Israeli settlers set fire to Al-Rahma Mosque in Qusra, near Nablus, as Israeli forces arrested dozens of Palestinians across the occupied West Bank. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a military crackdown following a shooting in Tal that killed four Palestinians and two Israelis on Friday.

The Marvel faithful gathered in Hall H once more as San Diego Comic-Con yielded breaking news on Saturday: Ryan Gosling will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as motorcycle-riding superhero Ghost Rider.

Marvel Studios’ president and producer Kevin Feige announced the new title Saturday at the annual fan and industry event.

“Ghost Rider” will be directed by Shawn Levy, who made the 2024 crossover “Deadpool & Wolverine,” notable for being the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. Gosling and Levy are currently working together on “Star Wars: Starfighter,” along with Jonathan Tropper, who is writing the script.

In equally auspicious news, “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler announced he will return to direct “Black Panther 3,” slated for release in 2028. English actor David Jonssson, best known stateside for his work on the series “Industry,” will star as the next King of Wakanda, previously played by the actor Chadwick Boseman, who died of cancer in 2020.

From left, “Black Panther” actors Letitia Wright, David Jonsson and Winston Duke speak at the Marvel Studios Panel at 2026 San Diego Comic-Con.

(Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney)

A couple have shared the game-changing hack they used to guarantee they get a full row to themselves on a plane – but there’s one big catch that means it doesn’t always work

A savvy booking trick could see you snapping up an entire plane row for yourself. Let’s be honest – flying is rarely a comfortable experience, particularly when you’re wedged next to strangers for hours on end in a cramped seat with minimal legroom and precious little room to breathe.

However, if you’re travelling with a companion, there’s a nifty hack worth trying that could leave you both with the whole row to yourselves. One woman and her partner recently put the trick to the test on social media, and ended up with considerably more space than they’d ordinarily have had.

In a TikTok video, Lucy-Emma revealed that she and her partner had each booked the window seat and the aisle seat in the same row, deliberately leaving the middle seat vacant. They were banking on no one else claiming that middle spot, effectively bagging an extra seat without spending a penny extra – and it came off brilliantly.

She said: “We decided to do the thing where you book the aisle and the window seat and hope that no one sits here [in the middle seat]. Especially because I dislocated my toe this morning, and I want somewhere to put my feet up.”

Lucy-Emma later captured herself and her partner on film once all passengers had boarded, confirming that the middle seat remained unoccupied. This meant she could use it to rest her injured foot, while also taking advantage of the tray table to give herself extra room to watch her favourite show on her laptop.

Viewers of the video were left gobsmacked, with many having no idea that booking two seats and leaving the middle one empty was even an option. Others, however, admitted they were petty enough to deliberately book the middle seat just to scupper couples attempting to use this trick to their advantage.

One person said: “I didn’t know you could do this!”

Another added: “Wow, so lucky!”

But one argued: “And I’m the a**hole who sits in the middle seat and refuses an offer to swap seats. S*** goes both ways.”

A fourth also shared: “I’m that person who purposely books the middle seat just to miff people off.”

Numerous other commenters were quick to flag that this method is far from foolproof. Certain airlines may not permit you to leave the middle seat vacant, while on fully booked flights, the seat could simply be assigned to another passenger.

One person pointed out: “Doesn’t this only work if the flight isn’t full? If the flight is full, the booking system will automatically put someone there who hasn’t booked a seat.”

As such, this isn’t a reliable method of securing extra space on board, as you could find yourself with a complete stranger wedged between you and your travel companion – and they may well refuse to budge so the pair of you can sit together.

If you’re looking to guarantee more room on a flight, the only surefire solution is to book the middle seat yourself, which some airlines may offer at a reduced rate compared to your actual seat.

Welcome to our special cricket edition of our Who am I? game.

The rules are simple. Each day of The Hundred there’s a new cricketer taking part in the tournament who we want you to guess in as few attempts as possible.

After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points.

Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.

So take part and return for more tomorrow.

Today’s player and clues set by BBC Sport’s Joe Rindl.

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Sports Quizzes page and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

July 26 (UPI) — On this date in history:

In 1775, Congress establishes the U.S. postal system.

In 1847, Liberia became a republic and Africa’s first sovereign, Black-ruled democratic nation.

In 1908, the FBI was born as the Bureau of Investigation, or BOI, when a group of newly hired investigators reported to the Justice Department. The special unit officially became the FBI in 1935.

In 1931, swarms of grasshoppers decimated millions of acres of crops throughout the southwestern United States.

In 1941, Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur was named commander of U.S. forces in the Philippines.

File Photo by US Army/UPI

In 1945, voters ousted Winston Churchill as prime minister of Britain after five years in the position. His Conservative Party would be voted back into power in 1951, and he would regain his position.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered desegregation of the U.S. military.

In 1956, Egypt created a crisis by nationalizing the British- and French-owned Suez Canal.

In 1984, serial killer Ed Gein, the inspiration for the movie Psycho, dies of cancer.

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, prohibiting discrimination against the disabled in employment, public accommodations, in telecommunications, and on public or private buses or trains.

Participants march in the Heartland Disability Rights March and Rally on July 25, 1999, to celebrate the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act of July 26, 1994. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

In 1992, under pressure, Iraq agreed to allow U.N. inspectors to look for documentation on weapons of mass destruction.

In 2005, the Discovery lifted off from Cape Canaveral in the first shuttle launch since the 2003 Columbia tragedy.

In 2010, the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, said the site decided to post more than 75,000 secret U.S. Afghan war documents on the Internet to give a more complete picture of the conflict. The White House said the deed had “a potential to be very harmful.”

In 2018, Facebook had the worst single day of trading in history, losing some $110 billion.

In 2023, soldiers in Niger said they removed President Mohamed Bazoum from office in a coup of the democratically elected government. Brigade Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani put himself in charge of the military junta.

In 2024, Canadian diva Celine Dion delivered a stirring rendition of Edith Piaf’s French anthem, “Hymn to Love,” at the Eiffel Tower, providing a show-stopping finale to the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. It was her first public singing appearance since 2020 due to her battle with a rare neurological disease.

File Photo by Paul Hanna/UPI

Anthony Joshua survives two knock downs by Albania’s Kristian Prenga before winning the fight in the second round.

Former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua recovered from two knockdowns to knock out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a dramatic non-title heavyweight fight in Saudi Arabia.

The fight in Jeddah on Saturday was seen as the British boxer’s final step before setting up a long-awaited showdown against his compatriot Tyson Fury.

It also marked his return to the ring for the first time since a horrific car crash in Nigeria in December, during which Joshua lost two of his best friends and sustained injuries.

Back inside the ring, Joshua was floored by an uppercut inside 30 seconds. He beat the count but looked seriously shaken.

Then Prenga knocked Joshua down again, but the former heavyweight champion rose before the end of the count and survived until the bell in the first round.

A quick end to the fight was expected, but nobody thought it would be Prenga’s.

