Month: June 2026

Fox has adopted a new split-screen approach to ads during the World Cup’s mandatory hydration breaks, after a stir among viewers over how it had been handling the pauses.

At the start of the tournament, the network aired full-screen ads during the three-minute breaks, cutting away from the field during the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. Soccer fans complained that they were missing on-field action, and the backlash mounted.

By the Mexico-South Korea match last week, Fox had changed course, running split-screen advertisements for the first time: two side-by-side panels, one keeping the camera on the stadium while the other played a commercial. The approach hasn’t been consistent, though. For Friday’s U.S.-Australia match, the network reverted to full-screen ads.

Fox declined to comment on the changes.

Viewers were quick to notice the split-screen format and weigh in on social media. “At least FOX stopped doing the stupid full screen breaks,” one user wrote on X. “I can live with split screen.”

The World Cup has posted substantial ratings gains for Fox.

Throughout the first 16 telecasts of the tournament, the network is averaging more than 6 million viewers from Fox and Fox Sports 1, up 128% from 2022’s World Cup in Qatar. The broadcast of the U.S. team’s first game this month was the most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup telecast in English in U.S. history, with more than 18 million views, according to the network.

The hydration break itself is new to the World Cup. FIFA announced it in December as a way to protect players’ health in the summer heat. In every match, the referee is to call for a break around the 22-minute mark of both halves, regardless of the weather.

In addition to helping the players, these extra minutes created a new advertising window. Networks are allowed to leave the on-field action 20 seconds after the referee signals the hydration break and return 30 seconds before play resumes, allowing for ads of up to two minutes and 10 seconds in total. They can air any full-screen ad they’d like, or run a split-screen ad — though a split-screen has to feature a FIFA partner, such as Coca-Cola or Adidas.

Ads during the tournament’s earlier games reportedly cost around $200,000 for a 30-second slot. The price jumps to $750,000 when the U.S. is playing, according to the Wall Street Journal.

When any rules change in televised sports, the most dedicated fans are going to get upset, said Patrick Rishe, the director of the sports business program at Washington University in St. Louis. Despite all the online uproar, he said that the hydration breaks are overall beneficial, as they allow networks an extra opportunity to recoup revenue and brands to get additional exposure.

“This is commercially fantastic for FIFA and the networks. It’s tactically helpful for the teams, and I do think it’s helpful for growing interest in the sport,” Rishe said. “It makes it easier for the casual fans to stay engaged.”

WITH hundreds of holiday parks across the UK to pick from, it can be hard to choose where to go when you want a staycation.

But there are a number that are home to waterparks as well with everything from rapids to fast flumes.

Some spots are right by the beach too!

Here’s our round-up of the best holiday parks across Britain with waterparks.

South West England

Hendra Holiday Park, Cornwall

Around 10 minutes from Newquay in Cornwall is Hendra Holiday Park – which has previously been named one of the most underrated holiday parks in the UK.

At the park, there is a giant water complex with an indoor pool, water rapids, tipping buckets and three water flumes.

And then outside, guests will find another pool with sea scooters and inflatables.

You do not need to stay at the holiday park to access the waterpark.

You can book a one hour 20 minute session online in advance; however, the website currently shows that no slots are available.

A week’s stay at the park costs from £685 in August.

Haven Riviere Sands, Cornwall

Another Cornish spot, this time in Hayle, is Haven’s Riviere Sands.

The park boasts both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, with a number of slides too.

For little ones, there are paddling pools as well.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at the park costs from £525 in July.

Haven Devon Cliffs

At Haven Devon Cliffs, you’ll get access to a private beach as well as a huge indoor pool with a four-lane water slide.

At the beach, you can learn sea kayaking and paddleboarding too.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at the park costs from £435 in July.

Center Parcs Longleat Forest

In Wiltshire, Center Parcs Longleat Forest is a great place to stay in a woodland setting.

Typical for Center Parcs sites, the park has a Subtropical Swimming Paradise, which is an indoor waterpark.

Inside, visitors will find wave pools, waterslides, a lazy river and water rapids.

Adults can also head to the Aqua Sana Spa.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

However, if you are a staying guest but have friends or family who aren’t staying, you can get them a visitor pass for the day, which costs around £50 per adult and £38 per child.

A week’s stay at Longleat costs from £2,338 in August.

Butlin’s Minehead

Just like the other two Butlin’s sites, Butlin’s Minehead has an indoor Splash Waterworld.

Inside, visitors can try out a number of different flumes or chill out on a lazy river.

There is also a wave pool and special areas for little ones getting used to the water.

Visitors can book a day pass for £15 per adult and just 85p per child.

A week’s stay at Butlin’s Minehead costs from £215 in July.

Unity Beach, Somerset

Set across 240 acres, Unity Beach has its own waterpark.

At Splash Waterpark, you’ll find a six-lane pool as well as a splash zone and waterslides.

The general public can head to the waterpark for a session, which lasts an hour and a half.

A session pass to the indoor pool and splash zone costs £12 per person.

A week’s stay at Unity Beach costs from £610.20 in July.

Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, Dorset

Found in Dorset, Freshwater Holiday Park is set on Chesil Beach on the Jurassic Coast.

Previously named one of the “outstanding sites for 2025” by Campingsites.co.uk, the holiday park has three indoor and outdoor pools.

There are also water slides to enjoy, and guests get private access to the beach.

Day passes are available from £7.50 per adult and £4.50 per child.

A week’s stay at Freshwater Holiday Park costs from £375 in July.

Lady’s Mile Holiday Park, Devon

Found in the popular seaside spot of Dawlish Warren, Lady’s Mile Holiday Park has two pools and two waterslides.

Inside, visitors will find a 33-metre twisting slide, and outside there is a long slide that heads into the pool.

There is also a splash pad outside and a splash zone inside for toddlers.

Day passes are available to the pools at the park, costing £5 per adult and £4 per child.

A week’s stay at Lady’s Mile Holiday Park costs from £803 in July.

South East England

Butlin’s Bognor Regis

Sat right on the beach, Butlin’s Bognor Regis is home to a massive indoor Splash Waterworld with Seaside Garden Rapids and a dedicated pool for little ones.

There are also more thrilling flumes, including Stick of Rock and the Family Raft Ride.

Visitors can book a day pass for £19 per adult and just 85p per child.

A week’s stay at Butlin’s Bognor Regis costs from £404 in July.

Seal Bay Resort, Chichester

At Seal Bay Resort in West Sussex, you can head into Oasis Bay, where you’ll find a huge pool, Coral Creek Lazy River, splash zones and slides.

There’s also Wave Rider – a surfing experience.

And outside, you’ll find a lido with private cabanas to chill in.

You don’t have to be a guest to use Oasis Bay at Seal Bay Resort – day passes are available for £10 per adult and £6 per child.

A week’s stay at Seal Bay Resort costs from £505 in July.

East of England

Center Parcs Elveden Forest

Dubbed the perfect Center Parcs village for nature lovers, Elveden Forest sits in rural Suffolk.

The Subtropical Swimming Paradise and luxury forest spa include a heated wave pool, water rapids and a Tropical Cyclone ride.

The park is also home to Center Parcs’ longest zip wire.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

However, if you are a staying guest but have friends or family that aren’t staying, you can get them a visitor pass for the day, which costs around £50 per adult and £38 per child.

