set

Harvard-Westlake and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame are teaming with Nike to hold a unique outdoor girls’ volleyball match on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. on a custom outdoor court flown in by Nike. The match will be played on Notre Dame’s baseball diamond under the lights and celebrate volleyball and women’s sports.

It’s called Rally in The Valley Fanfest that will include food trucks, a DJ and Nike interactive activities.

Student broadcasters will participate in the event that will feature an all-women officiating crew.

Nike is heavily involved in the promotion of high school sports and recently signed 14-year-old Harvard-Westlake freshman soccer player Zoe Thompson to an NIL deal. Her sisters, Alyssa and Gisele, signed a deal when they were in high school.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Summer is nearly over and TV is gearing up for winter TV, and this Love Island star could be the new face of the jungle

Love Island favourite Chloe Burrows has been tipped to be heading Down Under after reportedly entering talks for this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The 30-year-old shot to fame on Love Island in 2021 and proved a huge hit with viewers, eventually finishing runner-up alongside her then-boyfriend Toby Aromolaran. Now producers are allegedly keen to sign her up for I’m A Celeb, with Chloe said to be enthusiastic about swapping her home comforts for life in camp.

She is said to have held a number of meetings with bosses behind the ITV jungle show ahead of its return to Australia later this year.

A source told The Sun: “Chloe is in advanced talks and they love her. She was hugely popular in Love Island. She made it clear she’d love a chance to go to Australia to be on the show.”

Her sizeable online following is also reportedly attractive to producers as ITV continues to bring social media personalities into the jungle.

The insider added: “She has a very big following on social media too, very much like Angry Ginge and GK Barry, and ITV bosses think she could bring in a younger audience.

“ITV moves with the times. They’ve seen the surge of popularity with influencers.”

YouTuber and streamer Angry Ginge was crowned King of the Jungle last year after securing 13million votes, while podcaster and social media star GK Barry finished fifth in the 2024 series.

Since leaving the Love Island villa, Chloe has successfully built a career away from the dating show. She now hosts her own podcast, Chloe vs The World, and can also be heard on Kiss Breakfast alongside Strictly Come Dancing star Tyler West.

It wouldn’t be her first experience of being pushed outside her comfort zone on reality television either. Last year, she signed up for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, although her time on the gruelling Channel 4 programme was short-lived. She chose to leave the process during the second episode after struggling with its demanding challenges.

If she does sign on the dotted line for I’m A Celeb, Chloe is expected to fly to Australia’s Gold Coast ahead of filming beginning in November.

She isn’t the only famous face being linked with this year’s line-up. Paralympian and television presenter Ade Adepitan, 53, and Gavin & Stacey actress Joanna Page, 49, have also reportedly been approached about taking part. It’s worth nothing, however, no contestants have yet been officially confirmed.

After The Mirror reached out for comment, ITV said, “Any names suggested for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! are just speculation.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

A HISTORIC ride at one of the UK’s top theme parks is set to reopen.

Blackpool‘s Pleasure Beach Resort has confirmed that its River Caves ride will reopen after a period of “reimagination”.

The classic water ride first opened in 1905 and is much-loved by families visiting the theme park.

Amanda Jean Thompson OBE, the managing director of Pleasure Beach Resort said: “Hopefully the River Caves will be reopening next year.

“One of the reasons why we had to close when we closed, is because we were hemorrhaging so much water from the ride.

“First of all we’ve got to find where all the leaks are.

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“That’s what we are working on right now.”

She then added details about how the ride will change, commenting: “What I can tell you is what will remain – the Egyptian scene will remain but it and the Angkor Wat scene, which is so integral to Aviktas will remain, but rethemed and redone.

“There will be new scenes of new travels and all different areas of where my grandparents travelled to and my parents travelled to.

“The River Caves are basically the story of where my grandparents travelled to in the close period of the park.

“I think the Blue Grotto may stay because I particularly like that area.”

She joked: “The rest will be new and remains top secret for now, because I keep changing my mind.”

“Will definitely be in the Far East for one section and Latin America for another section.”

“The boats are being done now, and one is currently being redesigned now – we are making them smaller and much more comfortable.”

It comes after visits photographed staff working on the ride the week including refitting wheels before the rides final drop.

River Caves closed back in early 2024 due to technical complications.

Since, little details have been shared about whether the ride would reopen and when.

She also confirmed there’s a new ice show in the making as well.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. If it happens, the move would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history and would likely face legal challenges.

Unless challenged or revised, the State Department is expected to announce in the coming weeks the revocation of so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought asylum or are now seeking asylum, according to State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and two U.S. officials. The action will be taken in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.

“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

He declined to comment on the number of visas that might be revoked, saying “as the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.”

The revocations would not necessarily result in their immediate deportation, the officials said. Most of those with asylum cases currently pending would be recategorized but would lose their status as business or tourism travelers, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the revocations are not final yet.

Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term last year, his administration has steadily ramped up restrictions on visa applicants — demanding more information about their social media histories, requiring the posting of expensive bonds for the processing of visas, and outright banning the issuance of visas to citizens of certain countries.

In a social media post on Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called out people who he said try to use tourist and business visas to get into the United States and then apply for asylum.

“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau wrote on X. “Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.” Landau cited the case of a Colombian citizen who came to the U.S. in 2015 on a tourist visa and then applied for asylum.

B1 visas are generally issued for business trips and B2 visas are generally issued for tourism, family visits or medical care. It was not immediately clear from the documents or the officials how many of these visa holders are seeking or have sought asylum in the United States and would be affected by the revocations.

Current applicants for B1 and B2 visas are asked to affirm that they will not apply for asylum in the United States and prove that they intend to return to their home countries.

In the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked about 175,000 visas for people who have been convicted or accused of crimes ranging from drunken driving to rape and robbery, as well as for people who have spoken out publicly against U.S. policies, particularly in the Middle East.

The administration has also moved to crack down on so-called birth tourism, a practice the administration claims is used by foreign pregnant women to come to the United States to give birth so that their child will benefit from birthright citizenship. Trump has tried several times to end birthright citizenship, but those challenges have been rejected by courts, including the Supreme Court.

The State Department documents obtained by the AP suggest screening of current B1 and B2 visa holders began after the State Department received information about asylum requests from the Citizen and Immigration Service.

Lee writes for the Associated Press.

Aug. 22 (UPI) — A Chinese humanoid robot on Saturday ran a 100-meter sprint in 9.32 seconds, surpassing the world record set by Jamaican legend Usain Bolt.

