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Indigenous leaders say US-Mexico border wall construction is ruining sacred sites

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Indigenous leaders say US-Mexico border wall construction is ruining sacred sites

TECATE, Mexico (AP) — White sage burning, Norma Meza Calles gathers guests at a Mexican wellness resort into a semicircle facing Kuuchamaa Mountain and asks everyone to close their eyes and feel its presence.

“This is sacred to us like a church for you all. The mountain is our healer, our psychologist,” said Meza Calles, a Kumeyaay Nation tribal leader who explains that in its creation story a shaman transformed into the mountain. “Here is where we gather strength to live in this difficult world.”

Then she calls for a moment of reflection. But the silence is pierced by the crushing of rock. U.S. federal contractors have been blasting and bulldozing Kuuchamaa, which straddles both countries, to make way for new sections of wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Indigenous leaders say that in the Trump administration’s rush to build border walls, contractors are desecrating Native American sacred places and cultural sites at an unprecedented pace, more than 170 years after the international boundary split the territories of dozens of tribes.

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Federal crews set off blasts on sacred mountain

Barrier construction has ramped up along the 1,954-mile (3,145-kilometer) border even as illegal crossings have plummeted to historic lows. Much of it began this year after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security waived cultural and environmental laws.

In California, explosions on Kuuchamaa send rocks hurtling down its Mexico side.

“We feel that in our DNA,” said Emily Burgueno, a California member of the Kumeyaay Nation, adding that “body” and “land” are the same word in the Kumeyaay language. Some tribal leaders met with DHS officials to urge them to protect Kuuchamaa and are looking into legal action.

“No one ever consented or supported the use of dynamite on the mountain,” Burgueno said.

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The nation consists of more than a dozen tribes in California and Mexico’s Baja California.

In Arizona, DHS contractors last month carved through a massive 1,000-year-old fish-shaped geoglyph called “Las Playas Intaglio.” The rare drawing, etched into the desert floor much like Peru’s Nazca Lines, was created on a lava field in what is now the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.

The Tohono O’odham Nation said it had pointed out the site on its ancestral land for contractors to avoid.

“This was a devastating and entirely avoidable loss,” Tohono O’odham Chairman Verlon Jose said in an April 30 statement. “There is nothing more important than our history, which is what makes us who we are as O’odham. The site was also an irreplaceable piece of the United States’ history, one none of us can ever get back.”

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that a contractor “inadvertently disturbed” the site west of Ajo, Arizona, on April 23, but it vowed to protect the remaining portion. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott is talking to tribal leaders to determine next steps.

Members of the Inter-Tribal Association of Arizona, which represents 21 tribes, traveled to Washington last month to lobby against a 20-foot (6-meter) secondary wall being built along that section of the border, as well as a primary 30-foot (9-meter) bollard wall planned on Tohono O’odham tribal lands. They met with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a Cherokee Nation member, who listened but made clear his intent is to build more border walls as fast as possible, the Tohono O’odham Nation said in a statement.

Hundreds of miles are under contract

The Trump administration says the barriers are necessary to keep people and drugs from entering the U.S. illegally. It wants walls to cover at least 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) of the border.

Trump’s “ big, beautiful bill ” devoted over $46 billion to the effort.

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CBP has awarded contracts or begun construction on over 600 miles (966 kilometers) of new border wall, with companion surveillance technology. A double wall is planned or under construction along another 370 miles (596 kilometers).

In Arizona, where the Patagonia Mountains descend to the border, heavy machinery crawls along freshly graded roads to extend a double wall that could block a wildlife corridor for endangered ocelots and jaguars. Jaguars have long coexisted with the Tohono O’odham, who consider the species “spiritual guardians,” Austin Nunez, a tribal leader, said in a 2025 lawsuit that unsuccessfully challenged the DHS waivers.

In Sunland Park, on New Mexico’s border with Mexico, crews this year set off blasts on Mount Cristo Rey, a pilgrimage site topped with a limestone crucifix.

CBP is seeking to seize a strip of the mountain owned by the Roman Catholic Church for wall construction. The Diocese of Las Cruces asked a judge this month to deny the land transfer as an affront to religious liberties and the “faithful who seek to commune with God on Mount Cristo Rey.”

In western Texas, the federal government in February notified ranchers on the Rio Grande east of Big Bend National Park of its interest in their land that contains canyonland pictographs and petroglyphs, said Raymond Skiles, a retired Big Bend National Park ranger.

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“There are pictographs, paintings of shaman figures and various things that we don’t know how to interpret,” said Skiles, describing the drawings on his family’s ranchlands.

