City

SEATTLE — First-term Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell conceded his reelection fight to progressive activist Katie Wilson on Thursday, handing another victory to leftist Democrats around the country frustrated with unaffordability, homelessness, public safety and the actions of President Trump’s administration.

Harrell, a centrist Democrat who previously served three terms on the City Council, led in early results. But Washington conducts all-mail elections, with ballots postmarked by Election Day. Later-arriving votes, which historically trend more liberal, broke heavily in Wilson’s favor, adding to a progressive shift to the left nationally.

In a concession speech at City Hall on Thursday afternoon, Harrell said he had congratulated Wilson in a “delightful” call.

“I feel very good about the future of this country and this city still,” he said.

Wilson, 43, is a democratic socialist who has never held elected office. She told a news conference later Thursday that it was hard for her to believe she had been elected mayor, considering that at the beginning of this year she had no intention of running, and she acknowledged concerns about her lack of experience: “No one saw this coming.”

But she also spoke to the resonance of her volunteer-driven campaign among voters concerned about affordability and public safety in a city where the cost of living has soared as Amazon and other tech companies proliferated. Universal child care, better mass transit, better public safety and stable, affordable housing are among her priorities, and she said she would take office with a strong mandate to pursue them, though she acknowledged the city also faces a significant budget shortfall.

Wilson called herself a coalition builder and community organizer, and said she would also work with those who questioned her qualifications to lead a city with more than 13,000 employees and a budget of nearly $9 billion: “This is your city too.”

“When I say this is your city, that means you have a right to be here and to live a dignified life — whatever your background, whatever your income,” Wilson said. “But it also means that we all have a collective responsibility for this city and for each other. … We cannot tackle the major challenges facing our city unless we do it together.”

She will be working with a relatively new City Council: Only two of the seven council members have served more than one term.

Harrell was elected mayor in 2021 following the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice protests over George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police. With crime falling, more police being hired, less visible drug use and many homeless encampments removed from city parks, the business-backed Harrell once seemed likely to cruise to reelection.

But Trump’s return to office — and his efforts to send in federal agents or cut funding for blue cities — helped reawaken Seattle’s progressive voters. The lesser-known Wilson, a democratic socialist, ran a campaign that echoed some of the themes of progressive mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in New York. She trounced Harrell by nearly 10 percentage points in the August primary and quickly became favored to win the mayor’s office.

Wilson studied at an Oxford University college in England but did not graduate. She founded the small nonprofit Transit Riders Union in 2011 and has led campaigns for better public transportation, higher minimum wages, stronger renter protections and more affordable housing. She herself is a renter, living in a one-bedroom apartment in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, and says that has shaped her understanding of Seattle’s affordability crisis.

Wilson criticized Harrell as doing too little to provide more shelter and said his encampment sweeps have been cosmetic, merely pushing unhoused people around the city. Wilson also painted him as a City Hall fixture who bore responsibility for the status quo.

Harrell, 67, played on the Rose Bowl champion University of Washington football team in 1978 before going to law school. His father, who was Black, came to Seattle from the segregated Jim Crow South, and his mother, a Japanese American, was incarcerated at an internment camp in Minidoka, Idaho, during World War II after officials seized her family’s Seattle flower shop — experiences that fostered his understanding of the importance of civil rights and inclusivity.

Both candidates touted plans for affordable housing, combating crime and attempting to Trump-proof the city, which receives about $150 million a year in federal funding. Both want to protect Seattle’s sanctuary city status.

Wilson has proposed a city-level capital gains tax to help offset federal funding the city might lose and to pay for housing. Harrell says that idea is ineffective because a city capital gains tax could easily be avoided by those who would be required to pay it.

Johnson writes for the Associated Press.

WHEN it comes to winter city breaks most Brits will look to the likes of Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels.

But there’s another contender coming for the crown, and it’s usually known for having glorious summers – but it has incredibly mild winters and is less touristy then too.

Time Out named Athens as ‘Europe’s most underrated winter city break‘ with the publication saying that the city “never goes into hibernation”.

The capital of Greece is known more for being a summer destination as it has scorching temperatures of around 30C.

However in winter, Athens can still be very mild. In November, Athens can still have highs of 20C and through the rest of winter, there are still highs of around 14C.

In November you can get one-way flights from £28 with Ryanair, and in January there are even cheaper flights from £20.

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With flights taking around three and a half hours it’s easy for Brits to go there for a weekend before returning to the UK.

Writer Jonathan, who visited Athens during the low season revealed it was better for getting about with there being less tourists.

He said: “It’s not hot, there are no queues, flights and hotels are cheap and we can get the best seats in any bar, café or restaurant.

“Why come a cropper up the Acropolis in August when you can beat the crowds and heat by visiting mid-winter?

“Athens is the perfect Greek city for an all-year-round mini-break, with lots to see and do.”

Thanks to its rich history, archaeological sites are the most popular places to see in Athens from Parthenon to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium.

Plaka is another popular spot, and it happens to be the oldest neighbourhood in Athens.

Jonathan visited Plaka, and revealed that just like the historical spots, it’s better in autumn and winter.

He said: “With narrow pedestrianised lanes, tourist shops and tavernas, it’s no surprise that the area is heaving in summer, but we had plenty of space to breathe and enjoy glimpses of The Acropolis in peace.

“For an even less crowded view, head to 360 Cocktail Bar where you can soak up not just the city’s sacred rock but views of the pastel-coloured buildings below, too.”

If you fancy a drink while in Plaka, check out the Brettos which is famous for a distillery that has made liqueurs and ouzo since 1909.

If you wanted to be especially bold, from Athens you can easily hop over to one of the nearby islands like Mykonos, Santorini or Paros.

The closest islands to Athens are Aegina and Agistri which are both reachable in about an hour by ferry from the port of Piraeus.

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Check out the stunning Santorini-dupe village hidden inside Greece’s capital…

Anafiotika in Athens is the cutest little neighbourhood that until recently flew completely under the radar for most visitors to the Greek capital.

On a recent trip to the city, Travel Writer Hope Brotherton made sure to stop by the area that has been likened to Santorini by visitors, thanks to its whitewashed properties and winding lanes.

Located on the northeastern side of the Acropolis Hill, Anafiotika was built by a group of construction workers from Anafi, a tiny Cycladic island near Santorini and Ios.

The area has become a star on social media and has been praised by travel bloggers and influencers alike – but I spotted the whitewashed area when I was having a drink at the MS Roof Garden.

Here you’ll find whitewashed buildings, but they are inhabited by locals. The streets are very narrow, making it hard to walk around without feeling like you’re invading someone’s privacy

For more on Greece, read more from an expert who visits the country 10 times a year and these are her favourite beaches.

Plus, the ‘Caribbean of Greece’ will soon be easier to get to thanks to new £3million marina.

For those who love the idea of a holiday but need their beauty sleep to last, look no further than this city

Forget beaches and sunshine – for many of us, the prospect of five nights of quality sleep on holiday is more than enough. If this sounds like your getaway priority, look no further than Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital – which has just been named the top European destination for sleep tourism.

