Month: March 2026

Multiple award chances for Adolescence and A Thousand Blows plus Amandaland, Celebrity Traitors, Blue Lights and Last One Laughing

Stephen Graham came out on top of the BAFTA TV nominations with a total of 11 for his Netflix drama Adolescence and another seven for his Disney+ series A Thousand Blows. If both dramas win in all the categories in which they are nominated the actor, who both stars and executive produces both shows, could come away with a share in 18 gongs.

Adolescence, about the online influence of toxic masculinity on youngsters, was shortlisted in the limited drama category and saw Graham nominated as leading actor plus Owen Cooper and Ashley Walters for best supporting actor and Christine Tremarco and Erin Doherty for supporting actress, with the other nominations coming in the craft awards which reward technical excellence.

A Thousand Blows, about boxing during the Victorian era, was nominated for best drama series and also got a nod for Erin Doherty in the leading actress category, plus five more in the craft sections.

It was also a good day for Amandaland, which received multiple nods including in the best actress category for Jennifer Saunders, Lucy Punch and Philippa Dunne, along with The Celebrity Traitors, nominated as the best reality show and in the entertainment performance category for Claudia Winkleman.

But the main BBC series, The Traitors, did not get a look in. And there are also no gongs on the horizon for Emmerdale – missing from the soap category – Strictly Come Dancing, snubbed in the entertainment list, and This Morning, missing from the daytime section.

New series Last One Laughing, on Prime Video, has landed Bob Mortimer with his first performance Bafta nomination, with the show also nominated in the entertainment catetory, where it faces competition from Graham Norton’s chat show and Rob Brydon’s panel series Would I Lie to You – but not from juggernauts Strictly on BBC1 or ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

Amanda Holden is also up for her first Bafta in a performance category, alongside Alan Carr, for their BBC renovation series The Spanish Job.

Overall, in the performance categories 21 of the 44 nominees were receiving their first BAFTA nomination, including Walters, Cooper and Tremarco for Adolescence, Punch and Dunne for Amandaland, Doherty for Adolescence and A Thousand Blows plus James Nelson-Joyce for This City is Ours, Jim Howick for Here We Go, Jodie Whittaker for Toxic Town, Rose Ayling Ellis for Reunion and Sian Brooke for Blue Lights.

BBC comedy Here We Go landed two nominations in the main awards for leading actors Jim Howick and Katherine Parkinson, who play husband and wife. Police drama Blue Lights, set in Belfast, is nominated for best drama along with a best actress chance for Brooke, who plays social worker turned cop Grace.

Romesh Ranganathan found he was competing against himself in the entertainment performance category, where he is listed for both his series Rob and Romesth Vs plus his other show for Sky Max Romesh – Can’t Knock the Hustle. And Aimee Lou Wood also found herself nominated twice, in the best supporting actress category for The White Lotus and also in the leading actress category for BBC3’s Film Club, which she also co-wrote.

While the BBC dominated the nominations at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises with a total of 73 across both the TV and craft awards, there was also 28 for Netflix, 25 for Channel 4, 17 for Disney+, 16 for ITV, and 15 for AppleTV+. The ceremony will be hosted this year by Taskmaster’s Greg Davies, on Sunday 10 May.

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip said last year had been an “exceptional year for television” which was reflected in the 124 nominated programmes nominated across the board. “They highlight the strength and originality of British storytelling – from powerful documentaries and standout comedy to homegrown drama and the international series that captured global attention, this year’s nominees demonstrate a medium at its creative peak,” she said. “It’s especially exciting to see so many first-time performance nominees, showcasing the vibrant new talent shaping the future of our industry.”

THE TV AWARD NOMINATIONS:

ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• Jim Howick, Here We Go – BBC Studios Comedy / BBC1
• Jon Pointing, Big Boys – Roughcut TV / Channel 4
• Lenny Rush, Am I Being Unreasonable? – Boffola Pictures / BBC1
• Mawaan Rizwan, Juice – Various Artists Limited / BBC3
• Oliver Savell, Changing Ends – Baby Cow Productions / ITV1
• Steve Coogan, How Are You? Its Alan (Partridge) – Baby Cow Productions / BBC1

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

• Diane Morgan, Mandy – BBC Studios Comedy / BBC2
• Jennifer Saunders, Amandaland – Merman Television / BBC1
• Katherine Parkinson, Here We Go – BBC Studios Comedy / BBC1
• Lucy Punch, Amandaland – Merman Television / BBC1
• Philippa Dunne, Amandaland – Merman Television / BBC1
• Rosie Jones, Pushers – Merman Television, 2LE Media / Channel 4

CHILDREN’S: NON-SCRIPTED

• A Real Bugs Life, Production Team – Plimsoll Productions, National Geographic / Disney+
• Boosnoo!, Production Team – Visionality Media, Mackinnon and Saunders / Sky Kids
• Deadly 60 Saving Sharks, Production Team – BBC Studios / CBBC
• World.War.Me (Sky Kids Investigates), Matt Peacock, Marshall Corwin, Nicky Cox – Fresh Start Media / Sky News

CHILDREN’S: SCRIPTED

• Crongton, Production Team – New Pictures / BBC iPlayer
• Horrible Science, Production Team – Lion Television / BBC iPlayer
• Shaun the Sheep, Seamus Malone, Danny Gallagher, Anna Leong Brophy – Aardman / CBBC
• The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, Production Team – Hanna Barbera Studios Europe / Cartoon Network

CURRENT AFFAIRS

• Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War (Exposure), Benjamin Zand, Matan Cohen, Maya Rostowska, Josh Reynolds, Rhiannon Mayor, Mel McCowan – Zandland / ITV1
• The Covid Contracts: Follow The Money, Davina Bristow, Jenna Weiler, Will Hecker, Russell Scott, Einav Leshetz Lovatt, Brian Woods – True Vison Productions / ITV1
• Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, Ramita Navai, Karim Shah, Ben De Pear, Mel Quigley, Menna Hijazi, Jaber Badwan – Basement Films / Channel 4
• Undercover In The Police (Panorama) Karen Wightman, Leo Telling, Joe Plomin, Rory Bibb, Adrian Polglase, Gary Beelders – BBC Panorama / BBC1

DAYTIME

• The Chase, Martin Scott, Helen Tumbridge, Caroline Sale, John L Spencer, Mick Thomas – Potato, ITV Studios / ITV1
• Lorraine, Production Team – ITV Studios Daytime / ITV1
• Richard Osman’s House of Games, Tamara Gilder, Breid McLoone, John Smith, Anna Blakemore, Tom Banks, Abby Brakewell – Remarkable Entertainment / BBC2
• Scam Interceptors, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1

DRAMA SERIES

• A Thousand Blows, Production Team – The Story Collective, Matriarch Productions, Water & Power Productions / Disney+
• Blue Lights, Stephen Wright, Louise Gallagher, Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson, Jack Casey, Amanda Black – Two Cities Television, Gallagher Films / BBC1
• Code Of Silence, Catherine Moulton, Diarmuid Goggins, Joe Shrubb, Chanya Button, Benji Walters, Will Truefitt – Mammoth Screen / ITV1
• This City Is Ours, Stephen Butchard, Simon Maloney, Saul Dibb, Rebecca Hodgson, Sian McWilliams, Andy Harries – Left Bank Pictures / BBC1

ENTERTAINMENT*

• The Graham Norton Show, Graham Norton, Graham Stuart, Jon Magnusson, Toby Baker, Catherine Strauss, Pete Snell – So Television / BBC1
• Last One Laughing, Production Team – Initial, Zeppotron / Prime Video
• Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Production Team – Hungry McBear / BBC1
• Would I Lie To You, Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Jake Graham, Zoe Waterman, Barbara Wiltshire, Debra Blenkinsop – Zeppotron / BBC1

ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE

• Amanda Holden, Alan Carr, Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job – Voltage TV Productions / BBC1
• Bob Mortimer, Last One Laughing – Initial, Zeppotron / Prime Video
• Claudia Winkleman, The Celebrity Traitors – Studio Lambert Scotland / BBC1
• Lee Mack, The 1% Club – Magnum Media / ITV1
• Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob & Romesh Vs… – CPL Productions / Sky Max
• Romesh Ranganathan, Romesh: Can’t Knock the Hustle – Ranga Bee Productions / Sky Max

FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT

• The Assembly, Michelle Singer, Stu Richards, Holly Ritchie, Cein McGillicuddy, Linton Davies, Mary Lynch – Rockerdale Studios / ITV1
• Go Back To Where You Came From, Liam Humphreys, Dave Sutton, Emma Young, Guy Simmonds, Nicky Hammond – Minnow Films / Channel 4
• Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, Production Team – Studio Ramsay Global / Apple TV
• Race Across The World, Production Team – Studio Lambert / BBC1

FACTUAL SERIES

• Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park, Production Team – True Vision / Sky Documentaries
• Educating Yorkshire, Production Team – Twofour / Channel 4
• See No Evil, Production Team – Passion Pictures / Channel 4
• The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed, Lucy Wilcox, Charlie Webb, Kelly Nobay, Rebecca North – Raw / ITV1

INTERNATIONAL

• The Bear, Christopher Storer, Joanna Calo, Josh Senior, Tyson Bidner, Matty Matheson, Cooper Wehde – FX Productions / Disney+
• The Diplomat, Debora Cahn, Janice Williams, Alex Graves, Keri Russell, Melissa Gelernter, Pam Roberts – Well Red, Let’s not turn this into a whole big production / Netflix
• Pluribus, Production Team – Sony Pictures Television / Apple TV
• Severance, Production Team – Fifth Season / Apple TV
• The Studio, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Pete Hyuck, Frida Perez, James Weaver – Lionsgate Television / Apple TV
• The White Lotus, Mike White, Mark Kamine, David Bernad – HBO, Rip Cord, MC Pictures / Sky Atlantic

LEADING ACTOR

• Colin Firth, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth – Carnival Films, Universal International Studios, Sky Studios / Sky Atlantic
• Ellis Howard, What it Feels Like for a Girl – Hera Pictures / BBC3
• James Nelson-Joyce, This City is Ours – Left Bank Pictures / BBC1
• Matt Smith, The Death of Bunny Munro – Clerkenwell Films, Sky Studios / Sky Atlantic
• Stephen Graham, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Taron Egerton, Smoke – truth.media, Crime Story Media, Imperative Entertainment, EDEN Productions, Hans Bubby / Apple TV

LEADING ACTRESS

• Aimee Lou Wood, Film Club – Gaumont / BBC3
• Erin Doherty, A Thousand Blows – The Story Collective, Matriarch Productions, Water & Power Productions / Disney+
• Jodie Whittaker, Toxic Town – Broke & Bones / Netflix
• Narges, Rashidi, Prisoner 951 – Dancing Ledge Productions / BBC1
• Sheridan Smith, I Fought The Law – Hera Pictures / ITV1
• Sian Brooke, Blue Lights – Two Cities Television, Gallagher Films / BBC1

LIMITED DRAMA

• Adolescence, Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne, Philip Barantini, Jo Johnson, Mark Herbert, Hannah Walters – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• I Fought The Law, Liza Marshall, Charlotte Webber, Erik Richter Strand, Jamie Crichton, Mark Hedges – Hera Pictures / ITV1
• Trespasses, Amanda Posey, Maria Mulhall, Dawn Shadforth, Ailbhe Keogan – Wildgaze Films / Channel 4
• What It Feels Like For a Girl, Liza Marshall, Ron O’Berst, Brian Welsh, Paris Lees, Frances du Pille – Hera Pictures / BBC3

LIVE EVENT COVERAGE

• Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1
• Last Night of the Proms: Finale, Production Team – Livewire Pictures / BBC1
• VE Day 80: A Celebration To Remember, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1

NEWS COVERAGE

• BBC Newsnight: Grooming Survivors Speak, Production Team – BBC Newsnight / BBC2
• Channel 4 News: Israle-Iran: The Twelve Day War, Production Team – Channel 4 News / Channel 4
• Sky News: Gaza: Fight For Survival, Production Team – Sky News / Sky News

REALITY

• The Celebrity Traitors, Production Team – Studio Lambert Scotland / BBC1
• The Jury: Murder Trial, Production Team – ScreenDog Productions / Channel 4
• Squid Game: The Challenge, Production Team – Studio Lambert, The Garden / Netflix
• Virgin Island, Rob Davis, Tom Garland, Joe Wildman, Matt Bailey, Sarah Carnie, Mel Walden – Double Act Productions / Channel 4

