McGann was not always as confident as her persona on TikTok suggests and credits Higgins for helping her come out of her shell.

The two first met at an Ireland sevens camp in Dublin at 16 and have stayed friends during their rise from playing for the sevens at the Olympics in 2024 to representing the 15s at a World Cup last year and various editions of the Six Nations.

“The first time I met Anna was a sevens camp at DCU [Dublin City University], there was a girl the side of the pitch not saying much. She didn’t speak really until our first Dubai Invitational and then you were like ‘who is this?'” Higgins joked.

“I was so shy. I think Eve and the girls were so good and a reason as to why I came out of my shell and was so comfortable and that didn’t happen until I was 21-22,” McGann explained.

“They helped shape me into the person I am and be more comfortable to be myself.”

Despite their closeness, Higgins says the two have never had a falling out, even though they share a room together during Ireland camps.

“Eve and I roomed together for five weeks at the World Cup and somehow we’re not sick of each other,” McGann said.

“We would know if we need to give each other space. That’s the best thing we have. We’ve known each other so long and have grown,” Higgins added.

As mentioned, both players made the transition from sevens to 15s rugby alongside countless others in Scott Bemand’s current squad.

Higgins believes that is the case for so many because it was the only real pathway available for players of her generation to play in a professional environment.

“It’s mostly because there’s not provincial teams for women. Sevens was an opportunity for women’s rugby players to train every week.

“Thankfully now there’s a women’s programme, so there’s 15s and sevens but at the time only seven players were contracted to train week in week out. That was the pathway for us to play semi-professional rugby.”

Draw for the 24-team 2027 AFC Asian Cup, originally set for Saturday, moved to May 9.

The draw for the 2027 ⁠Asian Cup ⁠in Saudi Arabia has been rescheduled for May 9 in Riyadh as the ⁠United States-Israel war on Iran disrupts regional sporting events.

The draw, originally scheduled for last Saturday, will be held at the historic At-Turaif District in Diriyah. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said ⁠on Wednesday that the postponement was ‌made to ensure the full participation of all key stakeholders and member associations.

A number of sporting events across the region have been postponed or cancelled due to the war, which began on February 28.

Saudi Arabia is set to ⁠host the 24-team, quadrennial continental championship for the first time from January 7 to February 5. With 23 of the ⁠24 teams already confirmed, the draw will divide the qualified ⁠nations into six groups of ⁠four.

The final qualification place will be decided on June 4 when Lebanon face Yemen in a playoff.

Defending champions ‌Qatar have already secured their place at the finals along with four-time winners Japan and fellow ‌World ‌Cup qualifiers South Korea, Iran, Jordan, Australia and Uzbekistan.

BREAKINGBREAKING,

Three students and a teacher have been killed in the province of ​Kahramanmaras, according to the local governor.

⁠A student ⁠has shot at least four people dead, including fellow pupils and wounded at least ⁠20 others at a middle school in southeastern Turkiye, according to the local ⁠governor.

Wednesday’s deadly incident marks the country’s second school attack in two days.

Three students and one teacher were killed in the incident in the ‌province of Kahramanmaras, Governor Mukerrem Unluer told reporters.

The shooter died in the attack.

The student was in the eighth-grade at the school and concealed their father’s guns in a backpack to carry out ⁠the attack, the governor added.

School ⁠shootings are very rare in Turkiye.

David Haye is set to target the Rhino’s dinner in tonight’s edition of I’m A Celebrity…South Africa amid what is already a controversial time in the jungle for the boxer

David Haye is set to target the Rhino’s dinner in tonight’s edition of I’m A Celebrity…South Africa. The boxer, 45, is currently taking part in the all-stars edition of Ant and Dec’s ITV reality survival show and is a member of the Lion’s team alongside Harry Redknapp and Ashley Roberts.

Rumours that stealing food in camp, which has been divided by a fence, have been rife and in Wednesday’s episode, the sports star looks set to pocket the rival team’s dinner.

As the food is lowered into camp, David says confidently : “I can’t wait for the food to get here. It’s not going to be easy getting up there but where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

READ MORE: David Haye’s brutal snub to Gemma Collins as I’m A Celeb fans left ragingREAD MORE: I’m A Celebrity fans predict Gemma Collins will win show after telling camp moment

Immediately taken aback by his plan, Olympian Sir Mo Farah tells his teammate: “Damn, brother. No, I think we should just let them have it… technically they did win it.”

But David remains undeterred as he says: “This is the Lions’ lair, anything coming in here is getting eaten,” However, their conversation is overhear by Coronation Street star Craig Charles from the other side of the fence.

He says: “You’re not really going to steal the bag, are you? You can’t steal the bag off our girls who just won the challenge!” Whether he is successful in his ploy remains to be seen, but David wastes no time as he sets about King Harry’s throne to propel himself nearer to the food bag.

The boxing star has had quite the controversial time in camp already – having already made offensive comments about women and seemingly directed a joke about weight at Gemma Collins. After suffering a defeat in a trial, David admitted that he did not like losing and it would “eat him up for a while,” and it was then that Gemma went to comfort him over the loss, which left fans confused, especially after he made insulting comments to her earlier in the week.

He said: “It’s gonna eat me up for a while. They tried to get under my skin, and they have; that’s what they should do, and I expect nothing less. I don’t like losing any rounds.” It was at that point that Gemma, who, as a member of the team on the other side of the fence, made the forbidden move to speak to him, and he began by saying: “Hello sweetheart” when he saw her.

She said: “You’re not a loser, David. Don’t be hard on yourself, tomorrow is another day, dust it off, you’re always a champ, you know that. Love ya. Come on, it’s not the end of the world.” Gemma then hugged her co-star before heading off.

Then, in the Bush Telegraph, Gemma said: “Obviously, there’s been a bit of banter between us. I’ve seen a different side to David.” But fans were left taken aback as to why the TOWIE legend had been so kind and understanding towards him, especially as he made comments last night which seemingly referred to her weight.

David’s controversy all started innocently enough when it was suggested the group of celebs should meet up for a party when they left the show, and David said his girlfriend Sian was a great cook and could possibly provide food for the event.

He then added: “She’s like tall, blue eyes. She’s lovely. She’s got the personality of a proper ugly bird.” Scarlett Moffatt replied: “You can’t say that.”

But David brushed off the response and added: “She has. Most ugly girls realise they don’t they’re not pretty enough to….they gotta have a personality to banter and to tell jokes and s**t, so people overlook the fact that they’re not aesthetically amazing, straight away.

“Which is what’s called Ugly Duckling syndrome, where girls are ugly, when they start off, and then they and then they kind of they, they get pretty as they get older. But they still got the personality of when they’re ugly. Does that make sense?”

As Scarlett and others made shocked noises, David continued to express his opinions. Haye added: “You get a girl who’s pretty from day one, you get a girl who’s different day one. Everyone goes ‘You’re so beautiful. You’re amazing’. She grows up thinking, I’m amazing. Everyone loves me. I can open any door. I can go anywhere I want.” Later on, Gemma was talking about how “thick” her hair is, and David quipped: “It certainly ain’t thin.”

