A wave of youth-led protests has swept Europe, with demonstrators denouncing rising prices and a lack of prospects.
Published On 31 Oct 202631 Oct 2026
Germany and France are preparing for potential protests over the weekend that could coincide with Halloween festivities.
Approximately 150,000 people in Germany have registered to turn out in about 30 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne, to protest on Saturday.
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Police plan to deploy thousands of additional officers across the country. Some luxury jewellery shops and clothing stores have boarded up windows to protect against potential looting or violence.
Protests in Germany are led by a group dubbed “GenZ regelt!”, which translates to “Gen Z has got this!”.
The German protest movement’s complaints include the high cost of living, poorly maintained schools, government spending cuts and, more broadly, politicians taking decisions with little regard for the younger generation.
A wave of largely youth-led protests has swept across Europe in recent weeks, many with similar complaints: rising prices, declining educational facilities and what many protesters see as a lack of prospects for their future.
France braces again
Many of those grievances mirror those of the youth-led protests that have convulsed French cities and towns for three consecutive weekends.
Shops and businesses in Paris and other cities were boarding up windows on Friday.
French police are preparing for another weekend of potential protests and violence by deploying 70,000 police officers nationwide. More than 40 metro stations in Paris will be closed.
Authorities have also said face-covering masks will not be allowed at the demonstrations.
France’s interior minister has warned of a “very high risk” of disorder over the weekend.
Two weeks ago, widespread unrest broke out in cities and towns across France as demonstrations against the cost of living and conditions in schools descended into large-scale looting and riots.
Since then, French authorities have sought to clamp down on violent protests, but last weekend saw further demonstrations across the country, including intermittent clashes with the police.
Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France’s Chamber of Commerce, said businesses were worried.
“Shopkeepers can’t wait for Saturday to be over,” Di Crescenzo told broadcaster France Inter.
Halloween “is not helping matters”, he said, “because we’re going to have people wearing masks”.
When it comes to top individual performances from Friday night football, few can challenge Santa Barbara High’s secret weapon, Cade Mault, a junior soccer player committed to Cal Poly who taught himself how to kick and punt.
Against Westlake, Mault accounted for all of Santa Barbara’s points in a 13-10 win over Westlake. He had an 85-yard touchdown reception. He made field goals from 49 and 43 yards. He made the PAT. He even picked up a first down on a fake punt.
“We believe in him,” coach Nathan Mendoza said.
The Fernandez family of San Pedro loves football, but it’s been a tough week. Nick plays for Cal Poly and had knee surgery. Brother Joaquin injured his leg on Friday night vs. Carson and was transported by ambulance. Prayers for the Fernandez family to heal up. Good people.
He’s four for four on field goals this season, has not missed a PAT, is booming punts and still plays club soccer on weekends while practicing soccer four times a week from 6 to 9 p.m.
Soccer is his sport, but he’s progressing so well in football, options could be opening up for someone who insists no one taught him how to kick or punt.
His family is all about competing in sports. He has an older brother, Kai, who was an All-Southern Section receiver for Santa Barbara and now plays baseball for UC Davis. A younger brothers plays football and lacrosse.
He has a 3.9 grade-point average, so all options are open. Mendoza hopes he keeps playing football for at least one more year.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the United States Grand Prix on the weekend on which he can potentially clinch his first world title.
The Mercedes driver beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds, with the Dutchman’s team-mate Isack Hadjar third ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli whooped with delight as he took his first pole position since the Belgian Grand Prix in July and said: “It feels good to be back.”
The 20-year-old Italian will become world champion on Sunday if he wins the race in Austin with Hamilton lower than fourth and Russell lower than eighth.
Hamilton is already below that position having qualified fifth, while Russell will start sixth ahead of the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Antonelli’s pole came as something of a surprise after the Ferraris had topped all three practice sessions and Verstappen had looked strong through the second part of qualifying.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” said Antonelli’s engineer Peter Bonnington, emphasising that his charge’s first lap in final qualifying was good enough for pole.
Verstappen had been fourth quickest in Q2 despite being on used tyres but he found his car lacked the requisite grip in the final session.
Antonelli said: “We got pole so we will try to win tomorrow but Max has been very quick and Isack did an incredible job so it is not going to be easy.
“We try to get a good start and hopefully lead into Turn One and try to set the pace, even though it’s going to be very tight.”
Verstappen said: “Q3 was not good, Q1, Q2 were nice but for whatever reason in run one and two just didn’t have a nice balance. No mistakes, just not enough grip. But if it’s still a P2, I take it.”
The Night Riviera Sleeper from London to Penzance will depart from London Euston instead.
And passengers heading to London Heathrow have been warned as well.
Heathrow Express trains and the Elizabeth line will also not be operating from London Paddington.
The closure is due to huge £28million upgrade plans, which will affect other routes for the rest of the year.
The train operator warns: “Journey times to and from London will be considerably extended
“Passengers are strongly advised to check their journey before travelling, especially when travelling later in the day, to ensure that their whole journey is still possible.”
London Paddington is closing for an entire weekend next monthCredit: AlamyNo trains will operate from the stationCredit: Alamy
GWR Operations Director Richard Rowland added: “Although trains won’t run into London Paddington for a short period, we’ve worked closely with Network Rail and our industry partners to put alternative routes in place, including GWR services from London Euston, and connections via Waterloo and Marylebone.
“This does however mean some journeys may take longer than usual; so we ask anyone travelling to or from London during this period to plan ahead and check before they travel.”
It isn’t the only train station set to undergo huge works in the next few months.
No trains will be running at Birmingham New Street from December 24 to 28 while the station undergoes a £13million upgrade.
Actor Jason Segel and dancer-actor Kayla Radomski are officially husband and wife, tying the knot three years after striking up a romance.
