckinsale starred.
Underworld: Evolution (2006): The sequel, again directed by Wiseman with Beckinsale reprising her role as Selene.
Total Recall (2012): Wiseman directed this remake of the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger film, with Beckinsale playing the antagonist opposite Colin Farrell and Jessica Biel.
Underworld: Blood Wars (2016): The fifth instalment in the franchise. While Wiseman did not direct this entry, he contributed to writing and production, and Beckinsale returned as Selene.
In a 2012 interview with Parade, Beckinsale spoke positively about their working relationship. She said one of the things they liked least about their careers was the forced separation that different projects could create and that working together allowed them to avoid that.
She also joked during a Tonight Show appearance around the same period that her secret to working with her husband was to “always argue over text so other people aren’t embarrassed,” adding, “You’d be amazed how fast you can type ‘douchebag’.”
Early Signs of Trouble: The Wedding Ring and the Hesitation of Children
Looking back, there were subtle public signals that the marriage was not entirely smooth, even during its seemingly stable middle years.
In July 2012, Beckinsale told Glamour UK that she was going “back and forth” on whether to have a child with Wiseman. She was 39 at the time and already the mother of a teenager. The remark was not explosive on its own, but it suggested a lack of settled agreement on a major life decision.
By July 2015, Beckinsale was photographed without her wedding ring at the ITV Summer Party in London. The couple had not been spotted together in public since Memorial Day 2015, when they were seen leaving Joel Silver’s annual party hand in hand. That May appearance turned out to be their last public outing as a couple.
In October 2015, a source told Entertainment Tonight that Wiseman had been staying at the Sunset Marquis hotel in Los Angeles. His last social media mention of Beckinsale had come in May, when he retweeted a photo from a group celebration of the upcoming Underworld 5.
Also Read: Judy Markey, Chicago Radio Legend, Dies at 82, Her Marriage and Career
The CJ Franco Sightings and the November 2015 Separation
The separation between Beckinsale and Wiseman became a public story not through an official announcement, but through a series of paparazzi photographs.
Len Wiseman drives while CJ Franco smiles in her black fedora during a low-key night out.
Beginning in early October 2015, Wiseman was spotted out in Los Angeles with CJ Franco, a 24-year-old model. They were photographed together on October 6, again on October 19, and once more on November 17, when they were seen leaving The Nice Guy, a popular West Hollywood restaurant, together at 2 AM. In all of these outings, Wiseman was not wearing his wedding ring.
Meanwhile, Beckinsale was in Prague filming “Underworld: Blood Wars”, the fifth instalment in the franchise she and Wiseman had built together.
On November 20, 2015, the separation was officially confirmed. A source told People at the time, “They are still friendly and spend time together in L.A. when Kate is there. There has been no drama. It’s just not Kate’s style. They have both had complicated schedules and have grown apart.”
Another source confirmed that neither Beckinsale nor Wiseman had been wearing their wedding rings for months by the time the separation was announced. Their last appearance together at a public event was the January 2015 Golden Globe Awards, where Beckinsale was already ringless.
The 2016 Divorce Filing and Three Years of Waiting
Despite the separation becoming public in November 2015, no divorce papers were filed for nearly a year. It was not until October 2016 that Wiseman officially filed for dissolution of the marriage in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences.
The couple’s date of separation was listed as “to be determined”
Wiseman requested that the court terminate its ability to award spousal support to either party
He asked that both sides pay their own legal fees
Reports at the time indicated that neither party was seeking spousal support, which initially led some outlets to speculate that a prenuptial agreement existed. However, when the divorce was later finalised, it was revealed that the couple had no prenup.
Beckinsale retained the services of Laura Wasser, one of Hollywood’s most prominent divorce attorneys, whose previous clients have included Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian.
In the settlement, Beckinsale asked to keep her personal effects and jewellery, as well as all earnings she had accumulated after the date of separation. She also deeded a home in the Hollywood Hills to Wiseman as part of the asset division.
The divorce was finalised in November 2019, almost exactly four years after the separation was first announced. The lengthy timeline was not unusual by Hollywood standards but reflected the lack of urgency on either side to formalise an ending that had already taken effect in practice years earlier.
