plans

Austrian officials highlight addiction and ill-health while advocating for stricter age restrictions.

Austria plans to ban children under 14 from using social media, with an official saying certain online sites are addictive and making young people “sick”.

“Austria is introducing ‌a compulsory minimum age of 14 for the use of social media platforms,” conservative ⁠junior minister for digitisation, ⁠Alexander Proll, told a joint news ⁠conference on Friday.

Proell added that draft legislation ‌would be drawn up by June. Cabinet members ⁠from Austria’s two other governing parties were also in attendance.

“We will ‌decisively protect children and young people in future from the negative effects of social media,” Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler of the Social Democrats said.

“We will no longer stand by and watch while these platforms make our children addicted and often also sick … The risks associated ⁠with this use were ignored for ⁠long enough, and now it is time to act,” he added.

Babler said the government would not list individual platforms the ban would apply to, but would ‌decide ‌based on how addictive their algorithms are and whether they include content such as “sexualised violence”.

The announcement comes days after a Los Angeles jury found Alphabet’s Google and Meta liable for $6m in damages in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit.

The case involved a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to the apps at a young age due to their platform design. Meta says it plans to appeal the decision.

Also on Friday, the United Kingdom advised parents of children under five to limit screen time to a maximum of one hour per day.

Similar to Austria, other nations in Europe and elsewhere have banned the use of social media for children.

In January, the French parliament voted in favour of banning children aged below 15 from social media, amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks.

Countries including the UK, Denmark, Spain and Greece are also studying a ban.

The European Parliament has called for the European Union to set minimum ages for children to ‌access social media, although it is up to member states to impose age limits.

POPULAR airline JET2 has launched its first flights from a major UK airport.

Jet2 flights to Tenerife and Alicante in Spain have taken off from London Gatwick, marking its first flights from the airport.

This summer, travellers can fly to 29 destinations with Jet2 from Gatwick, including the Canary Islands, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Cyprus.

And the airline won’t stop at the end of the season either, as for the winter season it will fly to 14 winter sun destinations, ideal for Brits wanting to escape the cold.

Jet2 will also fly to five ski destinations and four Christmas market spots over the winter period.

Looking ahead to next year, even more routes will be added.

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The airline’s routes will rise from 29 to 34 destinations including flights to Lesbos – a large island in Greece – which will operate weekly.

Lesbos is Greece’s third largest island and boasts a lot of history as well as sprawling olive groves.

For those flying from Gatwick with Jet2, there will be six aircraft including the new Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Jet2’s arrival at the UK’s second largest airport comes after increased demand, especially with travellers from the South East of England and marks the airline’s 14th base.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Today is an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2, as we welcome our first customers at London Gatwick and wave off our inaugural flight.

“After years of demand to come to London Gatwick, we are delighted to be bringing our award-winning service, recognised 11 years in a row by Which? as its recommended travel provider, to the UK’s largest beach and city leisure destination airport.

He added: “Since going on sale, we have experienced phenomenal demand from customers and independent travel agents, and we are looking forward to a hugely successful future from our newest UK airport base.”

The arrival of Jet2 at London Gatwick Airport is the airport’s largest airline launch in more than a decade.

Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Chief Executive, London Gatwick said: “Today’s inaugural Jet2 flights mark an exciting moment for London Gatwick and for passengers across the region.

“The launch of 29 new routes and the creation of more than 300 jobs demonstrate the strength of demand for travel from our airport and the confidence airlines have in London Gatwick as a place to grow.”

According to The Independent, Jet2 has been trying to get slots at Gatwick Airport for years and it was only when slots were freed up that the airline could move in, first announcing this four months ago.

In other flight news, easyJet has returned to a major UK airport after six years away and has announced 11 new routes.

Plus, how savvy Brits are bagging £449 return flights to Australia with clever £5 subscription service.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department is working on plans to put President Trump’s signature on all new U.S. paper currency, the agency announced Thursday.

The move would be a first for a sitting president. The news was first reported by Vanity Fair.

It’s the latest instance of Trump putting his name and likeness on American cultural institutions, following his renaming of the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Kennedy Center performing arts venue and a new class of battleships, among other tributes.

The plans come in tandem with an effort to get Trump’s face on a coin.

This month, a federal arts commission approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin bearing Trump’s image to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s signature would also appear on the currency, according to a Treasury news release.

Bessent said in a statement that “there is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country” than with U.S. dollar bills bearing Trump’s name.

U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement that printing Trump’s signature on the American currency “is not only appropriate, but also well deserved.”

The Mint, which is part of the Treasury Department, manufactures and distributes the currency.

Hussein writes for the Associated Press.

WETHERSPOONS has confirmed that more pubs are opening in Spain, after the success of their first in mainland Europe.

Last month, the famous pub chain opened its first pub outside of the UK at Alicante Airport.

Following this, two more pubs will now open at Barcelona-El Prat Airport in the capital city.

The first one will be at Terminal 1, set to open by September 2026.

This will be followed by a second at Terminal 2 by January 2027.

Passengers will have to go through security to drink at them as they are both airside rather than landside.

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Little else is known about the pubs, including what they will be called, but they will have space for almost 600 passengers.

You can get an early drink too – they’ll be open every day from 5am to 11pm, including real ale.

The menu is likely to be similar to the Alicante menu, which is mainly the British classics with a few Spanish dishes as well.

Drink prices haven’t been confirmed, although the also similar to the Spanish pub, beers are around £3.50.

Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin said: ” We are delighted to have secured two fantastic sites at Barcelona airport.

“In the short time since opening our pub at Alicante airport has proven popular with travellers and we are confident we can replicate that at our two new pubs in Barcelona.”

He added that they aim to open more pubs in mainland Europe in the next few years, particularly at airports.

The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski was one of the first to try the new Wetherspoons in Alicante, called Castell de Santa Barbara.

