EASTENDERS legend Natalie Cassidy has revealed her young daughter had to be rushed to hospital after smashing her arm in a terrifying accident.
The actress, 43, said she felt like she had a “nervous breakdown” when she was told Joanie, nine, had slipped over at school — just weeks after having metal plates surgically removed from the same arm following a previous injury.
“Joanie’s broken her arm again. Same arm — smashed to pieces. General anaesthetic, same operation,” she said today.
Natalie shares Joanie with her fiancé Marc Humphreys, a cameraman she met on the set of EastEnders in 2014. She is also mum to Eliza, 15, from her previous relationship with Adam Cottrell.
The actress, who left the BBC One soap last year after playing Sonia Fowler on and off since 1993, said the accident happened just as the family were settling in for what they had hoped would be a relaxing few days at home in Hertfordshire.
“I’d done a little bit of work in the morning at home,” she explained. “[Marc] went outside, put the paddling pool up, cut all the grass — thinking we’re going to have a few days, like a mini holiday, at home.
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“And then the phone rang. She slipped over in the hall, before doing PE. I’m speechless. It’s so traumatic.”
Speaking on her podcast, Life With Nat, which she hosts with Marc, Natalie said this was not the first time Joanie had been through surgery on her left arm.
“A few years ago she broke her arm, and it was a clean break,” she said.
“She then broke it again, they put all the metal work in. And then eight weeks ago, she went under general anaesthetic, had it all out – and has done it again.”
She added: “I felt I was going to have a nervous breakdown, actually. I’m being really honest here. I really fell to pieces. I was not in a good place. Just her little body – and the medication and the trauma of it all.”
The repeated injuries have led the family to ask whether something more might be behind them.
Natalie said they believed “some sort of deficiency” was causing Joanie’s frequent fractures.
She said: “But she’s had full blood tests, and everything is in range. It’s absolutely perfect. The consultant actually said, ‘I do think it’s just really bad luck.’”
Their latest NHS hospital stay took place during last week’s record-breaking heatwave, when the Met Office issued a rare red extreme heat warning and temperatures climbed close to 40C across parts of England.
“The hospital was quite warm for the few days we were in there,” Natalie admitted. “The staff… they’re not moaning, they’re laughing, they’re joking. Just wonderful, wonderful people. We were so well looked after again. It’s like a little trip, now. It’s like being in a hotel!”
The injury also means the family now face a string of complications around their upcoming holiday. Natalie said Joanie will need a waterproof cover to swim, and that she will have to arrange medical clearance for her to fly with a cast on.
Their trips to hospital have become so frequent that staff now recognise Joanie.
Marc said: “The anaesthetist actually knew her.” Natalie added: “I went down to the theatre. I said, ‘hello, Barbara.’ I mean, who, in their right mind, knows the people in the hospital?”
Full Truck Alliance (YMM) gained over 3% during early trading on Monday as J.P. Morgan upgraded the company to Overweight from Neutral.
The brokerage firm also increased its price target to $10 from $8.80 and raised its longer-term earnings growth forecast, bringing its
A NEW floating hotel is coming to the capital – and guests say being onboard makes you feel like you are famous.
If you have ever found yourself at the Excel London, then you might have noticed there is a giant yacht parked up at the edge of the water.
This is actually the Sunborn hotel, which has been there since 2003, but will soon be replaced with a glossy new yacht.
The new yacht will be bigger than the previous as well, with 225 rooms in total over six floors, which is 100 more than in the current Sunborn.
The yacht will be 134 metres long and also boast a rooftop bar, hotel spa and two-level lobby bar.
If that wasn’t enough there will also be an à la carte restaurant and outdoor terrace with views of Canary Wharf.
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The yacht will be built offsite and then brought to Royal Victoria Dock where it will stay.
Hans Niemi, CEO of Sunborn International said: “We want to create something at the forefront of hotel design and guest experience.”
“The new London yacht hotel has been part of the company’s long-term plans and was made feasible by the current hotel’s high demand and occupancy rates.
“We also have an important environmental goal, to build a low carbon, environmentally friendly hotel, which is something which we can achieve with our new-build yacht hotels, using new innovation, sustainable materials and partnerships we’ve developed over recent years.”
In regard to the current Sunborn, you can currently stay onboard for around £151 per night.
One guest even said: “Made me feel like someone famous!”
The company is also hoping to open other floating hotels in the future, including in Vancouver, Canada and Spain.
The Canadian destination would be in Coal Harbour and boast 250 rooms, as well as a restaurant, bars and cafés and a spa.
On the other hand, the Spanish destination would be in Seville and is yet to have planning approved.
THE Sun’s Kara Godfrey stayed onboard the Sunborn in London – here’s what she thought.
I was lucky enough to spend the night on the yacht – which is docked at Royal Victoria Dock, so don’t worry if you get seasick either as you won’t even feel it moving.
This includes 138 rooms and suites, as well as a restaurant, bar, outdoor terrace and event space – a lot to fit into the 142m boat.
As I arrived, I was whisked up a tiny lift from outside, and was plonked into the middle of a huge grand lobby, with spiral staircase and very outlandish glass chandelier.
Feeling just as glam as a cruise ship, I was shown to my room down the narrow corridor, but it opened up into my suite with some of the most stunning views across the river.
But the star of the yacht is its restaurant Land’s End.
I was certainly underdressed – one guest came in a floor-length sequin dress, compared to my trousers-and-shirt combo – although there is no dress code and the staff didn’t even seem to notice.
With views of London’s Docklands to watch the sunset, the three-course dinner was some of the finest I’ve had in London.
Before I knew it, I was waking up in my cabin with a peaceful start to the morning overlooking the water, followed by a very leisurely buffet breakfast at the same restaurant.
TIJUANA, Mexico — Vivianne Petit Frere’s brightly painted Haitian restaurant sits blocks from the towering U.S. border wall in Tijuana.
Called Lakou Lakay, the name in Haitian creole means “home,” and it reflects her family’s deepening roots in their adopted homeland where her granddaughter was born two years ago, automatically making her a Mexican citizen.
Like the United States, Mexico extends citizenship to children born within its borders.
President Trump insists the U.S. is the only nation to do so as he seeks to deny birthright citizenship for children whose parents are living in the country illegally or have temporary legal status.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to weigh in soon on the constitutionality of his birthright citizenship order. Trump signed it on Jan. 20, 2025, the first day of his second term, amid his Republican administration’s broad immigration crackdown. The idea has faced skepticism from conservative and liberal justices alike.
In April, Trump posted on Truth Social: “We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship!”
In fact, about three dozen countries, mostly in the Americas, guarantee automatic citizenship to children born on their territory — among them, Canada, Honduras, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and of course, Mexico.
Petit Frere fled Haiti in 2019. She traveled from Brazil and walked through the Panamanian jungle to Mexico chasing the so-called American Dream with the intention of crossing the border and settling with relatives in Florida. But she soon learned that was an illusion, while Mexico opened its doors.
Her restaurant’s name symbolizes in her Haitian culture a shared space affording a sense of belonging. On the walls she has framed signs in Spanish, English and Creole that make clear it is more than an eatery offering tasty traditional Haitian dishes, such as fish with plantains, and rice and beans.
“Every dish tells a story, every detail connects cultures,” one sign says. “We aim to promote an authentic cultural exchange between two peoples with similar historical roots yet where Haitian identity proudly blossoms on Mexican soil.”
In just over five years in Tijuana, Petit Frere has established a thriving business, become fluent in Spanish and is getting a degree in social work.
And she welcomed the first generation Mexican in her family, her granddaughter, Alexca.
