Mainstream US media continues to celebrate the supposed strength of the US economy. Almost daily, headlines speak of hopeful numbers, sustainable growth, positive trends and constant gains. The reality on the ground, however, tells of something entirely different, which raises the questions: Are Americans being lied to? And for what purpose?

“US Economy Grew 1.7% in Fourth Quarter, Capping a Strong Year,” the New York Times reported. “US Economy Grew 5.7% in 2021, Fastest Full-Year Clip,” the Washington Post added. Reuters, Voice of America, the Financial Times, CNN, Market Watch and many others all concurred. But if that is the case, why then is US President Joe Biden’s approval rating at an all time low? And why are many Americans literally going hungry?

In a national opinion poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos and published on 3 February, only 41 per cent of US adults approved of Biden’s performance in office. A whopping 56 per cent disapproved. The numbers were not a complete shock as the downward trajectory of the Biden presidency has been in effect since soon after he moved to the White House over a year ago.

The truth is, Biden was not the Democrats’ top choice nominee for president. Judging by various opinion polls and the early results of the Democratic primaries in 2020, it was Bernie Sanders who represented the Democratic hope for real, substantive change. Party politics, liberal media insistence that Sanders was not ‘electable’ and fear-mongering regarding a second Trump term in office pushed Biden through the ranks of nominees to be presented as America’s only hope for salvation.

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While Republicans remain committed to the Donald Trump legacy and are still largely politically and ideologically united, Democrats are growingly unconfident in their leadership and uncertain regarding the future of their democracy, governance and economy. Of course, they are blameless in holding such views.

While the Democratic leadership continues to obsess with its fear of Trump, and while liberal media insists that the US economy is as healthy as it can be, the average American continues to struggle against encroaching poverty, inflation and lack of future prospects.

Here are some sobering numbers: 56 per cent of all Americans cannot produce a meager $1,000 as an emergency expense from their existing savings, CNBC reported; one in 10 US adults went hungry last December as a result of poverty, Forbes.com reported; Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy revealed that child poverty rate in the US stands at 17 per ent, “one of the highest among developed countries”.

If American workers are studied separately from the larger population, the numbers are even more grim: three quarters of American workers said that “it was very or somewhat difficult to make end’s meet,” according to a study conducted by Shift Project, and reported in NBC News online. Forty per ent of the polled workers said that they are not able to come up with $400 in emergency money. But the most shocking of all, according to the same study, is that “around 20% said that they went hungry because they couldn’t afford enough to eat”.

Homeless on the street in front of a Police Station in Los Angeles, California on 16 February 2022. [FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images]

Aside from occasional government handouts, which were provided by both the Trump and Biden administrations, little has been done by way of structural changes to the US economy that would ensure greater equality among all sectors of society. Instead, the administration’s priorities seem to be allocated to something else entirely.

Writing in Politico, David Siders describes the current political discourse within Democratic Party circles, where “Democrats are losing their minds over 2024”. Since the Democratic President’s public approval ratings are “dismal”, Democrats fear the return of Trump. “All anyone can talk about is Trump —donors, policy folks, party insiders, the media,” Siders quoted a Democratic adviser as saying. The same adviser described “a weird cycle” where the “conversation keeps coming back to Trump”.

Whether conscious of this obsession or not, the Biden administration seems to operate entirely according to a political strategy that is predicated on tarnishing Trump and his supporters, retelling, over and over again, the story of the January 6 insurrection, hoping for a Republican split or any other miracle that would bolster their chances of maintaining their Congressional majority in the next November mid-term elections.

While doing so, the Democratic leadership seems oblivious to the harsh reality on the ground, where food prices are skyrocketing and where inflation has reached unbearable levels. According to new data, released on 10 February by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US consumer price index (CPI) rose by 7.5 per cent in January compared to the same month a year ago, making it the “fastest annual pace since 1982,” the Financial Times reported.

READ: Putin wants to turn the clock back and must be reined in

The rise in inflation is not a one time off event, as CPI has been rising at a sustainable level of 0.6 per cent on a monthly basis. Ordinary people can feel this increase almost every time they go shopping. Small business owners, especially restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores, are left with one out of two options: either increasing their prices or shutting down completely. Consequently, large segments of the already vulnerable US population are growing more desperate than ever.

To avoid providing real answers to difficult questions about the welfare of millions of Americans, about the real function of their democratic institutions and about existing corruption within the US political system – regardless of who controls the Congress or resides in the White House – Democrats and their media are either blaming their Republican rivals or creating foreign policy distractions. They continue to speak of a ‘China threat’ and an ‘imminent’ Russian invasion of Ukraine and such, while the real threat is that of detached politicians who are amassing wealth, fighting for power and prestige while their countrymen and women continue to go hungry.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

Coronation Street is lining up explosive and jaw-dropping moments this Christmas period, as spoilers for the ITV soap have teased drama for several families and characters

Fans can expect a chaotic Christmas on Coronation Street, with danger, revenge and bombshells.

Bosses have said that Weatherfield “explodes” as secrets and revelations come to light. Residents will be left reeling, and fans will apparently be “on the edge of their seats”.

Maggie Driscoll, who is about to feature in a flashback episode, is front and centre this Christmas. Her act of revenge sees a group of characters brought together in dramatic fashion.

Tensions will rise in The Rovers as Eva’s wracked with guilt over a secret she’s been keeping, and her young daughter Susie’s innocent wish for a sibling sends her spiralling. When Maggie’s suspicions are piqued by a hidden letter and a tender moment between Eva and Adam Barlow, she takes action.

READ MORE: Emmerdale murder confession leaves family reeling – but a secret changes everythingREAD MORE: EastEnders’ Jean makes chilling Zoe confession – but she’s not her stalker

Maggie sets a plan into motion wanting Eva out of her son Ben’s life for good. Of course it’s Christmas Day, so what would be more dramatic than a Christmas dinner being interrupted by bombshells and twists?

With Adam and his partner Alya Nazir suddenly invited, Maggie also extends an invite to her grandson Will’s athletics coach Megan and her new flame Daniel Osbourne. Of course Maggie has no idea Megan is grooming teenager Will.

As an explosive Christmas showdown occurs, there’s “gifts with shattering consequences”, accusations, revelations and a brutal attack on one of the guests. As someone is left unconscious in the ginnel, will they be okay and who is responsible?

There’s more danger too as ‘villain’ Becky Swain takes drastic action to get her way. Having torn her ex Lisa Swain’s relationship with her new fiancée Carla Connor apart, Becky tries once more to win her back.

She’s desperate to get her family back, but amid her involvement in the attack on DI Costello and Kit Green being onto her, she’s under threat. It’s said terrifying scenes and manipulation will feature, as Becky is driven to drastic measures.

Costello still faces jeopardy, while Carla has gone AWOL after her split – seemingly living her best life in Lanzarote. But is all as it seems? As a mystery about Carla begins to unfold, Becky works on convincing Lisa and daughter Betsy that they can have the perfect Christmas.