With its profound wellness culture, Vilnius provides exactly what “sleepcation” travellers are seeking: saunas, spas, and local rituals, designed for deep relaxation, according to Go Vilnius. You can also effortlessly take day trips to the UNESCO dunes on the Curonian Spit or meander through the surrounding forests of Neris National Park. Assessing air quality, light pollution, green space, nightlife, rainfall, and nighttime temperatures, the research examined 300 cities, reports the Express.

In the city, 61% of the urban area is green, trees blanket 48% of the city, and 95% of residents live within 300 metres of greenery. “In Vilnius, I always find ways to relax, no matter the time of the year. During the warm season, I enjoy spending time outdoors in Vilnius’ numerous green spaces or the nearby forests and lakes. In winter, relaxing walks around the Old Town improve my sleep, while the city’s numerous spas and saunas help me unwind after a long day or week,” said Madu Melo, Brazilian expat and marketing professional, living in Vilnius for five years now.

Lithuania, already crowned the World’s Best Wellness Destination by the ITB Health Tourism Awards 2025, has seen its capital Vilnius dubbed the European Sleep Capital, making it a rising star for restful getaways. Here are five unique wellness rituals, woven into city life, that ensure locals and visitors in Vilnius enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Held in the vaulted cellar of the refurbished 17th-century Pacai Palace, this multi-sensory ritual brings Lithuania’s coastlines and forests into a tranquil treatment. The experience kicks off with a four-hand full-body massage and a soft tolling of Old Town bells, mixed with the soundscape of the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon (a tribute to the UNESCO-listed dunes).

Guests are then offered a taste of natural birch sap, invited to inhale the scent of handpicked linden, chamomile, and clover, and to appreciate the beauty of Lithuanian nature for total sensory relaxation. Located beneath the Bokšto Square complex in restored medieval cellars, this circuit alternates between heat and recovery. The 25-meter, four-lane pool sets the rhythm for rounds of traditional sauna, salt sauna, and hammam, punctuated by brief cold dips.

The standout feature is Cloud9, a short vibro-acoustic session on a gently swaying bed that aids the nervous system in unwinding. In a cosy boutique setting on Kalvarij Street, just a stone’s throw from the city centre, groups remain small, allowing the sauna master to maintain the perfect pace.

Visitors can look forward to timed garas (steam waves), traditional birch or oak vanta whisking, aroma infusions of natural scents, and simple breath-work, with each round concluded by a refreshing cold-water dip. After the New Year, an igloo-shaped outdoor sauna will be unveiled in the courtyard of the former Lukišks Prison, now a cultural hub. This unique sauna experience combines brief heat sessions with cold-water baths. The small groups and the thick walls of the igloo ensure tranquillity, enhancing the hot-cold contrast and making it easier to concentrate on breathing and pace.

Nestled next to Sudervl stream and a 1923 windmill, three bathhouses – the Old, the Great, and the Small – offer leisurely, expert-led rituals. Over approximately three hours, guests are treated to measured steam dosings and vanta whiskings, paired with applications of honey and salt, all while enjoying peaceful intervals by the pond or river.

The forest setting and preserved wooden buildings complete the experience, helping visitors unwind without leaving the city. The conversation about wellness and sleep will continue in Vilnius on 22 November at Sleep Fest. The event will feature international experts such as Dr. Daniel Amen, Leslie Kenny, and others, who will share insights on how to incorporate sleep science into everyday routines to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.

“Sleep Fest is about bridging the gap between science and real-life challenges. We’re trying to show that better sleep and calmer minds aren’t luxuries, but necessities anyone could have through building everyday habits that help to improve the overall wellbeing,” said Diana Augunait, the organiser of the Sleep Fest.

Vilnius’ recent accolades, including the European Green Capital and European Christmas Capital 2025, highlight the city’s tranquil atmosphere: plentiful green spaces, traditional stress-free Christmas celebrations, and much more.

Conveniently reachable via Frankfurt, Copenhagen, or Helsinki, Vilnius is ideal for a comprehensive European wellness journey or simply a dedicated “sleepcation”.

L.A. is a harmony of contradictions: It’s a bankrupt skyscraper covered in graffiti, a Mercedes-Benz G-class SUV with an expired registration, the quiet confusion of wondering whether a stranger’s outfit means they’re unhoused or just new to Silver Lake. L.A.’s refusal to make sense is what makes it irresistible, and no one understood that better than writer, artist and provocateur Eve Babitz, who died in 2021.

“Los Angeles isn’t a city. It’s a gigantic, sprawling, ongoing studio,” she wrote in her 1974 book “Eve’s Hollywood.” “Everything is off the record.”

Born in Hollywood in 1943 to a classical violinist father and an artist mother — and with Igor Stravinsky as her godfather — Babitz was destined for “It”-girl-ism. While people tend to flee their hometowns to start over in a new city, usually a place like L.A. or New York, Babitz knew she was exactly where she was meant to be. She tried New York once as a typist for Timothy Leary, because it’s where “real writers” lived and worked; she gave it one year before moving back to L.A.

“She lived in Rome for six months, and that was the only other city she loved, almost as much as L.A.,” Mirandi Babitz, Eve’s younger sister, told me. Despite her growing popularity in the ’60s and ’70s, Eve Babitz didn’t hightail it from her Hollywood bungalow to live in Pacific Palisades or Topanga or Malibu — she lived and died in the heart of it all.

When I asked Mirandi what Babitz would think of today’s coffee-shop lines, overpriced wine bodegas and tinned fish culture, she said with a laugh, “She’d roll her eyes.”

Babitz may have been synonymous with places, including the Chateau Marmont and Musso & Frank Grill, or with people such as Jim Morrison and Ed Ruscha. But it wasn’t because she was a hanger-on, desperate to be cool or famous. She was the keeper of cool, and L.A. was the only muse she gave a damn about. “I did not become famous but I got near enough to smell the stench of success. It smelt like burnt cloth and rancid gardenias,” she wrote in 1977’s “Slow Days, Fast Company: the World, the Flesh, and L.A.”

After graduating from Hollywood High, Babitz skipped the traditional UCLA route and instead took classes at Los Angeles City College. “The school was located about 4 blocks from the hospital I was born in,” she wrote in “Eve’s Hollywood.” “It was on Vermont near Melrose, which is an indeterminate lower-middle-class sort of neighborhood with no delusions. Westwood, where UCLA is, is so insanely crappy you could throw up. It’s so WHITE and it’s so clean and it’s so impervious …”

At age 20, Babitz made a name for herself in the art world. She posed nude, playing chess with a fully clothed Marcel Duchamp for Esquire — a cheeky act of revenge against her lover, Walter Hopps, who wasn’t returning her calls. Shot by Julian Wasser at the Norton Simon Museum, the now-iconic photo did its job: Hopps rang her soon after. That photo is now described by the Smithsonian Archives of American Art as being “among the key documentary images of American modern art.”

Babitz also launched her independent career as an artist, designing album covers for Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. Her foray into the music scene — where she partied with (and allegedly had affairs with) legends like Morrison of the Doors (“I met Jim and propositioned him in three minutes,” she wrote in “Eve’s Hollywood”) and some original Eagles members — blossomed into a social life so magnanimous that names like Andy Warhol, Steve Martin and Annie Leibovitz came up as casually as what Babitz had for lunch that day.

