Welcome back to The Times’ Lakers newsletter, where it’s been a, uh, busy week.
Over a short seven days, the Lakers confronted their past, welcomed their present and got a glimpse at their future. Starting with LeBron James officially filing for divorce last Tuesday, the Lakers transformed into almost a completely new team overnight.
But did they turn into a better team?
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Thuc Nhi Nguyen’s weekly newsletter.
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Hello to a new era
The relationship was characterized by passive aggression, cryptic tweets and small slights that added up to a big, if not inevitable, breakup. After such a complicated tenure, at least LeBron James’ Lakers career ended with clarity.
By informing the team before free agency started that he would not be returning next season, James offered a clean break when both sides needed it. The 41-year-old, who is still the best unrestricted free agent on the market, will keep the rest of the league hostage. The Lakers can move forward in peace.
They didn’t take long to find their rebound star.
The Lakers went all-in to get center Walker Kessler. Not just with the four-year, $130-million contract — which is longer than many of the other deals signed this month — but with the draft capital. When a simple offer sheet wouldn’t have been enough to pry the restricted free agent away from Utah, the Lakers threw in two first-round picks (2031, 2033) and two first-round swaps (2028, 2030). They don’t control their own first-round pick until 2032, meaning there aren’t many exit ramps if things go wrong.
But, on the other hand, what if they go right?
Kessler, 24, is seen as a “perfect” fit for the Luka Doncic-Austin Reaves Lakers, a league source told my colleague Broderick Turner. He’s an elite rim protector, averaging 2.4 blocks per game in his four-year NBA career. He led the NBA in offensive rebounds in 2024-25 and ranked fourth in rebounding rate, according to Basketball Reference.
He’s what Doncic asked for.
The concern might be more about an unproven track record. He only played five games last season because of a shoulder injury. He finished third in rookie of the year voting in 2023 but has only one full-time starting season. Even then, he played only 58 games in 2024-25.
It’s a big bet for a player who hasn’t even approached an All-Star conversation.
(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)
Six of the Lakers’ top nine players from last season are gone. The Lakers started reloading their draft assets by trading Deandre Ayton on Friday, shipping the big man to Washington for Jaden Hardy and second-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032. Hardy, like new free agent addition Quentin Grimes, is another Doncic teammate from Dallas.
With Ayton’s departure, the Lakers are on the hunt for a backup center. They have two remaining roster spots and are still in the mix to add a two-way wing defender. Rookie Cameron Carr is showing in summer league that he could be an immediate three-point threat. He has some work to do in the weight room and needs more reps to be ready on the defensive end to fill the three-and-D responsibility Rui Hachimura held.
Hachimura was the last of the Lakers’ unrestricted free agents to settle on a new home. The 6-foot-8 forward was a valuable asset to the Lakers and maybe wasn’t appreciated enough for his willingness to accept different roles, even moving to the bench briefly during an important contract year.
Hachimura, who made about $18 million last season, got looks from across the league but agreed to a two-year, $28-million deal with the Clippers on Monday.
Even for some NBA players, moving is prohibitively inconvenient.
Goodbye to the old
Outsiders looked at James’ initial move to the Lakers as something that went beyond basketball reasons. Perhaps the breakup was the same way.
Doncic, Reaves and James could have been as competitive as any trio in the league, evidenced by the short, successful glimpses we saw last season. The basketball could have been beautiful.
But if James would have played out his career with the Lakers, there always would have been an awkward pall over the final years. This relationship wasn’t serving either party anymore. He was right that it was simply time to move on.
On paper, he leaves behind a historic chapter of an unparalleled career. Already a Hall of Famer before he came to L.A., James won the Lakers’ 17th NBA championship, ending a 10-year title drought for the franchise. He broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record while wearing a Lakers jersey in front of a sold-out Lakers crowd.
In the hearts of Lakers fans, the legacy is complicated. Fans never got to create the everlasting joyful memories we saw at the Knicks championship parade or, if you’ve been watching soccer, in this month’s FIFA World Cup. Perhaps the Lakers faithful will never forgive him for his role in the disastrous Russell Westbrook trade that set the organization back for years. James, for all his personal accolades and cultural influence, still stands no chance against the spirit of Kobe Bryant, especially after Bryant’s shocking death in 2020.
