Earlier this week, the White House criticised the Israeli government’s military operation in Lebanon, saying it risks scuppering the peace deal. But speaking near Washington as he unveiled a new Air Force One jet, President Donald Trump praised Netanyahu, calling him a “warrior”.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Two roadside bombs in restive northwestern Pakistan killed at least seven people on Saturday, authorities said.

The first targeted a vehicle, while the second went off as rescuers responded to the blast in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, senior police official Yasir Afridi said, adding both were controlled remotely.

Afridi said five people were killed in the first blast and two in the second. Three people were also wounded, he said. A search operation to find those responsible is underway.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, who have been blamed for similar attacks in the past.

President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the bombings. In a statement, he conveyed condolences to the families of those killed and prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded.

Without naming any group, Zardari issued a warning to “internal and external handlers of terrorism” who provide safe havens, logistical support and financial assistance to militant networks.

Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant violence in recent years, much of it claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The group is separate from, but allied with, Afghanistan’s Taliban, who seized power in Kabul in 2021. Pakistani officials say many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuary across the border in Afghanistan.

The Met Office has forecast temperatures up to 34C in the coming days with an amber weather warning for ‘extreme heat’ in force on Monday and Tuesday

A sleep expert has named a “common misconception” that could stop you getting a good rest during a heatwave. It comes as the Met Office warns of “extreme heat” for large parts of England and Wales this week.

The forecaster has issued an amber weather warning for the South East of England, the South West, London, and large parts of Wales from 1am on Monday. It will last until 11.59pm on Tuesday, June 23. The Met Office says temperatures could reach up to 34C on Tuesday.

It urges people to stay safe by drinking plenty of fluid, keeping out of the sun when it’s at its strongest, and closing curtains in rooms that face the sun.

People going out are urged to take supplies with them. The forecaster says: “If you are going out, take water with you, stay in the shade, wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat.”

Now, sleep expert Lisa Artis, founder of The Sleep Charity, has shared her top tips for getting a good night’s rest during the warm weather. In particular, Lisa says there is one “common misconception” that many people find disrupts them.

Lisa urges people struggling with the heat not to strip off at night. Speaking to The I paper, she said: “A common misconception is that sleeping naked is always cooler.

“In reality, lightweight sleepwear made from breathable fabrics can often be more effective. Clothing can help wick sweat away from the skin, allowing it to evaporate and cool the body more efficiently.”

Lisa says that without the layer of clothing sweat will simply “remain on the skin” or “soak into the bedding”. This she says could make you feel even hotter or less comfortable at night.

Lisa explains there are some simple tips you can do to make sure your bedroom is cool at night as well. She says people should close their curtains and blinds throughout the day to keep the sun out.

She believes creating the “coolest possible environment” can make it “easier to stay asleep and fall asleep”. Elsewhere she says that many people often find themselves putting their fans in the wrong place.

In fact, she says that putting a fan in a hot room “may not achieve much” at all. She continued: “Positioning a fan near an open window in the evening can help pull cooler air into the room.”

Lisa went on to explain that some people often put a bowl of ice in front of their fan to create a “temporary cooling breeze”. She also says that keeping your window closed in the day will also help trap the warm air outside your home.

Should anyone be looking for a way to stay cool at night, Lisa recommends putting cold water into a hot water bottle. She says putting this near your wrists or ankles can then cool you down at night.

Edinburgh Airport has re-opened after a suspicious package sparked an evacuation, road closures and overnight disruption.

Passengers are facing long queues at Edinburgh Airport on Saturday morning after the terminal reopened following a major security alert that prompted an evacuation and hours of disruption.

Police were called to the airport at around 6.50pm on Friday, June 19, following reports of potentially suspicious items within the terminal building. Specialist officers attended the scene and established a cordon while an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team was deployed to assess the items.

The airport was partially evacuated, roads surrounding the site were closed and flights were disrupted as investigations took place.

Police later confirmed that the items had been made safe by EOD specialists and that the incident is not being treated as suspicious.

Edinburgh Airport announced shortly after 3am on Saturday that it had reopened and was working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. However, airport officials warned that the incident would have knock-on effects throughout the day.