As her lies begin to unravel though, it’s on Kit to figure out the truth about Becky, Costello’s jumbled messages, and how it all links. Christmas will also see the build-up to Debbie Webster’s wedding to Ronnie Bailey.

A shocking death is set to rock the family, with Carl Webster left devastated. It’s teased that Debbie could be hiding a secret, while Carl’s own lies could come out in the open.

Finally this Christmas, Todd Grimshaw’s abuse ordeal at the hands of partner Theo Silverton escalates. With Todd isolated and heartbroken, pal and ex Billy Mayhew becomes concerned for Todd, so will Theo be exposed? Also, The Platts gather round and watch Gail Platt’s Christmas message to the family a year on from her exit.

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

President Bush sidestepped two controversial environmental issues Monday as he took a brief swing along the West Coast.

In Portland, Ore., where Bush arrived Sunday night and left Monday morning, the President avoided committing himself on protection for the northern spotted owl, the bird whose fate has been bound up with the future of the Northwest’s remaining stands of “old growth” virgin forest.

Bush called for “balance” but did not define it.

Later in the day, during a brief stop in Los Angeles before flying back to Washington, Bush avoided any comment on offshore oil drilling. Last week, he said he was within “days, not weeks” of making a decision on whether to restrict drilling off the coasts of California and Florida.

Bush is widely expected to allow drilling off at least some parts of the Southern California coast. The White House has delayed for months announcing its policy, in part out of concern for the impact a politically unpopular decision to drill would have on Republican hopes of winning this fall’s election for governor.

Politics was at the center of the trip, which brought Bush from Texas to Oregon to Los Angeles and back to Washington in about 31 hours, roughly 11 hours of it on airplanes and only about 45 minutes in public.

But he will have spent several hours in political functions, mostly behind closed doors, in efforts to raise money for Republican candidates.

The chief purpose of Bush’s three-hour stop in Los Angeles, for example, was a lunch at the Bel-Air home of David Murdock, head of Castle Entertainment, where guests paying up to $25,000 apiece were expected to contribute about $700,000 to Republican coffers.

In Oregon, GOP officials estimated Bush raised more than $750,000 for Dave Frohnmayer, the Republican candidate for governor, as he spoke to several hundred people who had paid $1,000 to eat scrambled eggs and listen to political rhetoric at 8 o’clock on a Monday morning.

Because the White House added two non-political stops to the schedule–a 20-minute visit to view the model of a planned memorial to slain policemen in Portland and another 20 minutes at an anti-drug program here–the trip is considered “presidential,” rather than purely “political.” As a result, taxpayers, rather than the GOP, foot much of the bill.

In his remarks on Frohnmayer’s behalf, Bush spoke on both sides of the spotted owl issue.

“I reject those who would ignore the economic consequences of the spotted owl decision,” he said. “I also reject those who do not recognize their obligation to protect our delicate ecosystem.”

His audience, however, left no doubt about their sympathies, loudly applauding when he spoke in favor of considering economic factors and greeting his call for environmental protection with silence.

One of the GOP candidates Bush praised, Rep. Denny Smith (R-Ore.), was even more blunt. “There are millions of owls in the world,” he said. “The bottom line is people are more important than owls.”

Outside the hotel where Bush spoke, several dozen protesters demonstrated against logging. They were joined by other demonstrators protesting about a range of issues from AIDS to the policies of the Indian government in Kashmir.

One group of protesters did a dance across a downtown Portland street representing forest creatures. In keeping with the area’s reputation for civility, the group pranced into the street only when street lights said “Walk,” quickly returning to the sidewalk each time the “Don’t Walk” sign lit up.

Later, however, some demonstrators burned American flags and piles of newspaper in a street near the hotel, sparking at least 27 arrests, police said.

Environmental activists have campaigned to preserve the owl, which lives only in dense “old growth” forests of the Northwest, in large part as a way of protecting the forest ecosystem. Environmental groups argue that the remaining old-growth forests will be entirely gone within a generation if logging of them is not restricted.

Timber companies and many timber industry workers argue that logging restrictions sought by conservationists will put them out of work.

The federal Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed protecting the owl under the Endangered Species Act and is supposed to make a decision by June 23.

Bush has little role to play in that decision. But if the owl is listed as “endangered” or “threatened,” the White House could strongly influence the required writing of a plan to protect the creature. Environmentalists, in turn, could go to court if they believe the Administration does not protect the owl sufficiently.

Saracens: Daly; Caluori, Cinti, Tompkins, Malins; Farrell, Van Zyl; Carre, Dan, Riccioni, McFarland, Tizard, Gonzalez, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Hadfield, Mawi, Street, Wilson, Isiekwe, C Bracken, Burke, Hall

Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Harris, Butt, Arundell; Russell, Spencer; Obano, Dunn, Du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Bayliss, Reid, Green

Replacements: Frost, Van Wyk, Stuart, Molony, Hill, Carr-Smith, Ojomoh, Redpath

Referee: Christope Ridley

The pontiff is set to meet Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and deliver a speech to authorities and diplomats later today.

Pope Leo XIV has reiterated the Vatican’s insistence on a two-state resolution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying it’s the “only solution” that can guarantee justice for both sides.

Leo made the comments as he flew from Turkiye to Lebanon on Sunday for the second and final leg of his maiden international voyage as pope.

On the flight, the pontiff was asked by reporters about his private talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival in Ankara, and whether they discussed the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Leo confirmed they had and said Turkiye has an “important role to play” to end both conflicts.

On Gaza, he repeated the Holy See’s longstanding position supporting a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. The creation of a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza has long been seen internationally as the only way to resolve the decades-long conflict.

“We know that in this moment, Israel doesn’t accept this solution, but we see it as the only one that can offer a solution to the conflict that they are living in,” said Leo. “We are also friends with Israel, and we try with both sides to be a mediating voice that can help bring them closer to a solution with justice for all.”

The pope has avoided any direct mention of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza while in Turkiye.

There was no immediate response from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has long asserted that creating a Palestinian state would reward the Palestinian group Hamas and eventually lead to an even larger Hamas-run state on Israel’s borders.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu said Israel’s opposition to a Palestinian state has “not changed one bit” and isn’t threatened by external or internal pressure. “I do not need affirmations, tweets or lectures from anyone,” he said.

‘Glimmer of hope’

The American pontiff landed in Beirut and is now set to meet Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, the Arab world’s only Christian head of state, and deliver a speech to authorities and diplomats at the presidential palace later in the afternoon.

“Many people are meeting him on the side of the road towards the presidential palace and he’s expected to meet Lebanese officials. He’ll also hold a huge mass in the centre of Beirut, and then visit several cities across the country,” reported Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem from the scene.

About 30 percent of the population of Lebanon is Christian, while the vast majority are Muslim, roughly half of whom belong to the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam.