In the second round, Joshua unleashed a flurry of punches and finished Prenga with a right hook, sending the Albanian through the bottom of the ropes.

The turnaround shocked even heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk, whose face was caught by TV cameras as he watched from ringside.

The comeback kept alive the possibility of an all-British fight between Joshua and Fury.

Joshua’s manager Eddie Hearn claims his fighter and Fury have signed a contract to meet for the first time later this year, but on the condition that they come through warm-up bouts this weekend.

“I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat,” Joshua told the crowd about fighting Fury following his win over Prenga.

Fury played his part by coming out of retirement this year and, on Friday, forcing 46-year-old Polish journeyman Mariusz Wach to retire in round seven in Pattaya, Thailand.

Joshua almost blew his part of the claimed contract before showcasing his champion’s fightback spirit.

Prenga brought a 20-1 fight record with 20 KOs into the match-up with Joshua and looked every bit the knockout artist.

Joshua, fighting for the first time since surviving the car crash that killed his friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, acknowledged them straight after improving his fight record to 30-4 (27 KOs).

“It’s more than punch power,” Joshua said of his knockout punch. “That was spirit. That was Latz and Sina. That was the family. You know what I mean? That hurts even talking about it.

“He [Prenga] gave me a good test, but this is what champions do: we rise. We get knocked down and stand up. That is life; that is life’s motto.”

Michelle Baker has lived in Benidorm for most of her life and the Brit has now opened up about a new scam that targets female tourists in the Spanish holiday hotspot

A British mum who has called Benidorm home for over 42 years has warned holidaymakers about a new scam that targets women.

Michelle Baker is married to a Spaniard and she has raised their children in the popular resort where she used to run a newspaper for Brits. However, she now keeps travellers updated by sharing tips and information on her Benidormforever Facebook page.

But her most recent post was a more serious one. Sh explained: “Statistically Benidorm is a very safe resort, however, like any busy city there are opportunists waiting to rob you.”

She then said to follow the obvious precautions like keeping your valuables close and your suitcase in sight — before naming the scams actively taking place this summer.

New scam

Michelle labelled this scam the “selfie steal” and she explained: “This is a new one and targets women mostly. A couple asks you to take a photo… they’re all smiles and overly friendly… then they ask you to get into their selfie.”

The Benidorm expert advised that this was the point where you must decline — before explaining the dangers of not doing so.

She continued: “Once up close they’ll deftly grab your goodies, purse, phone watch and jewellery and you won’t feel a thing.”

Phone theft

She said phone theft was the “number one crime” in Benidorm at the moment and that modern smartphones are being sold for significant prices on the black market, especially if they are unlocked.

Michelle warned that distracting tactics were used to make the crime non-violent and painless and that most are simply swiped from tables.

However, she warned: “But recently thieves are getting smarter; they want your phone unlocked so typically they’ll approach you while you’re scrolling and tell you they are lost and ask to use Google Maps on your phone.”

She said never to hand your phone over and that thieves will take it quickly before passing it on to someone in a waiting car who will change your password, spend your money and ultimately ruin your trip.

‘The Peamen’

The mum said this was the most famous scam that has been going on for years in Benidorm and despite being so well known, she said people still fall for it.

It involves a man hiding a pea under a cup, moving the cups around, and then encouraging you to bet on which one contains the pea.

A couple (who are playing and in on the scam) win and because you can see where it is you then take a risk. According to Michelle, you will then win the first round before losing the rest.

She added: “They won’t let you get away until you’re skint and you’ll find it very intimidating and scary… just walk on by.”

‘Mugger Huggers’

This one targets men, and involves an attractive woman walking up to you and asking whether she knows you, before extending her arms out for a hug.

If you hug her back, she will have your phone and wallet in a flash, and you will often not notice until she is gone.

Michelle said there was an extended version to this sinister scam depending on how drunk you are where the woman will offer to come back to your room.

“She’ll drug you and clear you out of everything of any value and you won’t be the first or the last,” Michelle added.

Michelle has lived in Benidorm for most of her life and said she was always willing to share the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly.

However, in a message to Brits flying over this summer, she added: “I don’t want to scare you as Benidorm is really very safe.”

She added that people on holiday often let their guard down and it was better to be aware of the above scams before the holiday even begins.

WILDCARD Arthur Fery captured the nation’s hearts when he powered his way to the Wimbledon semi-finals.

And now it seems he is looking for the perfect match off-court after signing up to celebrity dating app Raya.

Arthur has made sure his sporting prowess is front and centre on his profile and lists his job as a professional tennis player.

The British singles No1 also added a snap of him shaking hands with Kate Middleton on the day of the men’s final.

Arthur even offered to coach Prince George and Princess Charlotte, saying: “If you guys want to hit some balls any time, just let me know; that would be great.”

However, he has chosen to crop the Princess of Wales out of the frame on his dating profile.

THANKS FERY MUCH

Arthur Fery gets birthday gift from Princess Kate after Wimbledon run

FERY TRIP

Arthur Fery forced to cancel Greece holiday after fairytale Wimbledon run

A source said: “Arthur became a household name in a matter of days after reaching the Wimbledon semi-final as a wildcard entry.

“He is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Andy Murray, who made history when he won at Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. Arthur has also become a heartthrob among Gen-Z and his professional sports background makes him a catch.”

On Raya, the tennis ace has included a snap of him waving to the crowd on Wimbledon’s Centre Court following his crushing semi-final defeat to Germany’s Alexander Zverev earlier this month.

He has also added a pic showing him in action on the famous grass court along with a post-match interview during the tournament.

Meanwhile, Arthur mentioned he was educated at prestigious Stanford University in the US, where he studied science, technology and society on a tennis scholarship.

The French-born player has linked his profile to We Are The People by Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun.

Speaking about his music taste, Arthur previously said: “I like [Aussie dance music act] Rufus Du Sol. It gets me in the zone.

“I like British rappers as well. Dave, Central Cee.”

Arthur was thought to be dating former schoolmate Honor Millard, a foodie influencer known online as The Honorable Chef.

But it definitely seems he is searching for a new doubles partner.

Who says love means nothing in tennis?

ANYONE KNOW A GOOD TYLA?

TYLA looks cappy-go-lucky, as she performs on US telly.

The South African singer wore the leopard-print hat with a metallic bralette for her set on NBC’s Today show at New York’s Rockefeller Plaza.

It came as she released her second studio album, A*Pop, which includes hot tracks That Girl and Kiss.

Meanwhile, fans can also snap up a £63 Tyla Bratz doll, decked out in the same dress Tyla wore to the Met Gala in New York in May.

Oh, and I’ve been told the singer will be making her way to London this week.

If you fancy a cuppa, Tyla, you know where to find us.

LIL BIT OF HAPPINESS FOR JESSIE

JESSIE J announced her split from former basketball player Chanan Colman this week – but hopefully a catch-up with her showbiz pal Lily Allen gave her reason to Smile.

The pair were seen putting the world to rights just days before Price Tag singer Jessie confirmed the end of her four-year relationship.