The robot, named Lightning and produced by robotics company Honor, reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during a test run.

Lightning is one of 2,000 robots participating in the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.

The robot’s sprint on Saturday was .26 seconds faster than Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds, set 17 years ago at Berlin’s World Athletics Championships.

Another robot cleared 2.88 meters at the standing high jump, higher than the 2.45-meter world record set by Cuban athlete Javier Sotomayor in 1993.

The Beijing games also include competitions in tablet tennis, long jump and weightlifting.

China remains the world’s largest producer of humanoid robots.

The Trump administration in July banned imports of humanoid robots into the United States, citing “unacceptable risks” to national security.

“China firmly opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security and going after Chinese companies,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters.

“Protectionism does not make the U.S. more competitive and will only hurt the interests of U.S. companies and consumers,”

Strictly Come Dancing is set to go through another huge shake up before it even begins, as 15 new celebs head to the dancefloor to compete for the Glitterball trophy

Strictly Come Dancing is about to undergo a huge shake-up as it returns to previously ditched format. The show, which has already faced several changes this year, is set to scrap the introductory video tapes it that it had been using to reveal the whom had been coupled with whom.

In recent years, the launch show had seen the Strictly celebs head to locations across the country to meet the pro dancer they would be partnered with for the rest of the competition. But the show has now decided to return to its pre-Covid format in which the partnerships would be announced live in the studio, with the dancers and celebs finding out at the same time as the audience.

The news was revealed on Radio Northampton when Graeme Hall, one of this year’s contestants, said: “This year, they’re doing it slightly differently. We don’t find out until the launch show. You have no say in it, the pros have no say in it.”

The launch show is set to air on 19 September. It is pre-recorded, so those watching at home will be finding out slightly later than the contestants, and it will air the week before the live shows begin.

This year’s contestants were announced over several weeks, starting in June. Over the summer, the names were slowly released to the public. The crop of celebs taking part this year are: Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Jaime Winstone, Will Best, Sean Wright-Phillips, Bethany Antonia, Graeme Hall, Lawrence Robb, John Nellis, Tabby Stoecker, Dame Sarah Storey and Melanie Walters.

Fans have previously expressed disappointment in the line-up, with some saying they were unimpressed with the calibre of celebrity taking part. Most critics took complaint with Kim Kardashian’s hairdresser Chris Appleton taking part, and dog trainer Graeme Hall, as they felt they were not famous enough.

Following Graeme’s announcement on 5 August, many asked who he was and one said the BBC were “scraping the bottom of the barrel”.

Another slammed the line-up as “boring”, saying: “Genuinely who even are half the people doing strictly this year, apart from like three people this is the most boring lineup ever”

A third said: “This has got to be one of weakest line ups”. Similar was said at the time of Chris Appleton’s announcement a fan joked: “Looking forward to Katie Price ’s cleaner joining the line up”.

Many pros from previous years are returning, but the show has also welcomed several new pro dancers, as Strictly said goodbye to Gorka Marquez, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk and Nadiya Bychkova earlier this year. Former pro Johannes Radebe also won’t compete this year, as he is one of the new hosts.

In the middle of last year’s season, long time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced they were quitting the show. As such, new hosts had to be found for this year, and the BBC decided to appoint three people to the role – Johannes, comedian Josh Widdicombe and presenter Emma Willis.

The change didn’t stop there, as former pro dancer turned It Takes Two host Janette Manrara and her co-presenter Fleur East have left the spin off show. They were replaced by Ellie Taylor, who has taken part in Strictly as a contestant.

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FRANCE has long been the world’s most visited country, but Spain is rapidly closing in.

Spain is projected to welcome 110million annual visitors by 2040.

A joint study between Deloitte and Google revealed France‘s predicted figure is slightly lower, at 105million annual visitors by 2040.

With Spain becoming more popular, knowing the lesser-visited spots and hidden gems is a must – so here’s our top recommendations when visiting the country:

Barcelona

Hitting headlines for being overwhelmed with tourists, Barcelona gets a bad rep.

The city is popular, there is no doubt about it, but it is for good reason – but the good news is that you can be clever about when you go.

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Travel outside of the peak season and the city will seem as busy as any other city.

Head to Las Ramblas first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds, and you’ll also get to see the magic of the street performers setting up.

While others are heading to the Sagrada Familia (which is stunning and a must visit, but do expect it to be busy) head around 30 minutes on the bus from the city centre, where you will find Parc Guell.

Also designed by Antoni Gaudi, the sprawling park features fairytale-like houses covered in mosaics, a grand hall with hundreds of pillars, and breathtaking views of the city.

For somewhere with a cheap drink, head to Nevermind Bar just off Las Ramblas.

This grunge dive bar is insanely cool with a skateboarding half- pipe inside and has €1 (86p) beers from 5pm to around 10pm. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter.

Ibiza

While partygoers flock to the southern coastlines of Ibiza where mega- clubs boom until the early hours and lively bars spill onto the sands, the north remains untouched and void of tourists.

That’s what makes it so special.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for cocktails on a cabana at a bohemian beach resort, but I like to blend it with unadulterated relaxation – and that’s what this island does best.

Head north and you’ll find ultra exclusive hotels like the Six Senses and Hacienda Na Xamena.

But don’t stay there; instead, book a more-affordable boutique hotel near the charming cobbled streets of the Old Town and explore the other side of Ibiza by boat.

Trips can be booked from the Old Town harbour, Playa d’En Bossa or San Antonio (with companies like samboat.co.uk and leboat.com).

You’ll get to sail past quiet, rugged coves with the brightest of blue waters – on one visit, my friend and I had an entire patch of sand to ourselves, that is until a couple of locals pottered over to play a mid- afternoon game of chess, perched on the rocks.

The petite village of  Sant Joan de Labritja hosts a hippy market every Sunday, selling gorgeous handmade jewellery, clothing and dream catchers. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Tenerife

Tenerife might be one of the most popular Spanish islands to visit, but there is a hidden beach that you have to know about to find.

Tucked behind the towering pink Moorish resort Ritz-Carlton is Cueva de la Abama.

Private beaches are banned in Spain, but what makes this so hidden is that it is tucked down a winding road that weaves behind the resort.

The golden sands are overlooked by palm trees and a banana plantation, with a beach bar to keep you well hydrated all day.

If you want to arrive in style, stay at the resort – it offers a quaint green land train down to the beach that is exclusive to guests, as well as a funicular.

