breaks

Sudanese military officials say they’ve broken through a siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group of the South Kordofan capital of Kadugli. It’s the military’s second major advance in the Kordofan region in less than a week.

A massive fire has broken out at a bazaar in western Tehran, authorities say, sending thick plumes of black smoke over the Iranian capital.

The cause of the blaze on Tuesday morning was not immediately unclear.

The fire has “so far resulted in no injuries”, Tehran emergency services operations commander Mohammad Behnia said.

The blaze started at a market in the Jannat Abad neighbourhood in the west of the capital, an area packed with stalls and shops, state television quoted the city’s fire department as saying.

“The fire is extensive, to the extent that it is visible from various parts of Tehran,” Fire Department spokesman Jalal Maleki said.

Maleki later said the blaze had been “brought under control” and that “smoke removal and spot-check operations” were under way, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

State television said firefighters were dispatched to the site immediately to contain the blaze.

Glorious summer hiking in Norway

A week’s hiking in Jotunheimen national park (230 miles north of Oslo) last summer brought me tranquillity and peace. During four days of challenging hiking and wild camping through the area we saw hardly anyone else, having entire lush green valleys and still glacial lakes to ourselves. We were fortunate to have stunning weather throughout and, despite it being July, still had a reasonable amount of snow to traverse. Norway has a fantastic network of signposted trails and huts which can be found on the Norwegian Trekking Association website.
Ben

An arty cabin break near Aarhus

We had an amazing family holiday on the Jutland coast neat Aarhus, Denmark’s second city. We stayed in a cabin among pine trees and swam every day. We found helpful swimming jetties, making it simple to get into the sea – they even have hooks for towels. The beaches were wild and so quiet we often had them to ourselves. For an urban fix, Aarhus was a joy to visit. The Aarhus Kunstmuseum is definitely worth checking out for contemporary art lovers, followed by lunch at Cafe Folkeven.
Ben Dunne

Urban Scandi beauty in Stavanger

Stavanger, on the south-west coast of Norway, feels like the picture-perfect example of Scandinavian urban beauty. The city is welcoming, with quaint Gamle Stavanger (the old town) full of shops selling wool and cute bars serving up local beer (my favourite is bookshop cum bar Bøker og Børst). Head further south to Boresanden if you fancy braving the cold with a surf and follow up with a sauna. For further adventure, head east for Preikestolen for awe-inspiring views over the fjord. Finally, take the ferry to Flor og Fjære to wander round the tropical gardens (opens 9 May).
Anisa

Frozen lakes, coffee and a sauna in Finnish Lakeland

In the south of Finnish Lakeland is Lahti, a town that feels a world away from Helsinki despite its excellent rail link to the capital. Lahti is full of charming little cafes and quiet, down-to-earth people, not to mention scenes straight from a fairytale. I spent a month studying here as a student nurse and was equally amazed by the Finnish approach to public health as I was by how comfortable -22C can feel. Between days on placement, I spent time going for long walks over the frozen Lake Vesijärvi (a truly surreal experience) before enjoying Finnish coffee culture at Kahvila Kariranta, a former railway station turned cafe. There’s lots of ice skating and cross-country skiing, or, if you’re looking to unwind, you’re never far from a sauna, which in Finland is viewed as a necessity not a luxury.
Esther

A horse ride through Norwegian mountains

Why hike when you can horse ride? To get off the tourist trail, we opted to explore Norway’s Rondane national park on smallish but strong dole horses (a Norwegian breed) last summer. The horses were gorgeous, incredibly patient – although I can ride, my friend had barely sat on a horse since riding ponies on the beach as a kid – and really sure-footed as they navigated the mountain paths. It was a brilliant way to get deeper into the countryside and take things at a slower pace, giving us plenty of time to take in the views and hear stories about the area from our guide. The holiday was organised by Gutsy Girls.
Fliss

Island of sunshine in Denmark

Bornholm island is Danish, but set in the middle of the Baltic between Poland and Sweden. It has beaches of fine white sand and secluded coves – perfect in summer when the island enjoys sunnier weather than most of the surrounding region. History is everywhere, from one of the largest ruined medieval castles in Europe – Hammershus – to remnants of Soviet occupation in 1945-46 and distinctive circular churches. Fish smokeries offer herring, salmon and eel, while bakeries provide the best Danish pastries. Stay at one of Bornholm’s seaside hotels, enjoy the sunsets and you will never want to leave.
Robert Gilchrist

