Month: July 2026

It began as a whimsical idea that occurred to Daniel Leigh after an idyllic trip to the United States: Sell his family’s five-bedroom home in England and travel the world with his wife, Lauren Vaknine, and their two children.

So he was surprised when, a few months later, Vaknine and their children, Braxton, 10, and Viva, 7, agreed to go along with the plan.

“We’re not really travelers,” Leigh said. “We’ve always watched others travel.”

When they got back from their trip to America in March, they noticed that others had successfully raffled their homes on the British website Raffall. The online platform raffles everything from cars to homes, including one man who promoted his house to Americans last year as a “safe haven from Trump.” The couple decided to try it too.

The home is located just 20 minutes outside of London in Elstree.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

In June, they put their house in Elstree, about 20 minutes from London, up as a sweepstakes prize online and began selling tickets for five British pounds each, or $6.75.

“While someone new makes memories in our home, we get to go and make some of our own,” said Leigh, who has worked in educational recruitment in London for more than 20 years.

Leigh got the idea after reading a New York Times article about Imelda Collins, who raised about $1.4 million last year by raffling her two-bedroom cottage in Ireland. She sold 206,815 tickets at $6.70 each, and in October, Collins sold her cottage to Kathleen Spangler, a 29-year-old U.S. Marine Corps officer from Dayton, Ohio, who had bought three tickets on a whim and promptly forgot about them.

Leigh and Vaknine, both 42, grew up in the same village and went to high school together.

But after their family trip to New Orleans; Asheville, N.C.; and South Carolina spots Charleston, Folly Beach and Lake Keowee, they began to wonder if they wanted to stay in the same town forever. Kayaking and seeing the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains made them rethink their life.

The couple’s open kitchen was renovated in 2021.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

The living room.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

“Living on a lake was the most peaceful life I’ve ever had,” Leigh said. “It was perfect. In England, the kids spend most of their time indoors because of the weather, and we have to keep them busy with things like trampolines or indoor parks. Every family outing costs about $300. You can’t just go to the lake, the beach or hike in the mountains.”

Leigh said they have worked hard to build the life they thought they wanted, with two kids, their dog and a home. But after achieving professional success, they realized it was not the future they hoped for.

“We keep chasing goals that always seem just out of reach, simply because we feel we have to keep going,” he said. “There’s so much life to live. We’re seeing many of our parents and our friends’ parents pass away, and it makes you realize that life can feel like a conveyor belt. You either live or you just keep moving along.”

For Vaknine, a holistic wellness coach who was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age 2, selling their home and traveling the world carries even deeper meaning.

“I have been on a long journey,” said Vaknine, who has been in remission for the past decade. “From being head-to-toe disabled to being fully able-bodied, you don’t come through that without realizing that there is so much more to life than working, taking the kids to school and making dinner in the same house every day. For me, the extraordinary life isn’t about mansions, yachts or extravagance. It’s about experiencing life fully, finding deep inner joy, and I can’t do that if I stay within the same four walls in the same town I grew up in.”

Her husband added, “She lives a life of gratitude for everything. That’s what this is about: Let’s live life in the moment and do what we can when we are fully able.”

Their five-bedroom home, which is estimated at about $2 million, is on a quiet cul-de-sac with just five other houses in Hertfordshire, England. It has 2,226 square feet of living space, a south-facing garden, an open-plan kitchen, a dining and living room renovated in 2021, plus a home office and gym.

Leigh said they are not trying to make a profit, but they need to sell 550,000 tickets to cover the property’s costs, legal fees, taxes, prize money and raffle expenses.

“The ticket target has been set to cover all of the associated costs, so it’s unlikely there will be much left over,” he said. “If ticket sales exceed the target, then certainly, but that’s not the goal.”

If they don’t reach the ticket target, a winner will still be chosen and will get 50% of the money raised. They hope the winner gets the house.

One of the home’s bathrooms.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

One of the five bedrooms in the couple’s home.

(Lux Visuals Ltd.)

One reason homes aren’t auctioned often on the site, he said, is that you have to promote them yourself. Leigh estimates they’ve spent about $17,000 so far and are about to spend another $15,000 on Meta advertising. They also have to pay for their own legal advice.

The raffle has become a family project, and their children have helped with promotion. In one video, Braxton asks what might be the most important question about their move: “Are we bringing the dog?”

“We may have to leave him with family for a while,” Leigh said of their dog Story. “He’s the size of a small pony, so traveling with him could be a challenge. He’d definitely be missed, though.”

Working together to promote their home has been a valuable lesson for their children, Leigh said, showing them “that if you put your mind to something, you can do it. I want them to see hard work. It’s not just fun to do videos. It’s staying up till midnight, getting up early, running two jobs and making sure you don’t miss an interview. And in the end, the kids will see that life can change, and there’s a world out there if you make it happen.”

The family recently spent time in North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana. “We’re huge fans of America,” Leigh said. The couple hope to visit all 50 states after their home is raffled on Dec. 7.

(Daniel Leigh)

The kids aren’t worried about losing their home, Leigh said. “They are excited about going on a holiday, which we hope will include Australia, India and every state in America.”

With a record number of Americans applying for British citizenship, the couple’s raffle may be well-timed. The winner, chosen randomly by Raffall on Dec. 7, will get a mortgage-free home with all legal fees and taxes paid, plus $45,000 for household bills. The property transfer may take up to 60 days or longer according to Raffall’s terms and conditions.

Part of every ticket sale will go to Solace Women’s Aid, a British charity supporting women and children affected by domestic violence. Leigh notes that not every state can take part in Raffall competitions because of different state gambling, lottery and consumer protection laws.

At a time when many people are trying to choose between traveling or saving for a house, the couple is offering raffle entrants a chance to do both.

That’s the point, Leigh said: “If not now, when? That question changed everything.”

Published on
22/07/2026 – 12:17 GMT+2

The European Union is preparing to accept new tariffs the United States is expected to impose in the coming days over forced labour, as long as they do not exceed the 15 percent cap agreed under the Turnberry agreement, the European Commission said.

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The White House said in early June that it would impose fresh duties on its global trading partners, arguing that insufficient efforts to curb trade in goods produced using forced labour were harming US commercial interests.

The current US tariff regime expires on Friday, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Tuesday that implementation of the forced labour duties was imminent.

European officials are closely monitoring the level of the new tariffs, as an EU-US trade agreement signed in July 2025 in Turnberry, Scotland, by US President Donald Trump and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen caps US duties on EU goods at 15 percent.

