The carpet rolls out.
Stars pose with their parents.
Cameras flash, capturing VIP guests emerging from luxury cars.
It has all of the makings of a Hollywood premiere.
Only the carpet that lines the entrance is royal blue instead of scarlet red. The “stars” are teenage football players on recruiting visits. The luxury car is parked on the turf of Spaulding Field. And the Hollywood show is in Westwood.
Despite the parallels, the feeling remains the same — something is brewing within the UCLA football program and it may yield awards.
The Bruins still are riding the high of their hire of coach Bob Chesney on Dec. 9.
And no group has felt the smoke of the Chesney Train more than the 2027 recruiting class.
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The Bruins boast the No. 12 recruiting class in the nation and fourth best in the Big Ten, improvements of 50 and 11 spots, respectively, from the previous year, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. UCLA had not produced a top-15 class since 2016.
Chesney’s inaugural group features 22 commits, including six four-star recruits, and is headlined by five-star defensive back Juju Johnson, who ranks as the third-best recruit from California and the second-best cornerback in the nation, per 247Sports.
However, to UCLA football general manager Darrick Yray — who spent the last four seasons at Florida State, signing a top-20 class each year — stars and rankings mean nothing without fit.
“It starts and stops with being developed in all areas, socially, academically, spiritually and athletically,” Yray said. “Those four pillars of a young man, we’re trying to attract here, but also are they going to fit in all four of those areas of what we are and what we hold our standard to. They need to be a great steward of what it means to be a student-athlete at UCLA.”
After a talk with my family and god I’m shutting my recruitment down and I’m 100% locked in with UCLA. Very happy to be apart of the bruin family and excited to ball out in my city. #GOBRUINNSSSS🧸🧸🧸🧸 @UCLA pic.twitter.com/CGbD2ELDCI
— JuJu Johnson (@JuLikeThat) June 19, 2026
Chesney underscored a similar message during spring practices, illustrating that being a Bruin does not stop once you leave the gridiron.
Talent sets the foundation for what the coaching staff looks for, but character sets the ceiling for what they can become, Yray said.
And this motto is central to the staff’s recruitment efforts.
“You want guys who are intrinsically motivated rather than extrinsically,” Yray said. “It’s easy to get up when everyone’s watching and there’s 80,000 people in front of you. It’s what you’re doing when no one’s looking, it’s how you’re working, it’s how you’re studying. We want to be consistent across the board in everything that we do.”
Throughout spring camp, Chesney provided accessibility to recruits, stressing the importance of developing relationships with the schools, coaches and players in Southern California.
These efforts partly were to cultivate connections in an area saturated with talent, but also to establish relationships in an area Chesney has little experience in.
Providing accessibility also means instilling transparency.
Some players may not fit for UCLA, and UCLA may not fit for some players. And the only litmus test of finding the personnel who will thrive in the Chesney system is forming relationships off the field — allowing authenticity to rise to the top.
“It comes back to relatability. It’s not just football, it’s not just transactional, and it can’t be that way, in order for this to work,” Yray said. “I want to be genuine, and that’s what we want to be here too. This is what you’re going to get. It’s not going to change six months later. That’s how we’re going to be 24/7.”
It was this relatability and energy that drew in four-star wide receiver Kingston Celifie.
The Calabasas product — who boasted offers from California, Arizona and Kansas — first noticed Chesney’s energy on the field, seeing him run around to every position group and even get involved in drills.
But after more conversations, the staff’s collective determination to not only revitalize the program but also develop the whole individual gave Celifie confidence in UCLA, prompting the wide receiver to shut down his recruitment.
“Coach Chesney, he has great energy, which I was attracted to, and ultimately that’s why I committed. I just felt like it was home,” Celifie said. “I feel comfortable here. The official visit, everyone was celebrating all the accomplishments, and I really got to see the coaches outside of the football life, which was great.”
The acquisition of Celifie not only signified a major addition to the 2027 class, but also marked the start of the Bruins keeping homegrown talent in Los Angeles.
In making recruits feel at home when they’re on campus, it is imperative to make sure every part of their visit is tailored to them, Yray said.
While showing off the perks of the program and Los Angeles — through visits to Santa Monica and VIP tours from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a UCLA alum — is an integral part of the process, each recruit requires something different to ensure that the experience is what Yray called an “all-inclusive vacation.”
“What are the areas that are going to change their opinion of someplace, and are you checking off those boxes to make sure that they’re having the best experience every single time that they come here,” Yray said. “It can’t be a cookie-cutter mentality; it has to be individualized. If you were going somewhere, you want to have the best experience possible for 24 hours straight.”
Visits are not just a uniform formality, they are a one-of-a-kind experience.
JSerra’s Godschoice Eboigbodin is a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end from Nigeria.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
And no visit may have been more special than that of three-star edge Godschoice Eboigbodin.
During at-home visits with defensive ends coach Sam Daniels, the JSerra product was able to connect on a personal level with Daniels, describing him as “family” and “just another one of my friends.”
And at Eboigbodin’s official visit at UCLA, his birth family from Nigeria and host family in Southern California were able to come together for the first time, celebrating his accomplishments and giving the future Bruin confidence that UCLA was home.
“That was the first time both my families met — my real parents and my parents here. I was so excited,” Eboigbodin said. “That is why I had a really good time at my official visit at UCLA because it was really cool having them meet each other, connecting the families together. I was ecstatic.”
Chesney has yet to coach a game at UCLA, let alone one at the Power Four level. Yet, the momentum he has generated is real.
Not only is the 2027 recruiting class exceptional, but also the transfer class that will make up the majority of next season’s starters is excited to build the foundation of the program.
“Guys are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, coming to work every single day,” Yray said. “We’re excited at the opportunity as a staff of what this presents, and we get to do this, at the greatest place in the world to do it. There’s no better location, there’s no better rich history. There’s really no excuse … to not have success here.”
From left, UCLA’s Dean West, Roch Cholowsky, Mulivai Levu and Roman Martin share pregame vibes before a 3-2 loss to Saint Mary’s during an NCAA regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium on May 29.
(Scott Strazzante/For The Times)
Since our last UCLA Unlocked newsletter, the Bruins baseball team earned more hardware.
UCLA first baseman Mulivai Levu was named an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winner for the second consecutive season, becoming the first Bruin to win multiple Gold Gloves.
Levu had a .996 fielding percentage while committing two errors all season. He converted 446 putouts, had 21 assists and assisted on 42 double plays.
UCLA coach John Savage was named the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation.
The Bruins were 52-8, matching the program record for wins, and their 48-6 regular-season mark was the best in school history. UCLA became the first wire-to-wire No. 1 team, opening and closing the season atop the top 25 in every major poll.
Named after the first coach inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the coach of the year award celebrates leaders on and off the field.
“I am truly honored to receive this award. Having Skip Bertman’s name on the trophy says everything,” Savage said in a news release. “He’s the legend of legends in this game. As a young coach out West, I always admired and looked up to Skip.”
Savage is the third-longest-tenured coach in UCLA baseball history and has a 776-489-2 record.
Junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky earned first-team All-America honors from Perfect Game, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn., American Baseball Coaches Assn./Rawlings and Baseball America. Cholowsky hit .320 with 21 home runs, 60 RBIs and 73 runs scored while anchoring UCLA’s infield defense with a .965 fielding percentage. He ranked among the national leaders in OPS (1.088), slugging (.636) and on-base percentage (.452), starting all 60 games at shortstop.
Outfielder Will Gasparino was named a first team All-American by the NCBWA. Gasparino hit .314 with 20 home runs, 64 RBIs and 99 hits, finishing among the conference leaders in extra-base hits and total bases. He also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 114 putouts.
Closer Easton Hawk earned first-team NCBWA and first-team ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors after posting a 1.93 ERA with 14 saves and 52 strikeouts across 34 appearances, holding opponents to a .187 average. He gave up nine earned runs all season.
Levu and pitchers Wylan Moss and Logan Reddemann earned second-team All-America honors from the NCBWA, while pitcher Angel Cervantes was named to the Perfect Game Freshman All American team.
