Month: July 2025

Human Rights Watch says Asmara’s move was an effort to distract from independent reporting on the ‘country’s dire rights record’.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has rejected Eritrea’s attempt to shut down an independent investigation into alleged rights abuses, in a move hailed as vital to preventing impunity.

Eritrea’s rare bid to scrap the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on its human rights record was defeated on Friday, with only four votes in favour, 25 against, and 18 abstentions.

The move by Eritrea surprised some observers and marked one of the few times a state under active investigation tried to end such scrutiny through a formal vote.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the outcome, calling it “an important message that the international community is not fooled by Eritrea’s efforts to distract from, and discredit, independent human rights reporting on the country’s dire rights record.”

Eritrea’s motion argued that alleged rights violations were not systemic and blamed “capacity constraints” common to other developing nations. But European states responded with a counter-resolution to extend the mandate for another year, which passed with ease.

In his latest report in June, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, the UN-appointed special rapporteur and a Sudanese human rights lawyer, said Eritrea had shown “no meaningful progress” on accountability.

He referenced the 2016 UN inquiry that found “systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations … committed in Eritrea under the authority of the Government … may constitute crimes against humanity.”

In the 2016 report, the UN’s Commission of Inquiry (COI) for Eritrea said the government of President Isaias Afwerki had committed heinous crimes since independence a quarter-century ago, including the “enslavement” of 400,000 people.

Many of those abuses are allegedly linked to a harsh national service programme in the secretive Horn of Africa state, which for many is almost impossible to escape and which the COI compared to lifetime enslavement.

Ending investigation would enable ‘impunity’

DefendDefenders, a pan-African human rights organisation, said Babiker’s role remained vital for victims and the wider Eritrean diaspora.

“The expert plays an indispensable role, not only for the victims and survivors of Eritrea’s abuses, but also for the Eritrean diaspora,” the group said in a statement.

The EU warned that terminating the mandate would enable “impunity and repression to deepen in silence.”

Eritrea’s representative, Habtom Zerai Ghirmai, lashed out at the decision, accusing the EU of displaying a “neo-colonial saviour mentality complex”.

He added, “The continued extension of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate is an affront to reason and justice.”

Iran, Sudan and Russia – all under their own UN investigations – supported Eritrea’s motion. China also backed the move, arguing that such mandates were a misuse of international resources.

With the Women’s Euro underway, the BBC invites several football icons on screens this week. And there are a multitude of other shows that will keep everyone entertained.

The Lionesses are gearing up for their anticipated confrontation with France this Saturday as the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 enters its third day.

To mark the tournament’s return to our screens, Jill Scott joins a string of familiar faces – including Ollie Watkins and even Emmerdale star Samantha Giles – in CBeebies‘ Football Fantastics.

Meanwhile, John Torode and Lisa Faulkner front the tenth series of their Weekend Kitchen while Apple TV+ raises the alarm bells for the future of the world’s most vulnerable animals in The Wild Ones.

Expect thrills and nail-biting suspense this week on streaming platforms, with Netflix, Sky, Prime and even National Geographic lining up plenty of more programmes to fit every binge.

READ MORE: FatFace’s ‘cool’ summer dress that ‘doesn’t crease’ and will ‘pack well for holidays’

John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen

Saturday, ITV

Every weekend, MasterChef judge and restaurateur John Torode and his wife Lisa Fulkner whip up family-friendly meals in their stylish kitchen, making each treat a feast for the eyes.

Now entering its tenth season, the series leans into dynamic themed cooking and gives tips on how to make the best of your weekly food shop. Expect Michelin-level flair from John and homemade heart from Lisa with a sprinkle of cheeky chemistry.

Foundation

Friday, Apple TV+

Way into the future (to be honest, so far forward it’s probably not worth us losing too much sleep over), a band of bold exiles has been fighting to ensure the survival of the human race.

For season three of this sweeping sci-fi epic, based on the works of Isaac Asimov and starring Jared Harris, a warlord known as The Mule has his sights set on ruling the entire universe, via psychic manipulation and a touch of sheer brute force.

Teen Mom UK: New Generation

Wednesday, Paramount+

Back this week with six new episodes, two new mums (Leonie Hellman and Amelia Pritchard) and, before we know it, three new babies, this access-all-areas reality series continues to remind us of the multiple daily challenges young mothers find themselves having to face.

There are money worries, relationship issues, family tensions, strangers passing judgement, you name it – and those nappies don’t change themselves, sadly. At least, not until someone invents an app to do that.

The Wild Ones

Friday, Apple TV+

From the whales of the North Atlantic to the bears of the Gobi desert, the magnificent creatures featured in this series are all facing a bleak future. So a trio of wildlife experts are on a mission to track down them down, monitor their behaviour and seek ways to ensure their survival.

Also on the list are gorillas in Gabon, leopards in Armenia, rhino on the island of Java and the tigers of Malaysia’s rainforest, forever under threat from poachers.

Poisoned: Killer in the Post

Wednesday, Thursday, 9pm, Channel 4

This sobering new series follows a mission undertaken by investigative reporter James Beal, prompted by the death of a young university student in the autumn of 2021.

Horrified to learn that Tom Parfett, who was 22, had obtained and ingested a deadly poison, purchased online from a website based in Canada, James joined forces with bereaved parents worldwide in a bid to bring the seller to justice. He was also determined to highlight the horrors of online suicide forums.

Supercruising: Life at Sea

Thursday, 8pm, Channel 4

When it comes to on-board entertainment, the passengers on these luxury cruise ships seem to prefer things over-the-top. At least you hope they do, because that’s certainly what’s being lined up this week for the 3,000 people sailing round North Africa and Europe.

Expect a spectacular Dutch-themed orange party, laid on by entertainment chief Hamish, complete with dazzling costumes, themed cocktails and a performance by the food and beverage team that involves a lot more than just dishing up sausage rolls.

One Chicago

Friday, from 8pm, Sky Witness and NOW

A high-rise building has been rocked by an enormous gas explosion. Hundreds of people are going to need bringing to safety, including a group who find themselves trapped deep underground, two of whom are first responders.

It’s a terrifying scenario – and one which, as a storyline, lends itself perfectly to one of these TV crossover events. In this case, we get an episode each of Chicago Fire (firefighters and paramedics), Chicago Med (doctors and nurses) and Chicago PD (the cops).