“Of course we do not agree with the findings on forced labour, and we’ve made that very clear to our United States counterparts,” an EU senior official said.

“But the main objective is to make sure that the agreement is respected and that our companies can benefit from the stability and predictability that was set out there.”

EU rules against forced labour

The Trump administration imposed 10 percent duties on its global trading partners last February after a US Supreme Court ruling declared its 2025 tariffs illegal. Added to the pre-existing Most-Favoured-Nation duties, those tariffs mean the EU is currently paying average duties close to the 15 percent ceiling set by the Turnberry agreement.

However, the current legal basis for the US tariff regime does not allow it to remain in force for more than 150 days – that is, until 24 July – unless Congress approves an extension, which is considered unlikely ahead of the US midterm elections.

As part of its effort to replace the current regime, the US Trade Department launched an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 into forced labour in global supply chains, which is due to be concluded in the coming days.

“We expect to see some action soon,” Greer said on Tuesday on CNBC. “I can’t really specify a timeline right now – I have a responsibility to brief Congress and other stakeholders before I really reveal that kind of thing. But we do expect action soon on that front.”

In early June, the Commission defended its regulations, saying it had strict rules against products made with forced labour.

“The EU considers tariffs imposed on these grounds to be unjustified,” Olof Gill, the Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson, said in a statement at the time.

And yet, the Commission now appears to consider there is no better option than ensuring the Turnberry agreement is respected.

If you’re looking to bring a squishy toy on a flight this summer, there are some travel rules you may not be aware of.

The viral toys are extremely popular with young children, but may not be allowed through security at certain airports.

With the summer break fully underway, many Brits will soon be heading overseas on holiday.

For families packing children’s toys to bring on the flight, it’s important to check with airport security rules as certain toys may not be allowed past the gates.

One such product is the viral squishy dumplings, the latest toy craze to take over the internet.

Housed in plastic “basket style” pots, the trending toys come in a variety of bright colours, including rarer glitter and galaxy dumplings.

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However, if you or your child are looking to bring the toys with you abroad this summer, there’s a possibility the squishies may be flagged at security.

This is because some of the squeezy dumplings are filled with gel.

UK airports have restrictions on the limit of liquids, gels and pastes you can bring through security, which can range from 100ml up to two litres.

To check rules surrounding squeezy dumplings, the BBC reached out to the Department for Transport and major UK airports to see what guidelines they had in place.

The DfT is one of the regulatory bodies that consults on airport security restrictions.

When it comes to bringing squishy toys on planes, the DfT said: “No matter how adorable your squishy dumpling is, airport security rules still apply.”

This means that depending on the airport you are flying from, the limits that airport sets out surrounding liquids, gels and pastes will apply to your squishy toy.

It’s advised to check directly with the airport you are flying from to understand these limits.

However, the department did add that for any travellers in doubt as to where to pack their squeezy dumplings “the safest place is in your hold luggage”.

Manchester Airport has advised that “all but very small squishy toys should be placed in hold baggage”.

As smaller squishies contain less than 100ml of liquid they should be fine to bring through.

But larger toys may not have the exact measurement listed on the item, meaning it’s better to bring them in hand luggage so security can estimate the size.

Both Birmingham Airport and London Gatwick Airport said that the squeezy toys are required to go through security screening, whichever bag the item is in.

Like anything going through security, the airports confirmed that if the item fails security checks, it would not be allowed on the plane.

As the toys contain gel, Belfast City Airport has confirmed that the items are subject to the airport’s security rules surrounding liquids, gels and pastes.

Belfast City is one of a small number of airports in the UK that has introduced new security checks and limits on the amount of liquid able to bring through security.

Passengers can now bring up to two litres in hand luggage through this airport, so squishy dumplings are likely to be fine.

Both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports have said that its best to follow guidelines set out by the DfT.

THE longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK has finally opened at an adventure park – and it’s just in time for the summer holidays.

Families can now enjoy the new attraction, which offers visitors the chance to slide down 315ft on a doughnut-shaped inflatable.

Located at Roarr! park in Norfolk, Fossil Falls is even bigger than the 288ft-long Forest Tubing experience, which opened at Heaton Park’s Zip World in May.

The £300,000 ride was officially opened on Saturday by Matty Campbell, better known as Bionic from Gladiators.

He said: “It was amazing to see so many people turn out for the opening of Fossil Falls and the atmosphere has been incredible.

“I’m delighted to have been here to officially open it and see so many families enjoy it.”

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Ben Francis, park director at Roarr!, said: “What a way to open Fossil Falls.

“We’ve had thousands of visitors joining us over the weekend and it’s been fantastic to see families enjoying the ride for the very first time.”

Fossil Falls attraction joins other popular features at the 85-acre park.

This includes Dippy’s Splash Zone and Predator High Ropes.

Other attractions at Roarr!, which is billed as the UK’s largest dinosaur theme park, include the Swing-O-Saurus and the Raptor Contraptor.

All attractions are included in the price of entry.

A study of 2,000 holidaymakers found a manicure or pedicure is the treatment they would most like to have while away, followed by a Turkish bath and a facial

Two thirds of travellers describe themselves as ‘pamper tourists’ and relish beauty treatments abroad – because they’re more affordable and there’s greater opportunity than back in the UK.

Research involving 2,000 holidaymakers revealed a manicure or pedicure tops the list of treatments they’d most like to indulge in while away, with a Turkish bath and facial following close behind. Massages, hair treatments and even fish pedicures also feature among the top 20.

A third of those surveyed said they would be tempted to book a treatment abroad if it worked out cheaper than back home, while 28% would consider it simply because they have more free time than usual while on holiday.

More than one in 10, however, would book a treatment at their destination purely to avoid the last-minute rush before they even set off.

The research was commissioned by Treatwell as part of its ‘No Shame in Being Type B’ campaign, which celebrates holidaymakers who don’t panic if their beauty prep isn’t sorted before take-off.

Its so-called ‘beautician brigade’ took over London Victoria, lining the concourse of the Gatwick Express terminal with signs serving as a love letter to those with an unapologetically last-minute approach to holiday beauty prep.

The brand’s UK CEO, Alessandro Frau, said: “Holiday beauty prep doesn’t have to happen before you leave home anymore.

“As our customers’ habits evolve, we’re evolving with them, making it easier to discover and book trusted beauty services wherever they are in Europe.”

The findings came off the back of data from Treatwell revealing that 5% of all UK bookings made on the beauty and wellness platform were placed overseas rather than at home.