She went on to publish several books and worked as a journalist, writing about everything from Salvador Dalí to the best taquito stand in L.A. (Don’t worry — we listed it below.) Although Babitz’s love life kept the city gossiping, it was always apparent that her true love was the city itself. Her books, including “Sex and Rage” (1979) and “L.A. Woman” (1982), are all love letters to a city she knew inside out. In turn, her life in L.A. became the stuff of urban legend — and decades later, we’re still talking about it.

Babitz understood L.A. better than anyone, including its seductions and secrets. Her legacy is being revisited in the Huntington’s exhibition “Los Angeles, Revisited,” which explores how L.A. has been shaped — and reshaped — by its visionaries. Babitz and her mother, Mae, a self-taught artist known for her preservation work on the Watts Towers and her sketches of L.A.’s vanishing buildings, have drawings included in the show. The exhibition runs through Dec. 1.

Consider what’s below your invitation to see L.A. as Babitz did — expansively, honestly and maybe a little recklessly. Just a heads-up, though: You won’t find a single coffee shop with a DMV-like line on this list.

The Los Angeles City Council will consider an ordinance that would prevent the LAPD from using crowd control weapons against peaceful protesters and journalists.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who represents District 13, is pushing for regulations that would prohibit the Los Angeles Police Department from using “kinetic energy projectiles” or “chemical agents” unless officers are threatened with physical violence.

The Public Safety Committee unanimously approved the proposal and forwarded a vote with all council members on Wednesday. The items would be considered by the council in November or December, said Nick Barnes-Batista, a communications director for District 13.

The ordinance would also require officers to give clear, audible warnings about safe exit routes during “kettling,” when crowds are pushed into designated areas by police.

After the first iteration of the “No Kings” protest over the summer that saw multiple journalists shot by nonlethal rounds, tear-gassed and detained, news organizations sued the city and Police Department, arguing officers had engaged in “continuing abuse” of members of the media.

U.S. District Judge Hernan D. Vera granted a temporary restraining order that restricted LAPD officers from using rubber projectiles, chemical irritants and flash bangs against journalists.

Under the court order, officers are allowed to use those weapons “only when the officer reasonably believes that a suspect is violently resisting arrest or poses an immediate threat of violence or physical harm.”

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell called the definition of journalist “ambiguous” in a news release Monday, raising concerns that the preliminary injunction could prevent the LAPD from addressing “people intent on unlawful and violent behavior.”

“The risk of harm to everyone involved increases substantially,” McDonnell wrote. “LAPD must declare an unlawful assembly, and issue dispersal orders, to ensure the safety of the public and restore order.”

The L.A. Press Club, plaintiffs in the lawsuit that led to the injunction, has alleged journalists were detained and assaulted by officers during an immigration protest in August. The Press Club is also involved in a similar lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“This case is about LAPD, but if necessary, we are ready to take similar action to address misconduct toward journalists by other agencies,” the organization wrote in a news release from June.

Vera ruled in September that “any duly authorized representative of any news service, online news service, newspaper, or radio or television station or network” would be classified as a journalist and therefore protected under the court’s orders. Journalists who are impeding or physically interfering with law enforcement are not subject to the protections.

Any ordinance passed by the City Council would apply to the LAPD but not other agencies that could be responding to protests that turn chaotic, such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or California Highway Patrol, thereby complicating operational procedure.

Barnes-Batista, the District 13 spokesman, said the City Council would need to discuss how to craft the rules.

“There are definitely unanswered questions about [how] the city wouldn’t want the city to be liable for other agencies not following policy,” he said. “So that will have to be worked out.”

Last month, the City Council, led by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, voted unanimously to deny a request by the city attorney, Hydee Feldstein Soto, to push for Vera’s injunction to be lifted.

“Journalism is under attack in this country — from the Trump Administration’s revocation of press access to the Pentagon to corporate consolidation of local newsrooms,” Hernandez said. “The answer cannot be for Los Angeles to join that assault by undermining court-ordered protections for journalists.”

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a request from the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena seeking a temporary restraining order in their attempt to keep UCLA football games at the Rose Bowl, saying those entities had not demonstrated an emergency that would necessitate such an action.

Judge James C. Chalfant said previous cases in which the New York Yankees, New York Jets and Minnesota Twins were barred from moving games did not apply to this situation because those teams were scheduled to play in a matter of days or weeks and UCLA’s next scheduled game at the Rose Bowl after its home season finale against Washington on Nov. 22 isn’t until the fall of 2026.

The judge also said there was no indication that the Rose Bowl or Pasadena would suffer imminent financial harm because a contract to construct a field-level club in one end zone had not been signed.

The legal saga is far from over. Chalfant suggested the plaintiffs’ attorneys seek discovery information regarding the school’s discussions with SoFi Stadium and file a motion for a preliminary injunction.

Nima Mohebbi, an attorney representing the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena, said he had filed a public records request in an attempt to gather information about those discussions and was pleased with the judge’s statements.

“Even though he found that there was no immediate emergency,” Mohebbi said, “he made very clear in a lot of his statements that there’s irreparable harm, that UCLA has an obligation to play at the Rose Bowl through 2044 and we’re very confident in our facts of this case. So I think all in, we feel very, very good.”

After the hearing ended, Mary Osako, vice chancellor of strategic communications, said in a statement that “the court’s ruling speaks for itself. As we have said, while we continue to evaluate the long-term arrangement or UCLA football home games, no decision has been made.”

UCLA has played its home football games at the Rose Bowl since 1982. In 2014, Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California system, signed a long-term lease amendment that did not include an opt-out clause in exchange for the stadium committing to make nearly $200 million in improvements through the issue of public bonds. When the judge asked attorneys representing UCLA if they intended to terminate the agreement, they shook their heads in denial.

But Mohebbi accused UCLA of participating in a shell game in which it had furtively explored options for moving to SoFi Stadium.

“What they really want is to have a back-room discussion where they can offer some certain amount of money and pay the city off without having to account for this publicly,” Mohebbi said. “… UCLA has not only attempted to terminate [the contract], they have indicated in no uncertain terms that they are terminating.”

After Jordan McCrary, an attorney representing UCLA, contended that his counterparts in the dispute refused to engage with the school in resolution discussions, Mohebbi said, “there’s nothing to talk about. They have an obligation — we’re not negotiating a way out of this agreement.”

McCrary disputed Mohebbi’s contention that UCLA attorneys had signaled an intention to leave the Rose Bowl through direct conversations between counsel, saying “we believe they were settlement negotiations and we don’t believe they’re admissible” in future court proceedings.

When a UCLA attorney contended during the roughly 80-minute court session that the school’s relationship with the Rose Bowl was breaking down, Chalfant said, “I don’t know why UCLA can’t just show up and play football at the Rose Bowl. You don’t need to talk to them at all.”

Chalfant said he did not agree with the UCLA attorneys’ contention that the Rose Bowl lease amounted to a personal services contract for which specific performance — essentially an order compelling the Bruins to remain tenants — was not available. The judge said specific performance could be available in a situation involving an actual breach or an anticipatory breach of the contract.

