Month: February 2026

Darkness engulfs me right before I step into a dream. The Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu guides me from a pitch-black hallway into an open space, where beams of light and smoke, interspersed with sounds from the streets of Mexico City, create a vortex into a unique cinematic experience.

Inside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Iñárritu is giving me a tour of his new installation “Sueño Perro:” a sensorial celebration of his 2000 debut film, “Amores Perros,” in honor of its 25th anniversary. The only physical elements on display are six film projectors and the celluloid that contains frames of unreleased footage, which are shown on screens of different sizes around the room. Detached and unburdened by the need of a narrative, the images simply exist.

“I love doing installations,” Iñárritu says in Spanish. “It’s like playing a game with your friends. And it’s liberating for me, because I don’t have to think about selling tickets.”

Before arriving at LACMA, his “Sueño Perro” mesmerized audiences in Milan, Italy, and in his hometown of Mexico City. LACMA previously hosted Iñárritu’s intense and immersive project “Carne y Arena,” which allowed visitors to put themselves in the shoes of a person crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on foot.

In Milan and Mexico City, “Sueño Perro” occupied labyrinthine spaces with multiple rooms. Contained within a single room, the L.A. iteration is the “paranoic version,” Iñárritu says. Once inside, there’s no respite to the barrage of images and the soundscape that surround you. He aptly describes the projectors’ beams of luminosity as “light sculptures.”

Curiously, he notes, people have such reverence for these hypnotic streams of light that they duck to avoid disturbing them rather than crossing in front of them. Iñarritu wishes they would, in fact, disrupt the light, so their shadows can enter the frame and transform it.

Never-before-seen footage from “Amores Perros” projects from 35mm projectors across the walls at LACMA, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.

(Sarahi Apaez / For De Los)

The projected footage is material that didn’t make it to the final cut of “Amores Perros”: a gritty, visceral drama following three different stories across different social classes in a chaotic Mexico City during the turn of the millennium. Back in 2018, Iñárritu learned that all his dailies (raw takes) from that shoot, which in most productions are thrown away, were preserved at Mexico’s National University (UNAM).

“It was like looking through an album you haven’t opened in 25 years, which smells of dust,” he says. “Because of the distance, the images actually evoked a beautiful nostalgia in me.”

And that album was substantial. Iñárritu recalls that he and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto shot an immense amount of footage, nearly 1 million feet of film.

Gael García Bernal from a scene in “Amores Perros,” released in 2000.

“It’s like the placenta that’s thrown away when a baby is born. Suddenly, that discarded material, rich in DNA, which was already dead but was once part of a living being, has a life of its own,” Iñárritu explains vividly. “I didn’t know that these fragments, this dead material could be resurrected, but light has given new life to something that was forgotten.”

Critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated for international feature film (foreign-language film back then), “Amores Perros” marked a watershed for the Mexican film industry, as an ambitious production that captivated both local and international audiences while unflinchingly portraying the country’s social ills from a humanistic standpoint.

“Look at Gael! He was 19 then. That’s a beautiful image of him,” Iñárritu says of “Amores Perros” lead García Bernal, whose shaved head is projected on one of the installation screens. The actor made his feature film debut in “Amores Perros” and has since had an extraordinary career.

At one point, three of the six projectors go dark — and the three remaining show the pivotal car crash that connects the film’s three narratives. Iñárritu and Prieto shot the imposing accident with nine different cameras. Seeing all nine different angles unspool in “Sueño Perro” provides a new understanding of the moment’s challenging orchestration.

Such a sequence evinces that “Amores Perros” was the work of an artist in his mid-30s willing to put it all on the line, uncertain whether he would get to make another film.

“I’ve changed a lot as a filmmaker, but I’m still the same idiot I’ve always been. That’s the bad news,” Iñárritu says laughing. “The other bad news is that I couldn’t make a film like that anymore, because of the number of shots and setups, and the energy behind each of those shots.”

The passage of time, in tandem with the film’s anniversary, allowed an opportunity for Iñárritu and screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga (who wrote “Amores Perros,” “21 Grams,” and “Babel”) to reconcile after a long-standing falling out. The two mended their bond in public last year during an event in Mexico City.

“It was very important for me to close this chapter,” Iñárritu explains. “There was something so special about our friendship as people — and our children were also very close. I truly missed him as a friend. As you get older, you realize that grudges and animosity are the worst investment; it’s like having a disease inside you and not wanting to let it go.”

While most exhibits celebrating a film’s legacy feature artifacts or costumes that appeared on screen, Iñárritu ultimately decided to opt out of that route. Initially, he admits, the director was tempted to find the scraps of the wrecked car that belonged to García Bernal’s character in the film, a black Ford, and place it at the center of the installation. But it was LACMA’s CEO Michael Govan who persuaded him to preserve the purer approach.

“Michael loved the idea of the projectors, of the light and memory. And he wisely told me, ‘Perhaps the material object will be distracting. This work is ethereal, and maybe something solid will create a knot.’ I thought it was a great reflection, and I said, ‘That’s true. I’m going to try for this exhibition to exist without physical matter, because it’s about the analogous, but also the immaterial, which is light and time.’”

The objects or “archaeological remains of a film,” as he calls them, cause Iñárritu great sadness. To him those relics are akin to looking at a collection of lifeless butterflies preserved in a box. “When I see the shoes that so-and-so wore or the dress that so-and-so wore, they seem to me like butterflies that once flew and now they’re dead,” Iñárritu says. “Objects that once appeared in film lack life afterwards. They’re like skeletons.”

(Sarahi Apaez / For De Los)

For young people who have mostly watched movies on their electronic devices, Iñárritu thinks witnessing “Sueno Perro” could spark great curiosity about the way cinema existed for most of its history: on film. It will allow them to think of cinema in a primal manner.

“We are organic beings, and our capacity for understanding and our development involves all our organs, and digital screens have forced us to perceive everything only on an intellectual level,” he says. Entering the installation, he hopes, will resemble the feeling of entering a womb or a cave. “The flickering light from the lamps in the projectors is reminiscent of the fire in caves when people gathered and shared stories,” he adds.

Sonically, “Sueño Perro” envelops attendees not in lines of dialogue or a musical score, but the sounds of life in Mexico City — from street vendors to a marching band — recorded over the years and brought to L.A. with the help of sound designer Martín Hernández, who’s worked on every single Iñárritu film since “Amores Perros.” And while some of those aural elements still exist today, “Amores Perros” also serves as a time capsule of a city that has evolved and mutated incessantly.

“I still recognize the city when I watch the film, but it makes me laugh so much to see the cars and the clothes of the time,” he says. “It now looks like the Paleolithic era. And I think, ‘I’m so old!” But yes, it was definitely a different city back then.”

(Sarahi Apaez / For De Los)

Like Iñárritu, I still lived in Mexico City, then known as Distrito Federal, when “Amores Perros” was released. In those days, international tourists often feared visiting the metropolis for fear of being kidnapped. To see Mexico City become a trendy, sought-after destination for “digital nomads” from the U.S. and elsewhere feels jarring.

“People from the U.S. have for so long been snobbish about Mexico, and now they go and say, ‘F—, this is a city with incredible cultural depth,’” Iñárritu says. “They realize that their snobbishness came from a misconception, based on propaganda they’ve been fed, which portrays us Mexicans only as “sombrerudos.’”

What’s so bewitching about Mexico City, and the country at large, Iñárritu thinks, is the people’s worldview and how they confront their realities.

“There’s no other country that has that kind of vitality, because despite all of its problems, and there are many — like how violence and corruption have become so normalized — the people have an energy, a joy, a vitality that’s very hard to find in any other city around the world,” he says.

On the subject of the ingrained issues that still plague his home country, Iñárritu recalls that those in power were not pleased with how “Amores Perros” addressed them on screen.

“The Mexican government was ashamed of the film,” he says. Whenever the film would win an award at an international festival, the Mexican ambassadors or diplomats in any given country would decline invitations to celebrate the accomplishment.

“They said it was a bad representation of Mexico, that what the film showed wasn’t Mexico,” Iñárritu recalls. “They said it showed too much violence. Give me a break, as if I were the secretary of Tourism.”

Aside from promoting this latest stop in the “Sueño Perro” installation’s journey, Iñárritu is in the post-production stage of his upcoming film “Digger,” starring Tom Cruise. Besides that, he’s also working on a project to honor Mexican American artist Judy Baca.

Baca is best known for the mural “The Great Wall of Los Angeles,” which extends for over half a mile along the Tujunga Wash and depicts the complex history of California. Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki shot a piece on this major work that will be screened at Walt Disney Concert Hall on March 7, alongside a special concert put together by Gustavo Dudamel and Gabriela Ortiz, and featuring several guest composers.

“I want to showcase the work of Judy, a Chicana who was 50 years ahead of her time and told the story of California through her eyes. I want it to be a landmark in Los Angeles. I want people to say, ‘You can’t go to L.A. and not see this mural.’”

As part of the ongoing celebration of “Amores Perros,” MACK has published a book featuring essays, behind-the-scenes photos, and storyboards. A double vinyl compilation including Gustavo Santaolalla’s score, plus tracks by generation-defining Mexican rock bands like Control Machete and Café Tacvba, has also been recently released.

Iñárritu hadn’t seen the film in a theater in many years. But when he saw it again at the Cannes Film Festival last year, he was pleased to realize it maintains its potency.

“I was struck by how well the film holds up. And it’s not just because I made it. It still has a rhythm and a muscle. It hasn’t aged badly at all. On the contrary, it’s like a young old soul,” he says with a laugh.

“Sueño Perro” will be open to the public from Feb. 26 until July 26.

Kara Braxton, who won two WNBA championships during a 10-year career, has died at age 43.

