days

The presidential office said Tuesday it will likely take several days to determine the cause of an explosion and fire aboard a Panama-flagged bulk carrier operated by South Korea’s HMM Co. in the Strait of Hormuz.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung made the remarks in a written briefing after senior presidential officials, including presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, held a meeting to discuss the response to the fire.

“It is expected to take several days to analyze the cause,” the spokesperson said. “The government will brief the public transparently after swiftly and accurately determining the cause of the incident.”

The spokesperson said the vessel will be towed to a nearby port using a tugboat for investigation, with investigators from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and the National Fire Agency to be dispatched.

The explosion occurred at about 8:40 p.m. Monday (Korean time), while the HMM Namu was anchored in waters off the United Arab Emirates (UAE), HMM said. The fire began in the engine room, and crew members used carbon dioxide to fight the blaze for about four hours. No injuries were reported, the company said Tuesday.

HMM said security camera footage showed the fire had been put out and said it would later inspect the engine room to assess the damage.

The freighter had 24 crew members on board — six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals.

The cause of the explosion and fire, as well as the extent of the damage, is currently under investigation.

“It remains unclear whether the incident was caused by an external attack or an internal malfunction,” an HMM official said.

HMM said it plans to tow the freighter to Dubai, a process expected to take several days.

The spokesperson said South Korea is sharing relevant information with the United States, Iran and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

She said the oceans ministry and the Cheonghae naval unit operating in the Gulf of Aden are in communication with the HMM Namu, adding the government is in daily contact with the 26 South Korean ships anchored in the strait.

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran has taken shots at a South Korean cargo ship and other targets as he called on Seoul to participate in a mission to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The presidential office separately said it is reviewing Trump’s proposal by considering the readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures.

“(We) are actively taking part in multiple international efforts for the swift stabilization, recovery and normalization of the global maritime logistics network.” it said. “In this context, (we) are paying attention to President Trump’s remarks.”

Industry officials said South Korean-operated ships in waters off the UAE were moving toward Qatar in line with government measures to steer clear of the Strait of Hormuz for safety.

The incident came after the U.S. launched an operation, called Project Freedom, this week to guide commercial vessels stranded by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran out of the waterway.

HMM operates five vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including one container ship and two oil tankers.

Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.

An overlooked European city, just two hours from the UK, warrants a visit, thanks to its balmy rays of sunshine 300 days out of the year and affordable flights that start from £29

Just two hours from the UK is a beautiful Mediterranean city that basks in a remarkable 300 days of glorious sunshine every year, and flights start from just £28.99 with easyJet.

Montpellier, in southern France, is often bypassed in favour of tourist hotspots such as Paris, but it definitely deserves a place on your travel list. The charming city offers a scenic escape from busy crowds, with a laid-back atmosphere amid its medieval architecture, bustling squares and delightful cafés.

You won’t be short of sun-soaked rays here, as Montpellier is widely considered one of France’s sunniest locations, with an average of 300 days of sunshine every year and summer daylight extending to around 10 hours. Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, it enjoys mild winters and hot, dry summers, so rainfall is rarely an issue, with temperatures reaching around 17C in May and 22C in June.

READ MORE: Europe’s ‘sunniest city’ with 3,300 hours of annual sunshine has £16 flights and £2.50 pintsREAD MORE: Europe’s ‘most beautiful beach’ with pristine sands is just 3 hours from UK with £28 flights

A spring escape couldn’t come at a better time as easyJet launched a new route from Manchester Airport to the sun-kissed city of Montpellier earlier this year. The first flight departed at the start of April this year, with services scheduled to operate twice-weekly on Mondays and Fridays throughout the summer season.

One-way direct tickets can be booked from £28.99, with the journey taking just over two hours from Manchester – meaning you’ll be basking in those southern rays in no time. If you needed another excuse to experience the Mediterranean lifestyle in Montpellier, you’ll be pleased to hear that it has an impressive selection of sights and attractions.

There’s the historic city centre to wander through, with the stunning Place de la Comédie, the historic Promenade du Peyrou, and the Gothic Saint-Pierre Cathedral. And a visit to the city isn’t complete without exploring its pedestrian-friendly Old Town, with winding medieval streets, chic boutiques, and lively squares filled with cafés, restaurants, and hidden courtyards.

Meanwhile, the botanical gardens, Jardin des Plantes – the oldest in France – provide a tranquil escape, boasting an impressive collection of plants and peaceful walkways. The Peyrou Promenade, on the other hand, offers stunning panoramic views across the city and the surrounding countryside, ideal for taking in the atmosphere of this overlooked European gem.

Following the launch of the new flights to Montpellier, Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK country manager, said: “We are really pleased to be celebrating our inaugural flights to the fantastic city of Montpellier, just a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean coast. By introducing new connections from Manchester on our unrivaled leisure network, customers from across the northwest can now enjoy even more choice this summer to book and travel with ease.

“We’re continuing to provide our customers with even more choice and connectivity at fantastic fares, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard.”

Stephen Turner, chief commercial officer at Manchester Airport, added: “We are proud to connect the people of the North with more destinations than any other airport in the country outside London, so it’s fantastic to be celebrating this inaugural flight today.

“Montpellier is not currently served by any other airline so passengers planning a holiday to the south of France this summer will have even more choice of destinations when flying from Manchester. We’re sure this new route will prove extremely popular.”

For more information, or to book easyJet flights, visit their website.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

PATRICK Muldoon’s tragic cause of death has been confirmed after the soap star’s sudden collapse at the age of 57.

The Days Of Our Lives and Melrose Place actor died from a heart attack, according to official records, with several underlying health conditions also revealed.

New details show Muldoon suffered a myocardial infarction – more commonly known as a heart attack – on April 19, as confirmed by his death certificate.

The document, released by the County of Los Angeles’ Department of Public Health, also listed contributing factors to his death.

These included a hereditary coagulopathy disorder, which affects blood clotting, and a pulmonary embolism – a dangerous blood clot that travels to the lungs and blocks blood flow.

The actor was cremated on Tuesday, with his occupation listed as both actor and producer.

Read more on Celebrity Deaths

SOAP STAR TRAGEDY

Days Of Our Lives & Melrose Place actor dies ‘suddenly’ at 57

RIDE OVER

Country singer David Allen Coe who penned Take This Job and Shove It dies at 86

His sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, had earlier shared that he died of a heart attack, posting a touching tribute alongside a final video sent to family just hours before his death.

In the clip, Muldoon is seen joking while showing a painting at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

“As always, he jokes… and yet profoundly brings all things into one moment,” she wrote.

“The joke-ster, the artist, the football player, and the intensely spiritually connected, Jesuit educated, incredible being that is Patrick Muldoon. My best friend. The best brother/son/uncle/anyone could ever possibly ask for.”

“I will have so much more to share as I know he loves this earthly realm and all he created within it,” she continued, “including all of the love and light his spirit is now receiving through all of you…. Surrounding you in light.”

Tributes also poured in from friends and co-stars, including actress Barbara Eden.

“Patrick was a sweet man who was very personable,” she said.

“I enjoyed the time we spent between takes and just enjoying each other’s company in general during the production of the film. He made the experience even more fun.”

“While the passing of a loved one is never easy,” she added, “it is especially difficult when it’s unexpected and sudden as I understand Patrick’s was. My thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends.”

Born in San Pedro, California, Patrick Muldoon shot to fame in the 1990s after launching his career while studying in the University of Southern California, where he also played football.

He first appeared on Who’s the Boss? before landing a role on Saved By the Bell after graduating in 1991.

His big break came as Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives, a role he originated between 1992 and 1995 before returning years later.

Muldoon later played villain Richard Hart on Melrose Place and starred in a string of TV movies.

