Month: April 2026

Cambridge won a fourth consecutive Men’s Boat Race as Oxford claimed their first victory in the women’s race since 2016.

The Cambridge men came in as strong favourites for the 171st event but Oxford did well to stay with them for much of the race in tricky and blustery conditions along the 4.3-mile course from Putney to Chiswick.

But the class of the Light Blues came through in the final third as they pulled clear to triumph by 11.02 seconds for a seventh win in eight years.

In the 80th edition of the women’s race, Oxford made a blistering start and Cambridge were unable to respond as the Dark Blues stayed strong to win by 9.4 seconds and celebrate their 31st overall success.

OLIVIA Attwood has confirmed she’s undergone a cosmetic procedure just weeks after splitting from husband Bradley and her new budding Pete Wicks romance.

The reality star and documentary maker posted a series of serene photos to her Instagram page, showcasing her latest cosmetic treatment.

The former Love Islander looked fresh-faced in the pics, showcasing a glowing complexion and a plump smile – as a result of having new lip fillers.

“I had some lip filler for the first time in 2 years and I can’t stop pouting,” she wrote alongside the snaps.

Olivia has faced a tricky couple of months, revealing the end of her marriage to footballer husband Bradley Dack.

As well as the scandal surrounding her ex’s fidelity, Olivia, 34, saw her marriage exposed as a sham and swirling rumours that she is now dating long-time pal Pete Wicks.

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Yet her carousel of photos showed fans that she’s still thriving, not letting the whisperings get her down.

The star was indeed seen pouting across the array of images as she stepped out in different outfits attending various events.

In some, she was seen sporting a bottle green fur jacket over checked black slacks.

Others saw her in a limo and at a party with pals, donning a plain black sweater and skinny stonewash jeans.

She snapped further images in a chocolate mini-skirt and matching blazer, a tie around her neck, blonde mane swept back in a tight, conservative ponytail.

Other images showed pet dogs, shopping trips, a pair of new high heels and behind-the-scenes snaps on set.

In a final image, Olivia was filmed stood in a lift, pouting again for the camera, showcasing her style in a black leather cropped jacket, matching shorts and knee-high boots.

Fans were pleased to see Olivia enjoying herself amid the various scandals circling her in recent times.

“Dump the boy get the filler… the only way is up baby girl,” one commented under the snaps.

Another penned: “Love to see you smiling and laughing!”

The post also appeared to confirm that Olivia has custody of the dogs she shared with Bradley, with many fans picking up on this in the comments.

“Great substitute for a man, dogs are life savers and your girls are beautiful,” one penned.

Another wrote: “My main concern has been he better not take the dogs from Liv!”

Olivia admitted this week that she is finally feeling good about herself again amid the drama, and that she’s dating again, after being seen kissing Pete Wicks.

Opening up about the recent scandals, the ITV star admitted she “covered up” much of what was going on in her marriage and even arranged therapy for her footballer ex.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Olivia said: “I have stood by Brad for the last ten years during which he lied & cheated on me multiple times. The breakdown of our relationship is because of this.

“I of course now feel like a f***ing idiot (Especially as more things come to the surface).”

This was the first time she had publicly addressed why her marriage was over, but has also suffered backlash amid a fakery row involving her TV wedding.

The Sun revealed ITV‘s “golden girl” Olivia was never legally married, yet she has insisted that she is “not pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes”.

Meanwhile, a pal of Pete and Olivia recently confirmed: “They have been spending a lot of time together and an unexpected romance has blossomed from friendship.”

It was ugly.

It was beautiful.

It was a messy rock fight.

It was Bruin ballet.

In front of a stunned crowd at Phoenix’ Mortgage Matchup Center Friday night, the UCLA women’s basketball team defied stereotypes and defined toughness and did what few believed this dancing, dazzling group could do.

They beat somebody up.

They stared down presumably rougher Texas in the national semifinals and painted the floor in streaks of Longhorn and won the second-most important game of their lives.

Now they get to play the most important.

With their 51-44 victory over the burned Orange, the Bruins have advanced to the national championship game Sunday against a physically dominant group from powerhouse South Carolina.

UCLA center Lauren Betts shoots over Texas forward Breya Cunningham during their Final Four matchup Friday in Phoenix.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

Put up your dukes.

If you thought UCLA needed to take off the gloves against Texas, wait until they go bare knuckles with the deep and experienced Gamecocks.

Based on legacy alone, the national title bout is a mismatch.

South Carolina, under legendary coach Dawn Staley, is playing in the national championship game for the third straight year and fourth time in five years. Meanwhile, this is UCLA’s first title game appearance in the NCAA era.

South Carolina has won three championships in the last eight non-COVID-19 seasons. Meanwhile, UCLA is searching for its first NCAA championship and first title of any sort since Ann Meyers Drysdale led the Bruins to the 1978 AIAW crown.title.

Count the Bruins out if you must. But against Texas, a team that had dominated them during the regular season, the Bruins did all the counting as the Longhorns lay flat on their backs during an eventual knockout.

It turns out, being led by six seniors and graduate students on a mission to finish their careers together as champions matters. It turns out, a willingness to do whatever it takes to win that title matters even more.

And it turns out, 30 straight wins means something. These Bruins don’t flinch. These Bruins don’t retreat. These Bruins don’t have any doubt that they can survive whatever South Carolina throws at them, even if that’s enough fists and fury to make semifinal-losing UConn coach Geno Auriemma lose his mind during a profane in-game interview Friday on ESPN.

“The job’s not finished,” said Gabriela Jaquez, who once again seemingly showed up around every loose ball. “Still have one more game to win.”

UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez drives toward the basket under pressure from Texas forward Breya Cunningham during their Final Four semifinal on Friday in Arizona.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

This game began, appropriately enough, with Angela Dugalic blocking Aston Judd’s shot and then glaring at her as the Longhorn lay in a heap.

“It’s such an amazing thing that we have another opportunity to play together,” said Dugalic. “One more day.”

This game ended with Lauren Betts blocking Madison Booker’s layup attempt with 18 seconds remaining and Texas trailing by just three.

“Oh my God,” said Charlisse Leger-Walker. “Another Lauren Betts specialty.”

After the block, Betts screamed loud enough to be heard from the desert to Westwood. Soon thereafter, her teammates were screaming with her.

“We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game and we knew we had to match that intensity,” said Kiki Rice.

Did they ever.

Defensively, they held Texas star Madison Booker to three baskets off 23 attempts, including an unbelievable 17 straight misses at one point. Their Bruins’ pressure was so intense, Texas took 21 more shots and still lost by seven.

Offensively, four different players scored in double figures while they had 13 assists on 18 baskets. Yeah, they committed 23 turnovers, the most in a Final Four game in 18 years. But who’s counting?

“I want to apologize to all the fans for the rugby match,” said Bruins coach Cori Close.

No apology necessary.

UCLA forward Angela Dugalic blocks a layup attempt by Texas guard Ashton Judd during thier Final Four game Friday in Phoenix.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

The Bruins dominated from the outset, holding Texas to a season-low six points in the first quarter as the Longhorns made just three shots. Hampered by their own mistakes, UCLA let Texas stay in the game until scores by Betts, Rice and Jaquez widened the gap to 10 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Texas battled back to within one possession late, but Betts’ block sealed it for a team that has come too far and endured too much to be bothered by even the most furious of comeback attempts. For the record, the mighty Texas team led for all of 54 seconds.

“This is amazing,” said Betts.

There are players on this team that have made four straight trips to the Sweet 16 and consecutive trips to the Final Four. South Carolina knocked the Bruins out during one of those tournaments. They’re well aware it could easily happen again.

But pressure moments Sunday afternoon with the basketball world watching? Bring it on.

