Having Tom Cruise fly in on a helicopter and land in a quaint British market town would ordinarily send locals into a fevered frenzy. 

But people living in East Grinstead have had enough. When the Mission: Impossible star, 63, arrived in October, he wasn’t greeted with the flashing of bulbs and the clamber for an autograph. 

Instead, the Hollywood actor sparked outrage with his ‘low’ flying entry and was met by chanting protesters holding placards. 

Cruise was there, of course, as the Church of Scientology’s ‘poster child’ for the org’s red carpet Patrons Ball at its sprawling British headquarters at Saint Hill Manor.    

The annual three-day glitzy fundraising bash saw 7,000 people descend on the small West Sussex town, according to the church. 

It saw Scientologists blasting out bagpipe music in an attempt to drown out the protesters. The antic led to one local complaining to Mid Sussex District Council, which could see the church lose its booze and events permits. 

The application for the review claims the fundraising event causes ‘considerable disruption’ to the local community by causing congestion and excessively loud noise.

It asks the council to consider limiting the scale of events held on the property and proposes measures to safeguard vulnerable people.

The organisation said residents and ‘town and district councillors’ were on the guest list alongside Cruise. It was lauded as a ‘resounding success’, but not for locals who have grown fed up with East Grinstead being dubbed Britain’s ‘Twin Peaks’. 

The town’s relationship with Scientology has been a fractious one since science fiction writer and the church’s founder L Ron Hubbard bought the Grade II-listed manor home in 1959. 

Tom Cruise enraged locals in East Grinstead in October with his ‘low’ flying entry to the quaint market town as he arrived for the Church of Scientology’s annual Patrons Ball 

The Hollywood actor, 63, was among the 7,000 people who had gathered at the church’s British headquarters for the annual bash

The three-day fundraiser took place at the Church of Scientology’s sprawling country estate at Saint Hill Manor (pictured) 

Every year, protesters – made up largely of locals and a few former Scientologists – say the fundraiser brings heavy traffic and noise that disrupts people’s lives.

But the reminders of the org’s presence in East Grinstead are constant throughout the year. 

There are claims that Scientologists have been spotted carrying out ‘recruitment campaigns’ on the high street and putting pamphlets in charity shops.

The church recently batted away suggestions by one local in a report by The Guardian that it had been preaching on a bus, saying it ‘is just not something we do’.

Diane Juchau told the newspaper she often sees the church’s followers outside Sainsbury’s ‘wearing their black suits with the red tie’.

Meanwhile, the church made a request for a Public Space Protection Order in July 2024, saying protests held outside its premises caused ‘harassment, disturbance and alarm’ to its members.

Mid Sussex District Council’s cabinet was due to make a decision – recommended for refusal – on June 30 about whether to put a PSPO in place. The church withdrew the application.

Former Scientologist Alexander Barnes-Ross, 30, led the recent protest group wearing a medieval knight’s costume adorned with the St George’s flag. 

Former Scientologist Alexander Barnes-Ross, 30, led the recent protest group wearing a medieval knight’s costume adorned with the St George’s flag

Mr Barnes-Ross told the Daily Mail that locals are ‘extremely frustrated and angered’ by being ‘inundated by thousands of Scientologists travelling to attend this event’

Former mayor of East Grinstead, Frazer Visser, right, met Tom Cruise at the Mission: Impossible premiere in Leicester Square in July 2023

He told the Daily Mail that locals are ‘extremely frustrated and angered’ by being ‘inundated by thousands of Scientologists travelling to attend this event, and Tom Cruise flying in on his helicopter’. 

‘It causes a lot of noise and nuisance and he [Tom Cruise], you know, doesn’t stop for photos or anything,’ he said. 

‘He flies in, he attends this event, probably donates a large sum of money, and then flies out again, and the town gets absolutely nothing in return. A couple of charities might get a £50,000 donation, but that’s about it.’ 

The Church of Scientology says in the last 10 years it has raised more than £2million for local causes, including hospitals, and more than 6,500 residents have attended its events since October.

One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the fundraiser as ‘very disruptive’.

He said: ‘For six to eight weeks they were laying down pallets in the field to make a car park, so we had the disruption and noise of that, with lorry after lorry coming.

‘Then they made all the neighbours listen to bagpipe music on a loop all day. In the evening, they had two generators to power floodlights in the car park, and we could hear the generator no more than 60 yards from our back door.

‘One didn’t go off until 1am and the second generator stayed on all night, so all night an empty car park was lit up.

‘I’m tolerant – I don’t have religion but don’t object to others having it. Scientology say they’ve cleaned up their act, but they still have the same boss, and I don’t really believe they have changed their spots.’

Protesters gather at the Church of Scientology’s headquarters in East Grinstead during the org’s annual fundraiser 

The Church of Scientology is currently led by its controversial leader David Miscavige (pictured in Perth, Australia, in 2018)

Tom Cruise (pictured in 2004) is the Church of Scientology’s ‘poster child’ and its most famous member. The voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright, and John Travolta also have links to the church

Much of the town’s discontent is claims that local dignitaries are becoming unlikely bedfellows with their Scientologist neighbours.  

Yoga teacher and former East Grinstead mayor Julie Mockford was pictured ‘just chillin’ with her ‘pal’ Tom Cruise on a Mission: Impossible film set in 2018.

While another former mayor, Frazer Visser, was pictured with Cruise in 2023. 

‘I had the unforgettable experience of attending the premiere of Tom Cruise’s newest Mission: Impossible film in Leicester Square, along with some previous mayors,’ he said.

There is no suggestion Ms Mockford and Mr Visser did any wrong by attending.  

A Daily Mail investigation in 2024 established that the Scientologists had certainly become involved in the affairs of local politicians in East Grinstead to a considerable degree.

Local council representatives have attended a number of Scientology events; the church’s controversial leader David Miscavige has been given a guided tour of council offices; the local fire service had been using the Scientologists’ headquarters for training and was offered £50,000 by the church; and the Scientologists were involved in running East Grinstead’s Christmas lights switch-on ceremony as well as a celebration for the Coronation of King Charles.

The links have raised eyebrows in the local community, with Mr Barnes-Ross saying it is making people feel ‘helpless’.  

