When UCLA baseball coach John Savage scouts prospects, he looks at their projections and skill upside. Most important, he wants players dedicated to the culture he’s developed during his 22 years as a coach.

“We want people that fit into our program, that want to be a part of a winning culture,” he said.

Most of his current roster consists of players who came up short in last year’s College World Series. This year, the No. 1 team in the country has its eyes set on winning a national title in Omaha. The Bruins (21-2 overall, 9-0 in the Big Ten) are coming off a three-game weekend home sweep of Maryland.

The Times spoke to Savage about the expectations the Bruins set for themselves and his longevity with UCLA. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Your team entered the year ranked No. 1 nationally and has gotten off to a strong start. How have you managed expectations?

Savage: It’s really about the people you have in the clubhouse. They’ve been born and raised through our program. Now it’s their junior years. They went to Omaha their sophomore year. They had a difficult year their freshman year. It’s been a work in progress, and I think the expectations are probably the heaviest inside our room. Everybody’s held to a very high standard and they believe in one another, they believe in the program. It’s refreshing to coach people that want to be coached, and to have people that love UCLA, and want to stay at UCLA.

After returning a large percentage of last year’s production, what differences have you noticed in this roster compared to previous teams?

UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky.

(Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

Savage: I think the leadership is fantastic. Roch Cholowsky, Cashel Dugger, Michael Barnett, Jack O’Connor — our captains, they do a wonderful job of making sure guys are accountable. Everybody’s a year older. Everybody’s a little stronger. Everybody’s a little faster. A lot of guys that work extremely hard to upgrade their physicality, and then certainly it’s a mental game. We’ve worked really hard on the mental side of things to make sure that we’re combining both phases.

What has allowed your program to retain so much of its core talent year to year?

Savage: I would say loyalty, personal relationships, wanting to be at UCLA, to get a degree from UCLA, coaching staff, facilities, location. But, I would say most importantly, relationships. We didn’t win a national championship last year and these guys seem to be on that sort of mission.

Last season’s run to Omaha ended just short of the championship series. How much has that experience motivated this year’s group early in the season?

Savage: You see where you’re going. People always talk about Omaha, but if you never go, it’s hard to really envision what it looks like. It’s something that if you experience, you want to go back. It’s the mecca of college baseball and the city of Omaha has done a wonderful job of developing this tournament over 75 years. It’s an experience that you go and you definitely want to go back as a player and certainly as a coach.

How has recruiting or roster construction changed, if at all, now that UCLA is competing in the Big Ten instead of the Pac-12?

Savage: It’s still UCLA. I’ve been here 22 years, we’ve produced 30 major leaguers. It’s a place that you certainly could go and enjoy your college life and go play in the major leagues. The Big Ten is getting better in baseball, with the addition of UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington. Obviously, it has helped the baseball side of things quite a bit. But there’s a lot of programs that are investing throughout the Big Ten in baseball and it’s only going to get better. Baseball is baseball. You gotta go play any time, anywhere.

With the travel demands that come with a conference like the Big Ten, what adjustments have you made to keep players fresh and focused?

Savage: We don’t charter. We’re all commercial. We fly out of LAX on Wednesday morning and we get back late Sunday night. It’s a challenge and it’s certainly one that it’s a daily and weekly operation. In terms of managing school, they all go to class. Not a lot of remote classes, really, so we love the challenge and the opportunity to grow as a young player and a young person.

You’re now in your 22nd season leading the Bruins. What has kept you motivated to continue evolving as a coach after more than two decades in Westwood?

Savage: I love being at UCLA. I love what it stands for. It’s a combination that I’m really looking for in terms of baseball, schedule, league, school — it’s just an elite combination. You have to make sure you’re grounded. You have to make sure you’re very consistent. You have to make sure that you have true values that are consistent with the university and that equates to winning. Winning is really, really difficult, especially now at the Power 4 level.

When players leave UCLA after their careers — whether they go to pro baseball or move on to other careers — what do you hope they carry with them from their time in your program?

Savage: That they understand how to be a contributor to an organization, to a business, how to lead a family, how to lead a group in work. Just be a person that people like to be around and a person that has a vision, that they want to get better and they want to do well in their lives and they want to have impact on other lives. That’s ultimately what we’re looking for, that they can handle themselves in any phase of life.

UCLA men are out, UCLA women stay strong

UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. tries to get through UCLA’s Trent Perry, from left, Donovan Dent and Eric Dailey Jr. in the first half Monday.

(Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

UCLA coach Mick Cronin never wavered.

If senior forward Tyler Bilodeau felt any pain, he was not playing the NCAA tournament.

The No. 7 seed Bruins could not overcome No. 2 seed UConn’s interior game and suffered a 73-57 loss. The Bruins kept it close early, trailing by just five at halftime.

Cronin will help UCLA cope with the sudden end to its season and then immediately work on sorting out next season’s roster.

While fans questioned Cronin’s aggressive coaching style, the Bruins did play significantly improved defense through the final four weeks of their season and his players never wavered in their support of him.

Now Cronin will start over, working to forge comparable buy-in from the next wave of players.

The UCLA women walk to the bench during a time out against Cal Baptist.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It’s rare for a No. 1 seed in the women’s NCAA tournament to miss the Sweet 16, but the Bruins (32-1) say they expect a big test when they face No. 8 seed Oklahoma State (24-9) at 7 p.m. Monday night at Pauley Pavilion.

It will be the final game the Bruins’ celebrated senior class will play at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA coach Cori Close provided the following scouting report on Oklahoma State.

“I think that what stands out is their ability to shoot the three, their versatility, their work down the tunnel with the high ball screen,” Close said. “They’re extremely good in transition. It’s going to be so important for us to make them play later into the shot clock, which is going to be easier said than done. But I guess with the exception they don’t have like a really tall big, but they actually remind me in terms of their style and some of the actions that they run of Oklahoma. Their guard play.

“And one of the big things that we talk a lot about is trying to make them play later in the clock than they’re comfortable with. Now we go through all the analytics, and the later you have them play in the shot clock, the less efficient they become. They’re 13th in the country in offensive efficiency. They’re really, really good.

“Defensively I think that we obviously need to really hunt the paint. We’ve got some advantages with our size there. But they’re a really good team.”

Survey says

We asked “How far will the UCLA men advance in the NCAA men’s tournament. After 648 votes, the results:

They lose in the second round, 36.5%
They lose in the Sweet 16, 27.5%
They lose in the Elite Eight, 17.3%
They win it all, 12.6%
They lose in the first round, 3.2%
They lose in the Final Four, 2.5%
They lose in the championship game, 0.4%

In case you missed it

UCLA overcomes slow start to open NCAA tournament title bid with a blowout win

Jordan Chiles goes perfect again as UCLA sweeps Big Ten gymnastics titles

UCLA freshmen draw on their elite gymnastics roots to help Bruins push for championships

Without Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA edges Central Florida to advance at NCAA tournament

How UCLA guard Kiki Rice became the Bruins’ ace and top WNBA draft prospect

UCLA men’s basketball eager to mount deep tournament run

March Madness women’s tournament analysis: Teams and players to watch

UCLA was snubbed by women’s NCAA tournament selection committee

Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Iran’s paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz has led to major disruption in global oil and gas supply and many countries have begun tapping into their strategic oil reserves to evade an economic crisis.

