Tries from warp-speed back-row pair Ben Earl and Henry Pollock helped England see off Australia as their power-packed bench ultimately swung an untidy opening autumn Test.
After the Wallabies edged a 10-try classic last year, England took revenge with a performance heavy on perspiration, if a little short on cohesion, at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.
Australia trailed by only three points at the break after wing Harry Potter’s breakaway try had given them a lifeline back into the contest.
But replacement Pollock scampered in just before the hour to restore England’s cushion, before a snipe from Alex Mitchell and a rolling maul steered over the line by Luke Cowan-Dickie ensured they could see out the final stages in comfort.
England have won eight successive Tests, a run stretching back to their defeat in the opening game of this year’s Six Nations in Ireland.
kuna gida kuna shirye-shiryen dare, bayan sallar isha’i. Rayuwarku na cike da kalu-bale, amma aƙalla kuna tare da iyalan ku. kwatsam, ba tare da gargadi ba, mahara dauke da makamai suka mamaye kauyen ku.
Suna baku umarni da ihu har baku iya gane me suke fada.
Tsoro ya ratsa jikinku. Kuna gudu cikin duhu, zuciyar ku tana bugawa tare da fatan tsira, kuna ta addu’a. Amma duhun dare be baku abin da kuke fata ba. Yan ta’addan sun gan ku, kuma Suka fito da ku!
Daga wannan lokacin, rayuwa kamar yadda kuka sani ta canza muku gaba ɗaya.
Wannan Jigon na #BirbishinRikici ya bada labarin Huaraira da kwanakin da tayi a tsare.
KATY Perry’s new love Justin Trudeau was seen making a “subtle nod” to their new romance with his Halloween costume.
Katy, 41, and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin, 53, were first linked together in July, shortly after her split from Orlando Bloom, 48.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Katy Perry is enjoying a romance with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin TrudeauCredit: Not known, clear with picture deskJustin wore this shark Halloween costume which was a ‘subtle nod’ to KatyCredit: Instagram/ @justinpjtrudeauKaty famously had sharks as backing dancers for her 2015 super bowl performanceCredit: Getty
Since then things have been heating up between the new couple, which included them being spotted kissing on her yacht earlier this month..
Now, in sweet nod to his new girlfriend, Justin paid homage to her with his Halloween costume.
Sharing an Instagram post of his spooky outfit, he was dressed as a shark while his son Hadrien, 11, as a wounded surfer.
He wrote: “Ready for Halloween with Hadrien!”
Justin added: “We built the costume together – a little father-son Halloween teamwork.”
What was great about the costume is that it is a sweet nod to Katy’s Super Bowl halftime performance in 2015, when the backup dancers became a meme in their shark outfits.
GOING PUBLIC
Justin’s Halloween costume comes just days after he seen out in public with Katy for the first time – as they left a strip club.
The pair stepped out together in Paris last weekend for the singer’s birthday
On Saturday, they looked smitten with each other and in struggled to keep their eyes off each other.
The birthday girl was seen adoringly glancing over at Justin while the exited the venue, while carrying red roses in her hands.
In a video from the moment the pair were snapped, paparazzi serenaded Katy as they crooned “Happy Birthday” to celebrate her 41st birthday.
Earlier this month, Katy, who has been on her Lifetimes world tour, took to the stage in London when she broke her silence on the romance rumours with Justin.
Addressing the crowd, the pop star said: “London, England, you’re like this on a Monday night after a whole day at work and a whole day at school?
“No wonder I fall for Englishmen all the time… but not anymore.”
The quip came days after photos emerged of Katy and Justin kissing aboard her 78ft yacht, the Caravelle, off the coast of Santa Barbara, California.
In the snaps, a shirtless Trudeau could be seen with his hand on the star’s bottom as the two shared a private moment.
Sources told The Sun the pair have been secretly dating since the start of the summer.
“They haven’t been able to spend a lot of time together as she’s on tour, but they’re constantly in contact — always FaceTiming and messaging each other,” an insider said.
Justin revealed he made the costume with his sonCredit: Instagram/ @justinpjtrudeau
BUDDING ROMANCE
The Sun revealed earlier this month that the pair are “constantly in contact” after they went public with their romance.
Relationship rumours began to swirl in July after singer Katy and Justin were seen dining together at the swanky Le Violon restaurant in Montreal, Canada.
It came a month after Katy announced she had split from Brit actor Orlando.
At the time, neither Katy nor Justin commented on the romance claims.
Our source said: “He’s a bit of a geek and can’t believe someone as famous and glamorous as Katy is interested in him, whereas she’s flattered such a respected politician wants to date her.”
Katy and Trudeau were pictured on her yacht, the 78ft Caravelle, off Santa Barbara in California, last month.
Reporting from Washington — The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld highly partisan state election maps that permit one party to win most seats, even when most voters cast ballots for the other side.
Partisan gerrymandering has allowed Republicans to control power in several closely divided states. And it has been repeatedly condemned for depriving citizens of a fair vote and letting politicians rig the outcomes.
But Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., speaking for a 5-4 conservative majority, ruled that citizens may not sue in federal court over the issue.
Partisan gerrymandering claims “present political questions beyond the reach of federal courts,” he said, tossing out lower court rulings that North Carolina’s Republicans and Maryland’s Democrats had drawn skewed districts to entrench their party in power.
Although the Supreme Court has repeatedly said racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional, it has never struck down an election map because it was unfairly partisan, despite four decades of lawsuits over the issue.
Thursday’s decision goes even further, closing the courthouse door to future claims. “Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions,” he wrote in Rucho vs. Common Cause.
The court’s four liberal justices dissented, warning that new technology has made partisan gerrymandering easier and more precise than ever before.
“These are not your grandfather’s — let alone the framers’ — gerrymanders,” Justice Elena Kagan said.
“The partisan gerrymanders here debased and dishonored our democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all governmental power derives from the people,” she said, reading her dissent in the court. “Of all the time to abandon the court’s duty to declare the law, this was not the one. The practices challenged in these cases imperil our system of government.”
The ruling substantially raises the stakes for the 2020 election. In many states, whichever party controls the state legislature and the governor’s office at that time will be in a prime position to gerrymander electoral districts in their favor and lock in political power for years to come.
“This is obviously a deeply disappointing outcome,” said Allison Riggs, a voting rights lawyer who represented the League of Women Voters in the North Carolina case. There, the state’s Republican leaders drew an election map that aimed to lock in 10 of 13 seats for the GOP.
“Unlike citizens in some other states, North Carolinians cannot force redistricting reform upon recalcitrant legislators,” Riggs said. “We must raise our voices even more loudly, demanding change.”
While reform advocates were distraught over the decision — envisioning an era of ruthless, no-holds-barred gerrymandering — there is reason to believe the result may not be as drastic as feared.
Numerous states, including California, have taken the line-drawing process away from politicians and placed it in the hands of independent commissioners charged with drawing fair and competitive political maps.
Roberts appeared to endorse these state reforms, even though he voted in dissent four years ago in an Arizona case to strike down these voter initiatives as improper. He said then the power to draw election districts was reserved to the state legislature alone.
“Where we go from here is where we’ve been,” said Justin Levitt, an election law expert at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. “Most of the real action has been in state courts or through ballot initiatives. … We are back to a limited set of tools, but tools that are still immensely powerful.”
States are also getting more involved. He noted that state supreme courts in Pennsylvania and Florida have struck down maps as overly partisan. The Supreme Court’s decision blocks federal lawsuits over gerrymandering, but it does not alter the authority of state courts to make rulings based on their own state constitutions. In 2018, voters in five states — Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Utah — overhauled their redistricting processes by creating independent or bipartisan map-drawing commissions.
This year’s cases began with the 2010 midterm elections, in which Republicans won sweeping victories and took full control in politically divided states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Armed with new census data, GOP lawmakers drew election maps that all but guaranteed their candidates would win a majority. In Pennsylvania, Republicans won 13 of 18 congressional seats, and 12 of 16 in Ohio.
Last year, however, political reformers had high hopes that Justice Anthony M. Kennedy would join the four liberals and cast the crucial fifth vote against partisan gerrymandering. He had voiced repeated concern that voters were being cheated if politicians could decide the outcomes in advance.