She explained: “The pub has pitched close to the gates for UK flights to draw in the near 650,000 Brits that pass through this airport monthly.

“Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the small space with light, while candy floss, glossy tiles give it a warm atmosphere.

“There’s a tea and coffee station in the corner, while behind the bar there’s not a whiff of scampi fries or Walkers in sight but instead European holiday favourite, Lays.

“This one boasts something that all other airport Wetherspoons do not, however – an outdoor terrace, where you can catch those last glimpses of Spanish sunshine before jetting off home to drizzly England.”

In the mean time, Spain is home to a dupe pub called Weatherspains, as well as 100 Montaditos which is dubbed the Spanish Wetherspoons.

Staying in the UK? Wetherspoons is also rolling out more pubs at a number of Haven holiday parks across the country.

A proposed gubernatorial forum hastily cobbled together in the hours after USC canceled its Tuesday debate fell apart because the candidates of color who were excluded from the previously planned event were unable to show up in person at KNBC-TV’s studio in Universal City, according to multiple sources.

Facing mounting pressure that its debate selection criteria excluded every candidate of color, the university canceled its debate late Monday. On Tuesday morning, billionaire Tom Steyer — a Democrat — proposed holding an alternative face-off, with KNBC moderating. But the candidates who had not been invited to the USC debate had already made other commitments.

“A lot of this came out of nowhere — there’s a debate and you’re not invited, followed by there’s no debate, and then maybe we should all hang out and have a conversation,” said Kyle Layman, a strategist advising former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

USC officials declined to comment on Tuesday’s developments — as did KABC-TV, one of the broadcast partners of the canceled debate. KNBC did not respond to a request for comment, but someone involved with planning a potential debate there said pulling together such an event in just a few hours was impossible, and also unfair to the candidates who had made other plans after initially being excluded from the USC debate.

“We looked into the possibility of doing something. It just wasn’t possible because of the last-minute logistics. It was not feasible,” said the person, who asked for anonymity to speak candidly. “We couldn’t get everybody here.”

The fact that the candidates excluded from the USC debate couldn’t find a way to participate in Tuesday evening’s alternative forum irritated some people involved in the planning, however. Becerra, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former state Controller Betty Yee had loudly protested not being invited to the USC event.

“This is like probably one of the last opportunities they have to be with other leading contenders of the race, so why not take this opportunity?” said someone who took part in conversations about the proposed last-minute debate, who asked for anonymity to speak openly. “If the whole thing is about bringing your message to the voters, making sure voters have as much information as possible, talking about the issues that matter, wouldn’t you want to take every opportunity to do that?

“If you’re going to talk a big game about taking your message to voters, the importance of debates, why not do it?” this person said.

Becerra, Thurmond, Villaraigosa and Yee have reportedly formed an informal pact not to participate in any debate that does not include all of them, which Yee referenced in a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

“The idea that none of the candidates of color are going to be joining a debate is just inappropriate for a state like California,” Yee said. “We also need to have a commitment from all of the debate sponsors that they will include all of us going forward.”

Yee and Thurmond were not invited to the next major televised debate, which will take place April 1 at Fresno State University. Becerra and Villaraigosa had previously confirmed their attendance, according to a news release from the Western Growers Assn., one of the event’s sponsors.

And all four candidates of color, along with San José Mayor Matt Mahan, were not invited to a debate on April 22 in San Francisco that will be hosted by KRON-TV and broadcast on Nexstar Media Group stations throughout California.

“We don’t need gatekeepers,” Mahan said in a statement Tuesday evening. “I’m calling on my fellow candidates to work together to organize our own debates — so we can take our ideas for a better California to every corner of California. Let’s let the voters truly decide.”

The scrapped USC debate was going to be hosted by the institution’s Dornsife Center for the Political Future and co-sponsored by KABC and Univision. Six candidates had been invited to participate: Democrats Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, Mahan and Steyer; along with the leading Republicans, conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Candidates and elected officials called the criteria used to determine participation in the debate biased because it included Mahan, a white candidate who is polling near the bottom of the pack but is supported by notable names in the USC community. Hours after the debate was canceled, Steyer’s campaign sought to create an alternate event that would include all of the candidates.

“We were trying to do the right thing upon learning that the debate was canceled at USC,” said a member of Steyer’s campaign who asked for anonymity to speak candidly. “Tom immediately was like, ‘We can do something alternative.’ People want to hear from the gubernatorial candidates. It was on the table. It was offered.

“NBC couldn’t get all the candidates here, but we tried,” this person said. “Given the short amount of time we were trying to put this together, it ultimately could not happen because not all the candidates could get to the studio.”

Thurmond, who was in Sacramento and Richmond on Tuesday, joined a political influencer on YouTube Tuesday evening, while Yee attended previously scheduled events with the East Area Progressive Democrats and a women’s group in the L.A. area. Villaraigosa had lined up other interviews at his Wilshire campaign office, Becerra was traveling, and Porter was scheduled to host a livestream on her Instagram account Tuesday evening.

March 24 (UPI) — The price of oil climbed back above $100 per barrel on Tuesday as hopes for de-escalation in the Iran war faded after Washington said the situation remained “fluid,” Tehran denied there had been any negotiations and a fire put a major Texas refinery out of action.

Claims by President Donald Trump of “major” progress in talks to halt the conflict on Monday sent oil prices tumbling and rallied stock markets, but benchmark Brent crude futures rebounded to more than $103 a barrel on Tuesday after the White House appeared to walk it back, saying no high-level formal meetings were scheduled and denying reports Vice President JD Vance may attend Pakistan-brokered talks.

“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the press. This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the BBC.

Iran has, however, acknowledged there had been some contact between the sides regarding talks, with an Iranian foreign ministry official telling CBS that the regime had “received points from the United States.”