The comparisons were unrelenting. But James never shied away from them.
“Truly a honor to wear the [purple and gold],” James wrote on Twitter with purple and yellow heart emojis, responding to a kind statement from Lakers governor Jeanie Buss. “… Hope I made a few proud during my stint.”
Most breakups are hard. The end of this relationship, at least, is a rare instance when you can smile both because it’s over and because it happened.
Poll results
Last week, we asked which unrestricted free agent would you most like to keep. Ultimately, no one gets their wish; all have signed elsewhere. There were 39 total votes, with several submitting two names, but for the sake of this count, I only took each ballot’s first choice.
Here are the results:
Rui Hachimura: 23
Marcus Smart: 9
Luke Kennard: 5
Jaxson Hayes: 1
“Marcus Hachimura”: 1
New question
Last week’s poll didn’t have a particularly long shelf life. The first wave of free agency swept up almost all the available Lakers players within hours. This new question could fuel debate to outlast all of our natural lives: Would you like to see the Lakers retire LeBron James’ jersey? Slide into my inbox (thucnhi.nguyen@latimes.com) to vote!
—Yes
—No
Favorite thing I ate this week
The special combination bánh mì (bánh mì đặc biệt) from San Francisco’s L&G Vietnamese Sandwich.
(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)
When I was young(er), my parents went grocery shopping at the Vietnamese store Saturday mornings, and on his way out the door, my dad would poke his head into my room and ask simply, “One or two?” He was asking how many Vietnamese sandwiches I wanted for lunch.
Bánh mì remains my ultimate comfort food, and I liked the special combination bánh mì (bánh mì đặc biệt) from San Francisco’s L&G Vietnamese Sandwich so much that I went twice in three days. It had all the right Vietnamese cold cuts with the perfect pate and mayo ratio, and for an $11.50 deal, I even risk the caffeine-fueled heart palpitations to add a Vietnamese iced coffee.
The Spurs manager had just kept his side up on the final day, following a 1-0 win against Everton, but this was not a time for celebration.
He was already looking ahead to the summer to ensure the club were never in this situation again.
“My target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream,” he said in his final news conference last season.
That dream is quickly becoming a reality for the Italian following an aggressive start to the window from Spurs.
Defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have arrived on free transfers and the club could end up spending a combined £237m on centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and midfielders Fernandes and Tonali.
Spurs may have finished in 17th in back-to-back seasons, but the club are feeling the benefit of strong off-the-field revenues as they look to bounce back.
Newcastle, by contrast, have effectively needed to trade to reinvest.
The sight of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Tonali all leaving the club in the space of less than a year is sobering.
So the spotlight will very much now be on incomings.
After missing out on forward Victor Munoz, who joined Liverpool, Newcastle need reinforcements.
The club have only signed 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, who will likely start the season as a deputy, having never played top-flight football before.
There is little margin for error with pre-season right around the corner.
A Welsh couple decided to check in at the cheapest all-inclusive hotel they could find in Benidorm to see if they could find the reason why it’s the cheapest of them all
A couple decided to stay at the cheapest all-inclusive hotel in Benidorm (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
It’s located by the coast, got several amazing beaches, and is just a short flight away from the UK. But it’s also become famous from the popular TV show of the same name. But with it being so popular, the large variety of hotels you can stay at can vary massively in terms of quality and price.
So, during their holiday to Benidorm, ne Welsh couple named Ash and Kelsey, who often share their travels with their 74,000 YouTube subscribers, decided to stay in the cheapest all-inclusive hotel they could find to see if it was worth the price, or if it’s better to pick something a bit more pricey.
“We’re spending the next three nights in Benidorm’s cheapest all-inclusive hotel, the Sandos Benidorm Suites,” Ash revealed at the start of the video, explaining they were planning on testing out the various facilities, trying the food, and inspecting their room to find out if the hotel is worth the money.
The price and room reveal
Ash went on to say they’d booked their hotel stay last minute and had opted for the cheapest all-inclusive hotel they could find. But as they’d decided to go during half-term, there hadn’t been that much to pick from.
In total, they’d ended up paying £333 for three nights between the two of them for a room in the three-star hotel, which Kelsey said she still thought was a good deal, taking into consideration they were in a popular travel destination during half-term.