Rose Bowl officials have filed litigation intended to compel the Bruins to honor a lease that runs through the 2043 season, saying that monetary damages would not be enough to offset the loss of their anchor tenant.

They are also seeking to prevent the case from being settled through arbitration.

“I know UCLA really wants to have this out of the public sphere,” Mohebbi said, “but the reality is this is a public interest case and there are issues here that absolutely require this case to be in a public forum.

“We’re talking about two public entities. This is not the Rams, or this is not the Lakers. This is a public institution playing with public money going up against another public institution that relies on this other public institution to protect its own taxpayers from dipping into the general fund that goes to things like police services, fire services. I mean, God forbid there’s a fire like the Eaton fire this last year that we’re not going to be able to even cover the bond payments through the general reserves.”

Frank McCourt’s proposed gondola from Union Station to Dodger Stadium hit what appears to be its most significant roadblock yet on Wednesday, when the Los Angeles City Council voted to urge Metro to kill the project.

The resolution, approved by an 11-2 vote, is not in itself any kind of formal decision. It would not take effect unless Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass concurs, and Bass previously voted in favor of the project as a member of the Metro board.

But it makes clear that a City Council vote to approve the project, which is expected next year, could be an increasingly challenging hurdle for McCourt and his allies to overcome.

“This resolution tells Metro that the city of Los Angeles refuses to be bought by shiny renderings and empty promises,” councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes Dodger Stadium, told her colleagues in Wednesday’s council meeting.

No councilmember spoke in support of the gondola.

The project requires approvals from the council, the state parks agency and Metro, which approved an environmental impact report for the project last year. A court demanded fixes to two defects in the report, and Metro is scheduled to vote next month on whether to approve the revised report.

The resolution approved Wednesday urges Metro to reject the revised report and “deny reapproval of the project.”

McCourt, the former Dodgers owner and still half-owner of the Dodger Stadium parking lots, first pitched the gondola in 2018 and later said fans would ride free. The projected construction cost is about $500 million; none of the promised private funding has been publicly identified.

“This project is an insult to our communities, and the process has been an insult to our collective intelligence,” Hernandez said.

Project opponents — and the resolution itself — cite among other issues that 160 trees from a beloved park would be permanently removed to make way for the gondola and that a UCLA study projected Dodger Stadium traffic would not even be decreased by 1%.

In a letter to councilmembers, the board of directors of Zero Emissions Transit — the nonprofit charged with funding and operating the gondola — urged the council to reject what it called “serious inaccuracies and misleading claims.”

The 160 trees would be temporarily removed and then restored, with 480 trees added as well, the letter said. The UCLA study retracted its conclusion, the letter also said, based on “biased data supplied by individuals affiliated with project opposition groups.”

Said ZET spokesman Nathan Click: “We continue to move forward with all the approval processes: Metro, city, state.”

IF you fancy African sunshine but less of the hustle and bustle from the likes of Marrakesh and Rabat, check out this alternative.

It still has everything you’d want from a visit, from historical sites to souks as well as lively festivals.

This is the city of Meknes in northern Morocco. It’s just 50 minutes away from Fez – and it’s much quieter.

For those who love history, Meknes has an interesting one as it was once the capital of Morocco.

During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Sultan Moulay Ismail made it the capital of Morocco.

Meknes was transformed into a massive imperial city with palaces, fortifications, and monumental gates – lots of which still stand today.

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The Kasbah of Moulay Ismail was built during the 1600s and is one of the most popular sites for tourists to see in Meknes.

It’s still used as an occasional royal residence by the current King of Morocco.

The medina of Meknes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in itself and according to VisitMorocco, is nicknamed the “Versailles of Morocco”.

Place El-Hedim has all kinds of shops with locals selling all sorts, from vases, plates to bracelets.

There are green spaces within the city too, from orchards to olive groves and vineyards.

Just outside of Meknes is a popular historical site, called Volubilis, a well-preserved Roman city, where tourists will find ruins of mosaics, and even a Triumphal Arch.

While Meknes is quieter than the likes of Fez because it generally has less tourists, that doesn’t mean there’s not much going on there.

In fact, Meknes holds festivals through the year, like Festival International de Volubilis des Musiques Traditionnelles du Monde – a big music festival.

This includes the International Festival of Animated Film and its own Fantasia festival which is a traditional Moroccan horse festival.

Like most of Morocco, Meknes is pretty warm throughout the year.

In November, there are highs of 30C and lows of 9C and little rainfall. The coldest month is generally January – but there can still be highs of 16C.

The hottest months are July and August, where the city can experience highs of 34C.

Meknes does not have its own airport as the closest is in Fez.

Brits can take direct flights to Fez in as little as three hours 20 minutes and journeys in November start from £17 with Ryanair.

It’s easy to get there from Rabat too, which you can fly to from the UK in a little over three hours.

From there you can get a direct train from Rabat to Meknes which takes around two hours and tickets cost as little as £5.50.

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Here’s a little more on other citiies in Morocco…

Marrakesh

From a bustling Medina, to activities in the desert, vibrant cafes and spice stalls, you can’t go wrong with Marrakesh.

The city in western Morocco is at the bottom of the Atlas Mountains and in the winter months offers warm weather and lots of sunshine.

Lisa Minot, Head of Sun Travel, went on a trip earlier this year and said: “I’ve spent a wonderful long weekend in Marrakech and the city is as exciting as ever.”

Agadir

Morocco doesn’t just offer city breaks, Agadir has incredible golden beaches. It’s known to be a premier resort destination with beautiful hotels and pristine pools.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited Agadir last winter and enjoyed the much warmer weather of 25C.

Kara added: “The Moroccan city is home to the country’s largest market, Souk El Had, as well as a bustling harbour and modern marina. No wonder the North African country looks set to be a holiday hotspot as Brits look past Spain.”

Fez

Another lesser-visited city in Morocco is Fez. It’s found inland and has been referred to as the “country’s cultural capital”.

There’s plenty of shopping to be done in Fez at the Medina, which is the oldest in North Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s made up of over 9,000 alleys that are separated from the outside world by high walls. 

Inside you’ll find lots of food, leathers, handmade rugs and hand-painted ceramics.

Tangier

The city at the very tip of Morocco is Tangier – on a clear day, you can even see Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Tangier has been a major trade centre for thousands of years thanks to its location and busy port.

Visitors can learn about its interesting history with a guided tour, and wander through Kasbah, the walled part of the city full of tiny streets and alleys.

Kasbah has been used for Hollywood movies including James Bond and the Bourne film series.

For more on Morocco, read more about Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot’s trip to Marrakesh.

Plus check out this peaceful African city right by the sea that feels ‘more like Europe’ – but tourists always miss it.

Valerie Valentine bought a triplex in South Los Angeles two weeks ago, and already she wonders whether she made a terrible investment.

Bills are immediately adding up for the small-time landlord, from $1,000 to get the water turned on to $6,000 in annual property taxes. She worries that the amount she collects in rent will not be enough to cover her expenses.