“We received points from the United States through mediators and they are being reviewed,” said the official.

The confirmation came amid claim and counterclaim after Trump walked back an ultimatum to destroy Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure unless it allowed shipping to flow freely again through the Strait of Hormuz by Monday night.

Trump said he was giving Iran a five-day reprieve after “very good and productive” discussions with Tehran on Sunday and Monday but Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghlaibaf, who has been named as an interlocutor, described it as “fake news” and said there had been no talks.

With a blaze at the Velero Port Arthur refinery still burning after an explosion on Monday at the plant, 90 miles east of Houston, wholesale gasoline and diesel prices were up 10 cents and 16 cents per gallon, hikes Lipow Oil Associates president Andy Lipow said were due almost entirely to the incident, rather than the war.

The affected part of the plant makes diesel fuel and was likely to be out for an extended period, exerting pressure on diesel prices but gasoline production could come back online in the next few weeks as it was in a different area of the refinery, added Lipow who stressed he believed the incident was an accident and that there was no evidence of terrorist sabotage.

Analysts said the market remained fearful of the risk the Iran conflict could be an extended one with knock-on energy supply disruption impacts caused by associated strikes on critical energy production and storage facilities and shipping being unable to leave or enter the Persian Gulf.

“Despite the exuberance on Wall Street, ladies and gentlemen, oil is well off its lows after Tehran denied conducting any weekend negotiations with Washington,” Interactive Brokers senior economist Jose Torres wrote in a note.

“Additionally, in consideration of the vast number of attacks that have affected critical energy in the Middle East … there’s nervousness that there could be capacity and transportation disruptions that keep costs higher than at the beginning of the year even if there’s a deal,” added Torres.

Gulf oil-producing nations meet a large proportion of global oil and natural gas demand, about 20% of which — 20 million barrels a day — is exported on tankers that pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a natural chokepoint effectively closed by Iran since the United States and Israel launched their airborne offensive on Feb. 28.

The Dodgers’ rotation order is set for the first homestand of the season.

To round out the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, after Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound Thursday on opening day, he’ll be followed by Emmet Sheehan and Tyler Glasnow. Roki Sasaki is penciled in for Monday against the Cleveland Guardians, followed by Shohei Ohtani on March 31.

Off days on Sunday and April 2 make it possible for the Dodgers to give all their pitchers at least five days’ rest between their first and second starts without needing a sixth starter.

Left-hander Justin Wrobleski is pegged to be that additional starter when the schedule features less frequent days off. In the meantime, he’ll be available to throw multiple innings out of the bullpen.

After starting the season for the Dodgers in Tokyo last year, Yamamoto is looking forward to opening day at Dodger Stadium.

“It’s going to be a different game, and with a different atmosphere,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “And then we’re coming off the championship year, then this is the first time I’ll be pitching in front of the Dodgers fans [since then].”

Yamamoto, who was on the mound for the final out of the 2025 season, hasn’t pitched at Dodger Stadium since Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sheehan claimed a regular spot in the rotation after returning last June from Tommy John surgery rehab. He had a 2.82 earned-run average through 15 appearances last season.

“I was maybe throwing bullpens right now a year ago,” Sheehan said after his last spring start. “So it’s definitely nice. That’s the main thing, to have my health. Grateful for that every time.”

Sheehan wrapped up Cactus League play with a 5.91 ERA in three starts, but he was encouraged by the progress he made in syncing up his delivery.

Glasnow capped his strong spring with five innings of one-run baseball against the Angels on Sunday.

“When everything’s lined up and feeling good … I think a lot of the other stuff follows,” Glasnow said. “And I was just able to go out and be myself.”

He recorded 11 strikeouts against the Angels, leaning on his curveball as his putaway pitch. It generated a 72% whiff rate, according to Statcast.

“Having my curveball feel so good, I kind of just leaned on it,” Glasnow said. “I’m sure things will change in-season, game to game. But tonight, it was a pretty obvious game plan for me.”

Monty Don has gone under the knife and admits he will need to do it again in 2027 as he opens up about his future with Gardeners’ World and retirement plans

Monty Don has spoken of his “painful” recovery from a knee replacement in October that briefly slowed the Gardeners’ World host. The broadcaster and horticulturist went under the knife shortly after he turned 70 last Summer.

Looking back he says: “I was finding by the end of a day’s filming I could barely walk upstairs and I certainly couldn’t take the dogs for a walk. It was severely limiting what I was doing. I did it so I could keep on working because it was getting to the point where filming was cutting round me limping.

“However you do it, a knee replacement is horribly painful. But three months on I’m gardening again and haven’t walked with a stick for a month. Sarah says I’ve been doing far too much stuff, but it’s fine and going to plan – though it can be inexplicably painful one day and then not at all another. At some point, I’m going to have to do the other one – but only when I can fit it in, probably late 2027.”

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As well as planning his next new knee, the good news for his fans is Monty is also in discussions to continue hosting on screen Gardeners’ World until at least 2028.

Although speaking to Saga Magazine, he admits he may be closer to the end of his run than the beginning now, having been on the show since 2003, with a break between 2008 and 2011.

“I hope I’m continuing, but as I come up to the end of every contract, I seriously consider how it fits the rest of my life.” He ponders. “And each time, it’s come down fairly and squarely that I’d like to continue. But there will come a time when either they’ll say, ‘No, thanks’ or I’ll say, ‘It’s time for a change’. But neither of us, as far as I know, has reached that point yet.”

Almost all of his TV filming is done at his Herefordshire home Longmeadow, which the father-of-three shares with his wife Sarah and their two dogs; golden retriever Ned and Yorkshire terrier Patti.

“Longmeadow has a dual personality,’ admits Monty. “The compatibility between a private domestic garden for all the family and one that works for television is at best a fine line and at worst an impossible line to tread. Everything we do is heavily influenced by filming. I’m often working on the programme seven days a week and when we’re filming, it’s a place of work at every level.”