As they stood on the road outside of the hotel, they noticed it looked ‘a lot better than surrounding buildings’. But the question was, would it looked as nice on the inside?
“It’s very clean, very white,” Ash said as they walked into the building to the reception area. After checking in, they took the lift up to their room on the 20th floor, but predicted that they’d have to ‘wait ages’ for the lift as there was only one working.
“Wow, this is really nice! I didn’t realise we’d have a living room,” Kelsey exclaimed as they walked through the doors, with Ash saying it was better than he’d expected.
Despite being a ‘standard’ hotel room, it included a bathroom that was fully equipped with everything you might need, a desk, a sofa with a TV, and a large bed. They had also been given a free bottle of sparkling cider, waiting for them in the fridge. However, they quickly noticed that the accompanying glasses weren’t as clean as they’d want.
“I think the best part of this room has to be the balcony,” Kelsey said as she walked out to the balcony in question, which had four chairs and overlooked the city of Benidorm with the sea in the distance. Looking down, they could also see the hotel’s private pool. However, they also noticed a lot of rubbish laying in the green area next to the hotel.
All-inclusive perks
With their pink all-inclusive wristbands, they went on to get their first free drinks, with Ash explaining that most drinks were included with their all-inclusive deals. As for alcohol, the local brands were inclusive, while you’d have to pay extra for branded drinks. As for cocktails, there were 11 different drinks included in the all-inclusive package, which Ash was happy with.
“All in all, this is a pretty decent all-inclusive menu,” he said. “There’s enough options for everyone, good variety.
The all-inclusive package also includes of breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an international buffet, snacks between meals, on top of the unlimited domestic drinks that Ash and Kelsey had already explored.
For the food, the couple showed off the variety of food available at the different meals, which had everything you’d may want and more.
“No we know hotel food’s never the best food you’re gonna get, but as far as all-inclusive breakfasts go, I’d say that was pretty good,” Ash said after they’d enjoyed their first breakfast.
They also went on to see what facilities the hotel had to offer, which included entertainment areas, a large pool with sun loungers and seating areas, a play park for kids, a kids pool, as well as various bars and restaurant areas. The hotel is also located a 12 minute walk from the popular Levante beach, as determined by Kelsey and Ash, making it easy to walk to the beach if you so wish.
Was it worth it?
As they went to share their thoughts of the hotel, they noted that while their room was ‘pretty basic’, it was modern and clean, but with the large balcony being their favourite part.
“It is a three-star hotel, but it does have some pretty decent facilities,” Ash said, saying the pool and outdoor area both seemed ‘big enough’ for when it’s more crowded during peak season. He also mentioned there was entertainment shows on every night.
They were also happy with the food and drinks, especially praising the large variety of both meals and drinks.
“The only issue we’ve found with this hotel is waiting on the lift,” Ash said in the video, as there was still only one working lift that went to their floor.
But this doesn’t seem to have bothered them too much, as they both said they’d happily stay there again and were leaving the hotel happy and impressed.
Some kids grow up with video games and summer camp. Sebastian Berhalter grew up with the World Cup.
He was 13 months old when his father, Gregg, played in the tournament for the first time and 5 when his dad was called back. And four years ago, when Sebastian was already a professional in his own right, he went to Qatar to watch his father coach the U.S. to the round of 16.
Yet none of that prepared the younger Berhalter for his own World Cup debut earlier this month.
“It’s ridiculous,” Sebastian said. “Before the game, I just kept chuckling to myself, like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ Literally I couldn’t believe it. Playing for my country, it’s the best feeling in the world.
“I just can’t believe that happened.”
Nor could he believe what happened next. Because after making appearances off the bench in the team’s first two group-play games — both of which ended in U.S. victories — Berhalter started the third game. And with a goal and an assist in a loss to Turkey, he already has more World Cup goals and assists than his dad.
In fact, he’s the only American with a goal and assist in the same World Cup game in the last 96 years. Not bad for your first start in the tournament.
His father still has bragging rights in one category, however, since the 2002 team he played for is still the only American team to win a knockout game in a World Cup. Sebastian can match that Wednesday in Santa Clara when the U.S. plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 of this summer’s expanded tournament.