(It’s also one of the best hotels on the island, making it perfect for a treat-yourself holiday). Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Seville

Seville has been named everything from the happiest Spanish city to one of the best places to visit in the world – but it is also insanely affordable if you know where to look.

There’s Taberna Perejil, where you can find wine for €1.20 (£1) or Spanish cheap chain 100 Montaditos, which is scattered throughout the city with small beers from €1 (86p).

You can even visit some of the top attractions for free, if you’re quick.

The Royal Alcázar of Seville has free tickets on Mondays between 4pm and 7pm (although they go fast) while Seville Cathedral has free Sunday visits between 2:30pm and 6pm. Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Majorca

You can’t go wrong with a holiday to Majorca.

It’s got everything you want from an island, beautiful beaches, a pretty Old Town and plenty of activities to do.

The capital, Palma, is the perfect blend of city and beach with a busy Old Town full of winding streets with classic high street names and plenty of designer shops found on the ‘Golden Mile’.

It’s lined with brands like Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari and Hugo Boss but there are also little trinket shops selling shell-adorned jewellery and souvenirs too.

Majorca is hot in the summer, it’s why so many of us Brits flock there, and when it’s time to cool off with an ice cream, Giovanni L. Gelato Deluxe is the place to go.

It’s Palma’s oldest ice cream parlour with around 80 flavours to choose from.

Although I would recommend pistachio, which has twice been awarded the title for the “World’s Best Pistachio Ice Cream”.

One of my favourite spots that was actually very quiet was Levita Café.

It’s a 30-minute drive from the capital, but a two-minute walk from my hotel.

I stopped by for a refreshing rosé sangria which set me back €6.50 (£5). Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

Valencia

The sun-soaked city of Valencia is a tourist magnet with its stunning Old Town, gorgeous parks and attractions and vast swathe of golden sands.

But many visitors can miss out on one of the hidden, natural wonders of the region and the place where Valencia’s most famous culinary treat is grown.

The Albufera Natural Park is home to lagoons and rice paddies where the main ingredient for paella is grown and taking a boat trip along the lagoon in a traditional boat – called an albuferenc – offers a very different view of this buzzing coastal city.

Drifting peacefully along rivers fringed with reeds and bursting with varied bird life is a real treat – and at the end of the journey, you get to sample a traditional paella at a local restaurant like Nou Raco with its elevated terrace offering views across the lagoon. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

Cadiz

If you’re tired of overcrowded tourist traps and want a slice of authentic Andalusian culture, check out Cadiz.

Sunny Cadiz in the south of Spain is where the locals like to holiday – where Vespas hum through sun-bleached alleys which spill out into busy market squares.

Cadiz’s old town is anchored by these bustling plazas, where you can pick up everything from nourishing acai bowls to tasty cones of jamon Iberico.

Plaza de la Catedral is overlooked by the massive 18th-century Catedral de Santa Cruz and its gold-tiled dome – this spot is the centrepiece of the Old Town.

In the evenings, a traditional merry-go-round and street musicians liven up the square, making it the perfect spot to sit with a local sherry and watch the world go by.

The cathedral itself is well worth a visit, with a £7 ticket granting you access inside, as well as the top of the tower, the crypts and exhibitions.

There are plenty of gorgeous beaches here, too.

Playa la Caleta is a small stretch of sand that sits between two castles (and makes an appearance in Bond film Die Another Day) whilst Playa Victoria has white sand and a lengthy promenade. Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter.

Alcudia

For beaches with powder-soft sands and waters so calm they feel like a giant paddling pool, take a trip to Alcudia in Majorca.

Growing up, we returned here year after year on family holidays – and now I understand why my parents picked this spot.

Alcudia is the ultimate Majorcan destination for families, with plenty of affordable hotels lining its beachfront with attractions like HidroPark Alcudia nearby (the only waterpark in the north of Majorca).

For history buffs, the Old Town is home to Roman ruins including an amphitheatre, plus you can walk along the top of the ring-shaped medieval fortification walls.

There’s some seriously affordable stays here, too.

We loved staying at TUI‘s Hotel BQ Delfin Azul, which offers week-long package holidays for under £500pp. Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter

Teguise, Lanzarote

While millions flock to Lanzarote’s stunning beaches and coastline every year, there’s delights to discover in the historic inland capital, Teguise.

Every Sunday morning, the cobblestone streets with their Lanzarote signature whitewashed low-rise houses are filled with more than 400 stalls for the island’s largest open-air market.

Running from 9am to 2pm, there’s a host of treasures to admire and buy including artisanal volcanic rock jewellery, handmade ceramics and 100 per cent organic cotton clothing.

Foodies can get their fill with artisan goat cheeses, cactus jams, and local Mojo sauces – get there early for the best pick of the local produce and fewer crowds and don’t just focus on the stalls.

Teguise’s own boutiques, art galleries, and courtyards inside historic 15th- century buildings open up on market day and often hold some hidden gems.

With traditional Canarian folk dancers and musicians often performing in front of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Guadalupe, savvy travellers grab local wine and tapas as the stalls are being taken down at spots like Palacio Ico or El Patio Creperie. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

Met Office predicts ‘unprecedented’ sea surface temperature rise of 3C (5.4F) plus will heighten extreme weather risks.

The impact of this year’s El Nino event is expected to be the most intense in more than a century, United Kingdom forecasters have warned.

The effect of the event will drive the risk of drought, high temperatures, intense rainfall and other extreme weather effects, the Met Office said in a statement issued on Friday.

Typically, El Nino leads sea surface temperatures to rise between 1-2 degrees Celsius (1.8-3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). However, forecasts for the 2026 version predict record values of more than 3C (5.4F) in the coming months, the forecasters said.

“We should be clear that this is an unprecedented event,” said Adam Scaife, head of the office’s long-range forecasting. “I have never seen an El Nino signal this intense in our forecasts.”

If the spike plays out as anticipated, “then 2026 will far exceed our recent experience of El Nino and its worldwide climate influences”, he added.

The chief forecaster separately told the BBC that the three-degree rise was “unheard-of in modern climate records”.

El Nino is triggered by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, influencing global weather patterns.

Governments around the world are already grappling with historic climate events so far this year.

Wildfires have burned through more than 200,000 hectares (494,200 acres) in Indonesia and rampaged across southwestern Europe, forcing the displacement of at least 325,000 people in Spain and France. Other countries are dealing with severe droughts.

The Met Office said El Nino will spawn wetter, stormier conditions in northwestern Europe, including the UK, as autumn and winter arrive in the Northern Hemisphere.