Travelling abroad has become a major part of the modern papacy, with popes seeking to meet local Catholics, spread the faith, and conduct international diplomacy.

‘For the sake of peace’

Lebanon’s diverse communities have also welcomed the papal trip with leading Druze cleric Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna saying Lebanon “needs the glimmer of hope represented by this visit”.

Reinforcements from the Lebanese army and internal security forces were deployed to the airport before Leo’s arrival.

His convoy will pass through Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area where Hezbollah holds sway and where the terrain was battered in last year’s Israeli air strikes. Hezbollah’s Imam al-Mahdi Scouts are to hold a welcoming ceremony by the roadside as the convoy passes.

Leo’s schedule includes a prayer at the site of a 2020 explosion at the Beirut port that killed 200 people and caused billions of dollars worth of damage.

He will also lead an outdoor mass on the Beirut waterfront and visit a psychiatric hospital, one of the few mental health facilities in Lebanon, where healthcare workers and residents are eagerly anticipating his arrival.

Leo will not travel to the south, the target of Israeli attacks. Despite a United States-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, Israel continues to launch near-daily air strikes on southern Lebanon.

The pope “is coming to bless us and for the sake of peace”, said Farah Saadeh, a Beirut resident. “We have to wait and see what will happen after he leaves, and we hope nothing is going to happen after his departure,” Saadeh said.

Before Leo’s arrival, Hezbollah urged the pope to express his “rejection of injustice and aggression” that the country is being subjected to, a reference to the Israeli attacks.

KATE Ferdinand has shown off her toned abs in Christmas PJs, while opening the doors to her stunning Dubai mansion. 

The 34-year-old revealed earlier this year that she and Rio had officially moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Bromley, South East London.

At the time of the summer move, the star captioned an Instagram post: “A new chapter, a fresh start — because if we don’t try, we’ll never know.”

Now, sharing a peek inside their lives there, the stunning star posted some fabulous festive snaps in her matching Christmas pyjamas. 

“The Christmas celebrations have begun with our babies,” Kate penned, while posing with pals at her Dubai abode. 

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Kate displayed her toned abs and wore her highlighted locks down for the festive photoshoot. 

She flashed a look inside her and Rio’s huge Dubai mansion, with marble floors, as she wandered to the door with her kids to let her friends in. 

Kate and the girls then posed with Santa and The Grinch for a playful photo outside the front of the home. 

And the fitness fanatic also gave a glimpse of her Christmas dining table, equipped with goody bags for the kids. 

Fans rushed to the comments to rave about Kate’s look, as one penned: “Girls your pjs are so nice, where are they from please, you look beautiful.” 

A second person added: “awesome smile and beautiful figure honey,” while a third penned: “Wow, Kate, how amazing do you look.” 

Kate and Rio’s move

Last month, Kate posted a photo dump captioned “recently,” where she shared a string of interior shots. 

The home boasts a huge bedroom with a fluffy beige rug and large bed, with brown wardrobes running alongside one of the walls.

Marble staircases can also be spotted inside the stylish abode, with the entrance hall looking very bright and airy. 

A large black and white family photo can be spotted in the backdrop of one of Kate’s snaps in the home.

Kate flashed another look at the stunning marble entrance as she clutched a huge bouquet of red roses. 

In the lounge, the family have opted for a huge wraparound white sofa with patterned scatter cushions and a white table with a bouquet of roses in the middle. 

The famous family also appear to have an outdoor swimming pool at their residence, which Kate shared a peek at.

The married couple are parents to son Cree, four, and daughter Shae, two.

Rio also has three children from a previous marriage, Lorenz, Tate, 16, and Tia, 13. 

The move to Dubai is full circle for the footballer and former TOWIE star, who met there in 2016 after being introduced out there by mutual friends.

Rio proposed to Kate in Abu Dhabi two years later and the couple tied the knot one year on.

A source said of the couple: “It holds a special place in their hearts as that’s where they met and both could easily travel back and forth for their work commitments in the UK.

“As well as his sporting success Rio has a huge business portfolio now and there is lots of potential in the Middle East.”

FANCY a cheeky getaway over the coming months? Then you’re in luck, because we’ve searched high and low for the best holiday packages under £99.

Think comfy hotels, poolside cocktails and trendy beach resorts – all for less than your weekly food shop.

So whether you want a sunny weekend away or a city break with plenty to see and do, these absolute steals will fly you out and put you up with change from £100.

Have a spa break in Budapest for £69pp

Budapest is one of Europe‘s best destinations when it comes to getting bang for your buck.

Hungary‘s capital is known for its stunning buildings, cheap street food and its famous public baths.

And we’ve found a deal that puts you up in a 4-star central hotel – with breakfast and flights included – for under 70 quid per person.

Spend your days sightseeing at the beautiful Buda Castle district and admiring the impressive St. Stephen’s Basilica for free.

Then head to the market stall by Astoria Station to grab a giant authentic chimney cake for only €2 (£1.76).

And if you want a dip in the luxurious thermal baths, the cheapest way to do so is to buy an afternoon ticket for the Palatinus Thermal Bath.

It costs just 4000 HUF (£9.20) to enter.

Wowcher offers two nights’ stay with breakfast at the swanky 4-star Atrium Fashion Hotel for £69 pp, on multiple dates in January and February.

Return flights from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted and Manchester are included.

Holiday in Malta for £87pp

St. Paul’s Bay in Malta is the country’s largest resort, full of shopping, snorkelling and endless dining options.

This Qawra stay offers a base that’s calm and tucked away, yet still within walking distance of the bars and glitzy nightlife.

Take your pick of cafes and restaurants on Qawra promenade, or visit the free Salina Nature Reserve to spot rare birds whilst kids can play in the colourful park.

The rugged shoreline also has many secluded, unspoilt beaches.

One of the prettiest is Imġiebaħ – where your steep hike down is rewarded by crystal-clear waters.

But the heart of the action is Qawra Point, with its huge beach, casino and Classic Car Museum.

The Qawra Point Holiday Complex is an aparthotel with a rooftop terrace, sunning area and swimming pool – and it’s just 500m from the beach.

Loveholidays offer a two-night, room-only stay at the resort for just £89 pp from 14-16 January, with return flights from Birmingham or London Luton.

Sun yourself on the Costa del Sol for £85pp

On the Beach have an offer ideal for a quick weekend break in the sun – an apartment that’s 150m away from a sandy golden beach in Spain.

Benalmadena in sunny Costa del Sol is a great place to visit if you’re into exploring pretty Spanish old town streets – or just lazing on the beach with a cheap cocktail in hand.

Beaches Playa de Santa Ana and Playa de Arroyo de la Miel are gorgeous stretches of soft sand lined with palm trees.

Plus, the pretty Paloma Park is well worth a visit, filled with luscious greenery and exotic plants.

There’s loads of pretty sites to admire too, like Colomares Castle that was built and dedicated to Christopher Columbus.