Swanson: She broke baseball’s glass ceiling. Now Kim Ng is taking softball to the next level
UCLA eliminated from WCWS by Kaitlyn Terry and Texas Tech in nine-inning thriller
UCLA baseball’s national title hopes shattered in season-ending loss to Saint Mary’s
UCLA baseball defeats Virginia Tech in a wild ninth-inning comeback to save its season
Megan Grant becomes UCLA’s all-time home run leader in win over Arkansas at WCWS
UCLA softball coaches Kelly Inouye-Perez and Lisa Fernandez inspire nation’s top offense
National title hopeful UCLA stunned in loss to Saint Mary’s in regional opener
UCLA pitcher shares his secret weapon: A two-inch toy dinosaur named ‘Jerry’
Megan Grant’s record-tying homer can’t save UCLA from loss to Alabama in WCWS opener
UCLA copes with pressure of being No. 1 target without ace Logan Reddemann
Q&A: How UCLA softball leadoff hitter Rylee Slimp manages pressure as Bruins reach WCWS
Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
“Seven,” a hit solo track by BTS member Jungkook, has surpassed 3 billion streams on Spotify, making him the first Korean artist to hit the threshold with a single song, his agency BigHit Music said Tuesday.
“Seven” is also the only song released in 2023 globally to reach the milestone, according to the agency.
A passionate serenade about wanting to spend every day with a loved one, “Seven” blends a catchy melody with a warm acoustic guitar sound and rhythms from UK garage, a genre of electronic music that emerged in Britain in the early 1990s.
The song’s music video surpassed 600 million views on YouTube in April.
Since its release, “Seven” has enjoyed worldwide success, debuting at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 3 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100.
K-pop supergroup BTS, to which Jungkook belongs, is currently on its largest-ever scale world tour, “Arirang.”
Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.
NO ONE wants to start their holiday with delays, but with hotter weather and new travel rules, it’s becoming all the more common.
New research from AirAdvisor has found the top airports around Europe where you are most likely to be delayed this summer.
The study looked at flights between June and September 2025, to see where flights either to or from the UK were likely to be delayed for over an hour.
The top of the list was Milan Bergamo, an airport which sits just outside of Milan in Italy which had 11.96 per cent of its flights delayed by one hour or more.
Also in Italy, Pisa came fourth on the list which had 10.58 per cent of its flights affected by delays last summer.
For anyone heading to the Greek islands this summer, some of these destinations experience hold-ups too.
The pretty island of Kefalonia is third on the list where 11.79 per cent of flights being delayed by an hour or more last year.
Also in the top 20 is Corfu, Zante, Paphos in Cyprus, Kos, Rhodes and Mykonos.
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor explained why the airports at Greek islands are badly affected.
He explained: “They tend to be much smaller than hubs in major metropolitan centres and are incredibly popular with holidaymakers from across the world.
“During the summer period, they frequently operate at maximum capacity, so that means that when a mass disruption event occurs, there are implications for other services.”
He continued: “Similarly, the sheer volume of flights between popular Spanish holiday hubs in Palma and Reus can result in full days of travel chaos when multiple services are delayed.”
Anton Radchenko added that these delays often result in a “domino effect” where flights across a single day are then pushed back, especially during peak times.
Spain is a popular getaway destination for Brits as it’s just a few hours from the UK.
But there are some airports here that have experienced issues too.
This includes Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Alicante, which all appear in the top 20.
Of course, last summer EES checks at passport control hadn’t been enforced yet.
But these have had a big impact in some airports around Europe – so there could be even more delays at certain destinations.
If you are delayed for more than three hours or have a flight cancelled then under the UK261 regulation you could be eligible for compensation.
For more information on this, check out the rules on AirAdvisor.
According to AirAdvisor these airports this is the percentage of flights delayed by 60 minutes or more either heading too or from the UK between June and September 2025…
1. Milan Bergamo, Italy – 11.96%
2. Nice Cote d’Azur, France – 11.92%
3. Kefalonia, Greece – 11.79%
4. Pisa, Italy – 10.58%
5. Corfu, Greece – 9.54%
6. Palma de Mallorca, Spain – 9.33%
7. Reus, Spain – 9.13%
8. Ponta Delgada, Portugal (Azores) – 9.08%
9. Olbia, Sardinia – 8.71%
10. Zadar, Croatia – 8.65%
11. Zakynthos, Greece – 8.48%
12. Naples, Italy – 8.40%
13. Chania, Greece – 8.33%
14. Paphos, Cyprus – 7.87%
15. Kos, Greece – 7.72%
16. Rhodes, Greece – 7.68%
17. Ibiza, Spain – 7.48%
18. Alicante, Spain – 7.27%
19. Mykonos, Greece – 6.95%
20. Porto, Portugal – 6.88%
Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026
A United Nations commission of inquiry has accused Israel of systematically targeting Palestinian children in the occupied Palestinian territory, saying Israeli actions amount to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and war crimes in the occupied West Bank.
In a report released on Tuesday, the commission said about 30 percent of those killed in Gaza since Israel’s war began in October 2023 were children, and that attacks on maternity and neonatal units, along with an aid blockade, have devastated children’s chances of survival.
The commission says Israeli forces have destroyed orphanages and schools, and Palestinian children have been arbitrarily arrested, tortured and subjected to sexual abuse in detention. It warns that killings and serious injuries have continued even after the October 2025 “ceasefire”, in defiance of international law.
UNICEF estimates more than 50,000 children have been killed or wounded since the war began, with at least one Palestinian child killed on average every day in the eight months since the October “ceasefire” took effect.
These images document the lives and losses of Palestinian children in Gaza and the West Bank as they struggle to survive bombardment, displacement and imprisonment – and to hold on to a future that is being systematically stripped away.
At the beginning of Mary H.K. Choi’s wildly entertaining presentation for her new novel “Pool House’” at Skylight Books, she reveals she won’t be reading.
“Readings are boring,” she says, tapping her Prada loafers. “It’s like you’re watching someone else play video games.”
Instead, she and Yasi Salek, host of the hit podcast “Bandsplain,” spend the evening riffing on literature, coolness, autism diagnoses and a literary perennial: unrelenting pain.
“How is your mother wound?” Salek asks in her signature vocal fry most often heard ad-libbing about the band Weezer. Salek reveals she is in Jungian therapy, adding, “What Carl says, goes.”
Throughout the discussion, Choi describes her novel as a challenging read — calling it a “gross, decaying meat soup.” She jokes that her career as an author feels like a “Make-A-Wish Foundation wish,” bewildered by any attention her work has garnered. Yet dozens of eager readers have packed into the independent bookstore, spilling into the aisles with copies of the novel balanced on their laps.
“Publishing is so slow, it’s like giving birth to a lawn chair,” Choi remarks. Later, she professes tedium with the resurgence of an alt-lit scene.
“Don’t you find that everyone has to be cool right now? Why is everyone so cool?” Choi asks Salek.
Let’s be clear: Salek and Choi are very cool. Salek sits cross-legged, dressed in all black, with a heart tattoo on her forearm that reads “books.” Before “Pool House,” Choi authored three New York Times bestselling novels. Salek recounts dropping out of her MFA program at Bennington College in 2020 to start what would become a cult-classic podcast.
Book-themed sugar cookies sold at a past Little Literary Fair at Hauser & Wirth.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
“I love that you started a podcast instead of getting an MFA,” Choi replies.
Like Skylight Books, independent bookstores across Los Angeles have become gathering places for readers and writers alike. Authors ranging from household names to debut novelists regularly draw enthusiastic crowds. Increasingly, bookstores are functioning not only as retail spaces but as community hubs.
A few blocks from Echo Park Lake, local favorite A Good Used Book has transformed Sunday mornings into one of the neighborhood’s liveliest recurring gatherings. Visitors browse used books while enjoying charcoal portraits, handmade jewelry and Hawaiian shaved ice. Buy a book and you might even end up on the store’s coveted Instagram Story — the hottest plug in town.
“It feels like in a city as big as Los Angeles, books are still underrepresented. So there’s a lot of room to grow, and that’s exciting,” says Chris Capizzi, who founded the bookstore in 2017.