The pair married over the weekend, Radomski confirmed in a series of photos and videos she reposted Monday to her Instagram stories. Segel and Radomski reportedly married Saturday at the Huntington in San Marino, according to People.
A representative for Segel did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a request for confirmation.
The photos Radomski shared to her Instagram page show herself donning a white, strapless gown adorned with a pink and green floral pattern. One photo that Radomski reshared to her Instagram stories shows Segel in a deep burgundy suit, walking hand-in-hand with Radomski.
“Shrinking” star Segel and “So You Think You Can Dance” alumna Radomski were first spotted together in October 2023 during a date night at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. They finally debuted their relationship at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, when Segel was nominated for his work in the Apple TV series. The now-newlyweds continued to hit the red carpet at several other Hollywood events including the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards in September and high-profile parties.
“Nothing makes me happier than to stand by your side and see your light shine so bright!!!” Radomski said of Segel in an Instagram post in October amid the Season 2 premiere of “Shrinking.”
Wide skies, gentle footpaths through gold and copper wooded hills, thatched cottages, cosy pubs and quirky shops: the Lincolnshire Wolds have all the ingredients for the perfect autumnal mini break. Victorian poet Alfred Tennyson lived in the village of Somersby for most of his first three decades and the local landscapes echo through his verses. In The Lady of Shalott: “Long fields of barley and of rye / That clothe the wold and meet the sky …”
The Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape covers an area of 216 sq miles. On its southern boundary, halfway between Lincoln and the coast, the friendly market town of Horncastle bills itself as the “gateway to the Wolds”. With handsome brick houses, great cafes, a market on Thursdays and Saturdays and decent public transport links, it’s a perfect base for exploring the area.
The market town of Horncastle is a good base for exploring the area. Photograph: Jasmine Bryan/Alamy
Horncastle overflows with antique shops. Laurence Shaw, with half a century’s knowledge of the trade, runs an elegant wholesaler on the corner of East Street. In an old chapel across the road, the Trinity Centre has all kinds of ancient treasures piled in fantastical heaps under lancets of Victorian glass: porcelain milkmaids, jelly moulds, cotton reels, teetering piles of teacups and thick vines of jewellery. Round the corner in Stanhope Antique Centre you may find anything from a wooden decoy duck to a roulette wheel between chandeliers and grandfather clocks.
By the “Ducks Crossing!” sign opposite Tesco, mallards gather on the reedy River Bain. And in the 13th-century St Mary’s church there are gold angels in the rafters and lines from Tennyson’s poem Ring out, wild bells in stained glass. The new Riverscape Walk, launched last year, will take you past the canal basin, watermill and former leather tanning warehouses.
Take a hike
There are plenty of rewarding walks nearby and you don’t always need a car to reach them. The hourly 56 bus from Lincoln to Skegness stops in Horncastle and, 10 minutes later, in Hagworthingham, a peaceful Wold-edge village. From here, a six-mile loop of undulating lanes and footpaths takes in tiny Somersby, Tennyson’s birthplace, and Bag Enderby (which sounds straight out of Tolkien), where St Margaret’s church has an intricate 15th-century font, carved with religious symbols and medieval scenes. Bag Enderby’s -by suffix comes from an Old Norse word for village.
From Hagworthingham, you can also stroll through Snipe Dales nature reserve, where a 3-metre (10ft) wooden snipe, carved by local sculptor Nigel Sardeson,has just been installed on a wooded bank. The valleys here are fragrant with late meadowsweet and water mint and the trees are full of birdsong, from tiny goldcrests in the conifers to huge buzzards over the oaks. If you have time and energy to spare, the Viking Way long-distance walk – waymarked with horned Viking helmets – runs through Horncastle and the Wolds on its 149-mile journey from Rutland Water to the Humber.
A steel sculpture along the Viking Way near Woodhall Spa. Photograph: Nick Hatton/Alamy
Don’t miss
In Horncastle, the Joseph Banks Centre multitasks as a tourist info point, local museum and natural history hub. Banks, a botanist and Horncastle’s most famous inhabitant, sailed with Captain Cook and oversaw the creation of Kew Gardens. The museum courtyard is bright with hydrangeas, which Banks helped introduce into Britain.
The Edwardian village of Woodhall Spa, six miles from Horncastle, has wide leafy avenues and smart black-and-white buildings; even the public loos next to the Tory club are half timbered. Nineteenth-century entrepreneurs, digging for coal, found instead a source of mineral-rich water, a magnet for the era’s wellness-seekers. I meander past the Dambusters memorial and mural, the thriving Kinema in the Woods, opened in 1922, the nearby Tea House and Cottage Museum, then back to Horncastle along the sculpture-dotted Viking Way.
Where to eat
Horncastle’s top lunch spots include the cafe at Myers Bakery, fragrant with spice and yeast, where you can buy Lincolnshire plum loaf. Round the corner, the spacious and welcoming bike-themed Pedal and Paws serves pizzas, salads and cakes. No 8 Coffee Shop, which opened in March 2026, is already popular for inventive hot drinks such as cinnamon-bun matcha and pistachio hot chocolate.
Montebello, in the former Angel Inn, serves home-cooked Italian food, while Magpies offers refined white linen and candlelight dining, with dishes such as Grimsby crab linguine or loin of Lincolnshire lamb. Magpies also has rooms, in cottages next to a Tardis-like guitar shop.
Coffee and cake at Pedal and Paws. Illustration: Phoebe Taplin
Where to stay
The cheerful, timeworn Admiral Rodney Hotel is right in the middle of Horncastle, with affordable rooms and details you might see in pricier places: speedy wifi, retro radio, Twinings teabags. It offers great veggie breakfast options, fresh fruit and pastries, served in a big glass-walled conservatory with peacock fanlights. Dinner dishes such as pan-fried sea bass with pickled fennel, or sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce, chicly garnished with edible flowers and micro-herbs, make a celebratory end to days spent hiking through the Wolds.