Life After Divorce: Kate Beckinsale’s Relationships and Career
Following the separation, Beckinsale entered a series of high-profile relationships that attracted significant media attention, partly because of the age gaps involved.
Matt Rife (2017): The comedian was 21 at the time, while Beckinsale was 43. The relationship lasted approximately one year.
Pete Davidson (January to April 2019): The Saturday Night Live cast member was 25. Their brief romance generated substantial tabloid coverage, particularly given that Davidson had recently ended his engagement to Ariana Grande.
Various other links: Beckinsale has also been linked to comedian Jack Whitehall and, in later years, to other younger men, though she has been characteristically private about the specifics of her personal life.
Professionally, Beckinsale continued working steadily in film and television. Notable projects include her role in the Amazon series “The Widow” (2019) and the action thriller “Wildcat” (originally titled “Lioness”), released in 2025.
She has also been remarkably open on social media about topics ranging from her sense of humour to her health. In recent years, she revealed a hospitalisation that sparked public concern, but she later addressed it directly on Instagram. Her relationship with daughter Lily, now 27, and her continued friendship with Michael Sheen have remained visible parts of her public life.
Life After Divorce: Len Wiseman’s New Chapter
Wiseman’s post-divorce life has been defined by both a new relationship and a career resurgence.
His relationship with CJ Franco, the model he was first photographed with in October 2015, developed into a long-term partnership. On July 4, 2023, Wiseman proposed to Franco during a dinner at their favourite restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Franco, then 32, described the moment to People, saying Wiseman got down on one knee just as fireworks began. They have remained engaged since, with Franco noting that the couple has chosen to maintain separate professional lives rather than the collaborative working relationship Wiseman had with Beckinsale.
Professionally, Wiseman directed “Ballerina” (2025), a spinoff of the John Wick franchise starring Ana de Armas and featuring Keanu Reeves. The film earned $140.2 million at the global box office against a $90 million budget and represented a significant comeback for Wiseman in the action genre.
The Complete Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman Relationship Timeline
Year
Event
1994
Len Wiseman marries his first wife, Dana.
1995
Kate Beckinsale begins a relationship with Michael Sheen.
1999
Daughter Lily Mo Sheen, born to Kate and Michael
2002
Kate casts in Underworld; she suggests Michael Sheen for a role.
2002
Both Kate’s relationship with Sheen and Len’s marriage to Dana end.
January 2003
Kate and Len first appear publicly as a couple.
June 2003
Kate and Len become engaged.
May 9, 2004
Wedding in Bel-Air, Los Angeles
2006
Collaborate on Underworld: Evolution
2012
Collaborate on Total Recall.
July 2012
Kate says she is “back and forth” on having a child with Len.
January 2015
Last public event together (Golden Globes); Kate ringless
May 2015
Last sighting together at Joel Silver’s Memorial Day party
July 2015
Kate spotted without a wedding ring in London.
October 2015
Len is spotted with model CJ Franco and is also ringless.
November 17, 2015
Len and CJ Franco photographed leaving The Nice Guy at 2 AM.
November 20, 2015
Separation officially announced
October 2016
Len files for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.
2017
Kate dates comedian Matt Rife.
January to April 2019
Kate dates Pete Davidson.
October 2019
Divorce settled; Kate deeds Hollywood Hills home to Len.
November 2019
Divorce finalised after nearly four years
July 4, 2023
Len proposes to CJ Franco in Cabo San Lucas.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman get married?
Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman married on May 9, 2004, in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California. It was Beckinsale’s first marriage and Wiseman’s second.
When was the Kate Beckinsale-Len Wiseman divorce finalised?
Their divorce was finalised in November 2019, approximately four years after their separation was first announced in November 2015 and three years after Wiseman filed the paperwork in October 2016.
Did Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman have children together?
No. The couple had no children together. Beckinsale has one daughter, Lily Mo Sheen (born 1999), from her previous relationship with actor Michael Sheen.
Why did Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman split?
Wiseman cited irreconcilable differences in his divorce filing. A source close to the couple told People that they had “complicated schedules and have grown apart.” The separation became public after Wiseman was spotted with model CJ Franco while Beckinsale was filming in Prague.
Did Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman have a prenup?