He said: ‘The [Patrons Ball] event is a big, chaotic thing that sort of gridlocks all the roads and so on. But I think just over the years, East Grinstead has grown to be fed up with this cult in their town, building inroads with the local politicians, and the mayor and councillors and such going to events and saying how wonderful this organisation is and when actually they aren’t. 

‘[The Church of Scientology] has lots of events throughout the year that cause different levels of disruption. And I think just the fact that they have no due regard for the local authority or the local community has really annoyed people.’  

The Daily Mail has contacted the Church of Scientology for comment.       

Cruise is not the only high-profile member of the church. The voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright, and Grease actor John Travolta are linked to the organisation.

Lisa Marie Presley, who died aged 54 in 2023, spoke out about her time in the Church of Scientology in her memoir, which was released posthumously. 

‘Scientology actually helped,’ she wrote, before adding: ‘The church felt radical in an exciting way − it didn’t feel like an organized religion, really. It attracted cool, unusual, artistic people. It became my tribe.’

She left the church around 2014.  

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Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly are set to marry this weekend, but their wedding has been marred by tensions in the family

Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly is about to tie the knot with British swimming legend Adam Peaty(Image: Mark Sutton – Formula 1, Formula 1 via Getty Images)

This weekend, Team GB swimming star Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay are set to wed in what promises to be one of the most high-profile celebrity weddings of the year. The big day represents the peak of a fast-moving love story that has fascinated fans.

At first glance, their union seems perfectly matched – a decorated Olympic champion pairing up with the daughter of one of Britain’s best-known chefs, Gordon Ramsay. But the road to the wedding has been anything but smooth.

From the early days of their relationship following Adam’s widely reported break-up to a very public dispute within his family, the couple have faced intense scrutiny. As they get ready for their festive celebration, we look back at how their relationship endured relentless media attention.

A romance begins

Adam, 30, and Holly, 25, first connected through the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing. Adam took part in the series in 2021, while Holly’s sister, Tilly Ramsay, was also competing that same year. Although sparks did not immediately fly – Adam was still in a relationship with his son’s mother, Eiri Munro – their initial introduction came from the close-knit Strictly community.

After Adam and Eiri separated in August 2022, his connection with Holly gradually developed. By June 2023, they made their romance public, regularly posting snapshots of their shared life online. Their relationship progressed rapidly, culminating in Adam proposing during a romantic getaway to Cornwall in September 2024.

READ MORE: Adam Peaty’s family feud and Gordan Ramsay stance ahead of marrying his daughter HollyREAD MORE: Adam Peaty ‘deeply hurt’ by family feud but ‘fatal error means statement will backfire’

Holly later explained that getting engaged felt like the obvious next step. She referred to Adam as her “best friend” and highlighted how their mutual commitment to hard work – his in elite sport and hers across fitness and podcasting – strengthened their connection.

Family feud

Despite their joy, announcing the wedding date triggered an unexpected conflict within Adam’s family. His mother, Caroline Peaty, attracted headlines after voicing her anger about when the ceremony was scheduled.

With the wedding planned for the Saturday after Christmas, Caroline criticised the decision as “ridiculous,” pointing to the pressure and practical challenges of organising a major family gathering during the height of the festive period.

Adam and Holly have a fractious relationship with his parents (pictured)

Tensions deepened when Caroline was not invited to Holly’s hen party, which included Victoria Beckham, Holly’s mother Tara, and Adam’s sister. Adam’s aunt Louise then spoke out, saying her sister was “not ok” with the exclusion and had been “broken” by her son and his fiancée.

Louise also alleged that Adam was “ashamed” of his brothers, with relatives branding him a “narcissist” who had been “changed” by wealth and had “forgotten where he came from.”

“We were sent a save the date and it’s all these country houses,” one family member told the Sun. “I’m on Universal Credit – I can’t afford that. Adam has been changed by money, fame and fortune. He seems to have forgotten where he came from.”

The disagreement became public when Louise tagged Holly in a heartfelt message online. “@hollyramsayy I’m so glad that you had a great hen do. As a bride, you deserve that. However, as a person, you were divisive and hurtful towards a woman who I have loved and continue to love deeply,” she wrote.

A family feud has erupted in the Peaty family (Image: INSTAGRAM)

“A woman who opened her home and heart to you. You decided, for whatever reason, not to invite her, your prospective mother-in-law, to your hen night, yet Adam invited his father-in-law, your dad, to his stag night.

“You invited your mum (quite rightly) and even your mum’s assistant, your sisters, your friends, my niece, but not my sister, your future mother-in-law… You have inflicted a hurt on my sister that will take a very long time to heal if ever.”

After posting a series of vague messages herself, Caroline later spoke openly about the situation to the Daily Mail. “I don’t think they understand how much they have hurt me; it’s as if they have cut my heart out,” she said.

“This is the first Christmas that I’ve not had my family together – my family is broken. Yes, I have my other grandchildren. Yes, I have my other children, but my family is split because of the goings on… because of the wedding.”

The pair have been engaged since 2024(Image: @hollyramsayy/instagram)

She continued: “Me going would just cause even more of a storm and I don’t want to ruin his wedding day. I wanted to be there quietly to watch him get married, but that can’t happen now. I don’t know if they are too young or don’t value family as much as I have, but they don’t understand that family is the foundation to everything.”

Caroline added: “I know it’s the end. But please, the message I want Adam to hear is no matter what happens in the future, please know I love you, your dad loves you, you can come home and talk to me at any point.”

Gordon Ramsay’s support

While relations with the Peaty family became strained, Adam found warmth and encouragement from the Ramsays. His relationship with his future father-in-law Gordon has grown particularly strong and now plays a significant role in his life. Known for his tough television image, Gordon has become a grounding influence and mentor to the swimmer.

Gordon Ramsay has welcomed Adam into the family(Image: Zak Mauger, LAT Imagesvia Getty Images)

Adam has openly discussed how Gordon supported him through challenging moments in his career. After struggling with alcohol and depression, he said the chef helped him develop a “winner’s mindset” beyond competitive swimming. The pair frequently train together, and Gordon has spoken publicly about Adam’s determination, describing him as a “beast” in competition and a “gentle giant” away from it.

“He [Gordon] is an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from. Gordon is a high performer,” Peaty said in 2024.

“He worked his way up to the upper echelons of his industry and works in a place where there’s no bulls**t. I take a lot from that and from the professionalism he has every single day with a relentless pursuit.

