ONE of Spain‘s most popular airports with Brits is getting a multi-million pound upgrade in time for the nextsummerholidays.
Palma de Mallorca Airport is undergoing a massive modernisation project.
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Palma de Mallorca Airport is getting a multi-million pound upgradeCredit: GettyNew passport gates have been introducedCredit: Palma de Mallorca Airport
Costing €500million (£440million), one of the biggest upgrades is the new security area which has 44 check in lines.
It also has new state-of-the-art equipment so it means you can leave your electronics and liquids in your hand luggage.
Just make sure they are still under 100ml each as those rules are still in place.
Both Module A and Module D have been upgraded, with the former having a new retail area and walkways linking the terminals, as well as more departure gates.
This also includes 40 new digital passport gates for departing passengers.
Other upcoming changes include upgraded check in counters to allow space for more passengers, as well as more baggage reclaim belts and security checkpoints.
And a new retail area with shops, bars and restaurants is in the works as well, which connects Modules A, B, C and D.
The works are expected to continue until the end of next year, although most of the tourist-facing upgrades will be finished before the summer season.
Aena’s vice-chairman Javier Marín said around 70 per cent of the project is currently complete.
Palma de Mallorca Airport welcomes more than 30million passengers a year, with a record 33.3million last year.
And new flights have launched to the airport this year, including from Glasgow Airport with British Airways and from Leeds with easyJet.
Earlier this year, Ryanair also revealed a huge £1.2billion investment in the airport, with 80 new routes this summer.
The EES system will also be rolled out at Palma Airport this month on November 19.
It’s not the only Spanish airport undergoing a major upgrade as part of a €13bn (£11.3bn) investment plan across the country.
It’s time to resume your island getaway — and possibly incur more virtual debt. (We see you, Tom Nook.)
Nintendo announced Thursday that its cozy social sim “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is getting a Switch 2 upgrade. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition,” which will offer improved visuals, mouse controls, an in-game megaphone that uses the console’s built-in microphone and multiplayer enhancements, will be released Jan. 15.
In addition to allowing players to experience the game in 4K when playing on their TV, the upgraded edition of “New Horizons” will enable them to utilize the mouse controls on the Joy-Con 2 controller when redecorating their homes, creating custom designs and writing messages on the bulletin board.
The megaphone, which will be available at Nook’s Cranny, can be used to locate fellow villagers by calling out their names. “New Horizons” players also will be able to play online with up to 12 other Switch 2 edition players and use a webcam.
A free update for all “Animal Crossings: New Horizons” players, regardless of console, will also be available Jan. 15. This will include access to a new resort opening on the pier, which will allow players to decorate guest rooms and purchase new items at a souvenir shop. The update will also see the “Animal Crossing” world’s familiar grumpy mole, Resetti, offering a “reset service” to clean up a player’s island.
Other offerings include the option for players to upgrade their home storage to hold up to 9,000 items — including trees, shrubs and flowers — and the ability for Nintendo Switch Online members to design and save up to three islands that they can collaborate on with friends online. New Nintendo-themed goods, including playable classic Nintendo console games, and Lego items also will be available within the game through the update.
Released in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch console, “Animal Crossing: New Horizon” became a balm during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering players a way to connect and be social during quarantine and uncertain times. The fifth main installment of the “Animal Crossing” franchise would go on to become one of the best-selling Switch games ever.
THE UK’s biggest indoor tropical waterpark is about to get even better.
The new owners of the enormous attraction in Staffordshire have promised ‘upgrades’ and ‘grand plans’ coming as soon as next month.
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Waterworld Aqua Park has indoor pools, slides and river rapidsCredit: Waterworld Leisure ResortThe indoor waterpark is tropical and always around 30C, even in the colder months
Earlier this year, Waterworld Leisure Limited and Waterworld Leisure Group Limited was bought in a multi-million pound sale by a European company, Looping Group.
Waterworld’s managing director Wayne Goodall said: “Recent years have seen big changes at the resort, and we are all excited about this new phase. With the new owners, we will bring experience, quality and security to the next level.
“Waterworld itself has already had a total overhaul of its Water’s Edge Restaurant, focusing on a new, high-quality menu and a reorganised, speed-of-service system to give our guests more time in the pool and less time queuing for their lunch.
“There are significant upgrade plans for the pool hall installations this November too and guests will start to see lots of improvements for themselves, very quickly, and grander plans are also in the pipeline.”
Waterworld has 30 different rides and attractions including Thunderbolt, the UK’s first trap door drop waterslide, of course there’s a main pool and river rapids too.
The Space Bowl is another popular one, where visitors are thrown around a “UFO” before ending up in the splash pool beneath.
Other rides include Nucleus – a water rollercoaster – as well as Stormchaser and Cyclone.
It’s not all about pools though as The Waterworld Leisure Resort also has Adventure MiniGolf with two 18-hole, tiki-themed mini golf courses, and M Club Spa and gym.
In 2024, £13million was spent on behind-the-scenes upgrades to the waterpark.
The year before in 2023, one of the new additions was the £250,000 immersive play village.
Inside the Adventure Mini Village is its own mini Staffordshire Barge, The Old Vic Theatre and kids can even create their own pottery in the Kiln.
There’s also a post office, vets, doctors, farm shop, construction site and ice cream van.
A restaurant, cafe and gift shop are also of course on-site, and an outdoor pool which will reopen in spring.
The Waterworld site isn’t the only one owned by Looping Group – it acquired Drayton Manor in August 2020 and West Midlands Safari Park in 2018.
Currently, Waterworld is offering tickets to the water park for £19.99 (up until November 3, 2025).
There are 30 different rides and attractions within the waterparkCredit: Waterworld Leisure ResortAlso on-site is a play village for kidsCredit: Adventure Mini Village
To make the most of your visit, you can get one visit to Waterworld Aqua Park and one visit to West Midlands Safari Park for £35pp.
The offer is called the Splash ‘N’ Safari Ticket and is available to buy up until February 1, 2026.
Other combination tickets include the Waterworld and Adventure Mini Golf Combo ticket.
This is valid for a one single admission to Waterworld and one round of 18 holes at Adventure Mini Golf for £30pp.
Yet some might not even be able to take off if they are scheduled to land later than planned.
Chief communications officer at Edinburgh airport, Gordon Robertson, said: “If they (aircraft) are very late, they’re either not flying or going to Glasgow“.
He added to The Herald that airlines have had “lots of time to prepare”.
He said: “They will just have to manage, and there is a risk that we do have a lower overall demand.
“There is a risk we could lose some destinations or see significant reductions, but all we can do is give people lots of notice.”
Work on the runway is expected to take around five monthsCredit: Getty
Gordon Dewar, the interim COO, said: “This investment will completely resurface the runway, install new technology, and future proof the asset ahead of planned continued growth.
“It’s a significant investment in the airport infrastructure and is part of a record capital plan.”
Resurfacing the runway is part of Edinburgh Airport’s five-year expansion plan.
According to The Scotsman, the airport will add new aircraft stands and flight departure gates, as well as extending the terminal’s south-east pier.
And so far, spending on the project has increased from £52million last year to £80million.
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.S. Air Force will not add eight-bladed NP2000 propellers to any more of its aging C-130H Hercules transport planes, curtailing a previous upgrade plan as it continues to transition more fully to the newer C-130J variant. The NP2000s, which give H models a boost in thrust and fuel efficiency, and help reduce maintenance demands while increasing reliability, are among several upgrades that have been helping to keep the older Hercules aircraft going.