“I think in those moments, we’re just so connected that regardless of what the score is, we could have been down 10, we still would have been as connected as if we were up 10,” said Betts, who missed only three of 10 shots and had 11 rebounds. “I’m just really proud of this group. I think it shows the maturity. I know I can count on anybody on this team, regardless of what the score is. We’re going to continue to show up and compete.”

For one more game. For one last time. For forever.

THE SUN’S £9.50 Hols Agony Aunt, Tracey Kennedy has tried and tested holiday parks across the UK for over 30 years.

Over her decades of staycations, Tracy’s ticked off popular holiday spots from the Isle of Wight, to North Wales, down to Land’s End in Cornwall.

It’s fair to say that Tracy knows her stuff when it comes to UK holiday parks – whether it’s how to bag a bargain break, or find the best free and cheap family attractions whilst you’re away.

Over three decades of staying at holiday parks up and down the UK, Tracy has ranked her top five holiday parks based on accommodation, entertainment and location.

Plus she’s sharing all of the hacks she uses to save while she’s away.

We’ve paired each park with the cheapest deal available online, including three-night breaks for two for under £50.

5. Haven Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Village

“This holiday park is in a lovely seaside town in Somerset, and I like it so much that I’ve been back several times.

“My tip for booking a Haven holiday would be to book a Haven Hideaway package.

“These are the cheapest breaks possible, and can cost just £49pp. I paid just £120 for a full week away on a Haven Hideaway.

“However it’s worth noting that Hideaway holidays don’t come with a Play Pass as the standard breaks do, so make sure to check which activities are included at each Haven park, and which you would have to pay extra for”.

Entertainment and activities

“There’s plenty to do here without paying extra for the add-on activities. This site has a lovely arcade, which is cashless apart from the classic 2p machines.

“I wasn’t too keen on it being cashless at first, but once you’ve got your card and have topped it up with as much or little as you want, it’s easy to use.

“As for the evening entertainment, I went last year and it was really quite good. The comedy is especially great.

“With Haven parks, if you make sure to download the app, about 2 weeks before it’ll tell you which activities you can book if you have the Play Passes.

“But you dont need passes for the arcade or evening entertainment, it’s just for swimming and paid activities. They can be nice to have, but you don’t have to get them”.

Accommodation

“I stayed in a saver caravan, which is the lowest grade, but it still has heating and everything you need.

“I always go for the cheapest I can but that is still nice, and the saver option here is great if you’re looking to stay on a budget“.

Local area

“Burnham is a quiet town, so it can be quite a peaceful place to stay. There’s also a lovely beach and lighthouse in walking distance from the park, as well as a cinema. But mainly this is a great base for exploring.

“Brean is about a 10-minute drive away, and there’s loads to do there. Brean Beach is gorgeous, plus there’s a splash park, Brean Theme Park and an animal farm, so there’s loads to do.

“You’ve also got Cheddar Gorge a half-hour drive away. You can of course try loads of cheese, but there’s really fascinating caves and clifftop walks there, too.

“If you’re willing to drive a bit further, about 40 minutes, you can also visit Wells. There’s loads of medieval historic sites there, like Wells Cathedral as well as the Palace and gardens”.

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a four-night stay in a saver caravan with a Haven Hideaways deal from £49, based on two adults sharing. This deal also comes with a low-deposit option from £30.

4. Riverside Holiday Village, Bleadon, Weston-super-Mare

“I went to this holiday park last year for my 50th, and had such a fantastic time. I have lots of memories coming here with parents, and now I get to bring my kids!

“One of the best things about this park is where it’s located. It’s less than 10 minutes from Weston-super-Mare‘s seafront”.

Entertainment and activities

“This is quite a small site, but it does have a good arcade, restaurant, and entertainment performances.

“There’s no costume characters for the kids, but if you visit in peak season, there’s a pretty packed activity schedule that keeps them busy.

“It’s a very relaxing site if you prefer a peaceful holiday. There’s a beautiful lake to walk around, and you can pop out into Weston whenever you’d like”.

Accommodation

“We stayed in a large Gold caravan, which doesn’t work out to be too expensive once you split the cost between a group of people.

“We paid £650 total, and the Gold caravans can sleep up to six people, so that works out at around £109pp – which isn’t bad at all for a full seven days during the summer holidays.

“We had wrap-around decking which is lovely to sit on and enjoy your coffee in the morning or a drink in the evening.

“I recommend going as a large group and splitting costs so you can try out the nicer accommodation. This is one of the parks where I’d say it’s worth it”.

Local area

“The surrounding area, Bleadon, is very quiet. There’s just a couple of cosy pubs.

“But if you want a proper day out, then you should drive or catch the bus into Weston-super-Mare itself.

“There’s loads of things to do in Weston. If you want to stick to free things to do, Weston Museum is a great one and has activities for kids.

“Visiting the Grand Pier is a full day out itself – there is a small charge of £2, which is the same for both adults and kids.

“There’s lots of cost-friendly places to eat on the pier, like chip shops, a Costa and a Tiffany’s.

“My favourite though is Revo Kitchen. It’s inside the old Sea Life centre and it has 360-degree views of the sea. It’s dog-friendly, and does amazing, family-friendly food.

“It’s easy to spend the whole day at just the pier. There’s a ball pit, arcade games, fun house, ghost train – loads to do.

“Obviously it can be costly, but there are great-value wristbands available for kids to go on unlimited rides.”

“The Little Kids wristband, with unlimited rides suitable for younger children, costs £15 and lasts all day. The Big Kids wristband costs £20.

“There is also an Ultimate wristband available for £30, which includes unlimited rounds of golf and go-kart races.

“You don’t have to pay the entry fee cost of £2 for those with wristbands. You can buy the wristbands for the Grand Pier ahead of time online“.

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a three-night stay at Riverside Holiday Village in a Purn Gold WF caravan from £169, based on two adults sharing. This deal also offers a low deposit option of £25.

3. Martin Mere Holiday Village, Blackpool

“This park is around 10 minutes’ drive into Blackpool, and there is so much to do there for families.

“They have also just had a major upgrade, with a brand-new restaurant, a refreshed Show Bar, and an expanded arcade added”.

Entertainment and activities

“It’s all about the entertainment with Haven. And the best part is that most of it is free.

“There’s an outdoor pool and lazy river, and you can book inflatables for your little ones to use.

“They’ve got plenty of fun things for families with kids like a climbing wall and a giant football dartboard.

“You’ve also got Linked Bingo at 5:15pm every evening, which sometimes has massive cash prizes.

“They’re also adding four new kids shows ready for summer this year”.

Accommodation

“The caravans are spacious, clean and have everything you need. Even the saver caravans are tremendous value for what you get.

“What I like about the accommodation here is that most caravans are only a short walk to the entertainment, which is great if you stay up late”.

Local area

“There is absolutely loads to do in Blackpool. You can even see the tower flashing its lights at night from the park.

“Blackpool can be as cheap or expensive as you like, but I’ve been going for years and found some good ways to save money.

“One of the best-value places to go is Coral Island Arcade, which has a restaurant where kids eat free.

“Once you’re at Coral Island, make sure to pick up any free leaflets that are there. They often have vouchers inside for discounted attractions.

“We picked one up and got a free go on the camel derby – so always look out for leaflets before you book something!

“Some of my other favourite things to do are going up into the tower, where there’s an arcade, the dungeons and a circus inside the tower itself.

“Then of course you’ve got Pleasure Beach – but if you know you want to go, book ahead of time online.

“That way you can pay £30 for entry rather than £60 on the day.

“If you’re wanting to save money on ticking off the paid attractions, there’s a new card where you can do them all for a fixed price called The Blackpool Pass.”

“The Blackpool Pass starts from £35 and includes unlimited entry to eight Blackpool attractions: Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Blackpool Tower Eye, Blackpool Tower Dungeon, Blackpool Tower Circus, Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse and Peter Rabbit: Explore and Play.

