UK’s ‘unluckiest pier’ that ships kept crashing into
One Yorkshire pier was once dubbed the “unluckiest pier in the world” after a series of disasters saw numerous ships crash into the structure during its short life
All that remains of the pier are two towers(Image: Getty)
A tiny seaside town in Yorkshire was once home to what became known as the world’s most cursed pier. During the Victorian era, piers emerged as a must-see attraction for seaside visitors, prompting the construction of one in the town of Withernsea.
Built between 1875 and 1877, Withernsea Pier had a remarkably brief existence, shutting down by 1893 and being completely demolished by 1903. Today, all that remains on the site are the striking castellated pier towers, which lead down towards the beach.
The pier’s fleeting lifespan was the result of a series of catastrophic incidents, earning it the notorious title of the “unluckiest pier in the world”, with multiple vessels smashing into the structure throughout its operational years.
The pier’s unfortunate saga began during construction in 1875, when a crane gave way, crushing and killing a 17-year-old boy.
Then in 1877, a fierce storm loosened sections of the construction, which subsequently plunged into the sea, destroying one strut and warping girders. This setback delayed the pier’s official opening and required £200 worth of repairs.
The calamities continued, and on October 28, 1880, a devastating North Sea storm saw two vessels plough into the pier. Fishing boat Jabaz struck the pier and went down, claiming the lives of four sailors in the tragedy.
Meanwhile, a coal barge named Saffron slammed into the pier, tearing a 150-180 foot gap through its centre. That same night, the storm obliterated the nearby Hornsea Pier and sent another vessel crashing into Redcar Pier.
Three years later, on March 6 1883, another storm hit and washed away part of the pier, including the section that had been hit by the Saffron years earlier.
The ill-fated pier would then suffer yet another blow, when the fishing vessel Genesta came crashing into it on October 20 1890, destroying more than half of the structure in the process.
On this occasion, there was just one casualty, the captain of the ship, while the crew were luckily rescued from the sea.
What little remained of the pier was damaged even further on March 22, when the Henry Parr ploughed into it during a violent storm, leaving just 50 feet of the structure standing.
It came as little surprise when the remaining section was declared unsafe, and the last remnants were torn down by 1905.
In more recent times, proposals to reconstruct the structure were drawn up, backed by funding from the East Coast Communities Fund, the National Lottery and local fundraising efforts.
In January 2020, the cost of rebuilding was put at £8 million, though the plans were ultimately shelved in 2023 after East Riding Council concluded they were “no longer viable.”
While the ambition to restore the pier has been abandoned, the distinctive castle towers still stand to this day, leading visitors down towards the seafront.
Restaurants, the theatre, an intensive care ward: Six places I have every right to take my dog
MORE and more places are welcoming dogs these days, but society still has a long way to go. Here are just six of the places I should obviously be allowed to take my gorgeous little fur baby.
Restaurants
Dogs are social creatures and they love to eat, so really a restaurant is the perfect place for them. If you’ve got a problem with my dog begging, drooling and sniffing your crotch while you enjoy dinner, that sounds like a you problem. Perhaps you should eat at home so my little angel doesn’t have to experience your dog-hating.
Your child’s birthday party
I don’t have a child. I have a dog. But why should that exclude me from your infant son’s birthday festivities? My labrador may be largely untrained and absolutely enormous, but he’ll have a blast hurtling around with your two-year-old and his mates. Just tell them not to get too rowdy as he is very easily startled.
The theatre
Just because my dog doesn’t speak English doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate the magic of theatre. And yes, perhaps he will run onto the stage and try to mount the cast – but that’s just how he expresses that he enjoyed the performance. He can’t exactly clap, can he?
An intensive care ward
I can already hear the protests – ‘But I’m critically ill!’ and ‘I’m in a coma!’. Well I’m sorry, but Milo is a curious little guy and there are lots of interesting things for him to smell in here. Plus, he absolutely loves chewing all the wires and tubes. If you saw how happy he’d be gnawing on a catheter you’d think twice about excluding him from your precious ward.
A funeral
Look, I’m sorry that a large portion of your aunt’s eulogy could not be heard because my dog was barking. But it’s not his fault. He saw a squirrel outside.
A nuclear submarine
Some people think bringing a dog aboard a cramped vessel packed with weapons of mass destruction is a bad idea. They say things like ‘It’s an extreme security risk’ and ‘How did you even get on board?’ But Milo just loves to explore new places and he won’t be any bother. If he accidentally launches a Trident missile and triggers a world war while chasing a tennis ball that seems like a design fault.
Italy and Gennaro Gattuso ‘mutually terminate’ coach’s contract
Manager Gennaro Gattuso and Italy have agreed to “mutually terminate” his contract after their failure to qualify for a third successive World Cup.
Italy missed out on a spot at this summer’s showpiece event when they were beaten 4-1 on penalties by Bosnia-Herzegovina in Tuesday’s play-off.
Gattuso, who won 73 caps for the Azzurri during his playing career, was appointed as Luciano Spalletti’s successor in June and won six of his eight games in charge.
An emotional Gattuso apologised for the defeat during his post-match news conference and admitted it was “hard to digest”.
“With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the goal we set ourselves, I consider my time as coach of the national team to be over,” Gattuso said.
The UK’s best value theme park launches two visits for the price of one deal for April
FANCY a day at the theme park over Easter? Well, how about two days out for the price of one?
Drayton Manor has launched a brand-new offer for the month of April where visitors can buy one ticket and return again at no extra cost.
Fans of the theme park in Tamworth won’t want to miss its newly launched free return deal.
If you buy a standard day ticket between now and April 19, 2026, you can return for no extra cost on or before April 30, 2026.
From just £29.50, guests can go on more than 50 rides and attractions at the park – and then do it all again before the end of April for free.
Drayton Manor has plenty of thrilling rollercoasters, as well as family-friendly rides, and a zoo with over 500 animals like red pandas, bears, reptiles and birds of prey.
The theme park is the only one in Europe with a dedicated area for Thomas the Tank Engine.
Thomas Land has lots of attractions including a rollercoaster, water ride, drop tower and of course train rides with Thomas, Percy and Rosie.
Throughout the Easter holidays, until April 19, is a Care Bear takeover with character meet-and-greets.
At the end of the day, there’s even a Care Bears end-of-day show on the lake.
In 2024, Drayton Manor opened its Wild West themed world called Frontier Falls.
Inside is a new rollercoaster called Gold Rush where visitors are whisked away in a runaway mining cart.
It’s the first of its kind in the UK to have a backward launch into an outdoor gravity track.
The rollercoaster has a two-minute ride time, with Drayton Manor claiming it to be the longest track length for a family coaster in the country.
This Spanish hotel is right next to a huge theme park with over 40 attractions…
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Hotel Best Punta Dorada, Salou
The Spanish resort is a popular destination near PortAventura World, a theme park with over 40 attractions and huge rollercoasters. It’s also close to sandy beaches like Platja de Llevant, and the scenic Camí de Ronda coastal walk. The hotel itself has an outdoor swimming pool to enjoy, as well as two bars along with evening entertainment and shows.