On the big screen, he was known for playing Zander Barcalow in the 1997 sci-fi hit Starship Troopers.

His final film, Dirty Hands, is due for release later this year.

Away from the spotlight, Muldoon worked behind the scenes as an executive producer on a number of films and was also passionate about music, performing as lead singer of The Sleeping Masses.

Known as “Bobo” to loved ones, Muldoon is survived by his partner Miriam Rothbart, his parents, his sister and extended family.

April 25 (UPI) — An Egyptian family of six that was released from custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement days ago was rearrested on Saturday and may be headed for a quick deportation, their lawyer said.

After an emergency appeal earlier in the day, U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery said the family’s immediate deportation should be paused, The Guardian and The Texas Tribune reported.

Hayam El Gamal and her five children had been held in the Dilley detention center outside San Antonio, Texas, which has been criticized for lack of medical care and food, for ten months.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Chestney on Thursday ruled that the family, which came to the United States in 2022 on a tourist visa and applied for asylum, should be freed while they wait for a decision on their case.

After the family was arrested again on Saturday morning, El Gamal’s attorney, Eric Lee, posted on X that the family had already been put on a flight to Michigan, where they are expected to be deported to Egypt.

Calling the agency’s actions “an absolutely brazen violation of separation of powers,” Lee said the flight “constitutionally” should not be permitted to take off, posting “stop this travesty of justice from taking place.”

The family was arrested in June after El Gamal’s husband, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly threw Molotov cocktails into a crowd rallying in support of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.

A judge already had temporarily halted their deportation in June after their arrest.

Former New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell has admitted using cocaine after the first day of Essex’s final County Championship match last year.

Bracewell returned the positive test on 25 September – the second day of the match against Somerset at Chelmsford.

He was notified by the Cricket Regulator in November and responded on 8 December, confirming he had used cocaine after the first day of the fixture, into the early hours of the following morning.

Bracewell, who signed for Essex for the final three Championship matches of the season, opened the bowling on day one, claiming two wickets as Somerset moved to 339-6. He was not required to bat on day two and Essex eventually won the match by seven wickets.

After being notified of the positive test, Bracewell then retired from cricket on 28 December. The Regulator has still issued him with a two-year ban.

Part of a famous New Zealand cricketing family – his uncle John Bracewell played 28 Tests and cousin Michael is a current Black Cap – Doug played 69 international matches across formats.

He also previously served a one-month ban for cocaine use in 2024.

Bracewell has accepted the sanction, while Essex will not face punishment.

“Essex can confirm that Doug Bracewell failed a routine drugs test in September 2025,” said a club statement.

“The club supports the Cricket Regulator’s decision to impose a period of ineligibility of two years. All employees are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct.

“While the club does not condone Bracewell’s behaviour, we are committed to supporting him through rehabilitation in line with our policies and procedures.”

Ninety-five years ago next month, Aurelio Manrique Jr. landed a job as a mild-mannered L.A. Times columnist. But the resume this native of the central Mexico state of San Luis Potosí brought to the paper was that of a firebrand.

Medical student turned political prisoner. Fought in the Mexican Revolution. Governor of his home state. Trusted advisor of general-turned-president Álvaro Obregón. Founder of a left-wing political party. Mexican legislator. He even took to the floor of Mexico’s congress to denounce former president Plutarco Elías Calles as a farsante — a phony — and then pull a gun on a rival who took issue with his vitriol.

Tall, with round wire glasses and a shock of black hair that was the inverse of his Moses-like beard, Manrique cut an exciting figure in Latino L.A. when he arrived as a political exile in 1929 after the so-called Escobar rebellion, which was an attempt to overthrow the Mexican government. A Oct. 28, 1929 Times dispatch noted that “it is not uncommon to find among the shabby, shuffling street venders [sic] of Sonoratown” former Mexican bigwigs “offering sweetmeats and trinkets from trays” in an effort to survive.

Finding a home in L.A.

They, like so many other political refugees before and since, made L.A. a home but also a place to fight for the freedom of their homeland.

Manrique, on the other hand, was hailed as the “intellectual head” of his fellow Mexican refugee politicos and an “accomplished linguist” who spoke Spanish, English, French and German.

“He stands in my memory as a pillar of fire because, at all times, he has never been afraid to do or say what he considered to be right, regardless of his own personal or political fate,” an admirer would recall decades later in the Virginia Quarterly Review.

The revolutionary found welcome audiences across the Southland with lectures and Spanish-language radio show appearances to talk about what was going on in his home country. He participated in Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo festivities and even found work in Hollywood films as everything from a British lord to an Arab sheikh.

But reputation doesn’t pay the bills, so Manrique also offered translation and interpreter services from a small Bunker Hill office. He also held Spanish-language classes twice a week at the L.A. Central Library. Soon after, The Times — a paper that back then loathed leftists of all stripes — hired Manrique as a columnist in May 1931. He was to be in charge of its daily Spanish-language roundup of world and local events, which the paper had regularly published since 1922.

The revolutionary plays a more reserved role

I wish I could say that Manrique used his platform to inveigh against the mass roundups of Mexican Americans that kicked off that year and that would lead to the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Mexican Americans, citizens and not, during the 1930s. Or that Manrique taught his Times bosses that Latinos were more than domestic help or a societal scourge. Or that he deserves a spot in the pantheon of legendary Times metro columnists like Jack Smith, Ruben Salazar and Steve Lopez.

Alas, it was not to be.

The daily columna was just a roundup of wire stories published in Spanish, part of The Times’ effort to teach the language of Cervantes to those interested. Every Monday, the 40-year-old Manrique also wrote Platicas de Los Lunes [Monday Lessons], a place for the professor to teach new words to readers via translations, poems and sample sentences.

Manrique’s last byline was April 25, 1932. In the hundreds of columnas he wrote for us, I found nothing even remotely hinting at the progressive lion that Mexicans in Southern California knew him as. But in an era in which Latino visibility in Anglo Southern California was nonexistent when it wasn’t heavily stereotyped, Manriquez’s brief tenure at The Times was an important step for future Latino writers at the paper, all of us whom owe a debt to the man.

He returned to Mexico in early 1933 after President Abelardo L. Rodríguez announced amnesty for him and other exiles. The former revolutionary spent the rest of his life working for the Mexican government, most notably as ambassador to Scandinavian countries from 1946 to 1956.

In 1962, the retired Manrique returned to his old L.A. stomping grounds one final time five years before his death for a lecture at the Alexandria Hotel.

“He finds Los Angeles completely changed,” La Opinión reported, “and told us, with a tone of barely concealed sadness, that many of those who knew him had disappeared.”

The fate of all Angelenos, alas.

Today’s top stories

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks at a March 7 town hall in Mentone.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

A Trump-endorsed Republican could become California’s next governor

A second ticket drop for the Olympics

• A second ticket drop is set to open in August and will offer refreshed inventory across all sports at a range of prices.
• Those who registered but did not receive a slot in the first ticket drop or did not buy all 12 of their tickets will be enrolled in a lottery for a spot in the second ticket drop.

Court strikes down California mask law

California is getting 3 new state parks

• California will establish the new parks in the Central Valley, marking the state’s largest park expansion in decades and bringing the statewide total to 283 parks.
• The parks will serve historically underserved communities with recreation and historic preservation.

What else is going on

Commentary and opinions

This morning’s must-read

Other must-reads

For your downtime

The waffle with maple butter is the drive-across-town dish at celebrity-backed Max & Helen’s, the Larchmont diner opened by Phil Rosenthal and Nancy Silverton.

(Ron De Angelis / For The Times)

Going out

Staying in

A question for you: What’s your favorite California-themed book?

Marya says, “Hard Times in Paradise” by David and Micki Colfax.

Cristina says, “Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck.

