NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have unearthed communities of marine life — including jellyfish, tubeworms and brittle stars — thriving on a millions-year-old whale graveyard.

These graveyards form when whale carcasses fall to the sea floor, becoming a sustaining snack for nearby critters. This one, located up to 23,000 feet (7 kilometers) below the surface of the southeastern Indian Ocean, spans the largest area and is so far the deepest and oldest found.

A whale’s sheer size and the unique chemistry of its bones are the keys to forming these unique underwater neighborhoods, said Xikun Song, a biologist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering.

“At the same time, the very nature of the deep ocean makes these sites exceptionally difficult for scientists to locate,” Song, who was involved with the latest find, wrote in an email.

Researchers explored the remains during multiple deep-sea submersible trips in 2023, collecting samples and mapping the extent of the necropolis. They found five carcass sites and fossils, including skulls belonging to beaked and baleen whales. The oldest bones date back 5.3 million years.

Feeding and living on the carcasses were myriad creatures, large and small, including sea cucumbers, squat lobsters and saltwater clams. Many of them are likely species that have never been documented, according to findings published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

“The potential number of specimens is just astounding,” said paleontologist Stephen Godfrey with the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland, who wasn’t involved in the research.

Many factors likely conspired to preserve the bones for millions of years, according to the study authors. They’re dense enough to outlast attacks from bone-eating worms, and located deep enough in the ocean to avoid getting buried by dust and loose particles. The bones also were coated with a light layer of minerals from the surrounding seawater, which may have prevented them from degrading.

Why did so many whales die here? Maybe they were already living in the area and died of natural causes. A few could have perished from exhaustion or illness caused by deep-sea diving. The area’s shape, akin to the letter V, could also have funneled the remains to their resting spot, the authors wrote.

Such discoveries are important because they clue scientists into the vibrant communities that find a way even in remote, hard-to-reach environments.

Studying the whale graveyards “is important for understanding how life can adapt to such extreme conditions, not only due to the lack of light and oxygen but also to the incredibly high pressure,” said study co-author and paleontologist Giovanni Bianucci with the University of Pisa in Italy in an email.

___

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.

Residents have voiced frustration over delays, traffic and communication from Cambridge Water

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Cambridgeshire Live readers have expressed their fusturation over a burst water main and subsequent road closure, voicing concerns about delays, congestion, and poor communication.

A ruptured water main in Cambridge has forced a road to close for emergency repairs. The burst pipe on Queen Edith’s Way was initially reported to Cambridge Water on the evening of Friday, 5 June, when it appeared as a sizeable puddle.

Throughout the weekend, the leak grew significantly worse. Residents subsequently highlighted concerns about a “potentially serious traffic incident risk” due to the “major rupture” flooding into the middle of the carriageway. The road has remained shut since Saturday, 6 June.

Cambridge Water has stated that repair work was “delayed due to difficulties accessing a valve”. The repair is now underway, but to complete the work, the road is expected to stay closed for the coming week.

One reader, Amyalan1958, comments: “Could not access a valve surely after all the billions you have made, Cambridge water you should have had a few in stock just in case!”

Whynot2 says: “If the valve that they are trying to access was sitting on a shelf, the repair would be nearly done, but the valve is either under the water or under a ton or two of debris or both.”

Freddly writes: “My advice to Cambridge Water is to take their time over this repair. Most of the journeys on Queen Edith’s Way are Deliveroo cars ferrying milkshakes, plus the odd trout-pouter taking the daughter to school in the princess carriage. Hopefully, the traffic on Cherry Hinton Road will be heavy enough to make a few drivers think twice about their journey.”

Rhodabike says: “As a result of the closure, motorists should be aware that traffic has been heavier than usual along Fulbourn Road and Cherry Hinton Road. Yes, this is exactly what happens when you close roads: other roads inevitably suffer from displaced traffic, and cars don’t evaporate. This reality is entirely contrary to what the anti-car campaigners keep telling us.”

Over on our Facebook page, Delbert B comments: “At least that bit will get a new tarmac coat for Christmas.”

Koce P writes: “Some unavoidable new tarmac coming, the only way to get any resurfacing done recently.”

Dale L says: “Even without road closures for maintenance, Cambridge traffic is often congested. Road closures only exacerbate the situation in the surrounding area.”

Vincent P adds: “The water main that busted on Queen Edith Road happened on Saturday. The water company didn’t start work until Monday, three days if they started on Saturday, it would’ve been opened on Monday.”

Craig S writes: “Now that the elections have passed and the usual crowd are in control, normal behaviour resumes. Closing roads is the ultimate goal, and this helps serve it.”

