country

A famous Civil War-era photo of an escaped slave who had been savagely whipped. Displays detailing how more than 120,000 U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry were forcibly imprisoned during WWII. Signs describing the effects of climate change on the coast of Maine.

In recent months, a small army of historians, librarians, scientists and other volunteers has fanned out across America’s national parks and museums to photograph and painstakingly archive cultural and intellectual treasures they fear are under threat from President Trump’s war against “woke.”

These volunteers are creating a “citizen’s record” of what exists now in case the administration carries out Trump’s orders to scrub public signs and displays of language he and his allies deem too negative about America’s past.

More than 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly relocated and incarcerated in camps during World War II, including these Japanese Americans seen at Manzanar in the Owens Valley in 1942.

(LA Library)

“My deepest, darkest fear,” said Georgetown University history professor Chandra Manning, who helped organize an effort dubbed Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian, is that the administration plans to “rewrite and falsify who counts as an American.”

In March, Trump issued an executive order entitled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” arguing that, over the past decade, signs and displays at museums and parks across the country have been distorted by a “widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history,” replacing facts with liberal ideology.

“Under this historical revision,” he wrote, “our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.”

He ordered the National Parks Service and The Smithsonian to scrub their displays of content that “inappropriately disparages Americans” living or dead, and replace it with language that celebrates the nation’s greatness.

The Collins Bible — a detailed family history recorded by Richard Collins, a formerly enslaved man — is seen at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

(Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

That’s when Manning’s colleague at Georgetown University, James Millward, who specializes in Chinese history, told her, “this seems really eerie,” Manning recalled. It reminded him of the Chinese Communist Party’s dictates to “tell China’s story well,” which he said was code for censorship and falsification.

So the professors reached out to friends and discovered that there were like-minded folks across the country working like “monks” in the Middle Ages, who painstakingly copied ancient texts, to photograph and preserve what they regarded as national treasures.

“There’s a human tradition of doing exactly this,” Manning said. “It feels gratifying to be a part of that tradition, it makes me feel less isolated and less alone.”

Jenny McBurney, a government documents librarian at the University of Minnesota, said she found Trump’s language “quite dystopian.” That’s why she helped organize an effort called Save Our Signs, which aims to photograph and preserve all of the displays at national parks and monuments.

The sprawling network includes Manzanar National Historic Site, where Japanese American civilians were imprisoned during the Second World War; Fort Sumter National Monument, where Confederates fired the first shots of the Civil War; Ford’s Theater National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated; and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park.

It would be difficult to tell those stories without disparaging at least some dead Americans — such as the assassins John Wilkes Booth and James Earl Ray — or violating Trump’s order to focus on America’s “unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity and human flourishing.”

At Acadia National Park in Maine, where the rising sun first hits the U.S. coast for much of the year, signs describing the effect of climate change on rising seas, storm surge and intense rain have already been removed.

McBurney doesn’t want volunteers to try to anticipate the federal government’s next moves and focus only on displays they think might be changed, she wants to preserve everything, “good, bad, negative or whatever,” she said in a recent interview. “As a librarian, I like complete sets of things.”

And if there were a complete archive of every sign in the national park system in private hands — out of the reach of the current administration — there would always be a “before” picture to look back at and see what had changed.

“We don’t want this information to just disappear in the dark,” McBurney said.

Another group, the Data Rescue Project, is hard at work filling private servers with at-risk databases, including health data from the Centers for Disease Control, climate data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the contents of government websites, many of which have been subject to the same kind of ideological scrubbing threatened at parks and museums.

Both efforts were “a real inspiration,” Manning said, as she and Millward pondered what they could do to contribute to the cause.

Then, in August, apparently frustrated by the lack of swift compliance with its directives, the Trump administration sent a formal letter to Lonnie G. Bunch III, the first Black Secretary of the Smithsonian, setting a 120-day limit to “begin implementing content corrections.”

Days later, President Trump took to Truth Social, the media platform he owns, to state his case less formally.

“The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL,” he wrote, “everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been.”

Even though the Smithsonian celebrates American astronauts, military heroes and sports legends, Trump complained that the museums offered nothing about the “success” and “brightness” of America, concluding with, “We have the “HOTTEST” Country in the World, and we want people to talk about it.”

People visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History on the National Mall in Washington.

(Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press)

Immediately, Manning and Millward knew where they would focus.

They sent emails to people they knew, and reached out to neighborhood listservs, asking if anyone wanted to help document the displays at the 21 museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution — including the American History Museum and the Natural History Museum — the National Zoo and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Within about two weeks, they had 600 volunteers. Before long, the group had grown to over 1,600, Manning said, more people than they could assign galleries and exhibitions to.

“A lot of people feel upset and kind of paralyzed by these repeated assaults on our shared resources and our shared institutions,” Manning said, “and they’re really not sure what to do about it.”

With the help of all the volunteers, and a grad student, Jessica Dickenson Goodman, who had the computer skills to help archive their submissions, the Citizen Historians project now has an archive of over 50,000 photos and videos covering all of the sites. They finished the work Oct. 12, which was when the museums closed because of the government shutdown.