But those hopes were dashed last June when the chief justice engineered a procedural ruling that scuttled a gerrymandering case from Wisconsin.
Kennedy then retired, and his replacement, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, cast the fifth vote with Roberts on Thursday to close the doors to these claims.
Justices reviewed two cases in reaching the decision.
In North Carolina, Republican leaders flatly admitted they drew an election map for “partisan advantage.” One state leader said he drew a map to give Republicans a 10-to-3 advantage, only because he could not devise a map that would yield an 11-to-2 advantage.
In Maryland, Democratic leaders shifted hundreds of thousands of voters with the aim of ousting a veteran Republican from Congress and creating a reliably Democratic district.
A three-judge court in North Carolina declared the election map unconstitutional and said it deprived Democrats of a fair vote. Another three-judge panel ruled Maryland’s Democrats deprived Republicans of a fair vote and free election.
The chief justice wrote one opinion for the two cases and overturned the rulings from North Carolina and Maryland. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh signed on to the Roberts opinion.
Joining Kagan in dissent were Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor.
Tre’ Harris watched as Oronde Gadsden II burst by him, the 6-foot-5 tight end chugging over the turf at Golden West College’s football field.
Months before Harris and Gadsden suited up as Chargers rookies, the duo were catching passes from Jaxson Dart — now the starting quarterback for the New York Giants — during pre-NFL Scouting Combine training sessions at the Huntington Beach community college as the trio took advantage of sunny weather in Southern California.
“I saw his talents immediately,” Dart said of Gadsden. “Skill set-wise, I thought he was a very unique athlete, being, you know, the stature that he is. I thought his footwork was some of the best that I’ve seen.”
Over the past two weeks, the footwork that Harris said separates Gadsden from the rest of the NFL, has been on display.
Gadsden, 22, ranks fifth in NFL tight end receiving yards this season (385) despite not playing in the first two games. Two weeks ago, against the Colts, the son of former NFL wide receiver Oronde Gadsden emerged for 164 receiving yards and a touchdown. Against the Vikings last week, the former Syracuse standout, who set the program record for receptions in a season with 73 catches, recorded another 77 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Those accomplishments — which he credits to studying the likes of Chargers teammates Keenan Allen and Will Dissly — earned Gadsden earned NFL Rookie of the Week honors in Week 7, the first Charger to claim the award since Asante Samuel Jr. did it twice in 2021.
“It’s been good, getting in passes with Justin [Herbert], whether it’s a practice, and then following up in the game,” Gadsden said. “It feels good to see all the hard work that I’ve been doing, all the hard work that the whole team has been doing, come forward and translate into the game.”
Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II (86) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 23.
(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
Jim Harbaugh can’t help but smile when talking about Gadsden. Asked about the Chargers’ rookies — and the efforts they’ve put in to keep the team afloat amid a rash of injuries — the usually stoic Chargers coach remarked about how wide his grin was before slamming his hands down onto the podium in front of him.
“I mean, Oronde Gadsden,” he said, “of course, has been great.”
Herbert added: “It was only a matter of time until he put together two games like he has back-to-back, and he’s gonna make a ton of plays for us. He’s gonna have a super long career.”
Gadsden had his first opportunity to relax during the mini bye week in the 10-day gap between the Chargers’ win over the Vikings and their game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He said it’s been non-stop football for him since the beginning of his senior year at Syracuse; from the college season to pre-draft training, rookie mini camp, and now the NFL season.
Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II tries to fight off Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks during a Chargers’ win on Oct.12.
(Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press)
For the first time since those training sessions at Golden West, Gadsden decided to visit Disneyland. It was a rare break for Gadsden since his daily pre-draft days working alongside trainer T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the former Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.
What makes Gadsden a special player, Harris said, is his never-stop attitude. During minicamp, Gadsden would arrive at the facility at 5 a.m. — using his East Coast-wired clock to his advantage to get extra work in.
“I’m not gonna say I knew he was gonna do this,” Harris said of Gadsden’s recent success, before pausing. “There’s not a lot of tight ends that can move like he does. And, you know, I’ve seen it firsthand.”
Nov. 1 (UPI) — At least nine people died and more than 25 were injured in a stampede at a private Hindu temple in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday morning.
The stampede happened when around 25,000 worshippers crowded into Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in the Srikakulam district on Ekadashi, a sacred holiday. On Saturday, there are usually 3,000 parishioners, the Times of India reported.
The deceased included eight women and one boy, and two of the injured were in critical condition.
“The heavy rush of devotees led to overcrowding, resulting in injuries to many devotees, who were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals,” an official said, according to Xinhua.
Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has ordered an investigation into what happened at the 12-acre temple.
Organizers failed to inform the police in advance, which prevented adequate security, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, according to News 18, a network co-owned by CNN.
The government will pay $2,500 to the families of the deceased and $563 to those of the injured, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while noting that he was “pained by the stampede.”
Ekadashi means 11 in English and corresponds to the 11th day of every fortnight in the Hindu Lunar Calendar. During the holiday, devotees fast and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu.
On April 30, seven people died and six were injured when a newly constructed rain-soaked wall at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam temple in Visakhapatnam collapsed.
On Jan. 6, six people were killed and others injured in a stampede in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh at a counter to distribute tickets for a special event at Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.S. Navy is continuing to build up its forces in the Caribbean amid reported claims that an attack on Venezuela could be imminent. The Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg is now in the region, a U.S. Navy official told The War Zone. The Gettysburg adds to a current force of eight other warships deployed as part of enhanced counter-narcotics operations also aimed at Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. In addition, as we have previously reported, the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group has also been ordered to the region, but is not expected to arrive for at least another week.
The Gettysburg is the second cruiser to take part in the operation, joining the USS Lake Erie. The vessels in this class bring a great deal of additional firepower and other capabilities to the flotilla now arrayed in the Caribbean. You can read more about the status of America’s dwindling fleet of cruisers here.
News about the Gettysburg deployed to the Caribbean comes as the Miami Herald on Friday reported that U.S. strikes on targets inside Venezuela “could come at any moment.”
“Sources told the Herald that the targets — which could be struck by air in a matter of days or even hours — also aim to decapitate the cartel’s hierarchy,” the publication reported. The outlet added that it is unclear if that means taking out Maduro. The Venezuelan leader was indicted in a New York federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency. He and 14 others, including several close allies, were hit with federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy with the Colombian FARC insurgent group to import cocaine. There is now a $50 million bounty for his arrest.
Department of Justice
The Herald story follows reporting on Thursday by the Wall Street Journalthat the Trump administration “has identified targets in Venezuela that include military facilities used to smuggle drugs.”
While the Journal says that President Donald Trump hasn’t made a final decision yet on ordering strikes against land targets, anonymous officials told thepaper that “a potential air campaign would focus on targets that sit at the nexus of the drug gangs and the Maduro regime.”
The potential targets under consideration “include ports and airports controlled by the military that are allegedly used to traffic drugs, including naval facilities and airstrips, according to one of the officials,” the publication added.
The Trump administration has identified targets in Venezuela that include military facilities used to smuggle drugs, according to U.S. officials, if Trump decides to move forward with airstrikes https://t.co/CBWbPqIf9Q
The president replied “no” when asked by reporters on Friday aboard Air Force One if it was true he is weighing whether to attack military sites in Venezuela. He said “no” again when asked if he had decided on the matter.
A White House spokesperson further pushed back on any assertion that an attack was imminent.
“Unnamed sources don’t know what they’re talking about,” Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, told The War Zone. “Any announcements regarding Venezuela policy would come directly from the president.” Kelly did not answer our questions about when that decision might take place or what targets, if any, have been identified.
A U.S. official we spoke with on Friday morning was not aware of any imminent plans to attack Venezuela.
“While it does not appear that such an attack would take place in the coming hours, the U.S. military will be ready to execute at the POTUS’ direction,” said the official. “We are poised to execute any orders given to us.”
While Trump has stated that he is eyeing land strikes on drug targets in Venezuela, so far, attacks have been limited to what the Pentagon asserts are drug smuggling boats. Several strikes have resulted in multiple deaths of suspected drug smugglers.
Earlier today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on yet another narco-trafficking vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) in the Eastern Pacific.
