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New Australian government report finds coral decline across the reef due to ‘climate change-induced heat stress’.

The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its most widespread coral bleaching on record, according to a new Australian government report, as ocean temperatures soared in 2024.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) said on Wednesday that it surveyed the health of the reefs between August 2024 and May 2025 and found the “most spatially extensive” bleaching since records began in 1986, which was “predominantly driven by climate change-induced heat stress”.

Scientists also found that coral cover declined by almost one-third, down to just 26.9 percent, in the southernmost third of the reef, as the southern reefs experienced their highest recorded levels of heat stress.

“The declines in the north and south were the largest in a single year since monitoring began 39 years ago,” the study’s authors wrote in The Conversation publication.

Described as the world’s largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef is a 2,300km (1,400-mile) expanse of tropical corals that houses a stunning array of biodiversity.

AIMS CEO Professor Selina Stead said that “mass bleaching events are becoming more intense and are occurring with more frequency”.

“The future of the world’s coral reefs relies on strong greenhouse gas emissions reduction,” Stead said.

Managing local pressures and helping the reefs to “adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change” was also important, she added.

According to UNESCO, which has classified the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site, the ecosystem is home to the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 types of coral.

It is also home to 1,500 species of fish, 4,000 types of mollusc, 240 species of birds, as well as species such as the dugong and the large green turtle, according to UNESCO.

While United Nations experts say the Great Barrier Reef should be included among the World Heritage Sites that are classified as “in danger”, the Australian government has lobbied to keep it off the endangered list, fearing it could affect the billions of dollars in tourism revenue it generates annually.

In a report released last week, Australia’s Climate Change Authority said that opportunities to protect the Great Barrier Reef from climate change include major fossil-fuel exporting countries adopting low- and zero-emission alternatives and stronger action on climate pollutants, such as methane, which “contribute most to near-term climate warming”.

But Australia remains a major exporter of fossil fuels, including coal from the controversial Adani coal mine, which is shipped out past the Great Barrier Reef.

The authority’s report also noted that some 93 percent of the excess heat in the atmosphere has been absorbed by the world’s oceans, and that 2024 ocean temperatures surpassed the previous record set in 2023.

Aug. 5 (UPI) — A massive lightning bolt that stretched from eastern Texas to just outside of Kansas City, Mo., has been officially recognized as the largest recorded flash by the World Meteorological Organization.

The lightning bolt was generated by a major cluster of thunderstorms that swept over the Great Plains on Oct. 22, 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday. Researchers used advanced satellite technology to capture the flash’s enormous span, and they hope it will help them better understand how lightning affects people.

Despite the bolt having a horizontal distance of 515 miles, it was not identified in the original analysis of the thunderstorm and researchers took note of it during a recent re-examination, according to NOAA.

The World Meteorological Organization’s Committee on Weather and Climate Extremes used NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, the most advanced satellite technology available, to verify the length of the flash and recognize it as a new record, according to a press release from the organization.

Researchers had previously used data collected by ground-based technology to measure lightning flashes, according to the press release. The use of satellite technology allowed researchers to observe a larger area.

“Over time as the data record continues to expand, we will be able to observe even the rarest types of extreme lightning on Earth and investigate the broad impacts of lightning on society,” Michael J. Peterson, a researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Severe Storms Research Center and member of the committee, said in the press release.

The lightning bolt’s length is about the same distance between Paris, France, and Venice, Italy, according to the World Meteorological Organization. It would take about eight to nine hours to cover the same distance by car and about 90 minutes for a commercial plane.

The previous record was for a lightning bolt that spanned 477 miles across parts of the southern U.S. on April 29, 2020.

The Great Plains region is known for its large thunderstorms that also give rise to lightning “megaflashes” that extend over expansive distances or have longer durations. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said in a statement that while “lightning is a source of wonder,” it is also a deadly hazard.

“These new findings highlight important public safety concerns about electrified clouds which can produce flashes which travel extremely large distances and have a major impact on the aviation sector and can spark wildfires,” Saulo said.

The Great British Sewing Bee fans issued the same complaint during Tuesday night’s episode

The Great British Sewing Bee viewers all said the same thing as they pointed out a “big flaw”.

During Tuesday’s (August 5) instalment of the popular BBC reality programme, judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant challenged the sewers with three tasks celebrating Korea’s vibrant fashion and textile heritage.

They were accompanied by acclaimed designer Eudon Choi, who assisted in evaluating each Korean-influenced piece.

For the pattern challenge, contestants were required to craft a jeogori – a traditional Korean jacket that’s now featured in modern womenswear and K-Pop fashion.

The sewers then had to reimagine taekwondo uniforms and vibrant belts into eye-catching new garments, with Kit securing first place, reports Wales Online.

In the made-to-measure challenge, participants were challenged to design evening attire that drew inspiration from clothing historically worn by Korean military personnel.

Born in the 900s during the Goryeo dynasty, the cheollik started as a military coat built for movement and authority with a flat collar, pleats and ties.

Over centuries, it’s evolved from rugged menswear into elegant womenswear.

Contestants were allocated five hours for the task, having been permitted to practice their designs at home.

Following her failure to wow the judges with her garments, Novello was sent home from the contest, whilst Caz claimed the garment of the week accolade.

“It’s okay, I expected it,” Novello said following her departure.

“Sewing has always been in my life, and this experience has blown it out of the water, really. It’s just something that I will remember and treasure always.”

However, after watching the episode, many of the show’s viewers shared their frustration at the lack of time the sewers get during each challenge.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one person wrote: “I know it’s a competition, but can’t they give them a little more time? It’s nicer to judge finished garments.”

