The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called a U.S. push for the denuclearization of North Korea an “anachronistic dreams,” saying Sunday the North will steadily expand its nuclear arsenal in the face of U.S.-led threats.

The statement came a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping visits North Korea for talks with Kim Jong Un, in his first visit to the country in seven years.

“The U.S. assertion to backbite the status of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state has no legally binding force and no one will be bound by the U.S. unilateral rhetoric,” said Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, using the abbreviation for North Korea’s official name.

She dismissed as “false information” a U.S. announcement that President Donald Trump and Xi confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea in their summit in Beijing last month.

“Some officials in the United States have failed to wake from their escapist and anachronistic dreams,” Kim Yo Jong said.

North Korea has been focusing on enlarging its nuclear arsenal since Kim Jong Un’s high-stakes diplomacy with Trump collapsed in 2019. Experts say the North Korean leader wants an international recognition as a nuclear state so that he could demand lifting of international economic sanctions on North Korea.

During a visit to a new nuclear materials production plant last week, Kim Jong Un said North Korea would bolster the country’s nuclear forces “at an exponential rate.” On Sunday, North Korea’s state media reported Kim Jong Un visited a weapons factory the previous day and called for increasing the country’s missile production capacity 2.5 times under a five-year plan period.

In her statement, Kim Yo Jong accused the U.S. and South Korea of pushing for “ceaseless arms build-ups,” saying her brother’s push for “steadily beefing up the nuclear war deterrent for self-defense” is “an irreversible final conclusion to be carried out unconditionally.”

Analysts say Xi’s visit to North Korea is largely meant to reassert China’s influence over North Korea, whose foreign policy priority has shifted to Russia in recent years. They say Xi will likely refrain from directly raising the denuclearization issue and offer economic assistance programs during his meeting with Kim Jong Un.

North Korea has sent troops and conventional weapons to Russia to back its war efforts against Ukraine. South Korean and U.S. officials say North Korea has received economic and other assistance from Russia in return.

The 18-year-old touched the hearts of people across the country with his positivity.

The heartbroken family of inspirational teenager Blake McCaughey have spoken about how they are keeping his memory alive five months on from his death.

The 18-year-old, from Tandragee, touched the hearts of people across the country with his positivity. He was a Belfast Giants season ticket holder for over 12 years, an avid Liverpool FC fan and a member of Portadown True Blues Flute Band.

Blake, who had a rare genetic disorder, died on Saturday, January 17, after emergency services were called to the family home when he took ill. Despite their best efforts, which saw his mum Christine perform CPR and “every avenue explored”, he sadly passed away.

Since losing their ‘beloved Blake’ earlier this year very suddenly and unexpectedly, his grieving family – including mum Christine, dad Andy and sister Pixie – along with his many friends and supporters, the teen is being lovingly remembered.

Reflecting on how the family have been coping in the months since losing Blake, his mum Christine told Belfast Live: “We’re holding it together. Blake was always so upbeat, even though he was in and out of the hospital for so much in his life. He had one hospital stay that was extended over three years, and he never once gave off or complained.

“As much as the grief is so heavy, it would be wrong of us to let it take hold of us. There’s so much that happens around the week or so when a loss happens, but life changes after that.

“We’ve gone from a house where we had nurses in five days a week for eight hours a day, and then you go from that to the door not knocking for a while. He had five different medical devices in his abdomen and was fed through his heart, directly through a line. When you go from that level of 24/7 care to nothing, it’s a huge void, but now Pixie wants to channel her energy and help others.”

Following Blake’s passing, 15-year-old Pixie set up a charity in her brother’s name – Blake’s Lasting Legacy – to help other families living with children who are medically complex and also walking alongside those families navigating the loss of a child or young person.

Christine told us: “Pixie has also been distributing memory boxes to hospital wards, nursing teams and funeral directors who then pass these on to the family on the loss of their child. Inside are numerous items to make lasting memories at such difficult times.