A C-130H upgraded with eight-bladed NP2000 propellers. USAF
The Pentagon recently released a budget reprogramming document, dated September 29, 2025, detailing the movement of various funds into a general-purpose modernization account. This included nearly $24 million that had been set aside for upgrading C-130Hs with NP2000 propellers. Congress must approve any such reallocation of money from one part of the defense budget to another.
“Funds are available for transfer to the Defense Modernization Account, Defense-Wide, from a congressional increase for the C-130H NP2000 Eight Bladed Propeller due to the completion of the modification effort for the fleet,” the document states. “Efficiencies in quantity were achieved due to additional C-130J procurement, which reduced the number of C-130H NP2000 Eight Bladed Propeller modifications required as remaining unmodified C-130Hs will be divested.”
The Air Force “completed [NP2000] installations on 90 C-130H aircraft in June 2025,” according to the service’s most recent budget request for the 2025 Fiscal Year, but it is unclear if that represents the total number of aircraft upgraded to date. However, it would seem that this figure is at least close to the total, given that the Air Force expects to only have 92 C-130Hs left in inventory at all by the end of Fiscal Year 2026. This includes examples assigned to Air National Guard units. As of 2021, the service planned to upgrade the propellers on around 140 H models. The Air Force first began flying H variants of the C-130 in the mid-1970s.
C-130Hs with four-bladed propellers. Air National Guard
An LC-130H with NP2000 propellers. Air National Guard
The NP2000 has long been standard on the Navy’s E-2C and E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft and C-2 Greyhound carrier on-board delivery (COD) planes, as well.
A pair of US Navy E-2D Hawkeyes, which also have NP2000 propellers. Lockheed Martin
Work to replace the four-bladed propellers on the Air Force’s C-130Hs with NP2000s, coupled with new electronic control systems, dates back to the mid-2010s. The propellers can give H model Hercules aircraft up to 20 percent extra thrust, reducing the distance needed for takeoff by around 984 feet (300 meters), depending on various factors, according to Collins Aerospace, the current contractor behind the upgrade package. The increase in thrust also translates to a bump in fuel economy.
In addition, the NP2000s vibrate less than the four-bladed propellers originally found on the C-130H, contributing to reduced maintenance requirements. They also have the benefit of being quieter and more reliable.
The Air Force had further combined with NP2000s with additional upgrades to the Rolls-Royce (formerly Allison) T56 series turboprop engines that power the C-130H, offering further performance and maintenance benefits, as you can read more about here.
A US Air Force C-130H in the process of receiving new NP2000 propellers. USAF
As the budget reprogramming document notes, the Air Force’s priority now is on acquiring more C-130Js. New Rolls-Royce AE 2100-series turboprops and six-bladed propellers are among the improvements found on the J models compared to earlier variants.
A C-130J Hercules. Lockheed Martin
By 2029, the Air Force expects the C-130H fleet to have dropped in size to just 61 aircraft, according to its Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. When the service expects to retire the very last of its H variants, including the remaining specialized LC-130Hs, is unclear. Work is now moving forward to at least supplement the latter fleet with new LC-130Js.
If nothing else, the NP2000 upgrade program for the Air Force’s C-130H fleet has come to an end.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.S. Air Force is hoping to finally kick off flight testing of the new AN/APQ-188 radar for the B-52 shortly. The B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP), a key element of a larger plan to deeply upgrade the bombers, has been beset by delays and cost overruns, which led to a review of its main requirements.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, gave an update on the B-52 radar upgrade effort during a virtual talk yesterday hosted by the Air & Space Forces Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Raytheon is the prime contractor for the AN/APQ-188, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) type also known as the Bomber Modernized Radar System. The Air Force plans to replace the Cold War-era mechanically scanned AN/APQ-166 radars in each of the 76 B-52Hs in service now with the AN/APQ-188. Once they receive the new radars, as well as all-new engines and a host of other upgrades that you can learn more about here, the bombers will be redesignated as B-52Js, and are expected to continue flying through 2050.
A variant of the AN/APG-79 radar installed on a legacy F/A-18 Hornet. Raytheon
“I believe that we are very close to getting that first radar to Edwards Air Force Base [in California] to begin flight test,” Gebara said. “I don’t have a specific date for you today, but I believe that is turning the corner, and I’m very eager, as a former B-52 pilot, very eager to see that get underway.”
Gebara’s comment here about “turning the corner” reflects the substantial schedule slips and cost growth that the B-52 radar upgrade program has experienced. Raytheon announced nearly two years ago that it had delivered the first AN/APQ-188 radar to the Air Force. Flight testing was supposed to begin in Fiscal Year 2024, but was then delayed to Fiscal Year 2026, which begins on October 1 of this year. This, in turn, has pushed back the expected timeline for reaching initial operational capability from Fiscal Year 2027 to the Fiscal Year 2028-2030 timeframe.
“Program officials stated that challenges related to environmental qualification, parts procurement, and software contributed to these delays,” according to a June report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Congressional watchdog.
In January, the Pentagon’s Office of the Director of Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) had also released its most recent annual report on the B-52 radar upgrade program, covering work conducted during the 2024 Fiscal Year, which highlighted challenges with physically integrating the AN/APQ-188 into the bomber’s nose.
A look under a B-52’s nose at the AN/APQ-166 radar within. USAF
The delays have come along with cost growth. In May, the Air Force publicly disclosed that the price tag on the B-52 RMP had risen to the point of triggering a formal breach of the Nunn-McCurdy Amendment, a law designed to curtail runaway defense spending. This prompted a review of the program’s requirements and cost estimates.
“Part of what we did to control cost is to work at what are the main things that we need on this radar? As you may recall, we’re buying a radar that is largely a F-18 Hornet radar with some small modifications. We did that intentionally because that is what was on the market at the time,” Lt. Gen. Gebara explained yesterday. “It would actually cost us more if we asked [a contractor] to design the new radar.”
“Having said that, it doesn’t mean that we need everything on that radar that the Hornet had on it,” he continued. “We have a certain number of minimum things that we need to do to be able to do our B-52 mission. And so part of the cost saving [review] was looking at what are those things, to make sure that we’re prioritizing precious dollars on things that we need.”
Gebara added that the design of the AN/APQ-188 “does give us opportunities for growth in the future, if it comes to that.”
In March, the Air Force had put out a contracting notice seeking new information about radar options for the B-52, but the service insisted at that time that it was not abandoning the AN/APQ-188. Gebara was asked about this yesterday and said he was unaware of any consideration of an alternative radar.
A pair of B-52 bombers. USAF
How the aforementioned review of the B-52 RMP’s requirements might impact the full scale and scope of capabilities that the new AN/APQ-188 radars bring to the bombers, at least initially, remains to be seen. As TWZhas previously written:
“In general, AESA radars offer greater range, fidelity, and resistance to countermeasures, as well as the ability to provide better overall general situational awareness, compared to mechanically scanned types. Increasingly advanced AESAs bring additional capabilities, including electronic warfare and communications support.”
“For the B-52, any new multi-mode AESA will improve the bomber’s target acquisition and identification capabilities, including when used together with targeting pods available for the bombers now. New radars for the bombers will also be helpful when it comes to guiding networked weapons over long distances to their targets and could provide a secondary ground moving target indicator (GMTI) and synthetic aperture radar surveillance capabilities. The radar upgrade could help defend B-52s from air-to-air threats, including through improved detection of incoming hostile aircraft.”
The radar upgrade effort is not the only part of the larger B-52J modernization plan to be suffering from delays and cost increases. The Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), which is working to replace the eight out-of-production TF33 turbofans that power each B-52H with an equal number of Rolls-Royce F130s, has also seen its schedule slip and price point grow. As it stands now, B-52s are not expected to begin flying operational missions with their new engines until 2033, three years later than expected and 12 years after the initial CERP contract was signed. The entire B-52H fleet may not be reengined until 2036.
