Kim Jong Un expresses ‘grief’ for failing to save ‘the precious lives’ of his troops killed fighting against Ukraine.
Published On 30 Aug 202530 Aug 2025
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met again with the families of his soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, offering condolences for their “unbearable pain” and promising the bereaved “a beautiful life”, state media reports.
KCNA state news agency reported on Saturday that Kim hosted the families of slain soldiers, and expressed “grief at having failed to save the precious lives” of those who sacrificed their lives to defend the country’s honour.
The meeting was the second reported occasion that Kim met with families of fallen soldiers this month. Pyongyang has not confirmed the number of troops that were killed fighting for Russia, though Seoul estimates about 600, with thousands more wounded.
“I had this meeting arranged as I wanted to meet and console the bereaved families of all the heroes and relieve them of their sorrow and anguish even a little,” Kim said in his speech, according to KCNA.
Kim also pledged to build a monument in the capital, Pyongyang, as well as name a new street for the bereaved families, and the state will give full support to the children of deceased soldiers.
The North Korean leader said his “heart breaks and aches” for the children who lost fathers.
“I, our state and our army will take full responsibility for them and train them admirably as staunch and courageous fighters like their fathers,” he added.
South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have said that Kim sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024 – primarily to the Kursk region – along with North Korean-produced artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems.
At a ceremony with mourning family members and Ukraine war veterans last week, images released by KCNA showed an emotional Kim embracing a returned soldier who appeared overwhelmed, burying his face in the leader’s chest.
The leader was also seen kneeling before a portrait of a fallen soldier to pay his respects and placing medals and flowers beside images of dead troops.
Kim is due to stand alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a military parade in Beijing next week, marking the surrender of Japan in World War II.
Protesters block the main highway linking Petah Tikva, a tech industry hub in the center of the country, with Tel Aviv as part of nationwide protests demanding the government prioritize bringing the hostages home over defeating Hamas. Photo by Atef Safadi/EPA
Aug. 26 (UPI) — Families of Israeli hostages and their supporters staged protests across the country Tuesday, blocking major roads and setting tire bonfires, demanding the government end the war in Gaza and agree a deal to bring their loved ones home.
The day of action organized by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill on multiple highways and intersections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv — where the main Ayalon thruway was closed for the second time in a week — and the main coastal highway linking Tel Aviv with the port city of Haifa.
The group kicked off the so-called “National Solidarity Day” by unfurling its huge yellow flags in front of the branch office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, with demonstrators also gathering outside the private residences of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Education Minister Yoav Kisch.
A mothers and strollers protest was also planned in Tel Aviv, marches across the country scheduled for 2 p.m. local time and a large rally capping the day off in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square in the evening.
“For 690 days, the government has been waging a war without a clear objective,” Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan Zangauker, who has been held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, told a news conference
“Today, it is clear that Netanyahu fears one thing, public pressure. We could have ended the war a year ago and brought all the hostages and soldiers home. We could have saved hostages and soldiers, but the prime minister chose, again and again, to sacrifice civilians for the sake of [maintaining] his rule,” she said.
Leaders of the group seized on comments Monday by U.S. President Donald Trump that there would be a “pretty conclusive ending” to the war in the next two to three weeks, to appeal to him to intervene and use his influence to help seal a cease-fire with Hamas.
In comments to reporters at the White House, Trump said a “very serious” diplomatic effort to end the war and secure the release of Israeli hostages was underway and that he had told Netanyahu he’d better get it settled soon.”
Trump did not elaborate but pointed to recent initiatives by his special envoy Steve Witkoff.
A framework first proposed by Witkoff in June formed the basis for a Qatari-Egyptian negotiated part-agreement for a 60-day cease-fire and hostage-prisoner swap deal currently on the table, accepted by Hamas but not Israel, which has instead launched a major military offensive to capture Gaza City.
The proposal, which calls for the release of half of the hostages in two phases, was not on the agenda of a meeting of Netanyahu’s security cabinet due to take place Tuesday afternoon, its first full meeting since the latest plan emerged Aug. 18.
Netanyahu has insisted that only a deal in which all the hostages are released will be considered, ordering his negotiators to resume talks on that basis — while restating his intention to follow through with seizing control of Gaza City.
It covers all new reservations made from Friday, August 22 onwards
It affects all flights purchased from Friday, August 22 onwards
Leading leisure carrier Jet2.com has bolstered its family-friendly credentials by revealing that children under two will now fly for free. The move makes Jet2.com the only UK airline that does not charge for children under two travelling to spots across Europe, the Canaries and the Mediterranean.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “As a family-friendly airline and tour operator, we are always looking at how we can make the experience even better for families travelling with us. By putting our customers first and making these changes, meaning that all children under 2 now travel for free whether on a package holiday or a seat-only flight, we are making travel even more accessible for millions of families.”
This fresh policy covers all new reservations made from Friday, August 22, with youngsters needing to be under two at the time of travel for it to be valid.
The move should be a boost for Jet2 passengers with children
Given that children under two already travelled free with Jet2holidays, this now ensures that all under-twos fly free with Jet2 – whether on a package break with Jet2holidays or on a seat-only journey with Jet2.com., reports Bristol Live.
Additionally, Jet2.com has brought in a new family-friendly amendment to its child and infant equipment allowance, ensuring that no extra baggage fees will be levied for child or infant kit being checked into the hold.
This policy takes effect straight away. In addition to an extra 10kg baggage allowance for children under two, customers can bring up to two items per child under two free of charge to be checked into the hold.
These can include a collapsible pushchair, pram or buggy, car seat or booster seat, baby carrier, or travel cot and the 10kg weight limitation no longer applies to these items.
Snugbury’s Ice Cream Farm in Cheshire has been welcoming visitors in their thousands for its array of 55 different and fun flavoured ice creams on their farmland
The huge straw sculptures are available throughout the summer(Image: MEN)
A beloved ice cream farm renowned for its massive straw creations has unveiled fresh attractions to entertain families during the closing weeks of the summer break.
Snugbury’s, situated near Nantwich in Cheshire, has been drawing thousands of guests in recent years with their selection of flavoured ice creams, whilst installing towering 45ft wooden and straw sculptures across their farmland featuring everything from daleks to Peter Rabbit and an enormous bee.
Paddington Bear currently serves as the signature landmark towering over the farm, and this year he’s been accompanied by a fresh trail of wooden dinosaurs, located in a field that’s completely free to access.
There are 55 different ice cream flavours available at the farm(Image: MEN)
This week, the farm also revealed that its sunflower field has now reached full bloom – allowing guests to wander through, capture photographs and marvel at the stunning bright yellow flowers, reports the Manchester Evening News.
At the trail’s conclusion you can also purchase a single stem for £1.50 or a bundle of five sunflowers for £5, with £2.50 from each bundle donated to their chosen charity.
The “Snug-o-Saurus” dinosaur trail has already proved popular with younger guests and families, where you can stroll through a wildflower meadow and discover an assortment of wooden versions of the prehistoric creatures.
The dinosaur trail and the sunflower field is available throughout the summer(Image: MEN)
You can spot a triceratops, stegosaurus, a baby dinosaur and its enormous egg alongside the terrifying T-Rex which is sure to be the biggest draw for dinosaur enthusiasts. After a stroll through the dinosaur trails, visitors are greeted by an enormous Paddington Bear – Snugbury’s largest sculpture to date.
The beloved bear is donned in his iconic blue jacket, tipping his hat and carrying a suitcase. Visitors can wander around Paddington at the ice cream farm before returning to the starting point where a pop-up cafe serves coffees, milkshakes for £5, small tubs of ice cream for £3.70 and soft serve cones for £3.30.
You can also go and visit the huge 45ft Paddington Bear sculpture(Image: Tim Jervis)
For those wanting to sample the full range of tantalising flavours that Snugbury’s offers, they can continue on to the main ice cream parlour on site.
Here, a daily rotation of some 55 flavours awaits, with options ranging from marmalade, lavender and honey, raspberry pavlova, caramelised banana, snugtella, battenburg, pistachio, turkish delight, as well as more traditional flavours like strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and mango and lemon sorbet.