Nails proved the most popular treatment booked by British travellers abroad, topping the charts in six of the brand’s seven biggest European markets — only knocked off the top spot by hair in Lithuania.

Italy is the overseas destination where UK travellers are most likely to book a beauty treatment, with the Mediterranean nation accounting for 21% of all cross-border bookings across those same countries, ahead of France (18%), Germany (17%), Spain (15%) and Lithuania (15%).

Greece is the fastest-growing of the seven destinations, with UK bookings there up 38% year-on-year, while Portugal (+23%) and Lithuania (+5%) also recorded strong growth.

However, a number of hurdles remain when it comes to booking treatments abroad, with 33% expressing concerns over treatment quality, 25% unsure about which venues to trust, and 23% worried about hidden costs.

This follows research revealing that UK travellers are divided between meticulous planners and last-minute bookers, with 54% describing themselves as Type A travellers who prefer to plan well in advance

Yet 11% proudly consider themselves Type B, leaving everything to the eleventh hour, according to the research by OnePoll.

Despite this, the average traveller spends just under six hours preparing for a trip, juggling everything from passports and visas to pet care and beauty treatments.

Alessandro Frau, from the beauty booking brand, added: “Whether you’re planning ahead or booking from your sun lounger, Treatwell gives you the same seamless experience, verified reviews and quality partners you trust at home.

“So everyone is treated like a local.”

TOP 20 BEAUTY TREATMENTS TO HAVE WHILE ON HOLIDAY:

1. Manicure / pedicure.
2. Turkish bath.
3. Facial.
4. Hot stone massage.
5. Body scrub / exfoliation treatment.
6. Aromatherapy massage.
7. Hair treatment.
8. Hammam massage.
9. Reflexology.
10. Scalp treatment.
11. Acupuncture.
12. Korean glass-skin facial.
13. Japanese camellia oil facial massage.
14. Fish pedicure.
15. Body wrap.
16. Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage.
17. LED light therapy facial.
18. Eyebrow threading.
19. Ayurvedic facial.
20. Lash treatment.

THERE’S a seaside town in the UK which hasn’t had its own train station in decades – but that is about to change.

Portishead in North Somerset is getting the train station as part of a £200million project.

The town, which is one of the largest in the UK, will open a station in Portishead and neighbouring Pill in winter 2028.

In a video of the new station, it shows that there will be one platform and that it will be an end-of-the-line station.

The new station will have hourly direct services from the town to Bristol Temple Meads, which is around a 25-minute journey.

It will be developed along the existing Portishead Line, which used to run between Bristol and the seaside town, but closed in 1964.

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The route runs under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and through the Avon Gorge, with services due to be run by Great Western Railway.

According to a local councillor, the new station and reopened line will “enable an estimated £43million of economic growth each year”.

Niall Spencer, senior sponsor for Network Rail‘s Great Western route, said: “There’s now visible progress right across the route, from bridge upgrades and site clearance to preparations for the new stations themselves.

“It’s exciting to see this long-awaited railway taking shape and moving another step closer to reconnecting local communities with the rail network for the first time in more than six decades.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “I know so many people have been waiting so long for passenger trains to return to the Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads line, and it is great to see work is well underway.

“Through this new £200 million train line, the West of England and North Somerset, alongside our industry partners, can connect more people to work, nature, and leisure.”

In the mean time, make sure to check out the Portishead Open Air Pool which reopened this year after a £1.3million revamp.

As the fifth anniversary of the takeover approaches in October, Newcastle clearly have work to do on and off the field.

Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan set out to be “number one” while chief executive David Hopkinson’s aim was to be “in the debate about being the top club in the world” by 2030.

But Newcastle need the infrastructure to match.

An announcement is awaited on plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground after a site was identified in Woolsington near Newcastle Airport.

The club have stressed the importance of taking time to make the right decision when it comes to either expanding St James’ Park or building a new stadium, which will be key to boosting revenue.

To consistently compete, however, there is little margin for error.

Newcastle needed to see more of an immediate return from a £100m-plus net spend last summer, for example, but defender Malick Thiaw has been the only unquestioned success.

The club are also counting the cost of a bruising 12th-placed finish last season after missing out on Europe.

Most pertinently, after breaching Uefa’s financial sustainability regulations, Newcastle have entered into a three-year settlement with European football’s governing body.

Raising funds through the sales of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur respectively was therefore crucial in order for the club to have the ability to reinvest this summer.

Three key players have now left in less than 12 months, though, which has weakened the side considerably, following Alexander Isak’s painful £125m departure to Liverpool last summer.

Newcastle do not want to lose another big name in Bruno Guimaraes, but the captain’s future is uncertain after he intimated he wished to join Arsenal.

Whatever happens, trading will remain a key part of the club’s strategy in the coming years and there has been a shift in approach with incomings too.

Further reinforcements are sorely needed but all of the club’s arrivals this summer – goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, midfielder Sean Steur and winger Bazoumana Toure – have been aged 20 and under, and from the continent.

The trio have immense potential and, in the right hands, could flourish, but they will need time. It feels like the same could be said for the project as a whole right now.

South Korea’s per capita household net assets rose more than 9 percent from a year earlier in 2025 on higher housing and securities prices, the central bank data showed Wednesday.

The average value of net assets held by households per capita stood at 274.7 million won (US$185,600) last year, up 9.1 percent from the previous year, according to the national balance sheet from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The figure was calculated by dividing the total assets of households and nonprofit organizations — 14,200 trillion won — by the country’s population of 51.6 million, according to the BOK.

It marked a sharp acceleration from the 3 percent growth tallied in 2024.

“Last year, South Korea’s main bourse and overseas stock markets were bullish, contributing to the gains,” a BOK official said. “Housing prices also rose, leading to an asset increase.”

The BOK said the latest figure translates into $193,000 when applying the average exchange rate for 2025.

At the end of 2024, the figure for the United States stood at $514,000, followed by Australia, Canada and Germany at $422,000, $297,000 and $267,000, respectively. Japan’s figure came to $172,000.

The average household net assets came to 634.3 million won, up 7.9 percent over the cited period.

South Korea’s total national net worth, meanwhile, reached 24,561 trillion won at the end of 2025, up 2.2 percent from a year earlier. The growth slowed from a 5 percent rise posted in 2024.

Non-financial assets, such as land and housing, came to 23,291 trillion won, up 3.8 percent from a year earlier, on the back of higher property prices.

The combined value of property assets in the country came to 17,836 trillion won, up 4.1 percent from the previous year.

