years

AN AWARD-WINNING visitor attraction in the UK is at risk of closing.

The Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire – home to the UK’s largest telescope and several attractions for the last 70 years – could soon close.

According to the BBC, the attraction has lost its funding, which could mean that the attraction is forced to close, which scientists describe as “heartbreaking”.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site observatory features a number of telescopes that have been used to study galaxies and to train astronomers.

There are four pavilions in total to explore, including one that features a science exhibition.

Outside, visitors can then also venture around 35 acres of gardens including an arboretum, as well as picnic areas, ponds and a playground.

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The attraction has a number of cafes and a gift shop too.

General tickets cost £15 per adult and £10.50 per child.

In addition to this, there are a number of events that run at the observatory including shows such as The Great Solar System Adventure, where young space explorers can see the journey and life of stars.

Most shows cost from nothing to around £5 per person to watch.

And the site isn’t just used for science – it has also made an appearance in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as well as Doctor Who.

Unless funding can be found for the attraction, all scientific investigations are expected to stop at the observatory on April 1, 2028.

The observatory was first launched in 1945 and played a key role in the Cold War to monitor Soviet missiles.

The BBC added that the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) agency is expected to make a statement regarding the loss of the observatory’s annual £2.8million budget.

One recent visitor said: “We had a really lovely experience at Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement. It’s a fantastic place to visit with children.

“There is an indoor museum, activity room as well as playgrounds, so it works well even if the weather isn’t great.

“The Dome cinema was a real highlight — the film was excellent and very engaging.”

It looked like Mayo would be on the end of another defeat when David Clifford – widely considered one of the greatest players of his generation, perhaps even of all time – netted to put Kerry in control in the early stages.

But Mayo dug deep and fought back, and trailed by a single point at half-time.

Things changed four minutes after the restart when Darragh Beirne finished off a flowing move to put Mayo into a lead they would not relinquish.

Kerry, as great champions do, never folded and there was a late scare as the pressure grew, but Mayo were not to be denied in a three-point victory.

The tears and emotion at the final whistle meant everything.

Manager Andy Moran, a former Mayo player and in his first year in charge, went to his wife and family in the stands.

The new generation, such as Beirne and the superb Aussie Rules-bound Kobe McDonald, soaked in every moment on the Croke Park pitch.

There was over 80,000 people in attendance, and for those in green and red, plus the many neutrals in attendance, there was barely a dry eye in the house.

While the so-called ‘curse’ is one thing, Mayo also wore a special white jersey in a final for the first time since 1951 due to a clash between the green home kit of Kerry. Perhaps it was fate.

“To every man, women, boy and girl in Mayo, wherever you are, dream big things,” said captain Jack Coyne, who delivered one of the all-time great speeches before lifting the Sam Maguire.

“Anything is possible and we’ve shown it today. I’m over the moon.”

KATIE Price was left feeling stunned as she reunited with a club bouncer that she kissed on a night out 30 years ago.

Katie, 48, shared a clip reminiscing about her Wednesday nights at London’s China White back in the day.

Speaking with the hosts of The Rated Show, Katie explained: “I loved it there.”

One of them replied “Ask her how and why the day she came down is so memorable.”

“What did I f***ing do now? What didn’t I do?” laughed Katie.

“I’m the doorman that you kissed at China White’s,” he said.

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A shocked Katie exclaimed: “No!”

His friend added: “He’s been living off that for 30 years. You know he hasn’t washed his face for 30 years.”

“That shows how old I am,” joked Katie.

She then explained how she couldn’t wait to appear on their show.

Katie looked happy and relaxed in the video clip but it comes days after she shared a snap on her Instagram without her wedding ring.

Katie tied the knot with conman Lee in January, just 10 days after meeting him.

Ever since, stories of Lee’s lies, scams and imprisonments have filled the pages of newspapers and magazines.

However, The Sun’s explosive dossier of evidence against Lee – including a “gay affair rumour” – has, according to a source, left Katie with no choice but to consult a divorce lawyer.

Clemmie also confirmed in her in-depth article that Katie is refusing to return to Dubai – where Lee lives and is currently locked up in prison.

Meanwhile Katie has vowed to quiz her husband over his offer to sell a sex tape of them – as her sister Sophie branded him a “d***head”.

It comes after The Sun revealed Lee’s sickening plan of hawking an alleged “sex tape” with his wife.

Five years after Tunisian President Kais Saied suspended parliament and attained sweeping powers, the country remains sharply divided, grappling with a severe economic downturn and a worsening political deadlock.

Saied’s supporters continue to view the measures taken by him in July 2021 – when he suspended parliament and dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi – as a necessary “correction” to save the country. The opposition says that since then, state institutions have collapsed, promises have gone unfulfilled, and there has been an unprecedented concentration of power in his hands.

Speaking to Al Jazeera’s Ma Waraa al-Khabar (Behind the News) programme, political and economic experts debated the legacy of Saied’s five-year rule, painting a picture of an economy hindered by a poor business climate, populist policies, and a lack of clear vision.

An economy in free fall

Since Saied assumed near-total control of the levers of power five years ago, Tunisia’s economic indicators have largely plummeted.

Ridha Chkoundali, an economics professor at the University of Tunisia, said that the investment rate in the country has dropped from an average of 20 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) between 2015 and 2019 to just 8 percent in 2023.

Chkoundali attributed this sharp decline to an environment that drives away investment, exacerbated by a significant burden from taxes, which have risen by five percentage points since 2015.

Taxation, he argued, is no longer used to stimulate investment but simply to collect revenues at the expense of economic growth.

The crisis has hit ordinary Tunisians the hardest. Food inflation has reached nearly three times the general average, severely eroding purchasing power. Meanwhile, unemployment has surged, particularly among university graduates, pushing many to leave the country for better economic opportunities abroad.

Mohamed Abbou, a former minister of state and former secretary-general of the Democratic Current party, argued that the crisis is rooted in Saied’s style of governance, adding that the rule of law has been replaced by a climate of intimidation and threats.

“Tunisia has lost all credibility,” Abbou said. “Everyone fears the situation in Tunisia because there is no rationality… there is no stability in laws, taxes, or anything else.”

Abbou particularly criticised Saied’s approach to international finance, pointing out that the president rejected a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) purely to maintain a populist image. At the same time, he quietly implemented many of the IMF’s harsh austerity demands, such as halting public sector hiring and reducing imports.

However, supporters of the current government argue that it is unfair to blame Saied’s administration entirely for an economic crisis that predates his rule.

Political analyst Souhaib Mezrigui says the current situation is the result of an absence of any clear economic or social vision over the past 10 years. He placed blame for the current crisis squarely on the political class that has ruled Tunisia since the 2011 revolution.

Protests and political prisoners

Tunisia’s economic stagnation has manifested into tangible anger on the streets. Coinciding with the five-year anniversary, thousands of Tunisians rallied in the capital’s Habib Bourguiba Avenue on Saturday, protesting against deteriorating living conditions, rolling water and electricity cuts, and a backsliding in democracy.

Organised by a coalition of opposition parties and the “Nafas” civil initiative, the crowds called for Saied to “leave” and revived the 2011 democratic revolution’s rallying cry: “The people want the fall of the regime”.

A central demand of the protests was the release of political prisoners, who have filled Tunisia’s jails since Saied began his crackdown on dissent. Among the most prominent detainees is Rached Ghannouchi, the 85-year-old former parliament speaker and Ennahdha leader, who was recently sentenced to life in prison.

Ghannouchi’s health has rapidly deteriorated in detention. He recently fainted in Mornaguia prison, where temperatures reportedly reached 52 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit). Rights groups and families of detainees, such as opposition politician Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, have repeatedly warned about the dire conditions inside the detention facility and the toll it is taking on elderly inmates.

Imed al-Khamiri, a spokesman for the Ennahdha party, told Al Jazeera that the continued detention of political figures and opposition leaders remains a “disgrace to the Tunisian state”.