I’m A Celebrity…South Africa airs weeknights 9PM on ITV1, ITVX, STV AND STV PLAYER

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“Scratchers” is the familiar California Lottery game in which players rub a silver coating off tickets to see if they have won.

A similar game is being played in the San Fernando Valley by voters who have received campaign material from state Senate candidate Richard Alarcon.

Alarcon, a city councilman, is in a tight primary race with former Assemblyman Richard Katz to replace state Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) who is being forced out of office due to term limits.

Last month, Alarcon began distributing hundreds of campaign brochures that question Katz’s legislative record. On the back is a list of 13 former and current elected officials who endorse Alarcon.

But one of the names on the list has been blacked out with ink and covered with a piece of white tape, on which is printed the name of another Alarcon supporter, former Assembly Majority Leader Mike Roos.

At several recent campaign events, people have been seen scratching at the tape on the back of the brochure to try to reveal the name. One woman who tried complained that she couldn’t get past the ink and the white tape.

“Whose name did they hide under there?” she asked.

The hidden name is that of Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles). Sources close to Villaraigosa say that Alarcon’s campaign printed Villaraigosa’s name on the brochure without the speaker’s consent. When Villaraigosa found out, he blew a fuse and demanded that his name be removed because he had decided not to make an endorsement in the race.

By then, sources say, hundreds of the brochures had been printed. The only way to remove Villaraigosa’s name was to cover it with another name.

When asked about the brochures, Alarcon would only say: “There was a misunderstanding.”

Greening

In the Broadway musical “The Music Man” traveling salesman Harold Hill sings about the evils of pool, which he notes starts with “P” and that rhymes with “T” and that stands for trouble, trouble, trouble.

Maria Armoudian, the Green Party candidate vying to unseat Rep. Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills) has no hang-ups about pool halls. For her, pool starts with “P” and that rhymes with “C” and that stands for cash, cash, cash.

Armoudian’s first fund-raiser will be June 11 at Fantasia Billiards. For $10, supporters can get their fill of food, pool and political speeches. “I’m committed to changing the world,” Armoudian said, “but I’m going to have fun while I’m doing it.”

Full Speed Ahead

The newest advocate of a separate San Fernando Valley transit zone agency is Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

Riordan gave his endorsement of the proposal in a letter submitted to the MTA board by Alarcon, a strong backer of the idea. Alarcon also submitted the city’s notice of intent to seek formation of the agency.

Alarcon has long argued such an agency could improve bus service. Riordan agreed.

However, the mayor wrote, not just cheaper service but more buses on the road should be the goal, and the Valley shouldn’t benefit at the expense of other areas of the city.

When Alarcon gave the mayor’s letter, together with the letter of intent, to the MTA board, some board members couldn’t hold back their enthusiasm.

Although the letter is supposed to kick off studies that are expected to take months, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich suggested bringing the proposal back in June for approval. Alarcon said he actually found himself urging restraint.

“I said, ‘I appreciate that greatly, but perhaps conceptual approval would be appropriate,” he said.

Exalted Company

Deputy Mayor Rocky Delgadillo, the mayor’s economic development czar, found himself elbow to elbow with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and actress Lauren Bacall recently at a dinner he attended to receive Columbia University’s prestigious University Medal of Excellence this week.

Delgadillo, a graduate of Columbia’s law school, joins such notables as scientist Stephen Jay Gould, choreographer Twyla Tharpe, and political analyst George Stephanopoulos in receiving the medal.

Talk, Talk

Don’t expect the hotly contested proposal to build 24,300 homes at Newhall Ranch near Santa Clarita to come before the Board of Supervisors any time soon.

The proposal, which would plunk 70,000 people down on what is now grazing and farmland, is scheduled to be heard by the supervisors next Tuesday. However, Antonovich has requested that the discussion be postponed until June. And a key player in Antonovich’s office has said he does not expect a final vote until fall.

In part, the delay is due to the vast volume of material–including a four-volume environmental impact report–that has accompanied the application by the developer, the Newhall Land & Farming Co.

But there’s another reason. Antonovich’s aides are hoping that a compromise can be reached between neighbors–many of whom vehemently oppose the project, and Newhall Land–before the application comes before the supervisors.

Antonovich spokesman Cam Currier would not say whether progress had been made since the board held a public hearing on the project in March. But, he said, Antonovich’s office is attempting to facilitate discussions,.

“There is an ongoing dialogue between the developer and those who oppose the project,” Currier said.

Anyone who has jumped out of a plane with a parachute deserves respect, but to do it 36 times, that’s worthy of a salute.

Saul Pacheco, who turns 88 in November, is sitting in a lawn chair at the Arcadia Invitational with his friends, the starters dressed in red suits who fire pistols to begin races.

That’s when he mentions how he was in the 82nd Airborne Division and jumping out of planes in the 1960s after graduating from Wilmington Banning High and UCLA.

“I was a jump master who became in charge of the parachute troopers,” he said.

Then he talks about becoming a teacher and wanting to return to his alma mater, Banning, which had no openings, so he ends up at rival Carson and coaching the offensive line for Hall of Fame coach Gene Vollnogle for more than two decades. Vollnogle was football coach from 1963 to 1990, winning eight City titles.

Pacheco also became a track starter in 1977. He was already well trained to fire a pistol. It was learning all the rules required in track and field that needed to be mastered.

He apparently did just that, because he’s been at it for 49 years and plans to retire as a track starter this spring. For 25 years, he was a starter for the Arcadia Invitational. Then he became the meet referee to settle any disputes. The respect he has earned can be seen in the way other starters appreciate him for helping them learn the ropes.

He’ll be inducted into the Carson Hall of Fame this fall for his contributions as a coach and athletic director.

His story is pretty amazing. He was one of 13 children. His parents apparently wanted enough siblings to form a football team. His father was a carpenter helping build minesweepers at Terminal Island for the Navy. His mother stayed home and took care of everyone. The first seven kids born were boys. He was No. 5. Imagine the competition for food at dinner time.

“Everbody came in to eat at different times,” Pacheco said. “My mother did a great job having stuff ready.”

But what about 13 children together for Thanksgiving?

“We had a lot of laughs. We all got along.”

Five of the brothers are still alive, including a 90-year-old. All three sisters are alive. One of his brothers, Henry, was football coach at San Pedro for 12 years. Henry was drafted and ended up in the Vietnam War, where environmental issues might have led to the illness, lymphocytic leukemia, that took his life in 1991.

Two of his brothers worked for the LAPD. Two other brothers became firefighters. He has a grandson who’s a deputy sheriff in Riverside.

Pacheco has worked five state track championships and numerous City Section championships.

Like an umpire in football who calls a holding penalty, the only time anyone notices a starter in track is when there’s a false start.