No. According to TMZ, the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement. In the settlement, Beckinsale kept her jewellery, personal effects, and post-separation earnings, while she deeded a Hollywood Hills home to Wiseman.
Is Len Wiseman engaged to CJ Franco?
Yes. Wiseman proposed to CJ Franco on July 4, 2023, during a dinner in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The couple has been together since approximately 2015.
Saudi Arabia-Houthi Conflict Escalates With Riyadh Missile Attack
The Saudi Arabia-Houthi conflict has entered a dangerous new phase after Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement towards the capital, Riyadh, early on Saturday.
The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed the missile in the air. Residents reported hearing explosions, while photographs and video showed a large plume of black smoke near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The Saudi authorities said there were no casualties or damage from the intercepted ballistic missile.
The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed they had carried out attacks using missiles and drones against what they described as “sensitive” targets in Riyadh. They also claimed to have carried out an operation against facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco in Yanbu, an important Red Sea oil and industrial centre. Those specific Houthi claims had not been independently verified at the time of reporting.
The latest developments are raising concerns that fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis could further destabilise Yemen, threaten regional energy infrastructure and create additional risks for shipping through the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia Says Ballistic Missile Was Intercepted
Saudi officials said the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted the ballistic missile before it could reach its intended target in Riyadh.
The Saudi-led coalition also reported that it thwarted attempted attacks against Yanbu, Taif, Baysh, and Farasan.
Saudi Civil Defence had earlier issued warnings to residents about potential aerial threats. Alerts were issued for Riyadh and Al-Kharj, and authorities later lifted them.
Saudi Arabia-Houthi conflict escalates after ballistic missile targets Riyadh.
The developments were particularly significant because Riyadh had largely avoided direct targeting during the latest phase of fighting. Reuters reported that the alerts were the first in the capital since the recent Saudi-Houthi escalation began in July
What Did the Houthis Claim?
The Houthis presented a different account of Saturday’s events.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones in operations against Saudi Arabia.
The group claimed to have targeted sensitive locations in Riyadh as well as Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu. However, independent confirmation of the claimed strikes was not immediately available.
The Houthis said their operation was a response to attacks in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital.
This distinction is important when reporting the story: Saudi Arabia has confirmed the interception of a missile aimed towards Riyadh, but some of the Houthis’ claims about targets and damage remain claims rather than independently established facts.
Smoke and Flames Seen Near Riyadh Airport
One of the most striking developments was the appearance of smoke near Riyadh’s main international airport.
Reuters photographs and video showed a large column of black smoke in the area of King Khalid International Airport, with flames visible near what appeared to be fuel tanks. Reuters also reported hearing explosions in Riyadh.
The precise connection between the smoke and the Houthi attack claims was not immediately established in the reporting.
The incident nevertheless showed how serious the security situation around the Saudi capital is.
Smoke seen near Riyadh airport amid Saudi Arabia-Houthi tensions.
Why Yanbu Matters
Yanbu is particularly important as it is a major industrial and energy centre on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
The city contains significant oil infrastructure and provides Saudi Arabia with access to the Red Sea for energy exports.
That makes any threat to Yanbu important far beyond Saudi Arabia itself.
The Houthis claimed to have targeted Aramco facilities there, while Saudi authorities said they had thwarted an attempted attack on Yanbu.
Energy infrastructure has increasingly become part of the wider confrontation.
If attacks disrupt major oil facilities or shipping routes, the consequences could potentially extend to international energy markets and supply chains.
The Houthis have increased pressure on Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, according to Reuters. Their operations have included threats to vessels, cities and energy infrastructure.
The Red Sea is an important international trade corridor connecting Asia and the Middle East with Europe through the Suez Canal.
A prolonged escalation therefore creates concerns extending beyond the immediate Saudi-Yemeni conflict.
Commercial shipping companies pay close attention to security developments in the region because attacks or military activity can force vessels to change routes, increasing journey times and transport costs.
The Yemen Conflict Is Intensifying Again
The current confrontation comes against the background of Yemen’s long-running conflict.
The Houthis control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, as well as large areas of northern Yemen. Saudi Arabia has historically supported Yemen’s internationally recognised government in its fight against the movement.
The conflict caused a devastating humanitarian crisis before a period of relative calm reduced cross-border attacks.