“They’re a good team,” Sebastian said of the Bosnians. “It’s a round of 32, so do or die. I think you play every game like it’s a knockout game. For us it’s, it’s keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
If Gregg provided the inspiration and the road map that guided his son to the World Cup team, the younger Berhalter had to wait for Mauricio Pochettino before he could take his first steps on that road. That came in the spring of 2025, about 11 months after his dad had been sacked as coach, when Pochettino, the new manager, gave the younger Berhalter his first national team call-up.
He’s gone on to make 16 appearances for the U.S., including three in the World Cup. And that’s something Gregg is convinced couldn’t have happened as long as he was coach.
“I think about it all the time,” he recently told ESPN. “I never could have picked him.”
The scrutiny would have been too fierce, he feared, the whispers of nepotism too loud. Sure, Michael Bradley played more than 50 internationals games for his father Bob, including four in the 2010 World Cup. But he was already on the team when his father took over from Bruce Arena, who gave Michael his first call-up.
So, Sebastian had to wait. He had to play for three MLS teams, win an MLS Cup and three Canadian Championships and become too good to ignore in order to get his first shot with the national team — one which came from Pochettino, not his father.
Neither Berhalter has regrets.
“What I know,” Gregg, now coach and sporting director of the Chicago Fire, told ESPN, “is that everything is in the place it’s supposed to be. This is how life is. It’s his turn. It’s his time now.”
And he’s playing as if there’s no time to waste.
After making his international debut in a friendly with Switzerland last May, Sebastian played five full games in the Gold Cup last summer, then scored his first international goal in a friendly with Uruguay less than three weeks before leading the Vancouver Whitecaps into the MLS Cup against Inter Miami.
So, when the time came for Pochettino to name his World Cup roster last month, it was clear Sebastian, 25, had earned a spot.
“He’s a monster. He’s a monster, in the way of how professional he is,” the coach said. “He’s the type of player who’s going to train, going to train, going to train. I mean, sometimes I have to say [to him], ‘Go inside, no?’“
After stumbling in the group-play final, which Turkey won with a goal deep in stoppage time, the U.S. will have no room for error in its first elimination game. It’s a game in which history may — or may not — be on the Americans’ side.
On one side, the U.S. is winless in its last 13 games against European opponents. On the other, its last win over a UEFA team came in December 2021, in California, over Bosnia and Herzegovina, a team to which it has never lost.
There’s an omen in there somewhere.
“Our goal is to win the World Cup,” Sebastian said. “That’s what we want to do. It’s always been our mission and we’re still taking it one game at a time.”
There’s also the family record book to think about. One more victory and Sebastian will have more World Cup wins than his dad. Two more and he’ll be in the tournament quarterfinals, which is as far as his father went in his first World Cup.
In Qatar, Sebastian was the one in stands, cheering on his dad. In this tournament, the roles have been reversed. And Gregg told his son he couldn’t be happier about or prouder of how things have worked out.
“Four years ago, I was waiting for him to come up in the stands. Now, he was waiting for me to come up in the stands,” Sebastian said. “That was special.
“When you hear words that your dad is proud of you, that’s a cool moment.”
“Do you have an extra ticket?” a man shouted outside SoFi Stadium last Thursday.
The World Cup has been drawing fans from around the globe. But for many, getting a seat in the stadium has come at a steep price.
Some were lucky enough to nab $400 to $500 tickets through official World Cup lotteries, others paid thousands of dollars to catch the action IRL. Tickets for the upcoming USA versus Turkey match were selling for more than $1,400 on resale sites.
The demand has been so high that authorities have been warning fans about how to avoid ticket scams.
As crowds flocked into the stadium, we asked attendees about how much they paid to get into the most-watched sporting event in the world. Here’s what they shared.
Their responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellano, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera of Orange County
Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellanos, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera sport Mexico gear.
How much did you pay for your tickets?
Diana: We don’t want to say because I don’t want our parents to know.
*Whispers* We paid retail. It was like $500 per ticket. For Father’s Day, we wanted to make sure he got to enjoy it.
Why did you want to attend the World Cup?
Castellano: We went in ‘86 in Mexico, ‘94 in Pasadena and now here. We’re excited because I want to enjoy it with my kids. If we didn’t come, I would’ve been sad because they need to see how it is.