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Review of Books hosted its annual Little Literary Fair at SCI-Arc, drawing hundreds to literary panels and workshops on zine-making, publishing and finding an agent. Vendors from across California filled the space, representing independent presses, bookstores and literary magazines.
“I find writers based [in the L.A. area] to be socially incisive in equal measure as being experimental, innovative and just fun,” says Emily VanKoughnett, the events director at the Los Angeles Review of Books. “I love the L.A. lit scene because it invites people to explore pockets of the city and connect over writing.”
This summer, literary events across Los Angeles are continuing to draw readers into bookstores, community spaces and alternative venues alike. The city’s literary scene remains as weird, profane and sentimental as ever.
Wales have named hooker Dewi Lake as captain for their summer internationals ahead of fit-again flanker Jac Morgan.
Lake led the side for eight Tests in the 2025 autumn series and 2026 Six Nations while Morgan was injured.
The British and Irish Lions flanker captained Wales in the first game of the Steve Tandy era against Argentina but dislocated his left shoulder when scoring a try.
The Gloucester-bound Ospreys have both been named in the squad for the summer internationals, which start against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Saturday.
Lake will be skipper after recovering from a shoulder injury that required an operation after the Six Nations.
Colombia’s outgoing leftist president, Gustavo Petro, has alleged electoral fraud after preliminary results from a presidential run-off saw his handpicked candidate lose by a small margin.
In a barrage of posts on the social media site X on Monday, Petro alleged that the opposition bought votes and Israel and the United States interfered to help opposition far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella win.
list of 4 itemsend of list
Petro has refused to recognise the results and has called for an investigation by the judiciary.
The president, who was barred by the constitution from running for a second term, was Colombia’s first leftist president, putting him at odds with the US.
His administration is praised for reforms that boosted social spending, raised the minimum wage and redistributed land to poorer families. Petro also cut ties with Israel over Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and distanced himself from US President Donald Trump’s administration.
However, critics said his refusal to accept the election results risks inflaming political tensions – and violence. Here’s what we know:
The first round of the presidential election was held on May 31. Neither of the two leading candidates – Abelardo de la Espriella of the right-wing Defenders of the Homeland movement and Senator Ivan Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact – secured at least 50 percent of the vote, leading to a run-off on Sunday.
De la Espriella narrowly won with 49.66 percent over Cepeda’s 48.7 percent, according to preliminary results released on Monday by the National Registry, which manages vote numbers.
The razor-thin difference amounts to less than 1 percent of the vote and represents one of Colombia’s closest elections.
Trump-backed de la Espriella, 47, is to take office on August 7. The criminal lawyer is a multimillionaire who campaigned on tougher security and anti-leftist policies. He also has US citizenship.
De la Espriella’s win is part of a recent trend of Latin American countries electing far-right, populist leaders who are pro-Trump. Argentina’s Javier Milei, Honduras’s Nasry “Tito” Asfura, El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele and Costa Rica’s Laura Fernandez Delgado all have close ties to the Trump administration.
Petro took to X to denounce in a series of posts what he said was voter fraud committed with the help of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Petro said there was evidence of manipulation of Form E-14, the official, handwritten tally of sheets filled out by poll workers at each voting station.
The form is a physical record of the vote count and is meant to prevent electoral fraud. It is filled out by hand, and digital scans are also uploaded to the National Registry’s portal for public auditing. If found to have errors, parties may request a recount.
Petro alleged that foreign actors accessed the National Registry’s website and rewrote voting data on some E-14 forms.
“Today we have evidence of a change in IP addresses of several servers of the national registry,” he posted.
“This means that the software was compromised and others wrote data for polling stations and voting posts. The only entity in the world capable of doing that is the state of Israel,” Petro added without providing evidence of Israel’s alleged involvement.
Petro said his party had requested a “technical audit” of the voting software before the elections and asked authorities to retrieve the digital footprints of all digitally transmitted documents to avoid modification. He claimed those requests were ignored.
The outgoing president shared videos of what he alleged captured the “premeditated” modification of E-14 forms. He also claimed the manipulation was done “from the offices of the Bautista brothers”.
Petro was referring to Thomas Greg & Sons, an influential private logistics and security printing firm that runs Colombia’s electoral infrastructure. Until recently, it also printed Colombian passports.
It is run by brothers Fernando and Camilo Bautista Palacio. The duo was convicted of bank fraud in the US in the 1980s.
Thomas Greg & Sons, which was founded by their father, Gregorio, has been contracted by the National Registry for more than a decade to manage election logistics, preliminary vote counting and vote-tallying software.
Petro in April accused the Bautista brothers of negotiating a deal with de la Espriella that would see them secure the presidency for the far-right candidate in return for clinching passport printing contracts once more.
At the time, de la Espriella refuted the claims, and his lawyers threatened Petro with a lawsuit.
Attorney General Gregorio Eljach has dismissed the allegations and told reporters there is “no evidence of fraud” with more than 99 percent of the votes counted.
De la Espriella, meanwhile, has so far not responded directly to Petro.
Yes, de la Espriella has consistently voiced support for Israel and campaigned in Colombia’s Jewish community, making pro-Israel promises and saying his government would “defend Judeo-Christian principles”.
He pledged to reverse Petro’s 2024 decision to cut ties with Israel and has promised to relocate the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem.
Netanyahu congratulated de la Espriella on Monday, saying: “I look forward to working with you to strengthen the bond between Israel and Colombia.”
In his posts, Petro also blamed Trump for interfering in the elections by publicly endorsing a candidate and thus swaying voters.
Trump endorsed de la Espriella on his Truth Social platform weeks before the run-off.
Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also congratulated de la Espriella on his preliminary win, and Trump took credit for the far-right candidate’s victory.
“He was in 10th place. I endorsed him, and he won the election. He called me last night and thanked me for the endorsement,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.
Rubio wrote on X: “The Trump administration looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration to advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen our economic ties.”
Petro has invited Trump to make a statement on the electoral fraud allegations.
“I formally invite President Donald Trump to speak,” Petro wrote, adding that the US president bears responsibility for “having supported a candidate and not the freedom of the Colombian people”.
Although both countries have close trade ties, diplomatic relations have often been strained over drug trafficking policies and relations with Israel, among other issues.
But relations essentially collapsed under the Trump and Petro administrations.
Petro in January last year refused to allow US migrant deportation planes to land in his country and said on X that the US “cannot treat Colombian migrants like criminals”.
In October, the US sanctioned Petro, his family and key officials in his government based on unproven allegations of involvement in the drug trade.
In January this year, the US military abducted leftist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from his Caracas home after the Trump administration accused him of “narcoterrorism”.
The theme park many created treasured memories for kids and adults alike(Image: South Wales Evening Post archives)
When it comes to theme parks in Wales, most people would immediately associate the region with the now-sadly defunct Oakwood Park in Pembrokeshire. The Narberth attraction, which shut its doors in 2015, was a cherished part of many childhoods, with trips on Megafobia and Snake River Falls over the years becoming the stuff of legend.
However, it wasn’t the only theme park that once created treasured memories for many, and for some, it was a rival to its more celebrated neighbour.
Back in 1994, another attraction was opening its gates for the very first time. The £1 million Grove Land Leisure Park was constructed in St Clears in Carmarthenshire, transformed from a working dairy farm.
And it offered something for everyone, with unforgettable rollercoasters such as Thunderbolt, Cyclone and Cyber Space. There was also the ‘Dance Master’ waltzer, twist rides like the iconic ‘Rodeo Rider’, the Snake Slide, dodgems and go-karts, reports Wales Online.
There was also a pirate ship, laser clay pigeon shooting and pedalo boats.
Barmy Barny served as the park’s mascot, and appeared on its emblem. It was especially appropriate given the herd of pedigree Freisians, which had been bred at the dairy farm by the Williams family across four generations, earning recognition throughout the agricultural world.
It was their herd that inspired John and Janet Williams to transform 30 acres of their 210-acre Grove Farm into a theme park.
At the time, the couple explained how the enjoyment and experience they had gained from showcasing their herd and hosting large crowds, combined with a passion for sport and leisure, had driven the park’s creation — along with their recognition of “the pressing need to impede any further decline in the local rural economy.”
