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WASHINGTON — President Trump publicly scorned Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday for the cost of an extensive building renovation as the two officials toured the unfinished project.

Trump said the project cost $3.1 billion, much higher than the Fed’s $2.5-billion figure, while Powell, standing next to him, silently shook his head.

“This came from us?” Powell said, then figuring out that Trump was including the renovation of the Martin Building that was finished five years ago.

“Do you expect any more additional cost overruns?” Trump asked.

“Don’t expect them,” Powell said.

Trump said in his career as a real estate developer he would fire someone for cost overruns. The president joked that he would back off Powell if he lowered interest rates.

The Federal Reserve is known for its tight lips, structured formality and extraordinary power to shape the global economy.

Trump and his allies say the renovation of the Fed headquarters and a neighboring building reflects an institution run amok. The Fed allowed reporters to tour the building before the visit by Trump, who, in his real estate career, has bragged about his lavish spending on architectural accoutrements that gave a Versailles-like golden flair to his buildings.

The visit was an attempt to further ratchet up pressure on Powell, whom the Republican president has relentlessly attacked for not cutting borrowing costs. Trump’s criticisms have put the Fed, a historically independent institution, under a harsh spotlight. Undermining its independence could reduce the Fed’s ability to calm financial markets and stabilize the U.S. economy.

“This stubborn guy at the Fed just doesn’t get it — Never did, and never will,” Trump said Wednesday on Truth Social. “The Board should act, but they don’t have the Courage to do so!”

Journalists get rare tour of Fed renovation

On Thursday, reporters wound through cement mixers, front loaders and plastic pipes as they got a close-up view of the active construction site that encompasses the Fed’s historic headquarters, known as the Marriner S. Eccles building, and a second building across 20th Street in Washington.

Fed staff, who declined to be identified, said that greater security requirements, rising materials costs and tariffs, and the need to comply with historic preservation measures drove up the cost of the project, which was budgeted in 2022 at $1.9 billion.

The staff pointed out new blast-resistant windows and seismic walls that were needed to comply with modern building codes and security standards set out by the Department of Homeland Security. The Fed has to build with the highest level of security in mind, Fed staff said, including something called “progressive collapse,” in which only parts of the building would fall if hit with explosives.

Powell, Trump and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) during Thursday’s tour of the Federal Reserve.

(Julia Demaree Nikhinson / Associated Press)

Sensitivity to the president’s pending visit among Fed staff was high during the tour. Reporters were ushered into a small room outside the Fed’s boardroom, where 19 officials meet eight times a year to decide whether to change short-term interest rates. The room, which will have a security booth, is oval-shaped, and someone had written “oval office” on plywood walls.

The Fed staff downplayed the inscription as a joke. When reporters returned to the room later, it had been painted over.

During the tour, Fed staff also showed the elevator shaft that congressional critics have said is for “VIPs” only. Powell has since said it will be open to all Fed staff. The renovation includes an 18-inch extension so the elevator reaches a slightly elevated area that is now accessible only by steps or a ramp. A planning document that said the elevator will only be for the Fed’s seven governors was erroneous and later amended, staff said.

Renovations have been in the works for a while

Plans for the renovation were first approved by the Fed’s governing board in 2017. The project then wended its way through several local commissions for approval, at least one of which, the Commission for Fine Arts, included several Trump appointees. The commission pushed for more marble in the second of the two buildings the Fed is renovating, known as 1951 Constitution Avenue, specifically in a mostly glass extension that some of Trump’s appointees derided as a “glass box.”

Fed staff also said tariffs and inflationary increases in building material prices drove up costs. Trump in 2018 imposed a 25% duty on steel and 10% on aluminum. He increased them this year to 50%. Steel prices are up about 60% since the plans were approved, while construction materials costs overall are up about 50%, according to government data.

Fed staff also pointed to the complication of historic renovations — both buildings have significant preservation needs. Constructing a new building on an empty site would have been cheaper, they said.

As one example, the staff pointed reporters to where they had excavated beneath the Eccles building to add a floor of mechanical rooms, storage space and some offices. The Fed staff acknowledged such structural additions underground are expensive, but said it was done to avoid adding HVAC equipment and other mechanics on the roof, which is historic.

The Fed has previously attributed much of the project’s cost to underground construction. It is also adding three underground levels of parking for its second building. Initially the central bank proposed building more above ground, but ran into Washington, D.C., height restrictions, forcing more underground construction.

Renovation project could be impetus to push out Powell

Trump wants Powell to dramatically slash the Fed’s benchmark interest rate under the belief that inflation is not a problem, but Powell wants to see how Trump’s tariffs affect the economy before making any rate cuts that could potentially cause inflation to accelerate.

The renovation project has emerged as a possible justification by Trump to take the extraordinary step of firing Powell for cause, an act that some administration officials have played down given that the Fed chair’s term ends in May 2026. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought suggested in a July 10 letter to Powell that changes to the renovations in order to save money might have violated the National Capital Planning Act.

Fed staff said there were just two changes to the plans they had submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission, and neither were significant enough to warrant a resubmission of the plans. They removed a seating area on the roof of the Eccles building, because it was an amenity, and two water features in front of the second building, which they said saved money.

