Seoul – Shekinah Yawra had no other option but to spend the night at a South Korean jjimjilbang, a 24-hour bathhouse, after every hotel near central Seoul sold out in late March.
But sleep was secondary for the 32-year-old Filipino who had made her way to Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square at 7am to secure a spot in a crowd that city officials estimated would grow to hundreds of thousands.
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All this was for a glimpse at the seven-member K-pop supergroup BTS, who returned to the stage on March 21 after almost four years away from the limelight for their staggered, mandatory military service.
Though she failed to secure one of 22,000 free tickets for BTS’s first return concert in the square, Yawra was still ecstatic to stand on the sidelines and watch the concert live on a big screen set up for the occasion.
“We all came just for this,” she told Al Jazeera, recounting how friends had flown in from the Philippines for a single night to catch the concert.
Worldwide, more than 18.4 million viewers tuned in for the Netflix livestream of the concert.
Kpop group BTS perform during ‘BTS The Comeback Live Arirang’ concert in central Seoul, South Korea, March 21, 2026 [Kim Hong-ji/Pool/Reuters]
With an estimated 30 million fans worldwide – who refer to themselves as the BTS ARMY – the K-pop group is the most visible symbol of “Hallyu”, or the “Korean Wave”, and the global surge of interest in South Korean popular culture and the financial revenues being generated as a result.
In late March, BTS’s 10th studio album, Arirang, topped the charts in the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom, the world’s three largest music markets. The group’s upcoming world tour is expected to generate more than $1.4bn in revenue across more than 80 shows in 23 countries.
Domestically, inbound tourist numbers for the first 18 days of March rose 32.7 percent from the previous month, according to Ministry of Justice data, as the return concert approached and hotel prices surged across central Seoul amid the demand for rooms.
In the week leading up to the concert, sales of BTS merchandise – from BTS glow sticks to blankets – surged 430 percent at the Shinsegae Duty Free retail outlet in central Seoul, the company said.
Over the concert weekend, revenues also rose 30 percent at the city’s Lotte Department Store and 48 percent at Shinsegae overall, compared with the same March weekend a year earlier, in 2025.
Fans cheer before the BTS The Comeback Live Arirang concert as they wait near the concert venue, in central Seoul, South Korea, on March 21, 2026 [Kim Hong-ji/Reuters]
As far back as 2022, the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute (KCTI) – a government-sponsored think tank and research organisation – estimated that a single BTS concert in Seoul could generate up to 1.2 trillion won ($798m) in overall economic impact.
KCTI researcher Yang Ji-hoon told Al Jazeera that a sample study of the crowd at the BTS comeback event at Gwanghwamun Square highlighted the uniqueness of fandom-driven tourism. More than half of those at the concert were foreign visitors and many required long-haul travel to attend.
“In Europe and the United States, travel tends to be concentrated within its own regions,” Yang said.
“So, for people to overcome such travel barriers and come to South Korea, it usually requires more than just ordinary motivation or typical spending – it’s not something that happens easily,” he said.
K-pop’s transition to the global mainstream
The scale of BTS’s return to the entertainment world reflects a broader state-backed strategy.
When music promoter Hybe requested Seoul city support for the Gwanghwamun square comeback concert, authorities approved it on public-interest grounds, treating the event as a showcase of national cultural influence.
Almost befitting an official event, more than 10,000 state personnel were deployed for security, logistics and crowd control.
According to data retrieved by South Korean publication Sisain, through a public information disclosure request to the Seoul government, close to 130 million won ($87,400) of city funds were spent as part of logistics for the comeback concert.
South Korean government support for BTS has a precedent.
As members of the boyband approached South Korea’s mandatory military service age, policymakers debated special exemptions for members of BTS, which was estimated to have generated $4.65bn annually to the country’s economy.
After BTS’s forthcoming concerts in Mexico City sold out in just 37 minutes, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung to “bring the acclaimed K-pop artists more often”, noting nearly one million fans in Mexico had attempted to secure 150,000 tickets.
South Korea’s cultural influence is also extending beyond music.
South Korea’s cosmetics exports surpassed $11bn last year, according to global accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), overtaking France in cosmetics shipments to the US, while South Korean food and agricultural exports reached a record $13.6bn, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
KCTI researcher Yang described the growing interest as a phase of “transition to the global mainstream”, where South Korean products are internationally recognised and content output is measured against worldwide benchmarks such as the Billboard charts and the Academy Awards.
He also warned that structural reform is now essential to keep pace with the wave of interest in South Korea.
“As the industries expand in scale, they must also evolve in its underlying systems, infrastructure, and workforce,” he said.
“Rather than focusing solely on direct financial support, future governmental policies should move toward strengthening foundational conditions – such as improving labour environments, addressing unfair practices, building relevant infrastructure, and establishing more robust statistical and data systems,” he said.
Politicians appear to be paying attention.
During his election campaign last year, President Lee framed the next phase of cultural expansion as “Hallyu (Korean Wave) 4.0”, with promises to grow the sector into a 300 trillion won ($203bn) industry with 50 trillion won ($34bn) in exports.