So whilst that level of work maybe ok for now, it seems there will come a time when he wants to do a bit less. Retirement completely is not on the cards though.

“I genuinely don’t know what retirement would look like. I don’t play golf or tennis, and I can’t see myself doing the crossword all day. Whenever I say to Sarah, ‘Well, thank God, I have no addictions’, she rolls her eyes and says, ‘You are completely addicted to work!’.”

Monty is also well known for being a dog lover with his faithful hounds on screen. He has lost three of his dogs in recent years – Nigel then Nellie who died in 2020 and 2023 – then Peggy who died on 24 January but thinks he is ‘good for one more at least’.

He said: “She[Peggy] was 16, very old, so while it was sad, somehow it was the right thing. She was completely deaf, 90% blind, and walking round and round in circles. So we’re down to just two dogs, Ned and Patti, the lowest number for a long time. Although I’m sure it will go up again, as there’s talk of more. I think I’m good for one more dog, at least.

“I’ve always said the deal with dogs is one of you is going to die, and with ageing it’s more likely to be you. But of course, the dog won’t care particularly, I think we completely romanticise that. They’re absolutely callous.”

* The full interview with Monty Don is in April’s Saga Magazine.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

A perfect storm involving three U.S. Navy aircraft carriers highlights the strain on the fleet amid an ongoing war in the Middle East and tensions in Asia. One of the carriers was damaged by a fire, another just saw its service life extended for the second time, while a third had its delivery pushed back until 2027. Though a Navy official told The War Zone there is no connection between the fire and service life extension, taken in concert these events show how difficult it is to build, operate and maintain the huge and expensive nuclear warships, especially when their deployments or service lives are pushed past anticipated timelines.

On March 12, a fire broke out in the laundry area of the USS Gerald R. Ford while underway in the Middle East, injuring two sailors. Though officials initially said the damage was minor, the vessel is now heading to Souda Bay in Crete for repairs, according to USNI, taking it out of war against Iran. On Monday, The New York Times reported that the fire took more than 30 hours to extinguish and left more than 600 sailors “bunking down on floors and tables.”

It is unclear how long the Ford’s repairs will take, but it leaves only one carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, on station as the war drags into its 18th day with no immediate end in sight.

The fire was the latest of the Ford’s woes during what has become a 10-month-long deployment that has twice been extended and would set a post-Vietnam War record by mid-April unless it is sent out of theater. The previous record, at 294 days, was set by the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2020. However, a military official told the Times that the Pentagon recognizes that the Ford is reaching the limits of its deployment length. He added that the USS George H.W. Bush is preparing to deploy to the Middle East and will probably relieve the Ford. CENTCOM declined to comment when we asked for additional details.

As we previously reported, the Ford experienced sewage issues prior to deploying to the Middle East from the Caribbean, the latter of which is where it played a big role in the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Even before that, Adm. Daryl Caudle, the Chief of Naval Operations, was so concerned in January about the condition of the ship and its crew and the scheduled repairs it would miss that he said he would “push back” on any order to extend its deployment.

Typical carrier deployments last about six to eight months, a period designed to ensure the ships can maintain readiness and the crews do not get worn out. When that doesn’t happen, it creates a cascading series of problems that affect not just the ships and crews, but the facilities that have scheduled repairs and lined up workers to make them happen.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the last carrier to make an extended deployment, has seen its planned maintenance extended for a half year and counting as a result of the additional strain of being away from its home port for so long. The Navy’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget shows that work on the ship was supposed to have been completed last July, but it is still unfinished. The lack of availability reverberates across the rest of the fleet. That in turn limits the options commanders have when planning or preparing for contingencies and puts the overall carrier availability plan out of whack.

The Ford already was going to require an extended refurbishment before the fire, now that could be extended much longer. You can read much more about the problems created by deferred carrier maintenance via extended deployments in our deep dive into the issue here.

Meanwhile, the aircraft USS Nimitz, the Navy’s oldest operational carrier, has seen its service life extended for the second time.

“USS Nimitz‘ (CVN 68) service life has since been extended to March 2027,” the Navy said in a statement. “Accordingly, the U.S. Navy plans to inactivate the ship in 2027.”

On March 13, the Navy signed a $95.7 million contract with Huntington Ingalls Inc. “for advance planning and long-lead-time material procurement to prepare and make ready for the accomplishment of the inactivation and defueling of USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 2027.”

The news of the extension broke after the carrier departed Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington on March 7 to head to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia as part of a scheduled homeport shift prior to decommissioning, according to Breaking Defense, the first to report the change in the Nimitz’s plans. The Nimitz was initially scheduled to be taken out of service in April of 2025, but that was extended to May of 2026.

It is unclear if the Nimitz will deploy before it will be finally inactivated, but it is no longer assigned an air wing.

However, the decision to keep the ship in service until 2027 coincides with the delivery of the future USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford class carrier, being pushed back until then. 

The Kennedy’s “delivery date shifted from July 2025 to March 2027 (preliminary acceptance TBD) to support completion of Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) certification and continued Advanced Weapons,” a Navy official told us in December.

Federal law requires the Navy to keep at least 11 carriers in the fleet. We’ve asked the Navy if there is a connection between the Nimitz extension and the Kennedy’s delivery delay and will update this story wtih any pertinent information provided.

The Navy announced that the Kennedy completed Builder’s Sea Trials (BST) at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, in Newport News, Virginia, Feb. 4. BSTs provide an opportunity to test ship systems and components at sea for the first time, and make required adjustments prior to additional underway testing.

The current status of the Ford, Nimitz and Kennedy shows the jenga-like nature of trying to meet the needs of commanders while maintaining the condition of ships and crews and adhering to federal law. All of this, of course, is in flux. Given that America is in a new war with an uncertain future, there could be further shockwaves to the Navy’s plans for its carrier fleet.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

WORK is set to restart on a disused lido in Cumbria – two years after it was originally set to reopen.