They were deep in conversation at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where they attended the Silver Clef Awards and were both recognised for their contribution to music.

Earlier in the night, Jessie told Biz on Sunday’s Emily that she is “living in the moment”.

The star, who has three-year-old son Sky with Chanan, announced she was cancer-free in May after her diagnosis with early-stage breast cancer last year.

She said: “There is always a risk of it coming back, so I want to celebrate every day that I don’t have it. I would love to learn how to ride a bike – I can’t, which is sad, isn’t it? I want to learn Danish and how to play the piano.

“Living in the moment and having a bit of perspective – my son is the core of my world so everything stems from him.”

Jessie also told how she loves touring, adding: “My touring family . . . get through whatever challenges we have.”

LOTTIE’S IN HER HOLISTIC PHASE

LOTTIE MOSS is following in the footsteps of Gwyneth Paltrow by setting up her own wellness brand.

I can reveal that the younger sister of supermodel Kate Moss has set up a holistic community that will offer sound baths, yoga and breathwork events.

US actress Gwynnie has made millions from her wellness and lifestyle brand Goop, which she set up in 2008.

I am told Lottie has also taken inspiration from actress Pamela Anderson and wants to “strip back” her image after she started modelling at 16.

The brand – Phase II – has recently set up an Instagram page and promises, “a wellness concept for discovering the next phase of your life”.

A source said: “Lottie wants to create a community that has wellness at the core.

“She wants it to be accessible for everyone and wants to help people find balance in their life. A lot of wellness challenges set unrealistic expectations and that is what Lottie wants to avoid.

“Her main message is that she wants people to have fun and go out but also enjoy yoga on the weekend.

“It does not need to be one or the other.”

It comes after her sister Kate closed down her wellness and beauty brand Cosmoss last June after three years.

It sold products including a £125 Sacred Mist perfume and £95 pots of face cream.

Lottie, who is currently dating art dealer Themy Kalaitzis, has previously opened up about her battle with addiction and how the toxic culture of the modelling industry affected her mental health.

Sounds like she is stepping into this next chapter of her life with a yoga mat in hand.

IT’S ALL CHA-CHA-CHANGE

STRICTLY Come Dancing bosses have unveiled the five new professional dancers that will be hitting the dancefloor this autumn.

Ukranian dancer Aleksandra Isaeva is ranked in the world’s top 21 Latin dancers.

She has been dubbed the new Nadiya Bychkova as the blonde pair both hail from the same country.

Speaking about her new BBC role, Aleksandra said: “I’ve been living and breathing dance for as long as I can remember, so joining the Strictly family is a true honour.”

She will be joined by her Italian dancer partner Cristian Priori, who has revealed that he is “excited to begin this new chapter”.

South African Latin Champion Lethabo Monametsi – who has been on stage with Diana Ross and composer Hans Zimmer – also joins the line-up after starring on The Masked Singer SA.

And Canadian champ Mark Karmalita and Bournemouth-born Maddie Ingoldsby will make their debut on the show this September, too.

I bet they can’t wait to hit the ballroom in their sequins.

PRICE OF FAME FOR PRINCESS

KATIE PRICE’s love life has been nothing short of a soap opera.

But that has not stopped the former glamour model – who, in January, married conman Lee Andrews ten days after she met him in Dubai – from giving her kids some dating advice.

Katie stars on ITV2 series The Princess Diaries alongside her daughter Princess and son Junior who she shares with her ex-husband, Peter Andre.

In scenes set to air, Katie says: “When you are in the public eye and you meet someone and want a relationship with them, you’re so proud to be with them but try to keep it as private as you can for as long as you can.

“Because there will be a point where someone will get a picture or something like that and I find that hard.”

Princess added: “If I was seeing someone, I would want to make sure it was a long-term thing before I make it known.

“My mum’s love life has been all over everywhere and yeah, I probably wouldn’t want mine to be like that.”

The third series of The Princess Diaries airs is due to air on July 28.

RACHEL BAGS GIFT FOR TOUR

RACHEL CHINOURIRI has revealed that Sabrina Carpenter bought her a designer handbag to say thanks for joining her on the road.

The British singer-songwriter supported the Manchild hitmaker on the UK and European leg of her Short n’ Sweet Tour last year.

Speaking to Biz on Sunday’s Emily at the Silver Clef Awards, Rachel said: “She did get me a gift. I got her one then she got me one.”

Rachel remained tight-lipped on the brand but said: “She got me a handbag. It was on the wishlist. It was so iconic.”

She admitted: “I haven’t used it yet and it is perched on the side because I don’t want anything to happen to it.”

We all need a friend like Sabrina . . . 

MAYAN GOLD

MAYA JAMA looks a gem – as she reveals her newly golden hair.

The Love Island host posted the shot of her highlights ahead of the dating show’s grand final in Majorca tomorrow night.

She showed off her figure in a white tank top and snakeskin trousers, and playfully teased in the caption: “Who is she.”

The winning couple of the ITV2 dating show will get £50,000 – but we reckon Maya looks a million dollars.

HAIR’S TO YOU, LORENZO

LOVE ISLAND’S Lorenzo Alessi has become the stand-out star of this year’s ITV series.

The businessman, who has Italian and Turkish-Cypriot heritage, has already been inundated with offers from talent agencies – and he hasn’t even left the villa in Majorca yet.

I hear that agents are eyeing up Lorenzo, right, to attend Milan and London Fashion Week in September.

It comes after former UK Vogue editor Edward Enniful hinted he could be the next Molly-Mae Hague.

A source said: “Lorenzo is going to face a bidding war when he comes out of the villa.

“He has a great head of hair, which would make him perfect for a men’s haircare brand, and he ticks a lot of boxes in the style stakes.”

Lorenzo is also the favourite to take home the £50,000 prize in tomorrow night’s Love Island final, following his romance with Polish-born insurance broker Julia Majchrzak.

Sounds like he will be a winner whatever the outcome.

GETTING around the capital is about to get harder for three weeks of the school summer holidays.

Charing Cross and Waterloo East train stations will close today until the middle of next month.

It comes as both stations are set to get an upgrade, costing £20million overall.

The stations will then both reopen on August 16.

However, this won’t be the end of closures for the two stations as there will be further closures between August 22 and 23 and between October 10 and 11.

Across the initial first closure, travellers will need to head to London Victoria, London Bridge, London Cannon Street or London Blackfriars instead.

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Though, commuters will be able to use alternative routes, including on the Underground and on buses, for no extra cost.

Works on the stations include repairing the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which trains head over the River Thames on.

A number of commuters have taken to social media to share their outrage at the closure.

One person commented: “All these upgrades they do, and yet their still rail replacement most weekends.”

Another person said: “With Charing Cross and Waterloo East closed for three weeks, this will inconvenience a huge number of passengers.

“The least Southeastern could do is provide more off-peak trains during the morning rush hour to help cope with the increased demand.”

A third person said: “R.I.P. my commute I guess.”

