easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair passport rule explained after customer queries holiday booking
A woman concerned about a name discrepancy between her easyJet holiday booking and passport was urged by the airline to get in touch directly to resolve the issue
Airlines have different rules(Image: Getty)
Budget airline easyJet has urged a customer to get in touch after she queried whether she needed to make an amendment to her booking. The prospective passenger had secured a holiday with the carrier but had concerns about a potential issue with her trip.
Taking to the easyJet holidays Facebook page, Jessica asked: “Booked holiday with my “first” and “last name” My “given name” on my passport includes my middle name.
“Do I need to amend my booking? I fly in 2 weeks and haven’t yet checked in if that makes a difference.”
She received a response from easyJet stating: “According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), there’s no middle name rule as such, but their guidance is the recorded name on a reservation and ticket should match the name in your official travel document.” A follow-up reply from Anga then added: “Hi Jessica, thank you for reaching out.
“Please note that the name on your booking needs to match what is on your passport. To assist you with adding your middle name, kindly DM us with your booking reference, booker’s name and email address used on the booking.”
The UK government website advises travellers to ensure two key things are consistent when booking a trip, reports the Liverpool Echo. It states: “The name on your passport must match the one you use when you book your travel.”
However, it does not clarify whether a middle name featured in your passport must also be included when making a booking. Different airlines have their own policies, so it’s always advisable to check with them directly if you have any worries about anything on your travel documents.
Ryanair, for instance, addresses the question on its website, stating: “For security reasons, the first name and surname on your booking must match the names on your travel document(s). We do not require middle name or second/double-barrelled surnames for flights.”
Jet2 similarly states that middle names aren’t required, except in one particular scenario. On its website, it explains: “We don’t we don’t need your middle name(s) on your booking unless two people on the booking have identical first and last names. Please make sure all names are spelt exactly as they are on your passport.”
Tui has also confirmed it’s not essential. Responding to a query about the website not accepting a full name, it clarified: “Our website only allows for a maximum 15 characters in the name box.
“Just enter what you can and contact us so we can make a note of your full name on the system. Just so you know, we only need your title, first name and surname. You don’t have to include middle names.”
John Cartwright: Ex-Hull FC head coach takes over at Catalans Dragons
Ex-Hull FC head coach John Cartwright has taken over as the new head coach of Catalans Dragons for the rest of this season.
Cartwright stepped down from his role at Hull last month as they appointed Steve McNamara for 2027 with Andy Last put in interim charge for the rest of this year.
The Australian was still under contract at MKM Stadium, but he has now been released from that to head to France.
The Dragons were without a head coach after the departure of Joel Tomkins, who has taken a job in rugby union with Gloucester.
“This came totally out of the blue which makes it all the more exciting,” said Cartwright.
“I can’t thank Bernard [Guasch, Catalans CEO] enough for this opportunity.”
Catalans are eighth in the Super League table, with Hull FC two points behind in ninth.
DOJ wants to drop fraud charges against billionaire Gautam Adani
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to drop fraud charges against Gautam Adani, chair and founder of Adani Group. File Photo by Divyakant Solanki/EPA
May 19 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced it will drop criminal fraud charges against billionaire Indian businessman Gautam Adani.
The Justice Department submitted a motion Monday asking a federal judge to drop the indictment from 2024 brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, N.Y. The request said the department “reviewed this case and has decided, in its prosecutorial discretion, not to devote further resources to these criminal charges against individual defendants,” NBC News reported the court filing said.
Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter and Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella signed the filing. Prosecutors assigned to the case were not included.
Separately, the President Donald Trump administration announced it had reached a $275 million settlement with a company founded by Adani over “egregious” apparent violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran, Politico reported.
According to the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, Adani Enterprises Limited bought $191 million worth of shipments of liquefied petroleum gas from a Dubai-based trader. OFAC alleged the company overlooked indications that the gas originated from Iran, Politico said.
Adani is the founder and chair of the Adani Group, a conglomerate based in Ahmedabad, India. Brooklyn prosecutors charged him and others in a fraud and bribery scheme in November 2024, while President Joe Biden was in office.
Adani’s lawyers from Sullivan & Cromwell included two of Trump’s personal attorneys: Robert Giuffra Jr. and James McDonald, Politico reported.
Adani’s worth is estimated at more than $100 billion. He is one of the richest people in Asia, and is an ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prosecutors alleged that Adani and his co-defendants paid $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials. The bribes were to help Adani Green Energy, a subsidiary, win approval to create India’s largest solar power plant. It was projected to bring $2 billion in profits over 20 years.
They also alleged the defendants defrauded American and international investors by gaining funds “on the basis of false and misleading statements.”
Adani Group denied the allegations and called them “baseless.”
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference on anti-fraud initiatives in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo
B-1B’s Future Armament According To Its Test Pilot
In this episode of TWZ: Special Access, Jamie Hunter talks with Lt Col “Evil” Marcus, a B-1B Lancer test pilot assigned to Air Force Reserve Command at Edwards AFB, California, about how the B-1B’s armament is morphing to meet the challenges of facing off against a peer threat. This includes reactivating its external pylons, which have been gone since it lost its nuclear mission decades ago, as well as the introduction of hypersonic missiles to its menu of available weapons options.
Check out the video:
B-1B Lancer’s Future Weapons According To Its Test Pilot
Contact the editor: Tyler@twz.com
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ review: The nostalgia is strong with this one
Nearly 50 years on from “Star Wars” and the launch of a media empire (large or small “e”? You decide), the fandom has become its own galaxy of warring planets. But based on the success of the streaming series “The Mandalorian,” set around the title bounty hunter, we can all agree that his charge Grogu — green, wrinkled, big-eyed Baby You-Know-Who — is still adorable. Of the many “Star Wars” offshoots, this seems to be the sturdiest.
The brand is back together for “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which is a movie, a hoped-for franchise revival, a fourth season of sorts and an affable throwback. But it’s never quite riveting enough as canon or fodder to supplant anyone’s memories of [insert favorite “Star Wars” film here].
The expectations game was never going to help series creator Jon Favreau’s big-screen version, written with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor. Granted, this upscaled, agreeably rangy treatment of an adventure storyline that wouldn’t have been out of place on the show could have attempted more. Especially when it puts sci-fi icon Sigourney Weaver in an X-wing pilot uniform as a veteran of the Rebellion, but barely gives her anything to do besides secure Mando a job and keep tabs on his progress. (Gang, try harder. It’s Sigourney Weaver.)
Aimed squarely at kids of all sizes, “Star Wars” has become a glorified tour of a billionaire’s expanding playworld and “The Mandalorian and Grogu” wants the track well-oiled, not bumpy. The simple pleasures here of good vs evil, IMAX hugeness and composer Ludwig Göransson’s space-opera-hits-the-club score, go down easy enough to not be aggravating. It’s a lot.
But it’s not this reviewer’s position to tell you what “a lot” is — loose lips spoil scripts. When the moment comes at an appropriately dangerous time for our heroes, we sense the kind of thing that only movies can do well when they’re myths writ large: slow things down, shift momentum away from the tyranny of exposition and let emotion, humor, wonder and character co-exist. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” takes the series’ thematic underpinnings — what parenting looks like between a masked human loner and an otherworldly toddler — and deepens them.
The movie takes place in wonderfully detailed environments that evoke the earlier, beloved films. You’re not being pandered to, however; the payoff is a lovely echo. Elsewhere, the action set pieces are serviceably handled by Favreau. (One of them plays like, of all things, an homage to “The French Connection.”)