A week’s stay at Center Parcs Elveden Forest costs from £2,008 in August.

Center Parcs Woburn Forest

Set across 362 acres, Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire is Center Parcs’ newest location, having opened in 2014.

The park’s Subtropical Swimming Paradise features both indoor and outdoor pools as well as a lazy river, rapids and a splash zone for little ones.

It’s a great option for those wanting to escape the capital, as it is under an hour away on the train.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

However, if you are a staying guest but have friends or family that aren’t staying, you can get them a visitor pass for the day, which costs around £50 per adult and £38 per child.

A week’s stay at Center Parcs Woburn Forest costs from £1,808 in July.

Haven Seashore, Norfolk

Haven Seashore Holiday Park on the Norfolk coast has direct access to the beach, as well as an indoor waterpark.

At the waterpark, you’ll find flumes and slides, including ones on inflatable doughnuts.

Little ones can enjoy a toddler’s pool as well, with a Splash Zone and smaller slides.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at Haven Seashore costs from £319 in July.

Haven Hopton Holiday Village, Norfolk

Haven Hopton Holiday Village in Norfolk was recently named AA’s Holiday Park of the Year.

Right by Hopton-on-Sea, the holiday park has its own indoor pool with slides, flumes and even a splash zone for little ones.

Adults can also enjoy a bar and lounge with evening entertainment.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at Haven Hopton Holiday Village costs from £351 in August.

East Midlands

Butlin’s Skegness

When it comes to a bargain break, Butlin’s is a great option, and the one in Skegness has a huge 3,000sqm indoor Splash Waterworld.

Inside, visitors will find flumes, racing rapids, a wave pool and an area for toddlers.

One ride ideal for families is the Riptide Raft Ride, where people sit in a raft and travel through rapids.

Visitors can book a day pass for £19 per adult and just 85p per child.

A week’s stay at Butlin’s Skegness costs from £251 in July.

Center Parcs Sherwood Forest

Home to the original UK Center Parcs village, Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire is spread across 400 acres.

Like its other sites, the park has a Subtropical Swimming Paradise kept to 29.5C year-round.

In the waterpark, you can expect a sandy beach, a lazy river and slides.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

However, if you are a staying guest but have friends or family that aren’t staying, you can get them a visitor pass for the day, which costs around £50 per adult and £38 per child.

A week’s stay at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest costs from £2,048 in August.

Haven Cleethorpes Beach, Lincolnshire

Haven Cleethorpes Beach in Lincolnshire boasts an outdoor splash park with water features and fountains.

There’s also a lazy river for a cooling chill session in the pool.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at Haven Cleethorpes Beach costs from £349 in July.

West Midlands

Alton Towers, Staffordshire

While many people think of the theme park when they hear Alton Towers, the truth is the attraction also has a huge indoor and outdoor water park.

In fact, Alton Towers claims it is one of Europe’s biggest and best waterparks.

In addition to different pools, the water park has lazy rivers, water cannons, a splash area for little ones and even a Master Blaster coaster.

There are some waterslides to try out as well, such as the Flash Floods flume ride.

A waterpark pass for the day costs from £20.13 per person.

A week’s stay at Alton Towers costs from £1,270 in July.

North West England

Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

For those wanting to visit the Lake District, you could head to Whinfell Forest.

The Subtropical Swimming Paradise has an outdoor river rapid, wave pools and water slides.

Also at the park, you can rent bikes and explore a number of woodland trails.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

However, if you are a staying guest but have friends or family that aren’t staying you can get them a visitor pass for the day, which costs around £50 per adult and £38 per child.

A week’s stay at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest costs from £1,778 in August.

Haven Marton Mere, Blackpool

Haven Marton Mere is just 10 minutes from Blackpool seafront.

At the holiday park, there is a heated indoor pool with a Space Bowl flume, as well as an outdoor SplashZone for little ones and a lazy river.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at Haven Marton Mere costs from £409 in July.

Wales

Haven Hafan y Mor, Wales

In Wales, make sure to visit Haven’s Hafan y Mor, which even has views of Snowdonia.

Inside, guests will find a waterpark with a lazy river, a four-lane waterslide, and giant tipping buckets.

The park also has dry activities such as Segway excursions and mini 4x4s.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at Haven Hafan y Mor costs from £609 in July.

Bluestone National Park Resort

Around six miles from Narberth in Wales, Bluestone National Park Resort is tucked away in the countryside.

At the resort, you’ll find Blue Lagoon – the indoor swimming complex.

The indoor waterpark also has a lazy river, and every so often, the wave machine will send waves through the pool.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at Bluestone National Park Resort costs from £1,390.50 in July.

Scotland

Haven Craig Tara, Ayrshire

In Scotland, head to Haven Craig Tara, which is home to the largest indoor waterpark in Scotland – Splashaway Bay.

The waterpark boasts a giant indoor pool with flumes, multi-lane water slides, a lazy river and an interactive splash zone for toddlers.

The park also has a number of other activities, including the Airspace sports hall, where you’ll find a climbing wall, soft play, a golf simulator and electronic target walls for sports.

You’ll need to be a guest at the park to use the on-site water attractions.

A week’s stay at Haven Craig Tara costs from £409 in August.

Home Bargains says the product contains ‘everything you need’ when travelling

When it comes to travelling, it can be hard to make sure you have all you need to get you through the trip. With luggage space often limited, it can mean big decisions on what to take and what to leave behind.

Now Home Bargains is selling what it says is “convenient” and contains all the beauty products you need for your break. It is selling the Travel Essentials Filled Bag for £24.99 – that is 75% less than its recommended price of £100.

Listing some of the contents on its website it describes it as: “A complete travel beauty and self-care kit featuring skincare, makeup, haircare, body care, and travel accessories. Includes Glow Hub, W7, Jil Sander, Escada, Aussie, and more, all packed in a stylish reusable travel bag.”

Then, in the product description, it adds: “Take your beauty and self-care routine wherever you go with the Travel Essentials Filled Bag. Packed with a carefully curated selection of skincare, haircare, makeup, and travel accessories, this convenient kit contains everything you need to refresh, hydrate, and pamper yourself while travelling.

“Inside you’ll find Glow Hub skincare favourites, W7 beauty essentials, Jil Sander shower gel, Escada body cream, Aussie travel-size haircare, and practical travel accessories including an eco scalp massaging brush, shower cap, and reusable travel bag. Whether you’re heading on holiday, a weekend getaway, or a business trip, this all-in-one collection helps you stay organised and feel your best on the go.”

Shoppers will not be able to pick up the bag in-store as it is an online-only deal. However the website gives further details of the Star Buy listing the products:

• Glow Hub Calm & Soothe Face Mask Stick 35g
• Glow Hub Calm & Soothe Serum Mist 90ml
• W7 Lip Drink Lip Oil 10ml
• Jil Sander Sun Shower Gel 150ml
• Glow Hub Scar Slayer Skin Mask 100ml
• Whind Dissolving Jelly Cleanser 6ml – Oasis Fresh
• Revolution Hot Shot Kombucha Kiss Primer 25ml
• W7 Sherbet Pop Eyeshadow Palette 18g
• Escada Santorini Sunrise Moisturising Perfumed Body Cream 50ml
• Aussie Miracle Moist Travel Hair Conditioner 100ml
• Aussie Miracle Moist Travel Shampoo 100ml
• Eco Scalp Massaging Brush
• Shower Cup
• Travel Bag

Meanwhile, if this is not to your taste, M&S also has an option. Its Summer Beauty Bag is priced £40 – a saving of 81% compared with buying the same amount.