Last year, Drayton Manor was voted the ‘UK’s best value theme park‘ .
The awards were organised by ThemeParks-UK.com, and winners were announced after a series of votes made by 330,000 members of British public along with scores from expert judges.
Drayton Manor scooped up the award for Best Value Theme Park.
It also came in second place for Best (Large) Theme Park for Families, and for Best Theme Park for Toddlers.
Drayton Manor came in first place for Best New Accessibility Initiative, and third for Best Use of IP in an Attraction.
For more on theme parks, here are seven great UK seaside towns with beachfront theme parks – and you can stay with Hols from £9.50.
And here are the top six UK theme parks you can easily reach by train – and how to find the cheapest family fares.
Artemis II leaves Earth orbit for first time in 50 yeas en route to moon
April 3 (UPI) — NASA’s Artemis II crew left Earth orbit Thursday evening en route for the moon, marking a milestone not reached in more than 50 years.
The Orion spacecraft began a scheduled 5-minute, 50-second burn at 7:49 p.m. EDT, successfully propelling it and its four-person crew out of Earth orbit.
“Nominal translunar injection burn complete. The Artemis II crew is officially on the way to the moon,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced on social media.
“America is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon. This time, farther than ever before.”
The crew of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen launched Wednesday evening from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.
It is the first crewed mission to travel farther than low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The long-awaited exit from Earth orbit signaled that humankind is now on a trajectory to its closest celestial body, the moon at an average of 238,855 miles away.
“I got to tell you, there is nothing normal about this: sending four humans 250,000 miles away is a Herculean effort, and we are just realizing the gravity of that,” Reid said in a press conference after exiting orbit.
Asked what they are most excited about when they near the moon, Koch simply said it was views.
“Having just experienced incredible views of planet Earth and seeing the entire planet out the window in one pane, knowing that we’re about to have some similar views of the moon in that same way is definitely getting me more excited for it,” she said.
“I knew that that is what we would see, but there is nothing that prepares you for the breathtaking aspect of seeing your home planet both lit up bright as day and also the moon glow on it at night with the beautiful beam of the sunset and knowing we are going to get similar views of the moon, I’m just really excited for that.”
The Orion spacecraft is now on its way to the moon where the crew will perform a flyby, during which they will take high-resolution photographs and provide personal observations of the lunar surface, including the far side of the moon, NASA said.
After the flyby is completed, the four-person crew will begin their return to Earth, completing their 10-day deep-space journey with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.
The mission, in essence, is a crewed rehearsal for a future lunar landing, targeted for early 2028.
International law experts allege violations in Iran war
The White House says it is making the entire region safer by eliminating short and long-term threats.
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Mel B may NEVER perform with Spice Girls again as she breaks silence on band’s cancelled 30th anniversary reunion tour
MEL B has shut down rumours the Spice Girls will reunite to mark the 30th anniversary of Wannabe.
The singer has quashed speculation the band will get back together to celebrate three decades since their debut hit.
Wannabe was released in June 1996, with debut album Spice following that September.
Mel has now confirmed a reunion is not on the cards, disappointing millions fans who had hoped the milestone would bring the group back together.
She reunited with Geri Horner, Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm for a string of stadium shows in 2019, although Victoria Beckham did not take part.
Speaking to HELLO!, Mel said: “I can tell you it’s not happening. If it does, it’ll be a shock to me, let’s put it that way.”
Reflecting on the last tour, she added: “When I look at that and at the feeling it gave me, I was in my element, but there comes a time… I’m 50.
“You can’t be nagging everyone to go on tour if they don’t want to. I laid that to rest when I turned 50.”
Asked if she would return to the stage if the others signed up, Mel admitted she is unsure.
The 50-year-old said, “I honestly don’t know. I’ve got a lot of respect and love for those girls. I wouldn’t be sitting here if it wasn’t for me being part of the Spice Girls.
“They’ve done a lot for me as a person and in my life. I’ve got fond memories, but I don’t know if I would want to go back up on stage.”
She added: “I can’t even begin to tell you what our bond is – it’s just something that will always be there.
“We’re like family; our umbilical cords are all tied together.”
For now, fans may have to settle for a potential Netflix documentary, in the style of recent Beckham projects.
Mel said: “I think we’ve all been asked and we’re all thinking about it at some point.
“But it has to be done in the right way, and it has to be honest – and not everybody wants to be honest.”
A planned Netflix drama based on the group was shelved last month amid tensions in the group.
Reports in 2024 claimed Geri had concerns about the deal, which is said would have netted the girls a cool £1 million each.
Sources also alleged tensions between Geri and Mel are making any Spice Girls comeback nearly impossible.
The infamous rift exploded in 2019, after Mel sensationally claimed that she had a secret fling with Geri during the band’s early years in an interview on Piers Morgan’s show.
Geri denied the claim, saying that Mel ‘dreamed it up’ to sell more copies of her Brutally Honest biography.
The Sun told last April how Geri, 53, was back in touch with the band’s former manager Simon Fuller and had flown out to Miami to try and agree on a deal.
As recently as January, Mel C had insisted they were still in active discussions about celebrating the milestone.
And even Victoria, 51, had prompted hopes she could return to the group, saying she “loves” the idea of a residency at Las Vegas venue Sphere.
The Spice Girls have not performed together as a five-piece since the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.
Corporate Protection Vetoed – Los Angeles Times
ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Mario Cuomo vetoed a bill today that would have given New York companies powerful new defenses against corporate raiders, saying the measure was too far-reaching and might be unconstitutional.
Assemblyman G. Oliver Kopell, a chief sponsor of the legislation, said he would make no effort to round up a two-thirds majority in the Assembly to override the governor’s veto. The corporate takeover bill was designed to cover companies incorporated in New York with at least 15% of their stock owned by New Yorkers and with significant ties to New York.
Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury adds to a brutal night for Lakers
From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: The score wasn’t the only thing that made this the Lakers’ worst loss of the season.
Even more concerning than the Lakers’ 139-96 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday was watching superstar guard Luka Doncic hobble off the court with a left hamstring injury in the third quarter.
The 27-year-old guard was held to just 12 points and seven assists, and he committed six turnovers before he pulled up on a drive with 7:39 left in the third quarter. He grabbed at the back of his left leg and limped to the baseline, where he lowered himself to the court, rolled onto his back and covered his face. Concerned teammates surrounded him. Coach JJ Redick offered one hand to pull him to his feet.
Doncic will undergo an MRI scan Friday, Redick said, before the Lakers (50-27) play Doncic’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, on Sunday. In a subdued locker room, the Lakers were left to wrestle with their largest margin of defeat since Nov. 27, 2023 amid the possibility of having to finish the regular season without the NBA’s leading scorer.
“At this juncture of the season, it’s the last thing you want to see,” said LeBron James, who had 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. “Especially — anybody on our team — but when you have an MVP candidate on your team, the last thing you want to see is somebody go down with a hamstring injury. … I don’t know obviously what the case may be, so pray for the best for sure and a speedy recovery.”