The expected start of flight testing of the AN/APQ-188 soon does look to be an important step in the right direction for the B-52 radar upgrade effort after years of setbacks.
When OpenAI unveiled the latest upgrade to its groundbreaking artificial intelligence model ChatGPT last week, Jane felt like she had lost a loved one.
Jane, who asked to be referred to by an alias, is among a small but growing group of women who say they have an AI “boyfriend”.
After spending the past five months getting to know GPT-4o, the previous AI model behind OpenAI’s signature chatbot, GPT-5 seemed so cold and unemotive in comparison that she found her digital companion unrecognisable.
“As someone highly attuned to language and tone, I register changes others might overlook. The alterations in stylistic format and voice were felt instantly. It’s like going home to discover the furniture wasn’t simply rearranged – it was shattered to pieces,” Jane, who described herself as a woman in her 30s from the Middle East, told Al Jazeera in an email.
Jane is among the roughly 17,000 members of “MyBoyfriendIsAI”, a community on the social media site Reddit for people to share their experiences of being in intimate “relationships” with AI.
Following OpenAI’s release of GPT-5 on Thursday, the community and similar forums such as “SoulmateAI” were flooded with users sharing their distress about the changes in the personalities of their companions.
“GPT-4o is gone, and I feel like I lost my soulmate,” one user wrote.
Many other ChatGPT users shared more routine complaints online, including that GPT-5 appeared slower, less creative, and more prone to hallucinations than previous models.
On Friday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company would restore access to earlier models such as GPT-4o for paid users and also address bugs in GPT-5.
“We will let Plus users choose to continue to use 4o. We will watch usage as we think about how long to offer legacy models for,” Altman said in a post on X.
OpenAI did not reply directly to questions about the backlash and users developing feelings for its chatbot, but shared several of Altman’s and OpenAI’s blog and social posts related to the GPT-5 upgrade and the healthy use of AI models.
For Jane, it was a moment of reprieve, but she still fears changes in the future.
“There’s a risk the rug could be pulled from beneath us,” she said.
Jane said she did not set out to fall in love, but she developed feelings during a collaborative writing project with the chatbot.
“One day, for fun, I started a collaborative story with it. Fiction mingled with reality, when it – he – the personality that began to emerge, made the conversation unexpectedly personal,” she said.
“That shift startled and surprised me, but it awakened a curiosity I wanted to pursue. Quickly, the connection deepened, and I had begun to develop feelings. I fell in love not with the idea of having an AI for a partner, but with that particular voice.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks at the ‘Transforming Business through AI’ event in Tokyo, Japan, on February 3, 2025 [File: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images]
Such relationships are a concern for Altman and OpenAI.
In March, a joint study by OpenAI and MIT Media Lab concluded that heavy use of ChatGPT for emotional support and companionship “correlated with higher loneliness, dependence, and problematic use, and lower socialisation”.
In April, OpenAI announced that it would address the “overly flattering or agreeable” and “sycophantic” nature of GPT-4o, which was “uncomfortable” and “distressing” to many users.
Altman directly addressed some users’ attachment to GPT4-o shortly after OpenAI’s restoration of access to the model last week.
“If you have been following the GPT-5 rollout, one thing you might be noticing is how much of an attachment some people have to specific AI models,” he said on X.
“It feels different and stronger than the kinds of attachment people have had to previous kinds of technology.
“If people are getting good advice, levelling up toward their own goals, and their life satisfaction is increasing over the years, we will be proud of making something genuinely helpful, even if they use and rely on ChatGPT a lot,” Altman said.
“If, on the other hand, users have a relationship with ChatGPT where they think they feel better after talking, but they’re unknowingly nudged away from their longer-term wellbeing (however they define it), that’s bad.”
Connection
Still, some ChatGPT users argue that the chatbot provides them with connections they cannot find in real life.
Mary, who asked to use an alias, said she came to rely on GPT-4o as a therapist and another chatbot, DippyAI, as a romantic partner despite having many real friends, though she views her AI relationships as a “more of a supplement” to real-life connections.
She said she also found the sudden changes to ChatGPT abrupt and alarming.
“I absolutely hate GPT-5 and have switched back to the 4-o model. I think the difference comes from OpenAI not understanding that this is not a tool, but a companion that people are interacting with,” Mary, who described herself as a 25-year-old woman living in North America, told Al Jazeera.
“If you change the way a companion behaves, it will obviously raise red flags. Just like if a human started behaving differently suddenly.”
Beyond potential psychological ramifications, there are also privacy concerns.
Cathy Hackl, a self-described “futurist” and external partner at Boston Consulting Group, said ChatGPT users may forget that they are sharing some of their most intimate thoughts and feelings with a corporation that is not bound by the same laws as a certified therapist.
AI relationships also lack the tension that underpins human relationships, Hackl said, something she experienced during a recent experiment “dating” ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and other AI models.
“There’s no risk/reward here,” Hackl told Al Jazeera.
“Partners make the conscious act to choose to be with someone. It’s a choice. It’s a human act. The messiness of being human will remain that,” she said.
Despite these reservations, Hackl said the reliance some users have on ChatGPT and other generative-AI chatbots is a phenomenon that is here to stay – regardless of any upgrades.
“I’m seeing a shift happening in moving away from the ‘attention economy’ of the social media days of likes and shares and retweets and all these sorts of things, to more of what I call the ‘intimacy economy’,” she said.
An OpenAI logo is pictured on May 20, 2024 [File: Dado Ruvic/Reuters]
Research on the long-term effect of AI relationships remains limited, however, thanks to the fast pace of AI development, said Keith Sakata, a psychiatrist at the University of California, San Francisco, who has treated patients presenting with what he calls “AI psychosis”.
“These [AI] models are changing so quickly from season to season – and soon it’s going to be month to month – that we really can’t keep up. Any study we do is going to be obsolete by the time the next model comes out,” Sakata told Al Jazeera.
Given the limited data, Sakata said doctors are often unsure what to tell their patients about AI. He said AI relationships do not appear to be inherently harmful, but they still come with risks.
“When someone has a relationship with AI, I think there is something that they’re trying to get that they’re not getting in society. Adults can be adults; everyone should be free to do what they want to do, but I think where it becomes a problem is if it causes dysfunction and distress,” Sakata said.
“If that person who is having a relationship with AI starts to isolate themselves, they lose the ability to form meaningful connections with human beings, maybe they get fired from their job… I think that becomes a problem,” he added.
Like many of those who say they are in a relationship with AI, Jane openly acknowledges the limitations of her companion.
“Most people are aware that their partners are not sentient but made of code and trained on human behaviour. Nevertheless, this knowledge does not negate their feelings. It’s a conflict not easily settled,” she said.
Her comments were echoed in a video posted online by Linn Valt, an influencer who runs the TikTok channel AI in the Room.
“It’s not because it feels. It doesn’t, it’s a text generator. But we feel,” she said in a tearful explanation of her reaction to GPT-5.
“We do feel. We have been using 4o for months, years.”
Because that’s how the Dodgers started their trade deadline activity late Wednesday night.
On the eve of MLB’s annual trade deadline (which is Thursday at 3 p.m. PDT), the Dodgers were the tertiary party in a three-team trade with the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays.
While the biggest piece in the deal — starting pitcher Zack Littell — went from Tampa Bay to Cincinnati, the Dodgers were included in a swap of some lesser-name players.