Particularly strong effects are expected throughout the Tropics, Scaife said, “where we expect really severe droughts in places like South America, and the West Pacific”.

In mid-August, the UK recorded its hottest day of the year as the temperature in west London climbed to 38.1C (100.5F), beating the previous high of 38C (100.4F) in June.

Combined with the effects of human-induced climate change, the Met Office warned that the event is “very likely” to make 2027 the hottest year on record globally.

RYANAIR is offering bargain rescue flights to any easyJet travellers faced with cancellations at a major UK airport.

EasyJet announced earlier this week that it will be axing all of its flights from Leeds Bradford Airport.

The last flight will be on January 5, 2027.

Destinations the airline flies to from the airport include Paris, Barcelona and Malaga.

Now, Ryanair has announced that it will be launching ‘rescue fares’ from £29.99 for passengers impacted by easyJet’s flight cancellations at Leeds Bradford Airport.

From today, Ryanair flights between Leeds Bradford and Malaga in Spain, will be £29.99.

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Ryanair currently operates 10 weekly flights between Leeds and the Spanish holiday hotspot.

Travellers will be able to book the rescue fares between now and the end of February 2027.

Ryanair’s Director of Comms, Jade Kirwan, said: “While easyJet abandons Leeds Bradford, cutting its full schedule from 5 Jan 2027, Ryanair is saving the day with rescue fares from just £29.99 for affected passengers – particularly those booked to fly easyJet from Leeds Bradford to Malaga, who can now switch to one of Ryanair’s 10 Malaga services per week.

“Ryanair’s rescue fares are available to book now on the Ryanair app/website.”

When easyJet announced that the airline will be scrapping flights from Leeds Bradford Airport, a spokesperson said: “Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January.

“Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.

“We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”

For Welsh fans, the arrival of the tour offers a chance to watch a strong contingent of homegrown riders racing alongside some of the sports biggest names, including 2024 winner and two-time world champion, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx – Protime).

Among the Welsh headliners is British champion Zoe Backstedt who goes into stage 3 in 51st, 2 minutes 48 seconds behind leader, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx – Protime).

The 21-year-old is competing less than three weeks on from making her highly anticipated Tour de France (TdF) Femmes debut, where she finished 50th overall.

Racing on home roads will offer Backstedt another exciting opportunity to build on what has already been a successful season.

The Canyon-SRAM rider has won British road race and time trial titles plus a sprint stage at the Tour de Suisse Femmes, and retained the 2026 Baloise Ladies Tour title a year after becoming the youngest winner of the race.

And she has her elder sister, Elynor Backstedt who rides for UAE Team L’IMAD, for company, making this year’s race a family affair, with their father Magnus also taking on a sport director role for Human Powered Health.

A MULTI-BILLION pound station is set to open in the UK as part of the huge HS2 expansion.

HS2 station Old Oak Common near Paddington Train Station in London, is set to open between 2036 and 2039.

The £2billion station will eventually serve 250,000 passengers a day and has just announced that it has completed its first platforms.

Six platforms that will be served by HS2’s new high-speed trains heading between London and the West Midlands, have been completed.

The platforms are underground and are each 400 metres long.

In the future, there will be a further eight platforms at surface level for Great Western Railway services and Elizabeth Line services.

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In fact, the Elizabeth Line will be the first service to use the station.

With 14 platforms in total, it will make the station one of the largest in the UK.

And while London Bridge might have more platforms (15 in total), the Old Oak Common station will actually be around two and a half times bigger than London Bridge.

There will also be 52 lifts and 44 escalators at the station.

Eventually, there will also be a public park area outside the station where pop up events will be hosted including markets.

Old Oak Common will be one of the UK’s best-connected train stations as well, reaching more than 100 destinations.

Kim Kapur, HS2’s Old Oak Common Area Director, said: “Going into the underground box at Old Oak Common, you can immediately visualise how it will look as an operational station, including where passengers will board or alight HS2’s brand new trains.

“The scale of the work – and the station now taking shape – is remarkable.

“However, there is much more to do. This includes construction of the conventional, surface level platforms, completion of tunnels either side of the underground box and installation of the impressive station roof, which will begin next year.

“Old Oak Common will be transformative for the local area, providing a new transport hub, with a new vibrant neighbourhood developing around it.”

AN ICONIC landmark could return to a UK seaside resort after more than a decade.

Councillors will decide next month whether to bring back the staggering 164ft attraction.

The Brighton Wheel could make an appearance back on Brighton‘s seafront, following a council cabinet meeting on September 17.

Brighton and Hove City Council will decide whether to award a 25-year lease to reinstate the iconic landmark back to its original site on Madeira Drive.

Originally opened in 2011, the 164ft attraction operated until May 2016.

Following the expiration of its lease, the wheel was subsequently dismantled to make way for the development of the i360.

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Now, the firm behind the Brighton Zip & Daltons Venue has proposed to re-install the wheel, while maintaining the current zip-line attraction in operation.

If approved, the firm will seek to have the wheel up and running by next summer.

Brighton & Hove City Councillor, David McGregor, said the return of the iconic landmark would “bring new energy” to the seafront.

McGregor said: “Brighton became Brighton because people came here to have fun by the sea.

“That’s part of our identity, and we should be ambitious about what a great seaside city looks like for the next generation.”

During its five-year run, developers of the Brighton Wheel believed more than 250,000 visitors would ride the landmark each year.

Get ready to ride.

Marvel Studios’ “Ghost Rider” reboot has an official release date. The movie, which will star Ryan Gosling as the eponymous fiery, supernatural motorcyclist, will hit theaters July 28, 2028. The project was first announced during Marvel’s Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con in July.

“Ghost Rider” will be directed by “Deadpool & Wolverine’s” Shawn Levy from a script written by Jonathan Tropper. Levy and Gosling are currently working together on “Star Wars: Starfighter,” the upcoming Lucasfilm title starring the “Barbie” actor as Kade Auberon — a mysterious starfighter pilot “from the wrong side of the galaxy.” “Starfighter,” which will debut May 28, 2027, was also written by Tropper.

Marvel’s 2028 slate also includes “X-Men,” which is scheduled to hit theaters May 5, and “Black Panther 3” for Dec. 15.

As confirmed during Disney’s D23 fan event, the “X-Men” cast includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury, also known as Mr. Sinister. Jake Schreier will direct the movie.

“Black Panther 3,” meanwhile, will introduce David Jonsson as the new King of Wakanda. In addition to filmmaker Ryan Coogler, actors Letitia Wright and Winston Duke are returning for the third “Black Panther” installment.

