EUROPE’S highest free public viewing gallery has announced it is closed until further notice.
Horizon 22 is inside one of London‘s tallest buildings, 833 feet above ground level with sweeping views across the city.
However, anyone with tickets will have to look elsewhere as yesterday Horizon 22 announced its closure on social media.
It said: “Unfortunately, Horizon 22 will be closed until further notice. All ticket holders have been contacted.”
It continued: “Please check your email for more details. We apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you to Horizon 22 soon.”
It updated customers today with the news that it remains “closed until further notice”.
And that it will “share our reopening date as soon as we can.”
Talking to Sun Travel, a spokesperson for 22 Bishopsgate explained the issue is a water leak.
The spokesperson said: “Having experienced significant water leakage in certain parts of the building, we have made the decision to close 22 Bishopsgate until we are able to fully operate all our life safety systems.
“We have informed all our occupiers and are working to rectify the issue and to reopen the building as soon as possible.
“We understand the inconvenience and disappointment this will cause our occupiers and visitors and would like to take this opportunity to offer our apologies.”
Horizon 22 first opened in 2023 and has been extremely popular with visitors as it’s completely free.
Tickets need to be booked in advance and are released every Monday at 10am for the next 14 days.
From the viewing platform, visitors can see London landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Shard, and the Gherkin.
In the meantime, other viewing platforms in the city include The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate and the Sky Garden.
Both are completely free but need to be booked in advance to guarantee entry.
Mdxhealth SA (MDXH) announced on Friday that the company received an additional notification letter from Nasdaq related to the recent reduction in the price for the company’s ordinary shares.
The initial notice was related to the company’s non-compliance with the $1
THE Jam star Bruce Foxton has revealed he’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
The iconic bassist, 70, took to Facebook this evening to share the news with fans just days after cancelling two shows at short notice due to illness.
In his statement, he revealed the diagnosis came to light after side effects from his cancer treatment were investigated.
He said: “It’s no secret that I’ve undergone treatment for cancer and am still having scans on a regular basis to keep an eye on that.
“However, what you don’t know is that the cancer treatment in itself caused some significant issues for me and investigations into all of that uncovered the fact that I’m now facing a future living with Parkinson’s Disease…and I’m determined to do that as well as I possibly can.
“As anyone coping with this diagnosis will know it’s a huge shock, and it’s taking a long time to let that sink in and for me to accept that my body and mind are dealing with something completely out of my control.
“I have to manage the challenges I now face physically and mentally on a daily basis, and some days are better than others.”
Fans sent the musician their well-wishes in the comments.
One wrote: “Sorry to hear about all your health problems you need to do what is best for you and your family moving forwards.”
Another said: “All the best Bruce, your health is far more important than anything else and I am so sorry that you are having more health struggles. Look after yourself and I hope you enjoy many more years of happiness.”
Bruce cancelled his show in Kidderminster on Friday and postponed the following night’s show in Lincoln after high temperatures aggravated a chest infection.
The former Stiff Little Fingers musician formed From The Jam in 2007 with The Jam drummer Rick Buckler and new frontman Russell Hastings.
Original The Jam frontman Paul Weller was initially critical of the band playing the old hits but his stance softened over the years as his friendship with Foxton strengthened.
The trio were prolific on the touring circuit, thrilling mod fans young and old with the legendary band’s iconic hits such as The Eton Rifles and Going Underground.
Bruce underwent immunotherapy after a cancerous lymph node was found in 2023 and, the following year, he had knee replacement surgery.
The health issues took their toll and fans noticed he appeared to be struggling during shows in 2025, which eventually led to him retiring from From The Jam.
However, he scaled down his schedule and now performs with his All-Star band.
Bruce wears custom hearing aids due to hearing loss from 40 years on stage. He also has lived with tinnitus for years.
“Firstly, I just wanted to thank everyone for the messages wishing me well. Your love, support, and understanding means a lot. It was a difficult decision to cancel the shows last weekend (especially as my bag was packed!), but the brutal heat coupled with an underlying chest infection really knocked me for six, and the medical advice was to rest up while taking medication.
I’m not sure where the rumour about being in hospital started, but luckily that wasn’t necessary, and I was able to rest up at home and I’m pleased to say that I’m feeling a lot better than I was.