Trainwreck: The Real Project X

Tuesday, Netflix

Project X was a 2012 comedy film about a group of teens whose house party swiftly spiralled out of control. As thousands of strangers descended on the birthday boy’s family home, the merry mood turned to mayhem and a riot ensued.

Trainwreck tells the story of an equally calamitous real-life event which occurred not long afterwards in a tiny town in the Netherlands, in this case thanks to the birthday girl having accidentally made her Facebook announcement public.

Football Fantastics

Saturday, CBeebies

Created by Sam Talbot, this joyful series features six adorable football-mad kids led by an over-enthusiastic and eco-conscious groundskeeper.

Football Fantastics boasts star cameos from England Lionesses Cloe Kelly, Fran Kirby, Beth Mead, foobtall legend Jill Scott, striker Olly Watkins to Leyton Orient player Charlotte Lynch and Emmerdale icon Samantha Giles.

Expect hilarious scenes, toe-tapping songs, messy goals and lessons in teamwork. It’s a charming kickoff to the BBC’s Summer of Sport.

Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory

Tuesday, National Geographic

Kicking off Sharkfest on Nat Geo, Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory plunges explorer and wildlife cinematographer Bertie into shark territory – without a cage.

In Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, he and his team (including field specialists Lacey Williams, skipper Patrick McDonald and local spotter Khwesi Namntu) document great whites hunting seals in shallow waters.

This immersive documentary aims to shine a light on the secret lives of sharks but viewers will quickly understand that nature follows no schedule. It’s awe-inspiring, tense and essential viewing.

The Facebook Honeytrap

Sunday, Prime

Christine Robinson’s life was brutally cut short in a senseless attack at her remote South African safari lodge, leaving her family in the UK devastated. But her niece Lehanne, in London, decided to stop at nothing for answers.

This gripping two-part docuseries exposes a real-life predatory sting and the chilling reality behind the screen. Turning to Facebook, Lehanne combs through profiles and connects the digital dots – before confronting her aunt’s killer face to face. It’s a compelling, heart-breaking cautionary tale and an unmissable watch.

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

They are two longtime Dodger villains, hated for two vastly different reasons.

As the last remaining position player from the Houston Astros’ trash-can-banging, and (in the eyes of most Dodgers fans) World Series-stealing 2017 championship team, Jose Altuve always receives a rude welcome from the fans at Chavez Ravine.

As one of the most productive visiting players in Dodger Stadium history, Christian Walker often shuts them up.

In the Houston Astros’ 18-1 Independence Day rout on Friday, both added another tortured chapter to the Dodgers’ history against the team. Altuve went three for three with a double, two home runs, two walks and five RBIs. Walker went four for five with one long ball and four RBIs.

The Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve celebrates with Christian Walker after hitting a two-run homer against Dodgers in the third inning at Dodger Stadium on Friday.

(Kevork Djansezian/Los Angeles Times)

On a day starting pitcher Ben Casparius once again struggled (giving up six runs in three innings), reliever Noah Davis gave up 10 runs in the sixth inning alone (the most the Dodgers had surrendered in one inning since 1999), and most of a sold-out crowd stuck around for every painful minute (waiting in somber silence for a postgame fireworks show), that was plenty to lift the surging Astros to most lopsided defeat the Dodgers have ever suffered at Dodger Stadium.

Six weeks ago, the retooled Astros were one game above .500 and 3 ½ games out of first place in the American League West; seemingly missing the other 2017 stars who have departed the franchise since their sign-stealing scandal came to light five years ago.

But now, they have won 27 of their last 37, own the second-best record in the AL, and are suddenly looking like unlikely title contenders; even after turning over almost the entirety of the roster from that infamous 2017 season.

“Certainly, there’s been some history with our organizations,” manager Dave Roberts said pregame when asked if any lingering feelings remained from the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. “But if you look at it in reality, most of those guys are gone. So it certainly doesn’t have any bearing on this series this weekend.”

Instead, in their most lopsided loss of the season, the Dodgers had bigger concerns to worry about Friday, with Altuve and Walker at the top of the list.

Altuve received his typical reception from the Dodgers faithful, serenaded with booming boos and loud chants of “cheater” during each of his at-bats. However, he followed Isaac Paredes’ leadoff homer in the first with a double off the wall. He took Casparius deep for a two-run home run on a curveball in the third. He added an exclamation point with a three-run homer in the Astros’ 10-run sixth — the most runs the Dodgers (56-33) had allowed in one inning since Fernando Tatis’ historic two-grand-slam inning in April 1999 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Walker was every bit as dangerous.

A 34-year-old slugger who dominated the Dodgers (and, most confoundingly, Clayton Kershaw in particular) during an eight-year career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walker was already emerging from an early-season slump in his first year with the Astros (53-35) entering this weekend’s series.

Then, back in the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium, he orchestrated a monster performance of his own from the five-spot of the Houston order.

In his first at-bat, Walker plated Altuve with a single the other way. Then, two batters after Altuve’s big fly in the third, Casparius left a fastball down the middle that Walker whacked for his 28th career home run against the Dodgers — and 20th at Dodger Stadium.

Only nine other players have hit that many home runs as visitors at the ballpark during their careers, a list that includes Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt and Willie Stargell, as well as Barry Bonds.

Walker also made a contribution in the sixth-inning onslaught.

After Davis gave up one run on two singles and two walks, the recently called-up right-hander plunked Walker with the bases loaded to force in another score, losing his grip on an 0-and-2 sweeper that left him visibly rattled on the mound.

Sensing Davis’ frustration, Roberts came to the bump for a motivational pep talk; eliciting memories of the mid-game hug he delivered to journeyman reliever Yohan Ramirez last season in Cincinnati.

This time, however, the mound visit had little effect. In the next at-bat, Davis threw a hanging sweeper that Victor Caratini belted for a grand slam. What was already a laugher became a full-fledged Fourth of July disaster.

July 4 (UPI) — The remains of at least some of the seven people missing at the site of Tuesday’s deadly fireworks warehouse explosion in Yolo County, Calif., have been found, authorities said.

Personnel with the Yolo County Coroner’s Division accessed the site on Thursday and located human remains, the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday.