Since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, Tehran, whose territorial waters extend into the Strait, has blocked the passage of vessels carrying 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) from the Gulf to the rest of the world. The strait is the only waterway to open ocean available for Gulf oil and gas producers.

Last week, the price of Brent crude topped $100 a barrel compared to the pre-war price of around $65.

The United States Trump administration has tried and failed to re-open the strait. First, it called on Western nations to send warships to help escort shipping through the strait – an option all have declined or failed to respond to. Then, on Sunday, Trump gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the strait or face US attacks on its power plants.

However, on Sunday, Iran said it would hit back at power plants in Israel and those in the region supplying electricity to US military assets. And, on Monday, Iran said it would completely shut the Strait of Hormuz if US attacks on its energy infrastructure continue.

Following Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf over the past three weeks, countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq and Kuwait have also cut their oil output, raising further concerns about global oil and gas supply.

On Monday, Trump appeared to backtrack on his Hormuz ultimatum when he ordered all US strikes on power plants in Iran to be paused for five days and claimed the US was holding talks with Iran. Iran has denied this.

In the face of chaos, on March 11, the 32 member countries of the International Energy Agency (IEA) agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic emergency reserves – the largest stock draw in the agency’s history. It is far higher than the 2022 release of 182 million barrels of oil by the group’s members after Russia invaded Ukraine.

What are strategic oil reserves and which countries hold them?

What is a strategic oil reserve?

A strategic oil reserve or strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) is an emergency stockpile of crude oil which is held by the government of a country in government facilities.

This oil reserve can be drawn on in cases of emergencies like wars and economic crises. Governments generally buy the oil through agreements with private companies in order to keep their reserves filled.

According to the IEA, its members currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of these public emergency oil stocks with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held by private organisations but under government mandate to be available to supplement public needs.

Other reserves are also held by non IEA members like China.

Which countries have strategic oil reserves? Can they withstand the war in Iran?

China

Beijing is not an IEA member, but holds the world’s largest strategic oil reserve.

According to China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing “started a state strategic oil reserve base programme in 2004 as a way to offset oil supply risks and reduce the impact of fluctuating energy prices worldwide on China’s domestic market for refined oil”.

“The bases are designed to maintain strategic oil reserves of an equivalent to 30 days of imports, or about 10 million tonnes,” according to a 2007 report from Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

These strategic oil reserves are primarily located along China’s eastern and southern coastal regions such as Shandong, Zhejiang and Hainan.

China does not officially publish information about its crude inventories so it is not clear how much oil the country has in reserve. However, according to energy analytics firm Vortexa, in 2025, “China’s onshore crude inventories (excluding underground storage) continued to rise… reaching a record 1.13 billion barrels by year-end”.

According to data from Kpler, China bought more than 80 percent of Iran’s shipped oil in 2025. As the war in Iran escalates, therefore, Chinese companies such as refiner Sinopec have begun pushing for permission to use oil from the country’s reserves according to a Reuters report on Monday.

“We basically won’t buy Iranian oil, this is pretty clear,” Sinopec President Zhao Dong told a company results briefing in March, according to Reuters.

“We believe the government is closely monitoring crude oil and refined fuel inventories and market situations, and will advance policies at the appropriate ⁠time to support refinery productions,” he added.

US

Of the IEA members, the US holds one of the largest strategic oil reserves with 415 million barrels of oil. The stores are maintained by the US Department of Energy. It has confirmed that it will release 172 million barrels of oil from its SPR over this year as its contribution to coordinated efforts with the IEA.

On Friday, the Trump’s administration announced that it has already lent 45.2 million barrels of crude from the SPR to oil companies.

The US created its SPR in 1975 after an Arab oil embargo triggered a spike in gasoline prices which badly affected the US economy.

The reserves are located near big US refining or petrochemical centres, and as much as 4.4 million barrels of oil can be shipped globally per day.

The SPR currently covers roughly 200 days of net crude imports, according to a Reuters news agency calculation.

US presidents have tapped into the stockpile to calm oil markets during war or when hurricanes have hit oil infrastructure along the US Gulf of Mexico.

In March 2024, US President Joe Biden announced oil would be released from the reserve to ease pressure from oil price spikes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and amid subsequent sanctions imposed on Russian oil by the US and its allies.

Japan

An IEA member, Japan also has one of the world’s largest strategic oil reserves.

According to Japanese media Nikkei Asia, at the end of 2025, the country held about 470 million barrels of in emergency reserves which is enough to meet 254 days of domestic consumption. Out of this amount, 146 days worth of oil are government-owned, 101 days are owned by the private sector, and the remainder is jointly stored by oil-producing countries.

Japan set up its national oil reserve system in 1978 to prevent future economic disruptions following the global oil crisis in 1973. That oil crisis heightened Japan’s vulnerability and dependence on oil from abroad. The country remains one of the world’s largest oil importers, relying on fossil fuels from overseas for about 80 percent of its energy needs.

Japan’s reserves are primarily located in 10 coastal national stockholding bases with major storage sites in the Shibushi base in Kagoshima in southern Japan.

On March 16, Japan announced that it had begun releasing oil from its emergency reserves amid the global energy crisis sparked by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told journalists the country would unilaterally release 80 million barrels of oil from stockpiles amid supply concerns.

UK

As of February 26, according to the UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, the UK holds about 38 million ⁠barrels of crude oil and 30 million barrels of refined products, as strategic reserves. The reserves are thought to be able to last around 90 days.

The country established its reserves in 1974 following the oil crisis of the 1970s and also to meet its IEA obligations. Members of the organisation are required to maintain at least 90 days of net imports in reserve.

The UK’s strategic reserves are largely held by private oil companies, but are regulated by the government. Milford Haven in South Wales and Humber in northeast England are key locations of reserves.

The country is among the 32 IEA nations releasing oil from its reserve to address the oil crisis amid the war in Iran. The UK government will be contributing 13.5 million barrels as a part of the release.

EU

EU member nations including Germany, France, Spain and Italy, all IEA members, also hold strategic oil reserves.

Germany has 110 million barrels of crude oil and 67 million barrels of finished petroleum products which are held by the government and can be released in a matter of days, according to Germany’s economy ministry.

France reported about 120 million barrels’ worth of crude and finished products in reserve at the end of 2024, the most recent data publicly available. About 97 million barrels of that is held by SAGESS, a government-mandated entity, with ‌a breakdown ⁠of about 30 percent crude oil, 50 percent gasoil, 9 percent gasoline, 7.8 percent jet fuel and some heating oil. Another 39 million barrels are held by the country’s oil operators.

On March 16, Spain approved the release of around 11.5 million barrels of oil reserves over 90 days to counter ⁠supply shortages caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Energy Minister Sara Aagesen told reporters. This is the country’s contribution to the IEA release. The country has around 150 million barrels of crude oil reserves in total.