“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the WNBA said in a statement Sunday. “Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.”

No cause of death has been given.

Born in Jackson, Mich., along with twin sister Kim, Braxton played high school basketball at Jackson High for one season and at Westview High in Portland, Ore., for three seasons.

Braxton, a 6-foot-6 center-forward, played at the University of Georgia from 2001-2004, earning SEC freshman of the year and first-team all-conference honors in 2002. She averaged 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a game during her three seasons with the Bulldogs.

“Rest in peace Kara,” Georgia basketball posted on X.

Braxton was selected by the Detroit Shock at No. 7 overall in the 2005 draft. She spent 5 1/2 seasons with the team, winning the WNBA championship in 2006 and 2008 and earning her only All-Star nod in 2007. She also played for the Phoenix Mercury from 2010-11 and the New York Liberty from 2011-14, finishing with career averages of 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds a game.

New York Liberty’s Kara Braxton grabs the ball between Indiana Fever’s Tammy Sutton-Brown, left, and Tamika Catchings on Sept. 17, 2011.

(Mel Evans / Associated Press)

“We mourn the loss of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty player whose presence and passion left a lasting impact on our organization and the women’s game,” the Liberty wrote Sunday on X. “Our hearts are with her family, friends, teammates, and all who were touched by her spirit. Her impact will not be forgotten.”

Braxton is survived by her husband Jarvis Jackson and two sons, Jelani Thurman and Jream Jackson.

Thurman, a tight end who played three seasons at Ohio State before transferring to North Carolina last month, posted a number of tributes to his mother on his Instagram Story, including a photo of her kissing him as a baby at a Shock media day photo shoot.

“imma miss my queen,” Thurman wrote to accompany another photo, which appears to show him as an older child wearing his mother’s No. 45 jersey to school.

Thurman also posted video of an interview from around the time Ohio State won the 2024 national championship in which he was asked what lessons he learned from his mother that helped get him to that point.

“Man, she taught me always go hard,” Thurman said. “There’s one goal, you know what you need to go to do.”

This is the only UK destination that has perfectly preserved city walls – and you can follow them all the way around

Tourists have hailed this city as a hidden gem brimming with breathtaking scenery and vibrant heritage, whilst being steeped in Roman, Norman and English history. A brief train ride from Manchester, Liverpool and North Wales, this city ranks amongst Britain’s most picturesque cities.

Chester has claimed the top spot for UK city breaks in 2026, and it’s easy to see why. The historic walled city offers an impressive 71% of its attractions rated four stars or above on TripAdvisor, paired with hotel prices averaging just £80 per night.

At £66 for a meal for two and £2.38 for a pint, it delivers a genuinely affordable weekend away without skimping on things to see and do. Roman ruins, Tudor-era architecture, and excellent shopping along the famous Rows make Chester a destination that punches well above its weight.

Its city walls provide a beautiful 45-minute walk around the city. The fortifications are the oldest, longest and most complete in Britain, parts of which are almost 2,000 years old.

The walk gives enchanting views into the city and gives a fantastic insight into Chester’s long history.

Visitors can journey through centuries past whilst strolling the city’s meandering streets and Roman Walls – Britain’s most intact example. No stranger to accolades, Chester additionally features the nation’s largest outlet village on its periphery, with vendors operating from a delightful 700-year-old medieval gallery.

Chester Cathedral exceeds 1,000 years in age, showcasing remarkable period architecture and exceptional medieval mosaics. The award-winning Tower Tour can gives stunning panoramic Cathedral vistas from its view points.

The tour revolves around climbing the Cathedral’s tower, which looks out over five counties – you can even see Wales on a clear day.

Families looking for an entertaining day trip can explore Chester Zoo, home to 35,000 creatures distributed throughout 128 acres of rainforests, caverns and marshlands. The zoo lately unveiled sunrise-view safari lodges for visitors wanting a more long-term experience.

The city’s stunning meandering lanes also boast a thriving café culture, with numerous independent establishments on offer. Venues such as Bean & Cole and Jaunty Goat serve as popular destinations for speciality coffee, whilst The Hollies Farm Shop stocks delicious regional fare.

For those considering a summer trip, Chester’s prize-winning racecourse hosts meetings between May and October, providing an excellent choice for some spirited entertainment.

Chester also serves as the backdrop for renowned soap Hollyoaks, with unforgettable moments like the heartbreaking death of Lily McQueen captured at Chester railway station. Devotees of the programme can enjoy guided walking tours for photography opportunities.

The city originated in AD 79 as a Roman fortress, and prospered through commerce along the River Dee. Today, visitors can enjoy a more leisurely evening on a sightseeing cruise of Chester by boat, or participate in a themed evening voyage down the Dee.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Feb. 23 (UPI) — A federal judge in Florida on Monday blocked the public release of former special counsel Jack Smith’s report on his investigation into classified documents held at President Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago estate.

In the order, U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon of the Southern District of Florida said Smith’s report should not be made public after she previously ruled that he was illegally appointed to spearhead the case.

In July 2024, she said Smith’s appointment as special counsel by President Joe Biden violated the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. She took issue with what she described as the “broad power” given to Smith, the “indefinite” appropriate given to the task and his lack of supervision.

Biden appointed Smith to investigate whether Trump — then the former president — mishandled classified documents by storing them at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Smith’s probe resulted in 41 criminal counts against Trump, but Cannon dismissed the case in 2024.

In her order Monday, she accused Smith of accelerating efforts to prepare the report after her ruling so it could be completed before he left his position in January 2025 upon Trump’s inauguration to a second term. She said Smith used “discover materials generated in this case,” and there was a 2023 protective order preventing the public release of such materials unless approved by a court.

Cannon said she’s also blocking the release of the report because doing so “would cause irreparable damage to former defendants” involved in the case. Also named in the indictment against Trump were his aide, Walton Nauta, and Carlos De Oliveira, a maintenance worker accused of helping Nauta move 30 boxes of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago into a storage room under Trump’s direction.

Smith defended his investigation into the handling of classified documents — and another into Trump’s alleged attempts to interfere with the 2020 election — to Congress in December. He said if given the same evidence, he would charge Trump with crimes again.

“Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power,” Smith said.

“Our investigation also developed powerful evidence that showed President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021, storing them at his social club, including in a bathroom and a ballroom where events and gatherings took place.”

A charming fishing village on the coast of one of the UK’s most beautiful regions is the epitome of rural tranquillity – and it’s a true hidden gem

Whilst Cornwall’s reputation for harbouring breathtaking villages is well established, with each seemingly more enchanting than the next, one particular hidden treasure manages to shine even amongst the county’s most impressive offerings. This delightful fishing village, nestled within the Lizard Peninsula between The Lizard and Coverack, is a picture-perfect hamlet cradled by a stunning shingle cove, with roots stretching back to medieval times when it consisted of little more than a handful of fish cellars.

Celebrated for its charming and historic character, the village appears “lost in time” – a quintessential fishing settlement where little has altered through the decades. It features picturesque clusters of thatched cottages and a modest yet impressive fleet of colourful and vibrant fishing boats that are hauled up onto its shingle beach and remain in active use.

Save on the best holiday cottages in Cornwall

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

From £36 per night

Sykes Cottages

See the deals

Famous for its rugged coastline, golden beaches, picture-perfect villages and rich maritime heritage, Cornwall is one of the most-visited corner of the UK. Sykes Cottages has a large number of holiday homes to choose from, with prices from £36 per night.

History of this coastal treasure

The village’s name derives from the Cornish term for “a thicket” and literally means “battle of trees”, most probably owing to the densely wooded valley in which it sits.

Originally known as Porthcaswydh, which later evolved into Por Cadjwydh, this gorgeous fishing hamlet is now called Cadgwith, reports the Express.

Developing from its modest fish cellar beginnings, the 16th century witnessed Cadgwith welcoming permanent residents, whilst fishing continued to be the primary occupation for those who lived there.

Homes, cellars, lofts, and capstan houses were gradually constructed using local stone and cob walls, whilst the distinctive thatched rooftops were erected along the shoreline and hillsides of the valley, lending Cadgwith its unmistakable “Cornish fishing village” charm.

Breathtaking scenery and terrain

Nestled within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), rebranded in 2023 as National Landscapes, Cadgwith boasts two beaches divided by a headland known as The Todden, which visitors are free to explore on foot.

The shingle beach, the larger of the pair, sits to the north-east and is widely recognised as Cadgwith Cove – a bustling hub where local fishermen are known to ply their trade.

The second beach, a blend of sizeable boulders and sand, lies to the south-west and goes by the name of Little Cove or Little Beach – an unspoilt retreat beloved by residents and holidaymakers alike for swimming, snorkelling, rock pooling, and diving.

Such is the breathtaking beauty of Cadgwith’s coastal scenery that it served as a backdrop for the 2003 film Ladies in Lavender, starring Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith. More recently, it was revealed that HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series will be shooting scenes at Cadgwith Beach and its beloved local watering hole, Cadgwith Cove Inn, in October 2025.

What to see and do in this coastal gem

No trip to this stunning Cornish hamlet would be complete without a visit to the much-loved Cadgwith Cove Inn. This charming 300 year old watering hole exudes a wonderfully warm and welcoming ambience, regularly hosting folk music evenings featuring the renowned Cadgwith Singers, making it the ideal spot for weary travellers seeking a wholesome Cornish meal and a refreshing pint.

Dishing up the freshest seafood – hardly surprising given its coastal location – this cherished establishment has garnered glowing praise on Tripadvisor. One delighted regular commented: “Cadgwith has a special magic about it, and its heart is the Cadgwith Cove Inn. I guess you’d call us regulars – we try to get here a couple of times every year, and have done for the last six years or so. If only it could be more often! Cadgwith has a special ability to make the troubles of life melt away when you drive down the hill into the village, and the Inn is truly special at the heart of that magic.