US lawmaker calls for sanctions

Saied’s consolidation of power has also drawn renewed international condemnation. Marking the anniversary, US Representative Joe Wilson issued a scathing statement, accusing Saied of transforming the Arab world’s only constitutional democracy into a “one-man dictatorship”.

Wilson accused the Tunisian regime of phenomenally increasing corruption, destroying opportunities for the youth, and shifting its alliances to become a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran, and Hezbollah.

Noting that Saied’s government has even jailed US citizens, Wilson urged the US State Department to issue a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory for Tunisia.

“I will also continue to work to pass the Tunisia Democracy Restoration Act imposing sanctions on Saied and his inner circle,” Wilson stated on the social media platform X, adding: “Democracy in Tunisia will win in the end. Madmen tyrants will not last.”

TUCKED away in the mountains of Malaga is a tiny village that was abandoned for five decades.

El Acebuchal was only rediscovered in the late 90s and brought back to life.

The little white-washed village was once used by travelling merchants for hundreds of years as a place to meet and transport goods between the Costa del Sol and Granada.

The village was small and home to around 200 people.

But in 1949, the village was officially closed by the Spanish leader at the time, Francisco Franco.

He believed that those who lived there opposed his regime, so he sent officials in to disperse the village residents.

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It remained a ghost town until 1998 when Antonio Sanchez or ‘El Zumbo’, who once had ancestors in the village, moved there.

He and his family began to rebuild houses where everything was restored by hand.

The village didn’t even have running water or electricity until 2003.

Now, the village has around 30 homes, a chapel and restaurant called Bar El Acebuchal which is actually run by Antonio Sanchez himself.

It’s slightly off the beaten track according to diners, but well-worth it for the food.

Lots of the homes are holiday rentals – there’s also a B&B in the village called ‘The Lost Village el Acebuchal’ which is highly-rated on Tripadvisor.

It has just three rooms along with a roof terrace, seasonal outdoor pool and there are even spa services.

One visitor described it as “a 1950s movie scene” and another described it as a “hideaway”.

The village isn’t overly modern with limited phone signal.

A popular hiking route is between Acebuchal and Frigiliana which stretches on for about eight miles.

Frigiliana is another place to add to the list, as it is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.

It has white-washed buildings, bright blue accents, terracotta tiled rooftops and mosaic streets.

The steep paths are lined with colourful plant pots full of greenery with blooming flowers like the classic Mediterranean pink bougainvillea.

The town was built on top of a hill so it has incredible views of the Costa del Sol and Mediterranean Sea.

Thousands marched in Tunisia’s capital to demand the resignation of President Kais Saied five years after he suspended parliament. Protesters revived the 2011 revolution’s slogan ‘the people want the fall of the regime’ as they decried democratic backsliding, economic hardship and political repression.

Michelle Baker has lived in Benidorm for most of her life and the Brit has now opened up about a new scam that targets female tourists in the Spanish holiday hotspot

A British mum who has called Benidorm home for over 42 years has warned holidaymakers about a new scam that targets women.

Michelle Baker is married to a Spaniard and she has raised their children in the popular resort where she used to run a newspaper for Brits. However, she now keeps travellers updated by sharing tips and information on her Benidormforever Facebook page.

But her most recent post was a more serious one. Sh explained: “Statistically Benidorm is a very safe resort, however, like any busy city there are opportunists waiting to rob you.”

She then said to follow the obvious precautions like keeping your valuables close and your suitcase in sight — before naming the scams actively taking place this summer.

New scam

Michelle labelled this scam the “selfie steal” and she explained: “This is a new one and targets women mostly. A couple asks you to take a photo… they’re all smiles and overly friendly… then they ask you to get into their selfie.”

The Benidorm expert advised that this was the point where you must decline — before explaining the dangers of not doing so.

She continued: “Once up close they’ll deftly grab your goodies, purse, phone watch and jewellery and you won’t feel a thing.”

Phone theft

She said phone theft was the “number one crime” in Benidorm at the moment and that modern smartphones are being sold for significant prices on the black market, especially if they are unlocked.

Michelle warned that distracting tactics were used to make the crime non-violent and painless and that most are simply swiped from tables.

However, she warned: “But recently thieves are getting smarter; they want your phone unlocked so typically they’ll approach you while you’re scrolling and tell you they are lost and ask to use Google Maps on your phone.”

She said never to hand your phone over and that thieves will take it quickly before passing it on to someone in a waiting car who will change your password, spend your money and ultimately ruin your trip.

‘The Peamen’

The mum said this was the most famous scam that has been going on for years in Benidorm and despite being so well known, she said people still fall for it.

It involves a man hiding a pea under a cup, moving the cups around, and then encouraging you to bet on which one contains the pea.

A couple (who are playing and in on the scam) win and because you can see where it is you then take a risk. According to Michelle, you will then win the first round before losing the rest.

She added: “They won’t let you get away until you’re skint and you’ll find it very intimidating and scary… just walk on by.”

‘Mugger Huggers’

This one targets men, and involves an attractive woman walking up to you and asking whether she knows you, before extending her arms out for a hug.

If you hug her back, she will have your phone and wallet in a flash, and you will often not notice until she is gone.

Michelle said there was an extended version to this sinister scam depending on how drunk you are where the woman will offer to come back to your room.

“She’ll drug you and clear you out of everything of any value and you won’t be the first or the last,” Michelle added.

Michelle has lived in Benidorm for most of her life and said she was always willing to share the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly.

However, in a message to Brits flying over this summer, she added: “I don’t want to scare you as Benidorm is really very safe.”

She added that people on holiday often let their guard down and it was better to be aware of the above scams before the holiday even begins.

EXCLUSIVE Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas, who has played villain Warren Fox for two decades, explains why he’s in no rush to get married

It’s been 20 years since Jamie Lomas debuted as Hollyoaks bad boy Warren Fox.

But the 51 year old has no plans to leave the villain behind anytime soon, telling us, “I just love it. I’ll take one day at a time, really. It’s exciting times on the show and we’ve got some great stories coming.I’m excited to see where it goes. Hopefully they don’t kill me off again! They can’t get rid of me.”

Jamie’s character was killed off back in 2009. In true soap fashion, Warren returned from the dead a year later having faked his death. He has since left the show a handful of times, with Warren often forced to go on the run from the law after committing some very dark crimes, including murder, kidnapping and drug dealing.

But the actor says he’s keen to stick around this time, after welcoming his daughter Bella with his fiancée Jess Bell in 2024. “Bella is two now,” Jamie says. “I got offered a couple of gigs going on tour last year, and I turned them down because I don’t want to be away from home.

“I think you realise as you get older, that time with your kids is precious. They’re only small for so long. Getting a chance to do it again at my age now, you realise how quickly time goes, and you just want to cherish those moments as much as possible. She’s so funny, Bella, and I’m really enjoying it.”

Jamie is also a dad to daughter Polly, 15, who he shares with ex-wife Kym Marsh, and son Billy, 20, from a previous relationship. Jamie says daughter Bella adores Polly, and that Polly is a great big sister. “Bella is great,” he says. “She’s beautiful, and very special.

“Polly helps with her, and Bella adores Polly. Bella comes home from nursery and shouts up the stairs for Polly. She’s so cute. She’s the best in the morning. She woke up the other morning, and she’s into Toy Story at the moment.

“She goes, ‘Woody, Buzz,’ and then opens her eyes and says, ‘Dadda?’, she was having a little dream.” Jamie has been engaged to his partner Jess since 2023. While the couple do plan on getting married at some point, Jamie reveals they are holding off on the big day so that Bella can be a part of it.

“We said that we are going to wait until she’s old enough,” he says. “We definitely will get married but we want Bella to be a little bit older to enjoy it.” Family time is just one of the ways Jamie switches off after hours of playing villain Warren.