The Grade-II listed lido in Grange-over-Sands has been closed since 1993, but could welcome back locals as soon as this summer.

The pool on the promenade in Grange-over-Sands first opened in 1932 and is the only surviving seaside lido in the north of England.

In 1993 the lido closed because of low usage and rising repair costs.

Work then began in 2023 with £6.8million worth of funding to restore the site with an initial opening timeframe of just 14 months.

The opening date was delayed but work continued – during this time there was an upgrade to the pavilion building and an accessible entrance from the promenade was created.

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The changing rooms have been upgraded, and work to the roof and terraces has been completed, so have security upgrades, cleaning, and decoration.

A new play area on-site has already been built and work to the diving board has been completed.

However, work was paused in May 2025 after problems with concrete at the site were discovered.

Now, it’s set to restart in April 2026, with Westmorland and Furness Council saying it hopes the site will be open at the end of this summer.

In its initial opening, it won’t be used as a lido.

There is a temporary infill of the pool and the site will be used as a public space before phase two of the restoration begins.

On the Save Grange Lido website, it explains: “There’s to be a 25m 6 lane pool with a depth of 1.35m which can be used for County Level competition and training, a smaller, shallower 13m pool (0.9m deep) and a paddling pool or splash pad.”

Locals have been vocal in wanting the outdoor lido to reopen for swimming.

In 2011, the lido was granted Grade-II listed status and in the same year, the Save Grange Lido group was formed.

18,000 people signed a petition calling on the council to include the reopening of the pool in any plans to restore the lido site.

Here’s another English seaside town’s beachfront lido that is set to reopen this summer despite fears of closure.

And this popular English seaside town reveals plans for huge £4.5million makeover.

A SEAFRONT attraction has taken a major step closer to being restored to its former glory.

The seaside town of Worthing is looking to save its lido – but it could come at a cost of £4.5million.

Worthing Lido sits right on the front of the town’s beach minutes from its popular art deco pier.

It was once a popular seawater swimming pool between 1957 and 1988.

And it might be making a comeback as the local council has said it will commit £1.29million towards the first step of its redevelopment.

Councillor Sophie Cox, leader of the council, said: “The community has made it clear how much the lido means to them and that they want us to invest in it for the decades to come.

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“We’re determined to make that a reality.

“Using more than £1m from the Community Infrastructure Levy shows our commitment to turning plans into action, but we know that more is needed to cover even the least expensive substructure solution.”

The funding marks the first time ever that a cash sum has been set aside for the former lido.

While the £1.29million will cover initial works, there are predictions that the work will cost at least £4.5 million.

The lido on Worthing Beach was originally built as a bandstand in 1925 and was used as a performing space for 30 years.

In 1957, the space was converted into an unheated swimming pool.

It was a popular spot for swimmers up through into the 1980s.

In 1988, Worthing Lido was even used as a temporary home to dolphins from Brighton Sealife Centre.

The dolphins were relocated to the lido while their permanent enclosure at the Sealife Centre was undergoing renovations.

In 1989 the pool was covered over and the site transformed into an entertainment centre.

It’s now home to a cafe, arcade, and is occasionally used as an event space.

For more on lidos, here are all of the new ones set to open across the UK from seafront pools to city swimming spots.

And here’s one English seaside town’s beachfront lido which will reopen this summer despite fears of closure.

A MEDITERRANEAN destination nicknamed ‘the land of jasmine’ will soon have an even bigger airport with space for millions more passengers.

Plans have been revealed to expand and modernise Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunisia, Africa as it aims to quadruple its passenger numbers in just five years.

The airport – which is the 10th busiest in Africa – will undergo a major £743million makeover over the next five years.

The country’s Transport Ministry shared that the plans will include building a new passenger terminal as well as the existing terminal being renovated.

Between the two terminals, the Transport Ministry aims to increase passenger numbers from five million people per year to 18.5million passengers by 2031.

There will also be a new technical building and the air traffic control tower will be upgraded.

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Some reports suggest that the broader project will involve adding VIP lounges as well.

In addition, the Transport Ministry hopes that it will improve connectivity placing Tunisia as a gateway to the Mediterranean with links to Africa, Europe and emerging destinations.

The upgrade could also pave the way for new airline partnerships and flight routes.

News of the makeover follows original plans for building a new airport being put on hold.

Known as ‘the land of jasmine’ for its use of jasmine flowers in festivals, cultural traditions and perfumes, Tunisia takes about three hours to fly to from the UK.

And flights in April are as cheap as £30 one-way.

The capital and main city to visit is Tunis.

The Sun’s Deputy Digital TV Editor Jill Robinson recently visited the city and said: “Winding my way through narrow streets, the smell of jasmine and mint tea fills the air as I pass craftsmen, locals doing their shopping and an abundance of cats.

“It would have been easy to think I was in the souks of Marrakech, but I’m in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.

“While its Medina is not as chaotic as its Moroccan counterpart, the historic streets bustle with locals selling their wares as tourists like me squeeze through.

“From traditional clothing to jewellery, perfume to sweet treats, there’s any amount of treasures to be found just as long as you’re prepared to haggle.

“The Medina was built around the big mosque — nicknamed the Olive Tree Mosque due to the trees there in the 8th century — but it is also home to 100 smaller mosques.

“While Tunisia is an Islamic country, its history and influences are vast — including Arab, Andalucian, Turkish and Berber — and are visible to see as you take in the colourful arched doorways, former palaces and humble homes.

“On a day trip from my hotel, I learned about the rich culture of Tunis and the ancient ruins of Carthage, whose most famous son Hannibal (of elephants fame) became one of history’s most celebrated generals and took on the might of the Roman Empire in the Second Punic War.”

