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Brad Marchand scored two goals and Sam Reinhart got the go-ahead goal on his 30th birthday in the Florida Panthers’ 5-2 victory over the Kings on Thursday night.

Anton Lundell got a shorthanded goal in the third period and Sam Bennett also scored for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Panthers, who rebounded from a 7-3 loss against the Ducks to get their first victory on their four-game West Coast road trip.

Marchand has scored a goal in three straight games since returning to the Panthers from a one-game absence to travel to Nova Scotia to support a close friend who lost his daughter to cancer last month. The veteran tied the game late in the first period after taking the puck from Anton Forsberg behind the Kings’ net, and he added his ninth goal of the season in the third.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves.

Anze Kopitar got the first goal of his 20th NHL season and Corey Perry also scored for the Kings, who have lost three of four.

Forsberg stopped 19 shots for the Kings, who have started 1-4-2 at their downtown arena after being the NHL’s best home team last season.

Bennett put the Panthers ahead just 2:06 in, controlling and converting the rebound of Jeff Petry’s long shot.

Kopitar scored on the power play midway through the first, and Perry put the Kings ahead on a breakaway set up by a spectacular long pass from Mikey Anderson.

Reinhardt put the Panthers back ahead in the second, getting to the slot and firing a backhand for his seventh goal.

Lundell scored on a short-handed breakaway in the third after a turnover by Adrian Kempe.

Several members of the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers were the Kings’ guests at the game, getting multiple loud ovations.

Up next for Kings: at Pittsburgh on Sunday to open a six-game trip.

Trudy Polkinghorn

‘Our light and joy’

Trudy Polkinghorn

Karen Staniland

THE apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni.

The German-born supermodel, 53, posed with her 21-year-old to show off lingerie brand Intermissi’s latest collection.

The mother and daughter duo wore long sleeve pyjama tops and pants from the new range.

Back in 2023, Heidi and Leni caused controversy for posing in lingerie together.

Heidi wore a lacy nude bra and matching panties while Leni donned a fuchsia version in the snaps.

At the time, Heidi was 50 and Leni was 19.

HEIDI-WEEN

Heidi Klum drops NSFW clue about highly-anticipated Halloween costume

RED HOT

Heidi Klum rocks see-through lingerie as she stands against Las Vegas hotel window

Earlier this year, Project Runway star Heidi told People: “A lot of people are like, ‘Oh, I don’t know about mom and daughter doing this together’.

“But for us? I’m proud of my daughter. She’s fine with me like that.

“She’s fine with me like that.

“I’ve always been very open with my body.

“When I’m suntanning in the backyard, I might not have a top on.

“I’m European… my kids don’t know me any other way.”

Many believe Leni is a “nepo baby” because she was born into riches and has gone on to follow in her mother’s modeling footsteps.

Her biological father, Flavio Briatore, is a big name in Italy, leading various sporting teams into championships.

She’s also the adoptive daughter of singing superstar, Seal.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Political stars often rise and fall but few have had a more dramatic trajectory than Dick Cheney in his home state of Wyoming.

Hours after Cheney died Tuesday at 84, the state lowered flags at the Republican governor’s order. Some politicians in the state offered at times measured praise of the former vice president.

But among a large majority of voters in Wyoming, Cheney has been persona non grata for more than five years now, his reputation brought down amid President Trump’s withering politics.

Trump has criticized Cheney for the drawn-out and costly Iraq war, and his daughter, former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, for saying Trump should never be allowed back in the White House after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

This resonated with many residents, including Jeanine Stebbing, of Cheyenne, whose last straw was the idea that Trump shouldn’t be reelected.

“There was no open-mindedness. Nothing about how, ‘We understand that our neighbors here are supportive of Trump.’ Just the idea that we were all stupid, is what it felt like,” Stebbing said Tuesday.

The final blow for the Cheney family in Wyoming came in 2022, when Trump supported ranching attorney Harriet Hageman to oppose Liz Cheney for a fourth term as the state’s U.S. representative.

Hageman got two-thirds of the vote in the Republican primary, a decisive win in a state with so few Democrats that the general election is considered inconsequential for major races.

Trump’s biggest gripe, ultimately, was that Liz Cheney voted to impeach him, then co-led the congressional investigation into his role in the attack. In Wyoming, a prevailing belief was Liz Cheney seemed more focused on taking down Trump than on representing the state.

“I was very disappointed that, you know, somebody who came from this state would be so adamantly blind to anything other than what she wanted to do. And he joined in as well,” Stebbing said.

Not even Dick Cheney’s endorsement of his daughter over Hageman — and of Kamala Harris over Trump last year — made a difference, as Trump’s appeal in Wyoming only grew. Trump won Wyoming by more than any other state in 2016, 2020 and 2024, the year of his biggest margin in the state.

Some expressed sadness that George W. Bush’s vice president would not be remembered well by so many in the state.

“On the 16th anniversary of my own father’s death today, I can appreciate a father who stood by his daughter, which he did loyally and truthfully,” said Republican state Sen. Tara Nethercott, who is Senate majority floor leader. “He stood by his daughter during those difficult times.”

Nethercott wouldn’t speculate if Liz Cheney might yet have a political future. Wyoming’s support of Trump “speaks volumes,” she said.

Liz Cheney has continued to live in Jackson Hole, near her parents, while traveling back and forth to Charlottesville to teach at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

For Brian Farmer — who, like Dick Cheney, grew up in Casper and went to the University of Wyoming — Cheney’s legacy will be his service to the state, no matter where people stand on issues.

“He was always somebody whose path I looked at, sought to follow. Very quiet, soft-spoken at times, Very bombastic and loud at others,” said Farmer, executive director of the Wyoming School Boards Association.

Cheney had a 30-year career in politics, from serving as President Gerald Ford’s young chief of staff to representing Wyoming in Congress in the 1980s. He rose to a top GOP leadership role in Congress — one his daughter, too, would later fill — before being named President George H.W. Bush’s defense secretary.

After his time in office, the CEO of oilfield services company Halliburton kept active in state politics, voicing support and even stumping for Republican candidates.

And yet Cheney was so low-key and unassuming, his mere presence was the whole point — not the nice things he had to say, for example, about former Gov. Jim Geringer, who handily won reelection in 1998.

“You talk about people walking into a room and commanding it. That man did it without even speaking a word,” said state Rep. Landon Brown, a Cheyenne Republican who met him several times including at University of Wyoming football games.

“He’s going to be sincerely missed in this state,” he said. “Maybe not by everybody.”

Gruver writes for the Associated Press.

Investigators are working to determine cause of the blaze that broke out at facility in Tuzla in northeastern Bosnia.

A fire at a retirement home in northeastern Bosnia has killed at least 11 people and injured about 30 others, officials said.

It remained unclear what caused the blaze, which engulfed the seventh floor of the building in Tuzla, about 80km (50 miles) northeast of Sarajevo, after it broke out on Tuesday evening.