“If there’s a false start, someone complains,” he said.

So why spend 49 years as a track starter?

“The fun part is watching all the athletes compete and being around all the other officials,” he said. “The officials are tremendous and dedicated trying to do a good job.”

All this came out by just happening to stop by and say hello to the starters who are always pleasant and enjoy talking. Unless you ask a question, you’ll never find out about someone’s background.

So why wasn’t Pacheco wearing a red suit like the rest of his friends at Arcadia?

“I brought it just in case,” he said. “I was an alternate.”

Pacheco is always prepared, whether jumping out of planes or teaching life lessons to football players.

If anyone deserves a salute, it’s Saul Pacheco.

April 15 (UPI) — U.S. President Donald Trump said peace talks with Iran “could be happening in the next two days,” with American negotiators most likely to return to Islamabad where the first round of talks at the weekend ended without a breakthrough.

In an interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, Trump said talks between the sides were “happening, but, you know, a little bit slow,” saying a new round of direct negotiations would probably be hosted by a country in Europe.

However, around 30 minutes after the interview had concluded, Trump called back to tell the Post that it should keep its reporter covering the talks in Islamabad in place and not bring them home.

“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there [Islamabad]. It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job,” Trump said, referencing Pakistan’s Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir who has a direct line of communication with the regime in Tehran and a strong relationship with Trump.

“He’s fantastic, and therefore it’s more likely that we go back there. Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?” added Trump.

The Washington D.C.,-headquartered Institute for the Study of War also said a fresh round of negotiations was likely this week but said it believed Iran’s approach would be to try to buy time by spinning out the talks

“Iran likely aims to protract negotiations as long as possible in order to prepare for a potential resumption of conflict,” ISW said in a post on X.

The developments, which came as a fragile cease-fire that took effect April 7 entered its second week, followed earlier reports in which unnamed White House officials told CNBC, CNN and NBC News that in-person negotiations could restart before the truce expires on Tuesday.

Vice President JD Vance said round one of the talks in Islamabad, which ran for more than 20 hours, foundered on differences over Iran’s nuclear program — which the United States wants it to give up completely to ensure it can never develop a nuclear weapon — and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Reports later emerged that more progress had been made than initially suggested, with the sides getting close to agreement on nuclear enrichment after Iran countered U.S. demands for a 20-year suspension with an offer to halt all enrichment for 5 years.

Trump told the Post he was unhappy with the thinking that a moratorium on enrichment, instead of terminating the program, would make the regime in Tehran more amenable to a lasting peace agreement by providing them a face-saving “success” to sell to the Iranian people.

“I’ve been saying they can’t have nuclear weapons. So I don’t like the 20 years. I don’t want them [Iran] to feel like they have a win.”

Experts concurred with Trump’s analysis, saying the only way to guarantee Iran would not be able to pursue a nuclear weapon in the future was to make sure the entire program was put beyond use, in a verifiable way, and that it needed to happen while Trump was still in office.

Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a 2025 deal between Iran and the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, enrichment by Tehran of its 300 Kg stockpile of uranium was capped at 3.67%, in exchange for sanctions relief.

However, that deal lapsed in October, although in practice it was long dead after Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018, during his first term, with Iran subsequently proceeding to enrich an expanded 441 kg uranium stockpile to around 60%, not far short of weapons grade.

ASML occupies a critical position in the global semiconductor supply chain as the sole producer of extreme ultraviolet lithography systems. These machines are essential for manufacturing the most advanced chips used in artificial intelligence applications. As demand for AI computing has surged, driven by data centre expansion and high performance processing needs, the semiconductor industry has entered a new investment cycle focused on capacity growth.

Strong earnings and upgraded forecast

ASML reported first quarter earnings that exceeded expectations and raised its 2026 revenue outlook to between 36 billion and 40 billion euros. This revision signals stronger than anticipated order inflows and reinforces the scale of demand emerging from the AI sector.

The company’s performance reflects a broader trend in which chip demand is outpacing supply. According to CEO Christophe Fouquet, customers are accelerating expansion plans well beyond the near term, indicating confidence in sustained AI driven growth.

ASML as a strategic enabler of AI growth

Investors increasingly view ASML as a foundational player in the AI ecosystem rather than a conventional manufacturer. Its tools are used by leading chipmakers such as TSMC, which produces advanced processors for firms like Nvidia and Apple.

This positioning places ASML at the upstream end of the value chain. Instead of competing in chip design or production, it supplies the essential infrastructure that enables both. As a result, its growth is tied to the entire semiconductor sector rather than any single company.

Supply constraints and industrial limits

Despite strong demand, structural constraints remain significant. Semiconductor fabrication plants require years to build and involve complex global supply chains. ASML itself faces production bottlenecks due to the precision and cost of its machines, which can reach hundreds of millions of dollars per unit.

Even with plans to increase shipments of its leading systems in 2026 and 2027, capacity expansion is gradual. This creates a persistent imbalance where demand continues to exceed supply, reinforcing pricing power across the industry.

Geopolitical and regulatory risks

A key uncertainty for ASML lies in export controls, particularly regarding sales to China. Proposed restrictions in the United States, including the MATCH Act, could limit the company’s ability to supply Chinese customers. Currently, China represents a significant portion of ASML’s revenue.

However, the global shortage of advanced chips may mitigate this risk. Reduced access to one market could be offset by demand from others, especially as countries and companies compete to secure semiconductor supply chains.

Market response and valuation concerns

ASML’s share price has risen sharply, reflecting investor optimism around AI driven growth. The company is often described as a “picks and shovels” investment, benefiting from the broader expansion of the industry regardless of which firms dominate end products.

At the same time, analysts caution that valuations are elevated. The current pricing assumes sustained high growth, leaving limited room for setbacks related to supply constraints or regulatory changes.

Analysis

The upgrade in ASML’s forecast highlights a structural shift rather than a temporary cycle. AI is not only increasing demand for chips but also reshaping the entire semiconductor value chain. ASML’s monopoly in EUV technology gives it a unique strategic advantage, effectively making it a gatekeeper for next generation chip production.

However, this dominance also exposes the company to geopolitical pressures and operational challenges. The interplay between technological leadership, supply limitations, and regulatory dynamics will determine whether current growth trajectories can be maintained.

ASML’s stronger outlook underscores the depth of the AI driven semiconductor boom. While demand momentum remains robust, the company operates within a constrained and politically sensitive environment. Its future performance will depend on balancing rapid industry expansion with the physical and geopolitical limits shaping the global chip ecosystem.

With information from Reuters.

GLADIATORS star Jodie Ounsley has shared rare loved-up snaps with her rugby player girlfriend Ellen Ramsbottom.

The pair went public with their romance in July last year and now Jodie has called her other half “my calm in all the chaos” in a gushing birthday tribute.

The BBC One star, known as Fury on the show, took to her Instagram feed to share a series of snaps of the two of them together as well as solo pictures of Ellen.