Or walk through the winding streets of the Old Town for traditional bright white houses dotted with blooming flowers, and pick up a couple of Andalusian souvenirs.

Food and drink is super cheap here – head to Bonanza Square for the best deals, including a three-course Chinese dinner at Chino Panda for under €8.95 (£7.86).

On the Beach offer two nights’ self-catering stay at Doramar Apartments for £85 pp, from 12-14 January with return flights from London Luton.

Soak in the sights of Amsterdam from £59pp

Amsterdam is a top spot among Brits for a European city break – and for good reason.

There’s so much to see and do, from river cruises to the stunning Royal Palace and Van Gogh Museum.

But there are loads of free museums and experiences people don’t know about.

Swap the expensive tickets for the free Rijksmuseum sculpture gardens, or visit the quirky Mouse Mountains with its mini indoor rollercoaster.

You could even spend an entire day wandering the picture-perfect canals, and hop onboard the “Poezenboot” to experience a free floating cat sanctuary.

Wowcher is offering a two-night, room-only stay in the 4-star stylish XO Hotels Blue Tower for £59 pp, from 14-16 January.

The deal includes return flights from Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, London Gatwick, London Luton or London Stansted.

Get a bit of seaside action in Albufeira for £99pp

Albufeira in Portugal‘s Algarve is a vibrant coastal city that’s perfect for a spot of sunbathing and dolphin spotting.

The sprawling coastline has brilliant beaches like the trendy Praia da Oura with its cheap beachside bars, or the peacefully quiet Praia São Rafael.

There’s also the family-friendly Praia dos Pescadores with an abundance of loungers, inflatables, and water sports – and it’s only steps away from the town centre.

Albufeira Marina has a promenade packed with activities, like go-karting, Segways and bowling.

And there’s of course plenty of seafood restaurants and buzzing bars.

Head to the strip in the afternoon to make the most of happy hour deals – try out Coco Loco between 3 – 7pm for €2.50 (£2.20) pints and €5.50 (£4.83) cocktails.

Loveholidays offer a two-night, room-only stay at the Vale Carros by Umbral for £99 pp on multiple dates in January and February.

The deal includes return flights from Manchester or Luton airport.

Soak up some winter sun in Marrakech for £89pp

You can spend two nights in a stunning guest house with a giant pool in Marrakech for just £89 per person including flights.

This guest house is just 30 minutes from Marrakech’s city centre, with its UNESCO-listed Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

This is a city square unlike any other. The famous market area comes alive with street vendors, musicians, performances and the mouth-watering smells of Moroccan food.

Stroll through the Medina to snoop in the busy souks, with colourful buildings, artwork and clothing at every turn.

There’s also plenty of unique free things to do that will make unforgettable memories – such as listening to traditional storytelling at The World Storytelling Cafe or a free concert at Cafe Clock in the Kasbah.

And when you’ve taken in all that the bustling city of Marrakech has to offer, this guest house is perfect for blissful chill time by the pool.

They even have a shuttle which runs twice daily, to take you to and from the city.

And with Marrakech staying nice and hot year-round, there’s no bad time of year to book.

Loveholidays offers a two-night stay at the Guest House Qodwa for £89 pp, with breakfast included. The price includes return flights from London Stansted, leaving on 7th or 8th of December.

Have an action-packed holiday in Majorca for £90pp

On the doorstep of Majorca’s biggest waterpark, 100m from a gorgeous sandy beach, and a 10-minute drive from the airport, you get more than your money’s worth at the BLUESEA Mediodia hotel.

This hotel is just steps away from Playa de Palma beach, a dreamy 4m stretch of bright sand and turquoise Mediterranean waters.

It’s hard to beat El Arenal when it comes to Spanish beach resorts.

The beachfront is pristine, plus you’re never far from a balneario (wooden beach huts offering food, drinks, toilets and showers).

There’s no shortage of restaurants either, with everything from English to Chinese cuisine on offer.

There’s plenty of beachside bars for cheap drinks, and for some authentic Spanish goods – the nearby Mercat de l’Olivar is the largest market in Palma.

Plus, the walk up to Bellver Castle offers spectacular 360° views over the Bay of Palma.

On the Beach offers a 2-night stay at BLUESEA Mediodia for £90pp, with flights and breakfast included. Rates available on multiple dates in January, flying from London Gatwick.

Albania, £99pp

Just a two-minute away from Durres Beach (the largest in Albania), this affordable stay in Tirana is a budget-friendly base for exploring the capital city.

And at 4 nights for £99 in one of the trendiest holiday hotspots, who can say no?

Albania is becoming an increasingly popular country for Brits to visit for a spot of sun, thanks to its stunning beaches and rock-bottom prices.

Data from Loveholidays shows that bookings to Albania increased by 224 per cent compared to last year, proving just how popular this hotspot has become.

Durres Beach is a 10km stretch of sand with inviting warm and shallow waters, with plenty of water sports available like kayaking and paddle-boarding.

Plus, Albania is notoriously affordable when it comes to food and drink, with a beer typically costing just over €2 (£1.76).

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding recommends visiting Cosmo Restaurant, the highest-rated eatery in Tirana serving up freshly-caught seafood.

After visiting the beach, there’s plenty more to see and do in the area, such as admiring the monuments of Skanderbeg Square and climbing the pyramid of Tirana.

Loveholidays offers a four-night, room-only stay at the Enles Hotel at £99pp for multiple dates in January, including return flights from London Stansted.

Citing the failure of the state Legislature to act, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that he has collected 600,000 signatures of California voters, more than enough to qualify a gun control initiative for the November ballot.

“We’re there. This is going to be on the November ballot,” Newsom said Thursday. “Over 600,000 registered voters want to take some bold action on gun safety.”

Newsom’s campaign plans to begin delivering signatures tomorrow to county clerks for verification. If at least 365,880 signatures are found to be valid, the measure qualifies for the ballot.

Newsom said most of the proposals in the initiative “have one thing in common, that over the past number of years they have suffered the fate of either being watered down or rejected by the Legislature. We’re hopeful and confident that the voters of California will overwhelmingly support the initiative.”

The broad measure would require background checks for purchasers of ammunition, ban possession of ammunition magazine clips holding more than 10 rounds, provide a process for felons and other disqualified persons to relinquish firearms and require owners to report when their guns are lost or stolen.

The initiative would also address an issue caused by the previous adoption of Proposition 47, which made thefts of guns worth under $1,000 a misdemeanor. The ballot measure would make all gun thefts a felony.

Last week, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) said key provisions of the initiative, including the ban on large capacity magazines, are addressed by legislation this year, but that bills could be harmed by the initiative going forward.

A campaign committee including gun groups and law enforcement is being formed to defeat the initiative, according to one member, Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California. He noted that the measure has already been opposed by the California State Sheriffs’ Assn., which said it would put restrictions on law-abiding people without taking guns from criminals.