After community backlash, CBP’s online planning map showed the 30-foot-wall plans were scrapped for surveillance technology, patrols and some vehicle barriers. A segment in the national park and neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park would rely on technology alone.

CBP says it recognizes the importance of natural and cultural resources and is working to minimize the construction’s impact, including leaving drainage gates open in wildlife corridors for animal passage. Illegal border crossings have littered, polluted and trampled sensitive habitat, the agency says.

CBP also says 535 miles (860 kilometers) of remote, rugged border terrain will solely rely on detection technology.

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Many tribes would prefer that to walls.

Desecrating Native American sites is a felony

Tribes along the border “are all experiencing the same tragic desecration of our cultural and sacred sites,” said Burgueno, chair of the Kumeyaay Diegueño Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization in California that works to protect Kumeyaay lands. “This is a great example of the federal government not following federal laws.”

Desecrating a sacred Native American site on U.S. federal or tribal land is a felony, punishable by imprisonment and fines. In 1992, the National Park Service listed Kuuchamaa Mountain, also called Tecate Peak, in the National Register of Historic Places, giving it limited protection. It noted that “discarding or disturbing the mountain’s natural state would be sacrilegious.”

Rising 3,885 feet (1,184 meters) above sea level, Kuuchamaa has also captivated non-Native people.

Sarah Livia Brightwood Szekely said her father, Edmond Szekely, felt the mountain’s healing energy when he arrived in Tecate, Mexico, as a Hungarian Jewish refugee during World War II, and started the renowned wellness resort, Rancho La Puerta, which she now runs.

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“There are all of these people that have a deep relationship with the mountain,” she said.

Meza Calles leads walks at Rancho La Puerta to teach guests about Kuuchamaa.

Traditionally, young men would spend 40 days at its base in a coming-of-age ceremony before becoming warriors or shamans, she said. Today’s rituals are shorter. People suffering from a death, debt, divorce or other difficulty seek Kuuchamaa’s healing, she said.

“It’s sad they are ruining the mountain,” she said. “We’ll see how far they go. Destiny is destiny. But the fight is not over.”

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_____

Lee reported from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Fans boo as British Grand Prix finishes behind safety car with Leclerc victorious

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Fans boo as British Grand Prix finishes behind safety car with Leclerc victorious

A record crowd at Silverstone were furious as 175,000 fans were denied a last lap shoot-out with the British Grand Prix finishing behind a safety car in bizarre scenes.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ended up winning from Mercedes’s George Russell following Max Verstappen’s crash with four laps of the race remaining.

But the packed grandstands – part of a record-breaking 564,000 across the race weekend – booed after the ensuing safety car stayed out for the final lap of the race, despite race control signalling that it would be called in.

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There was no explanation for why it did so but fans were clearly furious, booing vociferously.

An FIA statement later, explained: “The safety car period regulation, Article B5. 13.5, states that one lap must be completed following the unlapping procedure. This process was followed by race operations. The “Safety Car In This Lap” message was displayed erroneously due to a software error.”

The decision to leave it out denied Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, in third place, the opportunity to attack Russell on fresh soft tyres. Hamilton had stopped when the safety car initially came out, losing track position to Russell.

Russell admitted afterwards that his tyres were “stone cold” meaning he would have been unlikely to have held on to his place.

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Princess Kate shares sweet photos of her hugging husband William and their kids Princess Charlotte, and Princes George and Louis after she completed the Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours

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The Princess of Wales has shared a sweet tribute to her family and friends after she completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge in a bid to spread her deeply personal message about cancer

The Princess of Wales has shared a sweet tribute to her family and friends after she completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge in a bid to spread her deeply personal message about cancer.

In a touching post uploaded to Instagram, Catherine, 44, was seen sporting a pair of red shorts and a baseball cap, surrounded by those closest to her.

She captioned the images: ‘This time last week, completing the National Three Peaks Challenge. A huge thank you to everybody who has supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.’

All three of her children were out to show their support – with Charlotte, George and Louis each wearing their own practical pair of blue jeans as they smiled for the camera.

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In one touching image, Kate could be seen warmly embracing her daughter who snuggled up close to her while the Princess leaned her cheek against Charlotte’s head.

In another, Charlotte reached towards her mother’s hand – meanwhile, the Royal’s youngest child, Louis, could be seen in the background playing with a dog.

Kate’s hair was tied back into a fashionable pony tail and she wore a pair of sturdy brown hiking boots with thick red socks to match the colour of her shorts.

The Princess did the challenge solo and was supported on the route by Mountain Rescue, with her family meeting her at the last stop at the base of Snowdon in Wales.