“Fridays see the Cadgwith Singers do their things with their sea shanties, and it is truly the best start to a week down here. But any day of the week this place has a special blend of people and place which is truly unique. The beer is great, and the food is better. What more could you ask for?”

Another essential stop in Cadgwith is The Old Cellars Restaurant, hailed as “a true Cornish treasure” positioned directly on the village’s fishing beach. This family-run café also offers alcoholic beverages and has earned its reputation for outstanding seafood offerings, particularly prawn sandwiches, locally sourced crab, fresh lobster, and hot paninis.

Boasting a delightful cobbled courtyard with breathtaking sea vistas, The Old Cellars Restaurant has become a local favourite. One reviewer says of the joint: “What an absolutely beautiful little gem in a stunning village, we had a traditional cream tea and it was delicious, lovely courtyard seating and friendly and welcoming staff, well worth a visit.”

During the summer season, Cadgwith draws plenty of visitors, with its swimming beach providing the perfect location for a cooling plunge whilst the fishing beach offers an excellent vantage point to observe fishermen in action as they land their daily haul. It’s important to note that whilst dogs are welcome throughout most of the year, four-legged friends are prohibited from Little Cove between July 1 and August 31 from 10am to 6pm.

The South West Coast Path winds through Cadgwith, and just a short distance north of the hamlet lies The Devil’s Frying Pan – a massive 100-metre deep crater in the cliffs created when a sea cave’s roof caved in, leaving behind the breathtaking rocky arch jutting into the ocean. Whilst this dramatic coastal spectacle alone justifies a journey to Cadgwith, the village is fortunately packed with numerous other attractions.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

On Sunday, Mexican security forces killed 59-year-old Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho”, the leader of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), based in western Mexico’s Jalisco state.

The Mexican defence ministry acknowledged that the lethal operation had been conducted with “complementary information” from the United States, whose “peacemaker” president, Donald Trump, has repeatedly threatened to attack Mexico to combat the drug cartels.

Mind you, these are organisations that owe their very existence to US policy and drug consumption in the first place.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau greeted the news of El Mencho’s death with glee, taking to X to proclaim: “This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world.”

And yet things aren’t looking quite so “great” thus far.

As anyone who has ever paid remote attention to global affairs might have predicted, violence has broken out across several Mexican states in the aftermath of the killing – which is generally what happens when you take out a cartel kingpin.

Gunmen have torched vehicles and blocked highways in various locales while various US media have reported sensationally on the plight of American tourists “stranded” in Mexican resort cities on account of the upheaval.

Shortly after his initial enthusiastic post, Landau returned to X with a “PS, I’m watching the scenes of violence from Mexico with great sadness and concern.” But no matter: “We must never lose our nerve.”

The deputy secretary of state ended his “PS” with some words of encouragement in Spanish for the Mexican nation: “¡Animo Mexico!” (Cheer up, Mexico!)

But again, there is hardly room for cheer given that there is not a single example in pretty much the entire history of the world in which the killing of one cartel boss has resolved the narcotrafficking problem – or anything else, for that matter.

Recall the case of Pablo Escobar of the Medellin Cartel, killed in 1993 by Colombian police with a whole lot of help from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Despite Escobar’s absence, the international drug trade proceeded apace, and ensuing decades played host to spectacular levels of violence in Colombia – much of it coincidentally perpetrated by heavily US-backed state security forces.

In one particularly memorable episode, members of the Colombian army slaughtered an estimated 10,000 civilians and passed the cadavers off as left-wing “terrorists”.

To this day, Colombia remains the world’s top producer of cocaine.

In other words, to hail El Mencho’s demise as a “great development” for Mexico or anyone else is at best preposterously delusional.

On Sunday I phoned a Mexican friend in the southern state of Oaxaca, a supporter of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, for our requisite argument over the day’s events. In his view, Mexico’s government had simply been “doing its job” in the “war on drugs” by eliminating El Mencho, and the US had nothing substantial to do with it.

Indeed, much like her predecessor and mentor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum has perfected the art of doing the gringos’ dirty work while purporting to act in a “sovereign” fashion – and even to defy the imperial overlords to the north.

Granted, she does not have a whole lot of room to manoeuvre given the recent kidnapping by the US of Venezuelan head of state Nicolas Maduro – and the fact that Trump has made it known that he is beholden to no law, whether domestic or international.

But while Sheinbaum may have seen no choice but to temporarily placate the Americans and satisfy Trump’s need for blood, Mexicans will pay a heavy price.

A brief review of contemporary Mexican history confirms as much. No sooner did then-Mexican President Felipe Calderon launch his “drug war” under US guidance in 2006 than homicides and enforced disappearances skyrocketed in the country.

Well over half a million people have since been killed and disappeared, many of them victims of militarised agents of the state who often operate in cahoots with organised crime.

Nary a dent has been put in the northward flow of drugs while the southward flow of US-manufactured weapons continues unabated.

The state of Jalisco itself happens to have the highest number of enforced disappearances in all of Mexico and made headlines last year with the discovery of a clandestine crematorium on a ranch outside Guadalajara, one of the host cities of the upcoming World Cup.

The ranch was reportedly used by the CJNG as a recruitment and training centre as well as an extermination site.

And the removal of El Mencho from the equation will do precisely nothing in terms of pacifying the landscape – just as the respective extraditions to the US of Sinaloa cartel leaders Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada merely set off an ongoing violent battle for power.

Contrary to lofty soundbites from US officials, the empire is not at all interested in getting rid of either drug trafficking or violence south of the border as both phenomena provide a perennial excuse for US interference in Mexico and beyond.

Were the gringos actually serious about ridding “Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world” of the whole cartel problem, a decriminalisation of drugs would do much to nip the business in the bud by rendering the movement of drugs far less fantastically lucrative.

A moratorium on the US’s obsessive manufacture of weapons would also help.

Obviously, nothing so much as resembling those potential solutions is even on the horizon. If it were, that would be one hell of a “great development” indeed.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

Nicholas Cochrane played Andy McDonald in Coronation Street from 1989, but where is the actor now as the ITV soap kills off his on-screen dad Jim McDonald?

Coronation Street is poised to kill off Jim McDonald this week – but what became of the actor who portrayed his son Andy?

Andy (Nicholas Cochrane) first appeared on the ITV soap back in 1989, arriving in Weatherfield alongside mum Liz (Beverley Callard), dad Jim (Charlie Lawson) and brother Steve (Simon Gregson).

The McDonald family wasted little time in stirring up trouble on the cobbles. Andy himself became embroiled in numerous major storylines throughout his tenure.

His romantic endeavours proved catastrophic, with failed relationships involving several Coronation Street characters including Amy Nelson (Louise Duprey) and Paula Maxwell (Judy Brook). He also held a position at the Rovers and found himself caught up in Gerry Turner’s (Keith Woodason) armed siege.

Nevertheless, actor Nicholas was compelled to depart the soap alongside other prominent characters when a new producer took the helm in 1997. Andy’s exit storyline saw him relocating to Spain to take up a teaching position, reports the Daily Star.

The performer has made several return visits over the years, with guest appearances as Andy in 2000 and 2004. His most recent appearance came in 2009, when Andy came back for Steve’s wedding to Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly).

Regarding Andy’s father Jim, his last appearance was in 2018. In Monday’s episode (February 23), however, Steve learns his estranged father has been hospitalised.

Later in the week, he receives the devastating news that Jim has passed away. Following his departure from Coronation Street, Nicholas maintained a presence on television.

He featured in the ITV police drama Heartbeat, portraying golfer Barry Scripps, and in 2019 appeared in Doctors as Dean Telford, a father indebted to a local businessman.

Nicholas also ventured into theatre, joining the nationwide tour of Spring and Port Wine with The Middle Ground Theatre Company. He subsequently moved into TV presenting, appearing on Granada TV and MUTV, where he interviewed A-list footballers including Roy Keane and David Beckham.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

Beyond television, Nicholas has presented radio programmes for Talksport and BBC5 Live. Outside of his professional life, Nicholas resides in Manchester with his wife Denise and their two children. In his leisure time, he now enjoys watching and participating in various sports.

Meanwhile, in 2020, Nicholas discussed the possibility of returning to Coronation Street. He told the Distinct Nostalgia podcast: “It would be good if the boys got back in touch and Andy ends up back in Weatherfield.

“It would be good if Steve needed an organ [transplant] or there were some reason why one of us stays and one goes. That would be best for me … it would be a good storyline.”

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source.** Click here to activate**** or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.**

Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX

This beautiful city is considered one of Europe’s sunniest destinations, with direct flights from the UK starting from as little as £20

Britain’s dreary weather has us fantasising about a sunshine-filled break, and there’s one European destination that ranks amongst the warmest spots to visit in March, boasting pleasant 21C temperatures.

At this point in the calendar, it’s tempting to believe we must splash out on a lengthy long-haul journey to some far-flung tropical paradise to soak up scorching heat. However, several mild European locations deliver welcoming sunshine during Britain’s chillier months, including the stunning Spanish city of Seville.

Under three hours from Britain, Andalusia’s capital features delightful narrow lanes adorned with orange trees, magnificent Moorish-influenced architecture and celebrated landmarks that prove just as breathtaking in reality as in photographs. Seville holds the distinction of being amongst Europe’s sunniest cities, blessed with sunshine throughout the year.

READ MORE: Best food cities in the world – just an hour apart by train

There’s no shortage of activities and attractions during a Seville getaway, though its architecture remains a particular highlight. Among its most renowned is the Alcázar of Seville, the city’s Royal Palace, showcasing Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque influences, which famously appeared in Game of Thrones.