The fire, which took about an hour to bring under control, sent flames and smoke pouring out of the building into the night sky.

Bosnian media reported that higher floors in the complex were occupied by elderly people who could not move on their own or were ill.

“I had gone to bed when I heard a cracking sound. I don’t know if it was the windows in my room breaking,” resident Ruza Kajic told national broadcaster BHRT on Wednesday.

“I live on the third floor,” she said. “I looked out the window and saw burning material falling from above. I ran out into the hallway. On the upper floors, there are bedridden people.”

Admir Vojnic, who lives near the retirement home, also told the Reuters news agency that he saw “huge flames and smoke, and elderly and helpless people standing outside” the building.

Investigators were still working to determine the cause of the fire and identify those killed in the blaze, prosecutor spokesperson Admir Arnautovic told reporters.

“The identification of the bodies will take place during the day,” Arnautovic said.

Meanwhile, the retirement home’s director said he had offered his resignation.

“It’s the only human thing to do, the least I can do in this tragedy. My heart goes out to the families of the victims,” Mirsad Bakalovic told the Fena news agency.

“Last night was a truly difficult event, a tragedy not only for the city of Tuzla, but for all of Bosnia.”

Officials from across government in Bosnia and Herzegovina offered their condolences and help to the Tuzla authorities.

“We feel the pain and are always ready to help,” Savo Minic, the prime minister of the country’s autonomous Serb Republic, wrote on X.

Nov. 5 (UPI) — At least 11 people were killed and 30 injured in a blaze at a high-rise retirement home in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Authorities said the fire broke out Tuesday evening at about 8.45 p.m. (2 p.m. EST) on the seventh floor of the facility in Tuzla, the country’s fourth largest city 70 miles northeast of the capital, Sarajevo.

Police said firefighters, police officers, medics, residents and staff at the home were among 20 people taken to the hospital.

Several people received treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning, with three in intensive care, said a spokesman for Tuzla University clinical center.

Images circulating online show the top floor of the building engulfed in flames.

Nermin Niksic, prime minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the country’s bipartite system of government, called the blaze “a disaster of enormous proportions.”

Tuzla is located in FBiH, one of two administrative entities portioning the country between Bosnian Muslims and Catholic Croats in the north and Bosnian-Serbs in central and southern areas born out of the 1995 U.S.-brokered Dayton accords that ended the Bosnian War.

The prime minister of the Srpska entity, Savo Minic, head of the country’s Serb region, said Tuesday night that his government stood ready to assist Tuzla in any way it could following the retirement home fire.

“The Government of the Republic of Srpska stands ready to assist the citizens of Tuzla with any kind of help following tonight’s tragedy. We feel the pain and are always ready to help. Our most sincere condolences to the families,” he said in a post on X.

Authorities said an investigation into the cause of the blaze was underway.

The Michelin Guide has unveiled a new way of recognising the best hotels in the world, with three properties in Wales named as must-visit destinations

A picturesque lakeside town in Wales has earned the distinction of housing one of the wordl’s best finest hotels. Nestled on the northern shore of Llyn Tegid, a freshwater glacial lake encircled by towering mountains, Bala is home to Palé Hall Hotel, which has been awarded a prestigious MICHELIN Star key for delivering exceptional hospitality experiences.

This innovative recognition system for the world’s best hotels has seen three Welsh establishments, including Palé Hall, featured in The MICHELIN Guide as essential destinations.

On October 8, assessors also unveiled the new “Key” awards, which mirror Michelin Stars for dining establishments by spotlighting the most remarkable hotels across the UK and Ireland. The Great Britain and Ireland collection comprises 14 Three-Key hotels, 43 Two-Key hotels and 82 One-Key hotels, with 19 properties receiving their first awards for 2025.

The esteemed guide recognises three Welsh properties: Palé Hall Hotel in Llandderfel, Penmaenuchaf in Dolgellau, and Grove of Narberth in Narberth. Each has received a One Key distinction.

Palé Hall, a favourite Welsh retreat of mine where I’ve enjoyed several stays, is an 18-room Victorian mansion boasting a rich history and opulent décor. Perfectly situated on the fringes of Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), it offers easy access to walking trails, lakes, and thrilling outdoor activities, reports Wales Online.

This luxurious hotel, part of the Relais and Châteaux, Pride of Britain Hotels and Celebrated Experiences collections, is independently owned by Anthony and Donna Cooper-Barney, who took the reins in 2024.

Arriving at this grand rural hotel is an event in itself. The historic façade, surrounded by gardens, woodland and rolling hills, sets the stage for a memorable stay.

Each spacious room and suite is individually designed with thoughtful touches, and some even boast unique features like a stained-glass roof light, chrome bateaux bath, and antique beds.

Built in 1871 by renowned railway engineer Henry Robertson, the house exudes charm and sophistication. Known for his ambitious railway projects across Wales, Robertson didn’t hold back in creating a home that reflected his accomplishments.

Designed by architect Samuel Pountney Smith, the hall stands as a symbol of elegance and grandeur with its honey-coloured stone and eclectic Jacobean style.

Palé Hall’s place in history isn’t just about its famous guests. During the First World War, it served as a convalescent hospital, offering recovery and respite for wounded soldiers amidst its tranquil surroundings.

Palé Hall has played host to a remarkable roster of guests over the years, including royalty. Queen Victoria was captivated by the house and its picturesque surroundings during her visit in 1889.

The grand bath she used and the ornate bed she slept in are still present in the now aptly named Victorian Room, one of the many opulent suites available for those looking to indulge.

When it comes to food, you’re in excellent hands. For an unforgettable dining experience, a visit to the hotel’s Henry Robertson dining room is essential.

This elegant space, complete with its marble fireplace, ornate plaster ceilings, and chandeliers, provides the perfect backdrop for a fine dining extravaganza.

Palé Hall, an AA three-rosette and Michelin Green Star establishment, prides itself on delivering top-notch cuisine that celebrates the best of British and Welsh produce.

Here’s what the MICHELIN Guide has to say about Palé: “Set on 15 acres of riverside parkland in the Dee Valley, at the edge of the vast and wild Snowdonia National Park, Palé Hall is nothing if not secluded – a situation that only heightens the effect of its high Victorian opulence. Over the course of its colourful history, it’s played host to guests no less eminent than Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria herself. And in its current incarnation as a luxury hotel, it’s among the finest in Great Britain.”

The hotel makes for a stunning base in the picturesque lakeside town of Bala, which boasts a rich heritage stretching back centuries. Founded by Roger de Mortimer of Chirk Castle through Royal Charter around 1310, the town witnessed Henry Tudor’s army pass through in 1485 en route to the Battle of Bosworth.

During the 18th century, Bala thrived as a centre for producing flannel, stockings and gloves. Today, it’s transformed into a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from across Britain and further afield.

The town holds a remarkable religious heritage, celebrated at the Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre, which chronicles the inspiring tale of a devoted Welsh girl.