The family-run farm also contributes to charitable causes throughout the summer, with half the proceeds from every sunflower bunch sold going to Freddie’s Army charity this year, which raises funds for research into children with the genetic disorder MPS, with donations encouraged.
Snugbury’s ice cream business was established in 1986 at Park Farm by Chris and Cheryl Sadler, who began making ice cream with a mixer in their kitchen.
Spotting dinosaurs along the trail is all part of the fun(Image: MEN)
The business was taken over by the Sadler’s daughters, Kitty, Cleo and Hannah, eight years ago, who have since expanded the business by an impressive 60-70%. The shop proudly displays a ’55 pan display’ of flavours, with their double cone being the most popular item.
Snugburys can be found on the A51 in Hurleston, just outside Nantwich in Cheshire. The snug-o-sauraus dino trail is open every day from 10am to 6pm, and even well-behaved dogs are welcome, provided they’re kept on leads.
Hunters Quay Dunoon Holiday Village is located near the town of Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, approximately 90 minutes from Glasgow
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Aerial view of Toward Point Lighthouse near Dunoon in Argyll and Bute(Image: richard johnson via Getty Images)
A Scottish family holiday village near a stunning beach is currently on offer with a whopping 50 per cent discount.
Hunters Quay Dunoon Holiday Village can be found close to Dunoon town on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, roughly 90 minutes from Glasgow. And it boasts sweeping views across the Holy Loch and has plenty to keep adults and children busy.
Each caravan features central heating, a complete kitchen setup, a flat screen television, and fresh bed linen, reports the Daily Record
Holiday guests will also gain complete access to Hunters Quay’s recreational amenities. These feature two swimming pools – including one exclusively for adults – a fitness centre, a sauna, a steam chamber, and various on-site entertainment options.
Activites on offer include axe throwing, aqua run, ‘superhero academy’, sand art, and a teddy bear hunt. Additionally, there’s evening live shows and a children’s play zone and there’s an on-site pub serving “delicious meals” according to Wowcher.
Visitors can opt to dine in or request a takeaway and enjoy their meal back at their caravan. The Wowcher package also features a complimentary late checkout of 11am. Pet owners can bring their furry friends along for an additional £15 per dog per night.
While holiday parks remain a favourite for staycations, some travellers might fancy a traditional hotel instead. Popular nearby alternatives include the Royal Marine Hotel and the SGE Argyll Hotel.
Hunters Quay Dunoon Holiday Village has received largely favourable reviews from visitors. The resort boasts a 4.1 out of five rating on Tripadvisor based on 1,074 reviews.
One guest wrote: “The park was lovely and clean. Lodge was very clean and spacious. We had a great stay. Staff were friendly and worked hard.”
Another delighted holidaymaker commented: “This was our first proper family holiday and I couldn’t have wished for anything better. Everyone was so amazing and kind. Nothing was too much for anyone!”.
Another visitor said: “Caravan lovely and clean, quiet location at the bottom of the hill. So [it’s a] trek to the facilities. Very busy as [it was the] height of season.
“Would avoid restaurant due to length of time it takes to serve food after ordered. We had dog and granddaughter with us, who wre both fed up.”
However, another five-star guest gushed: “Amazing holiday at Hunters Quay, highly recommend this park. The staff are so helpful and friendly. The food was really nice and we enjoyed the evening entertainment.”
For further details on the Hunters Quay Dunoon Holiday Village offer, head over to the Wowcher website.
Los Angeles Unified school police, staff and community volunteers will form protective perimeters around at least 100 schools when classes begin Thursday to help ensure the safe passage of children — an announcement that came on a day that immigration agents reportedly handcuffed, detained and drew their guns on a student outside Arleta High School in a case of mistaken identity, officials said.
The 15-year-old boy, a student with disabilities, was visiting Arleta High School with family members when federal agents detained him, L.A. Unified officials said. Family members intervened and, after a few tense moments, the agents released the boy. The school’s principal also came out to assess the situation. Agents left behind some bullets on the sidewalk, apparently by mistake, which were collected by school police.
“Such actions — violently detaining a child just outside a public school — are absolutely reprehensible and should have no place in our country,” school board member Kelly Gonez, who represents Arleta High, said in a social media post.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security could not immediately be reached for comment.
Across Los Angeles Unified, parents, teachers and staff have expressed deep fears about school safety amid immigration raids. Citywide, leaders are concerned that children whose parents are living in the country without legal status will be kept home as families grapple with the climate of fear.
L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho spoke Monday at a news conference near district headquarters, saying the district is doubling down on efforts to protect students and families by creating and expanding “safe zones” around campuses, before and after school, with the help of community workers, school police and local police departments.
Bass was not specific about what role the Los Angeles Police Department would play.
“The school police and the Los Angeles Police Department have a strong working relationship and will continue to share information as appropriate as needed,” Bass said. “But neither police departments assist with immigration enforcement and have not for many, many years. There will be adults in the community who will serve as eyes and ears on the street.”
At least two mayors from smaller cities pledged direct police assistance in patrolling areas around schools.
Although local police are not legally allowed to stop or interfere with federal law enforcement actions, authorities will alert parents along walking routes if agents are in the area. Also, they will trigger a communication chain to alert all nearby campuses of raids so that schools can take lockdown actions as necessary.
The public commitment was intended to reassure families that school will be a safe place and that officials also will do what they can to protect families on their way to and from campuses.
In a string of recent appearances, Carvalho has reviewed a list of measures taken by the nation’s second-largest school system.
These included home visits and calls in recent weeks to more than 10,000 families considered at risk of immigration enforcement or at risk of not coming to schools. The school system also is distributing family preparedness packets, “all the information in one single form, in a multitude of languages,” said Carvalho, with the goal of “explaining the rights of our children and their parents, but also providing easy access to the resources that we have available to all of them.”
The district also has created a “compassion fund” to provide general help for families, including legal assistance.
In addition to students from immigrant families, the school system also has more than 350 employees who are working legally but who could have their legal status revoked.
“They continue to be the valiant, productive workers they are with us,” Carvalho said last week.
The district is working to reroute buses to make transportation more accessible to families. For the most part, the busing system is used by students with disabilities — for whom transportation is legally required — and students attending magnet programs at campuses far from where they live.
But this could change when the parameter for riding a bus is safety. In this light, neighborhood proximity to bus stops matters a lot, because families can be exposed to immigration enforcement while traveling to and from a stop.
The buses themselves will be a considered an extension of the campus environment and federal agents will not be permitted to board them.
The Monday news conference took place at Roybal Learning Center, just west of downtown, which also is the headquarters of the L.A. Unified School Police Department, which is expected to have a role in monitoring immigration enforcement and potentially confronting it.
Others in attendance included members of the L.A. Board of Education as well as South Gate Mayor Maria Davila. West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers and Bell Mayor Mayor Ali Saleh.
Los Angeles Unified covers an area totaling 710 square miles, which includes most of the city of Los Angeles, along with all or portions of 25 cities and some unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. About 4.8 million people live within school-district boundaries.
Families and supporters of the Israelis held captive by Hamas sailed toward the Gaza coast to warn against a ground invasion of the strip. They tossed swim rings as a symbolic life saver for their loved ones, who they say would be hurt by a ground assault.
The families are demanding that military action not be taken in areas of Gaza where their relatives may be held.
Physical confrontations have taken place outside Israel’s Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv between security forces and family members of captives held in Gaza during a rally calling for their release, as the Israeli government appears on the verge of escalating its genocidal war to full occupation of the besieged enclave.
Protesters surrounding the Kirya, Israel’s central military headquarters, demanded on Wednesday that the Israeli government not go ahead with its plan, as they were pushed back by police.
“Time is running out – our loved ones can’t wait any longer,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement. “We either bring them home now, or we lose them for good. There are moments in history when we must stand up and do what’s right – this is that moment.”
The families of Israeli captives have intensified their criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent months amid large protests across the country, as the expanded military ground offensive and deadly bombardment in the Palestinian territory continue to put the release of their loved ones at risk.