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The Princess of Wales has shared a sweet tribute to her family and friends after she completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge in a bid to spread her deeply personal message about cancer

Kate, 44, is seen embracing her daughter Charlotte

Kate, 44, is seen embracing her daughter Charlotte

She is seen here hugging William

She is seen here hugging William

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It has a total walking distance of 23 miles (37 kilometres), an ascent of 10,05ft of vertical climbing and a driving distance between the peaks of approximately 462 miles.

The Princess was driven between the peaks – Scotland, then England and finally Wales – by her team. It is not believed that any other member of the Royal Family has completed the Three Peaks Challenge, also making the princess’s triumph a royal first.

In a personally penned message, the Kate said: ‘Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in this country hear the words no one wants to hear. What follows is a path that tests every part of who we are: physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. The challenges ripple outwards, touching families, friendships, work and the quiet moments we spend alone with our thoughts.

‘Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone.

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‘I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back.’

The Three Peaks Challenge sees participants attempt to climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours: Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Scotland and the UK, standing at 4,413ft; Scarfell Pike, the highest peak in England, standing at 3,209ft and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), the highest peak in Wales, standing at 3,560ft.

In a video shot before she started the challenge, the princess explained why she took it on, saying that it was ‘partly personal’, explaining: ‘I’m so grateful to be here, to be strong enough to walk these hills.‘

And she added: ‘But, more importantly, it’s to give something back and acknowledge, really, all the incredible work going on up and down this country.

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‘I’ve met some incredible people – those people who are living with and beyond cancer – and I know personally how difficult that journey is.

‘I really wanted to use this opportunity as my way of contributing to all the wonderful work that’s going on, and in particular to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity – an organisation very dear to me, but who do extraordinary work supporting those living with and beyond the disease.’

The princess also wants to use her challenge to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which is launching a specially designed fundraising page for people across the nation to donate.

The funds raised for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity will support more people with cancer to benefit from holistic care.

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Police warn England fans of drinking at World Cup match

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Police warn England fans of drinking at World Cup match

The warning comes ahead of England’s match against Mexico, which is at 1.00 am, with Greater Manchester Police reminding supporters to celebrate safely and avoid drink-driving.

A Greater Manchester Police police spokesperson said in a statement: “Our message is simple, enjoy the occasion, drink responsibly, look after your friends and help ensure everyone can celebrate safely.”

With the match taking place earlier in the morning, there are concerns that some fans may continue drinking throughout following hours.

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Greater Manchester Police said that some people might still be over the legal limit to drive the following morning.

The spokesperson added: “While you may feel fit to drive the following morning, alcohol can remain in your system for longer than you think and you could still be over the legal limit.”

Officers will carry out roadside drink and drug-driving checks across Greater Manchester tomorrow morning.

Police said plans are in place to keep people safe and that “policing the match will be no different to how we police any other busy Saturday night.”

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So far, there have been only a “very small number” of incidents at licensed premises during England’s four previous matches.

Greater Manchester Police said this is encouraging and reflects how responsibly most people have enjoyed the tournament so far.

Officers are asking fans to continue celebrating sensibly to help keep themselves and others safe as the tournament progresses.

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England team news leaked hours before Mexico clash as Tuchel suffers blow

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Wales Online

England take on Mexico in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 tonight and Thomas Tuchel has been dealt a fresh injury blow

Thomas Tuchel has been dealt a fresh injury blow ahead of England’s World Cup round of 16 encounter with Mexico tonight at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

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Sky Sports report that Djed Spence is a new fitness concern and is unlikely to feature for the Three Lions at right-back as he is carrying an injury.

England have endured numerous problems in the position since Tino Livramento was compelled to withdraw from the squad before the tournament began.

Jarrel Quansah and Reece James have also been struck down by injuries since England’s World Cup campaign commenced last month.

Now Spence joins them with a problem which is expected to see Declan Rice deployed out of position or the recovered Quansah selected at right-back.

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Whoever gets the nod will face three-goal Mexico left winger Julian Quinones, who is crucial to the co-hosts’ prospects of success.

Tuchel made no reference to any concerns over Spence in his pre-match press conference yesterday, when he declared that Rice was fit and James could make a return to the bench.

Tottenham full-back Spence trained with his team-mates beforehand, reports the Express.

“Reece is maybe on the bench tomorrow, let’s see,” his German head coach told talkSPORT. “But everyone else is fully available.”

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He added: “Jarell trained and is fully available. Reece can maybe make it on the bench, but we need a last assessment from the doctors and a medical opinion.”

Should Rice line up at right-back, that could open the door for Jordan Henderson or Kobbie Mainoo to slot into midfield. Alternatively, Rice may continue alongside Elliot Anderson in the engine room if Quansah is restored to the starting eleven in place of Spence.

