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President Claudia Sheinbaum has made history as the first woman to lead Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations in 215 years, delivering a resolute message against foreign intervention amid ongoing diplomatic pressure from the United States.

From the National Palace balcony in Mexico City, Sheinbaum presided over the traditional “grito” ceremony on Monday night, ringing the bell that symbolises the call to arms during Mexico’s 1810-21 independence struggle against Spain. While Independence Day is officially marked on September 16, the “grito” has been performed the evening before for more than a century.

During Tuesday’s military parade, Sheinbaum firmly declared, “No foreign power makes decisions for us.” Speaking before her cabinet and thousands of soldiers, she emphasised that “no interference is possible in our homeland”. Though she named no specific nation, her statement comes as the US government increases pressure on Mexico to combat drug cartels and enhance border security.

The Trump administration has offered to deploy US troops against cartels — some of which his government has designated as “terrorist” organisations — but Sheinbaum has consistently rejected such proposals.

Her administration has taken stronger action against cartels than her predecessor, extraditing numerous cartel figures to US authorities and highlighting reduced fentanyl seizures at the Mexico-US border. However, Sheinbaum maintains these efforts serve Mexico’s interests rather than responding to US pressure.

Sheinbaum, who assumed office in October, is Mexico’s first female president.

Sept. 16 (UPI) — U.S. President Donald Trump was due to touchdown in Britain later Tuesday as he embarks on an unprecedented second state visit to the United States’ closest ally as the guest of King Charles.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump will be met from Air Force One by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Warren Stephens and Viscount Hood, King Charles’ lord-in-waiting, before being whisked off to Windsor Castle, their main base for a packed schedule of events.

The visit gets underway in earnest Wednesday morning when the Trumps will be formally welcomed with a gun salute fired from the east lawn of Windsor Castle and the Tower of London, 25 miles away, simultaneously.

They will then ride a carriage through the estate in the company of the king, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Catherine along a route lined with military personnel and music provided by the bands of the Royal Marines, army and Royal Air Force.

They will be greeted by a honor guard on arrival at the castle before lunch in the state dining room, followed by a tour of the royal art collection.

After lunch, the president and first lady will lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II in St. George’s Chapel, which is in the grounds of the castle, followed by a tour and a recital by the chapel choir.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria Starmer, will join the group to view the “beating retreat,” a military ceremony involving the beating of drums and parading of Post Guards that dates back to the 17th century, followed by a fly past of the Red Arrows and U.S. and British F-35s, weather permitting.

The main event, the state banquet, comes up on Wednesday evening, a traditional white-tie event at which the king and Trump will deliver speeches.

Trump will begin the final day of his visit on Thursday by traveling to Chequers, Starmer’s country residence, 40 miles northwest of London.

This will be the business part of his visit, although there will still be a full honor guard complete with bagpipers — a nod to Trump’s Scottish roots — when he is greeted by Starmer ahead of bilateral talks.

Afterward, they will host a reception with executives from British and American companies, including GSK, Microsoft and Rolls-Royce, followed by lunch, before wrapping up their mini-summit with a news conference at which they will announce deals on technology and financial services.

Investment in AI and super and quantum computing is expected to be the focus of the tech agreement.

While a second visit is unknown for a non-royal, it will differ from Trump’s first visit in 2019 — which attracted both large protests and controversy after he walked ahead of Queen Elizabeth and intervened in domestic politics — in that there will be no public appearances or events.

He will not be able to address Parliament as Tuesday was the last day it sits before a month-long recess for party conferences.

At least one demonstration, however, is expected to be held on Windsor’s main street on Tuesday.

Security will be tight across the three days the Trumps are on the ground, with British authorities expected to mount one of the largest ever operations for a visiting foreign leader with a price tag running into the tens of millions of dollars.

La Gomera is one of the smallest island in the Canaries and offers a cheaper and more relaxing option, the weather reaching 26C in October is perfect for an autumn getaway

The Canary Islands are a top pick for Brits seeking sun-soaked holidays abroad.

In 2023, the Canaries welcomed a record-breaking 16 million visitors, with 14.1 million from overseas, including a whopping 5.7 million Brits, marking a 13 percent surge from the previous year.

While Tenerife and Lanzarote are popular choices, La Gomera, the third smallest island in the archipelago, is being touted as an excellent alternative. Offering a more affordable and tranquil experience, La Gomera boasts fantastic weather, reaching highs of 26C in October.

READ MORE: Pretty UK village with ‘miles of golden sand’ is a must-visit this autumnREAD MORE: UK households urged to make one bedroom change in autumn to slash heating bills

Famed for its black sandy beaches and balmy climate, it’s a paradise waiting to be discovered, reports the Express. San Sebastian, one of Spain’s most underappreciated towns, calls La Gomera home.

Travel website Cosa Crusies describes San Sebastian de la Gomera as a place where “time seems to have stopped a hundred years ago”. Perched on volcanic rock, the town has ties to the renowned explorer Christopher Columbus and features several monuments dedicated to him.

Among these is Columbus’ House, known for its “amorous” rendezvous. Adding to the town’s allure is the quaint stone watchtower, Torre del Conde.

The Church of the Assumption, with its stone archways, bell tower and artwork, is another must-visit spot. In a blog post titled “Go here, not there”, traveller Loria Zaino declared that La Gomera outshines Tenerife.

Loria expressed: “Paradise offering incredible hikes and gorgeous scenery. The island is ideal for anyone looking to trade the busy city for lush greenery.” La Gomera could be perfect for the next trip to escape the cold, rainy autumn season here in the UK.

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The F-35B stealth fighters that landed in Puerto Rico on Saturday joined a growing U.S. military presence at the former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads. Though the Navy disposed of this sprawling facility more than two decades ago, it is now a major staging area for the Trump administration’s battle against narco traffickers and pressure campaign against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. These counter-drug activities have some asking whether Roosevelt Roads, once considered surplus by the U.S. Navy, should be permanently reopened as a military installation.

Before the F-35s arrived, cargo aircraft like the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III were seen at the facility, now known as José Aponte de la Torre Airport. There were also U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and USMC CH-53K King Stallion helicopters present. The Marine aircraft are part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which began a training exercise on Puerto Rico on August 31.

In addition to the aircraft, images showed U.S. Air Force personnel restoring the airport communications control tower, while others loaded and unloaded cargo and prepared for future operations.

Analysis of Reuters photographs indicates extensive activity at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, which officially closed in 2004.

The images show heavy transport traffic and rapid efforts to restore key infrastructure to operational status.

It… pic.twitter.com/hBd5jBFZU7

— GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) September 14, 2025

Though images emerging on social media showed MQ-9 Reaper drones at Rafael Hernández Airport on the other side of the island, open-source flight tracking data points to at least one possibly operating out of Roosevelt Roads. It is believed that a Reaper was used to destroy what Trump said was a cartel drug boat with 11 people and a load of narcotics.

All this activity is taking place as the U.S. is once again turning to Roosevelt Roads, which had provided support for America’s invasions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Grenada and Panama in decades past. While there are other facilities on the island also taking part, Roosevelt Roads has become a nexus of activity for this effort.

The 8,650-acre facility, located in the easternmost point of Puerto Rico’s main island in the town of Cieba, was opened in 1943. Its centerpiece is an 11,000-foot runway capable of supporting the U.S. military’s inventory of aircraft.

Roosevelt Roads also has a deep-water port enabling the Navy’s surface and subsurface vessels to dock.