There are no figures on how many children born to noncitizens have received Mexican birthright citizenship. Tens of thousands of Haitians are living in Mexico. In 2021, when Mexico saw a significant increase in Haitian migration, at least 10 percent of arriving Haitian women were pregnant, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration.
In the U.S., birthright citizenship was enshrined after the Civil War through the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, in part to ensure former slaves would be citizens.
The right was expanded to immigrants’ children in the late 1800s when the Supreme Court ruled nearly anyone born in the U.S. — no matter their parents’ legal status — has citizenship.
The practice, many legal historians believe, dates to the 1600s and 1700s, with European rulers encouraging migration to the expanding American colonies. Those colonists, though, wanted any of their children born overseas to retain European citizenship.
So even as the colonial boundaries shifted “you’re a citizen as long as you’re born within the domain of the king, of the monarch,” said César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, a law professor at Ohio State University. “But the legal tie between the home country in Europe and the settlers remained strong through the promise of birthright citizenship.”
In 2007, the Dominican Electoral Council officially ordered the denial of citizenship to all children born to parents without legal status.
Six years later, a Dominican court applied it retroactively to 1929.
Over a decade later, as many as 130,000 people remained stateless despite passage of a law in 2014 to correct the court decision after it drew strong international condemnation, according to the Center for Migration Studies of New York. The law now impacts the next generation, which remains vulnerable to deportation.
Petit Frere was born in French Saint Martin, a Caribbean island that does not offer automatic birthright citizenship. She and her mom, who is Haitian, were deported to Haiti when she was 6.
Petit Frere left Haiti seeking a better life. She was dismayed to discover when her teenage daughter left Haiti to be reunited with her in Tijuana three years later, she was nearly five months pregnant. She had been a teen mother herself and had hoped for a different path for her daughter.
But Alexca, a bubbly toddler who giggles and runs about, has conquered her grandmother’s heart. Petit Frere said she’s grateful her granddaughter was born in Mexico rather than Haiti, where surging gang violence has left more than 1 in 10 homeless.
A Mexican passport will make travel easier, she said. Few nations allow Haitian passport holders to visit visa-free.
“As a Mexican citizen, she will have more opportunities,” Petit Frere said.
That’s also true for her three nieces who were born in Brazil and were made automatic citizens there, she said.
Petit Frere said she and her daughter had permanent residency in Mexico before her granddaughter was born. But other parents in Tijuana’s Haitian community did not. Mexico allows the parents of children with birthright citizenship to become permanent residents.
“There are a lot of children in Tijuana who are 6, 7, 8 years old now who are Mexican and their parents who are Haitian did not have legal status but now have become permanent residents because their children were born here,” she said.
Petit Frere started paperwork for Mexican citizenship, which would make it easier to expand her business.
Petit Frere also is a community organizer with the Haitian Bridge Alliance, advocating for the Haitian migrant community. She said she hopes to pursue another degree in international migration, possibly through a U.S. university.
“The children of immigrants are proving to be the most outstanding in the world,” she said. Efforts to limit birthright citizenship “could just be out of jealousy,” she said.
Watson writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Tim Sullivan in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan says England need to change direction after a series defeat by New Zealand and believes the ECB hierarchy should approach Andy Flower to take the team forward.
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June 29 (UPI) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear President Donald Trump‘s request for the panel to overturn a ruling that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.
Trump sought to have his $5 million civil penalty tossed, but the high court’s decision Monday leaves that in place, along with a separate $83.3 million in compensatory and punitive damages she was awarded for defamation.
A jury awarded the damages in 2023 after finding him liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the 1990s and for defaming her by denying the allegations in 2019.
An appeals court also upheld the verdict in 2024. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Trump’s lawyers failed to show any errors in the ruling that would lead to a new trial.
Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations since she first made them and called the $5 million judgment excessive.
THERE’S nothing better than a day on the beach – and your hotel is right around the corner.
Well, these are some of the highest-rated beach hotels with thousands of reviews on Tripadvisor and solid ratings – not to mention they’re all under £100 per night.
One of the highest-rated beach hotels in England on Tripadvisor is The View Hotel in Eastbourne.
It’s literally steps away from the beach – and those with a room at the front can get incredible coastline views.
To make the most of the beach, make sure to head to the hotel’s Vista Bar Cafe on the seafront where you can munch on fish and chips or indulge in afternoon tea.
On Tripadvisor, it has a rating of 4.5 with over three thousand top reviews with some visitors have calling it the “perfect hotel” and another said it’s an “Eastbourne delight”.
A double room at The View Hotel for two adults can be booked from £98 per night.
You won’t be getting a standard stay at the Hotel Pelirocco – the quirky spot in Brighton calls itself England’s “most rock n roll hotel”.
Inside it has themed rooms that are based on the likes of Star Wars, Leigh Bowery, Dolly Parton and David Bowie.
Its location means it has easy access to Brighton’s pier, lanes and it’s a one-minute walk to the beachfront.
On Tripadvisor the hotel has a rating of 4.6 with over a thousand ‘excellent’ reviews.
One guest said it’s “not to be missed” and that they’d “seen pictures online but these do not do the hotel or room justice!”
A room at the Hotel Pelirocco in Lord Vader’s Quarter for two adults can be booked from £94 per night.
The seaside resort of Ramsgate has sandy beaches, vintage ice-cream parlours and shellfish stalls.
If you want to make the most of being by the seaside, check out The House at Ramsgate.
The boutique hotel is inside a Georgian building with sea view and harbour view rooms that range from cosy queen rooms to family suites.
There’s an on-site bar and restaurant too that’s open seven-days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
On Tripadvisor, the hotel has a rating of 4.7 with 754 overwhelmingly positive reviews and guests have called it an “absolutely gorgeous hotel” with “beautiful views”.
A Queen Room at The House at Ramsgate for two adults starts from £95.
Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth describes itself as the ‘best sea view hotel in Bournemouth’ – so it’s ideal for a coastal escape.
Inside are plenty of rooms and suites, some of which have sea views and you can reach the beach by foot in under 10-minutes.
It has a fine dining restaurant called No 43 and the Ocean Bar and Terrace is the must-sit spot for evening meals.
On Tripadvisor, it has a rating of 4.4 and 1,500 top reviews.
One visitor called it a “charming seaside stay” and the beautiful building with pillars and balconies as “stunning”.
A standard double room at the Hotel Miramar for two adults starts from £99.
In the “Queen of Welsh resorts” is the Llandudno Bay Hotel.
It sits right on the promenade so you won’t get much closer to the sea than that.
Rooms vary from single sea view rooms all the way to king rooms which have huge bay windows overlooking the beach.
According to the hotel manager, you might even spot a dolphin from your room and dogs are welcome at the hotel too.
The hotel has a rating of 4.2 and over a thousand positive reviews.
Some guests describing it as “just perfect” – another described the views as “stunning”. Double or Twin Room for two adults starts from £90 per night.
Sitting on the Aberystwyth seafront is The Cardigan Bay Guest House.
The spot offers simple stays and some rooms have huge beach facing bay windows with accommodation ranging from single rooms to a three-bedroom apartment.
On Tripadvisor it has a rating of 3.8 out of five – one visitor called it a “lovely little guesthouse”.
A double room with private bathroom at Cardigan Bay Guest House for two adults starts from £60 per night.
Tucked away in the Welsh town of Tresaith is The Ship Inn pub which also has four rooms all with views across Cardigan Bay.
It sits on the Welsh coastal path and is minutes away from Tresaith Bay which is considered one of the nicest beaches in the country which has a waterfall that drops directly onto the sand.