When it opened on a seasonal basis, the theme park was expected to give tourism a significant boost and create up to 70 jobs in its first year alone, rising to 300 over the following three years.
It was also anticipated that 75,000 visitors would pass through its gates in the opening season, eager to experience what was promised to be a “country show ground atmosphere”, complete with calf parades, animal showmanship, and a range of rides and attractions specifically chosen for their interactive appeal and suitability for the whole family.
The park was remarkably affordable, with adult tickets priced at £7.50 and children’s tickets at £5.60. Visitors paid at the gate, and once inside, all rides and shows were included at no extra cost.
Takeaways, burger bars and a picnic area were all on hand for families looking to take a breather from the excitement of the rides.
Jade Walsh worked at the park for two to three seasons from the age of 16, taking it on as a summer job. Miss Walsh, now 40, who worked as a ride operator, said: “I worked a lot on the bumper boats and the pedalos which I enjoyed. I remember people would often get stuck in the reeds and things so you would often have to go out and rescue them.
“The boats would also have to be tested in the morning, and it was all young people who would work there seasonally and we’d all enjoy that. Mr Williams who ran it was lovely, and was such a nice guy.
“Thunderbolt was a gravity rollercoaster and how fast it went would depend on how heavy you were. Sometimes we would have to load it with sandbags if there was only a couple of kids in it. If it got stuck at the top, you’d have to climb up it, run across the tracks, push it, then get down to the bottom so you could stop it at the end. Health and safety wasn’t a thing then, but I loved it!
“My favourite part of working there was the people. It was a nice environment to work in. If you can imagine a nice seventies movie with children working at a funfair, it was like that.
“We had a lot of people who would come over and over again. Some people would visit a couple of times in the summer and come back every year. It was better for smaller children than Oakwood and there was less queues and things like that. It was just a much more relaxed atmosphere. It felt very safe. You could literally see everything from one place so parents could relax and let their children run from ride to ride.
“Everyone was really sad when it went, because there wasn’t a hell of a lot to do around here. Everybody missed it.”
Gemma Daniels has treasured childhood recollections of visiting the park on frequent end-of-year school outings between the ages of six and nine when she was a pupil at Ysgol Llwyn Yr Eos School in Penparcau, Aberystwyth.
Miss Daniels, now aged 36, said: “Trips to Grove Land are a core childhood memory for me. One ride that sticks out for me the most was rodeo-themed and it had a big mechanical horse in the middle with a cowboy on it. Basically, it was a sizzler ride. They also had a rollercoaster where the carriage you were in, it looked like a gold mine.
“The ride that we all avoided was a slide, it was like a big dipper, and it was the first time I had ever seen a ride like that. I remember kids coming off it with friction burns! They had a protector mat but you would bounce off it, because it was really fast.”
She added: “I remember that it was never crowded like you see at theme parks these days, and you didn’t have to queue long for rides. You’d have a chance to go on everything and see everything. When we were on school trips they would let us go off and we’d have to meet at a picnic table to have our packed lunch at lunchtime. It was really safe.
“I remember the little shop they had there where people used to get those water worms, that was the fascination at the time, and kids would also used to get snap bangs and use them on the bus on the way home.
“If it was open now, it’s a place I’d take my son to. It’s somewhere that I’m pretty gutted my kids won’t get to go.”
Sadly, in 2005, it closed its doors for good, with its rides relocated, including Thunderbolt, which was transported to Loudoun Castle, and Cyclone, which found a new home at Killarney Springs Family Park.
In 2008, it emerged that the site was on the market for £3.3 million.
By April 2014, we reported how plans for a “massive development” at the site had been given the go-ahead by Carmarthenshire Council, which would create 32 new-build holiday cottages, 26 holiday accommodation units and supporting leisure facilities.
In 2018, we reported how the planned accommodation project had yet to materialise, though it’s believed that it eventually launched at the start of the year, taking the form of a static caravan park.
It’s now been 21 years since Grove Land welcomed its last visitors. Yet for the thousands who spent their summers visiting or working at the attraction, it has left behind memories that they continue to cherish fondly.
These deals help families enjoy days out for less(Image: Merlin Entertainments)
Most schools in England and Wales will break up for the six-week summer holidays in less than a month, leaving many parents scrambling to fill the days with things to do.
A theme park is a classic family day out, but it’s not exactly a cheap option, and some deals don’t cover peak summer holiday dates. But there are ways to cut the costs if you’re planning a day out at one of these attractions, and here are some of the parks with discounts you can use in July and August.
Wowcher is currently running a deal for day tickets to Flamingo Land in Yorkshire, with 50% off single tickets and 58% off if you buy four. This means a family of four can enjoy access to the theme park, zoo, and a host of other attractions for £97. The offer includes full school holiday availability.
Flamingo Land includes a number of thrilling rollercoasters, Dino-Stone park, and the adorable Muddy Duck Farm where younger kids can visit Peter Rabbit and his friends. Flamingo Land also offers on-site accommodation for longer breaks, including lodges and cottages for those who want to spend multiple days in the park.
Gulliver’s, which has four locations across the UK, is running a unique offer that could snag you up to 99% off children’s day tickets. The catch is that it’s tied to England’s World Cup performance. The discount will be based on the minute of England’s final goal in each group stage match.
So, as an example, if England’s final goal was at 75 minutes, the deal would mean these tickets were discounted by 75%. The deal will be live on June 24 from 10am after England vs Ghana, and June 28 from 10am after their match against Panama and available to snap up for only 24 hours.
However, if you don’t want to base your school holiday plans on the England team’s performance, there’s also a deal running on Wowcher for 50% off Gulliver’s tickets for all four of their locations in Milton Keynes, Rother Valley, Matlock Bath, and Warrington, with good availability across school holiday dates and prices from £11.50.
If you live near an attraction owned by Merlin, such as Alton Towers, Chessington, Thorpe Park, or LEGOLAND, then a Merlin annual pass can work out excellent value for money. At the moment, the Merlin annual pass sale includes prices from £139 for the essential pass, while Gold and Platinum passes have £50 off, making them £189 and £249 respectively.
It’s worth noting that the essentials pass does exclude Saturdays in August, but you can still enjoy the parks on other days of the week. If you don’t want to pay in one go, you can also sign up for a monthly pass at Gold or Platinum level for either £16.99 or £20.99.
In addition to its theme parks, Merlin also operates attractions such as the London Eye, Cadbury World, and SEA LIFE centers, so you can ensure you make the most of your pass with a wide range of days out.
Drayton Manor is one of the attractions offering VAT savings this summer as part of the government’s scheme to cut the prices of family days out.
If booked in advance, tickets start at £25.80 for peak dates such as the school holidays. Another option is the three-park ticket, although it is only valid until July 31. For £49.50, you get a day at Drayton Manor, one at West Midlands Safari Park, and one at Waterworld in Stoke-on-Trent, a huge indoor waterpark. This works out at just £16.50 per attraction, far below the usual gate price.
A deal from Virgin Experiences means a family of four can enjoy a night in a Blackpool hotel, as well as tickets to its iconic Pleasure Beach for just a few pounds more than the usual admission cost.
A Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort and Family Stay at the Big Blue Hotel costs £169, and if you use discount code DEAL10, this brings it down to £152.10, or £38.04 per person. Day tickets to the park alone usually start at £31.50, so this is a great deal if you want a night away at the seaside.
This deal is not available on bank holiday weekends or Saturdays in July and August, but can be redeemed for other school holiday dates.
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Jet2 has shared an update for customers(Image: Getty Images)
Just ahead of the summer holidays, Jet2 has rolled out a new ’72-hour’ update for passengers.
Travellers flying with Jet2 will now be able to check live flight times, monitor their flight status and receive any updates 72 hours prior to departure. The new functionality was introduced this week and is designed to provide customers with accurate, up-to-date information about their flight to help ensure their journey runs as smoothly as possible.
The new handy features come courtesy of an upgrade to the airline’s app, which will also enable passengers to find out how and when they can meet their Jet2 in-resort Customer Helper. Times, locations and the Customer Helper’s name will be made available to holidaymakers via the app, making it even easier to access assistance and information about their holiday.