“Out of respect for the families, the identities of the deceased will not be released publicly until official identification has been made and the next of kin have been formally notified,” the YCSO announced.

Coroner’s office staff have contacted the families of the seven people who are missing and will continue to provide them with updates.

The search for missing victims began Thursday afternoon, and stretchers containing what appeared to be human remains were seen outside the site, KCRA reported.

The fireworks warehouse site is located near county roads 23 and 86A in the Esparto area of Yolo County.

The facility caught fire at 5:50 p.m. PDT on Tuesday and produced a plume of black smoke that could be seen for miles before triggering multiple explosions.

Officials with the Esparto Fire Protection District have asked Cal Fire arson and bomb investigators to lead the investigation into the explosion’s cause.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also has some of its investigators at the site.

Cal Fire officials on Wednesday announced seven were missing but did not begin searching for survivors until the site was deemed safe on Thursday.

The California Fire Marshal’s office and other agencies delayed the search due to the potentially dangerous chemicals and unignited fireworks that remained after the explosion.

Yolo County is located directly west of Sacramento in northern California, and the warehouse location is 36 miles northwest of the city.

Vera, the heroine of Gary Shteyngart’s sixth novel, “Vera, or Faith,” is a whip-smart 10-year-old Manhattanite, but she’s not quite smart enough to figure out her parents’ intentions. Why is dad so concerned about “status”? Why does her stepmom call some meals “WASP lunches”? How come every time they visit somebody’s house she’s assigned to see if they have a copy of “The Power Broker” on their shelves? She’s all but doomed to be bourgeois and neurotic, as if a juvenile court has sentenced her to live in a New Yorker cartoon.

Since his 2002 debut, “The Russian Debutante’s Handbook,” Shteyngart has proved adept at finding humor in the intersection of immigrant life, wealth and relationships, and “Vera” largely sticks to that mix. But the cynicism that has always thrummed underneath his high-concept comedies — the dehumanizing algorithms, the rapacious finance system — is more prominent in this slim, potent novel. Vera is witnessing both the slow erosion of her parents’ marriage along with the rapid decline of democracy in near-future America. Her precocity gives the novel its wit, but Shteyngart is also alert to the fact that a child, however bright, is fundamentally helpless.

Not to mention desperate for her parents’ affection, which is in short supply for Vera. Her father, the editor of a liberal intellectual magazine, seems constantly distracted by his efforts to court a billionaire to purchase it, while her stepmom is more focused on her son’s ADHD and the family’s rapidly dwindling bank account. Things are no better outside in the world, where a constitutional convention seems ready to pass an amendment awarding five-thirds voting rights for “exceptional Americans.” (Read: white people.) Vera, the daughter of a Russian father and Korean mother, may be banished to second-class citizenry.

Even worse, her school has assigned her to take the side of the “five-thirders” in an upcoming classroom debate. So it’s become urgent for her to understand the world just as it’s become inexplicable. Shteyngart is stellar at showing just how alienated she’s become: “She knew kids were supposed to have more posters on their walls to show off their inner life, but she liked her inner life to stay inside her.” And she seems to be handling the crisis with more maturity than her father, who’s drunk and clumsy in their home: “If anyone needed to see Mrs. S., the school counselor with the master’s in social work degree, it was Daddy.”

It’s a challenge to write from the perspective of a child without being arch or cutesy — stories about kids learning about the real world can degrade to plainspoken YA or cheap melodrama. Shteyngart is striving for something more supple, using Vera’s point of view to clarify how adults become victims of their own emotional shutoffs, the way they use language to at once appear smart while covering up their feelings. “Our country’s a supermarket where some people just get to carry out whatever they want. You and I sadly are not those people,” Dad tells her, forcing her to unpack a metaphor stuffed full of ideology, economics, self-loathing and more.

Every chapter in the book starts with the phrase “She had to,” explaining Vera’s various missions amid this dysfunction: “hold the family together,” “fall asleep,” “be cool,” “win the debate.” Kids like her have to be action-oriented; they don’t have the privilege of adults’ deflections. Small wonder, then, that her most reliable companion is an AI-powered chessboard, which offers direct answers to her most pressing questions. (One of Shteyngart’s most potent running jokes is that adults aren’t more clever than computers they command.) Once she falls into a mission to discover the truth about her birth mother, she becomes more alert to the world’s brutal simplicity: “The world was a razor cut … It would cut and cut and cut.”

Shteyngart’s grown-up kids’ story has two obvious inspirations: One, as the title suggests, is Vladimir Nabokov’s 1969 novel “Ada, or Ardor,” the other Henry James’ 1897 novel “What Maisie Knew.” Both are concerned with childhood traumas, and if Shteyngart isn’t explicitly borrowing their plots he borrows some of their gravitas, the sense that preteendom is a crucible for experiencing life’s various crises.

In its final chapters, the novel takes a turn that is designed to speak to our current moment, spotlighting the way that Trump-era nativist policies have brought needless harm to Americans. A country can abandon its principles, he means to say, just as a parent can abandon a child. But if “Vera” suggests a particular vision of our particular dystopian moment, it also suggests a more enduring predicament for children, who live with the consequences of others’ decisions but don’t get a vote in them.

“There were a lot of ‘statuses’ in the world and each year she was becoming aware of more of them,” Vera observes. Children will have to learn them faster now.

Athitakis is a writer in Phoenix and author of “The New Midwest.”

Chelsea beat Palmeiras 2-1 to reach the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup where they will face Fluminense.

A late own goal off Palmeiras defender Agustin Giay lifted Chelsea to a 2-1 victory in Philadelphia, sending the Premier League side into the Club World Cup semifinals.

A shot by Chelsea’s Malo Gusto from the right side deflected off Palmeiras’ Richard Rios and Giay. Goalkeeper Weverton was unable to control the caroming ball before it went into the net.

Chelsea will play Fluminense on Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Brazilian side defeated Al Hilal 2-1 earlier on Friday.

Cole Palmer scored his first of the tournament in the 16th minute for Chelsea before Estevao, who will join Chelsea after the tournament, tied it in the 53rd minute.

Palmer had been criticised by the Chelsea fans for his lack of production despite leading the team in shots on goal during the tournament.

He proved his worth on the goal, taking a pass from Trevoh Chalobah and dribbling from just outside the box to 15 yards out before scoring with a left-footed strike.