OPINION

Amy Jones

READ MORE: Huge new Frozen land opens at Disneyland Paris next month – 5 things you need to know

Another must-see is the Catedral de Sevilla, amongst the world’s largest cathedrals, boasting a royal chapel and the Giralda tower, which provides sweeping vistas across the vibrant city. The Setas de Sevilla, nicknamed the ‘Mushrooms of Seville’, is another eye-catching monument – a massive timber structure featuring a rooftop walkway that’s become a popular spot for visitors hoping to catch Seville’s stunning sunset.

The sun-drenched city also offers Santa Cruz, the historic Jewish quarter characterised by blossom-lined streets and golden buildings, alongside Seville’s celebrated Parque de María Luisa, which runs alongside the peaceful Guadalquivir River. One of the city’s most iconic spots is the renowned Plaza de España, situated within Maria Luisa park, which features a moat crossed by four bridges representing Spain’s ancient kingdoms, plus 52 tiled benches depicting different Spanish provinces.

A visitor who explored Plaza de España last month wrote on TripAdvisor: “This is a beautiful place, the buildings are immense, the history amazing, and the atmosphere is superb. I visited twice on our recent trip once early morning and I was the only person and once on a sunny afternoon with my wife. The difference in feelings was great, but both were unforgettable experiences. A must when visiting Seville.”

READ MORE: Medieval castle, golden sand beach and artisan high street make up one quaint village

Wandering through this stunning city is effortless, with its iconic architecture and rich heritage seamlessly woven into its lively, acclaimed culture. Visitors can also enjoy authentic Flamenco performances and experience the buzzing nightlife, whilst welcoming eateries serve up Spain’s finest culinary offerings through their famous tapas, and bars pour their distinctive orange wine.

Whilst summer temperatures can be blistering, particularly when sightseeing, a trip during the opening months of the year brings pleasant 21C warmth, making it a perfect winter getaway. What’s more, direct flights from London airports kick off at just £20 – what’s not to love?

Ensure our latest stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

The cheapest European destination has been revealed for the Easter holidays, with golden sand beaches, sun-soaked rays and a charming town, for a fraction of the price

A beautiful town with golden-sand beaches and clear turquoise waters offers the best bang for your buck with £2 pints and a balmy 25C during the Easter holidays.

The resort town of Marmaris, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, has been named the cheapest destination for a European escape during the Easter holidays. With sprawling beaches, scenic marinas and mountainous landscapes, it’s just over four hours from the UK, and is half the price of a trip to Paris during the same time.

When it comes to an affordable European getaway, thoughts can often turn to Paris, due to its convenient location, less than three hours from the UK by Eurostar or a swift flight that takes just over 90 minutes. While it’s a quick journey, the cost of a stay in the ‘City of Light’ can quickly rack up.

READ MORE: Best food cities in the world – just an hour apart by trainREAD MORE: Medieval castle, golden sand beach and artisan high street make up one quaint village

In fact, Which? revealed that Paris is the most expensive short-haul city break destination you could choose over Easter, setting you back on average, £1,310 per person. Meanwhile, after comparing more than 3,000 package holidays during the busy travel period, the travel experts found that Marmaris offered the cheapest Easter holiday this year.

According to Which?, a stay at the sun-soaked city would cost an average of £594 per person for a seven-night package – half the cost of a trip to Paris! What’s more, Marmaris can reach highs of 25C in April, compared to 16C in Paris.

Often dubbed the ‘King of the coast’, Marmaris is a haven for those seeking an escape in the blistering heat and days spent at their sprawling sand beaches, which are undoubtedly a big draw to Brits. One of the most popular is Marmaris Long Beach (Uzunyali), stretching 4km near the city centre and lined with restaurants and bars, with a selection of water sports on offer.

There’s also Icmeler Beach with calm, azure waters and a relaxed atmosphere, and Turunç Beach with pebbly shores and crystal-clear waters, just a short drive from the city centre. For those feeling a little more adventurous, they can take a short boat ride to the stunning Sedir Island, also known as Cleopatra Island, for a slice of paradise, with its soft white sand and ancient ruins.

The Marmaris coast is dotted with luxurious resorts catering to all holidaymakers, including those looking for a stress-free family getaway with a range of activities and swimming pools to keep the little ones entertained. There’s also plenty to do away from the shores, including snorkelling boat trips, jeep safaris and a visit to the Atlantis Waterpark, which kids will love!

The charming town of Marmaris is also worth exploring, with its lively Grand Bazaar, 16th-century castle, and dancing fountain. There are plenty of bars, cafés and restaurants in the area, including its famed Bar Street, along with shops to pick up a souvenir or two!

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Ensure our latest lifestyle and travel stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Mexico’s co-hosting of this summer’s Fifa World Cup could be compromised by the eruption in drug cartel violence which began yesterday, experts have told BBC Sport.

The Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) drug cartel – one of the country’s most powerful and feared criminal organisations – has engaged in gun shootouts with the Mexican military, blocked roads and burned vehicles in response to the killing of its leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho”, in an army operation.

Violence began in the central-western Jalisco state – where a code red security situation has been declared – and has now spread to at least a dozen more regions, with videos posted online showing gunmen patrolling streets and smoke billowing over cities.

Guadalajara, capital city of Jalisco and home to more than a million people, is scheduled to host four matches at this summer’s tournament. Another five are scheduled in Mexico City, and four in Monterrey.

“When you push down on the cartels you do get pushback – the danger is that it can be very difficult to manage a security situation that spirals out of control,” says Javier Eskauriatza, assistant professor of criminal law at the University of Nottingham.

The power vacuum created by El Mencho’s killing could lead to be a period of instability and further conflict as contenders vie to replace him.

“In general the cartels have an economic interest in making sure the World Cup is peaceful,” Dr Eskauriatza adds.

“Yes they pay off politicians and local police forces, but they also buy restaurants and own hotels. They are part of the economic system.

“It is useful for them if Brits, Americans, and others go to Mexico, spend their money and have a good time.”

BBC Sport has contacted Fifa for comment.

Feb. 23 (UPI) — A meeting on trade negotiations between the United States and India this week has been postponed in light of Friday’s Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump‘s tariffs.

Officials representing the United States and India were scheduled to meet for three days in Washington, D.C., to discuss their interim trade deal but the meeting has been delayed, CNBC, the BBC and Hindustan Times reported.

India’s top trade negotiator, Darpan Jain, was slated to travel to the United States for the meeting.

India is under a 25% reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States. It was expected to be reduced to 18% as part of an interim agreement between the countries earlier this month. The sides have continued to discuss future trade plans virtually since reaching the interim deal.

The United States and India were slated to finalize the interim agreement in March with it likely to go into effect in April. The framework for the agreement noted that any changes to the deal would allow the other country to “modify its commitments.”

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump improperly applied the Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose a swath of tariffs. With those tariffs ruled unlawful, Trump announced a 15% global tariff, citing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows a president to impose temporary tariffs.

The act allows for the president to impose tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days.

The Trump administration continues to consider new plans to continue with its tariff policy, exploring other legal routes, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post.

“We will immediately shift to other proven authorities — Actions 232, 301, and 122 — to keep our tariff strategy strong,” Bessent wrote.

AUDLEY End is home to family-favourite miniature railway that has been running for 60 years.

It’s now announced a new electric steam locomotive – which is the first-of-its kind in the country.

The team behind Audley End Enchanted Railway in Essex has announced that a “brand-new fully electric steam-outline locomotive” will be joining its fleet.

The electric steam locomotive will be the first-of-its-kind in the UK and visitors can hop onboard from March 17, 2026.

The new train, nicknamed part of the “Steamless Revolution” will combine timeless railway romance with cutting-edge green technology.

The miniature train will be fully electric, but designed to look and sound like a traditional scale steam engine.

SUSSED OUT

Sun readers’ fave family spots in Sussex – top-rated beaches to pirate festivals

STAR POWER

Short-haul country with the cheapest 5-star holidays money can buy

Other locomotives at Audley End include Electra which was introduced on the 60-year anniversary.

Henrietta Jane is its long-standing diesel train and Robin, which is a diesel engine.

The attraction that has been open for more than six decades takes visitors along a mile and a half journey through Fulfen Forest on the Audley End estate.

Visitors can head along to Woodland Adventure Days from March 17, when the miniature railway reopens for the season, until October 4, 2026.

Families can hop onboard the train, but also explore themed play areas, hunt for hidden forest treasures, go on a fairy or elf walk, and join in eco-crafts.

Adults can take a pit-stop at the Woodland Café for a hot drink, and pick up a bite to eat there too.

The menu changes seasonally but visitors can pick up sandwiches, jacket potatoes, pizza, pies, salads and ice cream which can be enjoyed at one of the picnic tables on the grounds.

Throughout the year are seasonal events like Mother’s Day Weekend, Easter Special, and the Summer Festival with live music and dancing.

Later in the year is the Halloween Spooky Special and Christmas events.

Prices vary from free to £20.50 depending on dates, times and events.

Audley End itself is a 17th-century Jacobean country mansion in Saffron Walden, managed by English Heritage

It’s managed by English Heritage and visitors can go back in time to see how a great house worked in the past.

In the 1830s nursery, kids can try on costumes and play with replica toys.

Upstairs in the Coal Gallery, see how servants kept the house stocked with coal and hot water.

The Service Wing offers a unique insight into life ‘below stairs’ during the 1880s.

Audley End is on the outskirts of Saffron Walden, which in 2025 was declared the UK’s ‘best place to live’.

The Times has declared Saffron Walden as their winner based on schools, transport, broadband speed, mobile signal to culture, green spaces and high street health.

It’s even been dubbed a Cotswolds-alternative with a pretty high street and historic market square.

Saffron Walden dates back to the 1130s and while it is 15 miles from the nearest city of Cambridge, it still has plenty to offer.

