New York has been hit by heavy floods ahead of the World Cup final, leaving hundreds of fans at risk of missing the showdown, as the United States battles the conditions for one final time this tournament.

Spain and Argentina will face off in the final of the competition this evening, with the game to be held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, roughly five miles from New York City. 

Much of the focus at the tournament has been on the weather, with France and England both seeing games delayed due to nature – be it extreme heat or lightning warnings.

And, for one final time, doubt has been cast over the kick-off time of the final this evening, which is set for 3pm ET (8pm BST).

The streets of New York were flooded on the eve of the tournament’s finale, with heavy rain causing mayhem. Cars were submerged and pedestrians were seen walking through chest-high water.

Between two and four inches of rain are said to have fallen, with a tornado warning also issued. 

A motorist said they waited up to 20 minutes for flood water near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to recede before driving through

A flood watch covering eastern Bergen County, where MetLife is located, northeastern New Jersey and New York City remained in effect until 2am Sunday.

Although the heaviest rain had moved south and east by late Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service warned that further storms could produce rainfall rates of one to two inches per hour.

The final showstopper between Spain and Argentina will be able to go ahead unaffected – but many fans may miss out. 

While the worst of the horrific weather had passed by Sunday morning, leaving blue skies in its wake, the torrential conditions of the previous day left mayhem in its wake. 

The dangerous conditions caused further turmoil at the region’s three major airports wreaking havoc for the thousands descending on New York and New Jersey where 80,000 fans are expected to fill MetLife Stadium for Sunday’s final. 

Hundreds of flights into the New York area from across the United States were rocked by delays, or worse, cancellations as the downpours compounded travel problems. 

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered multiple ground stops at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark, until at least 5pm ET on Saturday due to the thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway was flooded, leaving drivers stranded on the washed-out roadway. Many sought safety on the roofs or bonnets of their vehicles as the water in some areas rose as high as car windows.

Former England goalkeeper and BBC pundit showed off the conditions on social media

An FDNY fire truck was captured wading through the flooding – the water almost reaching its windscreen – to rescue the drivers. Firefighters assisted New Yorkers slowly inch their way along a ledge to dry land. 

There had been calls to move the World Cup final and, while conditions are starting to improve, severe thunderstorm warnings remain for parts of New Jersey.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani posted on social media: ‘Don’t risk your safety in these dangerous conditions. – Exercise caution while traveling.

‘Take public transit whenever possible. Never walk, bike, or drive through floodwaters. No destination is worth risking your safety.’

It is understood, however, that there are hopes there will be no delay to tonight’s proceedings.

The downpours presented a lone benefit with the deluge of rain expected to help clear Canadian wildfire smoke from the air.

An air-quality health advisory remained in effect across New York City until midnight Saturday after fine-particle pollution pushed the Air Quality Index above 100.

Meteorologists interviewed by the Associated Press said the storms should improve air quality from unhealthy to moderate before kickoff.

The final will be held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, roughly five miles from New York

Hundreds of Argentina descended on Times Square once the torrential rain had cleared 

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On Saturday, New York residents received an alert from the National Weather Service, branding conditions ‘a life threatening situation’.

It read: A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for this area until 3.30pm EDT,’ it read.

‘This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.’

The New York Yankees’ baseball game against the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium was cancelled on Saturday due to the weather, but it is set to be rescheduled for this afternoon.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has been working as a pundit for BBC throughout the tournament, has been in New York and highlighted the struggles prior to kick-off.

Hart and the likes of Wayne Rooney had been based in Salford until the BBC opted to end their work from home World Cup ahead of England’s semi-final defeat by Argentina.

‘Weather’s absolutely banging here. Shoes are off, trainers are ruined’, Hart said in a video he shared to Instagram. He could be seen walking in heavy rain, drenched.

Argentina’s training session was delayed by 45 minutes on Saturday, while Spain’s flight from Kansas to New York was also delayed.

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And its reputation stretches far beyond the Yorkshire Dales that surround it.

A pub with mining in its bones

The building dates back to the 17th century, when it served as a hostelry for workers digging the local coal pits – a history reflected in its earlier name, The Kings Pit.

Some accounts trace mining activity here back even further, potentially to the 12th century, when the inferior-quality coal was worked before the pits closed and the surrounding miners’ cottages were demolished, leaving the pub standing alone on the fell.

That isolation, once a byproduct of industrial decline, is now the pub’s entire identity: its closest neighbours are more than four miles away, and the nearest town is over ten.