Another added: “I know they have to weed out the worst sewers, but give them a bit more time,” whilst a third said: “They defo need more time.”

The Great British Sewing Bee is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

If the fourth day of this Test was astonishing for its fluctuations and high emotion, the fifth day provided drama that was barely believable.

England’s target of 374 represented their second highest successful chase in Tests and the highest ever on this ground. They began Monday on 339-6, 35 adrift.

Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton were being given a torrid time on Sunday before the weather ended play early. England’s task instantly looked easier on Monday when Overton pulled Krishna’s first ball of the day for four and followed by inside-edging the next delivery past his stumps to the fine-leg fence.

The runs required were down to 27, then the pendulum swung once more.

Smith looked all at sea. He played and missed at his first two balls from Siraj and edged his third. There was a wait to see if Jurel had pouched the catch, but there was no doubt.

Atkinson edged the first ball he faced, inches short of KL Rahul at second slip. India’s fans, comfortably outnumbering the England support, surrounded the ground with noise.

Siraj charged in again. Overton played all around his pad. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena took so long to raise his finger, Overton had completed a run. The England man was so sure the review would save him, he began to mark his guard, only for the replay to show umpire’s call for shaving the leg stump. India were delirious.

Atkinson was unsure whether to farm the strike or trust Josh Tongue. The sky got darker and floodlights took hold. Tongue was given leg before to Krishna, only for the review to show the ball missing leg stump. England still needed 19.

England had added two more when Tongue was bowled by Krishna. There was confusion as to whether Woakes would bat, only for the 36-year-old to appear with his left arm covered by his England sweater.

Woakes ultimately never faced a ball, but his bravery will not be forgotten.

Atkinson’s mighty blow off Siraj was parried over the ropes by Akash Deep and left England with 11 to win. India captain Shubman Gill had the decision over bringing in the field to prevent the single, or to protect the boundary. He chose the latter. Woakes was in obvious pain when he shuffled the bye off the final ball of Siraj’s over.

Atkinson dug out Krishna for two to long-on, at the beginning of the next over. India kept the field back. England took another single. They needed seven when Siraj set off once more.

Atkinson cleared his front leg again, attempting another heave to the leg side, but Siraj’s yorker was pinpoint. He ended with 5-104, his effort every bit as heroic as the lion-hearted Woakes.

MICKY Higham sat down with his two sons and spelled it out after receiving the news he dreaded – this time will be different.

For years, the hooker rolled the blows in a career that saw him play for Leigh, Wigan, Warrington and St Helens.

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He toughed it out against the very best for England and Great Britain. This battle, though, is off the field.

Noticing a lump on his right buttock turned out to be something much more serious – a 10cm cancerous tumour, with tests finding the disease had spread and the devastating diagnosis of stage four widespread metastasized cancer.

And the pain caused this time around is far more significant after it returned, three years after fighting off a metastatic malignant melanoma.

“Originally, I just kept it really low key,” said Higham, who has started immunotherapy treatment. “I said, ‘Lads, I’ve just found another lump. I’ll have to get it sorted next time.’

“Harry, my eldest, is 21 in January and they’re not stupid. He got wind.

“So I sat them down last Sunday and said, ‘Listen, it’s going to be a bit worse this time fellas. I just need to give your mum some help around the house.’

“I’m not missing them playing rugby, Harry at Swinton and Alex for Leigh Miners Rangers. I’m not missing that as they’re a big reason why I keep fighting and going.

“I found a small lump on my right bum cheek. I had an issue with my toe too and thought, ‘It’s a bit sore. I might just have a bit of a knock.’

“So I left it a week or two, then I thought, ‘The pain’s a bit more.’ It went down my leg a bit, so I felt the lump again and thought, ‘It doesn’t feel like a knock. That feels really hard.’

“I told my doctor and he said, ‘Let’s get it checked in after the last time.’ It was a cancerous tumour on my right glute, then I had some more scans.

“A PET scan really showed up the melanoma. It’s come to the shoulders, it’s in my arms, my hips. It’s come to my legs.

“It’s in my chest, my groins and in my lymph nodes. It was a pretty widespread and stage four, so it was a real kick in the teeth.

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“I’m quite shocked how quick the pain’s come on. Each week, you’re like, ‘Wow, it’s coming on more there.’

“This one’s a tougher battle, but I’m ready to attack it. I’ve never had anything given to me in life and I’ve always had to work hard for things.

“I may be struggling a bit but I’m ready for it.”

Higham, 44, is keeping up the traits that saw him through his last cancer battle – his relaxation and his determination.

The pain means he has had to step back from the gym he owns and radio punditry duties for the time being – but if you think he is sat at home moping, think again.

He has already sorted the first event as he looks to raise funds – with a target of £50,000 just beaten after £25,000 then £40,000 was met.

A bucket collection was held outside and inside the ground at Friday’s match between two of his former clubs – the Leopards and Wolves – while Leigh owner Derek Beaumont has launched a special fundraising shirt.

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Higham will also walk from his hometown of Leigh to the Monton area of Salford on Sunday, August 24 and typically, the thought of doing it for others is at the forefront of his mind.

“I want to give something back to the Christie and Macmillan because for the last three years they’ve been fantastic,” Higham added.

“My pain was quite severe last week but they just said, ‘Come in, we’ll check you out. We’ll change your medication and provide some relief, literally within days.

“I can’t really put into words the work they do. I’m not one for shouting but sometimes you’ve got to get on board, don’t you?”

Higham’s condition and treatment under Manchester’s Christie Hospital means he can see the toll it is taking on wife Kate.

After the last cancer fight, it is something he did nit want to see again – but just like him, she is doing her bit as he looks to get on a European drug trial after being turned down for a UK one.