The concept of a military facility on the eastern part of Puerto Rico began in 1919, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt, then Assistant Navy Secretary, conducted a surveying trip to the area. The future president saw the location as a strategic asset in the Caribbean. But Roosevelt’s vision would not become a reality for another three decades.

The base was first built during World War II and named for Roosevelt, who came up with the concept. The initial plan was that it would become the keystone of U.S. defenses in the Caribbean, “with a well-protected anchorage, a major air station and an industrial establishment capable of supporting 60 percent of the Atlantic Fleet under wartime conditions,” according to GlobalSecurity.org. “There were even rumors that if the British Empire ever fell to Axis powers, Roosevelt Roads would become the new operating base for the British Fleet.”

However, with the U.S. military’s efforts focused on Europe and the Pacific, the Navy put expansion plans for the base on hold. In 1957, during the height of the Cold War, Roosevelt Roads was redesignated as a Naval Station. With the Soviet Union-aligned Cuba perceived as a growing threat, the facility’s footprint on the island began to grow. Its port facilities made the base a major support facility for the Sixth Fleet.

After two terrorist attacks on the island damaged equipment at another location, the Naval Communications Station Puerto Rico was relocated to a new, state-of-the-art communications facility at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads because it was considered far more secure.

The station “would eventually become one of the largest naval facilities in the world, encompassing more than 100 miles of paved interior roads,” according to the Navy. However, in the early 2000s, its future grew cloudy.

The facility’s main mission was serving as a coordinating facility and mission staging point for the U.S. Navy’s bombing range on the island municipality of Vieques, about 10 miles to the southeast. The bombardments were carried out for six decades and generated massive protests over civilian deaths and environmental destruction.

The base was also home to Fleet Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8), the Navy’s last operator of the A-4 Skyhawk. The unit began operations there in 1965 and became the last Navy squadron based at Roosevelt Roads. The unit provided training assistance through acting as aggressors and towing targets, among other roles, for units visiting the Caribbean outpost. The Navy’s maritime patrol operations were also a major presence at the base.

The Navy finally ended the bombing in 2003. With the Vieques bombing range closed, the Navy also decided it no longer needed Roosevelt Roads or its units there. It was proposed to be closed under the Base Realignment & Closure (BRAC) process used to dispose of unwanted U.S. military installations. By that time, just two years after 9/11, the U.S. had rapidly shifted its focus to the global war on terror.

Without Vieques, Roosevelt Roads was considered obsolete,” Federico de Jesus, a former director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, told us.

As part of the Navy’s turnover of Roosevelt Roads to Puerto Rico, it transferred thousands of housing units, schools, utilities and a world-class hospital that were on the facility. The closure was welcomed by many in Puerto Rico who were opposed to the militarization of the island. However, that move also raised concerns about the loss of a huge economic driver.

After the base was shuttered, various parts of it were turned over to different Puerto Rican government organizations. Given its location, there have been efforts over the years to develop parts of Roosevelt Roads; however, those plans remain in flux.

Despite the closure, the U.S. continued to use the installation for contingencies and relief efforts, like the November 2017 missions to provide much-needed aid in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island.

The U.S. Navy began reusing Roosevelt Roads at a much larger scale on Aug. 31 to support training operations by the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG)/22nd MEU. Operations at the base have since expanded.

Despite the facility’s ability to support the Trump administration’s current efforts, the Navy has no plans to permanently use Roosevelt Roads, a U.S. defense official told The War Zone.

However, there is an effort in Puerto Rico to re-establish the facility as a working military installation. 

Two weeks ago, New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico Sens. Nitza Morán Trinidad and Carmelo Ríos Santiago “introduced Senate Resolution 286, which calls for an investigation into the current state of the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Ceiba,” the San Juan Daily Star reported last week. “The measure aims to evaluate the feasibility and impact of potentially repurposing Roosevelt Roads for national security by the Army.”

“For decades, Roosevelt Roads represented an economic engine for the eastern region of the island,” Morán Trinidad said, according to the publication. “Today, we have a responsibility to seriously and strategically consider the possibility of its facilities once again playing a key role — not only in the defense of the Caribbean and the Americas but also in the economic revitalization of Ceiba and the surrounding municipalities.”

The future of that effort, however, remains unclear.

With the Trump administration giving no timeline for its Caribbean operation, it looks like Roosevelt Roads will continue to be a very active facility for the U.S. military in the short term. However, given the administration’s focus on Central and South America, it’s quite possible that larger plans for the installation could materialize. Regardless, at least for now, Roosevelt Roads has woken up from its long slumber.

Contact the author: [email protected]

AN ancient town that was once the largest behind London is found in the Cotswolds.

Cirencester is often nicknamed the Capital of the Cotswolds, being its largest town.

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It was founded by the Romans, and was even the second largest town behind London at the time.

Now, it remains a popular market town and a commuter spot, being less than an hour from the capital.

There is the central Cirencester Market Place, with a market every Monday and Friday, as well as seasonal ones on Saturdays.

Don’t expect to find many chain shops in town either, with the majority being independent stores.

Make sure to head to Malt and Anchor, named one of the best fish and chip shops in the UK.

The town even has its own Cirencester Castle, which dates back to the 1107.

The town is is home to its own lido as well, which opened back in 1870.

Cirencester Open Air Pool is open until next week, before closing for the season.

There are two pools, a four-lane adult pool which is always at 26C as well as a kids pool.

Our pool’s serenely beautiful setting is just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of town so come and enjoy the sessions that run from May to September.

The main pool is 27m long, has 4 lanes and is kept at an inviting 26 degrees. Originally built as a 30 yard pool, a 1 mile swim is 59 lengths.

We also have a children’s pool that’s 0.5m deep.

One of the popular places to stay is the Kings Head Hotel, which was named as the best hotel breakfast in the UK last year.

Along with that, it also has 66 rooms, as well as an underground spa and on-site deli.

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Otherwise we stayed at The Fleece hotel in in Cirencester – here is what we thought.

There is also the Corinium Museum, named after Cirencester’s original name.

Otherwise there is the modern Barn Theatre if you want to catch a show.

Cirencester has its own train station with direct trains to London taking less than 50 minutes.

Here is a Cotswolds village with its own sandy beach and lagoon.

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CANELO ALVAREZ is set to earn over $100MILLION for his fight with Terence Crawford – after agreeing a historic deal.

The Mexican superstar defends his super-middleweight titles against unbeaten Crawford in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

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UFC boss Dana White is promoting the mega-bout alongside Saudi Arabia money man Turki Alalshikh.

Alalshikh was probed on whether he will deliver a $100m payday for Canelo – but the Riyadh powerbroker is going one further.

“You get the number wrong. That contract between us and Canelo is more than that,” Alalshikh said when asked about a $100m purse.

“Congrats, Canelo.” Crawford said from across the press conference table.

Canelo, 35, was in shock talks to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, 28, on May 3 in Vegas.

But Alalshikh instead offered Canelo a fresh multi-fight deal to snub the spectacle bout against Paul.

Canelo accepted and defeated William Scull, 33, in May to win back the IBF title to once again become undisputed champion.

And he defends the crown against Crawford after penning a historic deal with Riyadh Season’s Alalshikh.

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CANELO VS CRAWFORD: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

Canelo vs Crawford – All the info

IT’S finally time – one of the biggest boxing matches EVER takes place THIS WEEKEND.