If you fancy a beach day, head to La Marsa where you will find a number of calm beaches, with cosy cafes and crystal clear waters.

Nearby, you can also head to the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said, which sits on a clifftop and is often compared to Santorini in Greece.

There’s Djerba Island as well, which is loved for its sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife.

The temperature can reach up to 20C in March and 22C in April, making it the ideal destination to grab a bit of warmth while the UK remains around 10C.

Nouvelair Tunisie offers direct flights from London Gatwick to Tunis-Carthage Airport and Tunisair offers direct flights from both London Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

In other airport news, a closed UK airport reveals latest plans to finally reopen after 12 years.

Plus, a major UK airport is getting a new £30million upgrade with more shops, seating and even a ‘hidden speakeasy bar’.

The war in Iran has put a spanner in the works for travel plans with many countries now off-limits – here are six replacement destinations for people looking to change their March getaway

There have been many knock-on effects of the Iran war which ignited a week ago. While no means the most important, a disruption to travel plans has been one factor to consider.

Parts of the Middle East have been popular with British tourists, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The cities offer almost year-round sunshine, incredible hotels and luxury breaks that entice UK tourists to snap up trips in their droves.

Those destinations, along with a host of other hotspots in the Middle East and Mediterranean, are now effectively no-go zones, at least temporarily.

Fortunately travel writer Annabelle Thorpe has compiled a list of six possible destinations to book your holiday to instead.

Athens

The expert recommends swapping Cyprus for the iconic Greek capital. Athens is pretty quiet in March which means the famous Acropolis and the Parthenon are likely to be virtually crowd-free.

March is considered ‘shoulder season’ in Athens with fewer crowds and more pleasant temperatures as the mercury normally hovers around 16-17C.

There are direct flights from five airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City – with a range of carriers including easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air.

Seville

If you had a trip to Istanbul in the pipeline, Annabelle says consider going to Seville instead. The city in the south of Spain is famed for its Moorish palace, Gothic cathedrals and flamenco dancing.

Seville enjoys daytime highs of around 22C in March, making for a cool contrast before the stifling summer heat. Visitors can also enjoy the blooming orange trees and the preparations for the Easter festivities.

Most London airports as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh offer direct flights to the city.

Tunis

If Amman, the capital of Jordan, was on your travel list, the expert suggests making a beeline for Tunis instead. The ancient city, the capital of modern day Tunisia, offers an incredible blend of Mediterranean charm, French colonial history and Arab heritage.

It also boasts a UNESCO-listed medina along with the ancient ruins of Carthage. Daytime highs in the city are a pleasant 20C.

Direct flights depart from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, with Tunisair the main carrier.

Marrakech

Annabelle recommends trading in the UAE’s glitzy malls for a spot of shopping in Marrakech’s world famous medina instead. It’s a great spot to shop for cashmere shawls, handmade jewellery, antiques, spices and much more.

Away from the hectic souks, there is Jardin Majorelle, a one-hectare botanical landscape garden, and the bustling Jemaa El Fna Square. Temperatures can reach a pretty steamy 25C in March but many riads have pools to allow their visitors to cool off.

Several airports fly direct to the Moroccan city, including major London hubs and Manchester, Birmingham and John Lennon Airport in Liverpool among others.

Gran Canaria

Bodrum has long been popular with Brits seeking winter or early spring sun. But with its proximity to the war zone, Annabelle called on tourists to try out Gran Canaria instead.

The island is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands. March highs reach around 22C, but the sun-drenched beaches along with the duty-free shopping and nightlife make it a rival for Turkey’s holiday resorts.

Over 15 airports offer direct flights to the island’s capital Las Palmas, including London’s hubs and Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Bristol.

Nice

One of the big draws of Dubai is its city-beach combination. Many British tourists enjoy soaking up the sun before enjoying some shopping. The travel expert puts forward Nice, on the French Riviera, as an alternative to the popular UAE city.

The Promenade des Anglais sweeps along a four-mile stretch of seafront, and that couples with the open-air bars and restaurants make for a heady mix.

You can catch direct flights from most London hubs along with Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Wizz Air has announced that it’s received approval to operate flights between the UK and USA with its first flights set to take off in the summer in time for the World Cup

Budget airline Wizz Air has confirmed it now has “regulatory approval” to operate flights to the United States. The airline, who currently offer routes from the UK to destinations such as Poland, Turkey, Italy, and Romania, will offer the flights for football fans visiting the USA for the 2026 World Cup.

The airline confirmed it will now offer tailored charter flights to groups from teams to supporters and tour operators who are organising group travel to the USA. It confirmed that charter enquiries for summer travel are now open.

However, the airline also clarified that it has “no intention or plans to launch regular commercial flights to the US” but that “the new authorization represents a significant achievement and reflects months of preparation, regulatory coordination, and operational planning.”

So, while individuals won’t be able to book onto scheduled services, those who are travelling with large groups, organising a tour, or travellers looking for a private travel experience will be able to charter a transatlantic flight with Wizz Air.

Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK, said in a statement: “This is a proud and exciting day for everyone at our airline,” said . “Receiving approval to operate between the UK and the United States is a huge milestone for our company. It opens the door to incredible opportunities, particularly for European football teams and supporters travelling across the Atlantic this summer.

“We are ready to deliver exceptional charter experiences and bring fans closer to the action in the United States.”

England’s first fixture is set for June 17 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, meaning many football fans are likely to descend on the Texas city to watch the big game. Its other group games are England vs Ghana, set for June 23 in Boston, and Panama vs England on June 27 in New York.

Scotland’s World Cup fixtures are set for June 14 when they take on Haiti in Boston, followed by another match in the city against Morocco on June 19. The team will then head to Miami for Scotland vs Brazil on June 24.