Passengers arriving at the airport on Saturday morning encountered lengthy queues extending outside the terminal building as staff worked to manage the backlog.

Holidaymaker Christina Hendry said she had been waiting almost one hour in a queue outside and hadn’t gotten through security.

She said: “I’ve never seen queues like it at Edinburgh airport this morning. Queuing all the way down to the bus stances to get into the airport. Staff now setting up belt barriers.

“Arrived almost an hour ago and still waiting to get through security.”

In a statement, Edinburgh Airport said: “Following investigations by specialist teams, the airport has now reopened.

“We recognise the frustration this incident will have caused and thank everyone for their patience and understanding – safety will always come first.

“This incident will have knock-on impacts throughout today and staff are working hard to address these and support passengers.

“Operational teams are continuing to work to restore normal services as quickly as possible.

“Please check with your airline for the latest information on your flight.”

Police said roads around the airport remained busy on Saturday and urged members of the public to remain patient while normal services resumed.

No further details have been released regarding the nature of the items that triggered the security response.

Several flights were spotted circling the city before being forced to divert to nearby UK airports on Friday evening.

There also appears to be confusion among passengers who arrived at the time the incident was unfolding and claim to have been stuck on the tarmac awaiting further instructions.

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — A large fire almost completely destroyed a luxury resort in the Dominican Republic on Friday, forcing the evacuation of almost 1,700 tourists, authorities said.

Local media reported an Italian tourist died in the fire and several other tourists required medical assistance.

The Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort is located in Bayahibe, a popular destination for U.S. and international tourists on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast.

Authorities reported about 1,690 tourists had to be evacuated from the resort to other hotels and nearby housing facilities because of the massive blaze.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation and the country’s Emergency Operations Center said it appeared the “fire spread rapidly” due to wind and because part of the resort’s roof was made of thatch.

Viva Wyndham’s other nearby resort, the Dominicus Palace, was not damaged by the fire and was operating as normal, the center said.

John McGinn has urged Scotland to unleash more of their “personality” when they face Brazil in a pivotal World Cup clash in Miami on Wednesday. The Aston Villa captain’s call comes after Steve Clarke’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Morocco, a result that leaves their World Cup knockout stage aspirations hanging in the balance.

An early goal from Ismael Saibari just 70 seconds into Friday’s Group C fixture at Boston Stadium means Scotland remain on three points. However, a single point against the formidable Brazilians would be enough to all but secure their passage to the knockout stages for the first time in their history. Brazil, who subsequently beat Haiti 3-0, now sit level with Morocco on four points with those teams occupying the top two automatic qualification spots.

Speaking before Brazil’s victory over Haiti, McGinn reflected on the Morocco game, acknowledging the quality of their opponents while stressing Scotland’s own strengths.

“We have come a long way as a country and as a group,” he stated. “They (Morocco) are filled with elite players, but we’ve got some elite players in there as well, so we need to start showing more of our personality, but we’ve got to be proud of how we reacted.”

McGinn praised his team’s resilience after conceding, noting: “We could have folded, but in the second half we showed a lot more character and intent and we could have easily on another day drawn that game or even won.”

Looking ahead to the decisive encounter, the midfielder expressed confidence in Scotland’s preparations.

“We know what we need to do and we’re excited for it,” he said. “It will be different conditions, but conditions we’ve prepared for. Looking forward to the game, a big occasion for us. Brazil are a famous football nation, filled with players playing at a high level, so we’ll have to be at our best to get something from the game, but we’re excited by the challenge.”

McGinn also voiced his frustration over two penalty claims that were waved away during the Morocco match. He believed he was fouled in the area by Neil El Aynaoui, and later, Scott McTominay was brought down by the Roma player.

“When the defender’s running at that speed, it doesn’t matter what player, if you get the ball past them and are taken out then it is a penalty kick,” McGinn asserted regarding his own incident. “But we don’t make the decisions, the referee makes the decisions and he decided that it wasn’t a penalty.

“I haven’t seen Scotty’s back, but I’m led to believe that’s a big shout for a penalty as well, but we need to take it on the chin.”

Despite the perceived injustices, McGinn maintained a pragmatic outlook. “Like I said, we don’t make the decisions, but I certainly think the big, big moments haven’t gone our way.”