“it’s an initiative that carries multiple proposals that were either killed by the Legislature as not workable or vetoed by the governor,” Paredes said. “Newsom has collected failed policy issues from the Legislature and put them up as an initiative. Its going to be a massive effort to defeat him.”

Paredes said the initiative is a cynical attempt by Newsom to gain higher office.

“We know he’s doing this to pump himself up for his gubernatorial run,” Paredes said.

Newsom said his campaign for governor is secondary to his current effort to enact gun safety laws.

He said he has been active in the gun safety movement going back 15 years when he was mayor of San Francisco and a founding member of the group Mayors Against Guns. The NRA was so upset, they protested at his wedding in Montana, he said.

“I expect a good challenge from them,” Newsom said of the NRA. “They have been very aggressive to date. But we are very enthusiastic to be getting to this next phase.”

He cited internal polls indicating more than 70% of California voters support the initiative and a Field Poll that found greater support for provisions of the measure, including the ban on high capacity ammunition magazines.

The measure is also opposed by Chuck Michel, co-chair of the new Coalition for Civil Liberties. “Politicians like Newsom need to concentrate on stopping criminals and terrorists, not law-abiding citizens exercising their rights,” Michel said in a statement.

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Updates from Sacramento

In a matter of weeks, Ventura High football coach Tim Garcia will help move his son, quarterback Derek Garcia, into the dorms at Nevada Las Vegas. They’re having one last hurrah, and the memories are going to be priceless.

On Saturday night, Ventura won the Southern Section Division 6 football championship with a 63-28 win over St. Pius X-St. Matthias. It means Ventura’s season keeps going with next week’s state regional playoffs to be announced on Sunday.

Derek passed for 288 yards and one touchdown. Dad was also happy that running back James Watson had 247 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Earlier this week at the championship luncheon, the Garcias were smiling even though the coach/son role will soon be ending at Ventura. It’s a rite of passage leaving the nest for the son to explore the world.

Derek is thankful he’s had his father at his side for four years of fun and excitement, and what a way to celebrate with a Southern Section championship and maybe even more.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].

Sudan was teetering on the edge of crisis long before open war erupted in April 2023. Decades of authoritarian rule under Omar al-Bashir resulted in a fragile economy, fragmented security forces, and entrenched paramilitary structures.

Following the coup that overthrew al-Bashir in 2019, a fragile civilian-military transitional arrangement failed to unite competing factions. Political instability, localised rebellions, and a simmering rivalry between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – the successor to the Popular Defence Forces, government-backed militia known as the Janjaweed who committed war crimes in Darfur in the early 2000s – escalated into full-blown conflict.

By mid-2023, Sudan was effectively split into contested zones, with major urban centres, such as Khartoum and Omdurman, transformed into battlefields, and millions of civilians displaced internally or forced across borders as refugees.

Although geographically removed, the European Union played a consequential role in these developments. For nearly a decade, it pursued a strategy of “externalising” migration control, directing aid, training, and equipment to African states ostensibly to reduce irregular migration towards Europe.

In Sudan, this approach produced unintended and devastating consequences that the EU is yet to be held accountable for. Funding initially justified under “migration management” and “capacity building” intersected with opaque arms flows, Gulf intermediaries, and weak oversight. European money and materiel, intended to stabilise populations and impose border forces to buffer the migratory ambitions of Africans, may have indirectly reinforced the very actors now perpetrating war crimes in Sudan.

Between 2014 and 2018, the EU channelled more than 200 million euros ($232m at the current exchange rate) into Sudan via the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) and the Better Migration Management (BMM) initiative.

These programmes formally aimed to strengthen migration control, border security and anti-trafficking enforcement. In reality, they entrenched cooperation between the EU and Sudan’s security structures, including units that effectively merged into the RSF.

As early as 2017, the Enough Project, an advocacy group focused on conflict, corruption and human rights, published a report titled Border Control from Hell, warning that “the gravest concern about the EU’s new partnership with Sudan is that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the most abusive paramilitary groups in the country, stands to benefit from EU funding” and that “the equipment that enables identification and registration of migrants will also reinforce the surveillance capabilities of a Sudanese government that has violently suppressed Sudanese citizens for the past 28 years”.

Two years later, the EU had to suspend several migration-control activities in Sudan because there was a risk that resources could be “diverted for repressive aims”, according to an EU official document cited by German news outlet Deutsche Welle.

And yet, a factsheet titled What the EU really does in Sudan, published on the bloc’s website in 2018, claimed: “The EU does not provide any financial support to the Government of Sudan … The Rapid Support Forces of the Sudanese military do not benefit directly or indirectly from EU funding.”

All this raises an important question: If the EU knew of the risk of diversion, why did it still invest hundreds of millions into a context where control over the end use of training, equipment and funds was manifestly weak?

What is worse is that the EU’s role was not limited to supplying funds that could be misappropriated. It also provided weapons, albeit indirectly.

As the conflict deepened, investigators started uncovering foreign-manufactured weapons and ammunition circulating widely among the RSF and the SAF. Verified imagery, open-source analysis and serial number tracing have revealed European-manufactured systems on Sudan’s battlefields. In November 2024, Amnesty International released an investigation disclosing that Nimr Ajban armoured personnel carriers (APCs) were equipped with French-made Galix defensive systems. Amnesty’s analysts verified images and videos from multiple Sudanese locations and concluded that, if deployed in Darfur, their use would breach the longstanding United Nations arms embargo on the region.

In April, investigations by France24 and the Reuters news agency traced 81mm mortar shells found in an RSF convoy in North Darfur back to Bulgaria. The markings on this ammunition matched mortar bombs manufactured by a Bulgarian firm and exported legally to the United Arab Emirates in 2019. The Bulgarian government had not authorised the re-export of the shells from the UAE to Sudan.

In October, The Guardian reported that British military equipment, including small-arms target systems and engines for APCs, had been used by the RSF in Sudan, and they may have been supplied by the UAE.

Taken together, these findings illustrate a pattern: European-made arms and weapons systems, legally exported to third countries, have subsequently been diverted into Sudan’s conflict, despite embargoes and supposed safeguards.

Although the UAE denies it plays any role in the conflict, its position as an intermediary hub for re-exported weaponry has been repeatedly documented. Still, European suppliers, bound by end-user agreements and export-control frameworks, share responsibility for ensuring compliance.

Under the United Kingdom and EU regulations, governments must deny or revoke licences when there is a clear risk of diversion to conflict zones or human rights abusers. The use of European-made arms and weapons systems in Sudan, therefore, demands a rigorous reassessment of post-shipment monitoring and enforcement.

Despite this, European and British governments have continued to issue new export licences to potential violators, including the UAE. Recent reporting by Middle East Eye shows that the UK approved roughly $227m in military exports to the UAE between April and June this year, even after being informed that Emirati-supplied equipment had reached the RSF.

European countries are by far not an exception in failing to ensure that their weapons are not diverted to war zones under embargo.

