Ryanair’s new hand luggage rule is set to come into effect in the coming weeks
Ryanair is changing a key rule(Image: Cineberg via Getty Images)
Ryanair passengers have been advised to pop a bit of cardboard into their carry-ons following the airline’s announcement on Thursday. The budget carrier confirmed it will boost its “personal bag” size by 20% due to new EU regulations.
Ryanair said that, soon, passengers will be able to bring a larger bag on board, measuring up to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, without having to pay additional fees. The bag must weigh under 10kg and fit “under the seat in front you.”
With the new bag dimensions set to roll out in the upcoming weeks, packing expert Tom Schott from Schott Packaging is warning travellers against a potentially expensive error, as he thinks the increased allowance might tempt people to overstuff their bags.
Tom said: “The new dimension is a game-changer, but only if you use it wisely. The mistake is to simply cram more in. The real victory for passengers is using that volume to pack with structure. A well-packed bag is a compliant bag.”
One of Tom’s many tips to avoid this is to pack some cardboard. He explained: “Soft bags lose volume. A lightweight, snug-fitting cardboard box inside your bag provides a rigid frame, allowing you to use every corner and prevent the bulge that attracts gate staff.”
He also recommends using sealable bags to maximise space, organising items into smaller compartments, and safeguarding valuables. Tom added: “Place a small, sturdy box in the centre of your bag, cushioned by clothes.
“This creates a crush-proof zone for chargers, adapters, and toiletries, preventing damage and leaks.” Travellers are also encouraged to “pre-plan your bag”, with Tom suggesting you lay out all your items on the floor within a 40cm x 30cm outline first, as this “provides a real-world view of what fits and helps you assemble your packed modules logically and quickly.”
Tom further explained: “These aren’t just clever tricks, but core principles of efficient packing. By applying them, you can confidently pack that extra outfit and still breeze through the boarding gate“.
A travel enthusiast claimed to have found the European alternative to the Maldives in a cheap and unexpected country – and it’s just a £30 flight away – however, not everyone was convinced
A globetrotter claims to have found the ‘Maldives of Europe’ in cheap country (stock image)(Image: Bardhok Ndoji via Getty Images)
When people start describing what they believe paradise would look like, the Maldives often top the list or are what most people would imagine, even if they don’t say it by name.
Its idyllic sapphire waters and consistently balmy weather lead many to herald it as a slice of heaven on Earth. However, reaching the Maldivian shores can be expensive and take a long time, with journeys including long 12-hour flights as well additional travel by speedboat or seaplane to get to your resort.
For those seeking an escape closer to British shores, a globetrotter named Scott claimed he’s discovered Europe’s answer to the Maldivian paradise – and it’s only a £30 return flight away.
Taking to Instagram, Scott shared his discovery with a video montage of his holiday, which including enjoying the sunny days by dipping into the clear turquoise water.
“POV: You find the European Maldives in the cheapest most unexpected country,” he wrote in the caption of his video, which has gone viral on the platform with over 5.2million views.
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His video continued to show the white sandy beaches leading up to the blue waves, where visitors relax under parasols at tables and chairs sprinkled along the shore.
Scott also raved about the cheap yet incredible accommodation options with beach views and pool access, which once again looks like they belonged on the Maldives. He then shared clips of the many bars and beach clubs available for your evening activities.
While it all looked like it belonged to another world, Scott revealed the place in question was Ksamil in Albania. It’s located in the riviera of Southern Albania, just 15 kilometres (9 miles) south of Saranda and near the Greek island of Corfu.
During the summer months, Ksamil becomes one of Albania’s most popular and crowded beach destinations, attracting both locals and international tourists looking for an affordable Mediterranean paradise.
However, Scott’s glowing review sparked a mixed bag of reactions from those who had visited Ksamil themselves, as not everyone had enjoyed the holiday spot as much as he had.
One viewer commented: “It does not look like this… I fell for this con last summer,” with another echoing the sentiment as they labelled it a ‘tourist trap’.
However, others jumped to Ksamil’s defence, suggesting that timing is key to making the most of the destination. They recommended visiting during the early or late parts of summer to avoid the peak tourist season in July and August.
One defender of Ksamil said: “That’s our Holiday Season then, but when you go some other time it is this calm and Beautiful Like in the Video. I myself am every year in Albania and can say the Video is right with this Beauty,”
As if the Garfield vs. Roosevelt sports rivalry needed any more incentive to excite its fans, both schools are preparing to unveil their new football stadiums and fields this fall after having no home games last season while construction took place.
Final work could be finished by the end of this month. The Los Angeles Unified School District paid for improvements as part of campus modernization projects paid for by bonds.
The vew of Roosevelt’s new football stadium and grass field.
(Crystal Powell)
The stadium has new bleachers, press box, concession stands, scoreboard, all-weather track and grass field.
“To all the seniors, it’s going to be a blessing to play at home,” coach Ernesto Ceja said.
Roosevelt got an a new stadium, with new bleachers, press box, scoreboard, concession stands and grass field.
(Crystal Powell)
Roosevelt is scheduled to have five home football games and open the stadium against Lawndale on Aug. 28.
The new Garfield scoreboard.
(Garfield HS)
Garfield’s $8 million stadium project includes a new all-weather field, track, scoreboard, goal posts and concrete home bleachers.
Garfield had some memorable mud games on its dirt and grass field through the years. The first home game will be against Bakersfield on Aug. 28.
Despite the new fields, the annual Garfield vs. Roosevelt football game that usually draws the largest crowd in the Southland will once again be played at a neutral site on Oct. 24. Last year’s game was at SoFi Stadium. This year’s game site has yet to be decided. It’s been played at East L.A. College for years.
Hamilton also has a new stadium set to be unveiled this fall with a new press box and bleachers.
Ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana has announced she is resigning from the party, saying she will be founding a new party with her former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Sultana, the Coventry South MP stripped of the Labour whip last year for backing a move to scrap the two-child benefit cap, said the new party would be formed with other independent MPs and activists, aiming to challenge a “broken” Westminster system.
Corbyn has been contacted but has not confirmed his involvement to the BBC.
However last night, he had hinted he may form a new party, telling ITV’s Peston “there is a thirst for an alternative” and that a “grouping will come together”.
In a social media post, Sultana said the government is “an active participant in genocide” in Gaza – and highlighted growing poverty, the government’s position on welfare, and the cost of living as reasons for establishing her new party.
“Labour has completely failed to improve people’s lives. And across the political establishment, from Farage to Starmer, they smear people of conscience trying to stop a genocide in Gaza as terrorists.
“But the truth is clear: this government is an active participant in genocide. And the British people oppose it.”
Israel has strenuously denied accusations it is committing genocide or genocidal acts in Gaza.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described the situation in Gaza as “appalling and intolerable” and repeatedly called for a ceasefire, as well as the release of hostages.
But some MPs want him to go further and describe the situation in Gaza as a genocide, claims currently being examined by the International Court of Justice.
Sultana also referenced the government’s welfare bill that passed this week, adding: “The government wants to make disabled people suffer; they just can’t decide how much.”
“We’re not an island of strangers,” she says, referencing a speech given by the prime minister in May about immigration, which he has since said he regrets. And she says at the next election, “the choice will be stark: socialism or barbarism”.
Asked for a response to her resignation and comments, a Labour Party spokesperson said: “In just 12 months, this Labour government has boosted wages, delivered an extra four million NHS appointments, opened 750 free breakfast clubs, secured three trade deals and four interest rate cuts lowering mortgage payments for millions.
“Only Labour can deliver the change needed to renew Britain.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News that Sultana had “always taken a very different view” from the Labour government on a range of issues.
Cooper rejected the Coventry South MP’s accusation that Labour was failing to improve people’s lives.
She cited falling waiting times in the NHS, the announcement of additional neighbourhood police officers, extending free school meals and strengthening renters’ rights as areas where the government was acting.
“These are real changes (that) have a real impact on people’s lives,” Cooper said.
Alastair Campbell, the former director of communications under Prime Minister Tony Blair, told the BBC he would not underestimate “how much the government’s handling of Gaza has really played into this sense of what is Labour about?”.
He said: “There feels to me to be a gap between the scale of the challenges facing the country as the public feel them, and the sorts of policy responses coming forward.”
Sultana was elected as a Labour MP at the 2024 general election but was suspended not long after, and has since sat in the Commons as an independent.
She was suspended with seven other Labour MPs, including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, for defying the government over its two-child benefit cap.
Four of the rebels have since returned to Labour, but Sultana and McDonnell remain independents.
Despite her suspension, she had remained a member of the Labour Party.
Responding to Sultana’s announcement, McDonnell posted on social media: “I am dreadfully sorry to lose Zarah from the Labour Party.
“The people running Labour at the moment need to ask themselves why a young, articulate, talented, extremely dedicated socialist feels she now has no home in the Labour Party and has to leave.”
The BBC understands McDonnell will not be joining the new party.
Labour MP Kim Johnson, who sits on the left of the party, voted alongside Sultana to oppose the government on its welfare bill and its decision to ban the Palestine Action group.
She said it was “sad that the party is losing a young and passionate politician” but added that she was committed to remaining in Labour.
Last year, Corbyn united with four other MPs elected as independents to establish an alliance in the House of Commons.
All five of the group beat Labour candidates in July’s election with their pro-Palestinian stance in constituencies with large Muslim populations.
Speaking to ITV’s Peston programme, he said he and fellow pro-Gaza independents would “come together” and “there will be an alternative”.
He said it would be based on “peace rather than war”.
His alliance includes MPs Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, and Iqbal Mohamed.
The Clinical Analysis Laboratory recorded about a hundred poisonings
12:23, 04 Jul 2025Updated 12:28, 04 Jul 2025
People going out in the sun while taking vitamin D supplements could put themselves at risk of poisoning, Spanish health officials warned(Image: Getty Images)
A Spanish hospital has sounded the alarm after witnessing a surge in patients suffering from vitamin D poisoning. The authorities have linked these cases to prolonged and uncontrolled use of supplements, often due to self-medication or non-compliance with guidelines.
Son Espases Hospital in Palma de Mallorca has seen an uptick in severe cases of vitamin D poisoning, some of which have necessitated hospitalisation, causing concern among healthcare professionals. These instances are frequently associated with extended and unsupervised use of supplements, either through self-medication or failure to follow guidelines properly.
UK holidaymakers soaking up the sun whilst popping potent supplements could also be putting themselves in harm’s way.
This trend, they explain, is attributable to the consumption of supplements which were not prescribed by medical professionals. The demographic most severely affected were young people and athletes, many of whom take supplements based on advice found on social media or podcasts.
Endocrinologist Mercedes Codina and lab analyst Cristina Gómez said: “It is a fat-soluble vitamin, which accumulates in the body’s fatty tissue and is not easily eliminated. If taken in excess, it can cause poisoning,” Maria Pastor, a specialist in Hormones and Vitamins at the Son Espases laboratory, explained that unlike vitamins C or B, the body does not rid itself of excess vitamin D.
“The excess accumulates and can alter the calcium in the blood, with serious consequences for the kidneys or heart.”
In an effort to reduce unnecessary demands for supplements and blood tests, the Clinical Analysis Service, in partnership with Primary Care medical management, initiated an educational campaign. The campaign is spreading awareness through talks at health centres and informative materials designed for both patients and healthcare workers.