SCRIPTED COMEDY

• Amandaland, Production Team – Merman Television / BBC1
• Big Boys, Jack Rooke, Bertie Peek, Jim Archer, Ash Atalla, Alex Smith, Tim Sealey – Roughcut TV / Channel 4
• How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), Steve Coogan, Rob Gibbons, Neil Gibbons, Joe Fraser, Rupert Majendie, Sarah Monteith – Baby Cow Productions / BBC1
• Things You Should Have Done, Lucia Keskin, Jack Clough, Steve Monger, Ash Atalla, Alex Smith – Roughcut TV / BBC3

SHORT FORM

• Donkey, Production Team – Mighty Pebble Pictures, The Story Collective / BBC3
• Hustle and Run, Jonny Madderson, Jono Stevens, Sara Conlon – JustSo / Channel 4
• Rocket Fuel, Jordon Scott Kennedy, Leah Henry, Casey Shaw – Fully Focused Productions, Slick Films / BBC iPlayer
• Zoners, Production Team – BBC Studios Comedy / BBC3

SINGLE DOCUMENTARY**

• Grenfell: Uncovered, Olaide Sadiq, Samuel R. Santana, Sandy Smith, James Rogan, Emma Scott, James Saville – Rogan Productions / Netflix
• Louis Therous: The Settlers, Louis Theroux, Arron Fellows, Joshua Baker, Matan Cohen, Sara Obeidat, Fiona Stourton – Mindhouse / BBC2
• One Day in Southport, Dan Reed, Bruce Law, James Parris – Amos Pictures / Channel 4
• Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire, Andy Worboys, George Grafton, Jaimie D’Cruz, Luke A. Flight, Miriam Walsh, Oliver Schofield – acme / BBC2

SOAP

• Casualty, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1
• Coronation Street, Production Team – ITV Studios / ITVX
• EastEnders, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1

SPECIALIST FACTUAL***

• Belsen: What They Found, Sam Mendes, Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, David Baddiel, Pippa Harris, Andy Worboys – Lightbox, Neal Street, Imperial War Museum Lightbox, Neal Street, Imperial War Museum / BBC2
• Simon Schama: The Road To Auschwitz, Hugo Macgregor, Jyoti Mehta, Richard Wilkinson, Venita Singh-Warner, Nicolas Kent, Charlotte Sacher – Oxford Films / BBC2
• Surviving Black Hawk Down, Jack Macinnes, Dominic Crossley-Holland, Jamal Osman, Tom Pearson, Sam Hobkinson, Clare Keeley – RSA / Netflix
• Vietnam: The War That Changed America, Mark Raphael, David Glover, Rob Coldstream, Caroline Marsden, Mike Davey, Sam Bergson – Apple, 72 Films / Apple TV

SPORTS COVERAGE

• The 2025 Ryder Cup, Production Team – Sky Sports, European Tour Productions / Sky Sports Main Event
• The FA Cup Final, Richard Hughes, Sarah Williams, Nicola Kirk, Stephen Lyle, Andrew Clement, Andy Underhill – BBC Sport / BBC1
• UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, Production Team – Sunset+Vine Scotland / BBC1
• Wimbledon 2025, Production Team – BBC Sport, Wimbledon Broadcast Services / BBC1

SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Ashley Walters, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Fehinti Balogun, Down Cemetery Road – 60Forty Films / Apple TV
• Joshua McGuire, The Gold – Tannadice Pictures / BBC1
• Owen Cooper, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Paddy Considine, MobLand – MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Hardy Son & Baker, Easter Partisan Films, Toff Guy Films / Paramount+
• Rafael Mathe, The Death of Bunny Munro – Clerkenwell Films, Sky Studios / Sky Atlantic

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus – HBO, Rip Cord, MC Pictures / Sky Atlantic
• Christine Tremarco, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Chyna McQueen, Get Millie Black – Motive Pictures / Channel 4
• Emilia Jones, Task – HBO, wiip, The Low Dweller Productions Inc., Public Record / Sky Atlantic
• Erin Doherty, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Rose Ayling-Ellis, Reunion – Warp Films / BBC1

P&O CRUISES MEMORABLE MOMENT AWARD (voted for by the public)

• Adolescence, Jamie Snaps at the Psychologist – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Big Boys, I didn’t make it, did I? – Roughcut TV / Channe
• Blue Lights, The police are warned of an ambush to plot to silence a key witness – Two Cities Television, Gallagher Films / BBC1
• The Celebrity Traitors, Alan Carr wins The Celebrity Traitors – Studio Lambert Scotland / BBC1
• Last One Laughing, Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade’s speed date – Initial, Zeppotron / Prime Video
• What It Feels Like For a Girl, Byron leaves for Brighton to start Uni, where she introduces herself as Paris – Hera Pictures / BBC3

FAMILIES are facing a whopping £1.6billion tax blow on the “great British holiday”, a new report has warned.

The findings from industry body UKHospitailty, with figures crunched by Oxford Economics, show that a proposal to slap a five per cent levy on accommodation could “decimate” the industry.

It comes as Labour Government has been proposing to allow local authorities the right to tax overnight stays in holiday parks, campsites, B&Bs and hotels as part of a new holiday tax.

UK Hospitality claim the proposed levy would slash GDP – a benchmark for the country’s economic health – by £2.2billion.

It also warned it would result in a £1.8billion reduction in hospitality spending.

The group also claimed that it would lead to the loss of 33,000 job roles in areas of the UK where there are few alternative employment opportunities.

GRUB’S UP

UK’s top new restaurants of 2026 revealed in awards – is one in YOUR area?

RED REBEL

‘Demoralising’ holiday tax will hit family breaks in the UK, warns Labour MP

Allen Simpson, chief Executive of UKHospitality, said the tax would make staycations “more expensive and decimate tourism.”

“There are no winners from a holiday tax. From coastal communities and city centres to local guesthouses, pubs and taxi firms, the impacts are stark and indiscriminate.

He added: “Taxes up, jobs lost and our high streets hit once again. Holidays are for relaxing, not taxing. The government should keep it that way and stop the holiday tax.”

The charge, which could be applied to hotels, Airbnb-style accommodation and short lets, could amount to a whopping £1.6billion holiday tax on tourists by 2030, according to the figures

Meanwhile, Simon Palethorpe, chief of Haven, said it would mean fewer UK holidays resulting in “less investment and fewer jobs, often in areas where there are few alternative employment opportunities”.

He added: “In the UK, visitors are already paying double the VAT rate of the most popular overseas holiday hotspots. The UK is a great place to visit and we should be encouraging people to do so, not adding extra taxes.”

The government launched a consultation on the tax, with final views submitted last month.

Other measures that also could be introduced include a £2 tax per person per night on staycations.

However, it is worth noting that it will be up to individual mayors to decide whether or not to propose a charge for visitors to their towns or cities.

Government has previously said the charge will help improve local tourism infrastructure, public services.

But it has faced major pushback, with a Labour MP warning last week it will hit family breaks in the UK.

Emma Lewell wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves raising “serious” concerns about the proposals.

The South Shields MP said: “When households are already under pressure with the cost of living rises, this is demoralising and unaffordable.

“Families need a break. Taxing their break is a step too far.”

Major firms including Butlin’s, Hilton and Travelodge have responded to the proposals.

They say the plans would drain cash from local businesses and make the UK less competitive.

A Government spokesperson previously said it expect any new charges to be modest, and for mayors to consider the “right level for their area.”

The Sun has launched a campaign to show how the tax could affect YOU, to show your support go to our website at StopTheHolidayTax.uk.

When he entered the race for California governor, San José Mayor Matt Mahan pitched himself as a pragmatic Democrat who would prioritize improving residents’ quality of life and government efficiency.

He unveiled a key part of that promise on Tuesday with an expansive plan to reform state government, including tying pay raises for elected officials and other top leaders to improvements on key issues, and pledging not to approve any tax increase until the state proves “that we can deliver better outcomes with the dollars we already have.”

Mahan also delivered a blistering rebuke of ballooning state spending — which, as he often points out on the campaign trail, has increased nearly 75% over the last six years. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying economic uncertainty, California lawmakers approved a no-frills state budget that came in at $202 billion. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest spending proposal is nearly $349 billion.

“We have fallen into this lazy, reflexive mindset of always going back to voters and telling them that the only solution to every problem is a tax increase or a new bond or a new rule coming down from Sacramento,” Mahan said in an interview. “We need to step back and take a really hard look at our existing spending and increase the level of transparency and accountability in government.”

His eight-page plan includes ways to measure and track accountability, some of which are drawn from policies in other states. They include lobbying reforms, following up on audit recommendations and overhauling the state’s digital infrastructure and its procurement process — services Mahan described as “clunky and cumbersome.”

He also proposed a “California Performance Review,” inspired by a similar effort in Texas throughout the 1990s, that would review state agencies and solicit input from employees to eliminate waste and inefficiencies.

But near the top of the list is a proposal to tie pay raises for state officials including the governor, lawmakers and thousands of gubernatorial appointees to “measurable outcomes” in areas such as reducing homelessness and unemployment.

“People in the real world don’t get raises if they don’t do a good job,” Mahan said, “and I think it should be the same for the politicians and senior administrators who are allocating budgets, leading projects, making the big decisions on behalf of the people of California.”

Though the benchmarks would be created with input from the state Legislature, Mahan floated one example: reducing unsheltered homelessness by 5% to 10% within one year, something he said he’s accomplished three years in a row in San José.

It’s a solution one might expect from a former entrepreneur and mayor of a city in the heart of Silicon Valley. Mahan made a similar proposal at the local level last year, but it was rejected by the City Council.

“Tying pay to performance is nothing short of revolutionary in government. It’s a private-sector model that is overdue,” said former state Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda), a Mahan supporter who sponsored several bills aiming to increase transparency in government.

Dozens of tech company executives are backing Mahan in the race for governor and have collectively donated millions to his campaign, as well as two independent expenditure committees supporting him.

That has raised concerns from some voters, and criticism from some of Mahan’s opponents, that he would be beholden to their interests and veto future regulations on tech or artificial intelligence companies.

Mahan has sought to dispel those concerns, arguing that he believes AI and social media platforms should be regulated. Of his plan to overhaul state information technology systems and infrastructure, he said that “whenever we spend public dollars, we have to run open, transparent and competitive procurement processes that ensure best value for the taxpayers.”

Though Mahan did not specify how he would link government outcomes to pay raises, state lawmakers have largely panned his campaign and are unlikely to get on board. The change probably would also require voter approval.

Currently, annual raises for elected officials are determined by a citizen commission that was added to the California Constitution in 1990. Changing how that panel works or imposing limits on when it can approve raises would require a constitutional amendment, which requires voter sign-off.

But Mahan contended it would be one of the fastest ways to fix a system that he says works for special interests at the expense of working people.

“I’m under no illusion that this will be easy, but I think it’s a necessary realignment of incentives,” he said. “We have to make ourselves as accountable to the people as we possibly can be.”

The Astros had been a mainstay atop the AL West for eight years — claiming seven division titles during that time — but now the division appears to be under new management.

Last season, the upstart Mariners finally broke through after years of promise, winning 90 games and claiming their first division crown since 2001. This season, the club hopes to take the next step forward and reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Seattle locked up cleanup man Josh Naylor to a five-year, $92.5-million contract, solidifying their lineup. The M’s also traded for super utilityman Brendan Donovan, who, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, was named an All-Star for the first time in his career last season.

The Astros, in their third year under manager Joe Espada, are hoping to return to the top of the division. They’ll have their work cut out for them, with just seven players remaining from the Astros’ 2022 World Series team.

Even after a pair of mediocre seasons, the Rangers remained aggressive this winter, making a pair of blockbuster trades, acquiring frontline starter MacKenzie Gore from the Nationals and outfielder Brandon Nimmo from the Mets. Ex-Marlins manager Skip Schumaker will take the reins from four-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy, who did not return as the club’s skipper.

Entering their second season playing in Sacramento, the Athletics grabbed veteran Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets in a trade, while locking up promising youngsters Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson to long-term extensions. The Angels installed rookie manager Kurt Suzuki, replacing Ron Washington.