“I’ve been working on … the shot in training. I just saw the space and went there,” Palmer told DAZN after the match.

“The manager just said to keep calm and do lots of passes, and we should be all right.”

Chelsea fans didn’t know whether to cheer or cry, however, when Estevao tied it with a brilliant, tight-angle shot for the equaliser.

He made a verbal agreement with Chelsea in May 2024 but was not permitted to move to England until he turned 18 on April 24, delaying his transfer to the current window.

The clubs arranged that he would remain with Palmeiras until their tournament run ended.

“You can see he [Estevao] is a top player, so we are excited for him [to join Chelsea after the tournament],” Palmer said of his soon-to-be teammate.

Joao Pedro made his Chelsea debut in the 54th minute, two days after his signing from Brighton & Hove Albion of the Premier League was confirmed.

The Brazilian had 10 goals and six assists for Brighton last season.

Pedro’s new manager at Chelsea, Enzo Maresca, was glowing about all aspects of the win.

“It has been a tough game, as we expected,” the Blues boss told DAZN.

“We needed lots of energy. At the end, congratulations to the players because they were very good.

“I’m happy because we won, and also happy because Estevao scored. The perfect night.”

Real Madrid face Borussia Dortmund, while Paris-Saint Germain take on Bayern Munich in the other quarterfinals on Saturday.

Don’t let a dicky tummy, sunburn or travel sickness ruin your holiday this summer, with nutritional therapist and pharmacist Deborah Grayson’s top tips

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to summer holidays – whether you’re jetting off to the Mediterranean, road-tripping across the UK, or packing for a long-haul getaway. But one of the most important things is sometimes the first to be overlooked – your health. As a pharmacist with more than 30 years’ experience, I’ve helped countless holidaymakers caught off-guard by sunburn, food poisoning or an unexpected allergic reaction.

One in eight holidaymakers get ill abroad, according to statistics. And nearly half of us fear a medical emergency abroad. But the good news is that with a few smart, proactive steps, you can avoid most common travel ailments and keep your summer trip on track. So whether you suffer from travel sickness, struggle with jet lag, or just want to avoid the classic sunburn-blister-sore-feet trifecta, here are 10 essential summer health hacks to help you feel your best, wherever you’re headed.

How to build the ultimate travel first aid kit

You don’t need to carry half a pharmacy with you, just pack the essentials. Make sure you have plasters and antiseptic wipes, as well as antihistamines (for bites, allergies or hay fever), and rehydration salts for heat or stomach bugs. Pop a pack of paracetamol or ibuprofen in your kit, as well as anti-diarrhoeal medication like loperamide.

Don’t forget travel sickness tablets, and hydrocortisone cream for rashes or bites. If you have prescribed medications, keep them in their original boxes with your name clearly labelled. Keeping these in a bag in your hand luggage ensures you’re covered if your main suitcase goes missing.

Beat travel sickness before it starts

Motion sickness happens when your inner ear and eyes send conflicting signals to your brain – often triggered in cars, boats or planes. Prevention is far more effective than waiting until you’re nauseous. Antihistamines such as cinnarizine or hyoscine patches are proven remedies and available over the counter. For natural alternatives, ginger capsules or acupressure wristbands may help some people. I also recommend facing forwards in a moving vehicle, avoiding reading or scrolling, and crack a window where possible.

Stay one step ahead of jetlag

There’s nothing worse than losing the first day or so of a long-awaited holiday due to jet lag. While you can’t avoid it altogether, there are some things you can do to minimise the effects. If possible, try to adjust your sleep schedule a few days before you fly. Drink plenty of water on the flight, and avoid alcohol. If it’s an overnight flight, avoid eating a heavy meal. Get some sunlight as soon as you arrive to help reset your internal body clock. Melatonin supplements may be useful for short-term sleep regulation but speak to a pharmacist first.

Stay hydrated – especially on your flight

Cabin air is dry, and dehydration not only leaves you feeling groggy but can worsen jet lag, headaches, and increase your risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Drink a glass of water every hour during your flight and avoid caffeine or alcohol, both of which dehydrate you. Consider oral rehydration salts if you’re flying long haul or suffer from conditions that make you more prone to dehydration. Pack a refillable water bottle (you can fill it after security) and use hydrating facial mists or moisturiser to combat dry skin.

Prevent sunburn

It’s tempting to start a holiday by spending hours in the sun lying on the beach or by the pool. But a trip away can easily be ruined by sunburn, which isn’t just painful but can increase your risk of skin cancer and can lead to sunstroke. Always use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, reapplying every two hours and immediately after swimming. Don’t forget areas like ears, feet, scalp, and the back of the neck. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, UV-protective sunglasses, and stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest.

Protect against bites and stings

Mosquitoes, midges and other biting insects can cause allergic reactions or transmit illness depending on where you’re travelling. Use an insect repellent containing DEET, especially around sunrise and sunset. Wear loose, light-coloured clothing, and sleep under a mosquito net if needed. If you’re bitten make sure to clean the area, apply hydrocortisone cream, and take oral antihistamines to reduce swelling and itching. If the area becomes red, hot or painful – or you develop a fever – seek medical advice.

Avoid holiday tummy troubles

Food poisoning and traveller’s diarrhoea can ruin any trip. In many hot countries, bacteria multiply more quickly, especially in street food or undercooked meats. Stick to bottled or filtered water (including when brushing teeth) and avoid ice cubes unless you know the source. Peel fruits yourself and be cautious with salads washed in local water. Pack antidiarrhoeal tablets and rehydration salts. If symptoms last more than 48 hours, or there’s blood in the stool, seek medical help.

Plan ahead for pre-existing conditions

If you have a long-term condition, speak to your GP or pharmacist at least 2-4 weeks before you travel. Get any vaccinations you need and ensure you’re fit to fly, particularly for long-haul trips. Take a basic health summary or EHIC/GHIC card (for EU countries) and always declare conditions on travel insurance. If you’re flying with mobility issues, allergies or need medical equipment like oxygen or needles, inform your airline in advance. And remember – pharmacies abroad don’t always stock the same brands or doses. Being prepared gives you peace of mind.

Mind your medication in the heat

Many people don’t realise that extreme heat can reduce the effectiveness of some medications, particularly for blood pressure, thyroid conditions or diabetes. Tablets like nitroglycerin and insulin are especially sensitive and should be kept below 25°C, away from direct sunlight or car glove boxes.