“So, when I see that, I’m like, ‘Yeah, why can’t I work like this? Why can’t I do this every single day? Why do I have to be so emotionally engaged with things?'”

Holly has since shared that her father is “protective” but recognises how deeply Adam cares for her. Gordon’s backing appears to have played a key role as the couple prepare to begin their married life together.

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Fifteen people have been injured after a knife and chemical attack at a tyre factory in Japan.

Eight people were taken to hospital after they were stabbed by a man with a knife at a factory of the tyre maker Yokohama Rubber Co. in the city of Mishima, in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, according to the fire department.

Seven others were injured by bleach thrown at them during the attack, and taken to hospitals for treatment, the fire department said.

The attacker, a 38-year-old man, was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, police said.

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Pic: The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP

The motive for the attack is as yet unknown.

The fire department said five of the people who were stabbed were in serious condition, but other details were not available.

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All were conscious while they were being transported to hospitals, according to media reports.

The suspect is believed to be a former employee at the factory, Kyodo news agency said, quoting investigative sources.

He was carrying a survival knife and wearing what appeared to be a gas mask, Japanese newspaper Asahi reported, citing investigators.

Japan has strict gun control laws, and violent crimes are rare, but there have been a number of high-profile knife attacks in recent years.

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Zelenskyy accuses the Russian leadership of using ‘every opportunity’ to inflict ‘greater suffering’ on Ukraine.

Russia has carried out drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on the eve of a key meeting between the United States and Ukrainian leaders, killing at least one person and leaving a third of the city without heat, according to local authorities.

Russian ballistic missiles and drones rocked Kyiv from the early hours of Saturday morning, where an air alert was in place for nearly 10 hours.

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The attacks killed a 47-year-old woman and wounded at least 22 others, according to Kyiv’s mayor and regional governor. Among those wounded were two children, said the head of Kyiv’s City military administration, Tymur Tkachenko.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was “still ongoing” as of 10:45am (08:45 GMT), with some 500 drones and 40 missiles launched targeting “energy facilities and civilian infrastructure”. The air raid alert for the capital ended at 11:20am local time (09:20 GMT).

Municipal employees and firefighters work at the site of an apartment building hit during Russian missile and drone strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine [Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters]

In addition to the casualties, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said there was no heat in one-third of the capital, where temperatures hovered around freezing (0 ​degrees Celsius).

Some 320,000 households also lost power in the broader Kyiv region, which surrounds the capital but does not include it, Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said.

Russian forces are “trying to cut off all Ukrainians from our critical resources just to freeze us”, Kyiv-based journalist Kristina Zelenyuk told Al Jazeera.

Upcoming peace talks

The Russian attack came as Zelenskyy prepares to meet with United States President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday for further talks on how to end the nearly four-year war.

Zelenskyy said they plan to discuss security guarantees and questions over future territorial control – the main sticking points in the negotiations.

Moscow demands that Ukraine withdraw from the parts of the eastern Donetsk region that Russian troops have failed to occupy during almost four years of war, as it seeks full control of the Donbas, comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Kyiv wants the fighting to be halted at the current lines.

The US, seeking a compromise, has proposed a free economic zone if Ukraine leaves parts of the Donetsk region. Zelenskyy told US news site Axios on Friday that he would seek a stronger position for Ukraine but could put the US-backed plan to a referendum if necessary.

Both Zelenskyy and Trump have expressed optimism about the meeting, with the Ukrainian leader saying most components of a US-Ukraine agreement had been ironed out and that he hopes to finalise a framework on Sunday.

“A lot can be decided before the New Year,” Zelenskyy posted on social media on Friday.

But Saturday’s attack appeared to alter Zelenskyy’s tone. In a post following the aerial barrage, he said Russia’s leadership “does not want to end the war”, and that their drones and missiles speak louder than any “lengthy talks” they engaged in.

Russia’s leadership aims “to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering and increase their pressure on others around the world”, said Zelenskyy.

Ahead of the meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy is scheduled to speak by phone on Saturday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European leaders, a commission spokesperson said.

Zelenskyy, who departed Ukraine on Saturday, told reporters he would also make a stop in Canada to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of his US trip.

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The architect of the London Eye wants to build a vast tidal power station in a 14-mile arc off the coast of Somerset that could help Britain meet surging electricity demand to power artificial intelligence – and create a new race track to let cyclists skim over the Bristol Channel.

Julia Barfield, who designed the Eye and the i360 observation tower in Brighton, is part of a team that has drawn up the £11bn proposal. It would curve from Minehead to Watchet and use 125 underwater turbines to harness the power of the second-highest tidal range in the world.

The proposal comes amid growing concern that rapidly rising use of AI in Britain will drive up carbon emissions unless more renewable energy sources are found. The AI boom is expected to add to sharp increases in demand for electricity across the UK, which the government estimated this month could more than double by 2050.

“If the decision is to go ahead with adopting more and more AI – which I am surprised is not being questioned more at a time of climate emergency – then it is going to be better with a renewable energy source,” said Barfield. “Datacentres could double energy demand and this is a predictable and reliable source.”

The barrage would not cross the full breadth of the channel but would instead curve to and from the Somerset coast with a 2.5GW maximum output – not far short of the peak energy that will be created by the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station just 12 miles east. It would be enough to power 2m homes.

A visualisation of the full arc of the proposed lagoon. Illustration: Marks Barfield Architects

The vision includes a path along the top of the semi-circular barrage for walkers and cyclists willing to brave the south-westerlies, a water-sports marina, a lido and an observation tower. Local MP Rachel Gilmour, who is backing the plan, said the pathway “will become absolutely iconic”.

The designers have tentatively suggested it also might be possible to install datacentres within the structure, allowing them to benefit from cheap seawater cooling. There are hopes for oyster and mussel beds, arrays of floating solar panels and a coastal amphitheatre to boost the economy of Minehead, once a popular holiday resort and now one of the 20% most deprived areas in Britain.

The latest UK energy policy states that tidal and wave energy could play a role “if their costs can be reduced”.

“We have got people who want to fund it but they will only do so if the government is supportive,” said Aidan Clegg, chief executive of the consortium. “They need to take this seriously. This is not hypothetical – we have a strong plan in place.”