Two of boxing’s GOATs will meet in the ring as they fight for pound-for-pound supremacy and the super-middleweight crown.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence Crawford have been fixtures in the top of the rankings for years and are considered among the best to ever do it.

Unbeaten Crawford, who beat Israil Madrimov to win the light-middleweight title last time out, hasn’t fought for a year.

He is jumping up two weight divisions to meet Canelo, having spent most of his career weighing in even lighter.

Mexican favourite Canelo has scored title defences over Edgar Berlanga and William Scull since Crawford was last inside a ring.

Here’s all the info for this must-watch fight…

INFO

LATEST NEWS

“I want to say something; thank you also to Canelo to accept this fight and accept to do it,” Alalshikh said.

“And honestly, we signed Canelo the biggest history contract ever to happen in boxing for three fights.

“On Saturday I hope to see a great fight, they will give everything and I hope for their safety.”

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Ancestry has uncovered which Downton Abbey actors’ real-life family stories mirror their characters ahead of the hit ITV show’s upcoming third and final film

New research shows some of the cast of Downton Abbey have real life similarities in their families compared to their on screen roles

With a new third and final film about the ITV period drama released into cinemas this week on September 12, the results from family history site Ancestry uncover which actors’ real-life family stories mirror their characters and which tell a very different story.

Michael Fox who plays butler Andy Parker has a three-times-great-grandfather who was a butler and great-great-grandfather a chauffeur. It seems he was almost destined to play a loyal footman. This was uncovered using marriage and census records.

Allen Leech is well known as Chauffeur turned Estate Manager Tom Branson. Like Branson, Allen comes from a family of principled public servants. Using an obituary from the Drogheda Independent in 1962 it can be revealed his great-grandfather Thomas Leech was an Irish peace commissioner known for his honesty and integrity, and may well have inspired one of Branson’s iconic speeches.

Lesley Nichol’s character Mrs Patmore had a loveable role in the Downton kitchen, in real life her ancestors were shepherds, butchers and wine merchants showing a real-life passion for food and drink that mirrors Mrs Patmore.

The 1911 Census of England and Wales record shows Henry Thomas Isaac, butcher.

Harry Hadden-Paton was Bertie Pelham in the ITV series and Bertie is an expert at estate management.

This is similar to Harry’s three-times-great-grandfather, a banker called Henry G Marquand involved in major railroad interests who might have been able to save the Crawleys from financial ruin. This was discovered via a report in a copy of a Chicago Tribune newspaper from 1902.

Laura House, DNA and Family History Expert at Ancestry, said: “Downton Abbey has captivated audiences with its stories of class, conflict, and connection.

“These real-life discoveries show just how closely some of the cast’s personal histories align with the roles they play. From wartime heroes to world-travelling diplomats and hardworking cooks, it’s a reminder that fascinating stories lie in all of our family trees waiting to be discovered.”

The new third film follows the much-loved Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.

Lady Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal going through divorce, the family faces financial trouble, and the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace.

The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future and off into the sunset.

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Former Australian Football League (AFL) player Mitch Brown has shared a heartwarming message to fans after coming out.

On 27 August, the athlete revealed to The Daily Aus that he was bisexual, becoming the first openly queer man in the league’s 129-year history.

Brown – who played 94 matches for West Coast between 2007 and 2016 – said he had a “feeling of peace, but more importantly, comfort and confidence” with his decision to open up about his sexuality.

According to TDA, the 36-year-old initiated the conversation with a DM over Instagram, writing: “Hey [writer] Sam [Koslowski], I played in the AFL for 10 years for the West Coast Eagles, and I’m a bisexual man.”

Brown said his time in the AFL never afforded him “an opportunity to speak openly or explore your feelings in a safe way,” describing the culture as one of “hyper-masculinity” where “countless” homophobic comments were heard on the pitch.

“When I was growing up at school, the word ‘gay’ was thrown around constantly,” he said. “For a man in Australia, [it was seen as] probably the weakest thing you could be.”

He also urged the AFL to foster a “sense of change” with more “positive male role models,” adding: “My advice to the AFL would be, let’s celebrate the players who may not be the most successful, but are the most important in our community.”

Since opening up about his sexuality, Brown has been embraced and celebrated by fans, rugby organisations such as the Gold Coast Suns, and the LGBTQIA+ community for his bravery.

After a few days of silence, Brown took to Instagram on 31 August to express his gratitude for the support and to reflect on his coming out journey.

“It has been a few days since I shared my story, and I’ve had space to let it all sink in. Before it went live, there was a part of me that was worried about the homophobia or potential backlash I might receive,” he wrote.

“What happened instead was that the story was met with an overwhelming positive response, for which I am so grateful. With that, I’d like to share a few thoughts.”

Brown went on to express his gratitude to his partner Lou for her “love, strength, and resilience”; his ex, Shae, and their two children; and the TDA team for their care and professionalism.

“I have been overwhelmed by the kindness, encouragement, and solidarity that have poured in from people across Australia and around the world,” he continued.

“Every message, every story shared, every word of support has meant more to me than I can say. I will carry that gratitude with me always.”

Brown also gave flowers to the LGBTQIA+ athletes and advocates who came before him – including Jason Ball, Ian Roberts, Isaac Humphries, Josh Cavallo, and Danielle Laidley – praising them for helping “make sport and society more inclusive.”

The Aussie talent then brought attention to the women’s division of the AFL, lauding the organisation for its longstanding history of fostering an inclusive and supportive environment in sport.

“The players are role models not only for young women, but for every young Australian who is searching for a place where they can belong,” he wrote.

“I encourage everyone to go and watch an AFLW game – you’ll see what the future of our game can and should look like.”

Towards the end of his statement, Brown expressed his hope that young people, especially queer young Australians, will benefit from his coming out – before issuing a call to action to the AFL.

“It’s time for the AFL and the clubs to commit to genuine change, embedding inclusion not just in words, but in culture, policies, and everyday actions,” he said.

“If we can make our game a place where everyone belongs, the ripple effect on Australian society will be profound. I look forward to joining the movement that started long before me, to create a safer, more inclusive sport, and society for everyone.”

You can read Brown’s complete statement below.

One resident of the coastal village said the demolition plans amount to ‘social cleansing’ as the regeneration project gathers pace

Plans to demolish historic homes in the UK’s most affordable seaside village have been labelled as ‘social cleansing’ as a local authority pushes forward with its proposals.

Durham County Council has submitted a planning application to tear down 100 properties in Horden’s ‘Numbered Streets’, an area that was established in the early 1900s and originally provided housing for the coal mining community.

Horden, along with neighbouring Peterlee, was recently named as the UK’s cheapest place to live by the sea in a ranking by Rightmove. It has also frequently ranked among the nation’s most deprived areas.

The proposed demolition zone stretches from First Street to 13th Street and is part of a £10.7 million regeneration project that it is hoped will breathe new life into the area. Homeowners have been asked to sell their properties to the council so new housing can be built.

However, local residents are resisting the plans, which they claim to have largely opposed since a consultation was first launched in 2019, according to the Express, reports Chronicle Live.

Joe, a community organiser for Shelter, said it was “immediately obvious it wasn’t what people wanted” when he first arrived in the area, adding that there was palpable anger at a parish council meeting.

Campaign group Fair Deal For Horden found that 72 percent of the community preferred refurbishment, with only 2pc supporting demolition.

Joe added: “The council says there’s widespread support. I beg to differ.”