In the town centre is a market that has been running since 1141 and is still going strong today.

One Sun Writer spent a night on the Audley End grounds…

Senior Consumer Reporter, Adele Cooke, headed to Audley End for a stay in the Victorian Gardener’s House…

“Before I boarded the train for my weekend break, Essex conjured up images of Gemma Collins rather than a refined getaway.

“So it was a pleasant surprise to arrive at our cottage set in the splendour of Audley End House and Gardens, just outside Saffron Walden.

“If you are looking for a place to get away from it all, it’s perfect. Arriving after dark, we explored the handsome red brick property – formerly the Victorian Gardener’s House – and it seemed to be gloriously isolated.

“So, flinging open the curtains the next morning, I was slightly surprised to see an elderly couple taking a stroll outside the window.

“Turns out the cottage is not just on the estate – but in the middle of it.

“While Audley End House is a splendid Jacobean mansion, cared for by English Heritage, a £1.25million refurbishment has transformed the former Gardener’s House.

“If you have kids, you can watch them enjoy the adventure playground through the window.

“Refreshed after a night’s sleep, we explored the estate. The 17th-century manor has been visited by everyone from Elizabeth I to screen royalty Olivia Colman, who filmed scenes from the Netflix hit The Crown at the house.”

For more on Essex, here’s the other side to the county with beautiful sandy beaches and biggest pleasure pier in the UK.

And here’s Britain’s smallest town named one of the coolest spots in the country with cosy pubs and coastal walks.

Who: Pakistan vs England
What: 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eight
When: Tuesday, February 24, at 7pm (13:30 GMT)
Where: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, Sri Lanka
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 10:30 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream.

Click here to follow our live coverage.

The second Super Eight ties of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starts on Tuesday with an intriguing contest between former champions who both consider themselves legit title contenders: Pakistan and England.

Pakistan, despite being humiliated by India in the group phase, possess a stacked roster who, on their day, can compete with any cricket team in the world.

England, listed as the pre-tournament joint-second favorite to raise the T20 world crown, are slowly building momentum in the competition, as exhibited by their dismantling of host nation Sri Lanka in their Super Eight opener on Sunday.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the matchup, which may turn out to be a pivotal outcome affecting both nations’ semifinal qualification hopes.

What’s at stake in the Pakistan-England Super Eight tie?

Pakistan desperately need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out on Saturday.

A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka out for just 95 runs, through to the semifinals with a game to spare.

Pakistan would then need to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight match and hope other results go their way to reach the last four.

History will be against Pakistan as they have never beaten England in three previous Twenty20 (T20) World Cup clashes.

“We are confident and our morale is high,” said Pakistan batsman Sahibzada Farhan, who scored an unbeaten 100 against Namibia in Pakistan’s final group match.

“We are focused on this match to win and progress.”

Weather watch for Pakistan in Pallekele

Persistent rain in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo forced the abandonment of Pakistan’s opening Super Eight game with New Zealand without a single ball being bowled, forcing the sides to split the points at R Premadasa Stadium.

Pakistan will be hoping that the weather does not play a factor in their crucial second tie as another split result would all but end their semifinal aspirations.

Thankfully, the forecast looks good for Tuesday’s match against England at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy, with 33 degrees Celsius (91F) predicted with only a 25 percent possibility of rain. In short, there should be a result and a full match is a strong possibility.

England rounding into form

England kicked off their Super Eight campaign with a 51-run victory over Sri Lanka, a statistically dominant result that vaulted them to the top of the Group 2 standings on net run rate.

The two-time champions have now won their last three matches at the tournament.

Will Jacks has been the breakout star with the bat at the tournament, averaging 65 on a scintillating 195 strike rate.

Pakistan to put England in a spin

Pakistan on Monday warned England’s inconsistent batting lineup to expect a trial by spin when the teams clash.

Farhan told reporters that England struggled to 146-9 against Sri Lanka’s spinners on Sunday.

The in-form opener said that England can expect more of the same from Pakistan’s spinners when they meet on the same Pallekele ground on Tuesday night.

“What we saw in the Sri Lanka-England game was that the ball was gripping and England struggled against spin,” said Farhan on Monday.

“Sri Lanka have one or two spinners, but we have five in all, so we will give England a tough time on a pitch that looks good and will grip,” he added.

Pakistan’s spinners have taken 26 wickets in the four matches so far. Their seamers have dismissed only seven batsmen.

‘Will not be difficult’: Farhan on Archer express

Farhan, who tops the T20 World Cup run-scoring chart with 220, said he was ready for the threat of England’s express pace bowler Jofra Archer.

“Facing Archer will not be difficult because I have faced similar bowlers in Pakistan,” said Farhan.

“So if he has plans against me, I also have plans against him.”

Pakistan team news

Pakistan are likely to bring in spinner Abrar Ahmed in place of seaming all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s omission from the final group stage match against Namibia and the Super Eight opener against New Zealand was a huge shock.

The bowling superstar was expensive in the group phase, with his side pivoting to a spin-dominant strategy.

With Pakistan desperately needing a win against England, the left-arm quick is expected to return to the starting XI.

England team news

England may name an unchanged side for the fifth match in succession with Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Jacob Bethell providing their spin options.

Form Guide:

Pakistan

W-W-L-W-NR (most recent result last)

England

W-L-W-W-W (most recent result last)

What is England’s T20 World Cup record?

England has won the T20 World Cup title twice, in 2010 (defeated Australia) and in 2022 (defeated Pakistan).

They jointly hold the record for the most T20 World Cup titles alongside India (2007, 2024) and the West Indies (2012, 2016).

What is Pakistan’s T20 World Cup record?

Pakistan are three-time finalists, but have only lifted the trophy once.

The first appearance in the final came in the inaugural competition in 2007, when India claimed a five-run win.

The second edition, in 2009, saw Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the final, but a 13-year wait ensued for the next appearance in the showpiece finale – only for England to sweep to a five-wicket victory.

What happened the last time England played Pakistan in a T20 match?

England and Pakistan have not played each other in a Twenty20 fixture since before the last T20 World Cup in 2024.

The sides competed in a four-game series in England with the home side winning 2-0, capping off their triumph in the last fixture with a seven-wicket victory at The Oval on May 30, 2024.

Head-to-head

This will be the 32nd meeting between the countries in cricket’s shortest format.

England has won more than two-thirds of matches with 21 victories, while Pakistan has nine wins. There has been one “no result”.

Possible Pakistan playing XI

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

Possible England playing XI

Jos Buttler (wk), Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

JAMIE Foxx has claimed an audience member with Tourettes who shouted a slur at the Baftas “meant it” despite a charity saying it was “not intentional”.

John Davidson, who suffers from Tourette syndrome, let out involuntary shouts including a racial slur due to his condition during the ceremony.

The incident happened at the 79th annual British Academy Film Awards, which took place at the Royal Festival Hall last night.

The slur was shouted as actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented the award for special visual effects.

The actors, both stars of vampire horror Sinners, appeared to pause momentarily after the insult was heard but then continued presenting.

But Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx has now blasted John Davidson for his “unacceptable” outburst at the BAFTAs.

on gard

David Beckham’s best friend Dave Gardner takes swipe at Brooklyn

SLUR SAGA

BBC PULLS Baftas from iPlayer after audience member with Tourettes shouted slur

A fuming Foxx said on social media: “Out of all the words you could’ve said Tourette’s makes you say that. Nah he meant that s**t. Unacceptable.” 

The outburst, which was one of many unintentional interruptions, was explained as coming from John, who has Tourette syndrome.

John’s life story inspired the film I Swear which shares John’s journey from his diagnosis before much was known about the condition.

However, campaigners staunchly defended John after his outburst after criticism from Foxx.

Tourettes Action charity said: “We also want to address the negative comments that have surfaced following John’s involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony.

“We deeply understand that these words can cause hurt but, at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome, tics are involuntary.

“They are not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions or character.

“People with Tourettes can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse and feel great distress about afterwards.

“These symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and they are something John – like many others with Tourettes – lives with every single day.”

The title is a nod to his uncontrollable swearing associated with the syndrome.

Earlier, the BBC apologised for the slur after some viewers were left shocked.

And the episode has now been pulled off BBC iPlayer after initial outrage.

The Beeb has confirmed the slur will be edited out of the version uploaded.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards.

“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.

“We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”

During the broadcast, the awards ceremony’s presenter Alan Cumming also issued an apology for the language viewers may hear.

He said: “You may have heard some strong and offensive language tonight. If you have seen the film I Swear, you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome.

“Tourettes is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language.

“We apologise if you were offended.”

But the BBC sparked major backlash after the broadcaster edited out “Free Palestine” during one speech but declined to remove the racial slur at first.

The broadcaster removed the Palestine reference after an acceptance speech made by filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr paid tribute to those who are trying to “obtain a better life for their children”.

Davies Jr. closed his speech by saying: “To the economic migrant. The conflict migrant. Those under occupation, dictatorship, persecution, and those experiencing genocide. You matter.

“Your stories matter more than ever. Your dreams are an act of resistance to those watching at home.  

“Archive your loved ones. Archive your stories yesterday, today, and forever. For Nigeria, for London, the Congo, Sudan, free Palestine.”

RACKING up hundreds of countries and even more air miles, it’s safe to say the Sun’s Travel Team have seen the world.

But even as experts, that doesn’t mean we haven’t made mistakes along the way.

Here are some the most expensive errors that have caught out these seasoned travellers, and how you can avoid falling victim to them as well.

Switched passport chaos

You’d think a travel journalist of 28 years experience would be able to get to the airport with the correct passport.

But no, not once but TWICE have I left home with my husband’s passport instead of my own.