Back in 1800, 15 year old Mary Jones completed an extraordinary 26-mile trek from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Bala, having saved for six years to purchase a coveted Bible. Her remarkable pilgrimage of faith would go on to spark the creation of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

At the Grade II-listed centre, you can embark on Mary’s pilgrimage and delve into the past with interactive displays, exhibits, and activities.

For those who are fond of trains, the Bala Lake Railway is a must-see. This charming narrow-gauge railway line meanders along the southern shores of Llyn Tegid, offering a captivating hour-long journey from Llanuwchllyn to Bala on a vintage train.

For those who love the great outdoors, Bala is a hub of adventure and offers a variety of activities, such as rafting, fishing, swimming, and sailing.

The National White Water Centre, based in Bala, is a must for adrenaline junkies. Here, water is regularly released from a dam into the River Tryweryn – a steep, fast-flowing mountain river that creates predictable rapids all year round.

Rafting is an adrenaline-fuelled activity where participants tackle fast-flowing rivers in inflatable rafts, typically alongside a small crew and an experienced guide who knows the waterways inside out.

For a safe yet thrilling experience, book a guided rafting session and feel the rush of battling surging rapids alongside your fellow adventurers.

Hiking enthusiasts will find Bala serves as a perfect base for exploring Wales’ most spectacular scenery. Westward lie the imposing peaks of Eryri (Snowdonia), boasting challenging and breathtaking routes, whilst the tranquil Berwyn Mountains eastward deliver a sense of unspoilt wilderness.

Families can enjoy numerous gentle routes, including the Treasure Trail, which accommodates pushchairs and leisurely ambles. Alternatively, follow a designated path for a peaceful lakeside ramble.

History and culture buffs can explore heritage routes such as the Town Trail, the Mary Jones Walk and the Betsi Cadwaladr Trail.

After a day filled with adventure, numerous independent pubs and cafes are on hand for a hearty meal and a pint. The historic Plas Coch Hotel, originally built as a coaching inn around 1780, serves up traditional Welsh dishes using fresh local produce.

Pot One: France, Germany, Spain & Sweden.

Pot Two: Netherlands, England, Italy & Norway.

Pot Three: Denmark, Austria, Iceland & Poland.

Pot Four: Slovenia, Serbia, Ukraine & Republic of Ireland.

The four groups in World Cup qualifying will contain a team from each of the seeded pots.

England and the Republic of Ireland will be in League A for World Cup qualifying, and will head into the campaign knowing that they are already guaranteed a play-off.

Despite winning the Euros, the Lionesses are in the second tier and that could mean the latest chapter in their rivalry with Spain.

Sarina Wiegman’s side also faced France and Sweden on their way to victory in July, and will back themselves to win automatic qualification no matter who they are drawn against from pot one.

England and the Republic of Ireland were in the same group for Euro 2025 qualifying and could face off again.

In a group that also contained heavyweights France and Sweden, the Irish were relegated, but a stunning promotion play-off win over Belgium saw them return to League A at the first time of asking.

Led by Katie McCabe, the Republic of Ireland qualified for the 2023 World Cup but missed out on the Euros after losing to Wales.

Being back in the top tier puts Carla Ward’s side in the best position to rectify that for the World Cup.

Dodgers fans filled the streets of downtown Los Angeles early Monday morning, to celebrate the Dodgers becoming baseball’s first back-to-back World Series champion in 25 years.

The celebratory parade is commenced at 11 a.m., with the Dodgers traveling on top of double-decker buses through downtown with a final stop at Dodger Stadium.

The 2025 Dodgers team has been a bright spot for many Angelenos during an otherwise tumultuous year for the region, after historic firestorms devastated thousands of homes in January and then widespread immigration sweeps over the summer by the Trump administration.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

Manager Dave Roberts holds the Commissioner’s Trophy during the Dodgers World Championship Parade and Celebration Monday.

(Kayla Bartkowsk/Los Angeles Times)

Ramon Ontivros, left, and Michelle Ruiz, both from Redlands, join fans lining the streets of downtown Los Angeles.

(Kayla Bartkowsk/Los Angeles Times)

From left, Mike Soto, Luis Espino, and Francisco Espino, join fans lining the streets of downtown Los Angeles.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Mia Nava, 9, waves a flag. “She’s skipping school today and her teachers know her passion.” Said her mom, Jennie Nava.

(Carlin Stiehl/For The Times)

Alex Portugal holds onto a championship belt at Dodger Stadium. Claudia Villar Lee, poses with a model of the World Series trophy around her neck.

(Kayla Bartkowsk/Los Angeles Times)

Young fans line the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the Dodgers World Championship Parade and Celebration.

Wales are playing a week later than other nations, with all last weekend’s games played outside World Rugby’s international window.

The window is a designated three-week period, which starts this weekend, where international matches take precedence over club fixtures and all players are made available.

The likes of Ireland, Scotland and England chose to stage matches a week before the window opened.

The extra games are organised to raise revenue for governing bodies with the success of the fixture depending on how many tickets are sold.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has opted to play their extra match on the weekend after the window closes. They take on the Springboks on Saturday, 29 November when no other international matches are taking place.

The match in Cardiff clashes with league fixtures in the United Rugby Championship (URC) which will involve sides from Wales and South Africa.

Both Test teams are set to also be without players who play for clubs in England and France, while the Springboks also have players involved with sides in Japan.

Great writing, even when an author sets a story in early 20th century Maine or during ancient uprisings, often sheds light on our own era. From a novel starring a sentient gale-force wind, on to a memoir from a leading African American writer, this month’s titles provide illumination as we lose daylight.

FICTION

Helm: A Novel
By Sarah Hall
Mariner Books: 368 pages, $30
(Nov. 4)

U.K. inhabitants of Hall’s native Cumbria region have grappled for centuries with a wind known as “The Helm.” Different eras have deemed it a measure of divine anger or human sin, and more recently, as one of earth’s vital signs. Helm’s narration alternates with chapters from perspectives including an astrologer, an astronomer, a Crusader, an herbalist and a climatologist, each adding to the strength of the immortal force.

Palaver: A Novel
By Bryan Washington
Farrar, Straus & Giroux: 336 pages, $28
(Nov. 4)

As in his first two novels “Memorial” and “Family Meal,” Houston-based Washington weaves scenes of Americans at home and in Japan with exquisite attention both to queer culture and to emotions. “The mother” and “the son” are never named; her Jamaican origins affect his upbringing, as well as his identity. When she makes an unannounced visit to see him in Japan, the title’s gentle irony becomes apparent.

Queen Esther: A Novel
By John Irving
Simon & Schuster: 432 pages, $30
(Nov. 4)

Readers will recall Dr. Wilbur Larch from “The Cider House Rules.” Here he is the 1919 go-between for Esther Nacht, a 14-year-old Jewish refugee whom he places with the Winslow family as an au pair. Like so many women through the ages, that role results in a different kind of labor for her, one that turns this most Irving-esque (wrestling! sex!) book into writer Jimmy Winslow’s origin story.

