Pamplona draws thousands of revellers for bull-running festival
As the rocket that starts the official party was fired, many doused each other with red or sparkling wine.
The highlight of the nine-day festival is the early morning 'encierros', or bull runs, starting on Monday, when thousands of brave or foolhardy participants sprint to avoid six bulls charging along a winding cobblestoned route to the city's bullring.
While gorings are not rare, many more people suffer bruising from falls as spectators watch from balconies and wooden barricades set up along the course. The spectacle is televised nationally.
The rest of each day is for eating, drinking, dancing and cultural entertainment, including bull fights where the animals that run in the morning are slain by professional matadors each afternoon.
The festival was made internationally famous by Ernest Hemingway's classic 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises, about American bohemians living in Europe.
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Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
BBC stars' true feelings on John McEnroe as Wimbledon and tennis icon told to retire
BBC stars' true feelings on John McEnroe as Wimbledon and tennis icon told to retire John McEnroe has been the voice of Wimbledon for many years and has become a household name in British sports television - but the American has also been at the centre of a number of controversies John McEnroe is a divisive figure in the broadcasting world (Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images ) For many fans, Wimbledon's coverage on the BBC wouldn't be quite the same without the distinctive and knowledgeable commentary of John McEnroe. The US star has become a fixture in living rooms across the UK during the tournament's most thrilling matches on Centre Court. Since taking up broadcasting responsibilities at the All England Club in the early 2000s, the American legend has become as much a part of Wimbledon as the carefully mowed grass itself. The former world No. 1, now aged 66, dominated the men's tennis scene in the 1980s, clinching three Wimbledon titles and four US Open championships. Known as 'Superbrat' during his playing days, McEnroe hung up his racket in 1992 and has since provided expert analysis on the sport he once ruled. Despite being one of the BBC's highest-paid commentators, McEnroe's forthright style has split opinion. His candid commentary and unparalleled expertise have earned him acclaim, but he has also faced criticism for what some perceive as "disrespect" towards certain players. Nevertheless, those who have worked alongside McEnroe speak highly of his commitment to his role as an analyst. Former BBC host Sue Barker recently lauded her ex-colleague in her 2024 memoir, Wimbledon: A Personal History. "Mac is the BBC's highest-paid employee pro rata, and with good reason. The public love him. He was great to work with, always up for fun," she wrote. Article continues below Sue Barker (L) was full of praise for McEnroe (Image: Getty ) Another of McEnroe's peers at the BBC, commentator Andrew Castle, concurred with Barker's sentiments. "John is a wonderfully, funny and well-weather guy," he told Globusbet. "I can tell you this, when he is into a match and is concentrating and is engaged whilst enjoying it, there is no one to match. It's a thrill to sit there and listen to what he has to say." Even Pat Cash, the Australian icon and one-time adversary on the circuit, paid homage to McEnroe – although the Wimbledon champion of 1987 couldn't help but aim a jibe at the American's commentary prowess, reports the Express. In their encounter at Wimbledon in 2024, McEnroe said: "Cashy, it's great to see you in person, I've watched you on TV, but it is great to see you guys." In response, Cash jested, "Likewise, I've watched you on TV... until I can get to the off button." Dave Gordon, the ex-executive editor of BBC Sport and previously at the helm of Wimbledon broadcasts, once told The Daily Telegraph that McEnroe had single-handedly dragged the corporation's coverage of SW19 "kicking and screaming into the 21st century." McEnroe has sparked controversy from the commentary booth over the years (Image: Getty ) In an article for the BBC in 2007, Clive James lauded McEnroe's ability to enchant audiences, stating that he's "so interesting" behind the microphone that the presence of an "accompanied by an actual match" is almost superfluous. He went further to crown McEnroe as the "supreme male commentator" at Wimbledon and even described him as a "philosopher". McEnroe has faced backlash of late however. Some tennis fans have criticised him for mispronouncing players' names and seemingly lacking his usual depth of knowledge during tournaments. Whilst juggling duties for both the BBC and ESPN, a few American viewers expressed disappointment with his commentary at this year's event. On social media, one frustrated viewer said: "I see John McEnroe is at it again. If ESPN won't retire him, can we at least compromise and keep him off broadcasts until the semif-inals where he'll actually know the players?". Another voiced their concern, saying: "Why does John McEnroe have so little respect for other, 'lesser' players that he does not bother learning how to pronounce their names?". Pat Cash once had a light jibe at McEnroe's expense (Image: Getty ) Moreover, McEnroe has had his fair share of on-air disagreements with BBC Wimbledon host Clare Balding, most notably a heated debate about Novak Djokovic in 2024. Formerly, a controversial comment regarding "swingers" landed him in trouble, and a brutal remark about Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva this year have drawn further ire from co-commentators and viewers. A minor clash with BBC's Simon Reed also occurred over remarks made about British star Jack Draper. Additionally, McEnroe's salary has prompted discussions, as he remains amongst the BBC's highest-paid commentators for his two-week role at the Championships. The BBC's salary report from the previous year disclosed that John McEnroe's earnings ranged between £195,000 and £199,000 for the 2023/24 period, indicating a modest decrease from his earlier income of £205,000. Nevertheless, McEnroe's daily remuneration during Wimbledon is believed to be around £14,000. Article continues below A source from within the BBC divulged to The Times in 2023 the reasons behind the American tennis legend's lucrative fee, stating: "He is one of the most popular and respected pundits in tennis," and adding: "He provides a unique perspective to our coverage."