Scott Brightwell, train services director at Southeastern Railway, previously said: “The £20 million investment we are delivering will see 1990s track and platforms upgraded to make journeys safer and more reliable, and Victorian- era structures strengthened to remain fit for the future.

“By consolidating the work into a 22-day closure, supported by preparation and follow-up weekends, we can complete the work more quickly and with less disruption overall than the alternative options of 60 weekend closures or four to five, nine-day closures.”

He added: “We have planned the closure for the summer, when passenger numbers are around 20 per cent lower and schools are closed, to help manage the impact on customers.”

Travellers are urged to plan ahead and check before they travel.

After a day spent walking around Alton Towers, I was happy to be spending the night in their iconic hotel on the resort – here’s my honest review of a stay for our family of four

A day at a theme park is knackering, especially with two kids in tow who can seemingly have the best day of their lives while also complaining every single second. Nothing is worse than getting to the end of a day out and facing the drive home exhausted.

So, if you’ve got a day at a theme park planned, you may be considering staying in one of the park’s onsite hotels. Arguably, Alton Towers has one of the best selections of accommodation out of any UK theme park. It has hotels, woodland lodges, treehouses, and stargazing pods, so there’s all sorts of places to stay, and you’re right on the park’s doorstep so you’ve got somewhere to rest after a long day.

Recently, I stayed with my two kids at the Alton Towers Hotel, a three-star property that’s one of the park’s three hotels. Themed around a fictional Victorian explorer, Sir Algenon, the hotel has a sort of steampunk, historic look, although my kids thought it was pirate-y more than anything, but either way, the detail that has gone into it is impressive.

Stepping into the hotel, there’s a huge atrium with a large ship-shaped stage, and checking in late afternoon there was already entertainment and live music in full-swing. We went back later and the entertainers were playing some fun games with the kids, and it had a really joyful, slightly chaotic atmosphere around the bar.

We stayed in a Moon Voyage room, which had a similar theme to the hotel with lamps that looked like Victorian gaslights, lots of gears and levers, and explorer-themed murals. The room was clean and the beds comfy, and I liked that the kids sleeping area with bunk beds was slightly sectioned off and had their own TV. It meant we could lie in bed and watch some grown up TV while they could watch a bit of CBBC before dinner.

For dinner, we headed to the Splash Landings Hotel to try Flambo’s Jambo, an all-you-can eat buffet that had a bit of everything from peri peri to tacos, roast dinners, and Chinese dishes. The atmosphere was fun, with a giant waterwheel and the sounds of some very lively entertainment going on in the background, and the food was OK, with the kids more excited about the ice cream machine than anything else.

While we slept well and the room was comfortable, I woke up early to find the bathroom door had locked itself from the outside. I had to run down to use the loo in the lobby and find hotel staff, still in my pyjama bottoms and my hair looking even more dishevelled than usual. It did get fixed within an hour, but obviously that kind of thing is a pain when you’re up early with kids.

Breakfast was included and is served buffet style at the Secret Garden Restaurant. It had quite a basic selection of hot food, plus some cereal, pastries, and pancakes, which the kids were happy with. Again, the food wasn’t amazing, but it kept us going on the way home.

If you’re visiting Alton Towers and have a long drive, a stay at the hotel or its other accommodation is worth considering. For us, driving there and back would mean five hours in the car as well as the long day exploring the park, so it was nice to crash overnight and split the journey up.

I’ll admit, the hotel is expensive, and some parts felt more worth the price than the others. Packages include one day at the theme park, 9-hole golf, and breakfast, and there are deals on such as free child entry to the waterpark if you book an adult ticket. The hotel does have an incredibly fun style and is well-maintained, and kids are enchanted by the style.

But other things felt like they needed a little work. The themed rooms feel a little basic, and while they have nice décor it felt a little like they were missing something. I would have liked to have some bottled water in the rooms for example, as there were no refill points in the hotel and at £3 a pop, it’s expensive to rehydrate after a day in the sun. But I think most visitors know to expect theme park prices when they stay somewhere like this, and really, it’s the location that’s the main draw when you’ve spent all day on your feet in the summer.

Rooms start from £106pp for an Explorer Room at the Alton Towers Hotel this summer. You can currently book and take advantage of their Kids Swim Free offer. Find out more and book at altontowers.com.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Briton Josh Kelly was forced to dig deep to retain his IBF light-middleweight world title, surviving a spirited late comeback from Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko to win a narrow points decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Kelly looked in complete control until the complexion of the contest changed when he received a deserved sixth-round point deduction for repeated punches to the back of the head.

The 31-year-old was then bloodied by cuts across his face and a gash on his nose as Agyarko grew in confidence and began to land with increasing success.

But Kelly stood firm through the championship rounds to secure victory, with the judges scoring the contest 114-113, 115-112 and 115-112.

“That was a messy and hard fight. I didn’t get cuts from punches like this, it comes from heads and elbows. This is what it looks like when you’ve got tight skin,” Kelly said.

“I knew he [Agyarko] was go to be tricky and awkward. [He had] a good game plan. He tried to make it a good boxing match. I had to show a different side to me at the end and that is what a champions does.”

Fighting on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight comeback against Kristian Prenga, Sunderland’s Kelly claimed his 21st professional victory.

Agyarko, 29, had hoped to become Ireland’s first black world champion. Instead, despite a brave second-half comeback, he suffered the first defeat of his professional career in his 30th contest.

Also on the card, WBO super-middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz laboured to an underwhelming points win over Simon Zachenhuber.

The 27-year-old Briton was far from his best and struggled to find his rhythm but was awarded a majority decision as he extended his record to 24 wins and one defeat.

Noul hit southern Guangdong province and neighbouring Hong Kong, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the region.

Typhoon Noul has hit southern China, including Hong Kong, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the region and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in Guangdong province.

China’s national weather centre said Noul made landfall on the coast of Huidong county in Huizhou, southern Guangdong province, at approximately 3:50am local time on Sunday (19:50 GMT on Saturday).

China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Noul was the strongest typhoon to make landfall in China so far this year.

Hong Kong’s Observatory said Noul, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometres per hour (68 miles per hour) near its centre, was moving Sunday into inland Guangdong and weakening progressively, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the region.

More than 715,000 people had been relocated for safety by early Sunday in Guangdong province, according to state-owned China National Radio. On Saturday, authorities said some 340,000 people were evacuated.

China’s National Meteorological Centre expected parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian provinces to experience heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend.

Many trees were seen uprooted in Huilai county, located on the coast of Guangdong province, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Hong Kong’s airport authority said about 350 flights were cancelled on Sunday. At least nine people were injured across the city during the typhoon period, according to Hong Kong authorities.

As Noul approached Hong Kong, parts of a large scaffolding on a high-rise building collapsed on Saturday afternoon, local police said, although initial reports indicated there were no injuries.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said Noul was bringing rainfall to parts of southern and eastern Taiwan. It was passing over waters south of Taiwan and was moving away from the island Saturday.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi brought strong winds and rain to eastern China, leading to the evacuation of more than two million people. It made landfall on July 11. Another, Maysak, made landfall in southern China on July 3.