Protesters, including the father of captive Guy Illouz, tried to force their way into the entrance of military headquarters as seen in this video verified by Al Jazeera.
שוטרים תוקפים באלימות מחוץ לשערי הקריה מפגינים למען שחרור החטופים
Translation: Police violently attack protesters outside the Kirya gates demonstrating for the release of the hostages.
An estimated 1,139 people were killed during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel, and more than 200 were taken captive. Some 50 captives remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. In Israel’s ensuing war on Gaza, at least 61,158 Palestinians have been killed and 151,442 wounded.
The families also addressed a message directly to Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Wednesday: “You know this war has run its course, and the only path to real victory is a single deal that brings everyone home.”
The local police chief requested that family members of captives speak to him, saying, “We understand your frustration.” He acknowledged they could protest, but asked that they leave the police alone.
Protesters were attempting to enter the headquarters, demanding that military action not be taken in areas where the captives are suspected to be located in Gaza.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Wednesday that Itzik Horn, the father of Israeli captive Eitan Horn, said the families of the captives being held in Gaza were against the expansion of the war on Gaza.
He reportedly questioned Netanyahu’s motives, as Israel’s defence establishment said an expansion would endanger the lives of the captives.
“I expect the prime minister to speak to the public, to explain the implications of this idea to the country and the price we’ll pay,” Itzik Horn said, according to Haaretz. “We are the people. I want the prime minister to explain why he wants to kill my son.”
Meanwhile, there were minor clashes at the anti-war demonstration organised by Standing Together, the largest Arab-Israeli grassroots movement in Israel, in the Gaza Envelope, situated 7km (4.3 miles) from the Gaza border. A protester was arrested and flour was scattered on the police from the display brought by the protesters.
An earlier video recorded from the Yad Mordechai Junction, a kibbutz in southern Israel, showed Standing Together activists gathering to march to the Gaza border.
State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
War Widow’s Pension
Widowed Mother’s Allowance
Widowed Parent’s Allowance
Widow’s Pension
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or live together, you’ll both get the cash bonus – as long as you both are eligible.
If you or your partner do not get one of the above qualifying benefits, then they could still get the bonus if they are over the state pension age by the end of the qualifying week.
Winter Fuel payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is made every year to help cover the cost of energy over the colder months.
It has been changed in recent months so that fewer can claim.
However, the cash boost, worth up to £300, is still valuable for those who quality – particularly those on Pension Credit.
The cash is usually paid in November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.
If you haven’t got your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits.
Households eligible for the payment are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.
If you think you meet the criteria, but don’t automatically get the winter fuel payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.
The Child Winter Heating Assistance
If you’re based in Scotland, you could receive a child winter heating assistance payment of £255.80.
You get child winter heating payment for a child or young person under 19 who lives in Scotland and who is entitled to:
the highest rate of the care component of child disability payment (CDP) or disability living allowance (DLA), or
the enhanced rate of the daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) or personal independence payment (PIP).
They must be entitled to the relevant disability benefit during the ‘qualifying week’, which is the week beginning on the third Monday in September (w/c Septmber 15 in 2025).
You do not have to make a claim for the payment, but it should be paid by Social Security Scotland, usually in November.
If you think you’re entitled but have not received payment by the end of December, you should contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is an automatic £150 discount off energy bills.
As the money is a discount, there is no money paid to you, but you’ll get the payment automatically if your electricity supplier is part of the scheme and you qualify.
You’ll have to be in receipt of one of the following benefits to qualify for one of the payments:
If you don’t claim any of the above benefits, you won’t be eligible for the payment.
Cold Weather payment
Cold weather payments are dished out when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days between November 1 and March 31.
Eligible Brits are then given extra money to help heat their homes.
You get £25 for each seven-day period where the weather is below zero Celsius on average during this time frame.
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government’s tool on its website.
You’ll need to be on certain benefits to qualify, which are:
Student maintenance loans are paid to university students to help cover living costs such as rent.
They are usually paid at the start of each new term, so you typically receive three payments a year.
Maintenance Loans are paid straight into your student bank account in three (almost) equal instalments throughout the year.
The amount you will receive depends on where in the UK you’re from, whether you’ll be living at home or not, your household income and how long you’re studying for.
The average Maintenance Loan is approximately £6,116 a year.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
A mum of two tried out the UK’s biggest outdoor waterpark, and she was seriously impressed with what she found, calling it ‘the perfect family day out’ for her brood
Splashdown Quaywest is a “perfect family day out”(Image: Frank P Matthews Trees)
The summer holidays are stretching ahead of us, and for parents across the UK prospect of keeping the kids entertained whilst they are off school can sometimes be pretty daunting.
Many families throughout the country are working to pretty tight budgets, so parents are often on the lookout for days out that won’t break the bank.
If you’re looking for a day out to remember with the whole family, then one mum-of-two has recommended paying the UK’s biggest waterpark a visit this summer – which promises fun for every age group.
Perched right by the stunning beach, Goodrington Sands, Splashdown Quaywest is a jewel in Devon’s crown as the largest outdoor waterpark in the country.
Mum of two, Chloe Sweet, posted about her family’s day out to the waterpark on her TikTok account, which boasts 113,000 followers.
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She was seriously impressed with the range of what the waterpark offered, with something to keep children of every age entertained.
“There’s 18 waterslides in total,” Chloe explained in her video, “If you’re into that adrenaline buzz, it’s got some serious fast flumes for older children and adults, you’ve got the slides such as the devil’s drop, the screamer, Kamikaze, and much more that will test [your] nerves”.
Chloe Sweet was seriously impressed with the waterpark(Image: Frank P Matthews Trees)
However, the facilities and slides for younger children and toddlers left Chloe really impressed, with one area a major perk for young families.
“They have a dedicated section called Shipwreck Island, which is amazing for toddlers and little ones. There’s seven slides in this section, and it’s just the right height for toddlers.
“The water is all shallow, so you don’t have to stress, it’s like a big massive splash zone.”
Chloe added, “They have water sprinkling out all over and, of course, the big massive tipping bucket that soaks everyone every couple of minutes, the kids absolutely enjoyed themselves”.
The mum of two explained the different tickets you can get for the waterpark, which include two, three, and four-hour slots, as well as entire day passes.
The waterpark warns on their website that you cannot get tickets on the door for this attraction, so anyone interested in spending a day out there has to make sure they have booked their slot ahead.
From daredevil rides to a toddler area, there is fun for all the family(Image: Frank P Matthews Trees)
Chloe added that there were good food offerings available at the waterpark, including things like burgers, but that her family opted to bring packed lunches – and there was plenty of space for them to enjoy their little picnic.
There’s also an ice cream stand, which families will definitely make the most of during a hot summer’s day, and Chloe advised that if you are planning on booking a two or three-hour slot, you should make the most of the day out by spending time at the beach next door as well.
She called Splashdown Quaywest the “perfect family day out,” and people in the comments seemed keen to try it out, with many asking for further details, and one user writing: “That’s awesome, looks like it’s abroad.” and another commenting: “Went Monday…I love it’.
Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon – Fatima Kandeel, 43, and her two sons moved into a new rented apartment in the southern suburbs of Beirut in March.
They had been staying with her sister Aida nearby for four months after a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had stopped the worst, but not all, of Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, and it felt good to have their own place.
In their barely furnished living room in Laylake, Dahiyeh, with only two armchairs and a shisha pipe between them, the walls make clear where the family stands.
A framed photo of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah hangs beside a martyr’s portrait of Fatima’s 21-year-old nephew, a Hezbollah fighter killed in an Israeli air strike in Jnoub in October.
In the rubble, scraps of home
When the war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah declared its support for Palestine and escalated tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border for about a year until Israel invaded and launched full-scale war.
The suburbs of Dahiyeh have been repeatedly targeted in Israeli strikes as it is widely recognised as a Hezbollah stronghold.
The family’s previous home in Dahiyeh’s Hay el-Selom, a 10-minute walk from Laylake, was destroyed by an Israeli air strike in October.