All four rooms have en-suites and as the pub is just downstairs, pop down anytime for a hearty meal before bed.
On Tripadvisor it has a rating of 3.8 with 236 ‘excellent’ reviews.
One visitor called it a “lovely little traditional hotel right next to the beach” another described it as being “simply perfect”.
A double room with at the Ship Inn for two adults starts from £78 per night.
On the outskirts of Dundee is the enormous Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa.
It has 96 luxury en-suite rooms, three separate 18-hole golf courses and a spa with a heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a 15-station gym.
Thanks to its coastal location, front-facing rooms have sweeping views of the North Sea.
On Tripadvisor, the hotel has a rating of 4.1 out of five with over a thousand ‘excellent’ reviews.
One described it as being “posh without being pricey” and as having “beautiful views that don’t disappoint”.
A standard double room at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa for two adults starts from £94 per night.
On the Isle of Cumbrae is a family-run hotel in the quaint seaside town of Millport.
The Millport Pier Hotel has 10 rooms from standard doubles to suites and panoramic views of Newtown Bay and Millport Bay.
On Tripadvisor, the Millport Pier Hotel has a rating of 4.3 with one visitor saying it is a “wee diamond of a place” and one of the “best wee hotels ever.”
A double room at the Millport Pier Hotel for two adults starts from £90 – and it include breakfast.
The location is unmatched at Bayview Bed and Breakfast, especially in its ocean view rooms that look out across the North Sea.
Not to mention that each room is self-contained with a private entrance so it won’t even feel like you’re staying at a hotel.
Some are right on the beachfront and they come with private terraces along with little bistro sets so you can enjoy the views all day.
However guests say that if you want to the best views, book the penthouse apartment.
On Tripadvisor, the hotel has a rating of 4.7 out of five. One visitor even wrote in their review: “I really didn’t want to come home.”
You can book a double room with private entrance for two adults from £85 per night.
16:31, 29 Jun 2026Updated 16:31, 29 Jun 2026
Check your airline’s rules before setting off for the airport(Image: Getty Images)
Getting your hands on your boarding pass was once a straightforward affair. You’d turn up at the airport, check in at the desk, and a member of staff would hand you a printed copy.
These days, however, with increasing numbers of passengers choosing to check in online and airlines offering digital boarding passes, the whole process can feel rather bewildering.
If you haven’t got the airline’s app, do you need to download it? And if you choose to use a digital boarding pass, what happens should your phone go missing or your battery gives out?
Here’s what some of the UK’s biggest airlines have to say about boarding passes and what’s expected of you when you travel with them, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Ryanair has confirmed it has “moved to 100% Digital Boarding Passes (DBP)”. This means you’ll receive your boarding pass via the Ryanair app once you’ve checked in — which can be done either through the website or the app itself.
All travellers will be required to download the Ryanair app and check in online, with reminder notifications sent 48 and then 24 hours before departure. Any passenger who fails to check in online will face an airport check-in fee of €/£55 for most flights, or €/£30 for flights departing from Spain.
Once you’ve checked in, your boarding pass should appear automatically within the Ryanair app. Should you lose your phone or your battery runs flat after checking in, Ryanair confirms it will print a replacement boarding pass free of charge.
Travellers departing from certain airports in Morocco are still required to have a printed boarding pass. Ryanair explain: “Passengers flying from Morocco must check in online as normal and then present their DBP at the airport to collect a printed boarding pass, with the exception of those flying from Marrakech, Fez, Agadir, Tangier, Nador or Oujda, where you can now use your digital boarding pass on the Ryanair app.”
Jet2 provides a paperless option for its flights and package holidays. By downloading the Jet2 app, passengers can access documents such as boarding passes all in one place.
Jet2 advise that “you can save boarding passes for up to eight passengers on one device.” It added: “When using multiple boarding passes per device, please make sure your group stays together at the bag drop, security, gate and when boarding the plane.”
For those who prefer the peace of mind that comes with a printed boarding pass, Jet2 explains you can: “Log in to Manage My Booking, then select ‘Get boarding pass’. From here, you can either get a PDF boarding pass sent to you or save it to your device. No need to print – just show the pass on your screen when you get to the airport.”
TUI explains: “if you’re flying with TUI Airways (flight numbers starting with TOM or BY), you have a choice. TUI Airways accepts both digital and paper boarding passes.”
It clarifies that passengers who would rather have a printed boarding pass should be sure to use A4 paper, ensure their copy is legible with no tears or damage, and that the barcode is clearly visible, as it will need to be scanned at the airport.
It’s important to bear in mind that not all TUI package holidays involve TUI Airways flights. If you’ve arranged a package holiday but the flight is operated by an airline such as Ryanair or easyJet, you’ll need to verify the regulations for the particular airline you’re travelling with.
There is a list of airports that don’t accept mobile boarding passes on easyJet’s website, including Antalya and Izmir. The majority of these are located in Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia. If you’re travelling to one of these airports you should check in online and print a boarding pass.
That said, for most easyJet flights, the airline suggests downloading its app to keep all your trip details in one place. It says: “For more convenience and to access your boarding passes offline, you can download mobile boarding passes directly to your Apple or Google wallet.”
For those who prefer a paper boarding pass, these remain perfectly acceptable, with easyJet’s website stating: “The best way to store your boarding passes is to use the free easyJet mobile App or you can choose to print them out. You cannot use a PDF scan of your boarding pass on your mobile device as the airport security team will be unable to scan them.
“If you lose your boarding pass don’t worry, you can simply print them again. If printing, make sure the entire boarding pass is clearly printed.”
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
The little-known beach boasts unmatched views and no crowds(Image: Getty)
As temperatures continue to soar across the UK, thousands of Brits are gearing up to flock to the coast over the coming months. In an ideal world, that beach would boast a sandy shoreline, crystal-clear waters and not a crowd in sight. And while it might sound like a pipe dream, one UK beach apparently delivers all of that and more.
A little-known beach has claimed the top spot in new research compiled by outdoor specialists at Millets, who analysed average sunshine hours, typical temperatures and water quality at UK beaches with fewer than 500 reviews, in order to uncover the nation’s finest ‘hidden gem’ beaches.
For those looking to dodge the masses while also being treated to spectacular scenery, stunning landscapes and turquoise waters, there’s one UK beach that reigns supreme, reports the Express.
Warkworth Beach has been named the UK’s best ‘hidden gem’ beach. Tucked away in Northumberland, Warkworth Beach lies less than a mile from the picturesque medieval village of Warkworth, nestled between Birling Carrs and Amble Breakwater.
Visitors to the village often overlook the nearby breathtaking beach, but those who do make the trip are rewarded with a sweeping stretch of pristine golden sand that seems to stretch on endlessly. Warkworth Beach extends more than two miles and sits in the shadow of the magnificent Warkworth Castle.
The beach has been described as boasting ‘excellent’ water quality, and is celebrated for its ‘unspoilt’ scenery. Visitors can nip into nearby pubs and cafés, all just a short stroll from the beach’s free car park.
Whether you fancy sunbathing, playing games on the sand or simply taking a long, leisurely walk — particularly with your four-legged companion — amid stunning surroundings, Warkworth Beach consistently provides plenty of space and a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle, all while offering unrivalled views.
One glowing visitor review on TripAdvisor reads: “Stunning Beach. This is a dog walker’s must. Beautiful views across the headland. A sandy beach, with some interesting rocky pools. A peaceful place most of the year. Reasonable parking, a bit of a steep walk to the dunes. If you tire of the beach, some great walks by the sand dunes and salt marshes.”