In one photo, the ladies are glammed up in stunning dresses as they hold hands while walking down a hotel hallway.

In another picture, the two are seen enjoying a beach day as Ellen plants a kiss on Jodie’s face.

She captioned the post: “The person who holds everything together behind the scenes, my calm in all the chaos and the one who makes me cackle like no one else.

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“Happy Birthday, ya special human,” Jodie concluded.

Their fans flocked to the comments section to send the couple some love as one said: “Eugh the beautiful eyes in this relationship is unreal!”

Another person gushed: “You two seem like a ‘forever’ kinda couple. I love it xxxx.”

While a third added: “Happy birthday to your special person.”

Jodie and Ellen first met when they were 16, playing together at Loughborough Rugby.

They went public with their romance last Summer in a YouTube vlog and their relationship appears to be going from strength to strength.

The post comes after Jodie’s dad Phil Ounsley, 56, tragically died after collapsing on one of Yorkshire’s three peaks in December.

She shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram as she penned: “Heartbroken. Yesterday, my dad suddenly passed away while doing one of his favourite things—walking Pen-y-Ghent.

“He had hiked that peak countless times throughout his life, but none of us knew he wouldn’t walk back down that day.

“I don’t have the words. All I can say is that he was, and always will be, my absolute hero.

“He encouraged me to dream big and loved me wholeheartedly, and for that I will be forever grateful. Until we meet again, Dad.”

THINKING of going abroad this summer and trying to avoid sky-high costs? Your local airport might be adding a hidden cost.

Jetting off from certain airports in the UK can impact the price of your next break by as much as £178 per person in some cases.

TravelSupermarket has discovered where to find the cheapest summer family holiday in every region of the UK for 2026.

And in some cases swapping airports can save over £100…

London

For families flying from London airports like Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City and Southend, the best value holiday is on holidays to Costa Brava.

Popular destinations here include the likes of Tossa de Mar, Girona and Cadaqués.

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On average, heading to this Spanish coastline from these airports costs an average of £679 per person.

It’s closely followed by the Italian Lakes at £690, with Costa Dorada coming in with holidays from £710.

Another option for those looking for a city break is Marrakech, which has souks and medinas aplenty – from these airports breaks on average coast £737.

North West

In the North West, families heading from the likes of Manchester and Liverpool will get the best value for money if they head also head to the Costa Brava region.

It averages at £636 per person – which is £169 cheaper than if you were to depart from Belfast Airport.

If Spain doesn’t quite do it for you, then consider Agadir in Morocco which has a pretty coastline and highs of around 30C.

The average cost of a holiday here is an average of £638 per person.

Bulgaria’s Varna Area comes in third spot with the average cost of £709 per person.

It’s cheaper to fly to Marrakech in the North West as opposed to London with holidays on average costing £711 per person.

North East

The Costa Brava continues to lead with cheapest family breaks from Newcastle, Leeds Bradford and Humberside airports.

It costs on average £643 per person. Agadir follows at £688, the Canary Island of Lanzarote comes in third position at £734.

Or if the sunny island of Malta is where you envision heading this year, then flying from the North East is a good idea with costs averaging at £765 per person.

Midlands

For families leaving from Birmingham and the East Midlands families will again Costa Brava the most affordable option at £652 per person,.

The Italian Lakes close behind at £661 and Costa Dorada third at £709.

Along Costa Dorada, also called the ‘Golden Coast’ are spots like Tarragona, Salou and Cambrils.

It’s also where you’ll find PortAventura World which is a theme park with over 60 attractions, as well as a waterpark and Ferrari World – which is home to the world’s fastest rollercoaster.

For more great deals, here are our favourite cheap all-inclusive holidays…

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Hotel Club Jandia Princess, Fuerteventura

This Fuerteventura beachfront mega-resort is designed like a charming coastal village. With low-rise buildings nestled among swaying palms and a whopping six swimming pools, it’s a total haven for families seeking a sunny holiday. Fill your days with everything from water polo and rifle shooting to high-energy DJ nights and live sports screenings. If you can tear yourself away from the resort, hop on a catamaran trip for a chance to spot whales in the wild.

BOOK A HOLIDAY

El Pueblo Tamlelt, Agadir, Morocco

El Pueblo Tamlelt is a Moroccan paradise resort set in 11 acres of tropical gardens, just steps from the beach. Located only 15 minutes from the airport, you’ll be on a lounger in no time. Every modern room comes with a private balcony or terrace, and the all-inclusive deal keeps you fueled with buffet meals and poolside snacks like pizza and burgers. When you’re ready to explore, Agadir’s vibrant center is just a 10-minute drive away. Wander the palm-lined promenade or head to the Agadir Oufella Ruins for spectacular mountaintop views over the city.

BOOK A HOLIDAY

Aes Club Hotel, Dalaman, Turkey

For a relaxing Turkish getaway with serene mountain scenery, the 4* Aes Club Hotel in Ovacik is a top-tier pick. Nestled at the foot of Mount Babadağ, this hotel offers a tranquil atmosphere that feels worlds away from the bustling resorts, yet close to the heart of the action. While you’re tucked away in the hills, the Blue Lagoon of Ölüdeniz is just a quick (and free) shuttle ride away for when you crave a dip in those famous turquoise waters. 

BOOK A HOLIDAY

Clipper Affiliated by FERGUS, Lloret de Mar, Spain

The ideal Costa Brava base, this hotel puts the very best of Lloret de Mar on your doorstep. You’re just a nine-minute stroll from the iconic Lloret de Mar beach, plus a two-minute walk lands you in the historic Old Town. Going all-inclusive here is a total win for your wallet; you can fill up on buffet classics like burgers, chips, and fresh salads, leaving you with plenty of extra euros to splash in the local boutiques. It’s the ultimate stress-free setup for a classic Spanish summer.

BOOK A HOLIDAY

Scotland

For Scots heading abroad from the likes of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness or Prestwick, Agadir is where you’ll get the best value for money.

Heading to the Moroccan city will cost £660 per person on average.

A trip to Spain on Costa Dorada comes in with an average of £754 per person.

And holidaying on the Algarve is £762 on average – if you want more tips on the area, discover our favourite beach holiday spots, and favourite restaurants from locals.

Wales and South West

Families departing from Bristol, Cardiff or Exeter airports will find Costa Dorada the cheapest option at £659 per person.

In comparison to departing from Belfast Airport, this is a saving of £178 per person.

This is closely followed by Costa Blanca at £739 and the Algarve at £762.

The Italian island of Sicily is a fairly affordable option too from these three airports with prices averaging out at £783 per person.

Northern Ireland

Sadly for those in Belfast, families face the highest baseline prices of any UK region.

The cheapest is still a holiday to Costa Brava at £805 per person.

Not far behind are the other Spanish regions; Costa del Sol at £810 and Costa Blanca at £827.

Chris Webber, Head of Holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket, said: “Where you fly from has a bigger impact on what you pay than most families realise.