With Warren’s kill count recently rising to 10, he says his fitness helps him to unwind after his heavy storylines. I play golf. I like to go around the golf course for five hours, although my missus is not too happy about that.

“I don’t think about anything when I’m on the golf course. It’s very relaxing. I love boxing as well. I go boxing twice a week, that’s my release. I go to the gym too, that’s how I spend my spare time. That and spending time with my kids, my family and my partner.

“It’s quite difficult to switch off sometimes, but I try to switch off as soon as I leave the set.” There isn’t much Warren hasn’t done on the show. From burying bodies, to being sent to prison and even needing a liver transplant, he’s been very busy for the past two decades.

Jamie does hope bosses will line yet more evil storylines for his villainous character. “I would love for him to go on a real rampage and start doing armed robberies,” he says. “Maybe he can get addicted to drugs or something, although he’s so anti-drugs because of what happened to his sister Katy. The writers do such a good job.” After taking some time out in 2024 following the birth of his daughter Bella, Warren jumped at the chance to return for the soap’s 30th anniversary last year. On what brings him back every time, Jamie explains, “It’s always nice to put his mask back on.

“It’s like coming back and starting again really. You’re starting with a blank canvas, and it was such an explosive ending the last time. There was a lot of unfinished business for him, so it was nice to come back and see what was in store.”

After so long on the show, Jamie says the cast have become family to him. He tells us, “I can’t believe it’s 20 years. I’d left for five years and went and did EastEnders, and numerous other things as well, but it’s just perfect.

“We’re like a family, but we actually are. My really close friends are Nick Pickard, Ashley Taylor Dawson and Jimmy McKenna. I’ve worked with them for years, and we’ll go and have a game of golf. We used to go out partying, but now we play golf.

“I can remember starting Hollyoaks like it was yesterday. We had such a good time, back in the day. I get to work with Jennifer Metcalfe a lot now, who plays Warren’s partner Mercedes McQueen. I’ve known her since the day I started her, and we both started around about the same time, so we often talk about stories from back in the day, and then have a laugh about it, and how times have changed.”

Hollyoaks is available to stream on Channel 4’s streaming service now, while it also airs Mondays to Wednesdays on E4 at 7PM. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.

July 24 (UPI) — A prominent Supreme Court litigator in Maryland has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for tax evasion and mortgage fraud, prosecutors said Friday.

Thomas Goldstein, who argued some 40 cases in front of the nation’s highest court, was found guilty of eight felonies in a February trial.

Prosecutors say Goldstein, an avid poker player, funneled millions from his law firm to cover gambling debts — and lied to IRS agents to hide them.

“His motivation was singular: pure, unrelenting greed,” prosecutors wrote in court documents. “Whether funneling gambling income through offshore bank accounts, shaving millions off his true law firm income, or lying to his lenders, Goldstein’s crimes always sought to advance and maintain his exorbitant lifestyle, replete with Bentleys, globe-trotting vacations, and a $200,000 watch.”

Goldstein also submitted fraudulent mortgage applications to two lenders, omitting “millions of dollars of liabilities, including more than $14 million he owed for poker-related debts, as well as taxes he owed the IRS,” officials said.

He was approved for a $1.98 million mortgage.

Goldstein, 56, cofounded the widely-popular SCOTUSblog, which follows the Supreme Court.

His trial featured an appearance by Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire, who testified Goldstein assisted him in recovering a gambling debt from a billionaire.

Goldstein was ordered to serve six years in prison, five years probation and pay more than $3.1 million in restitution.

“Thomas Goldstein built a distinguished legal career arguing that the rule of law matters,” said Kelly O. Hayes, the U.S. attorney in Maryland, in a statement. “Yet, as the evidence at trial showed, he repeatedly chose to violate that very principle for his own financial benefit.”

AN EIGHTIES bombshell looked unrecognisable as she ran errands in Los Angeles, 39 years after starring in the legendary sci-fi movie – but can you guess who she is?

The actress, now 69, shot to fame in the cult superhero film in 1987, with a blockbuster remake coming out earlier this summer.

She started out as a dancer on the 80s music show, Solid Gold, before scoring a small role in the 1985 John Travolta and Jaimee Lee Curtis film, Perfect.

Her big break came when she played the warrior goddess Teela in Masters Of The Universe opposite Dolph Lundgren and Courteney Cox, a box office flop that was a huge hit with fans.

She also starred as Bruce Willis’ wife in the 1991 comedy, The Last Boy Scout.

The actress turned to television later in her career, portraying district attorney Rita Deveraux in NCIS: New Orleans alongside her husband Scott Bakula from 2014 to 2021 – do you know who she is yet?

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Did you guess it? It’s US actress Chelsea Field!

The star – who became known for her legendary catsuit in Masters Of The Universe – looked just as beautiful almost four decades later as she was spotted out and about.

The brunette beauty kept things casual in a pair of black flared trousers, a white top, and a grey top and shirt layered over the top.

Chelsea was not joined on the outing by her Golden Globe-winner husband Scott, whom she married in 2009 after a 15-year romance.

She met Scott, now 71, in 1993 when they filmed thriller, A Passion To Kill. They have two sons together.

Chelsea – who has also appeared in films like 1995’s The Wrong Woman, 1996’s Flipper, 1998’s Wicked and 2008’s Just Add Water – has stepped away from acting in recent years, having not appeared onscreen since 2021. 

FOREIGN holidays this summer are shaping up to be the cheapest they’ve been in decades – and we’ve found some of the best deals out there.

With peak August package holidays starting from just £188pp and all-inclusive weeks away from £269pp, the dreaded school holiday price surge appears to have collapsed.

Brits’ booking behaviour has been impacted by the cost of living crisis, summer heatwaves and worries over the Iran war and increase in fuel prices, with many opting for a staycation this year instead.

Meanwhile, holiday companies have slashed the price of package holidays abroad – and almost nobody seems to have noticed.

The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, explained: “The conflict in the Middle East – and resulting fears about fuel availability – saw many of us pause our holiday planning.

“Many also chose to wait as England stormed through to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

“With the cost of living still an issue for millions AND the sun shining in yet another heatwave across the UK, there were yet more reasons for us to wait before we booked.

“And that’s resulted in some incredible deals as the big tour operators desperately tempt us to put our holiday pounds on the table.

“Jet2 – now the UK’s largest tour operator – opened its 14th base at Gatwick as the summer season took off putting it in direct competition with its great rivals TUI and easyJet at the UK’s second biggest airport for the first time.

“Increased competition will mean all of the big operators trying to tempt us to book with the kind of holiday prices we haven’t seen in a decade.”

To help you cash in on these price drops, we’ve rounded up seven of the cheapest family holiday deals we could find this summer.

All of these package hols are within the school summer holidays, based on a family of two adults and two kids, and come in at under £300pp.

Marmaris, Turkey – £239pp

Marmaris on Turkey‘s turquoise coast is a very popular family destination, and for good reason.

The resort is a sun-drenched playground packed with golden sandy beaches, ancient castles and a lively waterfront that gives Marmaris that unmistakable holiday buzz.

The Grand Villa Sol Apart offers a brilliant, budget-friendly base close to all the action.

Relax by the sparkling outdoor pool with a drink from the poolside bar, then catch evening entertainment shows out on the terrace.

There’s also a shuttle to whisk you straight to the beach in ten minutes, plus the Aqua Dream Water Park is just a five-minute drive away.

Majorca – £285pp

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

The O7 Be Klub hotel boasts a staggering 11 swimming pools, complete with waterslides and children’s splash zones.

When the sun goes down, head over to the open-air Garden Theatre for live shows, or challenge the family to a round of mini golf.

Alcudia Beach is easily reached by a scenic, three-minute boat trip which takes you straight from the hotel down to the sand.

Tenerife – £188pp

Costa del Silencio is a laid-back Tenerife resort known for its dramatic volcanic landscape, peaceful seafront boardwalk and glass-clear natural pools far away from any noisy crowds.