Tuchel’s selection largely picks itself in the majority of positions this evening, with first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford certain to start between the sticks, while Nico O’Reilly, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Anderson, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are all but guaranteed their places.

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The remaining selection headaches facing Tuchel centre on the left wing, where Anthony Gordon is pushing to displace Marcus Rashford, and the right wing, where Noni Madueke could find himself dropped in favour of Bukayo Saka.

The England boss is looking forward to a thrilling encounter in Mexico City as his side seek to secure a quarter-final berth, where they would take on five-time champions Brazil or Norway in Atlanta next Saturday.

He said: “It’s even nicer than I expected. It just catches you straight away. Once we landed here and saw the excitement and emotions. The commitment of people for the World Cup.

“I felt straight away that this will be a proper World Cup match tomorrow. We knew it before. We are in an iconic place, an iconic stadium. A massive knockout game against Mexico in the Azteca Stadium. It’s an iconic match and a big stage and we feel it.

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“We know about the situation. We spoke about it. We will take care of what needs to be taken care of and we need a strong performance and I think we will have one.”

Mexico have claimed victory in all four of their World Cup fixtures to date, keeping a clean sheet throughout. El Tri have also suffered just two competitive defeats at the Azteca since the stadium’s inauguration in 1966.

Tuchel added: “We know everything about the Mexican team. They are now in the top 10 in the world rankings. They have [had] some good results in the last matches. Not only now in the World Cup but especially since March where they played Belgium, Portugal. Top-tier nations.

“I think we are prepared. We saw the strengths. We [will] try to exploit weaknesses like always, but we are full of respect, but we also believe in us. We need to play the best version offensively and defensively that we showed until now in moments of every match. Tomorrow we will bring it together for a top performance that we need to achieve our goal to beat Mexico.”

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England fans descend on Mexico City ahead of the Three Lions’ crunch match with the World Cup co-hosts

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England fans have descended on Mexico City ahead of the Three Lions' game at the historic Azteca Stadium

England fans have descended on Mexico City ahead of the Three Lions’ crunch match with the World Cup co-hosts at the imposing Azteca Stadium.

The tie will kick off at 1am UK time on Monday morning – despite talks that it would be moved forward due to bad weather.

England has a lot of history tied to the Azteca Stadium – hosting the 1986 World Cup match against Argentina, where they were knocked out by Diego Maradona‘s cheating Hand of God goal. 

But today, fans are casting the heartbreak 40 years ago to the back of their mind and are raring with excitement in Mexico City.

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Retired Andy Allen, from Blackburn, Lancashire, had just arrived at Mexico City airport from Atlanta in the US, after having watched England top Group L and also their dramatic 2-1 knockout win against DR Congo in the round of 32.

He said: ‘It’s going to be fantastic, I can’t wait for it, it’s going to be great, the atmosphere in there will be electric.

‘I think Mexico will be very clever and make us run around a lot and tire us out, they will be using the altitude to their advantage for this one.

‘I’ve been to all the England games so far and have tickets all the way, we just have to hold our nerve and play a bit more like we did in the second half against Croatia.’

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England fans have descended on Mexico City ahead of the Three Lions’ game at the historic Azteca Stadium

The tie will kick off at 1am UK time on Monday morning - despite talks that it would be moved forward due to bad weather

The tie will kick off at 1am UK time on Monday morning – despite talks that it would be moved forward due to bad weather

England fan Alan Lewis shows a Mexico national team jersey that he wears underneath his Three Lions shirt ahead of the match

England fan Alan Lewis shows a Mexico national team jersey that he wears underneath his Three Lions shirt ahead of the match

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One happy couple is so fired up they said they would get married if England won the game.

Ben Hammond and Samantha Duffy were among the first followers of Thomas Tuchel’s squad to land in Mexico City also having come from watching the DR Congo game.

Samantha, 35, from Hertfordshire, said: ‘Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel are under a lot of pressure, Ben has promised he will propose if England win the World Cup, so they had better bring it home.

‘It’s been great fun so far and if they win this game and go onto win the trophy it will be fantastic as we can get married.’

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The optimistic couple have still not sourced tickets for the big game however, as Samantha continued: ‘We went to the last game in Atlanta and got in through the resale sites, but we haven’t got tickets for this one yet.

‘We will keep an eye on the websites and see what happens but at the moment they want silly money which we just can’t justify really.

‘So, we will see what happens, and if we can’t get one, just go along to the Fan Zone and watch it there. Whatever happens, it will be a fantastic atmosphere.

‘Everyone keeps saying that Ben looks a little bit like Harry Kane – so he’s my England hero.’