(Image: Supplied)

Genuinely off the grid

The Tan Hill generates its own electricity and draws water from a spring discovered by a water diviner using hazel twigs — everything else, including fuel for the generator, has to be physically brought “up the hill”.

It sits almost exactly at the halfway point of the Pennine Way, Britain’s longest inland footpath, which is why walkers, cyclists and “van life” travellers treat it as a genuine bucket-list stop rather than just a passing pub.

(Image: Supplied)

The night the world was watching

Tan Hill’s global reputation was cemented in late November 2021, when Storm Arwen cut power lines and blocked the only road in, trapping a Friday-night crowd who’d come for an Oasis tribute band for an unplanned three-day lock-in.

Stranded guests swapped phone numbers and made plans to reunite the following year, and the story was picked up by media worldwide — turning a snowed-in pub in the Dales into an unlikely global talking point.

It’s happened again since: 23 guests and staff, including a four-year-old child, were stranded for five days during a snow storm in early 2025.

More than just a drink

Tan Hill was the first pub in the country to be licensed for wedding ceremonies, and it hosts the Tan Hill Swaledale Sheep Show every May, a tradition which has been going for more than 70 years.

It holds a place in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide for its selection of real ales, and its live music nights – an open mic on Thursdays, full gigs in the on-site barn at weekends — have made it as much a cultural fixture as a wayside stop.

Even its name has deep roots: Tan Hill is believed to derive from the Celtic “Tan Heol,” or “hill of fire,” referring to beacon pyres once lit here to mark the solstice.

Matty Healy has officially said ‘I do’ as the rocker wed his model girlfriend Gabbriette Bechtel in a glamorous Hollywood ceremony on Saturday.

The 37-year-old music artist, who had a brief fling with Taylor Swift back in 2023, was surrounded by A-list guests and family during the special milestone which took place at Castillo del Lago, a residence previously owned by Madonna.

A source exclusively told the Daily Mail that the lovebirds tied the knot underneath the Hollywood sign just as the sun began to set.

Celebrity guest cheering on the newlyweds included Charli XCX, actress Emily Ratajkowski, model Alex Consani and Healy’s The 1975 bandmates.

The insider said the bride walked down the aisle wearing ‘a beautiful white dress and they kissed at exactly 7 o’clock’. 

The reception also took place at the property, with Healy entertaining his guests and new wife by performing a set with The 1975. 

Healy and Bechtel were surrounded by A-list guests and family during the special milestone, which took place at Castillo del Lago, a residence previously owned by Madonna

The Daily Mail has reached out to reps of Healy and Bechtel for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

Bechtel could be seen wearing a voluminous white dress with a sweetheart neckline and sculpted bodice with ruffled long sleeves. 

The full skirt of the gown fell into an intricately embroidered train. And the bride wore a sheer, white veil over her dark locks. 

Ruffled details were added along the neckline and cuffs to add an elegant flare to the dress. 

The British-born singer wore a classic black tuxedo for the big day, paired with a white dress shirt and black bowtie. For a final touch, pinned to his lapel was white corsage. 

As guests looked on, the couple exchanged vows and then, as Healy dramatically leaned his bride back, he kissed his bride in a tender, romantic gesture. 

The insider also said that the rehearsal dinner took place at Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood on Friday. 

A separate source told the Daily Mail that the couple ‘work really well together’ and are ‘absolutely in love with each other.’

The insider said that the bride walked down the aisle wearing ‘a beautiful white dress and they kissed at exactly 7 o’clock’

Celebrity guest cheering on the newlyweds included Charli XCX (pictured at the wedding), actress Emily Ratajkowski, model Alex Consani and Healy’s The 1975 bandmates

A source told the Daily Mail that the couple ‘work really well together’ and are ‘absolutely in love with each other’

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‘The right person came along that made him want to settle down,’ the source continued. ‘It’s not surprising – they’re such a good fit that it makes sense.’ 

The insider said that Bechtel is ‘the whole package’. 

Bechtel, who goes by the mononym Gabbriette, was the lead vocalist and songwriter of Nasty Cherry, the punk-pop band formed by Charli XCX, before gaining wider recognition as a model and social media influencer.

The 28-year-old is from Orange County, California, and it is believed the couple may stay in Los Angeles, rather than Healy’s home in north London, so they can remain close to the bride’s family.

The pair have been linked since September 2023, following Healy’s split from Taylor Swift that June, when they were spotted enjoying a steamy PDA in New York City. 

They announced their engagement in 2024, after a whirlwind nine-month romance and not long after Swift and Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce went public with their romance. The source said that Healy and Swift ‘started dating these people at the same time; it’s not that unusual’. 