1 | Seattle Mariners

2025 | 90-72, 1st in West

Last year in playoffs | 2025

After bidding farewell to Eugenio Suárez and Jorge Polanco, the Mariners are betting on young infielders Cole Young and Colt Emerson. Newcomer Brendan Donovan should provide a nice spark to the M’s lineup. 26-year-old Bryan Woo emerged as the club’s ace last season while George Kirby missed the first two months with shoulder inflammation and was never quite right. A healthy Kirby could make a huge difference this season for an already formidable M’s rotation.

2 | Houston Astros

2025 | 87-75, 2nd in West

Last year in playoffs | 2024

Even after an offseason in which the Astros lost stars Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander, the team still led the West for most of the season in 2025. One player to watch will be second-year outfielder Cam Smith, who the Astros acquired as the centerpiece of the Tucker trade. It was a tale of two seasons for Smith, who dazzled with a .297/.357/.443 slash line through his first 75 big league games, but hit a snag over his next 59 games, slashing just .153/.248/.232.

3 | Athletics

2025 | 76-86, 4th in West

Last year in playoffs | 2020

Two years after losing 112 games, the A’s showed encouraging progress in their first season in Sacramento. First baseman Nick Kurtz ran away with AL rookie of the year honors, winning the award unanimously, with shortstop Jacob Wilson placing second. Between Kurtz (36), catcher Shea Langeliers (31), designated hitter Brent Rooker (30), left fielder Tyler Soderstrom (25) and right fielder Lawrence Butler (21), the A’s had five players hit for 20 or more homers last season.

4 | Texas Rangers

2025 | 81-81, 3rd in West

Last year in playoffs | 2023

The Rangers have posted just one winning season over the last 10 years, and it came in 2023, the same year that the club won its first-ever World Series. In order for new manager Skip Schumaker to return the Rangers to form, he’s going to need his position players to bounce back in a big way. Freshly-acquired MacKenzie Gore should add length to the Rangers’ rotation, while former Vanderbilt teammates Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker will have an opportunity to establish themselves as formidable major league starters.

5 | Angels

2025 | 72-90, 5th in West

Last year in playoffs | 2014

The Angels upped their win total by nine games from 2024 to 2025, and the club could continue to progress in its first season under rookie manager Kurt Suzuki. General manager Perry Minasian enters the final year of his contract, after the Angels failed to post a winning record in each of his first six seasons.

March 24 (UPI) — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth plans to request $200 billion in funding from Congress as the cost of the United States’ war with Iran grows.

The request comes on top of an already record-setting Pentagon budget passed by Congress last year. Transparency over how funds are being spent continues to dwindle, experts told UPI.

As of March 15, 16 days into the war, it had cost the United States about $12 billion, Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said in an interview on Face the Nation.

Linda Bilmes, a Harvard Kennedy School professor and former assistant secretary and chief financial officer of the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Clinton administration, told UPI the reported cost is “just the very tip of the huge iceberg.”

“The $11 billion or whatever it is that they’re quoting is just the immediate operational spend in terms of munitions and fuel and such in the first couple weeks,” Bilmes said. “That doesn’t cover any kind of medium-term expenditures around reset, repair, resupply, replenishment of weapons and systems and munitions and so forth, which is a much bigger number.”

“We’ve probably spent at least $40 billion if you bring into account already everything that has been spent and the fact that it needs to be restocked in the inventory,” Bilmes said.

There are also longer-term costs yet to come, such as the lifetime disability benefits that some 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East will be eligible to receive.

“The vast majority of them have been exposed to toxins, contamination from oil fumes, formaldehyde, benzine, all of these things that are in the air,” Bilmes said.

In a 2011 study, Bilmes estimated that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would pay up to $1 trillion in benefits to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the subsequent 30 to 40 years. In 2021, that estimate increased to $2.5 trillion as the war in Afghanistan continued until August of that year.

During a press briefing last week, Hegseth said the $200 billion request to Congress would be to “ensure that our ammunition is refilled and not just refilled but above and beyond.”

“That’s like the [gross domestic product] of Hungary, the GDP of New Zealand. Medium-sized countries have GDPs the size of just this increase,” Bilmes said. “That’s $1,500 for every household in America.”

The cost of war continues to increase for U.S. taxpayers. The U.S. military is using some advanced weapons technologies, such as AI-powered systems in combat for the first time in the Iran war. Defense contractors are preparing to increase their production of weapons for the United States four times over, President Donald Trump said following a meeting with several earlier this month.

“They have agreed to quadruple production of the ‘Exquisite Class’ weaponry in that we want to reach, as rapidly as possible, the highest levels of quantity,” Trump posted on social media on March 6. “Expansion began three months prior to the meeting and plants and production of many of these weapons are already underway.”

Trump did not clarify which companies were a part of the meeting, nor did he define what “exquisite class weaponry” is.

Bill Hartung, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told UPI it is becoming increasingly challenging to analyze defense spending as the Pentagon has become less transparent.

Hartung’s research focuses on the arms industry and the U.S. military budget. He is the former director of the Arms and Security Program and the Center for International Policy and co-director of its Sustainable Defense Task Force.

When the United States began sending defense aid to Ukraine in 2022, the government would periodically report what weapons it was sending and the types of training missions it was involved in. That is yet to take place for the war in Iran.

“In this war, really other than a leak, they really haven’t put out much in the way of justification or what exactly is being spent,” Hartung said. “They haven’t put out even a detailed budget this year the way they normally would. Normally an administration that’s been in power a while puts it out in early February. Now, we’re kind of flying blind as to what it’s exactly all going to.”

Transparency has waned from the Pentagon over the course of years. Funding put toward defense in last year’s budget reconciliation was marked in broad categories, rather than a more detailed, itemized budget.

Hartung said it was not the “normal budget process” and that hearings over the Pentagon’s budget lacked the same level of substance and oversight of years passed.

In July, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense published its budget request for program acquisitions for the 2026 fiscal year. It requested $179.1 billion dedicated to research, development, test and evaluation of major weapon systems, $205.2 billion for procurement and $961.7 billion for total Department of Defense research and procurement. This accounts for about 40% of the department’s total funding.

The reconciliation bill passed by Congress added $150 billion in new defense spending, increasing the department’s total budget to more than $1 trillion.

Among the biggest expenditures approved by Congress were more than $25 billion for munitions and supply chain resiliency, $24 billion for integrated air and missile defense, $29 billion for shipbuilding, and $14 billion for enhancing resources for nuclear forces.

About $10 million was approved for department oversight.

The longer the war continues, the greater the cost will be to the United States. Then comes the matter of reconstruction.

The United States has historically been involved in reconstruction efforts following wars it was engaged in, including World War II and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The U.S. government spent about $141 billion on reconstruction in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2021, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported.

The war with Iran has spread beyond its borders already. As of Monday, Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, said that at least 40 energy sites have been damaged in the war, including sites belonging to U.S. allies.

Whether and to what extent the United States would be involved in reconstruction efforts in Iran and among affected allies is another variable that will not be known until the fighting stops.

Beyond the budget implications is the human cost of war. Hartung said, depending on the decision to put U.S. troops on the ground in Iran, the toll paid by service members could be larger yet. At least 13 U.S. troops have already been killed in action.

The Iran Health Ministry reported earlier this month that more than 1,200 civilians have been killed. Among them are at least 165 people killed in a strike on an elementary school for girls in Minab, Iraq. Many of the victims in the school bombing were children.

A preliminary investigation by the U.S. military has found that the United States is likely responsible for the deadly strike on the school by a Tomahawk missile on Feb. 28. The United States is the only country involved in the war that uses Tomahawk missiles.

The cost of the operation that killed the victims at the elementary school likely exceeds $1 million. A Tomahawk missile costs about $2 million.

“It could have been a million or two to hit that one target,” Hartung said. “They do have a small drone-like system they’ve been using that’s like $35,000 each but I don’t know exactly what they used. A cruise missile’s $2 million but then some of the other bombs could be a few hundred thousand but it’s remarkable how much even one strike can cost. Some of the planes are thousands or tens of thousands an hour.”

Unlike the Vietnam and Korean War and those that preceded them, the United States does not pay for its modern war efforts by raising taxes. Instead, it incurs an ever-growing debt that now accounts for about 17% of the government’s budget in fiscal year 2026.

Bilmes is writing about the changing approach to funding war in her upcoming book The Ghost Budget: Paying for America’s Wars. It is due to be released in the fall.

“We’ve borrowed every penny that has been spent right now. We’re just adding to the debt,” Bilmes said.

As the United States takes on more debt to fund a growing defense budget, it has also cut taxes, reducing revenues.

“Arguably, our approach to this, in engaging in another war of choice, is positioning us closer to another major economic crisis,” Bilmes said.

The tourist reportedly admitted that he walked from a villa in the Ubud area because his stay there had come to an end and he’d been unable to find a driver to take him to a new accommodation

A tourist was detained while out on a walk on holiday.

The American citizen, Karl Adolf Amrhein, was detained at 7.15 am on March 19 while walking with bags along Jalan Raya Sukawati in Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia’s police force said in a press statement.

The Pecalang officers patrolling the area discovered the foreign national traveling on foot.

“After initial communication failed, he was escorted to the Sukawati Police Station for clarification,” said Superintendent Chandra Citra Kesuma, the Chief of Gianyar Sub-regional Police.

According to Antara News, the tourist admitted that he walked from a villa in the Ubud area because his stay there had come to an end and he’d been unable to find a driver to take him to a new accommodation.

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“Upon receiving this acknowledgement, Sukawati Police personnel, assisted by the Pecalang of Sukawati Traditional Village, explained that currently there is a Nyepi celebration on the island of Bali, where there is no activity for one day,” said Superintendent Chandra.

Mr Amrhein was told that all activities in Bali were temporarily suspended for Nyepi Day, it was reported. He was offered the opportunity to rest at the Sukawati Police Headquarters until the next day, but he reportedly asked for accommodation in a holiday villa, which was granted.

A mandatory stay-at-home order is in place across Bali during the Nyepi Day of Silence celebrations, during which all outdoor activities and public transport are banned.

The celebrations mark the start of the new year. However, unlike in other parts of the world, Balinese Hindus don’t mark the new year by having a huge booze-soaked party or letting off fireworks. Instead, they embrace the silence.

From 6am on March 11 until the same time the following day, adherents switch off their electrical devices, fast, meditate, and stay home with their families. Outside a group of specialist security officers patrol the street, ensuring that no one is outside causing a ruckus.

Although 8% of Bali’s population is not Hindu, the entire island is impacted by the holiday, which sees the roads completely cleared of vehicles aside from the occasional ambulance and all tourist attractions closed. Hotels do not check anyone in or out during the period. If you do find yourself on the island over the holiday, then you’ll be treated to an experience like no other.

The day before Nyepi is Ngrupuk, which is essentially a time to get all of the noise out of your system. Children parade effigies of evil spirits made out of papier-mâché around the streets before torching them, while men launch burning coconuts at one another. Carrying torches while yelling and spitting spice into the corner of homes is another common custom on the day.

Many hotels such as the Viceroy Bali do not allow customers to book in over Nyepi. Those who are already checked-in cannot leave the hotel grounds but are able to use the pool, spa and gym there. The Wi-Fi is also kept on.

“We respect our culture, but we also respect our guests. They are not the same religion as us, so that means our hotel is still operating normally,” resort manager Jero Mangku Tindih told CNN. On Ngrupuk guests of the hotel can head on an arranged trip to a nearby village to watch the flaming coconut battle and masked parade.

Chief Chandra urged all international visitors to respect Balinese customary laws to maintain communal harmony during high-level cultural observances.

A sprawling all-inclusive resort along the scenic coast has often been ranked as the ‘best in the UK’, with remarkable facilities that will keep everyone of all ages entertained

You don’t need to travel far to lap up the benefits of an all-inclusive resort, as one of the ‘best in the UK’ offers incredible facilities, ‘West End’ shows and unlimited drinks.

When we think of an all-inclusive resort, it’s easy to turn our minds to those in Europe, sipping cocktails around the pool by day, and watching lively entertainment by night. But why not ditch the cost of a flight for an all-inclusive escape in the UK, perfect for families during the school holidays or adults looking for a serene escape?

Situated between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft on the Norfolk coast is the luxurious five-star, all-inclusive holiday resort, Potters Resorts Hopton-on-Sea, set across 65 acres.

Just a stone’s throw away from the golden sands of Hopton Beach, the resort has “something for everyone, and it’s all included”, and they mean everything, from its accommodation, drinks, meals, to entertainment, activities and facilities.