Italy, by law, was holding about 76 million barrels of reserves, representing 90 days of Italy’s average net oil imports, in 2024.

LONDON — Years before the rise of Instagram, Banksy figured out that the key to real influence lay in not being famous, exactly, but in being anonymous.

The mystery of his identity has long been part of the value of his art, which for decades and across continents defied authority from public walls and self-shredded on the auction block. Now, Banksy’s apparent unmasking by the Reuters news agency has generated talk about whether the works themselves retain their cultural and financial value.

It also raises the question: Why pop the balloon of his mystique in the first place? Many Banksy fans mourned the loss of the mystery and lashed out at the news outlet. One said it was like being told without warning that Santa Claus doesn’t exist.

“I feel like they are telling me how a magic trick is done,” said Thomas Evans, a Denver-based artist on Instagram. “Sometimes I just want to enjoy the magic trick.”

But some art experts say the murals and the message will survive Banksy’s naming because his appeal wasn’t driven solely by his anonymity. He and his works — dark and mischievous — stand as witnesses to injustice, oppression and inequality around the world, from the artist’s native England to walled-off Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank and war-ravaged Ukraine. Subtract his anonymity, they say, and the work still inspires reflection and discussion.

“People buy his works because they absolutely love it,” said Acoris Andipa, director of the Andipa gallery in London. “The main feedback that I get is that they really, frankly, don’t care if they know who he is.”

Naming the ghost — and the backlash — is engagement, too

Banksy, long thought to have been born Robin Gunningham around 1972, grew out of a tradition of street artists who viewed the undercover act of posting their art in public as a subversive form of expression. The postindustrial landscape of his native Bristol was his canvas and gallery. The walls of London, New York and elsewhere gave him a global stage just before the rise of social media.

Banksy’s apparent identity has been an open secret among protective fellow artists, and long been easy to find online for those who wanted to know. The Daily Mail reported in 2008 “compelling evidence suggesting” that was the artist’s birth name. It has been published by other news outlets, including the Associated Press in 2016, as part of their coverage of the detective work.

Reuters reported recently that after the Daily Mail’s story, Banksy changed his legal name to David Jones — the second most-popular name in Britain. It’s also the given name of the late David Bowie, whose Ziggy Stardust rock ‘n’ roll avatar inspired a 2012 Banksy painting of Queen Elizabeth II.

Bansky’s lawyer didn’t respond to a request for comment, and the artist’s spokeswoman declined to participate in this story.

Reuters pieced together that a David Jones traveled to Ukraine with a well-known associate of Banksy’s in late 2022 — just before the artist’s work began appearing on buildings that had been bombed by Russia. Banksy later confirmed that he’d created seven murals in the war zone, including one of a child flipping over a grown man who is wearing a black belt. Russian President Vladimir Putin practices judo.

There’s evidence that even some in the establishment he was protesting have accepted Banksy. They didn’t arrest him, for example, after the Royal Courts of Justice removed a Banksy stencil depicting a judge in a traditional wig and gown beating an unarmed protester with a gavel. Some street artists groused that they might be arrested for creating such graffiti — but when it’s a Banksy, it’s art.

The artist wasn’t always so elusive

On Sept. 17, 2000, a Robin Gunningham was arrested for defacing a Marc Jacobs billboard atop a building on Hudson Street in New York.

In a handwritten signed confession, he described the work on the night in question: “I had been out drinking at a nightclub with friends when I decided to make a humorous adjustment to a billboard on top of the property,” he wrote in court records unearthed by Reuters and confirmed by the AP. “I painted eyeshadow a new mouth and a speach bubble” on the photo of a male model. He was charged with a misdemeanor.

The artist doesn’t need an alleged naming to make news. He created multiple works in London in 2025, and grabbed headlines elsewhere for having his art sold or auctioned for millions. But Banksy has courted a public image centered around morality, justice and guerrilla tactics — he’s often likened to Robin Hood or Batman.

“Banksy woz ere,” he wrote with his animal murals at the London Zoo, which were removed in 2024.

Still, along with the sadness, there’s ample speculation in the art world and on social media that the artist himself orchestrated this round of naming. He didn’t deny the Reuters story.

That “would be very much in line with his practice of stunts and satire,” observed Madeleine White, the senior sales and acquisitions consultant at London’s Hang-Up Gallery. “As they say, ‘All publicity is good publicity.’”

She noted, however, that the backlash is directed at the media — not the artist, or the potency of his work. Reuters says it opted to publish some, but not all, of the information its reporters uncovered about Banksy’s identity, because he is a public figure, whatever his name — and he’s had an outsize influence on public events and discourse. What’s more, much of his work has been done on other people’s property.

Connected to world events

Named or not, Banksy’s stardom lives, art experts say.

It endures in the wonder of his ability to erect new art under the noses of authorities well into the age of social media and ubiquitous surveillance cameras. It appeals because his spectacle and wit draw people in and the settings — the hulk of bombed buildings, for example, or Israel’s towering wall at the border of the West Bank — invite them to reflect. Now, fans are on the lookout for how and whether he’ll respond to the news of Robin Gunningham and David Jones.

Joe Syer, a Banksy expert and founder of MyArtBroker, said that the artist has always responded to world events. “And that’s where the real relevance, and value, sits,” he said.

“If anything, Banksy’s anonymity has functioned less as a celebrity device and more as a way to keep the work universally accessible, detached from personality, ego, or biography,” Syer said in an email. “It allows the work to sit in public space, politically and culturally, without being anchored to an individual in the way the mainstream press often frames it.”

Christopher Banks, founder of the New York-based Objects of Affection Collection, reads Banksy’s naming “not as a biographical event, but as a structural stress test” of the artist’s system of managing his absence.

“Banksy’s best works carry their meaning without the author. He was there,” Banks wrote, citing the artist’s murals in Ukraine and his solidarity with the war’s victims.

“The name matters less than the presence. The presence was always what the work was about.”

Kellman writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Michael Sisak in New York contributed to this report.

A woman who found a secret compartment in a plane toilet was left gobsmacked by what she found inside – as some said other public toilets should do the same

Your next flight might be concealing some vital items in a “secret compartment” within the toilet. We’re all aware that air travel can be an uncomfortable affair. You’re squeezed onto an aircraft alongside a host of strangers and informed you can only bring a small bag containing all your essentials – and you’re likely to overlook something important.

While nothing will truly enhance the experience unless you splash out thousands of pounds for first class, one woman on social media has revealed that a hidden door in the bathroom could hold something which at least makes the journey tolerable for some passengers.

Rhonda Abdalla, from Florida, US, was travelling on a Southwest Airlines service from Tampa to Houston, Texas, en route to Las Vegas, when she unexpectedly started her period. She consulted a flight attendant who pointed her towards a small compartment in the aircraft toilet, which was stocked with tampons and sanitary towels.

The woman admitted she had no clue the compartment existed, and suspected other women would be equally unaware, so she turned to Threads to share the discovery and spread awareness.