“She’s also making sibling packs which are given out to brothers and sisters who have lost a sibling, and these are filled with books, fidget toys and treats to remind people that we are there for them.

“With Blake’s Lasting Legacy, we plan to create even more memories for families by offering meet-ups, family nights out, bereavement support, and flower-arranging courses so they can make their own displays for their loved ones’ resting place. This is all whilst letting families know that they never have to walk alone.”

The proud mum added: “Pixie wants to drive his charity and drive our grief into something positive for other families and to let other people see that they’re not alone, because it can be such a lonely place. I think your biggest fear as a parent is them being forgotten, so we’re trying to push ourselves.

“Pixie and her daddy have started doing park runs and 5Ks, just finding a new way of life, because we were so medically heavy with Blake. We’re very lucky with both our kids, and Pixie has always been the upbeat one, pushing us on and wanting to do more for other people. It makes her heart happy to know that she’s doing something good.

“We’re very proud of her, and it’s a lot because she’s navigating her own journey after his loss. She tells us: ‘You knew life before Blake – I never knew life without Blake’.”

Next Sunday, June 14, the McCaughey family are inviting people to come to Craigavon Lakes to walk part or all of Blake’s 18 miles for 18 years of Blake’s life.

Christine explained: “Blake loved Craigavon Lakes and that’s where his first sponsored walk was when he was aged five for a wheelchair. The whole theme is blue skies, clouds, rainbows, and red hearts, because that’s just what Blake was all about – bright, colourful, fun.

“It will be six laps, but people can join in and drop out as and when they wish. Each lap will start on the hour from 12noon and everyone is welcome to come along, join in on the fun, meet some special guests and celebrate Blake all whilst raising vital funds to help families in Northern Ireland.”

You can donate to Blake’s Lasting Legacy here.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Drivers have been advised to use alternative routes if they are travelling in the area.

There are long delays on a busy Cambridgeshire city road as police attend to an incident. The A47 has been closed in both directions between Thorpe Wood roundabout to the Bretton roundabout by Cambridgeshire Police.

The road has been closed due to police attending to “a concern for a person at the location”. Traffic is moving slowly in the area.

Drivers have been advised to find alternative routes while emergency services are at the scene.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police: “Please be advised the A47 is Closed both ways from Thorpe Wood roundabout, to Bretton Roundabout near the Hospital. This is due to a concern for a person at the location. Please find alternative route. Many thanks.”

Inrix, the data monitoring company, said: “Slow traffic due to earlier police incident on A47 Soke Parkway in both directions from J15 A1260 Nene Parkway to J16 Bretton Gate.”

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In response, the MoD spokesman said that, since coming to power in July 2024, the government had signed more than 1,400 major defence contracts, adding it was providing “a generational increase in defence spending… ensuring no return to the hollowed out armed forces of the past”.

The US Army is drawing up plans to carry out four military executions of death row inmates for the first time in more than 50 years, pending approval from President Donald Trump

The US Army is preparing to conduct four executions should President Donald Trump issue the command, according to an internal planning document seen by ABC News.

The plan, if implemented, would represent the first occasion the military has executed convicted American prisoners in more than half a century. “Operation Resolute Justice” instructs Army officials to liaise with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to move condemned inmates from the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to the federal execution facility in Terre Haute, Indiana.

During Trump’s first term, the Justice Department undertook a series of non-military federal executions at that location. The US military has not executed a service member since 1961. Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith said the service routinely undertakes planning exercises for executions, in anticipation of directives from the White House.

“Exercises regarding this operation have been conducted regularly for the past 20 years. These drills are a standard component of our continued planning and preparation if the president approves a death sentence,” Smith told ABC News, adding that the service has not yet received an order from the president, reports the Mirror US.

Military courts can hand down the death sentence, but presidential authorisation is required before any execution can take place. The White House did not respond to ABC’s request for comment. Internally, the Army has instructed multiple Army divisions to prepare for and enable executions “no later than 150 days from the date of presidential approval of the death sentences.”