Getting there and around
The 56 bus heads to Horncastle from Lincoln bus station hourly and takes 50 minutes. The less frequent 30 bus takes 10 minutes longer and winds through warm-stoned villages. Local buses include the new B617 from Horncastle to Woodhall Spa. The coast is 20 miles away, on a bus with top-deck views across the Wolds.
Accommodation was provided by the Admiral Rodney, doubles from around £100, room only. Train travel was provided by LNER
ANYONE planning to get to London Heathrow this weekend should check travel options before heading to the airport.
Major engineering works will see one tube line partly close and two other services to the terminals will be scaled back.
Anyone heading to Heathrow on the train or tube could run into problems this weekendCredit: GettyOn both days there will be no service to London Heathrow on the Piccadilly LineCredit: Getty – Contributor
On both Saturday and Sunday, the Piccadilly Line will have no service between Hammersmith and London Heathrow terminals.
There will also be no Night Tube service on October 16 – normal service is expected to resume on October 19.
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Travel to or from Heathrow Airport on the Elizabeth Line will also experience issues.
Services on Saturday will run as usual, but on Sunday, there will be a reduced service between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 4.
Three weeks after the autumnal equinox, it finally feels like fall.
Well, kind of.
This past weekend, Southern Californians breathed a collective sigh of relief as an oppressive heat wave broke. Temperatures in L.A. dropped 31 degrees, from 104 degrees on Oct. 4 to one week later, a high of 73 degrees, according to observed weather data.
I felt like a climatological grim reaper when, in the midst of my friends celebrating the drop in temperature, I told them it was temporary, as it was expected to get hot. Again. (I’m great at parties!)
But, even still, I want to help you get outdoors — safely. In this week’s edition of The Wild, our weekly outdoors newsletter, I will share three excellent L.A. hikes that each offer something different — great views or shade, for example — with caveats about the best time to go.
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The first caveat is: The National Weather Service issued a red flag watch and warning, which signals an increased risk of fire danger, for much of L.A. and Ventura counties from Thursday morning through Saturday evening. It includes the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains. As a result, parks within Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area will be closed Thursday through Saturday. The closure applies to land managed by California State Parks, the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.
Daniel Swain, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources climate scientist, told my Times colleagues Terry Castleman and Rong-Gong Lin II in a recent story that the greater fire risk will be in communities and natural areas west of the 405 Freeway, as east of the 405 recently saw rain.
The 405 Freeway passes through several areas with hillsides covered in dense shrubs and trees.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
“West of that point, almost no rain fell at all, and in early October we had a record-breaking heat wave,” Swain said. “East of the 405 in Southern California, the fire risk is lower because it recently rained.”
Bearing that in mind, two of the hikes below are east of the 405 and the third is an urban hike. All three avoid long drives far into the mountains. The two hikes closest to the foothills have large parking areas and clear exits. The urban hike usually offers clear views that should allow hikers to spot a fire near them and evacuate quickly.
Several children balance on rocks as they cross a segment of the Arroyo Seco near Pasadena.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
1. A shady hike along a flowing river
Gould Mesa via Gabrielino Trail Distance: About 4 miles out and back Elevation gained: About 300 feet Difficulty: Easier end of moderate Dogs allowed: Yes Nearest to: Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge and Altadena Accessible alternative: The first mile of this trail is paved. See notes below.
The Gabrielino National Recreation Trail is a 28.8-mile journey from Chantry Flat Recreation Area north of Sierra Madre all the way to the Ventura Street & Windsor Avenue trailhead near the Hahamongna Watershed Park in La Cañada Flintridge. It is a multi-use trail for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders.
The trail has several beautiful sections, including from its western entrance in Hahamongna to the Gould Mesa Trail Camp. This segment is mostly shaded and great for a morning stroll, especially before 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
To begin your hike, you’ll park at a large free dirt lot near the backside of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. If hiking in a wheelchair or seeking an accessible paved path, I recommend parking at this smaller paved lot, as that’s where the paved portion of the trail begins. (Please leave this lot for folks seeking the accessibility alternative, as it’s smaller than the large dirt lot — and both are free!)
You can either take the paved trail or an unofficial dirt trail that follows the Arroyo Seco before leading you to the official trail. Either way, it’s primarily a mix of flat path and gentle inclines along the Arroyo Seco, shaded by coast live oaks, bay laurels and sycamore trees. After hiking about two miles, you’ll reach the Gould Mesa Trail Camp, where you can set up a picnic at one of the campground’s tables, or cool off along the creek.
And if you’d like to go a bit farther, you can continue onward to the Paul Little Picnic Site or the Brown Mountain Dam waterfall (see map). Regardless of where you stop, I promise you’ll be treated to a stunning landscape and likely hear the chirp and squawk of scrub jays, California quail and more.
The San Gabriel Mountains become blanketed in golden light in the early evening in Dunsmore Canyon in Deukmejian Wilderness Park, a Glendale park.
This 2.6-mile hike through the 709-acre Deukmejian Wilderness Park in Glendale will offer you not only great views of the surrounding cities but also an opportunity to spend time among healthy native trees and plants, including California buckwheat, black sage and California sagebrush (which you should smell).
You’ll park in a lot near the Stone Barn Nature Center. Several signs are usually posted around the lot warning visitors about when the park will close, and a staff member will lock the gate. I think that’s serious, so take note.
You’ll start your hike on Dunsmore Canyon Trail, headed northeast up a straight gravel path covered on both sides with thick ceanothus, yerba santa and more.
Although some hikes, like this path in Dunsmore Canyon in Glendale, may appear exposed during the day, you might find they’re shadier in the morning or evening, depending on their local topography.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
Just 0.2 miles in, there’s a massive old coast live oak where kids could easily create an imaginary forest kingdom under its large branches.