It’s been so highly praised and loved by visitors that Which? named it among the ‘best UK holiday parks & resorts’, while it was also highlighted as a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice. It’s not surprising, given the impressive facilities on offer.

The resort not only boasts two heated indoor swimming pools, a sauna, a steam room, and a whirlpool, but there’s also a spa where guests can pamper themselves with a massage or beauty treatment for an additional cost, but there’s so much more included in the price.

There are a bundle of fun activities, from their climbing wall and virtual reality experience, to pilates, yoga, nordic walking and dance classes. For those into sports, there’s certainly enough to keep you busy with badminton, tennis, pickleball, table tennis, air rifle shooting and archery all accessible.

Additionally, there’s a fully equipped gym, adventure golf, and bowls on the lawn of the World Indoor Bowls Championship. And if that wasn’t enough, there are traditional pub games and classic board games for those quieter afternoons, alongside snooker, pool, shuffleboard and darts, whatever your niche might be!

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While the resort is predominantly for adults, it welcomes families and people of all ages during the school holidays, offering a host of fun-packed activities for kids, alongside its standard facilities. From KMX bikes and bungee trampolines to the inflatable assault course, football skills, and last man standing, the kids are bound to be entertained.

During the evenings, there is a packed programme of live music, dance, comedy, quizzes and cabaret, along with “West End-quality shows”.

Like any good all-inclusive, there’s plenty on offer food wise, with four meals a day for guests, as well as all-inclusive drinks covering teas and coffees, soft drinks, and a vast selection of beers, wines, and spirits.

For accommodation, the resort offers everything from a bungalow near the sea to hotel rooms near the main facilities, and penthouses with panoramic views of the scenic Norfolk coast. And when visitors can tear themselves away from the resort, there’s the sprawling Hopton Beach to explore, alongside the nearby town of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

Following a visit in March this year, one visitor shared on TripAdvisor: “Just returned home from Potters, this was our 3rd visit in 8 months, and as always it was first class all the way. Food and entertainment were superb, our accommodation was a bungalow plus, which was very comfortable, tried various activities which we haven’t done on our previous visits, absolutely loved Mark Brewer and his team, they are all so funny and friendly, can’t wait to return again, which I’m sure will be very soon.”

“First time for myself, daughter, granddaughter & two great granddaughters aged 5 & 3, half term week, loved every minute, plenty to do for all ages, food varied & so plentiful! Will definitely be back!” another shared.

The brand also has Potter’s Resorts Five Lakes in Essex, offering a similar experience set among a whopping 333 acres in the heart of the countryside. For more information on Potters Resorts, or to book your break, you can visit their website. Of course it’s not the only offering in the region. Holiday firms including Haven and Parkdean Resorts also offer a plethora of stays in the area, complete with plenty of entertainment options.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

FRIENDS fans don’t have to go all the way to New York to live out their dream of staying in Monica’s apartment.

A holiday rental in France has been designed to look exactly like her apartment – complete with purple walls and even Ross’s keyboard.

Guests walk into the main living room which is replica of the iconic Friend’s flat including the same artwork, sofas and lamps.

Make sure to try out the keyboard, complete with a picture of Ross on it.

The open plan kitchen on the left includes similar styles as well as the main table and exposed brick walls.

On each side of the TV are also doors to both bedrooms, although these are in a more generic style rather than looking like Monica’s and Rachel’s.

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It sleeps up to eight people, with two bedrooms each having a double bed and 2 bunk beds, although a cot can also be requested.

Something it has that Monica’s apartment didn’t is a private garden terrace with sofas and table football.

There are also Friends games including Wheel of Mayhem and Trivia games to try out while in the flat.

A tiny ‘Central Perk’ bar has even been installed on the ground floor, with comfy sofas and similar artwork.

And when you want to leave, you can check out the famous yellow picture frame on the door, which featured in the final ever scene of the series.

People on social media have been raving about the unusual Airbnb.

One said: “This is so amazing omg. Bucket list for sure.”

Another agreed: “Omg one ticket to France please.”

A third wrote: “The picture of Ross on the keyboard has me wheezing.”

The holiday home is near La Rochelle, which is less than an hour away.

Stays start from £552 for a two night minimum stay, which works out to around £35 each a night if staying as a group of eight.

And if you want to do something exciting outside of the house there is the Futuroscope de Poitiers theme park (named one of the best in Europe) just 45 minutes away.

Or 90 minutes away is Puy du Fou, one of France’s most popular attractions that is set to open in the UK.

If you don’t want to go that far, there was The Friends Experience in London where you can pose in some of the iconic sets, although future dates are yet to be announced.

We’ve rounded up some other holiday homes you can rent from TV shows and films.

When it comes to understanding air and missile defense, especially in the Middle East, David Shank has few peers. The retired Army colonel served as Commandant of the Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and as the 10th Army Air Missile Defense Commander in Europe, back when Israel was defended by U.S. European Command. He also commanded a Patriot battery that deployed to Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan.

In an exclusive, hour-long, wide-ranging interview on Sunday, Shank offered some unique insights into the challenges faced by the U.S. and its partners in the region after four weeks of defending against Iranian missile and drone barrages. He is now a consultant for Orion 360 Consulting, his family-owned company which works with prime contractors on counter missile and drone capabilities.

Some of these questions and answers have been edited for clarity.

Q: Are you surprised with how many drones and ballistic missiles are getting through U.S. and allied defenses in the region?

A: I am not surprised based on Iranian overmatch with regards to the vast numbers of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, long range rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The only surprise to me were the attacks on Gulf nations’ population centers and the reported 1,500-plus [missiles and drones fired at] the UAE.

There’s no system that’s 100% guaranteed. As a former U.S. Army air defender, we’ve planned, we’ve studied, we’ve exercised against an Iranian threat, where we clearly understood that they possessed thousands of long range ballistic missiles, long range rockets, cruise missiles. And then, of course, in the last 10-plus years, the use of unmanned aerial systems. It’s not just the Iranians, but their proxies also, which are across the region from Iraq to Hezbollah and Lebanon to Hamas that we’ve seen recently, down to Yemen and the Houthis.

Q: There have also been a lot of drone attacks in Iraq from Iranian proxies there.

A: Yes, they’ve targeted some U.S. footprints in Iraq and across the region. And on that note, across the Middle East, we’ve had U.S. and coalition forces forward deployed for decades. They didn’t just show up there last week or two months ago. We’ve been occupying some of the same terrain for decades. And so this goes back to one of your initial questions of, why do we think Iran is able to penetrate the U.S. and Israeli and other coalition defenses. It is because 1.) they’re known targets for the Iranians, and 2.) because of the vast number of missiles and now drones and long range rockets they possess along with their proxies.

Q: What is your observation of how these systems and personnel are performing?

A: Well, you know, the American soldiers are the very best. And as a former air defender, yeah, I’m a little biased. I think they’re performing extremely well. From an Israeli perspective – and I’ve spent many, many days and weeks on the ground in Israel during my time as the 10th Army Air Missile Defense Commander from 2017 to 2019 while stationed in Europe. U.S. European Command at that time had the responsibility for the defense of Israel, and so I’ve made a number of trips in and out of Israel during that two-plus-year period. I’ve walked the ground. We exercised. We deployed Patriot capabilities. We deployed [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] THAAD capabilities during that time frame, primarily as an exercise, but it was a rehearsal for what’s taking place today. 

So while some of the war plans have changed and been adjusted, as we do over time, the outcome remains the same. That’s U.S. forces standing shoulder to shoulder with the Israelis in the State of Israel on ground. As for the rest of the region, we’ve had Patriot battalions and THAAD batteries rotating in and out for probably going back to the mid-to-late 2000s. I was a Patriot battalion commander in 2013. I deployed with my battalion to Qatar, Bahrain, and then was tasked to put Patriot capability in Jordan at the time, because of what the Assad regime was doing to the civilian population – those chlorine gas bombs. That was under the Obama administration. So this has been ongoing for decades.

Q: What makes you say these systems and personnel are performing well?

A: The Army has rehearsed this. We’ve exercised these requirements for decades. The Israelis fight every day against proxies who consistently lob or launch long-range rockets or some type of device, either from the north or from the south, or even by the Houthis. It’s been a constant. So it’s easily, if not every day, at least once a week. And Israel has been enduring this for decades.

And so we are a trained force. We’re a capable force. The forensics continues, battle-tracking continues, the number of interceptors launched, the number of hits to kill, what that battle damage looks like. And then, of course, when, when a ballistic missile or cruise missile or even a drone is able to penetrate the defenses, at least from an American perspective, we roll up our sleeves and we determine, ‘Okay, why did that happen’?

When a ballistic missile or cruise missile or even a drone is able to penetrate the defenses, we conduct these very detailed and sometimes challenging after-action reviews to do our very best to ensure that that doesn’t happen again. 

Q: Speaking of which, Israeli media outlets are reporting that a THAAD system failed to intercept ballistic missiles that attacked the southern Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona, the site of Israel’s unacknowledged nuclear weapons program. These claims are unverified, with suggestions that it could have been an Israeli David’s Sling system that missed, but what would the U.S. after-action investigation into a potential THAAD failure look like?

A: The investigators will try to determine whether it was a system malfunction. It starts with the network. It starts with the communications piece, both voice and data. All part of this integrated network. It starts with sensing. There are sensing radars for long range specifically, and how they’re interconnected on this network. And then, of course, passing those tracks to an effector. And then there’s the human in the loop, the decision maker. There’s a decision maker that ultimately directs a subordinate echelon to engage a specific target. So the investigation will look into all these aspects. It could be human error, or it could be a technical glitch. And they’ll determine that.

Q: What makes drones like the Shahed-136 so hard to target and successfully engage?

A: Radar cross section. Let’s look at one radar versus one Shahed-136. If you’re not looking for that size and that speed of a target, you’re not going to see it. And so you’ve heard the cliche, there’s no silver bullet, right? And this drives the importance of a layered defense, and that layered defense includes radars. So very elementary nonetheless, but it’s radar cross section. 

Q: What’s being done to calibrate sensors to be able to pick up these Shaheds? And is it working?

A: I think we’ve had a great deal of success against some of these Group-3 drones, specifically the Shahed-136s. From a technical standpoint, the industry is continuing to work and make adjustments to their sensors, especially those that are programs of record, but also sensing capabilities that are non-programs of record to the Department of War and U.S. forces. So yes is the answer. And again, it goes back to layering. 

And one other point worth mentioning – you can probably tie this into some of the other comments I made. From a U.S. air defense perspective, and really, probably any coalition or friendly force, we’re not defending dirt. If a ballistic missile is going to land somewhere in the desert – if it’s uninhabited – it’s not an area that we need to be concerned with defending. We’re going to let it impact. And so sometimes people get lost in those types of impacts. 

Now turn around, and we talked a little bit earlier about Dimona, right? Whether the Israelis have nuclear capability or not, when you know if a ballistic missile is targeting a population center – or, let’s say, an air base, a logistics center, or maybe even oil or naturl gas fields – those are deemed critical assets and would have some type of defensive capability to prevent any type of strike against those assets. Hope that helps.

Q: What Iranian ballistic missile technology have you seen during this conflict that is concerning in terms of Iran’s ability to penetrate even the best defense?

A: Well, I think that [attempted] strike against Diego Garcia got everyone’s attention because of the range. Reports were that there were two ballistic missiles, one broke up in flight. I think [the other missile reached a distance of] 3,800 kilometers [about 2,400 miles], and our expectation was that they had a ballistic missile they could travel 2,000 kilometers [about 1,240 miles]. Maybe they decreased the size of the warhead in order to travel further. I’m not an engineer. I own a set of post hole diggers, and that’s my PhD, by the way.

We’ve known for decades that Iranians have possessed thousands of ballistic missiles, long-range rockets and cruise missiles. And in the last 10 to 15 years, the evolution of drones has changed the character of war. It’s clearly evident that Russians are assisting the Iranians, not just with missile technology, but now with drone technology. And so the Russians have a lot of lessons learned. Ukrainians have a lot of lessons learned unless you’ve had your head in the sand. The Ukrainians are also assisting in the region to provide not just awareness but expertise in both offensive and defensive actions, using drones and defeating drones.

Q: The U.S. and allies are expending a large amount of interceptors, batting down a variety of missiles and drones. How concerned are you about America’s magazine depth of these critical defensive weapons? 