The three 2028 titles offer a glimpse into the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future in the aftermath of “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.”

Marvel’s superhero multiverse is set for a massive shakeup in the mega crossover that will see heroes from multiple dimensions — including members of the Fantastic Four, X-Men and Avengers — facing a powerful new threat. “Doomsday” will bow Dec. 18, followed by “Secret Wars” on Dec. 17, 2027.

DISNEY has confirmed all of the exciting new rides and cruises launching in the next few years.

The announcements were part of Disney’s huge annual D23 event, which talks all things Disney when it comes to films, TV shows and, of course, the theme parks.

The upcoming attraction openings include Disneyland Paris, Disney World and the Disney cruises.

From new dark rides and log flumes, to four new cruise ships and a UK-based stage show – here’s the rundown on all the top attraction announcements:

Disneyland Paris

A number of new announcements were made about Disneyland Paris and some of the park’s upcoming attractions.

Already in the works is a new Lion King-themed water attraction, with three drops including a 15.8metre plunge from Pride Rock.

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Along withDisney‘s first audio-animatronics figure of Scar, the ride will be at the centre of the first immersive world based on The Lion King.

The new land will sit next to the World of Frozen, transporting visitors to the African savanna.

Once completed, the zone will span 30,000sqm and have the log flume alongside a shop, restaurant and character experiences.

Next year, Wilderness Explorers Sky Swings will open, which will be the first attraction at Disneyland Paris inspired by the Up film.

The park will also retire the Star Wars themed Hyperspace Mountain and reimagine the attraction as Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune.

It first opened in 1995 based on Jules Verne’s novel “From the Earth to the Moon” before becoming Hyperspace Mountain in 2017.

The attraction is now set to revert back to its original theme, closing at the end of next year for a few months.

And last but not least, Disneyland Paris will also be getting a new daytime parade.

The parade will feature Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, Tangled and Coco and will launch in 2028.

It will be the first new parade at the park since 2017.

Disney World, Florida

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is set for several new attractions.

Excitingly, there will be a new Villains Land in Magic Kingdom, home to two major attractions including a Maleficent rollercoaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride.

The Maleficent rollercoaster will take visitors through an enchanted briar surrounding Maleficent’s mountaintop fortress, with yet-to-be-revealed “elements never attempted before.”

The other attraction – Magic Mirror – will be a dark ride with lots of Disney Villains.

Disney stated: “You’ll find the Magic Mirror where the Evil Queen keeps him in the catacombs beneath her pristine palace. After making your way to him, he’ll magically transport you into his mystical Mirror Realm to see things on the other side of the mirror. 

“There, in his ethereal realm, you’ll be transfixed by countless Disney Villains conjured in ways only the Magic Mirror can do. 

“A combination of special effects and physical set pieces will bring his Mirror Realm – and these iconic Villains – to life.”

Disney added: “ If you dare enter the forest of Villains Land, you may soon come across a Wishing Well that’s been torn asunder. 

“Under most circumstances, a Wishing Well would indicate pure and good energy at work, but something dark happened to this one.

“Once upon a time, someone made an evil wish here – a wish so evil it corrupted the stone and broke open the structure, spreading the Well’s poisoned magic throughout the forest.”

In addition to the two major attractions, there will be shops and restaurants.

Magic Kingdom will also be getting two Piston Peak rides in Frontierland, including Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along inspired by the “Diva of Demolition” from Cars 3.

The ride will feature a “huge school-bus-sized animatronic” who hosts a stampeding bash at her “wildest demolition derby yet”.

The other attraction will be Cars Ridge Run Rally, which will be a quest to find “the wildest racer in the wheelderness”.

The ride will go through scenes of America’s national parks, as well as a climb up Piston Peak itself before riders then plummet down toward a geyser field.

Over in the new land of Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom, there will be a new Indiana Jones Ride with audio-animatronics figures and an original storyline where  guests are transported into the world of the ancient Maya.

Called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, riders will beneath under an  ancient temple ruin before heading off on their journey.

Also in Tropical Americas will be the new El Carrusel de los Animalitos - a carousel with 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories.

Animal Kingdom will launch a new family-friendly Encanto Ride as well, called Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto.

When visitors enter the house, they’ll board a ride vehicle which will resemble the different pieces of furniture assembled by the power of Casita.

Inside, the space has been transformed into a rainforest with more than 50 animals and guests will travel through different rooms to see them all.

A part of Monstropolis will also open at the theme park next year, while work continues to build a “door coaster”.

The new attraction will be a show at the Glob Theatre called “Welcome to Monstropolis”, with the monsters in the show introducing visitors to Monstropolis.

There will be a new restaurant, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, too while next door, will be the Monsters University Alumni Club.

There will be Harryhausen’s Restaurant too, where visitors can see the spot that was a part of Mike and Celia’s most unforgettable dates.

There will even be the famous sushi chef brought to life with a new audio-animatronics figure.

Forbidden Mountain in Animal Kingdom will also be upgraded with a new Yeti audio-animatronic.

Over in EPCOT, Spaceship Earth is getting an update with the storyline of the ride reimagined.

Disney cruises

Disney Believe will be Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship but will also be the final ship in the Wish class.

It will launch in late 2027 and inside passengers with a Moana-inspired Grand Hall, Tinker Bell on its bow and Woody and Buzz Lightyear on the stern.

Attractions on board the ship will feature Disney Animation’s Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and The Little Mermaid.

As for the stern, guests will spot Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.

Disney has also announced three new ships that will begin launching in 2029 – this will increase the cruise line fleet to 13 ships in total.

After Disney Believe – part of the Wish Class – launches next year, there will Disney Cruise Line will move on to a new ship class.

As part of this new class, there will be three ships that will be bigger than the classic ships but smaller than the newer ships.

Little other details have been revealed about the ships but Disney commented that “there are amazing opportunities to visit new places and reach brand new audiences than ever before”.

New West End show

Disney also confirmed that The Greatest Showman stage musical will open at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane in spring 2027.

The show will replace Disney’s Hercules, which is due to end on September 5.

It will feature all the original film anthems including ‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’ and ‘A Million Dreams’.

High Potential’s lead actress has spoken out about the toughest time of her career

The star of High Potential, Kaitlin Olson, has said she was filming two shows at the time when she ‘collapsed’.

The actress has spoken out about the most difficult time she endured while filming, recalling the scary moment on set.

For those still unaware, High Potential is a crime drama remake that sees Olson take on the role of single mother, Morgan. Not only is she juggling her hectic home life, but she has an exceptional mind.