This latest knock back has brought about more speculation about my health, and that’s totally understandable. It’s no secret that I’ve undergone treatment for cancer and am still having scans on a regular basis to keep an eye on that. However, what you don’t know is that the cancer treatment in itself caused some significant issues for me and investigations into all of that uncovered the fact that I’m now facing a future living with Parkinson’s Disease…and I’m determined to do that as well as I possibly can.
As anyone coping with this diagnosis will know it’s a huge shock, and it’s taking a long time to let that sink in and for me to accept that my body and mind are dealing with something completely out of my control. I have to manage the challenges I now face physically and mentally on a daily basis, and some days are better than others.
Back in May 2025, it was hard to accept that touring with FTJ was no longer an option for me, but being officially diagnosed and having the right meds to help deal with symptoms has given me another chance to carry on doing what I love and what I live for in a relaxed and supportive environment. The response and love we’ve felt at our gigs has been second to none and I can’t thank you enough.
With your help I’m going to keep going and playing live for as long as I’m able to do it. It’s good for me, my future health and hopefully good for all of you who still enjoy coming along to join with me, Mark, Craig, and Andy to enjoy those great songs. I will be working hard every day to give the best performance possible.”
A EUROPEAN city has been forced to cancel all flights at short notice – affecting thousands of passengers.
Air traffic in Belgium will be halted from 12pm to 7pm today due to an unexpected air traffic controller strike.
At Brussels Airport, passengers are being told not to travel to the airport.
In a statement, they said: “All flights to and from Brussels Airport between 2pm and 9pm will unfortunately have to be cancelled by the airlines.
“Please do not come to the airport if you are flying between 2pm and 9pm.”
This has already included some British Airways flights from London Heathrow.
According to local media, this has also affected Brussels Charleroi Airport, with 30 flights cancelled so far.
This mainly means Ryanair passengers, who are the primary carrier at Belgium‘s second biggest airport.
Ryanair slammed the strike, which has affected 20,000 passengers.
The airline’s boss Michael O’Leary said: “While we respect the right to strike, it is unacceptable that airlines were given zero notice of today’s Belgian ATC strike.
“As a result, airlines were forced to cancel flights at short notice, unfairly impacting thousands of passengers travelling to/from Belgium – many of whom are now stranded at Charleroi and Zaventem Airports.”
But Wizz Air passengers are also being hit, with flights being forced to divert and land at other airports.
Brussels Charleroi said in a statement: ” A new work stoppage will bring operations to a standstill starting at 2:15pm at Charleroi Airport.
“As a result, all flights scheduled to depart or arrive from 2:15 p.m. onward are canceled.
“Passengers with a flight scheduled after 2:15pm departing from or arriving at Charleroi Airport are advised to contact their airline for refunds or rebooking.
“Passengers with flights scheduled after 9:00pm are advised to check their flight status on their airline’s website.”
Similar restrictions are affecting other airports in Belgium too, including Antwerp, Liege, Ostend-Bruges.
The strikes are due to a disagreement over a new digital control tower being introduced.
A UK waterpark has closed suddenly as the country experiences 33C heat.
Blackpill Lido in Swansea, Wales, is a popular spot that is free for visitors – and is even more popular with the current heat the UK is experiencing and the half-term holidays.
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
However, Swansea Council was forced to drain the lido yesterday after the pool floor became damaged.
It is the pool’s second closure in the past month, following sprinklers being stolen from the lido earlier this month.
According to Swansea Bay News, the council revealed that they had been forced to drain the pool on Tuesday after parts of the pool flooring came away.
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A spokesperson for the council said: “Sadly the Lido at Blackpill will be closed for a number of days due to a technical issue.
“Sincere apologies for any inconvenience this has caused and thank you for your understanding.”
In a later update, a council spokesperson added: “Unfortunately, the lido’s flooring has come away in some areas and we’re looking into how it happened.
“We’re aiming to get it fixed as quickly as possible over the coming days and then we’ll refill the lido.”
The council also revealed that even once repair works are complete, it could take a number of days to refill the lido, which will prolong the closure.
Currently, no expected reopening date has been announced.