Otherwise, this is another hunt-and-retrieve narrative for the bounty hunter voiced by Pedro Pascal, physically embodied in armor by Brendan Wayne and, in combat, by fight choreographer Lateef Crowder. Still independent but New Republic-curious, Mando is tasked by Weaver’s Col. Ward to find a wayward scion of the slimy gangster Hutt clan, Rotta (voiced by Jeremy Allen White), whose return will unlock some important information. Of course, things don’t go as planned, which for a while is interesting — are the Hutts like the Corleones, perhaps? — until it’s not, because then the dialogue would need to rise above the level of a middle-school play.
That being said, one of the movie’s strong points, absent its story deficiencies, is that, across its many wordless scenes, it’s at heart a solidly rousing, delightfully icky creature feature, in the vein of a supercharged Ray Harryhausen-meets-Guillermo del Toro joint. “It’s a hard world for little things,” Lillian Gish famously says in “The Night of the Hunter,” a movie nobody will ever confuse with “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” But we all know summer fare like this is only ever as enjoyable as the monsters conjured up for conquering.
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’
In English and Huttese, with subtitles
Rated: PG-13, for sci-fi violence and action
Running time: 2 hours, 12 minutes
Playing: Opens Friday, May 22 in wide release
British Airways cuts flights to seven major destinations – see full list
British Airways has said it will cut flights to six destinations and permanently end its route to a seventh, citing the war in the Middle East
British Airways said the cuts are due to the war with Iran (file)(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
British Airways is cutting flights to seven major international airports in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The airline said it has updated its schedule of flights for the Summer 2026 season, which ends on October 24. Customers have been told the changes were made to destinations in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces in the region.
As a part of the new schedule, British Airways has reduced the number of flights to seven cities in the Middle East. Services to Dubai are being reduced from three flights a day to one, with the daily service due to return on August 1 (meanwhile, a second daily flight is planned to start on October 16).
Flights to Doha in Qatar, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Tel Aviv in Israel are also being cut from twice‑daily to once‑daily. All three routes are expected to resume normal frequency on August 1.
READ MORE: Holiday hell as luggage piled at Heathrow and BA warns of ‘ongoing impact’READ MORE: British Airways cancels flights from Heathrow and Gatwick as hundreds stranded at airport
Following a wider review of the programme, the airline has also made the decision to permanently end its route to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from April 24, The Express reports.
The airlines said in a statement: “Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, we have made further changes to our flying schedule to provide greater clarity for our customers.
“We are keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options.
“Since the disruption began, we have helped thousands of customers return home, operated relief flights, and added additional capacity on key long‑haul routes. We will continue to assess and introduce further flying where possible.”
Destinations impacted by reduced British Airways flights
- Tel Aviv
- Dubai
- Doha
- Riyadh
- Bahrain
- Amman
- Jeddah
Blanche doesn’t rule out payments to violent Jan. 6 rioters as he defends $1.8B fund
WASHINGTON — Acting Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche on Tuesday wouldn’t rule out the possibility that people who carried out violence during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol will be considered for payouts from a new $1.776 billion fund to pay individuals who believe they were targeted politically.
Pressed during a Congressional hearing over whether those who assaulted police officers would be eligible for compensation from the “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” Blanche responded that all people can apply if “they believe they were a victim of weaponization.” The acting attorney general also refused to say whether he would direct those responsible for deciding who receives payments — a commission whose members he is tasked with appointing — to restrict funds to those convicted of violence.
“What I will commit to is making sure that the commissioners are effectively doing their jobs, and that includes setting guidelines as you’re describing,” Blanche told Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat. The decisions on payouts will be made a five-member commission appointed by the attorney general.
Appearing before Congress for the first time since taking the reins of the Justice Department last month, Blanche was peppered with questions about the fund announced on Monday to compensate those who believe they were mistreated by prior administrations’ Justice Department. Blanche said the fund was “unusual” but not unprecedented, adding that those who benefit will not be limited to Republicans or to people who were investigated or prosecuted by the Biden administration. At one point, Blanche said President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter — who faced gun and tax prosecutions under his father’s administration — could also apply.
Blanche defends $1.8 billion fund
Tuesday’s hearing was meant to address the Trump administration’s budget request for the Justice Department but quickly delved into other controversies that have escalated concerns about the erosion of the law enforcement agency’s tradition of independence from the White House. Blanche defended the creation of the fund without any acknowledgment that the Trump administration has pursued investigations of Trump’s political opponents, sparking criticism that the department is being weaponized in precisely the same way they allege it was under Biden’s administration to prosecute Trump.
In the weeks since assuming control of the Justice Department after Pam Bondi’s firing, Blanche has moved aggressively to advance the president’s priorities — pushing forward cases against Trump’s political foes, cracking down on leaks to media outlets and establishing the new fund to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.
Democrats described it as an illegal abuse of power designed to line the pockets of Trump supporters with taxpayer dollars. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the Senate appropriations subcommittee holding the hearing, blasted the move as a “pure theft of public funds.”
“Rewarding individuals who committed crimes is obscene,” the Maryland Democrat said. “Every American can see through this illegal, corrupt, self-dealing scheme.”
The fund is in keeping with Trump’s long-running claims that the Justice Department during the Biden administration was weaponized against him, even though then-President Biden himself was investigated during that time and his son was prosecuted. Merrick Garland, who served as attorney general during the Biden administration, has repeatedly denied allegations of politicization and has said his decisions followed facts, the evidence and the law.
Trump administration has been rewriting the history of Jan. 6
The mere possibility that violent rioters at the Capitol could be considered for payouts is consistent with a Trump administration pattern of rewriting the dark history of Jan. 6, a trend that began when the president pardoned and commuted the prison sentences of the participants in the melee and that continued with the Justice Department firing some prosecutors who put them behind bars.
Under questioning from Merkley, Blanche said that he “will definitely encourage the commission” responsible for deciding on the payouts to “take everything into account.” But when asked whether he believes those convicted of violence should be entitled to compensation, Blanche said: “My feelings don’t matter.”
When Merkley suggested that Trump was using the Justice Department to target his political enemies, Blanche replied that this was precisely the sort of “disgusting” behavior of the Biden administration that the fund was meant to address.
“That is completely inappropriate and wrong,’ Merkley said. “There is no comparison to the absolute fair minded pursuit of justice under the previous administration, and this administration’s pursuit of an enemies list.”
Questions over the meaning of ‘weaponization’
In announcing the fund Monday, the Trump administration did not name specific individuals who might stand to benefit from it. The money itself would come from the federal judgment fund, which pays out court judgments and compromise settlements of lawsuits against the government.
Blanche told lawmakers that the Justice Department is committed to “full transparency” in providing public information about beneficiaries of the new fund.
“It’s not limited to Republicans. It’s not limited to Democrats. It’s not limited to January 6th defendants. It’s limited only by the term weaponization,” Blanche said, though the administration has not said how it will define “weaponization.”
Meanwhile, there were signs of discomfort about the fund even among some Republican members of Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that he’s “not a big fan,” adding that he isn’t sure how the administration intends to use it, but doesn’t “see a purpose for that.”
Thune’s comments come after Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost reelection in a GOP primary on Saturday, called it a “slush fund.”
“We are a nation of laws,” Cassidy said. “You can’t just make up things.”
Richer and Tucker write for the Associated Press. AP reporter Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.
Petr Vlachovsky: Czech coach handed lifetime ban by Uefa for filming female players
The CEDB has asked the sport’s global governing body Fifa to make the ban, which prohibits Vlachovsky from taking part in any football-related activity, worldwide.
It has also ordered the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Vlachovsky’s coaching licence.