Email us at essentialcalifornia@latimes.com, and your response might appear in the newsletter this week.

And finally … from our archives

On this day 21 years ago, “Me at the zoo” was the first video uploaded to YouTube, opening the door to a new medium of television.

For the 20th anniversary last year, The Times’ Wendy Lee wrote about the video sharing platform and how it changed TV as we know it.

Have a great day, from the Essential California team

Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew Campa, weekend writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.

EVERY few months you can grab free tickets to the races at racecourses like Doncaster and Ayr – but only if you’re a Sun Club member.

Once you sign up to Sun Club, you can benefit from a range of exclusive, members-only offers.

These include free darts tickets, 50% off West End shows, money off of London attraction tickets, plus early access to £9.50 holidays and more.

It’s really easy to sign up – simply click the button below to sign up to the £1.99 monthly membership, or bag a year for just £12.

Right now there’s a range of free race days for Sun Club members to make the most of, where you can bag four tickets for races every few months.

We’ve put together all of the race days coming up in the calendar for Sun Club members to pick from – plus the best things to do nearby, so you can make the most of your travels there.

HOLIDAY HACK

Little-known trick to get FREE days out including London Zoo and GoApe

BIG HERTS

My favourite English village is under an hour from London and a perfect day out

April Racedays

Gents Evening 2026 at Fontwell Park Racecourse, West Sussex
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 at 3:15pm

Fontwell Park describe this raceday as “The Ultimate Lads Day Out”, and ask guests to think Peaky Blinders and dress up dapper for a charmingly fun day.

Fontwell Park in West Sussex is also the only racecourse in the UK with a figure of eight-shaped steeplechase, which requires some amazing skill from the jockeys and is a joy to watch.

Make the most of dressing up posh and explore the Arundel Castle and Gardens, an 11th-century castle surrounded by 38 acres of gardens.

Saturday Evening – April Flat Racing 2026 at Doncaster Racecourse
Sat, 25 Apr 2026 at 2:35pm

This April Flat Turf Racing offers an exciting way to watch a straight mile sprint live, plus there’s even 50% off draught drinks and £10 off bottles of fizz for the first hour after the gates open.

Doncaster Racecourse offers fun for all the family, with live entertainment and food and drinks stalls to explore.

Doncaster Racecourse is one of the oldest in Britain, putting on world-class races since the 1500’s – and you could bag a historic day of fun there for free if you’re signed up to Sun Club.

Nearby top attractions include Yorkshire Wildlife Park and the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, should you wish to make a day of it.

Country & Western Racenight 2026 at Southwell Racecourse
Sat, 25 Apr 2026 at 4:00pm

Yeehaw! Don your cowboy hat and boots for a country-themed night at the races with this last-minute racing night offer.

Expect live renditions of Dolly Parton classics by a tribute act, followed by a night of dancing to DJ tunes.

There’s plenty to do nearby too, like wandering The Workhouse, a popular National Trust site.

Four-Legged Friends Raceday at Nottingham Racecourse
Sun, 26 Apr 2026 at 12:15pm

No need to leave your furry friend at home with this dog-friendly race day at the esteemed Nottingham Racecourse.

You can even enter your pet in a range of competitions, which include Loveliest Lady and Best Rescue.

If you’re staying for the weekend, take your furry friend on a walk through the beautiful grounds of Wollaton Hall.

May Racedays

RSA Syndicate Evening Racing at Huntingdon Racecourse
Tue, 19 May 2026 at 4:30pm

Race days at Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire make for a spectacular day out.

The home of the Peterborough Chase offers other fun events throughout the year, such as their RSA Syndicate Evening Racing, where you can bag a free ticket this May as a Sun Club member.

Spend the day beforehand having a nosy in Cambs Lock Antiques or the Cromwell Museum.

Tennent’s Raceday at Ayr Racecourse
Wed, 20 May 2026 at 12:10pm

Ayr is Scotland’s premier racecourse, home to massive events like the Scottish Grand National and Ayr Gold Cup.

The Tennent’s Raceday is one of the venue’s biggest midweek racing events, with plenty of friendly competition and top-tier hospitality.

There’s plenty to do nearby too, like strolling the historic Auld Brig or visiting the town centre to pop in some traditional pubs.

Feel Good Friday Racing at Carlisle Racecourse
Fri, 29 May 2026 at 1:10pm

Thoroughbred horse racing venue Carlisle Racecourse are running a Feel Good Friday race day, where you can expect an afternoon packed with plenty of races and also music from a live DJ.

This is the only Friday in the racecourse’s racing calendar, so make sure to bag it whilst you can by signing up to Sun Club.

Stay the weekend and explore two mega historical sites: Carslisle Castle and the epic Hadrian’s Wall.

June Racedays

Virtus Property Race Night at Warwick Racecourse
Wed, 3 Jun 2026 at 4:30pm

The Virtus Property Race Night offers evening races under the lights, plus access to bars and the food market.

This evening also includes access to the Grandstand, winner’s enclosure, pre-parade and parade ring, too.

Spend the day beforehand at Warwick Castle, where you can see exciting shows from falconry to live jousting.

Fiver Friday Evening Racing at Market Rasen Racecourse
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 at 12:05pm

Head to Market Rasen Racecourse for a family-friendly evening packed with exciting races – plus under 18’s get to go for free.

Market Rasen Racecourse is a beautiful site in the Lincolnshire Wolds, which held its first race in 1924.

The Lincolnshire Wolds are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and offer plenty of scenic hiking and walking trails.

July Racedays

Family Sunday Raceday at Ayr Racecourse
Sun, 5 Jul 2026 at 12:00pm

The Family Sunday Raceday makes for a brilliant summer’s day out with the kids.

The day will include seven races, family-friendly entertainment, and even a mascot race where colourful characters will compete.

Turn the weekend into a family staycation and meet the animals at Ayr Farm Park or visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Glasgow Fair Family Raceday at Ayr Racecourse
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 at 12:00pm

The Glasgow Fair Family Raceday sees various owners and trainers put their horses to the test on the grounds.

There will be seven races, as well as free entertainment – plus kids go free.

Other things to do nearby include seeing the ruins of Greenan Castle or takig a stroll along Ayr Beach.

How to bag your free racing tickets

How to sign up to the Sun Club Membership Programme:

Step 1: To book your racing tickets join Sun Club now for just £1.99 a month.

Step 2: Then head to the Offers Hub Racing Page, select the ‘Four Free Racing Tickets’ tile, choose the racecourse you want to go to then click the ‘Book’ button.

Step 3: Confirm your details and then you will receive an email with your tickets.

Once tickets are all claimed, we will open up a limited waiting list for cancellations before showing it as ‘Fully booked’.

18+ Terms & Conditions apply, thesun.co.uk/club.

18+ UK only. Online access required. Four tickets every three month of active subscription. Racecourses and racedays vary subject to availability. Sun Club: 18+ UK only. New customer offer: £1.99 per month or £12 per per year unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For full T&Cs, visit thesun.co.uk/club   

With 50 days to go until the World Cup kicks off, FIFA and the tournament’s host nations face criticism over wide-ranging social, political and logistical issues surrounding the global event.

Canada and Mexico will cohost the tournament with the United States, which, alongside Israel, launched a war on World Cup participant nation Iran on February 28. While the war is currently under a fragile temporary ceasefire, Iran’s participation in the tournament remains uncertain.

Fans across the three host countries are in uproar over exorbitant ticket prices, which have affected sales and interest in the world’s most popular quadrennial sporting event.

Local politicians and the public have also raised concerns over the hike in transport fares on routes connecting match venues in the US.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the growing concerns in the run-up to the tournament, which begins on June 11 with the opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa:

What’s the latest on Iran’s participation in the World Cup?