Shelter’s research shows that buying and renovating empty properties for social rent can require roughly 20pc less grant funding than new builds, when clearance and compensation costs are taken into account.

Raymond Bellingham has lived with his sister in a mortgage-free home on Third Street since he was nine years old. This year marks his 60th anniversary at the address.

He opposes the plans, saying locals want restoration to breathe new life into the area rather than bulldozing people’s homes. A similar scheme was implemented in The Green in Hartlepool, restoring crumbling Victorian houses rather than knocking them down.

Raymond said: “There was originally talk of other plans – renovation, refurbishment, etc. But all of a sudden, all other options disappeared, and the council has gone down the path of total demolition. They’re totally ignoring the people living here, refusing to do another consultation.”

He insisted the streets’ terrible reputation is baseless, “a misrepresentation”, saying people view it as “gang-laden – people carrying machetes with dangerous dogs” – but this “couldn’t be further from the truth”.

Joe pointed out the irony that this year marks the 125th anniversary of Horden as a village: “What better way to celebrate than by wiping out the historic homes of the people who built that community, the people who contributed to British industrial progress?”. Raymond said “there’s not much to celebrate”, declaring: “The council wants to wipe out this community, to build new houses and obliterate heritage and history.

“It’s affecting people who still live here. They want to clear the area, trying to buy homes for £30,000-£35,000, way below market price. That’s what actually makes the area undesirable. Exactly what they’re supposed to be avoiding.

“It might sound drastic, but it’s a form of social cleansing. Good people live here, and they’re being driven out of their own homes, their village, their community. They don’t care about the people here; they have no sentiment for this community.”

Joe revealed that Horden features amongst the nation’s most deprived areas, explaining: “Locals do need something to happen. It does need regeneration, but what cost does that come at?”.

“This plan shouldn’t come at the cost of people’s lives being torn apart. If the council went the refurb route, it could do more for the Numbered Streets.”

Although a relocation package is available for residents selling their properties to the council, Joe insists “many feel they’ll be financially worse off”.

Leaving Horden would prove expensive, he said, alongside the heartbreaking impact of breaking community bonds and family ties.

Joe contended this simply “perpetuates a cycle of instability for lots of people”.

Durham County Council claimed the Horden Masterplan had attracted “strong support” throughout several years of comprehensive consultation. Michael Kelleher, the head of planning and housing, stated: “We have worked hard throughout the process to ensure residents feel heard and represented.

“Following our consultations in 2018, 2019 and 2022, the demolition, clearance and provision of new housing was consistently ranked higher than refurbishment by residents.

“The aim of the masterplan is to regenerate the village and improve life for local people by tackling issues such as the high number of empty properties in the Numbered Streets, supporting those with housing needs, enhancing community facilities and paving the way for new council housing that is truly affordable. All while respecting the history and heritage of Horden.

“We understand this is an unsettling time, and we are working closely with owners and landlords to negotiate the purchase of their properties and help people to find alternative accommodation should they need it.”

Graffiti mars the crumbling walls of the main thermal baths in one of Europe’s oldest spa towns, Baile Herculane.

Yet after decades of neglect, a dedicated team of young architects is working to revive the picturesque Romanian resort that once drew emperors to its healing waters.

“Someone once said that if you drink water from the spring from Herculane, you never leave,” said 31-year-old architect Oana Chirila.

“I was struck by the beauty of the place,” she explained about the town in Romania’s southwest, nestled among mountains and bisected by a river. “And at the same time [I was] shocked by its condition,” she added, referring to the dilapidated state of the historic thermal baths.

Chirila first visited Baile Herculane eight years ago entirely by chance, she said.

Her group’s restoration project represents one of several recent civil society initiatives launched to safeguard Romania’s historic monuments.

Approximately 800 such monuments have deteriorated to an advanced state of decay or risk complete collapse. Some already pose significant public safety hazards.

Constructed in 1886, the Neptune Imperial Baths once welcomed distinguished guests seeking its warm sulphur treatments.

Among these illustrious visitors were Austria’s Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth, commonly known as Sisi. Franz Joseph himself described the town as Europe’s “most beautiful spa resort”.

Today, the baths stand closed, their interior walls defaced with graffiti, floors littered with debris, and rain seeping through the ceiling.

Despite the deterioration, tourists regularly pause to admire and photograph the long, rusted facade, with some attempting to glimpse the interior through broken windows.

Currently, Chirila and her volunteer team can only perform conservation work on the baths’ exterior structure. Full restoration remains impossible until legal conflicts between authorities and private owners are resolved, she explained, adding, “There’s always this fear that it might collapse.”

“Most of the historical monuments are in their current state – meaning constant decay – because they are legally blocked,” preventing utilisation of public or European funds for restoration.

For now, along one side of the riverbank, visitors can enjoy three sulphur water basins – what Chirila calls “little bathtubs”.

Her team refurbished these basins and constructed changing booths and wooden pavilions, one of several projects they have undertaken throughout the town.

In recent years, Baile Herculane, home to 3,800 residents, has experienced a steady increase in tourism, according to local officials. Some 160,000 tourists visited in 2024 – up from 90,000 in 2020 – many seeking spa treatments, but also hiking and climbing opportunities.

“The resort has changed,” Aura Zidarita, 50, a doctor, told the AFP news agency. She remained optimistic that it could reclaim its status as a “pearl of Europe”.

It was a night when defenders draped over Kelsey Plum, her path to the rim often crowded. And when she turned to the officials for relief, the whistles were elusive.

But when it mattered most — that being with 3.3 seconds to play and the Sparks trailing by one — Plum lowered her shoulder and slipped between swiping arms and lunging bodies.

One defender stumbled, another bit on a fake and Plum glided almost untouched into the lane, kissing a floater off the glass as the horn sounded in an 81-80 Sparks escape over the Dallas Wings.

“Just a heck of a finish by her,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said.

Plum’s teammates mobbed her, embracing the veteran who appeared unsatisfied during her seven minutes on the bench and frustrated after Dallas defenders batted away her attempts at the rim. All of it faded, though, once she poured in 10 fourth-quarter points en route to 20 on the night.

“I feel like that’s what basketball is all about — putting on a show for [fans],” the Sparks’ Rickea Jackson said. “Both teams truly did that and everyone enjoyed themselves and got their money’s worth tonight.”

But before the buzzer, the night belonged to Plum, Crypto.com Arena belonged to Paige Bueckers of Dallas. In fact, at times Wednesday night, it seemed as though the Sparks had six players on the floor.

Bueckers drew ovations fit for a home star. With swaths of fans flaunting her face on a T-shirt and spilling over railings for autographs pregame, the Wings rookie rode that backing into a career-high 44 points — tying Cynthia Cooper for a most by a WNBA rookie.

“She’s a phenomenal player, point blank period,” the Sparks’ Cameron Brink said.

The Sparks (17-18) entered Wednesday’s affair with a blueprint for Bueckers, Roberts recognizing pregame that “we let Paige get to the middle which is what she wants to do,” in reference to Bueckers’ then-career-high 29-point performance last Friday against her Sparks.

But Bueckers solved every look the Sparks threw at her. Double-team her high, and she threaded the ball to cutters. Leave her one-on-one, and she buried mid-range jumpers with a composure that belied her rookie tag.

“Paige was unbelievable tonight,” Roberts said. “Did we make some mistakes defensively? Sure. Was she just unconscious and playing at another level? Yes. Just kind of have to tip your hat.”