Diana: Now, it’s our turn. Even though [today’s match] is not our country, we still had to come and experience it. We’ll watch our team play later on the big screen.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
Diana: Work, but that doesn’t matter. This is more important. Time with family.
Luis Jr.: Sleep. [Laughs]
Diana: It’s Thursday. We’re out here watching the game, we’re drinking, so there’s no complaints.
Was it worth it?
Diana: Absolutely. No matter what happens today. The fact that we’re here, it’s already a success.
Tell me about your outfit. You’re rocking Paisaboys, an L.A. brand.
Diana: I got the Paisaboys shirt on, repping. I know they have a collaboration with Nike. I got my Nike shoes on and I’m just ready to have a good time. My mom sewed her top last night. She wanted to add a little touch to it.
Angelica: Yes! This is an old, old, old jacket.
Diana: My dad’s outfit is sponsored by me. All Adidas, Father’s Day gift.
Luis Sr.: I got lucky this year.
Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell of Washington, D.C.
Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell.
How much did you pay for tickets?
Harrell: We went to two games: USA versus Paraguay [in Los Angeles] and Senegal versus France in New Jersey/New York.
Chapman: The L.A. tickets were way more expensive. We bought them presale for like $1,940, but the [seats] were still very high in the arena and the resale prices are actually cheaper than the ones we bought on presale. It’s horrible. [Laughs]
Why did you want to come to the World Cup?
Chapman: This is my first men’s World Cup. I went to the women’s World Cup in Australia a couple years ago. The last time the U.S. had a men’s World Cup here was like forever ago. We’re probably not going to have another in our lifetime, so I really wanted to make sure we had a chance to go to some games.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
Harrell: We’re moving the day we get back, so we were packing until the moment we got here. Some of this gear was last-minute purchasing in order to make that work. Also, we took a six-hour plane ride, middle seats. We really committed to get here. We got cat sitters, we both took days off from work, the whole thing.
Was it worth it?
Chapman: Yeah, just for the experience. It’s more money than we would’ve wanted to pay but yeah.
Harrell: We bought the tickets like a year and a half ago, so it’s been on the calendar forever. We ended up getting to bring my brother and his best friend to celebrate his 40th birthday, so it sort just worked out for all of us.
Cambage: This is my first fútbol game ever. I wanted to come cause it’s L.A. Yay sports! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let’s get out there and get into it.
Samimi: I’m born and raised in L.A. so I’m happy to see the World Cup here.
Tell me about your outfit inspiration.
Samimi: I’m wearing Honor the Gift, Russell Westbrook’s brand, a Nike top, my shorts are from a random boutique in L.A. and Jordan shoes.
Cambage: I just went crazy at the Nike store. I’m not gonna lie. We just came from the Nike store. I’m reppin’ USA today. Yes, I am Australian, but I do live in America and USA is AUS. [Laughs]
Kenan Sahbaz of St. Louis and family
Bosnia and Herzegovina fans cheer on their team.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
I got mine directly through the FIFA website. We paid $500 a piece. I brought my son, my cousins and their kids.
Why did you want to attend the World Cup?
Sahbaz: This is our very first World Cup. It’s a historic event for our very small country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a huge accomplishment in the past 12 years. This is going to be the first time we’ve made it here again. We’ve got a really good squad and I think we can do some amazing things for our country. This is a time when we really need some support and joy in the country, and no better way to do it than at the World Cup.
Who’s your favorite player?
Kids: Džeko.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
Sahbaz: A lot. Work. Time. We were initially going to go on vacation to the Bahamas, but I asked him either the Bahamas or the World Cup. So when we found out that we made it, it was the World Cup. We canceled everything else. We even went to the qualifiers in Wales and that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as well. There was just no way we were going to miss it.
Was it worth it?
Sahbaz: 100%. Win or lose, we still win today.
Daniel Henriquez and David Njenga of Seattle
David Njenga, left, sports Kenya gear, while Daniel Henriquez cheers for El Salvador.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
Henriquez: This match was $500 each. We bought it in like October of last year.
Why did you want to attend the World Cup?
Njenga: Because this is the World Cup. You have to go to a World Cup. This is my second one. I was in Qatar for the last World Cup.