Regardless of the timing of a large-scale attack, U.S. Navy vessels appear to be sailing closer to Venezuela. Satellite imagery shows that the Wasp class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and an unidentified Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer have come closer than 125 miles from La Orchila, one of Venezuela’s outlying islands. The U.S. Navy official we spoke with declined to confirm the specific location of the Iwo Jima or any other vessels.
In another potential sign of future operations, the U.S. just closed airspace off the Puerto Rican coast, designating it “National Defense Airspace.” Pilots not adhering to the notice to airmen (NOTAM) are subject to being intercepted, detained and having criminal charges levied against them.
The NOTAM is adjacent to José Aponte de la Torre Airport, home to a significant deployment of forces, including F-35s. You can read more about the airport’s role in the ongoing operations in our story here.
This appears to be a ‘corridor TFR’ supporting military operations operating out of Puerto Rico into the Caribbean and back.
These are typically used when there is a high amount of traffic expected. https://t.co/7oZadNszc7
Meanwhile, as the U.S. continues to build up forces in the region, the Pentagon is assessing what, if any, resources will be deployed to provide humanitarian relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. The storm was a Category 5 hurricane when it slammed into Jamaica and Haiti, causing tremendous destruction.
U.S. Southern Command on Friday announced that Joint Task Force-Bravo deployed to Kingston, Jamaica, “on a mission to provide humanitarian and disaster relief assistance following Hurricane Melissa,” the command said in a statement.
“Three CH-47 Chinooks from the 1st Battalion, 228 Aviation Regiment, carried 40 service members and supplies as part of the initial effort to provide immediate, lifesaving and humanitarian support,” the statement continued. “The advance team will set up operations in Kingston to prepare for the arrival of additional personnel and equipment via three UH-60 and two HH-60 Blackhawks. Upon arrival, they will provide ongoing U.S. disaster relief assistance missions requested by the government of Jamaica.”
“Historically, U.S. military capabilities are needed most in the critical early stages of a disaster relief operation, when fewer resources, capabilities and disaster-response experts are available to help victims and impacted communities,” SOUTHCOM added.
The ships and troops of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG)/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), already in the region as part of the counter-narcotics mission, could also potentially be deployed for relief efforts. In addition to more than 4,000 Marines and sailors, the ships in the ARG/MEU have Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) hovercraft, CH-53, UH-1 and MH-60 helicopters, MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft and AV-8B Harrier II attack jets that could be beneficial in any crisis response.
A landing craft, air cushion (LCAC), assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4, departs from the well deck of the Wasp class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Oct. 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Andrew Eggert) Seaman Andrew Eggert
While these units have responded to post-storm relief efforts in the region in the past, no tasking has yet been made for Melissa, the official told us.
“It is too early to say if the 22nd MEU will be deployed for any humanitarian relief efforts,” the official posited.
Regardless, assigning assets for relief efforts will not affect the counter-narcotics operation, SOUTHCOM said.
“SOUTHCOM is mission-ready to support both missions as required,” Army Col. Emanuel Ortiz, a SOUTHCOM spokesman, told us.
While it is publicly unknown what Trump’s plans are concerning Venezuela or Maduro, the addition of the Gettysburg is one more asset the president can call on should he decide to attack.
Update: 2:43 PM Eastern –
The Navy provided us with a comment about what the Gettysburg will bring to the table.
“As a Ticonderoga class cruiser, the USS Gettysburg (CG 70) brings a versatile suite of capabilities to support naval operations. These cruisers are designed as multi-mission surface combatants, capable of contributing significantly to Air Warfare (AW), Undersea Warfare (USW), Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS), and Surface Warfare (SUW) efforts.
The Gettysburg can effectively support carrier strike groups, amphibious forces, or operate independently as a flagship of surface action groups. Equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, the vessel provides long-range strike warfare options. Furthermore, some Aegis cruisers, including the Gettysburg, have been upgraded with Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capabilities. Advances in Standard Missile technology, coupled with the Aegis combat system, enhance the anti-air warfare capabilities of Ticonderoga class cruisers, providing precision accuracy across a wide range of altitudes. During its deployment to the Caribbean, the USS Gettysburg could leverage these capabilities in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.”
Update 3:55 PM Eastern –
The military on the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, located less than 10 miles from the Venezuelan coast, has boosted its readiness status, a local newspaper reported.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF) has been placed on high alert, with all soldiers and Coast Guard officers ordered to report to their respective bases by this evening,” The Express newspaper reported. “A memo circulated to members yesterday stated that the TTDF has been moved to State One Alert Level—the highest level of operational readiness.”
The War Zone cannot independently confirm that claim.
Tensions between the two nations have soared over Trinidad and Tobago’s support for the U.S. That includes a recent visit by the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely. A U.S. Navy official confirmed to us that the Gravely left that nation yesterday after a port call for joint military training.
It also appears that the MV Ocean Trader – a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship modified to carry special operators and their gear – has left Puerto Rico for an unknown destination. Navy officials and U.S. Special Operations Command have declined to comment on this vessel. The ship, which TWZ first reported on back in 2016, has been something of a ghost since entering service, popping up in hot spots around the globe.
The Ocean Trader has been spotted several times in various parts of the Caribbean in the past few weeks.
MV Ocean Trader, chartered by the Military Sealift Command for the U.S. Special Operations Command that supports Special Operations Forces as a mothership leaving Ponce, Puerto Rico – October 31, 2025 SRC: TW-@MichaelBonet8pic.twitter.com/80HocPjWZL
WE all love a city break, but heading to the main European capitals can give your bank balance a battering.
The Serbian capital of Belgrade offers all the history and grandeur for a fraction of the price.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Belgrade offers all the history and grandeur for a European city break at a fraction of the priceCredit: GettyThe Serbian capital is one of Europe’s oldest cities, pictured Republic SquareCredit: Getty
With beers or coffees in local cafes from £1.50, meals with wine in a decent restaurant for £15 and hotels from £40 a night, it’s perfect for those tourists looking to expand their city-break horizons without spending a fortune.
WHY SHOULD I GO? One of Europe’s oldest cities, its architecture tells its history from Roman and Ottoman to Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslav.
Catch up on its recent history at the Museum of Yugoslavia, home to the tomb of Josip Broz Tito, founder of socialist Yugoslavia. The Belgrade Fortress is free to enter and offers panoramic views of the Danube and Sava rivers.
Elsewhere, the Sava Lake offers water sports, tennis and cycling, with restaurants and bars perched on the shore.
STREETS MADE FOR WALKING? Public transport in Belgrade is free, making it easy to hop on and off the buses and trams. However, walking around the city means you can stop and rest at the traditional kafanas (coffee houses).
The main cobbled street in the city — Skadarlija — is regarded as the city’s “bohemian quarter” and is a great spot to enjoy a drink.
A walking tour of the Red Star Belgrade football stadium is not to be missed, even for those not familiar with the club. Take a walk through the famous tunnel which at 787ft is the longest pre-match walk in Europe.
Fans can get a taste of what the players go through as they are transformed into gladiators with the thumping chants from the stands.
ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST? Tara National Park is a four-hour drive from the city for those wanting to escape the hustle.
Lake Perucac offers floating houses that allow guests to wake up on the water and look over to the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The national park has the largest population of brown bears in Serbia.
Also worth a hike is the path up to the viewpoint known as Banjska Stena, soaring above the Drina River.
Kayaking down the river also gives the best views of the worldfamous Drina River House.
The hut, first built by swimmers wanting to rest, is perched on a rock in the middle of the water and has been rebuilt multiple times. It’s definitely an Insta-worthy picture.
WHERE SHOULD I EAT? Belgrade is without doubt a city for meat eaters. For an authentic lunch, head to Drama Cevapi in the heart of Belgrade’s Dorcol district for grilled meat and fresh flatbreads.
Tramways help visitors speed between the sightsCredit: GettySplash some cash in the city centreCredit: Getty
The cevapi — minced sausages with a mix of beef, lamb or pork — come in generous portions of five from £3, and flatbreads just 45p. If you fancy a smarter dinner, Iva New Balkan Cuisine shows off traditional Balkan recipes with a stylish twist.
Beef ribs with a celery and apple cream, honey and mustard seed glaze or pork belly with kohlrabi salad, pickled beetroot and crackling will set you back just over £10.
The main cobbled street in the city — Skadarlija — is regarded as the city’s ‘bohemian quarter’ and is a great spot to enjoy a drink
Meanwhile, Restoran Uzelac is a short taxi ride from the city centre where spit-roasted lamb is served by the kilo.
