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'Stardust' director Matthew Vaughn had big plans for a fantasy sequel revisiting the characters in 1960s London.

Luciano Spalletti was supposed to be on his Tuscan farm now. Arguably, though, he should still be at Napoli, managing what had looked like Europe’s most unexpectedly entertaining side. Instead, he will be at Wembley on Tuesday, in charge of Italy, his appointment a consequence of a combination of factors from the personal to the political, the footballing to the financial. Or, in a different way, of two emails. One, triggering the extension in his Napoli contract without a pay rise, stemmed from club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, and instead prompted his resignation. A need for a sabbatical on his farm the cited reason; a breakdown in relationships more of a cause. The other, from Roberto Mancini’s camp a few months later, was his sudden resignation as Italy manager, the first to lead the Azzurri to a major title since Enzo Bearzot, trading the patriotism of leading his country for a reported £20m a year to take charge of Saudi Arabia instead. And so it will be Spalletti in England, his presence a product of the enduring pulling power of the Azzurri job. While elite club coaches often eschew the international game, three of the last four incumbents, including Antonio Conte, are Scudetto winners, whereas no England manager has won the Premier League or the old Division 1 since Don Revie. It comes after the greatest feat of a career in the dugout that dates back three decades. Spalletti became only the third manager to secure Napoli the Serie A title, and the first to do so without the benefit of Diego Maradona’s genius. The title was clinched in May: the footballing high came last autumn, amid a run of 13 consecutive wins in all competitions. There were 20 goals in the Champions League group stage: the 4-1 evisceration of Liverpool was, despite Manchester City’s spring demolitions of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, arguably the finest performance in the competition all season. Rewind a year and Napoli were arguably the best side in world football at the time. Which few predicted after the departures of Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Kalidou Koulibaly. If there was magic in Spalletti’s attacking side, there was also the element of the unknown, in the revelation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. What it was not, however, was a particularly Italian team: only three of the 14 players with the most appearances are even eligible for the Azzurri. Spalletti may name two of his former charges in his starting XI at Wembley, but while Giovanni Di Lorenzo captained Napoli, Giacomo Raspadori was only the understudy to the prolific Victor Osimhen. If Spalletti’s alchemy is illustrated by Napoli’s struggles under his successor Rudi Garcia – beaten three times already at home this season, they have lost to each of the best sides they have faced – it may be required by Italy. His inheritance is mixed. “Once we have played [England], then I will tell you what the potential is,” Spalletti said after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Malta. It is little more than a year since Italy were on a record run of 37 games unbeaten. It is only 28 months since the Azzurri won Euro 2020 at Wembley; in a rematch with England, perhaps only Gianluigi Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo and Nicolo Barella will start both games. Before England’s March win in Naples, Mancini lamented the Italian talent pool. “We are worse off than Southgate,” he said. It was a sign of the negativity enveloping him, an indication of the disenchantment that may have propelled him to the desert. He gave 57 players their debuts, casting around with ingenuity and impatience. He looked to the Oriundi, seeking to naturalise some from the Italian diaspora. Spalletti has dropped the Argentina-born forward Mateo Retegui; he has also omitted some of the stalwarts of the recent past, in Leonardo Bonucci, Marco Verratti and Jorginho, while recalling Giacomo Bonaventura who, at 34, is older than his fellow midfielders. He has five of Internazionale’s Champions League final starters and has given a debut to Tottenham’s in-form left-back Destiny Udogie. In other respects, however, it could be seen as an undistinguished squad, certainly compared to Italy’s past. Lose and, if Ukraine beat Malta, Italy will find themselves three points behind their rivals for second spot, with a game in hand but a de facto decider when they face Ukraine in Leverkusen in November. It could mean Italy miss three of four major tournaments after Euro 2016; the added curiosity being that they won the other one. In part, it reflects the tragedy of Mancini; unused as a hugely gifted forward in the 1990 World Cup, omitted in 1994 after falling out with Arrigo Sacchi, he had declared his ambition was to win the World Cup as Italy manager. Instead, they failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament; if he is at the 2026 version, it will be as the richly rewarded Saudi Arabia manager. There will be no Euro 2024 for him; there may be for Spalletti. A wizened, gnomic figure is scarcely the stereotype of an Italian manager: more attack-minded, more idealistic, for years the architect of sides who were stylish nearly men. But then so, too, were an Azzurri side who influenced him in his upbringing. At his unveiling, Spalletti said he would carry the giant Italy flag his mother sewed for him as an 11-year-old to celebrate the 1970 World Cup semi-final win against West Germany. It was an epic 4-3. More than half a century later, Spalletti has no Gigi Riva, Gianni Rivera or Sandro Mazzola, nor an Osimhen or a Kvaratskhelia, no world-class forward. But, for the second time in two seasons, he has the chance to use his principles and his capacity to generate something spectacular from seemingly unpromising ingredients to make history. Read More Wembley revenge to seal place at Euro 2024? – England v Italy talking points Gareth Southgate fired up as England face ‘revitalised’ Italy in crunch clash England fans may have turned on Jordan Henderson — but he still has Gareth Southgate England fans may have turned on Jordan Henderson — but he still has Gareth Southgate Belgium officials release details on suspected shooter of Sweden fans On this day in 2018: Shahid Khan withdraws £900m offer to buy Wembley from FA