Yet across the floor from the rookie, L.A. leaned on a pair who had worn that tag just last season.

They were a product of the 2024 draft, a haul that featured Brink at No. 2 and Jackson at No. 4. Their pairing never had the chance to fully bloom last year, Brink suffering a season-ending injury just a month in.

A year later, with Brink healthy and Jackson entrenched in the starting lineup, the Sparks finally cashed in on their draft night selections. On Tuesday, the sophomores saved their team from a five-minute scoring drought to open proceedings against the Wings, spurring a 15-5 spree that stifled the noise that followed Bueckers.

“On both ends, we just looked like we’ve been off for a couple of days,” Jackson said. “I said, ‘Why does it feel like we haven’t played in a minute?’ But we picked it up. The first five minutes was crazy, but we picked it up.”

Applause followed Bueckers all game, but the final word — and the final bucket — belonged to L.A.

DONALD Trump and Vladimir Putin are just hours away from holding a historic one-on-one meeting which could shape global politics.

The world’s eyes are poised on Alaska today as leaders of both superpowers prepare to sit down in a peace summit that could decide the fate of Ukraine.

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On Thursday afternoon, Trump likened the high-stakes talks to a game of chess as he warned there is a 25 per cent chance it could end in failure.

He also vowed that Putin “is not going to mess around with me”, insisting the Russian leader “wants a deal” but would face consequences if he becomes greedy.

Trump and Putin are set to meet one-on-one at Elmendorf-Richardson base near Anchorage at 11.30am local time (8.30pm UK) — under extraordinary security.

Putin, who rarely travels abroad since launching his full-scale invasion, will arrive with his feared “Musketeers” bodyguards.

They are notorious for coming armed with everything from armour-piercing pistols to the infamous nuclear briefcase — and even a “poo suitcase” to stop any analysis of Vlad’s health.

The Cold War-era military base has been locked down by US and Russian forces since the meeting was announced last week.

Over 32,000 troops, air defences, and electronic jamming systems are all in place waiting for today’s link up.

The crunch talks will be followed by a joint press conference by both leaders.

The main topic of the meeting will be crisis in Ukraine with Trump pushing to strike a deal with the Kremlin to end the bloodshed.

Also on the agenda will be trade and economic cooperation, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov added.

Trump and Putin will also have a wider meeting with delegations from Washington and Moscow.

They will then attend a working lunch with their security entourage.

For Trump, the meeting stands as a chance to bring peace to war-torn Ukraine and end a conflict which he said would never have started if he were the president back in 2022.

And for Putin, the meeting will decide how much territory he can grab before ending his bloody assault.

The Russian leader, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said that he wants peace but that his demands for ending his invasion were “unchanged”.

One major sticking point for Moscow is the annexation of more Ukrainian territory – one of Putin’s long-term demands.

It is understood that Trump will try to convince Putin to make peace by offering him deals and concessions.

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Though Washington has said that it will not engage in any agreement on a final peace deal without Ukraine’s formal involvement in the negotiations.

Trump has insisted a deal won’t be made without Ukraine’s blessing with a second meeting set to be arranged soon.

He hinted at a more “important” second round of talks taking place “very quickly” — this time with Volodymyr Zelensky and “maybe some European leaders” in the room.

Putin has tried to sweeten the mood, praising Trump’s “sincere efforts” for peace, even as Zelensky warns he is “bluffing”.

If Putin agrees to a possible ceasefire, both leaders will reach the next stage of peace-making, where they are expected to hold a trilateral meeting with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump has vowed “very severe consequences” if this turns out to be the case.

Zelensky, fresh from meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, has warned that any talks without Ukraine risk disaster.

Don, who hails himself as a great dealmaker, is said to be planning to present a money-making deal to lure sanctions-hit Putin into peace-making.

The deal will include opening up Alaska’s natural resources to Moscow and lifting some of the American sanctions on Russia’s aviation industry, The Telegraph revealed.

Proposals also include giving Putin access to the rare earth minerals in the Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia.

Trump is seemingly betting on Russia‘s current economy, which has been hit hard by global sanctions since he launched his illegal invasion of Ukraine.

There is also a chance that the meeting could go south as Trump warned that the Russians risk facing “very severe consequences” if they continue to bomb Ukraine and kill innocent civilians.

More than anyone else, the meeting will be key to European leaders who have long supported Ukraine and warned against future Russian aggression.

Zelensky and European leaders are likely to reject any settlement proposals by the US that demand Ukraine give up further land.

They want to freeze the current frontline as it is – giving away the territory already being held by the Russians.

Zelensky has reiterated that Ukraine will not cede any further territory to Russia.

But it may not be up to the embattled leader if he is presented with a take it or leave it offer in the latter stages of the peace process.

Trump announced on Friday that the only way to resolve the issues is for both sides to accept losses of land.

He said: “It’s complicated, actually. Nothing is easy. It’s very complicated.

“We’re going to get some switched. There’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.”

The MAGA president said he would try to return territory to Ukraine.

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Don added: “Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They’ve occupied some very prime territory.

“We’re going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine.”

After Trump held a call with the European leaders on Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Trump reaffirmed that Trump would not negotiate territorial issues with Putin.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron will not be engaging in any “schemes for territory swaps” during the summit.

The summit is set to take place at Elmendorf-Richardson base, one of the most strategic locations in the Arctic.

Bristling with troops from the US Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as National Guardsmen and Reserves, it is a symbolic location for both the US and Russia.

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Washington, DC – Palestinian rights advocates are hailing the growing number of lawmakers in the United States showing willingness to restrict weapons to Israel over the atrocities in Gaza after a Senate vote on the issue.

The majority of Democrats in the Senate voted late on Wednesday in favour of a resolution to block a weapons sale to Israel in what rights advocates have hailed as a major blow to the bipartisan support that Israel has traditionally enjoyed in Congress.

The measure, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, ultimately failed in a 27-70 vote, but a record number of lawmakers backed it compared to similar bills in the past.

“It was incredibly significant. We’re seeing a fundamental shift in the Democratic Party on Israel,” said Yasmine Taeb, legislative and political director for the advocacy group MPower Change Action Fund.

All Republican Senators voted against the measure. But within the Democratic caucus, the tally was 27-17. The bill aimed to block the transfer of assault rifles to Israel.

Another bill that targeted bomb shipments also failed, in a 24-73 vote, with three senators who backed the first bill defecting.

The vote came amid domestic and international anger at Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, where leading rights groups have accused the Israeli military of carrying out a genocide against Palestinians.

‘We just need to continue to fight’

Taeb said Palestinian rights advocates are making progress on the issue, noting that only 15 Senators backed Sanders’ measure to block weapons to Israel in April.

“It’s frustrating, but we just need to continue to fight,” she told Al Jazeera.

“We need to continue to do everything we possibly can to pressure our leaders in the House and Senate to stop funding these atrocities. We’re absolutely seeing a shift, and these bills show that. So, it shows that the pressure is working.”

Israel, which receives billions of dollars in US military aid annually, largely relies on US weaponry to carry out its wars on Palestinians and neighbouring countries.

For decades, support for Israel on Capitol Hill seemed unshakable. But restricting the flow of US weapons is steadily becoming a mainstream proposal, especially among Democrats.

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed gratitude for the senators who backed the bills, calling the vote a “historic sign of progress”.