For those on temperature-sensitive meds, pack a cool bag or insulated pouch, especially on day trips. Additionally, store your medication in carry-on luggage rather than checked bags, as luggage holds can get extremely hot. A travel-sized thermometer in your kit can help you keep an eye on conditions if you’re somewhere very hot.

Deborah Grayson is a pharmacist with 30 years’ experience, and a nutritional therapist. She runs Digestion With Confidence: digestionwithconfidence.co.uk

FILL YOUR FIRST AID KIT

Take steps now to make sure you have everything you need for every kind of holiday health challenge

Kwells 300mcg travel sickness tablets, £3.99 for 12 (Boots)

O.R.S hydration tablets, £6.49 ( orshydration.com )

Navigate Carnaby travel bloom washbag, £23 (dunelm.com)

Sea-Band Nausea relief Ginger Capsules, £6.69 for 20 (Superdrug)

Skincalm Bite & Sting Relief 1% Cream Hydrocortisone – 10g, £4.65 ( amazon.co.uk )

Bioré Aqua Rich UV Invisible Face Mist SPF 50, £17.99 (Superdrug)

La Roche Posay UVMune 400 Dermo-paediatrics Invisible Spray SPF50+, £25.50 (lookfantastic.com)

Regatta x Orla Kiely water bottle, £38 ( regatta.com )

Wardle pierced the Leopards’ resistance after just five minutes, taking a short cut-out pass from Jai Field to dot down for the first time since grabbing a try in Wigan’s last win against Leigh in May.

The score from the decorated centre came in a week that he was called up for an England squad get-together that has had national team boss Shaun Wane calling for greater intensity from Super League’s biggest names as they prepare to take on Australia in the autumn Test series.

The clash of regional rivals delivered on Wane’s demand for a “low-scoring” game which has “teams going at it”.

While Leigh were kept scoreless in the first half, they went close through Frankie Halton, who failed to ground his finish after racing onto a grubber kick from Ipape, while Charnley should have done better to link up with Hodgson when in a promising position after breaking clear.

Leigh finally got their chance to respond thanks to Harry Smith’s attempted 40-20 kick that went long and out on the full.

The hosts made the most getting the ball back inside Wigan’s half, with Tonga international Niu weaving his way over from close range following clever work from Ipape and Lachlan Lam.

Ipape then went over himself at the end of a free-flowing move, with the ball passing through multiple hands before Umyla Hanley sent him clear to touch down under the posts.

And after Charnley had a try of his own ruled out – which would have been the 250th of his career in Super League – Trout profited from an in-goal fumble from Wigan’s defence as they tried to mop up the danger created by a Ipape kick in the final minute.

Russia has become the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan since the group took power in 2021. The Kremlin said the move would ‘pave the way for bilateral cooperation’, while the Taliban hailed it as a ‘courageous step’.

Rescuers were searching for trapped survivors after the incident in the impoverished Lyari neighbourhood of Karachi.

A five-storey building has collapsed in Pakistan, killing at least eight people and injuring nine others, officials said, with rescuers searching through the rubble for more trapped victims.

The incident occurred on Friday, shortly after 10am (05:00 GMT) in the impoverished Lyari neighbourhood of Karachi, which was once plagued by gang violence.

Up to 100 people had been living in the building, senior police officer Arif Aziz told the AFP news agency.

Shankar Kamho, 30, a resident of the building who was out at the time, said he got a call from his wife saying “the building was cracking” and he told her to “get out immediately”.

“She went to warn the neighbours, but one woman told her ‘this building will stand for at least 10 more years.’ Still, my wife took our daughter and left. About 20 minutes later, the building collapsed,” he told AFP.

Residents also said the building was located on a narrow street, making it difficult for rescue teams to bring in additional heavy equipment.

Television footage showed rescuers removing the rubble and evacuating nearby buildings as a precaution.

Saad Edhi, of the Edhi welfare foundation that is part of the rescue operation, told AFP there could be “at least eight to 10 more people still trapped”, describing it as a “worn-out building”.

All six members of 70-year-old Jumho Maheshwari’s family were at his flat on the first floor when he left for work early in the morning.

“Nothing is left for me now. My family is all trapped and all I can do is pray for their safe recovery,” he told AFP.

Building collapses are common in Pakistan, where construction standards are often poorly enforced. Many structures are built with substandard materials, and safety regulations are frequently ignored to cut costs.

But Karachi, home to more than 20 million, is especially notorious for poor construction, illegal extensions, ageing infrastructure, overcrowding and lax enforcement of building regulations.

In June 2020, an apartment building collapsed in Karachi, killing 22 people.

There was a surprise recoupling tonight with one unexpected couple raising eyebrows

Love Island fans have been asking the same question after an unexpected twist.

Alima and newcomer Ryan became the most recent contestants to be booted from the villa earlier this week after a shocking recoupling twist. The drama unfolded when bombshells Ryan and Billykiss each selected two islanders to accompany them on dates.

Ryan opted for Toni and Shakira, whilst Billykiss picked Dejon and Conor, before they made their entrance into the villa ahead of another revelation that caught everyone off guard.

The islanders were then asked whether anyone wanted to recouple with the fresh arrivals, reports OK!. Conor decided to pair up with Billykiss, leaving Alima without a partner and subsequently eliminated from the show.

Meanwhile, no one stepped forward for Ryan, sealing his exit from the villa as well. Tonight (July 4), saw yet another recoupling – but with an unexpected surprise.

The islanders received a message stating: “Islanders, today there will be a recoupling where the boys will choose which girl they’d like to recouple with”.

As the girls stood around the fire pit awaiting their fate, one boy made a surprise selection, explaining: “I don’t really know her as well as I should and I think this is a good opportunity to get to know her fully… I find her attractive and over the last few days she’s really changed my opinion of her.”

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Eyebrows were raised when Conor picked Yasmin to recouple with, leaving Giorgio to pair up with Billykiss. And people were quick to have their say as one fan wrote on social media: “Also Conor moving off Billykiss already basically means that Alima went home for NO REASON!”.

Another was puzzled: “Have I missed something? Since when did Conor and Yasmin like eachother?”.

