Rail replacement buses are now available to those facing disruption today, with services running in both directions between Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent, National Rail says.

The first bus is estimated to arrive at Crewe at 5pm, while in Stoke-on-Trent, the first bus is set to arrive at 4:45pm.

Former President Joe Biden has launched a fiery attack on President Donald Trump, dubbing his successor a “loser” for his ongoing beautification projects of the nation’s capital, some of which have become mired in controversy.

Biden was met with loud cheering as he listed Trump’s “vanity projects” during a speech at a state Democratic Party convention in Hanover, Maryland, Saturday evening.

“Tearing down the East Wing of the White House, making room for ‘his’ ballroom? Putting his name on the Kennedy Center. Building an arch in his own honor. Even hiring his own pool guy to fix the reflecting pool,” Biden said.

“Whoa, what a loser.”

The Trump administration has embarked on a long list of renovation projects including an effort to resurface and refurbish the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The project has ballooned to more than $16 million in costs amid persistent algae blooms and damage to the pool’s new spray-painted aqua blue coating, which the president and National Parks Service have blamed on vandalism.

Trump was also criticized for awarding a no-bid contract to his “pool guy” to resurface the Reflecting Pool which he initially estimated at $2 million in costs.

Videos and photos from the past two weeks have shown large chunks of the pool’s coating floating up to the surface in the murky, algae-stained waters. For days, workers were seen onsite dumping hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals into the water in attempts to fight the algae. Last weekend, a dead duckling was found in the pool amid the cleaning efforts.

At the event Saturday, Biden also slammed his White House successor over his “corruption” amid claims that Trump and his family have positioned themselves to make billions of dollars during his second term.

“He has no shame, and frankly it’s embarrassing for the country. But Trump? Trump could care less,” Biden said.

The former president urged Democrats to keep their energy and enthusiasm strong head of November’s midterms. “To all you who love our country, my message tonight is straightforward and simple: Get up, dammit. Get up now. Continue this fight!” he added.

In June, the Trump administration announced plans to build a walkway down to the Potomac River waterfront extending from the side of the Kennedy Center opposite the Reflecting Pool. The president described his plans for a “promenade” as honoring the supposed original intent of the Memorial’s architects. Cost estimates for that project have not yet been released.

Trump’s White House ballroom has produced perhaps the most jarring images of any of the president’s renovation projects with the flattening of the East Wing.

In March, President Donald Trump said his vast White House ballroom would cost $400 million and be funded entirely by private donations, noting: “We have no taxpayer putting up 10 cents.”

But weeks prior to these public remarks, the project’s contractor had warned the administration that total costs would reach $600 million — with at least half expected to be covered by taxpayers.

At the Kennedy Center, grey tarp and scaffolding now covers the building’s signage as a legal battle over the Center continues. Trump was previously ordered to remove his name from the structure after a judge ruled that only Congress has the authority to rename the building, and explicitly intended it to be a memorial for John F. Kennedy.

The judge overseeing the case ordered the administration last week to explain why the sign remains covered up, and the case remains in limbo for now.

Other beautification projects have been undertaken at parks and monuments around the city of Washington D.C. ahead of plans to celebrate America’s 250th birthday this summer, culminating in events around the July 4 holiday.

Many of those sites, such as D.C. iconic Union Station, now bear large banners touting the Trump administration’s focus on “cleaning up” D.C.

Story Homes has confirmed that surfacing works to roads and pathways at The Willows development, on Carmel Road South in Blackwell, are now complete.

The developer said it is now preparing to carry out landscaping works at the estate, with the programme currently indicating that the site could be finished in early September 2026.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

But residents are still hitting out at Story Homes, citing that they have “waited long enough” for these changes at the estate, where houses were first advertised for up to £750,000.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

One resident told The Northern Echo: “The time it’s taking developers to do this site is ludicrous.

“We just want to live on an estate that’s complete, that’s surely not that difficult?”

Construction of the 59-property development began around six years ago, but residents have previously raised repeated concerns over unfinished roads, pavements, lighting, drainage and public open spaces.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Last year, people living on the estate branded the site a “bomb site” and said a number of issues remained unresolved, despite some improvement works having taken place.

At the time, residents said they had been left dealing with uneven roads, unfinished paths and safety concerns, while some complained that the work had come “years too late”.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Story Homes has now said progress is continuing at the development, with work on roads and pathways virtually completed.

A spokesperson for Story Homes said: “We’re continuing to make progress at The Willows, with the surfacing works to the roads and pathways now complete.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“In relation to the landscaping works, we have appointed an ecological consultancy to secure the preferred ecological licensing route through a District Level Licence (DLL), ensuring compliance with our obligations for the protection of great crested newts.

“The licence is anticipated to be in place by late July 2026.

“Landscaping works will commence thereafter and are expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete, with the programme currently indicating completion in early September 2026.”

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Darlington Borough Council said it continues to work with developers across a number of housing developments to support the completion of roads, footways, public open spaces and other infrastructure before they can be considered for adoption by the authority.