More recently, Trump has said he has no plans to oust Powell, which could be illegal based on a note in a Supreme Court ruling in May. The Supreme Court found that Trump had the power to remove board members of other independent agencies but indicated that a Fed chair could only be removed for cause.

Pushing Powell out also would almost certainly jilt global markets, potentially having the opposite effect that Trump wants as he pushes for lower borrowing costs.

Not everyone in Trump’s administration agrees with the president’s contention that Powell needs to resign.

“There’s nothing that tells me that he should step down right now,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, whom Trump has floated as a potential replacement for Powell, in a recent interview with Fox Business. “He’s been a good public servant.”

Rugaber, Boak and Megerian write for the Associated Press.

July 24 (UPI) — President Donald Trump will head to the Federal Reserve on Thursday amid his ongoing calls for Chair Jerome Powell to resign.

A U.S. president hasn’t visited the nation’s central bank since President George W. Bush in 2006. Trump is slated to arrive at 4 p.m. EDT and take an hour-long tour of the site, as he has expressed disdain for renovations at the office building.

The $2.5 billion renovation project has been part of Trump’s criticism Powell, and the Trump administration has also pushed at Powell, who Trump nominated to the job in 2017.

Trump, as recently as Wednesday, lashed out at Powell, who he has dubbed “Too Late.”

“Housing in our country is lagging because Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell refuses to lower interest rates,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday. “Families are being hurt because interest rates are too high, and even our country is having to pay a higher rate than it should be because of ‘Too Late.'”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, who has also taken to referring to Powell as “Too Late” on social media, has also been critical of the renovations. Blair has accused the Fed of trying to hide what is being spent on the project before announcing Tuesday that Trump and his people will be making the Thursday visit.

Blair had said on Monday that the Fed released a virtual video of its offices in what he considered an effort to stymie a review at the construction.

“What do they not want us to see?” he said on X.

“We go Thursday!” Blair posted to X Tuesday after inferring that the Fed had relented on blocking a visit due to pressure by the White House.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday on X he has called for an assessment of the Federal Reserve.

“While I have no knowledge or opinion on the legal basis for the massive building renovations being undertaken,” Bessent said. “A review of the decision to undertake such a project by an institution reporting operating losses of more than $100 billion per year should be conducted.”

Trump has expressed in the past a desire to fire Powell and has suggested that overruns on the cost of the renovations would be a viable excuse to terminate the Fed Chairman. However, Trump has since yielded on that notion and has indicated he will likely instead allow Powell to keep his job until his term expires next May.

Los Angeles loves dogs. The city was ranked as the most popular across the country for dog ownership, according to data gathered by U.S. News, and with get-outside weather and an abundance of green spaces to explore, it’s easy to see why.

Pet ownership skyrocketed during pandemic shutdowns, with local shelters experiencing a rare shortage of dogs and cats. But as the world reopened, dog owners were faced with the challenge of balancing return-to-office demands and expanded social lives with the responsibilities of pet ownership, making dog-friendly spaces all the more important.

Thankfully, the local restaurant scene offers countless settings to socialize with your pup, from an Eagle Rock coffee shop with an attached dog park to an Arts District pizzeria and a Lincoln Heights cider house. Here are 12 dog-friendly patios in L.A. to visit with your pup this summer.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III condemned Israel’s bombardment and blockade of Gaza as “morally unacceptable” after a rare visit to the besieged territory on July 18. Their trip followed an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, which killed three people.

Vice President Joe Biden, who has traveled to some America’s leading medical centers in recent weeks as part of what he has called his moonshot to cure cancer, will soon take his quest to the Vatican.

Biden will address a major conference on the progress of regenerative medicine in Vatican City on April 29, the vice president’s office said Wednesday.

The gathering, hosted by the Stem for Life Foundation and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture, will also draw leading physicians, ethicists and philanthropists to discuss the potential of emerging research to treat cancer and other diseases. The initiative has been championed by Pope Francis, who worked as a chemist before he entered the priesthood and has written in support of scientific progress.

Biden will be the latest leading U.S. political figure to attend a major gathering at the Vatican. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, will travel there this week to address a separate summit on social, economic and environmental issues.

Other details on the vice president’s three-day trip to Rome and the Vatican, including a possible meeting with Francis, had not yet been determined, his office said.

Biden, the nation’s first Catholic vice president, attended Francis’ papal inauguration in 2013 and attended multiple events during the Catholic leader’s visit to the U.S. last fall, including his address to Congress and departure from Philadelphia after the World Meeting of Families there.

Biden has praised Francis’ message of inclusion, writing in Time magazine that the pope “put a welcome sign on the front door of the Church.” Biden has also spoken of Francis’ personal empathy toward him and his family since the death last May of Biden’s eldest son, Beau, and the role of his faith in coping with personal tragedy.

The vice president’s effort to cure cancer, first announced by Biden as he said last fall that he would not run for president, was formally launched this year in President Obama’s State of the Union address. Biden has since traveled to Duke University, the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University and other research centers as part of his effort to bring stakeholders together in search of a cure.

Follow @mikememoli for more news out of Washington.

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July 14 (UPI) — U.S. President Donald Trump‘s state visit to Britain will take place Sept. 17 through Sept. 19 at Windsor Castle where King Charles III will host him and First Lady Melania Trump, Buckingham Palace announced Monday.