Henriquez: The energy! World Cup baby!
Njenga: There’s people from all over the world. We are all assembled here to enjoy this moment.
Henriquez: This is what happens when all the world comes together. This is our utopia. We all love each other. We’re all here for one thing, to support our country.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
Njenga: My job. I have to be at work right now, but I took the day off. I don’t mind.
Henriquez: I’m a nurse for the fire department. My boss was awesome. She gave me a day off. I love my boss Nancy. Go Nancy!
Was it worth it?
Njenga: It is worth every penny. It’s not even the money. It’s the experience. After this, we head to San Francisco for another game.
Henriquez: Then we’re heading to Vancouver and then we have another game in Seattle.
Njenga: We’re going to six games [in total]. Our Houston tickets were the cheapest. They were about $400.
Cindy Vazquez of Grenada Hills
Cindy Vazquez Zavala reps Mexico with her outfit.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
It was free.99. Shh!
Why did you want to come to the World Cup?
This is my first World Cup. The Jordan team invited me to attend this game, so lucky me. That’s why I’m wearing Jordans today. I’m in the industry so they invited a few employees from neighborhood stores to come.
Tell us about your outfit inspiration.
Today there’s a Mexico game, so I still gotta rep even though I’m attending this match [Switzerland versus Bosnia and Herzegovina]. The outfit is a Nike T90 jersey and my lace is from Amazon. I got the little [soccer] ball, the little World Cup and teddy bear from the gas station. I needed it.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
I actually had to request PTO to attend, but the store is still running without me. Right after this game, I actually have to jet back. I work at Feature, which is a sneaker boutique in Studio City. S/O Feature for allowing me to come here!
Fabian Almiron of Spain
Fabian Almiron, originally from Paraguay but currently living in Spain, rides Metro to the game.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
I paid $1,100 for the first game [June 12], $290 for the Turkey game [June 19] and the last game with Australia was $170 [June 25].
Why did you want to come to the World Cup?
This is my first World Cup. I live in Spain, but I’m rooting for Paraguay. I’m very excited to be seeing them participate after 16 years.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
I used like 20 to 25 days of vacation time to come see the World Cup.
Was it worth it?
Yes!
Sunny Kwong, Sam Mallari, Antonio Evangelista, Michael Evangelista of San Diego and Los Angeles
Antonio Evangelista, Sam Mallari, Michael Evangelista and Sunny Kwong are decked out in Bosnia and Herzegovina gear.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
Michael: We paid $400 each. We got lucky with the last chance lottery. They released the tickets a few months ago.
Why did you want to attend the World Cup?
Michael: We’re rooting for Bosnia this time. This is our first World Cup.
Antonio: It’s a lifelong dream. I’ve loved the sport ever since I was in the Philippines.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
Michael: Most of us had the day off. I worked in the morning at like 6 a.m. and then I’m going to work afterward. I really wanted to carve out time to be there.
Mallari: I took time off because this is my first soccer game ever and I wanted to experience the World Cup with true fans.
Was it worth it?
Michael: 100%. It’s honestly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s been awesome to be here with my dad. We watched the last World Cup finals and we were literally in tears. I know he’s been playing soccer ever since he was in the Philippines military.
Antonio: 20 years.
Becky Clift of Orange County and William Wagner of San Diego
Colleagues William Wagner and Becky Clift sport traditional festival inspired outfits to cheer on Switzerland.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
Clift: They were gifted to us.
Wagner: We’re a fortunate group.
Why did you want to come to the World Cup?
Clift: The World Cup in America is super fun, so we wanted to support it and be a part of it. This was the game that we got tickets for, so we decided to dress up a little bit and have some fun.
Wagner: We’re both soccer people. We both speak the world’s language, so we’re happy to be a part of it here.
Tell me about your outfit inspiration.
Wagner: I have a very close Swiss friend who was equipped for this. One quick phone call and here I am.
Clift: Then I had to get mine so I could support.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
Wagner: A full day of work. We’re both engineers. We know each other through work.
Was it worth it?
Wagner: We’ll find out.
Clift: Heck yeah!
Jorge Morales of Topanga
Jorge Morales holds out a ball he got at the World Cup opener in Mexico City.
How much did you pay for tickets?