A comparison reveals that a decade ago, the Balearic Islands requested around 10,000 yearly tests for vitamin D; now, Son Espases laboratory alone conducts approximately 150,000 such tests. The annual cost for reagents has shot up to one million euros, excluding additional expenses related to extraction, technical manpower, faculty staff or other resources linked to the health sector.
For healthy individuals, routine tests or supplement intake are not typically recommended. Vitamin D is primarily obtained through sunlight exposure.
A mere ten minutes of sun exposure two or three times a week is sufficient to maintain adequate levels, they advised, adding: “It is essential to be advised by health professionals, as social networks can be dangerous to health due to their content without scientific evidence.”
Given the UK’s geographical location further north than Spain, there may be a greater need for people to rely on supplements.
From October to March, the NHS suggests that we might need to source our vitamin D from food and supplements. As only a limited number of foods contain vitamin D, it could be challenging to get enough solely from your diet.
Good sources of vitamin D include:
– Oily fish – such as salmon, herring and mackerel.
– Red meat and offal – such as liver and kidney.
– Egg yolks.
– Fortified cereals, soya products and spreads.
The NHS further advises: “Taking a supplement, eating vitamin D rich foods and spending time outside in sunlight isn’t a problem. Don’t take more than 1 supplement containing vitamin D (including cod liver oil) as you may be getting too much. If you start taking a supplement and are already taking a different vitamin and mineral supplement then please discuss this with your GP, pharmacist or dietitian.”
So, how much vitamin D do I need?
Everyone above the age of 1 year is recommended to have a daily intake of 10 micrograms (mcg or μg) or 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D, as per Public Health England’s 2016 guidelines. This includes expectant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as individuals at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Only opt for a higher potency vitamin if your doctor has specifically advised it. Consuming more than 10 to 12.5 micrograms (mcg or μg) or 400IU to 500IU per day isn’t necessary and could potentially be harmful over time.
So, what signs might suggest an overdose of vitamin D?
Symptoms can encompass nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, abdominal discomfort or even confusion. These are all linked to hypercalcaemia – an excess of calcium in the bloodstream, which can result in severe kidney complications.
Noel and Liam Gallagher are finally reuniting on stage after 16 years as their tour kicks off tonight in Cardiff – and even fans at home can get in on the rock action
Liam and Noel Gallagher are reuniting on stage tonight in Cardiff
It’s a big day for Oasis fans, with Noel and Liam Gallagher taking to the stage together after 16 years for the first stop on the band’s highly-anticipated tour. However, those who couldn’t get tickets shouldn’t Look Back in Anger – you can get involved in the Champagne Supernova from the comfort of your own home.
The BBC will be covering all things Oasis ahead of the band’s gig at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium tonight, covering the build-up to the big moment. Hosted by Jason Mohammad and Tina Daheley, the live stream will be speaking to fans across the city as well as special guests about the historic performance.
Liam and Noel will reunite on stage for the first time in 16 years with the first Oasis Live ’25 gig in Cardiff tonight(Image: Simon Emmett)
The livestream will begin at 1pm and will only be available on BBC iPlayer – however, it won’t feature any of the gig itself. We’ll see the BBC team at the Principality Stadium deliver on-the-ground reports before the gig, while after, the livestream will continue as fans give live reviews and instant reactions.
Oasis announced last August that they would be finally reuniting, with fans desperate to get their hands on tickets ever since. Over 74,000 fans will be descending on Cardiff tonight for the huge show – and the first fans have even had their tickets checked in what’s become a 24-hour queue.
One family revealed on Good Morning Britain today that they spent the equivalent of £22,000 to fly from California to Cardiff for tonight’s show – and some viewers couldn’t relate. “The old saying, ‘a fool and his money are easily parted,’ comes to mind,” one said, while another wrote: “To the Yank that spent $30,000 for him and his family to see Oasis you are a mug!”
Some ticket-holders have been camping out overnight at the Principality Stadium to grab a good spot by the stage – efforts noticed by Liam and Noel. Lorraine’s Nick Dixon revealed on the ITV show that some fans were given upgraded tickets by the band after being spotted queueing up at the stadium.
“Security rounded up the fans and moved them. We were at first wondering, ‘I hope they’re not being turfed out, they’ve got tickets,’ but actually security told me that the band spotted them and they’ve been moved to a different area – a VIP area. They’ve had a massive upgrade on their tickets which is fantastic for them. They’ve left here deliriously happy.”
The catastrophe unfolding in Gaza cannot be understood solely through the lens of humanitarian crisis. What we are witnessing is not just a tragic consequence of war, but the deliberate use of starvation as a tool of political and demographic control. This strategy, designed to dismantle Palestinian society, amounts to a form of structural genocide.
The Israeli military and political leadership, in its pursuit of dominance and the erasure of Palestinian national aspirations, has moved beyond the tactics of bombardment and physical destruction. Today, its methods are more insidious: they target the core of Palestinian survival: food, water, and the means to endure.
Breaking the will of a people by denying them the ability to feed themselves is not collateral damage. It is policy. According to reports from independent international bodies, more than 95 percent of Gaza’s farmland has been destroyed or rendered unusable. That figure is not just an economic loss; it is the intentional dismantling of food sovereignty, and with it, any hope of future independence.
The destruction is systematic. Seed access has been blocked. Water infrastructure has been targeted. Fisherfolk and farmers – already operating under extreme siege conditions – have been repeatedly attacked. These are not random acts. They are part of a broader plan to re-engineer Gaza’s demographic and economic future in line with Israel’s long-term strategic goals: absolute control and political submission.
What makes this all the more alarming is the complicity of the international community. Whether through silence or vague diplomatic statements that describe the situation as a “humanitarian crisis”, global actors have helped normalise the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The refusal to name these actions for what they are – war crimes committed as part of a genocide – has given Israel the cover to continue them with impunity.