A council spokesperson said: “We continue to work with developers across a number of housing developments to support the completion of roads, footways, public open spaces and other infrastructure required before these can be considered for adoption by the council.

“Until works are completed to the agreed standards and all relevant requirements have been met, responsibility for these areas remains with the developer.

“The council cannot formally adopt highways or other infrastructure until it is satisfied that the necessary standards have been achieved.

“We remain in regular dialogue with developers and will continue to work with them to help progress sites through the adoption process as quickly as possible.”

The stone barn sits just east of the listed farmhouse at Ricknall Grange Farm, near Preston-le-Skerne.

It has stood empty for some time and is no longer useful for modern farming, the applicants say.

Under the plans, the barn will be repaired and turned into a three-bedroom house for private use.

The work will keep the main shape and character of the old building, with new slate and pantile roofs and careful repairs to the stone walls.

Extra sheds and large extensions will not be allowed without further permission, so the setting stays rural and simple.

To protect wildlife, new bat and bird boxes will be fitted, and outside lighting will be strictly controlled.

An electric car charging point must be installed before anyone moves in.

One key part of the permission is a promise to set aside nearby farmland and plant it with scrub and trees.

Farming will stop on that small plot for at least 100 years, to help cut pollution reaching protected coastal sites downstream.

The council says the plan will save a historic farm building, add one new home, and keep the local countryside largely unchanged.

There is major rail disruption this afternoon including on services to Manchester after a person was tragically struck by a train.

There is disruption to services between Stoke-on-Trent and Macclesfield today (Sunday June 28), with lines closed currently while emergency services attend to the scene.

It is impacting East Midlands Railway (EMR), Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry services including those to Manchester Piccadilly. Disruption is expected until at least 6pm.

It was confirmed by East Midlands Railway on X that their services were impacted due to someone being hit by a train on the line. No other details have been confirmed.

A CrossCountry spokesperson said: “Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between Stafford and Stockport some lines are blocked. Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or diverted.”

This is a live blog. Updates to follow below.

A specialist team of British crisis-response volunteers are assisting in the operation in Venezuela where more than 1,400 people have now been confirmed dead following the quakes

Footage captures the incredible moment a newborn baby pulled out alive from beneath the rubble of a collapsed building following two earthquakes in Venezuela.

The nation has been rocked by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, which struck on Wednesday, as more than 1,400 people have now been confirmed dead and more than 70,000 are reported missing.

But tales of hope have emerged amid the devastation, including the rescue of children trapped under rubble. A newborn baby was even pulled free of debris some 32 hours after the first earthquake, and their mother was also lifted free several hours later.

Video shared on social media shows crowds cheering and clapping as a young man weeps with joy and hugs the child close. The baby was carried out — wrapped in a pink blanket — from the remains of a damaged house in the city of La Guaira.

Engineers and other experts said the back-to-back earthquakes on Wednesday were among the most intense to hit the country in more than a century, collapsing buildings. La Guaira, in northern Venezuela, was one of the worst hit regions and has been declared a disaster zone.

But locals there were shocked as the baby was rescued from the rubble. Rescuers were also in tears after an 11-year-old boy was pulled alive from under debris in the disaster zone. At this sight, one visibly emotional man said: “[We are] working together with love, because life is the important thing we have.”

The first earthquake hit northern Venezuela at a strength of 7.2 magnitude and the second – just 39 seconds later – struck the region at a 7.5 magnitude level.

Marcos Ferreira, a geophysicist and researcher at the Geological Survey of Brazil, said the destruction in Venezuela was compounded by the back-to-back quakes, known as a doublet. A similar incident took place in Turkey and Syria in 2023, killing almost 60,000 people.

The expert said: “It is as if I am screaming and then someone starts screaming, too. That amplifies the vibration and adds to the potential hazard.”

International rescue teams have poured into Venezuela to aid the hunt for survivors with the UK government sending £2million in humanitarian aid.

Seventeen flights carrying more than 1,600 foreign rescuers have landed in Venezuela in recent days. The first 48 to 72 hours are critical for saving lives – but locals say the government has mobilised too slowly.

A woman moved thousands of miles to be closer to the ITV star several years ago

The Chase star Anne Hegerty has said that ‘it was like Baby Reindeer’ after a woman moved to Manchester to be closer to her.

Known as ‘The Governess’, the 67-year-old quizzer has been working on the Bradley Walsh programme since 2010. The series sees a group of strangers having to take on the chaser in hopes of winning prize money.

According to statistics, Anne is the most successful out of all the chasers, including Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace and Paul Sinha. Appearing in over 500 episodes, Anne has managed to beat the contestants on over 400 occasions.

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Away from The Chase, Anne was a contestant on the 2018 series of the ITV reality show I’m a Celebrity. She was the fifth famous face eliminated in the series which was ultimately won by former football manager Harry Redknapp.