While another delighted visitor adds: “I agree with most of the other reviews here: seriously stunning beach, unspoilt, vast and with very few people. Gorgeous sand and beautiful views. Parking is free and, as well as toilets, the day we were there, there was also a food trailer in the car park offering what looked like brilliant dishes. If I lived here, I would be on this beach every day!”
Taking second place is Highcliffe Beach, located in Dorset. The sand-and-shingle stretch sits close to the Hampshire border and is flanked by dramatic cliffs and Highcliffe Castle.
The beach provides paid parking, as well as a café boasting sea views, and is RNLI lifeguarded throughout July and August. Highcliffe Beach is held in high esteem, with visitors singing the praises of its coastal walking trails, as well as swimming and bodyboarding opportunities.
Rounding off the top three is East Strand Beach, which notches up an impressive score of 8.89/10. Located in Portrush, the beach is flanked by sweeping sand dunes and the world-famous Portrush golf club.
It’s a firm favourite for watersports all year round, including surfing, and has RNLI lifeguards on duty throughout the summer months. Visitors wax lyrical about the spectacular white sand, with one reviewer likening it to the Sahara: “A glorious stretch of sand so long and golden it could make the Sahara blush.”
Calum Jones, author and outdoor enthusiast at Millets, has shared his top tips on how to get the very best out of your summer beach trip this season, saying: “Summer is the perfect time to explore the stunning coastlines across the UK, from Achmelvich Beach in the Scottish Highlands to Broadstairs in Kent. There are breathtaking beaches to be found across the UK.
“When planning your summer beach trip, it is important to remember sun-protective clothing. The sea breeze can often make the air feel cooler, but UV rays can still be harmful. Apply a generous layer of suncream before you head out, and don’t forget a cap and sunglasses to shield yourself from the sun.
“You should also keep in mind that British weather can still be unpredictable. Bring a waterproof jacket to stay dry in case of sudden showers, choose supportive, waterproof footwear for any slippery sand or rocks, and layer your clothing so you can easily adjust to changing temperatures.
“Visitors should always leave beaches in the condition they found them. Make sure you take any rubbish, clothing or equipment home with you to keep UK beaches as clean as possible.”
The US Supreme Court will not hear an appeal requested by President Donald Trump to review the civil case that found he defamed and sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll.
A New York jury awarded Carroll $5m (£3.6m) in damages in 2023 over her civil claim that Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s, and then branded the incident a hoax on social media.
Trump denied the allegations and repeatedly claimed that the judge who oversaw the civil trial improperly allowed evidence to be presented that affected how the jury viewed him.
A federal appeals court agreed with the jury’s verdict last year and said a new trial was not warranted. Trump then asked the highest court to intervene.
The Supreme Court gave no details about their decision not to take up the case, as is customary.
It was Trump’s final hope of overturning the jury’s unanimous verdict and means he will have to pay Carroll the damages she had been awarded.
“The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes,” a spokesman for Trumps legal team told CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner.
“President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he continues to focus on his mission to Make America Great Again.”
Caroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement that the Supreme Court’s decision “affirms once and for all the jury’s unanimous verdict that President Donald J Trump sexually assaulted and defamed E Jean Carroll”.
“His multiple efforts to appeal that verdict have all failed and today’s ruling ends his quest to avoid accountability for his actions,” she added.
Carroll’s counsel had not previously commented on the president’s decision to bring a challenge to the Supreme Court.
In the petition, Trump’s lawyers argued Carroll’s lawyer should not have let jurors see the 2005 Access Hollywood tape that showed the president saying he groped and kissed women.
Trump’s comments about the jury’s findings in the case led a separate jury to order him to pay Carroll $83m for defaming her. A panel of federal judges denied his appeal of that decision in September.
While Trump was found to have defamed and sexually abused Ms Carroll, the jury rejected her claim of rape as defined in New York’s penal code.
Carroll, a former magazine columnist who is now 81, sued Trump for attacking her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room in Manhattan. The defamation stemmed from Trump’s post on his Truth Social platform in 2022 denying her claim.
Trump has said Carroll was “not my type” and that she had lied.
DRAMA queen Michelle Keegan has seen her earnings shoot up to £5.4million a year.
The former Coronation Street star took a substantial amount of time off work last year after she became a first time mum with husband Mark Wright.
But new figures for her company, Rosia Productions, show that in the year up to September 2025, Michelle, 39, earned £1.4m more than the £4m she banked the previous year.
A financial expert said: “This shows Michelle still has massive earning power, and her career is going from strength to strength after 18 years on our TV.
“Despite taking time off to become a parent it hasn’t made any difference to her income and she’s still clearly one of the most in-demand stars of British TV”.
It comes after she enjoyed massive success with Harlen Coben’s Fool Me Once in 2024, which was one of Netflix‘s biggest hits, reaching the top spot around the globe.
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She announced in December 2024 she was having a baby.
In March daughter Palma Elizabeth Wright came into the world.
Her BBC series, Ten Pound Poms, was cancelled after two series last year, and her other big show, Sky comedy Brassic, also ended.
But last year Michelle also announced last year she was returning to ITV, where her career was launched on Corrie in 2008 playing Tina McIntyre.
She revealed she was making big budget thriller The Blame, starring opposite movie star Douglas Booth, 33, who plays her love interest and colleague.
The cop drama is due to air later this year with the actress playing DI Emma Crane in the six-parter. Booth plays DI Tom Radley.
Discussing coming back to work earlier this year, Michelle said: “Coming back to work after having a baby is quite daunting.
“The production were so supportive and I was so looked after and it was like working with family.”
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday upheld state laws that allow for counting mail ballots that are postmarked by election day but arrive later.
The 5-4 decision rejects a Republican challenge to laws in California and 13 other mostly Democratic states which permit the counting of these late-arriving ballots.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined with the three liberals to form the majority.
The decision is a mild surprise and should bolster Democrats in the fall election.
While California’s seven-day grace period for mail ballots has contributed to slow tabulations, it has not been shown to trigger fraud or unreliable vote counts.
Election law experts blame slow tallies on the surge in voting by mail combined with the need to carefully match signatures on these ballots.
The court said federal law since 1845 has set election day nationwide as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November and voters were required to cast their ballots that day.
Citing that fact, the Republican National Committee and the Trump administration joined a challenge to a Mississippi law adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed counting ballots that were up to five days late.
Trump’s lawyers said federal law preempted or overrode the state law.
“From the dawn of America, election day has meant the day the ballot box closes — and when election officials must be in receipt of all ballots,” wrote Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer.
Democrats said the Constitution says the “time, place and manner of holding elections” for Congress “shall be prescribed in each state” by its legislature. However, Congress was given the power to override those state rules and set its own regulations for federal elections.
Barrett said the federal election day requires only that the voter must decide by then.
“The election-day statutes require the electorate’s choice to be made on election day. That occurs so long as election day is the deadline for individuals to vote — as it is in Mississippi,” she wrote. “But the election-day statutes do not set a deadline for ballot receipt, so they do not prevent Mississippi from counting ballots postmarked before election day yet received afterward.”
While Congress could have prohibited the counting of late-arriving ballots, it had not done so. That may be because states wanted to count ballots from members of the military stationed overseas even if they arrived late.
Last year, however, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans struck down Mississippi’s law that allowed for counting ballots that were cast by election day but arrived up to five days later.
The opinion by three judges, all Trump appointees, concluded that the election day set by Congress “is the day by which ballots must be both cast by voters and received by state officials.”
In its appeal, Mississippi stuck with a states’ rights view and argued that the federal election-day statutes mean that ballots must be cast — not received — by election day.