Even more disturbing is how food itself has become a bargaining chip. Access to essentials like flour, baby formula, and bottled water is now being tied to political and military negotiations. This reveals a grim logic of power. The goal is not stability or mutual security – it is to impose political conditions through the calculated manipulation of civilian suffering.
By making Gaza entirely dependent on outside aid while systematically dismantling local means of survival, Israel has created a trap in which Palestinians are stripped of all political and economic agency. They are being reduced to a population that can be managed, controlled, and bartered.
Every statistic coming out of Gaza must be read through this lens. That 100 percent of the population now suffers from food insecurity is not simply tragic; it is a marker of the strategy’s progress. This is not about feeding the hungry. It is about breaking the spirit of a people and forcing them to accept a new reality on the occupier’s terms.
And yet, Gaza’s resilience persists. That defiance, under siege and starvation, has exposed the moral collapse of an international order that prefers managed crises to political accountability. This is not a famine born of drought. This is not the chaos of a failed state. This is a crime in progress – carried out with eyes wide open, under the protective cover of global indifference.
Let me also add that international civil society organisations and global social movements – such as La Via Campesina – are not standing by in silence. In fact, this September, some of the world’s most prominent movements of farmers, fishers, and Indigenous Peoples – many of them from conflict-affected regions – will gather in Sri Lanka for the 3rd Nyéléni Global Forum. There, we aim to build a unified global response to the widespread indifference that turns a blind eye to the dispossession of entire communities. From the ground up, we are working to develop concrete proposals to ensure that food is never weaponised and that starvation is never used as a tactic of war. At the same time, countless acts of solidarity are unfolding across the globe, led by people of conscience who are demanding that their governments take action.
History will remember what is happening in Gaza. It will also remember those who chose to remain silent. Justice may be delayed, but it will come, and it will ask who stood by as starvation was used to try to break a people.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
A doctor has warned anyone heading to the airport to avoid foods that could cause a painful reaction, including cabbage, cheese and beans. Dr Donald Grant says foods like dairy can cause a reaction known as ‘jet belly’, where your stomach reacts in the same way as an unopened crisp packet.
Aeroplane bloat, also known as ‘jet belly’, is a phenomenon that causes the stomach to bloat during flights. Dr Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, said: “Many people will be planning or preparing to go on holiday. On long-haul flights, it’s important to be aware of ‘aeroplane bloat’, categorised as a build-up of gas in the intestines and stomach, caused by a combination of factors.
Aeroplane bloat is also known as jet belly
“This strange phenomenon is influenced by cabin pressure. At 30,000 feet, plane pressure drops dramatically, causing the gas in our guts to expand. In turn, this causes bloating and discomfort, which can lead to aeroplane bloat. It’s kind of like how crisp packets expand while in the air – the same effect is happening to our guts.
“Additionally, sitting in the same place for hours during a long-haul flight doesn’t help either. This fixed position can slow digestion and increase gas buildup, further adding to the discomfort and bloating. Depending on an individual’s food tolerances, purchasing and eating food on a plane could also increase the bloating effect, especially if the foods are high in salt content.
How to Avoid Aeroplane Bloat this Summer
“So, now that people are aware of aeroplane bloat, how can they avoid it? With the right approach, such as remaining hydrated and choosing foods carefully, people can enjoy their long-haul flights without the risk of bloating or discomfort.
1. Hydration is Key
“When we’re dehydrated, digestion is slowed and the risk of bloating increases. Therefore, drinking substantial amounts of water can make a huge difference, limiting the risk of this bloating effect. Additionally, I advise against fizzy drinks as the carbonation can increase gas buildup. Realistically, adults should be aiming for 2-2.5 litres of fluid each day, but prioritise still water before a flight.
2. Opt for Light Meals Pre-Flight
“Aside from drinking water, what we eat also plays a massive role in the risk of experiencing aeroplane bloat. Stay away from salty foods and anything hard to digest, including beans, cabbage, dairy products or fatty foods. Instead, lighter foods such as rice and lean proteins such as poultry or fish are generally better options as they’re easier to digest and manage.
Beans could leave you feeling bloated
3. Try and Move Each Hour
“While it can be tricky to incorporate movement into your flight, a walk to the toilet and back every hour or two can reduce the risk of aeroplane bloat. By moving, we’re aiding our digestive system, allowing it to work more efficiently. This actively reduces the risk of bloating.
4. Consider Probiotics or Over-the-Counter Medication
“For people with a long history of gut health issues, probiotics or other over-the-counter treatments can prove incredibly effective at targeting and reducing bloating or discomfort. Medications such as FyboCalm Wind & Bloating Relief are available without a prescription, providing relief of bloating, wind and abdominal pain in as little as two hours.
“Overall, with the holiday season underway, it’s important to be aware of aeroplane bloat and the factors that can increase the risks. However, by drinking enough still water, avoiding any trigger foods and packing emergency over-the-counter medication, I believe people can dramatically reduce the risk of experiencing this strange phenomenon.”
Today, you turn 249 and, honestly, you don’t look a day over 248. (Ha ha.)
Seriously, it’s perfectly understandable why there’s more gray on your scalp and deeper worry lines on your face. This last year has been challenging, to say the least.
Medicaid, the program that serves millions of the needy, elderly and disabled, is on the chopping block. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which helps Americans weather the worst times after natural disaster, has been drastically depleted just as we’re heading into the fire and hurricane seasons.
But no one ever said this representative democracy thing was going to be easy, or endlessly uplifting.
America, you’re a big, boisterous nation of more than 342 million people, with all sorts of competing impulses and interests, and no end of certitude to go around.
In our last presidential election, we split nearly evenly, with Trump squeaking past Harris in the popular vote 49.8% to 48.3%. It was one of the narrowest margins of victory in the last century, though you wouldn’t know it from Trump’s radical actions and the servility of the Republican-run Congress.