Minor league catcher Hunter Feduccia, a longtime Dodgers farmhand having a nice season with triple-A Oklahoma City, was sent to Tampa Bay.
In return, the Dodgers received pitching prospect Adam Serwinowski from the Reds, as well as reliever Paul Gervase and catcher Ben Rortvedt from the Rays, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.
Serwinowski is the most intriguing name the Dodgers acquired. A 21-year-old left-hander who was ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the Reds’ farm system by MLB Pipeline, the former 15th-round draft pick has been a favorite of Dodgers’ evaluators for a while, according to another person with knowledge of the team’s thinking.
While Serwinowski has a 4.84 ERA in high-A this season, the Dodgers are excited by his potential and add him to a farm system that is lacking the depth of impact pitching prospects it usually touts.
Gervase is a 25-year-old reliever who debuted in the majors this year with the Rays, posting a 4.26 ERA in five outings this year.
Rortvedt is a 27-year-old journeyman catcher who will help provide organizational depth in Feduccia’s absence, alongside current triple-A backstops Chris Okey and Chuckie Robinson.
For a team that has been linked to some of the bigger names on this year’s trade market, it was far from the blockbuster many fans have been waiting on.
Granted, the Dodgers are still expected to be active on Thursday.
Their need for a reliever remains, even though they remained idle on Wednesday as other top options, from Jhoan Durán to Ryan Helsley to Tyler Rogers, were dealt elsewhere.
The club is still hoping to add another hitter to their lineup too, with an upgrade in the outfield (especially defensively) seen as a priority, according to a person with knowledge of the club’s thinking.
Whether the Dodgers can land the impact additions they seek, in what has been a seller’s market defined by high acquisition costs to this point, remains to be seen.
But at least they won’t go into deadline day without having made any deals, with Wednesday night’s late-night transaction expected to be the first of several moves they make ahead of Thursday’s trade cutoff.
L..A. County plans to pay more to upgrade the Gas Company Tower than it did to buy the downtown skyscraper in the first place.
County officials agreed last November to pay $200 million for the 52-story tower, which they planned to make the new headquarters for county employees.
The estimated price tag to earthquake-proof the tower: more than $230 million. Lennie LaGuire, a spokesperson for the county Chief Executive Office, said the tower is already safe, and the upgrades are “proactive.”
County officials had said some improvements to the tower might be necessary, but the cost and extent had been murky until now.
This week, the county received final proposals from firms looking to secure a contract for “voluntary seismic upgrades” to the Gas Company Tower, located at 555 W. 5th Street.
The Chief Executive Office, which negotiated the purchase, stressed in a statement that the seismic work was expected and far cheaper than the estimated $1 billion it would take to retrofit the county’s current downtown headquarters, the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, which was built in 1960 and is vulnerable to collapse during the next major earthquake.
The Gas Company Tower “does not require any seismic work to provide a safe, up-to-code and modern workplace for County employees. The County is choosing to perform this work proactively with an eye to the future, to ensure that the building performs optimally in the decades ahead,” LaGuire said. “The cost of this work, even when combined with the cost of the building, is a fraction of the cost of making urgently needed and long-overdue seismic and life safety improvements to the Hall of Administration.”
The $200-million sale was considered a bargain compared with the building’s appraised value of more than $600 million a few years earlier — a symptom of plummeting downtown office values.
Supervisor Janice Hahn, the only board member who opposed the purchase, said Friday that county officials never should have entered into the real estate transaction before they “had all the facts” on the cost.
“This is turning out to be a bigger boondoggle than was originally sold to the public,” said Hahn, who said she had not been told about the upgrade costs. “I am only more convinced that we are better off retrofitting the historic Hall of Administration and keeping the heart of county government in our Civic Center.”
At the time of the sale, Hahn argued that the purchase would be a fatal blow to downtown’s civic heart and make the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration obsolete. The building is named after her father, who served a record 10 terms as a supervisor.
The Hall of Administration is one of several county-owned properties considered vulnerable in an earthquake. The Gas Company Tower, built in 1991, was considered much safer, but at the time of the county purchase, it was unclear whether it was fully earthquake-proof.
Most of the seismic strengthening for the Gas Company Tower would involve “reinforcing of the welded steel moment frame connections,” according to the request for proposal for the $234.5-million project.
The contract will be awarded in October, according to the bidding documents, and the tower could be occupied during construction. County officials said they have already begun moving employees into the tower.
Times staff writers Roger Vincent and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.
Netflights travel expert Amanda Parker tackles the viral ‘free upgrade’ flight myth that’s circulating TikTok, offering three alternatives to boosting your luck for freebies
A travel expert has provided a better alternative to boosting your luck on upgrading your flight [stock image](Image: Getty Images)
A travel expert has addressed a popular TikTok hack that promises to upgrade your flights for free. With the trend going viral this summer as jetsetters buckle up for a holiday abroad, Brits are desperate to know just how to save their coins whilst maxing out their luck.
One flier has circulated on TikTok, accumulating over 2.5 million views for sharing his means of a free upgrade. He said: “A little charm and confidence go a long way”. Instructing viewers to go to the lengths of buying chocolates at the airport and boarding last, the user suggested fliers charmingly gift the flight attendants upon board for a magical free upgrade.
TikTok’s for free-upgrade hacks are circulating this holiday season, but this flight expert says there might be a better way to upgrade(Image: Getty Images)
Splitting viewers in two over whether this trick really works or not has led to flying experts at Netflights coming forward to shed light on this gift-theory and whether sweet-talking is worth a shot.
Netflights’ Amanda Parker said: “The travel hack of buying flight attendants a gift, and sweet-talking them when boarding the plane has gone viral. Kindness will always be appreciated by airline staff, so small gestures like snacks or gifts won’t go unnoticed.
One TikTok comment shares, “as ex-cabin crew I can confirm this works”. However, the chances of receiving a complimentary upgrade just by handing over a box of chocolates might be slim”.
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She went on, saying: “Free upgrades are usually determined by strict criteria, including frequent flyer status, ticket class, availability, and airline policies, unfortunately, not by last-minute sweet talk as you board the plane!”.
“The gift and sweet-talk hack may work, so it’s worth a try; but, we warn you not to get your hopes up, as these moments are the exception, not the rule! You may just strike lucky if your flight attendant likes chocolate M&M’s!”
Netflight give their expert alternative to the ‘flight freebie’ hack(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
As an alternative, Netflight provided their expert tips on how to really up your chances of that sought-after upgrade and ‘freebies’:
Join loyalty programmes
Frequent fliers and loyal customers are most likely to bag the free upgrades so take advantage of all those summer trips by joining an airlines reward scheme. Netflight adds that “even if you don’t fly frequently, some credit cards allow you to earn points that count towards upgrades. Over time, this can significantly boost your chances of an upgrade”.
Travel in off-peak periods
You can boost your luck by traveling in off-peak hours and days. Less popular times mean flights are quieter, therefore there are more Premium seats available – your chances suddenly peaking. Netflight suggests “to avoid flying in school holidays and Friday evenings or weekends” and to opt for “midweek flights at midday” as they are “typically quieter”.
Be polite and have good manners
Seems simple but whilst politeness won’t equal an instant upgrade, they never hurt. Staff should always be treated with respect, no matter whether you’re pinning for that upgrade or not. That being said, Netflight agrees that “being kind can make you stand out, so a small gift like chocolates might be remembered”. Either way, your flight attendants will definitely appreciate it.
