Lea Pericoli, Italian tennis star of the 1950s and 60s, has died aged 89.
Regarded as one of her country’s top players, she reached the last 16 of the French Open twice and the Wimbledon championships three times.
Pericoli, who was born on 22 March 1935 in Milan, later became a popular television presenter and journalist, but it was contest outfits adorned with feather and fur that made her an icon.
“She was a bit like the mother to all of us,” Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, told local media.
Watch: Aerial footage shows flood and landslide destruction
Flash floods and landslides in central Bosnia-Herzegovina have left at least 16 people dead, with towns and villages cut off and reports in some places of homes being almost submerged.
Some of the worst scenes were in the area around Jablanica, a town on the main route between the cities of Mostar and the capital, Sarajevo, about 70km (40 miles) to the north-east.
A number of other people have been reported missing and a state of emergency has been declared.
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Development minister Vojin Mijatovic said the country had witnessed a terrible disaster and appealed for calm.
Officials from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton said 13 deaths had been confirmed in the area, rather than 16 as earlier reported.
In the town of Fojnica, three other deaths were confirmed.
Search and rescue work continues, with ten people still unaccounted for in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.
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Rivers burst their banks after an overnight storm and aerial photos showed many towns and villages left inundated.
Roads, bridges and railway tracks were washed away or blocked by debris, while landslides left houses buried in rocks and earth as high as their upper storeys.
The main M-17 route, which runs alongside the River Neretva was covered in debris close to Jablanica and a 17km-stretch of railway was badly damaged between nearby Ostrozac and Grabovica to the west. One 200m stretch of track was left hanging in the air by a landslide close to the river south of Jablanica.
The local authority in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton warned drivers to avoid dangerous roads around Jablanica.
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Further east along the Neretva river, one homeowner told Bosnian media that water had flooded house at 03:30 on Friday and that they barely managed to save their son before escaping to neighbours and seeing their house collapse.
Meanwhile, 20km to the west of the capital around around Kiseljak, a torrent of water flooded the streets, leaving cars submerged.
The flooding was not confined to Bosnia. In neighbouring Montenegro, roads were washed away leaving the village of Komarnica cut off.
Water levels were also rising in some of Croatia’s rivers, and the government in Zagreb said there was a risk of some areas in the city of Karlovac being flooded close the Kupa river.
Much of Central Europe was hit by floods last month, with some of the worst devastation in Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania.
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Scientists from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group said one four-day period had been the rainiest ever recorded in the region. They said the floods had been made much worse by climate change.
Europe is the fastest-warming continent. The last five years were on average around 2.3C warmer than the second half of the 19th Century, according to the Copernicus climate service.
MOROCCO has become more popular as a holiday destination in recent years, especially as a winter sun destination.
But those looking to beat the crowds and for an even cheaper alternative to Marrakesh, might want to consider visiting Taroudant.
The city, which is sometimes called ‘Little Marrakesh’, is known for its impressive red-mud walls and views of the High Atlas Mountains.
As its nickname suggests, it’s much smaller in size than Marrakesh, and also considered calmer and less crowded.
Many visitors say it offers one of the most authentic experiences of every day Moroccan life.
Taroudant and Marrakesh bear many similarities – both cities have rich cultures that are influenced by Berber tradition and Islamic civilisations, and they have medinas (old towns) and souks (open air marketplaces).
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Read more on cheap holidays
But Taroudant also has its own unique features, including its walls, landmarks and location.
For a short time in the 16th century, Taroudant was the capital of Morocco. Its location between two mountain ranges was why it was chosen.
To defend it, a huge wall was built around the city, which today are among the best preserved in Morocco.
Made of honeyed stone, the walls are seven kilometres long and encircle the entire medina.
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Marrakech best budget friendly autumn getaway
The best time to visit the walls is at sunset to see the low light make the stone glow.
And the best way to see the walls is to walk, bike or take a horse-drawn carriage, known as a calèche.
Taroudant’s landmarks include Palais Caludio Bravo, famous for being the former home of Chilean painter Claudio Bravo.
The palace houses a large collection of his works, as well as other artists, including Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso.
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Its architecture is noteworthy as it’s made up of several wings and structures connected by courtyards and covered passages.
The palace’s beautiful garden is a mini-replica of the famous Menara garden in Marrakesh, with trails, sculptures and exotic plants dotted around.
Taroudant has a good location because it’s close to many other attractions, making it a good base for exploring the surrounding area.