In a recently completed deep dive on the state of our democracy, researchers at UC Berkeley found an almost even divide over how to measure our political system’s success.
Slightly more than half of those surveyed said a successful democracy is one that’s adaptable and has the capacity for change, while nearly half said success stems from adherence to long-standing principles.
With that kind of stark disagreement on such a fundamental question, is it any wonder we struggle to find consensus on so much else?
But, heck, if it’s any consolation on this star-spangled holiday, the country has been through worse. Much worse. And you, America, have not only survived but also in many ways grown stronger by facing down your flaws and overcoming some knee-buckling challenges.
That sordid history won’t necessarily make anyone feel better about the current state of affairs, nor should it. But it does give some perspective.
All of that said, today’s a day to celebrate the good things and the bright, shining place you aspire to be, with liberty and justice for all. So, chin up, America! Have another slice of birthday cake, and don’t worry about the calories — you really do look terrific for 249!
Armand Duplantis, Julien Alfred and Matthew Hudson-Smith are among the stars competing at the Eugene Diamond League
The 2025 Eugene Diamond League meeting boasts one of the best fields this year with 17 individual champions from the Paris Olympics and 14 world record holders in action.
Five events feature all three medallists from the Paris Olympics, including the women’s 100m, which sees St Lucia’s Olympic champion Julien Alfred take on American duo Sha’Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Among the world record holders in Oregon are Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, who set a new high of 6.28m in the men’s pole vault in Stockholm last month, and Kenya’s three-time Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon.
You can watch all the Diamond League, also known as Prefontaine Classic, action unfold on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app from 21:00-23:00 BST.
Which British stars are competing?
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Matthew Hudson-Smith won individual and relay medals at the Paris Olympics
In the men’s 100m, Britain’s 60m world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu and British record holder Zharnel Hughes go up against Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson of Jamaica, who with 9.75 seconds has the fastest time in the world this year, and American Trayvon Bromell.
Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, who won silver in France last summer, and Charlie Dobson take on Olympic champion Quincy Hall and Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga in the men’s 400m.
Britain’s Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Hunter-Bell faces the challenge of Kenyan great Faith Kipyegon and Australian star Jessica Hull in the women’s 1500m.
GB’s world indoor champion Amber Anning is up against two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the women’s flat 400m.
Other British athletes in action include Dina Asher-Smith, Neil Gourley and Jake Wightman,but Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, whose return from a hamstring injury was delayed by a setback in April, and Josh Kerr are not competing.
Media caption,
Hunter-Bell wins Diamond League women’s 800m
What time are the key events in Eugene?
21:12 BST – men’s 100m featuring Jeremiah Azu and Zharnel Hughes
21:43 BST – men’s 400m featuring Matt Hudson-Smith and Charlie Dobson
21:51 BST – women’s 400m featuring Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Amber Anning
22:34 BST – women’s 800m featuring Mary Moraa and Athing Mu-Nikolayev
22:44 BST – women’s 100m featuring Julien Alfred, Sha’Carri Richardson, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Dina Asher-Smith
22:50 BST – Bowerman Mile featuring Cole Hocker, Neil Gourley and Jake Wightman
What’s coming up this Diamond League season?
After stops in Eugene and Monaco, the series visits the UK for the sold-out London Diamond League on 19 July.
Injury permitting, Hodgkinson is expected to compete at the event where last summer she improved her British record to one minute 54.61 seconds.
London is also set to host the latest chapter in the 1500m rivalry between world champion Josh Kerr and Norwegian rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Olympic and world 100m champion Noah Lyles, world 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol and British pole vaulter Molly Caudery are also on the entry lists, as the world’s top athletes build towards their shot at World Championship glory in Japan in September.
What is on the line in the Diamond League?
Athletes compete for points in 32 disciplines in a bid to qualify for the Diamond League Finals in Zurich in August.
That takes place just over a fortnight before the start of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
All Diamond League events will be shown on the BBC, which has agreed a deal to broadcast the competition for the next five years.
The Diamond League has increased its prize money to the highest level in its history, with a total prize pot of $9.24m (£6.95m) on offer across the series.
That includes $500,000 (£375,000) at each of the 14 series meetings, and $2.2m (£1.7m) at the Diamond League final.
How does the Diamond League work?
Athletes will compete for points at the 14 regular series meetings which started in April and run through to August.
Points are awarded on a scale from eight for first place to one for eighth place.
After the 14th meeting in Brussels, the top six ranked athletes in the field events, the top eight in track events from 100m up to 800m, and the top 10 in the distances from 1500m upwards qualify for the final.
The two-day finals are a winner-takes-all competition to be crowned Diamond League champion in each event.
Media caption,
‘He’s got it!’ – Duplants sets new pole vault world record
SEOUL, July 4 (UPI) — A North Korean man who identified himself as a civilian crossed the heavily fortified military demarcation line between the two Koreas and was taken into custody, the South’s military said Friday.
The individual was picked up by the South Korean military on Thursday night, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters. No motive was immediately given for his crossing.
“The military identified the individual in the MDL area, tracked and monitored him, conducted a normal induction operation and secured the individual,” the JCS said. “The relevant organizations will investigate the details of the southward movement.”
“There have been no unusual movements by the North Korean military as of now,” the message added.
In a background briefing with reporters, a JCS official said the North Korean man was first detected by a military monitoring device on the South Korean side of the border around 3 a.m. Thursday.
The operation to secure and guide the individual out of the demilitarized zone took 20 hours total, the official said.
The two Koreas are separated by the 2.5-mile-wide DMZ, which is one of the most heavily fortified and mined borders on earth.
A North Korean soldier defected across the DMZ in August, but direct land crossings have been historically rare. Most escapees traverse the northern border with China.