At one point in the documentary, House of Hope, the protagonist, Manar Wahhab, breaks down in a classroom corner in the school she founded with her husband in the occupied West Bank. The cameras keep rolling.

“To step into someone’s life with a camera at the moment when they’re really down, it feels a little bit uncomfortable, but we made the choice together to keep filming during these moments. I wanted the audience to be there with them,” director Marjolein Busstra told Al Jazeera.

The film follows Wahhab, a Palestinian woman who established a Waldorf school with her husband, Milad Vosgueritchian, in al-Eizariya in the occupied West Bank.

House of Hope Vision Kindergarten & School teaches the Waldorf philosophy of non-violent resistance and offers children a space to express their emotions and cope with the trauma and difficulty of living under occupation.

“The school protects the children’s dignity in the present moment. It’s more about refusing to let occupation shape their inner world, so that they can actually be children and have agency,” Busstra said. “It’s in Waldorf philosophy that they make space to express the feelings.”

Working with a Palestinian crew, Busstra spent three years with Wahhab, travelling to the occupied West Bank nine times throughout the course of the documentary. She first met Wahhab 18 years ago during a film workshop in the West Bank.

Although the documentary centres around the elementary school, Wahhab is the story’s driving force. The story follows Wahhab and Vosgueritchian, both at the school and at home with their children.

“I started filming the school, but right away, I knew I wanted to do it about Manar’s inner life,” Busstra said. “I think hope is a difficult word at the moment, but I have a deep awe for Manar, who keeps creating and teaching even while carrying so much herself.”

For Wahhab, her respect for Busstra and their existing friendship helped her trust the film crew during vulnerable moments.

“We both believe deeply in education, in children’s creativity and freedom and in seeing the human being as something whole and beautiful in mind, soul and spirit. Those shared values created openness and trust between us and helped shape a film that is not only about events but also about humanity,” Wahhab told Al Jazeera.

The film was produced by Think-Film, the company behind The Voice of Hind Rajab, which tells the story of the five-year-old Hind killed by Israeli forces in 2024. Soldiers fired 335 bullets into the car carrying the girl and six of her family members – a story that became a symbol for the system failure to protect children in Gaza.

Although sometimes difficult, Wahhab said she made an effort to let the crew document multiple facets of her life.

“Over those three years, the crew met many versions of Manar. Sometimes they arrived, and I was fresh, energetic and cooperative. Other times, they found me exhausted, angry, overwhelmed, or ill,” she said. “I understood that I had to be as authentic as possible, because I was representing not only myself, but also my community, hope, peace and the voice of Palestinians.”

Wahhab and Vosgueritchian founded the school out of a desire to offer a different kind of education to Palestinian children and to provide a place where they felt safe and could share their emotions.

“The school was born many years ago when we saw the hardships surrounding our community and wanted to create something different, a space of love, safety, creativity and healing,” Wahhab said. “House of Hope is an idea, a mission and an energy that we carry wherever we go.”

In an increasingly violent Israeli occupation, Wahhab considers the Waldorf philosophy essential.

“I do not see nonviolence as weakness. Actually, I believe the opposite. Violence is easy. Nonviolence requires courage, awareness, patience and inner work. It asks us to see beyond our own pain and ego and to hold on to our humility even when circumstances are trying to pull us away from it,” she said.

“The world absorbs the energy that we create, and right now, there is so much fear, anger and violence in our world. I think we need more peace within ourselves, peace with one another and peace with nature,” Wahhab added.

After Hamas’s incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, came Israel’s brutal military response. Life became increasingly difficult for Wahhab, Vosgueritchian and the children at House of Hope, but the crew continued to document their realities.

“The story I wanted to create with Manar stayed the same, but after October 7, everything became heavier. They were so down for a while. They were like different people, like they lost all hope,” Busstra said. “The school built this safe haven, but the occupation is always rattling at the door.”

Israel’s intensified military actions in the West Bank, including the shooting and killing of children, are a constant spectre. In another scene, Wahhab watches her son leave for school and checks to see if he has a phone charger and spare clothes in case he is held at a checkpoint for hours.

“The energy is so heavy now. I hope people understand that we are not asking for something extraordinary. We are asking for basic human rights, the right to live with dignity and freedom, the right to safety and the right to be fully human beings,” Manar said.

Busstra, who closely followed Wahhab for three years, said she wants audiences to go “beyond the framing of us vs them”.

“I hope that this stays with people, not as something distant that happens to others, but something they can locate within their own understanding of what it means to love someone in an unsafe world.”

Wahhab believes the film offers a more nuanced perspective of Palestinians.

“I think that in the West, many people see a very limited picture of Palestine and the Middle East. Sometimes they see us through stereotypes as terrorists, as people who are undeveloped or somehow less than themselves,” she said. “I hope this film helps people look beyond those images. The news does not tell the full reality. It often shows only violence and people killing one another. It doesn’t show the essence of people’s lives. It shows negativity,” she said.

Wahhab encouraged people to consider the documentary through a lens of shared humanity.

House of Hope won the best international feature documentary prize at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in May 2026 and was recently screened at UNESCO in Paris. It will soon be screened at the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival.

“Even though our story is deeply rooted in the West Bank, its message is universal. Our hope is that people everywhere can see our story and take something meaningful from it.”

Casualty fans are heartbroken as they are convinced the show is killing off a beloved character for the 40th anniversary

Casualty could be killing off a show legend after more than 10 years, and fans are not best pleased about it.

The beloved BAFTA-winning BBC show has been a staple on screens for 40 years. As the world’s longest-running medical drama, Casualty has captivated audiences thanks to its powerful storytelling and characters.

And to celebrate its 40th anniversary later this year, a special double-bill episode will air on Saturday 5th. And as expected, it’s going to be seriously dramatic.

In a trailer that was aired at the end of Saturday’s (July 25) episode, viewers were shown a sneak peek at the episode, in which a high-stakes explosion throws Holby into chaos.

Lives are left hanging in the balance, and the ED team are pushed to their limits in a tense and emotionally charged story. And now, after watching the trailer, fans are convinced that the show is going to kill off Dylan Keogh (William Beck).

“I think the building will explode to kill Dylan! I think that’s his final episode,” mused one person on Casualty’s Facebook page. Someone else agreed: “I thought this as well.” A third chimed in: “Dylan better not go. He’s the best – I just love his character.”

Viewers will know Dylan made his debut on the show back in 2011 when he was introduced as a replacement for fellow emergency medicine doctor Ruth Winters (Georgia Taylor).

And over the years, he has played a part in several big TV moments. What’s more, since the departure of Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) in 2024, Dylan has been the longest-serving character on the show.

Meanwhile in 2024, Dylan actor William spoke about the handful of cast exits at the time including Charlie. He told Digital Spy: “When Derek [Thompson] left, it was surreal. For me, it was just an absolute privilege to be there.