She posted: “I’m a girls’ girl, so I have to share. Ladies! Did you know there’s a secret compartment in the airplane bathroom that has tampons and pads if you need them?! Because nobody wants to be caught off guard at 35,000 feet.”

Speaking to Newsweek, Rhonda revealed the flight attendant instructed her to take as many tampons as required, and even thoughtfully disclosed she had additional supplies if the stock in the lavatory proved insufficient.

Rhonda detailed that whilst the compartment does feature a sign indicating it can be opened, it “isn’t very noticeable”, so she believes she never would have considered looking there had the flight attendant not informed her about it.

Southwest Airlines has confirmed that sanitary products are something they ensure are stocked on all aircraft for any passenger who might require one urgently.

They told Newsweek: “Sanitary products are available on all Southwest aeroplanes in all lavatories. These items are supplied in case a customer needs one. Whilst we do supply them, they are not a relatively high-use item.”

Both flight attendants and passengers have reacted to Rhonda’s social media post, with numerous people expressing gratitude for her sharing the information, whilst others mentioned they always carry spare tampons for circumstances like hers.

One flight attendant commented: “The amount of times someone has come up to me in tears because on top of a stressful travel day, they started their period and all their products are in their checked bag. Baby, I got you. Tampons, chocolate and a glass of wine will be brought to your tray table immediately.”

Another contributed: “And if you don’t find them in the lavatory, ask a flight attendant. We always have some on board!” One grateful passenger responded: “That’s actually a really useful travel tip! Appreciate you sharing that with everyone.”

Rhonda later expressed her satisfaction at the positive feedback to her post, as she believes it’s important for everyone to be aware of the resources available to them when needed.

She stated: “The response has been really positive, and I’m glad it’s helping spread awareness. Getting your period mid‐flight is already stressful, so knowing there are resources available makes a big difference.”

However, it’s worth noting that some airlines may not stock sanitary products in their lavatories. You can always enquire with a flight attendant who may be able to assist, but it’s advisable to always carry a few emergency tampons or pads – either for your own use or to help someone else in need.

People with plans to go abroad are being warned

Holidaymakers are being made aware they may face additional expenses due to continuing unrest in the Middle East. With flight cancellations, disrupted travel routes and official advisories now in effect, many with travel plans remain uncertain about their financial position should trips be delayed or cancelled entirely.

Alicia Hempstead, Travel Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, has addressed a series of questions concerned travellers may be asking. She explained: “Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that travel insurance will cover travellers affected by the current situation in the Middle East.

“Most standard policies will not allow claims resulting from events that fall under standard exclusions like war and civil unrest. This means any claims for costs linked to disruption, such as cancelled trips, lost items, emergency accommodation, or medical treatment resulting from the conflict are unlikely to be covered.”

Foreign Office guidance

“In serious crises, such as the current situation in the Middle East, which has prompted updated Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warnings, the FCDO will usually coordinate support and evacuation efforts. However, this assistance is not guaranteed and does not replace travel insurance. Depending on the circumstances, travellers may still be responsible for some costs, even if they receive help from the FCDO.”

Can I get my money back if my flight is cancelled?

“As flights are being cancelled and significantly delayed, airlines have legal obligations under UK and EU passenger rights rules to offer either a full refund or to re-route at no additional cost. Once services resume, carriers must also offer re-routing options. Passengers’ first point of call should be to check directly with their airline for the latest updates, as policies may vary by departure location and the specific disruption.

“For those due to travel in the coming weeks or months, refunds are not automatic simply because the FCDO advises against travel. However, many airlines and tour operators may offer refunds or flexible rebooking options if the FCDO formally advises against all travel to a destination. Travellers should check the terms and conditions of their booking carefully, and contact their airline or travel provider if they are unsure.

“Be aware that operators may be experiencing high volumes of enquiries, so refunds or rebooking arrangements may take several days or weeks to process and you may need to be prepared for longer waiting times on the phone or online.”

Can I get specialist insurance?

“Travellers who knowingly travel to high-risk areas typically require specialist high-risk or conflict-zone insurance that explicitly covers war-related incidents. These policies tend to be more expensive and come with strict conditions, but they are the only way to secure cover for conflict-related risks.

“For instance, Dubai has previously been a very popular destination, and travellers who have holidays booked may find their hotel costs aren’t covered because their standard policy excludes war-related incidents.

“It’s always a good idea to check directly with your hotel, or if you’re on a package holiday, with your provider, to understand what might be refundable or rebookable if your plans are affected.”

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) option

“A future option to ensure you’re always as protected as possible is to opt for Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance, which can offer reimbursements of around 50-75% of non-refundable, prepaid trip costs. However, these premiums come at a higher price and aren’t offered by all UK insurers.

“If you don’t have specialist cover in place, your best first step is to speak directly to your airline, hotel, or tour operator to understand what flexibility or refunds they may be able to offer before assuming your travel insurance will pay out.”

Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter, where, as colleague Chaunte’l Powell pointed out after Saturday’s thrilling win, you’d be forgiven for having already looked ahead to the next women’s college basketball season.

After all, as the USC women stumbled into this NCAA tournament on a four-game losing streak, they hadn’t offered much reason for optimism. When coach Lindsay Gottlieb added another five-star prospect — 6-4 forward Sara Okeke — to the mix for ‘26 last week, it only made it more enticing to close the book on this season and start dreaming of where USC might end up in the next one.

But this team, the one set to face No. 1 South Carolina on Monday night for a spot in the Sweet 16, has been limited from the start without an injured JuJu Watkins.

Through most of three quarters of Saturday’s first-round matchup with Clemson, the same issues that bothered USC through much of the season were bothersome once again. The Trojans had hit just three of 17 from three-point range heading into the fourth quarter. They made six free throws. They were outrebounded. And the bench had contributed all of two points. Gottlieb was frustrated.

But Saturday’s final quarter, plus overtime, would prove to be the defining stretch of this USC women’s basketball season. During those 15 minutes, we saw exactly what Gottlieb meant when she insisted her team had another level to unlock in the tournament.

This was the team Gottlieb had envisioned when building for a JuJu-less roster.

“We’d play with a lot of grit,” Davidson told reporters after the game, “and a lot of heart.”

That came through on the defensive end most, as USC forced six turnovers and scored eight points off of them in the fourth quarter alone. Clemson didn’t manage a single second-chance point in the second half. Kara Dunn, who’d barely been a factor, found herself in the final minutes and blew up for 11 points in a seven-minute stretch. And freshman Jazzy Davidson turned things up another notch as well, scoring 13 over fourth quarter and overtime.

There were others, too. Kennedy Smith hit a tying jumper late, in addition to her relentless defense. Malia Samuels drained a late free throw to put Clemson away. Laura Williams had a late block with the game tied. That sort of alchemy had been rare through this season.

“We were playing for each other,” Dunn said. “We made the changes we needed to make, and we didn’t repeat the same mistakes we had probably in the past. I really felt like we came together.”