As you continue to climb, you might hear Dunsmore Creek, which runs parallel to the trail. Remember to turn around as you gain elevation, as this trail rewards you with substantial views of Glendale and the Crescenta Valley soon after you start. All the while, you have the San Gabriel Mountains right in front of you, including Mt. Lukens, which you can hike to from the same park.
Half a mile in, you have the option to continue on the Dunsmore Canyon Trail or Le Mesnager Trail to make a shorter loop. Le Mesnager Trail includes a lookout point at about 2,750 feet, a great spot for sunset as long as you don’t get locked in! As you meander down the trail, you’ll find a nice shady canopy and continued views of the city below.
Given our weekend temperatures, this trail is best in the morning or evening. I personally prefer the latter, when golden hour paints the mountains a deep gold to red.
If you plan to hike it in the evening, though, keep the park hours in mind. It is open until 8 p.m. until Monday, when its hours shift to closing at 7 p.m., which remains until Daylight Saving Time ends Nov 1. This is relevant if you plan to park in the lot. Otherwise, you can walk out of the park and back to your car. Regardless, have fun!
Visitors reach the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook by climbing the Culver City Stairs.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
3. An urban hike near a great picnic area
Culver City Stairs to Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook Distance: 1.4 miles Elevation gained: About 350 feet Difficulty: Moderate Dogs allowed? Only on the paved road, not on trails Accessible alternative: Discovery Park and Bluff Creek Trail
This 1.4-mile out-and-back jaunt up 282 concrete steps, known locally as the Culver City Stairs, takes hikers to the stunning Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. From here, you’ll have one of L.A.’s most breathtaking — kind of literally — city views.
To begin, you’ll take the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook entrance off Jefferson Boulevard. You’ll follow a dirt path briefly east, follow a switchback to the west and soon find stairs. Head straight up, pausing to breathe and appreciate the views. The stairs vary in height, from about 3 to 20 inches, so it’s good to take your time.
At the top, you’ll have panoramic views that, on a clear day, include the Pacific Ocean. To return, you can either head back down the steps or take the meandering dirt trail down.
Culver City is expected to be cooler on Sunday than Saturday, with an expected high of 85 degrees. Why not make it a morning trek followed by brunch?
Regardless of where you go, I hope you have a safe and meaningful time on our public lands!
3 things to do
1. Prance up to a giant pumpkin in Norco The L.A. Fright Club will host a 1.6-mile moderate hike at 9 a.m. Sunday to Pumpkin Rock in Norco. Guests should wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring water. Costumes encouraged. Learn more, including how to register, at the club’s Instagram page.
2. Make marvelous marsh pics in Irvine The California Native Plant Society’s Orange County chapter will host a beginner nature photography course at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Duck Club at the San Joaquin Marsh in Irvine. At 5:30 p.m., photographer Bob Allen will guide attendees on a short walk in the marsh, followed by a presentation and discussion of technique at 7 p.m. Learn more at the organization’s Instagram page.
3. Witness the cosmos near Palm Springs The San Bernardino Valley Amateur Astronomers will host a star party from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Whitewater Preserve northwest of Palm Springs. Gates will open at 7:30 p.m. and close at 8:05 p.m. No late entry. Learn more at the preserve’s Instagram page.
The must-read
An Eastern box turtle at the Turtle Conservancy in Ojai.
(Julie Leopo / For The Times)
The 90-acre Turtle Conservancy in Ojai was founded in 2005 as a research center and advocate for turtle habitat. But over the past 10 years, its mission has shifted in response to illegal turtle poaching, prompting the small nonprofit to take in 810 turtles — more than 400 of which they received in the past six months. What should the conservancy do once it has the turtles? That question remains heavily debated (and underfunded), an issue covered in a recent Times story by writer Stuart Miller. “It’s so easy to pluck an animal out of the wild, but when you want to put one back there’s more roadblocks,” said conservancy founder Eric Goode. “Can we find a happy medium? Because the best thing for these turtles is not to keep them in holding areas for too long.”
Happy adventuring,
P.S.
Would you like to help scientists better understand where native species are thriving in L.A. County? Or how about researchers who are tracking where invasive species are taking up loads of space? The L.A. Nature Quest is a monthlong challenge that runs through Oct. 31. The L.A. Public Library helps host the challenge, which asks participants to download the citizen science app iNaturalist and then document the natural world in their neighborhood. This year, quest organizers are especially hoping people will pay attention to “cold spots,” where there is little to no data on habitat in an L.A. neighborhood. Check out the map at lapl.org to see how you can help.
For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.
Anyone have a helicopter available for Friday night?
This is the weekend when high school football fans and sportswriters across the Southland need air transportation or multiple screens on a computer or cellphone or at a sports bar to watch the many top games during Week 8.
It doesn’t get any better than No. 1-ranked Santa Margarita (7-0) playing at No. 2 St. John Bosco (6-1) in a Trinity League game that will feature big-boy football at its best. The NFHS Network will be streaming the game.
It’s not the only game you’ll want to see.
Let’s review the choices so you can use Google Maps or a TV remote control or just never let go of your phone on Friday night.
Santa Margarita coach Carson Palmer, center, with offensive coordinator Lenny Vandermade, left.
(Craig Weston)
Santa Margarita at St. John Bosco, 7 p.m.
Last week, St. John Bosco avenged last year’s stunning Southern Section Division 1 first-round playoff loss to Orange Lutheran, a team it beat 48-0 in the regular season. This week, the Braves finally get to play Santa Margarita, the school that won the state Open Division championship because St. John Bosco was nowhere to be found. Santa Margarita has a 13-game winning streak since losing to the Braves last October.