The instruction sets out timetables for progress meetings and protocols for undertaking executions should Trump authorise them. It also covers how the Army would handle public announcements relating to an execution.

Executions of death row inmates have nearly doubled since Trump returned to office. In April, Trump’s Department of Justice instructed federal prisons to widen the range of techniques used for executions, to include firing squads, gas asphyxiation and electrocution.

In a 48-page memo, the department stated that this expansion would “strengthen” the death penalty, “deterring the most barbaric crimes, delivering justice for victims and providing long-overdue closure to surviving loved ones.”

They also stated in an accompanying report that by widening the methods of capital punishment, it “will help ensure the department is prepared to carry out lawful executions even if a specific drug is unavailable.”

The substantial increase in federal executions followed the Biden administration implementing a moratorium. Additionally, there were no federal executions under President Barack Obama.

You might have heard of the seven ancient wonders of the world, some of the planet’s most magnificent creations chosen and compiled into a list by Hellenic travellers passing through lands thousands of years ago.

The list, created as early as the fifth century BC, venerated landmarks like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in ancient Iraq, the domineering bronze statue of the Greek sun god Helios known as the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria, a magnificent navigational beacon for voyagers in ancient Egypt.

However, the passage of time was not kind to these wonders, with many damaged or destroyed by natural disasters or by humans. The only survivor on the list is the 4,600-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza, which once stood for thousands of years as the tallest manmade structure in the world.

While some of these wonders now only exist in history books and legends, a foundation called the New7Wonders sought to unite the world by honouring heritage across the globe and naming seven other sites the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. More than 100 million votes were cast worldwide, and a new list was born.

From the ancient Roman Colosseum in Italy to the grand and domineering presence of the Taj Mahal in India, the new seven wonders were chosen to become symbols that respect, honour, and celebrate the world’s cultural diversity.

Sometimes its harder to visit some sites than others. Conflict in the Middle East meant that for months, the UK government advised against non essential travel to Jordan, where the ancient settlement of Petra is found in the southwestern desert. A recent lifting of the travel advisory, however, means that travellers are free to visit this colossal structure once again.

To marvel at the seven wonders in the flesh, we have compiled the best travel tours to experience them for yourself.

The seven new wonders of the world and how to see them

1. Roman Colosseum, Italy

Found in the centre of Italy’s historic capital, Rome, the Colosseum remains one of the city’s most important monuments, representing thousands of years of history and a symbol of ancient Roman life and legacy. The Colosseum was built in the 1st century AD at the request of the Flavian dynasty emperors, becoming a venue for large spectacles, including animal hunts and gladiator battles. Like the games it used to hold, the amphitheatre remains a marvel that attracts droves of visitors from around the world every year.

How to do it

Trailfinders offers a four-day city break to Rome from £799 per person, depending on the departure date. The itinerary includes exploration of the city’s historic streets, piazzas and architectural wonders, visiting the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and the Pantheon Roman temple. The tour offers private return transfers from the airport, three nights in four-star accommodation, three breakfasts and a street food tour in Trastevere.

Find out more at trailfinders.com

Read more: I recreated my own Roman Holiday on a Vespa tour of Italy’s capital

2. Petra, Jordan

One of Jordan’s most prized national treasures is the ancient city of Petra, a half-built, half-rock-carved settlement that was an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. An industrious Arab people called the Nabataeans resided in Petra more than 2,000 years ago, and it then became a settlement for the Romans and the Byzantines. Now Petra stands as one of the most famous archaeological sites on the planet, giving visitors a glimpse of ancient Eastern tradition and Hellenistic architecture.

How to do it

Intrepid runs an eight-day trip through Jordan, starting and ending in the capital Amman (full of ancient ruins itself), journeying over to the Dead Sea before heading down to Petra to explore the archaeological site for two entire days, including an optional visit to the wonder by night. The itinerary also includes a trip further south down to Wadi Rum, a protected desert wilderness famous for its red sand dunes, which have drawn many a science fiction film director due to its likeness to Mars. The package includes meals, hotel accommodation, and arrival airport transfer, and can be booked from £1,748.