Yet Fatima was warm and hopeful in early June, her hazel eyes still smiling from below her hijab while recounting the pain of loss, displacement and hardship.
Energetic and confident, she spoke expressively, using her hands as if she were on stage.
Like many Lebanese hosts, she offered drinks and an invitation for lunch while chatting about what it was like to feel under attack in Dahiyeh and whether that changed her relationship with her neighbourhood.
After her family’s home was destroyed and they fled to Aida’s, Fatima said, her sons, 24-year-old Hassan and 20-year-old Hussein, managed to salvage two wardrobes and a bed from the rubble along with other scraps from their lives there.
Proud of that small victory, Fatima flung open the bedroom doors to show off the two wardrobes restored to the point where it would be hard to guess they had been in a bombing. The rescued bed is used by one of her sons after getting new slats and a new lease on life.
“These are the most important pieces of furniture in the house,” she said, gently running her hand over one of the damaged surfaces.
Fatima Kandeel stands in front of a salvaged wardrobe, holding a bag of items her sons salvaged from the rubble of their home in Hay el-Selom, which Israel destroyed. She pulls out a stuffed toy that her son Hassan used to play with [Joao Sousa/Al Jazeera]
“They’re historical [because they survived]. I was so happy we got them back.”
Hassan and Hussein found more in the rubble of their home: a stuffed toy that Hassan used to play with and a few of the books from their mother’s library.
As she spoke, Fatima held the stuffed toy in her hands, smiling and looking at it. Hussein was quietly observing his mother as she shared her thoughts.
“He used to sleep with it beside him every night,” Fatima recalled. “I couldn’t save much from their childhood after my divorce, but I kept this, and now it survived the war too.”
In her bedroom, a small table holds a stack of books about history, religion and culture – a fragment of what she once owned.
Scars, visible and invisible
From the living room balcony, the scars of war are visible. The top floors of a neighbouring building have been destroyed, the lower floors still standing – a daily reminder of what was lost.
Yet Fatima holds Dahiyeh dear and is determined to stay.
“I love the people here,” she said. “Everyone is kind. … Dahiyeh is home.”
Hussein agreed that he feels most at home in Dahiyeh with its strong sense of community and friends and neighbours all around.
During the war, he struggled emotionally, constantly stressed and getting into fights. He has seen two therapists but hasn’t felt much improvement.
Unlike his mother, Hussein is open to the idea of leaving Dahiyeh, but he pointed out practicalities – rents and the overall cost of living outside Dahiyeh are much higher if they could find a place to rent.
And, he said, they could face sectarian discrimination if they relocate.
The family had to leave Dahiyeh briefly during Israel’s war on Lebanon and sought shelter in the nearby coastal Beirut suburb of Jnah. Fatima still carries a painful memory from that time.
A Jnah grocery store owner snidely remarked: “Look at those trashy Shia people,” as he looked at newly arrived families dressed in the slippers and pyjamas they fled in.
The comment left a scar, and she refuses to leave Dahiyeh again.
“If war comes again, what do you teach the next generation?” she asked. “That it’s OK to give up your home? Or that you stand your ground?”
A street in Hay El Selom is decorated with posters of Hezbollah martyrs, including late leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Fatima and her sons lived there until their home was destroyed by Israel [João Sousa/Al Jazeera]
‘If it were just me, I’d stay’
While Fatima has chosen to stay in Dahiyeh, her 55-year-old sister, Iman, wants to leave.
Iman lives with her husband, Ali, a plastering foreman, and their four children: Hassan, 25, a programmer; Fatima, 19, a university student; and 16-year-old twins Mariam and Marwa, both in school.
All the children still share a single bedroom in their modest but light and joyful home.
The living room was full of laughter as Iman sat with Mariam and Hassan, passing around chocolate and juice while cousins chatted in the background.
There was teasing as they shared memories of fear, displacement and resilience.
Dahiyeh has never been entirely safe. Its history has been shaped by the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War and Israeli assaults, including the devastating 2006 war.
It’s a cycle, Iman said – another war, another wave of fear and displacement. During Israel’s most recent war on Lebanon, the family fled multiple times.
They first went to Kayfoun village in the Mount Lebanon governorate in late September, but tensions there were high, and a local man spread rumours of imminent Israeli strikes, trying to scare displaced families away.
They left Kayfoun after a week and fled to Tripoli in the north, where life was quieter and the presence of nearby relatives offered some comfort, but mistrust lingered.
Iman was often judged by her hijab, which marked her as “resistance-aligned” to people who blamed Hezbollah for Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
“We all became introverts,” Hassan recalled. “We stayed home most of the time, but we had relatives nearby and met some good friends. We’d sit together, play cards. It helped.”
In early October, they followed friends to Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, where they were welcomed warmly – more warmly, they said, than in parts of Lebanon.
After the ceasefire, they returned. “There’s no place better than our country,” Iman insisted, but Dahiyeh does not feel safe to her any more despite her deep ties to the neighbourhood, so she is searching for a new home – anywhere that’s safer.
“If it were just me, I’d stay,” she said. “But I have kids. I have to protect them.”
‘They don’t rent to Shia families’
Iman’s son Hassan recalls the first time Israel bombed near their apartment – on April 1 in breach of the November ceasefire.
“I just wanted out,” he said. “I don’t care where we go. Just somewhere that isn’t a target.”
Iman Kandeel in her living room. From left: Her son Hassan, the author, Iman, Iman’s daughter Mariam, Iman’s nephew Hassan and Fatima’s son Hussein, in Hadath, Beirut, a home they are contemplating leaving [Joao Sousa/Al Jazeera]
But finding a new place to rent is far from simple.
They considered moving to Hazmieh. It is close to Dahiyeh but not part of it, making it relatively safer. And it would be closer to Iman’s sister Mariam, who lives there.
But Iman said: “In Hazmieh, most of them don’t rent to Shia families, or they would double the price.”
Despite the mounting fear, the family does not want to leave Lebanon, and Hassan has turned down a job offer abroad. They’re exhausted, they said, but not ready to abandon their country.
Even in the midst of war, Hassan said, his parents did not want to leave Dahiyeh. He had to work on convincing them to go first to Kayfoun, then eventually Iraq.
It was the same after the ceasefire with long discussions about whether to leave, and it was his mother’s fear for her children that made her eventually agree.
But more than a month after they spoke to Al Jazeera in early June, they’re still searching for a place that will take them and that they can afford.
Turkey’s Marmaris has been named the cheapest short-haul holiday destination for UK families, according to Post Office Travel Money, which ranked Sunny Beach in Bulgaria in the second spot
Milo Boyd Digital Travel Reporter and Neil Lancefield PA Transport Correspondent
10:50, 21 Jul 2025
Marmaris has been named the cheapest short-haul destination
Turkey’s Marmaris has been crowned the most affordable short-haul holiday destination for UK families.
The coastal resort boasts the lowest costs among 16 popular locations for a selection of 10 tourist essentials, according to Post Office Travel Money. This featured merely £67.67 for a three-course meal for two adults and two children with wine and soft drinks.
Additional bargain prices included 16p for a 1.5-litre bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, £1.81 for a bottle or can of cola at a cafe or bar, and £2.61 for insect repellent. Post Office Travel Money explained the bargain rates for UK holidaymakers are partially attributed to a dramatic decline in the Turkish lira’s value.
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, emerged as the second most economical destination, whilst Portugal’s Algarve claimed third place.
The Turkish resort has long been a budget favourite (Image: Getty Images)
Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, said: “The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency’s collapse.
“Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around 10% more than a year ago, and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.”
The complete cost for the selection of items at Marmaris (£128.99) stood at nearly half the expense when compared with the priciest destination examined, Spain’s Ibiza (£242.79). Costs for British holidaymakers have increased in 13 out of the 16 destinations surveyed.
Ms Plunkett explained: “We found big price variations in the destinations surveyed, particularly comparing those in the eurozone. For example, prices in the Algarve are almost £100 lower for the same 10 items surveyed than in Ibiza.