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Quantity surveyor and Harry Kane lookalike Ben, 31, from Birmingham, was wearing pristine England trainers.

He said: ‘I was only joking when I said I’d marry Sam, but if England do win the World Cup, I will genuinely think about it. It would be great if we could take the trophy home; it’s been way too long.

‘We just decided at the last minute to come along and so flew in from Atlanta and are looking forward to getting into town and having a look round – if we could get to the match, it would be brilliant as there is so much history in that stadium.’

Offshore worker Danny Thompson, 44, from Ipswich, was raring to go as well, but seemed a little more anxious about how the match would go.

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He said: ‘It will be a tough one, but we will stay positive. I’ve been to all the games so far, and the reception from everyone has been fantastic, so warm and welcoming.

‘There’s been a lot of travelling, and the logistics have been a bit of a nightmare. We’ve crossed so many states and seen so many places, but I wouldn’t change it for anything; it’s been fantastic and exceeded expectations.’

Fans of England cheer inside a bar near the Angel of Independence monument in Mexico City

Fans of England cheer inside a bar near the Angel of Independence monument in Mexico City

England fans were praised for their 'excellent' behaviour at the World Cup in the United state after there were no reports of Three Lions' supporters being involved in violence or disorder

England fans were praised for their ‘excellent’ behaviour at the World Cup in the United state after there were no reports of Three Lions’ supporters being involved in violence or disorder

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England have played six times at the Azteca, twice against Mexico and the results were a draw in 1969 and a loss in 1985

England have played six times at the Azteca, twice against Mexico and the results were a draw in 1969 and a loss in 1985

The stadium is 2,240m above sea level, holds 80,000, and will be Mexico's 12th man. The last time they lost there was in 2013, with the unbeaten run standing at an astonishing 26 games

The stadium is 2,240m above sea level, holds 80,000, and will be Mexico’s 12th man. The last time they lost there was in 2013, with the unbeaten run standing at an astonishing 26 games 

Also among the arrivals was former BBC North America editor Jon Sopel, who flew in from London on a packed British Airways flight.

Stepping off the 10-hour flight, John, 67, told the Mail on Sunday: ‘I managed to get tickets for the game, and my son Max is flying in from Australia, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

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‘We did our first World Cup together in 2006 when he was a lad in Germany, and we did 2010 in South Africa, and we want to be here.’

Meanwhile, another England fan, who would only give his name as Matthew, 29, from Falmouth, Cornwall, said: ‘I’ve flown in straight from London and to be honest I am confident about this one, even though most of the games we have been awful but we’ve got the results.

‘I think it’s a question of getting better as the tournament progresses. We just need to play like we did against Croatia, granted we played badly the last couple of group games and the DR Congo match, so it’s time for a stellar performance from England and I’m sure it will come.

‘This one has been in the diary since the draw in December. I got my ticket for £300 through the England Travel club, and it was a no-brainer. This is a bucket list game, Mexico in the Azteca with all the history England has at the stadium, it’s going to be sensational.

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‘When I was younger, it was the first thing you learned in football at school, about Maradona and the Hand of God game, and I wasn’t even born when it happened. 

‘There was no way I was going to miss this game, and I also have a ticket for the next game if we get through, which could be Brazil in Miami.’

Matthew added: ‘I don’t think there will be as many England fans here as there were in America, it’s expensive, and there are hardly any tickets as the locals have them all, and to be honest, I don’t think I would part with the £4,000 minimum that’s being asked, it’s crazy prices.

‘I would be surprised if there are more than 8,000 at the match, and even that’s being optimistic, I think a few will definitely come to Mexico City for the atmosphere, and if they get lucky, they might snap up a ticket at a decent price before kick-off because that’s what happened in Atlanta.

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Initially, the tickets were $1500 for the DR Congo game, but then they started coming down, and I heard people got them for $500, which is a bargain.’

The match, which kicks off at 6pm local time, will be a tough one as El Tri are ranked 10th in the world and have not lost a match so far and not conceded a goal and as a host nation have played all their games in Mexico.

England fans hold a St. George's Cross flag near the Angel de la Independencia on Saturday

England fans hold a St. George’s Cross flag near the Angel de la Independencia on Saturday

England fans are pictured cheering inside a bar near in Mexico City

England fans are pictured cheering inside a bar near in Mexico City

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One England supporter is wearing a half England and half Mexico football jersey gestures inside a bar in Mexico City

One England supporter is wearing a half England and half Mexico football jersey gestures inside a bar in Mexico City

Englands fans hold up a large St George's Cross while out in Mexico on Saturday night

Englands fans hold up a large St George’s Cross while out in Mexico on Saturday night 

The stadium is 2,240m above sea level, holds 80,000, and will be Mexico’s 12th man. The last time they lost there was in 2013, with the unbeaten run standing at an astonishing 26 games.