“You can expect to save up to 70 per cent on attractions compared to booking individually.”

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a four-night stay in a saver caravan with a Haven Hideaways deal from £49, based on two adults sharing.

This deal also comes with a low-deposit option of £30.

2. Lyons Robin Hood, Rhyl, North Wales

“This site is really up-to-date. It’s recently undergone a £1.5m makeover, with all the new developments set to be fully done in May 2026, ready for your summer holiday!

“Some of my favourite things about this park are the enthusiastic entertainment staff, as well as the food – I always really look forward to the food when holidaying here!”

Entertainment and activities

“The pool here is so good that my youngest went swimming every single day. It has a brand-new splash zone, three super slides and even a spa for the adults.

“It’s just had activities like go-karting added to the list of things to do, and there’s new sports courts and trampolines.

“I last went at Halloween and it was just absolutely fantastic, but the entertainment is great year-round too.

“The costume characters come out to meet the kids – all the info on who is coming out when is listed on the wall, so you can meet the characters, comedians and singers.”

Accommodation

“The standard caravans here are slightly different to other holiday parks, for example like at a Haven resort.

“Their highest-ranking option is a platinum. We’ve stayed in platinum and it’s lovely. We had a little bit of a balcony that we had our coffee and drinks on.

“I’ve stayed in three levels of accommodation here, and I liked all of them. Each caravan was clean and spacious, with multiple big bedrooms, so you can’t go wrong here no matter what your budget is.

“I usually like to bring my own food to save money, however the food here is just lovely and definitely worth the money!

“We had cod and chips (£6.95) from the on-site chip shop here and really enjoyed it – in fact, we had it twice because it was that good! Food here is also really good value for money”.

Local area

“There’s a beautiful beach just across the road from the park, just remember to bring some snacks, as there’s no cafe or shop to buy food.

“You might see seals here – we saw some on my last visit and I was so excited.

“You can see them bobbing around in the sea, it’s nice to see them out in the open compared to an aquarium.

“Rhyl is just 5 minutes away, and there’s loads to do there. Shops, a massive marine lake, and my favourite – a little train that takes you around.

“Lots of people go crabbing, too…we caught some massive ones!

“A trip into Rhyl could be a free day out if you planned for it. Pack a picnic, wander through its streets, plus there’s even a free attraction: Rhyl Museum and Arts Centre.

“The only thing you would have to pay extra for if you wanted to would be the train, which costs £4 per adult and £3 per child.”

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a three-night stay at Lyons Robin Hood in a Bronze three-bedroom caravan from £111.30, based on two adults sharing.

Lyons Robin Hood is also available at Sun Hols from £9.50, where a break for four people can cost as little as £38.

1. Lower Hyde, Isle of Wight

“The best holiday park I’ve ever been to is Lower Hyde on the Isle of Wight – that is my firm favourite.

“I’ve returned several times because my family and I really liked it. I like everything about the park.

“There’s loads to do on site itself, it’s actually one of the only sites where we didn’t mind spending the entire day there.

“There’s plenty of nature trails around the park, and there’s also an adventure park on site.

“Lower Hyde also have a restaurant with really good pub-style food called The Barnhouse, plus they also have little food huts such as the Thunderbird Chicken shack and an ice cream parlour.

“They’ve just had a new outdoor bar open up, too.”

Entertainment and activities

“The entertainment teams are top-quality at Lower Hyde and plenty is free compared to other parks.

“I like the archery in the daytime, plus there’s a great pool to make use of, too.

“I watched some brilliant entertainment there last year.

“In the evenings, the entertainment starts off with discos and character meet and greets for the younger kids, with their own show.

“Then there’s some great bingo, followed by an adult game show.

“Later in the evening there’s more acts from visiting acts such as comedians or magicians, or a performance from the entertainment team.

“There’s then a disco until midnight, so you can stay there all night, if you fancy it.”

Accommodation

“I’ve stayed in both chalets and caravans, and the caravans are top-notch, very cosy and warm.

“The accommodation is in a really nice quiet area. There is a little bit of a hill walking down, so do let the site know if that’s an issue if you plan to visit”.

Local area

“The must-visit spot nearby is Shanklin. There’s lots of little artisan shops, and it’s not a far walk, about a 10-minute walk into the centre.

“If you walk further, it takes you into Shanklin Old Village. There’s a lovely little restaurant there called The Crab, with beautiful seafood.

“There is also the famous old thatched cottage from all the postcards. Not only is it lovely to look at, but it does afternoon tea inside (from £7.95).

“There’s also Shanklin Chine, a wooded coastal ravine that is the oldest attraction on the island.

“If you wanted to visit, then you can loop right down to the beach afterwards and make your way back up – that’s the perfect day out.

“Some of my favourite things to do in the area are keep an eye out for red squirrels on nature walks, and go stargazing at night – the Isle of Wight has clear skies where you can see the stars”.

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a three-night stay at Parkdean Lower Hyde in a Bronze three-bedroom caravan from £99, based on two adults sharing.

Parkdean Lower Hyde is also available at Sun Hols from £9.50, where a break for four people can cost as little as £38.

How Tracy saves extra on her holidays

As ouur Hols From £9.50 Agony Aunt, Tracy Kennedy has several tips and tricks up her sleeve when it comes to saving money on your staycations.

Here is exactly what Tracy does to prepare ahead of time and save on her holidays, as well as her top tips for saving whilst you’re away.

She told us: “One of the most cost effective things you can do is cook your own meals.

“I’d make a note of some easy, cost-effective meals that are quick to make so you can get it done and get out and enjoy your holiday.

“I like to pack an essentials box of non-perishable food bits with me, like packets of rice, pasta, and tinned food – just make sure you don’t forget to bring a tin opener, too.

“I also bring a small amount of washing up liquid and cleaning products in little travel bottles so we don’t have to buy full-sized ones. This really helps with the shopping, especially if you’re on a budget.

“Then when you do go shopping, all you have to do is buy the fresh stuff like bread, milk and butter.

“I like to slowly buy bits to add to my box in the months before my holiday, as it spreads the cost out and saves you spending too much in the expensive on-site supermarkets when you arrive.

“Once you’re prepared with food and cleaning supplies, it’s time to start thinking ahead on how to save on attractions.

“Before I go anywhere, I make sure to Google everything there is to do nearby. Especially for days out. See if there are any two for one ticket offers at local attractions, or even places that are free to visit.

“Especially during holidays like Easter, as nearby attractions will often have free events for kids like Easter egg hunts.

“When I visited Prestatyn in North Wales, I did my research ahead of time and found free pottery classes for kids, so we spent an afternoon doing that.

“Also check the National Trust website as well as English Heritage, because sometimes they offer free days out, too. Also check Sun Superdays and Sun Club offers, too!

“If you’re staying at a seaside resort, you can easily spend an entire day out on the coast for free. Check which dates you are there have good weather, and plan to pack a picnic, walk along the promenade, go for a swim.

“Sometimes there will be free children’s Punch and Judy shows, or local festivals – always Google the area and search on local Facebook groups in case there are events whilst you’re there.

“If you’re going as a couple or friends, it can be nice to explore local towns with cheap public transport.

My friend and I visited Lyons Robin Hood last year, and planned to go to Llandudno.

“We bought a £6.50 day saver ticket, jumped on a bus with Llandudno as the final stop and sat on the top deck at the front, and the views we had were absolutely amazing.”

“You can get family saver tickets too if there are more of you, then you can go out for the day, get a great view of the local towns and all you have to buy is the bus ticket. It’s a nice, cheap day out for all of the family.

“Similarly, I planned a cheap day out at the coast a few years ago in Newquay, Cornwall.

“We visited all the local beaches, walked to Lands End, and I planned a walk past the hotel where the Roald Dahl film The Witches was made.