Over 34,000 North Koreans have fled to the South to escape dire economic conditions and the country’s brutally repressive regime. However, arrivals plummeted after Pyongyang sealed its borders and ramped up security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of North Korean defectors who arrived in South Korea reached 236 in 2024, up 20% from the previous year, according to data from the South’s Unification Ministry.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was briefed on the crossing, spokesperson Kang Yu-jun told reporters Friday. Lee has moved to lower tensions in the border area during his first month in office and recently ordered the suspension of propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts at the DMZ.
No casualties in Greece as fires in southern Crete and the port of Rafina are put out; two die after blaze in western Turkiye.
A wildfire on the Greek island of Crete that forced the evacuation of 5,000 people has been extinguished, officials say.
Some 230 firefighters and six helicopters worked at the scene near the resort town of Ierapetra, where residents had to leave their homes and visitors their accommodation on Wednesday evening.
Reporting from the nearby village of Agia Fotia, Al Jazeera’s John Psaropoulos said there was “no active fire front” by Friday morning. Still, he added, helicopters were operating in the area to ensure there were no flare-ups.
The fire left forest trees and some olive trees burned but caused no casualties. Two local MPs told Al Jazeera efforts were under way for the return of the people who were evacuated after the blaze broke out.
Elsewhere in mainland Greece, a fire fanned by strong winds that erupted near the port town of Rafina, about 30km (18 miles) east of the capital, Athens, was brought under control on Thursday evening, authorities said.
However, firefighting crews remained on alert as winds remained strong.
The fire, which led to the evacuation of 300 people, destroyed a few houses and vehicles, local mayor Dimitris Markou told public broadcaster ERT.
It also disrupted ferries to and from tourist islands in the western Aegean Sea.
Greece has so far been spared the heatwave roasting parts of Europe, particularly Spain, Portugal and France. But starting this weekend, temperatures will rise and reach up to 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas of the country.
Firefighters spray water to douse a burning house in Pikermi [Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP]
Two dead in Turkiye
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Turkiye, a local forestry worker was killed while trying to contain a fire near the western town of Odemis, while an 81-year-old resident died from smoke inhalation, authorities said.
These were the first deaths in a series of wildfires that have forced thousands of people to flee.
Separately, hundreds of firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to battle a wildfire near the Aegean coastal town of Cesme, a popular vacation destination about 190km (120 miles) west of Odemis.
That fire, which began on Wednesday, forced the evacuation of three neighbourhoods and led to road closures. Television footage showed flames racing through dry vegetation on both sides of a highway.
Over the past week, Turkiye has battled hundreds of wildfires fuelled by strong winds, extreme heat and low humidity.
The blazes have damaged or destroyed about 200 homes.
Hot dry weather is not unusual for Greece and Turkiye at this time of year. Devastating summer wildfires are common in both countries, with experts warning that climate change is intensifying conditions.
Firefighters gather on a field near an area where a plane drops water over a wildfire that broke out in Pikermi, some 30km east of Athens [Aris Messinis /AFP]
EasyJet and Ryanair are among the airlines having to cancel flights due to disruption caused amidst strikes by French Air Traffic Controllers with 1,500 flights estimated to be affected
11:27, 04 Jul 2025Updated 13:06, 04 Jul 2025
Thousands of passengers have been affected(Image: AP)
EasyJet and Ryanair are amongst the airlines that were forced to cancel hundreds of flights due to strike action by French Air Traffic Controllers this week.
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said that the airline had been forced to cancel over 400 flights due to the disruption, affecting over 70,000 passengers. Meanwhile easyJet had to cancel 274 flights across the two days.
It’s estimated that around 1,500 flights in total were cancelled or disrupted by the industrial action, with a quarter of flights at Paris Orly and Paris Charles de Gaulle reported to have been cancelled.
The industrial action on Thursday 3 July and Friday 4 July is believed to have impacted around 300,000 passengers, with routes to airports including Paris, Lyon and Marseille all affected.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled over the last two days(Image: AP)
The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) asked for a reduction in airport capacity across the country, meaning airlines were left with no choice but to cancel flights.
The UNSA-ICNA union – the second largest union for air traffic controllers in France – is calling for increased staffing levels and a pay rise. The third-largest ATC union, USAC-CGT, also issued a strike notice for Thursday 3 July. The move came on the eve of the school summer holidays in France.
Unfortunately, passengers affected by air traffic control strikes may not be able to get all of their money back, as airlines may be able to claim ‘extraordinary circumstances’ ie that were out of their control, and therefore you may not be entitled to a full refund.
According to the experts at MoneySuperMarket, you would only be eligible for extra compensation if you are made aware of strikes less than 14 days before the flight. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be left fully out of pocket, as travel insurance may be able to cover you depending on when you booked your ticket.
Kara Gammell, who works for the comparison site, explains: “As long as the airline strikes were announced after you booked your trip and your travel insurance, you may be able to claim through your insurer. Always check the terms and conditions of a policy before you buy it as not all travel insurance providers offer cover for airline strikes.
“If your policy includes travel disruption cover though, then it might be possible to claim for disruption or losses incurred as a result of your trip being delayed or cancelled. This may include alternative accommodation, or expenses incurred such as travel, food and drink, and can even stretch to covering the full cost of your holiday should you end up not being able to go.
“However, it is worth noting that not all policies cover this as standard and cover levels, conditions and exclusions can vary between providers, making it important to check with your insurer as your first port of call.”
Have you been affected by the travel disruption? Email us at [email protected].
The BBC issued a formal apology after broadcasting a controversial performance from the rap-punk group Bob Vylan at England’s Glastonbury festival.
Bob Vylan — outspoken critics of Israel’s war on Gaza — led its crowd at last weekend’s festival in a chant of “Death to the IDF,” or Israel Defense Forces.