This isn’t the same Santa Margarita team. Trent Mosley is now at USC, where he looks like a Heisman Trophy candidate when not injured. The Trojans are off this week, so look for Mosley to be on the sideline supporting brother Grant, an Eagles receiver. Santa Margarita’s strength is running the ball with undersized Adrian Petero (5 feet 5, 175 pounds) to set up the pass for quarterback Fletch Palmer, son of coach Carson Palmer.
St. John Bosco has become more of a running team with Maliq Allen, but quarterback Koa Malau’ulu remains a dangerous weapon with receivers DJ Tubbs and Kuika Moaalii. This game likely comes down to a chess match each play, testing defensive coordinators Steve Fifita (Santa Margarita) and Chris King (St. John Bosco). Both have great respect for each other. Turnovers, penalties and special teams must be watched closely. The pick: St. John Bosco.
Bishop Amat (6-1) at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (7-0), 7 p.m.
Spectrum 1 chose to televise this game, which will decide who gets to finish second in the Mission League behind Sierra Canyon. Notre Dame is a surprise being unbeaten at this point, but Tahj Skinner has proven to be one of the best athletes at quarterback, and the Knights are filled with fast players on both sides of the field from their successful track program. Bishop Amat must worry about Notre Dame’s speed, but Notre Dame must deal with the Lancers’ physicality. The pick: Bishop Amat.
Mission Viejo (6-1) at San Clemente (7-0), 7 p.m.
Home-field advantage matters in this annual rivalry game in the recently renamed Alpha League. Mission Viejo’s offensive line is elite. Receiver Jack Junker got to play running back last week and showed his big-play skills. San Clemente has its own versatile star in receiver/safety Jaxson Rex. In the end, it’s about which young quarterback can avoid mistakes, with Mission Viejo relying on sophomore Brett Burnor and San Clemente turning to junior Preston Beck. The pick: San Clemente.
King/Drew (4-3) at Crenshaw (5-2), 7 p.m.
King/Drew has been the upstart trying to win the Coliseum League with Crenshaw always standing in the way. Quarterback Gerald Torres has put together a strong season, passing for 1,363 yards and 13 touchdowns. Crenshaw struggled against Palisades’ passing attack this season, so the Cougars’ defense will be tested. Crenshaw has added more balance on offense with quarterback Ethan Grant. The pick: Crenshaw.
Hamilton (3-4) at Palisades (3-3), 7 p.m.
There should be more than 100 passes attempted in a game that will decide the Western League title. Have ice available afterward for the elbows of quarterbacks Robert Holohan III of Palisades and Thaddeus Breaux of Hamilton. The pick: Hamilton.
It has been five years since Michael Che’s last stand-up special. Of course, he has a good excuse, being busy much of the year co-writing and performing “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Live,” and he also wrote and starred in two series of his acclaimed sketch comedy show, “That Damn Michael Che.”
But he feels more like himself on the stage, he said in a recent interview. “I really miss stand-up when I’m not doing it because I can really let loose on stage and say all the words I want,” he says.
In his new Netflix hour, with the pointed title, “Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota,” he wastes no time in getting into it, opening with a series of jokes saying a lot of words about Charlie Kirk’s murder: He believes that it happened because “straight white conservative Christian men are being silenced.”
He clearly loves poking at people’s sensitive spots. His favorite joke, he says onstage, is, “Men want anal sex the way women want a sensitive man. It just sounds nice… until you see them crying.”
He talks about race (“I don’t care what color you are — if you’re rich, you’re white”) and goes after President Trump and people who try to police language, but he also talks up how much fun he had at a Pride parade and about growing up poor, with his mother cleaning houses to help make ends meet. In our interview done via Zoom (without a camera on) while he was stuck in traffic on the way to 30 Rockefeller Center and then in an elevator and then in the SNL offices, he discussed it all.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Did anyone in your family shape your humor and your storytelling?
My family has a different kind of humor. It’s a little meaner, if I’m being honest with you.
I’d like to see Thanksgiving at your house.
A lot of people would. It’s kind of crazy.
But the one person was my grandfather who was a pastor. He knew how to hold court and tell a story and he was a funny guy. He could be silly or absurd or dry. So maybe there’s a lot of him in what I do. But he did it week after week with different material.
Speaking of week after week, which is closer to your real self, the “Weekend Update” persona or your stand-up persona?
The stand-up is the most me; “Update” is a job and it’s a character. On stage you get to hear more nuances — on “Weekend Update” it’s a short segment, and I’m splitting time with Colin and guests. There are more needs being met than just mine. I say that respectfully, but there are things we have to touch on that I wouldn’t in my personal work and there are things other people write so it’s never all me.
I can listen, I can build, I can take you on a journey, I can make you think this is a bad joke, but it’s actually a good joke. I can make you think it’s a dirty joke, but it’s a clean joke.
I miss doing stand-up full time, but maybe that’s only because I don’t do it full time. But maybe if I did it full time, I’d miss doing it part time. Getting this hour together for the special, Lorne [Michaels, SNL’s iconic boss] was nice enough to let me go on the road even during show weeks, and he didn’t ask as much of me this past season. He was really kind, and I really appreciate it.
Colin Jost, left, and Michael Che on “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Che has been doing “Weekend Update” for 12 years, as has Jost.
(Will Heath / NBC)
Your stand-up persona is definitely more thoughtful and open-minded than your “Weekend Update” one. Are you conscious of revealing yourself onstage or just thinking about what’s funny?
They tell you in the criminal world that the longer you talk to the police the more chances there are you’re going to reveal something. And I feel like it’s true for comedy, too. A lot of the stuff that I do is just thoughts that we haven’t said out loud and explored yet. I start with the thought, and if I can get a joke, a one liner out of the thought, that’s then I start to explore it onstage. I only write one line because I can’t write in a vacuum. I need to be able to listen to see what an audience gives me; otherwise, I only know how it makes me feel.