A: Very, very concerned. Clearly, I recognize the efforts, at least in the last several months, of increasing production, for example, of the Patriot interceptor. And we haven’t talked about the cost curve, but Patriot PAC-3 interceptors are not cheap. You know, $3 million, $4 million, $5 million each. That THAAD interceptor, I’ve heard numbers anywhere between $8 million and $12 million per and that’s just from a U.S. perspective. So not cheap at all, especially when you’re engaging potentially a $200,000 target. So you can recognize the cost curve very quickly.

And these munitions are limited, hence, the aggressive movement towards effectors that have an unlimited magazine, or a very deep magazine, such as directed energy. Are we moving fast enough to get to directed energy? Maybe, maybe not. There are some use cases and the one in El Paso was not so well coordinated. In fact, it wasn’t coordinated at all, in my opinion. And it showed a very concerning disconnect between departments here in the U.S. But, the US Navy possesses some directed energy capability.

Q: From what you’re seeing on this conflict, do you think the proper planning was in place in terms of magazine depth of defensive weapons?

A: My experience is the number of interceptors were always factored into the war plans, and so recognizing that based on the number of whether it’s Patriot or THAAD or both interceptors on hand, clearly, we would war game. We would rehearse. We would recognize, okay, through modeling and simulation, certain Patriot locations would go what we call Winchester (out of ammo in military parlance). You’re out of ammunition by a specific day in a conflict. That drives the importance of air power and nowadays, cyber strikes, and even the potential for ground warfare. All of that is factored in. I’m sure additional munitions, potentially from other combatant commands around the globe, were moved to the region to prepare for what’s transpiring now.

Q: In addition to interceptors, the U.S. has shipped a lot of air defense systems from Europe and the Pacific to the Middle East. How concerning is that for other regions, specifically Pacific? If a fight broke out in the Pacific tonight, do we have enough systems and munitions there to defend us assets?

A: It’s a really good question. And so hence the importance of our allies and partners possessing their own capability, because it alleviates some of the stresses on the U.S. force and other nations for that matter. And so to answer your question, if a second conflict were to take place today in another part of the world, there’d be some challenges, but there’d also be some reliance on our allies and partners. They provide their capability and become part of whether it’s a coalition or multilateral bilateral agreement, but it would definitely require additional capability from other nations.

Q: Pacific allies have expressed concerns about U.S. air defense assets heading to the CENTCOM region. How much does that concern you?

A: The State Department is heavily engaged when it comes to having those difficult conversations with some of our allies and partners and explaining why, for example, we need to move a Patriot from the Pacific to the Middle East. I’m sure they’re receiving push back. Because there is a concern, whether it’s PRC, or whether it’s the DPRK, there’s always that concern [about being properly equipped].

Q: You mentioned moving air defense assets. What does it take to move a Patriot battery, which can have up to eight trailer-mounted launchers, as well as an AN/MPQ-65 multifunction phased array radar and other fire control, communications, and support equipment, operators and maintenance personnel?

A: It’s very taxing on the airlift, the C-17s and C-5s. One Patriot battery would take eight to 10 C-17s, it’s a lot. And that was just for an initial deployment. So potentially not the full complement of launching stations. These are very large trucks, very large pieces of equipment. You ship the interceptors in a different airframe, because of the munitions aspect. So there’s some synchronization involved as you think through this. If you put a Patriot battery on the ground, and the radar comes in last, it’s no good. You’ve got to synchronize the flow. 

Q: How many flights would it take for a whole battalion, which includes a headquarters element, along with between three and five firing batteries?

A: I’d say about 70 to 75 aircraft. This is why the Army Prepositioned Stocks (APS) stored at a number of locations around the world are so important.

Q: Based on the information at hand, it appears that Iran has been able to destroy one U.S. AN/TPY-2 radar in Jordan and damage the massive American-made AN/FPS-132 phased array radar in Qatar. Reportedly, Iran has hit 12 US and allied radar and SATCOM terminals since the start of the war. How difficult are they to replace and how do their losses affect the overall situational awareness, command and control, reaction time and the overall ability to identify and destroy threats?

A: It’s no different than what we do to an adversary. We conduct some type of air campaign. First thing we want to do is we want to blind, right? We want to take out their communications. We want to take out their air defenses radars so our aircraft can get deep into a country, and strike strategic-level targets initially. The Iranians are doing the same. 

If they can take out our sensing capability, or how we see air threats thousands of kilometers away, that’s one of their targets. A high payoff target for the Iranians is to destroy a THAAD radar like the  AN/TPY-2 you mentioned. The AN/FPS-132 that you mentioned. If they can destroy these types of long range sensors, that benefits the adversary. 

Patriot radars are a target. They emit a signal, and so it drives the importance that they’re not easy to move. It drives the importance of emissions control. When you turn on a radar, when you turn it off, how long is it operating for? Again, you’re not just going to pick up a Patriot, but this is very difficult for some – even American leaders – to understand. You don’t just move a Patriot battery on a dime. I mean, it’s not a tank. And so I know during my career, it was challenging to explain that to senior leaders who were not air defenders. 

Q: How difficult are these radars to replace how are these losses affecting the overall situational awareness, command and control, reaction time and ability to identify and destroy threats?

A: Well, you only have so many radars. There are no radars just sitting around in a motor pool, not being used, except at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where they do the training. That’s the first point. So they’re limited in number. If and when a radar is destroyed, it goes back to that integrated network where there’s potential, depending on proximity and range, that one Patriot battery could actually sense for another Patriot battery. For example, if a radar is destroyed or non-mission capable, say, a technical issue, depending on range, one radar could sense for another battery. 

Same at the battalion level. If you have loss of capability there’s capability where one battalion could provide sensing for another battalion’s launchers. And again, it’s all about being on the network as well – an integrated network of sensors. Coupled with what you’ve probably written and talked to people about – launch-on-remote, engage-on-remote – we have done a lot of that testing and experimentation within the last 10 years. So that is supporting the loss of sensors.

Q: Is there anything we can do to improve defending these systems?

A: Get more systems. We’ve learned so many lessons with what’s going on in Ukraine when it comes to a drone war. There’s persistent surveillance, 24/7. Now you can expect to have eyes on your location if you’re a Ukrainian soldier. Now bring that to the Middle East. You know Ukrainians are producing thousands of drones and counter system capabilities a month and now we’re seeing how that’s impacting the Middle East and the requirements for us and partner nations.

So that’s what we need. We need more capability. There’s always someone that says we need more Patriot. We need more THAAD, we need more Aegis, we need more SM-6s. We need more defensive counter air airframes. I do work in and out of the Middle East. And when you talk to those service members and their leadership, their greatest concerns are Group 3 drones, and we’re seeing it play out in real time.

Netflix has confirmed Bridgerton’s fifth season is currently in production but fans aren’t happy about the direction of the hit period drama

Bridgerton season five will officially focus on middle daughter Francesca with Hannah Dodd taking the lead in Netflix’s popular period romance drama.

Dodd will be starring alongside Masali Baduza as Michaela Stirling, marking the first time the hit streaming series will spotlight a same-sex couple.

The upcoming instalment, which is currently in production, will be set after the death of Francesca’s husband John Stirling (played by Victor Alli) as she begins to explore her complex feelings for his outgoing cousin.

A synopsis confirms: “The fifth season of Bridgerton spotlights introverted middle daughter Francesca.

“Two years after losing her beloved husband John, Fran decides to reenter the marriage mart for practical reasons.

“But when John’s cousin Michaela returns to London to tend to the Kilmartin estate, Fran’s complicated feelings will have her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions.”

A first-look teaser for the upcoming season has given fans a tantalising glimpse of the pair together, giving each other a tender glance as inspiring music swells.

While countless fans are thrilled to see Fran and Michaela’s romance develop, others have criticised the decision to delay Eloise Bridgerton’s (Claudia Jessie) storyline to season six.

In Julia Quinn’s original novels, 28-year-old Eloise finds love in the fifth book, To Sir Phillip, With Love, after exchanging letters with widower Sir Phillip Crane, played by Chris Fulton in the TV adaptation.

“Big mistake it should have been Eloise next, no buzz here l’m sorry to say,” one viewer fumed on X, adding a shrug emoji.

Someone else exclaimed: “BIG Mistake! should’ve been Eloise first, Fran should’ve had time to grieve.”

Another said: “im actually mad because wdym im not seeing [Eloise’s] season till 2030.” A third wrote: “THEYRE DOING FRANCESCA BEFORE ELOISE?? WHATTT.”

The conversation continued on Reddit, where one user reasoned: “I’m not sure how to feel about this I’m excited for them and their story but honestly what are they going to do with Eloise for another season, i just can’t see what they do with her.”

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“I mean great but I have mixed feelings. I just really wanted Eloise to be the next,” another agreed.

Though someone else argued: “Ayyy, my girls!! So excited to see them lead, I know it’s going to be a fantastic season! Hopefully they can advance Eloise’s plotline as well, like how Fran’s story got a headstart in S3.”

Production starting this spring indicates the next season should arrive on Netflix at some point in 2027.

Hopefully that also means fans won’t be waiting too long before Eloise finally gets her time to shine.

Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix.

THE EASTER school holidays are just around the corner and with the kids off school, you might want to head on a staycation to fill some of their time.

There are loads of seaside towns across the UK, but Sun Travel has picked out some of the cheapest spots across England – all of which are great for family breaks this Easter.

Blackpool, Lancashire

Blackpool is often thought to be one of the cheapest seaside destinations in the UK, with arcades and a long-stretching beach.

For a one-night break over the Easter holidays, you could stay at The Merlin Hotel for £56 a night for two adults and two children (or £14 per person).

The hotel is in the city centre and is an eight minute walk from Blackpool Central Beach.

You can also head to Blackpool Winter Gardens Theatre just 400 metres away and Coral Island, 500 metres away.

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Coral Island is free to visit, so you can spend as much or little as you like with pay-as-you-go arcade games costing as little as 2p.

Kids also eat free at Coral Island when with a full-paying adult.

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Great Yarmouth features a ‘golden mile’ beach and lots of cosy cafes and arcades to explore.

A one-night stay at The Dolphin Hotel over the Easter holidays will set back a family of four £86.

The hotel is just a three minute walk from Great Yarmouth Pier Beach as well.

When it comes to activities, you can head to Joyland – one of the oldest theme parks in the UK – and it is completely free to visit.

Rides are then priced separately so you can spend as little or as much as you like.

For example, the Super Snails ride costs £2.50 a turn.

Travel writer, Helen Wright, recently visited and for food suggests heading to Grelly’s, where you’ll be able to grab a hot sausage roll and chips for only £3.60.

Hartlepool, County Durham

Hartlepool is often considered one of the cheapest seaside destinations in the UK with traditional seaside attractions.

When it comes to finding somewhere to stay, you could head to Parkdean Resorts Crimdon Dene Holiday Park from April 10 to 13 for £228 for four people (or £19 per person per night).

The holiday park is just a short walk to Crimdon Dene Beach, which offers amazing views of the north east coastline.

There is also a restaurant and bar on site in case you want to grab a bite to eat.

If you head into Hartlepool town, the Museum has free entry as well.

Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset

Found in Somerset, Weston-Super-Mare was a popular 19th-century Victorian seaside resort and is still loved today for its long beach and Grand Pier.

Stay at the Savoy Hotel from £99 a night for four people over the Easter holidays.

Weston-Super-Mare Beach is then just a 17-minute walk away.

If you don’t mind being a little out of Weston-Super-Mare, in the next town along – Brean – you could stay at Unity Beach holiday park for three nights from April 10 to 13 for £189 for a family of four (£15.75 per person per night).

Visiting the Grand Pier will set you back £2 per person and an unlimited all-day ride wristband costs £15 per toddler and £20 per child.

Attractions on the pier include a mirror maze, Helter Skelter and soft play.

There are a number of eating spots on the pier as well where you can grab fish and chips for £12, sausage and chips for £7.50 and a range of kids meals for £6.

Penzance, Cornwall

Despite many thinking Cornwall is one of the more expensive places to head on a staycation, if you are heading to the county then visit Penzance, which is one of the more affordable spots.

For example, you could head to Seaview Holiday Park, costing around £60 a night for a family of four over the Easter holidays.

The accommodation has a kitchenette as well, so you can cut even more costs by cooking for yourself.

And there’s also an outdoor swimming pool, indoor play area and games room.

The beach is then about a 25-minute walk away.

Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear

According to Which?, Whitley Bay’s average room rates cost just £69 -which makes it the second cheapest UK seaside town after Southport (£66).