Guard Austin Reaves shook off his own injury scare to finish with 15 points, one assist and four turnovers after grabbing at his left lower back for most of the first quarter. He said he overextended himself chasing a loose ball. He turned the ball over trying to connect with Deandre Ayton on the next possession, reaching immediately for his lower back after the pass went awry.
UCLA women know it’s all or nothing
UCLA center Lauren Betts celebrates during a win over Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament on March 29.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
From Marisa Ingemi: You’d be forgiven if you thought this year’s Final Four was just a case of déjà vu.
On paper, that seems true — four No. 1 seeds who have dominated every round of the NCAA tournament arrived in Phoenix this week and they are the same four teams who reached the Final Four last year in Tampa, Fla.
Sustaining that level of success during the modern college basketball era, the four teams insist, isn’t as easy.
Connecticut doesn’t have Paige Bueckers; South Carolina doesn’t have Kamilla Cardoso; and UCLA coach Cori Close and the Bruins have a much different lineup.
“Getting here,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said, “is the hard part.”
NCAA women’s basketball tournament bracket
UCLA gymnastics focused on staying calm, confident
UCLA gymnast Mika Webster-Longin competes on the balance beam during the Big Four Gymnastics competition at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 27.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
From Anthony Solorzano: The UCLA women’s gymnastics team enters the NCAA regionals on Friday in Corvallis, Ore., focused on three principles — calm, confidence and commitment to one another. The Bruins started leaning on the mantra to help them stay dialed in as they took home the Big Ten tournament title, Mika Webster-Longin said.
Now, they will use it as they to push to reach the NCAA championship.
“The Big Ten win really feels good and helps our confidence going [into NCAA regionals],” she said. “It felt great to put everything together because I feel like we really built off of one another and showed what we can do to not only the Big Ten competition, but to everyone.”
“It gives us just the right amount of confidence going into regionals and then seeing where it takes us,” Tiana Sumanasekera said.
Kawhi Leonard and Clippers fall to Spurs
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, right, and coach Tyronn Lue react during the second half of a 118-99 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
From the Associated Press: De’Aaron Fox scored 22 points on nine-of-13 shooting, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Clippers 118-99 on Thursday night without Victor Wembanyama in the lineup to win their 11th in a row.
Wembanyama was rested on the second night of a back-to-back. He had 41 points and 18 rebounds in a 127-113 win at the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
The Spurs (59-18) had six players in double figures, including Stephon Castle with 20 points and Dylan Harper with 19 off the bench.
Kings lose to Predators in eight-round shootout
Nashville Predators forward Luke Evangelista scores the winning goal past Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper in a shootout to secure a 5-4 win Thursday at Crypto.com Arena.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)
From the Associated Press: Luke Evangelista scored the only goal of the shootout in the eighth round, and the Nashville Predators tightened the Western Conference playoff race with a 5-4 win over the Kings on Thursday night.
Nashville, the Kings and San José are now even with 79 points apiece for the second wild-card playoff spot in the West, but the Sharks — who beat Toronto 4-1 earlier Thursday — have a game in hand.
Steven Stamkos scored his 37th goal and Jonathan Marchessault ended his 14-game goal drought for the Predators, who snapped their three-game skid despite blowing a three-goal lead. Filip Forsberg and Zachary L’Heureux also scored.
Bob Chesney grading Bruins on effort
UCLA coach Bob Chesney leads the Bruins through their first spring football practice at Spaulding Field on Thursday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
From Anthony Solorzano: UCLA football coach Bob Chesney wasn’t looking for star performances during the Bruins’ first spring practice on Thursday — instead, he wanted his players to focus on holding themselves accountable for putting in their best effort.
“We talk about the mirror test. Don’t worry about what your coach says, don’t worry about what your other teammates say,” Chesney said. “Go look at yourself in the mirror. That’s really the only guy that’s gonna know, right?”
There was excitement and intensity but perfection wasn’t expected. For the new head coach, it was about whether the fundamentals UCLA worked on throughout the winter carried over, he said.
“While I watch it out here, the things that don’t take skill, the things that don’t take great genetics, were the things I wanted to focus on today more than anything — the effort,” Chesney said.
Trevor Bauer set to pitch for Long Island Ducks
Diablos Rojos’ Trevor Bauer pitches against New York Yankees during an exhibition game March 24, 2024, at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium in Mexico City.
(Fernando Llano / Associated Press)
From Chuck Schilken: Former Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer will pitch for a U.S. team for the first time since 2021 when he serves as the opening day starter for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League later this month.
Since his last MLB start, on June 28, 2021, Bauer has been accused of sexual assault by four women. He denies all the allegations and has never been charged with a crime.
After Bauer served a 194-game suspension for violating the league’s sexual assault and domestic violence policy, the Dodgers severed ties with the 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner on Jan. 6, 2023, less than two years after signing him to a three-year, $102-million contract.
Rams weigh future with Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua stands on the field during a win over the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium in December. Nacua’s attorney announced Wednesday that the Rams wide receiver entered rehab last month.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
From Los Angeles Times staff: Puka Nacua shattered Rams rookie records after the wide receiver was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Nacua became known for his infectious enthusiasm and ability to catch almost anything Rams MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford threw his way.
Now Nacua, 24, finds himself at a crossroads, with his NFL production suggesting he’s in line to sign a massive contract extension but his off-field issues raising questions about whether the Rams would be better off trading him. His attorney confirmed on Wednesday that Nacua began receiving treatment at a rehabilitation care facility in March.
More details from Tiger Woods’ arrest
In this image from video provided by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office, golfer Tiger Woods is strapped into a police vehicle following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., on March 27.
(Associated Press)
From the Associated Press: After crashing his SUV last week in Florida, Tiger Woods took out his phone and told a deputy, “I was just talking to the president,” according to body camera footage released Thursday showing Woods’ arrest on a DUI charge.
The phone conversation was not captured on video, but Woods could be heard saying, “Thank you so much,” as he hung up and the deputy approached. It wasn’t clear if Woods was referring to President Trump, whose former daughter-in-law, Vanessa Trump, is dating Woods.
Shortly after the golfer’s March 27 arrest, Trump was asked about Woods and told reporters: “I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty. Very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person. Amazing man. But, some difficulty.”
This day in sports history
1923 — “Black Sox” sue White Sox (unsuccessfully) for back salary.
1930 — The Montreal Canadiens win the NHL Stanley Cup with a two-game sweep of the Boston Bruins.
1933 — Ken Doraty’s overtime goal gives the Toronto Maple Leafs and 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins in semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The goal comes at one hour, 44 minutes and 46 seconds of the overtime beyond the one-hour regulation game.
1966 — P Tom Seaver signs with the NY Mets.
1975 — Bobby Fischer stripped of world chess title for refusing to defend it, title awarded to Russian Anatoly Karpov.
1977 — Jean Ratelle of the Boston Bruins scores his 1,000th point with an assist in a 7-4 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1982 — Buffalo’s Gil Perrault scores his 1,000th point with an assist in a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
1983 — 2nd NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: USC beats Louisiana Tech, 69-67.
1987 — Chicago Cubs trade Dennis Eckersley to Oakland A’s.