It was a character reference for a man who has become an ambassador of sorts for Saudi Arabia. The England faithful – or some of them, anyway – had turned on Jordan Henderson when he was booed off in Friday’s win over Australia. The England manager offered an endorsement of his vice-captain: not merely as a midfielder, either, but as a principled individual. The Henderson of Al-Ettifaq, the man who used to support the NHS and the LGBTQ community instead plugging Saudi’s 2034 World Cup bid, stands accused of either being the opposite of the Liverpool incarnation or a figure whose decision to join the Saudi Pro League led him to become a public face of a repressive regime. Gareth Southgate can see why many have a sense of disappointment, why there is a seeming contradiction. Yet he also argued that Henderson remains the same person, one who has helped create the right kind of culture with England. “What I do understand is that people would feel that the decision Jordan would go and play there doesn’t align with his strong support of the LGBTQ community in the past,” he said. “I have not seen him comment anywhere differently. I don’t believe he is an individual whose values and principles have changed. “I would back him against pretty much anyone in the country in terms of what he stands for and what he believes in but I accept that the decision to go and play there doesn’t align that. He understands that; he accepts that.” But Southgate does not appreciate the jeers. “We have had a couple of incidents that I don’t understand because I don’t think any player wearing an England shirt warrants that,” he added. “I grew up seeing John Barnes receive that kind of criticism so that has never helped the team.” But if others were booed for their skin colour, Henderson has brought a reaction with his apparent hypocrisy has drawn. Deliberately or otherwise, Southgate drew a distinction between Harry Maguire, barracked mercilessly by Scotland supporters at Hampden Park last month but normally hailed by England fans, if not all of their Manchester United counterparts, and Henderson. There is nevertheless the feeling that three players created problems for Southgate with their decisions in the summer transfer market: Henderson by swapping Liverpool for Saudi Arabia, Maguire and Kalvin Phillips by opting to stay at clubs where they feature infrequently and when they had the option to move for more first-team football. Issues feel unavoidable until Southgate drops them, and thus far he has shown no willingness to do that. “I will always pick the players that I think are the best players to represent the team, that give us the best chance of winning, unless there is something I think is not appropriate,” he said, with the clear inference that Henderson, who captained his country against Australia, has not breached his code. “People may disagree with Jordan’s decision, given the stance he has taken in the past to support the LGBT community, but I don’t think that is a reason to not select him and I don’t actually think that is a reason to boo him.” If the stubbornness in Southgate has become more apparent, so has the loyalty towards his stalwarts; in September, he branded the treatment of Maguire “a joke”. The former Liverpool captain and the deposed United skipper, he said, have helped bring the “unmeasurable factors” of team spirit and togetherness. It gives them credit in the bank, if not necessarily forever. “It wouldn’t be fair to say I am going to support them regardless if better, younger players come through but I am also going to defend our team because we need that strength and the two players you are talking about have performed again and again in massive games,” he said. And England against Italy tends to belong in that category, and not merely the Euro 2020 final when Maguire thumped in an emphatic penalty in the shootout Roberto Mancini’s side won. In 1997, an England side featuring Southgate qualified for the World Cup with a 0-0 draw against the Azzurri; now the same result would secure a place at Euro 2024. Henderson may be a distraction: indeed his presence in the starting 11 in the second-string side against Australia might indicate that Phillips is likelier to begin Tuesday’s game. The wider question, separated from the moral issue, is whether Henderson, plying his trade in a far weaker domestic league and in debilitating heat, remains a good enough player to retain his place. “We will assess Jordan like every other player but if I just select on a popularity contest then our team would look very, very different,” Southgate said. Perhaps Henderson, an unflashy workhorse, would never have won a popularity contest as a footballer, though, increasingly, he may have done as a role model. The difference now is that he could triumph in an unpopularity contest with a public who feel betrayed. Read More Jordan Henderson: ‘If people want to boo me for playing in Saudi Arabia, that’s fine’ Gareth Southgate questions why England fans booed Jordan Henderson Ollie Watkins and Lewis Dunk emerge with credit on England’s audition night against Australia Southgate addresses Henderson criticism ahead of Euro 2024 qualifier Jordan Henderson set to face Italy despite England boos Jordan Henderson: ‘If people want to boo me for playing in Saudi Arabia, that’s fine’

The sumo wrestlers weighed an average of 120 kilograms (264 pounds) each.