“Costa Brava keeps coming up as the value pick across much of the UK — it’s got the beaches, the climate and the price point that makes it hard to beat for a week away in summer.

“But for families in Scotland or the North West, Agadir is right up there and absolutely worth a look if you haven’t considered it before.”

For more on holidays, here are 10 all-inclusive weekend breaks abroad that are cheaper than a night out in the UK.

And here are the top five holiday destinations where prices have DROPPED in time for summer 2026.

These contributions were reported by major candidates on the Oct. 7 ballot who have received at least $100,000 for their gubernatorial campaigns. Totals are for all contributions through Aug. 23 plus contributions of $1,000 or more through Thursday. Donations of $1,000 or more must be reported within 24 hours of receipt.

* The Operating Engineers Union Local 12 in Pasadena gave the maximum $21,200*. Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, a major Minneapolis law firm with a large Century City office, donated $15,000. The Home Ownership Advancement Foundation, an arm of the California Building Industry Assn., provided $10,000. The San Francisco personal injury law firm of Harowitz & Tigerman gave $5,000. Marilyn Y. Isenberg of Sacramento and Vicki L. Nunez of South San Francisco each gave $5,000.

*–* Contributions Candidate or committee Total reported Reported in 24 hours ending Thursday Cruz Bustamante $3,571,934 $96,500 709 contributions 28 contributions

*–*

Bustamante controls three other committees:

Californians for Stability is an anti-recall fund that has raised $421,186. Another fund, the Cruz Bustamante Committee Against Prop. 54, raised $49,700 from the California State Employees’ Assn. Bustamante’s anti-Prop. 54 committee has collected more than $4.6 million, most of it transferred from a third committee, the Lt. Gov. Bustamante 2002 Committee. That is an old reelection campaign fund, which reported raising more than $911,800, excluding the transfers.

*–* Arianna Huffington $632,552 $2,000 2,334 contributions 2 contributions

*–*

* Edward F. Limato, a Los Angeles talent agent, and Russell Lungerich, an attorney in Rancho Palos Verdes, gave $1,000 apiece.

*–* Tom McClintock $1,006,402 $20,990 1,268 contributions 6 contributions

*–*

* Martha Bobbitt, president of JRBT Inc. of Rancho Santa Fe, gave $14,990. John Zsarnay of Sunnyvale contributed $3,000.

*–* Arnold $12,803,611 $499,500 Schwarzenegger 1,505 contributions 146 contributions

*–*

* The Cimarron Group, an advertising, marketing and design company in Hollywood, gave $21,200. So did venture capitalist Robert C. Kagle of Woodside, Palo Alto investor William L. Edwards and George Garrick of Atherton, CEO of Activcard Corp. Goldman Sachs investment banker Bradford C. Koenig, also of Atherton, gave $20,000. UC Regent Ward Connerly, author of Proposition 54, the Oct. 7 ballot measure that would outlaw the collection by government of certain data on race and ethnicity, gave $1,000.

Schwarzenegger also controls Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall Committee. The pro-recall group has raised more than $1.55 million.

* R. Hall Investment Properties of Tustin gave $57,600. The American Sterling Corp. in Irvine provided $50,000. The financial services firm has contributed $150,000 to the Total Recall committee. The New Majority PAC composed of moderate Orange County Republican businessmen contributed $25,000, bringing their total to $103,800.

Davis Fights the Recall

*–* Californians Against $9,114,078 $910,129 the Costly Recall 581 contributions 47 contributions of the Governor

*–*

Gov. Gray Davis controls this anti-recall committee.

* The Kings Arco Arena partnership in Sacramento provided $100,000. Casden Properties, a Beverly Hills-based real estate investment company, gave $50,000, bringing its total support to $150,000.

Davis also continues to raise money through his former reelection committee, the Gov. Gray Davis Committee, which has transferred more than $1.7 million to Californians Against the Costly Recall.

A third committee, Taxpayers Against the Governor’s Recall, has reported more than $2.7 million in contributions.

*Contributions to candidates from each outside source are limited to $21,200. There is no cap on the amount candidates can give their own campaigns, or on donations to noncandidacy committees.

Reported by Times staff writer Jeffrey L. Rabin and Times researcher Maloy Moore.

Source: Campaign reports filed with the California secretary of state.

Los Angeles Times

A NUMBER of popular holiday destinations in Spain are losing their Ryanair flights this year.

The budget airline confirmed last year they would be cutting 1.2million seats across the country,

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

The cancellations are due to the increase in airport fees, which would mean airlines paying an extra 21 per cent from 2027 to 2031.

An initial increase of 6.44 per cent has already been introduced back in March.

At the time of the announcement, the CEO of Ryanair, Eddie Wilson said: “Next winter we will make further cuts to regional airport services and I remind you that our total traffic in Spain for this summer will only grow by 0.5 per cent compared to 9 per cent in Italy, 11 per cent in Morocco or 20 per cent in Poland.

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“Aena’s proposal to increase fares by 21 per cent is regrettable, but not surprising, as this airport monopoly has a history of applying the highest fares at the expense of traffic development, especially at Spain’s regional airports, which are 70 per cent empty.”

He also commented that if the fees were increased it would “make even the most popular airports in Spain uncompetitive” and that Ryanair would turn to “other places in Europe where rates are more competitive”.

Here are some of the destinations being affected.

Asturias

All Ryanair flights to the coastal region of Asturias in north Spain have been stopped.

If you do want to head to Asturias though, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling all fly to the airport from the UK.

Vigo

All flights to the port city of Vigo in northwest Spain were suspended on January 1.

Routes cancelled include from London Stansted Airport.

There are currently no direct flights from the UK with other airlines to Vigo – instead, you would have to book a flight to Madrid then to Vigo.

Alternatively, Porto Airport is less than two hours away.

Tenerife North

All Ryanair flights to Tenerife North were stopped over the winter.

This included a route from London Stansted Airport.

If travellers want to head to Tenerife now, their best bet is to fly to Tenerife South, which Ryanair flies to from a number of UK airports including London Stansted, Bristol and Birmingham.

Valladolid

All flights to Valladolid in northwest Spain have been scrapped with the airline’s base closed at the airport since winter 2024.

If you wish to travel to Valladolid, the best way would be to fly to Madrid which is under two hours away.

Jerez

Ryanair has cancelled all of its direct flights to Jerez in the Andalusia region.

However, if you still want to fly to the destination, you can do so from the UK with Jet2.

Jet2 offers flights to Jerez from Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted and Manchester.

Alternatively, you could fly to Seville and then hop on a train that takes less than an hour to Jerez.

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela Airport in the Galicia region will no longer have a Ryanair base, which will mean fewer flights to the destination.

While the budget airline does still operate flights to and from the airport, Sun Travel found that these are mainly to destinations within Spain.

There are a number of other airlines that fly to the airport though, including British Airways, Vueling and Iberia.

Santander

Ryanair is set to reduce its capacity from Santander, known for its stunning views of the Bay of Biscay, by 38 per cent.