You open this special with that riff on Charlie Kirk’s murder. Your audience is not filled with Turning Point members, but people still may be hesitant to laugh. Are you starting there to challenge yourself or challenge your audience, or is it just because you think it’s funny?
I think all three of those things can be true. Those jokes are funny, but it is hard to laugh at. That’s the sort of feat I seek to pull off, to make people laugh about things that they’re not necessarily expecting to hear without being gross and gratuitous. I did those jokes on Shane Gillis’ show and his audience reacted favorably.
None of this is to make any kind of larger point other than I want you to laugh at the things that horrify you. It’s just horrifying on the surface so people think you can’t make a joke about it. People are afraid of the attempt. And I say, “Well, what about this one?” I do like that.
Then you move on to the R-word and the N-word. Are you simply pushing buttons for laughs or pushing people to think about their own biases and preconceptions about language and their political sensibilities?
I don’t want to let words dictate my next emotions. I want you to put the responsibility of self-control on yourself. People are going to say nasty things literally just to get a rise out of you, and it’s up to you to decide how you’re going to handle that. Also, I’m trying to be consistent. If I start with jokes about Charlie Kirk, but then somebody wants to call me the N-word, I can’t say, “Well, that’s crossing the line.” Right now there ain’t no more lines. We’re in a culture war and bombs are going to fly. So let’s see who’s got the stomach for it.
When you refer to a guy buying you drinks in a bar as “visibly gay,” the audience gets uncomfortably quiet in a way. How do you feel when they hush over a line like that?
With a lot of these jokes it’s like dribbling a football, you just don’t know where it’s going to land. But I like putting people on their heels and being a Black comic of my generation, they expect the joke to go one way because they’ve heard the jokes that come from others so they’re apprehensive. I expect them to be apprehensive and then talk them through it. When the joke lands differently with a punchline they’re not expecting, they’re pleasantly surprised.
As swiftly as Barry Manilow returned to the stage following a health-related hiatus, he has stepped away.
On Friday, Manilow cut his concert short just two songs after it began. The 83-year-old crooner abruptly told the crowd to talk among themselves as he walked off stage, according to concertgoers who detailed the incident on social media. The curtain dropped, and a few moments later the audience was told the show was a wrap. Manilow’s performance slated for Saturday was subsequently nixed.
The day before, on Thursday, the “Copacabana” singer had returned after a six-week break to perform at the International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, telling the audience, “I’m back!” Manilow appeared to be spry and energetic throughout the show. “God, I feel like I’m a teenage idol again,” he joked when a couple of audience members tossed underwear onto the stage. He picked up a pair of full-coverage briefs and asked if they needed to go to the laundry, then a pink lacy thong and joked, “I’ll keep this pair.”
“After a triumphant welcome-back concert on Thursday, Barry got hit with bronchitis and had to cancel his Friday and Saturday shows,” reps for Manilow told Paste Magazine.
Last year, Manilow revealed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and that surgery would require him to postpone several performances. In May, he told The Times that, since he had surgery, he was getting winded just walking down the hallway. “Ninety minutes of screaming in tune, which is what I do for a living — I’m not up for that yet,” he said at the time. “I will be, but it’s taking a long time to get my voice back. They warned me that I’d have to learn to breathe again. So these days, I get up, I go to my piano and I try to be creative. Before I know it, the afternoon’s over.”
The star returned to the stage in June following a six-month hiatus, in support of his latest album, “What a Time,” his first LP loaded with new material in almost 15 years.
But in August, Manilow canceled shows because of vocal and technical problems before telling fans he needed to pause. “We just finished a fantastic summer tour, 29 shows in 68 days,” the singer said. “The shows were fantastic. The audiences were fantastic. And I sounded fantastic. But it seems that we were pushing a little too hard.
“Now we all need to sit down and shut up,” Manilow said.
It seems Chet Hanks, son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, is still in his feels over Eric André’s recollection of his zany and “dangerous” appearance on “The Eric Andre Show.”
Hanks, who became an internet personality in recent years for boasting his Jamaican accent at the 2020 Golden Globes red carpet and unironically coining the phrase “White Boy Summer,” seemingly reignited his feud with André when he confronted the Emmy winner during ComplexCon in Los Angeles over the weekend. On Tuesday, Hanks posted video of himself approaching André and his security team at the event and exchanging some words with the comedian.
It’s unclear what the two men say to each other but Hanks appears to bring up an issue to André who seemingly shrugs it off at first. The conversation seems to turn tense when Hanks speaks face-to-face with André and security personnel block the view. The video concludes with André and his securtiy walking away from Hanks and his posse. In the caption to his video, Hanks said André “had NO MEMORY WHATSOEVER of trashing me to the media after I outshined him on his own show!!”
Representatives for André did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for comment.
“He stole a motorcycle and rode it around. He almost knocked a bunch of grips and gaffers off their ladders,” André recalled in 2023. “It was very dangerous. He tried to prank us back, but we edited out all his b—! He’s not well. How did Colin Hanks come out so good and Chet Hanks come out so bad?”
In 2023, Hanks called André a “straight b—.” The comedian swiftly fired back, calling Hanks a “f— liar” and dared Hanks to take a “DNA test and prove that Tom Hanks is his f— father.”
After the weekend confrontation, Hanks said that André ultimately “admitted” the feud began “because he had a problem with me ‘mocking Caribbean culture’ when I did my Jamaican accent all those years ago.” Hanks, who is white and was born in Los Angeles, resurfaced to public consciousness in 2020 when he — unprompted — introduced himself at the Golden Globes red carpet with his impression of Jamaican Patois. His father, the prolific actor beloved for roles in “Saving Private Ryan,” “Forrest Gump” and “Toy Story,” received the Globes’ Cecil B. Demille award later that evening.
“WHO KNEW that in addition to the brain rot and poop joke humor he is known for, Eric is also such a passionate cultural activist!!! Great running into you Eric!!!!,” Hanks, who has repeatedly used and defended the N-word on social media, sarcastically ended his caption.