A visualisation of the cycle track over the tidal power station. Illustration: Marks Barfield Architects

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We are open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing the tidal range energy in the bays and estuaries around our coastlines, which demonstrate strong value for money. The AI energy council is bringing together the likes of Neso [the National Energy System Operator], EDF, Microsoft and Google in solving the energy demands of AI, exploring opportunities to attract investment and support the development of low carbon power for datacentres.”

Tidal power is more predictable than wind and solar, even though there are several hours when tides turn each day with little or no power. The backers of the West Somerset Lagoon project believe it would last 120 years and would therefore produce power more cheaply than nuclear power.

It was first conceived several years ago with the aim of reducing the UK’s carbon footprint. Since then, the AI revolution began and is now on course to dramatically increase energy demand. Britain’s national energy system operator, Neso, has predicted electricity demand for datacentres will treble by 2035. The vast racks of microprocessors needed to train and run AI models and store the ever-increasing mountains of data on which the tech-enabled 21st-century economy relies will account for the largest part of the overall increase in electricity demand in the commercial sector.

The West Somerset Lagoon is the latest in a line of proposals to harness the tidal power of the Severn estuary. In the 1980s, other lagoons were proposed in the narrower part of the estuary, closer to Bristol, while a full barrage from near Cardiff to near Weston-super-Mare was suggested more recently, raising concerns about large-scale and irreversible change to the estuary system. The latest sponsors of the idea say the lagoon will not interrupt navigation channels to the ports of Bristol and Cardiff, and is outside protected areas such as local nature reserves and special areas of conservation.

“Minehead and that whole area of West Somerset is an area of deprivation and this project will drive positive transformation,” Barfield said. “It will create skilled full-time jobs, an area for water-sports, a lido, a visitors’ centre, an observation tower and cultural facilities. It could also become a hub for marine farming mussels, seaweed and oysters. These are the types of businesses that local young people could develop because the tidal range would be more controlled.”

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CCTV footage from Japan’s Hiratsuka City Museum captured the moment a meteor soared through the night sky over Japan’s Mount Fuji on Friday.

While most meteors appear white, some can glow green, yellow, red, or blue, depending on the elements in the material as it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.

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What’s the story behind the sawn-open goat skulls that frequently turn up in the ground beneath Berlin? It’s often small things that reveal something about times gone by, says Eberhard Völker, archaeologist at the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments. He and his colleagues suspect that goat brain was a popular snack in medieval times.

Völker is leading excavations at the Molkenmarkt in the historic center of Berlin. Digging down into the past with a shovel, trowel and brush. At a depth of four meters, researchers reach the Middle Ages: the birthplace of Berlin. The city’s ground level has risen precisely four meters in 800 years due to fire debris and rubble. “This is where Berlin began,” he says, pointing to the mounds of earth behind him.

Toilet treasures

The Molkenmarkt is one of Germany’s largest inner-city excavations — a gigantic hole covering more than 22,000 square meters. Once the asphalt and concrete have been removed, archaeologists can begin meticulously combing through the earth below.  They’ve been working here since 2019, coaxing the earth’s secrets out of the ground. Researchers have already turned up 750,000 individual items.

The archaeological site in the heart of BerlinImage: Jürgen Heinrich/IMAGO

Eberhard Völker holds a thick wooden plate in his hand, a rare find. It’s well-preserved but smells awful. That’s no surprise when you consider it’s spent centuries in a latrine, a medieval cesspit. Even after 800 years, the smell of feces still clings to it. When deprived of oxygen, organic materials such as wood, textiles and leather resist decay. That’s why archaeologists often find their greatest treasures in old toilets or dried-up wells, which also served as trash cans for medieval towns.

Völker’s favorite find is a small clay figurine of Saint Catherine, who, according to legend, was tortured and beheaded for her Christian faith. It probably adorned a house altar to protect the family from misfortune.

One object of particular value is a rare gold ring with a garnet. Perhaps it slipped off someone’s finger as they were fetching water and it fell into the well? And an inconspicuous brown scrap of silk is proof of trade with China in the early years of Berlin’s existence. Also among the finds is a bone flute from the 14th century.

In addition to Saint Catherine, archaeologists also discovered figures of other saintsImage: Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance

PETRI: A home for Berlin’s treasures

The Molkenmarkt is thought to be Berlin’s oldest market. Völker and his colleagues are bringing a hidden archive of Berlin’s history to light. The archaeologist regularly conducts guided tours of the site. Interest is huge and they’re always fully booked.

Archaeologists are being allowed to comb through the soil for about another two years, before the gigantic excavation site is filled in and built upon. Everything Völker finds is subjected to thorough scientific documentation, analysis and interpretation, creating a huge data repository of Berlin’s past. 

But where to put them all? Turns out, the items won’t have to travel far. Just a few hundred meters, in fact, to the PETRI, a new museum that opened in the summer of 2025. It was built on the walls of the medieval St. Peter’s Church, heavily damaged during World War II and later demolished, and a Latin school, whose foundations are on display in the basement.

The PETRI is already popular with both school groups and foreign tourists. It’s a chance for Berlin to show it has other stories to tell apart from the usual ones about the Golden Twenties, the Nazi era and the building of the Berlin Wall. Berlin’s history is also medieval. An unknown side of the city that’s worth delving into.

Centuries old and very well preserved: a leather child’s shoeImage: Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance

Like other museums, the PETRI also exhibits items in glass cases — for example, a child’s shoe from the Middle Ages. But it goes a step further. Through large windows, visitors can observe restorers as they go about their tasks in open workshops. As well as breathing life into a forgotten chapter of the city’s history, the museum also aims to spark interest in archaeology.

A new resting place for the dead

Down in the basement, the museum has a surprise up its sleeve: a fresh bouquet of flowers is placed in front of a wall, and above it are the words: “May angels guide you to paradise.” The St. Peter’s Church complex once comprised an ancient cemetery. The remains of hundreds of people were exhumed during the excavations and have now been ceremoniously reburied in an ossuary: Here, the skeletal remains of some of Berlin’s first inhabitants are stored in drawers. And they tell life stories, albeit anonymous ones. A book of the dead records their fates: tooth decay, a complicated fracture, another who died far too young.

In 2024, human remains from medieval times were ceremoniously transferred to the ossuaryImage: Annette Riedl/dpa/picture alliance

When is Berlin’s birthday?