Wales and Northern Ireland are yet to secure their places in the World Cup as both teams are still in the qualifying stages. In addition to fixtures across the USA, some matches will also be held in Canada and Mexico who are joint hosts.

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However, seeing the matches in person is likely to be an expensive undertaking. Tickets for group stage games range from $100 to $575 (about £75 to £431), although FIFA has announced a very limited number of £45 tickets to each game. A seat at the July 19 final, which will take place in New Jersey, will be especially costly. Tickets bought at face value range from $2,030 to $6,370, about £1,500 to £4,800, with resellers no doubt charging even more.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

A DUTCH theme park with six themed lands has announced a £78million makeover – and most Brits won’t have hear of it.

Toverland amusement park in the Netherlands is planning a massive transformation that will allow guests to stay onsite for the first time.

Located in the town of Sevenum – about 40 minutes from the city of Eindhoven – over the coming years the park will carry out several new projects.

The first focus will be new permanent accommodation for guests – something the park doesn’t currently have – in Ithaka, which is a land based on ancient Greece.

There are also plans to build a new attraction on the site of the park’s Maximus’ Blitz Bahn ride, although little else is know about it at the moment.

Port Laguna, which is the Mediterranean-themed entrance to the park and the central hub, is also set to get its first ride which will be a large-scale dark ride.

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The theme park has already started building the Clubhuis which will be a new office space for employees.

According to Blooloop, a spokesperson for the park said: “Toverland is constantly evolving, as are the exact details of the various projects.

“We will therefore announce more information at a later date.”

The theme park is made up of six themed areas in total including Avalon, Port Laguna, Magische Vallei, Ithaka, Wunderwald and Land van Toos.

Across these areas there are around 40 attractions and shows.

Avalon has a medieval theme throughout, with a family drop-tower ride, water playground and winged rollercoaster.

Magische Vallei is all about magic and in this land you will find a water ride, launch rollercoaster and a spinning rollercoaster.

In the land of Ithaka, which is based on ancient Greece, there is a wooden rollercoaster and swing boat ride.

As the central hub, Port Laguna appears like a harbour town with a main promenade past souvenir shops and restaurants.

This is also the land where most of the interactive experiences and shows take place.

The land of Wunderwald is then both indoors and outdoors and based on an adventure through Austria‘s mountains.

Rides include a log flume ride, a fun house and an electric bobsled run.

Last but not least, Land van Toos is an indoor playground that inspires imaginative play with rollercoasters for smaller children, interactive experiences and a climbing mountain.

Across the park a number of shows take place each day.

Starting from April 18, there will be the ‘Epic battle for the Pearl’, which features a large pirate ship with a pool where the pirates jump and dive into, from a height of 25 metres.

There’s also Katara – a magical water fountain show – with music and lights.

The theme park is currently only open at the weekends and on Wednesdays but from March 28 it will be open everyday 10am to 6pm.

Off-peak tickets usually cost €43 (£37.35) per adult and child over 140cm tall and peak tickets then cost €44.50 (£38.65).

Though, these prices are reduced to €37.50 (£32.57), if you book online more than seven days in advance.

For children between 90cm and 140cm tall, tickets cost €36 (£31.27) but if you book online more than seven days in advance this price drops to €29 (£25.19).

Children under 90cm tall then go free, as do anyone who is celebrating their birthday on the day of visiting.

The easiest way to get to Toverland is by flying to Eindhoven.

The cheapest flights to Eindhoven from the UK include from London Stansted for £14 one-way or Manchester for £15 one-way.

Then it takes about 40 minutes to drive from Eindhoven Airport to Toverland theme park.

In other theme park news, you can get a year’s free entry to 20 of UK’s top theme parks and attractions for less than cost of one chocolate bar a week.

Plus, a UK theme park is getting the world’s first Hey Duggee themed hotel rooms this year.

PLANS to build a new railway station and more than 1,000 homes on the site of an apocalyptic bunker have been unveiled.

The proposals include building a range of affordable housing, shops, a secondary school, health centre and train station on the site of a former RAF base.

Part of a large housing development at Alconbury Weald in  Huntingdonshire, the new community will sit on top of a sprawling nuclear bunker, built in 1988.

RAF Alconbury was an active airbase from 1938 up to 1995, surviving attacks from Luftwaffe during World War Two.

The construction of the bunker began in the 1980s with the site “designed to withstand a direct nuclear attack”.

Sitting on a bed of gravel, the bunker is made of steel and reinforced concrete – costing £50 million to construct.

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One purpose of the site was to secretly analyse data collected by spy planes during the Cold War.

Blast-proof guillotine doors divide a number of corridors inside, and further underground is a power plant and communications hub with an entire wall filled with buttons and dials.

Already 6,000 new build homes now surround the former military base and bunker after a major development which saw the first residents set up home in 2020.

The developer, Urban&Civic, now plan to expand the Cambridgeshire by building more houses and new railway station, which has been backed by Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Mike Jenner, Development Manager from Urban&Civic, said: “Phase 4 has an important role to play in the delivery of Alconbury Weald, connecting green spaces and key infrastructure.

“The design of Phase 4 ensures walking, cycling and public transport links connect to the wider site seamlessly, and supports the aspirations of our local transport partners to progress a rail station, which will benefit many.”

In homage to the area’s history dedicated green space has been named Runway Park, which the proposed plans include adding “pockets of play space near a water body” to.

ANNA and Mandi Vakili admit they’re desperate to reveal their boyfriends’ identities after years of using nicknames to keep them secret.

The Sisters in the City podcast hosts’ other halves have been shielded from the public eye, with Anna referring to her man as ‘Cowslick’ while Mandi’s fella is known as ‘Gingerbeard’.

Neither had any say in the moniker they were given, and the girls admit they hate them.

But it might just be a matter of time before the pseudonyms are discarded.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Anna, 35, says: “I’m just so ready to put his face out there now.