“We also drove out to Port Isaac, and walked around where Doc Martin was filmed. All you have to do in these places is pay for is parking and bring your own food.

Then you can just walk around and see all of these really cool filming locations, and that costs you nothing!

“Definitely research the area before you go to see if any movies or TV shows were filmed there”.

The budget airline has issued a message to its passengers, urging them to ‘please note’ the announcement as it ‘does not look cool’ – but many people were not impressed by the new rule

Budget Irish airline Ryanair has taken aim at travellers who persist in wearing one particular accessory aboard aircraft. This follows the airline previously advising passengers to ‘please stop wearing’ jeans during flights.

For several people, being comfortable while travelling on a plane ranks amongst their top priorities. And given that remaining seated in the same spot for extended periods can be decidedly uncomfortable, particularly when you’re short on legroom, selecting the appropriate attire might be your sole opportunity for achieving comfort. For many, this translates to donning joggers or tracksuits. However, sometimes it’s the accessories that can enhance comfort even further.

This becomes especially important on Ryanair, where seating is typically more confined owing to the airline’s efforts to accommodate as many seats as feasible, forming part of their strategy to maintain ticket prices as low as possible – despite recent threats that prices might go up do to jet fuel prices.

Renowned for their budget-friendly fares, the carrier has also established a reputation on social media, where they frequently poke fun at their own passengers, and jokingly threaten to introduce even more regulations and charges than they currently impose – such as extra legroom seats or late check-in fees.

Nevertheless, Ryanair has now criticised travellers who insist on wearing one particular type of accessory aboard aircraft, claiming it ‘does not look cool‘.

Posting on their Facebook page, the airline issued a statement to their passengers. They wrote: “Please note: Passengers do not look cool wearing sunglasses on board.”

However, many weren’t convinced, as numerous people quickly flocked to the comment section to express their own views.

“Could be true, but we don’t care,” one person posted. Others went on to suggest it was ‘necessary’ due to the vibrant interior of Ryanair flights.

One person contended: “Gotta shield our eyes from that highlighter-yellow cabin.”

“I put mine on so I can sleep,” another person clarified. Another concurred and stated: “Sunglasses at night-flight for a better sleep.”

Someone else remarked: “With sunglasses on during the flight the 3 days vacation lasts longer.”

Nevertheless, some sided with the airline, as one person commented: “Only pilots should wear sunglasses.”

This isn’t the first occasion Ryanair has joked about and poked fun at its passengers. Recently, they threatened to introduce a ‘toilet usage fee’ for any passengers wishing to use the lavatory facilities onboard an aircraft.

However, many travellers soon cottoned on this was a joke, as they noted it sounded like an April Fool’s prank that was posted a few days early.

Erling Haaland treble and goal by Antoine Semenyo gives City 4-0 win, as Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah misses a penalty.

Erling Haaland hit a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 to reach the FA Cup semifinals and increase the pressure on Reds boss Arne Slot.

Haaland netted twice late in the first half of the quarterfinal at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and completed his treble after the interval following an Antoine Semenyo strike.

With Liverpool trailing by four, Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved by City goalkeeper James Trafford to compound a miserable afternoon for the under-fire Slot.

Liverpool’s tame surrender was a bitter blow to Slot, who had to endure chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from gloating City fans.

They head to Paris Saint-Germain for the Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday with Slot desperately needing a victory over the holders to keep the critics at bay.

Slot’s team, who have just two wins in their last seven matches in all competitions, are fifth in the Premier League and far from certain to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

It is a remarkable decline for Slot, who just 12 months ago was on the brink of leading Liverpool to their record-equalling 20th English title.

City’s ruthless performance took them into the FA Cup semifinals for an eighth successive season.

Liverpool made a bright start but Hugo Ekitike fired just wide from the edge of the area before Salah wasted a golden opportunity in the 14th minute, dragging his shot wide from just six yards out.

Ekitike lashed wastefully wide with a snap-shot from nine metres [10 yards] out as Liverpool paid the price for failing to make the pressure count.

Fresh from scoring twice in City’s recent League Cup final victory over Arsenal, Nico O’Reilly was key to City’s 39th-minute opener.

Matheus Nunes picked out O’Reilly in the Liverpool area and as he twisted away from Virgil van Dijk, the defender’s clumsy trip conceded a penalty that Haaland converted in clinical fashion.

Haaland had scored just once in his previous six games in all competitions. But the prolific Norway striker is never far from a hot streak and he doubled City’s advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Rayan Cherki found Semenyo’s run and he lofted a pin-point cross towards Haaland, who made a perfectly-timed run in front of Ibrahima Konate to glance a superb header past Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Liverpool were in disarray and Semenyo landed the knockout blow five minutes after the interval.

Cherki’s pass sent Semenyo sprinting in behind the flat-footed Van Dijk to clip a deft finish over Mamardashvili.

Haaland completed the 28th treble of his career in the 57th minute, drilling home via the underside of the bar after O’Reilly teed him up 11 metres [12 yards] from goal.

On a prolonged farewell tour after announcing he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, Salah produced the latest in a long line of lacklustre performances.

The Egyptian’s struggles were encapsulated by his second-half penalty miss after Nunes fouled Ekitike.

Haaland, meanwhile, praised his teammates for recovering from a difficult opening period to take charge of the game.

“Honestly, in the first half, we struggled a bit, but after 30 minutes, we kept going, and in the end, it was an amazing game at home,” Haaland told broadcaster TNT Sport.

“Another Wembley trip for us, it’s amazing and important.”

Asked if it was City’s best performance this season, he replied: “I think so. Between 30 and 60 minutes, it was one of the better ones.”

Later on Saturday, Chelsea host third tier strugglers Port Vale and Premier League leaders Arsenal visit Championship side Southampton.

West Ham meet Leeds at the London Stadium in the last quarterfinal on Sunday.

Introducing TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups and Amphibious Ready Groups, using publicly available open-source information.

Three U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) have deployed in support of Operation Epic Fury, as two Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), with Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) embarked, converge on the Middle East. The George H.W. Bush CSG is the latest to join the fray, departing Naval Station Norfolk on March 31 for a regularly scheduled deployment, reportedly to U.S. Central Command. Bush is set to relieve the Gerald R. Ford CSG, which has been deployed for more than nine months and departed the Port of Split, Croatia, on April 2 following a five-day port call. The Abraham Lincoln CSG is operating from an undisclosed location in the Arabian Sea and conducting nonstop combat operations against Iran. The Tripoli ARG and 31st MEU arrived in CENTCOM last week, and the Boxer ARG and 11th MEU are transiting the Pacific en route to the Middle East.

Read our recent report about the perfect storm involving three U.S. Navy aircraft carriers that highlights the strain on the fleet amid an ongoing war in the Middle East and tensions in Asia.

Note: Positions are general approximations.

Contact the author: ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io

Amersham market town in Buckinghamshire is accessible via the Metropolitan Line and offers Cotswolds-style charm with cobblestone streets, timber-framed cottages and rolling hills

With spring now in full swing and the weather hopefully turning warmer and brighter with each passing day, it can be a real treat to escape the chaos of London and discover somewhere new. The good news is, you won’t need to venture far to find a picture-perfect market town that ‘feels like the Cotswolds‘.

Travel-loving couple The Weeshas regularly take to Instagram to share their top tips for exciting places to explore, whether closer to home or further afield. If you’re stuck for ideas on where to head for a day trip, the duo have shared footage from their visit to a charming little town that’s reachable via the London Underground, yet feels worlds away from the capital.

“This charming town is 50 minutes from London by tube,” they wrote on the video, which featured clips of the stunning-looking destination.

They also added in the post’s caption: “Nope, that’s not the Cotswolds. You can visit the English countryside without leaving the London Underground map.”