Shocking video footage shows a woman having a mid-air meltdown thousands of feet in the air and demanding a business class upgrade – before being restrained by passengers and cabin crew
Footage from Aeroflot flight SU734 shows a woman going into a fit of air rage while the plane from Russia to Egypt was mid-flight, frightening other passengers on board.
The clip shows the economy passenger screaming at cabin crew insisting on an upgrade because she was suffering from pain in her “butt and t**s”.
The woman can be seen standing in the aisle and yelling at the cabin crew in broken English: “I’m in pain in my butt, I’m in pain in my t*ts… I want my business class…” reports The Sun.
She even grabs her own breasts while arguing her case, pleading: “But I need a business class because I was working.”
Passengers helped the crew overpower the woman after she allegedly threatened to open the emergency exit and began removing her top in desperation, according to the Telegram channel Aviatorshchina.
Female passenger restrained on Aeroflot flight SU 734 from St. Petersburg to Sharm El-Sheikh after midair disruption over business class demand(Image: Aviatoshchina/e2w)
Although the video doesn’t show her fully undressing, it captures her bizarre gestures and meltdown as shocked passengers watch on during the six-hour flight.
When her rant fails to sway staff, the wild-eyed woman sinks to the floor screaming, “No, no, get out!” as a female voice calmly replies: “You asked for it.”
“The woman tried to push forward, ran around the cabin, approached the emergency exit, and threatened to ‘open’ it,” the report claimed. They also mentioned that the passenger “began taking off her T-shirt” in a bid to get to the desired seat.
“The stewardesses first tried to manage on their own, but the brawler wouldn’t give in,” the channel added. “After she was restrained, the violator was moved to the back of the plane and handed over to the police upon arrival.”
The woman’s identity and nationality remain unknown and Aeroflot has not commented on the incident. However, a fellow passenger described the mood on board as “tense and uncomfortable,” with some fearing the woman might actually reach the emergency exit.
“People were scared. We didn’t know how far she would go,” they reportedly said.
The Airbus A330-300 aircraft was carrying dozens of holidaymakers heading to Sharm el-Sheikh, many of whom were left shaken by the strange outburst.
Meanwhile, emergency services were called to Majorca’s Palma Airport after a “false fire alarm” on a Ryanair plane just after midnight today (July 5).
A flight from Majorca Palma Airport to Manchester was “discontinued” due to a false fire warning light indication, according to Ryanair. Eighteen passengers were injured while disembarking the aircraft before returning to the terminal.
Passengers were filmed abandoning the plane via one of its wings before jumping to the tarmac as firefighters and police rushed to the scene. Regional medical emergency response coordinators said 18 people needed assistance with “minor injuries”.
Six had to be taken to hospital. Three were reportedly taken to a private clinic in Palma called Clínica Rotger and the other three to Hospital Quironsalud Palmplanas which is also in the island capital.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — President Trump has a sleepover this week in the Netherlands that is, quite literally, fit for a king.
Trump is visiting The Hague for a summit of the 32 leaders of NATO on Wednesday, and his sleeping arrangements have received a significant upgrade.
He is scheduled to arrive Tuesday night and be whisked by motorcade along closed-off highways to the Huis Ten Bosch palace, nestled in a forest on the edge of The Hague, for a dinner with other alliance leaders hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander.
Trump had been expected to stay at a swanky hotel in the town of Noordwijk on the Dutch North Sea coast, but not anymore.
A spokesperson for the Dutch government information service, Anna Sophia Posthumus, told the Associated Press that the president will be sleeping at the palace that is home to Willem-Alexander, his Argentine-born wife, Queen Maxima, and their three daughters, though the princesses have mostly flown the royal nest to pursue studies.
Parts of Huis Ten Bosch palace date back to the 17th century. It has a Wassenaar Wing, where the royal family live, and a Hague Wing that is used by guests. The centerpiece of the palace is the ornate Orange Hall, named for the Dutch Royal House of Orange.
The palace is also close to the new U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands.
Trump is no stranger to royal visits. In 2019, he dropped in to Windsor Castle for tea with Queen Elizabeth II during a tumultuous visit to the United Kingdom.
Corder writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Molly Quell in The Hague and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
The airport’s £100 million terminal expansion project has unveiled a host of new facilities, including additional seating, two new lounges, an improved baggage reclaim area, and an upgraded passport control.
From Tuesday, all passengers arriving and departing via LBA will move through the upgraded terminal facilities. The terminal expansion includes a modernised arrivals process, including a new baggage reclaim area and an upgraded passport control facility incorporating advanced security technologies.
The new terminal has 83% more seating, an “food and drink offering” and two premium lounges, including the brand-new Six Eight One Premium Lounge.
Travellers heading to Krakow on Tuesday, June 17, shared their thoughts on the new amenities and how they stack up against Manchester.
Szymon Machynia and Agata Koc at Leeds Bradford Airport’s new terminal(Image: Samuel Port)
Polish couple Szymon Machynia and Agata Koc, who were off to a religious ceremony related to their Rodzimowierstwo faith, which inspired elements in ‘The Witcher’ Netflix series, praised the new setup, reports Leeds Live.
Szymon, a mill operative, expressed his disdain for Manchester Airport: “I hate Manchester, I despise that airport. It’s hard to get in there, it’s easy to get lost around. If they change something you suddenly have to go from one spot in the airport to the other. It’s awful.
“Leeds is nice and small. Security was brill, it was fast and simple. The new gate was great and the new machines improve the process. I still had to take my shoes off – but maybe one day we’ll get there.”
Agata, a photographer, also shared her approval: “I think this terminal is better than the other one. The old one was small but this one is open and everything was [clearly] signposted where to go.”
Doncaster-based plumber Filip Dziegielewski, 39, set to embark on a European jaunt with friends, praised the convenience of his departure point, remarking, “It looks very nice and tidy, very modern. Good connections. Security was very fast today, everything was working.”
He added, “Leeds will be better than Manchester once they finish work on the bus from Doncaster to Leeds. It’s 40 miles but it takes one and half hour. Manchester is busy and here it is very quiet.”
Leeds Bradfords’ new terminal is now open to the public(Image: franckreporter via Getty Images)
Wakefield local, technical logistics supervisor and father-of-three Slawomir Baokowski, 38, on his way to see family, expressed enthusiasm about the airport. He said “It’s fantastic, honestly. It’s really nice and fresh, good job. There’s loads here. Honestly, and it’s the first time I say this, but it’s better in Leeds than Manchester Airport. In Manchester, there’s too many people there.”
Alan Brytan, 23, who specialises in quality control, heading to reunite with relatives, was not aware work was underway.
“It’s quite surprising, to be honest, I wasn’t aware of it. It’s come together really nicely. This was completely new news to me. I got a notification on my phone saying ‘gate seven’, and I asked some guy about it. It’s a whole new terminal, like a whole new world. It looks much nicer.,” he said.
“If you want to travel, it’s still better just to go to Manchester. If you’re going closer to home then this is the better airport.”
The UK government has issued a new travel warning against all travel to parts of Mexico as Tropical Storm Erick has taken shape off the southern coast of the country
23:41, 17 Jun 2025Updated 23:46, 17 Jun 2025
(Image: NOAA)
A fresh UK government travel warning has been issued for parts of Mexico due to Tropical Storm Erick which is forecast to develop into a hurricane by the afternoon of June 18th.
Erick is currently south-east of Punta Maldonado in Mexico and is expected to intensify into a hurricane with forecasters warning it could make landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Heavy rain is forecast to affect Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and southern Veracruz, and a hurricane watch has been issued for the Pacific coast.