WHERE SHOULD I STAY? There’s a bed for every budget.
The Stari Grad district is best for a central location and the five-star Square Nine is great for those with deep pockets.
The gold-fronted building gives a cool oasis from the busy streets and features a wellness spa with a 59ft swimming pool.
Expect luxury linen and cashmere throws, with rooms from £300 a night. But there are also some fantastic budget options.
Boatel Charlie is set on the Danube. It is a chic barge with contemporary interiors that has rooms from £43 a night.
The neighbourhood of Dorcol is the place to stay to meet the locals, with multiple coffee shops and markets.
Tuck into some street snacksCredit: GettyThe Sun’s Emily kayaking down the Drina RiverCredit: Supplied
GO: Belgrade
GETTING THERE: Fly to Belgrade from Luton with Wizz Air, with fares from £27 one way, and from Heathrow with Air Serbia, with fares from £80 one way. See wizzair.co.uk and airserbia.com.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at Square Nine (squarenine.rs) from £300 a night. Rooms at Boatel Charlie (boatelcharlie.com) from £43 a night. Rooms at Smokvica B&B (smokvica.rs) from £80 a night.
Deluxe prints and special guests await at November’s best screenings in Los Angeles, including masterpieces by Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott.
Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s Noah Goldberg, with an assist from Libor Jany, giving you the latest on city and county government.
How do you spot a journalist?
The question lies at the center of a legal battle between Los Angeles City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto and the Los Angeles Press Club, as well as a political battle between Feldstein Soto and the City Council.
Two weeks ago council members called on her to give up her opposition to a federal judge’s order prohibiting LAPD officers from targeting journalists with crowd control weapons. According to the press club, dozens of journalists were excluded from public areas or attacked by police during chaotic summer protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Despite the slap down by the council, Feldstein Soto hopes to press forward. This week, in a confidential attorney-client memo shared with The Times by a source, she stressed to the council why she still wants to appeal the judge’s preliminary injunction, which she says makes virtually anyone a journalist.
In the injunction, U.S. District Judge Hernán Vera proposes “indicia” for LAPD officers to identify journalists, which include wearing distinctive clothing or carrying professional photographic equipment.
But the City Attorney’s Office, which is representing the city in the case, sees future issues.
“The problem with this vague definition is that anyone can claim they are a Journalist under the court’s definition,” Supervising Assistant City Atty. Shaun Dabby Jacobs wrote in the memo. “All a person needs to do is print out a badge that says ‘Press,’ or carry a camera … and they can go behind police line or into other restricted areas.”
The memo asks what clothing might identify a person as a journalist. “Is it simply that the person is wearing a suit or professional work dress? … It would be very easy for someone who is not a member of the media and is intent on causing trouble or harm to other peaceful protesters or to the LAPD, to pose as a journalist since they have some of these ‘indicia of being a Journalist.’”
Vera’s injunction imposes more onerous conditions on when police can use “less lethal” weapons than state law does, the memo also argued, allowing the “less lethal” force only when “danger has reached the point where deadly force is justified.”
The injunction also creates issues if the LAPD calls on mutual aid organizations, like the sheriff’s department or federal partners, since it applies only to the city’s police, the memo said. “The city could potentially be liable for our law enforcement partners’ actions if they act in a manner inconsistent with the terms of the injunction.”
All in all, the memo said, the judge’s injunction amounts to a “consent decree.”
With the nine-page memo in hand, Feldstein Soto headed to a closed session with the council Tuesday. Tempers flared when she and Chief Deputy City Atty. Denise Mills suggested that the press club’s lawyer, Carol Sobel, took on the case only to make money, according to two City Hall sources. (Feldstein Soto’s spokesperson, Karen Richardson, said the city attorney does not comment on closed session conversations but added that Feldstein Soto “absolutely did not say that.”)
Many council members, including Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, came to Sobel’s defense, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting.
“I’m trying to restrain myself right now,” Sobel said when she heard about the claim from Mills and the city attorney. “I’m really outraged. It is a baseless suggestion, and it doesn’t alter the fact that they’re shooting people in the head. Whether I get paid or not, they’re shooting people in the head.”
Sobel said she has taken on pro bono work frequently over her 40-year career and that when she is paid, it is partially to help fund future pro bono work.
Susan Seager, who also represents the press club in the case, took issue with Feldstein Soto’s continued pursuit of an appeal.
“She’s a cop wannabe,” Seager said. “She’s just a fake Democrat doing what [LAPD] Chief Jim McDonnell wants her to do.”
Richardson said Feldstein Soto has been a Democrat since 1976 and never worked with the police before she became the city attorney.
You’re reading the L.A. on the Record newsletter
State of play
— FIRE BOMBSHELL: Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters told a battalion chief that parts of a New Year’s Day fire in Pacific Palisades still were smoldering the next day, according to text messages. Firefighters were told to leave anyway, and the blaze reignited on Jan. 7, killing 12 and burning thousands of homes. Interim LAFD Chief Ronnie Villanueva said the Palisades fire was not caused by “failed suppression” of the New Year’s blaze.
The story in The Times led to a tweet from sports critic Bill Simmons (bet you didn’t expect to see his name in bold in this newsletter!) blasting the city’s “indefensibly bad leadership,” which predictably led to a quote tweet from none other than Rick Caruso, who called Simmons’ tweet “spot on.” “The buck stops with Mayor Bass,” he added.
— TRASH ATTACK: Mayoral candidate Austin Beutner attacked Mayor Karen Bass over the rising cost of city services for Angelenos, calling out the City Council’s vote to increase trash collection fees. The mayor’s campaign responded that the hike was long overdue. “Nobody was willing to face the music and request the rate hikes,” said Doug Herman, spokesperson for Bass’ campaign.
— SAYONARA, SANITATION: The city’s top Bureau of Sanitation executive, Barbara Romero, stepped down this week. Romero, who was appointed by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2021, touted the agency’s accomplishments, including increasing sewer fees and championing the construction of a water purification facility expected to recharge the San Fernando Valley groundwater aquifer.
— FREE(WAY) AT LAST: A judge agreed to place 29 protesters who shut down the southbound 110 Freeway in 2023 into a 12-month diversion program, which would require 20 hours of community service each. If the protesters, who were demonstrating against Israel’s war in Gaza, comply and don’t break other laws, they will have their criminal charges dropped.
— PHOTO BLOCK: L.A. County is trying to block a journalist from obtaining photographs of about 8,500 sheriff’s deputies and other sworn personnel in the department. The dispute centers on a public records request filed by journalist Cerise Castle in 2023 asking for the names and official headshots of all deputies not working undercover. An L.A. Superior Court judge ordered the release of the photos, but the county is appealing.
— A DOZEN BUSTED: Federal prosecutors announced charges against 12 people who allegedly assaulted law enforcement officers during the chaotic protests this summer against the Trump administration’s immigration raids. Many of the charges stem from demonstrators throwing items at police from a freeway overpass on June 8.
— CANDIDATE ALERT: A new candidate has thrown his hat in the ring to be the city’s next controller. Zach Sokoloff works for Hackman Capital Partners, serving as “Asset Manager of the firm’s Television City Studios and Radford Studio Center.” Sokoloff is running against incumbent Kenneth Mejia as well as veteran politician Isadore Hall.
QUICK HITS
Where is Inside Safe? There were no Inside Safe operations this week. The mayor’s team held a virtual town hall with Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky to engage with residents near nine operations in the West L.A. area, according to the mayor’s office.
On the docket next week: Councilmember Curren Price will be in Los Angeles Superior Court for the preliminary hearing in his criminal case. The hearing is expected to last about five days.
Stay in touch
That’s it for this week! Send your questions, comments and gossip to [email protected]. Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Saturday morning.
Tom McKibbin strengthened his bid to qualify for next year’s Masters and Open Championship with a third-round 65 as he continued to lead the Hong Kong Open.
After opening the tournament with a course record of 60 and carding a second-round 65, McKibbin registered one bogey and two birdies in the opening four holes of day three in Fanling.
The 22-year-old would add another birdie on the 12th before consecutive birdies on hole 16 and 17 took his total to 65 on the penultimate day.