In line with this vision, the government set the budget to bolster “K-content”, support the “pure” arts sector and strengthen the overall culture-related fields at a record 9.6 trillion won ($6.5bn) — reflecting the president’s view of the cultural sector as a strategic national industry rather than merely a consumer market.
South Korea’s strategy appears to be paying off.
South Korea now ranks 11th globally in “soft power”, according to Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Index, placing the country as both “influential in arts and entertainment” and “products and brands the world loves”, just behind the US, France, the United Kingdom and Japan.
The darker side of K-pop: Pressure to become a perfect idol
Amid its global success, the darker side of the K-culture industry has received more scrutiny.
Mega-promoter Hybe has been embroiled in a prolonged dispute with K-pop’s New Jeans, a band considered to be a potential heir to BTS and their all-female colleagues Blackpink. The highly public legal dispute that started in 2024 highlights industry tensions over creative control and artist autonomy.
Since the early 2000s, K-pop has also grappled with the legacy of “slave contracts”, or highly restrictive agreements limiting artists’ freedom. Although reforms by the Fair Trade Commission have improved protections for performers, contractual obligations in the K-pop industry are exacting on new performers and their strict work routines have long been documented.
From their trainee years, aspiring idols endure gruelling schedules that involve long workdays and little sleep.
Many top stars often face contractual restrictions on socialising, using their phones or dating. They are also typically limited in what they can say publicly, relying on agency-managed messaging to communicate with fans and the media.
While the rise of social media and other online platforms has opened new avenues for more direct expression and interaction in recent years, concerns over burnout and depression have continued to shadow the industry, with several high-profile stars taking their own lives.
Beauty standards associated with the K-culture genre have also become another flashpoint for controversy.
A 2024 report by South Korean economy news site Uppity found 98 percent of 1,283 respondents born between 1980 and 2000 viewed physical appearance as among the most desirable “social capital” an individual can possess.
Nearly 40 percent of respondents in the survey had undergone cosmetic procedures, while more than 90 percent held neutral or positive attitudes regarding undergoing medical procedures to enhance beauty.
According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, South Korea has the world’s highest rate of procedures, with 8.9 per 1,000 people compared with 5.91 per 1,000 people in the US and just 2.13 per 1,000 in neighbouring Japan.
Yoo Seung-chul, a professor of media studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said that K-culture has reinforced the normalising of beauty as a significant metric of personal and social value.
“K-culture has reinforced systems and structures around self-expression,” Yoo told Al Jazeera.
“With the rise of webtoons that incorporate themes like plastic surgery, there has been a noticeable reduction in the stigma towards going under the knife among younger audiences in their teens and early twenties,” Yoo said, explaining that popular plastic surgery platforms such as Unni have further normalised the trend by connecting people to clinics and reviews of these clinics and their surgeons.
At the same time, globalisation has reshaped the K-culture industry itself. Many new K-pop acts now include international members to broaden appeal.
Hybe has expanded this strategy through its US subsidiary, Hybe America, producing globally oriented groups like Katseye, which only has one South Korean member in its six-member girl group.
The shift has prompted debate.
Even BTS’s latest album Arirang – a nod to South Korea’s most iconic folk song – has divided fans over its use of English lyrics and foreign producers.
“K-content is being designed with global audiences in mind from the outset. In film, there has been a noticeable rise in genres like horror and science fiction, which are easier to export internationally,” Yoo said.
“This global orientation is also reflected in K-pop agencies recruiting foreign members for idol groups,” he said.
But international audiences do not always prefer highly globalised versions of Korean content, Yoo said, adding, in fact, that many are drawn to K-pop’s “sense of locality”.
As audiences increasingly seek authenticity, Yoo argues the industry faces a defining challenge.
“Industries and companies need to figure out how to preserve a sense of local identity while effectively marketing to global audiences,” Yoo added.
“Striking that balance will be crucial in shaping the next phase of Korea’s cultural exports.”
The longest sea crossing connects three major cities
14:54, 27 Apr 2026Updated 14:54, 27 Apr 2026
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the longest ever sea crossing on record(Image: CHUNYIP WONG via Getty Images)
Stretching 34 miles across the Pearl River Delta, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge holds the record as the longest sea crossing ever constructed, connecting the southern Chinese cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. The 55km structure took nine years to build at a cost of approximately £15bn.
It has dramatically cut journey times between the three cities, transforming what was once an hour-long ferry trip into a drive of roughly 40 minutes. The bridge forms part of a broader initiative to strengthen transport links across the Greater Bay Area, a region the Chinese government is nurturing into a major economic powerhouse.
By connecting Hong Kong and Macau more directly with cities in Guangdong province, the crossing is designed to boost trade and movement throughout the region. Its construction incorporates several key elements, including a series of long-span bridges, man-made islands and connecting roads.
The main section features three navigation channel bridges – Jiuzhou, Jianghai and Qingzhou.
This was constructed to permit large vessels to pass through one of China’s most heavily trafficked shipping zones.
Engineers were required to contend with challenging conditions, including regular typhoons and a demanding marine environment, reports the Express.