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He told SunSport: “I obviously had a big setback with that. To get on a clinical trial, I had to have my blood done.

“All the enzymes have got to be pretty level with everybody and mine are a lot higher than everybody else. I was told it could be down to being a sportsperson over the years.

“To give myself the best chance of getting it down, I did Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and didn’t move off the couch.

“Unfortunately, it was still too high but even though Kate’s doing it tougher than me, she and her friend have been having a good look around and there is something.

“Because I’ve got my immuno now, every three weeks for the next four months, it’s 12 weeks and they’ll re-scan me.

“The immuno might do the job but if not, we might look at the option if there’s something available there.”

*YOU can donate to the fundraising appeal for Micky Higham at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/emma-worrall-2.

Ask a random Angeleno to find Piru, Fillmore or Santa Paula on a California map and odds are they’ll shrug and give up. Blame it on location, location, location. Collectively known as the Heritage Valley, these small towns hidden on the stretch of Highway 126 are often ignored and bypassed by L.A. travelers bound for Ojai or Ventura.

But if you take the time to stop in this rural oasis, you’ll find miles of citrus groves, heaps of history and truly tasty Mexican food. Yes, there are more tractors than Tesla Superchargers in this region — that’s part of the draw. This, you realize, is what Southern California looked like before suburbia moved in.

Heritage Valley was previously known as Santa Clara River Valley, which is what the locals still call it. In 1998, a committee was assembled to help bring in tourists, and the new, jazzier label was coined. It was an improvement over an earlier, clunkier nickname, Santa Clara River Valley Heritage Trail, which sounded more like a hiking path.

It wasn’t the only title created for the sake of marketing. The town of Santa Paula has always proclaimed itself “the citrus capital of the world” for its abundance of lemons and oranges. Fillmore, not to be outdone, picked a gem: “The last, best small town,” which inspired a play of the same name that’s set there. Piru was already born with a compelling handle when its devoutly religious founder proclaimed it as “The Second Garden of Eden” in 1887. Today, it’s better known for its popular outdoor recreational area, Lake Piru. (After “Glee” actress Naya Rivera drowned in the lake in 2020, swimming was temporarily banned. It’s now allowed, but only in designated areas between Memorial Day and Labor Day.)

If you go back hundreds of years before Lake Piru was created by the construction of the Santa Felicia Dam, you’d see Chumash villages dotting the valley. Then came the Spanish expeditions in the late 18th century, followed by ranchos that used the land for sheep and cattle. Soon the railroads arrived, and then an oil boom. The valley’s eventual transformation into an agricultural mecca was hastened by a Mediterranean climate that proved ideal for crops — first citrus, then avocados.

But along with the bounty there were disasters, both natural and man-made, including the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and the catastrophic flood from the 1928 St. Francis Dam collapse. Numerous fires also have made the valley live up to a Times article that called it “among the most dangerous wind and fire corridors in Southern California.”

Yet through it all, the population has steadily grown and more travelers are discovering the area for its lively gatherings (the Santa Paula Citrus Music Festival took place last week), new attractions (check out the 17-mile Sunburst Railbike experience) and stunning hikes. Here’s where to go on a road trip along Highway 126.

Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party is in a moment of crisis as nearly two-thirds of its legislators risk losing their posts through a mass referendum.

Starting this weekend, voters across 31 districts in Taiwan will weigh in on whether they want to keep or remove their members of parliament.

The “Great Recall”, as it has been dubbed locally, is the largest vote of its kind in Taiwan’s history and, depending on the results, could cost the KMT its majority coalition in the country’s legislature.

The outcome will set the tone for Taiwan’s domestic politics for the next three years and also shape the ability of President William Lai Ching-te’s government to act on key issues, such as defence spending.

When will the recall election take place?

On Saturday, eligible voters can participate in recall votes for 24 KMT legislators, followed by a second round of voting for seven KMT legislators in late August.

The recall has been called following a wave of successful petition campaigns earlier this year. Under Taiwan’s election laws, organisers must secure signatures from 10 percent of a district’s registered voters to hold a recall vote.

For a recall vote to succeed, 25 percent of registered voters in each district must participate, and the recall must receive more votes in favour than against.

If voters choose to recall a legislator, a by-election must be held within three months.

The KMT’s traditional stronghold is in the north of the country and notably around the capital city of Taipei, but recall votes will be held across Taiwan this weekend.

The KMT won 52 out of 113 seats in the legislature in 2024, and with the Taiwan People’s Party and two independent legislators, holds a 62-seat majority coalition.

That coalition has been strong enough to block the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which holds 51 seats, and stall the agenda of the country’s DPP President Lai during his first year in office.

Can the recall succeed?

Taiwan typically has high voter turnout during major elections, but recall votes are much more of a wildcard, said Lev Nachman, an expert in Taiwanese politics at National Taiwan University.

“Our prior experience should tell us that these should not pass. However, we’ve never seen mobilisation work like this at recalls before,” he told Al Jazeera, citing the widespread involvement of common people. “We are in a bit of unprecedented times.”

Ho Chih-yung, KMT member and former party spokesperson, told Al Jazeera the recall campaign had created a “national election-like atmosphere” that would test the mobilisation and engagement of Taiwan’s major political parties.

The weather could also tip the scales, he said, as a tropical storm is passing north of Taiwan, and the bad weather may discourage the KMT’s older voter base from going out to vote.

Why is the recall vote international news?

The vote will determine if Lai will be a lame-duck president for the next three years, and whether he has the ability to carry out key defence and foreign policy initiatives, Nachman said.

“Unfortunately, it’s a really big deal because every question that foreign policy people have is contingent upon whether these recalls are successful or not successful,” he said.