“I said a few words on Derek’s last day, and it was only in saying it, that I really appreciated that for everybody that was there at that time.

“Without Derek, Casualty would never have been the show that it has become and the opportunity to mark that and to celebrate it and to celebrate a unique achievement of being the lead in a continuing drama for that length of time, is a one off. To be there and to be present, and to acknowledge that, was such a privilege that in a sense that I haven’t even had time to miss it yet.

Watch Casualty on BBC One and iPlayer

I cannot remember a summer when at least one evening hasn’t been spent following signs to a local sagra. Not quite a food market and not quite a village fete, a sagra is like a village moving its kitchen outdoors for a few nights.

When I think back to those nights from childhood, the first image that comes to mind is of a woman’s hand closed into a fist above a pan of hot oil. Through a tight circle formed between her thumb and forefinger, she would squeeze soft lumps of batter, one small ball at a time, into the oil. In a few seconds, each soft mass would become a pittula, a small Salento fritter: swollen, uneven, golden, too hot to eat straight away but too good to wait for.

I was born in Salento (Italy’s heel), in the south end of the Puglia region, and grew up in Taviano, a small town south of Lecce. Going away for the summer was something other people did. For my family, as with many local families, summer meant packing the car and moving from our main house in town to a smaller place by the sea, only a few miles away.

That place was Mancaversa, the seaside part of Taviano, where the Sagra tu Furese (mid August, dates to be finalised), which in Salentino dialect means the farmer’s festival, seemed to bring the whole village outdoors for dinner. From a small child’s perspective, it was a forest of legs and voices. I remember trying to pull my parents past the grown-up ritual of stopping every few yards to greet people they seemed to see only in summer, as we made our way towards the stalls near Piazza delle Rose, where men fanned embers with cardboard, sausages hissed on grills, horse-meat stew simmered in tomato sauce and gnummareddi (rolls of lamb offal) tempted the more adventurous.

Music came from a small stage and the village became an open-air sitting room, where people met over food that was ordinary for us, and almost incomprehensible to anyone who came to Salento looking for beaches and white light. No one would have thought to call them experiences. They were simply the proper way to get through summer, and in a country where a meal can quickly become expensive, they still make dinner feel possible for about €15.

Sometimes my parents, my brother and sister and I would go to Cannole. We would drive inland, passing through villages that all seemed to have a festival on. Only later did I understand that those roadside signs were a map of Italian summers, one I would go on to follow beyond Salento. Each led to a village gathered, for a few nights, around a dish of its own.

Cannole itself – a small town of just over 1,500 people – lies on the other side of the province of Lecce, towards Otranto and the Alimini lakes, and since 1985 the local Pro Loco Cerceto volunteer association has organised the Festa della Municeddha (10-14 Aug), dedicated to the small snail that has always been part of home cooking there.

The municeddha is eaten in three main ways: in tomato sauce, cooked down with onion and oil, or roasted. But whichever the version, the method for consuming them is the same: you free it from the shell with a toothpick and eat it standing up. The festival today is large, with music, stalls and full tables, and is a far slicker operation than the one I remember.

Around 400 miles up the Adriatic coast, in the Marche, is the small town of Campofilone, on the hills above the Aso valley. Since 1964, its Sagra dei Maccheroncini di Campofilone IGP (7-10 Aug) has taken an extremely thin local pasta (maccheroncini) and transformed it into the centrepiece of a public feast: cut even finer, made with semolina and eggs and cooked in one minute. As soon as it is drained, it is tossed through red mixed-meat ragù on large wooden boards, where these very fine strands, so delicate when dry, become a compact mass, glossy with sauce, ready to be sent out to the tables.

For the Sagra del Fusillo Felittese (13-23 Aug), set aside at least half a day. You leave the Cilento coast in the Campania region and climb inland, up to Felitto and the Gole del Calore (the Calore river gorge). The festival began in 1976 at Remolino, when fusillo (literally, little spindle) was used to bring people to the village. The reason to go is still the pasta: made with fresh eggs, long and hollow, rolled by hand around a thin iron rod. It is served with castrato ragù, traditionally made with goat from a castrated male animal, or with veal ragu.

If you’ve spent any time around Modena or Bologna in northern Italy (I moved to Modena to study at 18 and have lived there since), Castelfranco Emilia is the sort of place you’ll have passed through. At first I thought of it as a drive-through kind of town, but today I’m drawn to such places as they tend to keep their traditions fuss-free.

The tortellino, claimed by both Modena and Bologna, finds a nice compromise in Castelfranco. Legend says it was born here, at Locanda Corona, when an innkeeper glimpsed Venus’s navel through a keyhole and took it as his model. In practice, it is thinly rolled egg pasta, folded by hand around a filling of pork loin, prosciutto di Modena, mortadella di Bologna, parmigiano reggiano, egg and nutmeg. Here it is served in hot capon broth.

In September, Castelfranco holds the Sagra del Tortellino Tradizionale in Piazza Bergamini (4-14 Sept). What I remember is the square filling with long tables, people queueing at the cash desks and bowls of hot broth arriving one after another. Later, the parade leaves Corso Martiri like a small Renaissance pageant: women in brocade gowns and veils, men in caps and doublets, banners, music, and the innkeeper and noblewoman at the centre of the navel story that gave the tortellino its shape.

I arrived in Vipiteno, in Alto Adige/South Tyrol, in September, when summer in north Italy was cooling down. The Sagra dei Canederli (13 Sept) takes place during the day, and what I remember most is the strange orderliness of it: a 400-metre table laid with a gingham tablecloth in the historic centre, people finding a place, menus changing from one section to the next, and plates of dumplings arriving. It feels less like a fair than an alpine dining room laid out in the street, with folk music in the square and the mountains close enough to seem part of the meal.

A canederlo is a dumpling made from stale bread, eggs and milk – a way of using kitchen leftovers became one of the most recognisable dishes of these valleys. In Vipiteno, they come in broth, with speck, mushrooms, cheese and herbs; or sweet, with apricots or plums.

Sicily is at the southern end of the sagre map. I came to know Giarratana through the onion that bears the name of this village, in the south-east of the island. In August, those onions fuel an open-air supper and a small seasonal economy, with visitors coming to taste them where they are grown.

The Giarratana onion is large, flat and particularly sweet. It has been recognised by the Slow Food Presidia, and during the Sagra della Cipolla Giarratana (12-14 Aug), traditionally linked to the feast of San Bartolomeo, it fills markets, food stalls and tables along the village streets. It is served raw, finely sliced and dressed with olive oil, salt and cheese; baked whole or stuffed; or inside scaccia, a local speciality similar to a thin, folded focaccia. There are also hot dishes, preserves, local wine and music.

Giarratana is small: it is worth arriving before dark, parking outside the centre and, if accommodation in the village is full, staying in Ragusa, Modica or Chiaramonte Gulfi.

The Italy of sagre is too wide to fit inside a dining room and, for every silver cloche lifted, somewhere else in Italy there is a ticket number being called over a microphone and a dinner being served from a pot larger than anything you’d find in a home kitchen.