After several media outlets reported on the order to remove the photo of the whipped slave from the Fort Pulaski National Monument in Georgia — citing internal emails and people familiar with deliberations who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly — administration officials described the reports as “misinformation” but declined to specify which part was incorrect.

A National Parks Service spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

But the possibility that the administration is considering removing the Scourged Back photo is precisely what has prompted Manning, and so many others, to dedicate their time to preserving the historical record.

“I think we need the story that wrong sometimes exists and it is possible to do something about it,” Manning said.

The man in the photo escaped, joined the Union army, and became part of the fight to abolish slavery in the United States. If a powerful image like that disappears from public display, “we rob ourselves of the reminder that it’s possible to do something about the things that are wrong.”

Berlin, Germany – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has played down Western concerns that Russia is preparing for further conflicts in Europe and suggested the European Union should have a concrete peace plan in place for Ukraine amid efforts by the United States to end the war.

Rama, speaking to Al Jazeera on the sidelines of the Berlin Global Dialogue conference late last month, said it would be “completely stupid” of any country to attack EU or NATO members.

“Russia will not attack Albania and Russia will not attack any other European country,” he said. “NATO is ready for any kind of aggression. NATO has nobody and nothing to fear because it’s the strongest army in the world so far.”

Twenty-three out of 27 EU member states are NATO members. Albania is part of NATO and has been an EU candidate country since 2014.

“The EU is being provoked a lot by Russia,” said Rama. “Countries on the border with Russia are being provoked on a daily basis … the EU is defending itself and thinking of defending itself better.”

Since early September, several European countries, including Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Romania, have blamed Russia for a series of suspected drone incursions. Tensions soared further on September 19, when NATO said it intercepted three Russian MiG-31 jets suspected of entering Estonian airspace, a claim denied by Moscow.

Last month, German foreign intelligence chief Martin Jager warned lawmakers that to grow its “sphere of influence further westward into Europe”, Russia would “shy away from direct military confrontation with NATO if necessary”.

Moscow has dismissed accusations that it has deliberately sent drones into European airspace, blaming those countries for stoking hysteria.

EU’s lack of a peace plan ‘looks very strange’

Rama’s government has been vocal in its criticism of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and supports EU sanctions on Moscow.

But he told Al Jazeera, “The fact that the EU does not have a peace plan looks very strange to me.”

As US President Donald Trump attempts to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Rama said the EU should “think about having its own diplomacy in action to promote its own vision of peace”.

He also suggested EU officials should “find a way to talk to the Russians” to end the war.

Late on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had not seen a European plan to end the war, according to Interfax news agency.

Rama claimed that Albania, which has not reported any Russian drone sightings, feels little pressure despite the apparent incursions, as Eastern European countries bordering Russia are on high security alert.

“I’m Albanian,” Rama said. “We have no fears … There is no room for Russian hostilities in Albania because there is no sympathy for Russia.”

Before the suspected airspace violations, Moscow had long been accused of engaging in “hybrid warfare”, using unconventional methods such as cyberattacks or disinformation campaigns to drive a wedge between EU countries. The drone incursions, the bloc says, are part of that tactic.

There are fears that Russia’s war could spill over into the Western Balkans, comprising – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, self-declared republic of Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – home to deep-rooted tensions.

On October 22, when Rama’s British counterpart Keir Starmer hosted him and the five other Western Balkans leaders, the premier of the United Kingdom called the region “Europe’s crucible – the place where the security of our continent is put to the test”.

The six nations are at varying levels of negotiations with the EU regarding accession, attempting to reform sectors from their judiciaries to social welfare departments in order to join the bloc.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently praised the progress made by Montenegro and Albania.

In Tirana on October 25, in a news conference alongside Rama, she said Albania is on “the right track towards the European Union”, adding, “there has been a stunning and outstanding record speed acceleration since 2022”.

Rama agreed, telling Al Jazeera that the EU’s sense of openness in welcoming the Balkan nations has improved since the Ukraine war began.

The town is the oldest in the country and was the capital for several hundred years, with wealthy merchants flocking to the thriving trading hub which is well preserved today

A town that is more than a thousand years old sits on the banks of a picturesque lake and is filled with colorful wooden houses.

Sigtuna, often described as Sweden’s first town, is a small and charming destination that blends history and natural beauty. Located just 45 minutes from Stockholm and only a short drive from Arlanda Airport, it is ideal for a day trip if you’re in the modern Swedish capital.

Despite having a population of just 10,000 today, Sigtuna was effectively the capital of Sweden following its founding in 980AD, serving as the royal and commercial center until the 13th century. Although it may have lost its economic and political clout, Sigtuna remains a fascinating place that offers an authentic glimpse into Sweden’s past.