“This makes it vitally important for holidaymakers to do their homework and take enough travel money to cover costs in the resort they are visiting.”
The Mirror’s data team recently put together an interactive map showing the most bargain and biggest rip-off destinations in the world. Click here to check it out.
It’s the biggest question that’s been asked over and over again about the night of Nov. 13, 2022, when four University of Idaho students — Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves — were brutally stabbed to death in their off-campus house in the college town of Moscow, Idaho: Why?
With no apparent motive or clue as to who could have committed such a heinous crime, Moscow became the epicenter of an intense investigation and a social media storm that Prime Video’s “One Night in Idaho: The College Murders” delves into over four episodes dropping on Friday.
Liz Garbus (“Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer”) and Matthew Galkin (“Murder in the Bayou”) share directing and executive producing duties on the docuseries, which is based on reporting by author James Patterson and investigative journalist Vicky Ward, and they knew early on what angle their production would take. “We decided that a very interesting and unexplored angle was to see what it was like inside the eye of the hurricane,” Galkin says. “So, for the people, the family members, the friends of the victims that had not ever spoken to the media, that was where we chose to focus our energies as far as access is concerned.”
That included exclusive interviews with Stacy and Jim Chapin, parents of 20-year-old Ethan, and Karen and Scott Laramie, parents of 21-year-old Mogen, who have never talked about the murders — despite numerous projects on the subject — and how it ripped apart not only the town of Moscow but their respective families.
Garbus and Galkin talked with The Times about how they gained the families’ trust, how social media affected the case, and the recent twists and turns that happened just before the series was set to air. For one, on July 2, primary suspect Bryan Kohberger, a former criminal justice doctoral student who was arrested six weeks after the murders, entered a plea agreement with a full confession of the murders — done to avoid the death penalty — just weeks before his trial was set to begin. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
What were the origins of your involvement in the production and with crime novelist James Patterson?
Matthew Galkin: This was a story that I started tracking, obviously, when it happened, which was mid-November of 2022, and I didn’t make any outreach to any key people within the story, any of the families, until it was almost spring of 2023. We were tracking it to see how it developed once they made an arrest and once we could see the contours of the story and that things like social media played a major part in the energy created around this story.
Liz Garbus: Concurrently, as Matthew was laying the foundation for this by reaching out and trying to see where the families were on this story, I got outreach from James Patterson’s company about their interest in collaborating on a project around this case. That was quite fortuitous, and we laid some of those building blocks together and shared access and research. The film was made by its filmmakers, and the book [“The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy” by Patterson and Ward, which is being released on July 14] was reported by its writers, so they were operating on parallel tracks. We were able to support and help each other, but, truly, Matthew’s original outreach to the Chapin family is what laid the building blocks for this show and is really the bedrock of it.
Matthew Galkin, co-director of Prime Video’s “One Night in Idaho: The College Murders.”
(Matthew Galkin)
How was the gag order for law enforcement and other key people close to the case a challenge in telling your story?
Galkin: In this particular story, there was a probable cause affidavit that was filed in early January of ’23, which really laid out, up to that point, what investigative details existed in order to bring law enforcement toward the suspect and ultimately make the arrest. So we were able, at the very least, to tell that story through the details we learned through the probable cause affidavit.
It’s always a challenge if you don’t have all of the participating members of a story to try to tell the complete story. But in my past work, we tended to pick projects that are victim-centric more than law enforcement-centric. I’ve had experience telling stories through that perspective, so in a lot of ways, the limited access that we had actually lined up with the story we were trying to tell anyway.
Garbus: Even on “Gone Girls,” which was a show I made recently for Netflix, those murders were 10, 20, 30 years old. There were no gag orders, but there were certain people who didn’t want to talk for their own reasons, so sometimes, as documentary filmmakers, you have to pick a lane. What are you bringing to the story? What point of view can you fully express? And we clearly had that lane here.
And when you have that lane so clear early on, does that actually help get people to talk to you, especially those who hadn’t spoken to anyone before?
Galkin: I flew out to Washington state, and the first contact I made was to Jim and Stacy Chapin, who are the parents of Ethan, Hunter and Maizie. I convinced them to let me take them to lunch and just talk through what our vision of how to tell the story would be. I was probably the 50th in line to try to make a documentary project about it. They’ve been inundated at that point, and it was probably five or six months of journalists, documentary filmmakers [and] podcasters just coming out of the woodwork.
I know for a fact they looked at Liz’s track record, they looked at my track record, and I think they felt comfortable in the fact that if we were going to do crime stories, they were not usually from the killer’s point of view or even from law enforcement point of view. It’s usually from family or victim, so I think that gave them some comfort to know that they would have real input in how Ethan’s story was told. They liked the idea of picking one project to really go deep on and be able to help put Ethan’s narrative out to the world through their own voice, as opposed to other people who didn’t know Ethan telling it.
Maizie and Hunter Chapin were Ethan’s siblings. Both were interviewed for the documentary along with their parents.(Courtesy of Prime Video)
Did you know early on that social media would play such a big part in the case?
Galkin: It was actually the two main topics of conversation. My first conversation with the Chapins was our vision of how we were going to tell the story and also their experience dealing with the insane noise and pressures of social media sleuths and people reaching out, going into their DMs, creating theories about their children, about them, about their children’s friends — just the insanity. Obviously, there have been crime stories that deal with social media, but I have never experienced something of this magnitude with this much social media attention.
Garbus: Social media has become much of the atmosphere in the telling and digestion of crimes in the American public’s imagination of them. In some cases, it can be helpful, like the case of the Long Island serial killer, where the victims were not commanding national interest, and social media and advocates can play a huge role. Then there are other times in which the voracious appetites can overtake the story.
In your series, you don’t spend a lot of time dissecting all the gruesome details of the murders. Was that due to the law enforcement gag order?
Galkin: Maybe a little, but it was also a choice of ours. There are many other projects, documentary series or news specials about this case that go into all of the really horrific details of what happened in that house. It was a conversation from the beginning of how do we present this so it’s factual. We’re not necessarily avoiding things, but we didn’t feel like there was a reason to linger on those details because there were other aspects of the story that were of more interest to us.
Garbus: When you’re with these families and you experience the grief and trauma through them, that’s kind of what you need to know. The ways in which the ripple effect of the trauma has affected this entire friend group and all of these young people, that speaks volumes to what happened that day and we wanted to experience it through them.
Given the recent developments with Kohberger’s plea deal, did you change the tag at the end of your show?
Garbus: Thanks to some great postproduction supervisors and assistants, we will be updating the end card to have viewers be up to date with the plea.
Matthew Galkin and director of photography Jeff Hutchens on set of the re-created King Road house, where the murders occurred, in “One Night in Idaho: The College Murders.”
(Matthew Galkin)
In the latter half of the series, there’s talk about Kohberger and the notion of him being an incel, or involuntary celibate [where a person, usually male, is frustrated by a lack of sexual experiences]. How did that help understand a potential motive in the murders?
Garbus: That was something that was very interesting to us right at the beginning: Why were these young women targeted? We may never know with this plea deal now and it may remain a mystery, but there were signs, for sure, about involvement in that culture for us to explore that angle. As families watch this and they’re sitting with their sons and wondering what they might be doing online, this is the kind of conversation that people need to be having about the media, the infiltration of messages that young men receive today and it’s only getting more extreme in this moment.
Was four episodes always the amount to tell this story? Obviously, the case is still unfolding with Kohberger’s plea agreement. Could a sequel happen?
Galkin: Four episodes felt like the right amount of space to tell the story that we told. Obviously, there are still chapters unfolding, and if there is an appetite to continue to tell this story with our subjects and all of our partners, then certainly I think we’d be open to doing that. But we feel like we told a complete story here … every episode offers a pivot as to the perspectives that we’re seeing this case through, and every episode has a different lens.
Garbus: Clearly, our filmmaking stops at a certain point. You’ve had this plea deal, and the gag order will be lifted, so it is a capsule of time of what the families knew and understood since this tragedy happened up until a couple of months ago. We will see over the next weeks and months how much more we will learn, but it is a fragment of experience very much rooted in time.