The update comes at the ideal moment ahead of the summer holidays, one of the busiest periods for travel. It’s expected to make travel more straightforward for passengers as they’ll have instant access to crucial flight information at the touch of a button, reports Chronicle Live.
David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Jet2, said: “We are always looking at how we can continually improve the experience for our customers and digital innovation is a critical part of that. We are very pleased to be launching this new app functionality, which makes travelling with Jet2 even easier and more convenient. By putting more real-time information in our customers’ hands, we are improving our industry-leading customer experience even further.”
“This is part of our continued investment in delivering the very best customer service there is, and it is another example of how we are continuing to evolve our app and digital offering in response to what customers want from us.”
Last year, Jet2 introduced its ‘Live Transfer Status’ app feature, enabling passengers to track their coach transfer to the departure airport from their holiday destination in real time. This covers coach services when returning from the Balearics, Canaries, Mainland Spain, Morocco, Turkey, and Bulgaria, and is set to expand to Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Faro, and Madeira this summer.
Elsewhere, Jet2 has urged passengers to take action “at least 12 hours” before their flight.
With a packed summer season on the horizon and thousands of holidaymakers expected to board their flights, Jet2 has published guidance on arrivals and departures on its website. The airline advised customers: “Please check this section of the website at least 12 hours before your flight for the latest flight information.”
It continued: “Further information can be found by using the [above] search panel by entering your flight number or route. We recommend arriving at the airport at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure time.
“Please remember – check in desks close 40 minutes before this. In the event of flight disruption our dedicated Operations teams are working hard behind the scenes at our UK-based HQ to get you on your way as soon as possible.”
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Pakistan hosts Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian after mediating the breakthrough US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland.
Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026
Islamabad, Pakistan – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has alanded in Pakistan for a state visit – his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28.
His Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received the Iranian leader at a military base near capital Islamabad on Tuesday.
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During his day-long visit, Pezeshkian, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes ministers and senior officials, will hold talks with Sharif, and is also expected to meet with Zardari.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also call on the Iranian leader.
“During the visit, the two sides will review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore new avenues to further deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchanges, and regional connectivity,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Pezeshkian’s visit follows the crucial first round of talks between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, in the Swiss city of Bürgenstock to end the war on Iran.
As part of the agreement, the US will release $12bn in frozen Iranian funds. The US has also announced a temporary easing of international sanctions on Iran, allowing it to sell its oil and petrochemicals until August 21. The talks concluded with a 60-day roadmap towards a final deal.
It is Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan as president. His first, in August 2025, came days after the 12-day Iran-Israel war, and was also his first overseas trip following that conflict.
The visit is widely viewed as an expression of gratitude for Pakistan’s role in brokering the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed on June 18 by US President Donald Trump and Pezeshkian, with Prime Minister Sharif signing the document as a mediator.
The Islamabad MoU launched the formal diplomatic process now under way in Switzerland.
“The visit will also provide an important opportunity to discuss ongoing diplomatic engagements following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement.
11:53, 23 Jun 2026Updated 11:53, 23 Jun 2026
The inspirational women are raising awareness of living with dementia (Image: ITV)
Two women determined to challenge the stigma surrounding dementia have shared their personal journeys living with the condition.
Julie Hayden and Gail Gregory, the self-proclaimed ‘dementia rebels,’ featured on Tuesday’s This Morning to mark Alzheimer’s Society’s Forget Me Not month.
Chatting to hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, Gail, from Lancashire, disclosed she had received her diagnosis in 2019 aged 54, and was informed at the time she only had six to seven years to live.
“I was running my own business, and we’d noticed changes with my personality,” she explained. “I had an embroidery business like teddy bears and clothing, and we put personalised messages on, and I was taking a lot of information in which I wasn’t retaining. So when people were placing orders, I was having trouble retaining information, so I was making mistakes, which we put down to stress at the beginning because we had just moved.
“As you do, you put things off, and you think it’s going to get better, but it doesn’t get better, it goes worse, and so other things start to creep in,” reports Lancs Live.
Eventually, Gail chose to consult a medical professional and described the assessments she underwent at the doctor’s that proved challenging, such as drawing a clock face, “getting the numbers muddled up,” and attempting to recall an address.
Reflecting on that moment, she said: “You realise there’s something wrong. It’s then that it’s reality, that there’s something wrong. But what, you don’t know.
“Nobody tells you it’s going to be dementia, and you don’t imagine it’s going to be dementia, especially not at the age of 54.
“This is where the perception is wrong. Everybody expects it to be an older person in their later years, what they don’t expect is that people younger than me have been diagnosed, there are even children diagnosed.
“It’s that perception we need to change, because it’s not the end of life, it’s the beginning of a new one.”
Julie also revealed how she had been suffering from “life-changing” symptoms for more than five years when she was diagnosed, but was dismissed by the doctors.
She was told she was depressed and going through menopause, and it took Julie more than five years for a diagnosis.
Julie and Gail are now both supporting other people with dementia, particularly younger people, and fighting back against the stigma of people living with the condition.
As she urged for more training and information to support doctors, Julie said, “I can’t tell you what it’s like to live with cancer and go through the treatments because I’ve never been there. Nobody can tell you what it’s like to live with dementia unless they’ve actually lived with it.”
She added, “I had huge surprises as to what it was like, compared to how I thought it was going to be like when I got my own.”
Sharing her gratitude for the support they’ve both received from friends, family and those spreading awareness, Gail read: “A diagnosis of dementia, it can change many things but it should never, ever change our worth.
“We don’t need pity, and we don’t need to be pushed aside, because we need understanding and support and the opportunity to continue to live our lives with purpose, dignity, and connection.”
She added, “When I got my diagnosis, they said to me I would have six to seven years to live. I’m in those years now, and I’m still going, and what people should be saying to us is, go outside and live your life. Do the things that you want to do because that’s what life’s about at the end of the day, it’s about living.”
She continued: “I’m very grateful for dementia, because dementia has made me calm down. It’s made me appreciate the things that we have, like nature and things like that; it’s been wonderful. We get so many opportunities that we wouldn’t even dream of having, like coming here today, it’s wonderful.”
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
For more information, visit https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
TOURISTS may face fees for rinsing off at a popular Spanish beach holiday resort.
A controversial smart meter has been installed at beach showers, upsetting both locals and visitors.
The smart shower is currently being trialled at Matalascanas Beach at Costa de Luz in south-west Spain.
While it is currently free to use, the plan is for users to be charged via a QR code or they can pay with cash.
The meter accepts two types of coins, with “no change given”, or beach-goers can use their mobile phones to scan the code and pay online.
This initiative has been promoted by two local engineers as a water-saving scheme.
However, claims that the set-up could cost a family-of-four around £3.50 to quickly wash off the sand on their bodies, has caused a stir.
The smart shower has been installed by the four-star On Hotel Oceanfront, which is understood to be the only shower in operation along the entire 2.6 mile-long beach.
It has already been met with backlash from residents, with many pointing out the issues with the set-up.
“Great idea. You have to get your mobile out and when you go to shower where do you leave it?” asked one person.
Another said: “I understand that water is important but I think this is terrible. Do you have to shower with your mobile in your hand?”
Commenting on an online discussion over the proposed charges, one social media user said: “Little by little, we normalize paying for everything.”
“By next year there will be parking metres, paid showers, and in a few years they’ll charge us for stepping on the sand – private beaches, like in other European countries,” they added.
Another person said: “This year the trial to find out how much they’re going to get, and next year they charge everyone.”
Almonte Council, the local authority covering the beach, has not confirmed how long the free trial period will last.
The estimated cost of a shower lasting less than a minute has been put at around €1 (85 p).
It comes after several beaches on the eastern end of the Costa del Sol decided to shut their showers last summer, with only foot washes remaining open.
However, the situation is expected to be much better this summer following a winter of heavy rain.
Rincon de la Victoria Council announced last month it would be opening its beach showers as normal this year.