Raymond C asks: “Why don’t you tell us in advance which road is closed so we can go round, or doesn’t that suit your plans to mess up any chance of people moving in cars and vans?”

Graham B mentions: “All fenced off for safety and not a workman in sight. Typically, it will probably be fenced off for days before a workman will be seen. Just keep inconveniencing motorists.”

Darren S says: “The water company will leave the leak for 2 weeks, wasting water, then just add the concrete to the customer’s bill.”

Are you surprised at how long it will take to fix the burst water pipe? Comment below or HERE to have your say.

Taylor Swift made a high-profile appearance at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, attending Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

The iconic arena has recently garnered significant attention as a potential venue for her much-anticipated wedding to Travis Kelce.

Swift was seated courtside, sporting a blue T-shirt emblazoned with “Stevie Knicks” in orange lettering. She was accompanied by singers Este and Alana Haim, who also showcased Knicks-themed attire, wearing shirts that read “Knickole Kidman” and “Knickleback,” respectively.

Less than a year after their engagement announcement last August, reports regarding Swift and Kelce’s impending nuptials have intensified.

TMZ and Page Six recently started insisting Swift and Kelce will marry at the Garden in early July, despite their close connections to everywhere from Kansas City, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee, to Cleveland and Rhode Island.

Swift and the Haim sisters were among several celebrities in the house, including regulars like Ben Stiller and Spike Lee. Swift and Kelce attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Cavaliers, not far from where the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is from in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

This is the latest sporting event for Swift, who along with Kelce also attended a game during the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final a year ago in Sunrise, Florida.

The Madison Square Garden wedding reports remain unconfirmed, and a spokesperson for Swift has not responded to The Associated Press’ requests for comment about the wedding plans. The arena’s calendar of upcoming events lists nothing from June 29-July 6.

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Swift first performed at Madison Square Garden in 2009, during her “Fearless” tour, and she celebrated her 30th birthday at the arena 10 years later as part of iHeartRadio’s “Jingle Ball.” She has since graduated to larger venues when she swings through the New York area; her Eras tour shows were just across the river at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Kane’s status as captain, talisman and main marksman is illustrated very simply by his all-time record of 79 goals in 114 England games.

And yet, at 32, he continues to add strings to his bow in a fashion that now makes him the complete player.

In Orlando, there was further evidence that Tuchel has effectively given Kane a roving commission to link, create and score – all tasks he performs superbly.

In the first half, there was even the sight of Kane picking the ball up in England’s own penalty area as they played out from the back, linking comfortably with his defenders.

And then, as half-time approached, he produced a stunning pass with the inside of his right foot from a deep position, taking out four Costa Rica defenders to find Anthony Gordon, who thought he had won a penalty only for the decision to be overturned after a video assistant referee review.

Tuchel’s willingness to allow Kane to roam freely, as he does for Bayern Munich, adds an intriguing layer to the German’s strategy.

It is clear that Kane possesses the natural game intelligence – described as “uncoachable” by former England striker Chris Sutton – to not only create but also still arrive with perfect timing in attacking positions.

Kane’s range of passing and vision enables him to find runners like Gordon or Saka, as well as Bellingham and Rogers when they make their trademark surges.

It may just give Tuchel and England an X-factor if they drive deep into the World Cup and have to unlock superior opposition.

No wonder Tuchel is reluctant to leave Kane out, even for a friendly, so central is he to his plans.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After a decade of roiling South Carolina and national politics, Rep. Nancy Mace finished a distant fifth in her state’s Republican primary for governor, leaving an uncertain future for one of the nation’s unabashed politicians.

Her campaign mirrored her whipsaw career. Mace courted the support of President Donald Trump after harshly criticizing him over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She emphasized her fights with other Republicans to release files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

In the final days before Tuesday’s primary, she called for a law to prevent anyone not born in the U.S. from holding political office or serving as a judge. She suggested that Rom Reddy, another candidate for governor, wasn’t qualified because he was a naturalized citizen whose mother was from India and father from Italy.

“I didn’t come out of a slum in India,” Mace said during an appearance in Greenville County this month. “I am born and made here in America.”

By the end of her campaign, she was only making sporadic public appearances. She struggled to raise money and had no presence on television. Mace mostly communicated through social media — a place she has used to her advantage since first being elected to the South Carolina House in 2017.

Mace didn’t give an indication of her next plans in her concession speech Tuesday night, although she posted Wednesday on social media that she was “headed back to the private sector” at the end of her current House term. She is backing Alan Wilson in the runoff for governor, even though just last year she accused Wilson of protecting child sex abuse defendants.

“When children needed him to act, Wilson looked the other way,” she said.