With an unconventional knack for solving crimes, it leads her to an unusual and unstoppable partnership with a by-the-book seasoned detective. Now she is working full time with the LAPD to help them on their toughest cases.

It is based on the original Belgian French production HPI. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the third season of High Potential, which is expected to debut in early 2027.

In the meantime, Olson has not been too far away from our screens, appearing in the new season of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, reprising the character of Dee Reynolds, whom she has played since it first aired back in 2006.

She also returned in her guest role for the last instalment of Hacks. Sadly, between filming this and High Potential last year, Olson’s father become seriously ill.

Vanity Fair reports that Don Olson went into hospital for surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm that was discovered. Unfortunately, there were complications from the surgery and he suffered an inflammatory response in his lungs, causing them to fill with fluid.

He was sent to intensive care for further treatment. Olson told the publication that she learned of his condition while filming High Potential.

She admitted she did something she has never done before and left the set. She said: “I literally just got in the car and drove home, called them on the way, and was kind of shut down for a little bit.”

Olson ended up flying back and forth between Oregon and Los Angeles to be alongside her family, while also trying to film two shows back to back.

More bad news followed her first day back on set for Hacks. She revealed: “Honestly, at this point, it’s a blur. I collapsed in the line producer’s arms. I said, ‘I have to go.’ And he said, ‘Go.’”

Her dad had contracted pneumonia and slipped into a coma. Doctors said that they did not expect him to make a full recovery although he regained consciousness.

It was clearly a traumatic time for the star. Looking back she said: “I’d have to stop and take phone calls and wipe away tears and come back and then try and be funny. And it felt so weird. I felt guilty, because I was legitimately having fun. That was confusing.”

Her father was cared for at home from December last year until his death in May. However, before he died, he did see his daughter’s final bow in Hacks, and now the episode will forever remain ‘very special’ as a result.

High Potential is streaming on Disney+

Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz clinched an AVP Manhattan Beach Open three-peat on Sunday, sweeping Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft.

It was the tournament’s first three-peat since Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings won four straight titles from 2005-08.

Brasher and Cruz, the top-ranked women’s pro beach volleyball team out of Louisiana State, rolled past Cheng and Kraft 2-1 (21-18, 21-16).

Brasher and Cruz took a commanding 4-1 lead to start the first set, the first of back-and-forth surges by both sides. Cheng and Kraft tied the set at 15, but Brasher and Cruz pulled ahead for the 21-18 win.

Kristen Cruz dives for a dig during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open women’s final at Manhattan Beach Pier on Sunday.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

Taryn Brasher, left, and Kristen Cruz celebrate after defeating Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open women’s final Sunday.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

Brasher and Cruz kept the pressure on during the second match, pulling ahead early 8-6 and leading by as much as 17-12 before closing out the victory.

On the men’s side, Andy Benesh and Taylor Crabb defeated Thomas Hurst and Gage Basey in two sets (21-14, 21-13) to clinch the tournament title.

Crabb previously clinched a Manhattan Beach Pier bronze plaque, but it was Benesh’s first time winning the open.

Crabb and Benesh took a commanding 8-3 lead in the first set with all of the energy flowing on their side. Hurst and Basey rallied to cut the deficit to 8-7, but Benesh ended the scoring drought with a monster block.

Taylor Crabb dives for a ball during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open men’s final at Manhattan Beach Pier on Sunday.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

Andy Benesh, left, spikes the ball under pressure from Thomas Hurst.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

Andy Benesh and Taylor Crabb stand alongside friends and family after winning the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Sunday.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

Benesh and Crabb added to their lead to 13-8 with back-to-back blocks and rolled to a 21-14 win.

The duo led early in the final set and had little trouble delivering a 21-13 victory.

Crabb had 10 kills and 14 digs during the match, with many of the kills coming during the second set. Benesh closed with 14 kills and eight blocks.

AUSTIN, Texas — Democrats seeking the party’s presidential nomination in 2028 will need to prove themselves early on in states where Black and Latino voters and union members are key supporters, under an election year calendar approved Saturday.

The primary lineup pushes Iowa from the traditional top spot and makes South Carolina the leadoff state, voting on Jan. 22, 2028, followed by Nevada on Feb. 1. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia round out the early states, throughout February, according to the plan endorsed by the Democratic National Committee at its meeting in Texas.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin said that to win the general election, “you have to be battle-tested in a way that you already have campaigned in front of and for the support of various communities throughout the country.” That is why the calendar designed by the party matters, he said in an interview.

Some potential candidates in what is expected to be a large field have visited early-voting states such as South Carolina. Party leaders have said the order gives candidates the best shot at winning back the White House after President Trump’s final term.

“They have to show that they can go to the South and talk to Black voters and rural voters, as well as out west, talking ranching and mining issues, to a border state, to union members,” said party strategist Karen Finney, who has worked on multiple presidential campaigns. “Whoever survives will be battle-tested.”

Former presidential candidate Howard Dean, a onetime Vermont governor, recalled his tenure as national party chairman, when Democrats solidified Nevada and South Carolina as early states behind Iowa and New Hampshire. The latest change is even better, he said.

“These states look more like the country” as a whole, he said, “whereas Iowa and New Hampshire don’t.”

Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, said bypassing her state in the early going would sideline important voter voices and give a political edge to Republicans, who are expected to keep Iowa atop their calendar.

Nonwhite voters claim top billing

As the first-in-the-South primary, South Carolina was more decisive than Iowa and New Hampshire for nominees Barack Obama in 2008, Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. All three dominated among South Carolina’s large Black population, which can yield more than half the state’s Democratic primary electorate.

With Nevada and New Mexico following, that will require candidates to court more Latino voters early in the process.

Shifting from Iowa and New Hampshire does not mean little-known candidates cannot catch fire, as Pete Buttigieg did in Iowa and New Hampshire in 2020, when he was a 37-year-old former mayor. They just will not be able to do it with an almost entirely white audience.

“If you can’t go to every part of this country and make your case, you should not be running for president,” Finney said.

Progressive vs. establishment dynamics

There is disagreement over how Democrats’ split between progressives and mainstream liberals may or may not surface in the nominating calendar.

“I think our primary voters up north are probably a little different than primary voters in South Carolina,” said Boyd Brown, a former DNC member from South Carolina. “It’s not the woke ideologies that we just can’t get away from” in other places, Brown said.

Nina Smith, a former Buttigieg advisor who works closely with progressive causes, disagreed. Smith said Black South Carolinians, especially, have gravitated to more moderate candidates — twice rejecting Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in favor of Clinton and Biden.