Marrakesh is about a three and a half our drive away, and Skoura, an oasis town on the way to the desert, is about a five hour journey east.
The coastal resort of Agadir, with an international airport, is about an hour’s drive west, and Essaouira, with a pretty beach and coastal medina, is about a four hour journey northwest.
Tarroudant is also located at the foot of the Atlas mountains, making it a good base for hiking
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When it comes to places to stay, there are lots of luxurious 4* hotels for cheap prices.
Domaine Villa Talaa is a 4* hotel with an outdoor pool, spa and wellness centre, gardens with mountain views, and lots of activities, such as ping-pong, walking tours, bike tours and cooking classes.
Other alternatives to Marrakesh in Morocco
Casablanca – a modern city with a youthful vibe, sea breezes, and few tourists than Marrakesh. It’s a mix of modern dynamism and scenic beaches.
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Meknes – a medieval city with a stunning Medina, historic architecture, mosques, royal palaces, and hammams.
Ouarzazate – a gateway to the fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben haddou, and is nicknamed the ‘door of the desert’.
Fes – a place to explore ancient history.
Rif – a place to hike the cedar forests.
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Rabat – a place to discover Morroccan art.
Oualidia – a place to enjoy lazy days by the sea.
Taghazout – a place for surfing and sun salutations.
Prices for two adults for one night start from £75.
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Dar Zitoune is another 4* hotel built in the Berber style using local materials.
It’s set in four acres of landscaped grounds with olive, papaya, and citrus trees, has a large heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, a spa, and a gourmet restaurant that serves a mix of Moroccan and Western specialities.
Prices for two adults for one night start from £99.
Flights from London Gatwick to Agadir, the nearest airport, are also good value.
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At the beginning of November, a one way flight with easyJet starts from £22.99.
A runner who took on a prestigious global race series has broken the world record for the fastest marathon by an athlete with hemiplegia.
Andrew Tomlinson, who has paralysis on his left side, finished the London Marathon in April in a time of 3:58:53 – almost two hours faster than the previous best.
On the same day the financial assistant, from Glasgow, collected his Six Star Finisher medal for completing the World Marathon Majors.
Mr Tomlinson, who has hypertonic cerebral palsy, embarked on the epic challenge in 2021 when he ran the Berlin Marathon.
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The Bellahouston Road Runner completed the New York City Marathon the following year before ticking off Boston and Chicago in 2023.
And after finishing Tokyo in March he earned his sixth star in London and joined a club of only 17,026 runners worldwide.
After a traumatic birth doctors feared Mr Tomlinson would never walk but he is now thought to be first runner with cerebral palsy to earn the coveted medal.
He told BBC Scotland News: “It’s actually just emotional thinking about it because every challenge I’ve had, every barrier that’s been put up, it proves that anything is possible.”
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Filmed by Alan Ritchie and Paul O’Hare and edited by Georgina Davies.
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First, a confession. I have never watched Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Nor the Real Housewives series, nor any of the reality juggernauts that have dominated television schedules for the past decade. When Kim Kardashian first became a major presence in fashion, I was one of those alien people who remained totally ignorant of her cultural value. I would watch bemusedly as she wiggled into front-row seats at Tom Ford and Givenchy while editors would variously venerate her presence or tut loudly and clutch their pearls.
Kardashian has always been a provocateur in fashion: her very existence seems to excite more heated argument – about relevance, privilege, changing attitudes and talent – than any other in the western world. And yet despite being the focus of a million weird projections, she’s always come across as intelligent, articulate, even-handed and – for someone so ridiculously famous – oddly down-to-earth.
Skims offers the kind of lingerie you should be able to pick up anywhere
This year marks the fifth birthday of her “solutionswear” line, Skims, the company she founded with Jens and Emma Grede in 2019 to rebrand support hosiery, girdles and other deeply unsexy undergarments as something desirable and new. And, boy, has she succeeded. As Maria Shollenbarger writes in this week’s issue: “Skims has since proliferated into a full-blown apparel company, with a market valuation of $4bn and pole position in the global pop-culture discourse.”
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Maria met Kardashian at the Skims headquarters in Los Angeles last month. Chief among her observations was Kardashian’s laser focus, her determination and her personal investment. “I handle all the visuals, all the ideas, fabrics, fits,” she tells Maria. “I’m the face of this brand.”