They have played ten World Cup games in the Azteca dating back to the tournaments in 1970 and 1986, as well as the current one, and have never lost, winning eight and drawing two, plus they kept eight clean sheets.

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England have played six times at the Azteca, twice against Mexico and the results were a draw in 1969 and a loss in 1985.

Mexico is guaranteed to have a fanatical backing while England’s support will be limited to just 4,000.

Meanwhile, Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher has fuelled a war of words with one of Mexico’s biggest musicians, Fernando Olvera, after the Mancunian legend wrote that England would win 5-0.

Olvera said:’ The Oasis singer said Mexico is going to lose to England 5-0. Come on… no way, get real, dude! 5-0? Calm down. See you Sunday, let’s see how we do.’

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While another local who posted a video of another Mexican classic singer was sarcastically told by Liam: ‘I sing that in the shower first thing every morning.’

The Wonderwall star added:’I just want to clarify one thing: obviously I was joking when I said England was going to beat Mexico 5-0. I think it’ll be more like 3-0 in favour of England.’

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Players and fans left sweating at Wimbledon as SW19 faces sweltering 31C temperatures in latest heatwave

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Spectators used fans and umbrellas to cope with the heat as they queued from the early hours to watch players

Wimbledon was hit by its hottest day of the Championships so far on Sunday as temperatures climbed towards 30C, turning SW19 into a sweltering test of endurance for players, officials and spectators alike.

Attendees used fans and umbrellas to cope with the heat as they queued from the early hours to watch players including Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka.

Players were offered specialised ice towels on court to help cool off and more than 100 water stations were dotted across the grounds for spectators.

Temperatures soared towards 30 degrees for the first time this Championships, as a yellow heat health alert was issued for London by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) until 8pm next Saturday.

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Wimbledon operations director Michelle Dite said organisers had stepped up welfare measures but stressed that spectators also needed to take responsibility for coping with the conditions.

She said: ‘It’s about people preparing for their day. It’s about putting your sun cream on, about bringing your own water. We let people bring their own water in, their own food and drink. It’s about taking time out and asking people to take some responsibility.’

She added: ‘We have upped our shade and shelter here for the public. A lot of people will go and sit and get some cooler air in the restaurants, for example, but we encourage people to take personal responsibility.’

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Spectators used fans and umbrellas to cope with the heat as they queued from the early hours to watch players

Temperatures soared towards 30 degrees for the first time this Championships, as a yellow heat health alert was issued for London

 Temperatures soared towards 30 degrees for the first time this Championships, as a yellow heat health alert was issued for London

Ms Dite said Wimbledon continued to invest in long-term infrastructure changes as extreme heat becomes more common in British summers.

‘We’re always trying to make sure that we can provide as much shade and shelter as we can, not just for our temporary structures but also when we’re doing permanent upgrades here.

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‘We’ve got our own retractable roof on the Tea Lawn, we’ve got cover down in the Southern Village, we’ve got cover now for the Hill. Every year we’re looking to improve it. It’s been working really, really well and it’s something we continue to focus on.’

Winston Sedgwick, the assistant manager of the court services team, said that his team is poised to help ball boys and girls who wilt in the heat.

‘One of the biggest challenges they have is the temperature,’ he said. Sedgwick said that last Thursday one of the ball boys on court 7 was escorted off court when they ‘become quite unsteady in the heat’.

‘Our team had to take her off, pack ice on her wrists, shade her, make sure she was drinking enough and look after her,’ he said.

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‘That’s something we have to do and we’re quite happy to do it. And if the weather next week is to be like it was during the last heatwave, that would be something we’d be very, very involved in doing.’

It was also confirmed that for the first time this year Wimbledon has introduced handheld fans for sale on site, priced at £20, as demand for heat-relief items surged during the warm spell.

And it is even stretching resources to protect those in the heat in the queue and on the grounds - handing out hundreds of thousands of free sun cream samples as part of their partnership with La Roche-Posay

And it is even stretching resources to protect those in the heat in the queue and on the grounds – handing out hundreds of thousands of free sun cream samples as part of their partnership with La Roche-Posay

Wimbledon operations director Michelle Dite said organisers had stepped up welfare measures but stressed that spectators also needed to take responsibility for coping with the conditions

Wimbledon operations director Michelle Dite said organisers had stepped up welfare measures but stressed that spectators also needed to take responsibility for coping with the conditions

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Sunday’s heat came close to triggering Wimbledon’s Extreme Heat Rule, which allows a 10-minute break during singles matches when the tournament’s heat stress index passes a set threshold.