One person asked: “Anyone else confused by Connor’s decision there????”. Another commented: “Have i missed an episode or something? connor and yasmin? #LoveIslandUK #Loveisland”.

In another coupling, Harry chose Helena. Earlier, Shakira had called it quits with Harry, refusing to be part of a “triangle” involving Helena.

She confronted him saying: “You said you’ve fully ended it with Helena, [and that] there’s nothing there with her… Then all of a sudden Meg stands up, who’s Helena’s best friend, and says that you’re telling two different girls two different things. Something’s not adding up there.”

The following day saw Harry and Helena escape to the Hideaway.

Love Island airs Sunday to Friday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX

When I was invited on a trip to Cognac in the south of France, I could never have anticipated learning so much about myself and my hometown in the process

When I headed to the beautiful region of Cognac, France, it was somewhere I hadn’t really heard much about except for the drink (of which I wasn’t a huge fan).

Despite it not being on my initial radar, I am a firm believer in exploring new places and cultures as they can capture your imagination in completely unexpected ways. Still, when I arrived in Cognac, what I unveiled was never something I could have anticipated.

When I first landed in France, I immediately had a full day of activities planned including a tour of the beautiful home of Baume de Bauteville balsamic vinegar, and a visit to the iconic Remy Martin Cognac house for a private tour complete with a guide to its history and, of course, Cognac tasting sessions. I wasn’t a huge fan of the drink before, but I soon changed my tune. Of course I was posting all about my trip – and that’s when a friend back home got in touch with an interesting revelation.

READ MORE: UK’s ‘most Instagrammable city’ has gorgeous views ‘prettier than Santorini’

They informed me that Cognac was twinned with Perth, Scotland – which just so happens to be my hometown. It completely stole my imagination and got me researching. Immediately I had a lightbulb moment; Perth is also a distillery town, so of course I learned this after a day at a distillery! That was the first piece of the puzzle. So I looked into it all a little bit more.

Twin cities are a concept most of us will have heard of but probably have never thought about before. I will hold my hands up and say that the only time I had ever truly thought of them was when I saw the names on road signs when coming into towns and cities. That is about as far as my knowledge about them went, until now.

READ MORE: Picturesque UK town ‘rivals Amalfi coast’ with colourful houses and pretty beach

The concept of a Twin City was first coined after the end of WWII in a bid to promote both cultural and commercial ties to the two cities that were involved., whilst also promoting prosperity in a post-war landscape. However, the first ‘official’ twin cities agreement happened in 1931, when Toledo, Ohio twinned with Toledo, Spain.

I could not believe that I had absolutely no idea that Cognac and Perth were twinned before-hand, and it started to feel a little bit like fate that I was there. It really got me thinking about everything and wanting to know more.

What I started to notice was all of the little things that tied these places together. For start, Perth is on a river, as is Cognac. Food and drink are both massive tourism opportunities for both places and they are even similar sizes. The population of Perth is around 47,00 and Cognac’s is 60,000 for the area! It all started to make sense. Even the humble beginnings of Remy Martin reminded me of home.

Wanting to learn more, I reached out to Graham Knight, who runs the ‘Friends of Cognac’ society in Perth. I wanted his unique insight into the partnership and what it meant for both communities.

He explained: “The twinning agreement between Perth and Cognac was signed in October 1991 and arose out of the common elements of whisky and cognac. At that time Perth was the headquarters of a number of whisky companies e.g. Bells, Dewars ,Peter Thomson and Cognac was home to Hennessy, Remy Martin, Martell, and Courvoisier et alia.

“An extract from the twinning agreement reads ‘establishing a firm foundation for future understanding, respect and friendship between the people of Cognac and Perth for all time.’ The most obvious similarity is geographical, both towns (Perth of course now being a city) lying on famous rivers and are important administrative centres. Tourism is also a common thread in each area.”

“The core of our activity is a programme of group visits to Cognac, and from Cognac to Perthshire in which we are hosted in the homes of French friends for a week, and they in turn are hosted in our homes. These visits enable the sharing of our lives, towns, local areas, activities and cultures, not to mention our food and drink! Over the years strong friendships, often life-long, have been forged, and we’ve even improved our language skills.”

What I began to realise was that actually, there were so many similarities between Perth and Cognac. I realised that these two places are so similar because of the kindness of people, the landscapes, the output of produce in the areas and the rich histories of the two places.

Once I knew that there were ties to Perth all around the French region, my trip felt extra magical. I started looking at everything differently and absorbing more of it – and there was plenty to enjoy.

I spent the morning with Frapin Cognac to tour their impressive distillery and Chateau. It’s been in the family for hundreds of years and you can sense the pride in it all around you. They’ve really kept family at the heart of what they do and I adore that concept. I really could feel the warmth of the people and really felt like I was sat with a family having lunch, much like how many places feel like in Perth.

That afternoon, I went to the beautiful Cognac Jewellery School and created my own vine leaf earrings. The lovely Jessica guided me through my first taste of metal-work, and we started talking about how she had moved to Cognac from England right before the pandemic hit and fell in love with the region and its culture and beauty. I couldn’t stop thinking about my hometown link; even the leaves reminded me of ones I’d find in Scotland.

I think that’s what I’ve loved the most about all of this, is understanding the ties that bring these two very different places together. Ultimately, what it comes down to is a deep-rooted sense of pride in communities, which is something that I think is beautiful. I love that the two places can share this commonality with one another, showing that as humans, we really aren’t all that different deep down.

Colin Powell once said “the ties that bind us are stronger than the stresses that separate us”. I think the idea of twin cities can encapsulate that perfectly. We are so different, yet there are these commonalities that tie us together in ways we could not have imagined, no matter where you’re from! When I was offered this trip I could never have anticipated learning more about my hometown in the process. Now, I also feel like there will always be a string tying me to Cognac.

When Max Muncy first went down on Wednesday night, clutching his left knee and writhing in pain after a collision with Chicago White Sox baserunner Michael A. Taylor on a steal attempt at third base, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes couldn’t help but let his mind go to a dark place.

“Obviously, [there were] a lot of emotions,” Gomes said. “From a coping mechanism in my head, it was like, ‘OK, he’s done for the year. We’re gonna have to figure out what the next path is. We have to be prepared for whatever is coming.’”

What came the next day, however, was unexpectedly good news.