“This is a victory for voters and for an election system that meets the needs of the people it serves,” said Common Cause President Virginia Kase Solomón. “Eligible Americans shouldn’t lose their voice because of mail delays outside their control.”
England head coach Brendon McCullum says he tired to talk Ben Stokes out of his decision to retire from international cricket following the 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand.
READ MORE: Stokes’ England career ends with NZ series defeat
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US president says talks will take place on Tuesday, but Tehran has not confirmed the negotiations in Doha.
President Donald Trump says a meeting will take place between Iran and the United States in Qatar on Tuesday, suggesting that diplomacy is still on track despite the recent military skirmishes in the Gulf.
Trump’s announcement on Monday came less than two hours after a top Iranian official said that technical talks over the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Washington and Tehran “are not planned” for this week.
list of 3 itemsend of list
“IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the meeting would take place after conditions are met, without providing details.
“Although consultations with Qatar, including regarding the follow-up of the implementation of the other party’s commitments, are ongoing as usual, the news from some media outlets that technical talks of the working groups will be held in Doha cannot be confirmed,” Gharibabadi told Tasnim news agency.
The two statements from Washington and Tehran appear to contradict each other, but it is possible that a breakthrough finalising the meeting occurred after Gharibabadi’s comment.
Iran, however, has not confirmed that talks have been scheduled.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will lead the US negotiating team in Doha.
“Special Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be flying to Doha for high-level meetings this week as we continue to discuss the memorandum of understanding,” she told Fox News.
Leavitt added that technical talks will take place on the sidelines of the high-level negotiations.
The US and Iran reached a deal to end the war earlier this month, kicking off a 60-day period of negotiations over the thorniest issues in the relationship – Tehran’s nuclear programme.
But the deal has been tested by Israel’s continuing attacks in Lebanon and Iran’s assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The first sentence of the 14-point MoU calls for a full ceasefire in Lebanon, “ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of the country.
But the US has sponsored a separate agreement between the Lebanese government and Israel that conditions Israeli withdrawal on the disarmament of Hezbollah across the country.
Hormuz has been another sticking point. Iran has rejected routes through the strait outside of its control and fired at ships passing through lanes not designated by Tehran.
The US has struck Iranian positions near the waterway, to which Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against American bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.
But diplomatic and de-escalation efforts appear to continue, despite the trading of attacks.
“As far as we’re concerned, we’re holding up our end of the ceasefire,” Leavitt said on Monday, but she warned that “violence will be met with violence” if Iran attacks commercial ships or US interests.
On Monday, Trump hailed the drop in oil prices that followed the deal, which lifted Tehran’s blockade on Hormuz and eased US sanctions on Iran’s energy products.
“GAS PRICES COMING DOWN, FAST! REPORT ANY ABUSES AT RETAIL LEVEL,” the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The average price of one gallon (3.8 litres) of gasoline in the US has dropped to $3.86, down from a peak of $4.56 in May. It was less than $3 before the war.
GOING on holiday is something we all look forward to, but with rising prices across the board, wouldn’t it be great if you could go somewhere in the UK that looks abroad?
Think white sands and crystal clear waters – the UK is home to some great destinations that will make you feel as if you have jetted off somewhere.
So, let’s put it to the test – can you guess which of the following destinations are abroad and which are in the UK?
One image above shows Tresco Abbey Gardens on Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly and is noted to look more like a thriving tropical jungle than the UK.
The gardens – which first opened in the 1830s – are home to more than 20,000 plants, from 80 countries, sprawling across 17 acres.
Nestled in between the plants, you’ll also find hand-carved figures made from the wood of shipwrecked boats.
Read more on travel inspo
The other image shows one of the forests found on La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain.
The forests are much-loved by tourists that are keen hikers, with multiple trails through them.
More specifically, Los Tilos Forest is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the island and is one of the largest laurel forests in the Canary Islands.
Answer: The first image shows Tresco Abbey Gardens on Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly and the second image shows La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain.
One image shows Dartmouth in Devon, littered with Tudor-style houses that make it look as if it has been plucked from the Netherlands or a quaint German village.
The Dutch port-style harbour is home to The Butterwalk, which is a row of overhanging half-timbered Tudor buildings dating back to the 1630s – mimicking the buildings commonly seen in the Netherlands.
The town is home to plenty of independent shops and cafes to explore and to venture around the estuary the town sits on, make sure to hop on a river cruise.
The other image shows the historic houses in Celle, Germany.
The town in northern Germany sits on the banks of the River Aller and is around 25 miles from Hanover.
The town is home to one of the largest and most densely packed collections of half-timbered houses in Europe dating from the 16th to 18th centuries.
Answer: The first image shows Celle in Germany while the second image shows Dartmouth in Devon.
One image shows Portmeirion in Gwynedd in North Wales, which was built by architect Sir Clough William-Ellis to look like the Italian Riviera.
With pastel-coloured houses and a subtropical micro-climate, it really feels as if you could be in the Med.
The village has a central plaza and other European-style features include classical pillars and ornate domes.
Thanks to the micro-climate, you’ll also find exotic plants including palm trees.
Day tickets to Portmeirion cost around £20 per adult.
The other image shows the popular fishing village of Portofino on the Italian Riviera.
Known for its pastel-coloured houses, the village is cobbled throughout and boasts a number of designer stores and seafood restaurants.
To get to Portofino, jump on a ferry from Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Camogli or Genoa.
Answer: The first image shows Portmeirion in Gwynedd in North Wales, while the second image shows Portofino in Italy.
One image shows Blackpool Sands, which is one of the UK’s most picturesque beaches and when there you’ll find a beach bar that transports you to the Med.
Complete with straw umbrellas, the cafe and bar features natural materials throughout including wood and stone.
If you prefer to be on the sand, then eat outside at one of the tables that sit directly on the golden beach.
The other image shows a beach bar in Crete in Greece.
The Greek island is known to be a haven for holidaymakers with tonnes of resorts to choose from.
Answer: The first image shows a beach bar in Crete, Greece, while the second image shows the beach bar at Blackpool Sands in Devon.
One of these is Luskentyre Beach, which can be found on the Isle of Harris, in Scotland.
Well-known for its massive stretches of white sand and turquoise waters, it is easy to think that you are in the Caribbean instead.
The beach overlooks the island of Taransay and is a great spot to head off on walks.
There is a car park near the beach where you’ll also find toilets.
The other image shows Exuma Point Beach in The Bahamas.
Known for its shifting sandbars, the beach features white sand and crystal clear waters.
During low tide, you can even walk along a mile-long sandbar and spot starfish and conch shells.
If you are really lucky, you’ll spot baby nurse sharks and lemon sharks swimming in the shallow water.
Answer: The first image shows Exuma Point Beach in The Bahamas and the second image shows Luskentyre Beach in Scotland.
One of these images shows St Andrews Lakes in Halling, Kent, which is a huge outdoor attraction with bright turquoise waters found in a former quarry.
Looking like it is from elsewhere, visitors can head to the lakes for the day and enjoy an inland beach, floating lodges and a number of activities including Kent’s largest inflatable obstacle course.
If you really want to get into the holiday mode, there is a Nordic-inspired spa onsite with wood-fired saunas and hot tubs right by the lake.
When the family gets peckish, there is also an onsite pizzeria and cafe.
The other image is of Bercsenyi Beach in Balatonakarattya, Hungary.
The beach is one of the most popular and largest family-friendly beaches around Lake Balaton.
At the edge of the beach you’ll find lots of trees and when on the beach you can even have a go at sand volleyball.
For a bit more of adventure, you can also hire water bikes and kayaks.