Blackpill Lido underwent refurbishment in recent years, including launching new water features.
On a Tuesday evening in Eagle Rock, used-bookstore owners Jeremy and Debbie Kaplan were closing up for the day when a stranger rushed through the entrance. He tossed an envelope onto the counter, said something like: “Building’s been sold,” and slipped out.
Inside the envelope, the Kaplans found a 30-day notice: The shop’s $1,200 monthly rent would be increasing to $2,805 on April 1, they were required to decide whether they would accept the more than 133% price hike a month in advance, and they’d need to agree to a three- to five-year lease if so. The letter arrived Feb. 17, which meant the Kaplans had 11 days to accept the new landlord’s terms or leave.
“We couldn’t even consider it,” Jeremy Kaplan said. “It would be suicide.” The couple looked around the 680-square-foot shop. From the floor to ceiling, more than 20,000 books were crammed every which way into shelves they’d built and stained themselves nearly 20 years before. “My first reaction was panic,” he said. “How are we going to move out of this place?”
Their children had grown up at Read Books (pronounced like the color, as in: “These aren’t new books, they’re previously read books.”) The realization began to set in, Jeremy said, that they were being pushed out with intimidation tactics. “We started getting angry. So the next day, we started looking into our legal rights.”
After searching the internet, the Kaplans found California’s Senate Bill 1103, the Commercial Tenant Protection Act that passed last year. The law offers protections for “qualified commercial tenants” and requires landlords to give a 90-day notice for rent increases surpassing 10%.
When the Kaplans tried to contact the new property management company, Jeremy said, Systems Real Estate was evasive.
“It’s the one bill that protects commercial tenants, and it’s a fairly toothless bill because they don’t have to acknowledge it, unless you make them acknowledge it,” he said. The Kaplans, along with Sharon Kroner, whose neighboring vintage boutique Owl Talk is facing the same fate, wrote to Systems Real Estate, citing SB 1103. They had the letter certified and attached their rent checks for the next month.
In response, the 30-day notice was amended to 90 days. Systems Real Estate did not respond to a request from The Times for comment.
The Kaplans had more time to search for a new location, but Jeremy quickly saw a trend in Northeast Los Angeles. “Vacant spaces all over the place,” he said. “When we inquired, they were ludicrously expensive, most over $5 per square foot. The second thing we started noticing was small stores like ours going out of business or being priced out in the exact same way we were.”
Jeremy Kaplan stands inside his bookstore on the last day Read Books is open for business.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)
When Jeremy started posting about Read Books’ plight, the response was immediate and overwhelming. Many customers who reached out said they wanted to help — the bookstore had been in Eagle Rock for as long as they had.
“Not mere condolences but calls to action from people I barely knew,” he said. “Lawyers, journalists, activists, parents, children.”
Two days after the rent-increase notice was delivered, the Kaplans and their supporters were devising a plan to fight back — if not to save Read Books, then to save other small businesses.
Save North East Los Angeles Shops was born.
Chris Newman, an immigrant rights lawyer whose son learned to read with books bought at the Eagle Rock shop, told The Times he showed up to the group’s first official meeting with the intention of trying to save the bookstore.
“I was surprised to see so many people talking not just about the situation that Jeremy’s in, but an epidemic that small businesses are facing,” Newman said.
At one coalition meeting in April, Jeremy rushed in late.
He’d just come from an event where he’d been able to talk with Mayor Karen Bass about the plight small businesses are facing and asked about the possibility of imposing a commercial vacancy tax on property owners who leave storefronts vacant for extended periods.
Although sympathetic, the mayor shot him down pretty swiftly, Jeremy said, saying nobody in L.A. wants more taxes.
A representative for Bass told The Times that under her leadership, “the City is focused on cutting red tape, expanding support for local businesses, and advancing solutions that address the broader affordability crisis.”
Signs against rent increases are posted outside Read Books.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)
In March 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down, small businesses in San Francisco had been grappling with rising rents that increasingly led to empty storefronts. Then North Beach’s beloved corner gem, Caffe Sapore, got its notice. Like Eagle Rockers, San Franciscans were done merely lamenting the community’s loss. They started organizing.