The pause can be taken before the fourth set in men’s matches and ahead of the deciding third set in women’s singles, with officials using a combination of air temperature, humidity and court conditions rather than the thermometer alone to decide whether the rule comes into force.

The hottest day ever recorded at Wimbledon remains July 1, 2015, when temperatures reached a blistering 35.7C.

And it is even stretching resources to protect those in the heat in the queue and on the ground – handing out hundreds of thousands of free sun cream samples as part of their partnership with La Roche-Posay.

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There is also an on-site pharmacy where you can buy a 50 SPF suncream for £27.50.

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DWP unveils new plan to keep disabled people working longer

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DWP unveils new plan to keep disabled people working longer

Nearly 200 workplaces have now signed up as “Vanguard” employers under the Government’s Keep Britain Working programme, part of a wider strategy aimed at tackling the UK’s growing economic inactivity crisis.

The initiative, led by former John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield, brings together more than 250 employers, local authorities, NHS organisations and disability groups to test new ways of supporting staff before health problems force them out of work.

At the heart of the latest plans is a new Workplace Health Intelligence Unit, which will, for the first time, collect standardised data on sickness absence, return-to-work rates and disability participation across UK workplaces.

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The Government believes better data, earlier intervention and personalised “stay in work” plans could help address one of Britain’s biggest labour market challenges, with 2.8 million people currently out of work because of long-term sickness.

But while ministers argue the reforms are about offering support earlier, disability advocates have long warned that any attempt to reduce welfare spending or increase workforce participation must avoid placing additional pressure on people whose health limits the work they can do.

Sir Charlie Mayfield said the current system intervenes too late: “For too long, the system has been organised around supporting people after they get ill or face barriers.

“We need to shift the emphasis to earlier action, better integration, and a genuine, shared commitment to keeping people healthy and in work.”

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He argued that employers should become active partners in workplace health rather than leaving responsibility solely to the NHS or benefits system: “It’s rare to find an opportunity that benefits employers, improves people’s life chances, and reduces government spending – all without large up-front investment.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said businesses had embraced the programme: “The response from employers has been remarkable. Across every region and every sector, businesses want to do better by their workforce; they just need the right framework and the right support.

“Keep Britain Working is delivering both. A new national standard, better data, and real accountability. This is how we fix the broken system, keep people in work and grow our economy.”

The plans form part of the Government’s wider £3.5 billion employment support package, which includes expanded WorkWell services, Connect to Work and more than 1,000 specialist advisers helping disabled people and those with long-term health conditions remain in employment.

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Health Secretary James Murray said the Government wanted to move beyond a system centred around issuing fit notes: “For too long, too many people have been handed fit notes without any extra support. What they really need is help to stay in work or get back to work safely.

“A piece of paper that so often closes doors is no substitute for a plan that opens them.”

Supporters argue that good work can improve health outcomes, reduce isolation and prevent people falling permanently out of the labour market.

Business leaders involved in the programme say earlier intervention, better-trained managers and more flexible workplace adjustments could stop short-term sickness becoming long-term absence.

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But the initiative also arrives amid wider debate over disability benefits and welfare reform, with campaigners increasingly concerned about whether policies designed to increase employment risk blurring the line between encouraging work and expecting it regardless of an individual’s circumstances.

The Government insists the programme is centred on voluntary support, prevention and better workplace practices rather than forcing people back into employment.

Whether that balance can be maintained as wider welfare reforms continue to develop may become one of the defining questions of Britain’s disability and employment policy over the coming years.


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Companies signed up to the Government’s ‘Keep Britain Working’ programme

The Government says nearly 200 workplaces have now signed up as “Vanguard” employers, with major businesses including:

  • Tesco
  • Royal Mail
  • John Lewis Partnership
  • Marks & Spencer
  • Google UK
  • British Airways
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • BT Group
  • Lloyds Banking Group
  • Sainsbury’s
  • Burger King
  • PwC UK
  • BP
  • Ford UK
  • Aviva
  • AXA Health
  • Bupa UK
  • Currys
  • Nando’s
  • Sky UK

The programme also includes NHS trusts, disability charities, insurers, local authorities and regional mayoral authorities across England, alongside all three devolved administrations.

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Countryfile’s Anita Rani sheds light on ideal Ireland trip as it ‘feels more like home’

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Belfast Live

Anita, who opened up about her “spiritual home”, has been busy of late, launching a new podcast and a travel, food and wellness-themed YouTube channel, Anita Rani Explores

Anita Rani has confessed that she’s keen to embark on a road trip across Ireland, calling it her “spiritual home”. The Countryfile presenter has been busy lately, having recently unveiled her new podcast Sisters of Defiance, alongside her travel, food and wellness-focused YouTube channel Anita Rani Explores.