The footage went on to reveal a courtyard complete with a clocktower, framed by a beautiful border of blooming flowers. It then cut to a shot of a bridge, its wooden fence adorned with an array of plants and flowers. The video also showcased a stunning fountain, cobblestone streets, timber-framed cottages, and a river winding its way through the village.

So where exactly is this picturesque market town, and how do you get there? The couple explained: “Just hop on the Metropolitan Line and in under an hour, you’ll arrive in Amersham, the last stop on the line – and one of England’s most charming villages, with cobblestone streets, timber-framed cottages, cosy pubs, and rolling Chiltern hills.”

Nestled in the Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, Amersham is a market town and civil parish situated 27 miles northwest of central London. You may well recognise it, even if you’ve never set foot there before.

The town has earned quite a reputation for its appearances in well-known films and television programmes, from Four Weddings and a Funeral to Midsomer Murders and Cuckoo.

Made up of two distinct areas – Old Amersham and Amersham-on-the-Hill – the town’s history stretches back to pre-Anglo-Saxon times, even earning a mention in the Domesday Book of 1086.

So what’s there to do in Amersham that makes it worth the trip? You can take a leisurely stroll through Old Amersham, perusing boutique shops and antique stores. Weather permitting, a walk through the Old Amersham memorial gardens is a must, along with a visit to St Mary’s Church, which dates back to around 1140 A.D.

When hunger strikes, the travelling duo suggest grabbing a meal at The Crown Inn or The Kings Arms, which featured in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

“This makes for a slow, scenic, and budget-friendly day trip from London,” they wrote in their post’s caption. To reach the destination, just hop on the Metropolitan Line from Baker Street to Amersham Station (Zone 9). A return ticket will set you back roughly £10.

STEPS singer Lee Latchford-Evans has confirmed his wife has given birth to their second child.

The couple first revealed they were expecting another baby on Christmas Day last year but Lee has now confirmed their bundle of joy is here.

Taking to Instagram, Lee, 51, tagged his wife, Kerry Lucy, as he shared a snap of himself walking out of the hospital and carrying the newborn in a baby travel seat.

Lee captioned the snap: “Here we go again!”

He added both a blue and purple love heart as to keep his fans guessing over the gender of the newborn.

Kerry later re-shared the post to her own Instagram story.

one for sorrow

Steps’ Faye Tozer ‘splits from husband’ and moves out of marital home

STEPPING UP

Steps star Lee Latchford Evans reveals wife is pregnant with their second child

The couple were immediately met with well-wishes from fans as one penned: “Oh this is wonderful news!! Congratulations!! X.”

With another writing: “Congratulations on your baby news.”

Lee’s Steps bandmate, Faye Tozer, also commented to say: “Bursting with joy for you all! Can’t wait to meet little one.”

It is the second baby for married couple Lee and Kerry.

Lee and Kerry-Lucy welcomed their first son Leo in July 2021.

The couple, who have been together since 2007, had previously suffered a devastating miscarriage.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Lee opened up on how he and Kerry went through a period of time where they felt “resentment” towards their friends who were expecting or already had babies.

“We’ve wanted a baby for so long. We did start thinking, “Why isn’t this working for us? What’s wrong with us?”

“You doubt each other slightly, but luckily we have a very strong relationship.

“We went through a time where all of our friends were pregnant and people were always walking past us with prams and I guess we hated that and had a bit of resentment towards them, which I know we shouldn’t have.

“It was difficult and frustrating.”

FEW questions could strike fear into the hearts of parents faster than being asked by their children, “Can we play with slime?”

Messy, sticky, often neon in colour, kids seem to universally LOVE slime, while all grown-ups can think of is the nightmare clearing up.

Which is why iconic toy shop Hamleys has come up with a brilliantly clever workaround this spring.

It has transformed the basement of its flagship store in London’s Regent Street into a hands-on sensory, slime playground.

For £15 a ticket, parents can book children into a professional slime-making workshop run by Gootopia, who you might call professional “slimologists”.

I took my three children aged five, eight, and 12, and they all loved getting messy in the hands-on class – and best of all it wasn’t taking place in my kitchen!

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Kids are allocated their own work station and all the components to mix their own slime in a big metal bowl.

Then, under instruction, they are let loose to create their gooey concoction from scratch, mixing it and watching in wonder as it seemingly transforms into slime before their eyes.

They can then knead and stretch to their hearts content.

Once they have created the perfect gooey consistency, an array of paint colours are on offer to turn their masterpiece whichever shocking shade of their choice.

Kids are also invited to wield glitter – that other kryptonite substance for parents – and shake it with abandon over their slime.

And my little girl Estella also loved adding strawberry- shaped sprinkles to hers.

Once their creation is complete, the real fun starts.

The Gootopia experts, who patrol the class, show the children how to perform fun tricks with their slime, such as turn it into giant bubbles.

And at the end of the experience, the slime can be safely contained in screw-top plastic pots for transportation home, much to my kids’ delight.

Of course, there’s plenty more entertainment to be had elsewhere in Hamleys, with additional events throughout the Easter holidays including treasure hunts and Lego experiences.

We finished off our craft-making visit by visiting all seven floors of this wondrous toy store, taking in the free toy demos, new magic shows and meeting costumed characters.

We also checked out the newly opened Pokemon area of the store, crammed full of cuddly teddies, themed games and merchandise.

Messy craft and toy shopping in one day, no wonder my three had the slime of their lives.

• GO: Gootopia at Hamleys costs £15pp. The experience runs until April 12 and can be booked at hamleys.com.

A flight attendant has shared the little-known reason passengers are welcomed onboard planes – and it has nothing to do with manners

A flight attendant has lifted the lid on a trade secret about the moment passengers board a plane. The little known fact explains why passengers are welcomed at the aircraft doors during boarding.

Most air travellers are well acquainted with the customary warm reception at the plane doors, which typically involves broad smiles and even some direction on locating their allocated seat. The most widespread assumption is that this is simply a display of good customer service, with the flight attendants, the public face of any airline, setting the tone with courtesy and decency.

Another presumption is that the welcome is intended to set passengers up for an enjoyable flight experience, or perhaps verify boarding passes one last time. However, one serving flight attendant claims that hospitality is not the primary driving force behind the warm greeting. The genuine reason for the friendly reception is to carry out a visual assessment of passengers from head to toe before take-off.

READ MORE: UK passport fees to rise in April 2026 with new rule changeREAD MORE: Ryanair, TUI and easyJet ban everyday item from luggage with new rules

In a now- viral TikTok clip, MrsMiva – who claims to work for TUI out of Stuttgart airport – has revealed that flight attendants use the boarding process to assess whether passengers are fit to fly. According to the content creator, flight attendants are checking to establish whether passengers may be “too drunk or sick to fly”.

In the caption accompanying the video, MrsMiva also clarifies that the greeting enables attendants to identify who could potentially assist in the event of an emergency. The video has been watched over 18 million times and sparked a flurry of discussion in the comments.

Numerous users confirmed they’ve definitely experienced the cabin crew greeting and that the reasoning behind it makes perfect sense. One commenter who purported to be a long-serving attendant verified the policy as well, writing: “FA (flight attendant) of eight years – or to check if they could be an ABA (able-bodied assistant).”

The comments also started to diverge into the various types of cabin crew passengers had come across. Some remarked they had “really chill” attendants, while others noted theirs were supportive when they were in poor health to travel.

Being able-bodied and physically capable is essential for passengers seated adjacent to emergency exit doors, which is potentially why attendants verify this at the entrance. Emergency exit seats are highly sought-after given that they provide additional legroom and have no row ahead of them.

That being said, occupying these seats means that a passenger must be willing and capable of helping cabin crew in the improbable event of an emergency. For this reason, Ryanair’s terms and conditions stipulate that it “can change your allocated seats at any time, even if you had reserved it, if we need to do this for operational, safety or security reasons.”