It is described as “sunshine-ready” and contains some beauty-favourite products from brands including Clinique and Estée Lauder. It lists the contents as:

• Floral Street Wonderland Peony Eau De Parfum – 10ml
• Iconic London Prep Set Glow Original – 120ml (Full Size)
• Leighton Denny I love Juicy Opague Nail Polish – 13.5g (Full Size)
• Hair by Sam McKnight Sundaze Sea Spray – 150ml (Full Size)
• Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion SPF50 – 50ml (Full Size)
• Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Multi-Action Foam Cleanser / Purifying Mask – 150ml (Full Size)
• Colour WOW Dreaming Mask – 50ml
• Colour WOW Shampoo – 75ml
• This Works Perfect Body Vit C Glow – 100ml
• Ultrasun Photo Age Control Fluid SPF 50 – 20ml
• SkinKind Mini Repairing SOS Balm – 25ml
• Storage Bag

The M&S saving is based on worth value calculated using price per ml/gram of standard-size product.

TRAIN passengers have been told to expect significant delays and cancellations over fears of rails ‘buckling’ in the hot weather.

Hundreds of journeys have been affected as temperatures of up to 40C could be recorded in the UK this week.

Railway operators have begun cancelling services, as red weather warnings have been issued in parts of England and Wales for the coming days.

Network Rail has urged passengers to only take essential journeys to, from or within areas affected by extreme heat, and to prepare for the conditions ahead of time.

They added: “For safety reasons, trains will operate at reduced speeds and to amended timetables, meaning journeys will take longer and there is a heightened risk of delays, cancellations and last-minute alterations.”

Several operators, including Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway and South Western Railway, have planned to run reduced services during the hottest days.

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Between Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Chiltern Railways has also ceased more than half its services “to ensure the safe operation of the railway”.

This is over fears of rails “buckling” – a term used to describe steel rails expanding and curving as they heat up – which can occur as temperatures reach 30C.

Lineside fires create another risk to railways, as vegetation near tracks may be set alight from a combination of train sparks and dry conditions.

A number of tube lines, namely the Elizabeth and Mildmay Lines, have been further affected by flooding as a result of overnight thunderstorms as well as the hot weather.

This follows record-breaking temperatures expected this June.

Met Office spokesman, Grahame Madge, said: “The Met Office is flagging 39C as a headline maximum temperature on Thursday, most likely for somewhere in London or the South East.

“It is possible we could see temperatures higher than the 39C.”

WASHINGTON  — Prison inmates whose religious rights are clearly violated by guards and wardens may not sue them for damages, a divided Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

In a 6-3 decision, the justices said federal law protecting religious liberty allows for suits against state prison systems, but not employees of the prison.

The decision came in the case of a devout Rastafarian in Louisiana. Damon Landor had grown dreadlocks for nearly two decades. He had three weeks left in a five-month prison term when he was transferred to another prison in Louisiana.

He had with him a copy of a federal appeals court opinion that said Rastafarian inmates had a protected religious right to wear dreadlocks.

Congress in 2000 adopted the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act to protect religious liberty.

But the guards threw the appeals court decision in the trash, and the warden ordered the guards to handcuff Landor to a chair and shave his head.

Shortly after he was released, Landor sued the warden and the guards for violating the 2000 law, known as RLUIPA, which promised “appropriate relief” to those whose rights were violated.

But a federal judge, the 5th Circuit Court and now the Supreme Court have tossed out Landor’s suit.

Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote for the six conservatives.

He explained that when the federal government gives states money for prisons, education, healthcare and other matters, it can require them to follow the law but it does not authorize private lawsuits against their employees

“To know that is enough to know the Court of Appeals was correct. Mr. Landor does not have a federal RLUIPA cause of action against the officers,” Gorsuch wrote. “Congress lacks regulatory authority to impose liability on them directly.”

The three liberals dissented.

“Today’s decision magically transforms a federal statute into an invitation to be accepted or declined, deemed binding only if each particular defendant has explicitly agreed to be penalized,” wrote Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. “Prisoners like Landor who suffer violations of their religious freedom in state prisons — no matter how blatant — will often be left remediless.”
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan agreed.

Civil liberties advocates denounced the decision.

“Our justice system is built on the promise of accountability when rights are violated,” said Rachel Rossi, president of the Alliance for Justice. “If there is no remedy for such a transgression, then there is no justice. This ruling will further erode critical civil rights protections of the far too many incarcerated people in this country.”

Rachel Laser, chief executive of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said today’s decision “endangers the religious freedom of incarcerated people, like Damon Landor, who are particularly vulnerable to abuse and having unnecessary burdens placed on their religious exercise. Once again, we see a court that will bend over backward for the religious freedom of Christians, but allows the government to trample the religious freedom of non-Christians.”

Head coach Brendon McCullum said he remains “good friends” with England captain Ben Stokes and the pair have “no idea” why rumours of a rift have emerged.

The pair reunited on Tuesday for England’s crucial deciding Test against New Zealand after Stokes missed the second following an incident in a London nightclub.

Both McCullum and Stokes had previously denied their relationship was strained during the 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, and McCullum has faced questions about their partnership during Stokes’ absence.

At Trent Bridge, two days before the third Test against New Zealand, McCullum revealed the pair spoke face-to-face on Tuesday morning.

“I said: ‘Do you know where this has come from, the conversations around our relationship over the last six months?'” explained McCullum.

“He said: ‘No, I have no idea.’ I said to him: ‘As far I’m concerned, I consider you a good friend.'”

Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson were made unavailable for England’s heavy defeat in the second Test during an investigation into a breach of the team’s midnight curfew following victory in the first Test at Lord’s.

They were present when a member of England security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.

Both have been cleared to rejoin the England team for the third Test, with Stokes returning as captain.

After England made five changes to their team for the second Test, Stokes and Atkinson are two of four changes for the third, as the home side move back towards the XI that won the first Test.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who has been on paternity leave, also come back in. Ollie Robinson was man of the match at Lord’s but missed The Oval encounter with a knee problem. Robinson is fit, yet misses out as Jofra Archer keeps his place.

James Rew, Jordan Cox, Matthew Fisher and Sonny Baker are the four players omitted.

Two days before the second Test at The Oval, McCullum gave a sombre media conference, when he repeatedly spoke of his “worry” and “concern” for Stokes.

However, Durham’s county head coach Ryan Campbell later said Stokes was in “good spirits” and the county’s chief executive Tim Bostock said he was “bemused” by McCullum’s comments.

England XI for third Test v New Zealand: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

SEOUL, June 23 (UPI) — South Korea’s LG Chem said Tuesday it will invest nearly $10 billion over the next decade to foster futuristic industries powered by the artificial intelligence boom.

The Seoul-based company plans to spend $9.7 billion on research and development through 2035, concentrating on advanced materials for semiconductors, mobility, robotics and anticancer drugs.

LG Chem said that the initiative comes as profitability in its traditional petrochemical business dipped because of global oversupply and fierce competition.