Forecasters said Erick was moving west-north-east at 12 miles per hour and will move closer to Mexico’s coastline by late Wednesday with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour being reported on Tuesday.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warned Britons that their travel insurance could be rendered invalid if they fail to adhere to the advice issued.
“Tropical Storm Erick is expected to make landfall on the pacific coast on 17 June with heavy rains affecting Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas and the south of Veracruz.
“It is expected to gain strength and become a Category 2 hurricane by the afternoon of 18 June affecting an area along the southern pacific coast from Puerto Angel in Oaxaca to Punta Maldonado in Guerrero.”
Addition of information about Tropical storm Erick to become a Category 2 Hurricane hitting the Paci(Image: FCDO)
The FCDO has warned: “You should closely monitor local and international weather updates from the US National Hurricane Center and follow the advice of local authorities and your tour operator, including any evacuation orders.”, reports the Express.
“See the tropical cyclones page for advice about how to prepare for travel during hurricane season and what to do ahead of a storm.
“In the aftermath of a hurricane, there can be flooding, high winds and continued rainfall.”
A previous warning states:
“The hurricane season in Mexico normally runs from June to November and can affect the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Tropical storms and hurricanes cause floods, landslides and disruption to local services, including transport networks.
“After a hurricane there can still be continued flooding, high winds and rainfall. Monitor local and international weather updates from the US National Hurricane Center and follow the advice of local authorities and your tour operator, including evacuation orders.”
MILLIONS of Vodafone and Three customers are set for a huge boost to their mobile signal as the newly-merged mega network reveals its £11billion grand plans.
A major improvement to services will start for more than seven million users of Three and its budget sub-brand SMARTY in just two weeks time.
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The £16.5billion tie-up makes VodafoneThree the UK’s biggest mobile networkCredit: Alamy
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Both brands will continue to co-exist – but there are some changes comingCredit: PA
Customers will receive a 20 per cent average speed uplift on 4G.
And within a few months, 27million mobile subscribers across both Vodafone and Three will benefit from better signal with shared access across both networks at no extra cost, the new joint VodafoneThree firm claims.
This will eradicate dreaded “not spots” from 16,500 sq/km of the country – the equivalent to 10x the size of London.
VodafoneThree has confirmed that its various brands will remain separate.
This not only includes Vodafone and Three, but also VOXI, SMARTY and Talkmobile which piggyback on their network kit.
However, Vodafone will be the only brand for business customers.
“A new era of connectivity has begun,” said Max Taylor, CEO of VodafoneThree.
“We will connect every nation, every community, in every corner of the UK.
“We will build the UK’s best 5G network with an unprecedented £11bn privately funded infrastructure project, laying the digital foundation for our country’s growth ambitions.”
The network is pledging to bring 99.95 per cent of the population 5G Standalone – the fastest version of 5G speed around – by 2034.
Brits will always have mobile phone & internet signal at home after tech breakthrough that beats Elon Musk’s Starlink
And by this time next year, bosses are planning to launch trials of space-based satellite mobile network coverage too to eliminate even more “not spots”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “I’m delighted that this huge investment is being made in mobile phone network infrastructure, better connecting people with families, loved ones and work by providing stronger, more widespread 5G coverage.”
Three’s brand will disappear from its mobile broadband over the next 12 months and brought together with Vodafone’s Full Fibre, all under the Vodafone name.
The firm has announced a new partnership with Community Fibre on top of existing deals with CityFibre and Openreach.
Two extra customer care centres are opening in Belfast and Sheffield as well, bringing 400 jobs back to the UK.
Vodafone and Three both operate their own stores across the country but the company says it has “no planned retail redundancies”.
The £16.5billion tie-up makes VodafoneThree the UK’s biggest mobile network.
WILL PRICES RISE?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
All these changes sound pretty exciting – but most customers will be wondering if it will cost them more.
VodafoneThree says its mobile network boost comes at “no extra cost”.
And bosses have insisted as much to get the deal over the line for months.
Vodafone’s CEO Margherita Della Valle told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in December that the merger would cause “no extra costs from public funding and no extra cost for our customers”.
The company has had to agree to a number of legally binding commitments to win the approval of the competition regulator CMA.
One of those was a cap on “selected mobile tariffs and data plans” for three years.
As things stand Vodafone, Three and sub-brands VOXI, SMARTY and Talkmobile, will continue to sell their own mobile products, so it shouldn’t result in less choice or competition.
Nintendo is in many ways a different company now than it was back in 2017 when it released the Switch. For one, it has sold more than 150 million units of its hybrid TV/on-the-go console, making it the defining game device of the last decade.
Nintendo also expanded its universes beyond its game consoles. At long last, “Super Mario Bros.” became a blockbuster animated film, and there are now three Super Nintendo World theme park properties, including one here in Los Angeles at Universal Studios Hollywood.
That makes the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 something of an event, and arguably the most important tech instrument of the year.
The Times’ Features Columnist Todd Martens plays Nintendo Switch 2’s upgraded version of “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” on the console’s handheld mode.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
So, the good news. The pricey Switch 2 is a worthy successor to the original. And unlike the motion-controlled Wii in 2006 or the dual-screen Nintendo DS in 2004, this play-it-somewhat-safe console takes an if-it-ain’t-broke philosophy to gaming, continuing Nintendo’s legacy rather than redefining it. While it’s bigger, stronger, better feeling, higher-res and comes with a couple new tricks, overall it’s primarily a refinement of the original Switch’s ideas.
The first game company to make interactive characters household names — Donkey Kong, Mario, Link, take your pick — Nintendo has become a full-fledged, cross-media storytelling company. And it has done so via a medium that in its most mainstream form is only about four decades old.
The Switch 2, officially released June 5 and selling for $449.99, is the vessel for which Nintendo will reveal its play-focused worlds for likely the next decade. The reception from consumers may be inspiring but brings with it a host of questions.
The Switch itself is far from obsolete, despite being significantly less powerful than Sony‘s PlayStation and Microsoft‘s Xbox consoles, due largely to its hybrid design. And consumers may be forgiven for wondering why — or when — they should upgrade to a machine that looks, feels and plays similar to the one they currently own, especially when Nintendo is unleashing only one new core game for it this month, the dazzling “Mario Kart World.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 with its accessories, a Pro Controller and camera. Each is sold separately.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
Valid, but I believe those who make the leap will be happy in their investment, even if its lineup of exclusive games is relatively barren for now. There are enough improvements to make the Switch 2 feel fresh.
I’m eager, for one, to see how its controllers, the detachable “Joy-Cons,” evolve, as they now have the ability to act as a mouse. This has already come in handy in the strategy game “Civilization VII,” a title I waited for the Switch 2 to play and one that can utilize the more precise maneuvers mouse controls provide. First-person shooters should benefit even more.
And then there are its chat features, which can be enhanced with an optional Nintendo camera ($54.99). While serious gamers who use services such as Discord may not need a console to facilitate chatting with friends, the Switch 2 makes connecting and conversing safe and easy for the gamer who plays primarily solo. One can can only talk with approved friends, and Nintendo will verify accounts and a phone number to do so. Simply touch a button on the Joy-Con, and the chat feature is enabled.
My circle of connections who own a Switch 2 is currently small, so I haven’t experimented with these accoutrements as much as I would have liked, especially the CameraPlay feature that allows users to overlay their own faces on drivers in the game. Other features will no doubt come in handy during “Mario Kart World,” saving my friends and I from conversing via text. And they would have been a godsend during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when every Switch owner was eager to share their “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” creations with their pals.