Iran’s football team is preparing for the championship. However, officials say a final decision on the team’s participation will be taken by the government and the National Security Council after they review the players’ safety in the US.

Iran had said last month that it would not participate in the tournament amid the war, especially if the host nation could not guarantee players’ security. It followed a social media post from President Donald Trump, where he suggested that the Iranian team’s safety and security could not be guaranteed in the US, where Iranians are scheduled to play all their games.

The Iranian football federation then asked FIFA to relocate its games from the US to Mexico. FIFA rejected the request.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said last week that Iran “has to come” to the tournament.

Iran will play all their group stage matches on the US West Coast. Should they advance to the knockouts, the remaining games would also be held in the US.

Outrageous commuter fare prices in US host cities

Fans can expect to pay nearly 12 times the regular $12.90 fare for a round-trip train ride from Manhattan’s Penn Station to the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, venue of the World Cup final and seven other major fixtures.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and FIFA have chided each other on the $150 price tag for a roughly 15-minute, 14km (9-mile) ride; Sherrill said FIFA should bear the costs, while the global body hit back, saying it is not obligated to do so.

Train commutes to Gillette Stadium in Boston’s suburbs cost roughly four times the regular price ($20), while round-trip bus fares to Foxborough cost $95.

Host cities Los Angeles and Philadelphia have pledged to keep their transit fares unchanged, while Kansas City is offering a $15 round-trip fare to Arrowhead Stadium. Houston said it has added buses and train cars to serve fans but intends to keep fares at current levels: $1.25 for buses and light rail trains, and park-and-ride options ranging from $2 to $4.50.

High prices, low demand for match tickets

Sky-high ticket prices have left fans outraged at what they say is pricing that excludes supporters from the tournament. A lag in ticket sales for blockbuster matches, including hosts USA vs Paraguay, seems to be a testament to the high price tag.

FIFA put tickets on sale in December at prices ranging from $140 for Category 3 in the first round to $8,680 for the final. Later, it raised prices to as high as $10,990 when sales reopened on April 1.

The North American bid had initially promised tickets would be available for as little as $21; however, the cheapest ticket has been priced at $60. Most tickets cost at least $200 for matches involving higher-ranked teams.

FIFA announced another round of ticket sales on Wednesday to coincide with the 50-day countdown. Tickets will be available across categories 1 to 3 for all 104 matches on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pushback against immigration raids during World Cup matches

The Trump administration’s push for mass deportation and its efforts to tighten legal immigration pathways have spurred concerns about whether the World Cup’s international audience might be targeted by US immigration authorities.

Infantino was approached last week to pressure Trump to avoid immigration raids at this year’s tournament. Reporters suggested that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were present at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup matches, though the Trump administration denied conducting enforcement efforts.

A report by The Athletic explained that FIFA executives have framed the possibility of an immigration moratorium as a potential public relations boon for the Trump administration. It also indicated that the executives hoped Infantino would leverage his friendly relationship with Trump to assuage any immigration-related fears.

Violence in Mexico raises fears over tournament security

World Cup cohost Mexico is also under the spotlight due to concerns for fan safety after a lone attacker opened fire on tourists near the country’s capital on Monday.

The accused opened fire on top of one of the Teotihuacan pyramids — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s most frequented tourist attractions — and killed one Canadian tourist and injured 13 others.

It raised questions about security protocols taken by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government in the run-up to the global football tournament.

Sheinbaum said Mexico will beef up security ahead of the World Cup.

“Our obligation as a government is to take the appropriate measures to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again. But clearly, we all know — Mexicans know — that this is something that had not previously taken place,” she said on Tuesday.

Patrick Muldoon, known for his roles on “Days of Our Lives,” “Melrose Place” and “Starship Troopers,” has died. He was 57.

The actor and producer reportedly died Sunday, his manager confirmed to Variety. According to Deadline, Muldoon died suddenly after a heart attack. The Times has reached out to Muldoon’s reps for comment.

Muldoon originated the role of Austin Reed on the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” He first portrayed the aspiring boxer and brother of Lisa Rinna‘s Billie Reed from 1992 to 1995, and returned to reprise the role from 2011 to 2012 (the character had since become a forensic accountant).

“Austin is a wonderful role,” Muldoon told The Times in 1995. The actor explained he took his “sweet time” mulling over whether to leave the show because “it was one hell of a decision to make.”

“I’m leaving for no other reason than why other people leave soaps,” Muldoon said at the time. “To take a shot at doing other things like nighttime, movies and other things. … I feel confident right now so I figured I better take the shot sooner than later. If I don’t, I’ll always wonder ‘what if.’ ”

He played the recurring villain Richard Hart on the primetime soap “Melrose Place” for three seasons beginning in 1995. Muldoon’s big-screen roles include Zander Barcalow, a pilot and rival of Casper Van Dien’s Johnny Rico, in Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 movie “Starship Troopers.”

Born September 27, 1968, in San Pedro, Muldoon’s early passions included football. He started playing at the age of 6 and would go on to play at Loyola High School and then at USC.

“I did fairly well for being a smaller tight end,” Muldoon told The Times in 2012, adding that getting run over during practice by USC teammate Junior Seau — the late linebacker who had a 20-year NFL career — was among the factors that led him to pursue acting instead. Muldoon began his acting career during the sport’s offseason, and his earliest roles were on shows such as “Who’s the Boss?” and “Saved by the Bell.”

In addition to acting, Muldoon was a producer with credits on films such as “Riff Raff” (2024), “Marlowe” (2022), “The Card Counter” (2021) and “The Comeback Trail” (2020). Most recently, he shared on Instagram his excitement of being among the executive producers for the upcoming film “Kockroach.”

Much of the news dominating the local restaurant scene has focused on sadness.

Two Los Angeles icons, Cole’s French Dip and Echo Park’s Taix restaurant, closed after more than 215 combined years of service.

It’s easy to be down and not necessarily want to go out.

Fortunately, our Food team, led by senior editor Danielle Dorsey, has some amazing recommendations for new favorites and old haunts that will fill your stomach and lift your spirits.

This month’s highlighted selections include locales from Altadena and Echo Park to Malibu and Westwood that the team feels are all worth your time.

Let’s take a look at a few of their selections.

Duke’s (Malibu)

The iconic restaurant along PCH was on the heels of reopening after the Pacific Palisades fire last February when heavy rain caused mudslides that led to flooding and extensive damage.

Fourteen months later, Duke’s Malibu is open with significant renovations and limited lunch and dinner menus featuring Hawaiian-influenced seafood staples such as crispy coconut shrimp, Korean sticky ribs and hula pie.

As the restaurant celebrates 30 years in operation, plans are underway for an anniversary party this summer.

(Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times)

Golden Leaf Restaurant (San Gabriel)

A Taiwanese restaurant in San Gabriel was forced to remove stinky tofu, a popular, culturally significant dish, from its menu after repeated complaints from residential neighbors and fines from the city.

City officials have encouraged Golden Leaf restaurant to install an expensive filter to address the pungent smell, though owners insist that none of their immediate shopping center neighbors have complained about the odor.

Supporters launched a Change.org petition last summer backing the preparation of the dish.

(Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times )

Hoja Blanca (Palm Springs)

If you’re heading to Coachella today, it’s worth making a detour for this weekly pop-up at a sleek Palm Springs bar.

From married couple Omar Limon and Blanca Flores Torres, with help from Omar’s brother Arnold Limon, Hoja Blanca offers a playful take on modern Mexican food with dishes such as quesabirria tacos, esquites with cauliflower and a tetela topped with pork belly, all served alongside Bryan Jimenez’s classic cocktails.

(Stella Kalinina/For The Times)

Meymuni Cafe (Rancho Park)

As war unfolds in Iran and neighboring countries, L.A.’s Persian community has found comfort and support at restaurants such as Meymuni, a modern Persian cafe that offers free tea and cookies to diners, many of whom stop by after related protests at the nearby Federal Building.