With the city on the verge of making the first major change to its rent stabilization ordinance since 1985, potentially capping annual rent increases at 3%, landlords such as Valentine fear that Los Angeles will become a hostile environment for them.

“It’s draconian,” said Valentine, who also owns a four-unit building in the Inland Empire. “Lowering the amount we can raise rent is a slap in the face. They are favoring one side of the aisle more than the other.”

On the other side, renters, who far outnumber landlords in the city, have turned out in force to City Council hearings to support the proposed 3% cap for units built before 1978, which house 42% of the city’s residents.

The current cap for rent-stabilized units is between 3% and 8%, depending on inflation, going up to 10% if landlords pay for utilities.

One tenant, Cindy Moran, 31, has lived in a rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment in Exposition Park with her parents since she was born. They are now fighting eviction, she said, with their landlord stating that he wants to move into the property.

Moran believes he is trying to turn the site into 120 units of affordable housing. She fears they will not be able to find another apartment as affordable as the $700 a month they pay.

“I meet people every day who pay $2,000 for a one bedroom. They can’t afford a 10% increase,” Moran said. “We need to think about the most vulnerable right now.”

The proposed update to the city’s rent stabilization ordinance, which has been on the books since 1979, would be a massive shift in favor of tenants. It comes as many parts of the country are struggling with a housing affordability crisis, and after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayor’s election on a pledge to “freeze the rent.”

Most Angelenos are renters, and more than half are rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent, according to the Los Angeles Housing Department. One in 10 Angelenos pays 90% of their income toward rent, the department said in a report this year.

Last week, the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee passed the 3% proposal, written by Councilmember Nithya Raman, in a 3-2 vote. It goes before the full council Wednesday.

Under Raman’s proposal, the annual rent increase would max out at 3%, or 60% of the consumer price index, whichever is lower.

The new floor on annual rent increases, now at 3%, would be 0%. That means that in years where there is no inflation, landlords would not be able to raise the rent at all.

“There is a need to reform it,” said Shane Phillips, housing initiative manager at UCLA’s Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, who wrote a 2019 report calling for reforms to the rent stabilization ordinance. He believes the cap should be around 5%, tied directly to inflation.

“I think this swings the pendulum too far in the other direction,” he said.

On top of making it harder for small landlords to turn a profit, some fear that Raman’s proposal would chill development in a city that desperately needs more housing.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman wrote the proposed rent cap that was passed by the Housing and Homelessness Committee in a 3-2 vote. It goes before the full council Wednesday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

In L.A., a new building constructed on the site of one that was rent-stabilized is subject to the rent stabilization ordinance, unless 20% of the new units are affordable for lower-income households.

A lower cap on rent increases may cause developers to forgo building on those lots, said Zachary Pitts, the Los Angeles director of YIMBY Action, which advocates for more affordable housing.

“Such unintended consequences could undermine the City’s housing goals at a time when increasing supply is critical to affordability and homelessness prevention,” he said in a statement.

Raman said she “will work to ensure new production is not impacted by these changes.”

“Only increased supply can help reduce costs for everyone in this city,” she said in a statement.

The current cap on rent increases has helped Jenny Colon stay in her rent-stabilized apartment, a two-bedroom in North Hills, for more than 30 years. She was paying $981 a month but is moving out because of a dispute with her landlord. Her new apartment, outside the city, costs $1,600 a month.

“A low percentage of rent increase every year does really create a very steady and safe housing situation,” said Colon, who supports Raman’s proposal.

But some say that lowering the allowable rent increase could have a downside for tenants, as falling revenues could lead landlords to spend less on maintaining their buildings.

“Certain small mom and pop owners just won’t have that kind of money,” said Paul Jesman, a real estate agent and landlord. “They’re going to push this roof replacement to next year because they don’t have the money for it.”

Landlords also may be more motivated to evict long-term tenants who fall behind on payments, so they can charge market rates to new tenants, said Phillips of UCLA.

City law allows landlords to charge market rates to a new tenant, though the cap on increases kicks in for the tenant after that.

The city’s Housing Department had recommended a floor of 2% and a ceiling of 5%, both tied to the consumer price index. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield put forward a motion to the Housing and Homelessness Committee that aligned with that recommendation, but he was the only vote in favor of it.

A majority of California cities with rent-stabilized apartments set a ceiling of between 3% and 5%, the Housing Department said.

Raman argued that the department’s recommendations did not go far enough to deal with rents that have “skyrocketed.”

“I think what is before us is an opportunity to adjust costs for renters, that to me is long overdue,” she said.

TOPEKA, Kan. — A rural Kansas county has agreed to pay a little more than $3 million and apologize over a law enforcement raid on a small-town weekly newspaper in August 2023 that sparked an outcry over press freedom.

Marion County was among multiple defendants in five federal lawsuits filed by the Marion County Record’s parent company, the paper’s publisher, newspaper employees, a former Marion City Council member whose home also was raided, and the estate of the publisher’s 98-year-old mother, the paper’s co-owner, who died the day after the raid. An attorney for the newspaper, Bernie Rhodes, released a copy of the five-page signed agreement Tuesday.

Eric Meyer, the paper’s editor and publisher, told the Associated Press he is hoping the size of the payment is large enough to discourage similar actions against news organizations in the future. Legal claims against the city and city officials have not been settled, and Meyer said he believes they will face a larger judgment though he doesn’t expect those claims to be resolved for some time.

“The goal isn’t to get the money. The money is symbolic,” Meyer said. “The press has basically been under assault.”

The raid triggered a national debate about press freedom focused on Marion, a town of about 1,900 people set among rolling prairie hills about 150 miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo. Meyer’s 98-year-old mother, Joan, lived with him and died of a heart attack that he blamed on the stress of the raid.

Three days after the raid, the local prosecutor said there wasn’t enough evidence to justify it. Experts said Marion’s police chief at the time, Gideon Cody, was on legally shaky ground when he ordered the raid, and a former top federal prosecutor for Kansas suggested that it might have been a criminal violation of civil rights, saying: “I’d probably have the FBI starting to look.”

Two special prosecutors who reviewed the raid and its aftermath said nearly a year later that the Record had committed no crimes before Cody led the raid, that the warrants signed by a judge contained inaccurate information from an “inadequate investigation” and the searches were not legally justified. Cody resigned as police chief in October 2023.

Cody is scheduled to go to trial in February in Marion County on a felony charge of interfering with a judicial process, accused by the two special prosecutors of persuading a potential witness to withhold information from authorities when they later investigated his conduct. He had pleaded not guilty and did not respond to a text message Tuesday seeking comment about the county’s agreement.

Attorneys for the city and the county and the county administrator did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Sheriff Jeff Soyez issued an apology that mentioned the Meyers by name, along with former council member Ruth Herbel and her husband.

“The Sheriff’s Office wishes to express its sincere regrets to Eric and Joan Meyer and Ruth and Ronald Herbel for its participation in the drafting and execution of the Marion County Police Department’s search warrants on their homes and the Marion County Record,” the sheriff’s statement said.

The Marion County Commission approved the agreement Monday after discussing it in private for 15 minutes.