Over Easter though, prices are obviously a little more expensive – but there are still some affordable options.

For example, a one-night stay at The Windsor Hotel costs £77 for a family of four.

The hotel is on South Parade and within sight of the sea, with the beach just 270 metres away.

Alternatively, you could head to Hoseasons Whitley Bay holiday park for three nights between April 10 and 13 for £254 for up to six people.

That works out at just £14.12 per person, per night.

Bognor Regis, West Sussex

Bognor Regis on the south coast of England is known for its award-winning Butlin’s resort.

A three-night break at Butlin’s Bognor Regis from April 10 to 13 costs from £316 – that’s around £26.34 per person per night.

And for that price, you get all the entertainment, the indoor waterpark and fairground rides – but it doesn’t include food.

If you do want to include food, this would cost an extra £186.54 (around £15.55 per person per day) for the family food court dining plan which includes a buffet experience.

Ramsgate, Kent

Ramsgate is well known for having the UK’s only Royal Harbour, as well as sandy beaches and over 450 listed buildings.

And for Easter, there are still some affordable breaks.

You could head to Dog and Duck Holiday Park for three nights from April 10 to 13 for £234 for four people (or £19.50 per person per night).

You’d stay in a static caravan with an open plan lounge and kitchen area.

The holiday park has a pub onsite where you can grab a pizza for as little as £12, as well as an outdoor play area.

Ramsgate is also home the UK’s largest Wetherspoons as well, where you can grab a pint of Ruddles ale for just £1.99.

Or grab a pint of Worthington’s Creamflow ale for £1.99.

Paignton, Devon

When it comes to finding a place to stay in Paignton, you won’t be short for choice.

The bustling seaside town has a great mix of campsites, holiday parks, hotels and B&Bs.

For example you could stay at Devon Hills Holiday Park in a caravan with a hot tub for three nights from April 10-13 for £199 for four people (or £16.59 per person per night).

The holiday park features an 18metre pool, gym, sauna and steam room and play area.

And if you are wanting a bite to eat, there is an onsite cafe too where you can grab two pizzas, fries and garlic bread for £29.95.

The beach is a bit further away (three miles), but once there you’ll be in the bustling resort town of Paignton with red sand beaches and a pier full of different attractions including penny slot machines.

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

Over in Essex, you could head to Clacton-on-Sea, which is full of souvenir shops and ice cream spots.

You could stay at Haven’s Orchards Holiday Village for £129 for three nights for a family of four – that’s just £10.75 per person, per night.

This is for a break between April 10 and 13, and includes access to the restaurants, takeaways and arcades but not to the swimming pools, activities and entertainment venues.

In Clacton-on-Sea, you can head to the pier which has a variety of amusement arcades and rides, such as a Helter Skelter costing just £1 a turn.

And if you are looking for a cheap spot for lunch Flags Cafe has a variety of dishes including curry, vegan options and cakes or a toastie and drink for a fiver.

For more budget stays here are the UK’s best 100 cheap stays – including our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks, B&Bs and pubs from just £22 a night.

And if you’re heading abroad – here are the most popular hotels in the loveholidays sale with rooftop pools and beautiful beaches… and holidays from £149.

There is a familiar critique of María Corina Machado. That she is too rigid, not particularly interested in adjusting to the diplomatic realities surrounding Venezuela’s political crisis, and not especially inclined toward compromise.

The argument is straightforward. Moments like this are supposed to require flexibility, negotiation, and a willingness to adapt. From that perspective, her style can seem poorly suited to the situation.

But that reading is at best incomplete. It assumes a level of intransigence that is not always reflected in how she has actually operated, particularly in her dealings with international actors. More importantly, it assumes that Venezuela is going through a conventional political transition, one where the main challenge is to manage an orderly redistribution of power.

That is not quite what is happening.

Because in deeper national crises, the issue is not only how power changes hands, but whether the country still sees itself as a functioning political community. And in those moments, the tension is not simply between rigidity and pragmatism, but between adaptation and the risk of political dilution.

This is not a new tension. During World War II, Charles de Gaulle was widely seen by his allies as arrogant, inflexible, and almost impossible to work with. Franklin D. Roosevelt dismissed him as a prima donna who “thinks he is France.” Winston Churchill, more begrudgingly, called him “the heaviest cross I have to bear,” and both struggled with what they saw as his refusal to behave like the leader of a defeated country.

Preserving the idea of France as a nation, even in defeat, required a certain political stubbornness, one that inevitably generated friction with allies focused on managing the war.

Between them, Churchill and FDR sketched a portrait of a man too rigid, too proud, too self-appointed to be useful, and yet too symbolically indispensable to ignore.

De Gaulle, after all, had no real army at the outset, no territory, and no state apparatus behind him. Yet he insisted on speaking, and acting, as if France still existed as a sovereign political force.

From the outside, that posture often looked unreasonable, even counterproductive. From the French perspective, it was something else. De Gaulle understood that if the leader who claimed to represent France began to behave primarily as a dependent actor, the country itself risked being seen that way. Preserving the idea of France as a nation, even in defeat, required a certain political stubbornness, one that inevitably generated friction with allies focused on managing the war. At the same time, De Gaulle was careful to express gratitude for the support France depended on, even as he resisted being defined by it. The challenge was not to reject alliances, but to avoid being politically reduced by them. It was precisely that balance, difficult and often uncomfortable, that later allowed him to reappear not just as a political figure, but as the embodiment of France’s return.

There is a long tradition in political history of what the French call l’homme providentiel, the idea that, in moments of acute national crisis, certain figures come to embody more than a political program. They are read, sometimes reluctantly, as necessary to the resolution of the crisis itself. Charles de Gaulle was often described in those terms, not because he sought to cultivate that image, but because the collapse of the French state created a vacuum that only a figure with that kind of symbolic authority could fill.

In a very different context, María Corina Machado’s role in this most recent chapter of Venezuela’s history has taken on a similar tone. Not as a conventional political leader, but as a figure onto whom broader expectations about national recovery have been projected. That does not resolve the practical challenges of the moment, but it does complicate the assumption that she can simply be treated as another actor within the process.

More recently, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has faced a similar tension. Ukraine’s survival depends heavily on Western support, particularly from the United States, yet his relationship with Washington, especially under Donald Trump, has often been marked by visible strain. At times, Zelensky has had to absorb public criticism, adjust his tone, and even appear deferential in ways that, from the outside, can look uncomfortable. But that is only part of the picture. He has also been careful to consistently express gratitude for American support, acknowledging that it has been essential in sustaining Ukraine’s defense, even as he continues to press for more assistance and assert Ukraine’s strategic value. The result is not a simple posture of defiance or submission, but something more complex. A constant negotiation between dependence and dignity.

Machado is operating within that same tension. Venezuela’s political crisis is often framed as a negotiation problem, one that can be managed through calibrated concessions, international mediation, and gradual normalization. But that framing misses something more fundamental. For a large part of the country, the issue is not simply how power is redistributed, but whether the outcome reflects the democratic mandate that has already been expressed. In that context, a leadership style that appears inflexible from the outside may in fact be responding to a different constraint altogether, the need to sustain the idea that Venezuela has not accepted its political condition as final.

Political processes can be negotiated, structured, and even externally supported, but they cannot fully stabilize without a sense that they reflect the will of the society they claim to reorder.

If there is a lesson in De Gaulle’s trajectory, it is not simply that difficult leaders can prove indispensable, but that political arrangements built around figures who lack legitimacy tend to remain fragile. Over time, systems that attempt to bypass the actors who embody a country’s political mandate often find themselves circling back to them, not out of preference, but out of necessity.

Something of that dynamic is beginning to surface in Venezuela. The events of early January created a sense, however fleeting, that a political opening might finally take shape. That expectation has not materialized in a way that is broadly felt, and the gap between anticipation and outcome is beginning to generate visible frustration. What is emerging instead is a more ambiguous configuration, a transition that gestures toward change without fully convincing that it has arrived.

In that context, the question is not whether María Corina Machado is a comfortable actor within the process, but whether a process that unfolds without her can secure broad social buy-in. The instinct to view her primarily as a destabilizing force risks missing a more basic point. In moments like this, the leaders who carry political legitimacy are often the ones systems struggle to accommodate, even as they become increasingly difficult to exclude. Winston Churchill, who had once found De Gaulle exasperating, would later acknowledge as much: “Here was a man who, though not elected, though not even accepted by all Frenchmen, nevertheless represented France… He was the spirit of France.”

That may be the uncomfortable reality of moments like this. Political processes can be negotiated, structured, and even externally supported, but they cannot fully stabilize without a sense that they reflect the will of the society they claim to reorder. The difficulty is that the figures who embody that will are rarely the easiest to incorporate.

They are, more often than not, the ones who insist on speaking as if the country they represent has not yet accepted its condition as final.

Welcome back to this week’s Lakers newsletter, where we are remembering that all good things must come to an end.

The Lakers’ longest winning streak since the 2019-20 season ended in Detroit on Monday much in the same fashion that it was built. The Lakers announced themselves as a legitimate playoff threat by piling up thrilling, clutch time wins. Another team’s clutch time win snapped the Lakers’ nine-game streak. Win or lose, the Lakers are finding new lessons in every one of the close games.

Bend but don’t break

Luke Kennard, second from right, celebrates after his winning basket.

(Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)

The missed shots. The missed calls. Every missed opportunity against the Orlando Magic could have been a moment for the Lakers to “let go of the rope,” Austin Reaves said.

But why didn’t they?

“I think it’s just …” Reaves said, pausing to find the right word after the Lakers rallied from down five points with 50 seconds left to win by one.

“Belief.”

We thought the Lakers’ early season clutch success might have been a mirage against bad teams. But through the most difficult stretch of the season — nine of 11 games against teams with winning records including seven against teams .600 or better — the late-game execution has remained largely on point.

The Lakers (46-26) still have a league-leading 22-7 record in games within five points in the last five minutes. The Lakers are 6-2 in clutch games in March. Before the loss to Detroit, their 82-point clutch time defensive rating this month is an astronomical improvement from their overall 115.7 points allowed per 100 possessions.

They have played the fewest number of clutch minutes this season, in part because they kept getting blown out earlier this season. Their first 12 losses were all by 10 or more points. Those losses tipped the team’s point differential into the red despite their overwhelming winning record. They were signs that the Lakers bent and immediately broke.

Just as much as the clutch wins, coach JJ Redick looks at recent close losses — the last four came by a combined 14 points against Orlando, Phoenix, Denver and Detroit — as signs of progress.

“Our resolve and resilience — you need to be connected to do that as a team, not just individually,” Redick said. “I think where we were earlier in the year, all of us, probably the coaching staff included, was like, ‘When things go bad, you revert back to your means of self preservation, whatever that may look like for each individual.’ … We’re bending multiple times in a game, and we’re staying the course and trusting each other.”

The Lakers have two of the best individual stars to trust in key situations.

Luka Doncic put on a clutch clinic in Houston: Within five consecutive offensive possessions, Doncic hit a pirouetting step-back three, split a double team with a behind-the-back dribble to throw a no-look lob to Rui Hachimura, spun through another trap for a second alley-oop to LeBron James and nailed the dagger three. The dazzling display elicited roars from his teammates.

Some of James’ recent clutch highlights haven’t been as loud but are just as significant: His Superman dive to save a loose ball against Denver, the forced turnover that gave the Lakers the last possession against the Magic and the hard cut to the basket that drew two defenders to leave Luke Kennard wide open for the game-winning shot. The Lakers never doubted.

“We got Hall of Fame players,” Reaves said, “guys with a lot of talent that compete at the highest level, and when you got that, no game’s ever over.”

LeBron James rewrites another narrative

LeBron James looks for a pass during a game against Sacramento earlier this month.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

After 23 years of hearing every compliment and every criticism imaginable, James is still smiling through it all. Because through chatter that the Lakers are better without their 22-time All-Star who is making $52.6 million this season, James offered this interview equivalent of a one-handed dunk:

“It sells papers a lot easier and clippings and podcasts if you say ‘LeBron, that their team is better off without him,’ ” James said after he had a triple-double in the Lakers’ win over the Miami Heat during his NBA-record 1,612th regular-season game. “A lot of people will try to, like, view it, so I get it. But they’re absolutely wrong.”

James then scrunched his face into a sarcastic, close-eyed smile.

The Lakers started their winning streak without James, but they couldn’t have continued it if he hadn’t returned in this fashion.