The cafe opened in 2025 with barbari bread and lavash wrap sandwiches, tahini-date shakes and chai lattes, plus a full slate of events aimed at uplifting the local Persian community.

(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

NADC Burger (Westwood)

The rapidly expanding smashburger chain from Pasta Bar and Sushi by Scratch Restaurants chef Phillip Frankland Lee has opened its first L.A. location in Westwood Village, with plans to open additional locations in the city.

The signature burger at NADC — an acronym for “not a damn chance” — features two Wagyu patties, American cheese, grilled onions, jalapeños, pickles and a house sauce, with beef tallow fries and brown butter chocolate chip cookies rounding out the short menu.

(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

Roshona Bilash (Larchmont)

After stepping away from the kitchen for decades, Abul Ibrahim has opened a quick-service restaurant in Melrose Hill that celebrates the Bangladeshi flavors he grew up with.

Roshona Bilash, which translates to “luxurious taste,” features Bengali classics such as bone marrow nihari, rice pilafs and meats and breads cooked in a clay oven, with plans to expand with regional specialties such as seafood dishes popular along the Bangladesh coast.

Check out the full list here.

The week’s biggest stories

(Kyra Saldana/For De Los)

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

California living

Crime, courts and policing

Entertainment and media news

What else is going on

Must reads

Other meaty reads

For your downtime

(Illustrations by Lindsey Made This; photograph by Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

Going out

Staying in

L.A. Affairs

Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage.

Have a great day, from the Essential California team

Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew J. Campa, weekend writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.

The measure has long been criticised for allowing US intelligence agencies to collect citizen data without a warrant.

The United States Congress has temporarily extended a controversial surveillance law which allows federal intelligence agencies to collect the data of foreigners, including their contacts with US citizens.

The move allows a provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to continue until April 30. The short-term extension was passed by the House of Representatives and approved by the Senate on Friday.

The patch comes after President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a more lasting extension broke down.

Section 702 of FISA allows the National Security Agency (NSA) and other intelligence services to collect data from foreigners outside of the country.

That could include their interactions with US citizens, a prospect that has alarmed rights advocates.

Collecting such data, which can include correspondence on email and telecommunications platforms, typically requires a warrant approved by a court.

The process has been described by critics as a “backdoor search” that circumvents existing privacy laws.

Speaking after Friday’s vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there was still some openness to reforming the law.

“We’ve got to pivot and figure out what can pass, and we’re in the process ⁠of figuring out how to do that here,” he told reporters.

Supporters of reform, who stretch across party lines, have long sought to repeal or amend Section 702.

While FISA was initially passed in 1978, Section 702 was added as an amendment in 2008.

The addition came amid the US’s “global war on terror”. But during its approval, revelations emerged that the administration of former US President George W Bush had already used the tactics Section 702 legalised.

Supporters, including Trump, maintain that reforming the provision would lead to a lapse in national security.

“I have spoken with many in our Military who say FISA is necessary in order to protect our Troops overseas, as well as our people here at home, from the threat of Foreign Terror Attacks,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Wednesday.

He has pushed for the law to be extended for 18 months without changes. That effort initially appeared on track in the House but was ultimately scuttled by pushback from within Trump’s own Republican Party.

Among the detractors was Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who has been a regular critic of Trump.

“I will be voting NO on final passage of the FISA 702 Reauthorization Bill if it does not include a warrant provision and other reforms to protect US citizens’ right to privacy,” he wrote ahead of the House vote.

Commenters who never have been — and never will go — complain about the cost, the influencers, the hype. Purists wax poetic about the days when they disappeared into three days of music and the field wasn’t overtaken by brands like Barbie and e.l.f. cosmetics. Defenders claim they can camp their way to an affordable weekend, and others spend the whole time posting. A select few even talk about great performances they saw — it’s still a music festival.

But one thing everybody can agree on: Coachella has changed. I should know. I’ve been covering it as a journalist since 2007.

Rapid advancements in technology and mass adoption of social media have brought out the best and worst of the festival — not just on screens thousands of miles away, but to those of us trying not to trip over the makeshift photoshoot you might have seen on Instagram.

Coachella pre-2010 was a purist’s paradise

Some of Coachella’s most iconic moments happened before smartphones: The Flaming Lips in a human hamster ball in 2004; Daft Punk’s 2006 pyramid set; Rage Against the Machine reuniting and calling for the George W. Bush administration to be tried for war crimes in 2007. If you even had a cellphone when Coachella started in 1999 it was probably a Nokia brick or a flip phone with an antenna that had limited talk and text options.

In the early years, there were no brand activations on the field; nobody knew what an influencer was and the only corporate sign you saw was for Heineken in the beer gardens. (There was no Heineken House with its own stage, just signs advertising the beer.)

The grounds were also considerably smaller, making it easier to explore the different stages and discover new music. You didn’t have fancy food options, but a slice of Spicy Pie was less than $10. (Coachella upgraded its food options from festival staples to weekend outposts of L.A. restaurants in 2014.)

The music was the draw. The festival’s track record includes artists like the Killers, the Black Keys, Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar climbing up from small type to headliner on the lineup poster.

Livestreams and influencers made Coachella’s reach global

The vibes started to shift in 2010 as smartphones grew in popularity, although the service on the field was spotty. It was the first year Coachella offered a livestream — available via Facebook and MySpace. The next year, the stream moved to YouTube, where it remains and draws millions of viewers.

As Coachella expanded to twin weekends due to popular demand on the ground in 2012, it also had the first viral moment fans could enjoy from thousands of miles away: Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg brought 2Pac back to life via a hologram.

Celebrities were always at Coachella (I spotted Ryan Seacrest, Corbin Bernsen, David Hasselhoff and Danny DeVito in my early years), but the rise of social media made celebrity culture a key part of the event. By 2011, TMZ was posting about stars like Lindsay Lohan. Clips from Coachella went viral and ended up on shows like “Tosh.0” and referenced in “Community.”

The art, which was always part of the festival, became bigger and more iconic. On the growing photo app Instagram, larger-than-life sculptures of astronauts started appearing in selfies.

Brands saw an opportunity. American Express, H&M and Samsung launched activations on-site in 2015. The party scene outside the festival, with non-affiliated events that were timed because everyone was in town for Coachella, became marketing vehicles. Brands are still cashing in more than a decade later.

The next watershed moment was Beyoncé in 2018. Today, most headlining sets at the fest feel as if they are designed for the viewing experience on the livestream rather than the fans on the field (ahem, Justin Bieber and his laptop). But Beyoncé’s spectacle was just as mind-blowing on-site as it was at home. A year later, the “Homecoming” special debuted on Netflix, widening the reach.

Coachella became a key part of the pop culture landscape, and then it became a cornerstone of the influencer economy.

Behind all the hype, there’s still a music festival hiding

I inadvertently photobombed approximately 500 people just trying to go to and from the press tent last weekend and my inbox is overflowing with requests for coverage of off-site events with brands, celebs and TikTok influencers, including social media clips.

But at the end of the day, Coachella is still a music festival, and a really good one at that. The Strokes, David Byrne, Jack White, Iggy Pop, Turnstile, Wet Leg, Fujii Kaze and even Less Than Jake in the Heineken House were some of the best performances I had seen in years.

Coachella is what you make of it. And besides, everyone knows there are fewer influencers on Weekend 2.

Today’s top stories

A health worker administers a measles test on Fernando Tarin, of Seagraves, Texas, at a mobile testing site outside Seminole Hospital District on Feb. 21, 2025.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

Increasing measles cases in California

• California in 2026 has already seen its highest number of annual measles cases in seven years amid an ongoing resurgence of a disease once considered effectively eradicated in the U.S.
• The re-emergence comes as vaccination rates have tumbled nationwide in recent years.