11:50, 23 Jun 2026Updated 12:53, 23 Jun 2026
Simon Calder shared his advice on Good Morning Britain(Image: ITV)
Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a new alert for anyone travelling by rail this week, sharing his latest advice for millions of people across the country as a heatwave hits. His warning comes as train passengers face significant disruptions, with operators across Britain reducing services due to the hot weather this week.
According to the Met Office, temperatures could reach 40C in parts of the UK, with the weather agency issuing a red extreme heat warning. Britain is facing what could be its hottest June since 1976.
Appearing on today’s (June 23) episode of Good Morning Britain, the travel journalist and broadcaster offered a word of warning to viewers. He urged people to change their travel plans this week and, if possible, swap to another date due to the severe heat over the next couple of days.
He said: “My advice to anyone booked to travel by rail over the next few days is, please, if you can, move your journey to the end of the week, then do so. It will be much more comfortable and have a higher degree of actually working as it is supposed to. Otherwise, I’m afraid, just be prepared for delays and disruption.”
The rail industry is preparing for problems that can arise from extreme heat, such as sagging overhead power lines, warped tracks, and fires along the tracks. Travellers are encouraged to leave earlier in the day if they can and to bring a water bottle. Online journey planners may not display accurate schedules until the day of travel due to last-minute cancellations.
According to Citizens Advice, if your train is cancelled, you can receive a full refund if you can’t catch the next train or choose not to travel. If you’re delayed and reach your destination over 30 minutes late, you can typically get some money back.
Some train companies may even offer compensation if your train is late by more than 15 minutes. Make sure to keep your train tickets to request a refund. It’s best to file your claim within 28 days, although some train companies may allow a longer period.
For those who travelled with Transport for London (TfL), like on the London Underground, you can check its website to see how much you could receive and the process for claiming.
Avanti West Coast said it plans to run fewer services than usual between Tuesday and Thursday, and “there’s a risk of further disruption”. The company eased ticket restrictions, enabling passengers to use an earlier service than the one they booked at no extra cost. Those with tickets booked for departures between Tuesday and Thursday are eligible for a full refund if they no longer want to travel.
Chiltern Railways has axed more than half its services over those three days “to ensure the safe operation of the railway”. This affects London Marylebone services to and from Birmingham, Oxford and Aylesbury via Amersham.
The operator said: “We strongly advise you to avoid travelling if possible. Trains are running at greatly reduced levels to ensure everyone’s safety, which means you may experience significant delays and very busy conditions.”
Great Western Railway requested that people use its services only for “essential travel” on Wednesday and Thursday, coinciding with a severe red warning from the Met Office. The company explained that extended high temperatures can impact the equipment on its older regional train fleet, including engines and cooling systems.
It is operating fewer trains than usual between London Paddington and Reading until Friday. This is due to Network Rail not moving certain points—metal pieces that allow trains to switch tracks—on that route to reduce the risk of failures, which are more probable in high heat.
LNER said passengers travelling on Tuesday can board an earlier service, adding “we strongly advise that you do not travel across the LNER route” on Wednesday or Thursday. There is disruption across the Transport for Wales network, including between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay, and between Coryton and Penarth.
South Western Railway issued an alert stating it will run fewer services than normal between Tuesday and Thursday. Its services in Hampton, south-west London were also affected by flooding on Tuesday morning after heavy rain overnight.
Flooding also caused severe delays on the Elizabeth line between Heathrow airport and London Paddington. Several London Underground lines were suffering from major disruption on Tuesday morning. This included the entire Circle line being suspended because of a signalling failure.
Attorneys general in seventeen states are suing California over its landmark single-use plastic law, which went into effect on June 1.
The lawsuit comes after a coalition of environmental groups sued the state over the same law this month, arguing the new final regulations create loopholes so large they gut the law.
The states are led by Nebraska Atty. Gen. Mike Hilgers, and the plaintiffs include the National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors. The coalition is asking the court to block enforcement of the law immediately.
“Once again, California is trying to enact a policy that negatively impacts the rest of the country,” said Hilgers in a news release. “If California goes unchecked, consumers will be forced to pay more for basic necessities.”
The other states in the coalition are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Eastern California in Sacramento on Monday.
State Senate Bill 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022. It was considered landmark legislation because it requires plastic and packaging companies to use less single-use plastic and ensure by 2032 that all food packaging is either recyclable or compostable.
Accumulating plastic waste is overwhelming waterways and oceans, sickening marine life and threatening human health.
The intent was not only to reduce single=use plastic, but also to put the onus and cost of dealing with it on packaging producers and manufacturers, not consumers and local governments. It was supposed to incentivize companies to consider the fate of their products and spur innovation in material redesign.
Plastic bottles of dishwashing liquid at Compton’s Market in Sacramento on June 17, 2022.
(Rich Pedroncelli/AP)
According to one state analysis, 2.9 million tons of single-use plastic and 171.4 billion single-use plastic components were sold, offered for sale or distributed during 2023 in California.
The single-use plastic law is what is known as a producer responsibility law. It emphasizes the idea of a “circular economy” in which the producer of a material must consider its fate — making sure it can be reused or recycled, or at least reduced.
In California, all producers of single-use packaging and plastic foodware (plates, knives, spoons, etc.) join a private entity known as a producer responsibility organization. Only one such organization has been approved in California: the Circular Action Alliance.
The states and the National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors say the plastic law discriminates against businesses selling into the state in two ways: by making them change or alter their plastic packaging and by conferring government authority upon the alliance, enabling a private entity to regulate and impose taxes and fees on businesses selling into California.
“California is not entitled to pronounce nationwide policies,” Eric Hoplin, president and chief executive of the wholesalers group, said in a statement. “Because the Act extends California’s regulatory reach far beyond its borders and brings within its sweep conduct wholly unconnected to California, the Act violates principles of federalism, the horizontal separation of powers, and due process.”
In addition, the attorneys general say the law suppresses their free speech by compelling companies to join and fund the speech of an organization with which they may disagree.
Hoplin and his organization filed a similar suit in Oregon in February. Oregon has a comparable single-use plastic law. A federal judge blocked enforcement of that law. A trial begins on July 13.
Heidi Sanborn, executive director and CEO of the National Stewardship Action Council, which advocates for the producer responsibility laws and a more circular economy, said in May that both SB 54 and the Oregon law are public policies that were “passed by legislatures and implemented with government oversight.”
She said the laws create clear and consistent rules so all producers contribute fairly to the cost of recycling and waste management.
Meanwhile, environmental groups are also unhappy.
On June 2, Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Californians Against Waste Foundation filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court.
They allege that the final regulations for the law, drafted and approved by the state’s waste agency, include exclusions for large categories of plastic packaging that companies could use indefinitely. In addition, they say, the regulations also allow for recycling technologies that pollute, such as chemical recycling, which the law as originally drafted forbids.
“While SB 54 remains a monumental achievement as the nation’s strongest single-use plastic reduction law, some of the final regulations implementing the statute undermine the law’s ambitions,” Christy Leavitt, Oceana’s senior campaign director, said in a statement.
Anderson, who played 55 times in all competitions for Newcastle United, made his debut in an FA Cup defeat against Arsenal in January 2021 before joining Bristol Rovers on loan a year later.
It was here that he completed a vital part of his education – while also figuring in what might still be the most remarkable match of his career.
Former Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan was player coach at Bristol Rovers, and vividly remembering the impact the confident “but never arrogant” Anderson made in the west country.
He told BBC Sport: “He just came into the building and showed his potential straight away. Nothing seemed to faze him. You could see straight away this boy was different.
“As the coach, there were certain scenarios in training when I tried to put him under a little pressure. Some kids would be a little bit more reserved and fall back. Elliot was right on the front foot. He took the bull by the horns.”
And the date 5 February 2022 was one of significance in Anderson’s development, as recalled by Whelan: “We were away to Sutton United. They were doing well and were a proper men’s team with a lot of grit. Some of the coaching team were a little wary of throwing him in against them.
“We were losing at half-time and I basically said ‘we need to get this lad on because he’s a game-changer.’ He came on and made an impact. He won a penalty and we drew. I think he played pretty much every minute after that.”
Anderson’s attitude and determination stood out as he excelled at Bristol Rovers – ending in a dramatic climax to the season.