Just two weeks before Healy’s wedding, his ex tied the knot with Kelce at a lavish wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York. 

Bechtel, pictured at Paris Fashion Week, is a model and social media influencer

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Just two weeks before his wedding, Healy’s ex, Taylor Swift, tied the knot with Travis Kelce at a lavish wedding at Madison Square Garden in NYC

According to The Sun, Healy and Bechtel have splashed out more than £100,000 (around $134,000) on flights to fly their nearest and dearest out to California for the celebrations. And it is reported that Healy’s parents, actors Denise Welch and Tim Healy, flew to the US last week for last-minute preparations ahead of the nuptials.

Healy celebrated his bachelor party with a watch party for England’s World Cup victory over Norway, followed by another party with his bandmates earlier this week.

Last month, Bechtel shared snaps of her Las Vegas bachelorette, setting out to the venue in a white vintage Chanel boucle suit with a veiled fascinator.

She then made several wardrobe changes, at one point wearing a white bejewelled bra and matching pants, before flaunting her abs in a white bandeau crop top and mini skirt as she snapped a mirror selfie with her friend who held a large sign with Healy’s face on it.

She later changed into a stylish white suit jacket and figure-hugging skirt as she posed beside huge ‘Mrs Healy’ balloons.

Guests at the bachelorette received T-shirts which read: ‘I survived Gabbriette’s bachelorette Las Vegas 2026’.

Bechtel shared snaps of her Las Vegas bachelorette, setting out to the venue in a white vintage Chanel boucle suit with a veiled fascinator 

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Swift and Healy, pictured in Manhattan in May 2023, dated for a while before finding their forever partners

Healy’s parents are Loose Women panelist Denise Welch, 68, and her now ex-husband, stage and TV actor Tim Healy, 74. 

Welch, who first met Bechtel five months into the romance, said at the time the engagement was announced: ‘We couldn’t be happier. She is everything I would want in a daughter-in-law.

‘I have known for a few weeks that Matty got engaged,’ she told her Loose Women co-stars. ‘They went over to see their friends Charli [XCX] and [her husband, The 1975s drummer] George in New York.’

The proud mom revealed that Healy had a distinctive ring custom-made, gushing: ‘Black diamond, he had it made for her, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.’ 

WalesOnline has received a statement from Dyfed-Powys Police.

The force confirmed that a young man sadly died at Penmaenau Farm following an incident at 10.30pm on Saturday.

Three men have been arrested in relation to drug-related offences and remain in custody.

Police officers remain in the area while enquiries continue.

The statement reads: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended to a report of a medical emergency at Penmaenau Farm, Llanelwedd at around 10.30pm on Saturday, July 18.

“Despite the best efforts of paramedics, a 25-year-old man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

“Three men have been arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences and remain in custody.A police presence remains at the scene while enquiries continue.”

Chief Superintendent Steve Davies said: “This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts remain with the young man’s family at this difficult time.

“I would like to reassure the public that this is an isolated incident, and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

“There is no evidence of any ongoing risk to the wider public in connection with this sad incident.”

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Fans couldn’t quite believe the 81-year-old singer was at Ushuaïa in Ibiza.

Calvin Harris enjoyed a memorable night at Ushuaïa in Ibiza after receiving a surprise visit from one of his musical heroes, Sir Rod Stewart. The DJ, who hails from Dumfries, is currently performing in Ushuaïa as part of his summer residency.

Thousands of fans turn up each week to see him take over the famous venue. This show became even more memorable when Rod made a surprise backstage appearance after Calvin’s set.

Calvin, 42, later shared a series of snaps from the night on Instagram. Alongside the photos, the hitmaker simply wrote: “Another unbelievable night @ushuaiaibiza.”

The images captured the pair sharing a moment together, with Calvin wrapping an arm around the 81-year-old music icon while celebrating the evening. In another picture, Rod affectionately cups the DJ’s face as the pair smile and pose together for the photo.

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It was a fitting meeting given Calvin has never hidden his admiration for the rock icon, having spoken on several occasions about how much Rod has inspired him throughout his career. Fans quickly took to the comment section clearly delighted to see the pair together, while many were thrilled to see the unlikely duo at Ushuaïa, of all places. One user simply wrote: “Two legends!”

While another joked: “Now that would be a collaboration!!!” As a third wrote: “What a guy Rod is! What a feeling that musta been!”

Others admitted they never expected to see the Maggie May singer at one of the world’s biggest electronic dance music venues.

One fan laughed: “Not Rod at Ushuaïa,” while another commented: “When is Rod performing at Ushuaïa, surely needs to happen now,” alongside a laughing face emoji.