Answer: the first image shows St Andrews Lakes in Halling, Kent and the second image shows Bercsenyi Beach in Balatonakarattya, Hungary.
One of these images is actually the newly-opened Nici hotel in Cornwall, which has a huge 20-metre indoor pool overlooking the coastline.
But for the true ‘abroad feeling’, head outside to the clifftop heated pool with views over the ocean and a vibrant poolside bar.
According to the hotel’s website, The Nici is “inspired by the sun-soaked glamour of the Amalfi Coast” and has the “indulgence of a Mediterranean escape”.
There’s even direct lift access from the hotel to the beach below.
Rooms at The Nici Newquay cost from £155 per night.
The other image shows Hotel Imperial Med’s bar in Santorini, Greece.
The hotel is only home to suites and sits on Aghia Paraskevi Beach.
Stays at the hotel cost from as little as £111 per night.
Answer: The first image shows Hotel Imperial Med’s bar in Santorini, Greece and the second shows The Nici, in Cornwall.
One picture shows a beach on Eilean Shona in the Inner Hebrides in Scotland.
Named Shoe Bay, to visit the beach you must be staying on the island – which has a number of different cottages and shepherd’s huts.
Shoe Bay sits at the west end of the island and boasts beautiful white sands and gentle, crystal clear waters.
There isn’t much to do across the island, but you can head on scenic walks and spot the local wildlife.
The other picture shows Fuvahmulah Island’s beach in the Maldives.
The coastline on the island is more rugged than other islands in the Maldives, with volcanic-like soil mixed with pebbles.
The island itself is small measuring only three-quarters of a mile wide by just under three miles long.
Answer: The first image shows Shoe Bay on Eilean Shona in Scotland while the second image shows Fuvahmulah Island’s beach in the Maldives.
Dubai International Airport is set to close its doors in 2035(Image: Andrey Danilovich via Getty Images)
Dubai is preparing to unveil the world’s largest and most cutting-edge airport, complete with robot staff and ‘no queues’ for passengers. Al Maktoum International Airport will become the biggest in the world once its £23.5billion expansion and refurbishment is finished.
It is anticipated to handle 260 million passengers annually and boasts features specifically designed to make travelling as seamless as possible. The airport claims it will eliminate queuing altogether, as bags can be dropped off before travellers even reach the terminal.
This means passengers will not need to repeat the security and customs processes.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths described this as a “no red lights” concept while speaking to Khaleej Times.
Another way the passenger experience will be improved is through an ‘integrated underground Automated People Mover system’ that removes the need to walk from one end of the vast airport to the other.
This will feature a multi-track train, with 14 stations to shuttle passengers between terminals and concourses.
Collecting baggage is also set to be a far quicker process, as the new system will be capable of handling tens of thousands of bags in under 60 minutes.
Luggage is also expected to be available within minutes of landing, meaning the dreaded wait at the baggage carousel will become a thing of the past.
All of these impressive features will be made possible through automated travel systems, AI security checks and robot staff. These robots will be responsible for tasks such as baggage handling and may even tackle customer service queries.
According to details published by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), the infrastructure developer for Dubai’s aviation sector, plans for DWC include “a new era of smart airport systems and passenger-centric facilities, taking travellers to worldwide destinations in the most awe-inspiring and comfortable way possible”.
The expansion also features five parallel runways and up to 400 aircraft gates.
Once construction at Al Maktoum International Airport is complete, the neighbouring Dubai International Airport will shut down permanently.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is set to close its doors for good in 2035, according to reports.
All operations currently running through the bustling travel hub will be relocated to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
This beautiful beach in the UK is by far my favourite, and it never gets busy(Image: Getty Images)
Beaches can become overwhelmed with holidaymakers, particularly during the summer months, but there’s one hidden gem boasting golden sands that I return to time and again.
The sight of densely packed umbrellas, desperately searching for somewhere to settle down for the day, weaving through swimmers while drifting on a lilo and fighting over the last Cornetto at the ice cream stand, is hardly what you’d call a relaxing day in the sunshine. And with the UK basking in balmy temperatures, British beaches are anticipated to be more crowded than ever.
To be fair, you can hardly blame anyone for descending on their nearest stretch of coastline when the UK is blessed with glorious sunshine. After all, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a dip in the rolling waves with a gentle sea breeze on your face.
Yet there are plenty of alternatives, well away from the heaving masses. So, for that perfect coastal day out, there’s one breathtaking shoreline in Wales that I cannot recommend highly enough.
Tucked away on the south-western tip of the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales lies the spectacular Marloes Sands Beach. Just a 30-minute drive from the town of Haverfordwest and sitting on the boundary of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, you’ll be welcomed by miles of unspoilt golden sand and inviting blue waters set against dramatic, rugged landscapes.
Framed by towering coastal cliffs with unique rock formations, it not only offers a stunning backdrop for a seaside outing but also keeps it somewhat under the radar. So for my family and me, who visit regularly, we’re treated to plenty of room and expanses of golden sand.
We’ve never had to battle for that coveted patch on the beach or fretted about accidentally splashing into someone in the crystal-clear waters — it truly is a haven away from the crowds. What’s more, dogs are permitted on the beach throughout the year, so they’re free to race about, plunge into the surf and dig for gold until their hearts’ content.
And that’s not all. Marloes Beach has even been graced by Hollywood, as scenes from the film ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’, starring Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron, were filmed there in September 2011.
Yet with any hidden gem destinations, there can be drawbacks.
There are no amenities on the beach, so you’ll need to come prepared and bring your own provisions. The walk down can also be somewhat demanding.
I mean, I’ve always relished the 0.5-mile winding path down from the National Trust car park, passing through meadow fields, but understandably, when you’ve got children and picnic hampers in tow, it’s more of an ordeal. But after the trek down, armed with a sun umbrella and bodyboard, it’s absolutely worth it for a day on this pristine stretch of coastline.
What’s more, on your way back up, you can treat yourself to an ice cream from the van that’s occasionally parked close by, or just a short distance from the car park, there’s the café, Runwayskiln, serving up sweet treats and chilled drinks.
Just make sure to plan your visit and check the tide times beforehand. At high tide, sections of the beach can become cut off, so provided you plan ahead and keep track of the time, you’ll be basking in the sunshine in your own little slice of paradise.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
The seaside town has been described as ‘like a fairytale’(Image: Getty Images)
As the UK continues to bask in a spell of scorching weather, droves of Britons are swapping their office chairs for deckchairs and heading off on a well-deserved coastal staycation.
If you’re among them, you’ll want to pay attention, as one seaside gem has been hailed as nothing short of ‘like a fairytale’. Nestled on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, Shanklin is a picturesque, traditional seaside town renowned for its golden sandy beaches, striking sandstone cliffs, and the quaint thatched-roof Old Village, making it one of the island’s most beloved holiday hotspots. The town strikes a wonderful balance between coastal fun and rich heritage. Shanklin Beach and The Esplanade is a vast, family-friendly expanse of golden sand.
The Esplanade is brimming with seaside entertainment, classic fish and chip shops, water sports, and several crazy golf courses (including pirate and dinosaur themes).
The Cliff Lift is another must-see attraction. Those staying atop the sandstone cliffs can skip the gruelling descent to the beach by hopping aboard the historic Cliff Lift, which has been ferrying visitors down to the Esplanade since 1957.
The island’s oldest visitor attraction, meanwhile, is Shanklin Chine, which first opened its doors in 1817. This verdant, wooded coastal ravine boasts spectacular waterfalls, winding jungle-like pathways, and a breathtaking illuminated evening light display.