Buckingham Palace said Trump had formerly accepted the invitation, six years on from his first state visit when he was the guest of the late Queen Elizabeth II in June 2019. The visit is unprecedented because Trump will become the first U.S. president to receive the honor twice — second-term presidents traditionally receive a tea or lunch invitation.

Itinerary details remain pending but will comprise a packed schedule of events — including a full ceremonial welcome and a state banquet in the castle’s Saint George’s Hall — with all senior members of the royal family involved, including Prince William and Kate, said the palace.

Trump and the first lady will spend two nights at Windsor Castle. The location was moved from the customary Buckingham Palace due to renovations that are underway at the king’s official residence.

Trump, who has hereditary roots in Scotland, is known to be a fan of Britain, and in particular the royal family and all the associated pomp and grand ceremonies.

British Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson said Trump could expect a warm welcome.

“He should expect a warm reception because he really does love Britain. He hugely admires it,” said Mandelson.

“He trusts [British Prime Minister] Keir Starmer. It’s not a question of expressing our gratitude. My lodestar here is to demonstrate respect, not sycophancy. I don’t think the administration has any problem with that.”

However, the timing sidesteps the issue of the traditional address given to parliament by visiting heads of state, as Trump will arrive a day after the legislature rises for the month-long ‘conference” recess, when political parties hold their annual conventions.

A group of 20 MPs signed a motion back in April calling on the speakers of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords not to allow Trump to officially address either chamber, saying his “misogynism, racism and xenophobia, comments on women, refugees and torture” made it inappropriate.

The motion noted “several concerns on his comments about the U.K., parliamentary democracy, the Middle East and equalities; expresses concern about his conduct around Ukraine; believes it would be inappropriate for President Trump to address Parliament.”

Of the lawmakers who backed the motion, 15 belong to Starmer’s ruling Labour Party.

The stance of parliamentarians contrasts with the optics surrounding French President Emmanuel Macron‘s state visit last week, during which he addressed a packed joint session of parliament and laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey.

The king initially extended the royal invite to Trump in February in a letter that Starmer brought with him on a visit to Washington to meet with Trump in the White House, which the president accepted on the spot.

During his last visit in 2019, mass street protests forced the cancellation of a procession down the mall leading to Buckingham Palace for security reasons and he traveled between events by helicopter, instead of by road.

He also became embroiled in a social media spat with the mayor of London and appeared to breach royal protocol by walking ahead of the queen.

Beach lovers looking for a ‘peaceful’ spot that’s ideal for a day out or watching beautiful summer sunsets

Blackpool is one of the UK’s most beloved holiday resorts, home to a gorgeous sandy beach and other attractions. However, beachgoers looking for a seaside getaway might also love a lesser-known beach found nearby.

St Annes Beach is well worth a visit for holidaymakers or day-trippers who find themselves near Lytham St Annes. The smaller resort is a short drive from Blackpool and less than 90 minutes by car from central Manchester. Visitors love the “peaceful” beach, recommending it as the perfect spot to watch the sun go down in the summer.

Posting online as @hannxhml, a Manchester-based blogger shared a video praising the beach. Her video said: “You found the most peaceful beach one hour away from Manchester.” Her caption continued: “This beach was so clean and quiet, definitely recommend for a day trip and for amazing sunset views!”

She added: “It is a bit of a walk to the water so it’s worth noting if you want to swim, but it made for a nice walk.” Elsewhere, a blogger who posts on TikTok as @zahidrahman also praised the beach. He wrote: “St anne’s beach – only 1hr from manchester – must visit this summer to watch the sunset.”

Both videos impressed viewers, who agreed the beach makes for a great day out. Someone replied: “What a beautiful beach.” Another response read: “One of my favourite places.”

Someone shared: “Love it there. My friend lives in Lytham St Annes I’m honestly jealous,” and a commenter joked: “Takes 4 days to reach the water. Amazing beach though.”

Visit St Annes says the beach is lovely year-round, though it shines brightest during the summer months. The website says: “Huge, open acres of golden sand front against a traditional Victorian seaside seafront at St Annes.

“It’s a lovely place to enjoy a stroll, look around the gardens, and take in the seaside vibe. Listen to children playing and soak up the fresh air and weather. Lovely at any time of the year, it really comes into its own when the sun shines!”

The beach has an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars on TripAdvisor, and it’s also ranked as the number one thing to do in the area. One recent review said: “St Annes’s beach is gem of place. We had booked 2 huts.

“Majority time spent on beach. Kids enjoyed. Well equipped and maintained facilities. Clean toilets. Only missed is the sea water was too far away. Did try to walk towards but were unsure about tide time so came back. Must visit.”

Someone else wrote: “A lovely spacious beach. We have also rented the beach huts in the past. Check the tide times as the sea is rarely seen here but it’s because it’s in an estuary.

“Parking is accessible, they have lovely cafes all around and you will have fun here for sure. Very compact sand just a little bit in. Pillowy closer to the edges.”

French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day state visit to the United Kingdom has moved from the genteel royal pomp and ceremony to the harder edges of the political realm as his hosts are expected to press for new measures to curb undocumented immigration in crunch talks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to push Macron to do more to stop refugee and migrant crossings across the English Channel as the two leaders met Wednesday at 10 Downing Street.