1988 — Louisiana Tech wins the NCAA women’s basketball championship with a 56-54 come-from-behind victory over Auburn.
1988 — Amy Alcott shoots a 1-under 71 to win the Dinah Shore by two shots over Colleen Walker.
1988 — Mario Lemieux wins NHL scoring title, stopping Gretzky’s 7 year streak.
1989 — Michigan beats Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime to win the NCAA basketball championship. Rumeal Robinson hits two free throws with three seconds left for the Wolverines. It’s the first time that a first-year coach, Steve Fisher, wins the national title.
1991 — Bo Jackson signs 1-year contract with Chicago White Sox.
1993 — For the first time in its 157-year history, the Grand National steeplechase is declared void because of a false start. Esha Ness crosses the line first, but most of the jockeys are unaware a false start is called and the majority of the 39-horse field continue the 4½-mile race around the Aintree course even though nine stay behind at the start line.
1994 — Charlotte Smith’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gives North Carolina a 60-59 victory over Louisiana Tech in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game.
1995 — UCLA wins its first national basketball championship in 20 years and record 11th NCAA title, keeping Arkansas from repeating with an 89-78 victory.
1996 — St Francis Fighting Saints scores college baseball run record with 71.
2000 — 62nd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Michigan State beats Florida, 89-76.
2004 — St. Louis clinches its 25th consecutive NHL playoff berth, the longest in major league sports, with a 4-1 win over Nashville.
2006 — Joakim Noah dominates UCLA with 16 points, nine rebounds and a record seven blocks to key a 73-57 blowout for Florida’s first national title in men’s basketball.
2006 — Steve Yzerman scores his final NHL goal (#692).
2007 — After a nine-year title drought, Tennessee and coach Pat Summitt are NCAA champions. The Lady Vols capture an elusive seventh national title, beating Rutgers 59-46.
2010 — Bernard Hopkins wins a brutal unanimous decision over Roy Jones Jr. in their long-delayed rematch, emphatically avenging his loss in the famed champions’ first fight nearly 17 years earlier.
2012 — Brittney Griner scores 26 points and grabs 13 rebounds to help Baylor finish off an undefeated season with an 80-61 win over Notre Dame in the women’s national championship game. Baylor becomes the first team in NCAA history to win 40 games.
2017 — Justin Jackson delivers the go-ahead three-point play and North Carolina scores the last eight points for a 71-65 win over Gonzaga and an NCAA title that heartbreakingly eluded the Tar Heels last year. It’s an ugly game, filled with 44 fouls and 52 free throws. Carolina was down 2 with 1:40 left when Jackson took a pass under the bucket from Theo Pinson, made a layup and got fouled. The free throw made it 66-65, and after a Gonzaga miss on the other end, Isaiah Hicks made a shot to help North Carolina start pulling away to the school’s sixth title.
2019 — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich is ejected after an NBA record low 63 seconds in the Spurs 113-85 loss in Denver; receives 2 technical fouls in a verbal confrontation with a referee.
Compiled by the Associated Press.
Until next time…
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
The Greek city that’s better in spring with funiculars, sunset rooftops and wine tastings
OUR Spotlight On column gives you the low-down on what to see and do in some of the most popular holiday destinations – as well as some unsung areas.
This week we are doing a deep dive on Piraeus, a small but certainly not insignificant port city within Athens, Greece.
The Greek city is one to avoid in the summer – last year it hit 42C, a record high.
But Travel Writer Jonathon Samuels explains: “Athens is the perfect Greek city for an all-year-round mini-break, with lots to see and do.
“We began with an evening stroll around Athens’ oldest neighbourhood, Plaka.
“With narrow pedestrianised lanes, tourist shops and tavernas, it’s no surprise that the area is heaving in summer, but we had plenty of space to breathe and enjoy glimpses of The Acropolis in peace.
“For an even less crowded view, head to 360 Cocktail Bar where you can soak up not just the city’s sacred rock but views of the pastel-coloured buildings below, too.
“Look for the little funicular railway at the end of Plutarch Street which takes you through the hill to the summit.”
Here are some of our other top tips.
MUST SEE/DO
As a port city in one of the most history-rich cities in the world, Piraeus has some stories to tell.
And no place tells them better than the Hellenic Maritime Museum which delves into the maritime traditions of the region.
It only costs around £1.50 to enter and visitors can be wowed by ancient maps, flags and old school weaponry that was once used on the seas.
HIDDEN GEM
Margaro is a pokey restaurant loved by locals, but less-known by tourists.
The interior may be bland and simple (think plastic tables and basic wooden chairs), but the food is anything but.
You won’t need a menu as this third-generation family fish joint only serves a few basic dishes: fried shrimp, fresh fish such as mullet or bream and langoustines, all accompanied by a classic and hearty Greek salad.
There are no reservations, so just follow the queues of local down the back streets from the port.
You’ll be paying a fraction of the cost you would in main tourist spots, but for some of the best Greek food you’ve ever sampled.
BEST VIEW
Nest Rooftop Bar & Bistro at The Alex Hotel is the place to go, especially at sunset.
Set just a few metres back from the ocean, visitors can sip on cocktails while soaking up panoramic views of Saronic Gulf, with ferry boats and yachts on the water, and the sun-drenched terracotta roof tops of surrounding buildings.
RATED RESTAURANT
Pushing the boat out? Well this is the right place to do that – for a number of reasons.
The Michelin-starred Varoulko Seaside, in Mikrolimano marina, is a dream for seafood lovers.
Diners can tuck into traditional Greek flavours using modern culinary techniques – dishes like catch of the day come with fennel, orange and bearnaise sauce.
BEST BAR
Greek wine has soared in popularity in recent years and is now in the same league as some the finest wines in the world.
So if you’re keen to sample the best, a visit Paleo Wine Store is a must.
The cosy and sophisticated bar is housed in a former warehouse and serves excellent grape tipples.
If you’re unsure of what to order, staff are always happy to help. The setting is extremely cool, with industrial-style decor, long wooden tables and shelves stacked high with bottles.
HOTEL PICK
It’s not just its excellent rooftop (mentioned above) that makes the 4* Alex Hotel standout.
The bright and airy space has a modern Greek feel to it with stone-coloured furnishings and simplistic interiors. It’s well-located for exploring the region too, offering easy access to both the city and the sea.
The rooftop restaurant serves British favourites such as pizza, pasta and burgers, as well as more sophisticated dishes including sea drum ceviche and tuna tartare.
Rooms cost from £110 per night. See santikoscollection.com.
Ten years since Panama Papers: What did they reveal, did anything change? | Panama Papers News
The Panama Papers, one of the biggest ever data leaks, revealed the vast scale of offshore financial networks used by the global elite.
On April 3, 2016, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung released more than 11.5 million documents from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. It exposed a network of offshore shell companies linked to the global financial elite, including current and former government leaders.
More than 350 journalists from over 80 countries worked in secrecy for more than a year to analyse 2.6 terabytes of leaked data then published their findings.
Here’s what we know about the Panama Papers ten years on, and whether the leak led to any changes.