“I just feel like this whole hiding his face has become such a long and annoying… like my poor editor has to keep blurring his face out in the YouTube vlogs and I want to take cute pictures with him and put it on my Instagram and I can’t do that, so I’m like maybe I’m past the stage of hiding his face.

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Mandi, 34, adds: “I feel like the nickname though is kind of a comedic side of it and it’s stuck now. I love my boyfriend having a nickname. It just makes all of the serious stuff a little less serious when I’m calling him Gingerbeard.”

Chiming back in, Anna says: “But the only problem I have is that my boyfriend hates his nickname Cowslick, he’s really like recently he’s trying to like protest against his nickname.”

Her sister playfully jokes: “He has no choice though, he’s got no legal rights.”

It was four years ago that the girls came up with the names as they launched their podcast, which has grown massively and now has 108,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Initially, it was the boyfriends who were desperate to avoid any mention on the pod, and that was before listening figures began to soar.

They settled on the names to highlight parts of their appearance that differed from one another.

There have been ups and downs in Anna’s on/off relationship during that time, which she admits has had “toxic” moments, though things are currently going smoothly.

Last week, she bravely shared her most personal story to date, revealing she suffered a miscarriage just days after discovering she was pregnant. It was met by widespread support and praise from listeners who were moved by the story, as was Mandi beside her sibling in the studio.

Meanwhile, Mandi’s relationship has been stable throughout, with the odd bicker coming on holiday or off the back of pranks and other media appearances.

Reflecting on the early days of the podcast and deciding how much personal information to share, Anna says: “At the beginning there was arguments,” says Anna.

Mandi continues: “When it was like we were becoming really popular and everyone was starting to know that we’re talking, their friends and their community, then they were causing a scene about ‘we don’t want to be talked about’, and now are they have given up. They accept it now.”

She continues: “I’ve been thinking about this reveal, but it needs to be major. You know what, I thought about a really good reveal would be like come to our next tour because we’re going to do a Gingerbeard and Cowslick reveal on stage and sell tickets at the same time.”

While their other halves’ faces might be under wraps for now, Mandi and Anna’s certainly aren’t.

The duo have teamed up with Adored.by to create their own brow and lip edit so fans can replicate their flawless aesthetic.

The new range follows a previous release with beauty influencer Lottie Tomlinson, which the girls were a big fan of.

Anna says: “We liked how they tailor the collection to the influencer so it’s not like we just put our name on the product. It’s inspired by us, our podcast, our personality, our makeup looks, so it’s just literally us in a makeup brand.”

Mandi says: “We knew it was going to be like really unique and it wasn’t going to be the same as other ranges they do because they want influencers to create an edit which reflects them and their brand so that’s what Adored by has done with us right now.

“All of the products, the shade, the names, all of them have been chosen and tailored by us, so it’s really exciting.”

She called the importance of good brows and lips “game-changing” an said it could take a 10 out of 10 looker down to a two if not styled correctly, and vice versa.

The girls were committed to putting out products that they personally use and this is reflected in their combo kits.

Mandi says: “We chose shades that we love, you know there are so many shades and everybody likes a different shade but we chose Anna’s lip kit, my lip kit, is our sort of go-to and we always get asked like what’s your lip combo?

She continues: “They say men always notice a woman’s lips so lips are very important.”

But perfection isn’t the goal for the girls, it’s rather about feeling comfortable in your appearance whatever the situation or style.

Anna says: “I feel because of our podcast we’re quite relaxed attitude, because like what’s perfect? I think like that’s so like old news now, people like to relate to people that are real.”

“We love glamming up, we love doing our makeup but we’re in tracksuits on podcast.”

Mandi says: “When you do a podcast you’re just sort of in like an environment, you’re in a kind of dynamic where we’re sitting on a sofa gossiping together, we’re not like catwalk supermodels.

“People want to see the real us, they don’t want to see perfect looking two girls, they just want to see like two real people, but I feel like there’s a balance between being content with how you look but also wanting to glam up and do your makeup, put your heels on and get going.

“At the moment we’re just adorned by Adored By, you know, so we’re really excited about the launch and showing everyone how we do our lips and brows with these products.”

Anna and Mandi have collaborated with Adored.by on the newest makeup edit now available to shop on www.adoredby.com 

Secretary of state says he hopes Iranian people would overthrow regime as US military says six service members killed.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested that a planned Israeli attack against Iran determined the timing of Washington’s assault against the government in Tehran.

The United States’ top diplomat told reporters on Monday that Washington was aware that Israel was going to attack Iran, and that Tehran would retaliate against US interests in the region, so American forces struck pre-emptively.

“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t pre-emptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio said.

The US secretary of state’s comments came minutes before the US military confirmed that its death toll from the conflict has risen to six after recovering two bodies from a regional facility struck by Iran.

Tehran retaliated against the joint US-Israeli attacks that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, several top officials and hundreds of civilians with drone and missile launches across the region, including against American bases and assets in the Gulf.

Rubio’s assertion highlights the Israeli role in bringing about the war, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been seeking for years.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said the attacks on Iran are happening with the assistance of his “friend”, US President Donald Trump.

“This coalition of forces allows us to do what I have yearned to do for 40 years,” the Israeli prime minister said in a video message.

For his part, Rubio told reporters on Monday that an attack on Iran had to happen because Tehran was amassing missiles and drones that it would have used to protect its nuclear programme and acquire an atomic bomb.

Israel and the US launched the war less than 48 hours after a round of talks between American and Iranian officials over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Rubio said the goal of the war is to destroy Iran’s missile and drone programmes, but stressed the US would welcome ending the current ruling system in Tehran.

“We would not be heartbroken, and we hope that the Iranian people can overthrow this government and establish a new future for that country. We would love for that to be possible,” he said.