Sweden’s wooden wonder

The lakeside town of Nora, 130 miles inland from Stockholm, is one of Sweden’s three “wooden towns” (along with Eksjö and Hjo), where all the buildings are made of timber from the surrounding forests. The town and its surrounding area have a timeless feel of a wealthy bygone age belonging to Nordic nobility. I strolled around Nora’s cobblestone streets and visited the perfectly preserved 19th-century villa Göthlinska Gården. I spent another afternoon in Glasstorget (Ice-Cream Square) to try the local ice-cream, Noraglass. On another day, I wandered around the streets of the Kvarteret Bryggeriet creative quarter – full of independent shops, eateries and with a fascinating microbrewery. The nearby lakes (Norasjön, Fåsjön and Usken) are gorgeous and great for swimming and picnics.
Jo

Design gems near Copenhagen

A great advantage in revisiting a city is venturing further afield, beyond the obvious tourist sights. Returning to Copenhagen, we went in search of one of its most famous architects, Arne Jacobsen, travelling just 6 miles outside the centre. At Bellevue Beach, Klampenborg, an area perfect for summer promenading, Jacobsen built an iconic theatre, a restaurant, the angular Søholm houses, and gleaming-white Bauhaus-influenced apartment buildings. But that’s not all – he even designed the local kiosks and blue-striped lifeguard towers. Twenty minutes stroll down the coast, there’s also a striking Jacobsen petrol station (now part ice-cream parlour) with oval-shaped canopy somewhat reminiscent of the Starship Enterprise.
David M

Quietly thrilling Finnish design

Visiting Alvar Aalto’s Paimio sanatorium is a quietly thrilling pilgrimage. Set among pine forests in south-west Finland, the building feels tuned to light, air and human dignity. Designed in the 1930s for tuberculosis patients, every detail tells a story: gentle colour palettes to soothe minds, silent sinks to aid rest, chairs shaped for easier breathing. Walking its corridors offers deep insight into Finnish culture – pragmatic, compassionate, nature-led. History lingers in patient rooms and sun balconies, yet the place feels timelessly modern. For design lovers and curious travellers alike, it’s an energising, moving visit, worth seeking out on any trip.
Stephen Edwards

Winning tip: explore Oslo’s diverse islands

Spend a blissful summer day island-hopping in the inner Oslofjord. The five islands closest to the capital are all easily accessible by regular ferries, and each has its own personality. Langøyene has a broad sandy beach (and a separate nudist option if you like), Hovedøya has the ruins of an 1147 Cistercian monastery (founded by monks from Lincolnshire) and Bleikøya is dotted with colourful Nordic summerhouses. Using the Ruter app will give you 24 hours’ travel for about £10. Budget a bit more if you’d like a drink from the 1930s cafe on the island of Gressholmen. Pack a swimming costume and a picnic basket and marvel in the variety so close to the capital.
Olivia

YOU might think a holiday city break with the entire family would be an expensive staycation – but I’ve found a cheap way to do it.

My family of five stays in a different UK city or town every February half-term for less than £50, thanks to a cheap-as-chips offer from the Youth Hostel Association.

What we especially love about our little break away is that we can get a room in a beautiful building in a luxury location for very little money.

Family rooms and cabins are already pretty affordable at this time of year anyway and the annual YHA January Sale discount code takes an extra 20 per cent off, which makes it incredible value for money.

The deal is still running and covers February half-term and the Easter holidays, so you can take a trip to city, countryside or coastal hostels during the school holidays for next to nothing. 

We love a city break at this time of year as it’s the perfect way to while away the grey days. Generally there are very few tourists about and we can normally find lots of free stuff to do indoors at museums and the like. 

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My favourite was when we stayed at YHA Chester Trafford Hall a couple of years ago, as that was the perfect blend of city and countryside.