According to the airline’s regulations, passengers wishing to occupy rows 1, 16, or 17, where emergency exits are situated, must fulfil specific requirements. These include being aged over 16, being physically capable of assisting during an emergency, travelling without an infant, not requiring any special assistance at the airport, not needing a seat belt extender, and not having an extra comfort seat reserved.

Should the added responsibility of emergency exit seats not appeal to you, there are alternative methods to guarantee extra legroom while on board.

Do you have a story to tell? Email: emma.mackenzie@reachplc.com

WASHINGTON — A third White House military aide refused Friday to testify in a closed Senate committee hearing on the Iran arms sale operation, prompting the panel’s chairman to angrily denounce President Reagan’s contention that one of the three men is a “national hero.”

“I haven’t seen any heroism from any of these three,” said Sen. Dave Durenberger (R-Minn.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “If they are such heroes, then why are they deserting the country when they are finally being put to the true test of their commitment?”

He said that without the testimony of the three–all active-duty military officers–it will be impossible for Congress to determine whether the President had any role in the decision to divert profits from the Iranian arms sales to the Nicaraguan rebels.

Durenberger called upon the three men to reconsider, and suggested that Reagan should encourage them to cooperate.

“Maybe he can help them define ‘national hero,’ ” he said. “Somebody is going to have to define for them what ‘national hero’ means. It doesn’t mean you come in here and you stiff the whole country.”

The witness refusing to testify Friday was Marine Lt. Col. Robert Earl, an employee of the National Security Council staff and former deputy to Marine Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, a central figure in the scandal. Committee members were hoping Earl could tell them how profits from the Iranian arms sales were transferred to the contras– something the committee has yet to establish.

In a Nov. 25 interview with Time magazine, Reagan called North “a national hero,” even though he was fired by the President for allegedly arranging the secret profits transfer to help the contras while a congressional ban on U.S. military aid to them was in place.

Durenberger noted that unlike North and former National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter–both of whom cited their Fifth Amendment rights against possible self-incrimination when they declined to testify before several congressional committees–Earl is still employed by the President, who has promised full cooperation with the investigation.

“He’s going from here back to a desk in the White House,” he said.

Durenberger said that Earl, North and Poindexter, who is an admiral, had “put their narrow personal interest and maybe their misplaced loyalty to some of their friends ahead of the national interest that they are sworn to uphold.”

“This committee is no threat to any of these soldiers,” he said. “They have nothing to fear from this committee. Hopefully they have nothing to fear from the facts if in fact they are so heroic.”

Cites Sixth Amendment

Durenberger said that Earl, who received a summons from the committee a week ago, declined to testify on grounds that he had not been given sufficient time to prepare his testimony and had been denied his Sixth Amendment right to adequate counsel.

Earl refused to be represented by a lawyer provided by the White House, and instead insisted upon representation by a private attorney who lacked the necessary top-secret clearances to participate in the case.

The chairman indicated he was angered not only by Earl’s refusal to testify but also because he was accompanied by an attorney “who read us the riot act on the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution.”

Another committee member, who declined to be identified, said Earl appeared apprehensive about testifying. “People are scared,” the senator said.

Earl was one of three National Security Council aides called to testify on Friday. The other two were Howard Teicher, who as head of the political-military affairs office was North’s immediate boss, and Craig P. Coy, who worked for North as deputy director of political-military affairs.

Testimony Rescheduled

Coy was described by Durenberger as “very helpful.” But Teicher’s testimony was rescheduled for next Tuesday when he told the committee members that his private attorneys would have top-secret security clearance by then.

If Poindexter, North and Earl do not testify, Durenberger said that Congress will never be able to satisfy all the questions that remain about the Iranian arms shipment and the diversion of profits to the contras.

The Administration has said Poindexter, who resigned last month, and his predecessor, Robert C. McFarlane, had some general knowledge of the controversial funds diversion, but that no other officials were apparently involved. Reagan repeatedly has denied any knowledge of the diversion.

“The problem for all of us is going to be what did the President know about it–what was the President’s exact role in this process and why did all of this happen,” he said. “And that kind of evidence can only come from these three–the admiral and the two colonels.”

Meanwhile, it was reported that CIA Director William J. Casey had told the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this week that he had been assured by North last October that no funds from the Iranian arms sales were being diverted anywhere. Casey is expected to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee in secret session next Tuesday.

Businessman’s Testimony

Roy M. Furmark, a New York businessman, told the committee on Thursday that he had informed Casey on Oct. 7 that some of the money was being diverted to the contras, according to sources. Casey has testified that the Oct. 7 conversation with Furmark raised questions in his mind about the arms sale operation, but that he did not “learn” of the diversion until it was disclosed publicly by Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III on Nov. 25.

Rep. Larry Smith (D-Fla.) was quoted by United Press International as saying that Casey contacted North after hearing from Furmark and North denied any diversion of funds to the contras. He said North also reportedly told Casey there was no CIA involvement in the matter.

“North said ‘no’ to both and that satisfied Casey,” Smith said.

Furmark testified that he heard of the diversion from a group of Canadian investors who had put up millions of dollars to help finance the Iranian arms sales in hopes of earning a profit when the arms were sold to Iran. Durenberger said the testimony has apparently upset the Canadian ambassador to the United States, Alan Gotleib.

“The nervous ambassador calls everybody on the committee and says, ‘What’s going on? Is there anything more to come?’ ” Durenberger said. He added that committee members assured Gotleib that there is no evidence of Canadian government involvement in the matter. “We said, ‘Forget about it. It’s not a problem for you. Go to the race track. It’s not a big deal.’ ”

Exeter Chiefs: Woodburn; Brown-Bampoe, Slade, Rigg, Feyi-Waboso; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Yeandle, Roots; Jenkins, Zambonin; Hooper, Vintcent, Fisilau.

Replacements: Dweba, Burger, Tchumbadze, Tuima, Worley-Brady, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, Ridl.

Munster: O’Connor; Abrahams, Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Casey; Loughman, Barron, Ryan; Edogbo, Beirne; O’Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Scannell, Milne, Ala’alatoa, Ahern, Quinn, O’Donovan, O’Brien, Hodnett.

Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)

April 3 (UPI) — A federal judge on Friday refused a Department of Justice request for him to reconsider his earlier ruling to block grand jury subpoenas it issued to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Friday said he would not lift his block on subpoenas that the Justice Department issued to board of the Federal Reserve regarding the $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s complex in Washington, D.C.

The judge had previously blocked the subpoenas because, he said, they had nothing to do with a Justice Department probe about the renovations, but rather were intended to pressure Powell into adjusting interest rates, as President Donald Trump had been chiding him to do for months.

“On March 11, 2026, this Court issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order that quashed the Government’s subpoenas directed to the Board of Governors of the Federal Research System,” Boasberg wrote in a response to the Justice Department request that was filed on Friday.

“The Government promptly moved for reconsideration of that decision,” he wrote. “As its cursory brief neither offers new evidence nor points to any material error, the Court will deny the Motion.”

The DOJ launched its criminal investigation into the Fed’s renovation budget, which Powell at the time called “pretexts” to punish him for not setting interest rates based on Trump demands.

Boasberg, in his response to the Justice when he blocked the subpoenas said that the government “has produced essentially zero evidence to suspect Chair Powell of a crime.”

The Justice Department later acknowledged when appealing Boasberg’s quashing of the subpoenas that it did not have evidence that a crime had been committed, instead saying that there were “1.2 billion reasons for us to look into it.”

The once-bustling holiday resort – popular with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor – was abandoned in the 1970s but has since become a haven for one niche but growing tourist market

Once a playground for Hollywood’s elite, this coastal resort has transformed into an unsettling ghost town. Yet this Cypriot location has found new purpose amongst travellers, emerging as a destination for ‘dark tourism’.

A short distance from well-known Cyprus holiday spots such as Paphos and Limassol lies Varosha. Varosha was formerly a glamorous getaway destination in its own right, attracting Elizabeth Taylor and other luminaries of the 1960s.