Situated directly above the Chine, the Old Village is renowned for its charming, centuries-old thatched cottages, welcoming tearooms, and independent craft boutiques.
Visitors might also explore Shanklin theatre, a lively year-round entertainment venue hosting over 150 performances annually, encompassing comedy and music through to drama and pantomimes.
Digital travel influencer Reiko, posting as @heyreiko on Instagram, recently used her platform to champion the town to her 39,100 followers.
She posted footage of the breathtaking town, writing: “Why does no one talk about this fairytale town tucked away on the Isle of Wight?
“Shanklin… or as it feels when you’re here, somewhere between a dream and a postcard you swear you’ve stepped inside.”
She continued: “If you ever needed a sign to disappear for a while and find a little pocket of peace that feels unreal… this is it.”
Followers were loving the post, with it accumulating more than 4,900 likes.
One commenter described it as “so beautiful”, while another declared: “What a cool spot.”
A third who had visited previously added: “Stayed there while at the Isle of Wight festival – such a lovely little place and the beach is lush.”
EXPLAINER
China and Sudan signed off on a waiver of $50m as Sudan’s military-led government seeks support amid Western sanctions.
China has waived loans worth $50m that it had given to Sudan, the two countries said over the weekend. The agreement comes three years into a war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has shrunk the country’s economy by roughly 40 percent, according to the United Nations.
The sum is small compared with what Sudan owes overall to external governments or agencies, an amount estimated at more than $56bn before the war. But the waiver lands at a moment when Khartoum has few other international lenders extending any financial support.
China’s relationship with Sudan predates the war by decades, built on oil and infrastructure interests that survived multiple changes of government in Khartoum. But the war has narrowed Sudan’s options elsewhere, as Western governments have largely held back or imposed sanctions.
Here’s why this deal is significant for Sudan and China:
The signed protocol in Port Sudan cancels four interest-free loans worth 344 million yuan, about $50m, with immediate effect, according to Sudan’s official news agency, SUNA.
Sudan’s Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim welcomed the move, reportedly saying that China has continued investing in the country throughout the war while Western governments, including the United States and European Union members, have largely held back. Gibril himself was added to the US Treasury sanctions list in September 2025 for his alleged “involvement in Sudan’s brutal civil war and … connections to Iran”.
China’s charge d’affaires in Sudan, Xu Jian, reportedly said at the signing ceremony that China was ready to help rebuild what was destroyed during the war in Sudan.
Sudan’s external debt of more than $56bn before the war is expected to have ballooned since.
The $50m debt relief amounts to not even 1 percent of the total external pre-war debt. In fact, Sudan was close to a far bigger debt write-off in 2021. It was on track with the IMF and the World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative to have more than $50bn of its debt forgiven within three years. The 2021 military coup in October derailed that debt relief plan, and the process was formally suspended a year later.
Still, China’s waiver arrives at a moment of acute need for the country. The war is now in its third year. More than 1.5 million people have been killed, according to the UN, and the war has displaced about 14 million people – about a quarter of the Sudanese population. The World Health Organization says less than 14 percent of health facilities are still functioning. Jobs have vanished in many parts of the country, and the rising cost of living has made it difficult for households to survive.
The Sudanese pound has collapsed since the start of the war. It went from roughly 600 to the dollar before the war to more than 5000 to the dollar by June 2026.
In many ways, Beijing’s decision to waive the $50m loan is in keeping with a broader approach it has taken in recent years, one that has helped cement China as Africa’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years.
China has provided interest-free loan forgiveness as a diplomatic gesture to multiple countries, and these decisions are recurrent announcements at Beijing’s frequent leader-level summits with African nations. This is especially true for smaller loans. Research from the Johns Hopkins China Africa Research Initiative found that China forgave at least $3.4bn of these kinds of debts across the African continent between 2000 and 2019.
By contrast, larger loans are usually commercial loans through state banks that come with interest, and waiving those is harder.
At a time when the West is largely trying to isolate Sudan’s leadership, a small loan waiver gives China outsized influence in a country that sits at the intersection of the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
Oil has long served as a catalyst for their relationship. From the mid-1990s on, China’s National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) poured billions of dollars into Sudanese oil fields and the pipelines carrying that crude oil to Port Sudan. This was a time when many Western companies were pushed out due to sanctions.
The relationship changed when the southern part of the country voted in favour of independence in 2011. The world’s newest country, South Sudan, left the north and took most of the country’s oil fields with it.
Chinese investment largely dried up afterwards, but Sudan still has more than $5bn of outstanding debt to China. The war has aggravated Sudan’s economic challenges. The CNPC requested a formal exit from Sudan in December 2025.
JOSH Duggar has been moved to a new federal prison more than 100 miles closer to his wife and family after leaving a medical facility, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
The disgraced TLC reality star, 38, is currently serving more than 12 years after being convicted of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material following his arrest in April 2021.
Official records show he has been transferred to the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City after a short stay at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson previously said inmates may be transferred for a variety of reasons, including medical concerns, or other measures designed to maintain institutional safety and inmate protection.
Duggar is now about 218 miles from the family’s home in Tontitown, Arkansas — compared to the roughly 350-mile journey to FCI Seagoville in Texas, where he had been incarcerated since 2022.
The new facility serves as a temporary processing hub for federal inmates being moved between prisons, which means Duggar could be transferred again before serving out the remainder of his sentence.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the bureau and Duggar’s lawyers comment.
He has been incarcerated since his conviction on federal child pornography charges stemming from downloads made at the used car dealership he operated in Springdale, Arkansas.
In December 2021, a federal jury found him guilty of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material after investigators traced illegal downloads to a password-protected computer at his business.
Prosecutors argued Duggar was the only person with the knowledge and access needed to download the files.
In May 2022, he was sentenced to 151 months — more than 12 years — in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release.
He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
Ever since, Duggar has unsuccessfully fought to overturn his conviction, arguing that errors were made during his trial and that evidence should not have been admitted.
Federal appeals courts have rejected the arguments, leaving his conviction and sentence intact.
His wife Anna has remained publicly loyal to her husband throughout his imprisonment despite the scandal that ended the Duggar family’s reality TV empire.
She has regularly visited him in prison and attended court hearings during his legal battle, while continuing to raise the couple’s seven children in Arkansas.
They have been married since September 2008 and have seven children together.
The Bureau of Prisons has not disclosed why Duggar was transferred or where he will ultimately be sent next.
Federal inmates are commonly moved because of security classifications, institutional needs, programming opportunities, medical reasons or other administrative decisions.
For now, Duggar remains in Oklahoma City as officials determine his permanent placement.
His projected release date remains October 2, 2032, according to Bureau of Prisons records.
Meanwhile, his racy messages to his wife Anna while he was in custody in Arkansas were revealed in a report by PEOPLE.
“[I] miss you my lover. i miss being in the shower with you scrubbing, i miss watching you try on clothes, I miss watching you being sexy,” Josh wrote.
He also congratulated his wife for “making the scale numbers lower than expected” and suggested she buy herself “something low cut” to wear in the shocking text.
He continued, “[O]r you can try on clothes and send me a pic of you in your bra and panties 😉 or try on ‘go to the private pool for sun’ swimsuit? btw you should order you a 2-piece swimsuit since summer is coming on soon, get something hot and fun.”
Josh then signed off, telling her he would love her forever and calling her “sexy.”
He wrote a similar sign-off in a message sent to Anna, 38, days later, and added, “p.s. – send pics asap as requested, imlied (sic), inferred or otherwise stated lol. nice one(s) with your twos in it! (OvO).”