A search warrant tied the raid — which was led by Marion’s police chief — to a dispute between the newspaper and a local restaurant owner who had accused the Marion County Record of invading her privacy and illegally accessing information about her and her driving record.

Meyer has said that he believed the newspaper’s aggressive coverage of local politics and issues played a role and that his newsroom had been examining the police chief’s work history.

Hanna and Hollingsworth write for the Associated Press.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it would investigate security at two liberal California bastions — the campus of UC Berkeley and the city of Berkeley — after multiple people were taken into custody following clashes as protesters tried to shut down a Turning Point USA event.

“I see several issues of serious concern regarding campus and local security and Antifa’s ability to operate with impunity in CA,” Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, posted on X.

Conflict erupted when a large group of anti-fascist protesters showed up Monday afternoon to voice opposition to the conservative group’s event at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, which sits on the campus’ famed Sproul Plaza, ground zero of the historic 1960s campus free speech movement.

The event was Turning Point USA’s first in California since Charlie Kirk, the group’s founder, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. It was also the final stop on the group’s “American Comeback Tour.”

As Kirk’s killing has intensified concerns about how colleges balance free speech and safety in an era of rising political intolerance and violence, Turning Point seized on the Berkeley protests to present the college as a case study of illiberal, leftist extremism.

“UC Berkeley currently looks like a war zone,” Frontlines TPUSA, a video journalism offshoot of Turning Point USA, posted on X Monday evening as it shared footage of a protester lighting a flare outside the event.

It then posted a stream of videos of protesters jostling metal barricades, a woman hurriedly herding two young women past a screaming crowd, and a protester pointing to his neck — a reference to the part of Kirk’s body that was shot — as he held a sign that said “Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from consequences.”

Dan Mogulof, a spokesperson for UC Berkeley, initially downplayed the conflict that occurred as about 150 protesters gathered outside the event on the edge of campus.

About 900 people attended the Turning Point event, Mogulof said, and four people were arrested. The Berkeley Police Department arrested two people who fought with each other off campus, he said, and an additional two arrests were made on campus by university police.

“At this point, we’re aware of a single incident of violence between two individuals who fought with each other,” Mogulof said Tuesday morning. “And that was the arrest made by the city that happened, not on the campus, but on the streets.”

According to Mogulof, university police arrested a 48-year-old with no affiliation to the school and booked him into the Santa Rita jail for willfully resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer or peace officer and interfering with peaceful activities on campus. A 22-year-old current or former student was also cited for willfully resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer or peace officer and refusing to leave private property.

“Nearly 1,000 people went to the event,” Mogulof said. “It occurred without disruption. We don’t have a single reported incident of any member of the audience being injured or prevented from attending.”

But later Tuesday, Mogulof updated his account and said an injury had taken place: a 45-year-old man who arrived at Berkeley to attend the Turning Point event reported being struck in the head with a glass bottle or jar.

“The victim suffered a laceration to his head and was transported to Highland Hospital for further treatment,” Mogulof said.

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Dhillon, an attorney who ran a San Francisco law practice focused on free speech before she was appointed by President Trump, has long complained of UC Berkeley’s liberal bias.

In 2017, Dhillon filed a lawsuit against the university on behalf of two conservative groups — Berkeley College Republicans and Young America’s Foundation — after the college placed restrictions on hosting conservative commentators Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos on campus, citing security concerns.

“We saw all of this at Berkeley back in 2017,” Dhillon said on X. “@UCBerkeley was sued, and settled the case.”

Frontlines TPUSA depicted Monday’s nights protests as chaotic and out of control.

“An ANTIFA member just lit off a flare resulting in TPUSA event attendees being rushed inside,” the group posted on X. “A car then comes and starts backfiring visibly scaring multiple attendees who feared they were hearing gunshots.”

On Tuesday, Dhillon took to social media to warn the university and the city of Berkeley that they should expect correspondence from the Justice Department.

“In America, we do not allow citizens to be attacked by violent thugs and shrug and turn our backs,” Dhillon posted on X. “Been there, done that, not on our watch.”

Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi also weighed in, saying that the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating Monday night’s “violent riots.”

“Antifa is an existential threat to our nation,” Bondi said. “We will continue to spare no expense unmasking all who commit and orchestrate acts of political violence.”

Since Trump issued a September executive order designating Antifa a domestic terrorist organization, Bondi said, her agency has been working with law-enforcement partners to dismantle “violent networks that seek to intimidate Americans and suppress their free expression and 1st Amendment rights.”

Mogulof said the university would cooperate with any investigation but had yet to receive any communication from the Justice Department. He disputed Dhillon’s suggestion that the event was out of control.

“Was there a protest?” Mogulof added. “Yes, there was a protest. Were there isolated incidents of people misbehaving during the protest? Yes, there were. Did our police force react? Yes, it did.”

In the run up to the event, the anti-fascist group By Any Means Necessary handed out flyers dubbing Turning Point USA a “White Nationalist, Neofascist organization.”

“They have fooled people into thinking that what Charlie Kirk stood for was freedom of speech and open debate,” Haku Jeffrey, BAMN national organizer, said in a videotaped speech on Sproul Plaza ahead of the event. “But all Charlie Kirk and Turning Point stood for is organizing racist, bigoted violence to intimidate and bully us into silence. And we refuse to be silenced.”

As dusk fell Monday, Frontlines TPUSA posted footage of tense scenes on the edge of Berkeley’s campus.

In one video, a crowd banging pots and chanting “Fascists out of Berkeley” faced off with a line of police officers in helmets and wearing batons. A masked protester at the front of the crowd repeatedly veered toward the police line as he held up a placard.

Suddenly, the officers pulled the protester behind the police line. The crowd roared as they dragged the protester away.

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, emphasized that a large group of conservatives defied the protesters to gather inside the Berkeley auditorium.

“Despite Antifa thugs blocking our campus tour stop with tear gas, fireworks, and glass bottles, we had a PACKED HOUSE in the heart of deep blue UC Berkeley,” Kolvet said. He shared a video on X of a crowd standing up, holding placards of Charlie Kirk’s face and chanting “Charlie Kirk! Charlie Kirk!”

Asked about reports of incendiary devices and the video showing protesters lighting flares outside the event, Mogulof said “the flames were not there for a long time.”

“The crowd was controlled, and the event happened without disruption,” Mogulof said.

Yet later Tuesday, Mogulof said that UC Berkeley would conduct a full investigation into the incident and work with the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force to identify “outside agitators” who tried to disrupt the event.

“There is no place at UC Berkeley for attempts to use violence or intimidation to prevent lawful expression or chill free speech,” Mogulof said in a statement.

Ultimately, Mogulof stressed, efforts to shut down Turning Point on campus did not succeed.

“The University remains steadfast,” he said, “in its commitment to uphold open dialogue, respect, and the rule of law.”

Christmas markets are the perfect place to step into the festive spirit, and there’s a truly spectacular one, just two hours from the UK, that has a huge ice skating rink in the heart of an airport

It’s that time of year again when many of us start thinking about fun festive activities in the lead-up to Christmas, and there’s an incredible ice skating rink in an airport just a short flight from the UK.