But the airline is still operating UK flights to the airport, including from Manchester, Birmingham and London Stansted – just a reduced number.

Zaragoza

The airline is also reducing flights from Zaragoza – the capital of Aragon in northeastern Spain – by 45 per cent.

While the airline does still fly to the airport, it is mainly from destinations outside the UK such as Milan in Italy.

Sun Travel found one route from the UK to the airport, which is from London Stansted.

Vitoria

There will be a slight reduction in Ryanair capacity to Vitoria (two per cent), which is the capital of the Basque region.

Despite this, Sun Travel found no routes from the UK to the Spanish airport with that airline.

If you want to head to Vitoria, your best bet is to fly to Bilbao Airport which is about an hour-and-a-half away.

Girona

Routes from Girona in Catalonia are also set to be reduced by 11 per cent over this summer season, according to Euro News.

Sun Travel found that there are currently still flights from UK airports including London Stansted, Bournemouth and Birmingham to the airport.

In other flight news, British travel misery is set to get worse as European flight cancellations stretch to five days.

Plus, two major airlines are set to hike flights by up to £90 due to rising jet fuel prices.

Israel’s ambassador to the US has held talks with his Lebanese counterpart. But as a pro-settler ‘activist’ and former soldier who took part in invading Lebanon, critics say Yechiel Leiter is a problematic negotiator.

Italy has suspended the renewal of a 20-year-long defence agreement with Israel, following recent tensions between the two countries after the Italian government accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian peacekeepers in Lebanon.

HELEN Flanagan has admitted she “constantly suffers” with mum guilt – even when her three kids are spending time with their father.

The former Coronation Street star spoke candidly in an exclusive interview with The Sun, and told us she has to force herself to “look at the bigger picture”.

Helen, 35, who has locked horns with ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair in a series of public clashes, spoke about the raw emotional pull she feels while working away.

Helen and Scott split after 13 years together in 2022. They share three kids Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four.

Speaking to the Sun on behalf of Paddy Power, she said: “I feel mum guilt all the time.

“It’s something I deal with constantly. But I try to remind myself that I’m working for my children, so it’s ultimately for them.

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Helen Flanagan hasn’t seen kids in a week as they spend Easter with dad Scott

“When they’re with their dad, I also see that as encouraging their relationship, which is important.

“I do still feel guilty, but I try to reframe it and look at the bigger picture.”

Helen previously said she now takes jobs she usually wouldn’t do to pay the bills.

The former soap star played the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Liverpool‘s M&S Bank Arena over the festive period.

It came as her ex looked after their brood at Christmas last year and again during the recent Easter holiday period.

Dressed up in character this month, the panto star shared: “I am princess Jill today. I’m really, really loving this theatre tour so much.

“I miss my kids today. I’ve been away from them now for about a week as they are at their daddy’s for Easter. 

“I definitely don’t think it gets easier sharing your children, it really doesn’t, but there’s so many of us that are in these situations and it can be really tricky.”

Helen’s comments about her former partner — and the positive nature of him spending time with their kids — seem to hint the pair have built bridges.

Their most recent explosive spat saw her clash with Scott after he missed their son Charlie’s nativity play because he was in Abu Dhabi for the F1.

She branded him a “piece of s**t” as he lived it up in the UAE instead.

It also seems Helen is setting her sights to her future after selling her family home and split with former boyfriend Robbie Talbot.

On the prospect of her signing up for more dating shows, she told us: “My children just find it funny.

“My daughter and I are very close. She just sees it as me working and doing different things – we have such a close bond, so it’s all very normal to her.

“I’m very open-minded about it.

“I don’t think there’s an age where you suddenly have to stop doing things like modelling or dating shows.

“You can still feel beautiful and confident at any age, so I don’t think you can put a limit on it.”

Published on
15/04/2026 – 11:25 GMT+2

The European Commission on Wednesday imposed anti-dumping duties on glass fibre —a key input for the EU’s renewable industry— produced by Chinese companies operating in Egypt, Bahrain and Thailand.

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The move confirms the EU’s push to curb Chinese imports entering the bloc via Belt and Road routes to sidestep tariffs on products officially labelled “made in China.”

Brussels seeks to shield its market from a surge of low-cost imports from the Asian giant, targeting goods it considers heavily subsidized or sold in the EU below production cost in China.

The tariffs on glass fibre from the three countries will range from 11% to 25.4% of the product’s value.

“The investigation confirms the existence of unfair practice, which is an important signal,” Ludovic Piraux, President of Glass Fibre Europe, said.

But he added that the measures adopted “remain insufficient to fully address the predatory strategies pursued through these investments in third countries.”

Job losses loom

China has invested $1 trillion through the Belt and Road initiative – a large-scale infrastructure programme which replaced the former silk road initiative and is aimed at strengthening connectivity, trade and communication across Eurasia, Latin America and Africa. The programme spans more than 150 countries, supporting infrastructure, transport, raw materials extraction and the relocation of industries and state-owned enterprises abroad.

As early as 2010, following an industry complaint, the Commission imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese glass fibre imports. In the years that followed, Chinese producers established factories in Bahrain and Egypt, from which exports to the EU resumed.

By 2024, glass fibre imports from those countries, along with Thailand, accounted for 24% of the EU market. Egyptian imports alone reached 18%, with Glass Fibre Europe warning the situation could worsen.

This is not the first time the Commission has targeted Chinese products made in third countries under Belt and Road arrangements. It has previously imposed measures on aluminium foil from Thailand and glass fibre produced in Türkiye.

European glass fibre manufacturers have been pushing for action for more than a decade, alongside unions seeking to protect jobs in the sector.

The complaint which lead to Wednesday’s anti-dumping duties was first reported by Euronews in January 2025.

The industry directly employs more than 4,500 workers in the EU and says it supports hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs along the value chain.

Judith Kirton-Darling, General secretary of industriAll Europe, warned that “in the longer term”, the situation could worsen if the EU does not take “a stronger” stance on Chinese dumping.

“It is more than likely that we will face plant closures in Europe which will fundamentally undermine our industry,” she said.

WASHINGTON — It was hard to miss President Trump’s very public spat with Pope Leo XIV this week.

The split was the first time in modern memory that an American president has so openly badmouthed a sitting pontiff, or, for that matter, distributed an image depicting himself as Jesus Christ. Critics cried “blasphemy!” even as supporters continued to stand behind the man whose presidency, some argue, was God sent.

Students of American history will recall an earlier incident that pitted papal and presidential authority against each other. The concern: that a president would align himself too closely to the church, or even take orders from the pope.

That anxiety seeped into the 1960 presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy, whose eventual victory would make him the first Catholic president.

Back then, Kennedy was constantly fending off accusations from Protestant ecclesiastic types who were wary that his nomination meant the pontiff, John XXIII, was already packing his bags for a move into the White House.