Scientific bone analysis has shown that Berlin is much older than previously thought. The city’s 800th birthday is due to be celebrated in 2037, but it is quite obvious that this milestone birthday actually took place several decades ago.

From the PETRI roof terrace, there’s a view of roaring traffic and Berlin’s built-up city center. Just a few meters below lie the medieval roots of a city ravaged by history. With the Molkenmarkt excavations and the PETRI museum, archaeologists like Eberhard Völker are painstakingly bringing one of the city’s untold stories to light, piece by piece.

This article was originally written in German.

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Photis Gaitanos’ rough fingers adroitly untangle the venomous spikes of a lionfish from a net, throwing the exotic-looking creature into an ice-filled rubber bin along with other fish from the day’s catch.

Unlike a few years ago when he would have mostly caught local staples as sea bream, red mullet or bass, the veteran fisherman now hunts for the invasive species that made its way from the Red Sea to the warming waters of the Mediterranean.

Lionfish, with their red and orange-hued stripes and antennae-like barbs that menacingly ward off enemies, threaten to decimate indigenous fish stocks, wreaking havoc on the livelihoods of the roughly 150 professional fishermen in Cyprus.

The prickly fish has even made its way as far north as the Ionian Sea, where Italian authorities have asked the public to photograph and report sightings.

The East Mediterranean has also seen another invasive Red Sea fish in the last decade: the silver-cheeked toadfish. Known as an eating machine whose powerful jaws cut through fishing nets, decimating fishermen’s catch, it has no natural predators off Cyprus, allowing its population to explode.

That toadfish also produces a lethal toxin, making it inedible.

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Photis Gaitanos catches a toadfish (AP)

Warmer waters are the culprit

Mr Gaitanos has fished for years in an area a few kilometres off the coastal town of Larnaca, once famous for its fishing bounty. Now, he says, it’s been more than two years since he’s caught a red mullet, a consumer favorite.

“I have been practicing this profession for 40 years. Our income, especially since these two foreign species appeared, has become worse every year. It is now a major problem (affecting) the future of fishing,” he said. “How can it be dealt with?”

Europe’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean says with the sea warming some 20 per cent faster than the global average, the presence of invasive species “is progressively increasing in the western basin”.

Models show that warmer seas as a result of climate change could see lionfish swarm the entire Mediterranean by the century’s end. Warmer waters and an expanded Suez Canal “have opened the floodgates” to Indo-Pacific species in general, according to Cyprus’ Fisheries Department.

The European Union’s Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis, a Cypriot himself, said that more frequent and intense extreme weather, often linked to climate change, could make the Mediterranean more hospitable to invasive species.

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A lionfish on a fishing boat (AP)

And that’s taking a heavy toll on Europe’s fishing industry as fishermen’s catches diminish while their costs shoot up as a result of repairs to fishing gear damaged by the powerful intruders.

“The native marine biodiversity of a specific region, as in the case of Cyprus, faces heightened competition and pressure, with implications for local ecosystems and industries dependent on them,” said Mr Kadis.

A cry for help

Mr Gaitanos, who inherited his father’s boat in 1986, is not sure the fishermen’s grievances are being handled in a way that can stave off the profession’s decline.

“We want to show the European Union that there’s a big problem with the quantity of the catch as well as the kind of fish caught, affected by the arrival of these invasive species and by climate change,” he said.

Some EU-funded compensation programs have been enacted to help fishermen. The latest, enforced in 2024, pays fishermen about €4.73 (£4.13) per kilogram to catch toadfish to control their number. The toadfish are then sent to incinerators.

Another project, RELIONMED, which began in 2017, recruits some 100 scuba divers to cull lionfish around wrecks, reefs and marine protected areas. The Cyprus Fisheries Department says surveys show that frequent culls could buy time for native species to recover, but it’s not a permanent fix.

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Stefanos Mentonis, owner of Stefanos restaurant, cooks lionfish (AP)

Eating the problem

What local fishermen are hoping will catch on with the fish-loving public is a new campaign to serve lionfish as a delicacy after its poisonous spines are carefully removed.

Mr Kadis said a social media campaign that began in 2021, #TasteTheOcean, had top European chefs and influencers plugging invasive species as a tasty alternative to the more commonly consumed fish. Renowned Cypriot chef Stavris Georgiou worked up a lionfish recipe of his own.

For most Cypriots, local taverns with their rich meze menus that feature numerous plates different fish is the way to go. Although eating lionfish has been slow to catch on, many tavernas and fish restaurants have started to introduce it as part of their menu.

The bonus is that lionfish is now priced competitively compared to more popular fish like sea bass. At the Larnaca harbor fish market, lionfish cost less than half as much as more popular fish like sea bass.

“By incorporating invasive species such as lionfish into our diet, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity for the fisheries sector and at the same time help limit the environmental threat caused by these species,” Mr Kadis said.

Stephanos Mentonis, who runs a popular fish tavern in Larnaca, has included lionfish on his meze menu as a way to introduce the fish to a wider number of patrons.

Mr Mentonis, 54, says most of his customers aren’t familiar with lionfish. But its meat is fluffy and tender, and he says it can hold up against perennial tavern favorites like sea bream.

“When they try it, it’s not any less tasty than any other fish,” he said.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Sara Mearns is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet
• Mearns tells PEOPLE that performing in The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center is about “giving the families the tradition”
• Mearns performs as the Sugarplum Fairy in the ballet, and says it’s “different” from other shows for one main reason

For many families, going to see George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition.

Sara Mearns, the Sugarplum Fairy in the New York City Ballet’s performance of the beloved Christmas ballet, says the dancers feel the same, noting that the “holidays mean Nutcracker.” 

The dancer, who has been with the company for almost two decades, tells PEOPLE that since they perform through the holidays, she herself doesn’t have many traditions as her schedule is packed with performances.

“It’s just about being in the Nutcracker and giving the families the tradition. That is our job at this time,” Mearns, 39, says, adding that it’s a “very specific audience” that comes to see the show year after year.

“It’s usually people that don’t really go to dance otherwise, but they’re in New York to see the Nutcracker. It’s like a rock concert. It’s absolutely amazing,” she says. “You could literally fall off your leg and it’s okay.”