The winner of the event will qualify for the 2026 Masters, while the highest-placed non-exempt player who makes the cut will earn a place at the 154th Open.
The Northern Ireland native is attempting to qualify for next year’s Masters for the first time, and the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July.
McKibbin’s lead over M.J. Maguire was reduced to one after 54 holes, with Peter Uihlein two shots behind and Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Scott Hend three off the pace.
The Israeli military’s top lawyer, Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, has resigned after admitting to leaking footage showing the gang rape of a prisoner at the Sde Temain prison facility in August last year.
The video of the rape had originally been leaked to the press in early August in the midst of a right-wing backlash following the arrest of a number of soldiers for the rape of a Palestinian prisoner.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
In her resignation statement on Friday, Tomer-Yerushalmi blamed pressure from the right-wing on her rape investigation for her decision to leak the footage, claiming that she was countering “false propaganda directed against the military law enforcement authorities”.
In the leaked footage, soldiers can be seen grabbing and leading away a blindfolded Palestinian prisoner before surrounding him with riot shields to obscure the rape.
“For 15 minutes, the accused kicked the detainee, stomped on him, stood on his body, hit him and pushed him all over his body, including with clubs, dragged his body along the ground, and used a taser gun on him, including on his head,” the original indictment stated.
According to medical information obtained by the Israeli daily Haaretz, the victim suffered a ruptured bowel, severe anal and lung injuries, and broken ribs as a result of the assault. He later required surgery.
What happened to the soldiers?
At least nine soldiers were detained in connection with the man’s rape. All but five were released relatively quickly.
In February, the remaining soldiers were indicted for “severely abusing” the detainee, but not raping him. The trial is ongoing.
A United Nations commission, reviewing the change of indictment and other instances of Israel’s use of sexual and gender-based violence, determined that the decision to downgrade the indictments, despite the evidence, “will inevitably result in a more lenient punishment” if there is a conviction.
Why weren’t Israeli politicians calling for accountability?
Because they determined that doing so was somehow unpatriotic.
A number of Israel’s far-right politicians, including Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, were among those who stormed the Sde Teiman prison in protest at the arrest of the soldiers for rape.
Israel’s hard-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir appeared to address Tomer-Yerushalmi directly in July 2024, writing in Hebrew, “The Military Advocate General, take your hands off the reservists!” he said, referring to the soldiers accused of rape.
Ben-Gvir’s fellow traveller on the far-right, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, was equally active on social media at the time, writing that the alleged rapists should be treated like “heroes, not villains”.
Israeli minister of National Security and far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir called upon Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi to halt her investigation into the soldiers accused of rape ([Ahmad Gharabli/AFP]
Returning to social media during the furore following the rape, Smotrich chose to ignore the credible accusations of rape and instead called for “an immediate criminal investigation to locate the leakers of the trending video that was intended to harm the reservists and that caused tremendous damage to Israel in the world, and to exhaust the full severity of the law against them”.
How have the critics reacted to Tomer-Yerushalmi’s resignation?
Many of the loudest voices in defending the alleged rapists were equally vocal in welcoming the resignation of the woman responsible for sharing evidence of that rape.
Writing on social media hours after Tomer-Yerushalmi’s resignation, Smotrich accused her and much of Israel’s judicial system of rank corruption, as well as launching what he called an “anti-Semitic blood libel” against their military.
Ben-Gvir was no less critical of Israel’s judicial system in the leaking of the footage, writing: “All those involved in the affair must be held accountable.”
Both ministers are active supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing attempts to weaken the judiciary and reduce its political oversight.
Have other crimes been committed at Sde Teiman against Palestinians?
At least 135 of the mutilated bodies returned to Palestinian officials in Gaza by Israel last week as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal, had been held at Sde Teiman, documents that accompanied each corpse showed.
Several of the bodies had been left with blindfolds on, and some had their hands still tied behind their back. One had a rope around its neck.
The same UN report that examined the reduced indictment against the soldiers also noted that detainees at Sde Teiman – including children – were regularly shackled, forced into stress positions, denied toilets and showers and beaten.
Some were subjected to sexual violence, including the insertion of objects, electric shocks and rape.
Tanzania’s ruling Party of the Revolution (CCM) has dominated the country’s politics ever since its independence over 60 years ago. Incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Africa’s first female head of state, is widely expected to cruise to victory on October 29th.
In January 2025 CCM confirmed Hassan as its presidential candidate. In practice, the race is uncompetitive: Hassan’s two main competitors have been barred from standing. Tundu Lissu, charismatic opposition leader and 2015/2020 candidate of the opposition Chadema party, as well as Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, were both disqualified. With Hassan all but certain to win, 16 minor-party candidates who barely campaigned will fill the remainder of the ballot.
Vice-President under the late John Magufuli, Hassan reversed some of his hardline measures early on, by reopening political space and rejoining international vaccine efforts. She focused on completing mega infrastructure projects (such as roads, railways, and power) and has generally been credited with steady economic growth. Even with this, what remains undeniable is that her administration has returned Tanzania to an authoritarian style of government later in her term.
The Election Campaign Environment & Democratic Integrity
The campaign season took place under very tight restrictions and accusations of bias, with Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo effectively excluded, CCM ran largely unopposed nationally. State authorities reportedly attacked critics and journalists, by giving pro-CCM coverage nearly 24/7 while enforcing regulations to silence dissent.
For example, internet and social media were also tightly controlled: in the week before the vote Tanzania effectively banned “X” (formerly Twitter) for ordinary users, and on election day a nationwide internet blackout was reported.
For many Tanzanians and international observervers the process couldn’t be seen as anything but undemocratic. State security forces were omnipresent at rallies and polling stations; any public protests were swiftly banned. When small crowds gathered outside campaign events they were dispersed with force, and police warned that posting “inciting” political content online could lead to arrest.
Key Challenges and Threats
The election day triggered unrest in several major cities. Hundreds of young protesters took to the streets sometimes clashing violently with police. In Dar es Salaam and Mwanza demonstrators set buses and police posts on fire and security forces responded with tear gas and gunfire. Human-rights monitors reported that at least five civilians were killed (with some reports saying up to ten).
With dozens of unexplained disappearances of opposition figures and journalists in recent years, Hassan’s administration ordered an investigation into alleged abductions last year, but no official results were released. Prominent Chadema members remain on trial for “treason,” and several smaller opposition candidates were arrested in the final days just before the election. Combining these practices with the low turnout in urban areas especially among youth, suggests further loss of faith in the Tanzanian political system. All together, these threats mean that even a smooth tally would not resolve underlying tensions.
Regional & International Outlook
Regional bodies, such as observers from the African Union, the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) were present during the vote. The AU dispatched a 72-member mission led by former Botswana President Masisi and Nigeria’s ex-foreign minister Onyeama. In practice these delegations will issue preliminary statements after the vote and full reports in the coming weeks.
However, international reactions have been mixed. Most western observers have voiced sharp criticism: a statement by European Parliament members called Tanzania’s election “neither free nor fair,” and urged its global partners to defend democracy. While the U.S. and EU members’ embassies had previously expressed concern about the campaign environment, neither imposed sanctions.
By contrast, major developing powers have maintained a low profile. China and Russia, both deeply engaged economically in Tanzanian infrastructure and mining projects, have largely stuck to their policy of non-interference.
Signing a $1.4 billion deal with China for railway work and a $1.2 billion uranium mining agreement with a Russian firm this year, neither Beijing nor Moscow publicly commented on the vote, focusing instead on stable relations and continued investment. African neighbors similarly avoided direct criticism; the emphasis has been on observing procedure rather than questioning the outcome.
Future Scenarios & Implications
In the short term, this will bring continuity of policy: infrastructure projects under construction can proceed, and Tanzania’s economy, is likely to keep growing moderately, especially by investment from China and Russia, which see Tanzania as a strategic hub.. By sidelining credible opposition, the government sacrifices long-term political accountability and invites heavier criticism from human-rights NGOs.
Meanwhile, some youth activists have threatened further protests, declaring that Tanzanians are shifting into active citizens. Should street violence or international pressure grow, the election’s aftermath will set the tone for Tanzania’s next chapter. A smoothly managed outcome could cement CCM rule for years, but if the polls are viewed as a coerced victory it may instead erode trust in government and fuel future crises. Tanzania’s 2025 election shows how fragile stability without competition is. Unless the political space reopens, the country risks trading short-term order for long-term disillusionment.