It was glorious to be greeted by a carpet of snowdrops as we arrived at the hostel, an old Georgian mansion set in lovely grounds.

You can hop on the bus nearby to get into the city centre in less than half an hour and go for a wander through the historic streets, taking in Roman ruins and the Rows, covered wooden walkways that allow access to shops at first-floor and street level, a famous feature of the city since medieval times. 

Our family room only cost £29.25 (£5.85pppn) and another great element of a hostel stay is that there’s generally a self-catering kitchen, a restaurant where kids eat for £1 and a games room.

We can choose whether to cook for ourselves or order from the restaurant menu and the boys have somewhere to entertain themselves while waiting for food.

It’s lovely staying somewhere that’s got a bit of character and seeing a historic building given a new lease of life for the 21st century.

And it’s great to chat to other guests using the communal areas and pick up tips for where to visit next.

This February, we’re heading for Canterbury to stay in a cosy log cabin for just £34 a night for the five of us – which works out at £6.80 each.

We can’t wait to check out the sights, including the historic cathedral, and hopefully head to the Kent coast if the weather is okay.

It was a bit of a toss up between Canterbury and staying at the iconic Albert Docks in Liverpool for just £28 for a room for four people.

I’ve been visiting this northern powerhouse since I was a child and I love the warm Scouse welcome we always get when we go back.

So if you want to follow in the footsteps of the Beatles or take a ferry across the Mersey, this could be the perfect base for you. 

YHA Manchester also has £40 rooms for a family of five and its canalside location is just a 15-minute walk from the city centre.

One year, we took a trip to YHA Bath, another gorgeous Georgian villa a walk or bus ride away from the city centre.

Bath can get pretty crowded once the weather warms up so going in February is perfect if you don’t want too much hustle and bustle. A stay in a family room there is £72 during half-term.

Using a youth hostel as a base can also be a really affordable way to visit the capital over in the holidays. We stayed in a log cabin at YHA Lee Valley one February, which is next to Cheshunt railway station, where trains stop en route to Liverpool Street.

It was slightly surreal waking up in a nature reserve surrounded by birdsong and then being in the heart of the city within half an hour. The best London deal I’ve spotted for this half-term is at YHA Earls Court, where a six-bed family room costs just £48.

If you’re not a fan of city breaks, the January sale discount code also works for lots of the Lake District hostels and other countryside locations, which often have outdoor cabins and glamping options as well as family rooms. 

We visit YHA Stratford-upon-Avon most years to stay in the deluxe camping pods behind the main building.

They’ve got a little kitchenette and a built-in shower room with toilet, so the pods are a lovely place to get a bit of peace and quiet, before heading into town to enjoy some of the tourist hotspots before they get busy later in the year.

We’ve stayed for less than £20 a night for all of us before, but this half-term, the pods cost £48 using the sale code.

You really can’t beat a YHA stay if you want to bag a bargain and take the family away for a night in half-term for next to nothing. 

For more budget stays here are the UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks, B&Bs and pubs from just £22 a night.

And if you’re heading abroad – here are the most popular hotels in the loveholidays sale with rooftop pools and beautiful beaches… and holidays from £149.

Davina McCall married her long-term partner during an ‘absolutely beautiful’ ceremony recently, just months after the couple announced their engagement following a trip to Ibiza

Davina McCall broke down in tears during an emotional discussion with husband Michael Douglas. Davina and Michael tied the knot recently in an “absolutely beautiful” ceremony in front of their friends and family.

It came just three months after Davina, 58, announced that she and celebrity hairstylist Michael got engaged during a trip to Ibiza. The couple first started dating in 2018, having met originally on the set of Big Brother in 2000.

Their marriage came after a difficult year for Davina, who underwent surgery in November 2024 after medics discovered a colloid cyst on her brain. Just over a year later she revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a small lump.

Now on the Making the Cut podcast, Davina’s husband Michael praised the television presenter for using her fame to speak candidly about her health battles and “help a lot of people”.

It came after Michael recently read Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography. In the book, the Boss spoke candidly about his music and his life, something Michael said he found to be a “therapeutic experience”.

Michael said: “I realised the important role that famous people can have in regular people’s lives. Bruce putting his life in the paper or out there has helped me.