Net financial assets, on the other hand, fell 20.4 percent to 1,271 trillion won.

The BOK said that while financial assets rose 11.4 percent to 2,794 trillion won, debt increased at a faster pace, rising 13.6 percent to 3,120 trillion won.

By sector, households and nonprofit organizations held the largest amount of net assets, worth 14,200 trillion won, followed by the government with 6,194 trillion won, non-financial corporations with 3,657 trillion won and financial corporations with 510 trillion won.

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A man was disgruntled when the rest of his flight were obeying an unspoken rule about flights in the early morning, except for the person in the window seat on his row

Early morning flights when it’s still dark outside can be nerve-wracking as you’re unable to see a thing. But once you’ve calmed those anxieties, you can make the most of the darkness in the cabin and get some much-needed sleep before you arrive at your travel destination.

However, passengers who haven’t booked a window seat or don’t have a sleep mask for the flight might just be out of luck. That’s because their seatmates might have other ideas and probably don’t fancy sleeping then. Now one traveller who was prepared to snooze on a flight when they booked an aisle seat was annoyed when someone got in the way.

TikTok user @traveltaps asked: “The negative of having an aisle seat is that I don’t control the window shades… and that sun is bright this morning! Ugh. Has this happened to you?”

Over the top of the video, which showed the plane cabin in darkness, they wrote: “When the entire plane created a calm, dark, sleepy atmosphere for this early morning flight…”

And then they showed their row off where they wrote: “Except my row.” The passenger in the window seat wasn’t doing anything like reading, either, where they needed light. They were just ignoring the vibe of the rest of the plane.

Many people in the comments said they should’ve taken a sleep mask to avoid this if they wanted to get some rest and claimed they should “mind their own business”.

Someone shared: “If it’s the morning, the shade is up. Travel at night if you want a sleepy flight. It’s not every day I’m 30 thousand feet in the air, so I’m looking out the window.”

A second penned: “I don’t get the window seat so I can look at a window shade for five hours.”

However, one person wrote: “People in the comments are annoyed, but you’re right. If you fly regularly, you know there’s an unspoken rule that on an early morning flight, windows should be down when the cabin lights are dimmed before breakfast or beverage service.

“If you don’t fly regularly, maybe look around and ask yourself why you’re the only one with the window open.”

Another agreed: “No this is so rude to me. As someone who flies often and on long hauls. Read the room. If no one else is smoking, then don’t pull a cig out. If everyone is taking their shoes off at the door, then take yours off too! Don’t be rude.”

What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments…

Mérida, July 21, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – The Trump administration has vowed to play an active role in upcoming negotiations between the Venezuelan government and a US-backed opposition faction.

The government-aligned National Assembly and a group of opposition lawmakers from the 2015–2020 legislature recently announced a joint working agenda scheduled to begin August 1, with explicit support from the US State Department.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the initiative during a press briefing on July 19, calling it “a very powerful offer.” 

“We’ll see where it goes, but we think that that agreement was broadly met in Venezuela as very good news, and obviously something we’re going to be very engaged in,” he told reporters.

Rubio emphasized that the upcoming talks are “a forum to begin the transition process, which is what the people of Venezuela need”. In the same way, the State Department, via a July 16 official statement, had pledged to back efforts “toward a peaceful and democratic electoral transition.”

Since the January 3 US military strikes and kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Rubio and other Trump officials have insisted on a “three-phase plan” that ends with a political transition.

The latest dialogue initiative emerged following a June 18 meeting between National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez and Dinorah Figuera, who leads an opposition-majority legislature whose term ran from 2015-2020.

The defunct parliament retained US recognition as the Caribbean nation’s legitimate authority after the conclusion of its term in 2021, and has retained control over Venezuelan state assets frozen abroad.

According to statements from both sides, the working agenda prioritizes strengthening democratic institutions, reforming the electoral system, and restoring guarantees for political participation.

Figuera welcomed Rubio’s latest comments and argued that “active participation” from the Trump administration will be “essential to generate concrete progress.”

“We will invite all democratic sectors to participate and bring proposals toward a peaceful and democratic electoral transition,” she wrote on X. For their part, government officials, including Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, have not offered further comment on the talks since last week’s announcement.

In recent days, Figuera addressed criticism of her role in the negotiations, rejecting accusations that she was acting outside the opposition’s institutional framework.

The former lawmaker has faced scrutiny from other opposition sectors, particularly following her June 18 return to Caracas with US backing. Her meetings with Rodríguez and subsequent travel to Washington occurred weeks after far-right leader María Corina Machado had announced at a Panama gathering her intention to head negotiations with the government over future electoral processes.

On July 16, Machado met with high-ranking opposition figures from the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) coalition to assess the new dialogue initiative. The meeting was reported as a venue to “gather information” regarding the announced negotiations and “define a public position.” However, neither Machado nor the PUD have taken a stance on the upcoming talks.

Rubio’s influence over Venezuela was highlighted in a recent New York Times article that detailed the Trump administration’s involvement in the country’s day-to-day affairs. The report highlighted that US officials have sought to engage with institutional actors they consider manageable, including the 2015 National Assembly faction, as part of a strategy to reduce volatility in bilateral relations.

However, according to the Times, the approach has generated tensions within the opposition camp given the recent protagonism assumed by far-right Machado.

Caracas and Washington fast-tracked a diplomatic rapprochement following the January 3 attacks, with embassies reopening in both capitals. The Trump administration has seized control of Venezuelan oil export revenues and exerted influence over recent pro-business energy and mining reforms.

The US has also undertaken a significant military deployment in the country following the June 24 double earthquake, with US forces running logistical operations out of the Simón Bolívar International Airport and La Guaira port.

Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.

ABBEY Clancy revealed her and Peter Crouch’s daughter Sophia Ruby was nearly arrested while going through airport security.

The model, 40, opened up about her recent family trip to New York with her kids Sophia, 15, Liberty, 11, Johnny, eight and Jack, seven.

But things took a surprise turn when US immigration grilled Sophia when she made a ill-timed joke about a “gun” while entering the US.

Speaking on the latest episode of their podcast The Therapy Crouch, Abbey said: “Sophia nearly got arrested at the airport, we’re landing in New York, it’s kind of security heavy… strict.

“Those immigration officers are not fun. You cannot crack a joke with them.

“Sophia renewed her passport since she last visited the US and she had to do her fingerprints.

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“Sophia was like ‘why do I have to do fingerprints? Is that in case there are fingerprints on the gun?’