“He just had a confidence about him to show everyone how good he was,” says Whelan. “It was not arrogance. He’d obviously had a great upbringing from his family and he had that Geordie in him.
“He played off the left wing, but if the ball wasn’t coming to him he would go and look for it. He didn’t care who was marking him. He could take the ball under pressure and make things happen.
“Elliot loved training. He wanted to learn, do the extras. He had the attitude to stay behind and get better. We could tell straight away he was going to be a top player.”
And Anderson left Bristol Rovers after one of the greatest days in their history, when they clinched promotion to League One on the final day of the season.
The Pirates started the day needing to better the result of third-placed Northampton or win by five goals more than their rivals – they won 7-0, Anderson getting the final goal with five minutes remaining to help Rovers move into the top three for the first time all season.
Anderson made his triumphant farewell chaired off by jubilant Bristol Rovers supporters.
WE AREN’T all lucky enough to be close to the coast, so when it comes to hot weather days, it can be hard to find a spot to enjoy the sun.
Yet across the country there are a number of inland beaches you can head to – so we’ve rounded up the best across the country.
The UK’s largest inland beach can be found in the Cotswolds at Cotswold Country Park and Beach, where you can head to the Main Beach for some swimming or dip in the Paddling Lagoon.
The beach is then backed by a grassy area, ideal for picnics.
But don’t worry if you haven’t brought your own food as there is the Beach Shack serving light bites as well as an Ice Cream Hut.
Admission varies depending on the time of year, but during peak season pedestrians and cyclists can access the park from £5 per person and a car of up to five people costs from £18.18 (around £3.64 each).
Read more on travel inspo
Ruislip Lido Beach in Hillingdon, West London, is a long stretch of sand with its own palm trees.
Even though you aren’t allowed to swim at the beach, you can sunbathe making it the ideal spot for city dwellers to escape to.
There’s plenty to keep kids occupied though, including a pirate ship play area and a splash pad.
Entry to the beach, splash pad and play area is free.
Loch Morlich Beach can be found in the Cairngorms National Park, near Aviemore, in Scotland.
The unique beach sits 300 metres above sea level in Glenmore Forest Park and while sunbathing on the beach you can even see the snow-topped Cairngorm mountains.
When it comes to the water, it is one of the cleanest freshwater beaches in the UK where you can rent paddleboards and kayaks if you fancy.
The beach is free to visit.
Found close to Wallingford Bridge, you can head to Wallingford Beach which stretches 35 metres long.
The Thames-side beach is backed by grass too which is ideal for a picnic.
Despite being a river spot, the water tends to have little to no current during the peak season but is also a designated swimming spot, so the water is tested regularly.
The spot is free to visit.
In the East Midlands, you can head to Rutland Water Beach which stretches 140 metres.
The spot is the first bathing location in England to achieve both a Blue Flag and Seaside Award for its water quality.
While the beach is open all year round, you can only swim in the water in the summer months from May to September, with opening hours varying from 10am to 6pm.
Access to the beach is free.
Close to Rochester, St Andrews Lakes has not one but two beaches with sunloungers and pretty blue waters to swim in.
There’s also a Nordic-inspired wellness centre with a hot tub and wood-fired sauna.
You can even stay at the lakes too in overwater lodges that look like ones in the Maldives.
Entry starts from £7.50 per person.
Hemsworth Water Park in West Yorkshire has not one but two lakes.
Even though you can’t swim in the lakes, the sandy beaches are the ideal place to chill out in the sunshine.
There’s also Playworld by the beach, which is an outdoor adventure playground with a tower slide and climbing frames.
The attraction is free to visit but if you want to go to Playworld, it costs £3 per person.
Near Dartmoor in Devon, you can head to River Dart Country Park which is home to a beach at the edge of a lake.
In the middle of the lake you will also find a partially sunken pirate ship.
There’s also a desert island with sand and faux palm trees.
Admission costs between £10 and £14.95 per person depending on whether you visit on a weekday or at the weekend.
Located at National Trust‘s Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton Reservoir has a man-made beach ideal for a day in the sun.
While on the beach you can look out to Long Mynd as well.
You can swim in the reservoir as well.
The spot is free to visit and there are a number of nice walks in the area too.
Famous for having England’s highest beach, you can head to Gaddings Dam in West Yorkshire.
In addition to the beach, you can swim in the dam which has previously been described by visitors as a “wild swimmer’s paradise”.
It is free to visit, but you’ll need to hike for around 30 minutes to get to the spot.
In this photo released Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) speaks during a plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang. Kim called for the expansion of Pyongyang’s nuclear forces, citing military cooperation between Seoul and Washington. Photo by KCNA/EPA
SEOUL, June 23 (UPI) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for accelerating the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear forces, citing increasingly hostile military cooperation between Seoul and Washington and an unstable global security environment, state media reported Monday.
Kim led a plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea from Saturday through Monday to review progress on national goals for the first half of the year and outline priorities for the remainder of 2026, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
The meeting reaffirmed Pyongyang’s commitment to strengthening and expanding its nuclear forces, describing them as “the core of the military sovereignty of the country” and the foundation of its war deterrent.
“To thoroughly exercise the position of a nuclear weapons state is the most correct and unique way to actively and confidently cope with the unpredictable international military and political situation,” KCNA said.
North Korea passed a law declaring itself a nuclear-armed state in 2022. Kim later amended the country’s constitution to enshrine the permanent growth of its nuclear arsenal, calling the status “irreversible.”
The remarks come weeks after Kim toured a newly inaugurated nuclear fuel production facility and vowed to continue expanding the country’s fissile material at an “exponential rate.”
In an address to the meeting, Kim said it was necessary to bolster North Korea’s defense capabilities in response to an increasingly volatile international environment.
“Wars, bloodshed and political and economic instabilities are becoming a daily occurrence in the world due to the gangster-like and unlimited geopolitical greed and misuse of strength,” Kim said, according to KCNA.
The North Korean leader criticized the U.S.-South Korea military alliance, citing regular joint military exercises and Seoul’s pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine.
Kim also singled out the allies’ Nuclear Consultative Group, which met in Seoul earlier this month, calling it a “nuclear war body” and accusing Washington and Seoul of developing plans for a nuclear strike against North Korea.
He further accused Japan of transforming itself into a “war state” and warned that military buildups in Northeast Asia were heightening regional tensions.
In addition to expanding the country’s nuclear program, Kim outlined broader military modernization goals, including construction of a 10,000-ton strategic guided missile cruiser, expansion of munitions production and the development of new naval facilities. He also called for completing ongoing efforts to harden the border with South Korea.
The remarks come as North Korea continues extensive fortification work near the Military Demarcation Line inside the DMZ, including the installation of barbed-wire fencing and preparations for mine-laying operations.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Monday called the activity a violation of the armistice agreement that ended fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War.
North Korea has revised its constitution to remove all references to reunification with South Korea, formalizing Kim’s push to redefine inter-Korean ties as relations between two separate states.
“In particular, it is essential to thoroughly adhere to the principle of struggle against the enemy set forth by our party which defined the ROK as the most hostile state,” Kim said, using the official acronym for South Korea.
The remarks underlined Pyongyang’s continued rejection of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s outreach efforts since taking office last year.
Last week, Lee said he discussed North Korea with U.S. President Donald Trump during the Group of Seven summit in France, arguing that sanctions had failed to halt Pyongyang’s nuclear development and suggesting a more phased approach.
Trump met Kim three times during his first term and has repeatedly said he would be open to meeting the North Korean leader again since returning to office.
“President Trump said it was time to pay attention to the North Korea issue again,” Lee said.
A CITY said to be an alternative holiday destination to Dubai is getting its only flight route from the UK.
Air Arabia will launch the new flights from London Gatwick to Sharjah in the UAE next month.
The route, starting from July 4, will operate twice a day, with flights from £205 each way.
It will be the first time the airline operates from the UK, and the only direct route to the UAE city.
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick, previously said: “Demand for flights to destinations across the Middle East has really taken off this year and we have been delighted to offer passengers across London and the South East an increasingly fantastic range of routes and choice of carriers.”