Shanahan missed the chance for a second chunk of metal in the last race of the night as she competed in the 4x100m mixed relay team who finished fifth, though they did set a new Scottish record.

Part of the team was, surprisingly, poster boy Scott.

He received a hero’s welcome as he returned, racing second after Evan Jones and before Evie Davies, but ultimately the field was too strong.

Earlier in the evening, Sean McCann finished eighth in the men’s 400m freestyle final, Lucy Grieve was seventh in the women’s 50m butterfly final and Matthew Ward broke the men’s 50m backstroke Scottish record on his way to seventh in that final.

The US military has released footage it says shows forces boarding one tanker and disabling another accused of attempting to breach its naval blockade of Iran. CENTCOM says 12 commercial vessels have been redirected and two disabled for failing to comply.

Tehran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have fired missiles and drones at two of Saudi Arabia’s most strategically important oil facilities on the Red Sea, in a major escalation of the latest simmering regional conflict to be reignited by the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

But the skies over the country at the epicentre of the widening war were quiet for a second successive night, with no new US attacks on Iran reported by Sunday morning.

Iran had been pounded by 13 consecutive waves of overnight US air strikes since July 11, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked tankers trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz. As hostilities escalated, both sides declared that an interim peace agreement signed in June was dead, and a second phase of talks to finalise a comprehensive peace deal appeared doomed.

But there have been no US air strikes since Friday, and tentative signs are emerging that Washington and Tehran are still talking via mediators and might return to more meaningful discussions.

Even if another fragile truce is agreed, however, the cascade of consequences unleashed by the war is still stoking conflict and confrontation elsewhere.

Iran’s attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have put a stranglehold on exports of oil and raw materials for fertiliser, sending energy prices soaring and raising the risk of a food security crisis in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.

In March, in response to attacks on Iran, the Tehran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon resumed missile attacks on Israel, which then launched a devastating invasion of southern Lebanon that has displaced 1.2 million people.

Now, another smouldering regional conflict has erupted again, between US-allied Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement which controls most of northern and western Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. Saudi Arabia and its regional allies joined a brutal civil war against the Houthis in 2015, until a truce was agreed in 2022.

Risk of global crisis

The truce collapsed this month after an attack on Sanaa airport to stop an Iranian plane landing provoked the Houthis to fire ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia. Last Monday, the Houthis declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, and late on Friday the Saudis launched air strikes on the Houthi-held city of Hodeidah.

In retaliation, Houthi forces launched Sunday’s attacks on facilities belonging to Saudi state oil giant Aramco in the coastal cities of Jizan and Yanbu, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

There has been no comment from Saudi Arabia on the extent of any damage to Aramco’s refinery in Jizan, but a large column of smoke was seen rising after the attack.

In Yanbu, Saudi Arabia’s principal west coast export gateway, two ballistic missiles aimed at oil installations were intercepted by a Patriot battery operated in Saudi Arabia by the Greek military under an agreement ‌with Riyadh.

The escalating conflict has raised fears that the Houthis could block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. If both the Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz straits were blocked, the resulting supply chain crisis would cause major economic damage across the world.

Entangled wars

Besides spreading to the Red Sea, the US-Iran war has become entangled with the deadliest active conflict in the world – Russia’s attempted conquest of Ukraine.

A long-range strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea on Saturday caused an explosion that killed one sailor and wounded another, according to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which blamed the attack on Ukraine and summoned Kyiv’s charge d’affaires in Tehran to convey its condemnation of the “hostile and criminal” act.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X that Kyiv had achieved “very strong results” with long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea, hitting “vessels used in military cargo shipments involving Iran, as well as a warship”.

Zelenskyy claimed in further comments on X on Saturday that since the start of July, Kyiv had detected “active Russian satellite ⁠surveillance of the Gulf states and US military facilities located there”. He said the satellite images were passed to Tehran to help the IRGC identify targets for ballistic missile and drone attacks.

US President Donald Trump has not given a reason for the sudden cessation in air strikes on Iran, but a senior administration official told the Reuters news agency that Trump “has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way”.

Trump said on Friday that there was still some communication with Iran.

“They are talking to us right now; they’d love to make a deal,” he said. “I don’t think they’re ready to … but I’m willing to listen.”

Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran, said Iranian officials had confirmed the two sides were exchanging messages.

“There have been proposals conveyed by the mediators, and Tehran is still reviewing them,” Serdar said, adding there was “not much progress yet” due to “fundamental differences” in their positions and deep mistrust.

Holby City Hospital will see an explosive “high-stales major incident” that will have viewers on the edges of their seat as Casualty gear up for the 40th anniversary episode

Casualty has dropped a first look at its explosive 40th anniversary episodes, with Holby City Hospital thrown into chaos after a devastating blast.

The BBC released a teaser trailer ahead of the landmark special, which will air in September, giving fans a glimpse of the high-stakes drama facing the emergency department.

The anniversary story will be told across a two-part special centred on fan favourites including Dr Dylan Keogh and Flynn Byron.

The trailer opens with a huge explosion as emergency medicine consultant Flynn Byron, played by Olly Rix, looks on in shock. As the scenes unfold, a haunting chorus of children singing Happy Birthday Dear Dad plays over the footage while members of the emergency department, including clinical lead Dr Dylan Keogh (William Beck), gather outside the hospital.

Viewers also get a glimpse of familiar faces including paramedic Jan Jenning (Di Botcher) and consultant Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless).

A map of Holby quickly fills with emergency incident alerts before the hospital is plunged into turmoil. The trailer shows a fight breaking out inside the hospital, while a visibly emotional Dr Keogh is seen in tears.

Elsewhere, ambulances line up outside with blue lights flashing as patients are rushed through the hospital on stretchers. A firefighter is also seen making their way through a room filled with exposed wires as sparks fly around them.

The preview keeps many details under wraps, ending with what appears to be armed police officers approaching Holby City Hospital.

According to the BBC, the anniversary episodes centre on a “high-stakes major incident that throws Holby into chaos”, leaving lives hanging in the balance as the emergency department team are pushed to their limits.

The special will also feature a major rescue operation, while Dr Keogh faces a personal tragedy during what the BBC describes as the team’s “darkest hour”. Stevie Nash and Flynn Byron will also find themselves fighting for survival in a race against time.

The episodes celebrate 40 years of the world’s longest-running medical drama while marking what the BBC has described as an “exciting new chapter” for the series.

First airing in 1986, the BAFTA-winning drama later spawned spin-off series Holby City. Since 2011, Casualty has been filmed at BBC Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff and is expected to move to a new fictional hospital in Wales next year.

The Casualty 40th anniversary episodes air on September 5 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Another dramatic and emotional night in Anthony Joshua’s boxing career ultimately ended as just about everyone expected it would – with the countdown under way to a super-fight against Tyson Fury later in the year.

Joshua, 36, improved his record to 30-4, but he was almost on the end of one of the biggest shocks in his sport’s history when he was knocked down twice by little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga inside the first round.