My own country, South Africa, has also faced criticism over the lack of control over its arms shipments. In the mid-2010s, the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) faced international and domestic scrutiny after South African-manufactured weapons and ammunition were reportedly used by Saudi and Emirati forces in Yemen.

As a result, in 2019, the NCACC delayed or withheld export approvals, especially for “the most lethal” items, amid disputes over updated inspection clauses and human rights concerns. The South African authorities demanded that they be granted access to facilities in importer countries to ensure compliance with the end-user agreement – something the UAE and Saudi Arabia, along with several other countries, refused to provide. By 2022, previously withheld consignments were eventually cleared under renegotiated terms.

Today, evidence suggests that South African weapons may have been diverted to Sudan as well. Investigators and open-source analysts claim to have identified munitions consistent with South African manufacture in Sudan.

The South African case illustrates that even when there is political will to ensure compliance with the end-user agreements for arms sales, enforcement can be challenging. And yet, it is a necessary and crucial part of peacebuilding efforts.

If democratic governments wish to reclaim credibility, end-use monitoring must be enforceable, not a bureaucratic concession. The NCACC in Pretoria and export control authorities in Brussels, Sofia, Paris and London must publish transparent audits of past licences, investigate credible diversion cases, and suspend new approvals where risk remains unmitigated.

In parallel, the EU must ensure migration management funding cannot be coopted by armed actors.

Without such measures, Europe’s migration policy and South Africa’s defence trade risk complicity in a grim paradox: initiatives justified in the name of security that foster insecurity.

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

Ukrainian Member of Parliament Lisa Yasko discusses the investigation of President Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak over corruption accusations following his resignation.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former U.S. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno, still weighing whether she’ll run for governor, said Saturday she considers it important to improve the image of politics.

Reno and four other potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates spoke at the Young Democrats Summer Convention as they test the waters to explore running to unseat Gov. Jeb Bush next year.

Reno said she expects to decide in the next six weeks on whether to run for governor. She called for improvements to the state education system, a health care system that works with the federal government and a ban on new oil drilling.

“Let us do everything we can to preserve that fragile, wonderful land for our children and their children, and on and on and on,” she said.

The governor’s race is expected to be one of the most closely watched next year, and many Democrats view Bush as vulnerable because of the state’s contested vote in last year’s presidential election.

State House Minority Leader Lois Frankel was the only announced gubernatorial candidate to attend.

“We need to get rid of Jeb Bush. He needs to be retired,” Frankel told the gathering of about 150 people. She said winning the election was also about “political payback.”

The gathering also included speeches from Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox and U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, both of whom are considering entering the race.

Davis, a three-term congressman from Tampa, said he expects to decide by Labor Day whether he will run for governor.

“This election is not about payback,” he said. “It’s not about getting even. This is about replacing Jeb Bush with leadership that is going to move the state forward.”

Maddox said he did not know if he would run.

“There are a lot of good ones out there,” he said.

Three possible Democratic hopefuls did not attend the convention. They were former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson, a former Panhandle congressman; state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami; and Tampa attorney Bill McBride.

Crystal Palace manger Oliver Glasner believes the club should have spent more in the summer given their European commitments, arguing that January is too late to bolster his squad.

MATCH REPORT: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United

Available to UK users only.

The vote is taking place in a highly polarised climate, with the US backing the right-wing candidate Nasry Asfura.

Hondurans are heading to the polls to elect a new president in a tightly contested race that is taking place amid concerns over voter fraud in the impoverished Central American country.

Polls opened on Sunday at 7am local time (13:00 GMT) for 10 hours of voting, with the first results expected late Sunday night.

Most polls show a virtual tie between three of the five contenders: former Defence Minister Rixi Moncada of the governing leftist Liberty and Refoundation (LIBRE) party; former Tegucigalpa Mayor Nasry Asfura of the right-wing National Party; and television host Salvador Nasralla of the centrist Liberal Party.

The elections, in which the 128 members of Congress, hundreds of mayors, and thousands of other public officials will also be chosen, are taking place in a highly polarised climate, with the three top candidates accusing each other of plotting fraud. Moncada has suggested that she will not recognise the official results.

Incumbent President Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE party is limited by law to one term in office.

Honduras’s Attorney General’s Office, aligned with the ruling party, has accused the opposition parties of planning to commit voter fraud, a claim they deny.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation into audio recordings that allegedly show a high-ranking National Party politician discussing plans with an unidentified military officer to influence the election.

The alleged recordings, which the National Party says were created using artificial intelligence, have become central to Moncada’s campaign.

Public distrust

Political tensions have contributed to a growing public distrust of the electoral authorities and the electoral process in general. There have also been delays in the provision of voting materials.

“We are hoping that there will be no fraud and that the elections will be peaceful,” said Jennifer Lopez, a 22-year-old law student in Tegucigalpa. “This would be a huge step forward for democracy in our country.”

Amid the heated atmosphere, 6.5 million Hondurans will decide between continuing with Castro’s left-wing social and economic agenda or shifting towards a conservative agenda by supporting the Liberal or National parties.

Castro, the first woman to govern Honduras, has increased public investment and social spending. The economy has grown moderately, and poverty and inequality have decreased, although both remain high. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised her government’s prudent fiscal management.

The country’s homicide rate has also fallen to its lowest level in recent history, but violence persists.

US stance

The Organization of American States has expressed concerns about the electoral process, and the majority of its members in an extraordinary session this week called for the government to conduct elections free of intimidation, fraud and political interference.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also warned on X that the United States will respond “swiftly and decisively to anyone who undermines the integrity of the democratic process in Honduras”.

US President Donald Trump has backed Asfura, posting on social media that “if he doesn’t win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad”.

Honduras, where six out of every 10 citizens live in poverty, experienced a coup in 2009 when an alliance of right-wing military figures, politicians and businessmen overthrew Manuel Zelaya, the husband of the current president.

In 2021, Honduran voters gave Castro a landslide victory, ending decades of rule by the National and Liberal parties.

On Friday, Israel killed at least 13 people, including two children, in the Damascus countryside town of Beit Jinn.

The latest air raids came after locals tried to repel an Israeli military incursion into Beit Jinn, leading to clashes.

Israel claimed it was going after members of the Jamaa al-Islamiya, Lebanon’s branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

However, rubbishing the Israeli claim, the group said it was not active outside Lebanon.

Here’s everything you need to know about the attack in Beit Jinn and the context behind it.

What happened?

The Israeli army’s 55th Reserve Brigade raided Beit Jinn in the early hours of Friday morning, ostensibly to take three Syrians who live there, claiming they were members of Jamaa al-Islamiya and that they posed a “danger to Israel”.

However, the incursion did not go to plan. Locals resisted, and six Israeli soldiers were wounded in the resulting clashes, three of them seriously, according to the Israeli army.

Israel then sent in its warplanes.