Since there is so much interest in this case with many podcasts, documentaries and news stories out there, do you worry about that at all?
Garbus: In some ways you don’t think about it, but at the same time, when you’re setting off to make a project like this, you want to make sure you are saying something unique. We’re going to spend X number of years of our lives on this, and you want to make sure you’re adding something new to the discourse on the case. And, of course, it matters to us that this is the place where the Chapins and the Laramies will tell their story and that we are able to take care of it for them and the friends in the way that we intended. It matters just in that you want to make sure you have a lane that’s needed in the discourse and I think in this case we felt very clearly that we did.
Galkin: We knew from Day 1, given the access that we had, that our series would be unique to anything else on the market, because these are people that have never told their story before, and the way we were planning on doing it, which was truly from the inside, without any sort of outsider voices. So that was not an anxiety for us.
Lowestoft is a popular UK seaside town that is further east than anywhere else in England – it boasts sandy beaches, a pier, sand dunes and a zoo on it’s doorstep
Lowestoft beach lined with colourful beach huts(Image: Getty)
Labelled ‘the most unsung location in Suffolk’, the coastal gem of Lowestoft boasts the easternmost point in England. Not only does it feature a classic pier, sand dunes and even a zoo nearby, it’s an unmissable spot.
Frequently gracing rankings for top seaside destinations, Lowestoft’s breathtaking sunrises might just be one of its standout lures. The award-winning South Beach, also known as Victoria Beach, has repeatedly earned the Blue Flag for its outstanding environmental quality and pristine waters.
Railway enthusiasts can delve into history at the East Anglia Transport Museum or broaden their maritime knowledge at the Lowestoft & East Suffolk Maritime Museum.
With a plethora of sights and activities, Lowestoft is a family favourite – whether you tire of the stunning seafront views and venture to Pleasurewood Hills theme park or enjoy an evening with the esteemed Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the local theatre.
Why not savor a pint of the region’s Adnams beer at the highly regarded Jolly Sailors or Spring Tide pubs? The accolades are abundant, with both pubs amassing approximately 2,000 reviews celebrating their hearty fare and vibrant vibes, reports the Express.
Sunrise over Lowestoft’s Claremont Pier(Image: David Powley / 500px via Getty Images)
Tourists often express their fondness for the town, enjoying strolls along the pier, observing the boats, and exploring the promenade.
Nonetheless, not every visitor has been equally enthralled. One disappointed tourist described their experience as “Shocking. Dirty. Grim”, highlighting the prevalence of youngsters on the streets and inebriated individuals occupying doorways.
Alas, it seems that Lowestoft isn’t immune to the less favourable stereotypes typically associated with port towns. Like numerous town centres, Lowestoft has seen better days, with shop closures and a dip in social buzz leaving it feeling somewhat neglected.
The term “ghost town” has been bandied about by some, yet they still commend its stunning beachfront.
There’s a consensus that the area holds promise as an attractive spot, and fingers are crossed that ongoing refurbishments will breathe new life into it.
Serial con-artist Samantha Cookes assumed multiple identities and made up wild stories. BBC’s documentary tonight sheds a light on the true crime case
06:00, 08 Jul 2025Updated 06:07, 08 Jul 2025
Fraudster Samantha Cookes has been dubbed ‘Bad Nanny’(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/ Alleycats TV)
Like an evil Mary Poppins, serial con-artist Samantha Cookes posed as a nanny and scammed families with disabled children – even taking their money for a fake trip to Lapland. Gripping two-parter Bad Nanny (Tues 8th July, BBC1, 10.45pm) rakes over all the shocking details of this true crime case, that saw Cookes assume multiple identities, including a child therapist, an arts teacher and a surrogate mother, to con families in the UK and Ireland between 2011 and 2024.
She even posed on TikTok as Carrie Jade Williams, a terminally ill woman and disability activist, winning the sympathy and support of thousands. But when one of her posts went viral, some followers became suspicious and began to dig, discovering her real name was Samantha Cookes, a fraud with multiple aliases and a troubling history.
Speaking for the first time, Katie and Luke in North Yorkshire describe how she posed as a surrogate mother, defrauding them of their savings.
Katie and Luke Taylor were scammed(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/ Alleycats TV)
Mother-of-three Layla describes how she believed she was hiring ‘Lucy Hart’, a Mary Poppins-like au pair at their home in County Offaly. When Layla became suspicious, ‘Lucy’ vanished, leaving an ominous note that left Layla fearing for her children. And Dublin mums Lorraine and Lynn reveal how they hired ‘Lucy Fitzwilliams’ as a child therapist for their disabled children, eventually handed over desposits for a fake trip to Lapland. ‘Lucy’ also told wild stories, pretending she was the 3M company heiress and was set to marry a pastor. Lorraine says: “She took advantage of people’s trust and their emotions and vulnerability.”
Bad Nanny is airing on BBC One tonight at 10.45pm
There’s plenty more on TV tonight – here’s the best of the rest…
TRAINWRECK: THE REAL PROJECT X,NETFLIX
The Trainwreck documentary series revisits headline-making events that went terribly wrong. This latest instalment recounts what happened when a teen’s birthday invite accidentally went viral on Facebook, leading to a full-blown riot. In 2012, a teenage girl in the small Netherlands town of Haren created a Facebook event for her sixteenth birthday party, but made the page public instead of private.
Inspired by a love of the Hollywood movie Project X, which saw three high school seniors throw a party that spiralled out of control, Dutch teenagers made the event go viral, and soon thousands of people had RSVP’d. Despite warnings, police and local authorities didn’t seem to think that anyone would turn up, so no provisions were made to entertain the 3,000 young people who arrived in Haren. Before long the quiet Dutch town became host to a night of drunken chaos, the birthday girl fled her home and riot police were deployed. If it wasn’t true, you’d never believe it…
SHARKS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY,NAT GEO WILD, 8pm
Wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory is a braver man than most as he gets extremely up close to some scary-looking sharks. Arriving on the coast of South Africa, he says: “I have dived with a lot of sharks around the world, but I have never seen the most famous and the most feared – the Great White. I’m going to try something that my mum really doesn’t want me to do. I’m going to dive with a Great White Shark without a cage.”
There is only one place where this is possible, thanks to its shallow waters, which prevent sharks from attacking from below, and clear visibility, which allows the team to see the predators coming. It still doesn’t feel completely reassuring. Bertie works alongside local shark spotters, a community-led initiative developed in response to past fatal shark attacks. Their shared mission is to explore how humans and Great White sharks might coexist in these waters. With a cage, I’d suggest…
A YORKSHIRE FARM,5, 7pm
As a new series kicks off, farmers Rob and Dave Nicholson pick sloes from their farm hedgerows before turning them into artisanal chocolate. JB Gill takes a trip to the rolling hills of Wales, visiting a farmer who is reaping the rewards from a rather unusual diversification – he’s making medicine from daffodils. And on his farm in the Cotswolds, Adam Henson works hard looking after his native pigs, which are some of the rarest breeds in the UK.
EMMERDALE,ITV1, 7.30pm
Joe is fearful as the harassment campaign against him continues with an envelope containing a blackmail demand for £100,000 being placed in the Home Farm kitchen. Unsure of who else to trust, Joe shows the blackmail demand to Sam, but he’s none-the-wiser. When Ross confronts Robert about the missing weed, Robert threatens to cancel the land deal with Moira, forcing Ross to back down. Forced to take Gabby’s car to Kammy at the garage, Vinny faces unavoidable questions about his sexuality.
Authorities in the Adamawa Region of Cameroon have called for vigilance and better urban planning to avoid future disasters following the death of four persons and the displacement of families after heavy torrential rains and floods.
Local sources told HumAngle that the heavy rainfall in Ngaoundere, the regional capital, and surrounding areas caused significant damage and forced numerous families to leave. “The floods have seriously impacted the usage of several roads in the region, and many of the roads are out of use. Several schools and markets have been closed down, and access to most areas is now impossible without assistance,” a civil society activist in Ngaoundere said.