However, when Turkish forces invaded Cyprus’s northern territory on July 20, 1974, the seaside resort was altered forever. Five days earlier, there had been a coup attempt backed by the Greek junta. The 15,000 inhabitants of Varosha were compelled to evacuate en masse following the military incursion, leaving behind their homes, businesses and pristine beaches.

READ MORE: Jet2 update for passengers booking holidays to Greece this spring

Consequently, the district became a ghost town with structures left predominantly vacant. Even now, the neighbourhood remains frozen in time under Northern Cyprus’s jurisdiction. Unsurprisingly, the area lost all attraction for holidaymakers, as vegetation began reclaiming the pavements and sea turtles made nests on Varosha’s formerly sunbather-packed beaches.

Yet in October 2020, a decision was taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the then prime minister of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, to reopen the district to visitors. Varosha has since begun drawing a markedly different type of tourist than it did during its 1960s golden era.

More than 1.8 million tourists have descended on the ghost town over the past four years, according to figures published in 2024. Visitors appear to be drawn in by the town’s chilling historical significance and its crumbling, derelict landscape.

Speaking to the Daily Express, Hubert Faustmann, a professor at the University of Nicosia, said: “The section found itself in the top tourist sites in terms of dark tourism, so they started to open up certain parts of Varosha, and it’s now a tourist destination with guided tours, with e-bikes, vehicles and coffee shops.”

Faustmann continues: “Varosha is being used as a tourist destination, as a tourist attraction, without a single inhabitant prior to 1974 returning. It’s changed in the sense that it’s open to the public, but it’s not open for return.”

In a bid to shed its decaying reputation, Varosha has undertaken clean-up efforts ahead of its reopening. The town now boasts a range of amenities catering to all types of visitors, from beach umbrellas to canteens.

Just days after its tourism figures were made public, Varosha’s troubled situation was brought to the table in Oslo at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

PACE rapporteur for Varosha Piero Fassino, who had visited the ghost town in mid-May, presented his findings to the assembly during the gathering. The Italian senator expressed his hopes that Varosha could be transformed back into a “living town” following his visit.

That being said, dark tourism has been a longstanding element of the travel sector, achieving widespread attention through the Netflix programme, Dark Tourist. The series explores the bizarre, eerie and superstitious customs and folklore connected to numerous locations across the globe.

Speaking to The Mirror, dark tourism enthusiast Louise Joy explained: “Traditionally, dark tourism is visiting places associated with death and tragedy.” Joy is a blogger and founder of The Morbid Tourist and reveals she routinely seeks out “spooky” locations when travelling.

Joy suggests TikTok has also made a substantial impact on the dark tourism sector in recent years. “The individuality on TikTok [helps] people seeing stuff that is different and you don’t necessarily see that out there offline, like in books,” says Joy.

Tehran says it is the fourth attack near the nuclear plant amid the US-Israel war on Iran.

One person has been killed by projectile fragments after United States-Israeli strikes targeted a location close to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The agency, citing confirmation from Iranian authorities, said in a statement on X that there was “no increase in radiation levels” after Saturday’s attack.

Later on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed the Bushehr facility had been “bombed” four times since the war erupted, criticising what he described as a lack of concern for its safety.

The strike comes as the US and Israel escalate their targeting of Iranian industrial sites, even as experts warn of the high risks of striking nuclear or petrochemical facilities.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed “deep concern about the reported incident and says [nuclear] sites or nearby areas must never be attacked, noting that auxiliary site buildings may contain vital safety equipment”, the statement read.

Grossi also reiterated a “call for maximum military restraint to avoid risk of a nuclear accident,” the IAEA added.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) confirmed the incident, also in a post on X.

An “auxiliary” building on the site was damaged, but the main sections of the power plant were not affected by the strike, the government agency said, adding that the person killed was a member of security personnel.

It’s the fourth time the site has been attacked since the start of the US and Israel’s war on Iran, the AEOI noted.

The Bushehr plant is Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant. It is located in Bushehr city, home to 250,000 people, and is one of Iran’s most important industrial and military nodes.

Meanwhile, US and Israeli strikes on Saturday hit several petrochemical plants in the southern Khuzestan region, an important energy hub, according to Iranian media.

At least five people are reported injured.

Explosions were heard, and smoke was also seen rising after missiles hit several locations across the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone.

The state-run Bandar Imam petrochemical complex, which produces chemicals, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), polymers and a range of other products, was struck and sustained damage, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported.

A provincial governor in Khuzestan added that the Fajr 1 and 2 petrochemical companies, as well as other nearby facilities, were also hit, according to the Fars news agency. The extent of damage is unclear.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it shot down an MQ-1 drone over central Isfahan province on Saturday, hours after authorities said they forced down two US warplanes.

Isfahan, which houses an underground uranium conversion and a research site, was one of three facilities bombed during US and Israeli strikes on Iran last June.

COLEEN Rooney made sure to celebrate her 40th birthday with a star-studded party at her family home.

The famous wife of Wayne Rooney hosted a knees up with her nearest and dearest for her milestone birthday, which took place in a white marquee at the family’s £20m mansion.

The celebrations are set to span over the Easter weekend with a host of famous faces attending.

Coleen was seen partying the night away in a floor-length purple dress with fishtail detail at the bottom.

There were large bouquets of flowers and hundreds of pink balloons in an arch at the entrance to a marquee which had been specially erected for the bash.

Ensuring no expense was spared, Coleen let her hair down for the big bash.

Read More on Coleen Rooney

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ROO!

Inside Coleen Rooney’s 40th party as marquee goes up at £20m mansion

COL’S BIG DAY

Wayne Rooney wishes ‘best wife’ Coleen happy 40th birthday in gushing tribute

It featured a glittering A-list guest list with one attendee arriving via helicopter which touched down on the grounds of Coleen and Wayne’s home.

Among the arrivals was Irish footballer Darron Gibson as well as singer Dermot Kennedy.

The WAGs were all out in force with Peter Crouch’s model wife Abbey Clancy and Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner both in attendance at the luxe Cheshire bash.

Kaya Hall was also spotted pulling up to the house alongside her partner, footballer, Phil Jones.

Real Housewives star Tanya Bardsley is also thought to have headed to the party as she showed off her getting ready process before the bash.

Wayne is believed to have pulled out all the stops in order to ensure Coleen had a special day and even booked A-list entertainment for the evening – with speculation rife that Westlife sang for the guests.

An insider told the Mirror of Coleen’s big day:  “Coleen parties like a good northern lass.

“She’s a very normal girl at the end of the day – she just likes a good time and having fun. It will be epic.”

Earlier in the day, preparations were in full swing, as an outdoor seating area with additional toilets were seen on the front lawn of the sprawling family home.

Workmen were spotted last weekend erecting the large structure at the ­couple’s £20million Cheshire mansion, with more workmen seen working on the marquee and additional structures today.

With the sun shining over the lavish pad, workers were seen unloading a lorry.

They were likely adding finishing touches to the outdoor structures and making sure everything was ready for tonight’s bash.

Some of the celebrations will take place now, and some later on in the year.

Mum-of-four Coleen previously confirmed that more than one event is planned to toast turning 40.

The I’m a Celebrity star told OK! magazine: “I’m looking forward to it.

“I love a birthday and a celebration.

“I have decided to enjoy a couple of different celebrations with family and friends over the year and with my birthday falling over Easter weekend, some friends are away — so any opportunity to extend the celebrations.”

On the morning of Good Friday, which happens to be Coleen’s actual birthday, her husband Wayne paid tribute in a sweet way.

Wayne took to social media to mark the milestone with a series of sweet throwback snaps and gushing caption.

Wayne penned: “Happy 40th Birthday to the best wife and mum we could wish for.