And the decision is even more baffling as he still has a pre-Brexit burgundy passport and I have one of the new-style post-Brexit blue ones.

Read more on travel mistakes

CASH GRAB

Expert reveals ‘rookie’ travel mistake people make with money at restaurants

POPPER PROBLEM

‘Don’t wear Skims to the airport’ warns traveller after getting body search

The first occasion, I spotted my mistake on the train to the airport just one stop from home and was able to make a quick return.

The second time, I was AT the airport before I realised my mistake.

Cue getting my husband out of bed and handing over the correct passport to a taxi driver who sped to the airport and passed it through the car window as I shoved £60 cash into his hands!

– Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

Wrong season clothes in New Zealand

My three months backpacking was one of my first big trips by myself, ready to explore Southeast Asia.

Packing just shorts and bikinis, I forgot to check the weather at my first stop – New Zealand.

Rocking up to Auckland in weather colder than the UK, I quickly realised I was going to struggle by the time we hit the ski town of Franz Josef.

My strict budget was eaten into when I had to invest in warm trousers and thick jumpers, costing a lot more than they would have in the UK and spending about NZ$120 (£53) in the end.

Safe to say I learned to check Met Office before going abroad.

– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Scam Egypt tours

On my recent visit to Hurghada, I was expecting great things from the activities I had planned, having trawled through a generally positive mass of reviews on TripAdvisor and Google.

Sadly, these experiences turned out to be far from what was promised – dangerous transfers, private tours turned into large group ones and back alley services that pushed me way out of my comfort zone.

By tour three, I’d come to expect the unexpected and was so fed up, I asked to leave early – meaning I lost out on all the money I’d splashed for a dinner in the desert.

Of course, not all Hurghada excursions are like this. This area is known for its impressive coral reefs and windsurfing – and there are some cracking experiences you can book.

The best way to know you’re getting what you paid for is by going off recommendation.

Keep an eye on the price, too. If it seems too good to be true, with maddeningly cheap prices, it probably is.

And if that fails, scrutinise the reviews with a harsh eye. If they are listed as 5* but the review is very short and vague, it’s likely a false one.

That way you can ensure you’re not spending over the odds on something that’s no where near up to scratch. Pay cheap, pay twice.

– Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Holding credit card fees in America

Sometimes you come across a bargain hotel deal that looks too good to be true – and sadly, sometimes it is.

When travelling across California in a group of three broke students, I was of course scouring the internet for the absolute cheapest hotels I could find.

I stumbled across a Sheraton hotel for our stop at LAX – a spacious room for 3 for just $60 (£44.50) each for the night was a bargain deal, plus I’d heard of the hotel chain before. All seemed well.

But in gunning for a bargain I’d missed the T&Cs of the stay, so when I was charged a $100 (£74) deposit for the night I was shocked to say the least.

$100 is an awful lot to a group of backpackers coming towards the end of their trip, and although you get your money back, I didn’t receive it back in my bank account until I was home in the UK.

Now I always make sure to scan the small print before booking a stay.

– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter

Roaming fee mistake in Switzerland

We all know about roaming charges since we left the EU – or so I thought.

My current contract allows me to use my phone for free across Europe.

Yet I completely forgot that Switzerland is not included in this, being part of the EEA instead of the EU.

My trip ended with a very expensive £50 phone bill after I arrived and forgot to turn it off.

Makes sure to always include a cap in your contract for out of service charges.

Without this, I wouldn’t have been alerted to hitting my £50 limit, and it could have run into hundreds.

– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Poor haggling in Morocco

It can be nerve-wracking to say the least heading into the markets to haggle for goods on holiday. Even if you’ve done your research and know how to bargain, it doesn’t make the reality of the moment any easier.

I knew I wanted to come home with a piece of jewellery to remember my holiday in Morocco’s Fes, so I headed into a shop glimmering with silver and gold handmade pieces.

A beautiful gold bracelet with a giant sage-coloured stone soon caught my eye, and the shopkeeper quickly noticed my interest. Before I knew it, I was having the bracelet fitted onto my wrist.

Facing the shopkeeper’s eager grin, I knew I’d gotten myself into the exact situation I’d been wanting to avoid. “1,100 MAD” I was quoted, which is about £90.

“I only have 400 MAD” I replied, and soon found myself paying 40 Great British pounds for a bracelet I was scared to search for on Temu in case I saw it pop up.

My moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to come in with an initial offer that feels almost unreasonably low – and don’t be afraid to simply leave the shop, either.

– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter

Sneaky Wizz Air boarding fees

When you fly, checking in doesn’t seem like the most urgent thing when you know you can do it at the airport.

But with Wizz Air you have a window where you must check-in online, and if you miss it – well, you have to check in at the airport for fee.

This set me back around £40 and all they did was print off my boarding pass…

To avoid, make sure to set up a reminder on your phone for when the check in window opens.

– Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

WASHINGTON  — The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide on shielding energy producers from dozens of lawsuits seeking to hold them liable for costs of global climate change.

In the past decade, dozens of cities, counties and states, including California, have joined state-based lawsuits that seek billions of dollars in damages, and they have won preliminary victories in state courts.

But the Trump administration and the energy producers urged the Supreme Court to throw out all of these suits on the grounds they conflict with federal law.

“Boulder Colorado cannot make energy policy for the entire country,” lawyers for Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil said in their appeal. They urged the court to rule that “state law cannot impose the costs of global climate change on a subset of the world’s energy producers chosen by a single municipality.”

The justices will hear the case of Suncor Energy vs. Boulder County, but arguments will not be held until October.

The Biden administration had said the justices should stand aside while the lawsuits move forward in state courts, but the Trump administration filed a brief in September urging the court to intervene now.

They said the case has “vast nationwide significance,” and it should not be left to be decided state by state.

Lawyers for Boulder had urged the court against taking up the issue at an early stage of the litigation. “This is not the right time or the right case for deciding” whether municipalities can sue over the damage they have suffered.

But after weighing the issue for weeks, the court announced it will be hear the claims of the oil and gas industries.

Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has received a provisional one-match suspension after Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr reported alleged racist abuse during last week’s Champions League meeting.

Vinicius told referee Francois Letexier that he had been racially abused by the Argentina winger during the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie in Lisbon last Tuesday.

Uefa announced the provisional ban on Monday following the appointment of an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate the incident.

The European governing body said further punishment could be handed out once the investigation is completed.

Prestianni has denied racially abusing the Brazilian.

Real Madrid and Benfica meet for the second leg in the Spanish capital on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

Last week’s first leg was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius alerted on-field official Letexier to the second-half incident, before he and his team-mates temporarily left the pitch.

It came after Vinicus, 25, scored a stunning goal and then received a yellow card for his celebrations in front of the Benfica supporters.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho, who is suspended for the second leg following his sending off later in the match, was criticised for his post-match comments after saying he believed that Vinicius had celebrated disrespectfully.

Because of his ban, Mourinho will not speak to the media before the match – but Benfica have the option of making the assistant coach available instead.

UEFA announces suspension of Gianluca Prestianni after accusations he racially abused Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said on Monday it has provisionally suspended Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni for one match following accusations he racially abused Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.

The decision means that Prestianni will miss Wednesday’s second leg of the Champions League playoff between Real and Benfica at the Bernabeu. Madrid won the first match in Lisbon last Tuesday with Vinicius scoring a second-half winner for a 1-0 victory.

The game was halted for nearly 10 minutes after the Brazil forward scored and celebrated by the Benfica corner flag, upsetting local fans and players. After being confronted by Prestianni, Vinicius accused the Argentine player of calling him “monkey.”

Prestianni has denied racially insulting Vinicius.

The anti-racism protocol was activated but no further action was taken during the match as there was no evidence against Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt while talking to Vinicius. The Madrid forward was shown a yellow card after his celebration.

UEFA said the decision from its control, ethics and disciplinary Body (CEDB) is related to a discriminatory behavior.

“This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies,” it said in a statement.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said after the match he was “shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism” and praised the referee for activating the anti-racism protocol.

Benfica showed support for Prestianni, with the Portuguese club claiming that Madrid players who said they heard the insult were too far away. Benfica later released a statement saying it welcomed UEFA’s investigation and that it “fully supports and believes the version presented” by Prestianni, “whose conduct while with the club has always been guided by respect” toward everyone.

Benfica fans had reacted angrily to Vinicius celebrating his 50th-minute goal by dancing at the corner flag, throwing bottles and other objects toward the Madrid players. Prestianni then confronted Vinicius and said something while covering his mouth with his jersey.

Prestianni insisted that Vinicius misunderstood what was said, while Benfica players after the match reportedly said the Argentine provoked the Brazil forward but never racially insulted him.

Kylian Mbappe was among the Madrid players who strongly defended Vinicius and posted on X: “Dance, Vini, and please never stop. They will never tell us what we have to do or not.”

The France star also said Prestianni should never play in the Champions League again.

United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has faced condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries after suggesting Israel has a biblical right to much of the Middle East.

In an interview with prominent right-wing American commentator Tucker Carlson, Huckabee suggested that Israel has a God-given right to land stretching from the Euphrates River to the Nile, which would encompass Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and parts of Saudi Arabia.

“It would be fine if they took it all,” he said, arguing that the geographical borders of Israel are rooted in the Bible, a belief shared by Christian Zionists.

The US diplomat, a self-professed Christian Zionist and staunch supporter of Israel, later walked back his comments, calling them “somewhat hyperbolic” and adding that Israel is not seeking expansion but has a right to security within its current borders.

But were his comments indeed hyperbolic in the Christian Zionist worldview? Or is that precisely what he and his fellow proponents of the ideology believe?

How did Christian Zionism begin, and what are its tenets?