On the YouTube series, Anita will be accompanied by her father Bal, who featured with her on last year’s Celebrity Race Across the World. It was Bal and Anita’s mother Lakhbir who ignited her love for the outdoors.

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While her parents hail originally from India, Anita was born and brought up in Bradford, West Yorkshire. However, it’s another location that seems to have captured her heart — the Emerald Isle.

She told Country Living : “People talk about India being their spiritual home, but for me it’s Ireland. There are many similarities between Punjabis and the Irish.

“There’s something about that kind of yearning, melancholy, naughty sense of humour, pride in their culture and their arts, so I want to do a road trip across Ireland.”

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Lakhbir, who was reported to have worked as a liaison officer at Bradford Royal Infirmary, is of Sikh descent, while Bal is Hindu. He came to the UK when he was just four years old.

Last year, Rani discussed entering a “new phase of life”, revealing she was keen to become “wilder” and “more outrageous”. She split from her husband of 14 years, technology executive Bhupi Rehal, in 2023.

In an interview with Best magazine, Anita revealed: “Definitely. I’m in a new phase of life now. I don’t know what that means, but it’s a new chapter, and I’m excited about that. I almost have a new appreciation for my life and more gratitude, too.”

She continued: “As a woman who is getting older, I can honestly say that the wisdom, confidence and the lack of caring is amazing. I’ve been brought up to worry about what people think and say.

“Now, I couldn’t care less. In fact, I want to get wilder and more outrageous. I want to shock more!”

It comes after Anita disclosed how she regressed to her “teenage” self and found herself “stomping and pouting” on Celebrity Race Across the World, which she joined to “spend time” with her father.

Speaking to Radio Times Magazine, she explained: “Maybe an hour into the race, the cameras were rolling and Dad was telling me off about something, and I turned into teenage me, stomping and pouting.”

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Bal recalled: “She was running into the road, and I just told her to step back!”

Catch Anita on Countryfile, Anita Rani’s East Coast Road Trip: Northey Island tonight (July 5) on BBC Two, from 6pm to 7pm.

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Cops seen carrying huge blade from Scots park after man ‘spotted with weapon’

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Police Scotland confirmed a knife was found in the Dysart Road area of Kirkcaldy at around 2.30pm on Sunday after being found by a member of the public.

Police officers were pictured recovering a large blade from a park after a man was allegedly spotted in a Scots street with a weapon.

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Police Scotland confirmed a knife was found in the Dysart Road area of Kirkcaldy at around 2.30pm on Sunday after it was found by a member of the public.

The discovery was made after a man was alleged to have been seen in possession of a weapon on the town’s Cross Street in the early hours of the morning.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested and charged and is expected to appear in court on Monday in connection with the incident.

Locals reported seeing officers carrying the blade away from the beach at the town’s Ravencraigs Park.

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A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Around 2.30pm on Sunday, 5 July, 2026, we received a report that a member of the public found a knife in the Dysart Road area of Kirkcaldy.

“Officers attended and it was recovered safely. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Commenting on the earlier alleged incident, a spokesman said: “Around 1.25am on Sunday, 5 July, 2026, officers received a report of a man believed to be in possession of a weapon on Cross Street, Dysart, Kirkcaldy.

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“A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection and is due to appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Monday, 6 July, 2026.”

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

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Silverstone ends in boos as British Grand Prix finishes behind safety car after Max Verstappen crashes out with five laps to go – handing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc his first win at historic circuit

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Ferrari's Charles Leclerc celebrated his first British Grand Prix triumph on Sunday afternoon

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Charles Leclerc celebrated his first triumph at Silverstone after Sunday’s pulsating British Grand Prix was forced to end behind a safety car, prompting boos from fans who were denied a thrilling finish.

Leclerc, who led for most of the 2021 British Grand Prix but was eventually overtaken by his now Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, had good fortune on his side this weekend as Silverstone’s final laps ended in a procession.

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen forced a late yellow flag and safety car after crashing out of the race with just five laps to go, prompting Ferrari’s pair to come into the pits and prepare for a late tussle for first place by swapping to soft tyres.

Mercedes’ George Russell chose to gamble and remained out on the track, overtaking Hamilton and eventually taking second place after the anti-climactic finish.

Fellow Mercedes star and championship leader Kimi Antonelli was in a prime position to challenge Leclerc with just 10 laps to go but suffered a disastrous mechanical fault to slip from second and out of the points altogether.

More to follow.

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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc celebrated his first British Grand Prix triumph on Sunday afternoon

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