André, who is Black, has long been a vocal social and cultural activist. The “Street Fighter” actor over the years has spoken out against Israel’s war in Gaza and has used his platform to address racism and police brutality.
This summer André, alongside fellow comedian Clayton English, settled a racial profiling suit against Clayton County police in Georgia. The comics were both allegedly racially profiled and subject to “unconstitutional” stops by Clayton County police at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in 2021. The stops were part of a police program intended to combat drug trafficking. The Associated Press reported that the settlement “does not include an admission of fault or liability on the county’s part but says the county has ended the program at issue and has no intention of reactivating it.”
Universal Pictures’ (CMCSA) supernatural horror thriller “Other Mommy” scared up an estimated $27.5 million in domestic ticket sales over the weekend, leading the North American box office as moviegoing revenue for 2026 surpassed $8 billion.
A PICTURE tells a thousand words. But how about a thousand pictures?
If the camera roll from our trip to Butlin’s is anything to go by, it tells of a jam-packed, non-stop, rip-roaring, grin-inducing, memory-filled festive-as-anything time of it.
The whole family can enjoy the magic at Butlin’sCredit: suppliedTop Red Coat Father ChristmasCredit: Supplied
My two pre-teen daughters, husband and I hadn’t been to Butlin’s before but we were keen to hurl ourselves stocking-first into the resort’s Christmas spirit.
We decided that whatever the weather (pouring rain was forecast all weekend) we were going to have as much sparkly, festive Santa-filled fun as one still-believing family could in a single weekend.
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And boy, did we meet our match at Butlin’s Bognor Regis. Arriving on a Friday after a long day, our Christmas spirits were a little on the low side.
But after the all-inclusive buffet, the magical call of the Bingo Bango hosts at the Reds venue (and a welcome glass of wine) I could feel my shoulders loosening and a smile spreading across my face.
And once the Silent Disco got going — with a choice of hard house or Christmas hits — I couldn’t stop beaming.
And judging by the hols snaps, it stayed there the whole time.
We quickly discovered you could almost divide the resort into two.
There were the non-Christmassy activities — an incredible VR arcade, escape rooms of various types and the excitement of Laser Quest where we all shot each other repeatedly.
And then everything else.
Christmas arts and crafts? Tick. Puppet Castle’s Christmouse Wonderland? Shockingly blue panto Snow White And Her Magnificent Friends? A skyline ‘snowstorm’ involving singing reindeer? Tick, tick, tick.
And when you’ve raised a couple of true believers — expectations at Christmas events tend to be high.
But Father Christmas’ Express Delivery didn’t disappoint.
The world’s most famous Redcoat was ready to meet and greet our two in a grotto that could’ve been in a high-end department store.
There was a naughty or nice wheel, children’s letters to Santa whirring round the ceiling and elves busily spreading Christmas cheer.
Once the girls’ handwritten letters to Santa had been delivered through suction tubes, we were whizzed up in a lift through the snow to meet the big man himself — who had twinkly eyes and decent bants.
After more festive fun in the North Pool (the huge indoor swimming pool), it was a short walk back to our home, Butlin’s Ocean Hotel. Our family room was a decent size with a balcony. It was clean, comfortable and had a good bed.
Enjoy Silent Disco — with a choice of hard house or Christmas hitsCredit: SuppliedThere is no end of attractions at Butlin’sCredit: supplied
We’d opted for the hotel dining plan, giving us breakfast and dinner in the Kaleidoscope restaurant.
It goes without saying my girls were delighted by the beige buffet — hoovering up pizzas, hot dogs and chips.
There were pastas, curries, a roast and themed nights — and a salad bar for something lighter.
For lunch, you’ll find more high street faves from Burger King and Papa Johns to SOHO Coffee.
And there was just as much variety when it came to entertainment.
From gameshow bonanzas to tribute acts and singalongs, it never stopped.
And if you need some fresh air, the fairground stays open with bumper cars, an old fashioned helter skelter, waltzer and a chair-o-plane.
The best part? The fairground is all free. And our take home after the festive weekend?
We went into Butlin’s blind, but now we have seen the twinkling, tinselly light.
GO: BUTLINS
GETTING/STAYING THERE: A four-night Christmas Festive Wonderland break is from £41.
Four nights at Ocean Hotel start at £77, from Nov 23.
Few pubs boast a more idyllic setting. As I emerge from the woods after a 15-mile hike, The Bridges, on the banks of the Onny River, in the rolling south Shropshire hills, glistens in the late afternoon sun. Inside it’s all wooden beams, with light streaming through stained glass and huge bunches of homegrown flowers adding splashes of colour. There’s time for a pint before general manager Sam Thompson shows me to my room in the recently converted stables.
I’m here exploring part of the 185-mile (297km) Shropshire Way, on a two-day Heart of the Hills hike – one of the county tourist board’s new Rail-Ready Short Breaks. Designed for people who don’t have time to tackle the whole route, the itineraries focus on loops that are easy to access by train, with illustrated PDF downloads, GPX files, accommodation suggestions and highlights of what to do along the way. My route will take me from Shrewsbury to Bishop’s Castle via Ratlinghope – about 27 miles, perfect for a weekend.
The Bridges pub in Ratlinghope.
Shrewsbury itself is worth lingering in – the historic market town is crammed with independent shops and restaurants (I loved Csons for its creative small plates) and impressive Tudor architecture. But I’m most intrigued to learn that beavers have been reintroduced here by the council and the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. The first kit in the county in 400 years was born late last year and the Trust’s Tom Freeland shows me around the site, the Old River Bed nature reserve, just two miles north of the town centre. A boardwalk crossing wetlands allows an up-close view of the rewilding project. Although we don’t spy the elusive creatures (we see heron and plenty of moorhen), there’s still lots to learn. “It’s been a great success in inspiring the community to find out more about our local wildlife,” says Tom. Nature talks and guided tours of the beaver enclosure are in the pipeline, too.