Find out more at intrepidtravel.com

Read more: Exploring Jordan beyond Petra – why it’s worth venturing outside the Golden Triangle

3. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

This 98-foot symbol of Christ was completed in 1931, having taken nine years to construct. Over 93 years later, Christ the Redeemer has become one of the most recognisable statues in the world, a key emblem of Rio De Janeiro’s landscape and a cultural icon for Brazil. While ideas for a Christian symbol to be built in Rio had been floated previously, it was not until a push from the Catholic Circle of Rio that the plan was put into action. The statue, made out of reinforced concrete with a soapstone veneer, was created by French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski and built by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, in collaboration with French engineer Albert Caquot, while Brazilian artist Carlos Oswald also helped with the design. The statue sits atop Corcovado Mountain overlooking the bustling city below, as many visitors each year continue to make the pilgrimage up the mountain to see Christ the Redeemer up close in all its grandeur.

How to do it

For a whistle-stop tour of some of the country’s best sights, Intrepid is offering an eight-day exploration of the best of Brazil. Starting in Rio De Janeiro, travellers will be able to soak up the lively atmosphere and breathtaking views this city has to offer, before moving on to three days of travelling around Paraty, traversing rainforest trails in the surrounding national park, heading out on a boat trip or visiting Trindade, which boasts some of Brazil’s best beaches. A trip to the largely untouched paradise of Ilha Grande is squeezed in before heading back to Rio de Janeiro for free time to hit up Copacabana beach, admire the peak of Sugarloaf Mountain and, of course, stand at the feet of Christ the Redeemer. This eight-day trip includes four breakfasts, hotel accommodations and transport. Prices start from £576.

Find out more at intrepidtravel.com

Read more:This Brazilian wildlife hotspot is cheaper than an African safari

4. Taj Mahal, India

One of the most spectacular mausoleums in the world, the Taj Mahal was built over the course of 17 years by the order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to keep the memory alive of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Made out of white marble and recognisable for its pronounced arches and striking domes, the Taj Mahal is situated on the banks of the Yamuna River and is thought of as one of the greatest architectural achievements of Indo-Islamic architecture. With the mausoleum completed in 1648, the grand structure has stood for over 300 years.

How to do it

Intrepid is running an eight-day tour of India’s Golden Triangle, a popular circuit that connects the cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. On this trip, you will be able to explore India’s Pink City, Jaipur, by visiting its bazaars and taking part in tours of the Palace of the Winds, the royal residence of City Palace, and Jantar Mantar, a giant stone observatory. The tour will then head to Agra, where travellers will be able to lay their eyes on the marvel that is the Taj Mahal, as well as a grand Mughal emperor’s marble tomb, Akbar’s Mausoleum. The tour will start and end with a trip around Delhi, visiting places such as Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, and busy marketplaces like Chandni Chowk. The price includes transport in and between cities and seven nights’ accommodation. Prices start from £480 per person.

Find out more at intrepidtravel.com

Read more: Why now is the perfect time to discover India’s most underrated city

5. Machu Picchu, Peru

This 15th-century Incan citadel, situated high in the heart of a mountain forest, has established itself as one of the most familiar and lasting legacies of the Inca Empire. The citadel was abandoned only a century after the Spaniards conquered the empire and was not publicly promoted again until 1911. Machu Picchu is embedded in a powerful landscape where the Peruvian Andes meet the Amazon Basin, with its structure cut naturally into the rocky slope and diverse flora and fauna meandering throughout the remains. It’s still unclear how important the role of this magnificent blend of the natural and manmade world played for the Incas, but on average, the site receives thousands of visitors a day to experience this wonder of the world first-hand.