The issue carries global significance due to Taiwan’s contested political status and the threat of a future conflict involving China in the Taiwan Strait.

“The classic Taiwan problem is that it’s not just that society is split, it’s that society is split, and the clock is ticking about whether or not there’s going to be a war over this place,” he added.

“Everything here is infinitely more existential.”

Why are voters targeting the KMT?

Despite its success in the last election, picking up 14 seats, the KMT has angered voters and even alienated traditional supporters by trying to expand legislative powers and targeting President Lai’s budget.

The KMT majority in the legislature was able to freeze or cut 207.5 billion New Taiwan dollars (then worth $6.3bn) from Lai’s 2025 budget – impacting everything from Taiwan’s submarine and drone programmes to its Council of Indigenous Peoples.

The budget fight was headline news across Taiwan, but it piqued international interest when the KMT targeted $3.1bn in defence spending.

Brian Hoie, a non-resident fellow at the University of Nottingham’s Taiwan Research Hub and a frequent commentator on Taiwanese politics, said some of the cuts angered a cross-section of voters and groups traditionally aligned with the KMT, such as farmers and Indigenous voters.

“The KMT has done very badly and angered all these random demographics by cutting the budget,” he said.

“That was just very unstrategic,” he added.

What about the China factor?

The KMT is one of the oldest political parties in Asia, but a generational divide over Taiwan’s relationship with China is challenging its longstanding position in Taiwanese politics. Some voters believe that the party has been co-opted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Beijing.

The CCP has threatened to one day annex Taiwan by peace or by force, and Taiwan’s two main political parties offer different approaches for how to respond to Beijing’s threat.

President Lai’s DPP has taken a more outspoken approach by advocating for Taiwan on the international stage and ramping up defence spending, while the KMT follows a more conciliatory approach that favours ongoing dialogue with China.

Fears surrounding China have in the past unseated some of the KMT’s most prominent members, such as party whip Fu Kun-chi, who controversially led a delegation of lawmakers to Beijing last year at a time of significant political tension in the Taiwan Strait.

What does the KMT say?

Party member and former KMT spokesperson Ho said the recall supporters were abusing a system designed to remove individuals deemed unfit for holding their posts for serious reasons, such as corruption.

“This ‘mass recall’ campaign is not driven by the individual performance of KMT legislators, but is instead a blanket attempt to unseat opposition lawmakers across the board,” Ho said.

“To advance this effort, the DPP has deliberately framed the KMT as ‘pro-China’ and accused it of ‘selling out Taiwan’, a tactic designed to inflame ideological divisions and mobilise its base through fear and hostility, thereby increasing the likelihood that the recall votes will pass,” he said.

A senior KMT party member also told Al Jazeera that voters may be looking for an outlet for their frustrations amid a rising cost of living and the economic stress resulting from United States President Donald Trump’s trade war and threat of tariffs on Taiwan.

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 32 percent on the island-nation’s export-driven economy. Over the past six months, the New Taiwan dollar has appreciated 11 percent, impacting the bottom line of thousands of small and medium domestic manufacturers who must compete with foreign goods becoming cheaper for Taiwan’s consumers as their dollars go further in terms of spending power.

OCEARCH, a non-profit research organisation that tracks marine animals, tagged the 30-year-old male great white shark named “Contender” in the waters east of Massachusetts

The world’s biggest shark is heading straight towards Martha’s Vineyard in the US, after being pinged near an affluent tourist destination.

The 14ft predator, which weighs a whopping 1,653 pounds, was recently detected on Friday afternoon, around 50 miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

OCEARCH, a non-profit research organisation that tracks marine animals, tagged the 30-year-old male named “Contender” in the waters east of Massachusetts, between Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank.

It was seen heading towards the wealthy holiday destination of Martha’s Bay, home to celebrities and multi-millionaires. Former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama own a £10million mansion on the island.

OCEARCH first tagged the shark in the North Atlantic, 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, off Jacksonville.

It took six people, including three fishermen and scientists, to tag and release “Contender”, which is then electronically tracked through the Argos satellite system, according to Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH Chief Scientist & Veterinarian.

The predator can be tracked through OCEARCH’s Global Shark Tracker app, where anyone can follow the animal as it moves. The animal has been pinged several times, including on January 26 and February 6, which means the tag attached to the fin was spotted above the surface for a brief period of time as it swam. It was last pinged on June 7.

Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH Chief Scientist & Veterinarian, previously told The Mirror there were some tourist hotspots the shark might visit.

She said: “This is the exciting question about Contender, as this is the first season we will be able to watch him migrate to a summer/fall foraging area.

“Although there are many places in the Northeastern US and Canada where he could go, there are two primary locations where many white sharks spend the summer: Cape Cod, Massachusetts or Nova Scotia, Canada.

“Though Contender is an adult male white shark, and the largest we at OCEARCH have ever tagged and sampled in the Northwest Atlantic, but he is certainly not the largest male white shark ever caught.

“Contender was 13 feet 9 inches total length and estimated to weigh 1653 lbs. But male white sharks can grow up to 18 feet.

“The adult age class animals have been more elusive than smaller, younger, age classes so we were excited to have the opportunity to tag, sample and release him. Based on our Global Shark tracker, he has travelled 1870 miles to date from the place he was first tagged and released. We won’t know until he shows us, which is all the more reason to follow him on the tracker.”

‘Aliens!” The call came loud and shrill from the trees as I scanned the foliage for the unmistakable shape of my four-year-old son. For a moment, nothing stirred. The beams of light from the sun spotlit a nearby clump of bracken so intensely it reminded me of the torches Mulder and Scully used in The X Files.