Investors offered to buy more than three times the amount of Australia’s new 31-year bonds that were sold,

Jupiter Fund Management Plc reported client outflows in the quarter, dragging down assets under management. Clients pulled £1

London’s Heathrow Airport and three major airlines lost the bulk of their appeal against an order by the

His shoes have been worn by everyone from Diana, Princess of Wales, to Beyoncé, but legendary designer Jimmy Choo said his greatest achievement is setting up his own fashion school. Professor Choo – as he’s known to his students – set up the JCA London Fashion Academy in September 2021, calling it “my dream”. “I feel very proud – I know my dream has come true,” he told the PA news agency ahead of the masters students presenting their final collections. “My father said to me: whatever you learn, put it back to the industry. So we are lucky we have the JCA – I can put all my spirit and my knowledge, [and] give back to the students.” Before becoming a professor, Choo, 74, made his name with glamorous high-fashion footwear. After moving from his native Malaysia to study in the UK, he set up his eponymous brand in 1996 – designing heels for Diana, as well as being worn on red carpets all over the world and getting a nod in an episode of Sex And The City (when Sarah Jessica Parker’s fashion-obsessed character Carrie Bradshaw famously laments: “I lost my Choo!”) He’s delighted with the JCA Academy, but in a nod to his glittering career, Choo added: “I’ve had a lot of proud moments, from personally designing shoes for Princess Diana and other incredible VIPs [to] seeing emerging designers that I’ve mentored succeeding in their careers.” And while he’s an industry veteran, Choo said he’s still constantly learning. “The best piece of advice I received was to learn as much as possible,” he said – which is particularly important in the fashion industry where “everything changes”. He said: “The material, design, machinery, fabric – everything changes. So you have to adapt. Whatever you do, you must learn something.” Sustainability is one of the biggest areas of change in the fashion industry. “Now people [are] talking about sustainability – how to help the environment and that kind of thing,” Choo explained. “Everyone has to think about the future of the earth – if you spend so much and waste so many things, nature will be in trouble and so will we.” He looks to his students for inspiration, who “never fail to amaze me”. “Sophie Park was one of our footwear designers who made shoes out of plant-based materials such as cacti, pineapple and leaves. Olivia Black and Polly McKevitt both have collections made out of deadstock and materials that would have otherwise been discarded.” Choo enjoys working with young people because “they will listen to you”, and added: “They’re also very down to earth, willing to learn – that’s very important.” In turn, Choo emphasises to his students the importance of asking questions. “You have to ask why,” he said, giving the example of making a suit that doesn’t fit right and questioning why you can’t button the jacket up. “Because you’ve cut the pattern wrong, so your button cannot close. [With] only one inch, you made the whole thing difficult. The key to success, according to Choo, is collaboration – something which isn’t necessarily the norm in the highly competitive fashion industry. At JCA, he said he never wants anyone to think they’re “better than you, [or] you’re better than me”, he said. “If you’re better than anyone we should share their ideas and the whole thing benefits. We cannot be selfish.” It’s something he suggests is missing from the wider fashion industry. “Of course it’s important to own your ideas, but creativity flourishes when you can bounce ideas off other people. I think it’s important to have a network of people that you can speak openly with in the interest of improving and sparking creativity.” Among all the good advice propelling Choo’s career to the stratosphere, what was the worst he ever got? “Maybe it’s when someone told me I should retire.” See jca.ac.uk and @JcaLondon. Read More 4 black women on their experiences with breast cancer See Madonna’s extravagant tour outfits – including an updated cone bra Halloween pumpkins – how to grow your own Presenter Louise Minchin: Menopause conversations are no longer taboo – but we need to keep going Online apps recommended to manage lower back pain From choppy bobs to fox red, 5 celebrity-approved hair trends for autumn

Vital humanitarian aid is piling up at the shuttered Gaza border, despite diplomatic efforts to open a corridor with Egypt, as the World Health Organization warned that water is running out for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the bombarded territory.

Chinese tech giant Baidu is officially taking on GPT-4.

By Selena Li HONG KONG Asian stocks made some cautious gains on Tuesday, with investors choosing to focus

One of the few bright spots in China’s battered equity market is evaporating, with weight-loss drugs plunging after