The number of refugees and migrants arriving on England’s southern coast via small boats from northern France is a major political issue for the Labour government, which has seen the far-right Reform UK party make significant political gains with a hardline anti-immigration platform.

The talks come on Macron’s second day of his visit to the UK, which began with a warm welcome from King Charles III and members of the royal family and a lavish banquet at Windsor Castle.

It’s the first state visit by a French president to the UK since Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 and the first by a European Union head of state since Brexit was made official in 2020. Macron’s trip came at the invitation of King Charles III.

‘One in-one out’ deal not favoured by EU

Macron addressed the British parliament on Tuesday, promising to deliver on measures to cut the number of people crossing the English Channel, describing the issue as a “burden” to both countries. He also said that France and the UK had a “shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness”.

Britain hopes to strike a “one in, one out” deal to send small boat refugees and migrants back to the continent, in exchange for the UK accepting asylum seekers in Europe who have a British link, the domestic Press Association news agency reported.

France has previously refused to sign such an agreement, saying the UK should negotiate an arrangement with all European Union countries.

“This deal is far from being finished because there is a lot of opposition from certain European nations, which are usually the port of entry for people seeking to come to Europe, places like Spain, Malta, Italy, Greece and Cyprus,” said Al Jazeera’s Milena Veselinovic, reporting from London.

“That is because under EU law, in theory, France could just move on the people they receive from Britain and onto those countries, the first port of entry countries, to claim asylum there. So Keir Starmer doesn’t only need to convince President Macron of this deal, but he also has quite significant stumbling blocks when it comes to convincing other European nations.”

In parliament Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, challenged Starmer to “say to the French president we will not accept undocumented males across the English Channel”.

There has been increasing frustration in the UK over funding for France to prevent refugees and migrants setting off and a law that prevents police intercepting boats while in the water close to shore.

“We will only provide funding that delivers for our priorities,” Starmer told parliament, adding that Britain had persuaded the French “to review their laws and tactics on the north coast to take more effective action”.

“I’ll be discussing this at meetings with President Macron,” he added.

After he took power a year ago, Starmer promised to “smash the gangs”, getting thousands of people onto the small boats – only to see numbers rise to record levels.

More than 21,000 people have crossed from northern France to southeast England in basic vessels this year, on a perilous journey.

The Macrons began the second day of their visit by paying their respects at the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel.

Macron then discussed biodiversity issues with the king during a stroll in the castle grounds before he bade farewell to his host and headed to central London.

At Tuesday evening’s banquet, Charles used a speech to about 160 guests – including royals, Starmer and music icons Elton John and Mick Jagger – to warn that the two nations’ alliance was as crucial as ever amid a “multitude of complex threats”.

Macron had also said in his address to parliament that “Britain and France were too dependent on the US and China, and that they really need to take joint decisions on defence and security even though Britain has left the European Union, as geographically it is part of Europe,” said Veselinovic.

Charles concluded by toasting a new UK-France “entente… no longer just cordiale, but now amicale”, prompting Macron to laud “this entente amicale that unites our two fraternal peoples in an unwavering alliance”.

Macron is due to visit the British Museum to formally announce the loan of the famous Bayeux Tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England, allowing the 11th-century masterpiece to return for the first time in more than 900 years. London, in exchange, will loan Paris Anglo-Saxon and Viking treasures.

Cara, who runs The Magic Geekdom channel, said she was “blown away” after her first ever visit to Leeds and she believes the Yorkshire city is extremely overlooked by outsiders

An American YouTuber has been left utterly enchanted by one UK city and labelled it a “hidden gem” after visiting for the first time. Cara, the face behind The Magic Geekdom channel, couldn’t contain her excitement when she arrived in Leeds.

She explained: “This was my very first time in Leeds and it completely blew me away! I didn’t know much about the city going in, but after a full day exploring its stunning arcades, fascinating museums, delicious food spots, and lively streets, I can honestly say Leeds is one of the most overlooked cities I’ve visited so far in the UK.

“From beautiful architecture to incredible markets and independent shops, this city has so much to offer.”

In her video, Cara expressed surprise at the aesthetic appeal of Leeds, telling viewers: “I don’t know why, I wasn’t expecting this much gorgeousness in the buildings around here but there is a lot of pretty things to look at here.”

Highlighting Leeds City Museum as a prime example of the city’s allure, she mentioned that before visiting, she sought recommendations, with the Royal Armouries Museum topping the list.

After exploring the free-to-enter museum, Cara concluded with admiration: “What a great museum, something that I was not expecting to love but then ended up being very fascinated by many different aspects of the museum.”

Instead of solely delving into arms and military history, she spiced up her day with a jaunt on a boat and savoured a pint at Whitelock’s Ale House in Leeds, the city’s oldest pub.

Eager to soak up local Yorkshire flavour, she opted for a crisp pint of Kirkstall Pale Ale. Her adventure continued through the city’s arcades, where she eagerly anticipated Queen’s Arcade but found it her “least favourite” due to its less impressive appearance compared to Thornton’s Arcade.

She found County Arcade to be “much more opulent” than the rest, describing it as “beautiful and very posh” yet her preference leaned towards the more understated.