Even still, it might have all been for naught, had Clemson’s Mia Moore lifted off a couple milliseconds later for her final buzzer beater. Her successful last-second heave — as well as the whistle on USC — were both called off after a lengthy review so close it required a stop watch.

Those few milliseconds turned out to be the break USC hadn’t gotten all season. They told each other in the sideline huddle that they would take advantage.

“When we heard it was overtime,” Dunn said, “we said we don’t get second chances in life.”

So the Trojans defense turned up yet another notch, while its star freshman went nuclear in overtime. A pair of clutch 3-pointers from Davidson would be the dagger. She would finish with 31 points, six rebounds and five assists in a performance that seemed to announce that this was just the start of her star turn.

She — and everyone else — will have to be special Monday to even have a shot against South Carolina, a team that beat USC by 17 in November. The Gamecocks are the more talented team. Their opponents shot 34.5% on average against them this season, the fifth-best mark in the nation, while they shoot better from 3-point range (36.5%) than all but three teams left in the tournament.

Chances are that’ll prove too much for the Trojans, who enter this game as 22-point underdogs. But even if it does end here, USC found something on the court Friday, something that should in the very least help next season, when its ceiling will be higher than ever before.

Times of Troy poll

Eric Musselman

(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

Two years into Eric Musselman’s tenure with the Trojans, the USC men have yet to return to the NCAA tournament. This season, they totally unraveled, losing their last eight games to finish 18-14.

I’ve heard varying feelings from fans about the nascent Musselman era. So let’s make the conversation a bit more scientific with a poll:

What’s your confidence level in Eric Musselman as USC’s men’s basketball coach after two seasons? (with 1 being “Let me off the Muss Bus” to 5 being “I’m still riding shotgun on the Muss Bus”

1 — let me off the Muss Bus

2

3

4

5 — Riding shotgun on the Muss Bus

Click here to vote in our survey

Matt Leinart with USC in 2004.

(Los Angeles Times)

—Five-star St. John Bosco forward Christian Collins committed to USC. The No. 9 overall forward, per 247 Sports, Collins is the highest-rated player to join USC under Musselman and the highest-rated player Musselman has signed since 2022. Collins has all the tools to be a force on both ends, if he can put it all together. But he’s not necessarily the type right now to be the center of a team’s offensive attack. Expect him to get off to a slow start when he does arrive this summer.

—USC hoops assistant Todd Lee is finalizing a deal to become Cal State Bakersfield’s coach, a source says. Lee has been one of Musselman’s most trusted assistants since they first worked together with the Rapid City Thrillers of the CBA back in the early 90’s. Musselman hired Lee to join his Arkansas staff, then brought him along to USC. Now he heads to Bakersfield, where he inherits a program that’s been through a lot this last year.

—Matt Leinart won’t unretire his jersey. Good for him. Leinart’s podcast went viral last week, when he noted that USC asked him on multiple occasions if an incoming transfer or freshman could wear his No. 11 jersey. It’s his prerogative if he wants to allow that. But I completely understand why he wouldn’t. Why bother retiring jerseys at all if it doesn’t actually mean anything?

—Mason Edwards’ dominance on the mound continues. The Trojan ace struck out 12 in his most recent start against Washington and gave up just one hit. Through 36 innings, Edwards now has given up just one run and seven hits. His fellow starter, Grant Govel, has been no slouch either. Govel leads the nation in wins (6) and, after a two-run outing, now has an ERA of 0.69 and he hasn’t been the best starting pitcher on his team. Wild.

Olympic sports spotlight

It has been a tough few weeks for USC women’s lacrosse. Through their most difficult stretch of the season, the Trojans have lost four straight, all to ranked teams, by a margin of 67-31. That’s the first time in program history that USC has had a losing streak that long.

That’s a concern when you consider that USC lost five out of seven to finish out last season, too. The Trojans gave up 20 goals in a game for just the first ever against Johns Hopkins last week and were trounced by Maryland in the follow-up.

With one more loss, USC would match its loss total from 2025 … with five games still remaining.

What I’m watching this week

PJ and Anthony in “Jury Duty.”

(Courtesy of Prime)

When it premiered in 2023, “Jury Duty” was one of the most surprising and unique shows I could remember airing on TV. The first season followed Ronald, an unsuspecting, totally normal guy who was called to jury duty. What he didn’t know is that everyone else involved was an actor. Hilarity ensued.

The second follows Anthony, another unsuspecting normal guy on a company retreat for his new temp job.

I figured it was impossible to make a second season, what with everyone’s familiarity with the first go-round. But somehow Amazon has managed to make this work for another season. And that’s a hell of an accomplishment in itself.

In case you missed it

Jazzy Davidson’s huge game delivers USC to thrilling overtime win in NCAA tournament

USC reaches settlement in Mike Bohn racial harassment and discrimination lawsuit

How far will USC’s women’s basketball team make it in the tournament?

Until next time …

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at ryan.kartje@latimes.com, and follow me on X at @Ryan_Kartje. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

March 23 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States will postpone its military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure amid talk of a resolution but Iranian state media denies such talks have taken place.

The president told CNBC’s Joe Kernen that the United States is “very intent on making a deal with Iran.” Earlier Monday he posted on social media that he will hold off on strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure for five days because the United States and Iran have had “very good and productive conversations” about a resolution to end hostilities in the Middle East.

Trump said the positive talks with Iran took place “over the last two days” following his threat to target Iran’s energy infrastructure on Friday.

“Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions,” Trump posted.

Iranian state media disputed Trump’s claim of conversations about a drawdown of fighting, citing an unnamed “senior security official.”

“There has been no negotiation and there is no negotiation and with this kind of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will return to its pre-war conditions nor will there be peace in the energy markets,” Iranian state media posted on Telegram, citing an unnamed source.

The unnamed source told the media outlet that Trump has backed down on his threat to target energy infrastructure. Trump had warned that he would target power plants and infrastructure if Iran did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

Transportation of oil on the Strait of Hormuz has largely halted since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Iranian officials urged that they will continue to threaten vessels on the strait as long as hostilities continue, leveraging the economic impact of doing so.

The global oil market continues to respond to activity on the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing war, with the price per barrel exceeding $100 at different points in the past week.

With Scheffler’s recent patchy form, by his extraordinarily high standards, and McIlroy struggling to match the standard of his golf this time last year, there is scope to look beyond the top two players in the world for Augusta glory.

Fitzpatrick, now up to number six, undoubtedly falls into that category as does Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, (fourth at the Players) last year’s Masters play-off runner-up Justin Rose and FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood.

But, amid justified optimism that the famous Green Jacket might remain in UK hands, it would be foolish to ignore what has also been happening on the breakaway LIV Tour.

Bryson DeChambeau will go into the Masters having won play-offs in his past two outings before the opening major of the year. The big-hitting American beat Rahm in a shootout in South Africa a week after claiming victory in Singapore.

The switch from 54 to 72 holes has clearly favoured the best players on LIV, with Rahm, the recent winner in Hong Kong, finishing in the top two in all but one of five tournaments to date.

Yes there is not the same depth of field on LIV, but Data Golf, who crunch the numbers from all tours, rank the Spaniard second only to Scheffler in their global standings.