SOMETIMES all you want is an affordable holiday, with a bit of warm weather, without having to hop on a long-haul flight.
And if you don’t want to venture too much further than Spain, we’ve found the island which is hottest in the cold winter months.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Tenerife is a great spot for winter sun as it has highs of 20C in winterCredit: Alamy Stock PhotoSun Travel chatted to locals who reveal where to go on the islandCredit: Pavliha
When it comes to the highest temperatures, Tenerife comes out on top.
This is because of its proximity to Morocco, with flights around 4hr30 from the UK.
Temperatures can be as high as 22C in winter, while the UK is shivering in highs of 7C.
Flights are super cheap – easyJet has routes to Tenerife from Manchester from £20.49 or London Southend from £29.
Ryanair has bargains from London Luton for £18 each way.
Or you can find seven-night holidays for under £200 each – loveholidays has breaks from £189pp and £199pp in December which includes your hotel and flights.
Even if you want a treat, you can stay in a five-star hotel for just £359pp which includes seven nights at Best Semiramis.
Rick Cosgrove, a professional compere at many of the island’s bars, said: “Rincon del Pollo restaurant on the second floor of a little shopping centre, at the entrance to the massive Los Cristianos market.”
He continued: “It serves amazing Canarian-style chicken, home-cooked chips and great salads, for around €30, with drinks.
“El Cini in Los Cristianos is a little fish restaurant hidden up an alleyway where you will find the locals queuing too, with swordfish steaks from €11.”
When it comes to the best, local-loved beaches, he said: “La Tejita, near the airport in the south of the island, is the largest sandy beach in Tenerife and used mainly by locals due to being so windy.
“Two of the black sand beaches loved by locals are Playa san Juan, up the coast from Costa Adeje, and Las Galletas beach, not far from Los Cristianos.”
Locals love a visit to Playa San Juan in Tenerife on the Canary IslandsCredit: Alamy
The beaches
Rick added: “I love both Puerto Colon and Fanabe beaches. These two coves arenextto each other inCosta Adejein the south of the island, and are ideal for beach lovers.
“Puerto Colon has a lot more going on, as it’s next to the marina and all sea excursions in the south tend to depart from here, so there is a plethora of bars, cafes and restaurants to serve your needs.”
Meanwhile, Kitty de Graaf, a travel consultant and blogger on the island, said: “Tenerife South is perfect for a beach holiday with more hours of sunshine and stunning beaches like Playa de las Vistas in Los Cristianos, and Playa del Duque in Costa Adeje.”
The cove of Costa Adeje is an ideal beach according to localsCredit: Alamy
The food
Rick recommended any of the restaurants from the Venture Group if you’re looking for “posh nosh”.
He revealed: “It has around 12 restaurants in the south of the island including Empire Steak House and Mrs Miyagi’s – a Thai fusion spot in Playa de Las Americas.
“The Sea Horse in Fanabe is another favourite of ours, offering oversized tapas, with all dishes between €7-12 and probably the best sunset in Europe overlooking the island of Gomera.”
Katie Honcu, a freelance photographer, said: “Restaurante Roque Las Ánimas in Taganana, north Tenerife, is my top place for delicious local food at great prices. (A rustic restaurant with mountain views, selling Canarian food, dishes from €4).”
Katie said: “Roque Bermejo and Roque de Taborno, on the northern tip of the island, are excellent hiking spots away from the crowds that offer unique Canarian landscapes with stunning views.”
Tara Scarlata, who works for a local chain of bars, said: “Roca Negra Sunset Club in Playa Paraiso is a perfect place for sitting on the rocks at sunset with a cocktail (cocktails from €9), or El Puertito beach.”
The Wolly Train is a popular tourist train on the islandCredit: AlamySiam Park is the biggest water park in Tenerife and according to the experts a ‘must-see’
The budget attractions
Rick revealed: “The Wally Trolly is a train that drives on the roads and takes families and small children all over the south of Tenerife.
“It gives you a great perspective in seeing actually how large an area the south is, and is very popular with families. (adult tickets €9 and kids tickets €5)”.
Kitty said you can get tickets to the Pyramids of Güímar on the east coast that features six stepped pyramids and a poison garden, with more than 70 toxic plants from across the world, and to see it it just €10pp.
The must-do activities
Rick said: “This has to be Siam Park – the world’s number one water park – I love the incredible waterslides, but my partner Shelley is more into sunbathing, which she can do with the hundreds of sunbeds surrounding the huge wave pool.”
Meet the experts…
Our panel of Tenerife experts all live, own businesses or work in the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands…
Rick Cosgrove, 52, (pictured above) is a compere, working numerous bars between Los Cristianos and Adeje. Him and his partner Shelley (also pictured above), who is an award winning singer on the island, have a YouTube channel together, Rick and Shelley.
Kitty de Graaf, 53, draws on her passion for travel and writing and her experience in the tourism industry with her website Tenerife Insider Tips, where she serves as a travel consultant. She’s lived in Tenerife nearly 30 years.
Katie Honcu, 28, is a freelance photographer specialising in real estate. She’s lived in Tenerife for six years.
Tara Scarlata, 39, is administrator at TRISK Group – Beer Garden, San Eugenio and Mustang Sally’s, Fanabe Beach. She’s lived in Tenerife 10 years
Spain’s warmest island has 20C temperatures so you can be on the beach even in winterCredit: Balate Dorin
Gogglebox favourites Jenny and Lee took to Instagram to share a Halloween prank
Gogglebox favourites Jenny and Lee took to Instagram to share a Halloween prank (Image: Channel 4)
Gogglebox fans were all quick to say the same thing as Jenny Newby and Lee Riley shared a Halloween prank.
Taking to Instagram on Friday 31 October, Jenny and Lee posted a hilarious video to their account, which boasts an impressive 873K followers, which was also shared on Gogglebox’s page.
In the clip, it sees Jenny with a white blanket over her head pretending to be a ghost while she wears her glasses on top of the costume.
Instructing Jenny in the video, Lee says: “I don’t know… why you’ve got your glasses on that?” to which Jenny replies: “Cos I can’t see without them!”
A giggling Lee then hands Jenny a jar of sweets, insisting: “Here, now there’s the goodies… right? I’ll take the lid off, right, just wait for the kids to come and shout ‘here’s your sweets, trick or treat! Trick or treat!'”
To which the two repeat ‘trick or treat’ and ‘here’s your sweets’ before Lee hilariously declares: “You just keep doing that… I’m off in now. You’ve only got a couple of hours to wait.”
However, Jenny is quick to insist: “I ain’t standing here like this! Where are you?” as she attempts to reach out and go back indoors while still wearing the costume.
As Jenny attempts to find the door, Lee can be heard hysterically laughing in the background as he adds: “Happy Halloween everybody!”
Responding in the comments, the duo’s 873K followers were all quick to say the same thing.
One person said: “You two” with laughing emojis, a different account put: “I love these two, very natural!”, another wrote: “These two” with laughing emojis while a different account added: “Love you two.”
Elsewhere, another fan put: “You two crack me up” with laughing emojis while another account wrote: “Jenny is hilarious without even trying to be funny. Her innocence makes her hilarious”.
A different follower commented: “You two are the best can’t stop laughing at Jenny’s glasses” while another added: “Love’s these 2 so much hilarious.”
Jenny and Lee have been Gogglebox staples since 2014, where they joined during series four.
They weren’t the only Gogglebox duo sharing Halloween videos as Annie and Ronnie also shared a fun video too.
Gogglebox continues on Friday nights at 9pm on Channel 4.
Many Brits are now looking for a comfortable staycation to take this autumn. The main challenge that many dog owners face when arranging a holiday is considering who will care for their pe. But they needn’t fret any longer if they’re reserving one luxurious collection of cabins
Samantha Bartlett Assistant Editor, Social News
12:59, 29 Oct 2025Updated 14:43, 01 Nov 2025
The Nest at The Roost Luxury Cabins(Image: theroostglamping.co.uk)
Plenty of people are currently searching for the ideal spot to enjoy an autumn getaway. The bright summer holidays are behind us and numerous
Brits are now choosing to book a comfortable staycation within the UK instead. The main challenge that many dog owners face when arranging a holiday is considering who will care for their pet. But they needn’t fret any longer if they’re reserving one luxurious collection of cabins situated in The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, which is completely dog-friendly. The Roost Luxury Cabins all feature a private sauna, outdoor bathtub, log burner and fire pit. There’s also all the kitchen kit you’ll require – a kettle, toaster, induction hob, microwave, mini-oven, fridge (with small freezer) and a dishwasher.