“I realised what it means to be married to someone like you who also does that and what it’s like to be around someone who puts themselves out in a way that is to benefit and help other people and I want to say, well done you.

“I realise what you stand for for a lot of people and I see them stop you in the street and say how grateful they are for what you decided to do with your fame and your time. In a way that Springsteen helped me, I realised you helped a lot of people.”

The touching words from her husband made The Masked Singer panellist Davina audibly tear up. Davina will return to screens with Long Lost Families tonight (January 29) from 9pm on ITV One.

The series sees Davina and co-host Nicky Campbell reuniting people with their loved ones. Tonight the series will visit Mandy whose parents had a baby girl they placed for adoption, she is now attempting to find her long-lost big sister.

Elsewhere Jane thought she was an only child until her mother revealed she had a baby boy 11 months before her. Jane now wants help finding her long lost brother who was put up for adoption.

Davina has previously spoken about the emotions she feels when reunited siblings, especially because she lost her sister to cancer in 2012. Caroline, 50, was diagnosed with lung cancer after being rushed to hospital after suffering a suspected stroke.

Speaking to Love TV, she said: “Sometimes with siblings, it’s quite hard and painful, because one sibling might have grown up with their birth family, while the other was placed for adoption. There’s a lot to unpack there, you know?”

Davina says the show’s genealogists occasionally track people down who weren’t even aware they had a sibling. “Imagine being gifted a sibling out of the blue, it would be absolutely mad,” she added.

KATIE PRICE’S new mother in law has broken her silence on the star’s secret marriage to her son.

The former glamour model announced her engagement to Lee Andrews on Friday before the pair tied the knot in a shock ceremony in Dubai.

Now Lee’s mum Trisha has spoken out for the first time and revealed she knew the two were going to be getting hitched.

The clairvoyant from Nottingham told the Mirror: “As long as they are happy I am happy.

“There’s a lot of lies going around about Lee and that’s made me really upset. He’s not been married twice. I just want to defend my son, but I can’t say much more until I know everything.

“He did tell me that the wedding was happening. He spoke to me and if he is happy, I am happy – he’s my son, and that’s all that matters.”

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Speaking about her new famous daughter-in-law, Trisha continued: “Of course, I know who Katie is.

“I’ve always been very neutral about her. Everyone deserves a chance, you should never judge anyone in life.”

She joked: “You can ask what it’s like to have a famous daughter-in-law, but she’s got a famous mother-in-law!”

On Friday, the reality star took to her Instagram stories to share a series of engagement pictures, sending fans into a frenzy.

In one photo, the mum-of-five was seen standing beside rose petals that were arranged to read ‘will you marry me’ before she showcased her huge diamond engagement ring.

However, just 48 hours later, she announced the pair had tied the knot in a quickie ceremony in Dubai, a move which has reportedly left her closest family and friends shocked.

In the pictures, the 47-year-old was seen beaming from ear to ear and locking lips with her new husband shortly after the ceremony.

Katie was seen in a cut-out, white bodycon dress while Lee wore white linen trousers and a taupe shirt.

The leggy dress displayed the reality TV legend’s toned abs and tattoos as she showed off her huge diamond ring.

The Sun understands Katie’s family were not aware of the wedding taking place and were not given prior warning it was happening.

An onlooker said: “Katie and Lee had no one with them when they got married. It was just the two of them.

“Katie couldn’t stop smiling, she seemed so taken with Lee. They said their vows and then kissed, it was sweet to watch.”

An officiator was seen in front of the pair reading from a script as they stood together in the sunshine saying their vows.

A family friend added: “Kate’s family are dumbstruck. To see she had got engaged after flying to Dubai – literally just after she had arrived was crazy.

“The fact she has now married him the following day is even more shocking.”

“No one knows who Lee is, they know nothing about him. Kate’s mum, her children, no one knew about the wedding.

“She has a lot of questions to answer when she comes home.”

The Sun understands Katie and Lee met just over a week ago.

They were introduced on social media and spent time talking before Lee invited Katie to fly out to Dubai to meet him.

He put on an extravagant proposal, with Katie branding him her “Richard Gere”.