Aaron Peskin, who at the time served on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, said that while there are a variety of factors contributing to the vacancy issue, impractical property owners were the most common thread.
“Commercial landlords had unbelievably unrealistic expectations of rent, and a small business can only sell a T-shirt or a hamburger or a service for what the market will bear, and none of them could swing the rent,” Peskin said.
That year he authored Proposition D, a commercial vacancy tax ordinance that applies to street-facing, ground-floor properties that sit vacant for more than 182 days a year. It passed with nearly 70% of the vote.
“I served on that Board of Supervisors for 17 years, and it’s one of my proudest pieces of public policy,” Peskin said. “In the years since it passed, it has been working and has really helped in the post-pandemic recovery in our neighborhood commercial corridors. It’s been a rare instant success story.”
Demonstrators march toward Eagle Rock City Hall carrying protest signs against rent hikes for small businesses.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)
The question as to why someone would purchase a commercial property, raise the rent so current tenants are displaced and prospective tenants look elsewhere, only to have a onetime community hub collecting cobwebs, has inspired myriad theories.
Peskin pointed to an impractical landlord mentality; an L.A. council member suspected landlords were after tax breaks; a professor of economics said that his sense is that there’s more going on and tax benefits are likely not the driving factor; and a commercial real estate expert said landlords are likely pricing tenants out so they can tear the buildings down.
The Times reached out to Dr. Ari Ucar, the new owner of the Eagle Rock Boulevard building, who did not respond.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, a former tenant rights attorney, told The Times that landlords can benefit by claiming the vacancy as a loss on their taxes. “For landlords who own multiple commercial properties in a wide portfolio, a vacancy can be marked as a loss. In essence, when you file taxes and mark this as a loss, it reduces the total income generated. That’s the perverse incentive of having a vacancy.”
But a tax attorney in Los Angeles, Andrew Gradman, wasn’t convinced the tax incentive was enough to curb a landlord’s appetite for the passive income of steady rent payments. “You have to consider the most reasonable premise, which is that these landlords think they can get a better tenant, or they think that the lease would stand in the way of their getting some other better deal, in the form of, say, selling the whole building.”
A commercial real estate broker, Nick Quackenbos, said the likely motive for such a price hike is plans to scrape the building and build apartments in its place. He pointed to a recent landmark bill, State Senate Bill 79, which overrides local zoning laws to allow for taller, denser buildings near major transit stops. The bill will take effect statewide July 1, but L.A. plans to delay citywide upzoning until 2030 by carving out bespoke plans that target 55 single-family and low-density areas, allowing for 4-16 unit buildings up to four stories tall.
The 55 areas are mostly in Central L.A., West L.A., the Eastside and the San Fernando Valley. While Eagle Rock isn’t what L.A. city planners are designating an “opportunity hub” right now, Read Books is located a stone’s throw from the upcoming Colorado/Eagle Rock station, a stop on the North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) line slated to launch ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
“The bill is allowing things to take place which could disfigure a city like Eagle Rock,” said Quackenbos. “I bet that’s what you’re going to find down the road: These places will become vacant, and suddenly there’s groundbreaking for a new apartment building going up.”
Jeremy Kaplan speaks to community members outside his store, Read Books, about the issues small business owners face.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)
Read Books was set to close last weekend, and the Kaplans wanted to go out with a bang. In the shop’s front window was a single book: “The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto” by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, surrounded by signs that read “Forced Out!,” “Shame on Greedy Landlords,” and “Our Family Loves Read Books.”
As Debbie sat at the register inside, helping a steady flow of the shop’s final patrons, protesters gathered behind the building, clutching homemade posters and waiting for Jeremy to speak. Choking up, he addressed the crowd.
Debbie Kaplan, who co-owns Read Books, hands a customer books.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)
“Three months ago, when this all began, my initial action was to fight back, because fighting is my default setting. But I also felt … fear of insignificance, of disappearing, as if everything we built in the last 19 years, often working seven days a week, might soon be dismantled and forgotten. The support you’ve gifted us with these last few months has been a constant reminder that we’re all in this together.
“The real estate lobby is rich and powerful. They have more lobbyists than our representatives have staff, but we are building a coalition to fight them.
“What’s at stake? The soul of Los Angeles.”