Recent developments threaten to reverse that progress.
The Associated Press reported that renewed fighting has intensified inside Yemen as well, including along the strategically important Red Sea coast.
That means the current crisis is not limited to missile exchanges between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. This crisis is part of a broader struggle over territory, regional influence, and control of important maritime routes.
UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Attacks
The escalation has also attracted international attention.
The United Nations Security Council issued a statement condemning continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including attacks affecting civilian and energy infrastructure.
It also condemned the Houthi military escalation inside Yemen.
International concern is likely to grow if attacks continue against major cities, airports, energy facilities or shipping.
The priority for outside governments will be preventing the confrontation from expanding further while protecting civilians and keeping major trade routes operating.
Could the Fighting Lead to a Wider Regional Conflict?
The Houthis align with Iran, while Saudi Arabia stands as a major regional power with extensive international security partnerships. The Saudi-Houthi confrontation is also unfolding amid wider regional conflict involving Iran.
However, escalation is not inevitable.
Reuters reported that Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran wanted the war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis to end and believed Yemenis also wanted a settlement with Saudi Arabia.
For now, though, the military situation remains volatile.
What Happens Next?
Attention will focus on whether the Houthis launch further missiles or drones towards Riyadh and other Saudi cities and whether Saudi Arabia intensifies military action in Yemen.
Another key question is whether diplomatic channels can reduce the fighting before it develops into a prolonged cross-border conflict.
The safety of Saudi energy infrastructure will also be closely watched. Yanbu and other facilities are important components of the country’s oil export network, making attacks against them internationally significant.
Developments around the Red Sea will be equally important because continued military activity could affect commercial shipping.
Conclusion
The Saudi Arabia-Houthi conflicthas become significantly more serious following the attempted ballistic missile attack on Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia says its air defences intercepted and destroyed the missile, while the Houthis have claimed broader missile and drone operations against Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu. Some of those Houthi claims remain unverified.
The immediate danger goes beyond a single missile.
Continued attacks could threaten civilians, Saudi energy infrastructure and shipping through the Red Sea while worsening Yemen’s already severe humanitarian and security situation.
Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal Carabao Cup Fourth-Round Tie Confirmed
The Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal Carabao Cup fourth-round fixture will provide one of the most intriguing matches of the next stage, with League Two Fleetwood earning a home tie against Premier League champions Arsenal.
Fleetwood will welcome Mikel Arteta’s side to Highbury Stadium after reaching the fourth round of the League Cup for the first time in the club’s history. Their reward is a glamour home fixture against one of English football’s biggest clubs.
The fourth-round matches are scheduled for the week commencing 26 October 2026, with the EFL confirming the schedule for round four.
For Fleetwood, the match represents an opportunity to produce another memorable cup upset. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be expected to take the competition seriously as they attempt to move within three victories of the final.
Fleetwood Town celebrate reaching the Carabao Cup fourth round before facing Arsenal.
How Fleetwood Town Reached the Fourth Round
Fleetwood secured their historic place in the last 16 by beating Championship side Sheffield United 1-0 at Highbury Stadium.
An own goal from Rhys Norrington-Davies proved decisive as Fleetwood eliminated opposition from two divisions above them. The victory marked Fleetwood’s first appearance in the fourth round of the League Cup.
That achievement makes their meeting with Arsenal particularly significant.
Fleetwood are also the lowest-ranked club remaining in the competition, meaning another victory would represent one of the biggest results in their recent history.
Arsenal beat Ipswich to reach the last 16.
Arsenal booked their place in the fourth round with a 4-2 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Teenager Max Dowman scored twice as Arsenal progressed, demonstrating the squad depth available to Arteta in the competition.
The result set up another away fixture for the Gunners, although their next destination will provide a dramatically different setting.
Rather than playing at a Premier League stadium, Arsenal will visit Fleetwood’s compact Highbury Stadium in Lancashire.
That contrast is part of what makes domestic cup football so appealing: clubs operating at very different levels of the English pyramid can suddenly find themselves competing against each other in a knockout match.
Highbury Stadium Could Create a Special Atmosphere
For Fleetwood supporters, the opportunity to welcome Arsenal should make this one of the most anticipated home matches in the club’s recent history.