Wilson will face Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the runoff on June 23. Evette received Trump’s endorsement, spurring Mace to lash out on social media.

“Pamela Evette is NOT ENDORSED by DONALD TRUMP,” Mace wrote, incorrectly. “Do not believe her LIES.” Mace posted an AI-generated image of herself posing with Trump.

Where does Mace stand with Trump?

Mace’s history with Trump goes back a decade, and, like many Republicans, it’s had its ups and downs.

She worked as a field director on Trump’s 2016 campaign, and he endorsed her first congressional run in 2020, albeit after she won the Republican nomination.

But their rapport fractured as soon as Mace got to Washington. After the freshman House member sought to hold Trump accountable for Jan. 6 and said his “entire legacy” had been “wiped out,” he labeled Mace as “crazy” and solicited primary challengers to take her on. Trump endorsed and campaigned for one of them, but Mace — with future Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita as her media consultant — won anyway, and Trump went on to support her general election bid.

As Trump sought to return to the White House in 2024, Mace didn’t endorse him over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley until a day before the New Hampshire primary.

Mace lauded Trump during a primetime Republican National Convention speech and, after winning her own reelection, branded herself as “Trump in high heels” during the early days of her gubernatorial campaign.

But another fracture was on the horizon. This spring, while angling for Trump’s endorsement, Mace was among several Republicans who joined congressional Democrats to force the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump went on to back Evette, saying she had “never wavered” in her support of him. Evette had endorsed Trump early in the 2024 campaign.

Four congressional Republicans were part of the initial group pushing for a discharge petition forcing the files’ release. Mace and Rep. Thomas Massie lost their races, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January.

In a lengthy statement posted after her Tuesday loss, Mace said she had “taken on the rich and powerful in both parties” and “voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that.”

From Waffle House to The Citadel to Congress

Mace dropped out of high school and worked as a server at the Waffle House before getting her diploma. She later attended The Citadel and became the first woman to graduate from the state’s military academy. And in recent years, she talked about the importance of defending victims of sexual assault and shared stories of being raped as a teen.

After her political career began in the South Carolina House, Mace got wide praise from Republicans in 2020 for winning back a U.S. House seat around Charleston that had flipped to Democrats for one term.

“For those folks that are out there today that maybe weren’t with us yesterday, I’m asking for a chance — a chance to prove to you that I will be a compassionate leader, a good listener, an independent thinker,” Mace said then.

___

Kinnard reported from Washington. Bill Barrow contributed from Atlanta.

A family-friendly estate has been forced to close due to a water outage “beyond its control”

A popular attraction in Cambridgeshire has been forced to shut on Wednesday (June 10) due to a water outage. Owned by the National Trust, Wimpole Estate, near Arrington, has closed today due to a regional water outage “beyond its control,” they say.

The reopening time has not yet been confirmed and visitors have been advised to refer to its website for further updates.

In a statement warning visitors of the closure, a spokesperson for the estate said: “We greatly regret having to close Wimpole Estate today, 10th June. Due to a regional water outage this is beyond our control.

“We apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment that this may have caused. Please refer to the website about future reopening times.”

Wimpole Estate offers an impressive 17th-century mansion, an extensive garden and parkland with an array of wildlife to explore, an in-hand farm and a cafe known as The Old Rectory.

Visitors also regularly follow pathways around the countryside before ending up at The Old Rectory for some lunch. Its terrace even overlooks the garden.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a bill into law on Wednesday that gives his immigration and deportation agenda a nearly $70 billion boost for the rest of his time in the White House.

The bill provides $38 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $26 billion for the Border Patrol. An additional $5 billion would cover unforeseen costs, according to the White House.

Trump signed the legislation in the Oval Office a day after House Republicans pushed the measure through by a 214-212 vote over the objections of Democrats. His signature ended a nearly six-month fight over Department of Homeland Security funding that began with shooting deaths of deaths of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, in January during federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.

Democrats began demanding changes to immigration enforcement after the shootings, creating an impasse — and resulting in the longest agency in history — that ultimately led Republicans to go it alone on the funding.

The agencies will be funded through the next three years. The new law front-loads routine annual funding, ensuring a virtually uninterrupted flow of money as the Trump administration seeks to deport some 1 million people per year.

The legislation had become sidetracked over $1 billion for White House security, including for Trump’s new ballroom, and a $1.8 billion fund to compensate his allies who claim to be victims of political prosecution. Both proposals became politically toxic and were scrapped.

The bill as passed focused exclusively on immigration enforcement, a topic that Republicans have treated as a defining issue between the two major political parties and one the GOP hopes will carry it to victory in November’s midterm elections.