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Look around the tiny English island with a volcano, rare wildlife & 250 residents who have one of 7 surnames
The island is said to be home to the most isolated settlement in the world REMOTE GEM Look around the tiny English island with a volcano, rare wildlife & 250 residents who have one of 7 surnames Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ENGLISH island with its own volcano and unique wildlife, has just 250 residents. Residents of this remote settlement speak English, but the language has evolved over the years, so sounds completely different to the dialect we are used to. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Tristan Da Cunha is home to the world's most remote settlement Credit: Getty 7 Only 250 people live on the island Credit: Getty 7 The islanders share just seven surnames Credit: Getty The world's most remote settlement Edinburgh of the Seven Seas - named after it was visited by The Duke of Edinburgh HRH Prince Alfred in 1887 - is said to be the world's most isolated settlement, as it is further (1,514 miles) from its nearest neighbour, St Helena, than any other community in the world. The village, which is known as simply The Settlement to locals, is the only inhabited area of Tristan da Cunha, a group of tiny islands that make up one of three constituent parts of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena. Despite being 5,000 miles away from the UK, its 250 inhabitants are British citizens who are all descended from original settlers. The islanders share just seven surnames between them: Glass, Swain, Green, Rogers, Hagan, Repetto and Lavarello. Among the residents is a doctor, and other professionals such as dentists, opticians and priests often visit for a few months, to provide services to the islanders. All of the land on the land on Tristan da Cunha is communally owned, with outsiders prohibited from buying or selling land on the island. Agriculture and fishing are the island's major industries, with the Tristan rock lobster being the island's biggest export. Tristan de Cunha was discovered in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha and was then settled by British marines and American whalers. In the war, the tiny set of islands was used as a weather station, and the currency in Tristan is the pound. Tristan has two volcanoes Queen Mary's Peak on the main island and Edinburgh Peak on Gough Island. Little Diomede is a tiny remote island where US is just 2 MILES from Russia Queen Mary's Peak last erupted back in 1961, whilst Edinburgh Peak is classified as extinct. It is also home to an abundance of wildlife, such as rockhopper penguins, whales and dolphins. How to get there If you want to visit the island, you need permission to land, and you will need to show proof of travel insurance and a fully paid return ticket. There are no planes or airports, so you will have to travel by boat to the island, either by a five-to-ten-day sea voyage from Cape Town aboard fishing vessels or Polar research trips. 7 There are no planes or airports on the island Credit: Getty And, once you've got to the island, there's no guarantee your ship will be able to dock, with adverse weather conditions often leaving passengers stranded. Visitors to the island must pay a landing and harbour fee (£30 for cruise passengers, £15 for yacht visitors) and each visitor has to sign an indemnity waver. Once you've reached the island, there's no mobile connection, and internet access is shared via the whole community via a slow and expensive satellite. Rare form of English According to the Name Explain YouTube channel, people on the island speak the "rarest" form of English. For example, residents shorten vowel sounds, so the word 'base' would be pronounced as 'Bes'. They also drop t's, meaning that words such as 'butter' are pronounced like 'buher'. They also refrain from pluralising words, meaning 'two cats' would be simply 'two cat' and add an H to the beginning of words starting with a vowel, so apple becomes happle. 7 The island of Tristan da Cunha from the southern end. Credit: Getty 7 Signpost on Tristan da Cunha showing distances to other destinations. Credit: Getty 7 CRGYP5 Bus Stop at Tristan da Cunha, with a passing chicken. Credit: Alamy
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC stars have made feelings clear on John McEnroe as he's told to retire