President John F. Kennedy meets with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican in July 1963, one month after Paul succeeded John XXIII as pontiff.

(Bettmann Archive / Getty Images)

The issue was so pronounced that 150 clergymen and laypeople formed Citizens for Religious Freedom, which in a pamphlet warned, “It is inconceivable to us that a Roman Catholic President would not be under extreme pressure by the hierarchy of his church to accede to its policies and demands.”

One particularly loud voice among the ministers was the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, a popular and influential pastor and author. Peale was especially disturbed by Kennedy’s prospects.

“Our American culture is at stake,” he said at a meeting of the ministers. “I don’t say it won’t survive, but it won’t be what it was.”

The group asked Kennedy to “drop by Houston” to make clear his views on faith and government. He agreed, making a televised speech at the Rice Hotel, where he famously spelled out his firm opinions on the separation of church and state.

“I am not the Catholic candidate for president,” Kennedy told the group. “I am the Democratic Party’s nominee for president who happens to be Catholic.”

Time magazine reflected on the address some years later, concluding that the speech had gone so well for Kennedy “that many felt the dramatic moment was an important part of his victory.”

Since then, modern presidents have occasionally found themselves at odds with the Vatican. Typically Republican presidents would hear from the pope about foreign wars, while Democratic presidents were derided over abortion policies.

But such disagreements tended to be handled with the decorous language of diplomacy.

President George W. Bush presents Pope John Paul II with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Rome on June 4 , 2004. The pope reminded Bush of the Vatican’s opposition to the war in Iraq. Bush praised him as a “devoted servant of God.”

(Eric Vandeville/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Then came Trump, who is now being accused of openly mocking the Catholic faith and the 1st Amendment. He called Leo weak on crime and foreign policy, among other things. A self-described nondenominational Christian who says his favorite book is the Bible, Trump’s hasn’t shied from bashing the pontiff, nor has he hesitated to blur the line separating church and state.

Where Kennedy argued for an absolute separation, Trump has advanced a model of religious resurgence, promising “pews will be fuller, younger and more faithful than they have been in years.” Through initiatives including the “America Prays” program launched last year, the White House has sought to bring “bring back God” by inviting millions of Americans to prayer sessions. The webpage for the program focuses features only Christian Scripture.

“From the earliest days of the republic, faith in God has been the ultimate source of the nation’s strength,” Trump said at a National Prayer Breakfast in February.

President Trump, then-Vice President Mike Pence and faith leaders say a prayer during the signing of a proclamation in the Oval Office on Sept. 1, 2017. .

(Alex Wong / Getty Images)

In the United States, the Catholic Church historically has “loved the 1st Amendment” and its guarantee of religious liberty and, as a result, largely kept some distance from government, according to Tom Reese, a Jesuit priest and religious commentator. After its failures attempting to influence monarchs and politicians in Europe, the Catholic Church “didn’t want the government interfering with them and knew that it wasn’t their right to interfere with the government,” Reese said.

Kennedy loved the 1st Amendment too. He put it above his own religious beliefs, and said as much on his way to the White House.

“I would not look with favor upon a president working to subvert the 1st Amendment’s guarantees of religious liberty,” he said. “Nor would our system of checks and balances permit him to do so.”

Pope Leo XIV meets with members of the community in Algiers at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa on April 13, 2026.

(Vatican Pool via Getty Images)

The Dodgers are too good, and too rich. If the owners of other major league teams ultimately deem that combination so objectionable that they shut down the sport this winter because of it, they will risk a rupture in one of the greatest fan bases in American sports history.

The four million tickets the Dodgers sold last season tells one part of the story. Here is an arguably better one: For decades, the Dodgers and Lakers have dominated Los Angeles sports and left every other team far behind in popularity.

For now, after back-to-back World Series championships, the Dodgers have left even the Lakers far behind in popularity, and every other team in town even further behind.

In a Loyola Marymount survey asking Los Angeles County residents to identify their favorite among the 12 pro sports teams within the local media market, nearly half picked the Dodgers.

The Dodgers’ lead over the Lakers — 43% to 28% — represented the largest gap between the teams in the nine editions of the survey, first conducted in 2014 by the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles.

The Rams ranked third, at 7%, followed by the Kings at 5% and the Angels at 4%.

The two women’s teams — Angel City FC and the Sparks — tied for last, each with less than 1% of the vote. Even when the study separated votes by gender, the two women’s teams got less than 1% of the vote from women.

As recently as 2018, five teams beyond the Dodgers and Lakers — the Angels, Clippers, Galaxy, Kings and Rams — attracted at least 4% of the vote. In this year’s survey, only the Rams did.

“I’m a big Rams fan,” said Fernando Guerra, the center’s director, “and I still put the Dodgers first.

“I love all these teams. But, when you have to choose one, it’s the Dodgers.”

Dodgers president Stan Kasten pointed to the popularity and excellence of the players, the cherished ballpark and the generational fan support as factors contributing to the top ranking.

“If you have a lot of good elements but you don’t win, you’re not going to be as high,” Kasten said. “And, if you win but you don’t have the other elements, you’re not going to be as high.

“I think, right now, we’re as close as you can be to clicking on all cylinders.”

Beyond the winning, Guerra cited Shohei Ohtani as a driving force behind the Dodgers’ popularity, and not just as a tourist attraction, merchandise driver, and the foremost product endorser in sports.

In 2018, Ohtani’s debut season with the Angels, 8% of fans that identified themselves as Asian picked the Angels as their favorite team and 34% picked the Dodgers — a terrific showing for the Angels, since the study polls residents in L.A. County, not Orange County.

That demographic this year: 4% picked the Angels, 47% picked the Dodgers.

In their 10 years since returning to Los Angeles, the Rams have made seven playoff appearances and two Super Bowl appearances, winning one. All that, and a half-century in their previous run in L.A., and their membership in the most popular sports league in America, and the best they could do was 7%.

“It’s just tough to break the Lakers’ and Dodgers’ hold,” Guerra said. “It’s not like we don’t love the Rams or the others. It’s just not your top priority.”

The Lakers and Dodgers have combined to win 20 championships in Los Angeles. The other 10 teams that call this market home have combined to win 16.

In the 13 seasons since Mark Walter and Co. bought the Dodgers, the team has won 12 division titles, made five World Series appearances, and won three championships. In the same time, the Lakers have won three division titles, advanced past the first round of the playoffs twice, and won one championship.

Walter bought a controlling interest in the Lakers last year. He has installed Lon Rosen, formerly the Dodgers’ executive vice president and chief marketing officer, as the Lakers’ president of business operations.

“When the Lakers are winning a lot of championships, they’re No. 1,” Rosen said. “When the Dodgers are, they’re No. 1.

“It’s a good position to be in, since we control both teams, and both teams are highly successful.”

In this moment, the Dodgers are highly successful.

“The Lakers and Dodgers are going to be neck and neck very soon,” Rosen said. “The Lakers will 100% be champions again soon.”