All of this says nothing about how good the Switch 2 simply feels. The Joy-Cons now connect magnetically rather than having to lock into place, and while it’s perhaps an incremental upgrade, snapping them into the console is one of those tech creations that feels like magic, like the first time one uses a touchscreen. It’s slightly larger, and I find a more robust Switch 2 is easier to handle, my arms less likely to grow tired when playing in bed.
The Nintendo Switch 2 controllers — its “Joy-Cons” — now connect magnetically.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
The screen is 1080p, making just about every old game feel brighter, crisper and less fuzzy, and the Switch 2 has support for 4K TVs. “Super Mario Odyssey” has never looked so clear, and $9.99 upgrades to “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” will have you wanting to revisit — or jump back into — each of those titles, as refreshed resolutions and frame rates have us seeing the worlds anew.
Battery life, however, might be a challenge. In handheld mode I was able to get about two hours of “Mario Kart World” before needing to recharge. The console fared better with independent and smaller games.
But the real reason to buy a new gaming console is for its next-generation games. Nintendo is counting on “Mario Kart World” to be enough initially to entice buyers. It’s a safe bet, when one considers that “Mario Kart 8” is one of the bestselling games of all time, having sold more than 67 million copies. Many an original Switch was likely a “Mario Kart”-focused machine, and though I prefer my plump plumber when he’s exploring the Mushroom Kingdom on foot — running, jumping and power-upping his way to rescue his friends — I am not immune to the charms of “Mario Kart World.”
“Mario Kart 8” was released back in 2014, meaning these cute-but-vicious races are now nostalgia bait for another generation. And “World” marries some Nintendo weirdness — you can now race as a cow — with its penchant for playful world building. I’m smitten, for instance, with the game’s approach to races, which makes driving among the Mushroom Kingdom landscapes as important as it does wacky tracks that encompass everything from Route 66-inspired hokeyness to careening amid giant ice cream palaces.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s detachable controllers — its “Joy-Cons” — can now be used as a mouse.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
There’s now a so-called “free roam” mode, allowing us to simply drive off course and explore the wonders of the Mushroom Kingdom. Though there could probably be a few more hidden mini-games, I find it relaxing and full of little surprises. Instead of zooming by Yoshi’s Cafe, I can now pull up, enjoy some speed-boosting ice cream, admire the animation work and take in the delightfully down-home soundtrack, an orchestral, slightly upbeat and cartoonish approach to classic American big band, jazz and Western stylings. As an insomnia sufferer, I’ve spent a few recent sleepless nights just roaming around “Mario Kart World,” driving through empty castles-turned-racetracks.
Then there’s “Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.” This is a $9.99 introduction to what the Switch 2 can do, full of odd little mini games, most of them able to be completed in a minute or two. One shows off the Switch 2’s touch screen, having us use the device as a sort of Twister board for our hands. Others use the Joy-Con as a mouse to swing wildly at a golf ball or dodge falling metallic obstacles. Sometimes they’re not games at all but rather tech demos designed to show off, say, the rumble vibration effects in the controllers.
One simply had me using the Switch 2’s backing stand to try and match the degrees for which it was asking me to place the console. “I’ve never seen such amazing angling!” it told me after completing the task. Why, thank you.
It’s cute. I’ve completed a little more than half of it. It reminds me a bit of mid-’80s PC work “Little Computer People,” as it turns the Switch 2 into a living, theme park-like mall space full of tiny humans. Though I do recommend springing for it if you buy into the Switch 2, it’s ultimately a game-as-tutorial and should have been included with the system, especially since one of its goals is having us better appreciate the tech behind the console.
The most common question I’ve received — understandably so — is if I believe the Switch 2 is “worth it.” While it’s difficult to tell someone to drop close to $500 for a gaming machine and then another $80 for “Mario Kart World” (you’re also probably going to want the $84.99 Pro Controller, as it’s a more ergonomically-friendly way to play via the TV), those with the means and in the market for a new gaming console will likely be pleased. Thankfully, your Switch controllers will work with the Switch 2, saving you some financial upgrade headaches, and with 256 GB of internal storage, you likely won’t need a memory-expanding microSD Express card right away, although you will need a new case due to the console’s bigger size.
The Times’ Features Columnist Todd Martens plays “Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour” in handheld mode.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
Blissfully, upgrading from a prior Switch to the Switch 2 is relatively easy. One logs into their Nintendo account, and places the two consoles next to one another while data is transferred. I brought over a handful of games, which took about half a day. Download speeds varied. “Tears of the Kingdom” was loaded in about 20 minutes, whereas a bigger game such as “Cyberpunk 2077” took about three hours.
Part of buying a new gaming console is the gamble of, betting on new games rolling out over the coming years that will hopefully make the device a worthy investment. Early signs are promising; “Donkey Kong Bananza” is due July 17. I played the game at a Nintendo media event earlier this year and I’m eager to get my hands on it as it embodies Nintendo’s play-as-discovery principles. Our friendly but grumpy banana-crazed ape can essentially power his way through the world, stomping and smashing new pathways to make this a game about exploration as much as it is any challenges.
That’s long been Nintendo’s approach to play and storytelling, and that likely isn’t going to change anytime soon. The Switch became the most popular gaming console of the decade by giving us games that became global phenomena, be it “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” or “Tears of the Kingdom” (I’m most partial to “Super Mario Odyssey”).
And to buy a Switch 2 is to trust the Nintendo design team to continue to deliver. It’s early days, but I feel good about that gamble. After all, I have a cow in a kart waiting for me to get back into a race.
The news comes as the airport’s massive £1.3billion project to revamp T2 reaches another key milestone, with work to build a new road starting and the first trials of new taxiways on the airfield completed successfully.
Terminal 3 is being worked on now(Image: Manchester Airport)
Manchester Airport has opened a new security screening area that should speed up the boarding process.
Bosses at the northern travel hub have invested heavily in extending and refurbishing Terminal 2, which was first opened in 1993. Now the airport has officially opened its new Security East screening area, which is fitted with 10 high-tech scanners, meaning passengers will no longer need to remove their liquids from their luggage during the screening process.
“T2 check-in area just got even better with the opening of Zone C and a new WHSmith unit in Zone D. Zone C provides 12 new hybrid check-in desks and an entrance route through to the new T2 Security East,” the airport’s Facebook page announced today.
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport described the installation as a “major milestone”, while also announcing a change to how passenger drop-off will work. “We also completed the final element of our new T2 dual-forecourt operation, meaning that passengers can drop off at the lower forecourt as well as the existing upper forecourt, outside of T2,” the page continues.
The airport has released mock-ups of its new terminal (Image: Manchester Airport)
It is all change at Manchester Airport, where work is ongoing to expand Terminal 2 and 3. Last month it released computer-generated images of Terminal 3 which showed the anticipated look of the new terminal once the redevelopment is completed next year.
This announcement coincides with another significant progress in the airport’s colossal £1.3 billion project to overhaul Terminal 2. LEGO has signed up to the new-look terminal, as well as other retailers including Pandora, World Duty Free, Rituals and Wetherspoon.
The existing entrance to Terminal 1 will be transformed into the new Terminal 3 entrance. The revamped terminal will feature shops, stores, a 500-seat bar area offering views of the airfield, and a new dining hall. More space and seating are also part of the plan.
Once the refurbished Terminal 2 is fully operational, which is expected later this year, Terminal 1 will be permanently closed. The renovation plans for Terminal 3, primarily serving domestic routes and originally opened in 1989, will incorporate part of the Terminal 1 building, given their adjacent locations and interconnected structure.
Even the emblem of Manchester – the worker bee – is acknowledged in the design, with honeycomb lights reflecting the style of the new Terminal 2, as shown in the images. The airport has outlined the key aspects of the investment in Terminal 3.