While Rahm has abandoned his appeal against sanctions imposed by the DP World Tour, he remains embroiled in a stand-off with the European circuit that threatens future Ryder Cup appearances.

But the ongoing controversy does not seem to be putting off the 31-year-old Basque, who is certainly one to watch when the Masters begins on 9 April.

How enticing it is that so many of the other threats are his Ryder Cup team-mates – McIlroy, Fleetwood, MacIntyre or Rose as well as Ludvig Aberg. And, of course, Fitzpatrick – who has already stylishly painted gloss to his year with his Valspar win.

“I want to make sure that I’m ready for when I get to Augusta,” Fitzpatrick said. “To be ready to play and be ready that Thursday morning and be in the best shape possible.”

KELLY Osbourne has “split” from her Slipknot star fiance – just seven months after his romantic proposal as she continues to battle her grief.

The daughter of Sharon and late rock legend Ozzy Osbourne got engaged at her dad’s father’s final ever Black Sabbath gig back in July.

Slipknot rocker Sid Wilson, 48, got down on one knee and popped the question backstage in an intimate moment watched by her famous parents.

But it has now been reported that Kelly, who shares three-year-old son Sidney with the musician, has ended her romance.

“Kelly and Sid have decided to call off their engagement,” a source told the Mail.

“Kelly has been struggling following the loss of her father.

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“The grieving process has been incredibly difficult, and she’s been doing everything she can to cope.

“In truth, she and Sid have been facing challenges in their relationship for some time, and things were not as they appeared.

“They tried to make it work, particularly for the sake of their child, but ultimately decided that separating is the best path forward.”

They added that Kelly is remained focused on herself and being the best parent she can be to her young son.

The Sun has reached out to Kelly’s reps for comment.

Just seven months ago, Kelly was left emotional as she agreed to marry Sid following a sweet proposal.

Stood in front of Sharon and Ozzy, they appeared to have an idea of what was to come as the former X Factor judge could be heard saying to everyone in the room: “You’ve got to be quiet!”

Sid then took the hand of Kelly, who was dressed down in some comfy leopard print trousers and a simple black hoodie.

He said to the TV personality: “Kelly, you know I love you more than anything in the world!”

Ozzy then appeared to give the game away as he jokingly quipped with his signature potty mouth: “F*** off, you are not marrying my daughter!”

The group laughed before Sid continued as he said: “I want to spend the rest of my life with you – and ask in front of all of our family and friends, Kelly, will you marry me?”

Kelly turned her head as she looked on open-mouthed before Sid began to stand up and place the ring onto her finger.

Sharon and Ozzy could be seen beaming as the onlookers clapped and cheered for the happy moment.

Uploading the video to her Instagram page, Kelly added the caption: “Oh and this happened yesterday!”

Sid proposed to Kelly with a bespoke custom-designed ring from Los Angeles based jewellers, Mouawad.

He designed the ring with the team through various one-on-one meetings in order to ensure it was right for Kelly.

Sid chose to curate a dazzling 18K yellow gold ring adorned with both white and yellow diamonds, as well as citrine accents.

The centerpiece is a stunning 2.5 carat round brilliant-cut diamond with the ring being nicknamed the Honeybee – Kelly’s personal nickname.

The engagement came backstage as Ozzy played his final ever show with Black Sabbath at Villa Park.

Kelly and Sid first met in 1999 at Ozzfest, a music festival founded by her parents.

They were friends for over two decades before their relationship turned romantic at the end of 2021.

Earlier this month, Kelly was forced to her to hit back at those who criticised her body during the “hardest time of her life”.

Published on
23/03/2026 – 15:14 GMT+1

The European Commission on Monday took final steps to provisionally apply the Mercosur trade deal from 1 May, covering Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

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The move uses a special procedure to ensure the deal takes effect despite a judicial review launched by the European Parliament after a pivotal 21 January vote suspended ratification.

“The priority now is turning this EU-Mercosur agreement into concrete outcomes, giving EU exporters the platform they need to seize new opportunities for trade, growth and jobs,” EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said, adding: “Provisional application will allow us to begin delivering on that promise.”

The agreement liberalises trade flows between the EU and Mercosur countries, creating a free-trade area of more than 700 million people.

The Commission signed off on the deal and secured backing from EU member states despite strong opposition from EU farmers, who fear unfair competition from Mercosur imports.

But at the European Parliament, opponents secured a majority to refer the agreement to the Court of Justice of the European Union to assess its legality.

Pressed by supporters including Germany and Spain, which are seeking faster access to new markets amid rising geoeconomic tensions, the Commission opted for provisional application.

To proceed, it had to wait for at least one Mercosur country to ratify and notify the agreement before launching provisional implementation with that country. Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have done so, while Paraguay ratified the deal last Tuesday and “is expected to send its notification soon,” the Commission said.

On Monday, the Commission sent a “verbal note” to Paraguay, the legal guardian of Mercosur treaties, completing the final procedural step.

“Provisional application ensures the removal of tariffs on certain products as of day one, creating predictable rules for trade and investment,” the Commission said.

“It will create more resilient and reliable supply chains, crucial in particular for the predictable flow of Critical Raw Materials.”

A UK train station that welcomes more than seven million passengers a year will reopen its doors today after being closed for almost a year.

The London station has undergone a £2.5m revamp with major upgrades to the escalators, which frequently caused travel disruptions.

The opening follows a campaign to replace the old escalators that dates back to 1999.

More than 3,000 people signed the petition after failing escalators at Cutty Sark routinely caused closures.

As a result, thousands of passengers were forced to take the 121 station steps instead. 

Four new escalators have been installed in “the most complex escalator replacement scheme ever undertaken on the DLR and the London Underground“.

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The shiny new escalators will be up and running from today – eight days earlier than TfL had announced – and should last the station 30-40 years.

The station is also much brighter as the escalators have rows of lights and the area has been whitewashed.

The pale blue panels have been replaced with white panels, which reflect light much better and have a noticeable effect on the station’s appearance.

A new lift has also been installed as well as energy-efficient lighting, upgraded safety features, local artwork, and a new raised ceiling.

Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, told The Sun previously that it was “fantastic” the major upgrade at Cutty Sark DLR station could be delivered earlier than expected.

Before it closed, Cutty Sark was the third busiest station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), after Canary Wharf and Limehouse.

THRILLING stunts, tough challenges, eager contestants and the stars of the ITV show themselves, the Gladiators Live Tour is returning.

Tickets go on sale in a matter of days for the 28 brand-new shows across the country.

Based on the popular TV show on ITV, Gladiators Live will be making a return to the stage this year after making its debut in 2025.

The show originally launched back in the 90s and is currently in its third revival.

On the show, contenders compete against Gladiators in a series of challenges to earn points – and soon, you’ll be able to watch it live.

There will be 28 shows across the UK at various venues from Aberdeen, to Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool and Birmingham.

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Legendary Gladiators will storm back into the arena to face fearless contenders from previous seasons.