“They were like ‘sorry Miss, what did you say? What fingerprints on the gun?’ and then she was like ‘there’s guns here and you could have my fingerprints…’ and they were like ‘what? your fingerprints are on a gun?’.”

Abbey was then forced to intervene to explain that her daughter was just making an observation about how they catch criminals.

The mum-of-four continued: “I was like ‘no, my daughter is not saying her fingerprints are on a gun’, she’s saying ‘is that how you catch criminals, if fingerprints are on a gun?’”

But things went from bad to worse when a woman left a bag unattended next to Abbey in a queue, leaving security panicked.

Abbey said: “A lady left her bag and the queue spirals and everyone was going ‘whose is this?’

“At this point she was at the opposite end and I was right near the bag and I was thinking f***ing hell, so this poor woman got accused of leaving a bomb bag.

“She just left it at the end as she didn’t want to keep carrying it.

“So then we got our bags and the driver left us because we were taking too long and I just burst into tears.”

Just last week, Abbey and Peter were accused of boasting about their wealth after moving to Portugal while their £3m UK mansion is renovated.

Peter read out a question from a listener, which asked: “Have you completely relocated to Portugal or are you there while renovating your home?”

Abbey replied: “Obviously, we sold our house, we were looking for a new house, we thought we would try living in Portugal for a bit.

“We’ve absolutely loved it and you know it works perfectly for us because you know we can renovate our new place and all come back and it’ll be done.”

However, some fans thought they were boasting about their wealth and one commented bluntly: “Yeah when you have bagfulls of money, yeah try another country.”

“Bet they’re in Quinta do Lago as it’s very fancy,” added another.

The couple were previously criticised by fans for ‘flaunting’ their enviable £3 million mansion while hosting a lavish Asian-inspired banquet.

The pair were giving a tour of their luxury estate prior to hosting an extravagant dinner party with lavish catering provided by London’s Nobu.

The multi-million pound property featured its own luxury cinema room and a spacious home office for Peter and his trophies.

Fashion-savvy Abbey had her own walk-in wardrobe, while the outside area boasted a ‘magical’ and ‘peaceful’ garden complete with a high-tech BBQ and swimming pool.

One fan commented: “We get it, you’re loaded. Well done.”

A second added: “How they live, we don’t need to know.”

Spain is in the grip of a major heatwave in summer 2026, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 47C in some parts of the country as UK tourists on holiday in Spain are warned to take precautions against the ‘brutal’ heat

Spain is currently in the grip of an intense, official heatwave. The country’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued strict weather warnings as its third significant heatwave of the summer builds across the Iberian Peninsula. The extreme weather event officially commenced on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, and is predicted to reach its peak on Thursday, 23 July 2026. Some respite is anticipated from Friday (24 July) onwards, with milder weekend conditions expected.

Temperatures are forecast to locally hit or surpass 44C to 45C (and possibly reach 47C) across southern and southeastern mainland Spain. A comprehensive network of weather warnings has been issued nationwide. Red Alerts (extreme danger) remain in force for the worst-affected areas in Andalusia and Extremadura, while Orange Alerts blanket major regions including Madrid, Aragon, Catalonia, and Castile-La Mancha.

The heatwave is being fuelled by an enormous “heat dome” drawing dry, scorching air straight from the Sahara Desert. This has triggered a severe Calima (Saharan dust storm), producing murky skies, locking in elevated temperatures overnight (“tropical nights”), and substantially degrading local air quality.

TikTok user Leanne, from Belfast, recently documented her experience in the sweltering conditions during her holiday to Majorca.

The DJ, who has amassed more than 19,000 followers, informed them in a video: “So, if you’re coming to Majorca on holiday in the next few days, you might be thinking, ‘What’s the weather like?’.

“We arrived on Monday and the last two days were really overcast, but very, very warm. It’s 8:35pm and it’s 34C.”

Leanne, who was perched on her hotel balcony at the time, explained she was beside the sea, yet even with the coastal breeze, it’s “still boiling”.

Nevertheless, she pointed out that all the hotels have excellent air conditioning, so you can always retreat indoors if you’re concerned about the outdoor temperatures being too intense.

She also revealed that she’s been “drinking loads of iced cocktails” to help stay refreshed.

Leanne continued: “So yeah, if you’re coming out in the next few days, be prepared – it is hot – but you can cool down, and enjoy your holiday.”

Other holidaymakers currently in Spain confessed they were finding the heat challenging in the comments section.

One person posted: “We are here now too and never felt anything like it! The strawberry daiquiris are medicinal at this point.”

While another shared: “I left on Sunday, it was so hot we were in Alcudia and there was no air. Was 34C but feels like 41C. Could only wear factor 50.”

A third remarked: “Got back from Cala Bona yesterday, the humidity has been brutal.”

With parched and scorching conditions taking hold, authorities have issued urgent warnings about an extreme risk of wildfires, with blazes already breaking out in areas including Zaragoza and Guadalajara.

Safety guidance for tourists and locals

Health officials are strongly urging people to take immediate steps to protect themselves:

• Avoid direct sun exposure during peak afternoon hours (12pm to 5pm).
• Drink plenty of water continuously to avoid heat exhaustion.
• Shelter in air-conditioned public spaces or indoor cultural venues during peak heat hours.

SPAIN is set to implement stricter rules when it comes to smoking and vaping – and it will affect all holidaymakers.

The list of smoke-free places that already exists could be expanded to beaches and national parks under new law.

This week, Spain approved a draft law to extend the list of smoke-free places.

It will be forbidden to smoke or vape on the terraces of bars and restaurants as well as on beaches, riverside beaches, national parks and swimming pools.

Health Minister Mónica García said: “Anyone who wants to have a coffee or enjoy their leisure time freely on a terrace should be able to do so without the smoke from nearby tables becoming part of the menu.”

Also affected are outdoor performance spaces, university campuses and work vehicles such as delivery vans.

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It’s not just a ban directly in these areas – Spain is also hoping to introduce ‘enhanced protection zones’

This is where smoking and vaping will be banned within a 15-metre perimeter around them in certain places like museums and children’s parks and playgrounds.

The amount people can be fined could also change.

According to local media, those breaking these rules could be be fined between €200-€600 (£170-£511).

The law will also ban the use of tobacco-related products by those under the age of 18.

Until now, the law only prohibited the sale and supply to under 18s.

For minors who break the ban on consuming tobacco or vapes, fines for minor offences will start at €200 (£170).