He concluded by highlighting the team’s improved second-half display and their determination adding: “Second half, I think we showed a lot more intent, a lot more bravery to go and hurt them. But when you’re not creating clear chances in open play, you need certain breaks to go for you against the top teams. We could have crumbled after the goal, we didn’t.

“Did we play amazing? No, but they are a top side and they’ll limit you to very little at all, so when you get those opportunities and they make mistakes – fouling someone in the box is a mistake – and they’ve not been punished for it, it’s just football and you take the hit, keep your chin up and be ready for Wednesday.”

The North East landmark appears as Cambridge University in Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day, the new adaptation from Newcastle‑based director Tina Gharavi, in cinemas now.

The cloisters that many people know from school trips and Harry Potter are reborn as an elite academic world where Woolf’s characters fight for knowledge, freedom and love.

Turning a North East icon into Cambridge

When Gharavi began scouting locations for the 1910‑set film, she wanted places that felt both historic and alive – spaces where young women could plausibly be dreaming of science and suffrage while society tries to push them into marriage.

Durham Cathedral’s medieval cloisters, with their covered walkways and enclosed courtyard, offered exactly that.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, the film’s director Tina Gharavi recalled deliberately seeking out “crazy parts” of buildings – arches, passageways and arcades – that could convince as an Cambridge college.

Durham Cathedral’s cloisters, already familiar to audiences from the Harry Potter films, became her answer.

(Image: VICKY ROSS/NORTHERN ECHO CAMERA CLUB)

On screen they stand in for Cambridge, framing scenes in which protagonist Katharine Hilbery, a passionate astronomer, pushes back against the expectations of her class and era.

Why Durham works so well on screen

Durham Cathedral brings more than pretty stonework. It carries centuries of history, power and learning – themes at the heart of Night and Day.

By placing Woolf’s questioning, ambitious women in such a recognisable, traditional setting, the film visually underlines how radical their desires for education and independence really are.

For North East audiences, there is an extra jolt of recognition.

One moment you are looking at the same cloisters you might walk through on a day out; the next, they belong to a fictional Cambridge where conversations about women’s rights and the future of Britain are unfolding.

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Showcasing the North East as a film destination

Durham is just one part of the production’s deep North East footprint. Night and Day also uses Beamish Museum, Ryhope Engines Museum and historic buildings in Newcastle to recreate Edwardian London and other settings.

(Image: BEAMISH MUSEUM)

For Gharavi, who has lived in the region for nearly 30 years, that was a deliberate choice: she has spoken of her pride in “bringing the production home” and proving that the region can deliver world‑class period locations.

She argues that the North East is “spectacularly diverse”, with cities, coastline, countryside and heritage sites all within easy reach, all which do not have the headaches of filming in the south.

(Image: BRIDGE & TUNNEL PRODUCTIONS)

A local landmark with a global audience

As Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day reaches cinemas, Durham Cathedral joins the growing list of North East locations being discovered by audiences well beyond the region.

For some viewers, it will be a beloved building seen in a new light.

For others, it may be an introduction – a reason to step off the train at Durham and see the real thing after the credits roll.

There is a chance there might even be a bit of sunshine… (!)

It’s set to be a big weekend for Manchester with a host of huge events taking place across the next couple of days.

Alongside big gigs from the likes of Lily Allen and The B-52’s, as well as major netball and cricket events at the Co-op Live and Emirates Old Trafford, the city will also be welcoming over 100,000 fans for both Parklife and Take That.

The annual music festival Parklife will be returning to Heaton Park on Saturday and Sunday for major performances from big names like Skepta, Zara Larsson, Calvin Harris, Nia Archives, and Chris Stussy.

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Meanwhile, Take That will also be playing the Etihad Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with their major The Circus Live 2026 tour, which has been hailed as a spiritual revival of their biggest tour ever in 2009.

With both events taking place outdoors, fans will be keeping a close eye on the Manchester weather over the weekend to determine what to wear and what to bring with them.

According to the Met Office’s forecast for the weekend, there will be highs of 21C on Saturday and there could even be some sunny intervals throughout the day too. From 11am to 3pm, temperatures will be between 18-20C.

