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UPI
13-07-2025
- Climate
- UPI
Wildfires scorch 45,000 acres, prompt evacuations near Grand Canyon
Visitors on the Skywalk with the Grand Canyon below at the opening of the Grand Canyon Skywalk at Grand Canyon West, Arizona, in 2007. Wildfires have scorched at least 45,000 near the Canyon, prompting hundreds of evacuations near the North Rim Sunday. File photo UPI Photo/Art Foxall | License Photo July 13 (UPI) -- Two wildfires burning near the Grand Canyon have scorched more than 45,000 acres of tinder dry brush and vegetation and prompted evacuation orders for the Kaibab National Forest and north to the Utah border. The Bureau of Land Management is coordinating with Coconino County fire officials on the evacuations of hundreds of people. Both fires continue to burn out of control and are 0% contained, officials said. Nearly 600 crews have been assigned to battle the fires. At least 500 visitors were also evacuated from public park areas in the North Rim where the fires are burning. The White Sage Fire has burned more than 40,000 acres near the canyon's North Rim while the Dragon Bravo Fire has burned more than 5,000 acres, state and federal fire officials reported Sunday. Lighting from rogue thunderstorms sparked the White Sage Fire, which spread quickly among pinyon pine and juniper trees, fanned by gusty winds and low humidity. "On the ground resources are now focusing on a full suppression strategy to protect structures in the North Rim developed area," Grand Canyon Park officials said on InciWeb. Steep and rugged terrain creates a challenge for firefighters trying to reach the blazes and dry weather continues to pose challenges and a threat for the fires to spread further. Park officials have said the closures are expected to last until Aug. 9 or until the fires are contained.
Wales Online
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Wimbledon champion had to flog trophies and £9m mansion in huge fall from grace
Wimbledon champion had to flog trophies and £9m mansion in huge fall from grace Boris Becker won six Grand Slam titles and amassed a fortune of around £100m, but his reckless financial decisions and legal woes led to him being declared bankrupt Boris Becker is piecing his life back together following a period of financial and personal instability (Image: IMAGO/UPI Photo ) Boris Becker, the legendary tennis figure who claimed Wimbledon victory three times, was once an international superstar, amassing a fortune through Grand Slam triumphs and lucrative endorsements. At the height of his success, his net worth was believed to be around £100million. However, a string of poor financial choices and mounting legal issues ultimately led to his financial collapse and a stint in prison. He had to part with his prized trophies and give up his extravagant mansion in Mallorca, as his once-glamorous lifestyle disintegrated. This is the tale of Becker's dramatic downfall and his ongoing effort to recover. Becker's tennis career was remarkable by any measure. Making a sensational debut in 1985, he became Wimbledon's youngest men's singles champion at just 17 – a record that still stands. Known for his explosive serve-and-volley tactics and fierce determination, he secured six Grand Slam titles: three Wimbledon crowns (1985, 1986, 1989), two Australian Opens (1991, 1996), and one US Open (1989). His magnetic presence and style turned him into a household name, attracting multimillion-pound sponsorships. After hanging up his racket in 1999, Becker pivoted to coaching, most prominently working with Novak Djokovic between 2013 and 2016. Under his guidance, Djokovic claimed six Grand Slam championships, reinforcing Becker's status as a brilliant strategist and tennis intellect. He also became a regular voice at Wimbledon through his role as a BBC commentator, where his deep insights and personal experience made him a favourite among viewers. Article continues below Becker used to be a regular at Wimbledon, either as a coach, a commentator or a pundit (Image: Getty Images ) His downfall began in 2017 when he was declared bankrupt over an unpaid £3m loan linked to his luxurious Mallorcan villa, referred to as "The Finca." Purchased in 1997 for £500,000, the sprawling 10,000-square-foot property in Alaro came with seven bedrooms, a pool, tennis and basketball courts. Once valued at £9m, the estate became a burden. Becker spent millions refurbishing it, but by 2018 had deserted the property, which had turned into a "dilapidated ghost house" – its walls defaced with graffiti and its roof partially caved in. In 2020, Becker relinquished ownership of the home to a British bank in an effort to reduce his mounting debt, marking a significant low point. His situation worsened as he was forced to sell off his treasured tennis memorabilia – tokens of his six Grand Slam titles. Becker hit rock bottom when he was sent to prison in 2022 (Image: Getty Images ) In 2018, 82 items – including a replica of his 1985 Wimbledon trophy – were auctioned for £700,000. The sale was a stark indication of his decline, as he let go of symbols from his celebrated past to satisfy creditors. His financial problems were worsened by legal entanglements. In 2022, he was found guilty of concealing £2.5m in assets and loans to avoid repaying debts, breaching UK insolvency laws. The hidden holdings included a £1m German residence and shares in a technology company. Convicted on four counts, Becker was handed a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. He served eight months in HMP Wandsworth and Huntercombe before being released and deported to Germany in December 2022. The court case exposed his mismanagement, as prosecutors detailed his efforts to maintain extravagance while deep in debt. His personal affairs have also seen turmoil. Married twice, Becker is a father of four from prior relationships. Just last month, at age 57, he revealed that he and his 35-year-old wife, Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro, are expecting their first child together. Becker was forced to auction off his replica trophies (Image: Getty Images ) The pair, who wed in a lavish Italian ceremony in 2022, have endured public scrutiny, but Lilian has remained a loyal partner during Becker's legal and financial troubles. Despite everything, Becker is working to rebuild. Since regaining his freedom, he has resumed his tennis broadcasting work, and his family – especially Lilian – has become the cornerstone of his rehabilitation. Nevertheless, the ruined Mallorcan property and missing trophies linger as painful symbols of his former life. Article continues below Becker's tale – from Wimbledon's youngest champion to a striking example of overindulgence – is a powerful reminder of how quickly fame and wealth can slip away. With a new baby on the horizon and his bankruptcy behind him, he now finds himself at a pivotal moment, striving to reclaim his legacy with the same intensity that once made him a legend on the court.