Through the investment, the chemical giant vowed to achieve a double-digit operating profit margin by the end of the decade.

To complement its organic growth strategy, LG Chem said it will pursue external growth opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions. It recently established an organization dedicated to that goal.

LG Chem unveiled the long-term strategy during a town hall meeting Monday, where CEO Kim Dong-chun stressed the need to strengthen both existing businesses and future growth engines.

“While strengthening the competitiveness of our existing businesses, we will focus our capabilities on future growth pillars to leap forward as a technology-driven converting company,” Kim said.

LG Chem defines a “tech-driven converting company” as an enterprise that leverages its accumulated technological expertise to create high-value-added products and differentiated profit streams.

The share price of LG Chem plunged 9.75% on the Seoul bourse on Monday, while the benchmark KOSPI plummeted 9.99%. LG Chem is a major subsidiary of LG Group, whose businesses also include LG Electronics, LG Display and LG Uplus.

Those trapped in the compounds include Chinese, Philippine, Taiwanese, Malaysian and Brazilian nationals.

More than 5,300 people remain trapped in online scam centres in Myanmar near the Thai border, despite a multinational crackdown in the region last year, a human rights group says.

The Thai-based Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victim Assistance (CSNHTV) sent a letter to Thai police urging them to take action. It said many of those trapped were foreign nationals held at four locations inside areas controlled by the Myanmar Democratic Karen Buddhist Army militia.

According to the CSNHTV, an estimated 1,600 people trapped are Chinese nationals, and about 200 are people of Myanmar, along with people from the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brazil, Russia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.

“Many of these compounds have yet to be dismantled or subjected to rescue operations to free all remaining victims,” it said.

“As a result, these syndicates continue to engage in online fraud and human trafficking, causing harm to victims around the world, particularly in the United States and Europe.”

Scam centres in Southeast Asia, including those in Myanmar and Cambodia, run illegal online schemes that are designed to defraud people worldwide.

“Litany of abuse”

The centres grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, and were initially tied to poorly run casinos and online gambling. They have now become a multibillion-dollar industry, according to the United Nations.

A UN report in February said the facilities are mostly staffed by foreign nationals who have been trafficked by criminal gangs and subjected to abuse.

It found instances of “torture and other ill-treatment, sexual abuse and exploitation, forced abortions, food deprivation, solitary confinement, among other grave human rights abuses”.

“The litany of abuse is staggering and at the same time heart-breaking,” UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk said.

“Yet, rather than receiving protection, care and rehabilitation as well as the pathways to justice and redress to which they are entitled, victims too often face disbelief, stigmatisation and even further punishment.”

It’s been more than 30 years, but Andy’s toys are proving irreplaceable at the box office.

Walt Disney Co. and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” opened to a massive $160 million in the U.S. and Canada last weekend, marking the biggest domestic box office debut so far this year. Internationally, the film brought in $152 million for a worldwide total of $312 million.

With those numbers, “Toy Story 5” broke several franchise records for opening weekend totals. As my colleague Cerys Davies and I wrote last week, it’s a sign of the long-running juggernaut’s firm grip on audiences amid a sea of Hollywood sequels, reboots and spinoffs.

“‘Toy Story’ has been breaking ground since it first hit the screen more than 30 years ago,” Disney Entertainment Studios Chairman Alan Bergman said in a statement. “It’s wonderful to see ‘Toy Story 5’ continuing that tradition and connecting with audiences around the world to deliver the biggest opening for the franchise and the biggest of this year as well.”

For theater owners, “Toy Story” may have seemed like a surefire bet. After all, the franchise has grossed more than $3 billion in worldwide box-office revenue, and its third and fourth installments each made more than $1 billion globally.

The big opening weekend for “Toy Story 5” has no doubt brightened the outlook for many theater operators as the all-important summer movie season gets underway.

Already, last weekend’s box-office totals were a whopping 80% improvement compared with a year ago, when Universal Pictures’ live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” was in its second weekend in theaters. But more importantly, the domestic box office is now up 14% to $4.46 billion compared with the same time a year ago, according to data from Rentrak.

This summer’s lineup of films, including “Toy Story 5,” will play an important role in terms of whether 2026 will truly be the year that the theatrical business turns the corner from the COVID-19 pandemic and the dual Hollywood strikes of 2023.

In one promising sign, summer box-office revenue so far is up 15.2% to about $1.84 billion compared with the same May to mid-June period in 2025. (That summer ultimately ended in a dismal finish of $3.67 billion.) Compared with pre-pandemic 2019, this year’s summer box office to date is down just 1.9%.

Studio executives and theater owners have told me they feel good about this summer and are optimistic about the overall outlook for 2026.

It’s easy to see why. The deck is stacked, with upcoming titles such as Universal and Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters,” Disney’s live-action “Moana,” Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

In a propitious sign, presales for “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man” have already shown massive demand. Overall, there’s just more and varied movies in theaters now, which expands the pool of potential moviegoers, theater owners have said.

Take A24’s “Backrooms” or Focus Features’ “Obsession,” for instance. The two original and digital-native films shocked the industry by keeping a weeks-long grip on the box office, largely by attracting Gen Z audiences who were familiar with the 20-something directors from their followings on YouTube.

Beyond these two, as well as Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day,” many of this summer’s films continue established franchises.

Although not all spinoffs have performed this year — including Disney and Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which saw ticket sales drop sharply after its late May opening — “Toy Story” has remained a consistent force in theaters over the decades.

Disney and Pixar executives credit the films’ focus on character relationships, particularly that of Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear. And as the franchise spanned years, its appeal became generational.

“Having parents now that say, ‘I grew up with ‘Toy Story,’ and now I’m showing my kids,’ has been really gratifying,” Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter told me by phone a week before the movie’s opening.

“Toy Story” is now the most-watched franchise on the Disney+ streaming service, with more than 2 billion hours streamed. And its beloved characters have spawned 19 theme park rides, four themed lands, two hotels and roughly $1 billion a year in global retail sales.

That has no doubt kept the franchise front and center for both adults and children, as well as fueling interest in future stories.

Stuff We Wrote

Film shoots

Number of the week

The FIFA World Cup has been a major boost for broadcasters, as an average of 6 million viewers tuned in to Fox and cable network FS1 for the first 16 group stage matches, an increase of 128% compared with the last World Cup in 2022, according to Nielsen data released last week.

On Spanish language network Telemundo, which is owned by Comcast, the first 12 group stage matches drew an average of 7.5 million viewers, up 234% from four years ago. (The Telemundo telecasts are also streamed on Peacock.)

I was in the Bay Area last week on vacation and didn’t watch many of the games, but I did catch my colleague Clara Harter’s great read about the mutual love and respect between fans of Mexico and South Korea and how that has played out in Los Angeles.

What I’m watching

Since I was out of town last week, I didn’t watch a ton of TV. But I did make time to watch the series finale of “The Way Home,” a quirky time-travel drama on Hallmark that I’ve followed for all four seasons.

I’m a big fan of time-travel stories (The “Back to the Future” trilogy is one of my favorites), so the usual past-future questions, plus the complicated family dynamics anchored by matriarch Andie MacDowell, made this a must-watch for me. The series finale was a satisfying ending, though there are definitely some loose strings that deserve further exploration.