Sharjah is the third biggest city in the United Arab Emirates behind Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
It is often touted as a more family-friendly destination and said to be the cultural capital of the UAE.
Popular attractions includes the UNESCO Cultural Capital of the Arab World and the Al Montazah Parks amusement park
However, it does follow stricter rules than Dubai – such as alcohol being banned a cross the entire city.
But holidays to the UAE are back on the cards after the UK Foreign Office lifted the travel ban.
The ban on holidays to the UAE came after a number of attacks across Dubai due to the Iran War, which included to Dubai Airport.
Here are some other new routes launching from London Gatwick this year.
The TWZ Newsletter
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Turkey’s Baykar and Leonardo of Italy say they have successfully completed the first live trials of their K-SWARM concept, demonstrating collaborative operations between crewed and uncrewed aircraft as part of an effort to develop next-generation autonomous air combat capabilities. The trials, involving Baykar’s Kizilelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) and Leonardo’s M-346 light fighter-trainer aircraft, are the latest to explore what is fast becoming a key element in the evolution of air combat.
Leonardo and Baykar announced the development today. The trials took place last month at Baykar’s flight and test center in Çorlu, Turkey, and involved a Leonardo-owned M-346 Fighter Attack variant and a Kizilelma UCAV. An Italian Air Force T-346A, the trainer version of the M-346, was on hand as chase aircraft.
During the flight-test campaign, the Kizilelma completed its taxi and takeoff autonomously. It then autonomously joined the M-346 in formation. At this point, the two-person crew in the jet assumed full control of the Kizilelma.
The Kizilelma used so-called Smart Fleet Autonomy algorithms developed by Baykar’s Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Laboratory for the trials.
Once ‘handed over’ to the M-346, the pilots in the jet made use of a newly developed and fully integrated avionics suite to command different formations. Via a crewed/uncrewed computing system, the Kizilelma performed different maneuvers and formations, including position changes, separations and rejoins. These were executed autonomously by the drone, with the M-346 pilots only responsible for providing the initial commands.
What was described as an advanced radio-frequency data exchange system was used to share all data between the platforms.
The Kizilelma/M-346 trials in Çorlu were the first live phase of Leonardo and Baykar’s K-SWARM program, which focuses on developing interoperability between crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The companies refer to this as crewed/uncrewed teaming (CUC-T), but it’s also referred to by other names, including manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), or collaborative combat teaming.
TWZ was provided the opportunity to experience the M-346FA firsthand during a visit and demonstration flight at the Beech Factory Airport in Wichita, Kansas:
We Fly Aboard The M-346 That Could Become The Navy’s Next Jet Trainer
Whatever the term, the ambition is similar: to have future fighter pilots go into battle accompanied by drones under their control, ready to fire weapons, gather intelligence, jam communications, or serve as decoys.
Baykar and Leonardo helped accelerate the start of these crewed/uncrewed teaming trials by first running simulated missions, including using an M-346 full-mission simulator in Venegono, Italy, and the Leonardo product capability and concept laboratory, or PC2LAB, in Turin. This meant that algorithms, as well as tactics and procedures, could be tested in the virtual realm first.
The Kizilelma’s rapid rise to prominence as a fighter-like UCAV has been notable, and there have been some impressive milestones along the way.
In general, the Kizilelma is one of only a few fighter-type air combat drone projects to have resulted in hardware. The development of the Kizilelma began as long ago as 2013, although the project was only revealed to the public in July 2021, when conceptual studies were presented.
Kizilelma was flown first — very briefly — in December 2022, as you can read about here. That milestone came only weeks after the Kizilelma’s emergence for ground testing.
The UCAV is claimed to be supersonic (at least in later versions), have a degree of reduced-observable characteristics, and be tailored for the kinds of air combat missions typically undertaken by crewed fighter jets. In particular, it is eyed as being a drone companion to Turkey’s next-generation TF Kaan crewed fighter. In its definitive form, the drone is powered by a single Ukrainian-made Ivchenko-Progress AI-322F turbofan delivering close to 10,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner.
Late last year, Turkey announced that the Kizilelma used a Turkish-made Gökdoğan air-to-air missile to destroy a target drone, marking the first occasion a UCAV had launched a radar-guided air-to-air missile. Days later, Boeing followed up the feat when its MQ-28A Ghost Bat drone launched an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) in southern Australia.
Bayraktar #KIZILELMA | GÖKDOĞAN Füzesi Atış Testi
A next set of K-SWARM tests is planned for the coming months, with more complexity and additional functions. The companies say these will require greater levels of situational awareness and assets working together ‘as one’ toward mission objectives. Further details, including how enhanced situational awareness will be achieved, were not disclosed, but it should be noted that the Kizilelma has already been tested with a Toygun electro-optical sensor and targeting system, as well as an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
Ultimately, however, the K-SWARM program aims to harness AI technology to enable uncrewed systems to incrementally shift from remote piloting to autonomy, suggesting that, in future trials, the Kizilelma will autonomously conduct more complex missions and maneuvers on the command of the M-346 pilots. At all times, those human pilots will maintain full control and decision-making, the companies say.
A UCAV operating under the control of a crewed tactical jet represents a major milestone for Turkey, placing it among a very small group of countries pursuing this advanced capability. Publicly, such crewed-uncrewed teaming has largely been confined to experimental efforts in the United States and China. We meanwhile know a lot about what the United States has been doing in the “white world” in this regard, and it is now only accelerating its CCA efforts, while it is clear that China has also prioritized it.
Russia has also reportedly flight-tested its S-70 Okhotnik UCAV with a crewed Su-57 Felon fighter, but there is no confirmation about the degree of collaboration achieved. Last year, meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force demonstrated an MQ-20 Avenger drone being controlled by a pilot in an F-22 Raptor, during a mock mission.
Given the current surge in interest in collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), the joint trials by Baykar and Leonardo also appear especially well-timed.
To take just one European country, Germany currently has a stated requirement for an operational CCA to be fielded before the end of this decade. While the Kizilelma might not necessarily be in the running for that, the AI technology that it is now demonstrating could be of considerable interest to a variety of export customers.
Meanwhile, the Kizilelma, like other Turkish defense products, comes with the advantage of being free from the restrictions imposed by the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) guidelines. ITAR serves to limit the transfer of defense and military technologies and services — especially the more sensitive ones — to certain countries. Already, Turkey has leveraged its drone developments to secure major arms sales to a variety of countries for which these kinds of capabilities would otherwise be out of reach — in both technological and political terms.
The opportunity for Turkey to offer for export the Kizilelma in concert with the high-end TF Kaan, or the lower-end Hürjet light combat aircraft, would put it in a unique position, at least in Europe. The same platforms could also be supplied with integrated weapons options, providing another significant advantage.
As for Leonardo, the M-346 has recorded some notable sales, with the combat-optimized Fighter Attack version also gaining increasing traction. Meanwhile, through its stake in Eurofighter, the Italian firm may well be looking forward to offering these ‘drone commander’ capabilities to the multirole fighter. As we have discussed only recently, the collapse of the pan-European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) effort means that CCA capabilities are even more in the spotlight, including efforts to team UCAVs with advanced fourth-generation platforms like the Eurofighter Typhoon.
For Baykar and Leonardo, demonstrating that the Kizilelma can be commanded from an M-346 is an important achievement, but scaling that capability to different aircraft, larger formations, and increasingly autonomous mission execution will ultimately determine whether K-SWARM becomes an operational capability rather than simply a technology demonstrator. It should also be remembered that while the autonomy engine and AI agent are critical parts of an effective fighter-CCA teaming concept, it is unclear how developed these technologies are in the K-SWARM experiments. After all, just controlling the UCAV is one thing, but having the drone do much of the thinking while the pilot gives approvals and basic directions is the key. The companies have also proposed developing these technologies further to achieve ‘swarming,’ which presents an even greater challenge in this context.
However, with demand for affordable force multipliers continuing to grow and air forces looking for ways to increase combat mass without buying ever more expensive crewed fighters, a UCAV that can combine with a crewed combat aircraft further demonstrates the rapid pace of advances in Turkey’s burgeoning drone capabilities.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