Plus pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, washing up liquid, dishcloths, tea towels, cooking condiments, fresh ground coffee plus various teas and fresh milk.
All your bed linen and extra fluffy Egyptian towels are provided too, and there will even be some homemade brownies awaiting you.
Those bringing pets are permitted two small dogs or one medium sized dog.
The venue explains: “We leave a blanket, towel, poo bags, water and food bowel and a treat for each dog.
“If you pooch has got a bit muddy on all those lovely walks, we provide doggy towels and have a dog wash area behind the site office.”
They also provide details on canine-friendly pubs and eateries nearby.
There’s a fee of £30 for one dog (£40 for two dogs) per stay. This must be paid by card to the proprietor before arrival.
Discussing their dog-welcoming approach on their website, The Roost Luxury Cabins state: “Don’t leave your best friend behind! Here at The Roost we love dogs. The cabins are dog friendly with secure garden areas and all your doggy needs are catered for.
“Your pooch will be spoilt with their own handmade truckle bed.”
The establishment shared a video on its TikTok account showcasing the cabins, which rapidly became popular, gathering over 93,000 likes.
A dog was visible outside the lodge as the footage started, before revealing the outdoor bathing facility. The snug sleeping quarters were then displayed, accompanied by glimpses of the charming garden and external sauna.
Text overlay stated: “Call me crazy, but I would choose this with the dog over a fancy hotel.”
One viewer declared: “Oh my God, this looks INSANE!”
Whilst another commented: “Omg love this! Will have to take a look.”
A third remarked: “Looks like my sort of heaven.”
Visitors planning to book should be aware the location requires a minimum 2-night booking and check-in is restricted to Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
Rates are generally £499 per two nights but may fluctuate based on the date.
Whilst the establishment welcomes dogs brilliantly, families with children might prefer alternative accommodation as the cabins are exclusively for adults. Guests can select between two distinct cabins – The Nook and The Nest, with further information available on The Roost Luxury Cabins website.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
The accommodation currently boasts a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor, drawing from 112 reviews.
One guest commented: “We have had a really relaxing and enjoyable week in this amazing cabin! Loved the sauna and hot tub and sitting on the swing seat enjoying the peace! A beautiful place in a wonderful location.”
Meanwhile, another visitor remarked: “A perfect place to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. Everything is beautiful and the soak tub and sauna made it super relaxing. We loved explore the local area and will definitely be back.”
What attractions can be found close to the cabins?
Outdoor and nature
Beechenhurst and the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail: Explore art installations in a woodland setting.
Go Ape: Enjoy high ropes courses and zip-lines in the trees.
Forest of Dean Cycle Centre: Rent bikes for various woodland trails.
Dean Forest Railway: Ride a steam train through the forest.
Perrygrove Railway: A family attraction with a miniature railway and treehouses.
May Hill: A prominent hill with a distinctive cluster of trees on top, offering great views.
Wye Valley: Explore canoeing, kayaking, and walking opportunities along the river.
History and heritage
Hopewell Colliery: Take an underground tour of this working free mine.
Clearwell Caves: Explore this ancient and unique underground attraction.
Dean Heritage Centre: Learn about the local history of the Forest of Dean.
Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum: Discover the history of the regiment in Gloucester.
Museum of Gloucester: Explore thousands of exhibits on the city’s past.
Jet Age Museum: See aircraft and aviation equipment in Gloucester.
National Waterways Museum: Learn about waterways in Gloucester.
Coleford Great Western Railway Museum: A museum dedicated to the railway.
Other attractions
Gloucester Cathedral: A magnificent cathedral in Gloucester with famous cloisters.
Nature in Art: Explore art exhibitions and a sculpture garden.
Sudeley Castle and Gardens: Visit this historic castle and its extensive gardens.
SAN DIEGO — As a bemused crowd of would-be illegal immigrants looked on from a makeshift hilltop refreshment stand, Republican presidential candidate Patrick J. Buchanan on Tuesday stepped into a confrontational arena that sums up his often confrontational campaign: the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I am calling attention to a national disgrace,” Buchanan told reporters, his suit and shoes dusty from a Border Patrol tour of the rugged terrain. “The failure of the national government of the United States to protect the borders of the United States from an illegal invasion that involves at least a million aliens a year. As a consequence of that, we have social problems and economic problems. And drug problems.”
Saying that up to 1,000 illegal immigrants were among those arrested during the Los Angeles riots, Buchanan repeated his previous calls to fortify key sections of the border with ditches and concrete-buttressed fences and to deploy U.S. military forces there if necessary.
Buchanan also advocated doubling the size of the Border Patrol to 6,600 agents, staffing immigration checkpoints on Interstates 5 and 15 24 hours a day and charging a $2 toll on legal crossings to pay for tougher enforcement.
“I don’t believe in being brutal on anyone,” he said. “But I do think that any country that wants to call itself a nation has got to defend its borders.”
Illegal immigration lies at the heart of Buchanan’s vision of what is wrong with America; the issue is perhaps the strongest attention-getter in Southern California for his fading GOP challenge.
Buchanan’s first visit to the San Diego-Tijuana border made for strange media theater. The candidate arrived by four-wheel-drive vehicle to a hot, dusty ridge overlooking Smuggler’s Canyon, a prime crossing area, where a new corrugated steel barrier meets an old, battered chain-link fence. Buchanan supporters in suits and ties reached across the international line to buy soft drinks at a makeshift refreshment stand.
About 25 Mexican migrants, most of whom had heard only vaguely of Buchanan, chatted with security agents and tried to make sense of the pin-striped visitor.
“He’s a presidential candidate?” asked a man named Guillermo. “Does he speak Spanish? Ask him if he can pull the migra out of here for 24 hours, then he can do whatever he wants. Ask him if he can give me a ride to Los Angeles.”
Filoberto, a wiry 23-year-old from Mexicali, scoffed when informed that Buchanan advocates sealing the border and giving the Border Patrol more agents and equipment.
“They have all kinds of technology,” said Filoberto, who was waiting to make his fourth attempt at crossing in a week. “But we are smarter; people are smarter than machines. We are still going to cross. In fact, as soon as all of you people get out of here, we are going to go for it.”
To the discomfort of Buchanan aides, neo-Nazi Tom Metzger showed up with a handful of raucous supporters.
Metzger’s group hovered at the edges of the press conference, yelling insults about illegal immigrants, Republicans and Democrats.
Metzger, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan and the White Aryan Resistance, was recently convicted of unlawful assembly in a Los Angeles cross-burning. He was sentenced to six months in jail but released after 46 days because of his wife’s illness and subsequent death. He said he wanted to talk to Buchanan about getting “action” to control the border.
But Buchanan rejected Metzger, saying that if Metzger contributed money to his campaign it would be returned. “I don’t have anything to do with him,” he said.
Buchanan said he thinks that he can influence President Bush’s policy–despite the fact that Bush has the GOP nomination locked up. “I think we are going to get George Bush to do something about this before that election, or at least speak to this,” he said. “He’d better do it, or he’s going to have problems.”
In Mexico and parts of Central America, Día de los Muertos is regarded as a day to commemorate and celebrate departed family and friends.
For generations, Greater Southern California has joined the tradition with altars, Aztec dances and displays of marigolds in late October to early November. The day to honor the dead also has served as a day of gathering among the living.
However, some celebrations are being reconsidered because of fears that participants may get caught in deportation raids executed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
This week the Department of Homeland Security announced it had deported more than half a million undocumented people since the Trump Administration took over in January. More than 2 million people have left the nation overall, the department said.
With raids continuing, some organizers of this weekend’s Día de los Muertos events are moving ahead with celebrations, while others have canceled them.
Times reporters spoke with event organizers to learn what they’re doing differently.
You’re reading the Essential California newsletter
Our reporters guide you through the most important news, features and recommendations of the day.