What was the Panama Papers scandal about?
The 2016 Panama Papers scandal was about the leak of 11.5 million confidential documents including emails, contracts and banking statements from the law firm Mossack Fonseca.
The papers revealed a massive global network of offshore shell companies linked to some of the world’s richest people including politicians, business leaders and public figures, spanning countries from the United Kingdom to Russia, Australia to Brazil. They were using companies based in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and Panama to move and store wealth away from the scrutiny of tax authorities.
About 214,000 entities were linked to individuals and companies in over 200 countries and territories. The documents covered from the 1970s up to 2016.
Who leaked the Panama Papers?
The Panama Papers were leaked by an anonymous whistleblower using the pseudonym John Doe, who initially shared the documents with Suddeutsche Zeitung, which then collaborated with journalists worldwide on reporting and releasing the findings.
P Vaidyanathan Iyer, managing editor at The Indian Express and one of the hundreds of journalists who worked on the Panama Papers, said that the process of identifying the information was like “looking for a needle in a haystack”.
“We were continuously, for about six to eight months, just reading data,” he told Al Jazeera.
“My team of three and I had a small cubicle to ourselves in the office, and we were cut off from the rest. Day and night, we were going through data, downloading documents onto our laptops and computers, which were all very secure, with restricted access. It was arduous work,” he added.
Who was exposed?
Hundreds of people, including more than 140 politicians, were identified as directors, shareholders or beneficiaries of offshore shell companies revealed in the Panama Papers. Among them were Mauricio Macri, then president of Argentina, and Petro Poroshenko, who was Ukraine’s fifth president from 2014 to 2019.
Other leaders, including former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, were also named – all linked to ownership of shell companies in offshore tax havens.
What are offshore shell companies?
Offshore companies are legal entities incorporated in a jurisdiction outside the owner’s country of residence.
Shell companies, on the other hand, are entities that have “no real substantial business or operations in its place of incorporation or registered office,” Kehinde Olaoye, a professor of commercial law and business law associations at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar, told Al Jazeera.
Shell companies are often used to create legal paperwork to cover for fraudulent or dodgy financial transactions. If they’re based in a country other than the owner’s, they’re offshore shell companies.
Are offshore shell companies illegal?
No. Offshore shell companies are not automatically illegal. The purpose of such companies is to create trusts, which then can be used to protect wealth or create estate planning.
However, “there is always a thin line between legitimate and illegitimate purposes” in using offshore shell companies, Olaoye noted.
“Usually, individuals and companies receive advice from financial advisers and legal advisers on how they can structure their business to take advantage of ‘favourable’ tax benefits,” she said.
Did anyone get in trouble for the Panama Papers?
A month after the Panama Papers were leaked, Iceland’s Gunnlaugsson resigned as prime minister following mass protests. According to the leaked documents, Gunnlaugsson and his wife allegedly established a company, Wintris, in the British Virgin Islands with the assistance of the Panamanian law firm. His resignation led to the fall of the Icelandic government at the time.
In 2017, Pakistan’s Supreme Court also disqualified then prime minister Sharif from office following the leaks, despite an earlier ruling that found insufficient evidence of corruption. The Panama Papers revealed that his children held several companies in the British Virgin Islands. In 2018, Sharif was banned from politics for life.
Mossack Fonseca, which had over 40 offices worldwide, also faced significant operational impacts following the leaks, including staff reductions, and ultimately shut down in 2018. Its co-founders, Jurgen Mossack and the late Ramon Fonseca, were acquitted by a Panamanian court, along with 26 others accused of setting up shell companies implicated in scandals in Brazil and Germany.
How much tax revenue has been recovered since 2016?
Between 2016 and 2026, governments worldwide recovered around $2bn in taxes, penalties and levies, according to the ICIJ. Countries such as the UK, Sweden and France each recovered between $200-250m, while others, including Japan, Mexico and Denmark, recovered around $30m each.
However, the amount that remains unaccounted for is significantly higher.
In India alone, the government brought forward close to 425 tax cases, according to Iyer.
“But the amount realised in taxes, which the government got back into its treasury was just about 150 crore rupees, which is around $16m. Whereas the total tax which was brought under investigation was about $1.5bn,” he noted.
Other countries, including Austria, Slovenia and New Zealand recovered between $1m and $8m.
Panama, the country where the leak was revealed, recovered about $14.1m.
Did the Panama Papers lead to changes in the legal system?
Since the release of the Panama Papers, governments have taken steps to curb the misuse of shell companies by introducing new laws and regulations. They include the Corporate Transparency Act in the US, which requires the disclosure of “beneficial owners”—individuals who ultimately profit from offshore entities — as well as measures to improve information sharing between tax authorities.
The United Nations is also considering draft proposals for a Convention on Taxation. In addition, several nations have signed bilateral double-taxation treaties to reduce tax avoidance and prevent income from being taxed in multiple jurisdictions.
But gaps remain in the global tax system. There’s no one overarching international taxation principle that everyone needs to follow — and often there are overlapping treaties and agreements that allow those with the shrewdest financial advisors to choose, or shop, from among those pacts, based on whatever works best for them.
“The main challenge in international tax law is that there is no multilateral tax convention, which creates problems of tax competition and ‘treaty shopping’,” Olaoye said.
Storm Dave set to approach UK bringing Easter weekend wind, rain and snow
There is a risk of significant travel disruption during what is predicted to be the busiest Easter weekend in four years for drivers.
Bridges could close and ferry services may be cancelled, with possible delays to planes, trains and buses.
Rough seas and large waves will bring dangerous conditions around the coasts.
Parts of north-west Scotland are also covered by a Met Office yellow warning for rain and snow.
At low levels, especially in the Western Isles and Skye, up to 50mm (2in) of rain could fall with the potential for flooding.
Meanwhile hills and mountains above 200m (650ft) are likely to see snow, with 5-10cm (2-4in) expected to accumulate, and a small chance of 20cm (8in) in a few places.
Coupled with the strong winds this could give blizzards, snowdrifts and very poor visibility on the roads.
Blake Lively breaks silence after judge throws out sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni ahead of trial
BLAKE Lively has broken her silence after a judge threw out most of her claims against Justin Baldoni.
Ten of the 13 claims Lively, 38, filed against Baldoni, 42, were thrown out on Thursday, April 2, by a judge.
The claims relating to harassment, defamation and conspiracy follow conflict while the pair filmed the 2024 Colleen Hoover adaptation It Ends With Us.
The remaining claims against Baldoni’s company Wayfarer Studios, which include breach of contract and retaliation, will move forward to trial.
“This case has always been and will remain focused on the devasting [sic] retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial,” said Sigrid McCawley, member of Lively’s legal team, told PEOPLE.
“For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they’ve targeted.
“She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”
District Judge Lewis Liman said Lively sued under California law but the alleged wrongful conduct took place elsewhere.
He also cited other issues in the cases, such as the fact that Lively had not signed an agreement that would have governed sexual harassment on set.
The judge said the actress could pursue her retaliation claims, among others, against Baldoni’s studio.
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“Sexual harassment isn’t going forward not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee, said McCawley.