Athough this could be replaced by community service.

These rules aren’t in effect yet as the changes will only be made if the bill is approved by Spanish parliament.

It’s not the only rule that could see you fined in Spain – some areas ban sunlounger hogging, with £216 fines.

So we’ve rounded up all of the Spain travel rules you need to know about.

And don’t try and drink at these French beaches either – that’s banned too.

This shipping disaster has lived on through the decades, with remnants of the past still washing ashore now.

Along this stunning UK coastline, you will see crashing waves, white sand and towering cliffs. But if you are wandering along the beach and cast your eyes downward, you might spot something else.

Hidden in the sands of Cornwall’s coastline is a reminder of an ecological disaster that occurred 29 years ago. On February 13, 1997, a German container ship was sailing off the coast of Land’s End in Cornwall when it was hit by an enormous rogue wave.

The wave caused the vessel to lurch, and 62 containers plunged into the ocean.

One of these containers contained 4.8 million Lego pieces. Ironically, the majority of them had an ocean theme.

These scattered pieces then floated in ocean currents for years before eventually washing up on coastlines across the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. Some even reached as far as Australia.

Environmental impact

Since the pieces are manufactured from the hardy acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, they resist degradation and chemical breakdown, and a 2020 study suggested the bricks could last in the ocean and on beaches for 1,300 years.

Even as they begin to degrade, they will shed microplastics which are consumed by sea life and marine birds.

In response to the spill, Lego company officials released a finders keepers statement telling people they were free to keep any pieces they discovered, though they should give them a thorough wash first.

The firm also set up a hotline so people could report where they collected them and the company could offer assistance with any clean-up efforts.

The Cornish coast is referred to as ‘Lego Beach’ by those familiar with it, and people devote hours to hunting for the miniature plastic toys.

What was on board?

The Lego pieces that washed overboard are now sought after by beachcombers, with enthusiasts on the hunt for the ultimate prize from the disaster — the octopus piece.

Other items such as flippers, scuba tanks and swords are spotted more frequently, but the octopuses are highly coveted given that only 4,200 of them were on board the stricken vessel, making them considerably harder to come across.

According to the BBC, there were several different kinds of Lego on board. These range from the most common through to ones that are so rare they have never been found on the beach.

Lego pieces you might find

• Flippers: one of the most common, with over 352,000 pairs in black, blue and red
• Life jackets: 26,000 bright yellow life jacket figurines were scattered
• Scuba tanks, flowers and brooms: also a common find
• Octopus: one of the hardest to find and most prized Lego figures — only 4,200 on board
• Green dragons: there were 33,427 black dragons inside the shipping container but only 514 green dragons

What figures have never been found?

• 97,000 magic wands
• 15,800 witches’ hats
• 18,200 frying pans

Arsenal have brought in Spain goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez on a free transfer – their sixth signing of the summer.

The 27-year-old joins the Women’s Super League side after leaving Real Madrid at the end of last season.

Rodriguez will wear the number 16 shirt and will compete for minutes with Daphne van Domselaar and Anneke Borbe, both of whom struggled with injuries last season.

“I’m so proud to join this great club. Arsenal is one of the top clubs in the world and I’m really excited to be part of the team and take on this new challenge,” said Rodriguez.

“I want to help us compete for trophies and make more history, together with our supporters.”

In six years at Real Madrid, Rodriguez made 215 appearances – a club record – and was made captain last year.

Since making her senior international debut in 2021, she has earned 34 caps for Spain including three as her side won the 2023 Women’s World Cup, though she has since lost her starting role to Barcelona’s Cata Coll.

Arsenal have had a busy transfer window as they prepare for the 2026-27 Women’s Super League season, with Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle, Selina Cerci, Geraldine Reuteler and Lisa Baum all reinforcing Renee Slegers’ squad.

Last season, they finished second in the WSL and reached the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League.

The 41-year-old, who played in six FIFA World Cups, announces he will retire from both club and country.

Guillermo Ochoa, widely considered among the greatest Mexican goalkeepers in history, has announced his retirement from professional football, bringing an end to a distinguished 22-year professional career.

Ochoa, who turned 41 last week, had previously stated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his last tournament although speculation had swirled about whether he might sign with a new club to extend his playing days.

He put those rumours to rest on Tuesday.

“I gave it my all; I left everything on the field for my clubs and the national team, and today I hang up my gloves,” Ochoa posted on social media. “Being a goalkeeper means knowing you might wait 90 minutes for a single moment when everything depends on you. And when that moment arrives, you cannot hesitate.”

Ochoa was on Mexico’s roster for six World Cups – a number shared only by icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He served as Mexico’s starting goalkeeper in three of them: Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Ochoa made his top-flight debut with Mexico City’s Club America in February 2004. He spent his first seven seasons there before transferring to French club Ajaccio in 2011, becoming the first Mexico-born goalkeeper to play in Europe. His European career also included stints with Malaga, Granada, Standard Liege, Salernitana, AVS Futebol and AEL Limassol, punctuated by a three-year return to Club America from 2019 to 2022.

“I never imagined how far a dream could take me. Today, I can only look back with pride and say: Thank you,” Ochoa wrote. “I take with me the affection of millions and the peace of mind that comes with knowing I gave everything for Mexico.”

Although he served primarily as a backup to Raul Rangel in the recent World Cup in North America, manager Javier Aguirre brought Ochoa on for the final 13 minutes against Czechia in Mexico’s last group-stage match. After the final whistle, an emotional Ochoa kissed the goalposts at Azteca Stadium – the venue where his career began – before kneeling to accept an embrace from his teammates. Long after the stands had cleared, Ochoa walked out to the centre circle one last time to take in his final farewell.

At the club level, Ochoa captured a league title with Club America during the 2005 Clausura tournament and won the Belgian Cup with Standard Liege. On the international stage, he led Mexico to six CONCACAF Gold Cup titles and earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The 23-year-old Rogers, established as one of the Premier League’s top attacking talents, has signed a contract with the London team until 2033.

The England World Cup forward Morgan Rogers has completed his British transfer record move from Aston Villa to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

No fee was officially disclosed, but media reports on Tuesday said it is worth 117 million pounds ($156.5m), which surpasses England teammate Elliot Anderson’s 116 million pounds ($155m) switch from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City earlier this month.

The all-time record Premier League transfer is still Sweden striker Alexander Isak’s 125 million pounds ($167m) move from Newcastle to Liverpool last year.