There could be a bit of brightness heading our way from around 4pm, with sunshine forecast until about 10pm with temperatures between 18-20C. Turning into a clear night, temperatures will then start to dip to about 16C.

On Sunday, sunny intervals are expected again and it could be a little bit warmer than Saturday too. Between 11am and 3pm, temperatures could reach between 21-24C, turning up a notch to 25C from 4pm to 6pm.

For those heading to Heaton Park on Sunday, temperatures could even reach as high as 25C with temperatures forecast between 23-25C from 1pm to 5pm.

Temperatures will dip a little between 21-24C on Sunday from 6pm to 10pm but sunny intervals are still predicted with another clear night then forecast. Of course, as with any weather forecast, things can change and it’s best to expect the unexpected, but it could potentially be a nice weekend for live music.

Several caravans were driven onto an area of the park, on Corporation Road, last weekend.

The group were subsequently given a ‘direction to leave’ notice by council officers, which was ignored.

A court summons was later served with an order granted by magistrates allowing the council to take possession of the site and remove the unauthorised occupants.

They were given until 4pm on Thursday to move on, although caravans were still present at the park into the evening.

Council leader Alec Brown said the situation continued to be monitored by the local authority.

Writing on Facebook, Cllr Brown also said “suitable prevention measures” were being examined in a bid to prevent a recurrence of the unauthorised camp.

He said this could include drop bollards at the entrances to the park, but such structures would have to be “robust enough to do a sufficient job”.

The council initially responded to the incursion by locking all park gates, except for the main entrance, which it said was for “security reasons”.

Some Facebook users suggested caravans had previously been parked up at another council owned site, Borough Park, off Redcar Lane, before moving on.

There is a designated gypsy and travellers site in Redcar and Cleveland – The Haven site in South Bank which provides permanent residential accommodation.

It was developed by the council at a cost of nearly £1m, opening in 2013.

Record View says if Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, his first priority has to be getting a grip on the cost-of-living crisis that continues to bite hard.

Andy Burnham’s by-election win is almost certainly his first step towards replacing Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

Starmer may stumble on for a few days, even a few more weeks, but the UK is set for its second Labour prime minister since the general election.

Starmer has been a steady presence on the international stage but domestic blunders have cost him and he’s on the way out.

Burnham is a talented politician who as mayor of Greater Manchester has made a positive difference to people’s lives.

But leading a country is a different matter and he will have a tough job on his hands if he gets the top job he craves.

Record readers will want to be reassured he is up to the job. His first priority has to be getting a grip on the cost-of-living crisis that continues to bite hard.

Bringing down energy prices should be just the first stage of a wider plan to get more money into people’s pockets.

Suggestions he might raise the tax-free personal allowance for income tax would be a welcome step in the right direction.

He also has to recognise the world is a dangerous place and the UK must address a gap in defence spending.

A sound strategy to protect the country is essential and he must be bold in raising extra money for our armed forces.

Another top order issue is tackling the rising social security bill. Welfare spending protects the vulnerable and boosts people’s incomes – stances no Labour government should go against.

But a generation of young people are being given welfare benefits instead of the support they need to get a job. A compassionate and effective set of welfare reforms is needed to get the UK working again.

Burnham has the drive to be PM and much of what he says makes sense.

But he must have a laser-like focus on making people’s lives better, otherwise he’ll go the same way as Starmer.

Sea the light

Politicians love to talk about a just transition away from North Sea oil and gas. But there’s been precious little evidence of any “justice” as the oil capital of Aberdeen is left to rot.

Voters in the city made clear to the SNP at Thursday’s by-election how they feel about that. The Nationalists were comprehensively thrashed in a seat they won just two years ago.

The Tories could scarcely believe the scale of their victory, given it’s more than 50 years since they last won a ­Westminster by-election north of the Border.

All parties – including the Tories – must share the blame for the failure to prepare for the inevitable job losses from the North Sea energy sector.

We can’t see a repeat of the 80s and 90s when former pit villages were effectively abandoned when the Tory government closed down an entire industry.

Voters in Aberdeen made their voices heard. Holyrood and Westminster must ensure they’re listened to.

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