“We were asleep when we were woken up at three in the morning by gunfire,” Iyad Daher, a wounded resident, told the AFP news agency from al-Mouwasat Hospital in Damascus.

“We went outside to see what was happening and saw the Israeli army in the village, soldiers and tanks,” Daher said. “Then they withdrew, the air force came – and the shells started falling.”

This was the deadliest of Israel’s more than 1,000 strikes on Syria since the fall of the Assad regime

Why were Israeli forces in Syria?

This was not the first time Israel raided Syrian territory.

Israeli officials and government-aligned media say Israel can no longer respect its enemies’ borders or allow “hostile” groups along its borders after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel has sought to use force in other countries to create buffer zones around itself, in the Gaza Strip, Syria and Lebanon.

Since the fall of the Assad regime last December, Israel has launched frequent air raids across Syria and ground incursions in its south. It set up numerous checkpoints in Syria and detained and disappeared Syrian citizens from Syrian territory, holding them illegally in Israel.

It invaded the buffer zone that separated the two countries since they signed the 1974 disengagement agreement, setting up outposts around Jabal al-Sheikh (Mount Hermon in English).

The new Syrian government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, said it would abide by the 1974 agreement.

Israel occupied the Syrian Golan Heights in 1967. A demilitarised zone was later established, but when President Bashar al-Assad was ousted, and his army was in shambles, Israel invaded to take outposts on Syrian-controlled land.

What did the Syrian government say?

That the attack is a war crime.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement, condemning “the criminal attack carried out by an Israeli occupation army patrol in Beit Jinn. The occupation forces’ targeting of the town of Beit Jinn with brutal and deliberate shelling, following their failed incursion, constitutes a full-fledged war crime.”

What is Israel claiming?

Israel’s public broadcaster said the operation was an “arrest raid” targeting Jamaa al-Islamiya members.

An Israeli army spokesperson said three people linked to the group were “arrested”.

Israel claims the group is operating in southern Syria to “recruit terrorists” and plays a role in what it calls the “northern front” – Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid reported from Syria that Israel has yet to offer any proof of the claim that the people it was after were involved with the group.

What is Jamaa al-Islamiya?

The group is the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

It was founded in 1956 and has a stable presence in Lebanon, though it has never been as popular as some of its regional counterparts.

It has one member of parliament and was historically aligned with the Future Movement, founded by former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

However, the group moved closer to Iran and Hezbollah politically in recent years. Its armed wing, the Fajr Forces, took part in some operations against Israel in 2023-24.

After Israel’s claims that it was involved in southern Syria, the group released a statement on Friday stating that it was “surprised” Israeli media had involved it in what happened in Beit Jinn.

Denouncing the attack, it said it conducts “no activities outside Lebanon”.

The group added that it has abided by and committed to the ceasefire agreement from November 2024 between Lebanon and Israel.

Has Israel claimed it was attacking this group before?

Yes.

In March 2024, Israel attacked al-Habbariyeh in southern Lebanon, killing seven emergency relief volunteers.

It claimed the attack targeted a member of the group, calling him a “significant terrorist”.

However, the alleged target was never named, the director of the Lebanese Emergency and Relief Corps’ Ambulance Association told Al Jazeera.

After some shocking revelations in Mayor of Kingstown season four, actor Lennie James has teased even more surprises from mobster Frank Moses

Mayor of Kingstown star Lennie James has revealed his journey as Detroit mobster Frank Moses is headed in some very unexpected directions.

Following Mike McClusky’s (played by Jeremy Renner) feud with Russian crime lord Milo Sunter (Aiden Gillan), Frank has entered the fray in season four to fill the power vacuum.

After developing a shaky alliance with Kingstown’s ‘mayor’, Frank has since revealed his true colours as potentially an even greater threat in the Paramount+ crime saga.

In episode six, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, Mike’s closest confidant on the streets, Deverin ‘Bunny’ Washington (Tobi Bamtefa), is taken to hospital after suffering gunshot wounds from an attacker named Lamar (Zuri James).

However, Mike soon discovers that Lamar is actually working for Frank, who betrayed both his and Bunny’s trust to take over operations in Kingstown.

Mike brings him in and attempts to get him arrested, but a member of the Cartel tries to take Frank out. By the end of the episode, Mike and Frank’s working relationship seems to be completely dissolved.

Throughout the series, Frank has affected a calm demeanour even while under intense pressure, which James exclusively told Reach could be a façade that’s about to slip.

“It’s gonna be tested, but it’s not going to be tested where you expect it to be tested,” James teased.

“When it drops, it’s not gonna be for the reason that everybody thinks it might be. When he goes gangster, it’s not in the direction that is expected.

“That’s one of the things I think the writer’s room liked writing for Frank, because all things were possible, because he’s a unicorn.”

Frank’s history in Detroit has served him well so far as he’s able to rise to the challenges presented by the crime-ridden Kingstown with years of experience handling rival gangsters and cops.

At the very start of the series, he’s introduced just minutes after decapitating several Russian mobsters on a train track to announce his arrival, but he’s not had to get his hands dirty again since.

Line of Duty star James explains that he’s able to stay chillingly calm because “there isn’t much he hasn’t seen”. Even so, his power struggle with Mike could test him beyond his limits.

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The actor also hints the series could go back a little more to his roots in Detroit, confirming: “Yeah, you will. You’ll find out more.

“You won’t find out everything, but you’ll find out more, much more.”

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to confirm whether or not Frank will be back in season five, which has yet to be confirmed by Paramount.

Still, he’s already proven a formidable threat and a popular new addition amongst fans, so there’s every chance of following in his predecessor Sunter and lasting for at least a couple of more seasons.

Mayor of Kingstown continues Sundays on Paramount+.

YOU’VE heard of the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell – but you may not have heard of this other magnificent site that’s in the middle of the city.

It has over 600 years of history and is now an incredibly impressive Art Nouveau Site worthy of being just as famous as its grand neighbours.

Sant Pau is a former hospital turned historical attraction found in the Eixample district of Barcelona.

In fact, it’s only 6 minutes away from the famous Sagrada Familia.

The site was previously called the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau – as it was a working hospital up until 2009.

The impressive complex was built between 1901 and 1930 and was designed by Catalan modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

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But its history dates back 1401 when six medieval hospitals in Barcelona merged to form the Hospital de la Santa Creu – was transformed into a modernist complex years later.

The site is made up of 16 pavilions which are connected by underground tunnels and was designed to be a “garden city” for the sick.

Inside are lots of open spaces and natural light as well as pretty gardens which were constructed in the hope of promoting healing.

The layout was revolutionary at the time with Lluís Domènech i Montaner believing that a natural and beautiful environment would help the recovery of patients.

The design of multiple pavilions also helped to stop the spreading of diseases.

The building is the largest Art Nouveau complex in Europe, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997 and it’s considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful hospitals.

Due to its role as a hospital, Sant Pau isn’t as well-known as other nearby sites – and it gets approximately 375,000 visitors each year.