The Silver Book: A Novel
By Olivia Laing
Farrar, Straus & Giroux: 256 pages, $27
(Nov. 11)

The 1975 murder of Italian subversive film director Pier Paolo Pasolini forms the tortured heart of Laing’s first historical novel. In 1974 protagonist Nicholas Wade leaves England and lands in Venice, where he meets Danilo Donati, costume designer for Pasolini as well as Fellini and others. Their relationship reflects those auteurs’ themes, especially those of fascism’s rebirth in Pasolini’s “Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom.”

The White Hot: A Novel
By Quiara Alegría Hudes
One World: 176 pages, $26
(Nov. 11)

Noted playwright Hudes pens a stunning debut novel that rends conventional notions of motherhood. Years after disappearing from her child’s life, April Soto writes her daughter Noelle a letter to read on her 18th birthday. Less apology than explanation, and less explanation than soul-searching screed, this novel has a huge voice, a woman’s attempt to create meaning from the depths of family trauma.

NONFICTION

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts
By Margaret Atwood
Doubleday: 624 pages, $35
(Nov. 4)

Only Margaret Atwood could write a debut memoir at age 85 and make it significantly different from her previous work while at the same time infusing it with her droll wit and many passions, literary, environmental and familial. While she has always combined public and private in her acclaimed and groundbreaking novels, essays, and poetry, this volume beautifully fuses Atwood the person, and Atwood the writer.

Front Street: Resistance and Rebirth in the Tent Cities of Techlandia
By Brian Barth
Astra House: 304 pages, $29
(Nov. 11)

Barth, a freelance journalist, spent time in three different Bay Area encampments of unhoused people, including Oakland’s Wood Street Commons, and, as Gov. Gavin Newsom moves forward on a new task force targeting these areas for removal, he argues that solutions to homelessness should come from the ground up, with the involvement of those most affected.

Without Consent: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime
By Sarah Weinman
Ecco: 320 pages, $32
(Nov. 11)

Until the 1970s in most states, a married woman could not legally refuse to have sex with her husband. The 1978 Oregon trial of John Rideout for marital rape of his wife Greta — despite his then-acquittal — raised awareness of this legislation and led to Rideout’s conviction for rape and sodomy nearly four decades later in a case involving two other partners. Weinman (“The Real Lolita”) writes with energy about a case with present-day ramifications.

Revolutions: A New History
By Donald Sassoon
Verso: 432 pages, $40
(Nov. 18)

You say you want a revolution — and historian Sassoon says: Consider your predecessors. Although we focus on hot-button moments, the long tale of these uprisings can lead to long-term instability and injustice (e.g., the young United States choosing to persist with enslavement). What is the real price of transformation? Is it worth considering when people unite against tyranny and oppression?

Languages of Home: Essays on Writing, Hoop, and American Lives 1975–2025
By John Edgar Wideman
Scribner: 400 pages, $29
(Nov. 18)

Wideman’s 1985 essay “The Language of Home” was about the power of words to capture our foundations, so it’s fitting that his new collection covering 50 years of his powerful prose mimics that essay’s title. The new title’s plural refers to the author’s constant themes, which aren’t surprising. What does surprise is his prescience about still-relevant concerns, from a disappearing middle class to police brutality.

THE UK is full of pretty towns and villages – but this one is home to one of the best pubs in the country.

According to the Good Food Guide this restaurant is a place where you’ll get some of the tastiest food in the country – and the village has lots to see too.

Dedham is in Essex, right on the border with Suffolk and it sits on the River Stour which passes through the north tip of the village.

It’s filled with tearooms, restaurants and a pub called The Sun Inn which has an award-winning wine list and two AA rosette awards.

Speaking about The Sun Inn, the Good Food Guide said: “As slices of English heritage go, Piers Baker’s 15th-century yellow-washed coaching inn right in the heart of Dedham is nigh-on perfect.

“There’s a sense of seasonality too in menus that offer a winning mix of updated pub classics and more inventive, Italian-accented dishes built around prime seasonal ingredients.

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“White the Sun is an emphatically laid-back place, there’s no corner-cutting.”

On Sundays the pub serves roast dinners including beef, port and celeriac all with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables Yorkshire puddings and gravy.

They also serve up breakfast, kids meals as well as a Christmas menu.

You can stay at the pub too in one of the seven rooms – which for bed and breakfast starts at £185 (based on two people sharing).

Some of the rooms are dog-friendly, and all have big beds and ensuite bathrooms.

The River Stour, which begins west of Great Bradley in Cambridgeshire, and ends in the North Sea at Harwich passes through the village.

It’s often used for canoeing and kayaking with picnickers setting up along the bank during the summer months.

Dedham is a village on the outskirts of Colchester, which was once the country’s ‘oldest town’.

Colchester was given city status just two years ago as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

It was one of the very first Roman cities, and it’s history stretches back thousands of years.

Here’s more from on Sun Writer who swapped the Cotswolds for a less-crowded but equally quaint weekend in Essex’s most perfect market town.

Plus, here’s England’s smallest town which has riverfront pubs, man-made beach and its own train station.

Quaint British villages with toy-town cottages, car-free roads and cosy pubs – handpicked by our travel writers

Harrogate, North Yorkshire – Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter
For the last few years, my annual trip to Harrogate has been an immovable fixture in my calendar. The Victorian spa town is the perfect place for a little bit of R&R thanks to its history of spa tourism, which is very much alive. Head to The Harrogate Spa at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel if you’d like a pamper, which is a personal favourite of mine. Make sure to overindulge at Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms where a glass of pink champagne and a huge scone are almost compulsory.

Lavenham, Suffolk – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
One of my favourite villages I’ve ever visited in England is Lavenham, which is beautiful in autumn. Said to be the best preserved medieval village in the UK, it is known for two buildings – the 600-year-old Crooked House and the De Vere House, which featured in the Harry Potter films. Warm up at The Swan Hotel, which has its cosy Weavers Spa onsite.

Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Perched atop a craggy cliff, overlooking a dinky shore, Robin Hood’s Bay seems like something from a fiction tale or a North Yorkshire postcard. In summer, you’ll find dogs sprinting along the sands, while owners tuck into fresh crab sandwiches from the beachside hut and little ones fish for treasures in the rock pools. I prefer the village in winter, though, when the weather takes a turn and nature comes alive with the grassy dunes dancing in the wind and moody waves thrashing on the rocks.

Hay On Wye, Wales – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel – Digital
When I first set foot in Hay-On-Wye, I couldn’t believe I’d left it until my late thirties to visit – what a waste of a few decades. The small town on the Welsh borders that sits on the River Wye is probably best known for hosting the annual Hay literary festival, and it’s definitely a book-lovers paradise – with more than 20 book stores to explore. They sit among the many antiques shops, which sell everything from fabulous Welsh rugs to toy soldiers, trinkets and beautiful furniture.  There are so many things to browse that I could probably waste a whole week on second-hand shopping alone. 

Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
This quintessential little village may seem very familiar to some. It’s tiny – with just 150 houses, a village green, a pond and a lovely pub, The Three Horseshoes. But with Elstree Studios just up the road, it has been used as a set in countless films, in particular the 1960s British horror movie, Village of the Damned. Its close proximity to London – just half an hour away on a train from nearby Radlett or Elstree and Borehamwood station – means it’s easy to get to.

The United Kingdom’s King Charles III has stripped his brother, Andrew, of the title of prince and ordered him to leave his lavish residence near Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. Observers say the Palace is finally taking decisive action over Andrew’s connections to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, and allegations that the two men sexually abused Virginia Giuffre when she was a teenager.

Andrew, 65, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth and younger brother of King Charles, has faced growing scrutiny over his personal conduct and ties to Epstein. Earlier this month, he was pressured into giving up his title of Duke of York.

“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life,” Andrew said at the time. He also said he “vigorously den[ies] the accusations” against him.

Buckingham Palace hopes to be seen as taking a decisive step, drawing a line after years of compromising scandals. In 2022, Andrew was removed from numerous royal duties due to his connections to Epstein.

How did Andrew’s ties to Epstein come to light?

Born in 1960, Andrew was once one of the more popular members of the British royal family, known for his military service as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War in 1982.

For years, however, Andrew’s personal antics have generated embarrassing headlines, testing the patience of the royal family. In 2024, for instance, court documents revealed that a close adviser on Andrew’s business affairs was a suspected Chinese spy.

But it was Andrew’s persistent ties to Jeffrey Epstein that ultimately forced King Charles’s hand and led to Andrew stepping down from his royal duties in 2019. Epstein died by suicide in a US prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

In 2021, Virginia Giuffre – one of the most prominent accusers of Epstein – filed a lawsuit alleging rape and sexual abuse against then-Prince Andrew. She claimed she had been forced to have sex with him on multiple occasions when she was 17, a minor under US law.

Prince Andrew has always denied Giuffre’s allegations, even insisting that a now-infamous photograph that appeared to show them together had been doctored. But in 2022, he agreed to settle the lawsuit, costing him as much as $16m.

Virginia Giuffre died by suicide in April this year. She was 41 years old.

Earlier this month, British newspapers reported that Andrew had emailed Epstein in February 2011 – more than two months after the prince told the BBC he had severed all ties with his former associate.

The email was sent at a time of heightened media coverage of the Epstein scandal, with Andrew telling Epstein they were “in this together” and would “have to rise above it”.

These disclosures ultimately prompted Buckingham Palace’s response on Thursday.

What has Buckingham Palace said?

In a statement released on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace said the King’s brother is now to be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

He will no longer be styled “Prince” or “His Royal Highness (HRH)” and he has lost his dukedom, earldom, barony, military ranks and royal patronages.

It also announced that he is to be evicted from his residence, the sprawling Royal Lodge that was once home to the Queen Mother, near Windsor Castle, west of London.

“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation,” the palace statement said.

“These censures are deemed necessary… Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,” it added.

A palace source said the decision was taken by King Charles, but that he had the support of the wider family, including heir-to-the-throne Prince William, in a bid to limit reputational risks to the monarchy.

Elsewhere, culture secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC’s Question Time programme that the king’s latest decision was a “truly brave, important, and correct step”, sending a “powerful message” to survivors of sexual abuse.

Why has Andrew been evicted from Royal Lodge?

In recent weeks, the British press has been rife with speculation about Andrew’s finances after The Times newspaper reported on October 21 that he had not paid rent on his 30-room mansion – known as Royal Lodge – for two decades.

It was revealed that he had a lease on the property stipulating a “peppercorn rent”: In return for carrying out renovations and maintaining the mansion, Andrew was paying a rent of “one peppercorn” each year.

In a rare political intervention, a British parliamentary committee on Wednesday questioned whether Andrew should still be living in the house, which is owned by the monarch and located 5km (3 miles) south of Windsor Castle.

On October 28, the BBC also revealed that Prince Andrew had hosted Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell – Epstein’s associate, later jailed for sex trafficking – and Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced film producer convicted of rape, at Royal Lodge.

The three visited Andrew’s home in 2006 to celebrate his daughter’s 18th birthday, just two months after a United States arrest warrant had been issued for Epstein over the sexual assault of a minor.

Where will Andrew live now?

It is understood that Andrew will move to a property on the private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, which will be privately funded by his brother, the king.

The wider Sandringham Estate covers approximately 8,100 hectares (20,000 acres) with 240 hectares (600 acres) of gardens, and the Palace has not stipulated which property he will stay in.

It is also understood that Andrew’s move to Sandringham will take place “as soon as practicable”.

His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson – who still lives at Royal Lodge with him – will also move out of Royal Lodge and make her own living arrangements.

Have other royals in the UK been stripped of their titles in the past?

The stripping of Prince Andrew’s royal titles by King Charles III is unusual in modern British history.

Other royals have relinquished titles voluntarily – such as Princess Diana giving up HRH following her divorce from King Charles – and King Edward VIII, who abdicated from the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American woman who had been divorced twice.

Others have lost their privileges for political reasons – such as Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, for siding with Germany in World War I – but there has not been a case of a reigning monarch or immediate family being stripped of their status for scandal-related reasons.

In that sense, Andrew’s case is the most serious demotion of a senior British royal in recent memory.

Oct. 31 (UPI) — An upscale London real estate firm has apologized for failing to apply for local authority approval for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to rent out her familiy home in South London after offering to take care of it.

Gareth Martin, owner of Harvey & Wheeler, based in South London’s exclusive Dulwich Village, said Thursday that the firm’s then-property manager had promised to obtain the $1,250 “selective” permit required from Southwark Council, but the application was never submitted.

“We deeply regret the issue caused to our clients as they would have been under the impression that a license had been applied for,” said Martin.

Martin said the manager unexpectedly quit the firm just days before the house was leased and nobody else in the office picked up on the fact the application to register the property as a rental remained outstanding.

He stressed the firm did not normally deal with the permits as compliance with housing codes was the responsibility of homeowners but the offer was made in this case in order to be helpful.

The mix-up led to Reeves having to issue a written apology to Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid calls from opposition lawmakers for her to be investigated or fired over the infringement for which the borough could impose an unlimited fine on Reeves or Harvey & Wheeler.

Southwark Council said it would not be taking action against either party, explaining that it usually sent a notice to landlords reminding them they are required to apply for a change of use and that it only resorted to prosecution as a last resort.

However, Reeves was still facing questions over the issue Friday because in her apology letter to Starmer she said had not been aware a permit was necessary.

Hours later, she was forced to issue a clarification, writing in a second letter to Starmer, that Harvey & Wheeler had informed her husband a license would be required, but that they would deal with the application. Reeves said she took full responsibility for the oversight.