Fan-favourite challenges that are likely to take place during the live shows are Duel, Hang Tough, The Wall and The Eliminator.

The description of the event teases “iconic fan-favourite events, breathtaking stunts, epic head-to-head battles and the unforgettable Eliminator finale.

“With non-stop action, heroic showdowns and moments guaranteed to have the entire arena on its feet, Gladiators Live delivers edge-of-your-seat entertainment for the whole family.

“Audiences can expect a truly immersive, high-octane experience, as arenas are transformed into modern gladiatorial battlegrounds complete with purpose-built sets, spectacular lighting and cinematic staging.”

One reviewer to last year’s live tour called it ‘ultimate family entertainment’ and an audience member added “it was a great show! Felt like I was inside the tv.”

Another said it took them to being a “kid back in the 90s”.

The presale kicks off on March 26 at 9am with general sale on March 27, 2026.

Prices are yet to be confirmed, but tickets for the Liverpool show start from £48.45.

If you want even more of a Gladiators experience and would rather step up to the challenge yourself – you can.

The Gladiators Experience in Birmingham opens on May 2, 2026.

It will essentially become a gladiator training facility with all the classic challenges you’d expect plus some extras.

In the Vault, visitors will be able to see behind the scenes of the TV show.

There’s also a shop where fans can buy exclusive merchandise.

Dom Bird, senior vice president at MGM Alternative Television said: “Now, fans young and old will get one step closer to walking in the footsteps of their heroes, as we announce our brand new Gladiators Experience.

“Based at the NEC Birmingham, everyone finally has the chance to test their skills on the iconic games – from Duel and Hang Tough, to The Wall, and of course the legendary Travelator.

“Come and see if you’ve got what it takes!”

There are separate tickets depending on if you want to have a go or not.

For contenders, tickets start from £39.50, and spectators from £17.50.

For more on what to do with children, the UK’s strangest (and coolest) theme park launches new ‘crazy trikes’ attraction for 2026.

And London’s best family attraction that ‘feels like it was created for kids’ to get huge new nature playground.

ONE of the UK’s biggest free museums has been named the most popular attraction in the UK.

The Natural History Museum in London has knocked off the British Museum from the top spot of most guests, with the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) revealing 7.1million people visited last year.

This marked the best year in terms of visitors for the free attraction, with a 13 per cent rise compared to the previous year.

The attraction happens to be one of Travel Reporter Alice Penwill’s favourite free attractions in London.

She said: “Having been to the Natural History Museum recently, I’m not surprised it’s the UK’s most popular tourist attraction.

“Other London attractions are impressive, but you won’t ever forget walking in to see the skeleton of an 82-foot Blue Whale in the entryway.

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“There’s something for everyone, whether you’re interested in fossils, reptiles and birds.

“My favourite part is The Vault where there are some of the most valuable treasures like diamonds, amethyst and gold crystals.

“There’s lots of green spaces outside too, and I saw lots of children enjoying the Evolution Garden with dinosaurs like a bronze Diplodocus that was installed a few years ago.”

Over the next couple of years, the Natural History Museum is also working on new openings.

A new Human Nature pop-up display will open in September 2026, inside a gallery that has been closed for 80 years.

Inside, visitors will be able to discover stories about human history and the natural world, with a number of specimens and historical objects on display that haven’t been seen before.

There will also be a prototype of one of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs, a monk seal called Jenny ‘the talking fish’ and a handaxe that was discovered alongside the remains of a woolly mammoth in 1859.

Later in 2027, there will be a new permanent gallery specifically for young children.

It will be designed for four to seven-year-olds with lots of hands-on interactive experiences about the natural world.

Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, said: “We are thrilled to be the UK’s most popular visitor attraction, smashing all previous records for the sector!”

London has a load of free attractions as well, including some right by the Natural History Museum.

One of Sun Travel’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey’s favourite free attractions in the city is just down the road.

She said: “Having started my career in fashion, it’s no surprise that the museum I’ve been to the most in London is the V&A.

“The museum itself is fantastic – not only for being free to visit, but because it’s the largest museum on arts and design in the world.

“Also the second largest in the UK (behind the British Museum), my favourite area is the Asian corridor, with insanely detailed artwork and sculptures.

“There’s loads of free events coming right now, including one on Women Printmakers and one on iconic American Photographs.

“Make sure to save time for the cafe too. It’s also the oldest of its kind in the world and is a stunner.”

And Sun Travel’s Head of Travel (digital) Caroline McGuire also loves the Science Museum nearby.

She said: “The Science Museum in South Kensington is perfect for kids of all ages, I’ve been taking my child there since he was a one-year-old, as
the interactive ‘Garden’ in the basement is perfect for toddlers and
pre-schoolers.

“There are plenty of excellent free exhibitions around the museum – one
of our favourites being the Space section – but the most popular (and
deservedly so) is the paying Wonderlab, an interactive gallery featuring numerous experiments that will fascinate children aged 3-14.

“Tickets cost from £15 for this area.”

Alternatively, you could visit an exciting attraction on Tottenham Court Road.

Caroline shared: “Until I visited the Outernet, I thought it was all hype.

“Now, my son and I will make a 25-minute detour to spend even 20 minutes there, when we’re in central London.

“The huge multi-screened space on Tottenham Court Road screens
artist-made short films throughout the day, and you can walk in from
the street and spend as little or as much time there as you want.

“With screens covering the sides and ceiling, you really do feel like
you are inside the films.”

And there’s also the Southbank Centre.

Caroline added: “If I got a quid for every time I raved about the Southbank Centre, I could probably afford a slap-up meal at Pizza Express.

“As a mum of a primary school-aged kid who lives in London, we visit
the venue on London’s Southbank almost every school holiday.

“They have a range of free activities that change monthly.

“We’ve done free kids raves, free doodling workshops, free crafts sessions and free DIY sessions where my six-year-old was given a hammer and saw and encouraged to help build a Moomin House overlooking the River Thames.

“Oh, and the free Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms fountains are one of the
best places to take a kid for a splash around during a summer
heatwave.”

Or you could head to a number of galleries including the Tate Modern, Tate Britain or National Portrait Gallery.

Alice said: “When I head to London, I make a beeline for the galleries.

“Getting to see walls upon walls lined with famous artwork for absolutely nothing is something we take for granted – and there are plenty to see in the city.

“There’s the Tate Modern and Tate Britain, The National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery where you can see one of my favourite portraits, The Ugly Duchess.

“Not to mention lots of these venues have pretty cafes and even bars if you fancy taking a weight off your feet after exploring.”

Here are some other spots to visit across London that are free to visit.

MinaLima

Elsewhere in London, you could head to one of Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding’s favourite spots – MinaLima.

Found in Soho, MinaLima is a shop and attraction that features the graphic designs from the Harry Potter films.

Named after Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, who are responsible for most of the designs you see in the films including the Daily Prophet, the Advanced Potion Making textbook and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, the destination features themed items for sale as well as prints of their designs.

Make sure to spend time exploring as there are also items from the films, and speak to the staff, who really know their stuff.