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Its rich history is evident at every turn, from the cobbled streets and medieval ruins to the ancient runestones scattered throughout the area. These runestones—over 150 in total—serve as open-air monuments to the Viking Age, engraved with inscriptions commemorating people who lived and traded here more than a thousand years ago. The Sigtuna Rune Stone Walk takes you around the town centre and along the Procession Road, passing a total of 15 rune stones, mostly dating from the 10th and 11th centuries. Each has its own information board and translation of the runic inscription.

The town’s archaeological heritage has been carefully preserved and is well contextualised at the Sigtuna Museum.

One of the town’s main attractions is Stora Gatan, Sweden’s oldest main street. “This street is special because its layout has not changed for nearly a millennium,” writes Atlas Obscura.

Sigtuna’s founder, King Erik the Victorious, wanted to make the city the country’s capital, but this was not a straightforward task. To get the public, and more importantly, wealthy landowners, on board, he divided up the land into plots and gave them away to influential people. They would not live on the land, but would often visit and flaunt their riches.

“Over time, it truly became the capital of Sweden, and travelers from all over the world would arrive here with their goods. Underneath the road, archeologists have found items from the Byzantine empire, Asia, and the old Russian empire,” Atlas Obscura continues.

Sadly, all of the old buildings except for a few churches have been broken down or were burned in fires. New houses were constructed and the city evolved, but the main street remains much the same.

Lined with colourful wooden houses, boutique shops, cosy cafés, and art galleries, it’s a beautiful place for a wander of an afternoon, and one that will make you feel as if you’ve been transported back in time.

Many of the shops sell local handicrafts, design pieces, and Swedish-made souvenirs, making it an excellent place to pick up a tasteful nifty-gifty.

The street also leads directly to the picturesque shores of Lake Mälaren, where visitors can stroll along the water, enjoy a fika by the marina, or take a boat trip during the summer months.

Sigtuna’s three medieval church ruins—St. Lars, St. Olaf, and St. Peter’s—stand as atmospheric reminders of the town’s Christian heritage. These stone ruins, surrounded by quiet gardens and walking paths, contrast with the still-active Sigtuna Church, which dates back to the 13th century and remains a focal point for the local community. The blend of old and new architecture gives the town a timeless quality, appealing to travellers interested in both history and culture.

Beyond its historical significance, Sigtuna is known for its relaxed pace and natural surroundings. The town is nestled among forests and lakes, offering plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as cycling, kayaking, and hiking. In winter, the frozen lake becomes a natural ice-skating rink, and during the warmer months, visitors can swim, picnic, or simply enjoy the serenity of the landscape. The nearby Sigtunastiftelsen, a cultural and conference centre with a café and beautiful gardens, is another peaceful retreat ideal for reflection or afternoon tea.

Sigtuna offers something that few other destinations can: a living link between the Viking Age and modern Scandinavia. It’s history isn’t confined to museums, but it’s woven into the streets, stones, and scenery.

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EXCLUSIVE: Twinne-Lee Moore played Porsche McQueen in Hollyoaks over a decade ago and the actress turned singer has hinted at a potential return for a reunion with her on-screen family

Hollyoaks could set to welcome back a familar face to the fictional village.

Twinnie-Lee Moore played Porsche McQueen from Novemebr 2014 until December 2015.

The character highlighted the issues of sexual abuse in children and other storylines included a failed marriage when her husband had various affairs.

During her time on the Channel 4 soap, Twinnie-Lee was nominated for the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer and an Inside Soap Award in 2015 for her powerful portrayal.

Since leaving Hollyoaks, Twinnie-Lee has swapped Yorkshire for Nashville to embark a career as a country pop singer-songwriter.

However, the TV star has hinted that a return to Hollyoaks could be on the cards after catching up with her on-screen family at the soap’s 30th anniversary celebration last month.

Speaking to Reach PLC, Twinnie-Lee said: “It’s been a whole decade and it’s so lovely to see everybody.

“The McQueens are obviously my favourite family and I was very honoured to be part of it and it brings back a lot of memories.”

When asked about a potential Porsche McQueen comeback, she added: “You’ll have to ask the writers about that.

“I’m currently in Nashville doing my music. I did pitch to them if they did want to come and do a Nashville series. She [Porsche] did leave on a cruise so you never know.”

Porsche was last seen on screen on Christmas Eve 2015 and Twinnie-Lee revealed that fans still message her a decade later about her character.

She explained: “It’s so wild because people even now still message me about Porsche. I posted something and everyone was like ‘omg come back’, ‘when you coming back’.

“She was such a great character to play, made a real impact and very relatable.”

Last year, Twinnie-Lee returned to the small screen in Emmerdale as Jade Garrick, an illegal gambling and underground fighting manager who Ross Barton (Michael Parr) and Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) worked for for a small number of episodes.

Speaking about her new role at the time, the soap star said: “My life has been a bit crazy recently juggling music and acting with lots of back and forth between Nashville and Yorkshire but I’ve been loving it!!

“I’ve loved being back on screen, especially as the show is shot in Yorkshire, being able to be home with family and go to work on such an iconic show has been nothing short of amazing! The whole team has been so welcoming and really supportive.”

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am