Leading players’ union Fifpro reported that players of 1. FC Slovacko only learned they had been secretly filmed after the arrest.
Fifpro – the global representative organisation for professional footballers – said the players were filmed on Vlachovsky’s camera hidden in a backpack, and the youngest was aged 17.
Earlier this year, a group of the victims came forward to demand further action, with players telling Czech media publication Seznam Zpravy, external Vlachovsky’s crimes had left them afraid to sleep at night and anxious about being in public in case they were being filmed.
Vlachovsky had previously led the Czech Republic Under-19s women’s team and was once voted the best women’s coach in the country.
Bipartisan bill proposes $130 fee for electric vehicles
May 19 (UPI) — A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House is proposing a new $130 fee for registering an electric vehicle to help pay for transportation infrastructure.
The Five-Year Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill was introduced on Sunday by Reps. Sam Graves, R-Mo., and Rick Larsen, D-Wash. As proposed, it would require an annual $130 registration fee for electric vehicles and $35 for plug-in hybrids.
Graves said in a statement that the bill “ensures that electric vehicle owners begin paying their fair share for the use of our roads.”
Currently, the Highway Trust Fund is used to pay for county roads, bridges, railways and other infrastructure projects. The fund is filled by taxes on gasoline.
“The ‘user pays’ principle has been fundamental to how we fund our nation’s surface transportation system for as long as I’ve been in Congress,” Larsen said in a statement. “I support that principle and worked to make sure that this new fee on EVs is fair and not punitive.”
Albert Gore III, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association, said the fees would penalize electric vehicle owners. The organization estimates that the fee is higher than what is collected on the gas tax on a per-consumer basis.
The federal gasoline tax is about $0.18 per gallon. It has not changed since 1993.
“I don’t argue that the number should be zero, but the number should be fair,” Gore said.
Congress eliminated electric vehicle subsidies last year, totaling about $7,500 per vehicle, as part of an effort to peel back sustainability and environmental efforts enacted under the Biden administration.
Fees on electric vehicle owners are in place in at least 41 states,
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference on anti-fraud initiatives in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo
including Colorado and New Jersey, ranging from $50 to $260.
Thailand cuts visa-free stay period for more than 90 countries including UK
Many visitors who have been exempt for 60 days will soon have to apply for a visa after 30 days.
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Brutal medical series that is not for the faint hearted returns with new episode
The award winning series will air another intense episode tonight that is not to be missed
999: Critical Condition is an award winning Channel 5 series(Image: Channel 5)
A fly on the wall medical series that is not for the faint of heart returns with another brutal episode.
Titled 999: Critical Condition, the medical series has returned for its sixth run, this time filmed in the Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Airing on Channel 5, the show follows patients and staff at a major trauma hospital as cameras are given unprecedent access to film what most people do not see.
Viewers witness an intense and unfiltered look at what doctors and nurses do to save lives. Having returned to screens last week, tonight (May 19), Channel 5 will air yet another brutal instalment at 9pm.
Tonight’s episode (Tuesday, May 19) will take viewers into another high stakes environment as one farmer is airlifted to hospital after crashing head first into a tree. Elsewhere, one woman is rushed to hospital with life threatening stab wounds as medical teams fight to save lives.
A Channel 5 synopsis reads: “A farmer faces potentially life-changing injuries after an accident shatters his skull.”
999: Critical Condition was previously filmed in Stoke for the first five instalments as it has become a firm favourite for those who enjoy medical TV programmes, especially 24 Hours in Police Custody.
The Channel 5 show does not shy away from the realities faced by staff in the hospital and the life saving work they do for patients.
Spanning across one hour, new episodes will be released weekly, with instalments then being made available to stream online.
Previously, one viewer praised: “Watching 999: Critical Condition. Very fascinating.” Another said: “#999CriticalCondition about to start on C5, this is a brilliant TV show.”
A third added: “Watching last night’s #999CriticalCondition, not for the squeemish (sic) but the operation to rebuild the guys head & face after his quad bike crash is fascinating, proper ‘face off’ shit to reveal his damaged skull. The 3d printed skull showing the extent of his fractures was amazing.”
A fourth echoed: “Watching #999CriticalCondition and this guy has landed on his face and his eyeball is hanging out of the socket. HIS ENTIRE EYEBALL. I’ve never been squeamish with programs like this, but I actually felt sick.”
In a previous article, the Guardian confirmed it was a “hardcore” documentary series in which every case “will stick with you”.
999: Critical Condition airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 5.
Lesser-known Bulgarian seaside rivals the Aegean coast for a fraction of the price (& is much quainter than Sunny Beach)
YOU CAN swap the Aegean coast for a cheaper rival destination that hits 25C in June and is just three hours from the UK.
Come summer or winter, Bulgaria is a great European destination to visit, but one spot in particular boasts a Mediterranean feel for less – Obzor Beach.
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
Found in the Bourgas region of the country, Obzor Beach sprawls across nearly five miles and boasts a Blue Flag status, recognising the beach for its safe feel and picturesque vibe.
Just to add to the prettiness of the spot, the beach is also backed by mountains.
And the great news is that the sunny destination is cheaper than many popular Mediterranean spots and even, less crowded too.
Read more on travel inspo
According to First Choice, an all inclusive stay costs just £459 per person at Obzor Beach, whereas along Turkey‘s Aegean Coast – including destinations like Bodrum – you’d be likely to spend around £400 more per person for a similar holiday in June.
Obzor used to be known as Heliopolis, meaning the City of Sun before later becoming the Roman settlement of Templum Iovis.
Some of the settlement can still be seen today, such as column fragments found in local parks.
And if you visit Obzor Beach, you shouldn’t be short for space to spread out as the beach is one of the longest in Bulgaria.
When heading to the beach, visitors can choose between free public spots where they can put up their own parasol or head to one of the sections managed by nearby hotels and beach bars where they can hire a sunbed.
One recent visitor said: “One of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Bulgaria.
“Relatively clean and well maintained with a lot of activities to do.
“Waves are amazing and fun to fight.”
Make sure to visit Sloboda Square in the old town too, where you can enjoy an immersive dining experience at Hanove, complete with castle-like entrances and stone clad walls.
Alternatively, you could opt to visit The House Bar & Dinner, which is the top rated restaurant in the area on TripAdvisor, with traditional Bulgarian dishes including Bulgarian potatoes with cheese and bacon.
In the town visitors can find a museum as well, which recounts the history of Obzor and its inhabitants including an ancient village.
There’s also the beachfront promenade where visitors will find an abundance of bars, shops and restaurants to explore.
Want to be away from the main hustle and bustle? Then make sure to stay at the four-star Hotel Sol Luna Bay, with three pools, a waterpark and spa.
Sarah Jooste, Product Portfolio Executive at First Choice said: “Not many people think of Bulgaria for a relaxing beach break.
“Many have heard that Sunny Beach is a great option for nightlife, but for a chilled holiday people reach for the classics like Greece and Turkey.
“But Obzor beach averages about 25C in summer and from London the flight time is about three hours and 20 minutes – so not only is it cheaper than the EU classics, but it’s closer too.”
The UK website that sells TUI holidays at discounted prices
STILL looking for the dream holiday? This little-known website sells incredible breaks by TUI at lower prices.
From beautiful European islands to city adventures and even the Caribbean – make sure to check out this website first to save your pennies.
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
HolidayHypermarket has some huge discounts on breaks to destinations across the globe from Spain and Greece, all the way to Mexico and Thailand.
It might seem underhand but actually the website is owned by the TUI Group which is why it has access to deals with reduced rates and discounts.
If you’re looking for a break that’s great value, there are deals from as little as £175per person – or £43pppn.