Anne has been a long-time resident of Manchester, having moved to the city in the 1980s. She initially worked in the city centre as a journalist before becoming a household name on The Chase.

Speaking to The Sun in a new interview, Anne revealed that a woman moved hundreds of miles to be closer to her. The incident occurred in 2012 when she became friends with a woman from London.

“There was a woman who I was being friendly with and got her wires crossed and the next thing I knew she packed up her home in London and moved to Manchester to live three streets away.

“I gradually fended her off and she got the message. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but I have to be careful with people who I befriend.

“Nobody knew who we were at first, I was trying to be nice. But people can overstep, especially if you’re not used to having to set boundaries. It was similar to Baby Reindeer, but not as bad,” she said.

Despite fearing that things may have gone too far, Anne confirmed that she is still friends with the woman on Facebook. For those who haven’t seen it, Baby Reindeer is one of streaming giant Netflix’s most successful ever original shows.

Premiering back in 2024, the series was created and starred Richard Gadd. Based on Richard’s life, the series followed aspiring comedian Donny Dunne (Gadd) as he attempts to deal with a woman (Jessica Gunning) who begins stalking him after a single act of kindness.

Fans praised it for how it handled themes of sexuality, abuse, identity and mental health. Baby Reindeer won six Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Lead Actor for Richard, and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Jessica.

Meanwhile, Anne broke down how much she and her fellow Chasers get paid for their work on the ITV series. With ITV recently pausing filming for a year due to having many episodes already recorded, Anne noted that she and her co-stars get paid per appearance.

“I won’t make money from the daytime Chase for a year. But the thing is I’ve got money in the bank and I’m doing panto again so I’ll be fine,” she noted.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission.

The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver.

NASA hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe’s biggest explosions. A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific’s Marshall Islands aboard an airplane-launched Pegasus rocket. Liftoff could occur as early as Tuesday.

Scanning the cosmos since its launch in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent intense solar activity. It needs to get to a higher, more stable orbit as soon as possible to survive.

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope — also at risk — could be next.

Like Swift, Hubble is losing altitude as the sun erupts with one flare after another. Katalyst Space CEO Ghonhee Lee said his company’s next-generation robot, still in development, could save the day for the much bigger Hubble in a couple years.

Only China has attempted a mission like the upcoming one, successfully boosting a satellite into a higher graveyard orbit four years ago.

“This is the first American space robot to go up and do anything like this,” Lee told The Associated Press. “NASA has all these big senior observatories … all of them can benefit from a service like this. So what we’re proving with this mission is this is a new play in the playbook that’s available.”

It will take Katalyst’s autonomous spacecraft, named Link, about a month to rendezvous with Swift and catch it, and another couple months to raise its orbit from the current 224 miles (360 kilometers) to the desired 373 miles (600 kilometers).

The 1.6-ton (1.4-metric ton) gamma ray observatory must be above 185 miles (300 kilometers) for the rescue to work. It’s expected to reach that point of no return in October, according to the latest estimates.

Roughly the size of a small kitchen refrigerator with a 40-foot (12-meter) solar wingspan, Link sports three arms with a reach of just over 3 feet (1 meter). Each arm has two finger-like pinching grippers that resemble the hands of a Lego mini figure.

If all goes well, Swift could be back in business by September, according to Lee.

Worth hundreds of millions of dollars, Swift was never designed to be repaired, let alone retrieved by hands — human or otherwise. That’s what makes this so challenging, according to company officials, who stress there is no guarantee it will work.

NASA signed a contract with Katalyst last September with only two requests: It has to be a rush job, but please don’t make things worse. Nine months later, the company is ready to rumble.

“I have to be honest. No one thought it was going to be possible. No one thought we would get as far as we’ve already gotten today,” said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, NASA’s astrophysics director.

NASA has bought a little more time for Swift, turning off all scientific instruments to slow its descent. Observations ceased in February.

NASA’s science mission chief Nicky Fox said it’s worth the effort.

“If we let Swift reenter, we would lose that telescope. We would lose a lot of capability,” she said. “We don’t currently have the budget to build another one to replace that.”

While everything cannot be saved in space, Swift is special, said Domagal-Goldman.

True to its name, Swift is designed to pivot quickly to capture late-breaking astronomical events such as gamma ray bursts and exploding stars. With more discoveries expected by the Webb Space Telescope and soon-to-launch Roman Space Telescope, Swift, if saved, would be busier than ever as “NASA’s first responder.”

Katalyst sees Swift as the jumping-off point for a new repair business in space. The company’s next-generation robotic rescuer, scheduled to fly next year, will tackle satellites as high as 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) up. Lee envisions hundreds of robots in orbit one day, not only fixing and hoisting satellites but also refueling them and building solar farms, data centers and other platforms.

Thirty-six-year-old Hubble, which received repeat servicing by spacewalking astronauts during the shuttle era, could follow in 2028 with a life-extending Katalyst boost.

“It’s a national treasure,” Fox said. “People love Hubble.”

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This story corrects spacecraft name to Link.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.