The Met Office has issued a series of amber and red heat alerts this week as temperatures are set to rise close to 40C in some parts of the UK, with the RAC urging drivers without air conditioning to postpone non-essential journeys

Britain is being battered by a sweltering heatwave this week, with temperatures threatening to nudge close to 40C in some areas of the country. In response, the Met Office has issued a raft of amber and red heat warnings.

Britons are also being urged to keep their fluid intake up and remain vigilant for signs of heat-related illness brought on by the scorching conditions.

Some people may look to escape the heat by jumping into their car and cranking up the air conditioning. However, one motoring expert has cautioned drivers that even if their vehicle is available to them, they should think twice before getting behind the wheel this week.

In a statement published on the RAC‘s website, the organisation’s road safety spokesman Rod Dennis warned that motorists without air conditioning in their vehicles should consider putting off their journeys altogether.

Explaining his reasoning, he said: “Red extreme heat warnings are rare and we urge everyone to take them seriously this week. Drivers whose vehicles don’t have effective air conditioning should strongly consider postponing any non-essential car journeys until the Met Office’s weather warnings are lifted and temperatures drop.

“If this isn’t possible, our best advice is to travel during cooler times of day. This is especially important for anyone travelling with vulnerable people, including young children and older adults, who are at greater risk from the intense heat.”

Red heat warnings, set to take effect on Wednesday and Thursday this week, have been put in place owing to the exceptionally high temperatures forecast across the south and south-east of the UK.

Temperatures are expected to soar so dramatically that some forecasters believe records for June could be shattered. The current record for the hottest June day stands at 35.6C, set in Southampton in 1976 and in Camden Square, London, in June 1957.

The last time Britain endured a prolonged spell of temperatures reaching as high as 40C was roughly four years ago, in July 2022.

In a statement addressing the warnings, Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway made it clear that red warnings are not handed out lightly, and are reserved solely for the most extreme weather conditions.

He said: “Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat.

“The last time the UK recorded temperatures this high was in July 2022, but on this occasion the heat is expected to be accompanied by high humidity.”

Meanwhile, Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at the United Kingdom Health Security Agency, added: “We are urging health and social care services across the country to ensure they are prepared.

“A red heat health alert indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population, but simple actions like staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool can make a big difference.”

ATLANTA — Legislation to keep Georgia’s embattled vote-counting method in place for this year’s midterm elections faced strong opposition from state Democrats on Monday after Republicans in the Georgia Senate approved an amendment that would require a hand recount of ballots.

Georgia’s governor, Republican Brian Kemp, had called lawmakers into a special session in part to address a July 1 deadline that was set to ban the QR codes used for the official vote count. Legislators passed a law two years ago that set that deadline, but then failed to find a replacement for tabulating votes.

Some voting rights activists had warned that any changes so close to the midterm elections could create confusion at polling sites. Georgia is a political swing state where voters will decide high-profile races for U.S. Senate and governor in the fall.

State lawmakers last week appeared to have reached a deal on a bill to push the July 1 deadline back to 2028. But Republicans in the Senate approved an amendment over the weekend that would require a full hand recount of the two races at the top of ballot. In November, that would be the governor’s contest and a U.S. Senate election.

The amended bill passed the Senate on a party line vote, but the House did not immediately schedule it for a vote on Monday.

Georgia Democrats say a hand recount in November would create chaos that could sow doubt about the results. Research has shown that hand-counting is more prone to error, costlier and likely to delay results. It has gained traction, however, with Republican lawmakers in some states amid President Trump’s repeated false claims about a stolen 2020 election.

“What we are experiencing is a Republican Senate who’s acting extraordinarily irresponsibly with Georgia’s elections and people’s votes,” state Rep. Saira Draper, a Democrat, said Monday.

Republican state Sen. Max Burns defended the Senate bill, saying hand counts and machine counts can “coexist and confirm each other’s ultimate results.”

“This amendment to a good bill is to strengthen it so that the voters have confidence in election security,” he said.

Georgia’s current election system uses a QR code printed on ballots to tally the votes. It has drawn the ire of Trump, who claimed without evidence that voting machines in Georgia deleted or switched votes in the 2020 election. He narrowly lost the state to Democrat Joe Biden that year.

Georgia voting machines have been the subject of conspiracy theories, which manufacturer Dominion Voting Systems fought vigorously in court. But election integrity advocates also have raised concerns about the machines, arguing that they are vulnerable to hacking and that voters cannot be sure their selections are accurately reflected because people can’t read QR codes.

The Georgia Senate bill would extend the July 1 deadline to Jan. 1, 2028. It also would create a committee to recommend requirements for a new voting system. The committee would have until Jan. 31, 2027, to report its findings. State lawmakers would be responsible for funding, buying and implementing the new system for the 2028 election cycle.

The special session also was supposed to redraw Georgia’s congressional and legislative districts for the 2028 election, but state lawmakers postponed those plans.

Thanawala writes for the Associated Press.

Three different England players were on target in the Three Lions’ 4-2 win over Croatia in their World Cup opener on Wednesday.

In total 15 players have scored for England across the past four men’s World Cups. Can you name them all?

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

June 23 (UPI) — President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Iran releasing millions into the Iranian economy Monday,

allowing American dollar trade for the first time since 1979.

The U.S. Treasury on Monday issued a 60-day exemption allowing Iran to produce and sell crude oil, petrochemical and petroleum products in U.S. dollars through Aug. 21.

Under this general license, boats and entities that were sanctioned are also cleared to operate. The waiver could also open up allowing U.S. imports of Iranian oil, which hasn’t happened since the 1990s.

Trump defended the move on Truth Social Tuesday morning, saying that the money to Iran is to be used for food and supplies purchased from the United States.

“Despite their protestations and false statements to the contrary, coupled with the drumbeat of the Fake News, which is doing everything possible to make the U.S. Victory as small and insignificant as possible, Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!). This will insure ‘Nuclear Honesty.’ If they did not agree to this, there would be no further negotiations!” the president posted.

“Based on this and other major concessions being made by Iran, I have agreed to allow the Hormuz Strait to remain OPEN, with no further Naval Blockade. However, all ships are remaining in place should it be necessary to reinstitute the Blockade, which seems, at this point, highly unlikely. The Money and/or Sanctions that the U.S. Treasury is releasing goes into escrow, controlled by the U.S.A., and will be used for the purchase of food and medical supplies, exclusively from the United States, including Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans from our great American Farmers. These are things that are desperately needed by Iran. This is a humanitarian crisis, and I feel it is necessary to help, NOW, before it is too late. Talks are going well!” he said.

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that during peace talks on Sunday, Iran agreed to invite the International Atomic Energy Agency back into the country for inspections.

But Iran denied that concession Tuesday morning.

A “heat-dome” settling over western Europe could bring temperatures of up to 40C by Wednesday, with this latest UK heatwave expected to surpass the June record set in Hampshire in 1976

The UK Government has issued an ‘extreme’ travel warning for Brits heading to France, Spain and Portugal as a heatdome settles over western Europe.

The weather front is predicted to deliver temperatures approaching 40C by Wednesday, with this latest heatwave anticipated to eclipse the June record established in Hampshire in 1976.

Red heat alerts have been issued in France, Spain, and other nations across western and central Europe as heatwave conditions are forecast to intensify in the coming days.