The 23-year-old Rogers, established as one of the Premier League’s top attacking talents, has signed a contract with the London team until 2033.

“I’m so excited,” he told the club’s website. “For me, Chelsea are the biggest club in London and a club I’ve always admired since I was a kid.

“I’m really excited about the project with the new manager, the players we’ve got and where the club is heading. That’s why I’m here, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Rogers is the third major off-season signing by new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, following wing backs Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda.

Rogers was part of the England team that finished third, beating France, at the World Cup last week. They had lost to Argentina 2-1 in their semifinal.

He scored 21 goals in 85 Premier League appearances for Villa, and last season helped guide the club to a top-four finish and to the Europa League title.

Rogers joined Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 for a reported fee of 8 million pounds (about $10.5m).

He made his England debut in November 2024 and has now won 22 caps for his country.

Chelsea’s previous record signing was Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion for 115 million pounds (about $150m) in 2023.

Chelsea, who finished 10th in the Premier League last season, begin their ‌league campaign away to Fulham on August 24.

AMERICAN streamer MrBeast has married his stunning fiancée in a week-long bash on Richard Branson’s private island retreat.

Top YouTube creator MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has tied the knot with Thea Booysen.

After dating for four years, Jimmy and Thea got said ‘I do’ on Richard Branson‘s ultra-luxury Necker Island resort.

“I found MrsBeast. And it was the best day of my life,” he announced on Instagram, alongside a sweet snap of them on their wedding day.

Fans rushed to the comments to congratulate the newlyweds, with one person writing: “All the best for your newly married life and congratulations both of you.”

Another then wrote: “Really happy for you guys, may god keep you together forever.”

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The couple’s wedding was attended by 70 loved ones, as per reports.

Their lavish wedding kicked off on July 14, with the festivities going on for a week at the stunning 74-acre private island in the Caribbean.

The couple first met when MrBeast was visiting South Africa, Thea’s home country.

Both Jimmy and Thea are gamers and content creators, though she was quite shocked by how down-to-earth he was.

Speaking to People, Thea said: “When I met him, I was quite surprised how down-to-earth he was, and also how intelligent he was.

“I thought YouTubers were just sort of a persona, but when I met him, I was quite surprised to see that he’s actually a nice guy. He wasn’t sitting there with an ego.”

MrBeast’s YouTube channel has over 500m followers, and his Instagram page is nearing 90m followers.

The 28-year-old content creator was born in Wichita, Kansas, but is now based in North Carolina.

He first joined YouTube in 2012 when he was just 13.

He began by uploading videos of video game playthroughs and net worth estimates of fellow YouTubers.

MrBeast has now scaled his massive YouTube stunts into a global, multiproduct production studio. 

Under Beast Industries, he oversees a media empire, food lines (Feastables and Lunchly), analytical tool Viewstats, and licensing deals. 

A HOLIDAY park has been given the green light for a major glow up.

Unity Holidays‘ Skirlington Coast Yorkshire site will soon undergo a £20million project with several new openings.

There will be upgraded dining spots and leisure facilities, as well as a new entertainment zone and outdoor pool.

There will be extra food spots too, with a new pavilion home to restaurants.

The project will also include new fairground attractions and cabanas.

Kids aren’t left out either, with a new splash pad including a tots’ pool.

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Accommodation at the park will be expanded as well, with 92 new caravans planned for the site.

A spokesman for Unity Holidays said: “We thank the council’s planning committee for approving our application to redevelop the land on our park currently occupied by Skirlington Market, as well as the buildings on that land used by the market.

“We look forward to commencing work on that project as soon as possible, which will see us add indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities as well as re-landscaping the entire area.”

Unity Holidays took over the site at the end of 2024 and underwent lots of renovation work, including adding new attractions.

Currently, the holiday park is home to 680 caravans and 400 pitches for tents.

Attractions added included an outdoor children’s play area and The Wonky Donkey Kitchen and Bar.

A spa was also added with a hot tub, steam room and sauna.

US Secretary of State says Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz sets ‘dangerous precedent’, as attacks continue.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio says his country is willing to negotiate an end to the war on Iran but accuses Tehran of not being “serious” about talks.

“The United States remains open and willing to engage in positive and constructive negotiations and discussions, provided that the commitments made are honoured,” Rubio said about Iran at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Manila on Wednesday.

“The problem we’re having right now is that they’re not serious about talks. If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what’s necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies,” he added in the Philippine capital.

This comes as the US launched attacks against Iran for an eleventh consecutive night, with explosions heard in several parts of the country.

As the war continues to disrupt two of the world’s most important routes for the transport of energy, Rubio stressed that he was against Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.

“If we create a precedent in the Middle East where a nation state can decide that they are going to control an international waterway, charge a toll, and if you don’t pay them blow up your ships, we have created a very dangerous precedent, which will repeat itself in other parts of the world, including in this region,” he said.

“At its core, it’s very simple. Iran demands the right, which they do not have under any existing legal mechanism, to control the transit of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

“There is a fundamental principle about freedom of navigation that is threatened,” he added. “That cannot be allowed to happen.”

Rubio also discussed the US’s relationship with ASEAN member states, saying it is a matter of national interest for Washington and that the security and prosperity of the US and Southeast Asia are closely interconnected.

“I believe very much that the future and the story of the 21st century will be written in this region and by how events unfold here,” he said.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump renewed his threats to, again, attack Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz “pretty soon”. Iran promised it would retaliate.

Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya military command said in a statement on Tuesday that it would “consider it as an expansion of war in the region” if such an attack were carried out. The statement said it could lead to strikes on “all the interests of America, its allies and supporters”.

Fifty people have been killed and 500 wounded in the recent US attacks on Iran, a health ministry official said.

A spacecraft equipped with two robotic arms, developed by Northrop Grumman, is set to be launched today. The company plans to establish an entire fleet of these Mission Robotic Vehicles (MRVs), ostensibly to offer a commercial service to refuel and repair satellites in orbit. However, the question has been raised about whether the MRV could also be used to attack enemy assets in space. The U.S. Space Force has said publicly that it is pursuing offensive space-based capabilities, primarily to help protect friendly satellites from growing threats.

Whether the MRV, or a derivative thereof, could be employed in an offensive role explicitly came up during a quarterly Northrop Grumman earnings call this morning. The company does not appear to have ruled out the possibility.

“As part of our satellite servicing portfolio, we’ve developed the first commercial robotic spacecraft capable of repairing, relocating, and servicing satellites in geosynchronous orbit via two robotic arms,” Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden had highlighted in her introductory remarks at the start of the call. “It can also install life extension jetpacks onto other satellites for government or commercial customers, prolonging their useful life for up to eight years.”