For several days, the rainfall in Ngaoundere, the region’s main town, led to a rapid rise in water levels from a nearby lake. This surge damaged infrastructure and left residents stranded, as Valeri Norbert Kuela, the prefect of the Vina division in the area, reported.
A civil engineering expert, who examined the ravaged location, stated that the profundity of the damage shows that the way houses are constructed here is not structured. The engineer warned that something has to be done by strictly vetting building plans before approval is given for construction.
“The large number of houses which easily collapsed without much effort is evidence of the veracity of accusations that have always been levied against Council authorities, that very little real control is carried out before and during the construction of houses in the city,” he said. “I hope these deaths and damage to several houses would teach the council authorities to do their work better.”
Several displaced individuals who spoke with HumAngle revealed that bribing construction verifiers to overlook standard building regulations was harmful to them.
“Where do I start from now at my age? How long would I have to stay in someone else’s uncompleted building with my children and grandchildren? Sometimes, being ‘smart’ can be a sort of stupidity,” one local, an octogenarian, cried out. “I thought I was smart by bribing council control staff to look the other way while I bent the construction rules. Look at where I find myself today.”
Authorities in the Adamawa Region of Cameroon are urging better urban planning following destructive floods in Ngaoundere that resulted in four deaths and numerous displacements. The heavy rains have damaged infrastructure and disrupted daily life, with roads, schools, and markets affected.
Concerns have been raised about the region’s weak construction standards, with experts highlighting the lack of rigorous oversight by council authorities during building processes. Some residents admitted to bribing officials to bypass regulations, which they now regret after suffering losses when their hastily constructed homes collapsed.
At least 50 Palestinian families from a Bedouin community in the occupied West Bank have fled their homes, following repeated assaults and harassment from Israeli settlers under the protection of Israeli forces, according to media reports and a local rights group.
Thirty Palestinian families were forcibly displaced on Friday morning from the Arab Mleihat Bedouin community, northwest of Jericho, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, while 20 others were displaced on Thursday.
Before the forced displacement, the community was home to 85 families, numbering about 500 people.
A Palestinian rights group, the Al-Baidar Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, said the families were forced to leave after years trying to defend themselves “without any support”. Attacks by Israeli forces and Israelis from illegal settlements have surged across the occupied West Bank since Israel’s war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023.
Alia Mleihat told Wafa that her family was forced to flee to the Aqbat Jabr refugee camp, south of Jericho, after armed settlers threatened her and other families at gunpoint.
Separately, Mahmoud Mleihat, a 50-year-old father of seven from the community, told the Reuters news agency that they could not take it any more, so they decided to leave.
“The settlers are armed and attack us, and the [Israeli] military protects them. We can’t do anything to stop them,” he said.
Hassan Mleihat, director of the Al-Baidar Organization, said families in the community began dismantling their tents, following sustained provocation and attacks by Israeli settlers and the army.
Footage posted on social media and verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad agency showed trucks loaded with possessions driving away from the area at night.
Hassan told Wafa that the attacks also threatened to erase the community, and “open the way for illegal colonial expansion”.
‘We want to protect our children’
Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has documented repeated acts of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in Mu’arrajat, near Jericho, where the Mleihat tribe lives.
In 2024, settlers armed with clubs stormed a Palestinian school, while in 2023, armed settlers blocked the path of vehicles carrying Palestinians, with some firing into the air and others hurling stones at the vehicles.
“We want to protect our children, and we’ve decided to leave,” Mahmoud said, describing it as a great injustice.
He had lived in the community since he was 10, Mahmoud said.
Alia Mleihat told Reuters the Bedouin community, which had lived there for 40 years, would now be scattered across different parts of the Jordan Valley, including nearby Jericho.
“People are demolishing their own homes with their own hands, leaving this village they’ve lived in for decades, the place where their dreams were built,” she said, describing the forced displacement of 30 families as a “new Nakba”.
The Nakba, meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes during 1948 at the birth of the state of Israel.
Israel’s military has not yet commented on the settler harassment faced by the Bedouin families or about the families leaving their community.
Asked about violence in the occupied West Bank, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters on Monday that any acts of violence by civilians were unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.
Activists say Israeli settlement expansion has accelerated in recent years, displacing Palestinians, who have remained on their land under military occupation since Israel captured the occupied West Bank in the 1967 war.
Most countries consider Israeli settlements illegal and a violation of the Geneva Conventions, which ban settling civilians on occupied land.
Outdoor holiday specialist Eurocamp is offering five families the dream job of becoming official ‘Pool Testers,’ a role that requires them to try out its newest pools, waterslides, and aquatic areas this summer
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Eurocamp is looking for some swimming pool testers
You could escape the sweltering heat and cool off in some of the finest pools Europe has to offer.
Outdoor holiday specialist Eurocamp is offering five families the dream job of becoming official ‘Pool Testers,’ a role that requires them to try out its newest pools, waterslides, and aquatic areas this summer.
Families who are visiting one of five parks with new aquatic areas opening in 2025—Lac des Vieilles Forges, Le Domaine du Clarys, Saint Avit Loisirs, Rivages des Landes, or Le Port de Plaisance—can apply for the role, which involves reviewing the new pools and waterslides on camera.
The opportunity offers five lucky families from the UK and Ireland a chance to be among the first to try Eurocamp’s newest aquatic experiences, with successful applicants receiving €100 holiday spending money per day, up to a total of €700 per family, to enjoy during their stay.
The travel company is looking for five swimming pool testers
Ross Matthews, chief marketing officer at Eurocamp, said: “Our pools and aquatic areas are something customers look forward to and remember most about a Eurocamp holiday, so who better to test them out?
“For the first time ever, we’re looking for five families with kids of all ages to review our newest additions and share with the world what they think. Their feedback will also help to inform the future development of waterparks across our catalogue for 2026 and beyond.
“All they’ll need to do is jump in and report back on the pools and waterslides at those parks, like the new shallow sprayground at Le Domaine du Clarys or the thrilling new slides at Le Port de Plaisance. As well as being confident in the water, they’ll need to be confident both in front of and behind the camera too—we’ll be sharing their reports across our social media channels and online to show other Eurocamp customers what they can expect.”
Holidaymakers can apply by submitting a short video (no longer than two minutes) to Eurocamp’s website, where they can find hints and tips for a successful application video, such as explaining why their family fits the bill, illustrating enthusiasm for their upcoming Eurocamp holiday, and showing how comfortable they are in front of the camera.
Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, 6 July 2025, and will be reviewed by a panel of internal Eurocamp experts. The successful Pool Testers will be notified by midnight on 11 July 2025.
If you want, I can help make it more concise or more engaging too!
Eurocamp parks with new aquatic areas opening in 2025:
Lac des Vieilles Forges, Ardennes, France
Le Domaine du Clarys – Le Clarys Plage, Vendée, France
June 28 (UPI) — Friends and family members of people detained in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are raising concerns over conditions inside detention centers in California.
One family member reported not being able to meet with his father who is being held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles and instead having to leave blood pressure medication for him, CBS News reported.
CBS also quoted one immigration lawyer who collectively referred to the Los Angeles facility and others in California being used to detain thousands of people as a “ticking time bomb.”
Other family members report similar conditions faced by detainees.
“She’s saying that she’s not being fed, that she’s sleeping on a concrete floor and that her and a couple of people have to huddle in order to keep warm,” Zulma Zapeta told KTLA in an interview about her mother.
Zapeta’s 41-year-old mother Guadalupe Gutierrez, has been detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County, Calif.
Zapeta claims she has not been able to provide necessary medication to Gutierrez, who has been in the United States for over two decades and does not have a criminal record.
Civil rights attorney Sergio Perez called the situation inside several of the state’s federal detention centers “cruel and inhumane,” in an interview with KABC-TV.
“I saw people waiting for hours, elderly women and men without chairs in a concrete hallway infested with flies, and not receiving any information as to how long it was going to take to view their loved ones,” Perez, executive director for the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, said in the interview.