The Dodgers do not concede the days of neck and neck will return. Kasten, remember, said the Dodgers were as close as they could be to clicking on all cylinders.

“We don’t take that for granted,” he said. “We know we can do even better.”

Since I started DJing nearly a decade ago, it’s been a dream of mine to DJ at a music festival, a place where music lovers of all walks of life converge. So when I got the opportunity to spin at Coachella, the country’s festival of all festivals, I was over the moon.

This was my second time playing at Coachella with Party in My Living Room, a house party concert series founded by Inglewood native Yannick “Thurz” Koffi in 2015. The activation, designed to look like an actual living room with couches and artwork, was a collaboration with GV Black, a group promoting “Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to be seen at the festival.” For the last four years, Koffi has been inviting DJs and musicians (Ty Dolla Sign, P-Lo, Kamaiyah and Isaiah Rashad, to name a few) to perform at the pop-up, which has quickly become a popular side quest for festivalgoers. So when Koffi asked me to be a part of the stacked lineup during Weekend 1, I was honored.

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After preparing my set for weeks, the moment had finally come for me to spin on Sunday afternoon. I soaked up the entire weekend experience — from the celebrity-packed artist compound to the exclusive pop-ups (Redbull Mirage and the Soho House hideout) and the free dining. Here’s a peak behind the curtain from an artist’s perspective and what I learned about DJing at the festival.

Kailyn Hype played house, hip-hop, jersey club, baile funk and other genres during her high-energy DJ set at Coachella.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

1. Spinning at a daytime desert festival is much different than at a bar

I was in charge of kicking off the activation on the final day of Coachella Weekend 1, which is an underrated job because it means that you get to set the tone for the day.

If I were spinning at a bar, club or flea market, I’d likely ease into my set with more chill songs before getting into bangers. But this was a festival and the crowd was ready to party, so I didn’t waste any of my 45-minute set. (My set was initially scheduled for one hour, but it was cut due to a sound check delay.) However, I left the big hip-hop tracks for the other DJs to play, which is a common DJ courtesy.

With songs like “Tonight” by Pink Pantheress, “Am I Wrong” by Anderson.Paak, “Brighter Days” by Cajmere, “Nissan Altima” by Doechii and several high-energy remixes that I found on Bandcamp, my set was everything I’d hoped for: fun, joyful and liberating. The crowd and I jumped up and down, threw up our hands, sang and danced together. And even if they didn’t know the words to a particular track, they were still open to all of it, which is one of the best feelings you can get as a DJ.

2. The artist wristband was my golden ticket — to a glorious buffet

With so many delicious food vendors like Villa’s Tacos, Prince Street Pizza, Happy Ice and El Moro, I knew that I was going to be eating good at Coachella. What I didn’t expect is for there to be free catering for folks with artist wristbands, like myself. After making my way through the artist compound, past the golf carts that transported performers and celebrities (I spotted Teyana Taylor and Damson Idris) and along a plant-filled pathway, I made it to the elaborate dining area. Inside the room, which was draped with colorful curtains with guitars attached to them, I felt like a kid at a buffet. There were poke bowls, a sandwich station, pizza, steak, ice cream sundae and even a “wrap station,” so you could take your food to go.

“Since I started DJing nearly a decade ago, it’s been a dream of mine to DJ at a music festival,” says Kailyn Brown.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

3. But even if you have an artist wristband, long lines are inescapable

At any major event, be it a music festival or sports game, lines are to be expected. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I expected the bathroom lines in the artist compound — an exclusive backstage area for artists and their crews — to be shorter. I quickly realized that the lines were unavoidable and if I really needed to go, it was usually faster to go to the porta-potties in the general admission or VIP areas.

4. I found respite at exclusive lounges

After running around the festival for hours, it was nice to be able to take a break from the heat in stylish, exclusive areas like the Red Bull Mirage and Soho House’s hideout.

Red Bull invited me to check out their three-story social hub and hospitality destination at Coachella, which included a Nobu omakase dinner on the top floor. Overlooking the Quasar stage, it offered the perfect spot to sip on the energy drink company’s signature cocktails (the Paloma was my favorite) and watch energetic DJ sets from artists like David Guetta, Fatboy Slim and Pawsa. It’s also where “Love Island USA” Season 7 favorite Olandria was serving Red bull mocktails — and looks — from behind the bar.

While Red Bull Mirage provided day club vibes, the energy at the Soho House hideout was a bit more laid-back. Located inside a luxurious air-conditioned tent near the main Coachella stage, invited guests and Soho House members with VIP passes could order from the bespoke bar, grab a bite (e.g., burgers, fries and maki rolls) and enjoy music from a live DJ.

Founded by Inglewood native Yannick “Thurz” Koffi in 2015, Party in My Living Room is a house party concert series.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

With an artist pass in tow, Kailyn Brown explored the artist lounge, dining hall and other exclusive areas at the music festival.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

5. Music festivals can be a lot, but there’s a reason we keep coming back

After I was finished with my set, several people came up to thank me including one man, a Mexico-based artist named Memo Wright, who drew a live sketch of me spinning, which made my day. Even some of my Times colleagues took a break from reporting to stop by and say hello.

As I drove back home from the desert the following morning, I reflected on why I love music festivals so much and have been attending them since I was 16. Though events like Coachella get a bad rap for being expensive, crowded and uncomfortable (yes, it’s hot and dusty), this experience reminded me why people keep coming back — for the love of music and being able to commune with others who are just as obsessed with it as you are.

The 55-minute treatment promises to improve circulation and relax muscles, helping to plump the skin while lifting and firming, “giving it a more contoured appearance,” Kosha owner Anastasia Talan told me.

It starts with a short grounding meditation before a cleansing of the skin and a light scalp massage. It then transitions into a wonderfully relaxing neck, shoulder and face massage, with an emphasis on the face. (The actual “buccal massage” part comes later.) Talan said the overall treatment blends multiple types of massage, including European “contouring and lifting massage,” lymphatic drainage, acupressure and myofascial release as well as light stretching.

As she worked on my face, Talan applied pressure while stroking under my cheek bones, along my sinuses and up, down and around my cheeks and jaw area.

The “buccal massage” portion was about 15 minutes. It’s also called “intraoral massage” because it takes place inside of the mouth. Talan donned blue plastic gloves and then pulled my lips apart, massaging the inside of my cheeks, lips and around my jawbone and temporomandibular joint. Relieving tension there is helpful in aiding TMJ and other temporomandibular joint disorders. Another benefit, says Talan: clenching the jaw, a stress reaction, can enlarge the masseter muscles on the jaw, leading to the lower part of the face looking heavy. Relaxing those muscles could preserve slimness of the face.

But go for the sheer relaxation of it. Once the (admittedly awkward) intraoral massage part was over, Talan spent a few more minutes massaging the outside of my face and neck. The treatment was so dreamy, I nearly drooled while fighting off sleep.

Treatment name: The Buccal Facial

Price: 55 minutes, $195