Next Generation of Satellite Servicing Products: Mission Robotic Vehicle and Mission Extension Pods

“The spacecraft is known as the Mission Robotic Vehicle, or MRV, and our first MRV is scheduled to launch later today, weather permitting,” she added.

“You probably can’t provide quantitative terms here, but just from a qualitative perspective, what’s the potential market for an offensive version of that spacecraft that could be used to disable adversary satellites?” Scott Mikus, Director for Aerospace, Defense and Space Research at Melius Research, asked later on during the call.

“So I appreciate the question. I will leave it up to the U.S. government to decide how that capability might fulfill mission objectives that they have in that regard,” CEO Warden said in response. “But certainly, it’s our objective to offer our clients options for technology deployment, and for them to determine policy for when and how they might deploy that technology.”

To take a step back, if all goes to plan, a SpaceX Falcon 9 space launch rocket carrying the MRV will blast off from Cape Canaveral sometime in a four-hour window starting at 5:15 PM ET today. The rocket will also carry three Mission Extension Pods (MEPs), which are the “life extension jetpacks” that Warden mentioned.

As noted, the MRV has two robotic arms that allow it to place the MEPs onto other satellites in orbit, as well as perform other tasks. The arms are part of what is formally called the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) payload. The RSGS system was developed through a program led by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), in cooperation with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). It is worth noting here that RSGS is the product of U.S. government work in this vein stretching back decades. There have also been other similar developments elsewhere globally, including in China and Russia, as we will come back to later on.

Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) Concept Video

The MRV’s upcoming mission will include rendezvousing with satellites belonging to Australian firm Optus and SES in Luxembourg and attaching MEPs to them, according to a report from Spaceflight Now. Both of these companies are commercial telecommunications providers.

Northrop Grumman’s fact sheet on the MRV says the spacecraft is capable of performing an array of on-orbit inspection and servicing missions beyond refueling via the MEPs. The robotic vehicle can also be used to ‘tow’ satellites from one position to another and help clear debris. All of this requires the ability to maneuver very closely with other target objects in space. This, in turn, brings us to the question of the MRV potentially offering an offensive anti-satellite capability.

For years, TWZ has highlighted how robotic arms on spacecraft are an inherently dual-use capability that could be used to launch attacks in space. In general, arms like this could be used to damage or destroy key systems on adversary satellites, such as optics or solar panels, or to just pull them out of orbit. In the latter case, the target could be towed into a degrading orbit where, if control could not be reestablished, it would re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and be destroyed.

The U.S. military itself has repeatedly pointed to adversary satellites with robotic arms as one of many potential threats to its own space-based capabilities.

“We’re basically responding to a warfighting domain where our adversaries have already put interceptors in space, and we want to make sure that we rebalance that in terms of deterrence,” Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, the Space Force’s top officer, said at a roundtable at the Air & Space Forces Association’s (AFA) annual Warfare Symposium in February. Saltzman was responding to a direct question from our Howard Altman.

“Interceptors by definition refer to a handful of well-acknowledged capabilities that other countries have, like ground and air-launched anti-satellite missiles or capabilities like the SJ-21 [the Chinese Shi Jian 21 satellite], which has a grappling arm,” a Space Force spokesperson also told TWZ at that time when asked for clarification about the “interceptors in space” Saltzman had mentioned.

Long March-3B launches Shijian-21

‘Inspector satellites’ that could have dual-use purposes have been a hot topic of discussion for years now, with Russian developments drawing particular attention. A ‘killer satellite’ with close maneuvering capability could employ a variety of means beyond robotic arms to try to disable, damage, or even destroy a target in space. This could include electronic warfare jammers, directed energy weapons, chemical sprays, and small projectiles. The space-based inspector could itself be used as a kinetic kill vehicle and deliberately smashed into the target.

Close inspection of other satellites in space also provides opportunities to gather intelligence about their capabilities and monitor their activities. U.S. satellites, as well as those belonging to Russia and other countries, have been observed doing just this over the years. Some commercial satellite imagery firms are even now offering space-based situational awareness as a service.

As underscored by DARPA and NRL’s work on RSGS payload, the U.S. military already has a clear interest in the MRV spacecraft’s core capabilities. On-orbit refueling, in particular, is seen as offering vital freedom of maneuver to help safeguard friendly satellites from attack. Right now, ‘running and hiding’ is the most immediate option available for responding to threats, but doing so requires satellites to burn precision fuel, eating into their operational lifespan.

The Space Force also has an entire unit dedicated to a still-evolving “orbital warfare” mission set that has defensive and offensive elements.

“Protecting and defending satellites can’t simply be done by protect and defend. You can’t run away from a bully forever. Sometimes you got to turn around and punch,” Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, head of U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command (CFC), said at another roundtable at the AFA Warfare Symposium in February. “So protect and defend, although necessary, is insufficient to deliver space control. We also need, as part of our joint force, the ability to attack.”

Gagnon cited China’s massively expanding space-based capabilities as a key driver behind this viewpoint. He’s also mentioned plans for Space Delta 9, the formation tasked with orbital warfare, to begin exploring new offensive and defensive tactics using an experimental satellite.

“This prototype will be operated by my Orbital Warfare Delta. This is the only Orbital Warfare Delta in the United States government. Their job will be working on their maneuvers, which is one of the seven joint functions of warfighting, so that they can deliver offensive and defensive capabilities that are precise and not imprecise,” he explained. “They’re going to work on driving that spacecraft in a way that we couldn’t drive spacecraft before.”

The scale and scope of demands to protect U.S. satellites in orbit is only set to grow significantly in the coming years, fueled further now by the Golden Dome initiative. Golden Dome is a multi-faceted effort aimed at delivering a hugely expanded national missile defense architecture. A core element of the plan as it stands now is space-based anti-missile interceptors, which will be supported by large, distributed sensor and communications satellite constellations. In a report released in May, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessed that 7,800 interceptors in orbit could be needed to make the concept work.

As already noted, the U.S. military has a clear interest in the on-orbit refueling and servicing capabilities that Northrop Grumman’s MRV spacecraft is designed to provide now. This could also be key to protecting and sustaining elements of Golden Dome, as well as other critical new space-based sensor and other satellite constellations.

The scheduled launch of the first MRV spacecraft today is a very important milestone all around, and one that might open the door to a very different kind of ‘armed’ space-based capability.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com