Since missing three games with elbow and hip injuries, James has starred in his new role as possibly most dangerous third option ever. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer’s usage rate dropped from 28.2% in his first 44 games of the season to 21.3% across the six games before Detroit. Before this season, his usage rate has never been lower than 27.6% for an entire year.

But Redick said the team knows it’s at its best when James has the third-highest usage rate. More important, James is playing like he knows that too.

James was held scoreless in the first half against Detroit for just the third time in his career. Redick praised James for his “selfless” play against the Pistons. He finished a rebound short of a triple-double: 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

“It’s the role that I’m playing for the ball club,” James said. “In order for us to win ball games, it’s the role that I’m playing.”

James is taking three fewer shots a game in the last seven games compared to his season average and averaging a quiet 18 points and 6.1 assists per game. But he has been exceptionally efficient: 58% shooting from the field and he still leads the league with 5.7 fastbreak points per game. Reaves said he sometimes forgets that he’s throwing lobs to a 41-year-old.

“I’m going, I’m going to kill you one day on accident just throwing the ball like I forget that you’re 41,” Reaves said he told James. “I’m still throwing it to 35-[year-old] LeBron.”

On tap

Wednesday at Pacers (16-56), 4 p.m. PDT

The Lakers’ six-game trip ends in Indianapolis with the Pacers, who just snapped the NBA’s longest losing streak Monday. They had lost 16 consecutive games before knocking off the Magic, but still have the worst record in the league. Ivica Zubac is out for the rest of the season after the former Clippers big man fractured his rib.

Friday vs. Nets (17-55), 7:30 p.m. PDT

Michael Porter Jr. is averaging a career-best 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and three assists. That’s basically all there is to know about the Nets.

Monday at Wizards (16-55), 7 p.m. PDT

The Wizards’ 16-game losing streak is now the longest in the NBA after the Pacers’ recent win. Anthony Davis was traded to the Wizards from Dallas in February but remains sidelined because of a finger injury. Fellow midseason acquisition Trae Young (quad) is also expected to miss the game.

Status report

Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness)

Hachimura is day-to-day after he got hit in the calf against Miami. The injury bothered Hachimura enough that he went back to the locker room late against Orlando. He got imaging and “it was clean,” Redick said.

Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness)

Smart injured his ankle against Orlando when forward Goga Bitadze fell on the Lakers guard. Smart also has some lingering right hip soreness from another fall during that game, but is day-to-day, Redick said.

Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain)

Kleber joined the team on the trip in Detroit after missing seven games. During his rehab process, Kleber participated in a practice with the South Bay Lakers last week.

Favorite thing I ate this week

The gumbo at Fixins in downtown Detroit.

(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)

With the weather difference from Orlando to Detroit, I landed in the Midwest in desperate need of comfort food. I fed my soul at Fixins in downtown Detroit, filling up on their gumbo. The hearty stew had chicken and sausage (with an option to add shrimp) and was served over rice with a cornbread muffin. On a chilly Midwest day, it healed me. There’s a Fixins location in L.A. too, so expect to find me there the next time I need my Southern food fix.

In case you missed it

Lakers fade in final seconds against Pistons as nine-game win streak ends

Luka Doncic avoids suspension after NBA rescinds his 16th technical foul

Luka Doncic says vulgar comment from Orlando player led to his 16th technical

Luke Kennard’s last-second three-pointer lifts Lakers to ninth consecutive win

Luka Doncic’s 60-point game thrusts Lakers star into middle of MVP debate

Plaschke: ‘Yeaaaaaah!’ A child’s cheer inspires surging Lakers

Luka Doncic scores 60 and LeBron ties NBA games record in Lakers’ eighth straight win

Luka Doncic (40 points) and LeBron James (30) lead Lakers to win over Rockets

Until next time…

As always, pass along your thoughts to me at thucnhi.nguyen@latimes.com, and please consider subscribing if you like our work!

Former NATO official William Alberque says 440 kg of missing Iranian uranium is blocking a US victory claim. He warns that despite strikes on Natanz Nuclear Facility, the risk of proliferation remains.

A UK tourist attraction may start charging visitors an entry fee for the first time.

The historic site has cited increasing financial pressures as the reason behind the potential move.

Worcester Cathedral has launched a consultation period to explore whether its annual 250,000 visitors could help with running costs.

The 1,300-year-old building, which is the resting place of historic figures such as King John and Prince Arthur Tudor, is the most visited attraction in Worcestershire.

According to the Worcester Cathedral website, the site is currently free to visit but there is a suggested donation of £7 for adult entry to the site.

Guided tours are also available, priced at around £8 per person, offering visitors additional information on the site’s history and architecture, as well as access to the tower.

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Despite these revenue streams and the site’s popularity, the cathedral confirmed that its “current financial position is not sustainable over time”.

Total expenditure for the cathedral was recorded as £4.06million for the 2024-2025 financial year, while the site’s gross income came to £3.08million, leaving a funding gap of roughly £1million.

To tackle this, the cathedral is currently considering a mandatory entry charge, which it said would contribute to costs such as energy bills and maintenance, as well as staffing.

Speaking on the potential fee, Dean Stephen Edwards emphasised the cathedral would always remain a place of worship first and foremost, reports the BBC.

He assured local church-goers that access for prayer, services, and pastoral support would not be affected under any potential changes.

“Through this consultation we explore how we can invite appropriately those who visit primarily for heritage and tourism to contribute fairly towards the cost of maintaining the cathedral and its activities,” he said.

He went on to explain that Worcester Cathedral, like “many historic institutions”, is experiencing a rise in running and maintenance costs.

“While careful financial management and support from our endowment have enabled us to balance budgets in recent years, this has reduced our reserves and increased our reliance on investment income.”

The Dean added that diversifying income streams would help the cathedral to “remain resilient and financially sustainable”.

Worcester Cathedral is currently asking for the public’s views on the proposed entry fee via an online survey, which will remain open until Friday, April 10.

The survey stated that “no decisions have been taken” and did not include a potential price for the entry fee.

Other tourist attractions, including Rome’s Trevi Fountain, have recently brought in entry fees for the first time.

CCTV footage shows an Israeli soldier throwing a stun grenade into a shop during a night raid near Ramallah.

The announcement of the end of CBS News Radio last Friday was met with elegiac tributes to the service that built the foundation of William Paley’s company nearly 100 years ago and brought the heroic work of journalists such as Edward R. Murrow to millions of listeners.

But for the 700 affiliates carrying CBS News Radio, the concerns are more practical as they are faced with finding new national programming that will replace it. CBS Radio News will go silent on May 22.

The shutdown of the historic radio division was part of a division-wide staff cut that will affect 6% of the CBS News workforce. Affiliate stations learned of the decision only minutes before it was released to the press.

The local all-news radio stations carrying the service had to post messages on social media to assure listeners that they were not disappearing — only the national newscasts that were provided by CBS.

KNX, the all-news station in Los Angeles that has carried CBS programming since 1936, posted a lengthy segment on the impending closure and explained how “KNX News is not going anywhere.”

KNX was owned by CBS until 2017. The New York-based Audacy, under its previous name Entercom, acquired the CBS radio stations in 2017. KNX and the other Audacy news stations such as WBBM in Chicago, KCBS in San Francisco and WWJ in Detroit remained CBS affiliates, carrying the hourly CBS newscasts.

The Audacy all-news outlets, which reach around 9 million listeners a month, provided about one-third of U.S. coverage for CBS News Radio, the most of any station group carrying the service.

Audacy said it will find a replacement for CBS News Radio to provide national and international coverage, noting that the mission of its all-news stations will not be affected.

“The vast majority of our news and talk programming remains original and locally-produced, and we are beginning conversations with other national news providers to ensure our listeners continue to have access to world-class programming they value and trust.” said Chris Oliviero, chief business officer for Audacy.

Educating the listening public and advertisers that the stations will be fundamentally the same once CBS is gone will require some effort. KNX and the other Audacy all-news stations have a long association with CBS, which launched their formats starting in the late 1960s.

Along with the hourly newscasts, the stations carried “The Osgood Files,” a massively popular commentary segment hosted by the late former “CBS Sunday Morning” host Charles Osgood, for 46 years until 2017. The jingles and sounders used to identify CBS News network programming heard on the stations for decades have also been part of the listening experience.

Among the possible replacements for CBS News Radio is ABC News Audio, which is the largest network radio news service in the U.S. with 1,500 affiliates. The Audacy stations currently use ABC News content outside of its hourly newscasts.

KFI-AM currently carries the ABC News Audio newscasts in Los Angeles. Exclusivity of the ABC News Audio affiliations are determined on a market-by-market basis, according to a representative at the network.

Fox News Media, the home of the conservative-leaning cable channel, also offers a radio service with hourly newscasts and dedicated reporters, which airs on several hundred stations (the company does not supply a specific number).

While Fox News Radio delivers straight reporting, the service is likely to find a home on some of the conservative talk stations that are currently CBS News affiliates.

WHEN it comes to city breaks, some of the cheapest in Europe are found a bit further east.

And Romania‘s Bucharest is not only affordable, but is getting more flights too.

Romanian airline, AnimaWings, has started six new weekly flights from London Gatwick to Bucharest.

This isn’t the only option though as there are also cheap flights with Ryanair from London Stansted with one-way journeys starting from £18.99.

Wizz Air also offers cheap flights to the city from London Luton.

With a flight time of just over three hours, Bucharest is the ideal city break destination.

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Last year, The Telegraph even named Bucharest as being one of Europe’s ‘last great cheap cities’.

It added that Bucharest has everything you need for a good city break with “expansive, tree-lined avenues, lively bars and characterful museums.”

Bucharest is inexpensive, according to Numbeo – a pint of local beer costs on average £2.55 and an average meal is around £10.18.

For a three-course meal, you’re looking at around £50 and a cappuccino is just £2.45.

It’s not just food and drink that’s on the cheaper side as public transport is the same – a typical single journey on the tram and metro network is as little as 85p.

One of the most popular places in the city to go is Therme Bucharest, a spa and waterpark.

Split into three parts, the Galaxy area is a more family-orientated with 17 water slides, a wave pool and water playground.

The Palm zone is where people go to relax – with three mineral pools and swim-up bars, it has been created for relaxation.

And Elysium is a ”restoration area’ with lots of traditional and modern treatments from hammams to infrared light therapy beds.

Sun Writer Steve Corbett visited Therme and called it one of ‘Europe‘s greatest secrets’.

He compared it to Center Parcs’ Subtropical Swimming Paradise as he tried out the water slides, high-tech treatments and poolside bars.

One woman even flew to Bucharest for a spa break at the Therme because it was cheaper than one in the UK.

Kara Wildbur booked her and her mum in at the Therme for £64 after finding out a spa break would be £400 back home.

Even with the flights being £157 return for the two of them, with the hotel costing £94 – it worked out cheaper than a UK spa day.

Another attraction is the Museum of Senses, which is an interactive museum – especially good if you’re visiting the city with kids.

It’s full of optical illusions, infinity rooms and hands-on exhibits.

Tickets for adults start from £9.33, and £6.79 for children.

When it comes to eating, there’s plenty of quirky cafes within the city.

Some top spots include The Grand Café Van Gogh in Bucharest which some visitors have said reminds them of Amsterdam.

It’s an art-themed cafe filled with Van Gogh artwork in the Old Town.

Another is Dulcinella which sells éclairs, New York-style rolls and is known for having an ‘Instagrammable-vibe’.

Caru’ cu Bere is considered the most famous restaurant and beerhouse in Bucharest and was founded in 1879.

Its house beer, called Berea casei, is brewed on-site and is still made from the original recipe – you can pick up 400ml from £4.30.

The best times of year to visit Bucharest are between April and October, with highs of 31C in June and July.

Just skip the winter months – the average temperature in December and January is around -2C.

For more on Romania, here’s another city that is one of the world’s ‘most underrated destinations’ that’s super cheap with new 3-hour flights.

And one Travel Writer visited the ‘barely-known European city that has easyJet flights – with world-famous castle’.

The framed photo of César Chávez and Dolores Huerta sits in my personal office on a bookshelf crammed with volumes about California and the American West.

The two are at a 1973 United Farm Workers convention, presiding over the union they co-founded. After years of victories in the name of campesinos, the group and its charismatic leaders seem ready for what’s next.

A UFW banner emblazoned with the group’s famous black Aztec eagle logo hangs in the center of the picture, making Chávez and Huerta look like equals.