“Although last night’s Senate vote should have been 100–0 in favor of these resolutions, the fact that a majority of Senate Democrats voted yes is a historic moment and a sign that sentiments in Congress are gradually catching up to the American people,” CAIR government affairs director Robert McCaw said in a statement.

Some key Democrats supported Sanders’s bill – well beyond the small group of progressive lawmakers who have been vocally supportive of Palestinian rights for years.

They included Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee; Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee; and Amy Klobuchar, a prominent centrist.

‘Enough is enough’

Senator Tammy Duckworth, who has been a strong Israel supporter throughout most of her career, also voted in favour of the measure.

“Enough is enough,” Duckworth said in a statement.

She highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israeli-imposed starvation has killed more than 150 people.

“Israel’s unacceptable choice to restrict humanitarian and food aid from entering Gaza – for months – is now causing innocent civilians, including young children, to starve to death,” Duckworth said.

“Ending this famine is not only a moral imperative, it is also in the best interests of both Israel’s and our own country’s long-term national security.”

Four out of the six new Democratic senators, elected last year, voted in favour of blocking arms to Israel, highlighting the generational shift on the issue. The other two freshman senators were not present for the vote.

Public opinion polls show that young Americans, especially Democrats, are increasingly opposing Israel’s abuses against Palestinians.

Only 9 percent of respondents under the age of 35 in a recent Gallup survey said they approve of Israel’s military action in Gaza and 6 percent said they had a favourable opinion of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sanders said after Wednesday’s vote that the increased support from Democratic lawmakers for restricting arms to Israel shows that the “tide is turning”.

“The American people do not want to spend billions to starve children in Gaza,” the senator said in a statement.

“The Democrats are moving forward on this issue, and I look forward to Republican support in the near future.”

AIPAC responds

IfNotNow, a youth-led progressive Jewish group, also lauded the vote as a “historic moment”.

“As Israel’s blockade forces virtually all Palestinians in Gaza to the brink of starvation, we must use every tool at our disposal to end the blockade and push for a ceasefire and hostage exchange,” the group’s executive director, Morriah Kaplan, said in a statement.

“It is shameful that a shrinking minority of the Democratic caucus, 17 senators, sided with Republicans to continue the flow of deadly weapons to the Israeli military.”

Some senior Democrats, including the party’s top senator, Chuck Schumer, voted against the resolutions.

Taeb said Schumer’s vote shows that he is “simply out of touch with the vast majority of Democratic voters and, incredibly, his own caucus”.

She added that Republicans will soon start to pay an electoral price for their unflinching support for Israel as Americans’ opinions continue to turn against the US ally.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has spent millions of dollars to help defeat Israel’s critics in Congress, welcomed the defeat of Sanders’ bills, but it said that the vote “highlights the growing attempts to advance anti-Israel policies in Congress”.

“We know our detractors are working to take the battle from the floor of the Senate and the House to the ballot box next year, seeking to elect more candidates who want to undermine the US-Israel alliance,” the group said in an email to supporters.

“With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, we must ensure we have the political strength and resources to help our friends win and help defeat our detractors.”

The Hollywood Premiere Motel doesn’t get a lot of rave reviews — in fact, it’s among the lowest ranked lodgings in the city. But thanks to its mid-century Googie design, it is the first motel to join the L.A.’s Historic-Cultural Monument List.

The City Council approved that designation on Wednesday, singling out the 1960 motel and its weathered neon sign as prime examples from the glory days of roadside architecture. There was no opposition or discussion, nor did the motel owner, listed as Yang Hua Xi, take a position.

“It may have a 1.7-star Tripadvisor rating, but we don’t judge our landmarks by thread count,” said Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, whose 13th District includes the motel, in a statement.

That Tripadvisor score ranks the motel 110th of 118 motels in Los Angeles, and its Yelp reviews aren’t any better. “Felt like puking,” wrote one Yelp user in May.

The two-story motel, which stands at Hollywood Boulevard and Serrano Avenue, was nominated by preservationist James Dastoli.

“This, to me, is a landmark that defines the entire neighborhood of East Hollywood,” Dastoli said at a city Cultural Heritage Committee meeting in March.

“My initial response, looking at the nomination, was, really?” said commission President Barry Milofsky. But he went on to support the designation.

Though the motel parking lot is often empty, its look has attracted frequent filming in the last decade, including TV’s “Twin Peaks,” “Fargo” and “NCIS: Los Angeles,” along with Justin Timberlake’s 2016 “Can’t Stop the Feeling” music video.

In their report on the site, city staffers found that the motel serves as “an excellent example of a 1960s motel that accommodated automobile tourism in Hollywood” and is “a highly intact and rare example of a 1960s motel in Hollywood.”

After the 1960s, the staff report noted that “motels began to fall out of favor as chains such Holiday Inn increasingly dominated the industry” and tourists turned to more compact building types with corridors indoors, not outside.

Soto-Martinez called the Hollywood Premiere “a survivor — still standing after decades of change in Hollywood.”

The Hollywood Premiere was built in 1960 with 42 units in a two-story, stucco-clad building, with a tall, Googie-style neon sign on a pole, parking near the guest rooms and a swimming pool at the corner of the lot behind breeze blocks. It once had a coffee shop, but that space is now idle. The architect was Joyce Miller, a woman working in a trade then dominated by men.

With Tuesday’s vote, the motel joins a Historic-Cultural Monuments list that includes more than 1,300 businesses, homes and landscape features. Begun in 1962, the list includes familiar icons like Union Station, the Bradbury Building and the Hollywood sign but also many less obvious choices, including Taix French Restaurant (built in 1929); the Studio City site of the Oil Can Harry’s bar (which operated from 1968 to 2021; and Leone’s Castle, a 1936 San Pedro apartment building designed to resemble a French castle.

Designation as a city Historic-Cultural Monument doesn’t automatically protect a building from changes or demolition, nor does it trigger any government spending on preservation. But once a building is designated a landmark, the city’s Office of Historic Resources must review permit application before any alterations are allowed. Demolition is forbidden unless an environmental review has been approved.

The city’s staff report also cited several other roadside lodgings that serve as “exemplary and intact examples of the Mid-Century Modern architectural style,” including the Beverly Laurel Motor Hotel (1964), the Wilshire Twilighter Motor Hotel (1958; now known as the Dunes Inn) and the Hollywood Downtowner Motel (1956), which is being converted into 30 interim residences for people at risk of homelessness as part of the state’s Project Homekey. So far, the Downtowner’s twinkling neon sign above Hollywood Boulevard has been preserved.

Twisting along roads flanked by cherry trees, granite boulders, vines and wildflower-flecked pastures, I wind down the windows and breathe in the pure air of Portugal’s remote, historic Beira Interior region. The motor is silent, the playlist is birdsong and occasional bleating sheep; all is serene. “This is easier,” I say to myself with a smile, recalling my previous attempt to visit the Aldeias Históricas – a dozen historic hamlets bound by a 1995 conservation project – using woeful public transport. Revisiting this unspoilt pocket of Portugal, 155 miles (250km) north-east of Lisbon, near the border with Spain, is going to be effortless in an EV. And, best of all, the transport doesn’t cost me a penny.

An hour before, I arrived in Castelo Novo, a four-hour train ride from the capital, and currently the sole hub of the Aldeias Históricas’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Scheme. It was launched in 2022 to address local transport issues by providing five free-to-hire electric vehicles, alongside other community-supporting projects. It sounded too good to be true, but I booked the maximum three-day rental – enough time to see at least nine of the villages. I was informed that if I arrived by train, someone would meet me at the station.