Testing LAX’s long-awaited train

• LAX’s 2.25-mile electric train system will begin running without passengers next week as testing advances following a series of delays.
• The Automated People Mover system began construction in 2019 and was initially slated to open to the public in 2023.

Nationwide recall of a popular anxiety drug

• Specific bottles of Xanax, one of the most widely prescribed medications to treat anxiety and panic disorders, has been recalled due to its failure to dissolve at a standard rate.
• FDA officials are not warning against consuming the product at this time.

What else is going on

Commentary and opinions

This morning’s must-read

Another must-read

For your downtime

Reporter Deborah Vankin gets a massage by an “Aescape” robot at Pause Wellness Studio.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Going out

Staying in

A question for you: Are you planning on leaving California for another state? If so, tell us why.

Laura says, “I left California during the pandemic. Part of the push factor for me was politics, but not blue politics. I had been living in OC since 2018 and was surprised it was so Conservative (and conservative). That became a bigger source of discomfort for me as the vaccine question demonstrated how our neighbors’ decisions can impact us directly. Rather than moving elsewhere in California, which would have sorted out the political discomfort nicely, I moved to a much more affordable state where I had family.”

Email us at essentialcalifornia@latimes.com, and your response might appear in the newsletter this week.

And finally … from our archives

Kendrick Lamar performs at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 16, 2017.

(Amy Harris / Invision / AP)

On April 16, 2018, Compton’s own Kendrick Lamar became the first hip-hop artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.

He won for his album “Damn.,” which the Times’ Mikael Wood heralded as Lamar’s graduation to pop superstardom.

Have a great day, from the Essential California team

Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew Campa, weekend writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.

BREAKINGBREAKING,

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

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

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

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

The shooter died in the attack.

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

School ⁠shootings are very rare in Turkiye.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A MAJOR European airline has announced even more strikes this week, set to impact thousands more Brits.

Lufthansa pilots have been on strike since Monday in a dispute over pensions, and now the Union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has announced a further two days of strikes.

Pilots began striking on Monday, with hundreds of flights cancelled including many from the UK.

And now the union has announced that pilots will also be carrying out strikes this Thursday and Friday.

Cabin crew will also walk out today and Thursday.

It means that by the end of this week, there will have been six consecutive days of strike action.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

Over 200 flights departing Frankfurt Airport have been cancelled today, including the following flights to the UK:

• 9:50am to Manchester
• 2pm to London Heathrow
• 3:45pm to Glasgow
• 4pm to London Heathrow
• 4:10pm to Edinburgh
• 4:20pm to Newcastle
• 4:45pm to Manchester
• 5pm to Birmingham
• 6pm to London Heathrow
• 9:10pm to Birmingham
• 9:30pm to London Heathrow
• 9:50pm to Edinburgh
• 10pm to Manchester

As for flights with Lufthansa departing from the UK, the following have been cancelled:

• 9:30am from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 9:50am from Glasgow to Frankfurt
• 10:25am from Birmingham to Frankfurt
• 10:35am from Manchester to Munich
• 11:25am from Manchester to Frankfurt
• 12:50pm from Edinburgh to Frankfurt
• 1:35pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 3:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 4:25pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 5:10pm from Edinburgh to Munich
• 5:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 5:30pm from Glasgow to Frankfurt
• 5:40pm from Newcastle to Frankfurt
• 5:50pm from Edinburgh to Frankfurt
• 5:50pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 5:55pm from Birmingham to Munich
• 6:15pm from Birmingham to Frankfurt
• 6:20pm from Manchester to Frankfurt
• 7:10pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 7:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 8:25pm from London Heathrow to Munich

With 34 flights – often operating around 150 passengers each – this works out to more than 5,000 passengers to and from the UK affected.

Disruption to flights tomorrow currently remains unclear.

Regarding the further strike action, VC president Andreas Pinheiro said: “The situation remains unchanged; there is absolutely no movement on the employers’ side.

“For us, this is not about political power struggles or egos, but about sustainable solutions.”

In a statement, the airline told passengers earlier this week: “Lufthansa and Eurowings are working intensively to keep the impact on passengers as low as possible.

“We are trying to have as many flights as possible operated by other airlines within the Lufthansa Group and by partner airlines.

“However, despite these efforts, flight cancellations are unavoidable.

“Travelers who are affected by an irregularity will be informed accordingly, provided their contact details are stored in the booking.

“We ask passengers to check the status of their flight before setting out on their journey.

“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the disproportionate and very short-notice strike announcement.”

The airline has told passengers that if their flight is cancelled, they will be able to rebook once free of charge or their ticket refunded.

Though, all flights to the Middle East have been excluded from the strike action due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

In other flight news, here’s the first look at one airline’s new onboard bunk beds which even economy passengers can book.

Plus, a major UK airline is set to hike flights by up to £360 as they warn jet fuel prices have ‘never been this high’.

THE wait is finally over for Madonna fans – as she returns with new music on Friday.

And I am told that she will finally unveil details of her upcoming 15th studio album.

A source revealed: “Madonna is ready to enter her new era and, on Friday, fans will finally get a taste of what she has been working on with Stuart Price.

“This album has been such a passion project for Madonna.

“It’s taken her to a different level in her artistry and she is excited for her fans to hear what she has been working on.

“Madonna has been through so much in the past few years. She almost died in 2023 after contracting sepsis and she lost her brother Christopher the following year.

camp controversy

What David Haye’s girlfriend Sian thinks of him calling her an ‘ugly bird’

SEXTREME!

Real reason behind Sydney Sweeney’s raunchy Euphoria scenes after backlash

“The album will be steeped in reflections of what she has endured and how she has overcome everything thrown in her path.

“Working with Stuart has been brilliant for Madonna, too.

“Confessions On A Dance Floor back in 2005 was one of her best records and he has injected some of that magic into their new sessions.”

The Queen of Pop last released an album in 2019, with Madame X.

It has been the longest-ever gap between records since her career started.

I told you last month that Madonna had filmed a huge new video to celebrate her return to music.

Celebs including Kate Moss, Gwendoline Christie and Benedict Cumberbatch filmed top-secret scenes at Black Island Studios in West London, alongside a number of other famous faces I can’t reveal as I have been sworn to secrecy.

The video, I am told, pushed boundaries like never before, with Madonna’s stunt double filming an epic car crash scene then legging it into a rave.

Madonna has remained tight-lipped about her return, but yesterday she deleted all the photographs from her Instagram account and updated her profile shot with a blurry new picture of herself.

Last night, Madge also updated her website with a picture of a woman in fishnets and boots and her legs splayed open with a huge speaker covering her modesty.

We can’t wait to hear what you’ve been working on, Madge.

Selena & Demi share the Lov

SELENA GOMEZ and Demi Lovato can’t hide their delight as they are pictured together for the first time in a decade.

The former child Disney stars posed on the opening night of Demi’s It’s Not That Deep Tour in Florida.

It was a joyous moment for their fans, who had long thought the pair had fallen out.

Selena shared the snap online with the caption: “I am in tears.

“This was hands down one of the best shows. Oh and the vocals?”

Since they met backstage, Selena and Demi have started following each other again on Instagram – which is basically millennial code for “everything is fine”.

Given the smiles, I am actually convinced it is.

KANYE WEST might not be able to play festivals these days, but eldest daughter North is having no problems.

She has been signed to make her festival debut at Chicago’s Summer Smash, despite being only 12.

North, who was in the crowd at Coachella at the weekend, has only released a handful of songs but is already high on the line-up for the event, also featuring rappers Lil Uzi Vert and Sexyy Red.

It comes a week after Ye was refused entry to the UK.