“We can’t wait to celebrate with you and love you all the world.”

The photos were of Coleen and Wayne over the years, looking smitten and all loved up.

Some snaps were from sun-soaked holidays and festivals, others of them at Wimbledon, and additional photos of the couple with their four sons.

Fans flocked to the comment section to wish Coleen a happy birthday, with some mentioning the sweet array of snaps.

“Happy 40th Birthday Coleen enjoy celebrating,” penned one.

“Happy birthday to the original wag. You are an inspiration,” added another.

Celebrities also flocked to the comments to wish Coleen a happy birthday.

“Happy 40th Birthday Coleen,” Andy Whyment from Coronation Street penned.

Tony Bellew added: “Happy birthday girl.”

Musician Jamie Webster wrote: “Happy Birthday @coleen_rooney x.”

Across the country, President Trump has installed handpicked loyalists as top federal prosecutors. Several have been pushed out after legal battles because they lack Senate confirmation to serve as U.S. attorneys.

But in Los Angeles, Bill Essayli wields the power of a top prosecutor under a lesser title: “first assistant.”

Essayli clocked his first full year in office this week. He has survived the kinds of challenges that sunk Trump picks in other states through a combination of legal gamesmanship by the U.S. Department of Justice and a lack of action by judges in the Central District of California.

Essayli has used his position to act as one of Trump’s fiercest legal foot soldiers. He has pursued criminal charges against protesters, activists and immigrants while dropping cases involving administration allies and supporting lawsuits over transgender and environmental policies in California.

After Trump’s firing Thursday of U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, it’s unclear how her replacement will handle continuing battles over the legality of Trump’s appointees. Essayli is popular with high-level administration officials, and received a congratulatory post on X from Vice President JD Vance over the filing of fraud cases earlier this week.

A conservative former state Assembly member from Riverside County, Essayli, 40, was sworn in as interim U.S. attorney last April. Around the time he hit that role’s 120-day limit, Bondi made him a “special attorney” and designated him “first assistant.” A federal judge later disqualified Essayli as acting U.S. attorney, finding he was “not lawfully serving” in the top role. But the judge said he had no authority to undo Essayli’s designation as first assistant. With no one above him in the office, that title leaves Essayli as the de facto U.S. attorney.

In other jurisdictions, members of the federal bench have exercised their authority to appoint an interim U.S. attorney. Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee’s chambers did not respond to a request for comment about why no similar action has been taken in L.A.

A court spokesman declined to comment. Essayli did not respond to a request for comment. The White House referred questions to the Justice Department.

A Justice Department spokesperson issued a statement that praised Essayli for prosecuting “drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations, sex traffickers, violent street gangs, leftist rioters and domestic terrorists, fraudsters, and child predators.”

“It is a disservice to our prosecutors and the American people when judges prevent the President and the Attorney General from installing qualified and capable prosecutors who will aggressively enforce our laws and make America safe again,” the Justice Department spokesperson said.

The lack of action by Gee, a President Obama appointee, has surprised some legal observers, especially given the swiftness with which judges in other districts have acted. It also has frustrated some former federal prosecutors that fled the office under Essayli’s chaotic tenure.

One former assistant U.S. attorney, who left the office under Essayli and requested anonymity to discuss sitting judges who will likely preside over future cases of theirs in the district, accused Gee and others of “shirking their responsibilities” by not appointing someone to the vacant U.S. attorney post.

Another former Central District prosecutor who left the office before Essayli’s appointment said Gee was being practical, taking a “protective” stance to “keep the court away from the ire and invectives coming out of the White House.”

It is “unfair to say the court is abdicating its authority,” said the ex-prosecutor, who also requested anonymity to speak candidly about the district’s judges.

Under long-standing Senate tradition, individual senators can block a U.S. attorney nominee in their home state by withholding their “blue slip,” which clears a nominee’s path to a confirmation hearing.

Trump has tried to skirt the Senate confirmation process to appoint top federal prosecutors in multiple states, including New Jersey and Virginia, where two of the president’s personal lawyers were named U.S. attorney — who immediately moved to zealously advance the president’s agenda and, in some cases, prosecute his rivals.

In Virginia, Trump replaced U.S. Atty. Erik Siebert, a nominee who was under Senate consideration, with one of his former personal attorneys, Lindsey Halligan. Siebert had refused to prosecute some of Trump’s political enemies and resigned. In her first ever criminal case, Halligan swiftly moved to indict former FBI Director James B. Comey. The prosecution was later thrown out and Halligan’s appointment deemed illegal.

In New York’s Northern District, when judges moved to oust the president’s former campaign attorney — who received the same “first assistant” designation as Essayli — Justice Department officials promptly fired his replacement.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, said Trump’s attempts to bypass the normal confirmation processes are unconstitutional.

“This is very troubling because it circumvents the constitutional procedure of having the president nominate and the Senate confirm. That’s crucial to checks and balances,” he said. “This allows the president to appoint whoever he wants.”

Though Essayli has more law enforcement experience than many of Trump’s chosen prosecutors, he’s still struggled to achieve courtroom victories. His prosecutors have lost nearly all the cases they’ve brought to trial against anti-Trump protesters and abandoned others after grand juries refused to return indictments.

Meghan Blanco, a former federal prosecutor and veteran defense attorney, suggested Gee’s inaction with Essayli might be a clever act of resistance. Rather than picking a fight with the White House, Blanco said, the judges are letting the top prosecutor fall on his face.

“If you’re a judge and displeased with what DOJ is doing and the shenanigans they’re pulling … you let the Essayli appointment play out,” Blanco said. “No one has seen a U.S. attorney’s office lose the way this office is losing now.”

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told The Times this week that he is working with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to craft legislation to clarify the procedures required to appoint U.S. attorneys and prevent Trump and future presidents from circumventing the Senate.

The legislation, which Schiff did not describe in detail, faces an uphill battle even if Democrats retake the Senate in the upcoming midterms. But the California senator said he is committed to challenging Trump’s maneuvering.

Schiff said Essayli “could not be confirmed and for a reason: He lacks the judgment, temperament and integrity required of a U.S. attorney.”

Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor and former federal prosecutor, said local federal judges may believe it would be “more disruptive to try and put somebody in when the administration will just fire them.”

But their inaction, she said, has effectively confirmed Essayli as U.S. attorney — and highlights “a real weakness in the system” that demands a legislative fix.

“The bottom line is you have an administration that just doesn’t want to follow the rules,” she said. “There has to be some political will to have Congress do its duty.”

The undercard for Sunday’s London show is stacked with four female world-title fights featuring British fighters, all of whom made weight successfully.

Londoner Ellie Scotney, 28, has the chance to become Britain’s youngest ever undisputed champion – male or female – in the four-belt era when she faces Mexico’s Mayelli Flores for the undisputed super-bantamweight title.

Both fighters came in under the 8 st 9 lb limit, with Scotney towering over the 4 ft 11 in Flores by five inches at the face-off.

Flores vowed to bring “war to the ring,” citing Mexican legends Julio Cesar Chavez Sr and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, while Scotney responded: “I’m more than ready. All the belts, all the marbles.”

Northampton’s Chantelle Cameron weighed in for her WBO light-middleweight world-title challenge against unbeaten Czech fighter Michaela Kotaskova.

The fight will feature three-minute rounds, longer than the usual two in women’s boxing, and a win could set up a bout with three-division champion Mikaela Mayer, who was ringside.

“I’ve been working hard in the gym, getting ready for the three-minute rounds. I’ve got the engine,” said the 34-year-old Cameron.

Norwich’s Emma Dolan, 27, aims to claim her first world title against IBF super-flyweight champion Irma Garcia.

Dolan, unbeaten in eight fights, will face the experienced 44-year-old Mexican, who has had 35 professional bouts. Dolan promised she will “go in there and take over”.