“They’re just so happy to be there and you’re like, ‘Wow. Oh my gosh. I love this feeling,'” she adds.

Sara Mearns.

Mark Mann; Erin Baiano

While she admittedly doesn’t have many holiday traditions of her own, the dancer always finds time to “eat the canned cranberry sauce.” 

“And eggnog, I mean, it’s real thick, but I have to have that at least once this season,” she shares. “It’s not like I have to have something, but definitely the cranberry sauce for sure.”

Mearns tells PEOPLE that the dancers have Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day off. They also don’t perform on Mondays, but have two-show days on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

Aside from her love of ballet, meeting kids backstage after the performance always reminds Mearns of why she’s doing it.

Mearns, who was diagnosed with nerve hearing loss, is again taking the stage as the Sugarplum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker with the NYCB at Lincoln Center. Last year was the first year that she performed in The Nutcracker with her hearing aids on, and they will be on full display for the families and fans who come to watch her dance again this year.

Mearns recently became an ambassador for Phonak, sharing her journey and story, and hoping to inspire others. 

“I had a mother come up to me recently after a screening that I was at, and she said, ‘Thank you so much for talking about this. Because now my son feels like he has a path. That he has a chance,'” she tells PEOPLE. “I was like, ‘He absolutely does.’ I just want all students, even professionals, anybody, to realize that this is not something that’s gonna hold you back at all.” 

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to lose their eleventh publicist in just five years – having also parted with their US-based PR agency and amid continuing accusations the couple are ‘difficult’ to work with. 

Meredith Maines, who worked as their chief communications officer, has revealed she is stepping down after just a year in the role with Meghan and Harry.

Her departure comes as US-based Method Communications PR announced it too would be ending its tenure with the Sussexes after just seven months. 

Ms Maines’ resignation comes in the wake of her colleague Emily Robinson leaving as director of communications for the couple only two months ago. Insiders had suggested Ms Maines had been experiencing a ‘difficult’ time in the time since then.

The high-flying PR professional had also been at the centre of a media storm over the summer when she was pictured meeting with King Charles’ communications secretary Tobyn Andreae in London as part of a secret ‘peace summit’ between the two camps.

Both Harry, 40, and his father, 76, are said to be keen to reconcile, especially after the King was diagnosed with cancer last year.

However, Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that photographs of the extraordinary meeting – which took place in July at a private members club in Mayfair – were published in an exclusive for The Mail on Sunday. 

Sources close to Prince Harry insisted the Sussexes were not responsible for passing details of the meeting on to the newspaper. 

Of her now imminent departure, Ms Maines issued a statement speaking of her ‘gratitude and respect’ for the couple.

She said: ‘After a year of inspiring work with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Archewell, I will be pursuing a new opportunity in 2026.

Meredith Maines, who was appointed as chief communications officer is parting ways with Harry and Meghan after a year in the role

Meghan Markleand Prince Harry are set to lose their eleventh publicist in just five years after their ‘cheerleader’ spin doctor announced she is stepping down

‘I have the utmost gratitude and respect for the couple and the team, and the good they are doing in the world.’

Meanwhile a spokesperson for the couple said: ‘Meredith Maines and Method Communications have concluded their work with Archewell. 

‘The Duke and Duchess are grateful for their contributions and wish them well.’ 

It is understood that Liam Maguire, their UK and Europe director of communications, will now lead on all publicity-related work. 

The departure of Ms Maines follows the departure of Ms Robinson, who joined Harry and Meghan’s team as director of communications in June, but had already jumped ship by October.

Ms Robinson was a controversial hire as she had worked on The Crown for years – a show which aired a number of damaging narratives about the Royal Family.

Her departure comes five months after Ms Maines met with King Charles’ communications secretary Tobyn Andreae in London as part of a secret ‘peace summit’ between the two camps

The final series included scenes in which the ‘ghost’ of Princess Diana appeared to speak to The Queen and Prince Charles, which many found insensitive.

One friend of LA-based Robinson, who built up a reputation as a ‘tough cookie’ at Netflix, said: ‘It was her decision. She left a few weeks ago. She’s not a quitter, so things must have been pretty horrible for her to go.’

The departure of Ms Robinson and now Ms Maines in a matter of months means the couple have lost 11 publicists since leaving the UK for California five years ago (although two former publicists, James Holt and Miranda Barbot, have been promoted into non-PR roles).

In the last year alone, the couple have suffered numerous PR disasters, most recently the duchess’s surprise trip to Paris Fashion Week in October.

She posted a video to Instagram which showed her being driven at night along the Seine – a similar route to that taken by Princess Diana on the night she died.

There was also criticism of her appearance that same month in Washington at Fortune magazine’s Most Powerful Women event.

Meanwhile the couple had to navigate an unflattering cover story in Vanity Fair in February which included the claim: ‘The person who worked in media projects read stories in the tabloids about Meghan ‘bullying’ palace aides and couldn’t imagine such behaviour actually happening.

‘After working with her, though, this person realized, ‘Oh, any given Tuesday this happened’.’ 

The departure of Emily Robinson (pictured) and now Ms Maines in a matter of months means the couple have lost 11 publicists in just five years

The Sussexes hit back with a feature in People magazine with a number of employees and associated attesting to their kindness.

One Netflix crew member said of the Prince while filming With Love, Meghan: ‘Whenever Harry visited set, he was always super polite and friendly.’

The director of the series added: ‘Everyone has this one version of [Meghan], but she’s just someone who is hustling and working and doing.’

There were however more PR obstacles ahead for the couple including a piece in The Hollywood Reporter last September. One source was quoted as saying: ‘Everyone’s terrified of Meghan. She belittles people, she doesn’t take advice. 

‘Harry is a very, very charming person – no airs at all – but he’s very much an enabler. And she’s just terrible.’

A second source added: ‘She marches around like a dictator in high heels. I’ve watched her reduce grown men to tears.’

But an insider close to the couple denied the allegations, saying they had been ‘fabricated by someone with no knowledge of our company’.

Some sources claimed Ms Maines had been enduring a ‘difficult’ time as the couple’s chief communications officer prior to the announcement of her departure. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the couple’s representatives for comment. 