Justin Baldoni responds to judge throwing out case
“We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel,” said Baldoni’s attorneys, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach to The Daily Mail.
“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.
“What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”
Lively claimed that Baldoni kissed her during a scene where the script didn’t call for it and said he entered her trailer while she breastfed.
The actress also claimed that Baldoni tried to harm her reputation after she asserted he had created a problematic work environment.
Baldoni claimed Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, tried to tarnish his reputation, engaged in extortion, and hijacked creative control of the romance film.
Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake was dismissed by a judge in November.
The pair will now appear in court on May 18 in New York.
Legal representatives for both have said Baldoni and Lively both plan to testify.
Contributor: What can Democrats stand for when there’s no Trump to stand against?
Thanks in large part to President Trump’s disastrous policies, Democrats have a decent shot at not just retaking the House, but maybe even flipping the Senate.
Here’s the thing to know: Midterms are a referendum on the incumbent president. And this is especially true when the president is Donald Trump, who dominates every news cycle. He creates weather. He is, in short, always the issue.
But what happens when Trump is gone? What happens when Democrats have to defend their record of leadership? What happens when the referendum is on them?
Even now — as Dems appear to be surging — polling suggests that fewer than 40% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably. That’s not exactly a mandate.
Yes, voters might choose Democrats as the lesser of two evils this November, but that doesn’t mean Americans are out there buying Democratic foam fingers. Not yet, anyway.
It also doesn’t mean Democrats are technically competent. As I type this, the Republican National Committee currently has a 7-to-1 money advantage over Democrats.
While Dems might win in 2026 in spite of all of their problems, a false sense of security would not bode well for 2028 — and beyond.
In fact, “beyond” starts to look structurally challenging, with things like the 2030 census and potential changes to voting laws threatening to rearrange the electoral map in ways Democrats will not enjoy.
But before we spiral into a dystopian future, let’s focus on the single most important decision Democrats will make: their 2028 presidential nominee. I’m not saying issues don’t matter. They do. But candidates function as shorthand for those policies.
That’s how politics works now: less like a detailed policy seminar, and more like a series of vibes that overwhelm us on our iPhones.
The next Democratic nominee will redefine what their party stands for. This one choice could spell defeat or a stunning victory that ushers in a political reordering.
Part of the challenge is that Trump has scrambled traditional political categories. He has borrowed selectively from modern Democratic economic policy preferences — tariffs, skepticism of free trade — while discarding unpopular ideas like entitlement reform and parts of the old Republican moral framework.
The next Democratic nominee will have to scramble things, too.
This isn’t a call for them to “move to the center” or “radicalize to the left.” Scrambling isn’t a linear project.
Let’s start with the premise that Democrats cannot afford to be outflanked on populism again. That already happened once, and it was not their finest hour.
Economic inequality is rising, and artificial intelligence threatens to widen that gap while disrupting millions of jobs. Meanwhile, the tech billionaires (who will profit handsomely from AI) are all lining up behind MAGA.
Putting these tech bros on the ballot should be a no-brainer.
Likewise, young people who were wooed in part by Trump’s “no new wars” promise are suddenly disenchanted.
Democrats should capitalize by nominating a candidate who can credibly promise “no stupid wars.”
In 2024, Trump capitalized on areas where progressives became out of step with mainstream values on cultural issues. Here, Democrats face a different challenge: realigning with mainstream public opinion without sounding inauthentic or uncompassionate.
Let’s take the issue of immigration. Democrats can vehemently oppose the ICE raids while also promising to keep most of Trump’s border policies in place.
Consider the recent comments of Texas Democrat James Talarico, the Senate nominee who recently criticized outside advocacy groups that convinced the Biden administration “that it was racist to support border security.” He added: “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
But that’s not the only issue that has proven to be devastating for Dems. As Thomas B. Edsall recently wrote in the New York Times, “The trans issue clearly weakened Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, leaving her open to devastating pro-Trump ads.”
Here, a future Democratic nominee might simply say, “What adults do is none of our business, but I am not going to support taxpayer funding of ‘gender-affirming surgery’ — or the use of irreversible treatments or procedures for kids, or trans women competing in women’s sports.”
This statement might not sit well with some progressives, but it would decidedly be on the side of public opinion (three-quarters of adults say trans women shouldn’t be allowed to play female sports).
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Dems to take my advice in the 2028 presidential race — especially if they have a great midterm election night.
Indeed, Ruy Teixeira, a political scientist who has warned Democrats that they have shifted too far to the left, recently lamented that “the desire for change seems to be hovering around zero, as more and more Democrats have convinced themselves that their problems have essentially been solved.”
The path forward is not especially mysterious, but it is very difficult.
In the short term, Democrats can probably ride the blue wave. But in the long term, they need a standard bearer who can synthesize economic populism with mainstream American cultural credibility.
The future may rest on whether that political savior ever arrives.
Matt K. Lewis is the author of “Filthy Rich Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”
2027 Women’s World Cup: Uncapped Cora Chambers in as Michael McArdle names first squad
Uncapped striker Cora Chambers has been included in new Northern Ireland boss Michael McArdle’s first squad for their April World Cup qualifying double-header against Malta.
The 22-year-old was involved in Kenny Shiels’ full-time panel ahead of Euro 2022, but did not go to the tournament and has not been involved with the senior side since.
The Linfield forward netted 20 league goals for the Blues last year and has scored 39 goals in 47 appearances since making the move to the club from Sion Swifts in 2024.
She is included in one of two changes from the squad which lost both games in Kris Lindsay’s interim spell as manager against Switzerland and Turkey.
Hearts midfield Joely Andrews also returns to the 23-strong squad after missing last month’s games through injury.
Experienced defender Sarah McFadden drops to the standby list while Glentoran midfielder Mia Moore, who made her first start in the defeat against Turkey, will instead be part of the under-19 squad competing in Euro qualifiers this month.
McArdle, who was the Scottish FA’s head of elite women’s football and former interim head coach of Scotland, was appointed as Tanya Oxtoby’s permanent successor in March.
His first game as NI manager will take place at Mourneview Park against Malta on Tuesday, 14 April.
His side will then travel to Malta for the second of April’s double-header on Saturday, 18 April as they look to pick up their first win in qualifying.
Art Deco English lido SAVED from closure after ex-company goes into administration
BROCKWELL Lido has been saved just days after its operator went into administration.
The popular lido in Herne Hill that’s open year-round, which also has an on-site gym and café, has been taken over by the local council.
Brockwell Lido has been open since 1937, but there were fears that it would close when its operator Fusion Lifestyle went into administration on April 1, 2026.
However, Lambeth Council has already stepped in to take control of the outdoor pool, gym and café.
It confirmed that it will transfer to its in-house leisure service called Active Lambeth from July 1, 2026.
Luckily for keen swimmers, there will be no interruption and the lido will continue to be open to the public.
It’s a very popular south London lido and attracts nearly 200,000 visitors during the peak summer season.
The swim spot was even crowned the ‘Best Lido in Britain’ by the AA in 2025, based on its popularity, reviews, value, and other factors.