The Briton regrouped in the second round to land a flurry of hard right hands, sending Prenga crashing to the canvas and getting the win he came to Jeddah for.

BBC Sport has selected some of the best pictures from the fight, which came seven months on from the car crash in Nigeria in which Joshua was injured and two of his closest friends died.

Harare, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe wants to move beyond being a supplier of raw minerals and build industries that process and manufacture from its own resources. But as the government tightens restrictions on unprocessed mineral exports, smaller miners are asking whether they will share in that transformation or be left behind.

The government has restricted exports of unprocessed strategic minerals, including lithium, as part of a broader drive to increase domestic beneficiation. Authorities argue that Zimbabwe should capture more value from its mineral wealth instead of exporting raw materials and allowing other countries to profit from refining and manufacturing.

The policy has attracted more than $1bn in investment into Zimbabwe’s lithium value chain, according to government officials and industry representatives. But smaller miners warn that the cost of building processing facilities, unreliable electricity supplies and limited access to finance could make it difficult for them to participate in the country’s industrial ambitions.

Speaking during a technical media tour of Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East, on 17 July, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura said Zimbabwe’s 2022 ban on exports of unbeneficiated lithium ore had encouraged companies to invest in domestic beneficiation.

“The construction of the first lithium sulphate plant in Africa is behind me, and this was done in Zimbabwe,” Kambamura said.

He said Zimbabwe’s ambitions extended beyond lithium sulphate and lithium carbonate production, with a long-term goal of developing industries capable of manufacturing lithium batteries and solar panels locally.

Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, owned by China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, said its lithium carbonate plant was about 90 percent complete.

PLZ public relations officer Patience Mushore said Huayou’s investments had generated more than $1.1bn in foreign exchange for Zimbabwe while expanding the country’s lithium value chain.

Policy shift

Supporters of Zimbabwe’s export restrictions argue that the country can no longer remain a supplier of raw minerals while other nations capture greater profits through refining and manufacturing.

Public policy expert Tedious Ncube said Zimbabwe’s lithium sector demonstrated why the government had prioritised beneficiation.

He pointed to investments at Arcadia Mine and Bikita Minerals as examples of companies expanding Zimbabwe’s lithium sector.

Ncube said domestic processing could create skilled jobs, strengthen local suppliers and allow Zimbabwe to retain a greater share of the income generated from its mineral resources.

“The success of Zimbabwe’s lithium industry shows that the right policy can attract investment that builds industries, creates jobs and leaves a bigger share of mineral wealth in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mining concerns

For smaller producers, the debate is not whether Zimbabwe should process its minerals locally, but whether they will have the infrastructure, finance, and market access needed to participate.

Shelton Lucas, business development director at Naivo Mining, said the company operates chrome, antimony and tungsten projects in Mashava, Ngezi and Kadoma but faces challenges accessing affordable processing options.

Lucas said smaller producers were struggling to access processing capacity, particularly in the chrome sector.

“For our raw chrome, we are now forced to sell to local Chinese smelters where they underpay us. For antimony, I have the resources to build the value-addition plant, but for chrome I cannot because the plant is very expensive,” he said.

He said he supported domestic processing but warned that smaller miners could be excluded if new requirements were introduced without support mechanisms.

Lucas proposed a toll-smelting system, where public institutions or industry bodies invest in shared processing facilities that miners can access at transparent rates while retaining ownership of their minerals.

“The challenge is not only building processing plants, but also ensuring smaller producers can access capacity on fair terms,” he said.

Without such measures, he warned that a small number of companies could end up controlling processing capacity and market access.

“If these companies also hold export rights, they could dictate prices to small-scale miners, creating what could become a predatory market that undermines the very people the mining sector is meant to empower,” he said.

Economic constraints

Economists say Zimbabwe’s processing ambitions will depend on whether the country can overcome longstanding challenges affecting mining and manufacturing.

United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean economist Chenayi Mutambasere told Al Jazeera that the policy faced obstacles including power shortages, expensive financing, weak transport infrastructure, foreign exchange constraints and limited access to processing technology.

“The ban should be more than a political slogan; it should be an industrial practical strategy,” she said.

Mutambasere said the government needed to support the policy with reliable electricity, investor incentives, skills development and clear implementation timelines.

She warned that restrictions introduced before the necessary support systems were in place could create unintended consequences.

“An abrupt ban where companies have invested in the sector may push the mining sector further underground, which could increase mineral leakage,” she said.

Government vision

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana told Al Jazeera that the policy was intended to ensure Zimbabwe gains more from its finite mineral resources.

“The government is implementing this beneficiation policy in our minerals for the growth of our economy and to create a lasting legacy that will be witnessed by future generations,” Mangwana said.

He said the policy applied not only to lithium but also to other strategic minerals, including platinum group metals such as palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium.

Zimbabwe’s push reflects a wider debate among resource-rich countries: whether restricting raw exports can build domestic industries without concentrating opportunities among a few large companies.

For smaller miners, the success of the strategy will depend not only on how much mineral processing takes place inside the country, but whether beneficiation creates broader participation or leaves only the biggest players able to compete.

Lucas said the goal should be to ensure that local processing expands opportunities across the mining sector rather than creating new barriers for smaller producers.

“Beneficiation should not become a barrier to participation. It should be an enabler of inclusive growth, industrial development and sustainable economic transformation,” Lucas said.

The Sunday Times says, external Prime Minister Andy Burnham will give England’s metropolitan mayors a share of income tax to spend in their cities, in devolution plans to be announced next week. It says the policy will be driven from the new Number 10 North office in Manchester.

Writing in the Sunday Mirror, external about his government’s priorities, Burnham says “if I’ve learnt anything from my time in politics, it’s that ‘it can’t be done’ is usually just another way of saying ‘we’ve stopped trying’.” In an article justifying policy decisions that have been taken so far, he adds, “our job will only be done when people aren’t just living, they’re living well.”

The Sunday Telegraph claims, external that the new Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, has offered in a call with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, to collaborate on a global effort to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. The paper says a conference may be held in London to bring together representatives from more than 40 countries to discuss the issue. It describes the efforts as an attempt to “turn the page” on the divergence between the US and UK over the Iran war.

The wildfires raging across Europe feature on the front page of the Observer, external. It carries a stark full page image of a bather walking into the sea, with billowing smoke causing the sky to blacken. The headline reads: “Baptism of Fire.”

The Sun on Sunday reports, external that a group of migrants who arrived in the UK this week may include suspects wanted for questioning in connection with the fatal stabbing of another migrant. The incident is alleged to have happened in the seaside resort of Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on Thursday.

The Sunday Express claims, external that Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is close to agreeing to a deal with broadcasters for a documentary series about her life. It says Netflix is one of the broadcasters she has been negotiating with. Those negotiating on behalf of Ferguson have stipulated that her contributions would have to be filmed outside the US because of the risk of being subpoenaed by the Congressional House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the crimes of her former husband’s friend, Jeffrey Epstein.