“This year alone, the number of children held for two weeks or longer, as this child and their family was, has increased sevenfold,” the center said on Facebook. “Border Patrol runs some of the harshest and cruelest prisons that will never be safe for children — making every day spent there dangerous.”
Officials are currently holding around 59,000 immigrants in federal detention centers across the country, CBS News reported this week, citing internal government data.
That puts the number of detainees being held at 140% capacity, compared to the 41,500-person figure passed by Congress.
Earlier this month, the city of Glendale, Calif., said it was terminating contracts with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to house federal detainees at local police stations, calling the issue too “divisive.”
Private prison firm CoreCivic confirmed earlier in the month that it reached a deal with DHS and ICE to convert one of its facilities to house federal detainees. The Nashville-based company is converting its existing detention facility located in California City, in Kern County, Calif. The detention center currently has 2,560 beds for inmates.
Johannesburg, South Africa – On the night of June 27, 1985 in South Africa, four Black men were travelling together in a car from the southeastern city of Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, to Cradock.
They had just finished doing community organising work on the outskirts of the city when apartheid police officials stopped them at a roadblock.
The four – teachers Fort Calata, 29, and Matthew Goniwe, 38; school principal Sicelo Mhlauli, 36; and railway worker Sparrow Mkonto, 34 – were abducted and tortured.
Later, their bodies were found dumped in different parts of the city – they had been badly beaten, stabbed and burned.
The police and apartheid government initially denied any involvement in the killings. However, it was known that the men were being surveilled for their activism against the gruelling conditions facing Black South Africans at the time.
Soon after, evidence of a death warrant that had been issued for some members of the group was anonymously leaked, and later, it emerged that their killings had long been planned.
Though there were two inquests into the murders – both under the apartheid regime in 1987 and 1993 – neither resulted in any perpetrator being named or charged.
“The first inquest was conducted entirely in Afrikaans,” Lukhanyo Calata,Ford Calata’s son, told Al Jazeera earlier this month. “My mother and the other mothers were never offered any opportunity in any way whatsoever to make statements in that,” the 43-year-old lamented.
“These were courts in apartheid South Africa. It was a completely different time where it was clear that four people were murdered, but the courts said no one could be blamed for that.”
Soon after apartheid ended in 1994, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up. There, hearings confirmed the “Cradock Four” were indeed targeted for their political activism. Although a few former apartheid officers confessed to being involved, they would not disclose the details and were denied amnesty.
Now, four decades after the killings, a new inquest has begun. Although justice has never seemed closer, for families of the deceased, it has been a long wait.
“For 40 years, we’ve waited for justice,” Lukhanyo told local media this week. “We hope this process will finally expose who gave the orders, who carried them out, and why,” he said outside the court in Gqeberha, where the hearings are taking place.
As a South African journalist, it’s almost impossible to cover the inquiry without thinking about the extent of crimes committed during apartheid – crimes by a regime so committed to propping up its criminal, racist agenda that it took it to its most violent and deadly end.
There are many more stories like Calata’s, many more victims like the Cradock Four, and many more families still waiting to hear the truth of what happened to their loved ones.
The coffins of the Cradock Four were carried to their funeral service in the Cradock township of Lingelihle in South Africa, on July 20, 1985 [Greg English/Reuters]
Known victims
Attending the court proceedings in Gqeberha and watching the families reminded me of Nokhutula Simelane.
More than 10 years ago, I travelled to Bethal in the Mpumalanga province to speak with her family about her disappearance in 1983. Simelane joined Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), which was the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) – the liberation movement turned majority ruling party in South Africa.
As an MK operative, she worked as a courier taking messages and parcels between South Africa and what was then Swaziland.
Simelane was lured to a meeting in Johannesburg and it was from there that she was kidnapped and held in police custody, tortured and disappeared.
Her family says they still feel the pain of not being able to bury her.
At the TRC, five white men from what was the special branch of the apartheid police, applied for amnesty related to Simelane’s abduction and presumed murder.
Former police commander Willem Coetzee, who headed the security police unit, denied ordering her killing. But that was countered by testimony from his colleague that she was brutally murdered and buried somewhere in what is now the North West province. Coetzee previously said Simelane was turned into an informant and was sent back to Swaziland.
Until now, no one has taken responsibility for her disappearance – not the apartheid security forces nor the ANC.
The case of the Cradock Four also made me think of anti-apartheid activist and South African Communist Party member, Ahmed Timol, who was tortured and killed in 1971 but whose murder was also covered up.
Apartheid police said the 29-year-old teacher fell out of a 10th-floor window at the notorious John Vorster Square police headquarters in Johannesburg, where he was being held. An inquest the following year concluded he had died by suicide, at a time when the apartheid government was known for its lies and cover-ups.
Decades later, a second inquest under the democratic government in 2018 found that Timol had been so badly tortured in custody that he would never have been able to jump out of a window.
It was only then that former security branch officer Joao Rodrigues was formally charged with Timol’s murder. The elderly Rodrigues rejected the charges and applied for a permanent stay of prosecution, saying he would not receive a fair trial because he was unable to properly recall events at the time of Timol’s death, given the number of years that have passed. Rodrigues died in 2021.
‘A crime against his humanity’
Apartheid was brutal. And for the people left behind, unresolved trauma and unanswered questions are the salt in the deep wounds that remain.
Which is why families like those of the Cradock Four are still at the courts, seeking answers.
In her testimony before the court this month, 73-year-old Nombuyiselo Mhlauli,wife of Sicelo Mhlauli, described the state of her husband’s body when she received his remains for burial. He had more than 25 stab wounds in the chest, seven in the back, a gash across his throat and a missing right hand, she said.
I spoke to Lukhanyo a day before he returned to court to continue his testimony in the hearing for his father’s killing.
He talked about how emotionally draining the process had been – yet vital. He also spoke about his work as a journalist, growing up without a father, and the impact it’s had on his life and outlook.
“There were crimes committed against our humanity. If you look at the state in which my father’s body was found, that was a clear crime against his humanity, completely,” Lukhanyo testified on the sixth day of the inquest.
But his frustration and anger do not end with the apartheid government. He holds the ANC, which has been in power since the end of apartheid, partly responsible for taking too long to adequately address these crimes.
Lukhanyo believes the ANC betrayed the Cradock Four, and this betrayal “cut the deepest”.
“Today we are sitting with a society that is completely lawless,” he said in court. “[This is] because at the start of this democracy, we did not put in the proper processes to tell the rest of society that you will be held accountable for things that you have done wrong.”
Fort Calata’s grandfather, the Reverend Canon James Arthur Calata, was the secretary-general of the ANC from 1939 to 1949. The Calata family has a long history with the liberation movement, which makes it all the more difficult for someone like Lukhanyo to understand why it’s taken the party so long to deliver justice.
Seeking accountability and peace
The office of South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says the department has intensified its efforts to deliver long-awaited justice and closure for families affected by apartheid-era atrocities.
“These efforts signal a renewed commitment to restorative justice and national healing,” the department said in a statement.
The murders of the Cradock Four, Simelane and Timol are among the horrors and stories we know about.
But I often wonder about all the names, victims and testimonies that remain hidden or buried.
The murders of countless mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters by the apartheid regime matter not only to those who cared for them but for the consciousness of South African society as a whole, no matter how normalised the tally of the dead has become.
It’s not clear how long this new inquest will take. It is expected to last several weeks, with former security police, political figures and forensic experts testifying.
Initially, six police officers were implicated in the killings. They have all since died, but family members of the Cradock Four say senior officials who gave the orders should be held responsible.
The state, however, is reluctant to pay the legal costs of apartheid police officers implicated in the murders, and that may slow down the process.
Meanwhile, as the families wait for answers about what happened to their loved ones and accountability for those responsible, they are trying to make peace with the past.
“I’ve been on my own, trying to bring up children – fatherless children,” Nombuyiselo told Al Jazeera outside the court about the years since her husband Sicelo’s death. “The last 40 years have been very difficult for me – emotionally, and also spiritually.”
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