Starmer has staunchly backed Reeves, saying Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent adviser on ethics, had ruled that it was an inadvertent oversight and that she had not broken the ministerial code.

Presented with the emails between Harvey & Wheeler and Reeves’ husband when consulted for a second time late Thursday, Magnus’ advice remained that he found “no evidence of bad faith.”

Magnus was appointed to the role by the previous Conservative administration of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Starmer offered only a mild rebuke of Reeves, who is set to deliver a watershed budget for the government in less than a month, in which she will lay out how she plans to plug a fiscal hole of as much as $40 billion and boost lackluster economic growth.

“Clearly it would have been better if you and your husband had conducted a full trawl through all email correspondence with the estate agency before writing to me yesterday,” he wrote, but said he accepted it was a mistake and that no further action was necessary.

However, Reeves’ defense that she did not know she needed to get a permit has also come under scrutiny because in recent days she posted on social media praising the regulations and saying they should be adopted more widely.

In a series of posts on X on Oct. 20, she hailed a city hall decision in the district in northern England she represents to extend the licensing scheme for private landlords to more areas.

“I welcome Leeds City Council’s decision to expand their selective landlord licencing policy to include the Armley area. While many private landlords operate in the right way, we know that lots of private tenants in Armley face problems with poorly maintained housing,” she wrote.

Opposition Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour had been mired in a series of scandals but there should now be a formal investigation by the ethics adviser, saying she would accept the outcome whatever was conclude

“She is the Chancellor,” she told the House of Commons on Thursday.

“This is an offense that she is supposed to have committed as Chancellor, a criminal offense, and maybe it is the letting agent’s fault. But isn’t it funny with Labour, it’s always somebody else’s fault. Always. It’s never their own fault,” said Badenoch.

Reeves put the family home on the market for $4,265 a month in July 2024 after becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer when Labour won a landlside general election victory.

The position comes with a residence in Downing Street, at no. 11, next to the prime minister’s.

TAKING your kids to see Santa in Lapland is a dream for many parents wanting a truly magical Christmas experience as a family  – but can be very expensive.

So I’ve I found a holiday hack that saved me thousands on a trip to the Christmas village in Finland, as long as you don’t mind an early start.

The Finnish Lapland is a popular holiday destination for a festive holiday, and for my kids Finn, 6, and Isobel, 4, it was seeing Santa.

However, these trips to Finland, especially near to Christmas, can cost as much as £10,000 a week when booking a holiday package for a family of four with hotels, flights and all the activities.

That’s when I discovered that you can go to Lapland for the day. 

Canterbury Travel offers day trips to Enontekio in Finland, flying out of the UK in the morning and getting home that very same evening – and it includes a meet with Father Christmas.

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We wanted to be as close to Christmas as possible, so we booked for December 22, but the lead up is just as exciting.

The holiday provider not only arranges everything, but sends you a special package in the post with a letter from Father Christmas, inviting the children to come and visit him at his house in Lapland. 

Of course, the big day requires a very early start, having to wake the kids up at 4am, although thankfully we live just a short drive from London Stansted Airport to make our 7am flight.

The fun started as soon as we got to check-in. All the staff were wearing Christmas jumpers and tinsel and festive songs were playing. 

What I loved most was the effort that had gone into making it enchanting for families.

The staff were calling it ‘Santa’s magical plane’ and even the information boards had been set up to tell the story, with the board listing the destination as Lapland rather than Enontekio.

Even onboard, we had coffee and breakfast, with kids given activity packs while Christmas songs and games were played over the tannoy.

While the flight was only 3hr30, the sun was already starting to set as the Arctic Circle only has around six hours of daylight this time of year.

It was still magical though – we landed on the snow-covered runway with a magical backdrop pink sky that looked like a Christmas card.

With this package, everything is covered. This includes all meals and drinks and rental of your snowsuit, socks and boots.

Ready for our six-hour day in Finland, we were shown into a barn and sized up for our kit, leaving our own clothes and shoes there until home time before dressing in everything from thermal leggings and tops to the full suits.

The weather in Lapland was -13C during our visit, but we were the perfect temperature and despite concerns, both my kids were warm enough with all of the layers.

Then it was on to the good bit. We were whisked off to Santa’s village on a sleigh and it was thrilling. 

The location is stunning, set in a forest, next to a frozen lake that is like a winter wonderland.

Once at the village, everything is included and activities include learning to drive a snowmobile, toboggans, a snow igloo with stunning ice sculptures and tables made of ice, husky sledging and reindeer sleigh rides.

When you have little children, meeting Father Christmas is of the utmost importance. 

Meeting the big guy was about as stress-free as you can imagine. When we arrived, we were given a time slot to go up to Santa’s cottage and everyone will get the chance to meet him. 

There are no lines or jostling to get in so it perfectly executed.

When it’s your time to go up to the cottage, which is nestled on a hill in the woods,  you’re invited to wait in a log cabin with a roaring fire. 

Then, a cheerful Elf came in to talk to the children, ask them what they want for Christmas and whether they wanted to ask Santa anything specific. 

My kids were fully immersed in the magic and it was so heart-warming. 

The elf explained what would happen next and then we were shown to a snowmobile sleigh that would whisk us up the hill to Santa’s house. 

Father Christmas was waiting inside the beautiful cabin, which was decorated with fairy lights and a huge Christmas tree. 

The experience was so relaxed and we never felt rushed or like we were being hurried along. 

Santa talked to the kids for ages and even did a magic trick, which they loved. Then he gave them a little gift, which was a reindeer teddy bear with ‘love from Santa’ sewn into the foot. 

It was one of the loveliest experiences I have ever had with my children and I will remember it for a lifetime. 

With the main ‘attraction’ ticked off, it was time to have an adventure in the alpine village and we had such a great day. 

Lunch is available in the main cabin throughout the day, so you can eat when you want and as many times as you want to.

The buffet is a choice of soup, baked potatoes with either a meat or vegetarian filling or pasta, as well as pancakes with jam for desert, alongside drinks of mulled wine, or tea, coffee, hot chocolate and soft drinks.

By this time, the sun had set in Enontekio but the village was completely lit up with fairy lights to keep the magic in the darkness.

Despite the holiday package only being around six hours, I was still amazed by how much else we managed to fit into the day.

We went on a slow cruise through the forest on a reindeer sleigh, which allowed some quiet time as a family.

A quick pit stop for a hot chocolate was enough to recharge our batteries and then we headed to the husky dog sledge ride, the ice castle and the snow mobile driving school.

There are full size adult snowmobiles and mini children one for kids under a certain height.

I really liked the fact that everyone has the chance to do everything and no one is left out.

Our last stop of the day was the snow sledging hill. We had so much fun going up and down and racing each other to the bottom.

It was even more special as just before we were about to say goodbye to Lapland and head back to the airport, the Northern Lights appeared in the sky above the village.