In comparison, the Sagrada Familia gets around 4.5 million visitors per year, as does Park Güell.

It wasn’t until 2014 that the site was restored and reopened as a museum and cultural center.

If you’re wondering what happened to the patients when the hospital closed – they were transferred next door into a modern facility.

Inside are beautiful decorations like mosaics, stained glass, and glazed tiles which visitors can marvel at.

Quite often there are events held there too – the site recently held the Sant Pau International Chamber Music Festival.

Over Christmas it’s been lit up with lights, 18 interactive instillations and of course, there’s a huge Christmas tree.

For those who want to explore it at their own pace, you can do so with a self-guided visit and a map for guidance at €11.90 (£10.44).

Guests can also take a guided tour and on Saturdays at 10.30AM tours will be taken in English.

You can buy tickets from €21 (£18.42) or €5 (£4.38) for children between 3-11 years old.

Plus, check out this abandoned Victorian church that has been turned into one of the UK’s most beautiful swimming pools.

And this eerie Victorian-era asylum is being transformed into a luxury 5-star hotel and spa.

On Tuesday night, President Trump once again emboldened the violent far-right when he deflected a debate moderator’s request to tell those groups to stand down, instead responding that one such organization, the Proud Boys, should “stand back and stand by,” adding, “Somebody has got to do something about antifa and the left.”

Here’s what you need to know about the far-right movement in the U.S. and why the president’s remarks were significant.

What does ‘far right’ mean?

There is no single definition of what it means to be “far right,” which is a broad term applied to a fragmented series of groups and ideologies that have operated along the fringes of U.S. politics, some for well over a century. Such groups embrace ideals of white racial purity, ultranationalism, “Western civilization” or male dominance. They have often expressed hostility to Black people, immigrants, members of certain religious groups (typically Jews, Muslims and Catholics), left-wing organizations, feminists, the federal government and even liberal democracy itself.

Far-right groups are also often labeled as racists, white supremacists, white nationalists, fascists, “alt-right,” neo-Nazis, neo-Confederates, chauvinists and militias, with the distinction frequently depending on their history or ideology. Historically, America’s best-known right-wing extremist organization is the Ku Klux Klan, which was violently dedicated to preserving white power after the Confederacy’s defeat in the Civil War brought new rights to formerly enslaved Black Americans.

The Klan’s power has waned, but such groups continue to appear in the public sphere. Many Americans will be most familiar with their gathering at the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va., where far-right groups clashed with anti-racist protesters, killing one woman.

Who are the Proud Boys?

The Anti-Defamation League, which monitors extremists, describes the Proud Boys as “violent, nationalistic, Islamophobic, transphobic and misogynistic,” but says “its members represent a range of ethnic backgrounds, and its leaders vehemently protest any allegations of racism.”

Its membership is estimated to be in the hundreds, organized into local chapters that have attended public rallies and protests and sometimes violently confronted left-wing protesters. Its founder, Gavin McInnes, describes the group as a “pro-Western fraternity,” but the Anti-Defamation League says it has “many of the hallmarks of a gang, and its members have taken part in multiple acts of brutal violence and intimidation.”

On Wednesday, media outlets in Portland, Ore., reported that one Proud Boy member had been arrested on suspicion of assault and pointing a gun at anti-fascist protesters at an Aug. 22 confrontation in the city.

What is Trump’s relationship to the far right?

Trump’s groundbreaking 2016 presidential campaign energized far-right groups as he made harsh attacks on immigrants, Muslims, liberals and the idea of America as a collaborative participant in international diplomacy and trade. He embraced what are sometimes called “white grievance” politics, attracting large numbers of white voters, most frequently men, who believed that they themselves had been the victims of racial discrimination.

After winning, Trump populated his White House with hard-line conservatives such as Stephen K. Bannon, whose website Breitbart had been a key platform for elevating the so-called “alt-right,” which turned out to just be another name for fascism.

This drew praise from the far right, which felt that in Trump it now had a vessel to inject its own extremist politics into the mainstream after decades of marginalization, humiliation and defeat.

As The Times reported in 2016, David Duke, a former Klan grand wizard, declared that “the fact that Donald Trump’s doing so well, it proves that I’m winning.” Richard Spencer, president of the National Policy Institute, who called for a separate white nation, said, “Before Trump, our identity ideas, national ideas, they had no place to go.” Andrew Anglin, operator of the neo-Nazi website the Daily Stormer, said, “Virtually every alt-right Nazi I know is volunteering for the Trump campaign.”

How has Trump talked about the far right in the past?

It’s typical for politicians to publicly distance themselves from their most extreme supporters, usually to avoid alienating moderates or energizing opponents. But Trump, who has sometimes retweeted Twitter accounts associated with white nationalists, has often stumbled, prevaricated, pleaded ignorance or shifted blame to the left when confronted about his support from the far right.

In 2016, after retweeting a quote by Benito Mussolini, the Italian fascist leader who was allied with Adolf Hitler, Trump said, “Look, Mussolini was Mussolini … and I know who said it,” calling it “a very good quote, an interesting quote.”

Asked to disavow Duke and the KKK, Trump evaded, saying, “I don’t know anything about David Duke. I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So, I don’t know.”

After the deadly 2017 Charlottesville rally, Trump told reporters: “I’ve condemned neo-Nazis; I’ve condemned many different groups,” but said he believed that not all of the right-wing participants were neo-Nazis, and that “you also had people that were very fine people on both sides.”

That comment caused an uproar among Trump’s critics, who took the remark as Trump calling neo-Nazis “very fine people” and who denounced his unwillingness to take a hard stand against racists while the nation was rattled by its largest fascist gathering in years.

What Trump said at the debate

At Tuesday night’s debate, moderator Chris Wallace gave Trump yet another chance to denounce far-right radicals, and the president once again created an uproar with his unwillingness to denounce extremist supporters.

“Are you willing tonight to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities … ?” Wallace asked.

“Sure, I’m willing to do that. I would say, I would say, almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing,” Trump said. “I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace.”

“Then do it, sir,” Wallace said.

“Say it. Do it. Say it,” Democratic nominee Joe Biden said.

“You want to call ’em — what do you want to call ’em? Give me a name, give me a name,” Trump said. “Who would you like me to condemn?”

Wallace and Biden, talking over each other, suggested “white supremacists” and the right-wing group the Proud Boys.

“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by — but I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left,” Trump said.

Many listeners, including members of the Proud Boys, saw Trump’s response as a sign of support, the opposite of a denunciation.

Facing widespread criticism afterward, Trump attempted Wednesday to walk back his remark, saying, “I don’t know who Proud Boys are, but whoever they are, they have to stand down, let enforcement do their work.” But he reiterated, “now, antifa is a real problem, because the problem is on the left.”

Pressed again by a reporter to denounce white supremacists, Trump responded, “I’ve always denounced any form of any of that.”