The bridge employs single-column piers embedded in the seabed to minimise disruption to water flow and reduce the impact on local wildlife, including the Chinese white dolphin.
The three principal bridges feature cable-supported structures, each boasting a distinctive tower design.
These were designed to provide the crossing with a uniform yet diverse aesthetic, especially considering its prominence from land, sea and air.
The Jiuzhou Bridge maintains its original sail-shaped towers after modifications during the detailed design stage.
Engineering consultancy Arup played a role in various aspects of the scheme, including preliminary design work, artificial island construction and significant road and tunnel connections on the Hong Kong and Macau sides.
Further infrastructure associated with the crossing encompasses boundary crossing facilities and links such as the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, assisting in incorporating the bridge into the broader transport network.
Since its inauguration, the bridge has emerged as a vital route within the region’s transport infrastructure, demonstrating both the magnitude of China’s infrastructure objectives and the practical requirement for quicker links between its major urban centres.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As President Bush was out promoting his stalled plan to allow drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge, the leader of a Senate committee said Wednesday that he would try a new strategy to navigate the proposal through Congress.
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) said he would add into a budget bill a measure to allow companies to drill for oil and gas in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Because Senate rules treat the budget measure differently from other legislation, successfully attaching the drilling provision to it means it could pass with support from 51 senators. That would end opponents’ chances to block the drilling measure with a filibuster. A filibuster would force supporters to find 60 votes.
In 2003, Senate Democrats and several Republicans blocked a proposal for drilling in the refuge by a vote of 52 to 48. The GOP has gained four seats in the Senate since then, giving them 55.
Traveling to Ohio, Bush toured a technology development institute and made his first major speech on energy in his second term, calling on Congress to adopt his energy policy.
“We have had four years of debate about a national energy bill,” Bush said. “Now is the time to get the job done.”
The president called for greater reliance on coal and nuclear power, as well as for greater efforts at conservation and the modernization of the energy infrastructure. He said the U.S. could achieve all of that while remaining a good steward of the environment.
The energy bill before Congress includes a number of politically popular features, such as requiring greater use of ethanol, an alternative fuel made from corn. It also has measures that supporters say would strengthen the nation’s electric grids and prevent fuel shortages and price spikes, such as those that occurred during California’s electricity crisis in 2000 and 2001.
Bush’s speech comes at a time when gas prices have been rising — to an average of nearly $2 per gallon nationwide as of Monday, according to Energy Department figures. Retail prices on average are 26 cents higher than at this time last year. Prices in California are nearly $2.23 on average.
The president said that “higher prices at the gas pump and rising home heating bills and the possibility of blackout are legitimate concerns for all Americans. And all these uncertainties about energy supply are a drag on our economy…. To meet America’s energy needs in the 21st century, we need a comprehensive national energy policy.”
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters that Bush remained opposed to tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a way to increase supply and cut prices. Some Democrats have called for releasing oil from the reserve, which they say could be replaced after prices decline.
Speaking about plans to drill in the Arctic refuge, Bush said the Department of Energy believed the effort would yield 10 billion barrels from “a small corner” of the reserve — “just 2,000 acres,” or roughly the size of the airport here in Ohio’s capital. By using innovative techniques, he said, such development would have “almost no impact” on the land or local wildlife.
He noted that no nuclear power plant had been ordered since the 1970s, and declared: “It’s time to start building again,” adding that decades of experience and advances had proven the reliability and security of nuclear power.
Bush, whose environmental policies have been condemned by groups such as the Sierra Club, renewed his push for energy legislation just as Congress was preparing to take up one of his most controversial initiatives: opening a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration.
“The votes are extremely close,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said. He called Gregg’s maneuver to attach the drilling approval to the budget bill an aberration of the budget process.
By contrast, Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, welcomed Gregg’s approach. He told the Budget Committee, of which he is also a member, that “the cleanest energy development in the world” was proceeding in the North Slope, near the Arctic reserve.
Energy legislation has been one of Bush’s priorities virtually from the day he took office, during the California energy crisis. An energy bill that included measures to promote conservation and production passed the House in 2003, but fell two votes short of overcoming a filibuster in the Senate.
A significant hurdle to passage of an energy bill is a dispute over whether it should limit manufacturers’ liability in lawsuits over the controversial fuel additive MTBE, or methyl tertiary butyl ether.
Senators from states contaminated by the fuel additive — including California’s Democratic senators and New Hampshire’s Republican senators — have objected to the provision, complaining it could force their taxpayers to pick up the tab for cleaning up the contamination.
But House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, whose home state of Texas has been a big producer of the fuel additive, has insisted on the liability shield.
*
Chen reported from Columbus and Simon from Washington. Times staff writer Joel Havemann in Washington contributed to this report.
BRITNEY Spears has checked herself into rehab after gentle encouragement from her sons.
The Sun understands she resisted going to an inpatient facility for a month following her arrest for driving under the influence at the beginning of March.
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Britney Spears has checked herself into rehab after gentle encouragement from her sonsCredit: APThe singer was arrested last month for driving under the influenceCredit: InstagramBritney has finally sought help after a series of heart to hearts with her sons Preston (left) and Jayden, who have rallied around her following the incidentCredit: Instagram
But Britney has finally sought help after a series of heart to hearts with her sons Preston and Jayden, who have rallied around her following the incident.
The news broke early this morning that she had agreed to receive treatment.
Insiders said Britney decided to attend a placement only if it was away from Los Angeles, as she is so suspicious of medical experts there.
A US source explained: “Britney has had some seriously bad experiences in the past when she’s been at her lowest ebb, and is terrified of anyone taking advantage of her.
“Over the last five weeks, her management team and friends have been trying to persuade her to seek professional help but she expressed deep fears that all facilities in LA were ‘against me’.
“Her deep suspicions about LA’s medical community still stems from her time in the conservatorship controlled by her dad. She always felt that they acted against her will and made her ill.
“However her sons have had several heart to hearts with her in recent days and persuaded her to try somewhere different, out of town, with new experts to assist her.
“Britney has gone to the facility, but has not made any promises about how long her stay will be. Her stay is voluntary so she can check out or walk away whenever she wants.
“Jayden especially has become extremely close to Britney recently and has moved in with her.
“He wants to make sure she is in a good place and mentally strong enough for her court appearance next month.”
Britney was arrested on March 4 after driving erratically and was found to have drugs and alcohol in her system.
The Toxic singer will be told about the extent of charges in court on May 4.
That agreement was terminated in 2021 but it’s not been smooth sailing since then, with erratic social media posts leading many to question her wellbeing.
Britney is said to have checked herself into rehab for substance abuseCredit: InstagramA US source said: ‘Britney has gone to the facility, but has not made any promises about how long her stay will be’Credit: WireImage
The annual national finals for the Drive, Chip and Putt championships will be held Sunday at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club, home of the Masters tournament.
Four players from Southern California qualified: Amber Lee (girls 14-15, San Diego), Audrey Zhang (girls 7-9, Diamond Ranch), Queenie Gao (girls 7-9, Lake Forest) and Vincent Cuevas (boys 10-11, Chino Hills).
More than 22,000 kids are Youth on Course members with access to 134 golf courses in Southern California.
Regional competitions led to Sunday’s championships.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
IT has felt like the longest-running showbiz break-up of all time.
Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne have been on and off, and on ‘make or break’ holidays, countless times in their eight-year marriage. But last night we revealed they’ve split again, with friends insisting the EastEnders star has finally accepted there’s no future. Now insiders have revealed what is really going on behind closed doors.
I revealed Dan Osborne and Jacqueline Jossa have ended their relationshipCredit: InstagramJacqueline has endured heartache through her determination to make the marriage workCredit: RP/CLICK NEWS AND MEDIAThey remain dedicated parents to their two daughtersCredit: Instagram
Source insists: “They don’t want to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing it hasn’t worked.
“They’ve always tried their utmost to play happy families, no matter what’s going on behind closed doors.”
That’s because the role of Dan‘s wife will be a tough one to leave behind for the actress who has always protected the ex-Towie star – even if it meant she was cruelly labelled a “doormat” by trolls.
While the mum of two hasn’t put a foot wrong throughout their 13-year relationship, time and time again she’s been embarrassed by cheating scandals and crisis talks.
Now I can reveal why 33-year-old Jacqueline has stood by her man for far longer than many others would have been able to suffer.
On-screen as Albert Square’s bolshy Lauren Branning, she’s seen her womanising dad Max (played by Jake Wood) bed more than 20 women – often in lurid affairs, including his own son’s fiancée.
But away from the scripted soap, Jacqueline is the product of a long-lasting marriage, with her mum, Selina and dad John Jossa celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary last year.
But it’s been far from smooth sailing despite their enduring marriage.
Two years after joining EastEnders at 17, Jacqueline “wept” as her dad John, then 58, was jailed for four years at the Old Bailey for stealing nearly £500,000 of taxpayers’ money.
Just like her mum, who stood by her husband, Jacqueline also remained loyal to Dan when he was sacked from The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 after allegedly threatening his ex-girlfriend Megan, and claiming she was “his property”, when Jacqueline was pregnant with their first daughter, Ella.
Jacqueline only spoke out about the alleged incident once, in which she said she had reprimanded him and would “never fully forgive him”, while Dan admitted: “I mean I said stupid things, I take full responsibility of it and you learn from your mistakes.”
I’m told Jacqueline looks up to both her parents, especially her mum.
In 2014, she credited her mum as her idol, saying, “She’s not just the strongest woman but the strongest person I know. She does everything for our family. Everything”.
A driving energy for Jacqueline to protect the marriage came from her own parents’ livesCredit: InstagramJacqueline with her mum SelinaCredit: jacjossa/InstagramJohn and Selina Jossa have been married for 45 yearsCredit: TikTok/@selinajossa
Crucially, Selina has taught her that you have to fight to save a marriage – after suffering her fair share of ups and downs throughout her 45-year relationship.
So when Jacqueline said “until death do us part” in her vows to Dan, she meant it.
Like she’s been loyal to EastEnders – being cast as a teenager and returning five years later after taking a break to have a family – Jacqueline has stood by Dan throughout the darkest of times.
She has also kept their marriage problems as private as possible.
Her mum, however, has sometimes seemingly hinted at a strained relationship with her son-in-law.
When the marriage had hit the rocks in previous years, Selina had gone so far as to unfollow Dan on social media.
If she’s happy, we’re happy. We’ll always be there for Jac no matter what anyway.
Mum Selina
Commenting in 2019, when Jaqueline appeared on I’m A Celebrity, Jacqueline’s sister Katrina cautiously told OK!: “We don’t get involved in their relationship, but we’re happy if Jacqueline is happy. Everything seems great at the moment.”
While Selina added: “If she’s happy, we’re happy. We’ll always be there for Jac no matter what anyway.”
‘Quietly quitting’
I believe Jacqueline has recently found herself again after returning to EastEnders.
Five years away, bringing up her family meant she understandably became more reliant on Dan.
But she is living a much more independent, free and happy life, knowing her worth.
Living separate lives recently has given Jacqueline the space she needs while in a positive mindset to work out her future.
It’s claimed former Towie star Dan moved out permanently last month into the house he was said to have bought behind Jac’s back in 2024.
His “secret” Essex pad came to light after the on-off couple announced last March that they had split. The following month, they appeared to rekindle their marriage on a “make or break” family holiday to Mexico.
In a surprise plot twist, friends say Dan has experienced doubts about going through with thedivorce— but Jacqueline stood her ground.
Jacqueline stood her ground after making her decisionCredit: Louis Wood
A source close to Dan told The Sun last night: “Everyone knows they’ve had their troubles, but after spending some time apart this year, they’ve decided to make the split permanent.
“Their two daughters are their main priority.”
In recent weeks, the couple had unfollowed each other on social media.
However, when approached by The Sun about their marriage ending, the pair re-followed one another.
Jac’s pal said: “It feels too good to be true that she’s finally seen the light, but they’ve both been telling friends it’s over.
“It seemed impossible, but she’s starting to accept not being Dan’s wife and just Jacqueline.
“Her confidence has come flooding back and she’s happier than she’s been in a long time. Jacqueline’s also throwing herself in to work and enjoying every moment being the best mum she can be.
“Life is short — she’s determined not to waste it.”
Jacqueline might not be ready to share with the world that it’s over with Dan, but she’s been “quietly quitting” the marriage over the last few months – and friends hope this time, she’ll finally go through with it.
The actress with her two daughters Mia and EllaCredit: TRIPadvisorWriter Amanda, left with Jacqueline, right, says the sap star is living a much more independent life now.
TRAVELLING by car over the Easter break can be a challenge.
As Brits across the nation hit the road to enjoy the school holiday, traffic can reach a peak – and so can frustration.
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Although you can’t control potential jams, planning your route and choosing the best time to travel, as well as getting your car and the kids prepared beforehand, can help smooth out bumps along the way.
Run through the checklist below to help reduce last-minute mayhem, costly breakdowns and tears on long journeys.
Follow National Highways’ T.R.I.P. tips for hassle-free motoring.
Safe T.R.I.P. Checks
The most essential hack for a smooth ride is to make sure your car is ready for the road before leaving your driveway.
Taking a bit of time in the days leading up to your journey can potentially save hours of hassle and significant costs if your vehicle were to break down.
The checks every driver needs to perform are easy to remember with T.R.I.P.:
TOP UP your fuel or battery charge, oil and screen wash
REST with planned stops every two hours for at least 15 minutes
INSPECT tyre pressure and tread before setting out, to make sure you can drive safely. See how
PREPARE for all weather conditions
Running out of fuel and tyre issues are among the top causes of breakdowns and incidents on roads.
Taking the right precautions will help you get to your Easter break safely and on time – and the good news is that they only take a few minutes to complete.
For help with performing Safe T.R.I.P. Checks, head to the National Highways website for everything you need to get them right, including some handy how-to videos.
Care necessities
After ticking off your Safe T.R.I.P. Checks list, it’s time to make sure you have all your travel essentials to hand.
It might feel like you’re packing for a week on safari, but being prepared for any eventuality means you can enjoy your journey with less stress.
As well as the kids’ snacks and activities, keep coats handy even if the weather looks fine.
Other helpful kit includes travel pillows and blankets, a travel potty for little ones and a first aid kit.
Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must because car windows don’t fully protect us from UV rays and there may be glare from the sun.
If you’re travelling with more than one child, headphones can be a godsend, while a power bank will make sure they don’t run out of juice.
Finally, to keep things clean and tidy, think about packing a seat organiser, a carrier bag for rubbish, a change of clothes in case of accidents and a pack of wet wipes.
Break it up
Make sure the driver doesn’t get tired. As well as planned stops to give everyone the chance to stretch their legs, this means getting a good rest the night before.
When planning your journey, allow enough time for those breaks. Aim to stop every two hours for at least 15 minutes.
As a guide, a baby shouldn’t be in a car seat for longer than two hours at a stretch, while newborns and premature babies need a break every half hour.
Before heading out, try looking for rest spots on your route that will make the journey more interesting.
Twenty minutes at a farm shop, café or garden centre can be a great alternative to a service station.
Snack attack
There’s nothing worse than being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic with a gaggle of hungry kids on board. So make sure you have plenty of goodies to tide them over.
As well as treats, try to include some healthy choices so you don’t have to deal with a sugar crash.
Avoid grapes, which could be a choking hazard, and anything that could trigger car sickness such as greasy or rich foods and dairy products.
It’s important to bring plenty of water, especially on a warm day, so replenish those refillable bottles before hitting the road.
Play time
Entertainment and games on your journey will make getting there part of the fun.
Try trusted favourites like I-spy, 20 Questions or the Alphabet Game, listen to music or audiobooks, or download a film onto the kids’ devices before you leave home.
Sticker books or reusable window stickers are also a winner, while older children will enjoy car-friendly board and card games, like magnetic Ludo or Monopoly Deal.
Visit National Highways to learn more and get ready to have a safe T.R.I.P.
Gaza City – In front of a toy stall in Gaza City’s central al-Rimal market, Rania al-Saudi stands with her two young daughters, looking bewildered at the unusually high prices of toys.
Al-Saudi had promised her daughters she would buy them two dolls to celebrate Eid, but the exorbitant toy prices mean she simply can’t afford them.
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Her elder daughter, six-year-old Razan, didn’t understand her mother’s worried expressions as Rania asked the vendor for the price of each toy. With every price, Rania gasped and said, “Oh my God, it’s so expensive… this used to be much cheaper.”
Faced with her daughter’s insistence, Rania pleaded with the vendor to lower the prices, but he apologised, saying he could not because getting hold of toys to sell was incredibly difficult, considering Israeli restrictions on importing items into Gaza.
Rania was not alone. Other parents and children repeatedly came to the vendor’s stall to ask about toys, but not one of them made a purchase. In Gaza’s current war-driven economic crisis, the prices are simply unaffordable.
Rania, 43, is originally from Shujayea in eastern Gaza, but has been displaced by the war to the west of the city. She told Al Jazeera that she came looking for toys in an attempt to put smiles on her daughters’ faces before the holiday, but her wish was not fulfilled.
“The prices are extremely high, and the vendors tell us that toys have not entered Gaza since the start of the war. But what did our children do to deserve this?”
Rania recalled the many toys her daughters had in their home before it was destroyed, and how she used to make sure they had toys for every occasion and every holiday.
“Eid holidays are for children’s joy, and children are happy with toys and entertainment. But our children are deprived of everything.”
While speaking to Al Jazeera, Rania tried to calm her daughter Lulwa, who had begun to cry after realising from her mother’s words that she would not get the doll she wanted.
“This doll used to cost no more than 15 shekels ($5) before the war; now it costs 60 shekels ($20),” she said to Al Jazeera, frustrated. “This is something I cannot afford. Everything is expensive and overpriced.”
Rania’s voice grew heavier as she explained that she was unable to even buy new Eid clothes for her daughters – a tradition across the Muslim world – due to the high prices.
“My daughters will not be happy this Eid. I wanted to compensate by getting them dolls, but even that is impossible.”
Toys have been in short supply during the war, which began in October 2023, with bombing and displacement meaning that most children either had their toys destroyed, lost, or left behind. Rania says that her children have been bored, and have had to develop their own ways of playing.
“All the children in the camp face the same situation, so they spend their time playing simple street games like hopscotch, hide-and-seek, or drawing in the sand,” she said.
“But my daughters always wished for a doll. I once tried to make one for them, but they didn’t like it.”
Israel restricts the entry of many non-essential goods into Gaza, including toys [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]
Rising prices and market impact
Toy sellers say they are not to blame for the high prices.
Anwar al-Huwaity has been in the business for 20 years. He told Al Jazeera that his stall is still operating despite Israel’s devastation of Gaza, but that business has become extremely difficult.
“Before the war, toys were widely available,” Anwar said. “Today, we go from one trader to another, searching. Sometimes we find toys with someone who had them stored, but they sell it at a very high price, up to three times its normal price.”
He added that most toys that now reach Gaza do not enter through official crossings, but in limited quantities via unofficial routes, making them very difficult to obtain.
The cost of bringing toys into Gaza has become extremely high. Anwar said some middlemen demand up to 12,000 shekels ($3,870) for a small shipment, and if it is confiscated or destroyed, the loss falls entirely on the trader.
“We buy merchandise at high prices, so we have to sell it at high prices as well,” Anwar said apologetically.
Anwar said that toys were now up to 300 percent more expensive compared to pre-war prices. The holiday season, the main income generator for toy sellers, used to bring in between $6,500 and $10,000, he explained. Now, he’d be lucky to sell $1,000 of stock – and most of that is bulk sales to other traders, rather than regular customers.
Anwar may be a businessman, but he shared that the hardest part of his job was seeing children ask for toys that their parents cannot afford.
“Many parents can’t buy toys due to the economic situation. People are barely able to secure food,” he said.
Anwar’s job has gone from providing children joy, to seeing them disappointed.
“I have started hating my workday because I know the prices are exorbitant, and when the children and families see the toys, they get upset, especially during the holidays.”
“People come to buy toys and beg me to lower the price,” he said. “They say, ‘This child is an orphan, that child is an orphan … his parents were killed in the war’. It feels like all children in Gaza have become orphans.”
Toy sellers say they are forced to pass on high prices to customers [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]
Restrictions on recreational goods during the Gaza war
Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October 2023, trade has been heavily restricted due to the closure of commercial crossings by Israel, especially Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom), the main entry point for goods into Gaza from Israel.
Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza in 2023, and again for several months in 2025, leading to the declaration of a famine in northern Gaza.
Conditions have improved since a “ceasefire” was declared in October, but Israel is continuing regular strikes – and continuing to heavily restrict the entry of non-essential commercial goods, including toys and recreational materials.
Although no official law or declaration explicitly bans toys from entering Gaza, administrative and security restrictions, combined with the prioritisation of humanitarian goods, have effectively made entry of these items almost impossible.
The United Nations has noted that restrictions on commercial goods, including toys, have affected the availability of both essential and non-essential goods in Gaza.
Near Anwar’s toy stall is another run by Ahmed Ziara. The 24-year-old has been selling toys for several years, but the war has forced him to periodically stop trading.
“Before the war, I worked in major toy exhibitions,” Ahmed explained. “Now toys rarely enter, and we often have to smuggle them, sometimes hidden inside clothes or other goods.”
Ahmed confirmed that most of the toys he acquires are old stock already in Gaza, sold at high prices due to scarcity.
He mentioned that popular Eid holiday toys, which were once inexpensive, now cost triple or even quadruple their previous prices: a small toy car that sold for 40 shekels ($13) last year now costs 150 shekels ($48), a small ball that once cost 3 shekels ($1) is now 30 shekels ($10), building blocks are nearly unavailable, and dolls cost more than 70 shekels ($22.50).
“Buying from traders is hard, and selling is hard due to the economic situation,” Ahmed told Al Jazeera.
“Sometimes I have to sell below the expected price just to clear stock, but most of the time we must raise prices due to high costs and difficulty obtaining toys.”
“If conditions improve and toys are allowed in normally, prices will return to normal, and children and families will be able to enjoy the holiday as before,” he said.
“This work is not easy,” he added, contemplating. “Sometimes I sit alone and tell myself what I am doing is unfair because prices are extremely high. But despite everything, we love to bring joy to children, even for a short time.”
It’s the perfect place if you like a combination of adventures and chilling out, taking in the gorgeous scenery.
Portia Jones Senior Journalist and Nicola Roy Multimedia content creator
12:54, 17 Mar 2026
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There are plenty of great pubs and restaurants in the town too(Image: Fine & Country West Wales, Aberystwyth)
A historic market town in the UK is definitely worth a visit this spring, as there’s so much to see and do there. It’s ideal for adventure seekers, and those who just want to walk around, eat good food and chill out.
Tregaron is one of Wales’s oldest market towns. It’s home to independent retailers, coffee shops, and the elegant Y Talbot, a grade II-listed hotel, pub, and restaurant, positioned right in the town square’s centre.
From here, you can embark on an exhilarating road trip along a former drover’s track that showcases hairpin turns through wild terrain.
The Abergwesyn Pass is a 20-mile single-track route stretching from Llanwrtyd Wells to Tregaron. Along this isolated road, you’ll encounter a notorious stretch called “The Devil’s Staircase”, reports Wales Online.
This appropriately named portion of the Abergwesyn Pass features hairpin curves and sharp climbs that aren’t suited to anxious motorists.
For adventurous drivers, you’ll love tackling one of Wales’ most isolated countryside regions, encountering sheep, gnarled trees and rocky formations along the way. It’s extremely steep, reaching a maximum gradient of 20.1%, and cuts through thick woodland towards miles of expansive, barren valleys, providing a descent that will push your brakes to their absolute limits.
Drive carefully and enjoy the scenery as you meander through the wilderness of the Cambrian Mountains, where you could potentially encounter nobody throughout your entire journey. You can also tackle this route by bicycle if your legs are ready for the test.
As well as the Abergwesyn Pass, Soar y Mynydd, Wales’ most isolated chapel, is worth the detour. This modest, whitewashed church was constructed in 1822 to minister to an extremely dispersed community of farmers.
Wandering through this tranquil location, you could easily assume the chapel has been deserted for years. Actually, visiting preachers travel from across Wales to hold services in Welsh.
It’s a serene spot for a picnic, as there’s often nobody else there.
Llyn Brianne Reservoir also deserves a stop to witness an enormous dam. You might be surprised to learn that this striking stone-built dam is Britain’s tallest, rising 91 metres (300 ft) above the River Tywi.
Containing an incredible 64 million cubic metres of water at almost 300 metres (990 ft) above sea level is a remarkable engineering achievement. Building work began in October 1968, with the dam constructed from crushed rock, larger stone, and clay sourced from the surrounding area.
After dark, it becomes a stargazing hotspot in the Cambrian Mountains, making it an excellent location for astrophotography.
Further south, beyond Llyn Brianne reservoir, lies the amazing RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas reserve. The reserve encompasses vital habitats of oak woodland, wet alder woodland, and scrubland, all defined by heavy rainfall and swift-flowing rivers.
These conditions are ideal for woodland birds, whilst also offering the perfect environment for significant lichens and bryophytes. Whether you begin or finish the route at Tregaron, you should make time to discover this small Welsh-speaking town. Here, you’ll discover a livestock market, the Tregaron Red Kite Centre and Museum, and locally sourced food and cask ales in a beautifully converted 16th-century Welsh inn.
Y Talbot is an independently owned hotel and Michelin Guide-listed restaurant with 2 AA Rosettes. This charming boutique hotel radiates a ‘cosy country inn’ atmosphere with its slate floors and inglenooks.
The location is said to be the final resting place of a circus elephant which perished in 1848 and lies beneath what is currently Y Talbot’s beer garden.
The establishment, run by head chef Dafydd, who trained under Marco Pierre White, showcases regional ingredients, including lamb, beef, and cheeses sourced from the Teifi Valley, fish from Milford Haven, and shellfish from Cardigan Bay.
Close by, you’ll also discover a neglected Welsh abbey where princes lie buried. Strata Florida Abbey near Tregaron is a remarkable location in Wales where history, royalty, and spirituality meet.
Established in 1201 by white-robed Cistercian monks, this hallowed ground was formerly among medieval Wales’s most vital religious and cultural hubs.
It also serves as the burial site of numerous Welsh princes, including the renowned Llywelyn the Great, who famously convened a council here to guarantee his son Dafydd’s position as the legitimate successor to the Welsh throne.
The Abbey was established as a major institution serving the indigenous population of Wales and Western Christianity through its affiliation with the pan-European Cistercian Order of Monasteries.
The carved west doorway into the Abbey remains standing in isolation and provides an eternal vista down the nave towards where the high altar formerly stood.
You can still see some of the decorated tiles that would have adorned the church floors, along with elaborate carvings throughout the site.
Members of the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) shout slogans and hold up banners reading ‘Let’s fight for the basic rights of the Workers’ at a rally against the government’s labor policy in Seoul, South Korea, 10 March 2026. Photo by JEON HEON-KYUN / EPA
March 13 (Asia Today) —This commentary is the Asia Today Editor’s Op-Ed.
The atmosphere across industrial workplaces following the implementation of the so-called Yellow Envelope law is far from normal, with growing uncertainty emerging across the labor market.
Within two days of the law taking effect, 453 subcontractor unions representing nearly 98,500 workers filed collective bargaining requests against 248 prime contractor workplaces. With many unions closely watching the situation, the number of bargaining demands is expected to increase sharply once the first successful negotiations occur.
Most companies are struggling to respond effectively to the demands from subcontractor unions. Many firms believe the best course of action is to wait for decisions by the Central Labor Relations Commission and for court precedents to emerge through litigation.
Amid this uncertainty, attention is focusing on the activities of South Korea’s two major labor federations – the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions – which have launched campaigns to expand their influence.
Both organizations view the new law as a major opportunity to increase union membership. With the national unionization rate hovering just above 10%, labor leaders believe the law could help reverse the trend.
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions, which had about 1.2 million members as of 2024, has launched an organizing task force with the goal of expanding its membership to 2 million.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has also set an internal target of reaching 2 million members.
As the two federations compete for leadership within the labor movement, the revised labor law is emerging as a catalyst for organizational expansion. Subcontractor unions with limited bargaining power are increasingly turning to these larger labor groups for support.
The shift is already visible. The labor union at auto parts manufacturer Mando recently voted to rejoin the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Metal Workers’ Union after 14 years.
Union leaders reportedly concluded that joining an industrywide union could help reduce job insecurity, particularly as corporate restructuring has become a potential subject of collective bargaining under the new law.
If even the union at a primary contractor such as Mando has decided to rejoin the federation, the choice for subcontractors, special employment workers and platform laborers with weaker bargaining power appears increasingly clear.
The public sector is also experiencing confusion.
While the government has stated that recognizing employer status in the public sector is generally difficult, President Lee Jae-myung offered a different message, saying the government should serve as a model employer.
As a result, collective bargaining demands are pouring in from outsourced workers and subsidiary employees affiliated with central and local governments as well as public institutions. Many of these public-sector unions are also expected to seek membership in the two major labor federations.
Subcontractor unions backed by the organizational strength and strike guidance of higher-level labor groups are likely to adopt a more aggressive stance in labor disputes.
In particular, the expansion of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions – often criticized by companies for confrontational labor tactics – could undermine the stability of labor-management relations.
For companies operating in a rapidly changing business environment that demands specialization and efficiency, the situation presents growing challenges.
The competitiveness of government agencies and public institutions could also be affected.
If the government truly seeks to protect the livelihoods of citizens, it must prioritize the competitiveness of businesses and the national economy while taking steps to minimize disruption across industrial workplaces.