The BBC’s director- general Tim Davie wrote to staff in an internal memo on Thursday. “I deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behavior appeared on the BBC and want to say sorry — to our audience and to all of you, but in particular to Jewish colleagues and the Jewish community,” Davie said. “We are unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at the BBC.”
The broadcaster announced several policy changes for future festival broadcasts, including keeping “high risk” acts off live broadcasts and live streams.
Bob Vylan’s set led to some backlash within the music industry and beyond. The comments prompted local police to open a criminal investigation, and the band’s U.S. visas were revoked for its upcoming performances. The band’s agency, UTA, reportedly dropped them as well.
The band’s singer, who performs as Bobby Vylan, wrote on Instagram after the set that “teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place,” adding, “Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organising online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered.”
The Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap, a fellow Glastonbury performer, has also come under scrutiny for its outspoken criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza. The band’s Glastonbury set was not broadcast live. The group’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, had been charged with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a flag from the terror group Hezbollah at a London concert in 2024 (Chara denied the charge). U.K. prosecutors also recently dropped charges against Kneecap after a 2023 concert where Chara allegedly said, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Celebrity makeup artist and entrepreneur Patrick Ta admits that he is constantly falling in and out of love with Los Angeles — the place he’s called home for the last 13 years.
“[But] right now, I’m obsessed with Los Angeles,” says the San Diego native. “I feel like I am experiencing new friendship groups. For me, what makes a place magical are the people that you surround yourself with, and this entire beginning of almost summer has been the best networking and relationship building that I’ve ever had in Los Angeles. I feel like L.A. is exciting me again.”
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
While Ta has lived in Southern California for most of his life, he got his start in the makeup industry in Arizona. After convincing his parents to help him open a tanning and nail salon (which he eventually had to file bankruptcy for), his roommate helped him get a job at MAC, where he honed his skills and became a freelance makeup artist. He eventually relocated to L.A., and with the help of social media — where he posted his work — his career took off, and celebrities like Shay Mitchell, Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Gigi Hadid and Camila Cabello began seeking him out to do their makeup. In 2019, he launched his eponymous beauty brand, which is known for its glowy products.
As a first generation Vietnamese American, Ta spent his Sundays at one of his mom’s nail salons in San Diego.
“Weekends were their busiest [day], so we didn’t have the weekends off to just chill, but after work I remember going to Red Lobster,” says Ta. “That was such a big treat for me and my [older] sister because seafood was so expensive, and my mom would make us share. But if we were good with her at work, she would treat us to eating out.”
These days whenever he’s not traveling, Ta tries to reserve his Sundays for spending time with friends. On the agenda is hitting up his favorite flea market, enjoying a seafood brunch at Catch and sober bar hopping in West Hollywood.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
8 a.m.: Morning workout
I wake up anywhere from 8 to 9 a.m. I have a home gym, so I’ll usually work out with my friend. He will come over and we’ll do our own circuit. I’m trying to be better and more consistent with it. Then we will either go and get a green juice from Whole Foods because it’s walking distance from my house, and we always go for a little sprint.
12 p.m.: Stop by the flea market
I will go home afterward to chill for a little bit, and then I’ll see what my friends are doing so I can start planning my day. I love going to theGrove and the Melrose flea market, especially if a friend is in town. There’s a perfume stand there that I always buy a mango sticky rice perfume [from], and it also comes in a candle. I also love wearing hats, so I like seeing what hats they have. I like the Melrose flea market because I always run into people I know, too. I also love H. Lorenzo. I always shop at the shop on Sunset Boulevard.
3 p.m.: Seafood for brunch
It’s so cheesy, but I love Catch. I love sushi. I love seafood, and it’s nice because it’s on a rooftop. I love a sugar-free Red Bull. My favorite dishes are the truffle sashimi, the mushroom pasta with shrimp added and their baked crab hand rolls.
4 p.m.: Sober barhopping in West Hollywood
Sometimes I want to go to West Hollywood to see my gay friends and be out and about and bar hop. What’s so great about West Hollywood is you can walk around and see where everyone is. I don’t go to a specific bar, because I actually don’t drink. It’s more of a thing to do with my friends.
7 p.m.: Netflix and steak
I’ll finish off my day or any sort of socializing around 7 p.m., then I’ll go home and make myself some food. I have been obsessed with just eating a steak with avocado and A.1. Sauce, and watching whatever TV shows I like on Hulu or Netflix. Right now, I’m obsessed with the show “Sirens” [on Netflix].
10 p.m.: Do my rigorous skincare routine
I am super crazy about my skincare, and on Sundays I really try to condition my hair, my scalp, and I will always do a face mask. Then I’ll do my skincare routine. I love exfoliating my body. I have this silicone exfoliant pad that I will use to fully exfoliate my body. I’ll call it a night usually by 11 p.m. I always go into the office on Mondays and Tuesdays, so I don’t really like to stay up that late on Sunday.
India and Pakistan – nuclear-armed neighbours – have gone to war before. But a brief, intense battle in May this year marked a dramatic shift in their equations.
India says it has drawn a new red line – that every act of terror it believes has come from Pakistan will be treated as an act of war.
In this series – a first of its kind on Al Jazeera – journalist Sreenivasan Jain interviews leading voices from both sides of the border and examines what India’s new normal – which Pakistan calls a new “abnormal” – means for the countries.
In this episode – Jain speaks with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – former foreign minister of Pakistan, son of Pakistan’s late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and leader of the Pakistan People’s Party.
The question Jain puts to Bhutto: is Pakistan legitimately able to claim that it no longer provides safe harbour to extremist groups that attack India?
You can also watch Jain’s interview with India’s Shashi Tharoor here:
The Dodgers will be without Max Muncy for approximately six weeks after the third baseman was placed on the injured list Thursday with what the team is calling a bone bruise in his left knee. Muncy was injured in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s walk-off win over the Chicago White Sox when Chicago’s Michael Taylor slid headfirst into third on an unsuccessful attempt to steal third base.
The Dodgers now have 13 players on the injured list.
Taylor’s helmet hit Muncy’s knee, bending it sideways and flipping the infielder to the ground. The collision was so gruesome, SportsNet LA, which was broadcasting the game, did not show replays. Muncy writhed on the ground in obvious pain before being helped to the clubhouse.
Muncy, who entered the Dodger clubhouse Thursday afternoon wearing a blue elastic support bandage on his left leg, said he originally feared the worst, but an MRI found no structural damage.
“It was tough news, but it was also great news,” he said. “I still get to play baseball this year instead of coming back next year around April. So it was kind of best-case scenario.”
Muncy, who said his knee felt stiff but not painful, was scheduled to meet the Dodger doctors later Thursday but said he intended to embark on an aggressive rehabilitation process.
“Everybody’s body is different,” he said. “You know, some guys heal extremely fast, some guys heal extremely slow. Traditionally, I’ve always healed fairly fast.”
Taylor also left the game with a shoulder contusion. The White Sox have listed his status as day to day.
Muncy’s place on the roster was taken by outfielder Esteury Ruiz, who was acquired on April 2 from the Athletics in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Carlos Duran. Ruiz appeared in 66 games for triple-A Oklahoma City, batting .292 with eight homers, 37 RBIs and 38 stolen bases.
Muncy’s absence will leave a big hole in the Dodgers’ lineup. He led the team with a .333 average and 24 RBIs in June, when he matched Shohei Ohtani for the lead in home runs with seven. He is hitting .250/.375/.457 for the season and is third on the team with 55 RBIs.
“He’s huge,” pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who was on the mound when the injury happened, said of Muncy. “I don’t really know why he stole there. It just seemed unnecessary. We’re all holding our breath that Munc is going to be OK.
“He’s obviously a huge part of our team, especially the last two months.”
Michael Taylor’s helmet collided with Max Muncy’s left knee on his unsuccessful attempt to steal third base, injuring Muncy in the process.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Miguel Rojas, who hasn’t played since injuring his left hand on an attempted steal Sunday, started at third base Thursday. Kiké Hernández, who took Muncy’s place Wednesday, is also likely to see some time at third in Muncy’s absence.
Hernández is hitting .204/2.70/.383 while Rojas, primarily a second baseman, is batting .250/.289/.380.
Israeli troops reportedly said they were ordered to shoot civilians at Gaza aid sites—claims Israel denies.
Unnamed Israeli troops reportedly told an Israeli news outlet they were ordered to shoot at Palestinian civilians at aid sites in Gaza. But Israel has denied that claim and other accusations related to the Gaza Humanitarian Fund. In this episode of Fact Check, Al Jazeera’s @khalidmajzoubofficial unpacks the evidence.
Prosecutors in Colombia open a probe into an alleged plot to overthrow President Petro as ties sharply deteriorate.
The United States and Colombia have called home their respective top diplomats in an acceleration of worsening ties, against the backdrop of an alleged plot against Colombia’s left-wing leader.
Washington, DC went first, recalling its charge d’affaires John McNamara on Thursday, “following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the government of Colombia,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, without giving specifics.
In addition to McNamara’s recall, Bruce said the United States “is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship”, without further details.
Within hours, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro announced he was calling home his top diplomat in Washington, DC, in response.
Ambassador Daniel Garcia-Pena “must come to inform us of the development of the bilateral agenda,” Petro wrote on X, such as tapping South America’s “great potential for clean energy” and the fight against “drug lords and their international finances”.
The diplomatic row came on the heels of the resignation of Colombia’s foreign minister earlier on Thursday – the latest top-ranking official to exit Petro’s government.
“In recent days, decisions have been made that I do not agree with and that, out of personal integrity and institutional respect, I cannot support,” Laura Sarabia, who was also Petro’s former chief of staff, wrote on X.
Deterioration of ties
Colombia was until recently one of the US’s closest partners in Latin America, with decades of right-wing rule, before bilateral relations sharply deteriorated.
Prosecutors in the South American nation opened an investigation this week into an alleged plot to overthrow Petro with the help of Colombian and American politicians, following the publication by the Spanish daily El Pais of recordings implicating former Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva.
“This is nothing more than a conspiracy with drug traffickers and apparently, the Colombian and American extreme right,” Petro said on Monday.
During a speech in Bogota on Thursday, Petro said he did not think US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he had previously linked to the alleged overthrow attempt, was “in the midst of a coup d’etat” against his government.
“I don’t believe that a government that has Iran as its enemy and nuclear weapons pointed at it … is going to start fooling around with a coup d’etat” in Colombia, he said.
In late January, the US briefly suspended consular services to retaliate for Petro’s refusal to allow US military planes to return Colombian refugees and migrants to their homeland.
Petro accused the US of treating them like criminals, placing them in shackles and handcuffs.
The two countries issued threats and counter-threats of crippling trade tariffs of up to 50 percent.
A backroom diplomatic deal involving the deployment of Colombian air force planes to collect the refugees and migrants averted a looming trade war at the eleventh hour.
Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota, said the first crisis between the two countries over the deportation of migrants was resolved quickly in January.
“The current situation is obviously very worrisome as it is unclear what will happen in this case,” he said.
“But it shows that ties that were taken for granted might now be unravelling,” Rampietti added.
Colombia’s left-wing government also recently refused a US request to extradite two prominent rebel leaders wanted by Washington, DC, for alleged drug trafficking.
Last month, Colombia was rattled by bombing attacks in Cali in the southwest of the country that killed seven people, and the attempted assassination of a conservative opposition senator and presidential hopeful, Miguel Uribe Turbay, at a campaign rally in Bogota. The eruption of violence raised fears of a return to the darker days of previous decades, of assassinations and bombings.