For this price, you can jet off to the beautiful Greek Island of Kefalonia at the Pericles Hotel for four-nights with bed and breakfast on June 21.
It includes return flights from Bournemouth Airport, baggage and transfers.
Guests can take a dip in the pool with a beautiful mountain backdrop and in the evening, hunker down in one of its cosy rooms.
Directly with TUI, it’s slightly more expensive at £180pp.
City breaks with HolidayHypermarket start from £145per person.
At this price, you can jet off to Krakow for a three-night stay at the Leone Aparthotel.
It’s found near the historic Old Town Square and is the ideal base for exploring the Polish city.
Highlighted as one of their best and latest all-inclusive packages is a seven-night break to Hotel Meridian in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria.
The hotel has incredible views across the coastline as it’s one of the tallest buildings in the area and there’s a swim-up bar.
The outdoor pool has a section for children, and there’s a top-floor terrace to enjoy sunset during the evening before heading out to enjoy the Sunny Beach nightlife.
The deal on HolidayHypermarket is for two adults departing Newcastle Airport on June 11 for an all-inclusive break and is priced at £528pp.
In comparison, the same package holiday on TUI’s official website is £543.12pp.
If you’re looking to escape the UK in the next few days, then there is a tab for that with last-minute holidays from as little as £330pp – or £47.15pppn.
This is for a seven-night stay at the Sunrise Blue Magic Resort, also in Bulgaria.
It has two swimming pools, a buffet and lobby bar for the evenings with plenty of entertainment.
Directly with TUI, the exact same break comes in at £343.17pp.
Sun Travel spotted one of the most luxe places with a low price tag, which is Hotel Tour Khales in Tunisia, and can be booked from £558pp.
The hotel has a swimming pool and is just steps away from a private golden beach on the edge of Sousse.
There’s an infinity pool, enormous spa, fitness sessions and a tennis court.
Guests can laze about on cabanas by the poolside and enjoy evenings on balconies looking out either at the gardens or beach.
Departing on November 20, it’s for two adults across seven nights from Gatwick Airport.
Long-haul holidays include to far-flung destinations like Thailand, Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
Some of its lowest all-inclusive offers to Jamaica includes a break to the Samsara Cliff Resort.
The hotel is found in Negril at the top of its cliffs and has direct access to the seafront.
You can definitely make the most of the all-inclusive break at its restaurants that specialise in Jamaican food – and there are plenty of rum cocktails too.
As for entertainment, during the week, there’s a live reggae band, and in the evening head over to the sister hotel – Legenda Beach Resort – for more.
For two adults, a seven-night stay departing Manchester Airport on June 3 starts from £931pp.
Directly with TUI, this break costs a little more at £950pp.
HolidayHypermarket has offers on both Marella and TUI River Cruises too.
Prices correct at time of publication.
Prep talk: Sherman Oaks Notre Dame pitcher Ainsley Jenkins knows who to call for writing help
Freshman pitcher Ainsley Jenkins is a big reason Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has advanced to the Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals in softball. In the Knights’ first two playoff victories over Anaheim Canyon and Oaks Christian, she has been called out of the bullpen to pitch exceptionally well in relief.
Next up is a quarterfinal showdown with No. 2-seeded Norco on Wednesday at Encino’s Franklin Fields.
If Jenkins needs any help with writing for school work, she has two parents with distinguished writing backgrounds. Her father, Lee, was a highly regarded reporter at Sports Illustrated before becoming an executive with the Clippers. Her mother, Elizabeth, is a magazine writer.
Notre Dame is expected to face Norco’s top one-two pitching duo of Coral Williams and Peyton May. Jenkins will be available if needed. Mom and Dad are also available to write up a pleasing ending if the Knights pull off the upset.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
2-day NTSB hearing on UPS plane crash in Louisville begins
Members of the National Transportation Safety Board and FBI agents walk the runway looking for evidence from the UPS Flight 2976 MD-11 that crashed in November at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Ky. The NTSB hearing began Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) — The National Transportation Safety Board began its two-day hearing on Tuesday on the deadly UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Ky., that killed 15 people on Nov. 4.
The NTSB released the agenda of the hearing as soon as it began at 8 a.m. EDT in Washington, D.C. The hearing will continue to 6 p.m. Tuesday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center in Washington.
The NTSB has investigative hearings to find the facts and circumstances of transportation accidents or incidents under investigation, a press release said. The hearing is open to the public, but only NTSB board members, investigators, witnesses and parties to the hearing are allowed to participate.
The crash is the deadliest in the history of UPS. All three crew members on UPS Flight 2976 died, as well as 12 others on the ground, several of whom were working or shopping at nearby businesses. The crash also injured about 23 others.
The NTSB’s preliminary report showed that fatigued and overly stressed connecting pylons likely caused the left engine to detach from the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. The engine fell from the aircraft as it was taking off from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The aircraft crashed into the ground and burst into flames. The fully fueled flight was intended for Honolulu.
The preliminary report said cracks caused by fatigue and signs of excessive mechanical stress were found in the pylon that connected the left engine to the wing. The plane was 34 years old and had recently undergone maintenance in San Antonio.
The engine-mounting hardware was last inspected in October 2021. It wasn’t due for another inspection until the aircraft completed 7,000 more flights, the NTSB said. The preliminary report showed no apparent pilot errors.
The NTSB invited several groups to participate in the hearing: the Federal Aviation Administration, UPS, The Boeing Company, GE Aerospace, Teamsters Airline Division, Independent Pilots Association and Collins Aerospace.
The hearing panel includes accident investigators and engineers. They will hear from nine witnesses on Tuesday. A new panel will hear from four witnesses from the FAA and Boeing on Wednesday.
In January, UPS announced it was retiring all MD-11 planes and was reducing its workforce by 30,000.
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference on anti-fraud initiatives in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo
Flight to Argentina: How significant is it for Israel’s LatAm outreach? | Politics News
Israel and Argentina have launched a direct flight starting in November as the two countries boost their ties under Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The twice-a-week flight comes as Israel is aggressively pushing to cement its geopolitical footprint in Latin America amid its growing international isolation and its entrenched image as an occupying power.
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On May 7, Israel’s national carrier, El Al, opened bookings for a direct flight between Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires covering a distance of 12,000 kilometres (7,460 miles) – the longest route in the airline’s history.
However, the 16.5-hour journey is driven by political ambitions rather than mere commercial viability.
During a celebratory event in occupied East Jerusalem last month, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed Argentina’s Milei to hail the “first direct flight” between the two nations.
The event showcased a striking political alignment, further highlighted by the presence of US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who jokingly promised to buy the first ticket and described the two leaders as US “President Donald Trump’s biggest friends”.
The route aims to translate the “Isaac Accords” – a Latin American framework inspired by the “Abraham Accords” – into tangible reality. Morocco and Sudan established diplomatic ties with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords signed under President Trump’s first term.
Championed behind the scenes by Rabbi Axel Wahnish, Argentina’s ambassador to Israel, the framework aims to establish strategic cooperation in security, counterterrorism, and artificial intelligence with Latin American nations, including Ecuador, Costa Rica and Paraguay.
Trading tech for legitimacy
Israel is acutely aware that its status as an occupying power, exacerbated by the genocidal war on Gaza, has severely damaged its international standing. To secure recognition and bypass boycotts, particularly from an increasingly critical Europe, Israel is leveraging its advanced military and surveillance technologies.
Ihab Jabarin, an analyst specialising in Israeli affairs, told Al Jazeera that Israel’s strategy has shifted.