Despite having his knee bent awkwardly, gruesomely inward, Muncy escaped with only a bone bruise. There were no ligament tears. No structural damage. No season-ending catastrophe.

Dodger Max Muncy grimaces as he holds his left knee after colliding with White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

“We’ve had a lot more [injury situations] where we’ve gone in optimistic and then come out the other side not as optimistic,” Gomes said. “So it was nice to have that turned on its head and know that, ‘Hey, he’s gonna be out there.’”

On Thursday, Muncy said he is expected to miss roughly six weeks. But even that timeline would give him a month-plus before the playoffs to try and rediscover the swing that made him one of the hottest hitters in baseball the past two months.

And because Muncy’s injury was to the lower half of his body, manager Dave Roberts noted, the hope is that “it’s not something that should affect the swing” when he does return.

“With the time we have, there’s nothing pressing as far as needing to rush him back,” Roberts said. “I think we’re in a good spot.”

That’s why, as of Friday, Gomes had shelved those contingency plans that were running through his mind 48 hours earlier. His front office wasn’t urgently scouring the trade market looking for an instant replacement.

Instead, Gomes and Roberts insisted the Dodgers’ trade deadline plans are unlikely to be altered in the wake of Muncy’s injury — with the team content to rely on internal options now, while awaiting Muncy’s return later this year.

“Knowing the certainty of Max coming back at some point,” Roberts said, “I don’t think that will really impact our thinking going into the deadline.”

“Even if [his recovery] is way slow,” Gomes added, “you have a full month of baseball before we hit the playoffs. So we’re giving him that time to get back into a good place and try to set a good foundation, like we try to do with all of our guys, to be prepared for that stretch run.”

Fans cheer after Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy hit a three-run homer against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on June 22.

(Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times)

Trade speculation surrounding the Dodgers’ third base position is nothing new.

Earlier this year, when Muncy was struggling mightily through the opening month of the year, there were growing calls from the fanbase for the team to find a more productive replacement before the July 31 deadline.

Lately, however, Muncy had quieted such noise with one of the best stretches of his career. Before getting hurt, he was batting .308 over his past 46 games with 12 home runs, 48 RBIs and more walks (32) than strikeouts (26).

“When he’s not in the lineup,” Roberts said, “our offense tapers off.”

Whether Muncy can return to such levels of production, of course, won’t become clear until well after the deadline passes. But finding impact bats on this year’s trade market might not be an easy task, especially at third base.

Nolan Arenado has long been linked to the Dodgers in trade rumors. But he has career-lows in batting average (.247) and OPS (.701) this year, and is still due some $40 million over the next two-and-a-half seasons on his contract.

The Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado watches his double in the sixth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland on June 27.

(Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)

Lower-profile names such as Eugenio Suárez, Ryan McMahon and Ramón Urías (who could be a better roster fit for the Dodgers as a utility weapon) could also be moved. But the Dodgers won’t be desperate to overpay for an impact bat knowing Muncy should be back well before the start of the playoffs.

“Obviously, he’s been so dialed in, one of the best hitters in the game over the last six weeks, so there’s always some [question of], ‘How are we going to get back to that spot?’” Gomes acknowledged of Muncy.

“But I don’t think that is something that Max has never done before,” he added, referencing Muncy’s ability to contribute to last year’s World Series run despite missing three months in the regular season with an oblique injury. “So there’s a comfort level. We have some time. We’ll make sure that he’s eased back in. We have enough technology that he can take at-bats and see pitches before he ever has to go out on rehab and is back in a major-league game. We should be getting some approximation of what his swing was, and then use that time to get into a rhythm.”

In the meantime, the Dodgers plan to incorporate Tommy Edman at third base, where he has 94 career big-league appearances (mostly in 2019 and 2020 with the St. Louis Cardinals, before Arenado’s arrival there).

“It’s a position I’m comfortable with,” Edman said Friday, after taking grounders at third at the start of his pregame work. “The hops [there] are weird, so you gotta play a little bit more one-handed … But it’s still the infield. You still gotta work on the footwork, just like you would at second and short. Catching the ball, getting behind your throws. It’s a lot of the same concepts.”

Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas will also see time at third, typically against left-handed pitching, while triple-A prospect Alex Freeland could offer depth from the minors if needed.

Hyeseong Kim, meanwhile, should also get a bump in playing time at second base on days Edman is at third.

“It’s gonna be a good opportunity for him,” Roberts said of Kim. “It’ll be good to know more and get him some more experience.”

When the deadline rolls around at the end of the month, the Dodgers will have more information to work with — not only on the state of Muncy’s rehab, but also about how their lineup fares without him.

With a top-five farm system in the sport, according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, they will have the ammunition to make a splash if needed.

But for now, their expectation is that Muncy’s injury won’t force them into a drastic midseason roster makeover. They are hopeful that what initially appeared to be a season-altering moment will be nothing more than a temporary speed bump in their pursuit of a second consecutive title.

“We’re playing good baseball as a team. We’re in a good position division-wise right now,” Gomes said. “So if we keep doing that, we can weather [Muncy’s absence].”

July 4 (UPI) — A major power outage on Friday struck the Czech Republic, including the capital Prague, which disrupted public transportation and hospitals.

Also affected were regions of Ústi, Liberec and Hradec Králove, Euro News reported, citing CEPS power grid operator and domestic media.

Czech Republic has a population of 10 million and borders Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland, which didn’t report outages. Weather was nice Friday with highs in the mid-70s, contrasting with highs in the mid-80s earlier in the week.

In late April, a power grid failure led to the blackout of the entire Iberian Peninsula in Spain and Portugal.

The Czech blackout, shortly after noon, was triggered by the failure phase conductor on line V411, cutting power to eight major substations. Five were restored by the afternoon.

“It was an issue in the upper-level transmission grid,” Karel Hanzelka, spokesperson for Prague’s power provider PRE, told Czech Radio. “To put it simply, electricity stopped flowing into Prague from the outside.”

The cause of the outage remains under investigation.

There was no evidence of a cyberattack, National Cyber and Information Security Agency and counterterrorism unit confirmed.

In Prague, trams and metro lines stopped, traffic lights were inoperable and people were trapped in elevators.

Metro lines A, B, and C were temporarily out of service, Prague Morning reported.