Welcoming back its magical winter wonderland for the 25th time this year, complete with a 600 square meter ice rink and Christmas market, is Munich Airport. The unsuspecting location will be transformed into its longstanding tradition for the German city, which is notoriously renowned for its Christmas markets.

Around 40 market stalls, decorated in shimmering lights and wreaths, will be in the airport, filled with handmade gift ideas, “culinary specialities” and festive treats. Visitors can stroll around a festive pine forest and cosy up in the charming huts with a warming mulled wine to fully experience the wonder.

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But that’s if you can tear yourself away from the activities on offer, including the huge ice skating rink open daily from 11am to 9pm. Visitors can skate and glide across the ice rink all day for just £4.40 (€5) – a fraction of the price for the activity compared to UK locations, which often only allow an hour at a time.

Renting the skates costs an additional £4.40 (€5), but for an unlimited time on the ice, it’s definitely worth it. In addition to ice skating, visitors can try their hand at curling on their rink for around £22 (€25) per hour.

There’s enough to keep the whole family entertained with ice discos on Wednesdays from 6pm, and a huge range of Christmas crafts on offer, from wreath making, designing ornaments and baubles to ceramic painting. Children can also enjoy face painting, magic shows, soap bubble acts and a special visit from Santa Claus on 27 November, 6 December and 19 December.

And that’s not all.

In the evenings, there will be live performances from regional artists and bands offering a huge range of music genres from pop, rock, funk, swing, Latin, gospel, to modern folk. Visitors can also book a magical 50-minute Christmas light tour around the airport after dark.

This year, the winter wonderland has also introduced its “Wish Tree” initiative, where visitors can take a note from the festive tree, which contains a wish from a child, and purchase a gift for them. The gift can then be dropped off at the “Elk Hut” by 18 December to help share some festive magic with children in need.

The winter wonderland at the Munich Airport Center (MAC) will open on Friday, 14 November, with everyone invited to enjoy the festive magic until Sunday, 28 December. The Christmas market is free and will be open daily from 11am until 9pm, aside from Christmas Eve, when it closes at 4pm.

Flights from London Gatwick to Munich are less than two hours, and fares start from as low as £14.49 with easyJet. What’s more, once you’ve landed, you really don’t have to go far to experience the delights of the winter wonderland at Munich Airport!

For more information visit: www.munich-airport.com/christmasmarket

Do you have a travel story to share? Email [email protected]

Webb, speaking on the Match Officials Mic’d Up show, said that while he accepted there would be a difference of opinion, there were valid reasons for the goal to be ruled out.

“Interfering with an opponent where the offside position player doesn’t play the ball and the officials have to make a judgment whether the actions of that player impact an opponent, are some of the most subjective decisions that we have to make,” said Webb.

“Therefore, it’s no surprise that some people believe this goal should have stood, so I think it’s important that we look at the facts of what actually happened in this situation.

“We know the corner comes in and the ball reaches Van Dijk. As the ball’s coming across the penalty area, the Manchester City players move out, they leave Robertson in that offside position in the heart of the six-yard box.

“When Van Dijk heads the ball forward, that’s the moment when we have to make an offside judgment about Robertson and about what he’s doing there.

“We know he doesn’t touch the ball but what does he do? Well, as the ball moves towards him, three yards out from goal, right in the middle of the six-yard box, he makes that clear action to duck below the ball.

“The ball goes just over his head, and the ball finds the goal in the half of the six-yard box where he is. Then, the officials have to make a judgment – did that clear action impact on Donnarumma, the goalkeeper, and his ability to save the ball? And that’s where the subjectivity comes into play.

“Obviously that’s the conclusion they drew on that. They looked at that position, they looked at that action, so close to the goalkeeper, and they formed that opinion.

“I know that’s not a view held by everybody but I think it’s not unreasonable to understand why they would form that conclusion.

“The player is so close to the goalkeeper, the ball’s coming right towards him and he has to duck to get out of the way of the ball – and they form the conclusion that that impacts Donnarumma’s ability just to dive towards the ball and make that save.

“And then, of course, once they’ve made that on-field decision, the job of the VAR is to look at that and decide, was the outcome of offside clearly and obviously wrong?

“Only Donnarumma truly knows if he was impacted by this and, of course, we have to look at the factual evidence, and when we see that factual evidence of that position of the player ducking below the ball, so close to the goalkeeper, the VAR determines that the outcome of offside is not clearly and obviously wrong, and they stay out of it.”

Sheehan was named as assistant to Michael Duff in the summer of 2023 and was placed in interim charge of the first team in December of the same year following the manager’s departure.

Under Sheehan’s guidance, the Swans took 11 of the 21 points on offer before Williams was appointed as Duff’s permanent replacement in January 2024.

But little more than a year on, Sheehan was back in temporary charge after Williams was sacked.

The former Republic of Ireland international led his side to an even better run second time around as Swansea claimed 24 points from his 13 games as boss to guide the club to an 11th-place finish – a remarkable achievement given the Welsh side had flirted with relegation just months earlier.

After earning a three-year contract as head coach, announced at the end of last April, Sheehan was backed heavily in the summer transfer window as Swansea’s new ownership group – led by Cravatt and Cohen – showed their intent on getting the club in a position to challenge for a top-flight return.

Adam Idah, Marko Stamenic, Zeidane Inoussa and Ethan Galbraith were among those to command hefty transfer fees.

But they have been unable to convert the early season optimism at the club into results – with their attacking output under Sheehan in particular being criticised.

Swansea’s expected goals (xG) of 12.48 is the lowest of any team in the division, while their total of 15 big chances created is comfortably the worst of any side in the second tier.

During Saturday’s defeat by Ipswich some fans booed at half-time and full-time – with some aiming chants of ‘we want Sheehan out’ at their head coach after the match.

He will now leave south Wales having overseen a run of just one win in eight matches across all competitions.

Now, in what is the final international break of the calendar year, fans will hope the impending managerial change can give the club time to turn around their fortunes and reignite their hopes of securing a top-six finish.

Swansea return to league action against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday, 22 November (12:30 GMT).

POPPING over to France from the UK couldn’t be easier, and there are plenty of pretty cities and towns to explore along the Opal Coast.

The spot in the north of France is known for its natural landscape, beautiful beaches and being home to lots of charming seaside destinations like Boulogne-sur-Mer.

When Brits usually take day trips, it’s usually to bustling cities like Paris or Amsterdam.

But if you fancy somewhere quieter, then the Opal Coast is a great option, especially as it’s so easy to get there by car.

To get there, you can travel by Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais which takes around 35 minutes.

From there, it’s a 30 minute drive to the city.

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Brits can also take the ferry from Dover to Calais which takes 90 minutes and drive from there.

Boulogne-sur-Mer, once an ancient town, is a city that is still used as a major fishing port.

The old centre is a great spot for mooch around thanks to its pretty cobbled streets and quaint shops all surrounded by medieval walls.

The popular Boulogne-sur-Mer’s beach is common with sand yachters as well as kite surfers too.

Thanks to it being a fishing port, there are plenty of restaurants around serving local specialties like pickled herring, mackerel, and mussels.