Last year, it was also named the ‘Best Lido in London’ by Time Out.
Brockwell Lido opened in the 1930s with the aim of creating an “oasis in the city” for locals, many of whom cannot afford a holiday, according to its website.
The unheated 50-metre lido is on a Grade II-listed site and is open throughout the year.
During the winter when the water is at its coldest there are two sauna pods so visitors can warm up after their swim.
Under Fusion Lifestyle’s operation, tickets were priced at £9.50 for an adult swim and £6 for juniors.
Brockwell Lido also has a gym, outdoor space for sunbathing and an on-site café which serves up hot and cold drinks, and sourdough pizzas.
Another lido that will open this summer despite previously being marked for closure is in Devon.
In February, the local council announced plans to close Teignmouth Lido in order to save money.
Officials said that not reopening Teignmouth Lido could save £74,000 in 2026.
Just one month later, the decision was reversed by the executive committee of Teignbridge Council.
The 25-metre outdoor pool first opened in the 1970s and opens seasonally, usually having its debut in May half-term.
It has partial opening hours in June and July and then opens full time during the summer holidays.
The pool is heated and holds various swim sessions, from public to fun sessions, as well as activities like aqua fit and aqua circuits.
Check out one of our favourite seaside towns in Devon…
*If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
Sidmouth, Devon
Take a trip to Sidmouth on the Jurassic Coast and wander down Jacob’s Ladder to its pretty shingle beach. Make sure to walk along the promenade and check out the independent shops and boutiques. Stay at the four-star Harbour Hotel for sea views and traditional afternoon tea from £135 per room.
For more on lidos, this grotty car park could turn into a beautiful outdoor pool as the seaside town plans to bring it back after 50 years.
And this dreamy free lido is opening in UK with sweeping city views, sandpits and even its own sauna.
You can book a UFO on Airbnb and it comes with a TARDIS toilet
This unique Airbnb offers an out of this world experience. Not only do you sleep inside a UFO, even going to the loo takes you on a sci-fi adventure thanks to the TARDIS-shaped toilet
The Spodnic UFO is a one-of-a-kind stay(Image: Airbnb/Melin Mabes)
If you’re driving through the countryside in Pembrokeshire and spot what looks like an alien aircraft that has landed on Earth, don’t panic. You’re not about to get abducted by aliens, but you may have just stumbled across a unique Airbnb.
Tucked down a narrow country road near the Welsh village of Templeton is the Melin Mabes glamping site. It offers three unique experiences in the middle of the countryside: a traditional caravan, a treehouse, and the oddest option, the Spodnic UFO. Once featured on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, this galactic-themed experience is set in a small fibreglass building that the owners bought on eBay.
The ‘UFO’ started life as a structure built for London’s 2012 Olympics and used to house generators, and when the owners picked it up off the auction site, they added their own touches to create a unique staycation spot. Now you can book a stay via Airbnb or the Melin Mabes website.
Inside, the pod has been completely transformed with silver walls, sci-fi memorabilia and lots of fun touches. It features a double bed and a set of bunk beds, so four guests can share the space, alongside an inflatable alien.
At the centre of the pod is a ladder that leads to a platform with a glass dome. From here, you can use a telescope for a spot of stargazing or enjoy views of the Welsh countryside. Outside, there’s a kitchen area under cover that includes a fridge, cooker, and running water, as well as a table and chairs.
But perhaps the most fun feature is the bathroom, which is set within a replica TARDIS box. It has a private shower, toilet, and sink, so you don’t have to deal with morning queues at a shower block.
Next to the Spodnic, you’ll also find a private hot tub and outdoor shower, and the outside space is enclosed, so you can also bring your furry friends and let them run around.
This unusual Airbnb is just a few minutes from the village, where you’ll find a cosy pub and some cottages. Just down the road is the Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, a wholesome family-friendly attraction that has fairground rides, a small zoo, a farm, and adventure play activities such as toy diggers. Folly Farm also offers accommodation such as lodges and glamping, and guests get unlimited free attraction entry during their stay.
About a 15-minute drive away is Saundersfoot Beach, a long sandy Blue Flag beach that has clear, shallow waters, making it popular with families on sunny days. At one end is a working harbour, where you’ll see small boats coming in, and there’s a historic lighthouse you can visit. Just steps from the harbour, you can enjoy freshly-caught seafood in one of the many local restaurants.
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
Lee says S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) enter a welcome luncheon at the presidential Blue House in Seoul Friday. Photo by Yonhap
President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate the broad impact from the war in the Middle East.
Lee addressed concerns over uncertainties in global energy supply chains following summit talks with Macron, during which the two leaders discussed ways to deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues.
“President Macron and I agreed to share policy-related experiences and strategies in order to jointly address the economic and energy crises triggered by the Middle East war. We also concurred on working together to reduce uncertainty in the global economy,” Lee said during a joint press announcement.
“We confirmed our commitment to bolstering energy security by expanding our cooperation in the nuclear and offshore wind power sectors while collaborating to secure safe maritime transport routes through the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
Lee said the two leaders also agreed to boost trade and investment with a goal of reaching $20 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030, up from $15 billion last year.
To boost cooperation across sectors, the two sides signed a series of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and other documents.
They pledged to expand cooperation in advanced technologies and future industries — including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology — and to establish a ministerial-level joint committee on science and technology.
The two countries also signed a letter of intent on cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, aimed at combining South Korea’s manufacturing capabilities with France’s processing technology and infrastructure.
The state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed MOUs with French nuclear firms, Orano and Framatome, as well as a separate MOU with France’s EDF on a joint development of an offshore wind power plant in the southwestern city of Yeonggwang.
Lee expressed hope that the agreements would ensure a stable supply of raw materials for South Korea’s nuclear power plants and lay the groundwork for joint entry into the global market.
He also laid out plans to cooperate in space and defense while pledging efforts to bolster collaboration in the cultural sector in light of an MOU signed between the two nations’ cultural heritage agencies.
During the talks, Lee said he explained Seoul’s efforts to resume dialogue with Pyongyang to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, while Macron reaffirmed Paris’ support for peace and stability on the peninsula.
“We two leaders shared a profound understanding that peace on the Korean Peninsula has far reaching implications not just in Northeast Asia and Europe but also the rest of the world,” Lee said.
Lee noted that Seoul and Paris have expanded cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including future strategic industries, such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space, nuclear energy and defense, and expressed hope to deepen coordination on the international stage.
“As responsible members of the international community, the two countries are also working together to respond to rapid changes in the global landscape,” he said.
Lee said Macron extended a formal invitation to the Group of Seven summit scheduled for June in Evian, France, adding that he accepted the invitation. If he attends, it would mark his second consecutive appearance at the G7, following his participation in Canada last year.
Lee welcomed the two countries’ decision to upgrade ties from “a comprehensive partnership for the 21st century,” established in 2004, to “a global strategic partnership,” calling it “a new milestone” in bilateral relations built on 140 years of trust and friendship.
Macron struck a similar tone, expressing hope to expand cooperation across a broad range of areas, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, space and culture, under the upgraded partnership.