There is a coach transfer back to the airport and after dinner on the plane, we all fell asleep, landing in London at back to our car by 11pm.

I’d been worried that an extreme day trip from London to the arctic circle would be a lot for Isobel, who was only four.

And while she was certainly flagging by the end of the day, there was enough to distract her to keep her occupied.

The village also isn’t suitable for buggies so if you think you may have to carry younger ones, I recommend bringing a baby carrier or sling if you have one.

I was sceptical that we wouldn’t be able to do and see everything but it is so well organised that we didn’t miss anything and the whole day was very relaxed.

We saved money not staying overnight and got to do everything we wanted on the extreme day trip.

It does cost a bit extra to do a package trip like this than a DIY one, but we would never have been able to Lapland in a day if we hadn’t have booked this with a specialist company.

It’s a slick operation and very well executed with happy staff.

As parents we could thoroughly enjoy it too, without worrying about finding our way around, working out what to do and finding places to eat and drink in the show with two kids in tow.

Since we don’t often go on cold-weather holidays, I also liked that we didn’t have to buy snow suits and weather-proof outfits for the whole family. This saved us a few hundred quid it itself.

Usually, I love planning holidays and I’m someone who books everything separately myself to save money and create the exact itinerary that I want, but this was a great way to save money and do it right to make it magical for kids.

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Canterbury Travel still has some availability for the Enchanting Lapland day trips for 2025 with departures from Bristol, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, and Gatwick.

Prices start from £629 per person but includes return flights, in-flight meals and all activities, including transfers from the airport to the designated Christmas village by sleigh.

It’s time to resume your island getaway — and possibly incur more virtual debt. (We see you, Tom Nook.)

Nintendo announced Thursday that its cozy social sim “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is getting a Switch 2 upgrade. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition,” which will offer improved visuals, mouse controls, an in-game megaphone that uses the console’s built-in microphone and multiplayer enhancements, will be released Jan. 15.

In addition to allowing players to experience the game in 4K when playing on their TV, the upgraded edition of “New Horizons” will enable them to utilize the mouse controls on the Joy-Con 2 controller when redecorating their homes, creating custom designs and writing messages on the bulletin board.

The megaphone, which will be available at Nook’s Cranny, can be used to locate fellow villagers by calling out their names. “New Horizons” players also will be able to play online with up to 12 other Switch 2 edition players and use a webcam.

A free update for all “Animal Crossings: New Horizons” players, regardless of console, will also be available Jan. 15. This will include access to a new resort opening on the pier, which will allow players to decorate guest rooms and purchase new items at a souvenir shop. The update will also see the “Animal Crossing” world’s familiar grumpy mole, Resetti, offering a “reset service” to clean up a player’s island.

Other offerings include the option for players to upgrade their home storage to hold up to 9,000 items — including trees, shrubs and flowers — and the ability for Nintendo Switch Online members to design and save up to three islands that they can collaborate on with friends online. New Nintendo-themed goods, including playable classic Nintendo console games, and Lego items also will be available within the game through the update.

Released in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch console, “Animal Crossing: New Horizon” became a balm during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering players a way to connect and be social during quarantine and uncertain times. The fifth main installment of the “Animal Crossing” franchise would go on to become one of the best-selling Switch games ever.

Southern California Edison increased the number of Eaton fire victims that are eligible to file claims for damages in its final compensation proposal, though some Altadena residents say the utility’s program still falls short.

After talking to residents about the plan it released in July, Edison said it decided to expand the area of homes that are eligible for compensation for smoke damage.

“Expanding the eligibility area is one of the most significant updates made as a result of feedback,” said Pedro Pizarro, the chief executive of Edison International, the utility’s parent company. “The number of qualified properties nearly doubled for those with damage from smoke, soot or ash.”

The utility also increased the amount of compensation it is offering for some victims. For example, each child in a family that lost its home will be eligible to receive $75,000 for pain and suffering, up from $50,000 in the initial plan.

To receive payments under the utility’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, families must agree to drop any lawsuits they filed against the utility for the Jan. 7 fire.

The program also is open to businesses that lost revenues and renters who lost property. And it covers those who suffered physical injuries or had family members who died.

Edison is launching the victim compensation program even though government fire investigators have not released their report on the cause of the fire. The inferno swept through Altadena, destroying 9,400 homes and other structures and killing 19 people.

Videos captured the fire igniting under a century-old transmission line in Eaton Canyon that Edison had not used since 1971, and Pizarro has said a leading theory is that the line somehow re-energized and ignited the blaze. Edison said in a federal securities filing this week that “absent additional evidence, SCE believes that it is likely that its equipment could be found to have been associated with the ignition.”

In documents detailing its final compensation plan, the utility included the example of a family of four with a 1,500-square-foot home that was destroyed. The family would receive $900,000 to rebuild, $360,000 for personal property, $140,000 for loss of use and $380,000 for pain and suffering. It also would receive a $200,000 “direct claim premium” for agreeing to settle outside of court.

That total of $1,980,000 is then reduced by the family’s $1 million of insurance coverage, according to the company’s example.

On Thursday, state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) sent a letter to Edison saying she was concerned about how the utility was requiring victims to waive their future legal rights in order to get compensation. And she called on Edison to provide immediate housing assistance to fire victims.

“Having acknowledged its potential role in starting the Eaton Fire, Edison must do everything within its power to prioritize the needs of survivors and make this commitment a core part of its corporate duty,” she wrote to Pizarro. “This means ensuring fire victims can recover and rebuild their lives with the support they are owed.”

Edison expects to be reimbursed for most or all of the payments it makes to victims by a $21-billion state wildfire fund that Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers created in 2019 to shield utilities from bankruptcy. Administrators of the wildfire fund told members of the state Catastrophe Response Council this week that they expect Eaton fire claims “to be in the tens of billions of dollars.”

In September, Newsom signed a bill that will bolster the money available by another $18 billion for future wildfires. Under that bill, Edison is allowed to raise electric rates for any Eaton fire costs that exceed the original $21-billion fund.

Some Eaton fire survivors told the council, which oversees the wildfire fund, that Edison’s program fails to fully cover damages suffered by victims. Joy Chen, executive director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, recently sent the council a report detailing where her group found shortfalls. For example, Chen said, Edison is deducting a homeowner’s full insurance coverage from the compensation amounts even if the insurer has reimbursed the family for only part of that amount.

“Nine months after Edison’s negligence shattered our lives, the toll is clear,” the group’s report states. “Many have drained retirement savings, maxed out credit cards, or watched marriages and health deteriorate under the strain. “

“You destroyed our homes, lives and community,” the report says of Edison. “Fix what you broke. “

Chen’s group joined with Perez in calling for Edison to provide emergency housing assistance for victims.

Edison said its program is designed “to help the community recover and rebuild faster.” The utility said a report by RAND, the non-profit research group it hired to assess the compensation plan, determined the payment amounts “used modern statistical methods and in our judgment were thoughtfully done and well executed.”