The Parque Carolina Apartments offer a relaxed place to stay with plenty of room for big families, plus a pretty sun terrace made for catching rays.

The self-catering apartments come with fully-equipped kitchens, plus private patios to enjoy breakfast out in the sun.

When you’re ready for a dip, the bright yellow cliffs and clear waters of Playa Amarilla beach are just a few minutes’ stroll away.

Plus golf lovers can tee off at nearby Amarilla Golf or Golf del Sur, while a 15-minute drive takes you to world-class waterparks like Siam Park and Aqualand.

And at an unbelievable £188pp, this island getaway is the cheapest package holiday deal on our list.

Bulgaria – £279pp

With sweeping golden beaches and famously cheap prices, Sunny Beach is a go-to pick for a bargain summer break.

The Sunny Day Club hotel is an ideal spot for families, tucked into a quieter northern patch of the resort.

Days here revolve around the giant outdoor pool, where parents can laze out on a lounger while little ones burn off energy in the children’s playground.

When hunger strikes, there’s an on-site restaurant and cafe serving unfussy family favourites, plus a poolside snack bar for quick bites.

The buzzy bars, shops and restaurants of Sunny Beach are just a short bus ride away, with a convenient bus stop directly outside the hotel.

Agadir, Morocco – £189pp

For some guaranteed summer heat, head to Agadir, where temperatures sit in the high 20s to early 30s in August.

The Moroccan resort boasts a six-mile stretch of sand to enjoy, plus a vibrant centre with bustling souks and budget-friendly restaurants.

The whitewashed Appart Hotel Igoudar sits right next to a bustling local market, where you can wander past colourful souks selling local goods and spices, as well as browse for souvenirs.

Here you’re a five-minute stroll from the main beach, with a spacious self-catering apartment to return to after days out exploring.

Costa Brava, Spain – £209pp

Blanes offers traditional Spanish charm with its wide sandy shores, lively tapas bars, and bustling seaside promenade.

Hotel Esplendid feels like your own little oasis, where a turquoise swimming pool is sheltered by massive, leafy gardens.

Active families will love the sports setup, with tennis, volleyball, and three separate swimming pools, including an indoor heated option.

There’s also a kids club and games room to keep boredom strictly off the itinerary.

Here you’re just steps from S’abanell Beach, which is the longest sand beach on the Costa Brava.

Pick between sunbathing on its sands or taking in the stunning coastline views from the water on a jet ski or pedalo.

Antalya, Turkey – £269pp

Sitting on Turkey’s sun-drenched southern shores, Mahmutlar in Antalya pairs quiet beaches with dramatic mountain backdrops.

Sun Star Beach Hotel delivers a classic hassle-free, all-inclusive family holiday.

The palm-lined outdoor pool is complete with a yellow waterslide, plus plenty of loungers – so no need to worry about sunbed hoggers.

We found a bargain all-inclusive package that covers buffet meals, poolside snacks and drinks.

There’s even an on-site spa to escape to with a traditional Turkish bath and sauna, allowing you to truly unwind.

You’re also just a minute’s walk from the hotel’s own private beach, and a short bus ride away from central Alanya where you can explore its historic hilltop castle and harbour.

JULY 23, 2011, was one of those days when most of us remember where we were.

It was the day Amy Winehouse died.

In my case, it was a music festival in Gateshead on the banks of the river Tyne.

The tragic news spread through the crowd like wildfire that balmy late Saturday afternoon.

The initial reaction was a combination of shock and dismay at the loss of Britain’s finest female singer.

But, for me and for those I spoke to that day, there was also an air of inevitability about Amy’s death at 27, joining an unwanted “club” with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain.

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Amy Winehouse was a lost jewel – I tried to help in last chat, says Ronnie Wood

She was a shooting star, burning bright for a fleeting moment and then she was gone.

Fifteen years on from her passing, the love for Amy and her music only gets stronger and deeper.

She had the voice, the image, the songs, the wit, the heart and the soul — but the story she told through her music was also filled with pain.

Her second album Back To Black charted in unflinching detail her turbulent relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil as well as her persistent problems with alcohol.

Of course, it scored an emotional bullseye with her listeners, becoming a ­Grammy-grabbing chart-topping sensation.

Rehab, You Know I’m No Good, Love Is A Losing Game, Tears Dry On Their Own and the title track are all indelibly etched into our collective consciousness.

Though she drew comparisons with some of the greatest soul/jazz voices — Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Etta James — there has been nothing quite like Back To Black before or since.

With that rich expressive contralto, she could hold us in the palms of her outstretched hands.

In 2004, the year after she released her debut album Frank, Amy, then 20, was asked by Jonathan Ross if music industry types had told her to change the way she looked or spoke or behaved.

“Yeah, one of them tried to mould me into a big triangle shape,” she replied, laughing and forming a triangle with her ­fingers. “And I went, ‘Nooo’.

“I’ve got my own style and I write my own songs. If someone has so much of something al­ready, there’s very little you can add.”

When she chatted to my SFTW colleague Jacqui Swift to mark Back To Black’s release, Amy, 23 by then, opened up about her inspirations while also displaying more of a fiercely independent nature.

She described reaching her lowest ebb and being begged by management to go into rehab, to which she famously responded “No, no, no!”

“Rehab is like Butlin’s — it’s a holiday camp,” she said. “It’s an everyday thing for some people, like going to Tesco’s.”

She elaborated further: “I was having a particularly nasty time with things and just drinking and drinking.

“My management decided to stop buying for me and said they were taking me to rehab. I asked my dad (Mitch) if he thought I needed to go. He said: ‘No, but give it a try.’

“So I did, for 15 minutes. I went in, said hello, and explained that I drink because I am in love and have f***ed up a relationship. Then I walked out. I didn’t need help because, if I can’t help myself, I can’t be helped.”

Five years after she aired those feelings, Amy lost her life at her house in Camden, North London, the coroner recording a verdict of “death by misadventure”, an unintended consequence of heavy drinking after a period of sobriety.

The tragedy led to acrimony and blame games around why she wasn’t given enough support.

Blake, her family and record company execs were all in the firing line at various times.

Some believed it was her own self-destructive nature — but it is Amy’s voice and songs that define her legacy.

Musically, she and legendary “Godmother Of Punk” Patti Smith had little in common apart from their raw, honest approach and unbridled spirit.

But soon after Amy died, Patti recorded a heartfelt tribute in the form of a poem set to music, beginning with the lines, “This is the girl for whom all tears fall”.

During a trip to London, she told me: “I’m heartbroken as a fan and as a human being.

“What Amy did was magnificent and I had been looking forward to see how she would evolve. It would have been wonderful to go through life hearing what Amy did next.”

Though Patti vividly remembered herself at Amy’s age, wild and impulsive, This Is The Girl came from a different perspective.

“I actually looked at Amy in a maternal way, she was a similar age to my kids,” she said. “I was very concerned about how things were managed around her.”

What to her, I asked, was so special about Amy’s music?

“I loved Joan Baez when I was young and Darlene Love and all the R&B singers,” said Patti. “I really love Adele’s voice but Amy was a cut above us all I think.

“She had a gift you seldom hear. There was an authenticity to her voice. She understood R&B and jazz from the deepest part of her. It was organic.

“Not only did Amy have that thing from the Forties, Fifties and Sixties but she was modern. When she sang Rehab or Back To Black, she wasn’t stuck in the past or nostalgic.”

In 2026, Amy’s legacy is plain to witness through those who followed in her wake, including fellow BRIT School alumni Raye and current chart favourite Olivia Dean.

Just as she was breaking through, Olivia paid this tribute to her fellow Londoner: “I don’t think Amy had any interest in being a pop star — she just wanted to be herself.

“It was clear in her music that she was using it as a form of therapy and then we just so happened to be hearing it. It was so personal.”

Of Back To Black, she added: “My interpretation of the lyrics is that you can’t have all of her. Amy was a free spirit. We were very lucky to have her.”