John McEnroe has been a mainstay in the BBC commentary box for the best part of the last two decades, but the 66-year-old has not been without his critics in recent times For many, Wimbledon wouldn't be the same without John McEnroe's distinctive and knowledgeable commentary echoing around Centre Court. The American tennis legend has become a fixture on British screens, having joined the media team at SW19 in the early 2000s. The former world No. 1, now 66, ruled the men's game in the 1980s, clinching three Wimbledon titles and four US Open crowns. Known as 'Superbrat' during his playing days, McEnroe called time on his colourful career in 1992 and has since become a respected analyst of the sport he once mastered. With an eye-watering salary to boot, McEnroe's presence in the commentary box has been polarising however. His straightforward style and deep understanding of the game have earned him acclaim, but he's also faced criticism for what some perceive as "disrespect" towards certain players. Colleagues who have worked with McEnroe speak highly of his commitment to broadcasting nevertheless. Former BBC host Sue Barker recently lauded McEnroe in her 2024 memoir, ' Wimbledon: A Personal History', reports the Express. Barker wrote: "Mac is the BBC's highest-paid employee pro rata, and with good reason. The public love him. He was great to work with, always up for fun." Another of McEnroe's colleagues, BBC commentator Andrew Castle, agreed with Barker's assessment. "John is a wonderfully, funny and well-weather guy," he told Globusbet. "I can tell you this, when he is into a match and is concentrating and is engaged whilst enjoying it, there is no one to match. It's a thrill to sit there and listen to what he has to say." Even Pat Cash, an old rival from his playing days, couldn't hide his admiration for McEnroe, despite playfully mocking his commentary skills. During a chance meeting at Wimbledon in 2024, McEnroe greeted Cash with: "Cashy, it's great to see you in person, I've watched you on TV, but it is great to see you guys." To which Cash responded with a cheeky retort: "Likewise, I've watched you on TV... until I can get to the off button." Dave Gordon, the former executive editor for BBC Sport and the man who once oversaw Wimbledon coverage, previously said that McEnroe took the broadcaster's coverage of SW19 "kicking and screaming into the 21st century." Clive James, writing for the BBC in 2007, claimed that McEnroe was "so interesting" in the commentary booth that the presence of an actual match is almost unnecessary. He hailed McEnroe as the "supreme male commentator" at Wimbledon and even described him as a "philosopher". McEnroe has faced some choppy waters recently however, with fans criticising him for mispronouncing players' names and showing up to tournaments seemingly underprepared – a departure from his usual insightful commentary. Juggling duties between the BBC and ESPN in the US, McEnroe has drawn ire from some American viewers during this year's tournament. One disgruntled fan took to social media, saying: "I see John McEnroe is at it again. If ESPN won't retire him, can we at least compromise and keep him off broadcasts until the semifinals where he'll actually know the players?". Another questioned: "Why does John McEnroe have so little respect for other, 'lesser' players that he does not bother learning how to pronounce their names?". McEnroe has also found himself in hot water with BBC's Wimbledon host Clare Balding, particularly during a heated live discussion about Novak Djokovic in 2024. Formerly, an inappropriate comment about "swingers" has seen him in trouble, while this year, a cruel remark regarding Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva have led to criticism from both colleagues and viewers. Additionally, McEnroe also had a minor clash with BBC presenter Simon Reed following comments about Jack Draper. His salary has also been a talking point; McEnroe remains one of the BBC's top-paid commentators for his fortnight's work during the championships. The BBC's annual salary report disclosed that he pocketed between £195,000 and £199,000 during the 2023/24 financial year, representing a modest decline from his earlier £205,000 fee. Nevertheless, McEnroe's daily wage throughout Wimbledon remains around £14,000. A BBC source justified the American legend's substantial pay packet to The Times in 2023, stating: "He is one of the most popular and respected pundits in tennis," adding: "He provides a unique perspective to our coverage."