Prop Joe Ofahengaue scored both Leigh Leopards tries as his side pulled off their first victory at St Helens since 1982 and kept up the pressure on Super League’s top two.

Ofahengaue crossed midway through the second half to provide the Leopards with some breathing space after two Gareth O’Brien penalties had put them 4-0 up at the break.

Saints, who went into the game on the back of five straight victories, enjoyed plenty of possession but could not break down Leigh’s gritty defence.

Ofahengaue capitalised to grab a second try after Kyle Feldt spilled Lachlan Lam’s kick and, although Harry Robertson belatedly put Saints on the scoresheet, it was too late to prevent the Leopards moving to within a point of second-placed Wigan.

The two sides traded blows during a lively, yet scoreless opening 20 minutes – although video referee Jack Smith was called to adjudicate three times in quick succession on possible tries.

Saints’ Owen Dagnall, stretching to reach Tristan Sailor’s kick, was unable to make a clean connection and Leopards full-back Bailey Hodgson’s quick thinking to ground the ball denied the home side again, sandwiching a disallowed score for Ofahengaue.

Leigh – who had overcome league leaders Hull KR and Wigan in their two most recent outings – soaked up pressure well but errors going forward, from O’Brien and Edwin Ipape, slowed their progress.

Eventually, it was O’Brien who broke the deadlock, landing a successful kick from 35 yards after Saints scrum-half Moses Mbye had been penalised for interference.

O’Brien put another penalty attempt wide following a foul by Feldt, but his next – a routine kick just before the interval – was successful after St Helens had been rattled by Tesi Niu’s barnstorming tackle to drag Sailor out of touch.

Saints looked the sharper side after the turnaround, working the ball from left to right and Alex Walmsley’s charge down the middle carried them close to the try-line, only for Leigh’s tenacious defence to hold firm again.

Having unsuccessfully challenged a knock-on against Jonny Lomax, the home side conceded a penalty and Leigh broke clear, with O’Brien’s short-range pass setting up Ofahengaue to wriggle over between the posts.

Ipape might have wrapped up the victory, racing away on the counter-attack but failing to find Lam – and instead it was Ofahengaue who made the points safe, pouncing on Feldt’s fumble and bursting over the line.

Saints at least averted the indignity of a blank scoresheet on their own turf, with Robertson going over in the corner in the final minute, but it was not enough to deny rampant Leigh their sixth win in seven games.

St Helens head coach Paul Wellens told BBC Radio Merseyside:

“It was a tough night. Opportunities were quite limited out there – what I can’t fault is the players’ effort, that was there in abundance and has been for a number of weeks.

“But it’s probably a timely reminder that we need to handle certain moments better on both sides of the ball because they are crucial in big games like that.

“We’ve got to take our lessons from this. It’s been great winning in the last few weeks but when you get beat in a game like that and there hasn’t been a lack of effort, there’s been a lack of something else.

“Maybe we were a little bit conservative at times. In big games you’re going to need to nail opportunities and it took us until the 79th minute to do that.”

Leigh head coach Adrian Lam told BBC Radio Manchester:

“That’s three in a row for us against some really big clubs. We didn’t play the style we wanted to tonight but we adjusted – it was very physical and defence-orientated, but we got through it. That’s a real positive sign that we can adjust on the run.

“There were times when we made a few simple, basic errors but the way we rallied defensively was awesome. I didn’t think Saints were going to score tonight until that last play.

“We hadn’t won here for 43 years and we had to come here and defend and be physical and we did all of that. We’re in control of how it ends for us this season and we’re still striving to climb that ladder.

“He (Joe Ofahengaue)’s a try-scorer, his effort areas are as good as any in the game and he’s there or thereabouts all the time. He’s massive for us, he’s been a great leader and certainly helped the group.”

About 50 to 80 other structures also destroyed as two wildfires burn at or near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in Arizona.

Wildfires have engulfed a historic lodge, destroying it and dozens of other structures along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in the state of Arizona in the southwestern United States, park officials say.

Rangers were forced to close access to that part of the Grand Canyon National Park on Sunday. Superintendent Ed Keable said the Grand Canyon Lodge was consumed by flames.

He said a park visitor centre, petrol station, wastewater treatment plant, administrative building and employee housing were also among the 50 to 80 structures lost.

Two wildfires are burning at or near the North Rim. They are known as the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire. The latter is the one that destroyed the lodge and other structures.

Started by lightning on July 4, the Dragon Bravo Fire was initially managed by authorities with a “confine and contain” strategy. However, due to hot temperatures, low humidity and strong winds, it grew to 20 square kilometres (7.8 square miles), fire officials said.

No injuries have been reported so far.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs urged the federal government late on Sunday to investigate the National Park Service’s response to the wildfire.

“They must first take aggressive action to end the wildfire and prevent further damage,” she said in a post on X. “But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park.”

I am incredibly saddened by the destruction of the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, and my heart goes out to every person impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.

Thank you to every firefighter and first responder taking action to combat the flames.

— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) July 14, 2025

Millions of people visit the park annually with most going to the South Rim. The North Rim is open seasonally. It was evacuated on Thursday because of the wildfire and will remain closed for the rest of the season, the park said in a statement.

The Grand Canyon Lodge was often the first prominent feature that visitors would see, even before viewing the canyon.

“It just feels like you’re a pioneer when you walk through [the lodge],” said Tim Allen, an Arizona resident and yearly visitor to the Grand Canyon. “It really felt like you were in a time gone by.”

Caren Carney, another visitor to the park evacuated with her family, said she was heartbroken to hear that such a “magical place” had burned down.

Firefighters at the North Rim and hikers in the inner canyon were also evacuated on Saturday and Sunday. The park said that beside the fire risk, they could also potentially be exposed to chlorine gas after the treatment plant burned.

Aramark, the company that operated the lodge, said all employees and guests were safely evacuated. “As stewards of some of our country’s most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss,” spokesperson Debbie Albert said.

One of the greatest wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon is the result of the Colorado River eating away at layers of red sandstone and other rock for millions of years, leaving a gash up to 30km (18 miles) wide and more than 1.6km (1 mile) deep.

Last year, almost five million people visited the site.

I lost my heart to this beautiful part of the country and now I can’t wait to return

Tucked away in the undulating hills of Suffolk, The Wilderness Reserve offers a quintessential English summer experience. I recently had the pleasure of spending a weekend there and was utterly charmed by this tranquil corner of the county, bathed in the glow of a June heatwave sun.

The walled garden was a riot of colour as I watched a couple tie the knot, and while enjoying elderflower cocktails, I felt like I’d stepped into a Merchant Ivory film. But it wasn’t just the stunning venue that captivated me to be honest, the entire region truly stole my heart.

Suffolk, with its gently rolling hills, expansive skies, and patchwork of fields, meadows, and ancient woodlands, epitomises rural England. The 8,000-acre private estate near Saxmundham is just one of many highlights in the area, with attractions such as Framlingham Castle, Sutton Hoo, RSPB Minsmere, and Yoxford Antiques Centre and Gardens all within easy reach.

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Scattered with picturesque villages, timber-framed cottages, medieval churches, and quiet lanes, much of Suffolk is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Then there is the stunning Suffolk coastline with its mix of sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and pretty seaside towns. Southwold is known for its beautiful beaches, iconic lighthouse and Victorian pier, while Aldeburgh Aldeburgh offers a more artistic atmosphere with its historic high street and rich cultural heritage, including the famous Aldeburgh Festival.