In a reflection of how service outages varied, most trams on the right bank of the Vltava River in Prague were halted but those on the left bank weren’t affected.

Firefighters evacuated three trains on the Prague Kolin section.

“This is a serious and disruptive situation. Everyone is working intensively to restore power,” Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a video post on X.

He later activated the Central Crisis Staff.

“This isn’t something that can be fixed in minutes,” Industry Minister Luka Vlceksaid. “It will take hours. The outage has affected a significant portion of the country.”

Fire brigades were swamped with calls.

“The power outage is generating a high number of incidents — rescues from elevators, reported fires caused by diesel backup generators starting up,” Miroslav Rezac, a spokesman for Prague’s firefighters, said.

By 2 p.m., firefighters had responded to 215 elevator rescues nationwide.

In Kutna Hora, the entire hospital ran on a backup generator with an eight-hour fuel reserve. “We’re looking for a gas station to refill,” a hospital receptionist told Prague Radio.

Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague was not hit by the power outage, according to Czech media.

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, will no longer be able to enter Australia after releasing a song that praises Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Tony Burke, Australia’s home affairs minister, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Wednesday that the country had canceled his visa in early May, around the time “Heil Hitler” was released.

Ye has visited the country frequently since marrying Bianca Censori, who is from Melbourne.

“If someone argued that antisemitism was rational, I would not let them come here,” Burke said. “[Ye] has been coming to Australia for a long time … and he’s made a lot of offensive comments.”

The song proved to be the final strike for Ye. First shared in a social media post on X, “Heil Hitler” as been widely denounced for its racial epithets and antisemitism. It was also subsequently banned on most streaming platforms.

In the song, Ye sampled an infamous speech made by Hitler in 1935 at Krupp Factory, two years after he was appointed chancellor of the Nazi party.

Its music video, released May 8, shows a group of individuals dressed in animal skins reciting the song’s lyrics.

Ye’s behavior has long been controversial, but his antisemitism in recent years has put former colleagues in an awkward position.

John Legend, whose 2013 effort “Love in the Future” was executive produced by Ye, had a clear response in a recent interview.

“It never affects me personally, but just the whole story is sad. Like, seeing this guy praise Hitler, seeing this guy be this force of hate and just vitriol and nastiness,” Legend said during an appearance on New York’s Hot 97 radio show. “All the things he’s done to make the world more beautiful and interesting, for him to be this now, it’s sad. It’s just sad.”

He clarified that during his time on Ye’s G.O.O.D. Music label between 2004 and 2016, he never saw evidence that the rapper was “obsessed with Hitler.”

Legend added that despite Ye’s recent behavior, he has no regrets over their past collaborations: “I’m so glad we did what we did together.”

A creepy island surrounded by mystery and ghostly myths is just 10 miles from an insatiably popular tourist destination – but visitors are strictly banned from visiting it

A spooky island enveloped by its own grim history and ghostly tales has long prohibited tourists from visiting.

Last year, a whopping 30 million visitors flocked to the canal-divided city of Venice, lured in by its enchanting romance, beautiful architecture and delicious food. The influx resulted in Italian officials extending its tourist tax, which can be as steep as €10 for day-trippers, into 2025 – but even that hasn’t stopped the insane crowds that queue up for attractions such as Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica.

However, just 10 miles away from the chaos lies an abandoned island that has been left to rot for decades. Poveglia, which is technically a cluster of three tiny islands in the Venetian Lagoon, was once a ‘peaceful little community’ that first welcomed inhabitants back in the 7th century. Throughout the years, it managed to avoid invasions occurring on the mainland, and benefited from trading with the nearby island of Pellestrina.

READ MORE: Abandoned £800m UK theme park set for huge overhaul but not everyone’s happy

However, in the 14th century it is believed the Battle of Chioggia near Venice resulted in residents fleeing the island. Many relocated to Giudecca, a popular island now saturated with tourists.

“It wasn’t until the 18th century that it was put to use again as a storage location for the Republic of Venice,” states Walks of Italy. “Subsequently, in 1776, it came under the jurisdiction of the local Public Health Office.”

But, in 1793 two ships that stopped for a check were believed to have several cases of the plague, which saw the island rapidly transform itself into a plague quarantine site. Legend has it that the island is now made up of 50 per cent ash due to thousands of victims who were left to die in so-called ‘plague pits’.

“In the 20th century, the island transformed into the site of a psychiatric hospital,” Walks of Italy added. “Another version of the story says that the asylum’s director went crazy and jumped off the clock tower. But according to legend, it wasn’t the jump that caused his death—it was a mysterious fog. This doctor was known for being a bit ‘mad’ and for doing experiments on patients, including performing several lobotomies.”

Poveglia, which is now owned by the government, has long banned tourists from visiting. This is likely due to safety concerns around the hospital, psychiatric ward, prison, and San Vitale Church, which have all been left to crumble.

According to reports, you can seek special permission from the Municipality to visit. However, this tends to be for film crews or researchers, not tourists. However, if you head down to Lido di Venezia near Malamocco – you can catch a glimpse of the island and its ancient church on a clear day.

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British number one Emma Raducanu is out of Wimbledon after falling short of beating top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping third-round match on Centre Court.

Raducanu, 22, put the three-time Grand Slam champion – and clear title favourite – under extreme pressure before succumbing to a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 defeat.

“It is a difficult to take right now,” Raducanu said.

“It’s hard to take a loss like that but at the same time I’ve pushed Aryna, who is a great champion, so I have to be proud.”

Raducanu, ranked 40th in the world, played with clarity and confidence throughout most of a captivating contest.

Had the 2021 US Open champion served out the opener at 6-5 after saving seven set points in the previous game, or converted a set point in the tie-break, the momentum of the lead might have carried her to a notable victory.

However, the deficit proved too much to overturn – even though Raducanu broke to lead 4-1 in the second set.

The long rallies she needed to break down Sabalenka eventually took their toll and Raducanu began to look fatigued as the world number one fought back.

Sabalenka, who is aiming for a first SW19 title, goes on to face Belgian 24th seed Elise Mertens in the fourth round on Sunday.

“Emma played such incredible tennis and she pushed me really hard to get this win,” said the 27-year-old Belarusian.

“I had to fight for every point to get this win. I’m pretty sure she will get back to the top 10 soon.”