“Israel’s moral image has completely eroded,” Jabarin said. “The logic now is: ‘you may not like us, but you need us.’ Israel is offering its expertise in cybersecurity, AI systems like Lavender, border management, and drones – technologies tested on Palestinian bodies and land – to countries grappling with internal conflicts and organised crime,” he told Al Jazeera.
Jabarin noted that Israel uses infrastructure – whether ports, underwater cables, or civilian aviation – as tools for national security and influence. “This flight is not just about transporting passengers; it is a permanent corridor for security and tech businessmen,” he explained.
This strategy of using technology and security to buy diplomatic loyalty mirrors Israel’s approach in Africa. It has forged close ties with Ethiopia, Kenya and Chad. Last December, Israel became the first country in the world to recognise Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.
It has used smaller island states like Micronesia in the Asia Pacific to secure favourable votes at the United Nations and break its international isolation.
“Israel is trying to create a global network of interests that forces countries to weigh their relationship with Israel against their stance on the Palestinian cause,” Jabarin added. “It wants to make the world unable to live without it.”
The Milei-Netanyahu chemistry
The driving force behind this Latin American link is the ideological bond between Netanyahu and Milei. While left-wing leaders in the region, such as Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, have severed ties or strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, Milei has embraced the Israeli narrative unconditionally.
For Milei, who declared himself the most Zionist president in the world in March, the alliance offers rapid positioning in the Middle East, closer ties to Washington lobbies, and a stance against Latin America’s traditional left. For Netanyahu, Milei offers unconditional emotional and symbolic support that Israel has largely lost in Europe.
“Netanyahu understands the value of a symbolic ally,” Jabarin said. “He needs leaders who can be marketed as proof that Israel can still forge ideological alliances, not just pragmatic ones. Argentina, under Milei, has become Israel’s most important ‘island of influence’.”
A ‘safe haven’ from war crime probes
The direct flight also serves a highly practical security purpose for Israel. With mounting legal challenges and arrest warrants targeting Israeli soldiers and officials in Europe over alleged war crimes in Gaza, the Tel Aviv-Buenos Aires route offers a crucial bypass.
On Tuesday, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he was informed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had requested a warrant for his arrest. Prime Minister Netanyahu is also sought by the ICC for war crimes committed in Gaza.
Currently, travellers between the two countries rely on 21 to 33-hour transit flights through European hubs like Madrid or Paris.
Diego Ruzzarin, a Brazilian writer and analyst, argued that the project aims to secure hassle-free travel for Israelis, particularly military personnel, sparing them from international security interrogations or the risk of arrest in Europe.
Jabarin echoed this assessment, noting that the fear of legal pursuit in Europe is a significant concern within the Israeli establishment.
“The direct flight bypasses any potential legal harassment in Europe,” he said. “Latin America is now appearing in Israeli calculations as a more politically flexible space compared to rights-focused Europe.”
Economic risks and domestic pushback
Despite its strategic value, the flight faces significant logistical and economic hurdles. Because Israeli planes are banned from the airspace of several African nations, including Libya, the flights must take a costly detour over the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
To mitigate the economic risks of the long-haul route, the Israeli government has taken the unusual step of granting El Al a 20-million-shekel ($5.4m) subsidy, spread over three years.
The success of the route will heavily depend on Argentina’s Jewish community – the largest in Latin America, estimated at up to 300,000. According to Sabre data, roughly 55,300 people travelled between the two countries in 2025, a 37 percent increase from 2024, but still below the 71,200 recorded in 2019.
The project has sparked domestic criticism in both countries. In Israel, the transport ministry reportedly warned that pulling Boeing 787 Dreamliners from highly profitable US routes to service Buenos Aires could drive up ticket prices for Israelis travelling to North America.
In Argentina, left-wing congresswoman Myriam Bregman accused Milei’s government of dragging the country into an “imperialist war” without congressional approval, warning of a constitutional overreach.
Furthermore, the influx of Israeli tourists, many of whom are recently discharged soldiers, has caused friction in southern Argentina. Local residents and activists have blamed Israeli tourists for devastating fires in the Patagonia nature reserves due to negligence, the most recent being a massive blaze in January 2026 that destroyed 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres) and led to the arrest of an Israeli tourist.
For Israelis, however, an El Al flight to Buenos Aires carries profound historical symbolism. In May 1960, the Mossad used an official El Al flight to smuggle captured former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann out of Argentina to face trial and execution in Israel.
Strictly Emma Willis’ 5 subtle hints she’d be presenting BBC show before announcement
Emma Willis dropped several hints on Instagram before the official BBC Strictly Come Dancing presenter announcement – and these five telling clues show she was always destined for the role
Emma Willis’ Instagram has been dropping hints for quite some time(Image: Dave Benett, Dave Benett/Getty Images)
With the news announced today (May 19) that Emma Willis is joining Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe in the ultimate Strictly hosting trio, we’ve been examining her Instagram feed for the telltale signs that this had been in the pipeline for quite some time.
Following months of wild speculation after Tess and Claudia’s emotional exit, the BBC has at last announced that Emma Willis is entering the nation’s most dazzling ballroom. Yet for devoted followers monitoring @emmawillisofficial, the reveal may not have been entirely unexpected, as online detectives have been doing their thing! Scrolling through her stylish Instagram profile, it appears Emma has been leaving clues about her Strictly Come Dancing fate for months.
From perfecting the quintessential presenter look to demonstrating her live broadcasting prowess, here are the subtle signals that suggested she was always destined for the ballroom.
1. The trademark ‘Claudia’ power suits
If there’s one commandment of Strictly presenting, it’s that you need an impeccable wardrobe of tailored suits—and Emma’s Instagram essentially serves as a tutorial in power dressing.
Well before the BBC’s official word, her profile has been brimming with sharp tailoring, pristine blazers, and sophisticated monochrome ensembles. Whether she’s sporting a velvet suit that channels “Movie Week” or a polished black tuxedo radiating serious Claudia Winkleman vibes, Emma has been visually campaigning for the Saturday night style icon position for years.
2. Mastering the co-host dynamic
Tess and Claudia were the ultimate television double act, meaning any successor needed to know how to share the spotlight. Fortunately, Emma’s recent social media activity has been largely centred on her effortless chemistry with her favourite co-host: her husband, Matt Willis.
Through their promotional content for Love Is Blind UK, Emma has demonstrated she is the undisputed queen of the sideways glance, the encouraging nod, and the sharp-witted ad-lib.
If she can manage emotionally volatile reality stars while bouncing off her husband, keeping Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe in check on a live Saturday night will be an absolute doddle.
3.Live TV glamour prep
You can’t simply waltz onto the Strictly set without a genuine appreciation for serious glamour, and Emma’s behind-the-scenes posts have been quietly radiating “high production value.” Her feed is scattered with backstage selfies in the makeup chair, highlighting her flawless, camera-ready look and her famously stylish, cropped hair being expertly perfected by her team of stylists.
She has a profound appreciation for the effort required to get television-ready, regularly tagging her glam squad. She’s already well-versed in spending hours in the makeup chair — now they simply need to double the hairspray and throw in a few rhinestones.
4. Ballroom-ready fitness
While she may be clutching the microphone instead of performing the Argentine Tango, presenting Strictly demands hours of standing in stilettos, racing up and down those iconic stairs, and maintaining relentless energy.
Throughout the past year, Emma’s followers will have spotted subtle hints about her remarkable fitness regimen. From Pilates classes to core-focused training, she’s been steadily developing the endurance needed to endure the demanding autumn timetable. Those stairs won’t stand a chance.
5. A secret penchant for sequins
Emma is typically recognised for her low-key, effortlessly chic style, but occasionally, her feed unveils a glimpse of pure theatricality.