Back at my base, the 16th-century Lion + Pheasant townhouse hotel, I dine on pan-roasted trout in the beamed restaurant (there’s a popular wine and tapas bar on site too) and the next morning set off to walk the first leg to Ratlinghope. Crossing the River Severn, the city soon peters out and quiet country lanes lead to Lyth Hill Country Park where expansive views open up across Shropshire.
It’s a steady climb to Wilderley Hill, past fields of rape, bright patches of yellow in a sea of green, and I stop under an oak tree to picnic. There’s no one around, just the songs of wren and chaffinch filling the air. The landscape changes on the approach to Ratlinghope as the route traces a brook, crosses wooden bridges and winds through pretty woodland. Just off the path lies the 12th-century St Margaret’s Church, the burial place of 19th-century farmer Richard Munslow, the last known “sin-eater”, whose job it was to eat bread and drink ale over corpses to absorb their sins.
I enjoy a drink instead in the pretty beer garden at The Bridges. The seven immaculate, minimalist rooms are round an adjacent courtyard – and guests have access to a lounge above the pub, too. The food in the bar includes Guinness rarebit and duck terrine, while the light-filled restaurant focuses on organic fare from the owners’ regenerative farm on the Linley Estate and the Welsh Marches. I feast on huge radishes with anchoïade, and hake with fennel, capers and crispy polenta. Breakfast the next morning – homemade granola and poached rhubarb – is equally delicious. It’s such a lively, friendly place I’m tempted to move nearby for the pub alone. They’ll even drive locals home if they’ve had one too many, Sam tells me.
Blue skies and gentle sunshine greet me for day two of the hike, a 12-mile yomp across rugged moorland and pastures to Bishop’s Castle. The pub lies on the edge of the Long Mynd, a heath and moorland plateau, but I’m heading north to the Stiperstones, a national nature reserve with a wild, dramatic ridge of quartzite rock formations that pierce the ground. I climb higher, passing Devil’s Chair tor, watching skylarks and buzzards soar overhead.
The Devil’s Chair on the Stiperstones Ridge, Shropshire. Photograph: Vincent Lowe/Alamy
It’s a beautiful walk. After several hours, a magnificent avenue of Linley Beeches line the descent into Bishop’s Castle, a pretty town of half-timbered houses. Bank House B&B, a Georgian renovation with an oak-panelled drawing room and five antique-filled rooms, is my home for the night. I pop into the Poetry Pharmacy where prescriptions are poems chosen to spark specific emotions, to be “taken” when required (I leave with a bottle of Joy). Although little remains of the medieval castle that once stood here and gives the town its name, the grand Castle Hotel, with its pretty gardens and welcoming restaurant, is worth a visit.
With more time, I could, of course, carry on and add another loop of the trail. But the train back home beckons – Craven Arms station is a short bus or taxi ride away – and I leave feeling pleased to have dipped my toe into a small segment of the Shropshire Way. As far as rambling weekends go, it’s ticked all the right boxes, and whetted my appetite to discover more.
The Tom Cruise-led movie “Digger” cratered at the box office this weekend, limping to a fifth-place finish with $8 million in the U.S. and Canada in its theatrical debut.
The Warner Bros. film was expected to do poorly after polarizing reviews from critics and a challenging marketing campaign. The film had a production budget of about $125 million. Worldwide, the film brought in just $20 million in its opening weekend, meaning the studio will probably post a significant loss from the release.
A representative of Warner Bros. did not respond to a request for comment.
Amazon MGM Studios’ “Verity,” starring Anne Hathaway, easily lapped “Digger,” coming in first at the domestic box office with a haul of $32.6 million. The film made $62.5 million worldwide.
The underwhelming performance from “Digger” marks a rare misfire from the usually bankable Cruise and adds to a difficult year for Warner Bros.’ film studio, whose lineup of movies has struggled to connect with audiences. That’s in stark contrast to 2025, when the studio ran up a string of hits such as “Sinners” and “Weapons.”
It also comes as Paramount Skydance’s $111-billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is set to close Tuesday. As part of the merger, there have already been several management shake-ups, including the exit of Warner Bros. film chiefs Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca. The duo oversaw the studio for the last four years, providing a mixed bag of hits and misses for the Burbank-based studio.
The deal is expected to dramatically reshape Hollywood by combining two of the major studios, a move that is expected to lead to massive layoffs. Paramount has already told Wall Street that it’s planning $6 billion in cost cuts.
“Digger” is the result of nine years of work, as director Alejandro González Iñárritu started on the project before the pandemic. The film is a satire about an impending climate change apocalypse that’s triggered by the drilling operations of oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, played by Cruise, who looks nearly unrecognizable clad in prosthetics and graying hair.
In a post-screening, onstage discussion last week, Cruise noted the carefully handcrafted props and sets.
“Everything is practical,” he said. “It was so beautiful, and I just have to say … AI can’t do that.”
Sony Pictures’ “Resident Evil” came in second at the box office this weekend with $12.5 million in its third weekend in theaters. Paramount’s “Heart of the Beast” ($11 million) and A24’s “Primetime” ($8 million) ranked third and fourth.
As of last week, Warner Bros.’ domestic box-office haul this year was $437.7 million, representing about 5.6% of the total theatrical revenue in the U.S. and Canada, according to Rentrak data.
Last year, Warner Bros.’ total at this time was $1.8 billion, aided by back-to-back successes starting with “A Minecraft Movie,” which went on to become the highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office during that calendar year.
The studio does not have any film in the top 20 of domestic box-office earners this year, with Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” ranking at 21 with $84 million. Bets on films such as Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride!” cratered, while DC Studios’ “Supergirl” misfired.