How to do it

Intrepid offers various opportunities to hike the Inca Trail, but if travelling by other modes is best for you, company holds a nine-day experience through Peru, touring ancient Inca sites. The trip starts in the capital city, Lima, before heading over to Cusco, a remarkable mix of ancient ruins, colonial architecture and natural beauty. From there you will head over to Machu Picchu for a guided visit of this astonishing Incan citadel, traversing the many temples, astronomical artefacts and living quarters. The trip will end back in Lima, but not before a two-day excursion to Puno, located on the edge of Lake Titicaca, known for its folk heritage and traditional customs. The trip will include some meals, transport, accommodation and the Machu Picchu guided tour. Prices start from £1,535 per person.

Find out more at intrepidtravel.com.

Read more: The best cities and towns to visit in Peru, from Lima to Cusco

6. Chichén Itzá, Mexico

The sacred site of Chichén Itzá dates back to pre-Hispanic America, standing for over 1,000 years, and is one of the most prominent lasting symbols of the Mesoamerican Mayan civilisations. One of its most famous surviving buildings is El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcan, a step pyramid that dominates the centre of the archaeological site and is the tallest, standing at 98 feet tall. Throughout the ancient city, remnants of the Maya and Toltec civilisations can be seen within the stone monuments, constructions and artistic works it has left behind.

How to do it

Hop onto a five-day tour with Trailfinders, meandering through Mexico’s most famous Mayan sites and spending a few days in the vibrant city of Merida that reflects various historic ages, from colonial-era churches to museums honouring Mayan culture. On day two, you will rise early for a morning tour of Chichén Itzá tucked away in a dense rainforest, allowing you to immerse yourself in the history and importance of these ancient ruins. The rest of the tour allows you to stop by the ancient city of Uxmal, the Palace of Masks at Kabah and the Celestún Biosphere, home to thousands of pink flamingos. The tour includes a private vehicle and driver, four breakfasts, three lunches and four nights in hotel accommodation. Prices start from £1,585 per person.

Find out more at trailfinders.com

Read more: The best hotels in Mexico for design, beaches and all-out luxury

7. Great Wall of China, China

Over 13,000 miles long, the Great Wall of China is the largest manmade project in the world that spans over two thousand years of Chinese history. The wall first came into being when sections of earlier fortifications were connected in 220 BC to create a large, unified defence system against invasions in the north. The wall is a representation of collisions and exchanges between the agricultural and nomadic civilisations that lived in ancient China. The political and military landscape and technological advances in architecture of the time are immortalised in this powerful, grand structure. Construction of the wall continued up to the Ming dynasty in the 17th century, and it now stands as one of China’s greatest cultural symbols, embodying the continued labour over hundreds of years through different dynasties and historical periods.

How to do it

Intrepid runs a ‘China highlights’ trip over eight days starting in Shanghai and ending in Beijing, packing in some of the country’s most beautiful and culturally significant sites. During the trip there will be an walking tour of the Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area, Xi’an, known for being the imperial centre and start of the Silk Road, before arriving in Beijing via high-speed train. Travellers will then stay at a family-run guesthouse right near the Great Wall, allowing them to go for a short hike to the wall for an incredible sunset scene. A whole day will also be dedicated to the Wall, where you can explore the ancient wonder, learn about its history and take in the sprawling landscapes that surround it. The trip includes three breakfasts, transport and accommodation. Prices start at £1,062.

Find out more at intrepidtravel.com.

Read more: The Temple House, Chengdu, China, hotel review

Nowadays, the rural market town offers an array of unique businesses and affordable homes

It can be hard to imagine a life of commuting in a town without a railway station – and for many people, it is a reality. Driving seems the only viable way to travel around parts of the Fens.

One of those places is the market town of Ramsey, which once had two railway stations but now has none. They were called Ramsey North and Ramsey East.

Ramsey North was opened first, in July 1863, as the terminus of the Ramsey Railway – which connected the town to Holme on the Great Northern Railway (GNR).

It was acquired by the Great Eastern Railway (GER) in 1875, with plans to link it to another line to run from Somersham to Ramsey. The line was built but never connected and the Somersham line eventually terminated at Ramsey East.