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Tributes will be paid to Diogo Jota when two of the clubs he represented in Liverpool and Wolves meet at Anfield, with his sons leading the sides out as mascots

Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter

09:43, 27 Dec 2025Updated 09:45, 27 Dec 2025

Diogo Jota’s two sons will be mascots as Liverpool host Wolves(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Diogo Jota’s commitment to being the finest father possible to his three children was evident when the Liverpool star spoke candidly about his family life. More than five months have passed since Jota’s tragic death in a car crash alongside his younger brother Andre Silva, news that sent shockwaves through the sporting community and far beyond.

The Portuguese forward’s legacy remains strong following his untimely passing. Liverpool supporters have made it their mission to keep his memory alive by belting out his chant during the 20th minute – matching his shirt number – at every match.

Beyond being an exceptional player who consistently delivered crucial goals when it mattered most, Jota was devoted to his family – a loving husband and father to three young children. Those closest to him were acutely aware of how much his family meant to him.

It was during Liverpool’s triumphant Premier League title-winning season last year that Jota revealed how he juggled pressure and strived to remain an engaged and devoted father when returning home from his demanding role as a top-level footballer.

In conversation with Liverpool’s performance psychologist Lee Richardson before his daughter’s arrival, Jota explained his wish to be the best dad possible. He said: “When I go home I still have a family, I have two kids – three almost – and the dogs and the stress doesn’t stop.

READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk makes heartbreaking confession over impact of Diogo Jota’s tragic deathREAD MORE: James Milner sends touching Diogo Jota message after Liverpool return

“You want to be the best father you can be, try to lead by example, give good feedback. Even though sometimes you want to get a bit more rest in the afternoon, they are all happy because you are finally at home and they want to play.

“I had this the day after the game, I wanted to get a bit of rest, [my son] wanted to play some football – and you need to be on it.” An emotional reunion is set this afternoon as Liverpool and Wolves, his two Premier League clubs, face off at Anfield for the first time since his passing.

Jota and his wife Rute Cardoso have three children(Image: Instagram/diogoj_18)

Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, will watch on as their sons, Dinis and Duarte, serve as mascots. On Friday evening, Wolves honoured the late striker with his ex-international team-mate Jose Sa, head coach Rob Edwards, and chairman Nathan Shi laying flowers at his memorial outside Anfield.

In his pre-match column, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk confessed that the team is still grappling with the loss of Jota, reflecting on a year marked by both triumph and tragedy in 2025. He penned: “Saturday marks our last fixture of 2025 and when I reflect back on the year there have been a wide range of emotions for everybody at the club.

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“There have been some incredible highs, of course. To become Premier League champions, as we did back in April, was incredible. Lifting that trophy in front of you guys at Anfield is a memory that I will never forget, I can assure you.

“It was a real team effort and a deserved reward for a season of hard work, on and off the pitch. Soon after that, though, came the most devastating of lows. The loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in July was something none of us could ever have prepared for, and something all of us are still coming to terms with.

“Our thoughts, as ever, remain with Diogo and Andre’s family. They will never, ever be forgotten, and we will carry their memory always.”

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Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and military chief Selcuk Bayraktaroglu attend ceremony at an airbase near Ankara.

Published On 27 Dec 202527 Dec 2025

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Turkiye has held a military ceremony to honour a group of Libyan officials, including military chief Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, who were killed in a plane crash over Turkish territory earlier this week.

The ceremony, held on Sunday at Murted airbase outside the capital, Ankara, honoured al-Haddad and four other military officers who were in Turkiye for high-level defence talks before the crash on Tuesday.

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Turkiye’s military chief Selcuk Bayraktaroglu and Defence Minister Yasar Guler were in attendance at the ceremony. The remains of the Libyan officials will be transported back home, where an official funeral will be held.

The aircraft carrying the Libyan delegation went down on Tuesday shortly after taking off from Ankara, following what Libyan officials said was a technical malfunction. All those on board, including three crew members, were killed.

Al-Haddad, Libya’s highest-ranking military officer, was a key figure in the United Nations-brokered efforts to unify the country’s divided armed forces. His death drew condolences even from the rival factions.

“Haddad was this strong, charismatic leader who always [sought] peace in the country,” said Al Jazeera’s Malik Traina, reporting from al-Haddad’s hometown of Misrata, Libya. “He was a man of peace, well-respected across the country, even among people he fought against.”

Khalifa Haftar, head of eastern Libya’s rival administration – whose forces al-Haddad opposed during a 2019 advance on western Libya – was among those who extended sympathies.

In a statement, Haftar expressed “deep sorrow over this tragic loss” and offered condolences to al-Haddad’s family, tribe, and city, as well as “to all the Libyan people”.

‘Big shoes to fill’

Following the ceremony in Turkiye, five coffins draped in Libyan national flags were loaded onto a plane for repatriation to Libya. Turkiye’s military chief Bayraktaroglu was also on the plane, state-run news agency TRT reported.

Libya plunged into chaos after the country’s 2011 uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The country is split, with rival administrations in the east and the west, backed by an array of rogue militias and different foreign governments.

Turkiye has been the main backer of Libya’s government in the west, but has recently taken steps to improve ties with the eastern-based administration as well.

Traina said it will be “extremely difficult” for Libya’s Western government “to find someone as respected” to replace al-Haddad, who had chaired a United Nations-backed truce committee. “They are extremely big shoes to fill.”

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A Kentucky congressman singled out by Donald Trump on Christmas as a “lowlife” after co-authoring a law requiring the federal government to release all of its Jeffrey Epstein files says the president attacked him for keeping a commitment to “help victims”.

Thomas Massie then successfully sought donations for his run for another term in the 2026 midterm elections against an opponent that Trump – his fellow Republican – has already endorsed.

The back-and-forth illustrated a deepening divide between Trump and Massie. Massie earned the president’s disdain by working to pass a bipartisan congressional bill demanding the full release of documents pertaining to Epstein, the former friend of Trump who once pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor and then evidently died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges.

And on Christmas, Trump posted a rant on his Truth Social platform that dismissed Congress’s interest in Epstein as a “scam” while referring to Massie – the only lawmaker named in the post – as “one lowlife ‘Republican’”.

That prompted Massie to reply on X: “Imagine celebrating a blessed Christmas with your family … suddenly phones alert everyone to the most powerful man in the world attacking you … for fulfilling his campaign promise to help victims!”