Another BRIT School success story, Adele, had this to say: “Amy paved the way for artists like me. She made people excited about British music again.

“I don’t think she ever realised just how brilliant she was and how important she is.”

From the States, where Back To Black was equally huge, Lady Gaga gave a typically singular view: “I don’t believe what I do is very digestible and somehow Amy was the flu for pop music.

“Everybody got a little bit of the flu — and fell in love with Amy Winehouse. And now, when more flu comes along, it’s not so unbearable.”

Lana Del Rey, a singer like Amy known for her retro styling, said: “I believe in Amy Winehouse. I know she’s not with us any more but I believe in who she was, and, in that way, she got it right.”

As if to prove that Amy’s flame burns as bright as ever, the Rolling Stones recorded her You Know I’m No Good for their recent No1 album Foreign Tongues.

Guitarist Ronnie Wood told me that he, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards jumped at the chance to pay their respects.

“Amy was such a jewel,” he told me last month. “A very lost jewel in a jewell­ery box but she was ­wonderful.”

Ronnie remembered how he had provided a shoulder to cry on “shortly before she died”.

“She was asking me, ‘Oh Ron, what am I going to do? And I was going, ‘Don’t worry because everyone knows you’ve got vodka in your water bottle. Just don’t hide it and try to go on stage tonight’.

“Amy needed a carer or else she went off the rails.”

But Ronnie also recognised her stellar talent and added: “She was like Billie Holiday. She had that once-in-a-lifetime deep blues.”

Back To Black co-producer Mark Ronson told SFTW: “Amy was an incredible singer. She had so much power in that tiny frame.

“I was so spoilt because everything she was coming out with was so spectacular.”

Salaam Remi, who worked on both of her studio albums, gave us a wonderful insight into Amy’s playful character.

He said: “She was one of those people who could make you cry with laughter — or say something deep. Her character was a big part of her talent.

“She cleaned my kitchen one time and it was better than any cleaning lady.

“It was three or four shades whiter when she’d finished. She said, ‘I’m meant to be a Jewish mum, of course it’s sparkling.’ ”

One of Amy’s final recordings was with the last of the legendary crooners, Tony Bennett.

She was so nervous that there were several false starts before they nailed the sultry jazz standard Body And Soul.

It was typical of Bennett’s kind manner that he was able to put his duet partner at ease.

He said afterwards: “People think that anyone can sing jazz, but it’s a spirit you’re born with . . . or not. Amy was born with that spirit.”

It’s also important to salute Amy’s striking image, developed during the Back To Black era in step with her Sixties girlband influences such as The Shangri-Las — her sky-high bee­hive, that winged cat-eye make-up and those daring halterneck minidresses.

She once said: “I’ve always had my own style. I’ve always been different.

“I don’t like to wear anything that anyone else is wearing because it’s very important for me to make a statement.”

In her short life Amy made a statement — and then some.

The last words are with Dale Davis, her bass guitarist and musical director who still leads The Amy Winehouse Band on its frequent tours.

He told me: “For a long time I was her favourite person to go anywhere with — then I was second after Blake. After they split up, I was back to being her favourite person.

“If she liked you, she really liked you. If she loved you, she loved you hard.

“She was a warm, beautiful, generous person who made me feel special right from the off.”

Dale estimated they played around 170 shows together, the last being a desperate performance at an outdoor venue in Belgrade in June 2011.

“That final one was my most difficult night on stage,” he said. “To this day, I can’t believe we played for an hour and 20 minutes.

“It was a funny thing with Amy because I thought she only needed to take one step to be happy, but that step was too difficult. She was never far from being OK.”

Amy and Dale’s final conversation took place by phone on the night she died at her Camden townhouse.

Clearly finding the memory painful, he recalled: “I talked to her at 11.30pm, three hours before she went to bed. She was on good form.

“She said, ‘Dale, I’ve just been watching myself on YouTube and I can sing, can’t I?’.

“I replied, ‘Of course you can sing. You’re the best’.”

Mexican journalist Alejandro Leyva Aguilar was shot dead while eating at a street food stall in Oaxaca. He had spent years reporting on alleged corruption and criminal violence. His murder marks the fourth journalist killing in Mexico since June.

IT was 15 years ago today that the shocking news broke that Amy Winehouse had died, aged just 27.

She had released just two albums during her eight-year career, but her massive success and larger-than-life character meant her death sent shockwaves around the world — and today her impact on culture is more apparent than ever.

In music, fashion and art, she has inspired an entire generation of artists. British music is being dominated by women whose sound, style and brand is packed with references to the late superstar.

In recent weeks rapper Cardi B and actress Zendaya have been spotted dressed like Amy, with her trademark beehive hairdo.

And one artist who is frequently compared with Amy is Raye, who, much like the late singer, has become a celebrated industry darling, thanks to her brassy Motown influences and brutally truthful lyrics.

But Raye feels the weight of comparison more than most, and said: “I’m aware that what she did is irreplaceable and inimitable.

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“Amy did it so well that no one can ever do what she did. And, God rest her soul, she gave her whole life for us to enjoy the music that she left behind.”

Like Amy, Raye went to South London creative arts academy The Brit School, whose starry former pupils also include Adele and Olivia Dean.

Raye recalled her years at the school, and how she would walk down the corridors and see photos on the wall of alumni such as Amy and say: “That’s gonna be me one day.”

Amy’s star certainly burned brightly, but all too briefly. Her body was discovered at her home in Camden, North London on July 23, 2011, by her security guard Andrew Morris.

Toxicology reports later revealed her blood alcohol content was five times the legal drink-drive limit, and the coroner’s report stated her “sudden and unexpected” death was caused by misadventure due to alcohol poisoning.

Amy had battled drug addiction for years, inspiring her 2006 single Rehab, but she had got clean from illegal substances before she died.

As a fiercely unapologetic woman in the music world, she blazed a trail for a new way to be an artist — and for future star Lola Young, who was just ten years old when Amy died, she was an inspiration.

The One Thing singer carries a gritty London identity similar to Amy’s and produces familiarly confessional lyrics.

She is even managed by Nick Shymansky, the same industry executive who guided Amy’s career during her breakout success.

After Amy, he swore he would never manage another artist, but was so won over by Lola’s talent — and subtle similarities to Amy — that he decided to take her on, and she has since sold millions of records.

When Amy found fame in the Noughties the music landscape was dominated by indie and processed pop, but she forged a new path with her neo-soul, Sixties pop and jazz sound — and now that sound is everywhere.

Olivia Dean’s easy-listening collection The Art Of Loving is on course to be the biggest-selling album in the UK this year, despite the fact it was released last September.

And even more recently, British newcomer Sienna Spiro has followed Amy with her vintage aesthetic and her breakout single Back To Blonde — mirroring Amy’s 2006 album and single Back To Black.

It is paying off, as last week Sienna shot to No2 in the charts with her debut album Visitor.

The impact of Back To Black, Amy’s second album, was felt worldwide. With classic songs such as Rehab and Tears Dry On Their Own, it became the fifth best-selling album of the 21st century so far, shifting 20million copies.

Amy sang about toxic co-dependency, addiction, dating disasters and her flaws, all in graphic detail, then wrapped them up in palatable and catchy songs.

It was all the more interesting for listeners, as her tumultuous personal life, including a rollercoaster relationship with her boyfriend and then husband Blake Fielder-Civil, and her drug use, became front-page news.

The saga taught lessons to youngsters such as future superstar Billie Eilish, who saw the tragedy unfold as she was growing up in California.

She said: “The things that inspire me about Amy are also the kind of things that are sad about it.

“You knew she wasn’t doing anything that she did for attention or in a weird, fake way because from what I gather, she didn’t really want that s**t, you know.

“It showed me that she was kind of raw for what she was creating, and she wasn’t trying to be anything she wasn’t, because she didn’t even want to be that.