The event was canceled at the request of City Councilmember Mary Zendejas “out of an abundance of caution,” according to city spokesperson Kevin Lee, because it’s “a large and very public outdoor event.” Officials were not aware of any targeted federal enforcement activity.
“This decision did not come lightly,” Zendejas and the city said in statements. The decision addresses “genuine fears raised by community members, especially those who may face the possibility of sudden and indiscriminate federal enforcement actions that undermine the sense of security necessary to participate fully in public life.”
Roberto Carlos Lemus, a marketer who brought food trucks and other vendors to the festival last year, called the cancellation “very sad.”
“Everyone’s very sad about the situation. Día de los Muertos has been one of the largest celebrations for a very long time, and the city has done a great job putting it on,” Lemus told The Times. “Unfortunately, with Latinos being kidnapped and attacked by ICE and the current administration, I do understand why they made the decision that they made.”
Others are not letting the immigration raids interfere with the celebration.
Last year, tens of thousands of visitors patronized Division 9 Gallery’s Day of the Dead celebration in downtown Riverside. This year’s free two-day event will feature Aztec dancers, a pageant, processions, Lucha Libre wrestlers and altars — the traditional stands along with ofrendras placed inside classic cars — on Saturday and Sunday.
The event, located on Market Street between University Avenue and 14th Street, continues to grow in popularity, organizer Cosmé Cordova said.
Cordova said he’s not sure if there will be 60 altars, as was the case last year, or if 45,000 people will attend Saturday, the most popular of the two days.
“Because of what’s going on, people are afraid,” he said. “But we’re not canceling.”
Cordova said he’s hired security and noted that Riverside police and the mayor will be present.
“We’re working with the city and others to make sure everything is going to be good,” Cordova said. “This is an event that the community comes out for and I’m not concerned about anyone breaking it up.”
The week’s biggest stories
Gladstone’s Malibu, an iconic dining landmark, pictured partially smoking from the Palisades Fire on Jan. 8, 2025.
(Connor Sheets/Los Angeles Times)
Palisades Fire investigation
Dodgers World Series coverage
Trump Administration polices and reactions
Crime, courts and policing
More big stories
This week’s must-read
More great reads
For your weekend
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Going out
Staying in
Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team
Jim Rainey, staff writer Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor Andrew J. Campa, reporter Hugo Martín, assistant editor Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
It has been two weeks since world leaders gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh and declared, once again, that the path to peace in the Middle East had been found. As with previous such declarations, the Palestinians, the people who must live that peace, were left out.
Today, Israel holds the fragile ceasefire hostage while the world is fixated on the search for the remaining bodies of its dead captives. There is no talk of the Palestinian right to search for and honour their own dead, to mourn publicly the loss.
The idea of reconstruction is dangled before the residents of Gaza. Those who call for it from abroad seem to envision just clearing rubble, pouring concrete, and rehabilitating infrastructure. There is no talk of rebuilding people – restoring their institutions, dignity, and sense of belonging.
But this is what Palestinians need. True reconstruction must focus on the people of Gaza and it must begin not with cement but with the restoration of classrooms and learning. It must begin with young people who have survived the unthinkable and still dare to dream. Without them – without Palestinian educators and students at the centre – no rebuilding effort can endure.
Reconstruction without exclusion
The plans for governance and reconstruction of Gaza currently circulating are excluding those Palestinians most affected by the genocide. Many aspects of these plans are designed to control rather than empower – to install new overseers instead of nurturing local leadership. They prioritise Israel’s security over Palestinian wellbeing and self-determination.
We have seen what such exclusion leads to in the Palestinian context: dependency, frustration and despair. As scholars who have worked for years alongside Palestinian academics and students, we have also seen the central role education plays in Palestinian society.
That is why we believe that reconstruction has to start with education, including higher education. And that process has to include and be led by the Palestinians themselves. Palestinian educators, academics and students have already demonstrated they have the strength to persevere and rebuild.
Gaza’s universities, for example, have been models of resilience. Even as their campuses were razed to the ground, professors and scholars continued to teach and research in makeshift shelters, tents, and public squares – sustaining international partnerships and giving purpose to the most vital part of society: young people.
In Gaza, universities are not only places of study; they are sanctuaries of thought, compassion, solidarity and continuity – the fragile infrastructure of imagination.
Without them, who will train the doctors, nurses, teachers, architects, lawyers, and engineers that Gaza needs? Who will provide safe spaces for dialogue, reflection, and decision-making – the foundations of any functioning society?
We know that there can be no viable future for Palestinians without strong educational and cultural institutions that rebuild confidence, restore dignity and sustain hope.
Solidarity, not paternalism
Over the past two years, something remarkable has happened. University campuses across the world – from the United States to South Africa, from Europe to Latin America – have become sites of moral awakening. Students and professors have stood together against the genocide in Gaza, demanding an end to the war and calling for justice and accountability. Their sit-ins, vigils and encampments have reminded us that universities are not only places of learning but crucibles of conscience.
This global uprising within education was not merely symbolic; it was a reassertion of what scholarship is about. When students risk disciplinary action to defend life and dignity, they remind us that knowledge divorced from humanity is meaningless.
The solidarity they have demonstrated must set the tone for how institutions of higher education approach engagement with and the rebuilding of Gaza’s universities.
The world’s universities must listen, collaborate and commit for the long term. They can build partnerships with Gaza’s institutions, share expertise, support research and help reconstruct the intellectual infrastructure of a society. Fellowships, joint projects, remote teaching and open digital resources are small steps that can make a vast difference.
Initiatives like those of Friends of Palestinian Universities (formally Fobzu), the University of Glasgow and HBKU’s summits, and the Qatar Foundation’s Education Above All already show what sustained cooperation can achieve. Now that spirit of solidarity must expand – grounded in respect and dignity and guided by Palestinian leaders.
The global academic community has a moral duty to stand with Gaza, but solidarity must not slide into paternalism. Reconstruction should not be a charitable gesture; it should be an act of justice.
The Palestinian higher education sector does not need a Western blueprint or a consultant’s template. It needs partnerships that listen and respond, that build capacity on Palestinian terms. It needs trusted relationships for the long term.
Research that saves lives
Reconstruction is never just technical; it is moral. A new political ecology must grow from within Gaza itself, shaped by experience rather than imported models. The slow, generational work of education is the only path that can lead out from the endless cycles of destruction.
The challenges ahead demand scientific, medical and legal ingenuity. For example, asbestos from destroyed buildings now contaminates Gaza’s air, threatening an epidemic of lung cancer. That danger alone requires urgent research collaboration and knowledge-sharing. It needs time to think and consider, conferences, meetings, exchanges of scholarships – the lifeblood of normal scholarly activity.
Then there is the chaos of property ownership and inheritance in a place that has been bulldozed by a genocidal army. Lawyers and social scientists will be needed to address this crisis and restore ownership, resolve disputes and document destruction for future justice.
There are also the myriad war crimes perpetrated against the Palestinian people. Forensic archaeologists, linguists, psychologists and journalists will help people process grief, preserve memory and articulate loss in their own words.
Every discipline has a role to play. Education ties them together, transforming knowledge into survival – and survival into hope.
Preserving memory
As Gaza tries to move on from the genocide, it must also have space to mourn and preserve memory, for peace without truth becomes amnesia. There can be no renewal without grief, no reconciliation without naming loss.
Every ruined home, every vanished family deserves to be documented, acknowledged and remembered as part of Gaza’s history, not erased in the name of expedience. Through this difficult process, new methodologies of care will inevitably come into being. The acts of remembering are a cornerstone of justice.
Education can help here, too – through literature, art, history, and faith – by giving form to sorrow and turning it into the soil from which resilience grows. Here, the fragile and devasted landscape of Gaza, the more-than-human-world can also be healed through education, and only then we will have on the land once again, “all that makes life worth living”, to use a verse from Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.
Rebuilding Gaza will, of course, require cranes and engineers. But more than that, it will require teachers, students and scholars who know how to learn and how to practise skilfully. The work of peace begins not with cement mixers but with curiosity, compassion and courage.
Even amid the rubble, and the ashlaa’, the strewn body parts of the staff and students we have lost to the violence, Gaza’s universities remain alive. They are the keepers of its memory and the makers of its future – the proof that learning itself is an act of resistance, and that education is and must remain the first step towards sustainable peace.
The views expressed in this article are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