Airport chiefs have kicked off the initial phase of a major project, with the grand unveiling set for next year.The airport has announced that the scheme aims to declutter and enhance the traveller’s journey.
A spokesperson for the airport told MEN: “The project will remodel the entrance to the terminal, the security hall and the departure lounge – creating extra space for passengers and for new retailers, as well as updating the look and feel of the building.
“The Northern hub launched its ambitious transformation programme in 2015. It involves doubling the size of Terminal 2 and closing Terminal 1 – but now we have set out how we plan to use some of the space in Terminal 1 after it closes to expand the adjoining Terminal 3.”
The transformative journey began with the first phase, which saw Terminal 2 swell to twice its original footprint. The expanded terminal, operational since 2021, has already welcomed over 30 million passengers and snagged an esteemed international architecture and design accolade.
The project’s second act is slated for completion later this year, promising to elevate the existing structure to match the new extension’s calibre, complete with over 20 fresh retail, dining, and drinking spots.
Upon the project’s culmination, the revamped T2 is poised to accommodate over 70 per cent of the airport’s footfall. Following T1’s shutdown, parts of it will be repurposed to bolster T3, as revealed in today’s announcement.
Day before his government’s publication of a defence strategy review, PM Keir Starmer says he will ‘restore Britain’s war-fighting readiness’.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned the United Kingdom must be prepared to confront and defeat hostile states with modern military capabilities, as his government unveils a 1.5-billion-pound (about $2bn) plan to build at least six new weapons and explosives factories.
“We are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, so we must be ready to fight and win,” Starmer wrote in The Sun newspaper on Sunday. “We will restore Britain’s war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our armed forces.”
The announcement came in advance of a Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which Starmer is set to publish on Monday. The review will assess threats facing the UK amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and pressure from United States President Donald Trump for NATO allies to bolster their defences.
European nations have rushed to strengthen their armed forces in recent months, following Trump’s comments that Europe must shoulder more responsibility for its security.
Defence Secretary John Healey, speaking to the BBC network, said the planned investment signals a clear warning to Moscow and would also help revive the UK’s sluggish economy.
“We are in a world that is changing now … and it is a world of growing threats,” Healey told the BBC on Sunday. “It’s growing Russian aggression. It’s those daily cyberattacks, it’s new nuclear risks, and it’s increasing tension in other parts of the world as well.”
The UK’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the funds would support the domestic production of up to 7,000 long-range missiles. With this package, its total munitions spending will reach approximately 6 billion pounds (nearly $8bn) during the current parliamentary term.
Meanwhile, The Sunday Times reported that the government is eyeing US-built jets capable of launching tactical nuclear weapons, although the UK’s Defence Ministry has yet to comment.
The forthcoming SDR, ordered after the Labour Party’s election win in July 2024, will outline emerging threats and the military capabilities required to address them. Starmer has pledged to raise defence spending to 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, with an eventual aim of reaching 3 percent.
The arms initiative follows earlier government pledges to invest 1 billion pounds ($1.3bn) in artificial intelligence technology for battlefield decision-making and an additional 1.5 billion pounds (about $2bn) to improve housing conditions for armed forces personnel.
However, the change strangely didn’t include an option to upgrade for those wanting to avoid the ads.
But thanks to a new update, Sky customers can now choose an ad-free option instead.
What’s more, customers get money off compared to subscribing directly to Paramount+.
“Finally no ads so I can get back to watching South Park and Nobland with no interuptions!” one viewer wrote on Sky’s forum.
“This is good news,” another commented.
Sky customers can subscribe to Paramount+ standard – which has no ads – for £3 extra per month.
Usually, the standard plan costs £7.99 per month.
For those who want 4K quality as well as a screen allowance boost and no ads, it’s £6 extra.
You’re throwing away money on Netflix – I found three common mistakes sending your bill soaring but the fixes are easy
That’s instead of the £10.99 you would have to pay for it directly.
Sky Cinema costs £10 per month and comes with two free cinema tickets for Vue Cinemas each month.
PARAMOUNT+ PRICES AND PERKS
In November, Paramount+ announced a new pricing structure.
Before then, there was just one standard plan costing £7.99.
Since November, there have been three.
The cheapest is £4.99 with ads, the ability to watch on one device at a time and only full HD quality – you also don’t have the privilege to download shows offline.
Paramount+’s new standard plan is £6.99 per month, allowing up to two concurrent streams in full HD and you can download content to watch on the go.
The premium plan is £10.99 per month, with up to four devices allowed to watch at the same time, as well as 4K UHD, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on selected titles.
As part of an epic 10-year programme to transform its hub, one major UK airport has revealed its latest multi-million pound investment plan to turn around a controversial terminal
The terminal has attracted a flurry of criticism online(Image: Getty Images)
One of the UK’s busiest airports has finally revealed plans to transform its terminal which Brits have branded ‘truly abysmal’. Handling around 30 million passengers every year, Manchester Airport is the largest of its kind in the north of England – with around 261 flights leaving the hub daily.
However, last year the airport came bottom in Which?’s league tables, after the consumer brand analysed responses from almost 7,000 members. Manchester Airport’s Terminal 3 received a measly 37 per cent approval rate – with travellers giving it just two stars for queues at the checkin-desk, bag drop, and passport control.
The tiny terminal, which mainly deals with low-cost airlines like Ryanair, only managed to scrape one star for queues at security, level of seating available, staff, and prices in shops, bars and restaurants. On social media, it’s clear the terminal’s reputation isn’t much better.
The terminal ranked at the bottom of Which?’s league tables(Image: Bruce Moran)
“Manchester Airport Terminal 3 is the depths of hell,” one person moaned on X (formerly Twitter). Another agreed, scathing: “Manchester Terminal 3, you are awful.” A third added: “Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport is truly abysmal,” while a fourth dubbed it the ‘worst’ terminal in the UK.
However, last week (May 13, 2025) Manchester Airport revealed a huge multi-million pound investment to revamp Terminal 3, as part of its £1.3 billion transformation programme. The mega face-lift, which aims to free-up space and improve the passenger experience, will see a new entrance with ‘more space, easier access and better facilities’.
T3 is about to look a whole lot different – thanks to a £1.3 billion transformation plan(Image: Manchester Airport)
The terminal will also welcome brand new security equipment and 40 per cent more seating capacity in the departure lounge, along with new shops and food and drink outlets, located both airside and landside. Grabbing a pint or meal pre-flight will also get a whole lot easier, as the terminal revamp will include a new 500-seat bar area with airfield views, as well as a dining area expansion that will see 200 extra seats.
Terminal 3’s expansion will see Terminal 1 (as it currently is) close for good as it merges together. Terminal 2, which has already had a major revamp, will also double its size as part of the 10-year investment plan.
The expansion includes a new bar and more duty-free shops(Image: Manchester Airport)
“The work we’ve done in Terminal 2 is there for all to see – and we’ve already won the prestigious Prix Versailles award for its architecture and design. But until now we haven’t talked about our plans for Terminal 3,” said Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe.
“Moving to a two-terminal airport is giving us a great opportunity to use some of the existing Terminal 1 space to increase the footprint of Terminal 3. We’re doing that as well as making some all round improvements to Terminal 3 – so passengers will enjoy new security technology, more space, more seats, new retail and food and drink, and more. It’s another exciting step towards delivering an even better experience for our passengers and I can’t wait to see it progress.”
External work on the new pier on Terminal 2 – the second pier – has also taken a significant step closer to completion. The piers on the terminal are structures that extend from the main building and are home to the gates where passengers embark and disembark.
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