“She changed a whole generation of music. Everyone, when listing off the people that inspired them, Amy Winehouse is always in that list.

“Everything about her, she just mixed a whole bunch of stuff together, and created the most beautiful things.”

And it’s not just female fellow stars who are Amy’s admirers.

Mark Ronson, who produced her Back To Black album and co-wrote the song of the same name, has credited Amy with his entire career.

Accepting the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize at February’s Brit Awards, he said his multiple chart-topping collaborations with other artists would never have happened if it wasn’t for her.

He said: “I realised on the way here that on Thursday, March 6, it’ll be 20 years to the day that Amy Winehouse came up to my studio in New York City. We went upstairs and talked for four hours and that night we wrote Back To Black, and that day changed my life for ever.”

Mark has since gone on to sell millions of records by working with superstars such as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Miley Cyrus.

But he added: “I know the music I made with Amy is the reason any of them know who I am anyway. That’s why I’ll always treasure her voice, her talent, our bond, all of it.” And this month The Rolling Stones have celebrated Amy’s legacy by covering her song You Know I’m No Good on new album Foreign Tongues.

Guitarist Keith Richards said: “Loved the song. Always thought that Amy was a sad story in many ways, but she was one of the best to come out of England, and probably had so much more potential.”

Such was her star power, she shared the stage with the Stones at the 2007 Isle of Wight Festival, covering the Temptations’ Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, just four years after releasing her debut album Frank.

Street artist Pegasus was a close friend of Amy’s and launched his career on the day she died.

He has since become famous for his stencilled portraits of the singer, such as his “Fallen Angel” mural near Camden Lock, close to where they used to hang out.

Pegasus, whose real name is Chris Turner, told The Sun: “Amy was one of those people who come along every so often, makes a massive impact, unfortunately isn’t around for long but leaves a lasting legacy.

Her light will always shine bright. Her unique style, her love for the greats, like Etta James, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, introduced and inspired a generation of artists that came after her.

“I am always seeing bits of Amy everywhere and it makes me so proud.”

On stage at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, a far cry from the sweaty basement punk shows of the band’s early days, Jimmy Eat World played breakthrough power pop hit “The Middle” as the sold-out crowd sang along with the final chorus that “everything will be all right, all right.”

“It really is incredible to us to think about everyone who bothered to spend time with this record and made something of it for themselves over 25 years. This is your guys’ record as much as it’s ours, really,” singer-guitarist Jim Adkins said from the stage.

The band, which has generally shied away from nostalgia plays over its 30-plus year career, is performing the platinum-selling “Bleed American” album in its entirety on tour this summer, including a stop at Warped Tour in Long Beach on Saturday, a matching bookend to the band’s original promotion of the album.

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“It solidified us as, ‘This is what we do. Let the day job go.’ It turned into full-time rock and roll. And that moment only happens once, so it felt appropriate to honor it at 25,” bassist Rick Burch said backstage before the band’s Brooklyn tour stop in June.

Released on July 24, 2001, “Bleed American” was one of the last great rock records of the monoculture, arriving months before Apple’s iPod launched and made shuffle the default and 15 years before streaming became the dominant way to consume music.

“When ‘Bleed American’ took off it was right at the transition of the internet,” says Jim Adkins.

(Evelyn Freja / For The Times)

A hit with Hollywood roots

Just over a quarter of a century ago, four guys from Mesa, Ariz., came to L.A. to record their fourth album.

Jimmy Eat World’s Adkins, Burch, drummer Zach Lind and guitarist Tom Linton earned recording money between tours by working construction, driving around car dealership customers and selling art supplies and auto parts.

The band had cut ties with Capitol Records after 1999’s “Clarity” — a sweeping, lush and highly influential work highly regarded by their contemporaries that would inspire third-wave emo superstars including My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and Paramore — that the major label had no idea how to market, even after “Lucky Denver Mint” got pickup on L.A.’s alt rock tastemaker KROQ-FM.

“If that song would have been on ‘Bleed American,’ that would have been a No. 1 song,” said Jim Suptic, of Kansas-based second-wave emo band the Get Up Kids, who have been on the “Bleed American” anniversary run. Suptic said that he was inspired to start the band after seeing Jimmy Eat World live in the mid-’90s.

With the band’s tight budget, producer Mark Trombino, who produced “Clarity” and predecessor “Static Prevails,” worked with the band for free in L.A., banking on the future success of the album. After recording drums at Cherokee Studios, the band relocated to Harddrive Analog & Digital Recording in North Hollywood to make the bulk of “Bleed American.”

“The studio was so small, it didn’t have a lounge,” Lind recalled.

But there was a bus stop outside they used instead, where they would hang out with “an assortment of characters,” Adkins said.

He and Lind commuted to the Valley from Redondo Beach, where they crashed on the floor of Lind’s brother’s place. Linton fondly remembers the great food in the city and hanging out with friends in other bands while Burch spent downtime skateboarding in L.A.

Even without the cash or support from a label, recording “Bleed American” didn’t feel like a do-or-die moment for the band’s future.

“We just kind of figured we might have to go out and just release this ourselves. Let’s just do the best job we can, and be happy with what we put out,” Linton said.

But with the buzz growing around the new music, record labels came calling.

‘The Middle’ meets the moment

By the time the album dropped in July 2001, the guitar-heavy snarling title track of “Bleed American” had already been in regular rotation on alt-rock stations for a month.

After a stint on the Warped Tour, Jimmy Eat World set out on a U.S. headlining tour in the fall, with Hey Mercedes opening.

“I remember that tour in particular, them sort of really finding their confidence in their voice and their shows and their performance and the whole package. And this was before ‘The Middle’ really broke, but I could tell that they were really firing on all cylinders,” said Hey Mercedes singer-guitarist Bob Nanna, whose influential emo group Braid first played with Jimmy Eat World in 1998.

The album landed on the Billboard charts three weeks after its release, and while its peak position was 31, it remained on the chart for 70 weeks. (A couple of months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the name of the album was changed to “Jimmy Eat World” on pressings before reverting to the original title in 2008.)

“When ‘Bleed American’ took off it was right at the transition of the internet,” Adkins said.

By 2002, “Bleed American” was taking off due to the popularity of the song “The Middle.”

(Scott Gries / Getty Images)

The media landscape hadn’t yet transformed. Rock music magazines like Spin, NME, Alternative Press and Kerrang! were thriving. The band made the rounds on the late-night talk shows as “The Middle” video clip played on MTV’s popular show “Total Request Live.”

“Things hadn’t splintered out into a zillion niche locations just quite yet,” Adkins said.

By March 2002, “The Middle” had hit the Billboard charts, where it climbed to No. 5 by the summer and spent 33 weeks on the Hot 100.

“They were a real band that had a radio hit, and not a radio band reverse engineered,” the Get Up Kids’ Suptic said.

The success was surreal for the band members as they heard the song on the radio, in restaurants and the gym. Today, you can still summon an entire generation with the opening guitar melody.

“I understand why that song has resonated,” Lind said. “I think there’s a few themes in the album that resonate with people in times when things are going tough. You know, ‘The Middle’ is definitely one of those songs that so many people have found encouragement from, whether they’re dealing with a breakup or going through cancer.”

“It seems like one of those songs that people have used to feel better and I think that’s obviously really powerful.”

“It solidified us as, ‘This is what we do. Let the day job go.’ It turned into full-time rock and roll,” says bassist Rick Burch about the success of “Bleed American.”

(Evelyn Freja / For The Times)

Here we are now

But the fans selling out the tour dates around the U.S. know much more than the hits, singing along to the deep cuts after traveling hundreds of miles to get to the show, in some cases.

Fans traveled from states like Michigan and Texas for the tour kickoff at Red Rocks in Colorado.

Robie O’Donnell took the train up to New York from the Washington, D.C., area to take his 12-year-old daughter to her first Jimmy Eat World show. The Brooklyn show was his 25th after he discovered them in the late ‘90s from a recommendation on the Get Up Kids’ website.