More than half of France’s regions are currently under the harshest weather warning. Tragically, two children aged two and four were found dead in their family car in the town of Carpentras in the south of France, in an incident believed to be linked to the weather.

In a section on the Foreign Office’s website titled ‘extreme weather’, an update for France issued today reads: “Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards. In summer months, there is a risk of higher than normal temperatures in France. Check current weather forecasts and read about how to protect yourself on the Meteo France website.”

A similar warning for Spain reads: “Extreme weather can affect many areas of Spain, particularly over the summer months. Follow the Spanish Meteorological Office (AEMET) and European Meteorological Services for severe weather warnings.”

And the Portugal advice reads: “In Summer months, there is a risk of higher than normal temperatures in Portugal. Check current weather forecasts and read about how to protect yourself on the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere website.”

Back in the UK, record high temperatures are forecast over the coming days.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “The Met Office is flagging 39C as a headline maximum temperature on Thursday, most likely for somewhere in London or the South East. Forecast temperature values are indicative and are subject to a slight range either side.

“It is possible we could see temperatures higher than the 39C if the final values are at the upper end of our narrow range. It is important to remember that the temperature value is only one element of this extreme heatwave story. The other major factor is the high humidity which for many will make the intense heat even harder to endure.”

Throughout the night, temperatures remained above 20C at nine sites across England, registering what the Met Office classifies as a tropical night. Scorching temperatures gave way to thunderstorms and lightning strikes across England in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Commuters also faced significant disruption across London’s transport network on Tuesday morning. The Elizabeth Line was hit by flooding caused by heavy rainfall, resulting in no service running between Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 and Heathrow Terminal 4, Transport for London confirmed.

Passengers on the Mildmay Line also faced severe delays, with the line operating a reduced service due to the sweltering conditions. On the national rail network, soaring temperatures are also forecast to cause sagging overhead electric wires, buckled rails and lineside fires, with passengers urged to avoid non-essential travel and, if a journey is unavoidable, to ensure they have a bottle of water with them.

Avanti West Coast announced it intends to operate fewer services than normal between Tuesday and Thursday, warning that “there’s a risk of further disruption”.

Chiltern Railways has scrapped more than half its services across those three days “to ensure the safe operation of the railway”. The operator said: “We strongly advise you to avoid travelling if possible.”

The RAC revealed it is handling 10% more breakdowns than usual at this time of year and expects demand to “increase significantly as temperatures peak”.

The scorching weather is also set to cause considerable disruption for parents as schools shut or close early to shield children from the heat. Pupils have been told they may wear PE kit rather than full school uniform, which typically includes long trousers and blazers. A number of after-school clubs have also been called off.

DUBAI is currently building what will be the biggest, and possibly the most efficient, airport in the world.

Not only will it see millions of passengers through its doors – it also plans on eliminating queues altogether and will even have robot staff.

When Al Maktoum International Airport has been fully expanded and refurbished, it will be the biggest in the world – and it will have all the modcons too.

The airport which will cost £23.5billion and will serve 260million passengers every year is being designed to make travel as smooth as possible.

One of the ways it’s doing this is by creating a way that passengers won’t have to queue, which almost seems like a given in other airports.

At Al Maktoum International Airport, bags could be dropped off before travellers even reach the terminal.

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Passengers will then be able to move through the airport without the usual repeated stops for the likes of security and customs.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths called this a “no red lights” concept while talking to Khaleej Times.

The airport is set to be huge, but travellers won’t have to worry about walking from one side to the other.

Instead, they will be able to use the ‘integrated underground Automated People Mover system’, which includes a multi-track train.

It will have 14 stations and will transport passengers from terminals to concourses.

It’s designed to help travellers get to their flights in the shortest and quickest route possible.

When it comes to collecting baggage, the new system will be able to process tens of thousands of bags in just one hour.

And better yet, bags are expected to be available within minutes – so there won’t be any standing about waiting for suitcases after a flight.

The airport is also going to be technologically advanced with automated travel systems, AI security check and robot staff.

The robots will be used for various tasks, including baggage handling and potentially customer service roles too.

The terminal isn’t completely new, as Al Maktoum International Airport is an expansion of Dubai World Central.

The nearby Dubai International Airport which is currently the main base in Dubai will close once the new runways are operational which is scheduled for 2032.

Al Maktoum International Airport is 23 miles south of Dubai and once fully up and running will be the largest in the world.

Currently, that title belongs to King Salman International Airport which is currently being constructed in Saudi Arabia.

In comparison Al Maktoum International Airport will be a whopping 70 square kilometres rather than 56.

It will have two passenger terminals, seven concourses and more than 430 aircraft stands.

JAMIE and Rebekah Vardy’s success is sky-rocketing post Wagatha Christie – after the footballer’s new podcast proved a hit.

The audio series, Jamie Vardy’s Having A Party, launched hot on the heels of the couple’s ITV doc.  

The pair are understood to have signed a seven-figure deal with media giant Banijay for the series, which launched on June 9.

It’s now been revealed that the first episode has clocked up over 8.4million streams across podcast platforms in the first seven days. 

A source said: “Jamie and Becky could not be more happy with the success of their ITV show, and now the podcast figures have really given them a boost.

“It just serves to show they have a massive following.

“For the first week of a new podcast those numbers are fantastic. And, as for Banijay, they will be delighted with the initial return on their investment.”

The launch of the podcast, which will also feature regular guest appearances from Rebekah, 44, comes just a week after ITV aired three-part documentary The Vardys.

The show followed the family during his first year in Italy after he joined Serie A newcomers Cremonese. 

That series – which consolidated at more than 1.1 million viewers – has proved to be an even bigger hit on the network’s streaming service ITVX – behind only entertainment juggernauts I’m A Celebrity, Britain’s Got Talent and Celebrity Sabotage in the ratings. 

The next footballing destination for Leicester City legend Vardy – now 39 – is currently unknown.

However, the series and podcast illustrate his determination to build, with Rebekah, a powerful post-football brand – even whilst continuing to terrorise defences. 

Speaking of the podcast, Jamie said: “I am still an active player but having an opportunity to chat football and have a banter off the pitch is something that I am really looking forward to.”

The Vardys, which is available to watch now on ITVX, saw Rebekah opening up about the aftermath of the Wagatha Christie High Court trial with Coleen Rooney.

Rebekah said: “I’m living with the judgement the judge made but still to this day, I believe she was wrong.”

“People constantly go ‘well, it’s not going to change anything unless you apologise’ – but I’m not apologising for something I didn’t do.

“Like never, ever, going to apologise for something I didn’t do – it’s never going to happen. Hell will freeze over before I do that.

“It’s over, it’s done, I’m not going to carry on living in the past. I’m so f**king bored of it.”

A LESSER-KNOWN European theme park has announced it is getting a major new ride.

Previously named one of the best amusement parks in Europe by the European Star Awards, Nigloland is about two and a half hours from Paris.

And the French theme park will be getting a new £15.5million rollercoaster called ‘Supersonic 1887’.

The ride, which will be the park’s largest investment to date, is a launch shuttle rollercoaster.

At its highest point it will reach 47 metres off of the ground, and it will reach speeds of up to 56.5mph.

Even though the track itself stretches for 355 metres, riders will travel a total of 770 metres thanks to sections where the rollercoaster will travel backwards.