Another follower referenced one of Calvin’s most known backstage rituals, writing: “Oh my god, brilliant!! Love Rod, my mams favourite. Hope you had his pic with you that night.”

READ MORE: Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the World Cup

The remark referenced a radio interview from 2023, where Calvin revealed that Rod is actually part of every single one of his performances.

The One Kiss hitmaker revealed that he takes a framed photograph of Rod with him to every performance. Calvin explained that the portrait is even included on his backstage rider, with his production team making sure it is placed inside the DJ booth before every show.

Previously asked whether the photograph still travels with him, he replied: “Yes, he’s on the rider… the tech guys set him up. I’m got this picture of Rod and he’s like pointing at the camera.”

He continued explaining the reason behind the unusual tradition: “The thinking behind it is Rod is reminding you to engage, be present, have an amazing time and it’s just like having someone just cheering you on in the corner. If you ever feel alone.”

North Yorkshire Police has called on the public for help locating a weapon after a man was arrested yesterday for an incident involving a knife in a York suburb.

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The incident happened at 5.10pm yesterday (July 18) in Birch Park, Huntington – next to the Post Office Depot – where a ‘bald, shirtless male’ attempted to attack another person with a knife.

The man was detained and arrested at the scene, however the knife is yet to be found.

Birch Park in Huntington (Image: Google Maps)

“It appears the knife is likely to have been dumped somewhere around Byland Ave, Middleham Ave, Monkton Rd or possibly within the nearby beck or surrounding vegetation,” said a spokesperson for the force.

If you see a discarded or hidden knife – which is said to have a long silver blade – please contact North Yorkshire Police immediately and quote incident number 12260137102.

The disruption, which is affecting 16 airports (all of which Manchester flies to), is linked to the European Union’s Entry Exit System (EES), which has continued to cause delays months after its introduction.

First launched in October last year, the rollout accelerated on April 10.

The system now requires British travellers and other non-EU visitors to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, when entering the Schengen Area.

The new EES has received significant backlash since its introduction, with it causing long waits for passengers at airports.

Some travellers have already experienced waits of up to six hours, and industry experts warn these disruptions could continue for up to two years.

Major airlines, including Jet2 and Ryanair, have called for the rollout of the new system to be suspended until after the summer to allow for a “smoother airport experience” during peak travel season.

CEO of Malta Air, David O’Brien, even threatened to pull all flights to Malta due to the extended wait times caused by the EES at airports.

EES to cause long queues at 16 major airports this summer

Brits heading to Europe this summer have been told to expect more delays due to the EES.

Ryanair has outlined 16 European Airports where travellers can expect “significant” queues, which you can travel to from Manchester Airport:

• Tenerife South
• Palma/Majorca
• Alicante
• Malaga
• Milan Bergamo
• Krakow
• Paris Beauvais
• Lisbon
• Madrid
• Lanzarote
• Milan Malpensa
• Verona
• Berlin
• Cologne
• Frankfurt Hahn
• Budapest

Chief operations officer at Ryanair, Neal McMahon, said: “Families heading away for a well-earned summer holiday should be thinking about suitcases, suncream and sangria, not standing in passport queues for hours.

“The reality is that the EES system isn’t working properly and families are paying the price for a system that does not work months after launch.

“Passengers should not be the testing ground for unfished border infrastructure.”

Mr McMahon has backed calls from EU Member States to extend current EES flexibilities into early 2027.

This extension would give airports and border authorities more time to fix malfunctioning kiosks, increase staffing levels, and ensure the system can operate efficiently before full enforcement is introduced.

He said: “We support calls from EU Member States to urgently extend the EES flexibilities.

“This will give airports and border authorities the time to improve the infrastructure, fix the broken devices and hire more staff so that families can travel through Europe without disruption.”

Ryanair has advised UK passengers travelling to and from non-Schengen destinations, or transiting through affected European airports, to allow extra time for their journey and be prepared for lengthy waits at passport control.

ETIAS launch delayed until 2027

Meanwhile, the launch of the EU’s new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) has been delayed until 2027.

The ETIAS is a pre-authorisation scheme which will apply to UK passport holders and other visa-exempt travellers entering 30 European countries for short stays.

Applicants will be required to pay a €20 fee, though travellers under 18 or over 70 will be exempt.

The ETIAS was expected to launch later this year, but it has now been delayed until 2027, according to the Financial Times.

The decision is due to “technical glitches” and delays with the EES, which only recently came online after being postponed from 2022.

EU home affairs commissioner, Magnus Brunner, said the delays were due to “other factors”, including insufficient staff or lack of adequate infrastructure.