Behind him in line hours before doors opened was Jane Kung, who was only 8 when “Bleed American” was released and got into it when she was in high school. She didn’t want to miss the chance to hear it live.

“The fact that so many people wanted to come see this is something I didn’t expect,” Adkins said about the tour.

The fans get a chance to geek out over the rarely-played deep cuts from the album, like “Your House,” which required a revamp because of the studio work on the song, and the live debut of “(Splash) Turn Twist,” which was on the Japanese import of the album. Even louder than the sing-along to “The Middle” is the call and response from the crowd on the album’s second-biggest hit, “Sweetness.”

“Having this piece that we’ve created be embraced by so many is a very accomplished feeling,” Burch said.

Nanna even ventured into the crowd after Hey Mercedes opened the Brooklyn show, singing along to “A Praise Chorus,” the band’s crunchy guitar-filled love letter to rock music, among others.

“The world is a tough, s— place now and to have these moments where everybody can sing along to something that’s just pure joy was really soul enriching,” he said.

JADE Thirlwall has split from Jordan Stephens after six years as a couple.

The Little Mix star began dating the Rizzle Kicks singer in 2020 and had since moved in together – dividing their time between homes in London and Margate.

But The Sun has learned they separated earlier this year, although are still close.

A source said: “Jade and Jordan had a very serious and loving relationship but recently they have had some frank discussions about their future and have decided to separate.

“It’s not been an easy time but they’ve both been throwing themselves into work.

“Their friends adore them as a couple and are really hoping they get back together but it’s still very raw at the moment.”

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Reps for both Jade and Jordan have been approached for comment.

Last month, they failed to post about their sixth anniversary together, which they had shared updates about in the past.

They have also not been photographed together for several months – with their last red carpet appearance as a couple being at February’s Brit Awards where they partied until the early hours.

Neither have posted about each other on Instagram since mid-March, and Jordan recently wiped all of the TikTok videos they made together from his profile.

When asked in June about progress on her second album, she hinted at her heartache.

She told The Fader: “I’m just writing stuff. Whatever I’m going through at the minute, like privately, I’m sort of putting pen to paper.

“I think this is the exciting phase or the experimental phase, where you don’t know what it’s going to be yet.”

Jade also attended her bandmate Perrie Edwards’ wedding in Portugal last month without him.

The Sun first revealed they were dating in 2020 after they went on a series of socially distanced walks during the Covid lockdowns.

The Shout Out To My Ex singer said she “slid into his DMs” after a friend suggested they would be a good match, and they had dates on video call.

She explained: “It was through a friend. I slid in the DMs. I’d been doing this for quite a while. I kept getting pied left, right and centre.

“Jordan and I did a few Zoom dates in lockdown. We made a joke and said it was business and put suits and ties on and asked each other questions. I did the full shebang, a full suit.

“Then we had a socially distanced date in Greenwich park, apart from each other just chatting.”

Jordan recently took over as co-host of the popular Miss Me? podcast with Miquita Oliver, replacing Lily Allen.

Fans had noticed he hasn’t spoken about Jade on the podcast for several weeks.

He had a successful career as one half of pop duo Rizzle Kicks from 2008 to 2016 before relaunching the group in 2024.

As a musician, Jordan also worked on her debut album That’s Showbiz Baby! which was released last year.

Jade said at the time: “I actually really didn’t want to date a musician. I’d done it previously; it never works out well. But it’s amazing now. We write together.

“He’s on my album; I’m on his. Jordan’s on the backing vocals for Headache.”

She is currently on a festival tour which will see her spend August travelling across America, Japan, Ireland and the UK.

The price of resale housing in Spain ended the second quarter of 2026 with a year-on-year increase of 17.2%, according to the Fotocasa Real Estate Index.

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Between April and June, prices also rose by 4%, bringing the average to €3,133 per square metre in June. Spain’s resale home prices have hit new record highs in four of the first six months of the year and are now at their highest level in the past 21 years.

Fotocasa’s head of research and spokesperson, María Matos, attributes this trend to a sharp imbalance between strong demand and limited supply. She explains that the shortage of available properties, financing conditions and demographic pressure in the main markets are driving prices up and making it more difficult to access housing.

According to Matos, “the result is ever faster price growth that makes it harder to access housing and widens the affordability gap for a large proportion of households.”

Fotocasa’s data is in line with the trend shown by statistics from the National Statistics Institute (INE), although the two use different methodologies.

While the property portal analyses the asking prices of advertised listings, the INE measures the prices of homes that are ultimately sold. According to the institute, the overall price of housing rose by 12.9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, while second-hand homes became 13.5% more expensive.

Murcia leads the increases

Prices rose during the second quarter in 16 autonomous communities.

The Region of Murcia recorded the largest rise, at 8.6%, followed by Cantabria (6.3%), the Valencian Community (5.9%), Castile and León (5.6%) and La Rioja (5.1%). The Canary Islands was the only region where prices fell, with a drop of 0.7%.

On an annual basis, Murcia once again came out on top with an increase of 28%, ahead of Cantabria (20%), the Valencian Community (19.8%), Asturias (17%) and Andalusia (16.9%).

The report also highlights that “June 2026 ended with 14 autonomous communities posting double-digit year-on-year increases, compared with 11 in 2025, six in 2024 and seven in 2023”.

The Balearic Islands and Madrid remain the most expensive regions to buy a resale home, at €5,441 and €5,410 per square metre respectively.

They are followed by the Basque Country (€3,925), Catalonia (€3,418) and the Canary Islands (€3,374). At the opposite end of the scale are Extremadura (€1,352), Castile-La Mancha (€1,407) and Castile and León (€1,816).

Provinces, provincial capitals and major cities

Forty-six provinces recorded quarterly increases, with León (10.7%), Palencia (10.2%) and Murcia (8.6%) seeing the sharpest rises, while Cuenca, Huelva, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Ávila were the only ones where prices fell.

The Balearic Islands remains the most expensive province to buy a resale home, at €5,441 per square metre, followed by Madrid (€5,410), Guipúzcoa (€4,695) and Málaga (€4,690). Jaén continues to be the most affordable, at €1,112 per square metre.

Among provincial capitals, León recorded the largest quarterly increase, while Donostia-San Sebastián maintains the highest average price in Spain, at €7,158 per square metre, ahead of Madrid (€6,630), Barcelona (€5,368), Palma (€5,275), Málaga (€4,320) and Bilbao (€4,157).

At municipal level, Santa Eulària des Riu in Ibiza tops the national ranking with €8,491 per square metre, followed by Sant Antoni de Portmany (€8,284) and Eivissa (€7,441). In Madrid, the Salamanca district reaches €10,786 per square metre, while Sarrià-Sant Gervasi leads the way in Barcelona at €7,540 per square metre.

An Indonesian court has sentenced Lie Siu Luan to seven years in prison after finding her guilty of leading a 19-member baby trafficking ring operating between Indonesia and Singapore. Prosecutors had sought 10 years and are considering whether to appeal.

Victoria Vigors’ holiday of a lifetime was left in tatters at the airport

A family’s dream holiday costing £6,500 was left in tatters after they were turned away at the boarding gate. Victoria Vigors, 41, arrived at Gatwick Airport ready for their all-inclusive two-week break to Hurghada, Egypt.

Victoria, who was with children Riley, 15, and Roxie, nine, checked in online for their easyJet flight. But problems emerged when staff scanned their boarding passes at the gate and noticed Roxie’s passport didn’t meet Egypt’s entry requirements for remaining validity.

“My stomach dropped, and I felt like I’d been kicked in the stomach,” Victoria, from Kent, told creatorzine.com.

“The kids crumpled and I burst into tears. I begged the staff but there was nothing they could do. We had to be escorted back to get our luggage off the flight. It was so embarrassing.