But, she said, “Southern Black voters are more progressive than they’re given credit for” on policy but also “realists” about what is possible.

“Living through Jim Crow and other oppressive structures will force you to take that approach,” she said.

Smith said that with South Carolina leading off and many Southern states following on Super Tuesday soon after the early lineup concludes, progressives will have to take the time to listen and then tailor their messages.

“A lot of Black voters don’t necessarily see themselves in the ideas and arguments that progressives put forward,” she said.

Unions in the spotlight

Nevada has the service industry unions because of Las Vegas; Michigan has the auto industry and associated manufacturing support industries; Virginia is home to more federal workers than any other state.

“Labor is still so important,” Dean said.

Beyond seeking the backing of organized labor, the campaigns and the party will look to unions for help in spreading Democrats’ message to voters and getting people to the polls.

Scheduling efficiency

Campaigns struggle to balance many demands such as meeting voters in person, raising money and the logistics of travel. As a result, places such as Nevada have gotten short shrift in the past because candidates, most from the eastern part of the country, have concluded the investment of time is not worth it.

An expanded calendar offers more clustering opportunities.

A swing to the West could hit two early states — Nevada and New Mexico — and include a fundraising stop in California, full of Democratic donors. A South Carolina trip could mean fundraisers and public appearances in Atlanta along with Charlotte and Raleigh, both in North Carolina. Virginia offers proximity to donors and national TV studios in Washington; the same options are available by adding a New York City stop on the way to New Hampshire.

Bre Maxwell is a DNC member from South Carolina who said the state’s smaller size and lower media costs are a financial equalizer, allowing not only the best-funded candidates to have an impact.

“They can campaign from the top to the bottom in a day,” Maxwell said.

Keeping a focus on November

Of the six early states, all but South Carolina have been competitive in general elections.

That means that even before Super Tuesday, the Democratic candidates will have spent significant time and resources in states worth a combined 43 electoral college votes. That is not insignificant on the way to the 270 needed to win.

Television ads and news coverage can spill over, as well. Markets targeting parts of South Carolina also reach portions of North Carolina and Georgia.

After all, Brown said, the point is to put a Democrat in the White House.

“This is not a social or a debate club. It is a political party,” he said.

Catalini and Barrow write for the Associated Press. Barrow reported from Atlanta. AP writer Meg Kinnard in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report.

THE next host of Eurovision has been announced and it is a super cheap spot for beach holidays.

Burgas in Bulgaria will host Eurovision 2027 between May 12 and 15, 2027.

Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green said: “[Burgas] is a vibrant, welcoming city on the Black Sea with a strong musical and cultural identity, and it has the ambition, infrastructure and passion needed to welcome the Eurovision family.

“For the first Eurovision Song Contest ever to be held in Bulgaria, we want to create something that feels truly Bulgarian while also being unmistakably Eurovision – a celebration that brings people together through music.”

Burgas is Bulgaria’s fourth largest city and from the UK costs as little as £18 per way to fly there direct from London Luton, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.

When in the city, make sure to head to the Sea Garden, which is a large coastal park that runs along the edge of the Black Sea.

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You can walk along paths through the park stopping off at quaint cafes along the way.

There’s also Burgas Pier, which stretches nearly 300 metres into the sea from the garden.

If you fancy a shopping spree then head to Aleksandrovska and Bogoridi Streets, where you will find most of the shops alongside street performers.

For something a little more relaxing, head slightly out of the city to Lake Atanasovsko and The Pink Mud Baths – this is a hypersaline lagoon known for its pink waters where you can just float.

Make sure to head to the many beaches as well, including Central Burgas Beach with soft, golden sand.

One recent visitor said: “Beautiful beach, very clean, sand is darker. You have shallow water for like 20 metres from the land.

“It is pretty accessible and not many tourists are there so it is not busy and not crowded.

“Great looking I would recommend to anyone who wants a clean beach and not very crowded and which is really close to bus and train station.”

If you fancy a pint, a beer will set you back around £1.70 from a bar – though if you head to the supermarket, it will cost you just 80p.

The average price for a hotel in Burgas ranges from around £40 per night to £104 per night.

Options include the Grand Hotel & SPA Primoretz, which is the only five-star hotel in Burgas.

The hotel sits right by Black Sea Beach and opened in 1959.

Despite its luxury rating, a room costs from as little as £110 per night.

Alternatively, you could stay at the Burgas Beach Resort, which has a range of studio, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments.

At the resort there is also an outdoor infinity pool alongside a board games room and playground.

Rooms at the Burgas Beach Resort cost from £70 per night.

Package holidays are cheap too, with seven-nights in Burgas at the Bulgaria Hotel including breakfast and flying from London Luton between September 29 and October 6 costs £389 per person.

Fourth in a series of stories profiling top high school football players by position. Today, Luke Gazzaniga, Santa Margarita tight end.

You’re unlikely to feel sympathy for 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end Luke Gazzaniga, a senior at Santa Margarita High who enjoys the idea of running over tacklers after catching a pass or sending an opponent crashing to the ground with a bone-crushing block.

Except understand that he’s the smallest brother in his family. The others are 6-7 and 6-5, so imagine the little brother in the front yard doing the Oklahoma drill, a legendary one-on-one football drill from years ago that tested toughness via collisions.

“We’d literally just run at each other,” he said.

Some brothers play video games or collect baseball cards. The Gazzanigas were into seeing who would be the last one standing.

“It was fun,” Luke said. “I was quick when I was a little kid. I wouldn’t go down. I’ve had to fight for myself. I had to find my way to win.”

Their father, David, who played football at Dartmouth and became an orthopedic surgeon, welcomed the competition. If any of the boys came into the house before a game was over, Dad’s response was, “Suck it up and go back.”

“He taught us how to be tough,” Luke said.

You can sense the enjoyment Luke has on a football field. After he catches a pass, he looks up and gets excited if there’s a defender nearby.

“I love seeing people there,” he said. “I’m letting them know if you’re going to try to tackle me, it’s going to hurt you more than me. I’m glad someone thinks they can tackle me.”

Future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski has been the player he’s most admired, and Gazzaniga has been able to see pro players up close because his father worked as a physician with the Chargers. Luke got to hang out in the training room and on the field.

“They’re impressively big and impressively fast,” he said. “People were huge.”

During Santa Margarita’s run to the Southern Section Division 1 and Open Division state titles last season, Gazzaniga became an important offensive weapon over the middle, even though he suffered an ankle injury and missed six weeks. He caught 20 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns.

“God gave me the blessing to catch anything,” he said.

Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer used to take advantage of throwing to the tight end when playing at USC and in the NFL, and there’s no doubt Gazzaniga feels comfortable in the Eagles’ offensive schemes. Tight ends continue to gain attention at the highest levels.

“It’s a super important position,” Gazzaniga said. “People love looking at receivers and forget the tight end is almost the glue between passing and running. The Rams use three tight ends and there’s a bunch of big personnel types all over the league. I can envision myself being there one day and making an impact.”

Gazzaniga is committed to Kansas. He comes from a family of athletes. Two older sisters played water polo at USC, with Rachel now a candidate to play for the U.S. Olympic team in 2028. Brother John is a quarterback at Alabama. His mother is an avid mountain climber. John used to throw bullet passes to Luke growing up, which helped prepare him for any and all quarterbacks.

Thanksgiving always has produced an interesting dynamic with five tall, energetic kids circling for a turkey leg.

“It’s hard to know how much we eat,” Luke said.

Saturday: Vincent Shields, Murrieta Valley offensive lineman.

Tight ends to watch

Luke Gazzaniga, Santa Margarita, 6-4, 235, Sr.: Kansas commit makes big catches in traffic

JJ Haley, Corona del Mar, 6-3, 200, Jr.: The next top tight end from the tight end school

Max Markofski, Mission Viejo, 6-4, 230, Sr.: Arizona commit is known for his receiving skills

Hudson Ploog, Orange Lutheran, 6-5, 235, Sr. Nevada Las Vegas commit is like a sixth offensive lineman to clear defenders

Jaylin Smalls, Rancho Cucamonga, 6-4, 230, Jr.: This is the season he begins to show his talents

Holidaymakers are being warned of new rules around spending cash in popular hotspots which are set to be implemented by next summer

While many Brits use debit, credit, or travel money cards when they go on holiday, for some, cash is still king no matter where they go in the world.

But new plans from the European Central Bank (ECB) could see a digital equivalent to physical cash being introduced, and the first step, a cash payment limit in Euros, is set to be enforced as of next summer.

As reported by Majorca Daily News, as part of the move to a digital Euro, the cash payment limit of €10,000 (about £8,500) will be introduced in Spain as of July 10, 2027. It’ll apply to all commercial transactions for goods and services, and can’t be bypassed by making lots of smaller transactions, as linked cash payments will be treated as a single payment under the law.

For transactions between €3,000 and €10,000, merchants will be obliged to verify the customer’s identity before they pay in cash. This ensures that all financial transactions can be linked to individuals, even if cash is used, and aims to prevent money laundering. This could affect Brits looking to pay for hotels or car hire in cash.

EU countries will be able to set their own limits, and France has already confirmed for its own taxpayers the maximum amount will be just €1,000, but for holidaymakers it’ll be €15,000, about £12,800.

Banks in the EU will continue to monitor unusual deposits at cash points, and will also need to report transactions of over €3,000 where large banknotes are used. While it’s unlikely that the average tourist would ever carry this amount, there is also a limit on the amount of cash someone can carry in public when in Spain which is €100,000, about £85,500. which is to deter criminal activities and terrorism.

If you’re travelling between countries, even if you’re within the Schengen area, you’ll need to declare any amounts over €10,000 to customs when you arrive.

The digital Euro plan would create a central bank digital currency (CBDC) overseen by the ECB. It would offer a digital alternative to physical cash, and mean people could make on and off-line purchases free of charge with their Euros stored on a card or mobile app.

A rollout is planned for 2029, and aims to reduce reliance on US payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard. In Russia, huge numbers of people were left unable to make payments when the firms pulled out of the country due to the war with Ukraine, and Europe wants to avoid using US firms for banking functions in a time of political instability.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde claimed in a Euronews interview that the move to a digital Euro isn’t about scrapping cash and coins or monitoring citizens, saying: “Cash will not go away, it will be rejuvenated”.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

The Lakers will see a familiar face for its annual Christmas Day game this season.

LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers last month, will be making his return to Los Angeles on Dec. 25 when the Lakers host Philadelphia at Crypto.com Arena, the NBA revealed Tuesday morning in what it called a “sneak peek” of the 2026-27 schedule. The game is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. on ESPN and ABC.

The full schedule will be revealed Thursday.

The league also unveiled its opening week slate, with the Lakers set to host the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 in a game scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN.

James, entering his 24th season in the NBA, will also figure prominently in the opening week broadcast schedule as the 76ers will take on the New York Knicks on Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden on NBC and Peacock. The game will be James’ first with his new team and will feature the Knicks raising a banner to mark their first NBA championship since 1973.

Two days later, the 76ers will play their home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that drafted James in 2003, in game that will be broadcast on ESPN.

TWO airports in Europe that see thousands of passengers through their doors are set to close for major upgrades.

During this time flights will be diverted and one airport will see flights cancelled during both the summer holidays and October half-term.

The first major airport closing its doors to passengers is Almeria Airport in Spain which each year handles around 800,000 passengers.

In February 2028, it will shut for six days to upgrade its runway with all scheduled flights during that time to be cancelled.

Airlines like Ryanair, easyJet and Iberia which fly out of the airport have been notified by Spain’s airports operator Aena about the closure.

There will be further disruption too as the revamp is part of a 19-month €29million (£24.8million) project to upgrade the entire airport.

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During this period there will be work at night between 10:45pm and 7:10am the following day.

Between these hours, flights could be impacted as well.

Direct routes from Almeria Airport to the UK London Southend, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds Bradford and Birmingham.

The airlines will have to reschedule flights or divert the routes.

The revamp will mark the first work on the runway in 20 years.

The second major European airport to close its doors is Charleroi Airport in Brussels which will close for almost three months.

For 11 weeks, the runway will be closed for renovation and the interior airport revamped.

Flights will be impacted between August 15 and October 31 in 2028.

It will disrupt passengers heading to Brussels during the school summer holidays and October half-term break.

Airlines that operate to and from the airport from the UK include Ryanair and Wizz Air to cities Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle.

Airlines will need to reroute their flights to different airports during that time.

The airport is the second largest in Belgium – it sees 30,000 passengers each day and around 11.2million people every year.

On the development, the airport said: “A complete refurbishment of Charleroi airport’s sole runway, together with other major infrastructure modernisation works, has been scheduled by SOWAER (the company behind the works) for the second half of 2028.”