In 1878, William Blackstone, a student of the prominent American evangelist Dwight Moody and a believer in the biblical restoration of Israel, published a book titled Jesus Is Coming. The best-selling work popularised among Americans a belief held by some Christian leaders: that God had given the land of Israel to the Jewish people.

This conviction, often taken from a Protestant evangelical perspective, draws on the ancient biblical idea that, nearly four millennia ago, God promised the land to the Jews, who would rule it until the return of Jesus to Jerusalem for the rapture. According to this theology, Christians will be saved upon Christ’s return while non-Christians who do not convert will face damnation.

The most commonly quoted Bible verse relating to this covenant is Genesis 12:3, in which God tells Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed,” according to the Religion Media Centre.

According to ChristianZionism.org, a website run by professors, pastors and leaders of church-related organisations, four themes can be found in Christian Zionist thought: One, the founding of today’s nation-state of Israel in 1948 marked the final human era and signals an end of times. Two, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is a part of God’s plan with a great and final war preceding the second coming of Christ. Three, God’s covenant with Israel is eternal and unconditional. And four, failing to support Israel’s political dominance today will incur divine judgement.

Writer and historian David Swift said that although many Christians – evangelical or otherwise – supported the creation of Israel before 1948, they cannot be called Christian Zionists in the modern parlance.

“This is because Christian Zionism essentially fuses religious belief with a military, strategic and even economic programme,” Swift told Al Jazeera.

“Specifically, Christian Zionism is not just the belief that the biblical land of Israel is the ordained country of the Jewish people but that it is in America’s strategic, military and economic interest to support the expansion of Israel.”

Fathi Nimer, a policy fellow at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, described the movement as one that “translates into absolute unquestioning support for the Israeli regime”.

He described hearing a podcast about a Christian Zionist woman visiting Bethlehem who, after seeing the separation wall, Israeli soldiers and the harsh conditions in Palestinian refugee camps, remarked: “I feel bad for them, but scripture is scripture.”

“‘Scripture is scripture’ – that overrides everything,” Nimer told Al Jazeera.

“That’s why it’s such a powerful tool for brainwashing.”

How many American Christian Zionists are there?

According to author and academic Tristan Sturm, the largest population of Christian Zionists is in the US, and it numbers more than 30 million. Most are affiliated with evangelical churches in the southeast and south-central regions, often referred to as the “Bible Belt”.

The biggest organisation is Christians United for Israel, which itself boasts 10 million members, Nimer said.

“They are overwhelmingly conservative Republicans, found mostly in the Bible Belt, but also other places in the United States, and they form one of the most formidable voting blocs in the Republican Party,” he said.

Swift stated that only a few million from this group, however, are “fully signed up to the political, military and religious aspects of Christian Zionism”.

What impact do Christian Zionists have on US policy?

Nimer argued that Christian Zionists are “deeply intertwined” with American politics. “A lot of the major donors to the Republican Party and also the Democratic Party are Christian Zionists,” Nimer said.

According to the analyst, Christian Zionists are a cornerstone of Israeli lobbying groups, ranging from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to the Anti-Defamation League, “that work to spread the Israeli narrative” in American society.

Meanwhile, a lot of members of the US Congress are “openly” Christian Zionist, Nimer said.

“[Politicians like] Mike Huckabee, … they reached the highest echelons of the state. And they bring these beliefs into their politics, into their policies,” the analyst said.

US foreign policy on Israel is, therefore, heavily influenced and shaped around the underlying biblical premise that the Jewish people are divinely destined to be restored to Palestine, he argued.

“When it comes to Palestine and the region in general, as you see right now with the [potential] war in Iran, they’re saying that the ballistic missile programme is now on the table,” Nimer said.

“It has nothing to do with the nuclear deal, … but the idea is that Israel must be able to maintain its superiority over every country in the region, and that’s a decree by God because if Israel prospers, then that’s another step towards the end of the world.”

Christian Zionist groups have also backed Israel’s illegal settlement project in the occupied West Bank and other measures that they see as reinforcing Israeli Jewish sovereignty.

Furthermore, for two decades, organisations such as HaYovel have been bringing in hundreds of American Christian volunteers to work in Israeli settlement agricultural projects, especially during the genocidal war on Gaza, when Jewish Israelis were called for military duty. Many also strongly endorsed US President Donald Trump’s moving of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017.

Swift, however, said Christian Zionists have played only a minor role in shaping US support for Israel and their influence is waning.

He argued that while Christian Zionism is integrated with a “broader neoconservative foreign policy agenda” also tied to the “US defence industry and broader military-industrial complex”, the group does not have much influence in American politics, and, in fact, it is declining.

Traditionally, US government support for Israel was driven by Cold War considerations and by pressure from the Jewish community within the US and lobbying groups like AIPAC. What played less of a role was support for Israel from evangelical Christians and the smaller community of Christian Zionists, Swift said.

“The US president is finally de facto abandoning the previous theoretical support for a two-state solution – although not for Christian Zionist reasons. When Trump talks of ethnically cleansing Gaza and turning it into a beach resort, he uses the language of real estate, not the Old Testament,” the historian said.

According to the analysts, very representative.

“It is pretty representative: Christian Zionists derive their understanding of the proper borders of Israel from the same place as people like [Israeli National Security Minister] Itamar Ben-Gvir and [Israeli Finance Minister] Bezalel Smotrich: the Old Testament. Therefore, they think Israel should expand to include all of the territory of ‘biblical Israel’,” Swift said, referring to the far-right Israeli cabinet members who have worked to expand and protect Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law.

Nimer said Huckabee’s statement is also not something that can be criticised within the Christian Zionist community.

“You’re not allowed to criticise that because it’s like you’re criticising prophecy and you’re criticising God and the return of Jesus,” he said.

Huckabee’s comments, therefore, come as no surprise despite infringing upon the sovereignty of US allies in the Middle East, Nimer said.

On Monday, Smotrich said Israel would eventually occupy the Gaza Strip and establish a Jewish settlement there despite a “ceasefire” that went into effect in October.

“We are giving US President Donald Trump the opportunity to do it in his own way. If he does not succeed in eliminating Hamas, the Israeli army will get international legitimacy and American support to do it,” he said in statements to Israeli radio.

How do Jewish Israelis view Christian Zionists?

Mimi Kirk, the director of the Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism and the associate director of Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, writes that “despite the matter of their supposed end-of-times demise according to this view, Jewish Israeli leaders have embraced the money and influence on US foreign policy that Christian Zionists offer,” especially as its adherents include top officials from the first Trump administration, including former Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Nimer said it’s a rather “cynical relationship”, given that the Christian Zionist worldview, which sees all non-Christians going to hell, is “anti-Semitic to the bone”.

“But they support Israel, so it’s fine,” the policy analyst said.

“They care about what they can get out of them right now as the biggest support base in the West currently.”

Israel is further banking on this support because it is quickly losing its “progressive facade” of a “liberal democracy” with “all these progressive rights”, Nimer added.

“This has completely faded over the last few decades, and especially since the genocide in Gaza, this has become completely unacceptable.”

How do Christians in Palestine view Christian Zionists?

Palestinian Christians have long voiced concern that the Christian Zionist position threatens their existence, further entrenching Israel’s occupation while marginalising their community and undermining the historic churches of the Holy Land.

Just last month, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem said activities by local individuals advancing “damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism” “mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock”.

The Christian leaders warned that these efforts could undermine the Christian presence not only in the Holy Land but across the wider Middle East.

The statement came amid growing concern among Palestinian Christians that Israel’s policies – including land confiscation, settlement expansion and pressure on church property – are accelerating the erosion of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.

Are there critiques of Christian Zionism among other Christians?

Criticism of Christian Zionists from within Christianity is abundant.

In the US, the Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism was created to critique and combat the movement through liberation theology, seeking justice for Palestinians and a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Swift pointed out that many of the world’s most Catholic countries, from Ireland to those in South America and Southern Europe, “tend to be quite pro-Palestinian”.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Christian scholars “have written very detailed theological critiques of Christian Zionism”, Nimer said, as have pastors from other parts of the Global South.

A prize awarded by the Nelson Mandela Foundation last year was explicitly aimed at initiatives working against Christian Zionism, and a conference next month in Turkiye is being organised to combat the ideology, Nimer said.

“The world is waking up to how insidious this ideology is and how it creeps into societies and makes it impossible to have any kind of solidarity with Palestinians as long as they believe it,” he said.

Vernon Kay is hosting brand new BBC gameshow Do You Know Your Place? teaming up with The Traitors star Paul Gorton

The BBC has introduced a new quiz show Do You Know Your Place?, which launches on Monday 23 February.

However, according to The Traitors star Paul Gorton, who is co-presenting the show with main host Vernon Kay, he was originally down to be a guest until the host they had booked to present his segment had to pull out.

The new series sees Paul lead an ‘unreliable’ UK tour of a different destination each day with three celebrity players battling it out to sort unbelievable facts from fiction.

From locations in Belfast to Wrexham, celebrity guests include EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra, the Reverend Kate Bottley, Gladiator ‘Apollo’ Alex Gray, Anneka Rice, Susan Calman, Owain Wyn Evans and Max Fosh.

Alongside Paul’s tours, Vernon will task the celebrities with a number of in-studio games, each taking inspiration from the day’s destination.

Whoever gets the most points across the show wins the episode and a souvenir that Paul has sent back from his travels with points accrued across five days with the overall winner at the end of the week receiving an ‘I Know My Place’ sweatshirt.

Talking about the new series, The Traitors star Paul said of how he got the role, telling us in an exclusive chat: “I think it was two years ago, there was an idea to do kind of like a travel show with celebs and then have all these kind of games in there and almost pack everything that you’ve watched into kind of like one show in one location, do it all there.