During her exploration, she offered a unique take: “Here is an observation I’ve made here that I’ve never made anywhere else.

“I think in most places, buskers have mapped out times or areas and I think here in Leeds it is just a free for all because there are people everywhere doing all kinds of things with microphones and it is kind of hard to hear any of them at any given time.

“But I think that adds to the experience a little bit.”

The video, available for viewing here, prompted one viewer to comment: “As a Manchester lad that has lived in Leeds for 14 years I can say it is different, it has it’s own vibe. It’s full of amazing people. And a place I am proud to call home.”

Replying, Cara said: “It definitely has a vibe.”

Another person said: “Lived in Leeds all my life. You’ve shown off the city beautifully.”

A third added: “My son went to Leeds uni for three years, i love this city and he loves it so much he’s moving back to Leeds this September to work. There is so much there plus its close enough to the Yorkshire dales and Cumbria which is even better!”

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for British support to recognise the state of Palestine and help defend Ukraine as he arrived in the United Kingdom for the first state visit by a European leader since Brexit.

Macron, in a rare address to both houses of the British parliament on Tuesday, celebrated the return of closer ties between France and the UK, and said the two countries must work together to end “excessive dependencies” on the United States and China.

The French president’s three-day trip came at the invitation of King Charles III. Macron was earlier greeted by the royal family, including heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife, Princess Catherine, before they travelled in horse-drawn carriages to Windsor Castle.

Macron then set out to parliament where he said the two countries needed to come together to strengthen Europe, including on defence, immigration, climate and trade.

“The United Kingdom and France must once again show the world that our alliance can make all the difference,” the French president said in English. “The only way to overcome the challenges we have, the challenges of our times, will be to go together hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder.”

Macron also promised that European countries would “never abandon Ukraine” in its war against invading Russian forces, while demanding an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.

He then urged the UK to work together with France on recognising a Palestinian state, calling it “the only path to peace”.

“With Gaza in ruin and West Bank being on a daily basis attacked, the perspective of a Palestinian state has never been put at risk as it is,” Macron said. “And this is why this solution of the two states and the recognition of the State of Palestine is… the only way to build peace and stability for all in the whole region.”

He listed the geopolitical threats France and the UK face, and argued they should also be wary of the “excessive dependencies of both the US and China”, saying they needed to “de-risk our economies and our societies from this dual dependency”.

Macron went on to set out the opportunities of a closer union, saying they should make it easier for students, researchers and artists to live in each other’s countries, and seek to work together on artificial intelligence and to protect children online.

The speech symbolised the improvement in relations sought by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s centre-left Labour Party, as part of a broader reset of ties with European allies following the rancour over London’s departure from the European Union.

‘Entente Amicale’

Later on Tuesday evening, King Charles hosted a banquet for the Macrons at Windsor Castle, with 160 guests, including politicians, diplomats and celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Elton John.

Charles used his speech at the opulent state banquet to christen a new era of friendly relations, upgrading the “entente cordiale” – an alliance dating from 1904 that ended centuries of military rivalries – to an “entente amicale”.

“As we dine here in this ancient place, redolent with our shared history, allow me to propose a toast to France and to our new entente. An entente not only past and present, but for the future – and no longer just cordiale, but now amicale,” the king said.

The UK and France marked the three-day visit with an announcement that French nuclear energy utility EDF would invest 1.1 billion pounds ($1.5bn) in a nuclear power project in eastern England.

The two also said France would lend the UK the Bayeux Tapestry, allowing the 11th-century masterpiece to return for the first time in more than 900 years, in exchange for London loaning Paris Anglo-Saxon and Viking treasures.

Politics will take centre stage on Wednesday, when Macron sits down for talks with Starmer on migration, defence and investment.

Despite tensions over post-Brexit ties and how to stop asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel in small boats, the UK and France have been working closely to create a planned military force to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.

The two leaders will dial in to a meeting of the coalition on Thursday “to discuss stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia”, Starmer’s office confirmed on Monday.

They will speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the French presidency.

Starmer is hoping the UK’s support for Ukraine will help persuade Macron to take a different approach to stopping people smuggling, with London wanting to try out an asylum seekers’ returns deal.

This would involve the UK deporting one asylum seeker to France in exchange for another with a legitimate case to be in the country. A record number of asylum seekers have arrived in the UK on small boats in the first six months of this year. Starmer, whose party is trailing Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party in the polls, is under pressure to find a solution.

France has previously refused to sign such an agreement, saying the UK should negotiate an arrangement with all EU countries.

King Charles will say the UK and France must stand united in the face of a “multitude of complex threats”, when he speaks at a state banquet for French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron and his wife Brigitte will be welcomed by the King and Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales, as they arrive for a three-day state visit – the first by a French president since 2008, and the first by a European Union leader since Brexit.

The banquet will be a highlight of the trip, with famous faces, a showcase menu and a message from the King about the “shared history and culture between our two peoples”.

The King’s speech will warn of threats in defence, technology and climate change.

“For centuries our citizens have admired each other, amused each other, and imitated each other,” the King will say at Tuesday evening’s banquet, which will be held at Windsor Castle, as Buckingham Palace is being renovated.

He will warn of current risks “emanating from multiple directions” and challenges that “know no borders” from which “no fortress can protect us”.