A surprise appearance of a shimmering party frock here, a glittering statement piece there—these were the key subliminal hints. She’s been gradually preparing us for a universe where she can confidently stand alongside a rhumba performer draped entirely in Swarovski crystals without appearing remotely uncomfortable.
The Verdict
The BBC couldn’t have selected a superior candidate. Emma Willis’s Instagram demonstrates she holds the precise combination needed to embrace the Strictly role: she’s exceptionally stylish, genuinely compassionate, and completely unruffled by live broadcasting mayhem.
People have been leaving comments on her social media saying that she’ll be “perfect” for the role, and they can’t wait to watch the three of them in action.
As she teams up with Josh and Johannes to introduce a brand-new chapter of Saturday evening entertainment, one thing is guaranteed, and that’s that her feed is about to become considerably more dazzling.
Last-minute seaside holiday parks and hotels from £102 for this weekend
WITH the bank holiday weekend fast approaching and the weather looking warm, you might want to book a last-minute staycation…
Well, the good news is that whether you want to head north or south, seaside destinations across the country still have availability as temperatures are set to reach up to 28C.
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
Stowford Farm Meadows, Devon
Found in Combe Martin in Devon, you could book an electric grass pitch at Stowford Farm Meadows for four people between May 22 and 25 for just £104.
The nearest beach is a short 10 minute drive away and at the park you can enjoy a swimming pool and bar.
The holiday park also offers entertainment such as daytime kids shows and bingo in the evenings.
Read more on travel inspo
Lower Hyde Holiday Park, Isle of Wight
Found on the Isle of Wight, you could book a safari tent for four people for £247, staying from Friday May 22 to Sunday May 24.
The Parkdean Resort is just a 15 minute walk downhill to Shanklin Beach and to get back to the resort, instead of walking you can hop on a shuttle.
Then also at the park, there is indoor and outdoor entertainment for guests including an arts and crafts den, new adventure golf and a swimming pool with a water slide.
Pevensey Bay, Sussex
Pevensey Bay Holiday Park near Eastbourne in East Sussex is located right on the beach and over the bank holiday weekend a family of four can stay for £483 between May 22 and May 25.
At the holiday park families can also enjoy a pool and golf.
And if you want to explore a little further, then you can head off on a walk on the Seven Sisters cliff top trail, which has panoramic views of the English Channel.
Waxham Sands Holiday Park, Norfolk
Found in Great Yarmouth, dog-friendly Waxham Sands Holiday Park has stays for this weekend between May 22 and 25 for just £390.15 for a family of four.
The holiday park has direct access to the beach, with it being just a two-minute walk away.
The holiday park has a woodland walk as well as a board game library, adventure golf and a playground, too.
Marine Holiday Park, Rhyl
Over in Rhyl, you could head to Marine Holiday Park for three nights between May 22 and 25 for a family of four, costing £432.
The holiday park boasts a bar, nightclub, kid’s club, children’s pool, outdoor play area and even a hot tub.
Plus, if that wasn’t enough Rhyl Beach is less than a 30-minute walk away.
St Margaret’s Bay Holiday Park, Kent
The Parkdean Resort of St Margaret’s Bay Holiday Park in Kent has stays this weekend for a family of four from £359.
The park is just one mile from the White Cliffs of Dover and is the beach is just a 20-minute walk away.
When it comes to things to do at the park, there is a large indoor pool, spa pool, sauna and even a solarium.
Naze Marine Holiday Park, Essex
Another Parkdean Resort close to the seaside is Naze Marine Holiday Park in Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, where families of four can stay between May 22 and 25 for £373.
The holiday park is just a couple of minutese walk from the beach where there are a couple of cafes to grab a bite to eat and as for the park itself, guests will be able to enjoy an indoor pool, laser quest and evening entertainment.
Nearby in Walton, guests can also explore one of the longest piers in the country with arcades and bowling.
The Grand Scarborough
Up in the North, you could head to Scarborough and stay at The Grand Scarborough Hotel between May 22 and 25 for just £213.
The hotel is in a great location overlooking the Harbour and South Bay.
Inside, the hotel is themed around time including seasons, months, weeks and days – and even has 52 chimneys!
Cavendish Hotel, Eastbourne
Just the two of you? Head to the Cavendish Hotel in Eastbourne for £283, staying between May 22 and 25.
The hotel is located directly on the beach and features modern swish interiors throughout.
The hotel also has a restaurant and library.
Travelodge Morecambe, Lancashire
For just £271, you could stay at the seaside Travelodge Morecambe between May 22 and 25.
Not only is the hotel located right by the beach, but some rooms have recently been upgraded as well.
The Dolau Inn, New Quay in Wales
Just a two-minute walk from Dolau Beach, you could stay at The Dolau Inn between May 22 and 25 for £124.
All rooms feature a private shower and boast a cosy interior.
In the surrounding area, guests can explore the town as well as other nearby beaches.
Haven Riviere Sands, Cornwall
If you fancy heading to Cornwall, there is still some availability at Haven’s Riviere Sands in Cornwall for three nights between May 22 and 25 from £249 for a family of four.
The holiday park backs onto Towans Beach, which has previously been named the best beach in the UK.
At the park there is also an outdoor pool with a waterslide, indoor pool, entertainment for adults and kids and even a new Wetherspoons pub.
Perran Sands Holiday Park, Cornwall
Also in Cornwall, Perran Sands Holiday Park also has availability for this weekend with a stay between May 22 and 25 for four people costing from £259.
The park is right by Perranporth Beach, which is a top spot for surfing and heading for a scenic walk along the coastal path.
The holiday park also features an indoor pool and a number of spots to grab a bite to eat.
The Royal Boston Hotel by Compass Hospitality, Blackpool
If you are wanting to head to Blackpool, then you can opt to stay at The Royal Boston Hotel this weekend between May 22 and 25, costing from £206 for two people.
The hotel can be found directly on Blackpool’s seafront and is just a five-minute drive from the famous Blackpool Tower.
Each room is well-equipped too, with an en suite, TV, tea and coffee making facilities.
Hele Valley Holiday Park, Ilfracombe
Fancy glamping instead? The head to Hele Valley Holiday Park in Ilfracombe where glamping for two people between May 22 and 23 costs from £180.
Each glamping pod has a bench outside for enjoying meals as well as heating and lighting on the inside.
And the beach is just a five-minute walk away.
West Point Woods, Barrow in Furness
A glamping pod for up to three people at West Point Woods in Barrow in Furness costs from £375 for a stay between May 22 and 25.
This glamping spot is ideal for wildlife lovers as the site is surrounded by Walney Island Nature Reserve.
Guests can also easily reach Earnse Bay if they fancy a day at the beach.
Butlin’s Bognor Regis
If you want a family break with loads to do, then head to Butlin’s in Bognor Regis, with a stay between May 22 and 25 costing £433 for a family of four.
The resort sits right by the beach, which is expansive and a great swimming spot.
In the resort itself, you can expect tonnes of shows and activities, as well as arcades, crazy golf and a huge swimming complex.
West Bay Holiday Park, Dorset
You could stay in a two-bedroom safari tent sleeping up to six people at West Bay Holiday Park in Dorset between May 22 and 25 for £409.
From the holiday park, you can walk to the harbour and beach, which stretches for miles.
And then, as for things to do when onsite, the park has an indoor pool, bike hire and an adventure playground.
Mercure Paignton Hotel, Devon
Looking out onto a green and then the beach and sea, you could stay at the Mercure Paignton Hotel in Devon this weekend from £396 for two people.
From the hotel you can easily explore the town centre as well as the pier, which boasts games, crazy golf, arcades and fish and chips.