ETIAS: What Brits need to know before travelling to Europe

EU-Lisa, the agency responsible for ETIAS, has reportedly acknowledged that “launching it by the end of this year as planned was no longer feasible”.

The European Commission will set the official launch date only after EU-Lisa confirms the system has been fully tested and is ready.

A commission spokesperson said: “Preparations for the launch of ETIAS are ongoing.

“Obviously, as with any large-scale IT system, many factors come into play when deciding when to launch it.”

Have you used the EU’s new Entry Exit system yet? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.

The big day was held at the stunning Country House in Castle Carrock, Cumbria

Spice Girl star Mel C has married Australian model Chris Dingwall in a stunning Lake District wedding.

Melanie Chisholm, known by her Spice Girls moniker Sporty Spice, is believed to have gotten married to Chris on Saturday (July 19). The ceremony is reported to have been held at The Country House in Castle Carrock, Cumbria.

The Georgian wedding venue is co-owned by Mel’s close friend Ben Forster. Mel met the West End star when they starred together in Jesus Christ Superstar in 2013.

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Her former bandmates Geri Horner, Mel B and Emma Bunton were in attendance for the big day. Sadly, Victoria Beckham was not able to be there as she he is at the World Cup in the United States with her husband, David.

According to MailOnline, Victoria designed Mel’s dress as a gift in spite of not being able to be there for the wedding. A source said: “Victoria would have loved to have been there if she could. It was her great pleasure to make the dress for Mel.”

With the wedding said to have had a small guest list, Mel’s 17-year-old daughter, Scarlett, whom she shares with property developer Thomas Starr, was her bridesmaid. Mel and Thomas were in a relationship together from from 2002 to 2012.

“Mel swore she would never get married, so having a big do wasn’t really for her. It is the perfect venue for them, totally out of the way but in the most beautiful place.”

While Mel tends to keep her personal life under wraps, she previously revealed that she and Chris get on swimmingly due to sharing ‘similar personalities and lifestyles’. Their romance inspired her latest album, Sweat.

She told The Telegraph: “Not long into making the record, I met somebody new, I fell in love, and so I ended up having this wonderful arc of emotions throughout the album – of heartbreak and then that excitement of a new relationship. He’s very laid-back. He’s loads of fun…we work out together. We have very similar personalities and lifestyles.”

She added: “Rather than separating work and life, I enjoy them both together, which has been a big shift. I think that really happened after I met my partner, Chris.

“He’s able to travel with me a lot. He’s a screenwriter so he can work from anywhere, and that usually means with me, which is good for me. It’s so beautiful to be able to enjoy the life I have with the person I love.”

According to Mel, having previously thought she’d never get married, meeting Chris made her change her mind when they met on a dating app. She explained: “You know what? It’s something I didn’t think would be part of my story. But I’m so happy with Chris. Maybe it is something that will be in my life. I just think, just do all the things. Do you know what I mean? Have all the experiences…

“Nobody knows this but we actually met on Raya … Yeah, it can work people! I don’t know how much I should divulge. I was in a relationship previously and you know sometimes you get to the end of a relationship and first of all, you’re like: ‘I never want to meet anyone ever again and that’s it.

“It’s just me and my girl [daughter Scarlett] and that’s it. It’s us against the world’, which it still is. But then you get to this point and it’s usually on a drunken night out with female friends and it’s like: ‘You gotta get back out there! You gotta start dating’. So that’s when the Raya profile was set up.”

Wilkin Chapman Rollits recently announced the hire of Holly Gibson, an agricultural property specialist based in York, who arrives from SJP Law as a senior associate.

She brings particular experience in agricultural property, renewables, and development across Yorkshire.

Katie Wright, partner in the real estate team at York, said: “Holly is a fantastic addition to our York office and our agriculture team.

“She brings specialist expertise in agricultural property matters, alongside a strong understanding of the issues facing rural businesses and landowners across the region.

“As we continue to develop our presence in York and North Yorkshire, Holly’s experience and connections within the agricultural sector will be invaluable.”

Ms Gibson is the sponsorship secretary for the Ryedale Show, one of North Yorkshire’s best-known agricultural events.

Wilkin Chapman Rollits will sponsor and exhibit at this year’s show on July 28.

Ms Gibson added: “I’m delighted to have joined Wilkin Chapman Rollits and to be part of a highly respected team with a strong reputation and a passion for the agricultural sector.

“Agriculture is at the heart of many rural communities, and I look forward to supporting farmers, landowners and businesses with the opportunities and challenges they face.”