The smaller surroundings will also create a very different challenge for Arsenal compared with a normal Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
Fleetwood will hope that a passionate home crowd, combined with the pressure of a knockout match, can help them compete with opponents possessing considerably greater resources.
Arsenal will need to approach the occasion professionally. Cup football has repeatedly demonstrated that league position alone does not guarantee progress.
Highbury Stadium where Fleetwood Town will host Arsenal in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Will Arsenal Rotate Their Squad?
Team selection will be one of the biggest questions before the match.
Arteta could use the Carabao Cup to give minutes to younger players and members of his squad who have received fewer opportunities in Premier League and European matches.
Arsenal’s victory over Ipswich already demonstrated that emerging players can play important roles in the competition.
However, making too many changes could create an opportunity for Fleetwood.
The League Two club will have little to lose and will be able to approach the match knowing most of the pressure is on their Premier League opponents.
Arteta therefore faces the familiar cup challenge of balancing squad rotation with selecting a team strong enough to avoid an upset.
Arsenal Have Waited Decades for Another League Cup
Despite Arsenal’s long history of domestic success, the League Cup has not traditionally been their most successful competition.
Their most recent League Cup triumph came in1993, when they defeated Sheffield Wednesday in the final. Arsenal have subsequently reached the final several times without adding another League Cup trophy.
That long wait gives the current campaign additional significance.
A victory over Fleetwood would send Arsenal into the quarter-finals, leaving them firmly in contention for another major domestic trophy.
Arsenal continue their Carabao Cup campaign with a fourth-round trip to Fleetwood Town.
Other Major Matches in the Carabao Cup Draw
The fourth-round draw produced several eye-catching fixtures.
Liverpool will host Chelsea at Anfield in one of the standout matches, while Manchester City will face Brighton after City progressed past Norwich. Everton have been paired with Newcastle, while Sunderland hosts Brentford.
Fulham face Crystal Palace and Bournemouth welcome Aston Villa in further all-Premier League ties.
Meanwhile, Bradford City host Peterborough United, guaranteeing that a League One club will reach the quarter-finals.
Those Premier League match-ups could be significant for Arsenal. Several leading teams will eliminate each other before the quarter-finals, although Arteta’s side must first deal with their own potentially awkward assignment in Lancashire.
Why the Match Is So Important for Fleetwood
For Fleetwood, this fixture means considerably more than simply attempting to reach the next round.
Hosting Arsenal provides the club with national exposure and gives supporters the opportunity to watch Premier League opposition at Highbury.
It is also a reward for Fleetwood’s impressive run through the competition.
Having already eliminated Championship opposition, the League Two side can approach Arsenal with confidence rather than treating the match merely as a special occasion.
A victory would send Fleetwood into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and create one of the biggest cup stories of the season.
Fleetwood have already shown their ability to defeat higher-ranked opposition by eliminating Sheffield United.
The home side are likely to defend aggressively, compete for second balls and attempt to make the match uncomfortable for Arsenal from the opening whistle.
For the Gunners, controlling possession while avoiding unnecessary defensive mistakes will be important.
An early Arsenal goal could settle the contest, whereas the longer Fleetwood remain level, the greater the belief inside Highbury is likely to become.
A Classic David vs Goliath Cup Tie
The attraction of this fixture is straightforward.
On one side are Fleetwood Town, a League Two club enjoying their best-ever League Cup campaign. On the other are Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions with ambitions of competing for major trophies domestically and in Europe.
The difference in resources is enormous.
But for 90 minutes, Fleetwood will have the opportunity to test themselves against Arsenal in front of their supporters.
That is precisely the kind of match that gives England’s domestic cup competitions their character.
Fleetwood have already made club history by reaching this stage for the first time, following their 1-0 victory over Sheffield United. Their reward is a home meeting with Premier League champions Arsenal at Highbury Stadium.
Arsenal will be strong favourites on paper, but Arteta will know that cup matches against lower-league opposition require concentration and professionalism.
For Fleetwood, there is little pressure and plenty to gain. For Arsenal, victory would secure a place in the quarter-finals and bring them closer to ending their long wait for another League Cup triumph.
With a packed Highbury expected and two clubs arriving with very different expectations, this Carabao Cup occasion promises to be a classic.