It caused Wireless Festival, which he was due to headline for all three nights in July, to be axed.

Here’s hoping North has more luck for this event in June.

Frilled to see you, Anne

ONE WORD springs to mind when I look at this glam snap of Anne Hathaway. Itchy.

The US actress swapped comfort for couture as she promoted new film Mother Mary, alongside her equally elegant British co-star Michaela Coel, in a custom-made designer gown made from swathes of rough-looking fabric.

The psychological thriller, which is out in cinemas on April 24, is a far cry from Anne’s other new film, The Devil Wears Prada sequel which comes out the following week.

She reprises her role as Andy Sachs, alongside Meryl Streep who plays her formidable magazine editor boss Miranda Priestly.

I’m expecting some incredible fashion choices from Anne and co when they start promoting the film, with the UK premiere in London’s Leicester Square on 22 April.

And hopefully her stylist will choose something a little less scratchy.

WRONG ON ROAN MOANS

FOOTBALLER JORGINHO admitted he got it wrong when he accused Chappel Roan of making his stepdaughter cry by ordering her security guard to tell the girl off.

He made the claim last month when his wife Catherine Harding and her daughter Ada were at a hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Chappell received a massive backlash.

But the singer insisted she wasn’t aware of the incident, and the security guard came out to say he was working for someone else.

Addressing the situation on Instagram, the Brazilian midfielder didn’t apologise but said: “I made my initial statement in the heat of the moment.”

Jorginho, who insisted he did not support “hate speech or online attacks” as a result of the saga, said Chappell “reached out privately to Catherine”.

PADDINGTON is digging out his raincoat as he returns to cinemas in a fourth movie.

Film company Studiocanal has confirmed another instalment is in the works following the 2024 release of Paddington In Peru.

Since the first movie in 2014, the series has made more than $700million at the box office worldwide.

WETS TOUR FOR DEBUT’S 40TH YEAR

WET WET WET will play 40 dates around the UK next year to mark four decades since their debut album, Popped In Souled Out.

The band will kick off their tour at Watford Colosseum on February 7, with more shows through the month.

A second leg of the tour starts at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall on October 4.

The band now includes founding member, bassist Graeme Clark, long-time touring guitarist Graeme Duffin, who has been with the band since 1983, and lead vocalist Kevin Simm, formerly of Liberty X, who has toured with the band since 2018.

Graeme Clark said: “Forty years later, those songs have taken on a life of their own, and this tour is about celebrating where it all began without forgetting what followed.”

OLIVIA’S STRICTLY TOURING

OLIVIA DEAN has won four Brits, three Mobo awards and a Grammy so far this year.

But she’s got her eye on something else for her display cabinet – the Strictly Glitterball trophy.

The singer has been having dance tuition and is seriously tempted by the possibility of appearing on the BBC One show.

She said: “I’ve been doing salsa lessons recently.

“Just learning a new skill that’s completely separate from my music and still in music.”

During an appearance on Hits Radio, Marvin Humes asked Olivia whether she would take part in Strictly and she replied: “I actually would.”

Sadly for us, a stint in the ballroom this year is off the cards as Olivia will be on tour across Australia and New Zealand in October, which will be right in the middle of the series.

There could be more music on the way from Olivia as she teased she has several songs we haven’t heard. She said: “Man I Need wasn’t supposed to be a single.

“But I’m glad I followed through with that one.

“There were loads of songs that didn’t make the album, but I might still do something with them.”

Ladies on the lash

LADIES Of London: The New Reign is on course to get a second series, so it’s little wonder the cast hit the town to celebrate.

The Bravo TV series, which stars Mark-Francis Vandelli, Emma Thynn, Myka Meier, Martha Sitwell, Lottie Kane and Misse Beqiri, started again last month and has proved to be a success.

An onlooker who saw the group celebrating at private members’ club 5 Hertford Street, in London, told me: “The Ladies Of London cast went from drinking tea to doing shots of tequila, they were loving life.

“They’d just done a photoshoot and were in really high spirits, talking about the future and what they had coming up.

“The show is all about bitching and backstabbing, but in reality, now especially, they all seem to get on like a house on fire.

“When they left around 6.30pm on Monday, they were definitely a bit squiffy.”

I’ve no doubt they’ll be cracking open more bottles of champers when they get another series.

A QUICK ferry route that spares Brits a half-hour car journey will cease operations this week.

The popular service, which connects two towns, has been in operation since the 1840s.

The ten-minute Fleetwood-Knott End ferry service in Lancashire is due to end on Wednesday, April 15.

This service carries 35 passengers from one side of the estuary to the other, sparing an 11 mile road commute via the Shard Bridge.

Wyre Council said the River Wyre service, which serves 30,000 people each year, was coming to an end because no “compliant tenders” to run it had been received after an 18-month search.

For three years, locals have been running a campaign to save the ferry, which they describe as a “vital service” and a “solid piece of heritage”.

HIGH & DRY

Century-old ferry service plunges into liquidation in blow for UK seaside town

SET SAIL

New ferry route to connect UK to the ‘Fjords Gateway ‘ for first time in 18 years

“Gutted” called the upcoming ceasation of the “national treasure” a “devastating” move for the local economy.

Wyre Council had been working alongside Lancashire County Council, which jointly subsidises the service, to try to “secure the long term future of the ferry”.

“This has included early market engagement, a formal open tender process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, and detailed discussions with organisations that expressed an interest in operating the service,” Wyre Council said.

However, the council said there was not currently a “financially viable and deliverable proposal that would allow the service to continue beyond the current contract”.

“We recognise the ferry is an important part of daily life for many residents, businesses, and visitors.”

Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North & Fleetwood and Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster & Wyre, shared a joint statement regarding the closure of the 600-metre crossing.

Describing how “deeply concerned and disappointed” they were over the outcome, the MPs wrote: “The Fleetwood–Knott End ferry is a valued and much‑loved service, relied upon by communities on both sides of the river.

“We strongly urge both councils to come together as a matter of urgency and prioritise finding a swift and sustainable solution.”

The service currently costs £2.50 per person one-way, with additional fees for those travelling with bikes and dogs.

The Sun has reached out to Wyre Marine Services for comment.

And a century-old ferry service based out of a popular seaside town recently plunged into liquidation.

NEW YORK — In his first 100 days in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has governed with a star power unusual in politics.

Crowds of supporters show up to his news conferences. Basic municipal services have been infused with newfound excitement. Celebrities help him promote his agenda.

In the process, he’s been able to notch a few notable early wins. And he’s reached a detente, at least for now, with President Trump, a mercurial leader with an affinity for celebrities.

But as Mamdani, a Democrat, marks an early milestone in his mayoralty, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to leverage his fame into achieving the progressive policy proposals that propelled him to office.

Though he still has staunch critics, many of whom still view his past criticisms of the police department and Israel as major problems, Mamdani has been able to ease concerns among at least some skeptics.

“It’s early but so far, so good,” said Jay Jacobs, chair of the state’s Democratic Party, who made waves for not endorsing Mamdani during the election. “We may not agree on everything philosophically, but he is getting the job done.”

‘The biggest needs and the smallest needs’

As the mayor approached his 100th day — long a benchmark for judging an administration’s opening vision — his team has moved to highlight the administration’s commitment to the everyday responsibilities of the job.

While much of those duties are typical for his local office — picking up trash, plowing snow and filling potholes — the 34-year-old mayor has leaned on his knack for viral content creation to drive interest and awareness of government programs.

To hype up his child-care program for 2-year-olds, Mamdani recruited Cardi B to help judge a jingle contest that will determine the initiative’s theme song. His slick social media videos helped recruit thousands of new snow shovelers as a storm bore down on the city. A public service announcement he made brought more than 50,000 new subscribers to the city’s emergency alert system in a single week.