“Our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world,” the state banquet speech will say.

Defence, growth, security, migration and French efforts to tackle small boats are all expected to be discussed during the state visit.

Sylvie Bermann, who was the French Ambassador to the UK from 2014 to 2017, described the small boats issue as difficult but said that France was “making progress” on it.

Responding to criticism within the UK that the British government has given too much money to France to try and deter small boat crossings without seeing any results so far, Ms Bermann said: “The UK is paying because we [France] is doing the job for the UK… you can’t prevent all of them [small boats] but we are doing our best.”

A state visit is a “soft power” opportunity to strengthen partnerships, with the French visit set to reinforce links with the UK in trade, diplomacy and defence, at a time of uncertainty about the US stance on issues such as military backing for Ukraine.

A UK-France summit at Downing Street on Thursday, hosted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is also likely to discuss ways of stopping illegal migration on small boats across the Channel.

Starmer and Macron are also expected to speak by phone to other allied nations who are looking to support any future peace deal in Ukraine.

The start of the visit on Tuesday will see ceremonial spectacles, with senior members of the Royal Family ready to greet the French visitors and to celebrate the “entente cordiale”, in the first French state visit since 2008.

Prince William and Catherine will greet the French president and his wife when their plane touches down at RAF Northolt.

King Charles and the Queen will then formally welcome them on a dais that has been built in Windsor town centre.

There will be horses, as well as political horse-trading, with a carriage procession through Windsor, ahead of a royal salute and military parade at Windsor Castle.

On Wednesday, Macron will see a horse that he gave to the late Queen Elizabeth II, to mark her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The French president and his wife are also set to visit the tomb of the late Queen, during their stay in Windsor.

The UK government has spoken of wanting to “re-set” post-Brexit relations with European neighbours and Macron’s visit will be a public endorsement of the longstanding alliance with France.

MPs and peers will be able to hear Macron when he gives a speech to the Houses of Parliament.

Advances in science will be highlighted during the visit, with examples of artificial intelligence and innovative technology being shown to the French visitors at Imperial College London.

King Charles and Queen Camilla carried out a state visit to France in 2023, where he received a standing ovation for his speech to the French Senate.

He had given a strongly worded message of support for Ukraine after Russia’s “horrifying” invasion. The King had also highlighted the “existential challenge” of climate change.

If you’re looking for something a bit quieter and don’t mind working a little harder to get there, then Milos may be the cup of tea you’re looking for

A Greek island rivals Mykonos in its charm and beauty, but you’ll have to work hard to get there.

Mykonos is one of the Cyclades, sitting in the sparkling Aegean Sea, and offers a bit of something for everyone. Beaches such as Paradise and Super Paradise have bars that blare thumping music and can set the stage for a big night of clubbing. It also has a gentler side, such as a row of 16th-century windmills perched on a hill above Mykonos Town, and plenty of quieter coves.

It’s a big hit with Brits, in no small part because of the ease of the journey. You can grab direct flights with easyJet from London Gatwick, London Luton, and Manchester.

According to Kathimerini, more than 1.5 million people visit Mykonos each year, with another 1.2 million arriving by cruise ship. This small island has just 11,000 residents and covers only 85 square kilometers, yet hosts more tourists annually than Peru.

READ MORE: Little-known plane rule means Brits risk being hit with £53 fines onboard

The sheer number and density of visitors mean that Mykonos is not for everyone. If you’re looking for something a bit quieter and don’t mind working a little harder to get there, then Milos may be the cup of tea you’re looking for.

It is one of the most picturesque of the Greek islands; however, it’s only the third most popular holiday destination to reach from the UK, according to Travel Republic.

While Milos’s beaches and ancient history are iconic, it lacks its own airport. For Brits longing to visit, the best option is to fly into Athens and take a ferry to the island.

The ferry ride can vary from 2.5 to 7.5 hours, depending on weather conditions. For the smoothest travel experience, consider visiting between late May and early September, when the seas are typically calmer and ferry services more frequent.

Despite the longer journey, Milos remains one of Greece’s most sought-after destinations, with demand surging by over 500% in the past month as Brits look for sun-soaked escapes. Shaped by a volcanic eruption, the island offers something for everyone, from scenic coastal hikes and a thriving food scene to fascinating ancient artifacts.

Milos is known for its picturesque fishing villages and indigo bays and as the place where one of the world’s most famous artworks was discovered. In 1820, the Venus de Milo statue was found by a peasant named Georgios Kentrotas. As he wasn’t aware of its historical importance, he kept it on his farm. When a French sailor named Jules Dumont d’Urville arrived on the island, he saw the statue and immediately understood the importance of the discovery. The statue is now displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The beaches on the island are iconic, with the most famous being the gorgeous Sarakiniko Beach. It boasts a lunar landscape of gleaming white volcanic rock formations and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Kleftiko is another popular attraction, albeit one that is only reachable by boat. Boasting towering rock formations and emerald waters, the former pirate hideaway is now a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, and boat tours.

July 6 (UPI) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is travelling Monday to Washington as Israel sends negotiators to Qatar amid ongoing talks toward a ceasefire with Hamas. The administration of President Donald Trump also seeks to ease tensions along the Israel-Syria border.

It marks the Israeli leader’s third visit to the United States since Trump returned to office, despite a warrant for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court, of which neither the United States nor Israel are a party.

Netanyahu’s visit comes after the U.S. participated in airstrikes during Israel’s 12-day war against Iran. During Netanyahu’s last trip to the White House in April, the Israeli prime minister appeared to be surprised when Trump said his administration would negotiate directly with Iran regarding efforts to curb its nuclear program.

Since then, Trump has increased pushes for deals that would lead to peace in the Middle East and the normalization of relations between Israel and its neighbors, possibly including Syria under the rule of its new leader, former al-Qaeda militant Ahmed al-Sharaa, after the president lifted sanctions on the country.

The Monday meeting is primarily expected to focus on a 60-day pause in hostilities with Hamas. In January 2025, Israel and Hamas signed a three-phase ceasefire deal. Phase One, which ended in early March, saw reciprocal hostage releases, humanitarian aid flows and partial Israeli withdrawals.

Ahead of Phase Two, Israel presented a revised plan with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff seeking additional hostages, troop presence and governance conditions. Hamas rejected the amendments and Israel launched a major airstrike on March 18 that collapsed the truce. Since then, U.S.-brokered talks — spurred by Trump’s push for a 60-day ceasefire — have resumed but remain stalled.

Last week, Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a new U.S.-backed 60-day temporary cease-fire proposal. Hamas has responded positively but is seeking to negotiate some changes.

Hussam Badran, head of Hamas’ National Relations Office, said in a statement Sunday that the group held a series of extensive contacts with the leaders of other Palestinian factions to consult on Hamas’ response to the new framework.

“These contacts witnessed a high level of practical and serious consultation between Hamas and the national and Islamic factions, resulting in a unified national consensus in support of the position of the Palestinian resistance forces,” Badran said.

“Following the completion of internal and external consultations with the factions, Hamas’ response was presented to the mediators and was formulated unanimously and in a positive spirit. This unified response was welcomed by all Palestinian factions and forces.”

A senior Palestinian official told the BBC that Hamas has demanded that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a new Delaware-based and Israel-backed nonprofit that took over the distribution of aid to Gaza, cease operations immediately.

Humanitarian organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International and Oxfam have criticized the GHF after hundreds of people seeking aid have been shot at and killed by contractors and Israeli forces.

Hamas has also reportedly made a demand regarding Israeli troop withdrawal and has sought guarantees from the United States that Israel would not begin ground or air operations again, even if the ceasefire ended without a permanent truce.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday that 80 people were killed and 304 people were injured in the enclave in the past 24 hours, bringing the number of deaths since the first ceasefire collapsed in March to 6,860. Nearly 60,000 people have been killed since the war began.

“The changes that Hamas is seeking to make in the Qatari proposal were conveyed to us last night and are unacceptable to Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Saturday.

“In light of an assessment of the situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that the invitation to proximity talks be accepted and that the contacts for the return of our hostages — on the basis of the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to — be continued. The negotiating team will leave tomorrow for the talks in Qatar,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Naim Qassem — a leader of Hezbollah, the armed Lebanese political party that reached a ceasefire with Israel last year — delivered a speech Sunday that accused Israel of continuing to violate the terms of its deal while occupying parts of Lebanon.

In his speech, Qassem unequivocally opposed the normalization of relations with Israel, describing it as an unacceptable concession. He framed normalization as part of a broader effort to force surrender under the guise of diplomacy, which he said Hezbollah would never accept.

Qassem expressed conditional support for a Gaza ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, but insisted that any agreement must coincide with a complete halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Channel 4’s Grand Designs rejected a country mansion worth £3 million after they refused to send host Kevin McCloud to visit the property as it was going ‘too well’

For a quarter of a century, Kevin McCloud has been the face of Channel 4’s much-loved renovation series, Grand Designs. The programme showcases the trials and triumphs of individuals as they strive to build their dream homes, documenting every step from design to completion.

However, it appears that not all projects make the cut for the show, particularly if they’re going too smoothly. The owner of a Yorkshire property has spoken out, claiming that Channel 4 cancelled the show’s visit after deciding against featuring the home. According to the Yorkshire Post, the production company behind Grand Designs had identified the construction of Hawksworth’s Moor Reservoir in Yorkshire as an ideal project.

Despite its breathtaking location and daring architecture, Channel 4 decided against filming the project because “there wasn’t enough drama”. The former owner of Hawksworth Moor Reservoir, Jonathan, shared his disappointment about Channel 4’s decision with the publication, reports the Express.

He revealed: “We thought it would go ahead and had even briefed about booking in ‘Kevin days’ but then got an email saying Channel 4 didn’t want to go with the project because they thought it would run too smoothly and wouldn’t provide enough drama.

“It was definitely a compliment, in a way,” he shared, adding, “I spent a number of years restoring a 16th-century farmhouse in Haworth and I liked living there, but I wanted another project and I wanted something different, a bigger challenge.

“I’ve always moved up a level each time I renovated, and this is definitely the pinnacle.”

Describing the grand estate, the country mansion sprawls across 12 acres and features four en-suite bedrooms, a home cinema, a games room complete with comfy seating and an expansive open-plan kitchen that proudly houses a boardroom-style dining table that seats 14.

Further amenities include a separate annex with three more bedrooms, a private gym, a well-appointed office, a modern shower room, and even a kitchen within the garage.

Jonathan conceded: “The build went very smoothly, we went over budget, but there was a conscious decision to spend more on the heat recovery and ventilation units and the kitchen. There were no sleepless nights.”

The Mirror has reached out to Channel 4 for comment.

Last month, a Grand Designs property that took two decades to renovate went on the market for £1.5 million, with fans calling it the “perfect” home.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom will spend two days next week in rural South Carolina, fueling speculation that the California Democrat is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run.

During the visit Tuesday and Wednesday, Newsom will make stops in eight rural counties that are among the state’s “most economically challenged and environmentally vulnerable,” the South Carolina Democratic Party said Thursday.

The chair of the state Democratic Party, Christale Spain, said in a statement that Newsom’s tour through the Pee Dee, Midlands and Upstate regions was aimed at showing rural voters in areas that had been “hollowed out by decades of Republican control” that “they aren’t forgotten.”

Newsom’s visit is also aimed at a state that will be among the first to have a Democratic Party primary in 2028. But Lindsey Cobia, a Newsom senior political advisor, denied that the governor is laying the groundwork for a presidential run.

Cobia said Newsom is “squarely focused” on helping Democrats win back the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026 and on “sounding the alarm about how rural families and communities requesting disaster relief are being left behind by the Trump administration.”

Newsom’s tour with the South Carolina Democrats, dubbed “On the Road With Governor Newsom,” will include stops in Marion, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Laurens, Pickens, Oconee, Kershaw and Florence counties. The Post and Courier reported that Newsom’s schedule would include stops in small settings such as cafes, coffee shops, community centers and churches.

The tour will take Newsom to some of the state’s reddest counties. Seven of the eight counties Newsom is scheduled to visit went for President Trump in November, including two where he garnered 75% of the vote.

The South Carolina trip is one of several overtures that Newsom has made to Southern voters in recent years. He stumped for then-President Biden in South Carolina in 2024. In 2023, he faced off in a highly publicized debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. And in 2022, he bought ads in Texas and Florida excoriating their governors for their stances on gun violence and abortion.

Newsom isn’t the only California Democrat visiting South Carolina this month.

U.S. Rep Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) of Silicon Valley will be holding town halls in the Palmetto State on July 19 and 20 in partnership with the advocacy organization Protect Our Care, which has been mobilizing voters in swing House districts against the planned Republican cuts to Medicaid.

Balamory, which starred the likes of Julie Wilson Nimmo as Miss Hoolie, is set to return after the BBC announced last year that it had commissioned two new series for CBeebies

A cast member from the original Balamory has announced that they will be part of the pre-school show’s return on CBeebies. It comes after the BBC announced plans for a “reboot” of the show, which is said to be getting a “revamp”.

It was announced last year that Balamory would be revived more than 20 years since it last aired. The broadcaster said at the time that the reboot is expected to launch in 2026 with the first of two new series that it had commissioned.

The BAFTA-winning show, which launched on the BBC children’s channel in 2002, focused on the fictional island community off the coast of Scotland. It ran for four series before coming to an end two decades ago in 2005.

It included Julie Wilson Nimmo, now 53, who played Miss Hoolie, among its cast. Miss Hoolie, who acted as the narrator of each episode, was introduced as a nursery teacher and remained the lead character throughout.

Julie has now confirmed that she will be back for the new series of Balamory. She shared the news in response to a fan who asked about the prospect in the comments section of a post about the actor doing yoga on Sunday.

The fan asked in the comments section on Instagram over the weekend: “Are you going to be in Balamory reboot?” Julie, who liked the comment, addressed the prospect in a reply. She simply responded to the fan: “Yup.”

It was previously suggested by the BBC that the new series will feature characters from the original show, as well as introducing a host of new residents of Balamory. No casting details were included in the initial announcement, though.

Balamory had been filmed in the village of Tobermory. It was announced last year that the new series will either be filmed in the same location or elsewhere in Scotland, with the prospect of Rothesay mentioned at the time.

Julie returned to Tobermory at the end of her BBC Scotland show Jules and Greg’s Wild Swim, in which she toured wild swimming locations with her husband Greg Hemphill. She teased then that she felt emotional being back.

Whilst arriving into the village, she told her husband on the docuseries, which aired last year: “This is magical.” She added: “I actually feel really emotional.” Julie, who later took photos with fans, then said: “I’m pure welling up.”

Speaking about the reboot, Julie said: “It’s the craziest and best news ever that Balamory is coming back. I seriously think this is bigger than the Oasis reunion. Everyone I know loves the show and has been missing it.”

When the BBC first announced the revival last year, it said that the new series will be set in the fictional Balamory, with stories “centred around a nursery school and their teacher.” It added that it’s interested in “some” of the original characters being included alongside “a host of new faces”.

Kate Morton, Head of Commissioning 0-6 for BBC Children’s and Education, said at the time: “A whole new generation will discover and enjoy Balamory as we bring families together with this new update for CBeebies. It will be a real treat for parents who grew up with the show to now introduce their little ones to the brightly coloured world getting to know a host of old and new characters together.”

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