Chris Blundell, director of Harrogate-based Providence Collection, makes his remarks announcing the company’s latest annual results, which have just been posted on Companies House.

During the year to August 2025, the company generated turnover of £3.9 million, representing an increase of 1.0% compared to prior year.

Gross profit increased by 8.2%, from £1,291,293 to £1,396,993.

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In comments dated May 28 2026, Mr Blundell said this reflected “improved cost control and operational efficiencies.”

The operating loss reduced by 7.6% year-on-year from £716,659 to £674,643.

The loss before taxation dropped from £1,393,212 to £1,279,440.

Mr Blundell continued: “Significant increases in labour costs and business rates were countered by both improvements in operational efficiencies as well as controlling overhead costs.

“In the coming year, the estate will be streamlined to ensure profitability going forward.”

The company has just announced the sale of The Black Bull at Moulton, The Punch Bowl at Marton-cum-Grafton and The Cleveland Tontine near Northallerton.

Mr Blundell also warned: “The group operates in a dynamic sector that is subject to a range of external and internal risks. The economic environment remains a significant factor, with hospitality businesses being particularly sensitive to inflationary pressures, fluctuations in interest rates, and shifts in consumer spending habits.

“Labour market conditions also continue to pose challenges. Recruiting and retaining skilled personnel, especially in rural locations, is increasingly difficult, with wage inflation and staffing shortages contributing to operational pressures.

“The full year impact of the increases to Employers National Insurance will impact ability to recruit and availability of staff.”

Over the year to August 2025, staffing decreased from 115 to 110.

Mr Blundell continued: “Regulatory changes also present a level of uncertainty, as the business must remain compliant with evolving legislation concerning health and safety, licensing, and employment.

“Seasonal variations and unpredictable weather further influence trading performance, particularly for rural sites that rely on tourism and local events.”

He added:” To manage and mitigate these risks, the group is focused on sound financial management, operational resilience, and the continued investment in team development and customer service. These measures aim to ensure the business remains agile and well-positioned for sustainable growth.”

Do you agree with Chris Blundell? What can government do to help our pubs and hotels? Is it to blame for any of these problems? Let us know in the comments below.

Crews from Malton, Sherburn and Pickering responded to the incident at 12.05pm on Scarborough Road in Rillington.

The A64 through the village was also closed while crews dealt with the fire.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “Fire crews extinguished the fire which had spread to the house interior, ventilated the heavily smoke logged premises and gave oxygen therapy to the occupier until the arrival of an ambulance.

“A fire investigation team was also dispatched.”

A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday ordered California socialite Rebecca Grossman to pay $21 million in punitive damages to the parents of two young brothers who died when her car struck them in a hit-and-run collision in 2020.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson must also pay $1.17 million in punitive damages.

That is in addition to the $176 million in damages for wrongful death and emotional distress that jurors ordered Grossman and Erickson to pay parents Nancy and Karim Iskander last week, after finding them negligent in the deaths of Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8.

“This verdict sends a clear message that everyone must be held accountable when their selfish actions put innocent lives at risk,” Brian Panish, the Iskander family’s attorney, said in a statement Wednesday.

Erickson’s attorney, Jeff Braun, said they respected the verdict.

“In the coming days, we will review the verdict with our client and discuss the appropriate path forward,” Braun said in a statement. “Today, however, our focus is on acknowledging the extraordinary loss the Iskander family has endured. We extend our sincere condolences to them and continue to keep them in our thoughts.”

Grossman’s attorney, Esther Holm, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Grossman was sentenced in 2024 to serve 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run driving in a separate criminal trial. She is a co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation and the wife of a prominent burn doctor.

The boys’ parents also filed lawsuits in civil court against both Grossman and Erickson, who was driving ahead of her when the Iskander brothers were killed. That trial began in April.

The deadly crash occurred on the evening of Sept. 29, 2020, in Westlake Village, a city on the western edge of Los Angeles County.

Panish, the Iskander family’s attorney, argued that Grossman and Erickson were both driving recklessly after drinking margaritas together. The two were dating at a time when Grossman and her husband were separated.

Panish said Grossman was driving 73 mph (117 kph) when her car struck the boys in a crosswalk on a road where the posted speed limit was 45 mph (72 kph).

He said Grossman was following Erickson, who was also speeding and narrowly missed the family.

Holm, Grossman’s attorney, denied that her client was intoxicated. She said Grossman was distracted when she saw the boys’ mother dive out of the way of Erickson’s vehicle.

Braun, Erickson’s attorney, called the boys’ deaths a tragedy but emphasized that the vehicle he was driving “made no contact with the children.”