What’s so brilliant about Skims is that it offers the kind of lingerie you think you should be able to pick up anywhere, but actually find quite scarce. Kardashian couldn’t find shapewear that matched her skin tone. So she came up with a solution. And is now bouncing all the way to the bank.
Kardashian is a living legend, but she is not the only one in this issue. Bob Crowley, the theatre designer, director and costume designer, has worked on so many productions that his artistic signature is scrawled in almost every theatre on Broadway – and off it – and the West End. His little brother John is no slouch either: the director’s latest film, We Live in Time, will come out later this year. (Side note: his first movie, Intermission, starring a delightfully callow Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell, remains one of my favourites.) As the brothers mark new career milestones, they reflect on their relationship, their shared love of drama and the things that have inspired their work. John has been too in awe of his older brother to work with him much in the past, but I hope he overcomes that notion soon.
At HTSI we love an obsessive and in Noritsugu Oda we have perhaps found the most endearing yet. Oda has worked for most of his career as an illustrator, but his pastime has been collecting chairs: he now has 1,400 designs of historical importance, of which he keeps more than 100 in his specially appointed home. Kanae Hasegawa goes to visit him on the island of Hokkaido to admire one of the greatest private archives in the world . Now 78, Oda is beginning to consider what he’ll do with his extraordinary legacy – but first he’s going to have a long sit down.
Lastly, how hot do you like your food? Do you love your plate to sizzle? Do you keep a plaque chauffante to hand? Ajesh Patalay investigates the politics of heat this week, and whether an optimum meal temperature exists. Turns out I may be a hypo-taster, as I rather like my food lukewarm.
It said: “Where you feel that a hedge is too tall and affects the ‘reasonable’ enjoyment of your house or garden, the first step is to negotiate with your neighbours.
“Keep a copy of any letters to demonstrate you have tried.”
If this fails, you can contact your local council to enquire about using the high hedges legislation.
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You can find your local council using the Gov.uk website.
There is no guarantee your council will intervene, and there is a fee for making a complaint, typically £400, to deter frivolous applications.
Your local authority will consider both sides’ cases and make a decision.
If the council accepts your complaint, it will issue a notice for the hedge to be cut to a requested height by a set deadline.
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Councils have the power to fine homeowners up to £1,000 if they refuse to comply with orders to cut hedges back.
But the neighbour is also able to appeal the decision.
Even if the hedge is within the legal height, your neighbour is responsible for maintaining it so it doesn’t damage your property.
You are also able to trim back any overgrown parts of the hedge that are covering your own boundary, according to Citizens Advice.
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But don’t be tempted to trim the whole hedge down – if you are cutting it back you should also check if it’s protected by a tree preservation order.
There is also the option of getting legal advice and taking your neighbour to court if the issue can’t be resolved, but this can be pricey.
Mr Welsh had previously told the government: “From 6am the hedge casts a shadow and this continues for the rest of the day.
“I cannot enjoy my veranda as it’s always in shade and I would just like to sit out and have a coffee in the sunshine.
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“Due to the shade from the high hedge, the entire side of my house is always in shade and cold and this costs me more money to heat my home.
“I have been driving electric cars for more than seven years and was hoping to have solar panels fitted to my roof to charge my car and also help reduce my energy bill.
“Again due the the hedge height, I cannot fit solar panels as they would be in the shade.”
In a letter to the government, the Faheems said the trees not only afford them privacy in their home, but were are home to a host of wildlife “which if reduced to three metres (10ft) will leave bare tree stumps without foliage”.
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They added: “There are six trees with trunks of approx three metres in height.
“If reduced to the three metre height as specified in the high hedge notice issued all that will be left will be stumps with no foliage.
“The reason provided for the high hedge notice is that it has an overbearing and dominant impact on the property.
“This is disputed on the ground that the trees do not form a barrier to light to the occupants and do not cause any obstruction to their views or to the enjoyment of their property.”
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Issuing their high hedge notice, the council said the hedge was considered to have an “overbearing and dominant” impact on the property and garden grounds.
But, amending the council decision, government reporter Alison Kirkwood said: “Based on my assessment of impact on the reasonable enjoyment of the veranda, I do not consider the requirement to reduce the height of the trees to three metres would be justified.
“Instead, I consider that a maximum height of four metres (13ft) from ground level would be appropriate to address the adverse impact on the veranda, whilst also taking account of the privacy concerns raised by the appellant.
“I am also satisfied that, subject to the required tree works taking place outwith nesting season, there would be no harm to birds or biodiversity.”
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