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The rollercoaster will also turn the 32 riders upside down at least six times across three inverted parts of the track, including a loop.

Each of the two carriages also include eight ‘wing seats’ that allow riders to dangle their feet in the air.

And what makes the ride even more fun will be the fact that over half the time riders are on it, they will be suspended over water.

The ride is inspired by World Expositions that took place during the 19th century, according to EAP Magazine.

The story of the ride will follow a character called Emilie Delaroche, an engineer who has developed a steam machine that travels at high speeds.

The rollercoaster is expected to open in 2027.

President and Director of the Park, Rodolphe Gelis said: “Nigoland is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

“To mark this milestone, we wanted to create a major attraction that reflects our ambitions.

“Supersonic is a project conceived by our creative and technical teams, which we entrusted to a leading manufacturer renowned for the quality of its work and its wealth of innovations.

“It is the most ambitious project Nigoland has ever undertaken.”

The theme park features more than 40 attractions in total, 27 of which are ideal for younger children.

There are four immersive zones in total including The Canadian Village, The Rock ‘n’ Rock Village, The Magical Village and The Swiss Village.

Rides include Krampus Expedition which is a water coaster based on Alpine folklore.

There’s also Spatiale Expérience, which is an indoor rollercoaster that travels through outer space.

Visitors can also stay onsite at the Hotel des Pirates.

Kenya stops constructing US-run Ebola site amid public outcry; $13.5m US funding is criticised as masking health risks.

Kenya has ordered a halt to preparations for a United States-run Ebola quarantine facility, the health minister has told a court after being held in contempt for ignoring a previous stop-work order.

The announcement on Tuesday comes amid strong opposition to the plan in Kenya. Deadly protests have taken place since the government confirmed plans to build the facility for potential US citizens evacuated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), which is grappling with a major Ebola outbreak.

The quarantine facility was being constructed at Laikipia airbase, about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the capital, Nairobi, with some 50 isolation beds. It was expected to be managed by US medical staff.

“I have directed the immediate and complete cessation of any intended construction, site preparation, or related activities concerning the Laikipia airbase facility pending the hearing and determination of the substantive petition or until further orders of this court,” Health Minister Aden Duale said.

The minister spoke in court a day after he was held in contempt for failing to respond to multiple orders in late May and early June to halt activities.

Rights groups had petitioned the court, saying the facility was being developed secretly and without consultation. Kenyan doctors and medical professionals have been especially outspoken about the proposed Nanyuki site, arguing it would threaten the country’s already fragile health system.

Three people have been killed in unrest near the facility in Laikipia.

Civilians and healthcare workers have expressed anger over the prospect of importing the virus and criticised the Kenyan government’s acceptance of a $13.5m Ebola preparedness contribution from the US as whitewashing the deal. So far, the country has not recorded a case of Ebola.

The Ebola outbreak was confirmed in DR Congo in May. It has led to 1,048 confirmed cases and at least 267 deaths as of June 22, according to the Health Ministry. At least 75 healthcare workers in DRC have contracted the virus, with 17 deaths recorded.

Uganda – which neighbours Kenya – has reported 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths.

The very first P-8A Poseidon aircraft is now assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 (VX-30), the “Bloodhounds.” TWZ was first to report last year that VX-30 was in line to get two P-8As to support long-range missile and other testing efforts. The aircraft will help the squadron address the increasing difficulties it is facing with its aging P-3 Orion aircraft. Only a handful of P-3s remain in service anywhere in the Navy, and are becoming increasingly challenging to operate and maintain.

VX-30 shared pictures of the P-8A arriving at its home base in Point Mugu, California, on its Facebook page last week. Naval Air Station Point Mugu, part of Naval Base Ventura County, sits right on the southern California coast with direct access to the expansive Point Mugu Sea Range. The Navy and other branches of the U.S. military, as well as defense contractors, regularly use the offshore ranges for missile and other tests, which the Bloodhounds support. Aircraft from VX-30 also often deploy to other locations around the world to support test and evaluation activities, including in other U.S. military range complexes in the Pacific Ocean around Hawaii and in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.

As noted, the P-8A now assigned to VX-30 is actually the very first Poseidon ever built and is also known as T-1. The aircraft, which made its maiden flight in 2009, was used for years to support the Poseidon program. The Bloodhounds are also in line to get the second test P-8A, which is also still referred to as T-2. We will come back to this in a moment.

VX-30 already operates a variety of planes specially configured to support test missions, including the aforementioned P-3s. The unit also has KC-130T Hercules tanker/transports, as well as its one-of-a-kind NC-20G and NC-37B jets. The NC-37B was specifically acquired to replace one of the squadron’s NP-3D Orions, a variant nicknamed the “Billboard” because of its heavily modified tail. The NC-20G and the NC-37B reflect a larger push to revamp the Bloodhounds’ fleets in recent years.

Collectively, VX-30’s aircraft are equipped with a mix of radars, cameras, and other equipment to collect imagery, telemetry, and other data during tests. They have communications and data-sharing suites to be able to pass information along to test facilities on land to aid with live monitoring and for deeper analysis.

Aircraft assigned to VX-30 are also used for what is called range surveillance and clearance missions to keep unwanted visitors and errant bystanders out of the way in the air and down below during tests. This is where the P-8As will come in, at least initially.

“Both aircraft will perform the Range Surveillance & Clearance mission as well as dedicated testing for Naval Air Systems Command programs supported by P-3 today,” a NAVAIR spokesperson told TWZ last year. “T-1, the airworthiness P-8 aircraft, will have a radar modification to integrate an APY-10 in the airframe, as one does not currently exist.  This will provide T-1 with a supportable radar configuration and capability that mirrors the baseline P-8 fleet. T-2 will be unmodified.”

Raytheon’s AN/APY-10 is the standard maritime search radar used on the P-8A, and is primarily designed to spot and track vessels on the surface, as well as masts belonging to submerged submarines protruding above the waves. It also has a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode that allows it to capture still images, even through cloud cover, smoke, and dust, and at night. The SAR mode is one of several capabilities of the P-8As that allows it to be used for surveillance in coastal environments and over land, as well as while flying over open bodies of water.

Standard Poseidon aircraft also have a sensor turret with electro-optical and infrared full-motion video cameras, as well as signals intelligence capabilities, as you can read more about here.

The P-8A’s core capabilities are well suited to the range surveillance and clearance mission. In an unmodified form, the Poseidon’s other sensors might be capable of gathering additional visual and other data during testing, as well.

NAVAIR has also left the door open to potentially modify VX-30’s ‘new’ P-8As in the future to take on an expanded role with the squadron. The Poseidon is based on the Boeing 737 airliner, and offers swap space that could accommodate additional systems down the line. The Navy already operates several more deeply modified P-8s with additional intelligence-gathering capabilities. Those aircraft are notably capable of carrying the AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS), a large podded active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, under their fuselages, as you can learn more about here. Boeing has developed other add-on sensor packages for the P-8A over the years, as well.

Unlike the P-3, the P-8A also has the ability to refuel in mid-air via boom-equipped tankers. That is another capability VX-30 might be able to leverage to enable longer-duration flights, whether in support of range surveillance and clearance or other missions.

Overall, the “P-8 will go a long way to enabling range support operations and will provide new opportunities for future developmental programs,” the NAVAIR spokesperson told us last year.