According to Tripadvisor, the most highly-rated seafood restaurant in Boulogne-sur-Mer is Le Chatillon.

There, those who enjoy seafood can get a seafood platter from €38.90 (£34.26) which has half a crab, four langoustines, six organic pink prawns, whelks, grey prawns and five superior oysters.

A trip to Boulogne-sur-Mer doesn’t have to break the bank either, according to Numbeo, you can buy a bottle of wine there from between €5-8 (£4.40 to £7.04).

Domestic beer cost €2.06 (£1.81) and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant is around €16 (£14.09).

If you’re looking for a place to amuse the kids, check out Nausicaá – Europe‘s largest aquarium where you’ll find tropical fish, sharks, sea lions and penguins.

One day tickets start from €30 (£26.41) for visitors over 12, and €23 (£20.25) for those between three years old up to 12. 

History buffs should check out the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, which was originally built as a church and later transformed into a cathedral.

It’s 100 meters tall and from there you can get a great view of the city.

Not to mention that lying underneath is the largest crypt in France where you’ll find over 400 artefacts like paintings and beautiful wall murals.

The cathedral is free to enter, with a small fee of around €6 (£5.28) to enter the crypt.

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Nausicaa, the French National Sea Centre, is Europe’s largest aquarium. It doubled in size in the summer of 2018 with a giant new tank housing thousands of tropical fish, manta rays and, yes, sharks.

But that barely scratches the surface — or beneath the surface — of what you can see there. That tank is certainly impressive. It is 65ft wide and 16ft high, and took a month to fill. As a veteran of many such outings, I have never seen anything like it.

Nor had the kids: Ten-year-old Miles and Ava were entranced by the quantity and variety of everything on show.

But even the sorts of things they had seen before — the touch tank with the smaller rays, glass tunnel (yet more sharks), penguins and sea lions and hundreds of clown fish  — it is like every aquarium you have ever visited, rolled into a gigantic piscine extravaganza.

Marine conservation is the overarching theme, but it is never rammed down your throat. You can even have a nice fish lunch in one of the cafés. Being French, they take this very seriously. And naturally, there is a good selection of wine.

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AN airport in Europe is one of the few to have its own ice rink – and it is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Opening this week, the 600sqm ice rink is right by Munich Airport.

Along with ice skating, families can even book curling as well as classes such as bauble painting (new this year), wreath making and face painting.

Of course, Father Christmas will also be on hand to meet kids, but only on November 27, December 6 and December 19.

Time it right as Wednesdays have ice discos from 6pm.

Its not just an ice rink as well.

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The Munich Airport Center transforms into a huge Christmas market with 40 market stalls to choose from.

Live music performances and Christmas light tours will also take place.

The festive experience launches this week on November 24 and runs until December 28.

You have more than enough time to visit as well, as it is open from 11am and 9pm.

While the market is free, some are ticketed and it is advised to do it ahead of time.

The ice rink costs €5 (£4.40) per person, with skates to rent for another €5 (£4.40).

If you want to try curling, this costs €25 (£22) per hour.

Previous guests have raved about the experience.

One said: “The Christmas market is fantastic. Great selection, cozy places, normal prices! Very cozy!”

If you fancy visiting, Munich is known for both its Oktoberfest and Christmas Markets.

It has one of the oldest traditional markets in Europe, and this year Münchner Christkindlmarkt will run from November 25 to December 24.

You can also fly there from the UK for £15 with easyJet.

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Here’s how to find the highest ice rink in the UK – which is opening on top of a car park.

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For Los Angeles, it’s been a year of triumphs, trials and everything in between. From devastating wildfires to ICE raids that shook our immigrant communities, the city has weathered plenty. Still, L.A. found moments to rally (hello, Dodgers World Series win) that gave us all something to cheer for again.

Thanksgiving is a time to hold onto those small victories and give thanks for the bright spots amid the chaos. But if you won’t be brining a turkey or mashing a bowl of potatoes yourself, there are options.

Thankfully, restaurants across the city are stepping up with take-home feasts. Yes, there are the traditional roast turkeys and glazed hams, but also Caribbean jerk turkey legs, Chinese-inspired chicken ballotines, Indian biryanis, lamb Wellingtons and more.

Whether you’re hosting a big family gathering or keeping things intimate, check out these 26 spots designed to bring comfort, flavor and a little local pride to your Thanksgiving table.

A MAN flew to Prague for the day for just £18 – and says it’s cheaper than his commute to work.

Luke Simmonds, 36, has been going on extreme day trips for the last since 2023 – and has completed 30 in two years.

For his most recent trip he jetted off to Prague, Czech Republic on October 11 on a Wizz Air flight at 6am.

Landing at 8.45am, he wandered round the city often nicknamed the Golden City for its beautiful buildings, tried a local chimney cake, and visited Prague castle.

He flew back at 5pm and says the whole trip cost him £52.65 – only £7.65 more than the cost of his commute.

Luke, from Guildford, said: “This is only a few pounds more than what my commute to work would be.

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“The commute to work is about £40 on the train and the tube on top so about £45 and it’s 60 miles to travel.

“A day out in London would have cost more.

“It just shows what’s possible having a look and a mooch about foreign capital in a day.”

Luke said Prague is his cheapest day trip and he visited with seven other travel enthusiasts who he met through Facebook.

Booking £8.99 flights each way 11 months in advance, his 6am Luton flight touched down in the city by 8.45am.

He said: “This one was very much a go and wander around trip, and we there was not really a set plan apart from going to Gediminas castle.

“We bought some local food and walked down to Charles Bridge, a famous part of Prague and then into the old town square.

“We didn’t do any paid activities we just walked around sightseeing which is why it was so cheap.”

“Clearly there’s a lot more in Prague and it was not enough time to tick it off and never go again but nice a introduction to the city.”

Luke also visited Lithuania the weekend before.

His Luton Airport flights with WizzAir took off at 7.55am on October 4, landing in Vilnius, Lithuania at 12.18pm and costing just £38.47 return.

After taking a 20-minute bus into the centre he visited Gediminas castle for free, taking in panoramic views of the city, before having a lunch of local potato pancakes and cherry beer in the old town.

He said: “Vilnius is one of those places you can wander around without really having a plan.

“The old town has got loads to look at. There’s a quirky art district that’s almost declared itself independent – called Užupis.

“It’s quite a famous site in Vilnius but I found it really underwhelming”.

The extreme day trip does come with risks however if your flights into problems.

Luke’s 23.20pm flight with Ryanair back to Stansted was delayed – meaning he was left at the airport all night, only leaving at 8:25am the next morning.

When it comes to his top extreme day trips tips, he said that he bags his cheap flights by booking at least three months in advance.

He said: “Three months ahead tends to be the sweet spot for trips, you can get really good deals.

“There’s no exact science to booking flights as the prices go up all over the place.”

Not only that, but being “flexible with airports” also helps.

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He finished by saying: “I’ve gone to places I’ve never even heard of because I’ve seen people write it up on Facebook and thought, I’ll go there then.

“Some places have definitely had a boost in tourism because of it. The price is the driver rather than where you want to go”.

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