Value up, volume down — megadeals carry record-chasing M&A market through a year of geopolitical turmoil.
Global mergers and acquisitions are on track to reach roughly $4 trillion in total value in 2026. That’s up 13% from 2025 — only the second-highest spike to the pandemic-era peak of 2021 — that figure obscures a market increasingly defined by a handful of blockbuster transactions.
Deal volume data from PwC and LSEG projects an estimated 42,000 transactions for the full year, down 13% from 2025. Megadeals exceeding $5 billion account for roughly 48% of global deal value — up from 39% in 2025 and just 26% in 2024. Remove them from the equation, and overall deal value falls 4% year over year.
Headwinds likely stymied deal activity in specific sectors. The U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched in late February, caused what the International Energy Agency called the largest oil supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, sending energy prices sharply higher.
Despite the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict cast a pall over deal activity for much of the first half of the year, particularly for transactions with any exposure to energy, logistics, or the Gulf region.
The U.S. has expanded its dominance, commanding 63% of global deal value in the first half of 2026, up from 54% a year earlier, even as deal volumes fell, according to Dealogic.
Europe’s share of value also increased by 88% ($733.6 billion), buoyed by large individual transactions. The Middle East and Africa, together, saw a 45% increase in deal value ($61.3 billion).
Asia Pacific moved in the opposite direction: its share of global deal value dropped to 29% — reflecting fewer megadeals and smaller average transaction sizes relative to the U.S. and EMEA.
On the advisory side, Goldman Sachs is leading the rankings by a wide margin — $1.161 trillion in deal value across more than 200 transactions so far this year. Among the firm’s marquee assignments: advising Dominion Energy on its $66.8 billion sale to NextEra Energy, counseling Unilever on its planned $65 billion food business merger with McCormick & Company, and serving as lead-left underwriter on the SpaceX IPO.
JPMorgan ranks second with $743 billion, up from $557.1 billion a year earlier — a performance the bank has attributed in part to M&A fees that nearly doubled year over year in the first quarter of 2026. Morgan Stanley rounds out the top three at $622.5 billion.
Anthony Noto covers corporate finance and private credit. Contact him at anoto@gfmag.com
SACRAMENTO — President Trump was handed a golden opportunity to upstage Gov. Gavin Newsom in Newsom’s own state on an issue of critical importance to Americans everywhere. But Trump naturally blew it.
The governor and the Democratic-led state Legislature shined.
Trump was victimized by his own self-centered obstinance and inhumanity. And Republican congressional leaders were left looking embarrassed and wimpy.
The issue was housing affordability — the lack of it that is stifling the American dream of homeownership everywhere, not just in California.
In Sacramento, the Legislature lopsidedly passed an $11.25-billion bond proposal aimed primarily at providing government subsidies for building affordable housing. Newsom immediately signed the measure last week, just beating the deadline for getting it on the Nov. 3 election ballot.
“In California, we don’t turn away from the needs of our people,” Newsom boasted in a prepared statement, taking a veiled shot at Trump, his favorite political target.
This came just after both houses of Congress, with members working collaboratively in a rare bipartisan manner, overwhelmingly passed a landmark bill aimed at boosting housing supply. The measure removed regulatory barriers, upgraded federal programs and incentivized new home building.
A Trump “promise kept,” the White House proclaimed.
Whoops! The president then suddenly flip-flopped. He canceled a planned bill-signing ceremony, torpedoing the legislation, an opportunity to gain sorely-needed points for the GOP heading into the fall elections and a chance to outboast Newsom, arguably his most annoying political antagonist.
Trump said he wouldn’t sign the housing bill unless Congress approved his unrelated voter ID legislation, which has practically no chance of passage. The least of his concerns seemed to be struggling homebuyers and renters.
As of this writing, it wasn’t clear what Trump would ultimately do. Nothing ever is certain with him. Shocked and confused GOP congressional leaders even held back sending the president the bill, then ducked out on holiday recess.
At the California state Capitol, by contrast, the governor and legislative leaders were united, working off the same page and successfully negotiating a final agreement on housing help.
George Skelton and Michael Wilner cover the insights, legislation, players and politics you need to know. In your inbox Monday and Thursday mornings.
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As icing on the cake for voters, $1.25 billion was added for the popular CalVet loan program for military veterans. Their home loans are repaid through mortgages, costing the state nothing.
But the remaining $10 billion would need to be paid off by taxpayers over 30 years — at an estimated $580 million annually, bringing the total bond cost to about $17.4 billion, including interest.
Putting this in perspective, the Legislature just passed a $352-billion state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Of that, $7.5 billion will go for retiring debt on $73 billion in bonds. And the state has voter authorization to sell $38 billion more in bonds.
During legislative floor debates, some Republicans objected to the additional borrowing.
“We’ve got record revenue, why do we need to borrow money?” asked Assemblyman David Tangipa (R-Fresno).
That was answered during the Senate debate by Sen. Christopher Cabaldon (D-West Sacramento), one of the measure’s principal jockeys.
Building affordable housing “simply is impossible, it can’t be done without this bond” to finance government subsidies, Cabaldon told colleagues.
Developers are subsidized so they can build at a cost that will result in affordable consumer prices, mainly rents in this case.
Some Republicans also objected to inserting the CalVet money for voter appeal. Assemblyman Carl DeMaio called it “window dressing.”
CalVet funds normally are acquired through very small, separate bond measures.
But in the end, only a few Republicans voted against the big bond, which was officially authored by the Assembly Speaker and the Senate leader to display political muscle.
To their credit, the Legislature and governor in recent years have been whittling away at regulatory obstacles to home building. But many cities still balk at rezoning residential neighborhoods to make room for new multifamily dwellings.
The bond proposal is mainly designed to generate affordable rentals for poor people. More money was added at the end for affordable student and farmworker housing.
There’ll be a separate bond proposal on the November ballot that goes in a different direction but doesn’t conflict. It would help middle class homebuyers. And that measure wouldn’t cost taxpayers a cent.
“Housing supply is not just about poor people. It’s not just about homelessness,” says the middle class initiative’s originator, former legislative leader Bob Hertzberg, a Los Angeles County Democrat.
His proposal would authorize $25 billion in revenue bonds. Like the CalVet program, those bonds would be repaid by homebuyers through mortgages — not costing the state anything.
Under the plan, a homebuyer could borrow most of the money needed for a down payment on a newly constructed single-family home or condo. Typically, a 20% down payment is required. Under Hertzberg’s proposal, 17% could be borrowed. Regular lending institutions would arrange the second mortgage.
To be eligible, a homebuyer’s income could not exceed 200% of the area’s median income. In L.A. County, that would be around $213,000 for a family of four, Hertzberg figures. The home would need to be the owner’s primary residence.
The November ballot will be bursting with state propositions — 14 in all, mostly very complex, running the gamut. Besides housing, there’ll be proposals for a billionaires tax, voter ID requirement, local tax limitations and fast-tracking of public works.
Voters could just throw up their hands and reject everything.
“At some point, voters are just gonna say, ‘I don’t know about all this stuff. There’s a lot of stuff,’” says Dan Dunmoyer, who heads the California Building Industry Assn.
California’s housing affordability crunch won’t be solved by just two bond packages. But they’d help.
We and all of America could also use some help from our seemingly unconcerned president, who enjoys free public housing.
The must-read: Newsom, California Legislature reach $351.7-billion budget deal
Money (That’s what I want): Controversial billionaire tax proposal will appear on November ballot
The L.A. Times Special: Here’s a clue about these mystery books: ‘Papa’ may be California’s next governor
Until next week,
George Skelton
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