Travelodge Aberdeen Central, Scotland
Located near to Aberdeen train station and the ferry terminal, Travelodge Aberdeen Central has stays left for the weekend from just £102.
The Travelodge has everything you would expect including tea and coffee making facilities.
From the hotel, it takes under 30 minutes to walk to the beach where you will find Codona’s funfair.
Can the Dodgers’ starting rotation hold up in wake of latest injuries?
SAN DIEGO — Andrew Friedman got the last laugh last year, and another ring. At the trade deadline, you screamed he had to do SOMETHING BIG to get a left fielder and a closer. He did neither. The Dodgers rode a parade of starters to win Game 7 in Toronto, before they rode in a parade in L.A.
There are few things Friedman despises more than a deadline trade. The price in prospects is too high, the guarantees are too few.
Friedman might well face that same dilemma this year. We are two months from the trade deadline, and he just might need to trade for a starting pitcher by then.
Blake Snell undergoes elbow surgery Tuesday. Tyler Glasnow is back to square one in his recovery from back spasms. The Dodgers believe both will be back by the trade deadline, but you never really know for sure when an injured pitcher will return, and whether he will need some time thereafter to regain his sharpness.
There is something else Friedman despises: finishing second. It is not just about getting into the playoffs. It is about winning the National League West, with one of the two best records in the league, thus ensuring a first-round bye.
However, in a division race that was projected to be a runaway, the Dodgers find themselves in second place. With a 1-0 loss in San Diego Monday, the Padres leapfrogged the Dodgers for the lead in the NL West.
The Dodgers also figure to have a short time frame to determine whether they might need bullpen help at the trade deadline. The Dodgers have said closer Edwin Díaz is expected to return from elbow surgery sometime after the All-Star break, which would confine that time frame to two weeks, if that.
On Monday, Friedman said he was confident that the three key pitching injuries would not push him toward the July trade market.
“It’s more that the timing of the injuries would be way easier if they were spaced out,” Friedman said in a text message. “Obviously, injuries are part of the game and we can’t be shocked when it happens.
“It’s the overlapping nature that is tough in the moment, but that doesn’t really change July thoughts (at this point) or October outlook.”
In the third week of May, nothing is urgent.
The Dodgers are supplementing where they can, picking up three pitchers cut by their former clubs. The only one with name recognition: Eric Lauer, who posted a 6.69 earned-run average for the Toronto Blue Jays and complained about the team using an opener ahead of him.
The Dodgers can mix and match for awhile, but a team that prides itself on positioning its starters best for October success finds itself in an awkward position.
With Snell and Glasnow out, the Dodgers have little choice but to ask Shohei Ohtani, Justin Wrobleski, Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki to take regular turns. No one but Yoshinobu Yamamoto has done that recently.
“You have to deal with the circumstances that are presented to you,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We’re not pushing any of these guys right now. It could be a different conversation in September.
“Right now, they’ve got to take the baseball. In May, I don’t think it’s much cause for concern.”
Before the season, Fangraphs projected the Dodgers to win the NL West by 15 games, and to finish 17 games ahead of the fourth-place Padres. However, if what we see in the NL West right now is close to what we get all summer, that “different conversation in September” could involve not how to put a starter on a glide path toward October but whether that starter has exhausted himself to the point where he could not be counted on in an unexpected pennant race.
Ohtani is on pace to pitch 149 innings, a figure he last reached in 2022. He pitched 47 last year, none the year before.
Wrobleski is on pace to pitch 171 innings, 39 more than the professional high he set last season. He pitched 117 innings last year.
Sheehan is on pace to pitch 141 innings, 18 more than his professional high. He pitched 93 innings last season, none the year before.
Sasaki is on pace to pitch 137 innings, eight more than his professional high. He pitched 57 innings last season.
Maybe Lauer turns from a Dodger killer into a Dodger asset. Perhaps prospect River Ryan gets promoted into the starting rotation next month and sticks.
But July trades for starting pitchers need not be such a scary proposition. Friedman acquired Yu Darvish at the trade deadline in 2017 and Jack Flaherty at the trade deadline in 2024, and no one in Dodger Land is bemoaning the loss of Willie Calhoun, Trey Sweeney and Thayron Liranzo.
Sandy Fire forces thousands of evacuations in California’s Simi Valley
May 19 (UPI) — The Sandy Fire in Simi Valley, Calif., has spread across more than 1,300 acres Tuesday, putting thousands of people under evacuation orders.
The fire started as a brush fire on Monday morning but spread quickly due to heavy wind gusts. At least one home has been burned.
The California Department of Forest and Fire Protection said Monday night that “fire activity has decreased significantly” due to calmer winds and higher humidity.
“California is mobilizing resources to support Ventura County communities threatened by the Sandy Fire,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “This activation will ensure responders have the support needed to continue protecting lives and homes as dangerous fire conditions persist. We are deeply grateful to the crews on the front lines and urge Californians in impacted areas to follow guidance from local officials.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire crews continue to battle the blaze with 750 firefighters working overnight attempting to contain it.
As of 6:11 a.m. PDT on Tuesday the fire had torn through 1,386 acres with zero containment.
No casualties or civilian injuries have been reported.
“We have made tremendous progress on this fire,” said Andrew Dowd, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson. “Zero percent containment, don’t let that number fool you. A lot of great work has been done.”
An emergency shelter is open at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley for people needing somewhere to stay overnight.
The Simi Valley Unified School District has closed all schools on Tuesday due to the fire. On Tuesday afternoon, it will determine if schools will reopen on Wednesday.
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference on anti-fraud initiatives in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo
Why has FIFA not signed a World Cup broadcast deal in India? | World Cup 2026 News
New Delhi, India — When Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel converted a penalty to seal his country’s third FIFA World Cup title in December 2022 in Qatar, Lionel Messi fan Vishwas Banerjee celebrated the Albiceleste’s triumph with abandon in Bangalore, a football-crazy city in southeastern India.
Unable to hold back his excitement, Banerjee screamed and tossed his shirt away as he watched the match on a big screen at a street crossing close to midnight.
“It was one of the best nights, watching Messi lift the World Cup,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Everyone went crazy. We danced on the streets,” Banerjee said, reminiscing about the excitement felt more than 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles) away in an otherwise cricket-mad country.
While Messi is expected to make his World Cup swan song at the upcoming tournament in North America, football fans in India, the world’s most populous nation, are set to miss out on watching the biggest sporting event.
With just over three weeks to the tournament’s kickoff in Mexico, organisers FIFA have not found any buyers for broadcasting its most coveted product in India.
Here’s what we know about the World Cup broadcast rights crisis in the South Asian nation:
How many people watch the FIFA World Cup in India?
When the World Cup was played in Qatar nearly four years ago, India trailed only China in overall engagement figures, with more than 745 million fans following the action across all media platforms in the country, according to figures released by FIFA.
In television viewing numbers, India was among the top 10 countries – ahead of World Cup participants Germany, France and England – with nearly 84 million viewers.
Digital viewership numbers were also significant in India. For the final alone, an unprecedented 32 million viewers tuned in on Reliance’s JioCinema – a subscription video-on-demand over-the-top streaming service – as the tournament clocked 40 billion minutes of watch time on the platform.
Reliance’s Jio paid $60m for tournament rights in 2022, while Sony Sports secured broadcasting rights for the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, as well as the Euro 2016 championship, for around $90m in 2013.
So when FIFA began selling media rights for the 2026 tournament and the 2027 Women’s Cup, it expected plenty of takers for an estimated price of $100m.