But they’re not.

He’s speaking from a podium, looking down and appearing cast in darkness due to Chávez blue vest melding into his black hair and brown skin. She’s by his side clasping her hands, wearing a colorful blouse that pales in radiance to Huerta’s hopeful face as she looks at the crowd before them.

It’s the only picture of historical figures that I display at home, and it’s in a place where I’m guaranteed to look at it. It has long served as my secular version of a prayer card, a daily reminder to fight for the good in the world and a reminder that giants before me faced challenges far more daunting than mine. It was also a testament to teamwork — when I acquired the photo a few years ago, it called to me in a way a solo Chávez never would have because I always knew el movimento was more than just one man.

Their portrait can never mean just those things ever again after the New York Times reported last week Chávez sexually assaulted two teenage girls in the 1970s and Huerta in the 1960s.

Places left and right — colleges, cities, classrooms, even states that mark Chávez’s birthday as a holiday — are now deleting his name and image from the public sphere. It’s not going to be a quick, easy task even if the cancellation is starting to take place with startling speed: Chávez’s presence is as ubiquitous in Mexican American life as the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Just this weekend, a friend acknowledged that he and his wife had just started reading a book about him to their 5-year-old daughter, a book they now plan to trash.

I thought of doing the same to my photo of Chávez and Huerta. But I’ve decided not to.

I don’t fault folks for wanting to scrub any hint of Chávez from their daily lives and neither does the Cesar Chavez Foundation, the nonprofit headed by his descendants that recently announced in a statement, “We support and respect whatever decision[s]” may come in the weeks and months to come. Communities are entitled to decide whom they should and shouldn’t publicly honor.

But to eradicate Chávez’s civic presence so fast — to tear down his statues, relabel streets and parks named in his honor, paint over his image on old and new murals, to throw away artwork that has adorned homes and offices for decades — doesn’t remove the fact that millions largely saw him as a champion of the downtrodden until last week. It can’t rescind the positive influence Chávez had on generations of Latinos and non-Latinos who saw in him the hopes of a people and now must reconcile their memories with his horrible deeds.

Historians, educators, activists and politicians for far too long elevated Chávez above Huerta in the name of a simplistic narrative that should’ve never been constructed. The public at large bought into those efforts with little skepticism in the understandable desire to have Latinos star in the American story. It’s a culpability we should all interrogate, not immediately purge.

That’s why not only am I keeping up my photo of Chávez and Huerta, I’m going to put it in a more prominent place from where I can’t look away.

Workers for the city of San Fernando cover the statue at Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Park on Thursday.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

It will serve as a memory of a tragic, tremendous moment in the history of Latinos in the United States, where we should be focusing our attention on a presidential administration that wants most of us gone but instead must deal with the fallout from the downfall of one of our own. It will challenge me anew to look past the big names of the past and highlight those whose stories aren’t nearly as known by the mainstream.

Seeing Huerta next to her abuser will forever remind me about how the now-95-year-old sacrificed her own mental health and safety in the name of something bigger than the two of them — a choice no one should ever have to make but one that she nevertheless did.

The photo will stand as the manifestation of the old newspaper adage that if your mom tells you she loves you, go check it out. No one should ever be above skepticism no matter how sanctified and righteous they may seem — that’s why the New York Times investigation crashed into the Chicano collective sense of self like a meteor. No one could’ve imagined that Chávez could’ve possibly done things so monstrous, but maybe we shouldn’t have built him up so much while he was alive and after his death in the first place.

My framed Chávez-Huerta memento will make me think of how the stories of sexual abuse survivors are still not heard enough or even believed. Even now, some Chávez defenders are casting doubt on the claims of Huerta and the three other women named in the New York Times story, questioning their motivations to come forward after decades of silence and decrying how their decision to do so has permanently tarnished the reputation of one the few nationally known Chicano heroes. In Huerta’s case, critics just don’t buy how someone who carried Chávez’s torch decades after his death could all of a sudden supposedly turn on him.

But as a Catholic who has long covered the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal, I know that every sexual assault survivor has their own journey of recovery. I also know that we must always seek the truth instead of living a lie.

And turning Chávez into a historical footnote is a lie. He long served as a moral exemplar; he should now serve as a cautionary tale known to all.

Erasing historic figures from the public sphere is an exercise in power going back to the pharaohs, a way rulers ensured future generations couldn’t learn about their enemies. The push to nix Chávez comes from the trend in recent years by progressive activists to remove monuments that hail problematic figures under the pretense that someone’s sins trump any good they might have done no matter how influential they were.

Again, all communities have that right to reexamine the past. But we can’t and shouldn’t disappear the full story of Chávez, as painful as it is. It’s the easy way out — and remedying wrongs is never easy.

If the photo in my book shelf was only of Chávez, I’d still keep it up. The good he did was really good — the bad he committed was as terrible as it gets.

Somewhere in between stands the story of us.

UCLA women advance

From Marisa Ingemi: There were always going to be tears. In the final game at Pauley Pavilion for six UCLA seniors, it was going to be a stunning defeat or a cathartic release before the next step in the NCAA tournament mission.

It was the latter, as the decorated group of Bruins took their final stroll around the perimeter of the court and waved to the fans, tears glistening and smiles wide.

The top-seeded Bruins led wire-to-wire, beating No. 8-seed Oklahoma State 87-68 in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Monday night at Pauley Pavilion to advance to the Sweet 16. The Bruins will face No. 4 seed Minnesota on Friday in Sacramento.

One of UCLA’s seniors, Lauren Betts, put together the best game of her career with 35 points while shooting 15 of 19 at the moment her team needed it most.

“That’s really cool,” Betts said. “I mean, I can’t deny, like, that is really cool. I feel like the points, they really don’t mean anything to me. To me, like, I really just want to win games with this team. The fact that we won today is what matters most to me, and that we’re moving on to the Sweet 16.”

Continue reading here

UCLA box score

UCLA stars now have a better chance of sticking with WNBA rosters under new CBA

USC women are routed

From Chaunte’l Powell: Monday night served as a litmus test for ninth-seeded USC to see how a program on its way back to prominence measured up against top-seeded powerhouse South Carolina.

The Trojans were no match in the frontcourt against South Carolina, suffering 101-61 season-ending loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot got going early, scoring nine of the Gamecocks’ first 11 points. South Carolina would finish the game with 60 points in the paint. Edwards finished the game with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Okot had 15 points and 15 rebounds.

USC freshman Jazzy Davidson, who scored a phenomenal 31 points in her NCAA tournament debut Saturday against Clemson, missed her first two shots. But she recovered and found some offensive rhythm, finishing with 16 points. Kennedy Smith picked up the slack in the first half, scoring nine of USC’s first 15 points. Unfortunately, she struggled after that and finished four for 15 from the floor.

Continue reading here

USC box score

Lakers winning streak ends

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: The brush from a fingertip toppled the Lakers’ longest winning streak in six seasons.

The Lakers’ nine-game win streak ended Monday with a 113-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons when Luka Doncic missed a tying three-pointer at the buzzer after LeBron James’ inbounds pass was deflected by Tobias Harris.

Doncic had 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but was three for 13 from three and missed two big shots in the final seconds.

The superstar guard had been on a historic heater, averaging 40 points over the previous nine games. With nine seconds left, James tried to inbound the ball over Harris and across the court to Doncic, who had to chase down the deflected pass that also went off forward Maxi Kleber’s arm. Doncic collected the ball and danced with Detroit forward Jalen Duren, pump faking, spinning and stepping back before launching a sky-high three.

It didn’t even graze the rim.

Continue reading here

Lakers box score

NBA standings

Clippers rout the Bucks

Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points in 25 minutes and the Clippers pummeled the Milwaukee Bucks 129-96 on Monday night.

Brook Lopez added 19 points, Darius Garland had 15 points and six assists, and the Clippers won consecutive games after four straight losses. They made all 18 of their free throws and got back to .500 with 10 games remaining in the regular season after having a 6-21 record on Dec. 18.

Gary Trent Jr. paced the Bucks with 20 points off the bench. Ryan Rollins led their starters with 13, and Milwaukee had five players in double figures. The Bucks have lost 10 of their last 14 games, including three of four since sitting superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo because of a left knee injury.

Continue reading here

Clippers box score

NBA standings

Dodgers reveal starting rotation

From Maddie Lee: The Dodgers’ rotation order is set for the first homestand of the season.

To round out the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, after Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound Thursday on opening day, he’ll be followed by Emmet Sheehan and Tyler Glasnow. Roki Sasaki is penciled in for Monday against the Cleveland Guardians, followed by Shohei Ohtani on March 31.

Off days on Sunday and April 2 make it possible for the Dodgers to give all their pitchers at least five days’ rest between their first and second starts without needing a sixth starter.

Left-hander Justin Wrobleski is pegged to be that additional starter when the schedule features less frequent days off. In the meantime, he’ll be available to throw multiple innings out of the bullpen.

Continue reading here

Swanson: The Dodgers are chasing a three-peat. They can take some cues from the 2002 Lakers

Ohtani. Yamamoto. Sasaki. A 12-story ‘cultural bridge’ between L.A. and Japan to debut in Torrance

NL West preview: The Dodgers should be heavy favorites, but the Padres could surprise

This day in sports history

1936 — Detroit’s Mud Bruneteau ends the longest game in NHL history with a goal after 116 minutes and 30 seconds (six overtimes) to edge the Montreal Maroons 1-0 in the semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

1941 — Long Island University wins the NIT championship with a 56-42 victory over Ohio.

1945 — NYU battles back from a ten-point deficit with two minutes to go to send the NCAA tournament national semifinal game into overtime. NYU wins 70-65. At the time, a team got one free throw when fouled near end of game, but could elect instead to inbound the ball. Ohio State is fouled three times, opts to shoot the foul shot and misses each time.

1956 — San Francisco’s Bill Russell has 26 points and 27 rebounds to lead the Dons to an 83-71 win over Iowa and their second-straight national title and 55th consecutive victory, then an NCAA record.

1962 — Paul Hogue scores 22 points and grabs 19 rebounds and Tom Thacker adds 21 to lead Cincinnati to a 71-59 victory over Ohio State for its second NCAA basketball championship.

1970 — Jerry West of the Lakers wins his only NBA scoring title, accumulating 2,309 points in 74 games for a 31.2 ppg. average.

1973 — Kansas City-Omaha’s Nate “Tiny” Archibald becomes the first player in NBA history to lead the NBA in both scoring (34.0 ppg.) and assists (11.4 apg.) in the same season.

1975 — Muhammad Ali knocks out Chuck Wepner in the 15th round to retain the world heavyweight title in Cleveland.

1975 — Princeton becomes the first Ivy League school to win the NIT title with an 80-69 win over Providence.

1979 — Indiana State, led by Larry Bird, advances to the NCAA Championship game by squeezing past DePaul 76-74. Bird has 35 points, 16 rebounds and 9 assists.

1980 — Louisville beats UCLA 59-54 to win the NCAA basketball title.

1992 — Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux becomes the 36th player in NHL history with 1,000 points, getting an assist in the second period of the Penguins’ 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

1994 — Kansas State’s Askia Jones scores 62 points in 28 minutes in a 115-77 victory over Fresno State in the NIT quarterfinals. Jones shoots 18-for-25 from the floor, including 14-of-18 on three-pointers, and 12-for-16 from the line.

2013 — Florida Gulf Coast goes from shocking the men’s college basketball world to downright impressing it. The Eagles beat San Diego State 81-71 to become the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

2017 — Devin Booker scores 70 points, becoming the sixth different player in NBA history to reach that total, but the Boston Celtics get 34 points from Isaiah Thomas and outlast the Phoenix Suns 130-120.

2018 — Nathan Chen completes six quadruple jumps in the free program to become the first U.S. winner of the men’s world figure skating title since 2009.

2018 — Loyola Chicago romps to a 78-62 victory over Kansas State to cap off a stunning run through the bracket-busting South Regional. The Ramblers (32-5) match the lowest-seeded team ever to reach the Final Four, joining LSU (1986), George Mason (2006) and VCU (2011). The South is the first regional in tournament history to have the top four seeds — including overall No. 1 Virginia — knocked out on the opening weekend.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Video shows Israeli forces blowing up a mosque’s minaret in Khiam in southern Lebanon. Israel says it is fighting Hezbollah but has forcibly displaced more than a million people and stands accused of trying to depopulate the entire south of the country.