Edison said victims can start filing for claims now and that it expects to get back to them with an offer within 90 days.

The rare move comes after mounting pressure to act over Andrew’s relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles III has stripped his brother Prince Andrew of his remaining titles and evicted him from his royal residence after weeks of pressure to act over his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Buckingham Palace said on Thursday the king “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew”.

After the king’s rare move, Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince, and he will move from his Royal Lodge residence into “private accommodation”.

It is almost unprecedented for a British prince or princess to be stripped of that title. It last happened in 1919, when Prince Ernest Augustus, who was a UK royal and also a prince of Hanover, had his British title removed for siding with Germany during World War I.

Demand had been growing on the palace to remove the prince from Royal Lodge after he surrendered his use of the title duke of York earlier this month over new revelations about his friendship with Epstein and renewed sexual abuse allegations by one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, whose posthumous memoir hit bookstores last week.

But the king went even further to punish him for serious lapses of judgement by removing the title of prince that he had held since birth as a child of a monarch, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said. “Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

Giuffre’s brother declared victory for his sister, who died in April at the age of 41.

“Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” her brother Skye Roberts said in a statement.

Andrew faced a new round of public opprobrium after emails emerged earlier this month showing he had remained in contact with Epstein longer than he previously admitted.

That news was followed by the publication of, Nobody’s Girl, by Giuffre, who alleged she had sex with Andrew when she was 17. The book detailed three alleged sexual encounters with Andrew, who she said acted as if he believed “having sex with me was his birthright”.

Andrew, 65, has long denied Giuffre’s claims, but stepped down from royal duties after a disastrous November 2019 BBC interview in which he attempted to rebut her allegations.

Andrew paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in 2022 after Giuffre filed a civil suit against him in New York. While he did not admit wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking.

The move by the king means Andrew will no longer be a prince or be known as “his royal highness”, “duke of York”, “earl of Inverness” or “baron Killyleagh” – all titles he held until now. Also gone are honours that include Order of the Garter and status as knight grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Andrew is expected to move to a property on the king’s Sandringham estate near the northeast coast and receive private financial support from his brother.

The park, home to Peppa Pig World, is opening a new land in 2026 with thrill rides and a themed restaurant. Paulton’s Valgard zone is sure to be a hit when it welcomes in the public

Paultons Park, a theme park known for being the home of toddler favourite Peppa Pig World, is set to expand with a new land as part of a whopping £12 million development.

The new addition, Valgard – Realm of the Vikings, is designed for older children and teenagers and is scheduled to open in spring 2026. The Viking-themed land will feature two new adrenaline-pumping rides: the inverting rollercoaster Drakon, and Vild Swing, which will whirl riders 12 metres into the air in a first-of-its-kind ride in the UK.

A sneak peek video on the park’s official YouTube page offers thrill-seekers a taste of what to expect from Drakon, promising plenty of twists and turns. An existing ride, Cobra, is also set for a revamp and will be rebranded as Raven to align with the Viking theme.

The park also plans to add a themed restaurant and a playground for younger guests to Valgard. Further expansion of Valgard is planned for 2027, including a new water ride, although details are currently being kept confidential, according to the Express.

James Mancey, deputy managing director at Paultons Park, expressed his excitement about the project, stating: “We are thrilled to share our plans for our largest and boldest investment to date. As an independent, family-owned theme park, we’re incredibly proud of the investments we make to deliver the very best guest experience. We’ve opened two brand-new rides in the last two years and with the build of Valgard firmly underway, we’re excited to open a further three, bigger-and-better-than-ever-before rides, between now and summer 2027.

“Valgard promises an immersive, atmospheric, and action-packed experience for families and has been specifically designed to grow with our fans. The introduction of inversions and a vertical lift hill on Drakon certainly up the adrenaline levels at Paultons Park, but staying true to our roots, we haven’t forgotten about the little ones and there is something for all of the family in our new Viking village.”

The fresh Viking-themed area will join the park’s existing six themed worlds, including Tornado Springs with its American setting, and Lost Kingdom which focuses on dinosaurs.

Among the park’s most famous attractions is Peppa Pig World, inspired by the beloved children’s cartoon series, which Paultons Park has been crowned the UK’s top theme park, beating out competition from Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Legoland Windsor. The Hampshire-based attraction scooped the prestigious Theme Park of the Year award at the UK Theme Park Awards 2025, as well as being named Best Theme Park for Families (Large), and Best Theme Park for Toddlers (Large).

Its Ghostly Manor ride was also voted Best New Attraction.

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Visitors have been quick to sing the park’s praises on Tripadvisor, with one reviewer, Ste H, describing Paultons Park as a “brilliant” place that is “spotlessly clean”. He added that the staff are “some of the friendliest people” he has ever encountered at such a venue, and that “[G]enuinely everyone we met made it perfectly clear they love working there, which is great to see.”

Another visitor, Lizzie L, shared her experience of visiting midweek, writing: “All the rides in Peppa Pig world were a walk on and the only time we queued was to meet Peppa. The theming is great and perfect for little ones.”

Exactly a year after the Eaton fire broke out, musicians are banding together once more for an upcoming benefit show, called A Concert for Altadena.

As a way to both raise funds and bring the community together, the night is set to include performances from musicians like Jackson Browne, Dawes & Friends, Aloe Blacc, Jenny Lewis, Everclear, Stephen Stills, Mandy Moore, Judith Hill, Brad Paisley, Ozomatli, Brandon Flowers of the Killers and more.

Many of the featured acts have ties to Los Angeles and Altadena specifically, like Dawes, an indie band from Altadena who notably sang a lively rendition of “I Love L.A.” at this year’s Grammys ceremony. Moore, who is also performing, similarly lost their homes in the fire.

“I’ve seen firsthand how music can mobilize people for good. This concert brings together artists, fans, and neighbors for something bigger than all of us — recovery, hope, and rebuilding lives,” said Grammy winner Eric Krasno. The guitarist, who also lived in Altadena, helped organize the event and is set to perform.

Even behind the scenes, people like Kevin Lyman, who founded the Vans Warped Tour and is a longtime Altadena resident, is working as the event’s lead producer.

“Music has always been a force for community. With this event, we’re not just putting on a show — we’re helping Altadena rebuild homes, restore businesses, and heal hearts. This night is about unity and purpose,” said Lyman.

All of the proceeds from the show will go to the Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund, which helps provide resources to families impacted, and the Altadena Builds Back Foundation, which focuses on the long-term recovery of housing in the neighborhood.

The Eaton fire is the second most destructive wildfire in California’s history, destroying more than 9,000 structures in an area of nearly 22 square miles. It is also one of the state’s deadliest fires, with 19 people killed. Since the January fire, rebuilding efforts have proved to be slow-moving in the face of bureaucracy and high overhead costs.

The benefit show will take place Jan. 7 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Tickets go sale Nov. 7.