But with 23 days until the tournament and the asking price reportedly slashed significantly, FIFA is still struggling to find buyers in one of its biggest markets.
Why are there no buyers for the World Cup 2026 in India?
Experts say the kickoff times for the majority of the matches are the biggest concern for Indian broadcasters.
With the tournament being staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, many games will be played at odd hours for the Indian audience, with a 10-12 hour time difference between the host cities and the South Asian nation.
Only 14 out of the total 104 World Cup games will begin before midnight for fans in India.
The final will be held in New Jersey on July 19, beginning at 12:30am in India (19:00 GMT). By comparison, 98.4 percent of matches at the 2018 World Cup started before midnight, and 82.5 percent at the following edition in Qatar.
Karan Taurani, executive vice president at investment firm Elara Capital, sees TV as a “struggling” medium in India.
“When you have these kinds of sporting events, effectively it is mostly digital that is monetising and raising big money,” Taurani told Al Jazeera. “That is a big reason why no one’s showing interest in the FIFA World Cup.”
Taurani explained that cricket leads the sports economy market in India.
“Only a small fraction of people who watch the Indian Premier League [IPL] will watch the FIFA World Cup,” he said, adding that an even smaller fraction tune in past midnight to watch a match.
For broadcasters and advertisers, Taurani explained, these factors shrink the target audience.
He also pointed out that a recent ban by the Indian government on fantasy real-money betting apps had reduced the macro form of money in the sports entertainment industry.
The World Cup begins 10 days after cricket’s IPL 2026 final, one of the most-watched sports events in India and one where major prime-time advertisers focus the majority of their annual sports spending.
The price of football streaming in India has been going down anyway. The English Premier League rights, which were sold for $145m for three seasons between 2013 and 2016, went for $65m for 2025-28. There are no major takers for La Liga matches in India.
FIFA appears increasingly concerned that weak broadcaster interest in India could dent both revenues and its long-term ambition to grow football in one of the world’s largest media markets.
In the capital New Delhi, the high court is hearing a plea on the lack of a tournament broadcast deal and has sought responses from India’s information and broadcasting ministry and Doordarshan, India’s state-owned public television broadcaster.
“Without timely judicial intervention by this court, the petitioner and millions of Indian citizens will be irreparably deprived of their fundamental rights with no adequate alternative remedy,” the petitioner, a lawyer and football fan, has said in the plea.
He claims that missing out on the tournament violates the constitutional protections of freedom of speech.
“It is important to note that by denying access to the information in question or by not taking necessary steps to broadcast the FIFA World Cup, the respondents have directly infringed the petitioner’s fundamental right to acquire and receive information, which is an integral part of freedom of speech and expression under the constitution,” the petitioner argued in the plea.
With China’s state broadcaster signing a late World Cup deal with FIFA last week, there’s still hope and time for football fans in India. However, if no deal is signed, all eyes will turn to Doordarshan, which last beamed the tournament in 1998.
The continuing uncertainty is chipping away at the excitement of the football World Cup. “I’m heartbroken that we will not have any reliable way to watch the World Cup this year,” said Banerjee, the Messi fan from Kolkata.
“But we will tune to pirated streams anyway,” he added. “No one can stop that.”
Why fans obsess over the idea of a third park at Disneyland
Last week, news organizations and Disney bloggers learned that the Mouse House had filed building permits with the city of Anaheim related to a parking structure at Disneyland Resort.
That immediately sparked rumors about a third park — a long-held dream of Walt Disney Co. fans who want to see more rides, themed areas and Mickey-related shopping destinations.
But that will remain a dream — at least for the foreseeable future.
Anaheim city officials confirmed as much in an internal email about one of the news articles, noting to City Council members and the mayor that the permits were, in fact, for minor parking lot improvements within the existing Toy Story parking structure off Harbor Boulevard.
The email, which was reviewed by The Times, said the improvements were not related to an already-approved expansion of Disneyland Resort, or “what could ultimately be developed on the property in the future.”
A Disneyland spokesperson told me the permits are related to painting and striping at the Toy Story parking structure. So much for a third theme park.
It’s not the first time there’s been a hullabaloo about an additional park at Disneyland Resort.
In the early 1990s, there were serious talks about a Disneyland expansion called Westcot Center, a West Coast version of Walt Disney World’s Epcot in Florida. The plan at one point was to include three hotels, a public plaza and a number of retail, dining and entertainment options all around a central lake. At one point, both Anaheim and Long Beach were vying to be chosen as the site.
But that all collapsed in the mid-’90s amid financial concerns. Disney later built California Adventure, and briefly teased the idea of a third theme park complex with both a water park and amusement park that could complement the two-park resort. But that but never came to fruition.
The idea came up yet again about 10 years ago at an annual shareholders meeting in San Francisco, when former Chief Executive Bob Iger batted down speculation about a third park.
“We have plans at Disneyland for an expansion that we have not announced but those plans at the present do not include a third gate,” he said at the time.
More on that expansion later, but the truth is Disney simply doesn’t have enough land in Anaheim to build out a third theme park. I spoke with Len Testa, president of theme park travel site TouringPlans.com, who laid out the issues for me.
A third park would probably need a minimum of 80 to 120 acres of land to accommodate big new rides, as well as necessary behind-the-scenes facilities like employee break rooms and other back-of-the-house infrastructure.
“They’re landlocked,” he said. “And to acquire that land now in any way that would keep the campus centralized and avoid the logistics of a far-flung transportation network, that would be prohibitively expensive.”
That’s not to say that Disneyland Resort isn’t expanding on the land it does have.
Two years ago, Anaheim approved expansion plans for a project known as DisneylandForward, which will allow the company to build new attractions alongside shops, restaurants and hotels.
Development plans include a bigger Avengers campus with two new rides, as well as a “Coco” ride and “Avatar”-themed area in California Adventure, as well as a new parking structure.
Although it’s not a park, adding new lands and rides is “mission critical” for Disneyland Resort, Testa told me. After all, to drive attendance, you need to regularly open new attractions.
And these new rides can’t just be any old rides — they have to be “epic, mammoth blockbusters” that no one’s seen before, which takes time, space and money, he said.
Disneyland Paris is a good example. The European tourism resort saw a notable boost in attendance after it opened a World of “Frozen”-themed land in March.
“When you have that type of expansion and you can fill the park, you feel very, very good about that,” Disney Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston said last week at the MoffettNathanson media, internet and communications conference. “When we leverage our [intellectual property] and take that IP and build big new attractions, not little things … it’s these big new things that actually tend to just really bring in the consumers.”
That’s also key when you consider Disney’s growing competition from Universal Studios, which recently opened Epic Universe in Orlando and siphoned off some attendance from Walt Disney World.
And while the company’s TV and film business is vital, its theme parks still throw off most of the cash — new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro recently called the parks the “physical centerpiece of the company.” And of course, they retain a deep link to Disney’s heritage.
As Walt himself noted, Disneyland is a “living” entity that would “never be finished.”
Stuff We Wrote
Film shoots
Number of the week
Lionsgate’s musical biopic “Michael” retook the top spot at the box office last weekend with a haul of $26.1 million in the U.S. and Canada.
The film, which chronicles the early career of singer Michael Jackson, has had remarkable staying power atop the charts since it debuted in late April. The film’s weekend revenue was down only 31% in North America compared with the previous weekend.
Overall, “Michael” has now made an estimated $703.9 million in worldwide box office revenue, with $421.1 million coming from international markets.
What I’m watching
Now that WNBA season is in full swing, I’ve been watching my L.A. Sparks and caught the game against the Toronto Tempo on Sunday. It was a rough game, but here’s hoping the Sparks can start turning things around, and quickly.