“I was booked to be a guest on one of these early iterations and the host pulled out, because the host was going to be out with the celebs, so Vernon [who has the main hosting gig] would be out with the celebs type of thing, and whoever they booked decided to not show and said, ‘Oh I can’t do it now’, so instead of finding someone, let’s see if Paul wants to have a go.

“We did the pilot which was me and these three celebs and it was just off you go, have fun.

“And I think they quite quickly realised that it would be nice to have this lovely kind of homely studio element to it with an absolute megastar [Vernon] and then we’ll still have Paul running around in a storm, in the rain and in the freezing cold.

“Luckily it all worked, it all clicked together. I did my bit which was all kind of the VTs, then Vernon’s done his bit in kind of like a mock studio and they stitched it together and the BBC just, it feels very weird to me because, and Vernon will know this a lot more than I do, but they were saying pretty much everything never gets commissioned.

“But the BBC guys were just like ‘Yep, we love it, we want it’ and that got us to almost present day where I’ve been running around the country finding all the weird and wonderful and magnificent parts of the UK.”

Do You Know Your Place? airs on BBC Two, weekdays at 6.30PM, starting from Monday 23 February.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

A QUAINT village on the outskirts of Oxford has become a town – nearly 40 years after first applying.

Kidlington, which is one of the largest villages in England and sits close to the Cotswolds, first attempted to change into a town in 1988, although this was voted against at the time.

According to the BBC, the recent decision behind the status update comes after the government made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and National Policing Guarantee last year.

As a result of those changes, towns can get extra protections, especially when it comes to both planning and policing.

Now as a town, Kidlington is also looking to build new houses that could see it rise from 13,600 residents to between 30,00 and 40,000.

The new town weirdly became a tourist attraction back in 2016, when floods of Chinese tourists flocked there.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

FEB-ULOUS TIME

February half term days out for UNDER £10, including free and £1 attractions

Baz Daniels, a resident for more than 20 years, said at the time: “Kidlington is apparently being marketed by Chinese tourist agencies as a beautiful English village on the way to Bicester Village shopping centre.

“Many of the visitors live in cities and love to see things like the hanging baskets and little flowers in people’s gardens.”

When it comes to visiting nowadays, the quaint village-now-town boasts a 13th century church with a 220-foot spire and a number of pubs, such as The Black Horse, The Jolly Boatman and The Turnpike.

In one pub, The Black Bull, you can grab two cocktails for a tenner or head to monthly bingo events.

One visitor said: “The Black Bull is the best pub in Kidlington by far.

“Always such a good atmosphere – if you’ve not visited yet I would highly recommend you do.”

The Oxford Canal, which was completed in 1790, also runs through the village.

From south Kidlington to the canal’s end in Oxford, it runs alongside the River Cherwell making it a scenic walk in the village.

In in the surrounding area, just a nine-minute drive away, you will find Blenheim Palace as well, which is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

The palace is surrounded by 2,000 acres of gardens to explore and inside the palace itself, visitors can explore the State Rooms and a Churchill exhibition.

Tickets cost £43.50 per person to visit Blenheim Palace.

Of course, the picturesque university city of Oxford is just down the road too, where you can explore historic buildings such as the Bodleian Library or head to the thriving Covered Market.

The Parish Council had previously tried to get town status in 1988, but residents voted for it to stay a village.

But this time round, Councillor Melanie Moorhouse asserted the decision “doesn’t mean that anyone has to start calling it a town – people can still say they’re going to the village”.

She added: “Our hope is very much that it will not change our community – it will in fact secure our very much community identity.”

Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council added: “Our proposal aims to better tailor services to meet the needs of local residents, and empowering town and parish councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire is an important part of that.”

Despite this, some locals are still not happy about the change.

One person commented on Facebook: “To me as an oldie and lived here all my life it will always be a village.”

Another added: “I will never call it a town!”

In other UK village news, here are five pretty English villages that will make you feel like you’re in The Holiday with cosy pubs and cottages.

Plus, the picturesque UK village named the world’s most beautiful – but locals are not happy.

MAJORCA is no secret to Brits – it’s a great place for a holiday with its beautiful city, sandy beaches, nightlife and tasty food.

Now, the island has been named one of the ‘hottest destinations to visit in 2026’, and it’s not hard to see why it continues to be firmly on our radar.

The Independent named Majorca one of the ‘hottest’ places to visit this year – and travel company ASmallWorld named Majorca as Spain’s newest ‘It’ island

CEO Zain Richardson said: “What makes Mallorca stand out from other Spanish islands is its sheer diversity.

“You get the bohemian charm of stone-built villages, the buzz of Palma’s restaurants and galleries, and an ever-changing coastline of quiet calas and long sandy beaches, without having to compromise on comfort or style.”

I visited the island’s capital, Palma, myself almost a decade ago now.

EGG-CELLENT CHOICE

The cheapest all-inclusive holidays this Easter break – from just £192pp

FUN FREEBIES

Huge list of 100 free family days out this spring – from concerts to festivals

But I’m not surprised that it’s still up there with the most popular holiday destinations for Brits – almost 3.5million of us jet off there each year.

Palma has the perfect blend of city and beach with a busy Old Town full of winding streets with classic high street names and plenty of designer shops.

Passeig del Born, a street that’s also called the ‘Golden Mile’, has lots of luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari and Hugo Boss.

I could only window shop, but there are still plenty of other inexpensive shops to be explored.

For sunglasses, check out Óptica Santa Maria Boutique which has some lovely, and reasonably priced frames – along with designer ones of course.

Giovanni L. Gelato Deluxe is another must – it’s Palma’s oldest ice cream parlour with around 80 flavours on offer.

You can easily spot it thanks to its bright red awning and gem embellished ice cream mural outside.

Choosing a flavour was a no-brainer as the brand has award-winning ice cream and was awarded the title for the “World’s Best Pistachio Ice Cream” twice.

I opted for a simple blend of pistachio and vanilla – and it was delicious.

The city is of course framed by its huge 14th-century cathedral on the seafront, and tourists can go inside for around €11 (£9.61).

I find though that you can still appreciate it enough by wandering around the outside.

Next door, the Gardens of S’Hort del Rei (The King’s Orchard) at the foot of Royal Palace of La Almudaina is a lovely spot where you can find some shade – and it wasn’t busy either.

As for where to stay, I set up base at the Hipotels Gran Playa de Palma which is tucked behind the promenade at Playa de Palma – around 20-minutes outside of the city centre.

The hotel has two outdoor pools, three bars, two buffet restaurants and entertainment during the evening.

As much as I enjoy a fly and flop holiday, I do love some activity outside of the hotel, and here was a great spot.

The hotel was a short walk to the beach, and the promenade filled with cafes, restaurants and plenty of places to pick up a bucket and spade.

The beach has soft golden sand and while there are sun loungers which you can hire out for a fee, there’s plenty of space if you want to simply sit on a towel too.

One of my favourite spots was Levita Café where I ended up stopping in most days for a rosé sangria which set me back €6.50 (£5).

If you’re so inclined, it’s also near one of Majorca’s biggest clubs, MegaPark.

I didn’t venture inside, but it’s known for having a huge open-air disco, a large beer garden, and a show stage.

Even though our hotel was just a five-minute walk-away, I never heard any noise from the club.

While there are party opportunities dotted around the island, it’s becoming more welcoming for those who aren’t there to seek out the party lifestyle.

It’s been reported that local authorities are tightening rules on party boats and noisy beach activities.

When it comes to money, Majorca isn’t the cheapest place, it’s not hugely expensive either.

According to Numbeo, you can pick up a local beer for £3.49 and coffee for £2.51.

If you want to see more of the island outside of Palma, then some other top-rated spots include the Tramuntana region with huge mountain ranges.

Some of the best beaches in the country include Cala Mondragó which is within the Mondragó Natural Park – but there are plenty to choose from as the island has over 200 of them.

As for when’s best to head to the island, it can vary as this week there are highs of 21C and plenty of sunshine, but there is a risk of rain.

Personally, I’d head there in springtime – May, April and June are generally dry with lots of sun without being too hot.

In peak months like July and August, temperatures can reach the mid-30s.

Flights won’t set you back too much either, in April, you can fly from Birmingham and London Stansted from £15 with Ryanair.

And you’ll be setting down in two and a half hours from the UK.

Here are top eats in Majorca from experts…

Tour guides Georgiana Paun, Michelle van der Werff, Emily Himmer, 30, and travel agent Tomas Nanak, share their top Majorca tips…

Georgiana said: “Las Olas is a family restaurant located on the beachfront in Santa Ponsa on the west of the island, with incredible views.

“You can enjoy all kinds of Mediterranean food while watching the sun go down over the bay of Santa Ponsa.

“Choose between their fish, seafood, paellas and meat dishes, as well as a variety of delicious tapas made with local market products.”

Michelle and Emily said: “One of our local favourites is Toque de Queda in central Palma, because of its fresh, healthy cuisine served in a cosy ‘living room’ atmosphere.

“The laid-back vibe and delicious local dishes make it a perfect place for an easy evening out, with Balearic charcuterie boards from 14 euros, and fish tapas from 9 euros.”

Tomas said: “Bar Esperanza in Ses Covetes has great Mediterranean food, with tapas from 4 euros, while Organic on Cala Marsal beach offers the best brunch on the island, with hearty Spanish breakfasts from 12.50 euros.

“If you’re looking for delicious tapas, head to Babbo Portocolom with views of the harbour on the southeast side of the island, with dishes from 7.50 euros, or S’Arrosería in Colonia de San Jordi has the best paella – from 18 euros.”

For more of the top places to visit this year this European city with 3,000 hours of sunshine a year has been named the best destination to visit in 2026.

And here are the bucket list 2026 holidays you should go on for every month of the year.