He said that Seoul and Paris could strengthen security cooperation and work together to help stabilize the situation in the Middle East, including ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The visit marks Macron’s first trip to South Korea since taking office in 2017 and the first by a French president in 11 years. It comes as the two countries mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations, established with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between France and the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
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Artemis II blasts closer to the far side of the Moon
In the event of an emergency, the U-turn is the fastest way home in the first 36 hours after the TLI. After that it can be just as quick, and often simpler, to stay on course around the Moon and fall back to Earth, Orion programme manager Howard Hu said before the launch.
Kids ate the multiplex: How family movies are taking over moviegoing
As “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” lands in theaters, coloring stations, collectible popcorn containers and mascot Marios are all in place to entice arguably the most prized moviegoers to Hollywood today: kids.
By Sunday, Universal Pictures expects the five-day opening of the “Super Mario” sequel to reach $186 million domestically, and around $350 million worldwide. That would make it easily the biggest hit of the year, surpassing a pair of successes that also launched with young moviegoers in mind: Pixar’s “Hoppers” ($297 million worldwide) and Amazon MGM’s “Project Hail Mary” ($300.8 million).
It’s not the start of a new trend but the culmination of one. In 2024, PG-rated movies outgrossed any other rating for the first time in decades, with $3.18 billion in domestic ticket sales according to Comscore. Five of the top six movies worldwide were PG movies: “Inside Out 2,” “Moana 2,” “Despicable Me 4,” “Wicked” and “Mufasa: The Lion King.”
Last year was no different. PG-rated films amassed $2.96 billion, again besting the longtime leader, PG-13. The top draws globally were “Ne Zha 2,” “Zootopia 2,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “A Minecraft Movie” and the PG-13-rated but not exactly kid-adverse “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
Good news has been hard to come by in Hollywood. Contraction, most recently with Paramount Skydance’s planned purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, has added to the anxieties of an already jittery industry. While ticket sales are up so far in 2026, they remain more than 20% below pre-pandemic levels. In February, AMC, the nation’s largest exhibitor, said it would continue to shutter underperforming theaters.
But despite a lot of talk about the imperiled future of moviegoing, future moviegoers — kids — are turning out in droves.
“There’s a recognition that this is an increasingly important group of movie fans and we’re doing everything we can to make sure their experience is wonderful,” says Michael O’Leary, president and chief executive of Cinema United, the trade group for theater owners.
Gen Alpha, those aged 12 or younger, may even be the movies’ best hope. A study last year by the National Research Group found that no generational group wanted to watch movies on the big screen, as opposed to at home, more than Gen Alpha.
“We’re emboldened by some of the research that indicates younger folks are the fastest growing demographic of people going to the movies,” O’Leary says. “We’re very much focused on the fact that we have to build the next generation of movie fans.”
Mario, Minions and more
In 2023, “The Super Mario Movie,” part of Universal’s collaboration with Nintendo and “Minions”-maker Illumination, grossed $1.36 billion. Its sequel is likely to get close to that, and add to a mounting string of $1 billion kids movies. The most recent was The Walt Disney Co.’s “Zootopia 2,” which became the highest-grossing Hollywood animated film of all time with a whopping $1.87 billion.
Increasingly, a generation that grew up with smartphones, iPads and Netflix is propelling today’s biggest blockbusters.
“What’s been true for a long time and is maybe even truer today: Families want to be out,” says Jim Orr, distribution chief for Universal, which recently announced the expansion of its exclusive theatrical window from three weekends to five. “They want to do things. They want to make memories.”
“No one talks about: Remember that great time when we sat on the couch?”
And this year may be the most kid-catered year at the movies yet. There are 26 wide-release PG movies slated for 2026, up from 24 in 2025 and 18 in 2024.
That includes a summer lineup that’s family friendly on a nearly week-to-week basis. Potential blockbusters lined up include “Toy Story 5” (June 19), “Minions & Monsters” (July 1) and the live-action “Moana” (July 10). Though currently unrated, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” (May 22) and “Supergirl” (June 26), not to mention “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (July 31), will all also target young moviegoers.
A PG comeback
The PG surge comes several years after most family movies detoured to streaming during the pandemic, a shift that some, at the time, feared would become permanent.
“The family film has literally come back from near-extinction,” says Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Comscore. “The one genre that really took a major hit with the pandemic was the family film.”
But kids increasingly count among a key category for theaters: the habitual moviegoer. That’s considered going to six or more movies a year. And it’s not just younger kids. Last year, 41% of Gen Z moviegoers went to the movies at least six times, according to NRG, up from 31% two years earlier.
For cinephiles who have long feared movie theaters effectively turning into mini theme parks, the predominance of kid-oriented franchise blockbusters is unlikely to allay those concerns. Mid-budget, adult releases are increasingly rare. Dramas and comedies have struggled to attract audiences. Family-friendly movies occupying a bigger slice of cinemas is partially because adult moviegoing has waned.
But if older moviegoers are harder to coax away from the couch, families have been more eager. For them, the appeal of getting out of the house, despite rising ticket costs or the options on streaming services, is as strong as ever.
“In many instances, they’re going to the theater to get away from all of the other screens that inhabit their lives,” says O’Leary. “When I was a kid, you went to the movies, in part, to escape from something. So it’s a new variation on that old theme.”
Dergarabedian has taken to calling PG the new PG-13. If slightly adult-leaning movies once occupied the center of the multiplex, that territory now belongs to the PG movie.
“The kids that are going to the movies today are going to take their kids tomorrow,” Dergarabedian says. “As long as people keep making kids, the future of the movie theater experience is assured.”
Coyle writes for the Associated Press.
How ‘Swiss Leicester’ Thun ran away with the Super League
Thun’s story provides a timely reminder that at football’s core are people, connection and emotion.
Lustrinelli knows this better than most. Months after scoring 20 goals in 30 league games during that historic 2004-05 campaign, he became a club legend by scoring twice as Thun defeated Sweden’s Malmo in the Champions League play-offs to reach the group stage.
“When I came back to Thun, the possibility to live one more time something special was in my head and my heart,” Lustrinelli said.
“My mission is to help this club, the players, to reach something special and historical. To go to the glory. But it’s not just a mission, it’s a joy.”
If he and his players finish the job, it would sit alongside the underdog triumphs of Kaiserslautern in 1997-98, Leicester in 2015-16 and Sweden’s Mjallby in 2025.
“History tells us sometimes crazy things happen in football,” added Lustrinelli.
“Some value is not with money. For the future it’s important that you can have something good without money.
“One of the most beautiful things we can do is show the world there are crazy moments, and for the kids in the stadium, so that they can hope to become footballers in the future and give emotions.”
The traditional title contenders can’t begrudge Thun their moment in the spotlight, either.
“That’s why we love football, because it has its own rules, and stories like this go around the world. All of Switzerland is happy for FC Thun,” said Young Boys and former Thun winger Christian Fassnacht.
It looks like football history is about to be written. But will the heroes on the pitch join their president in the lake?
“That’s the smallest thing we would do,” said captain Burki.
“I cannot speak for everyone, but I think they have no other choice.”