Pan

MARGARET Kerry, the actress and dancer who helped bring Disney’s iconic Tinker Bell to life, has died aged 97.

The star, whose movements inspired Disney’s mischievous fairy in the 1953 classic Peter Pan, passed away after a battle with lung cancer.

Kerry died peacefully on June 11 in North Carolina surrounded by her children, according to her family.

In a statement, they said: “It is with profound sadness that we share news of the passing of Margaret Kerry (Boeke), our beloved Tinker Bell.

“Margaret passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on June 11, 2026, in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“Her three adoring children, Ellen, Christina and Eric, were with her as she lost her courageous battle with lung cancer at the age of ninety-seven.”

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The tribute added: “And remember, on any given night, look up into the night sky and search for that ‘Second Star to the Right’. Upon closer look, you might just notice that star shining a little brighter in Margaret’s honor.”

Kerry became immortalised in Disney history when she was chosen to model the movements of Tinker Bell for Peter Pan.

Standing just 5ft 2in tall, she spent months on a vast Disney soundstage acting out scenes for animators, wearing a swimsuit and imagining interactions with characters who weren’t really there, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Recalling her unusual audition, she said in a 2003 interview: “They were looking for a young girl who was comfortable with dance movement.”

After choreographing and performing a mime routine to music, she landed the role and became the inspiration behind one of Disney’s most recognizable characters.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow…

May 4 (Asia Today) — Pan Ocean beat market expectations in the first quarter, helped by strong performance in its LNG and tanker businesses.

Pan Ocean said Monday its preliminary first-quarter sales rose 8.3% from a year earlier to 1.51 trillion won ($1.03 billion), while operating profit increased 24.4% to 140.9 billion won ($95.8 million).

The results exceeded market forecasts of 1.46 trillion won ($989 million) in sales and 132.2 billion won ($89.8 million) in operating profit.

Compared with the previous quarter, sales rose 2.2% and operating profit increased 8%. Analysts said expansion of the company’s LNG-focused business portfolio helped defend earnings despite the seasonal shipping slowdown.

By business segment, tanker operating profit rose 41.5% from a year earlier to 28.1 billion won ($19.1 million), supported by strong medium-range tanker market conditions. The LNG business posted 47.2 billion won ($32.1 million) in operating profit, up 49.7%, helped by fleet expansion and higher utilization.

The bulk segment, including grain operations, continued to grow from a year earlier, but profitability weakened from the previous quarter because of spot voyage losses caused by geopolitical risks from U.S.-Iran tensions and rising oil prices. Bulk operating profit totaled 54.7 billion won ($37.2 million).

The container segment posted 9 billion won ($6.1 million) in operating profit, down 42.9% from a year earlier, as oversupply pushed freight rates lower.

Pan Ocean said its strategy of diversifying into LNG and tankers to manage shipping market volatility has begun to show results.

“We will continue efforts to strengthen our ability to respond to market changes, expand our business portfolio and secure stable profitability,” a Pan Ocean official said. “At the same time, we will establish our position as a sustainable company through active ESG management.”

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260504010000408