“The kids were devastated, Roxie kept saying it was her fault and we were so disappointed. It was a really bad day.”

Victoria had saved up for two years for the trip, which she described as the “holiday of a lifetime”. The 41-year-old said it would have been their first two-week trip abroad together, and their first time staying at an all-inclusive resort.

Roxie’s passport expires on January 4, 2027. However, Victoria said she hadn’t realised that could still prevent travel. UK government foreign travel advice states British passport holders must have at least six months’ validity remaining from the date they arrive in Egypt.

Because Roxie’s passport did not meet that threshold, Victoria said the airline refused to let them board. She said she hadn’t known the rules and believed everything was in order.

“I wasn’t aware of the rules. I was given her passport the day before we flew by her dad. In my head, it was six months anyway, so I didn’t think there’d be an issue. For people like me who don’t always travel and it’s the first time with my children, I wasn’t to know.

“I would have thought when I put her passport details in to check in that would tell me it wasn’t valid. That would be a simple system to install so save this agony and heartbreak. It’s crazy.”

Victoria said the family is now trying to secure an emergency passport in the hope they can still get away for at least the final days of the trip, after being told they can’t get a refund.

“I’d been saving up for two years. We were incredibly excited as we’d never had a two-week holiday abroad together or been to a resort like this. It was going to be the holiday of a lifetime.”

MELANIE C has shared a first look at her wedding after tying the knot with her boyfriend of three years, Chris Dingwall.

The couple got married in a stunning ceremony in the grounds of The Country House Cumbria on Saturday and were joined by their loved ones, including her Spice Girls bandmates.

In new pictures, the pair are seen walking down the steps after getting married as they look like the epitome of happiness.

In one snap, Melanie beams from ear to ear as she and Chris hold hands.

Another photo shows the two looking into one another’s eyes as they pose in the grounds of their wedding venue.

Mel B, Geri Horner and Emma Bunton were all in attendance as Victoria Beckham was noticeably absent from the big day.

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posh accent

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She was unable to attend as she was in the US with husband David for yesterday’s World Cup final.

Despite not being able to be there, she designed her pal’s beautiful backless, white wedding gown.

The chic gown, which oozed elegance and featured a swooping backline, was plucked straight from Posh’s collection of her own Victoria Beckham gowns in her wardrobe.

Melanie C wore a custom Adidas robe to get ready for the ceremony, made from ivory silk with white silk stripes.

The look was completed with custom white and gold sliders featuring the wedding date in gold on the side.

After the meal, Melanie C changed into another custom Adidas look — an elevated interpretation of a tracksuit, with high-waisted, wide-legged trousers and a cropped jacket featuring a peaked lapel and deep ribbed waistband.

This look was again made from ivory silk with white silk stripes, worn with custom Superstar trainers.

Insiders said Mel B and Geri, who have not seen eye to eye since Scary accused Baby of lying about her age in 2022, put on a cordial display.

A source told The Sun on Saturday: “Mel and Chris’ wedding was perfect, they couldn’t be happier.

“They chose a classy, laid-back ceremony before a reception with their closest friends and family.

“Mel B gave a speech which got a lot of laughs, as well as some tears — it was really beautiful.

“Geri was there but there was no awkwardness between her and Mel B.

“It was a day for celebrating Mel and Chris’s love for each other and that was all anyone wanted to do.”

Insiders said the reception at the venue, in Castle Carrock on the edge of the Pennines, went on until the early hours of yesterday.

Melanie C, 52, told British Vogue the wedding was “low-key, relaxed, romantic and chic”.

She added: “I’m so excited for the world to know he’s my husband.”

Melanie said of her wedding dress: “Victoria’s dress was my something borrowed. It was very special, having her there.

“Victoria wanted to make it much more personal to me.

“She found some ­gorgeous vintage lace, and everything was really delicately dyed to the perfect shade. It’s very flattering, open at the back.”

Melanie’s daughter Scarlett, 17, from her relationship with Thomas Starr, was bridesmaid at her special day.

Melanie is the last of the girls from the pop group to tie the knot, having met Australian model Chris back in 2023 on celeb dating app Raya. 

Melanie and Chris have kept a lot of their romance under wraps with fans desperate to know about her relationship with the Aussie star.

She told The Times back in January: “It’s something I didn’t think would be part of my story [marriage], but I’m so happy with Chris”.

WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, announced the birth of their fourth child, the first born to a sitting vice president in more than 150 years.

Born Sunday, Alec Neel Vance joins older siblings Ewan, 9; Vivek, 6; and Mirabel, 4.

Vance announced the birth Sunday on social media with a statement signed by him and his wife.

“We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning. Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother,” the statement said.

They thanked doctors and staff at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and with the White House medical team.

The Republican vice president’s growing family is in keeping with his passionate advocacy for Americans to have more children. He has also suggested that the 2025 killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was his friend, factored into the decision to have another child.

Vance, a former U.S. Marine, repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates in America as he launched his political career in 2021 with a bid for a U.S. Senate seat from Ohio. As vice president, he said in Washington at the 2025 March for Life anti-abortion rally, “I want more babies in the United States of America.”

The vice president, who’s 41, has been accompanied on overseas trips by Usha Vance, 40, and their children, with the kids often pajama-clad as they board Air Force Two for the overnight flights.

Usha Vance, the daughter of immigrants from India, had already been the subject of some public fascination because of her husband. Her pregnancy, which was announced in January, amplified that spotlight since it is rare for occupants of the United States’ highest public offices to add to their families while serving.

The last time a sitting vice president became a new father was in the 1800s.

Schuyler Colfax and his second wife, Ellen Wade, had a son, Schuyler Colfax III, in 1870 when Colfax was serving as vice president, according to the White House Historical Assn. Decades before that, John C. Calhoun and his wife, Floride Bonneau, had a son, William, in 1829 when Calhoun was vice president, the association said.

Usha Vance recently came under scrutiny after The New York Times’ fashion critic called attention to the stomach-hugging, coral maternity dress she wore for a Father’s Day episode of “Storytime with the Second Lady,” a video podcast she launched during the pregnancy.

The Times wrote that the attention that Vance, Miller and Leavitt had put on their pregnancies offered “an image of idealized womanhood that gives literal shape to the pronatalist movement,” which encourages couples to have as many children as possible to counter declining birth rates.

The second lady responded on social media, writing, “Now that we know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, can’t wait to hear what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waistband pants and compression socks! In the meantime, enjoy my pregnancy fashion (or lack thereof) and a good story with your kids on Storytime with the Second Lady.” She later shared the receipt for the dress, and her husband applauded her frugality.

“She bought a $50 dress for $8.75. America: meet your next director of the federal budget!” the vice president wrote on social media.

Superville writes for the Associated Press.

A BELOVED ferry that has been connecting a remote island to UK mainland is preparing to make its final voyage after 49 years.

The Scillonian III began sailing between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly back in 1977.

It will make its last trip in November before being sold. A replacement vessel is almost near completion in Vietnam, according to the BBC.

During its near 50- year stint on the water it has helped transport people to the stunning island, which has been known for its Maldives- style beaches.

A trip on the boat from Penzance to St Mary’s will take around 2 hours and 45 minutes.

The trip can cost up to £115 if you book in August. It drops to around £77 if you book in September or October.

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It’s the third ship to bear the name The Scillonian and it is operated by The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group.

The 223ft boat has sailed the same route more than 10,000 times and welcomed its five millionth passenger on board two years ago.

“This ship is part of the furniture in Penzance and has a really special place in people’s hearts,” the group’s chief Stuart Reid told the outlet.

“Some people have been working on board all of their working life.”

“When she does sail off into the sunset for a new adventure, all of us will certainly be a little bit sad,” he added.

The new Scillonian IV entered the sea trials phase just a few weeks back and is expected to make its way to the UK this winter.

Once complete, the new boat will carry up to 600 people, a 24% increase on current levels and also reduce journey time.