A few weeks ago, alongside Natasha Cloud of the New York Liberty, Mamdani announced a bracket-style competition in which people could vote on small projects for him to come and personally fix on his 100th day.

On Friday, Mamdani selected a winner — a garbage-filled lot in the Bronx — and helped pick up some of the junk with a sanitation crew, following a celebratory event that featured an overflowing trash can mascot and a cheerleading squad.

“I think every single day it’s an opportunity to meet the needs of New Yorkers,” he said. “And what we’ve seen over the course of this 100 days is that New York City wants to see a city government that is able to meet the biggest needs and the smallest needs.”

The celebrity status, though, can also prompt backlash. During a bitter cold snap, his surprise appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” was seen by some as insensitive at a moment when the death toll of homeless New Yorkers was rapidly rising.

“Too much styling and profiling,” said Curtis Sliwa, a Republican who ran against Mamdani during last year’s election, noting longstanding problems with street homelessness, public housing and infrastructure.

Still, Sliwa, who hammered Mamdani during the campaign but recently appeared in a comedy skit with the mayor during the City Hall press corps’ annual roast, appeared to give Mamdani some credit, even if it came with a caveat.

“We just had Eric Adams, swagger man who’d party to the break of dawn, and now we have a guy who seems like he’s got a normal working schedule,” said Sliwa, referencing the city’s previous mayor. “So having Zohran as the alternative, I think for a lot of people even if they disagree with him, there’s some stability.”

Still a star among supporters

On the night of Mamdani’s election party, hundreds packed the streets, some spontaneously, waiting for a glimpse of the mayor-elect leaving the venue. Departing campaign aides were cheered, by name, well after midnight. One attendee likened the street party to Beatlemania.

“I feel like I’m at a presidential inauguration,” said Medhavie Agnihotri, a 25-year-old tech consultant. “This is the first time in a while I’ve felt this hope.”

His star power has not appeared to wane since then.

Outside City Hall, New Yorkers and tourists frequently stop for selfies, peering through the iron gates in search of the mayor.

This week, on the mayor’s 97th day in office, a crowd gathered in the lobby of the busy Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan to watch as Mamdani announced the city would start transferring Rikers Island jail detainees with serious medical illnesses to a specialized unit at the hospital.

He entered to woos and applause from the onlookers, as many held up cellphones to record videos of the mayor. Dozens more watched along from a set of elevated walkways.

One man, Ricardo Granados, a 67-year-old retiree, was on his way to take his son to a medical appointment but stopped to see what all the hubbub was about just before the news conference started. He appeared delighted to learn the mayor was going to show up, saying he met Mamdani previously when the mayor was campaigning in his neighborhood.

“I’m extremely fond of him. I think he’s going to make a real difference,” Granados said. “He wants to find out who needs what and he wants to help.”

Izaguirre writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Jake Offenhartz contributed to this report.

SEOUL, April 8 (UPI) — North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles on two separate occasions Wednesday, Seoul’s military said, marking three launches over two days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over a drone incursion.

At 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, the North launched several short-range ballistic missiles from its coastal Wonsan area toward the East Sea, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters.

The missiles flew approximately 150 miles, the JCS said, adding that South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing their exact specifications.

“Under a steadfast South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, the military is closely monitoring North Korea’s various movements and maintaining the capability and readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocation,” the JCS said.

North Korea later fired a single short-range ballistic missile from Wonsan toward the East Sea at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, the JCS said in a separate message. The missile flew approximately 435 miles.

The launches came one day after the South’s military detected an unidentified projectile fired from the Pyongyang area. The JCS said South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials are still analyzing its detailed specifications.

Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said it detected both days’ launches and was consulting with regional allies and partners.

“Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies,” the command said in a statement.

The launches came after a statement by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, describing President Lee as “frank and broad-minded” after he expressed regret over unauthorized drone incursions into the North.

Lee had addressed the drone issue earlier Monday during a Cabinet meeting, following last week’s indictment of three individuals accused of carrying out incursions between September and January.

“Although this was not an act by our government, I express regret to the North Korean side over the unnecessary military tension caused by such reckless behavior,” Lee said during the meeting.

While Kim’s remarks struck a less hostile tone than recent statements from Pyongyang, she still included a warning to the South to “stop any reckless provocation against the DPRK” and to “refrain from any attempt at contact.”

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

North Korea’s first vice foreign minister, Jang Kum Chol, later dismissed Seoul’s positive interpretation of the remarks, calling them a “hope-filled dream reading.”

In a statement released late Tuesday and carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, Jang said that the South’s identity as “the enemy state most hostile to the DPRK can never change with any words or conduct by its chief executive.”

Victor Cha, president of the geopolitics and foreign policy department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cautioned against reading into the timing of the launches relative to Kim’s drone statement.

“I’m more and more of the view that the recent missile demonstrations we’ve seen by North Korea are not testing and they’re not political statements — they’re exercising,” Cha told UPI during a press briefing at the Asan Plenum policy forum in Seoul.

“I don’t think [North Korea] had any notion of when the South Koreans were going to convey communications on the drone activity,” Cha said. “If anything, these [launches] just happened to be on parallel tracks.”

North Korea last fired ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on March 14 as the United States and South Korea held their annual springtime joint military exercise. Pyongyang later said the launches were part of a firepower strike drill involving 600mm multiple rocket launchers overseen by Kim Jong Un.

I’m A Celebrity South Africa viewers think they already know the final three for the 2026 spin-off weeks before it airs after scenes during Tuesday’s episode of the ITV series

Viewers tuning into I’m A Celebrity South Africa think they already know which three campmates will be this year’s finalists.

Proceedings kicked off on Monday night on ITV1, as hosts Ant and Dec greeted the brand new cast of the spin-off series. On Tuesday, the second episode saw three campmates in particular proving popular.

As Seann Walsh, Adam Thomas and Beverley Callard got on with things in the basic camp, they were in hysterics over more than one discussion. The hilarious scenes left fans amused, loving the trio “they didn’t know they needed”.

Fans quickly predicted the three stars would go all the way to the final together, and one of them will win the whole series. Despite both Gemma Collins and Scarlett Moffatt being predicted winners, many fans now think Seann, Adam and Bev will be the final three.

READ MORE: I’m A Celebrity star ‘to quit’ days into new series as fans ‘rumble’ early exitREAD MORE: I’m A Celeb’s Gemma Collins’ powerful statement as she enters camp for second time

One fan said: “Adam and Beverley running the game and it’s only the first day! Oh I need them in the final two!” Another fan said: “Beverley Callard, Adam Thomas & Seann Walsh – the trio I never knew I needed in my life.”

A third fan said: “Bev, Adam and Seann are TV gold. I don’t care about anyone else on this series as long I have these three.” A fourth said: “Just show us Sean, Bev and Adam for 3 weeks because they are GOLD.”

It comes as viewers predicted that one campmate will quit very soon. Gemma Collins made a brief debut on Monday before officially taking part on Tuesday, but the last time she did the series, she left after just 72 hours.

Now, fans are predicting yet another early exit very soon on the series as it continues. Gemma is tipped “not to last” by viewers, while many are excited to see her take part.

A fan said: “Let’s take bets on how long Gemma Collins will last!! I’ll be surprised if she makes it till the end of tomorrow nights episode.” Another agreed: “First boot hopefully, maybe 3 days again.”

A third viewer said: “I do think she may quit again, but maybe after a few days this time.” Others were just thrilled to see a glimpse of her appearance after having to wait the entire first episode, which she did not feature in much at all.

One fan said: “We watched an hour and a half to see 3 seconds of Gemma,” as another wrote: “I’m only here for Gemma and Scarlett.” A further post said: “Gemma Collins is going to save this series!”

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa airs every night at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .