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SEOUL, July 3 (UPI) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that his government is working hard to strike a trade deal with the United States on impending tariffs but expressed doubt as to whether talks will be concluded before next week’s deadline.

“It is clear that tariff negotiations are not very easy,” Lee said at a press conference marking his first 30 days in office.

“We need to create a mutually beneficial result that is helpful to both parties, but it has not yet been clearly defined what the two parties want,” he said.

South Korea is facing 25% tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of his sweeping package of “Liberation Day” trade measures. Trump announced the tariffs in April but quickly put their implementation on hold for 90 days — a deadline that is approaching on July 8.

Tariffs on steel and automobiles, two key industries in South Korea, are already in place.

South Korea is seeking an extension on the 90-day pause and sent a delegation to Washington last week to ask for an exemption from all U.S. reciprocal and product-specific tariffs.

Lee said Thursday that it was “difficult to confirm whether we can conclude tariff negotiations by July 8.”

“But I can tell you that we are continuing to work hard,” he said. “We are also exploring many topics for our discussion from various perspectives. I can only say that we will do our best.”

Lee took office last month in a snap election precipitated by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law attempt in December. In his first press conference as president, Lee focused his remarks on restoring economic growth and stabilizing people’s livelihoods.

“The top priority is to relieve the suffering of the people and create a country that grows and leaps forward again,” he said.

Domestic political turmoil and an uncertain trade environment have shaken the export-dependent Asian powerhouse, which saw its economy unexpectedly shrink in the first quarter of the year.

In late May, the Bank of Korea lowered its GDP growth forecast for 2025 from 1.5% in February to 0.8%, citing a slow recovery in domestic demand and the expected impact of U.S. tariffs. At the same time, the central bank cut its benchmark interest rate for the fourth time since October, lowering it by a quarter percentage point to 2.5%.

Since taking office, President Lee has pledged to boost the economy through fiscal stimulus and other policy measures.

Last month, the government announced a second supplementary budget worth more than $14.7 billion, which will include cash handouts, debt relief measures and investments in sectors such as construction and artificial intelligence. The move follows a $10.1 billion package that was previously approved by parliament.

Lee also vowed on Thursday to work toward improving relations with North Korea on a tense Korean Peninsula.

“We will thoroughly prepare for provocations, while resuming severed communications between the South and the North and opening the way for peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation,” he said.

The president pointed to his recent order for the suspension of propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts across the DMZ to North Korea as a positive step. Pyongyang responded by stopping its own loudspeaker blasts of bizarre noises such as metallic screeching and animal sounds.

“As North Korea has recently responded to the government’s preemptive suspension of broadcasts to the North, I believe that a virtuous cycle of peace is possible,” Lee said.

Passengers flying with the likes of Ryanair, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways may want to take note of a clever hack that can help your bag be one of the first on the carousel

Anyone will know that once you’ve navigated airport security, check-in, and a flight, the wait at the baggage carousel after landing at a destination can feel agonisingly slow.

There’s always that little voice in the back of your mind asking if your bag made it at all, and it can be annoying to stand around for ages waiting for your case to finally appear on the carousel.

However, there’s one easy trick that means your suitcase could be one of the first taken off the plane – and it won’t cost you an extra penny.

Hadleigh Diamond, Commercial Director at SCS Chauffeurs, revealed that a lot of the company’s clients use the same hack to get out of the airport as efficiently as possible.

He explained: Clients regularly tell us that the difference between a good travel day and a stressful one often starts with baggage reclaim. If you’re standing waiting for 30 minutes while the carousel clunks out someone else’s bags, your trip can feel so much longer. But the fragile sticker trick is a game-changer — and it often works.

READ MORE: Experts share 6 easy packing hacks to help you avoid luggage fees on flightsREAD MORE: Fashion experts’ 5-4-3-2-1 packing hack lets you get 30 outfits in one suitcase

“We’ve heard this tip from both airport ground staff and frequent flyers. You don’t need to lie or explain — just politely ask the check-in agent to add a ‘fragile’ sticker to your suitcase. It’s not guaranteed, but more often than not, your bag is among the first out. We’ve seen it work time and time again.”

The reason it works is that airport ground handlers will typically load ‘fragile’ items last into the aircraft’s hold to avoid them getting crushed, and then these get removed first on the other side to avoid sitting under heavy loads. Of course it won’t save you hours of time, but those 20 minutes it might save you could just mean a bit of extra pool time (or getting to your hotel early enough to be one of the first at the buffet!).

For those who are on a tight schedule, it’s worth looking at hand luggage only fares. Airlines will let you bring at least one bag for free, but check the measurements as these differ per airline. For example Ryanair lets you bring one free bag but it must measure no more than (40 x 20 x 25 cm) and fit under the seat. easyJet has a similar policy in which your carry-on bag—including the handle and wheels—must not exceed 56 x 25 x 45 cm. If you want to bring a bigger bag or a second bag, you’ll need to pay extra.

In recent years, plenty of people have tried to cheat the system. For example, one passenger was hailed as a ‘genius’ after discovering a clever packing hack that meant he could fit 20kg of stuff into his hand luggage, without needing to pay for any extra bags on his Ryanair flight. Others have tried antics such as wearing all of their clothes in one go, or stuffing clothes into a pillowcase to pass it off as a pillow and therefore not technically a bag.

Still, airline staff are wise to these tricks (they’ve seen it all before), so although you may get lucky if they turn a blind eye, if you get caught out you could end up paying some hefty on-the-spot charges, which might be more than it would have cost you to add a second bag in the first place.

Brits flying with the likes of Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways need to navigate hand luggage rules but fashion insiders have revealed their trick to avoid facing hefty fines

Packing for a holiday should be a fun process, but we all know that between navigating hand luggage rules to checking your travel documents, it can sometimes become a headache.

Airlines such as Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet, Wizz Air, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic all have different rules around what you can and can’t take in hand luggage, and what the weight limit is for those bags.

There’s always that dreaded moment when your bag gets weighed at check-in, and you hold your breath and hope you won’t go over the limit forcing you to choose between frantically repacking in front of the whole queue, or accepting sometimes hefty charges. In fact, it’s estimated that in 2024, Brits spent approximately £205 million on overweight baggage fees.

It’s not just the weight of your bag that’s a factor either; the size comes into play too. For example, on Ryanair flights you can bring one free bag but it must measure no more than (40 x 20 x 25 cm) and fit under the seat. A second bag could incur costs of up to £36. With easyJet, the dimensions of your carry-on bag—including the handle and wheels—must not exceed 56 x 25 x 45 cm. If you go over this, you could be charged up to £40 to store your bag in the hold.

The good news is that there are some easy hacks to help you stick to the weight limit in the meantime. Fashion experts at Joe Browns have shared their top tips on how to pack lightly while still managing to get all of your essentials into your bag. Check out their top tips below…

• Focus on essentials: Go for items that have multiple purposes. Prioritise versatility over volume to avoid overpacking.
• Wear heavier items: Need bulky trainers or thick jumpers for your trip? Wear them on the plane to save space in your luggage.
• Plan outfits in advance: Before packing, consider how each item works together to create multiple combinations. Planning mix-and-match looks helps you travel lighter and stay effortlessly stylish throughout your trip.
• Be smart with layers: Rather than packing extra ‘just-in-case’ items, opt for layers that can be added or removed depending on the weather.
• Weigh your bag before you leave: Use a handheld luggage scale at home to avoid surprise charges at the airport.
• Consolidate toiletries and make-up: Streamline your holiday beauty routine by choosing multi-use products or minis. It’s a great excuse to keep things low-maintenance and leaves room for that one outfit you just couldn’t leave behind.

There could be good news on the way for passengers though, as a major ruling may soon allow holidaymakers to take two bags into plane cabins, for no extra charge. Just last week, the EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee proposed changes to EU passenger rights rules by 38 votes to two and two abstentions.

The proposals still need to be voted through by the European Parliament in the coming weeks, and then discussed by country representatives for the European Council, but it’s already a step in a positive direction for those who struggle to pack everything into one bag.

Have you found a clever luggage hack? Email us at [email protected].

All unhappy families of addicts are unhappy in their own way. Unless, of course, you’re a stage family, overrun with “characters” who don’t so much speak as deliver laugh lines and dispense nuggets of moral wisdom. Those families tend to be all alike, regardless of the superficial differences among them.

Grandparents play a larger role than usual in Jake Brasch’s “The Reservoir,” which opened Thursday at the Geffen Playhouse under the direction of Shelley Butler. But the theater’s ability to turn family dysfunction, be it alcoholism, Alzheimer’s or just garden-variety existential agony, into entertainment and instant illumination, has long been a staple of the American stage.

My tolerance for the artificiality of the genre may be lower than most theatergoers. Some take comfort in hoary comic patterns, souped-up eccentricity and reassuring pieties. Overexposed to this species of drama, I slump in my seat.

Indeed, my patience was as thin for “The Reservoir” as it was for “Cult of Love,” Leslye Headland’s drama about a family breakdown during the holidays that made it to Broadway last season after its 2018 premiere at L.A.’s IAMA Theatre. Neither play is beyond pandering to its audience for an easy laugh.

Serving as protagonist and narrator, Josh (Jake Horowitz), the queer Jewish theater student on medical leave from NYU who wakes up one morning after an alcoholic bender at a reservoir in his hometown of Denver, exhibits the snappy, manic banter of a drunk not able to face up to his problem. Patricia (Marin Hinkle), his long-suffering mother, has had it with Josh’s relapses, but how can she turn away her son who lies bleeding on her couch?

With his mother’s help, Josh gets a job as a clerk at a bookstore as he tries once again to pull his life together. Fortunately, Hugo (Adrián González), his manager, is quick to overlook his lax performance. Apparently, drinking has so scrambled Josh’s brain that alphabetizing books takes every ounce of his strength.

Marin Hinkle, left, Lee Wilkof, Jake Horowitz, Geoffrey Wade and Liz Larsen in “The Reservoir.”

(Jeff Lorch)

I didn’t quite feel as indulgent toward Josh, but not because I didn’t sympathize with his struggles. My beef was that he sounded like an anxious playwright determined to string an audience along without forced exuberance and sitcom-level repartee. (Compare, say, one of Josh’s rants with those of a character in a Terrence McNally, Richard Greenberg or Jon Robin Baitz comedy, and the drop off in verbal acuity and original wit will become crystal clear.)

What gives “The Reservoir” a claim to uniqueness is the way Josh’s four grandparents are conscripted not just into the story but into the staging. Seated in a row onstage, they serve as chorus to their grandson’s travails, chiming in with their own opinions and acting out his description of the way his thoughts compulsively take over his mind, like an unstoppable train or a raging river.

Each also has an individual role to play in Josh’s recovery. Patricia’s mother, Irene (Carolyn Mignini), for example, has been transformed by dementia since Josh has seen her last. She’s always been his favorite grandparent. He fondly recalls baking cookies, playing Uno and singing along to “The Sound of Music” with her. Even when she pulled away after he came out in high school, his affection has remained steadfast.

He would like to connect with her again and fears he has lost his chance. At the bookstore, he reads up on Alzheimer’s disease and hatches a plan to build up the cognitive reserve of all his grandparents by feeding them spinach and keeping them mentally engaged. He’s trying, in effect, to save himself by saving them, but they’re too feisty to be corralled by their unstable grandson.

Irene’s fiercely protective husband, Hank (Geoffrey Wade), an arch religious conservative, is too grumpy. As for Josh’s paternal Jewish grandparents, Shrimpy (Lee Wilkof) is too much of a practical joker with sex on his mind. And Beverly (Liz Larsen), an electrical engineer who doesn’t mince words, is too gimlet-eyed not to see that Josh is focusing on his grandparents to avoid doing the hard work of recovery.

Having been sober for many decades herself, Bev recognizes the narcissism of addiction, the way addicts have a tendency to put themselves at the center of the universe. She offers Josh the tough love that he needs, forcing him to see that a grandparent isn’t just a grandparent but a human being with a complicated history that needn’t be worn like a Kleenex visible from under a sleeve.

Josh sets out to be a savior but ends up getting an education in the reality of other people. Brasch’s intentions are noble, but “The Reservoir” doesn’t plunge all that deep. The play draws out the distinctiveness of the grandparents by ratcheting up their zingy eccentricities. How easily these characters fall into a punch-line rhythm. Larsen has the most consequential role and she imparts just the right note of astringency. But the staginess of the writing makes it difficult for any of the actors to transcend the shtick that’s been assigned to them.

Hinkle brings a depth of realism to her portrayal of Patricia, but the character isn’t fully developed. Whole dimensions of Patricia’s life are veiled to us. Both Hinkle and Gonazález gamely play other characters, but these sketched presences compound the general impression of a comic world drawn without much nuance.

The staging is frolicsome but visually monotonous — a problem for a play that is much longer than it needs to be. More than two hours of looking at the fey-preppy outfit costume designer Sara Ryung Clement prepared for Horowitz’s Josh becomes a kind of fashion purgatory for audience and protagonist alike.

I’m not sure why a production that doesn’t take a literal approach to settings has to repeatedly trot out the front seat of a car. The spry assistance of stagehands, who not only move set pieces but help flesh out the world of the play, is a jaunty touch. But the sound and lighting effects get rather heavy-handed during Josh’s hallucinatory meltdowns. Blame for the inexcusably clunky dream scenes, a writing fail, can’t be pinned on the designers.

Horowitz had the Geffen Playhouse’s opening-night audience in the palm of his hand, but I heard an actor playing his comic lines more than his character. Horowitz, however, is only following the direction of a playwright, who has a harrowing story to tell and needs you to enjoy every tricked-up minute of the zany-schmaltzy telling.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both posted to social media hinting that the United States is considering involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran, with Trump even raising the possibility of violence against Iran’s leadership.

The first of Tuesday’s posts came from Vance, who wrote a lengthy missive defending Trump’s handling of the conflict and blaming Iran for continuing its nuclear enrichment programme.

“The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment. And he said repeatedly that this would happen one of two ways- the easy way or the ‘other’ way,” Vance wrote.

The vice president proceeded to explain what the “other way” might look like.

“The president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military’s focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens,” Vance said. “He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president.”

Trump himself upped the ante less than an hour later. On his Truth Social platform, the president appeared to threaten Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and called for the country’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER”.

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump wrote.

“He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”

The two messages arrive as Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile fire, with experts fearing the outbreak of a wider regional war.

That prospect has raised questions about whether and how the US might become involved.

Already, Trump has indicated he had prior knowledge of Israel’s initial attack on June 13, and news reports indicate that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has petitioned Trump to join its military campaign against Iran.

Still, the Trump administration has put some distance between itself and Israel, a longtime ally.

On the night the first attacks were launched by Israel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement calling Israel’s actions “unilateral” and stressing that the US was “not involved in [the] strikes against Iran”.

Shifting tone

Critics have speculated, however, that Trump may be gradually building a case for more direct US involvement in the conflict.

Prior to the last five days of bombing, the US and Iran had been engaged in months of negotiations to limit Iran’s nuclear programme. Another round of talks had been scheduled for last weekend, but was cancelled amid the escalating violence.

The US has since repositioned warships and military aircraft in the region, in the name of “protecting US forces”.

“These deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region,” US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement.

Trump, meanwhile, has framed the conflict as a result of Iran’s unwillingness to curtail its nuclear programme. As he flew home from the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada overnight, he reemphasised that Iran had missed its opportunity to avoid conflict.

“They should have done the deal. I told them: ‘Do the deal’,” Trump told reporters. “So I don’t know. I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”

Iran has long denied seeking a nuclear weapon. But fears that it might develop one anyway have fuelled decades of tensions with the US, Israel and other countries.

In 2015, Iran inked a deal with the US, China, Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the European Union to scale back its nuclear programme, in exchange for sanctions relief. But in 2018, during his first term in office, Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the pact, causing it to crumble.

He has since pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran and other US adversaries, a campaign he has continued during his second term.

In March, for instance, Trump blamed Iran for attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, writing, “IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!”

A nuclear question

Those threats have raised concerns, even among Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) base, that the US could once again become embroiled in a costly foreign war.

On Friday, for instance, the Tucker Carlson Network — led by the eponymous conservative commentator — sent out a morning newsletter lobbying against US involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict.

“If Israel wants to wage this war, it has every right to do so. It is a sovereign country, and it can do as it pleases. But not with America’s backing,” the newsletter read.

Lawmakers have likewise moved to curb any potential US involvement in the conflict.

On Tuesday, US Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican, joined his Democratic colleague Ro Khanna of California in announcing they would introduce a bill called the Iran War Powers Resolution, which would require the president to seek congressional approval before engaging in the conflict.

Just a day earlier, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine unveiled a similar bill. It would have directed the president to “terminate the use of US Armed Forces for hostilities against Iran”.

The Trump administration, however, has emphasised its position that Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon is a red line that cannot be crossed. On Tuesday, the White House issued a statement stressing that Trump “has never wavered” in his position, linking to dozens of past comments he has made.

Critics, however, have pointed out that Trump has contradicted some members of his own inner circle, who have cast doubt on the likelihood that Iran has a nuclear weapons arsenal.

In March, for instance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified to Congress that the US “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons programme he suspended in 2003”.

During his overnight flight back to the US, however, Trump dismissed Gabbard’s assessment. “I don’t care what she said. I think they’re very close to having it,” he told reporters.

Gabbard herself has since said her comments were in line with the president’s position.

But the Trump administration’s contradictory statements have raised questions about how its stance towards Iran — and military engagement in the Middle East — might shift in the coming weeks.

Yasmine Taeb, legislative and political director for the advocacy group MPower Change Action Fund, noted that Gabbard’s congressional testimony represented the findings of the entire US intelligence community.

“It’s just reprehensible and incredibly reckless that Trump is not even relying on guidance from his own intelligence,” she told Al Jazeera.

Jamal Abdi, the president of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), a think tank and political group, also told Al Jazeera that Trump’s comments raise questions about the sources he is relying on for information.

“This makes really clear that this is a war of choice,” he told Al Jazeera. “If he’s not listening to his own intelligence community, who is he listening to? Is it Netanyahu?”

“I mean, at least when [former US President] George W Bush started his endless war, he had the dignity to lie to us about WMDs [weapons of mass destruction],” Abdi continued, citing the claim that helped launch the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

“Donald Trump is just saying: ‘I don’t care what the facts are. We’re just doing this anyway because I say so.’”

WE may well be seeing lower slug and snail numbers this summer thanks to colder weather in winter and the recent dry spells.

But mother nature never makes it easy for us. Instead – of course – there’s a new pest in town.

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Aphid levels have rocketed this year – and the RHS reckons it’s top of the list of gardening queries to their hotline.

There’s over 500 different species found in the UK – and can be red, yellow, black, green, brown or pink.

They feed by sucking sap from plants – and can cause severe damage – including distorted growth, sooty mould and plant viruses – and sometimes plant death.

Chelsea award winning gardener Adam Woolcott – and Webb ambassador – gave Sun Gardening some top tips on how to tackle the most common early summer pests.

APHIDS

Physically remove the aphids from the stems and leaves.
Use natural insecticidal soaps.
Blast off with water jets.
Encourage predators such as ladybirds, lacewings, and hoverflies

VINE WEEVIL

Both the adult vine weevil beetles and their larvae cause damage.
Adults — all female — chew distinctive ‘U-shaped’ notches in leaves, particularly on evergreen shrubs like rhododendrons, escallonias, and viburnums.
Underground: larvae feed on plant roots and can kill container plants like Heucheras.
Remove adults at night when they’re most active
Break the life cycle with biological controls such as nematodes (apply in spring and autumn when grubs are active) Chemical treatments are a last resort, but offer longer-term control

LILY BEETLE

The bright red beetles and their larvae are both covered in their excrement. They can strip a plant in days, affecting flowering and bulb health.

Remove beetles by hand where practical
Encourage wildlife into the garden. Birds and ground beetles will eat the larvae
Grow a resistant variety.
Tolerate some damage if you can — total eradication isn’t always necessary.

CATERPILLARS

Especially troublesome in veg patches. Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars love brassicas, while box tree caterpillars are spreading rapidly across the UK, stripping foliage as they go.

Remove the caterpillars by hand if you can and destroy any badly affected plants (if practical) to stop the infestation from spreading.
Use biological sprays like nematodes.
In some cases, hot water and a mild detergent can help. Ecover is on sale at Dunelm for £2.45.
As a last resort, chemical controls can be effective

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

Top tips, Gardening news, and a competition to win a £250 lawnmower

NEWS KING Charles made a surprise visit to Windsor Flower Show last Saturday. Celebrities including Alex Jones and Kirsty Gallacher were at the one-day show – which had wonderful village fair vibes, vegetable and cake competitions and fantastic floral displays.

TOP TIP JUNE is actually a good time to take Hydrangea cuttings – and get your own plants for free. They’ll have produced some soft green growth – which is what you want. Choose healthy, non flowering shoots that are 10-15cm long and cut just below the node (the leaf joint). Don’t collect cuttings from plants with leaves that are turning brown. And try to collect in the morning if you can.
Remove the lower leaves – leaving just one or two at the top.
Then dip the end in rooting powder or gel – then pop it straight in a pot. You could splash out on seeding and cutting compost – but multi purpose will do – just add a bit of grit or perlite. Then keep them out of direct sunlight and keep moist. They should have rooted within about a month.

NEWS A RARE ‘sheep-eating’ South American plant has flowered in an English primary school for the first time. The Puya Chilensis, with its iconic spike pattern, is normally found in the Andes in Chile. But after it was planted 10 years ago by school horticulturalist Louise Moreton, it has sent out a 10ft spike at Wicor Primary School in Portchester, Hants. It’s called a Sheep Catcher as it would normally entangle wildlife, hold onto it – and then when the animal died – would take the nutrients. Ms Moreton said it was exciting but a worrying sign of global warming.

WIN! Keep your lawn looking its best this summer by winning a Webb Classic Self Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower worth £249.99. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/WEBBCOMP or write to Sun Webb competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. July 5, 2025. T&Cs apply.

TOP TIP IF you want to get more flowers from your sedums (now called Hylotelephiums) and prevent them from collapsing – pinch them out around now. Pinch off around four sets of leaves down – which will make them bushier.

JOB OF THE WEEK Weeds thrive this month – keep on top of them by hoeing. Tie in sweet peas, and give your plants a good feed – liquid seaweed feed is great – and Tomorite works with nearly everything. Give agapanthus a high-potash feed every couple of weeks.

For more top tips and gardening news, follow me @biros_and_bloom

JUNE is a popular time for people to move home, hopeful of being settled before the new school term.

But making sure you get the most out of a move can be stressful.

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However, property expert Liv Conlon – who stages homes for a living – has shared her essential 10 tips for boosting value.

And some cost just pennies but can had hundreds to the asking price.

Liv, 26, is the CEO of multi-award-winning ThePropertyStagers.co.uk, which furnishes more than 400 homes a year, as well as a StagerBoss – a coaching business teaching other women how to do the same.

The Scots mum, who was brought up in Glasgow and now lives in Marbella with son Cash and mum Ali, says: “From posh pillows to hotel-style bedding, the right styling can make buyers fall in love and nudge them above the asking price.

“So before you stick up the For Sale sign, check out these smart, simple ways to get buyers battling to pay more than the asking price.”

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

A buyer decides in 10 seconds whether they are going to buy your home or not – so your entrance and hallway need to make a good first impression.

Make it warm and welcoming. Buy a new door mat that’s only used for viewings, with no dirty shoe marks, and place two identical plants at either side of the door – which is either clean, new or given a lick of paint. Opt for colours such as black or navy blue so it looks ‘classy’, rather than something more ‘out there’.

Clear away the clutter, and lose the smelly shoes and dumped coats.

LIVING ROOM VISION

The living room is the heart of the home – and buyers know it. It’s where they picture relaxing with a glass of wine, watching TV, or hosting friends.

Get this room wrong and you risk turning off even the most interested buyer. Make it feel spacious but not sterile, styled but still homely.

Pull sofas away from the walls to create cosy conversation zones, and use a large rug to anchor the space – this helps define it and adds warmth.

Then ditch harsh overhead lights and go for soft lamps, layered lighting and oversized accessories to give a sense of luxury. Use neutral tones for your sofa and walls, then add depth with textured throws, scatter cushions and artwork.

GO BIG

Tiny trinkets and dinky lamps really don’t cut it when you’re trying to wow a buyer. One of the biggest styling mistakes sellers make is going too small with their accessories – it makes your home look underwhelming.

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If you want to create that lux, showhome feel, size matters. Think
big and bold. Oversized lamps on side tables make a dramatic statement, especially when paired with plush sofas or layered cushions.

Chunky candlesticks, large framed art or statement vases add instant impact – and make the space feel styled, not stuffed.

DON’T LOO-SE OUT

Bathrooms are an important room but are often forgotten about when it comes to staging. The key to success with styling this room is to compliment not clutter.

You can do this by adding simple styling accessories, layers and textures. Consider pops of colour in your accessories, such as a soap dispenser or a toothbrush holder, which you can pick up for as little as £3 in places like Home Bargains. This draws the eye and helps your images jump off the page.

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Add textures with towels and bath mats, but also through the type of glass or ceramic in your accessories. Small touches can have a big impact.

RIGHT RUG

Rugs are the unsung heroes of home staging – they define spaces, add texture and instantly warm up any room. In large, open-plan layouts, rugs create natural boundaries between living,
dining and kitchen zones, making the space feel organised and inviting.

Don’t overlook the ‘forgotten’ spaces – utility rooms, hallways or entryways can be transformed with a well-chosen rug to feel cosy and purposeful.

Rugs can tie together the design elements, especially through colour and texture, in a space while providing a cosy and inviting atmosphere.

They can also significantly reduce noise levels by absorbing sound – a quieter home is always more appealing to buyers.

ALL WHITE

Five-star hotels use crisp, white bedding for a reason, as it exudes luxury and cleanliness, and it immediately puts a viewer at ease.

Patterned or busy linens can feel cluttered and overly personal, turning off potential buyers. Investing in high-quality, bright white sheets creates a serene, spa-like oasis that invites buyers to imagine themselves unwinding there.

The clean, neutral backdrop also lets you introduce pops of colour and texture with cushions and throws – easy updates that make the room feel stylish without overwhelming the senses.

GET DRESSED

Layering is the secret to making your home feel styled, warm and high-end – without overdoing it.

In the bedroom, start with white sheets, then double up on duvets: one laid flat, the second folded neatly at the end for a boutique hotel look. Use feather insert cushions -not flat polyfills – and build texture with velvet throws, faux fur or quilted finishes.

In the living room, mix cushion sizes and textures on your sofa – linen, boucle, chunky knit – to add depth. Coffee tables and
sideboards should be styled too: think a stack of hardback books, a sculptural candle and one standout vase. Keep it intentional, not cluttered.

STAR OF THE SHOW

Not much beats getting ready at a dressing table. The feeling of space and time – rather than catching a quick glimpse in the closet mirror before rushing out the front door.

Create that same feeling in your bedroom by setting up a designated space in your bedroom to put on make-up and style your hair.

This can be a dual purpose area that could also double up as a work from home space too. To add real luxury, add a table standing mirror, and opt for a mirrored dressing table if your budget allows.

CLEAR OFF

Nothing puts buyers off faster than clutter. It makes rooms feel smaller and chaotic. When people view your home, they’re not just looking at the space – they’re imagining their life in it.

That’s hard to do if every surface is piled high with post, toys or toiletries. Start by stripping back.

Clear kitchen worktops, bedside tables and bathroom counters. Invest in clever storage: ottomans with lift-up lids, under-bed boxes and baskets for toys or blankets.

Hide away anything personal or bulky. Less stuff equals more space.

MIRROR IMAGE

Create symmetry in your rooms with matching bedside tables on either side of the bed. Not only does this add practicality and storage, but it instantly makes the room feel more polished.

Then, top each table with oversized, identical lamps – these create drama and a high-end vibe without breaking the bank.

Symmetry tricks the eye into seeing order and elegance, making your
bedroom feel like a five-star retreat buyers won’t forget.

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A SIMPLE holiday error could see a host of benefits including Universal Credit and PIP stopped.

You may even have to pay back any overpaid money and in a worse case scenario an up to £5,000 penalty too.

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Going abroad is classed as a change in circumstances which must be reported to the office that pays your benefits.

If you do not, it may be reduced or stopped and you could be told to pay back any overpaid amounts.

If you are found to have deliberately not reported going abroad, it is classed as benefit fraud and you could be taken to court or asked to pay a penalty of between £350 and £5,000.

However, at which point you have to report going abroad varies based on the benefit you are receiving.

For example, you don’t have to report going abroad if you’re on Attendance Allowance (AA) and going away for less than four weeks.

If you do need to report going abroad, you need to tell your local Jobcentre Plus or the office that pays your benefit.

This is the full list of benefits where you may have to report going abroad this summer:

• Universal Credit
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• PIP
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
• Maternity Allowance
• Child Benefit
• Guardian’s Allowance

Here are the rules on reporting going abroad for the major benefits.

Universal Credit

If you’re on Universal Credit, you can stay abroad for one month and carry on receiving payments.

You still have to tell your work coach you’re going away and have to carry on meeting the conditions of your claim.

For example, if you are in the intensive work group and have to spend a minimum amount of hours per week looking for a job, you have to continue doing this.

There are exceptions to the one-month rule though – such as if a “close relative” dies while you are abroad and it is not deemed reasonable for you to return to the UK.

Meanwhile, you can carry on claiming Universal Credit for up to six months if you have gone abroad for medical treatment.

You can report going away on holiday by signing in via your Universal Credit account.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

If you are on New Style or income-based JSA you must report if you are leaving Great Britain for any length of time.

You can let the Government know you are going away by calling the JSA helpline on 0800 169 0310.

You can also write to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your JSA.

You can find your nearest office by using its online branch locator.

PIP and DLA

You have to tell the DWP if you are on Personal Independence payments (PIP) Or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and going away for more than four weeks.

You have to tell the Government the date you are leaving the country, how long you are going away for and which country you plan to visit.

You also need to tell the DWP why you plan to go abroad.

You can call the Disability Service Centre on 0800 121 4433 to inform them you are going away if you are on PIP or DLA.

Attendance Allowance

Like with PIP and DLA, you have to tell the DWP if you plan to go abroad for more than four weeks and are on AA.

You can claim AA for up to 13 weeks while abroad, or 26 weeks if you’re going away for medical treatment.

Carer’s Allowance

If you are on Carer’s Allowance, you can go away for up to four weeks over a six-month period while still receiving the benefit.

But you still have to report this or risk having to pay back your entitlement or paying a fine.

You can report going away via the Government’s website or by calling the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297.

Pension Credit

You can claim Pension Credit for up to four weeks if you are abroad.

This is extended to eight weeks if the absence is due to the death of your partner or a child.

However, you still need to report going abroad.

You can do this via the Government’s website or by calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 731 0469.

Housing Benefit

You can usually only carry on claiming Housing Benefit for up to four weeks if you go abroad.

Like with Pension Credit, you can carry on receiving it for eight weeks if you have to go abroad because a close relative has died.

But you should contact the Benefits Service on 020 7364 5000 to let them know you’re going away.

You might also be able to via your local council’s website. You can find your local council by using the Government’s online locator tool.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

MILLIONS of households could slash their water bills by up to hundreds of pounds a year.

But many Brits aren’t aware of the discounts they could be entitled to.

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All water companies in England and Wales now offer social tariffs to help lower-income customers.

But because each company sets its own rules, the support varies wildly depending on where you live.

Despite the growing cost of living and rising utility prices, millions of eligible people still aren’t claiming the discounts available.

Last year, consumer watchdog CCW said more than two million households had received help with their water bills, but millions more could be saving and aren’t.

Some of the biggest discounts are available through schemes like WaterHelp, run by Thames Water, which offers a 50% reduction.

The reduction is for households earning under £21,749 a year (not including disability benefits), or where bills account for more than 5% of net income.

There’s also WaterSure, a national scheme available to water meter customers on means-tested benefits.

If you have a medical condition that needs extra water or you have three or more children under 19 living at home, you could get your bill capped at the average annual charge.

With Thames Water, for example, that cap is currently £423 a year.

The average annual water and sewerage bill for a Thames Water customer is currently around £864.

So that means if you qualify for WaterHelp, you get 50% off your bill and would therefore save £432 a year.

What’s available at other providers?

Other providers offer even bigger savings.

Southern Water gives customers up to 90% off bills through its Essentials Tariff if they earn under £22,010 and have less than £16,000 in savings.

Wessex Water, South West Water, and Bournemouth Water also offer generous reductions, in some cases 85% or more, depending on your circumstances.

Meanwhile, Anglian Water, Essex & Suffolk Water, and Northumbrian Water offer discounts of up to 50% for households earning less than £23,933 or receiving Pension Credit.

In many cases, discounts kick in if your water bill makes up more than 3% of your income after housing costs.

To find out if you’re eligible, check your supplier’s website or give them a call.

Some schemes ask for proof of income or benefits, while others carry out a short financial assessment.

If you’re unsure who supplies your water, you can find out using this tool.

On top of that, many water firms also offer emergency grants to help with arrears, and free water-saving gadgets like tap aerators and shower timers to help cut your usage.

And with suppliers like Thames Water proposing price hikes of nearly 60% over the next six years, now’s the time to act.

Don’t wait until your bills go up, check if you can get help now and start saving.

If you’re struggling with the cost of living, it’s always worth checking what benefits you could be entitled to.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Holidaymakers are being advised to follow some straightforward steps to ensure their suitcase is the first off the carousel upon landing – allowing them to start their holiday as soon as possible

For those keen on jetting off without a hitch, travellers are getting savvy tips to ensure their bags emerge first on the baggage carousel, offering more time for holiday fun. While showing up at the airport with time to spare is common advice, a surprising twist suggests checking in for your flight at the eleventh hour could be beneficial.

The late check-in method, as detailed by Escape.com, posits that latecomers’ luggage typically ends up being loaded last and subsequently arrives first after landing. Thomas Lo Sciuto, an employee at a regional US airport, shared insider knowledge on Quora claiming: “Bags will always be loaded front to back on the bag carts so if you check in last your bags will be in the last bag cart.”

READ MORE: Doctor tells Brit dad to ‘carry on’ as he loses two stone in two months with one change

Despite its potential perks, the ‘last in, first out’ principle might not sit well with early birds, earning it the tag of a “high-risk strategy”.

Upscale flyers and frequent travellers can dodge this gamble by shelling out extra to guarantee a front-of-the-line spot for their bags, sometimes even enjoying the luxury of a dedicated baggage carousel.

And for a sneaky edge, news.com.au has let slip that simply slapping a “fragile” sticker on your luggage could fast-track your retreat from the airport, hinting that such labels affect how it’s stowed beneath you during your flight.

Luggage labelled as fragile is usually loaded last, which means it’s the first to be offloaded, cutting down your wait time at that dreaded carousel, reports the Express.

It’s also a good idea to remove any old tags from your bags and opt for distinctive luggage to spot them easily upon arrival.

If your luggage stands out, there’s also a smaller chance of another passenger mistakenly taking it for their own.

More than 20 easy takeout ideas from chefs and food pros for your next potluck. Plus, Curtis Stone grows a lifestyle empire in Malibu wine country, the return of Miya Thai and making chicken in a rice cooker. I’m Laurie Ochoa, general manager of L.A. Times Food, with this week’s Tasting Notes.

When chefs don’t cook

Azizam’s “kuku sandevich,” house-leavened flatbread with herb-and-leek frittata, yogurt, cucumber, tomato and radish.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

The invitation via text message was brief: “Having a ‘potluck’ at my house next Sunday. Bring your favorite takeout food.”

I looked at the sender’s name: Nancy Silverton.

I’ve been to Nancy Silverton’s house for parties many times. I co-wrote her bread book and first got to know her while writing a story for this paper on the making of Campanile, the restaurant she and her late ex-husband Mark Peel opened in the complex that is now Walter and Margarita Manzke‘s Republique. So the idea of Silverton throwing a party with only takeout food — nothing cooked by her or any of her chef or food-obsessed friends — was surprising.

It’s not that Silverton favors complex dishes. One of her lesser-known cookbooks is “A Twist of the Wrist,” with simple recipes made from jarred, tinned or boxed ingredients. And she sometimes augments her party menus with food from some of her favorite takeout spots like Burritos La Palma.

But Silverton is obsessed with details, even at a burger party where the patties are hand-shaped with a custom-blend of meat (20% to 28% fat, as writer Emily Green once described in a story on the chef’s hamburger process), and she only assigns grill duties to trusted cooks (frequently Elizabeth Hong, culinary director of Silverton’s many Mozza restaurants, or Jar restaurant owner-chef Suzanne Tract). Even the burger toppings and condiments are precisely arranged. Her avocados, for instance, are almost always halved, loosened from the skin, which remains to protect the fruit, then sliced, drizzled with lemon or lime juice and seasoned with salt, pepper and often chopped chives.

I wondered how Silverton would react to the chaos that can ensue at potluck gatherings. What if everyone showed up with Burritos La Palma? (Well, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.)

Of course, Silverton and her partner, former Times reporter Michael Krikorian, eliminated some of the event’s wildcard nature by making gentle inquiries over text to find out what people were bringing.

It was clear from the start that one of my favorite foods to bring to a party would not be an option: the football-shaped Armenian flatbread from Glendale’s Zhengyalov Hatz — filled with more than a dozen different herbs, as writer Jessie Schiewe described in our recent guide to “15 L.A. restaurants where ordering the house specialty is a must.” Krikorian was already bringing some.

He was also getting brisket from Andrew and Michelle Muñoz‘s Moo’s Craft Barbecue, which is one of critic Bill Addison‘s favorite L.A. barbecue spots; “kuku sandeviches,” or house-leavened flatbread filled with herb-and-leek frittata, yogurt, cucumber, tomato and radish from Azizam, which Addison called “L.A.’s best new Persian restaurant”; fried chicken and fish sandos from Mei Lin‘s Daybird, the shop that attracted columnist Jenn Harris’ admiration soon after its 2021 opening and before Lin’s most recent restaurant, 88 Club in Beverly Hills, previewed recently by Food’s reporter Stephanie Breijo; and fantastic basturma brisket sandwiches from III Mas Bakery & Deli (pronounce it “Yerord Mas”) run out of a Glendale ghost kitchen by husband-and-wife team Arthur Grigoryan (who used to work at Mozza) and Takouhi Petrosyan.

Oh, and Silverton also arranged for Frutas Marquez (phone: 909-636-1650) to set up an umbrella-shaded cocos frios and cut fruit stand.

Fruit cup from Frutas Marquez.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

So before the first guest turned up, there was enough food for a hungry crowd. Then the chefs and other food pros started to arrive with food from all over city.

Chef Chris Feldmeier of the sorely missed Bar Moruno in Silver Lake and now back in the kitchen at Love & Salt in Manhattan Beach gave Silverton’s guests a chance to try some of the Southland’s greatest Indian cooking from Quality of Bombay in Lawndale. He brought goat biryani, butter chicken and palak paneer, with large pieces of curd cheese mixed into the gently seasoned spinach. People were raving over the butter chicken and I was so taken with the goat biryani that I stopped into the unassuming storefront this week and picked up some lamb biryani as well as two of the restaurant’s naans, one flavored with green chile and one, Peshawari naan, baked with ground nuts and raisins. Feldmeier also brought crispy rice salad with Thai sausage from North Hollywood’s Sri Siam, a place I recently rediscovered.

Feldmeier’s former Bar Moruno partner (and contributor to our wine coverage), David Rosoff, brought a sampling from Armen Martirosyan‘s Mini Kabob spinoff MidEast Tacos in Silver Lake. Many guests had heard about the Armenian-Mexican tacos and were happy to have a chance to try them.

Another hit from the party came from Jar’s Suzanne Tract, who brought spicy shrimp dumplings and kimchi dumplings from Pao Jao Dumpling House started by Eunice Lee and Seong Cho in the food court of the Koreatown Plaza on Western Ave. In the dumpling season of Jenn Harris’ video series “The Bucket List,” she finds out that Cho developed the recipe for the spicy shrimp dumpling and isn’t sharing the secret to its deliciousness — which will make you all the more popular when you show up with a batch at your next potluck.

Photographer Anne Fishbein brought many delicious things from chef Sang Yoon‘s Helms Bakery, including doughnuts and gorgeous breads with different schmears and butters, including the sweet black garlic butter that Harris included in her story about the Helms’ foods that got her attention when the marketplace opened in Culver City late last year.

Times contributor Margy Rochlin arrived with swaths of the pebbly Persian flatbread sangak, so fresh from the oven at West L.A.’s Naan Hut the sheets of sesame-seeded bread burned her arm when she picked up her order. (Read Rochlin’s 2015 story for Food for more on how sangak is baked on hot stones.) She then went to Super Sun Market in Westwood for French feta cheese, fresh herbs and the shallot yogurt dip mast-o musir, arranging everything on a wood board.

The shallot yogurt dip mast-o musir with fresh herbs and French feta from Super Sun Market in Westwood and a basket of the Persian flatbread sangak from Naan Hut in West L.A.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

Silverton’s daughter, Vanessa Silverton-Peel set out an impressive array of flaky borekas from the always-busy Borekas Sephardic Pastries in Van Nuys with various fillings. These included cultured cheese and za’atar; potato and brown butter; mushroom, caramelized onion and truffle; spinach and cheese, plus carrots and hot honey, which is an occasional special. With them, came pickles, tomato sauce and jammy eggs. And because she is everywhere, Harris has written about her love for this place too.

Taylor Parsons, once declared L.A.’s best sommelier when he was at Republique by former L.A. Weekly restaurant critic Besha Rodell, and Briana Valdez, founder of the growing Home State mini-chain of Texas-style breakfast tacos and more, brought cheesy Frito pies and tacos from Valdez’s restaurant. And Pasquale Chiarappa, a.k.a. the sometime actor Pat Asanti, a.k.a. Patsy to his pals, brought his own Della Corte Kitchen focaccia, which he supplies to Pasadena’s Roma Deli among other places.

Pizza and cake from another Addison favorite, Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin‘s Quarter Sheets in Echo Park went fast, though I’m not sure who brought them since at this point it was getting hard to keep track of all the incoming food. The same goes for the bucket of Tokyo Fried Chicken that was quickly gobbled up. Jazz musician and composer Anthony Wilson had the good taste to bring a whole duck from Roasted Duck by Pa Ord, which I wrote about in this newsletter recently because I think it might be the best duck in Thai Town.

A platter from Thai Town’s Roasted Duck by Pa Ord with boxes of pizza from Quarter Sheets in the background.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

Claudio Blotta, founder of All’Acqua in Atwater Village and Silver Lake’s Barbrix, which is undergoing rennovations at the moment, tapped his Argentine roots by bringing empanadas. I missed the name of the place he bought them, but a good bet if you’re looking for some to bring to a party is Mercado Buenos Aires in Van Nuys.

Erik Black, founder of the recently revived Ugly Drum pastrami, broke the rules a bit by actually cooking something — spiced caramel corn from recipe in “Nancy Silverton’s Sandwich Book.” And Mozza’s Raul Ramirez Valdivia made tortilla chips, guacamole and wonderful salsa verde. Of course, Burritos La Palma showed up thanks to Mozza’s Juliet Kapanjie.

I ended up bringing a tray of fresh Vietnamese spring rolls, a party offering that has never failed me, from Golden Deli in San Gabriel. There were three kinds: shrimp and pork, beef and tofu for vegetarians.

And just when it seemed that the party could not take one more food offering, in walked former L.A. Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila and photographer, wine aficionado and cook Fred Seidman with a box of burgers from In-N-Out. Because no matter how full you are, there’s always room for In-N-Out.

Cheeseburgers from In-N-Out.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

Curtis Stone’s work retreat

Chef Curtis Stone examines new growth in his vineyard at Four Stones Farm.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

Food reporter Stephanie Breijo got a look at the inner workings of Curtis Stone‘s Four Stones Farm in the Santa Monica Mountains, where the Australian chef of Hollywood’s Gwen and the Pie Room in Beverly Hills has established a base for his burgeoning lifestyle empire. This includes TV-ready testing and production kitchens for taping live HSN cooking demos promoting his cookware, plus a winery that uses grapes grown on the property’s vineyards and a set up for events, including the upcoming Great Australian Bite in collaboration with the L.A. Times and Tourism Australia. On May 31, Stone and visiting chef Clare Falzon of Staġuni in South Australia’s Barossa Valley are teaming up to prepare a multicourse meal in the area becoming known as Malibu wine country. Tickets cost $289 and are on sale now.

Altadena check-in

Thai fried chicken with papaya salad at Miya Thai restaurant in Altadena.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

Regular readers of this newsletter know that I have been keeping watch in my Altadena neighborhood for signs of recovery following the firestorm that destroyed so much of the area. I’m thrilled to report that Miya — David Tewasart and Clarissa Chin‘s Thai restaurant, which survived in the section of Lake Ave. that saw major destruction — has quietly reopened and is happily busy. We ran into friends from the neighborhood and sat with them at a table to catch up. It felt like home. And the fried chicken with hand-pounded papaya salad? It’s as good as ever.

Easy rice cooker chicken

A whole chicken is cooked in the rice cooker and served alongside a condiment made with ginger and scallions.

(Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times )

Have you seen that woman who cooks an entire chicken in a rice cooker?” style pro Joe Zee asked columnist Jenn Harris recently, as she wrote in our most recent Cooking newsletter. He was referring to the Instagram video made by London content creator Shu Lin, who showed her followers how to make Hakka-style salt-baked chicken with not much more than a seasoning packet sold in most Asian supermarkets and a rice cooker, plus ginger, green onions, shallots and oil. The technique isn’t new, but Lin’s recipe is very simple and inspired Harris to try it.

Coffee generation

Gefen Skolnick, owner of Couplet Coffee in Echo Park.

(Chiara Alexa / For The Times)

Gefen Skolnick tells Food contributor Jean Trinh that she wanted a “fun and funky” Gen Z-friendly space when she opened Couplet Coffee in Echo Park this year. That means “limited-edition product drops, community-building, storytelling and social media.” As Skolnick put it to Trinh, “There needs to be great coffee made more approachable.”

Also …

• Writer Lina Abascal asks, “Is the teahouse the future of nightlife in L.A.?” She describes Jai in Koreatown, Tea at Shiloh in the Arts District, the invite-only tea purists haven NEHIMA in Los Feliz and Chinatown’s Steep LA, which is one of my favorite spots.
• Frequent contributor Tiffany Tse says zhajiangmian, or “fried sauce noodles” is having a well-deserved moment. She selected 11 L.A. places to eat the comforting noodles, including traditional and creative interpretations and jjajangmyeon, a Korean-Chinese adaptation.
• And with the weather heating up, many diners are looking for rooftop dining. Food’s senior editor Danielle Dorsey updated our guide to 50 of the best rooftop restaurants and bars to soak in city views, with Butterfly, Tomat, Lost, Sora Temaki Bar and Level 8 among the additions.

BBC

Getty Images

‘People are going to hate me’

EMMA LYNCH / BBC

Getty Images

EMMA LYNCH / BBC

Protected by a lush nature reserve and firmly out of the tourist spotlight, this beautiful three-mile beach needs to be on your bucket list – if you can actually get there

Sugar-like sand, clear waters, and not a soul in sight – it’s hard to believe this secluded beach is in the UK. Tucked away in the west of Porthcawl, Wales, and sheltered by the Kenfig National Nature Reserve lies the golden bay of Sker Beach.

Boasting three miles of soft golden sand, this rural slice of coast has somehow managed to escape the tourist limelight – despite being a stone’s throw from the insufferably crowded Morfa Beach. It’s an idyllic spot, one that will make you feel like you’ve discovered your own tropical island and is great for those wanting to spend the day soaking up the sun or braving the cool, cobalt waters.

But, with no direct car park, getting to Sker Beach is no easy feat. In fact, you can only access the shore on foot, by walking from Rest Bay or the Kenfig National Nature Reserve. It’s a 20-minute walk from Rest Bay and a 40-minute walk to the nearest toilet – so make sure you come prepared.

READ MORE: ‘Stunning’ UK seaside town with three-mile beach sees house prices plummet by £13,000

Due to its rural location, there are no amenities on Sker Beach, so it’s essential you bring food, drink, and sun cream with you. Volunteer lifeguards patrol at certain times, but if there’s no flag, there’s no patrol.

“At low tide, a plaque in memory of all the lives lost on the S.S. Santampa and the Mumbles lifeboat is visible,” explained Bridgend County Borough Council. “At very low tides, wreckage can still be found.”

On TripAdvisor, the beach has received stellar reviews from travellers – who dubbed the coastal gem a ‘wild and wonderful place’. “It’s so lovely, [it’s] like being on the edge of the world,” one person hailed. “Definitely worth the walk.”

Another agreed, commenting: “[There’s] so much beach it feels deserted. Plenty of shelter in the dune areas, or on top of the pebble areas for reflection, reading a book or soaking up the sun!” while a third added: “This beach is one of the most unappreciated beaches in Wales. It has no tourists, no pretend surfers and no overcrowding.”

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Located some 173 miles from London, driving to Sker Beach will take around three hours and 22 minutes – followed by the 20-minute coastal walk. You can get indirect trains from the Big Smoke over to Pyle – which takes two hours and 37 minutes – for as little as £64.40.

You’ll then have to drive, or take a taxi, for six minutes to reach Kenfig National Nature Reserve and then walk to the beach. However, many travellers have slammed the car park here for issuing out hefty fines – so make sure you pay and don’t go over the time limit.

*Prices based on adult single fares on Trainline at the time of writing. Tickets may be cheaper if you have a Railcard.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

A MOTORIST has shared how he made “hundreds of thousands” by buying and selling car number plates.

Neal Bircher, 60, has collected hundreds of plates worth gargantuan sums and currently has around 350 in the garage at his home in Uxbridge, London, and owns the rights to 220 more.

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The DVLA is auctioning 2,000 car number plates in its latest sale – and an expert has revealed the best buys.

The latest auctions of personalised registrations starts on Wednesday at 10am.

Plates expert Neal has identified which plates to keep your eye on.

He says that dateless plates – those with a number at the start or the end – dateless plates with a single letter and shorter plates with common initials are where the money is.

For example, Neal believes 910 AM – which has a starting price of £2200 – will attract more interest thanks to the popularity of ‘AM’ as a set of initials, wheresas 232 XW – also with a starting price of £2200 – won’t have as many buyers.

In terms of plates less likely to grow, Northern Irish style plates, containing the letters’ ‘I’ and ‘Z’ are at the lower end of the market.

Neal, an IT management consultant and part-time plate dealer, said: “As a general rule, the shorter the better, and also the popularity of initials is a very common factor.

“‘Dateless plates are always popular and can be good investments.

“‘1’ plates have proved very good investments, whatever the letters, and so plates such as 1 XDX will be expensive even though ‘XDX’ is unlikely to be many people’s initials.

“1 YOB starting at £2400 is an interesting one – reminiscent of ‘YOB 1’ which famously adorned Slade guitarist Dave Hill’s Rolls-Royce in the 1970s!

“In recent years dateless plates that contain only a single letter have become more sought after – for example 125 B starting at £2500, or 8118 D starting at £2500 in this auction.

“And those where the letter is ‘O’, and hence the plate can look as if it only contain numbers, have really grown in popularity of late.

“Hence 54 O starting at £2500 might well fetch the top price in this action. ‘540’ is also a model of BMW.”

According to Neal, a common misconception is just because a plate might look like it spells a word, it doesn’t mean it’s valuable.

He said: “People sometimes assume that if a plate looks as if it spells a word then it will prove valuable.

“That may well be the case if the word is relevant to a business or profession, but if it’s just a random word then not necessarily so.

“Registration numbers generally tend to grow in value, but the ones less likely to do so are those at the lower end of the market, especially some of the Northern Irish style plates, containing the letters’ ‘I’ and ‘Z’.

“But there can be exceptions with those as well.”

Having bought and sold for much of his life, Neal has urged people to be cautious before entering the number plate game.

He added: “People who are trying to make money have to be very careful.

“It requires a lot of homework if you’re looking to invest or make money.

“Two very similar-looking plates might have very different values.

“AJB would be worth far more than XUY for example because of how common the first set is for initials.

“Not everyone is, but some are interested in the backstory behind plates.

“There are a lot of people who are in clubs and associations who ask me a lot of questions every day about value and the history of plates.

“People are very interested in when it was issued, to know what vehicles it was in, who owned it etc.”

The DVLA number plate auction

The DVLA is auctioning some highly coveted number plates on May 14

The plates range from £300 to over £2000, as drivers clamour to get a unique number for their motor.

Bids can only be placed at the auction or through the DVLA website.

The plates on sale on May 14 include:

• CIG 300 Lot 324 Starting price £300
• AB16 BUM Lot 18 Starting price £250
• MOU 555E Lot 119 Starting price £250
• PO25 CHE Lot 1390 Starting price £250
• F44 YYE Lot 639 Starting price £200
• A96 COX Lot 31 Starting price £200
• A600 DAY Lot 35 Starting price £200
• CR16 PTO Lot 372 Starting price £250
• SAV 146E Lot 1586 Starting price £250
• EA69 GLE Lot 509 Starting price £250
• OOH 11H Lot 1336 Starting price £300
• FAM 1T Lot 583 Starting price £500
• 145 SAM Lot 1578 Starting price £800
• 77 JET Lot 840 Starting pricd £1200
• 36 ANT Lot 116 Starting price £1200
• DMZ 1 Lot 457 Starting price £2000
• 910 AM Lot 92 Starting price £2200
• 1 YOB Lot 1991 Starting price £2400
• 1 LTR Lot 1075 Starting price £2400
• 54 O Lot 1309 Starting price £2500
• 2025 M Lot 1096 Starting price £2500