Then, a rustle came from up ahead. “Quick! I found them,” he yelled before disappearing into a clearing between the pines. I walked on, to find, in front of us, the curved edges and spherical lines of a UFO, coloured so dark it nearly blended into the shadows. It was, of course, a metal sculpture representing the alien vessel said to have landed here over 40 years ago. On top of it stood my son.

Even before I managed to take a decent picture, he wanted to run on again. “We’ve got to find number four now,” he declared.

We were in Suffolk’s Rendlesham Forest, a 15-mile drive from Ipswich, walking a free UFO trail, based on the sighting of unexplained flying objects by US military officers based here in 1980. Loving to follow a trail of any kind over several hours – but especially one where he can tick off numbers, so he knows there is an end (handily, this one culminates in a playground) – he walked, ran and skipped the three miles, while I enjoyed spending time outside with him.

When it comes to the summer holidays, it can feel as if we are doing a countdown. Of the 13 weeks most children get off school each year, six are lumped together over the summer, making July and August feel like a stretch of endless time. Not only can it be a nightmare, due to the juggle of childcare and work, but keeping kids entertained and – crucially – active rather than sat in front of screens can be expensive. So many activities cost a fortune. But there is another way. And it is completely free. And that is the outdoors.

The UFO-themed walk was on Forestry England land, which is one of the first places to turn during the holidays. From interactive app-based trails that allow you to take videos of your child pretending to be a dragon complete with AI wings, to crafting missions where you work together to find natural items on the woodland floor to make the face of the Gruffalo, they are an inexpensive way to immerse yourself in nature.

On the UFO trail, a free leaflet at the start guided us around the trees where I could tell the story of the key sites. My son was so enamoured of the map and tale that the next morning at breakfast he asked me to read it again while he followed the map with his finger and remembered our adventure.

But an outdoor adventure doesn’t have to be deep in the forest, where maps are required. The next day, we headed to Thorpeness, home to the much-photographed House in the Clouds, a former water tower that was disguised as a red and black clapboard house in 1923. Our mission was to find a way to get a good photograph of it. We followed a footpath up a hill, past quirkily painted weatherboarded houses which were popular after the first world war. While I was in awe of the house we had come to see, my little one found it way more exciting to discover the windmill opposite (bought by the creator of the House in the Clouds to help pump the water).

Adjacent to Thorpeness is the town of Aldeburgh, where we spent hours on the shingle beach filling buckets with “magic stones”, chasing the waves, paddling in the North Sea and taking shelter under Maggi Hambling’s giant scallop shell sculpture when rain fell. The day was rounded off with a hearty helping of fish and chips from Aldeburgh Fish and Chips, owned by the same family since 1967. Weeks on, my son still talks about this day as one of the best in his life.

Beaches are always a winner when trying to convince kids that nature is cool. On a previous trip, I took my boy to New Quay in Ceredigion, west Wales (one of a few places that lay claim to being the inspiration for the characters and town in Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood). We didn’t set foot indoors for an entire day. When the tide was out, we set up a beach “base camp” with some shade under a giant parasol, then proceeded to bury each other in the sand. Then we looked for jellyfish washed up on the shore (a great opportunity to teach him about them), went rock pooling in the shallows (we found crabs, limpets, anemones and periwinkles) and built an elaborate fortified river, hewn from the silt using our buckets and spades.

As the temperature rose, we swam in the sea and, just before the end of the day, we were treated to a spectacle of the resident bottlenose dolphins putting on an impromptu performance at dusk. None of this cost a penny. Yet we’d shared some of the best quality time I’ve experienced – bonding over the natural world, revelling in getting sand between our toes, and shivering in the cool waters of the Irish Sea.

For something that feels like a bigger trip to my son, I try to involve a train. A couple of summers ago, we took the fast train to Scotland, then caught the ferry to the Isle of Mull as foot passengers. There, I hired an e-bike with a child seat and trailer, and we stopped off to wild camp near a loch. He helped me put up the tent, I cooked our dinner on a stove and we bonded over a shared love of marshmallows.

We stayed up watching the sunset, despite it being way past his bedtime. “I love the sun so much,” he told me as we saw the sky turn purple. “I don’t want to go to sleep.” He did, thankfully, nod off under a sky full of stars, with not a mention of Bluey, Peppa Pig or any of the other characters he usually demands entertain him. On one of the last days, we woke before dawn. I packed a chocolate croissant in my bag and we climbed the nearest hill to watch the sun rise. He still talks about it and asks when we will do it again.

One of my most memorable trips with him was paddleboarding on the river near our house. I packed a picnic and we paddled to an island, where we sat and watched the birds, while he asked what each one was called and demanded we collect some of their lost feathers to take home, in the hope we might one day be able to make a cape that allowed us to fly back here.

Memories like this are priceless. I know, given his age, he probably won’t remember everything we do, but I hope going into the wild places will instil in him a knowledge that the natural world is a wondrous place and the backdrop to some of our happiest times together. For me, it helps to remember that when it comes to the holidays, instead of counting the days, I need instead to make the days count.

Phoebe Smith is the author of Wayfarer and the 2025 recipient of the Royal Geographical Society’s Ness award for promotion of accessible adventure, particularly to women and those from underprivileged communities

Wales goalkeeping great Wayne Hennessey has retired from playing.

The 38-year-old’s career lasted almost two decades, during which he played 109 times for Wales – a national record in his position – and was part of the side that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

Hennessey made his professional club debut in 2006 for Wolverhampton Wanderers, playing on loan for clubs including Bristol City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town, before permanent moves to Crystal Palace, Burnley and his final club Nottingham Forest.

“I have decided to bring my playing career to an end, I look back with gratitude and forward with optimism as I take the next steps on my footballing journey,” Hennessey said on social media.

More to follow.

Several crew members of two Victory Cruise Lines vessels have been removed by US Customs and Border Protection officers.

Thirteen staff members from two ships were rounded up and removed last week in Detroit during planned calls.

Five were taken from Victory II and another eight from Victory I two days later.

The cruise line says the crew gained the necessary approvals to work onboard the ships at the start of their contracts.

Like most cruise lines, the company uses a third party staffing agency which takes care of staff vetting and work visas.

It hasn’t been disclosed exactly why they were removed.

Victory Cruise Lines says it is working with federal authorities.

“A limited number of Victory Cruise Lines crew were recently removed from Victory I and Victory II by U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” Victory chairman John Waggoner confirmed.

“We are actively cooperating with federal authorities to clarify the circumstances, and my priority is always our crew and the experience for our guests.”

They were one of the 12 sewers taking part in the new series

A contestant on The Great British Sewing Bee was forced to miss a challenge, with host Sara Pascoe explaining her absence halfway through the show.

The beloved competition returned to BBC One with a new series tonight, as judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant set out to guide a new batch of sewers.

However, after taking part in the first challenge and completing her design for the second, contestant Glendora was forced to miss the judging and the final task, due to being taken unwell.

Sara, returning to host the competition after her maternity leave, explained: “Unfortunately though, Glendora feels unwell so won’t be attending the judging.”

The Great British Sewing Bee airs Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Former UFC champion Randy Couture suffered severe burns and other injuries Tuesday when he crashed the car he was driving during practice rides at a racetrack near Kansas City, Mo.

The 62-year-old retired fighter and former Army drill sergeant was airlifted to a burn center and remained there as of Wednesday morning. He is expected to recover.

“If you know anything about Randy — he’s a freak of nature and will survive this like everything else,” Couture’s longtime manager and attorney Samuel Spira said in an email Wednesday afternoon.

No further updates on Couture’s condition will be issued until Thursday, Spira said.

TMZ was the first to report about Couture’s crash and his injuries, which include first- and second-degree burns, trauma injuries and smoke inhalation. The car he was driving was completely wrecked, TMZ reported, and it is unclear what caused the accident.

A state champion wrestler at Lynnwood High School in Washington state, Couture continued in the sport while in the Army in 1982-88 and at Oklahoma State, finishing second in the NCAA Division I championships in 1991 and 1992. He was an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team three times (1988, 1992 and 1996) and a semifinalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials.

Couture went on to become a mixed martial arts superstar, becoming a six-time UFC champion in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions and was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

More recently, Couture has become involved with hot rod racing. Scag Racing announced in April that Couture would drive for the team in the NHRA’s Pro Mod program starting later this year.

‘Circus is an art form of the people. I fundamentally believe that.” I’m in Great Yarmouth for a long weekend, standing in the ring at the Hippodrome circus, bristling from that particular crackle of energy you get from an empty stage. Ringmaster Jack Jay, the fourth generation in a family of impresarios, is fresh from his annual scouting trip in search of international acts to tread the boards in Norfolk: “We have artists whose CV reads ‘Macau, Las Vegas, Great Yarmouth’,” he tells me. “That’s the standard we aim to bring in.”

The Hippodrome is a national treasure, one of only two purpose-built circuses left in the country (the other is part of Blackpool Tower, which Jack’s father also managed, briefly, in the 1980s). Founded in 1903 by equestrian George Gilbert, who ran off to join the circus aged 11, it’s an ornate building with art nouveau flourishes. But the real extravaganza is the sinking floor, restored by the Jays in 1979. Using original mechanisms, the ring is transformed into a pool with fountains and synchronised swimmers for the spectacular finale. I’ve seen the show countless times and it never loses its magic.

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is poised to join Serie A side Como, with the manager calling it “great business all round”.

The 25-year-old, capped by Germany up to under-20 level, joined the Scottish champions from Rapid Vienna in January last year.

He made 41 starts and 10 substitute appearances for Celtic last season, scoring 21 goals.

“We’ve virtually agreed between the club and Como so it looks at this point that he’ll be on his way, but we just have to wait for confirmation,” said Rodgers after a 1-0 friendly win over Queen’s Park.

Celtic paid a fee in the region of £3m for Kuhn, with reports suggesting Como will pay more than five times that amount.

“I think it’s very clear, the model of Celtic,” added Rodgers. “In the 18 months he’s done absolutely fantastic for us. He was aware of interest towards the end of last season and that sort of followed through.

“Other teams have joined in that interest over the summer and that’s why a lot of the young players come. It’s a wonderful, brilliant club to come to develop and improve.

“If he does end up going and signing for Como, then it’s great business all round.”

The Great Northern Coalfield once provided the raw fuel that powered Britain through the Industrial Revolution. For over two centuries, coal from the mines of Durham and Northumberland was trundled down a maze of wagonways and rail lines to the coast to then be shipped to London.

The mines are long gone, but eight miles north of Durham city, relics of the north-east’s industrial heritage can be found hidden amid ancient woodland and a steep-sided gorge.

I’m familiar with parts of this area from childhood walks and teenage escapades, but my eight mile circular route connects key historical sites and finishes at a pub with links back to the Napoleonic wars.

My journey into the past begins at Eden Place, a picnic area near the village of Beamish on the site of an old terrace of miners’ houses. I set off along a disused railway path, which until 1985 was a busy line linking the Consett steelworks with Sunderland. It is also part of the Irish Sea to North Sea C2C cycle route so, in search of a bit of solitude, I transfer to a parallel track through the malevolent-sounding Hellhole woods. In fact, they are a delight as I stroll through patch after patch of pungent wild garlic in full flower.

After wending its way across fields and a couple of roads, the route arrives at Tanfield Railway – which claims to be the world’s oldest railway. Built in 1725 by the Grand Allies, an association of colliery-owning families, as a horse-drawn wagonway to carry coal from inland pits to the Tyne, it later became a rail line. Since it closed in 1964, enthusiasts have brought a three-mile section back to life, and vintage steam trains now shuttle visitors between East Tanfield station, where I am, and Marley Hill.

The station houses a tearoom, while an engine shed displays old maps that show just how rail lines used to vein the area. It’s tempting to break off from my route and take the six-mile round trip by train to Marley Hill, but I’m keen to see the most dramatic part of the walk.

A path from the car park, signposted to Causey Arch, leads into woods, and I’m soon walking along the top of a steep-sided gorge. Woodland has covered this area for centuries, and as I look down at the stream below in the gloom, it feels ridiculously remote – until the spell is broken by the hoot of a locomotive chugging along the other side of the gorge.

About half an hour after leaving Tanfield, a huge bridge across the dene (valley) comes into view. This is Causey Arch, which a noticeboard proudly announces is the oldest surviving single-arch railway bridge in the world. In 1725, the Grand Allies commissioned local stonemason Ralph Wood to span the ravine. He turned to Roman technology for his design and, when the original wooden bridge fell apart, it was rebuilt in stone. But local legend has it that, fearing a second collapse, Wood committed suicide by throwing himself off the top of his construction. After restoration in the 1980s, the bridge is still standing nearly 300 years later.

I walk across the top to join a few other hikers inspecting an old wagon on display, before heading down a steep path to the bottom of the gorge. Here, a footbridge gives the best view of the perfect arch, framed by the trees as it rises majestically 24 metres above the burn.

As I carry on walking, I begin to hear shouting; then a wall of rain-stained, yellow sandstone comes into view. This is Causey Quarry, a popular rock-climbing spot and the place where I learned the basics of rope work many years ago. I do a short traverse above the muddy ground for old times’ sake, shuddering slightly as I remember the rock antics of my youth.

Steps up a huge wooded artificial embankment lead to a much-needed stop at Poppy Coffee Pot cafe in the Causey car park. Fortified with cake, I continue along a bridleway, part of the 80-mile Tyne and Wear Heritage Way, before heading along a track called Coppy Lane and into open countryside. This eventually turns downhill, and before long the roof tiles of Beamish Hall appear, for centuries home to the local landowners.

Starting life as a fortified farmhouse in the 13th century, the current hall was built in the 1800s, and previous occupants include the family of former prime minister Anthony Eden. It is now a hotel and, as I stroll up for a closer look, its manicured lawns offer a welcome break from the rough tracks in the woods (doubles from £92). The old stables now house both a restaurant and The Coach House Cafe, which offers afternoon tea, but I feel a little too grubby to sit down to dainty cakes and sandwiches, and so continue on my route.

This now clings to Beamish burn (stream), and as I turn towards a hill I begin to hear a babble of voices, then the rattle and ding of a bell as a tram moves across the skyline. I hadn’t realised I was quite so close to Beamish open-air museum, a huge 140-hectare (350-acre) site dedicated to the preservation of life in the north-east, which was last week crowned Art Fund museum of the year.

With only the occasional dog walker for company, it is hard to imagine that in the early 1800s this area was a hive of industrial activity, boasting a paper mill and iron forges, one of which had the reputation of “casting the finest muzzle-loading cannon in England”. Soon after passing Flint mill, I enter Ousbrough Wood, a site of nature conservation importance comprising ancient trees and a conifer plantation that at one time provided pit props for the mines.

There are myriad paths through the oak and silver birch, and I occasionally take a wrong turn, retracing my steps to get back on to the heritage way route. There’s some steep uphill walking, but eventually the path deposits me on a country road. I turn left and, after passing a row of almshouses built in 1863, I arrive at the pub.

The Shepherd & Shepherdess dates from the 18th century, getting its name from two life-size painted lead figures above the original door. The story goes that these date from the Napoleonic wars, when a French blockade on lead meant these metal figures were smuggled into Britain as “works of art”, to be melted down for weaponry. These two were saved by a squire at Beamish Hall, eventually ending up at the pub.

Whatever the tale, they make a nice historical touch to this fine hostelry, complete with an open fire in the winter and a menu of sturdy pub fare. This includes lasagne, sea bass and fish and chips, as well as good vegetarian and gluten-free options. My eye, though, is drawn to the local delicacy of corned beef and potato pie served with greens, chips and gravy. Accompanied by a pint of the pub’s own cask ale, this is the perfect post-walk sustenance in Beamish country.

Great Britain finished fifth overall at the European Athletics Team Championships in Madrid.

The GB team, captained by discus thrower Lawrence Okoye, finished on 381 points, 3.5 points behind the Netherlands in fourth and three points ahead of sixth-placed Spain.

Sarah Tait, making her international debut, was one of the standout performers on the final day, adding 15 points to GB’s tally with a second-placed finish in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase – just three hundredths of a second behind Finland’s Ilona Mononen.

There were also third-place finishes for Revee Walcott-Nolan in the women’s 1500m and Toby Harries in the men’s 200m.

Bekah Walton, who had surgery on her throwing arm just five months ago, threw 58.63m to finish fourth in the women’s javelin, while Scott Lincoln also finished fourth in the men’s shot put.

Jazmin Sawyers continued her comeback from a 20-month lay-off with an Achilles injury with a sixth-placed finish in the women’s long jump.

In the final event of the night, the 4x400m mixed relay team of Lina Nielsen, Toby Harries, Emily Newnham and Samuel Reardon finished finished third with a time of three minutes 9.6 seconds – the same time as second-placed Italy – to earn GB their final 14 points.

On Friday, 21-year-old Reardon set a championship record and ran a personal best time of 44.60 to win the 400m.

The time places the double Olympic bronze medallist seventh on the all-time list for European under-23s.

Eugene Amo-Dadzie, nicknamed the ‘world’s fastest accountant’, clocked 10.07 as he claimed top spot in the men’s 100m.

Italy successfully defended the crown they won in Poland in 2023.

A woman who used to live in London and has now re-located to Sydney has shared a word of warning to Brits who are planning to do the same and she shared her experience of her new Australian life

A lot of people in the UK have dreams of moving to Australia to start a new life in the sun. However one woman who used to live in London and has now re-located to Sydney has shared a word of warning to Brits who are planning to do the same.

Emily has been posting videos of her new life Down Under on her TikTok account @thediariesofemdownunder, and she admits in one recent video that she often wonders ‘what the hell she’s doing in Australia’.

The clip sees Emily speak to the camera with her hand on her head as she asks: “Anyone else who’s moved to Australia just think ‘What the hell am I doing here on the other side of the world?’ on a daily basis?”

She then adds: “I’ve been here a month and a half now and honestly, that is the thought that crosses my mind every single day.”

Following up in the caption, she wrote: “Moved to Australia and everyday questioning why??? #sydney.”

The video seemed to resonate with people, as it racked up more than 9,000 likes and nearly 2,000 comments.

Someone else in the same position wrote: “Yeah I wanna go home,” as Emily asked: “How long have you been here?” The girl, named Katie replied: “6.5 months. Gonna give it a few more months see how I feel! Wanted to be here a year but it’s not worth staying to prove a point.”

Another person agreed: “I’ve been here 4 months, realised it’s time to go home, no shame in not staying the whole year.”

While someone else said: “I did a world trip solo for 6 months and Australia was part of my itinerary, genuinely, I couldn’t wait to leave, it had the weirdest vibe, plus I was still pining for beautiful Asia at this point, but yeah, I don’t get the hype.”

Despite some people agreeing with Emily, others told her to stick with it as one person wrote: “Irish, been here 15 years. June, July, Aug is hard. You have to switch off from the fun goings on of the northern hemisphere (or go back to see everyone). Once Sept hits, you’ll feel totally different! Just hang in there. It’s a 9-3 month ratio of goodness. Instead of all the fun being in a quick 3 months at home!”

While another added: “I have been here 12 years. The first 5 years are a rollercoaster of wanting to go home – then going there for a holiday and being desperate to get back to Aus because you just needed that reminder why you moved. Also to check in with family etc. my advice would be never to make a permanent moving decision without a holiday back home first. Work opportunity is soo important too.”

A third chimed in: “I lived there for about 4 years. I was also very unsure I’d made the correct decision at first. However; 20 years after returning to the UK, I still miss the extraordinary wildlife and country. I miss the smell of eucalyptus trees after it rains. I miss the jacaranda trees. I miss the colour of the sky and the noise of cicadas in the summer. I learned to love it when I started to let it in and it creot under my skin and stayed. It is an extraordinary place and the people are great. Give it time.”

Others also couldn’t see why she wanted to leave at all, as one TikTok user said: “Australia is an amazing country,” while another person who had moved there added: “Not me. Haven’t looked back. Australia is beautiful.”

However, even people from Sydney themselves could see Emily’s point, as one person said: “For someone who has lived in Sydney my whole life, THE LAST PLACE ID EVER WANA GO.” Another added: “I’ve was born here and I think the same.”

Many others were confused about people ‘being sold them dream’ online of living in Australia, while others reminded Emily that a country can’t change your life.

One person wrote: “Not gonna lie, as an Australian I’m so confused by the amount of people selling the idea of moving to Aus online without any of the realities of living there… so I get you girl!”

While another added: “I am so tired of hearing from people who come here expecting the streets to be paved with gold only to find out that it is just like any other country. Research first people then decide.”

A third chimed in: “Genuine curiosity and I mean this so respectfully, what was the expectation and why? It just seems to be a common experience for people from the UK and I’m confused what the narrative is and who’s pushing it? Especially as a girl born and raised in Sydney.”

While a fourth added: “What made you leave the UK… You are the only one that can change your life. Not a country,” to which Emily replied: “Could not agree more.”

Great Britain and Ireland defeated the Continent of Europe to seal a first Vagliano Trophy victory since 2005.

Following the Curtis Cup win over the United States last September, the GB&I women again held their nerve in the biennial match, winning 12½-11½ at the Royal Hague Golf & Country Club in the Netherlands.

Led by non-playing captain Maria Dunne, GB&I found themselves trailing by one heading into the singles with Europe claiming two early wins.

However, the GB&I team fought back with the English trio of Patience Rhodes, Nellie Ong and Isla McDonald-O’Brien all scoring wins before Ireland’s Aine Donegan and another England player, Sophia Fullbrook, took GB&I over the winning line in a remarkable finish to claim a first win in 20 years.

“It’s been an unbelievable day,” said Dunne.

“I said to the team early this morning that I had a really good feeling about today. They did the job in the foursomes, momentum went our way and they just fought. I told them last night ‘just keep fighting, keep fighting for every single point or half point’ and that’s exactly what they did.”

Rhodes, Donegan, Beth Coulter, Lottie Woad and Hannah Darling were all part of the team which won the Curtis Cup and all played their part once again.

Woad and Coulter lost to Paula Martin Sampedro and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto respectively, but things began to turn GB&I’s way with Ong’s 6&5 victory, and McDonald-O’Brien edged out Camille Min-Gaultier 2&1 to pull the visitors closer, before Rhodes delivered another crucial point with a two-hole triumph over France’s Sara Brentcheneff.