On top of the P-8A’s inherent capabilities, even the older test jets are just younger and more modern, in general, than the P-3s that make up the core of VX-30’s fleet today. The Navy took delivery of its last new-production P-3C variant in 1990, and Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) shuttered the line afterward. This means the very youngest Orion is 36 years old now. As noted, the Navy has been steadily withdrawing Orions from service in recent years.

Several Navy test squadrons do continue to operate P-3s, but that’s becoming an increasingly more complex proposition. This is not just because of the maintenance demands of aging aircraft that are no longer in widespread U.S. service, but also the availability of trained aircrews. As part of the transition of active and reserve Navy maritime patrol squadrons from the P-3 to the P-8, the service no longer has a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) for the Orion. FRSs are the Navy’s ‘school houses’ that provide training specific to particular aircraft types to aviators and ground personnel before they are sent to operational units. VX-30 now has to do that training in-house.

“The two P-8s will reduce sustainment costs and increase availability over the four P-3 aircraft VX-30 currently flies. P-8s also help alleviate P-3 manning challenges now that the FRS and operational squadrons have all transitioned to P-8 or decommissioned,” the NAVAIR spokesperson told us last year. “P-3 aircraft require a Flight Engineer crew position, and as the P-3 model manager, the return on time invested to train incoming pilots or qualify Flight Engineers in the P-3 is rapidly diminishing for VX-30’s primary missions.”

It remains to be seen whether the configurations of T-1 and T-2 might evolve in the coming years to expand their ability to support testing over the Point Muge Sea Range or elsewhere globally.

In the meantime, T-1’s arrival already marks a new chapter for VX-30 and the Navy’s oldest P-8A Poseidon.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

Barry Manilow has told the story behind his first big hit so many times that I had no intention of bringing up the half-century-old “Mandy” when I sat down with the singer on a recent afternoon at his home in Palm Springs. Among the questions I did ask was how he ended up recording the song that opens his new album, and the answer — as it’s so often been throughout Manilow’s career, beginning with that 1975 chart-topper — was Clive Davis.

“It was all Clive,” Manilow said of “Once Before I Go,” the Peter Allen/Dean Pitchford number that leads off his just-released “What a Time” LP. Davis, the star-making record executive with the so-called golden ears, had been urging him to record the song for years, Manilow told me, which inevitably brought him back to the well-rehearsed tale of “Mandy” — to Davis’ decision that Manilow’s debut for his Arista label lacked a breakout smash and to his suggestion that the singer cut a version of a modest hit called “Brandy” by Scott English.

“So I went in the studio and did it trying to sound like that guy,” Manilow recalled, stomping his foot to approximate a lumbering rock beat. “Clive came in and said, ‘That’s terrible.’ I said, ‘I know it’s terrible.’ But in order to learn the song, I’d slowed it down and changed the key — I found the love song hiding in ‘Brandy,’” Manilow continued. (He also changed the title to avoid any confusion with Looking Glass’ “Brandy,” which had recently reached No. 1.) Manilow played the tune in his more romantic style for the exec. “I’ll never forget it — Clive said, ‘Just do that.’ And that was the record.” He laughed.

“He’s a kind of a genius.”

Davis, who died Monday at age 94, didn’t sing or play an instrument. “I knew nothing about music,” he once said, looking back at his entry into the record business. Yet his instincts made him one of the surest spotters and nurturers of talent in pop history, with a long — and varied — line of success stories that included Manilow, Janis Joplin, Neil Diamond, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and Maroon 5, among many others. He even helped the Grateful Dead score a Top 10 single with “Touch of Grey” in 1987.

Davis, who got his start in Columbia Records’ legal department, could identify original voices and seemed to intuit which songs were likely to become hits. Sometimes the hits came from the voices themselves, as in the case of Bruce Springsteen, whom Davis cajoled into writing “Blinded by the Light” for his Columbia debut; sometimes the exec match-made performers and composers, as in the case of “Mandy” or “Freeway of Love,” a zippy Narada Michael Walden jam that launched Franklin’s comeback in the mid-1980s.

A natty dresser with a cosmopolitan air, Davis founded Arista in 1974 after he was fired from Columbia (where he’d ascended to the presidency) amid an embezzlement scandal of which he was later cleared. In 2000, he was ousted from Arista in a corporate shakeup — just months after the label won eight Grammy Awards with Carlos Santana’s 15-times-platinum “Supernatural” LP — then launched a new label, J Records, which scored an immediate blockbuster with Keys’ “Songs in A Minor.”

Clive Davis at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2020.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Wherever he worked, Davis’ goal was shepherding hits that spanned formats and generations; he delighted in projects like “Smooth,” the inescapable Santana single pairing the rock guitarist and Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, and a series of Great American Songbook albums by the once-scruffy Rod Stewart. He might also have been the music industry’s biggest believer in ballads, at least among suits: Between 1985 and 1992, Houston alone released almost a dozen of music’s all-timers, including “Saving All My Love for You,” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” and — perhaps the greatest pop ballad ever recorded — her take on Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” (It wasn’t a huge hit, but listen to Houston and Jermaine Jackson’s pedal-steel-drenched “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” from Houston’s debut, for an early instance of that crossover ambition.)

One of relatively few nonperformers inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Davis brought his flair for variety to the party he threw at the Beverly Hilton every year on the night before the Grammys — a famously hot ticket that drew A-list celebs from the worlds of music and Hollywood as well as business and politics. You could always count on the exec to have persuaded some number of the year’s splashiest new acts to perform; this year’s bash, in January, had Sombr, Olivia Dean and the women of “KPop Demon Hunters.” But my favorite part of the show was always seeing which veteran Davis had tapped to mix it up with the youngsters — Diamond or Manilow, for instance, or Johnny Mathis, who absolutely killed in 2015.

Davis horrified many in 2012 when he opted to proceed with his party just hours after Houston was found dead in a hotel room at the Beverly Hilton. In the years after the singer’s death, Davis drew criticism for taking too much credit for Houston’s artistic achievements; to some, he became a symbol of the music industry’s efforts to tone down Houston’s Blackness in order to reach white audiences. Five years ago, I asked Warwick, who was Houston’s cousin, whether she’d taken on any kind of consulting role on “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” the 2022 Whitney biopic that Davis produced.

Bobby Brown, from left, Whitney Houston and Clive Davis in New York in 1998.

(Stuart Ramson / AP)

“Not one thing,” she told me. “I want them to let Whitney rest in peace. Leave her alone. Ten years [since she died] — it’s time to let her sleep.” (In a statement Monday, Warwick called Davis her “dear friend” and said she “can think of no other record man that seemed to have that magical ability to know a hit when he heard a song.”)

I spoke with Davis many times over the years and was always struck by his enthusiasm about music and about his recall of events from decades ago. In 2017, I interviewed the exec alongside Mathis and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds about a record the three made together that had Mathis singing newish pop songs like Adele’s “Hello” and Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” — a concept Manilow told me in March he and Davis had been talking about replicating. After my story ran, Davis emailed me and said he’d enjoyed the piece, which had a couple of lines about Davis’ tendency to go overboard hyping his projects.

“Yes, a few of your bites required a personal Band-Aid,” he wrote, “but I did appreciate your perspective of the Mathis album’s quality.”

He knew the music was good; Clive Davis always knew when the music was good.