London parks

There are also a number of amazing outdoor places to visit in London including Kara’s favourite, the commons in south west London.

She said: “I spent the best part of a decade living in south London, with two years of that in and out of the Covid lockdowns.

“To stop myself from going insane, this meant lots of walking around my local parks.

“And from Balham you can easily walk three of the best in one day.

“I recommend starting at Clapham Common, one of the more open parks of the three with ponds and a Victorian bandstand that often has live concerts.

“Go down to Wandsworth Common, and you can walk along the train tracks or across the pond.

“Then nip through Balham (with a coffee at The Apple Blue Patisserie or Insta-famous Milk) and end in Tooting Bec Common, with a much more leafier and interesting park to explore.

“Need to cool down? Finish with a swim at Tooting Bec Lido as well, the biggest freshwater lido in the UK (£9.40 for adults or free for locals).”

Travel Reporter Jenna Steven’s favourite free spots also make good walks.

She said: “London has over 3,000 parks to explore, but St James’s Park is one of my favourites.

“This is mainly because I’m a big fan of the unique Duck Island, an aptly-named nature reserve on the east of St James’s Park Lake.

“The island has its own cottage, which is surrounded by vibrant greenery and blooming flowers in the springtime, looking like something out of a fairy-tale story book.

“Plus there’s scenic picnic spots by the bandstand, and several kiosks serving cold drinks and sandwiches to enjoy when the sun comes out – save those crusts for the birds!”

Or head to Lisa Minot’s favourite – Primrose Hill.

She said: “For fabulous FREE views across the whole of London, head to Primrose Hill in North London.

“First opened in 1842 as an open space for Londoners, it was originally part of Henry VIII’s hunting grounds.

“Today it offers fantastic panoramic views of the capital and is popular at sunrise and sunsets.

“It is one of six protected viewpoints in London, its highest point more than 63 metres above tree level.

“Trees are also kept low so as not to obscure the view.”

Covent Garden Piazza

If you fancy something a little more urban, venture to Covent Garden Piazza.

Jenna added: “There’s plenty of both branded and independent shops to browse, traditional cafes and bars, plus there’s always a pop-up giving away tasty treats of some kind.

“Head into the historic Market Building and Piazza for the best atmosphere in the area.

“Here you’ll hear live music rising from the lower level that makes your stroll through the building even more beautiful.”

Borough Market

Another favourite spot of Lisa’s is Borough Market.

She said: “From the viral strawberries in melted chocolate to endless street food options, traders have been operating from London’s Borough Market for more than 1,000 years.

“Today’s unique Victorian arcades, built in 1850, are home to stands offering premium quality speciality foods as well as plenty of grab-and-go options from oysters and paella to burgers and fish and chips.

“While you don’t have to pay to wander the busy pathways of Borough Market, the tempting foods on offer will mean you will not be able to resist parting with some of your cash!”

In other attraction news, there’s a new UK attraction which has been named among the best places to visit in the world – but it’s not for everyone.

Plus, one of Europe’s best beaches is in the UK – and its top attraction is returning this week.

This article from Occasional Digest highlights the historical significance of Pakistan Day, an annual holiday observed on March 23rd. It details how the Lahore Resolution of 1940 established the groundwork for a separate Muslim nation, eventually leading to the country’s independence in 1947. The text notes that the Minar-e-Pakistan monument was later erected at the site of this declaration to honor the event. Alongside this historical focus, the source provides a snapshot of global news ranging from international energy concerns to sports results. By blending national heritage with current events, the digest serves as a broad informational update for its readers.

It’s the Dodgers, and everyone else, in the National League West this season.

The two-time defending World Series champions ponied up a combined $309 million to sign two free agents, world-class closer Edwin Díaz and four-time All-Star corner outfielder Kyle Tucker.

The second-place San Diego Padres continued to cut payroll, bidding farewell to free agents Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn. The San Francisco Giants’ offseason highlight: becoming the first MLB team to make a college coach with no professional baseball coaching experience their manager. The 47-year-old Tony Vitello comes on board after coaching the Tennessee Volunteers for the past eight seasons.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are attempting to bounce back after following up a 2023 World Series appearance with two underwhelming seasons. And the Colorado Rockies are starting fresh yet again, replacing general manager Bill Schmidt with Paul DePodesta, who, after working for the Dodgers and other MLB teams, most recently served as the Cleveland Browns’ chief strategy officer for the past 10 years.

Locals in northern India have a growing concern over essential resources like water, fuel and food, that have become costly due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. The conflict has brought implications on oil and gas prices, which has also affected bottled water and food costs.

Protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Madrid as sanctions pushed Cuba into an electricity blackout. They called for an end to US intervention in Latin America and the Middle East.

JESY Nelson has revealed her “heart is super heavy” as she shared an SMA screening battle update to social media.

The doting parent, 34, has been relentlessly campaigning for SMA1 screenings in England after her twins were diagnosed with the rare muscle wasting disease.

Jesy took to Instagram and said “Today my heart feels super heavy. It’s a very bitter sweet moment today knowing that Scotland has become the first UK nation to screen babies for SMA.

“We’re so close yet so far.

“I will never be able to understand why we are still not testing for it in England.

“To know that my girls lives and so many other children in England could look so different if this had of been there for them.

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“But never the less I will keep fighting and pushing for change because nobody should ever have to go through this heartache.”

Earlier, Jesy also shared a beautiful video clip of her daughter Ocean sitting up, as she said: “She’s proving everyone else wrong,” and that they are “going to get there.”

Jesy recently became successful in gaining over 100K signatures on her petition to fund SMA1 screenings.

The good news meant it will now be debated by MPs in the House of Commons.

Jesy has been campaigning for change and demanding the heel prick test be included in newborn health plans to help catch the condition early.

The tots have the most severe form of a rare muscle wasting disease and may never be able to walk.

The former X Factor star gave birth to her little girls prematurely at 31 weeks in May last year.

Jesy first revealed her children’s’ devastating diagnosis in an emotional video.

She has emotionally spoken out about how she could have saved her twins’ legs before their diagnosis.

It comes after the second series of her show Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix has already been confirmed and will be coming to the small screen later this year.

The popstar confirmed she’ll be fronting the follow-up programme on Amazon Prime Video focussing on her little girls’ health battle.

The singer, 34, rose to fame in the band after they were created on talent show The X Factor, but left the group in 2020 – with the girls continuing on as a three-piece following her departure.

The singer recently opened about a secret suicide attempt days before quitting the group.

Her abrupt exit from the girl band had been shrouded in mystery and she claimed her cry for help was ignored by bandmates Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall.

It was the second time Jesy had tried to take her own life following an overdose in 2013, which she ­previously opened up about in her NTA-winning BBC documentary Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out.

The issue of overtourism in certain parts of the Spanish costas and islands has made headlines in recent years but the country offers so much to travellers who are prepared to explore a little off the beaten track. We’d love to hear about your favourite Spanish discoveries, whether it’s a perfect beachfront cafe, an overlooked city, an underrated museum or gallery, a beautiful walk or a back to nature experience.

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