Ramsey East opened in September 1889. It connected to Somersham via Warboys, with passengers able to change at Somersham to reach the line between St Ives and March.

The stations were given names to differentiate one from the other in 1923, after the two railway companies became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). Neither of the stations were especially popular.

Ramsey East closed to passengers in September 1930 and to freight traffic in September 1956. Ramsey North closed to passengers in October 1947, and to freight in December 1973.

The site of Ramsey East is now occupied by an industrial estate. There are also two housing developments nearby called Signal Road and The Sidings – likely named in memory of the former railways.

Nowadays, the rural market town of Ramsey is home to around 8,800 people, according to the 2021 census. It is a town full of history and beautiful surrounding countryside as well as an array of unique businesses, such as Crafty Ideas described by a customer as “a treasure chest of beautiful things”, and a “fabulous little coffee shop” called Ruby Cooper’s Coffee House.

House prices in Ramsey are relatively affordable. According to Rightmove, house prices had an overall average of £291,808 over the last year.

The majority of properties sold in the pretty town last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £365,375. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £263,087 and terraced properties fetched £169,500.

Multiple people were shot Saturday afternoon near a community street festival in Toledo, Ohio, police said.

Toledo police officers responded to a report of a person shot near the Old West End Festival at about 5:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found multiple shooting victims, the police department said in a statement.

Many victims have been taken to nearby hospitals, police said. Police did not provide further details on the injuries and how many people were shot.

Police are actively searching for suspects and the working to determine the circumstances of the shootings.

The Old West End Festival is a two-day celebration in Toledo’s historic district that includes live music, food vendors, home tours and shopping.

Sgt. Mohamad Nasser, a spokesman for the Toledo Police Department, said more information would be released shortly on the department’s Facebook and X accounts.

“I think I’m going to go with the Scottish, they’re our Celtic brothers, you know, I’m going to stick with them.”

Former One Direction star Niall Horan has said he will be supporting Scotland at this year’s World Cup.

The 32-year-old Irish singer who has just released his fourth studio album Dinner Party, was speaking ahead of his performance at Capital’s Summertime Ball on Saturday – during which he performed his old boyband’s song Steal My Girl.

When asked who he would support ahead of the start of the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada on Thursday, Horan told the Press Association: “I think I’m going to go with the Scottish, they’re our Celtic brothers, you know, I’m going to stick with them.”

In recent years, Horan has formed a close friendship with West Lothian superstar Lewis Capaldi. The pair bonded over social media when Niall reached out to Lewis in 2017 via a direct message to show his love for the song ‘Lost On You’.

Capaldi would go on to open for Niall during his 2018 tour before going on to co-star alongside his boy band pal in the 2022 documentary Niall Horan’s Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar, which followed them on a road trip across Ireland.

In 2024, during his show in Aberdeen’s P&J Live Arena, Horan was captured on camera waving around the Saltire flag.

One Direction formed in 2010, when they were put together by Simon Cowell on ITV talent show The X Factor.

One of the group’s members, Liam Payne, died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina in 2024, and the boyband’s surviving members, Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, reunited at his funeral with former manager, Cowell, in November that year.

They had four UK number one singles and four UK number one albums, and are best known for songs such as Story Of My Life, What Makes You Beautiful and Best Song Ever. Horan’s solo career was launched after he and his fellow One Direction band members went on hiatus in 2016, almost a year after Malik left the group.

He released his debut solo album, Flicker, in 2017, and the albums Heartbreak Weather in 2020 and The Show in 2023.

Speaking about this weekend’s Capital’s Summertime Ball, he described the day festival, which takes place annually at Wembley Stadium, as “a big part of my career for the last 15 years”.

Horan added: “Any opportunity I get to play at Jingle Bell Balls or Summertime Balls, it’s always amazing, and there’s not many companies that can pull off a gig of this size with the line-up that we have, so it’s a pleasure to be here.”

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