Massie’s account cited the “one lowlife ‘Republican’” phrase in the post’s text, highlighted it in screenshots of Trump’s tirade – and asked X users to “please support me” while providing a link to his campaign donations site.

More than 40 people had donated nearly $3,000 within the first two hours of the fundraising plea, Massie’s account said in separate follow-up posts. One user replying to Massie’s account described having just made “one of the few Republican contributions in my life”.

“I really appreciate it, especially the day after Christmas,” the congressman’s account said.

Massie has served in the US House since 2012. He has become a thorn in Trump’s side after the president’s administration failed to deliver on his promises of complete transparency with respect to Epstein’s case.

He not only co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act that sailed through Congress in November. Massie also said all those with connections to Epstein must face “the same kind of consequences” as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who lost his British royal title as the Duke of York over his ties to the sex offender financier.

Furthermore, Massie at the time alluded to Peter Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to the US before his firing over his association with Epstein.

“There’s becoming a reckoning in Britain that needs to happen in the United States,” Massie said then. “A prince lost his title. The ambassador to the United States lost his job. We need to see those … kind of consequences here.”

Trump’s justice department failed to meet the Epstein Files Transparency Act’s 19 December deadline in full, though it did release a number of materials that day. On Wednesday, the justice department said it had discovered more than a million more documents related to Epstein, and it could take “a few more weeks” to process those files for public release.

Trump has endorsed a retired US Navy Seal, Ed Gallrein, to run against Massie in the Republican primary for the incumbent’s seat ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Massie has previously told Politico that Gallrein is a “failed … establishment hack” whom Trump endorsed out of panic.

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Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, the defence ministers of both countries have said in a joint statement.

The two sides have agreed to freeze the front lines where they are now and allow civilians living in border areas to return home, halting almost three weeks of intense clashes in which dozens of people have been killed and nearly one million displaced.

The ceasefire took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. Once it has been in place for 72 hours, 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand since July will be released, the statement said.

The breakthrough came after days of talks between the two countries, with diplomatic encouragement from China and the US.

The agreement prioritises getting the displaced back to their homes, and also includes an agreement to remove landmines.

Thailand’s Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit described the ceasefire as a test for the “other party’s sincerity”.

“Should the ceasefire fail to materialise or be violated, Thailand retains its legitimate right to self-defence under international law,” he told reporters.

Thailand had been reluctant to accept the ceasefire, saying the last one was not properly implemented. They also resented what they saw as Cambodia’s efforts to internationalise the conflict.

Unlike the last ceasefire in July, US President Donald Trump was conspicuously absent from this one, although the US State Department was involved.

That ceasefire agreement collapsed earlier this month, when fresh clashes erupted.

Both sides have blamed each other for the breakdown of the truce.

The Thai army said its troops had responded to Cambodian fire in Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province, in which two Thai soldiers were injured.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said it was Thai forces that had attacked first, in Preah Vihear province, and insisted that Cambodia did not retaliate.

Clashes have continued throughout December. On Friday, Thailand carried out more air strikes inside Cambodia.

The Thai Air Force said it had hit a Cambodian “fortified military position” after civilians had left the area. Cambodia’s defence ministry said the strikes were “indiscriminate attacks” against civilian houses.

How well the ceasefire holds this time depends to a large extent on political will. Nationalist sentiment has been inflamed in both countries.

Cambodia, in particular, has lost many soldiers and a lot of its military equipment. It has been driven back from positions it held on the border, and suffered extensive damage from the Thai air strikes, grievances which could make a lasting peace harder to achieve.

Disagreement over the border dates back more than a century, but tension increased early this year after a group of Cambodian women sang patriotic songs in a disputed temple.

A Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash in May, and two months later, in July, there were five days of intense fighting along the border, which left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead. Thousands more civilians were displaced.

Following intervention by Malaysia and President Trump, a fragile ceasefire was negotiated between the two countries, and signed in late October.

Trump dubbed the agreement the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords”. It mandated both sides to withdraw their heavy weapons from the disputed region, and to establish an interim observer team to monitor it.

However, the agreement was suspended by Thailand in November after Thai soldiers were injured by landmines, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announcing that the security threat had “not actually decreased”.

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A months-long effort to restore Munich’s famous “Eisbach” wave is being disbanded, the Surf Club Munich has announced. The group cited excessive red tape and a lack of enthusiasm for the project from the city government.

“The administration does not want to regulate surfing on the Eisbach, but to prevent it,” the association said in a statement. They pointed to “administrative obstruction” in their mission to bring the wave back after it disappeared in October during a routine cleaning process.

How did land-locked Munich become a surfing hotspot?

The Eisbach is a small tributary of the Isar river that flows through Munich’s famous English Garden city park.

A series of concrete reinforcements underneath the stream in the 1970s led to the creation of a strong current near a bridge in one area of the park.

Local surfing legend Walter Strasser has been credited in local media with coming up with the idea to place a plank at a specific angle where the current was strongest, creating a wave large enough for surfing.

Over the years, Strasser and his wave gained more and more renown in the surfing community, and the area became a hotspot for the sport.

Earlier in December, Strasser told local newspaper the Münchener Abendzeitung that he had tried to work with Mayor Dieter Reiter to restore the wave, but had been met with ambivalence.

“I have so much experience with the Eisbach. I know exactly what the problem is. I could have fixed it within weeks, with very little funding,” he told the paper. “But the city told me they didn’t need me.”

Surfing in Munich

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Deadly accident

The Eisbach was also closed for two months after a 33-year-old surfer died in April. After her surfing line became trapped around her leg, she was pulled under the water and stuck underwater for nearly 30 minutes under rescue services were able to reach her.

The strong current had prevented bystanders from coming to her aid.

Although paramedics were able to reanimate her on the riverbank, she died later that same day in a Munich hospital.

The incident was the first such deadly event at the Eisbach, and prompted what authorities called a thorough safety review before the wave reopened at the end of June. A specific cause for the accident was never found, however.

Illicit reopening

The news that the Surf Club Munich has given up its official attempts to reopen the wave come just a few days after some surfers illegally set it back up with a wooden plank and used it clandestinely over the holidays.

But this construction was not permanent, and authorities have made it clear that surfing is currently prohibited.

Although Surf Club Munich has dropped its study of how to restart the wave on a constant basis, they maintained that the debate would continue despite “becoming political.”

Edited by: Louis Oelofse

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