Nearby, there lies the 12th-century Framlingham Castle, while the town of Woodbridge is home to the impressive Tide Mill and a charming blend of Georgian buildings and independent shops. While a visit to the Wilderness Reserve was a delicious treat, there are so many other ways to explore the region, along with a multitude of places to stay.

Take Winkle Cottage for instance – a fishermans cottage bathed in Aldeburgh’s seaside charm. This classic fisherman’s cottage offers snug living spaces and can comfortably accommodate five guests. It has been praised by visitors as “a great place to stay.”

The village of Campsea Ash also hosts an ideal spot for larger family reunions, offering a glorious barn conversion on a private estate. Quill Farm Barn is touted as a “delightful” holiday home, nestled away in “the perfect setting.” Then there’s the Sea Tower, a chic apartment boasting sea vistas that has earned accolades as “a special place” or the grand Holly Lodge – a robust five-bedroom countryside house capable of hosting group getaways for up to 10 individuals.

For something completely different, the Pound Farm Mirror Houses in Framlingham offer contemporary dwellings in the heart of the countryside. An upscale alternative to traditional ‘tiny homes’ each house comes with its own hot tub.

Booking.com boasts a diverse array of accommodation options in Suffolk. The Swan Hotel in Southwold, a four-star establishment nestled within a historic building just 200 metres from the seafront, is one such gem. For those seeking a more traditional vibe, The Ship at Dunwich serves up home-cooked fare and real ales in an authentic inn setting.

Adventure-seekers drawn to RSPB Minsmere will find Moonlight Lodge an ideal retreat close by. Available through Holidaycottages.co.uk, it’s set against the backdrop of Dunwich beach and surrounded by woodlands – a nature lover’s dream.

For a touch of grandeur, The Great House in Orford stands as a majestic Grade II-listed holiday home right in the village’s heart. This quintessential country haven sleeps 12 and has been hailed as “a stunning house” and “absolutely perfect for larger parties” by visitors.

The tranquil beauty of Suffolk has garnered thousands of glowing reviews on TripAdvisor from enamoured visitors. One tourist said: “Loved our afternoon in Southwold especially the pier! Such a pleasant surprise to have a clean characterful pier with a brilliant quirky water fuelled clock at the end! The beaches looked amazing, beautiful clean sand and so pretty with the huts behind!”.

Another visitor, charmed by Aldeburgh, shared: “It was a dream in July to swim in the early hours of the morning and have fish and chips looking out to sea.”

Of course, the accommodation is key to any memorable holiday, and Sykes Cottages are dazzling holidaymakers, boasting a 4.6 out of five-star rating. One chuffed guest remarked: “We wanted a quiet weekend getaway and we found exactly that in Suffolk. Perfect for young and old…the cottage we booked we know it’s a fabulous place and beautifully presented.”

Another satisfied customer shared: “Suffolk in the sunshine. This was an important family holiday following my dad being very unwell last year, our holiday with Sykes gave us the quality time we needed and the chance to make some wonderful memories.”

However, not all feedback was glowing. A less impressed guest posted a three-star review: “Sykes offer a vast range of holiday accommodation. From experience so far, the description and photos of accommodation are fairly accurate, however, the cleanliness of the accommodation is another matter. It is difficult to get hold of anyone from Sykes by telephone.”

But praise continued with another beaming five-star critique: “We were looking for pet friendly cottages in Suffolk, Sykes cottages came up with the goods. A nice cottage plenty of details about the cottage giving us all the details we needed. So many thanks looking forward to our holiday.”

They are two longtime Dodger villains, hated for two vastly different reasons.

As the last remaining position player from the Houston Astros’ trash-can-banging, and (in the eyes of most Dodgers fans) World Series-stealing 2017 championship team, Jose Altuve always receives a rude welcome from the fans at Chavez Ravine.

As one of the most productive visiting players in Dodger Stadium history, Christian Walker often shuts them up.

In the Houston Astros’ 18-1 Independence Day rout on Friday, both added another tortured chapter to the Dodgers’ history against the team. Altuve went three for three with a double, two home runs, two walks and five RBIs. Walker went four for five with one long ball and four RBIs.

The Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve celebrates with Christian Walker after hitting a two-run homer against Dodgers in the third inning at Dodger Stadium on Friday.

(Kevork Djansezian/Los Angeles Times)

On a day starting pitcher Ben Casparius once again struggled (giving up six runs in three innings), reliever Noah Davis gave up 10 runs in the sixth inning alone (the most the Dodgers had surrendered in one inning since 1999), and most of a sold-out crowd stuck around for every painful minute (waiting in somber silence for a postgame fireworks show), that was plenty to lift the surging Astros to most lopsided defeat the Dodgers have ever suffered at Dodger Stadium.

Six weeks ago, the retooled Astros were one game above .500 and 3 ½ games out of first place in the American League West; seemingly missing the other 2017 stars who have departed the franchise since their sign-stealing scandal came to light five years ago.

But now, they have won 27 of their last 37, own the second-best record in the AL, and are suddenly looking like unlikely title contenders; even after turning over almost the entirety of the roster from that infamous 2017 season.

“Certainly, there’s been some history with our organizations,” manager Dave Roberts said pregame when asked if any lingering feelings remained from the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. “But if you look at it in reality, most of those guys are gone. So it certainly doesn’t have any bearing on this series this weekend.”

Instead, in their most lopsided loss of the season, the Dodgers had bigger concerns to worry about Friday, with Altuve and Walker at the top of the list.

Altuve received his typical reception from the Dodgers faithful, serenaded with booming boos and loud chants of “cheater” during each of his at-bats. However, he followed Isaac Paredes’ leadoff homer in the first with a double off the wall. He took Casparius deep for a two-run home run on a curveball in the third. He added an exclamation point with a three-run homer in the Astros’ 10-run sixth — the most runs the Dodgers (56-33) had allowed in one inning since Fernando Tatis’ historic two-grand-slam inning in April 1999 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Walker was every bit as dangerous.

A 34-year-old slugger who dominated the Dodgers (and, most confoundingly, Clayton Kershaw in particular) during an eight-year career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walker was already emerging from an early-season slump in his first year with the Astros (53-35) entering this weekend’s series.

Then, back in the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium, he orchestrated a monster performance of his own from the five-spot of the Houston order.

In his first at-bat, Walker plated Altuve with a single the other way. Then, two batters after Altuve’s big fly in the third, Casparius left a fastball down the middle that Walker whacked for his 28th career home run against the Dodgers — and 20th at Dodger Stadium.

Only nine other players have hit that many home runs as visitors at the ballpark during their careers, a list that includes Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt and Willie Stargell, as well as Barry Bonds.

Walker also made a contribution in the sixth-inning onslaught.

After Davis gave up one run on two singles and two walks, the recently called-up right-hander plunked Walker with the bases loaded to force in another score, losing his grip on an 0-and-2 sweeper that left him visibly rattled on the mound.

Sensing Davis’ frustration, Roberts came to the bump for a motivational pep talk; eliciting memories of the mid-game hug he delivered to journeyman reliever Yohan Ramirez last season in Cincinnati.

This time, however, the mound visit had little effect. In the next at-bat, Davis threw a hanging sweeper that Victor Caratini belted for a grand slam. What was already a laugher became a full-fledged Fourth of July disaster.