It was between $800 to $900 for my USA versus Paraguay tickets. I bought them through Seat Geek.
Why did you want to come to the World Cup?
I wanted to experience it not just in Los Angeles, but I also wanted to experience it in Mexico. I’m going to three games in Los Angeles and four in Mexico City. Going to my first World Cup in Mexico City was a whole different ballgame. Mexico played in their home country and they won. It was like pandemonium. Even though it was raining over there at the time, it was still a lot of fun. Everyone was hugging each other. I’m looking at you, New York Knicks fans. [Laughs]
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
I’m used to traveling, so I’m like this ain’t nothing. I just wanted to experience a World Cup game and the fact that it’s in three countries, you’re not going to experience that any other time. It’s the one and only World Cup where you’re going to see three countries hosting it.
Alexi Kulik, Marcella Harkness, Luke Kulik and Ian Harkness of San Diego
Switzerland fans Alexi Kulik, Marcella Harkness, Luke Kulik and Ian Harkness.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
Ian: $450 per ticket.
Alexi: We won the ticket lottery. That’s the only way ‘cause the resale is expensive.
Why did you want to attend the World Cup?
Marcella: This is our first World Cup!
Ian: I was at the Switzerland versus Qatar game. Similar outfit. We got it dialed this time. Lots of fun. Tough ending, but what are you going to do?
Luke: We wanted to support Switzerland. Everyone in the family is Swiss. It’s fun to go to a World Cup game. We were just excited to get tickets. I think it’s a great way for the family to spend time together and a good excuse to get out of work.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
Luke: Time off work. Time to come here. We drove up here. I don’t think we gave up much. We just enjoy being here.
Ian: $450.
Alexi: And we woke up at 5 a.m., so that we could come up here and spend the day together.
Was it worth it?
All: Yes!
Anja Gegic, Dino Gegic, Benjamin Mustafic, Nordin Kapic, Armin Kapic of Los Angeles
Bosnia and Herzegovina fans Anja Gegic, Dino Gegic, Benjamin Mustafic, Nordin Kapic and Armin Kapic.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
Nordin: $3,000. We’re like literally on the field.
Anja: $450. In L.A., we got it like that.
Why did you want to attend the World Cup?
Anja: This is our second time ever qualifying for the World Cup. We are so proud to be here and support our country today.
Nordin: I mean, look around. Why would you not want to be here today?
Armin: We’re hoping for the win!
All: 2-0!
Bendicht Hügli and Lucia Grajales of Mexico City
Lucia Grajales and Bendicht Hugli, both currently living in Mexico City, hold a Swiss flag.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
Hügli: The ticket was $650. That’s stealing. That’s robbery. When I went in ‘86, I think the tickets were 10% of the price I paid for this year.
Why did you want to attend the World Cup?
Hügli: I had some business in San Diego. I saw Switzerland is going to be here, so let’s hit it and break the bank to get tickets. I went to the World Cup in Mexico City in ’86. I saw 12 games. I’m going to one this time.
Was it worth it?
Hügli: We’ll see. If Switzerland plays lousy, then I’m going to be pissed, but I think they’ll do better than in the first game.
Flavia Sacco and Isidoro Garcia of Washington, D.C.
Flavia Sacco and Isidoro Garcia root for Paraguay.
How much did you pay for your ticket?
Isidoro: I think it was around $500 per ticket. Again, we were very lucky because Paraguay was the first game.
Flavia: It was early bird without knowing who was going to play.
Isidoro: We’re also going to the Paraguay versus Turkey game in San Francisco and the third one in Mexico City.
Why did you want to come to the World Cup?
Flavia: We’re rooting for Paraguay. I’m from Paraguay, born and raised.
Isidoro: This is my second World Cup. I went to the one in Qatar. We were very excited about it. Actually, we were very lucky too because we bought Paraguay’s tickets when they were selling them blank. So we just bought the three tickets for Paraguay before knowing the group stage and then it turned out to be in the U.S., so it was awesome.
Flavia: We were hoping it would be on the East Coast because that’s where we live and it ended up being on the other side of the country, but we already had the tickets and we really wanted to go to a game, so we flew. We’re coming straight from the airport. We have our 5-month-old baby who is at the hotel with my mom.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
Isidoro: I guess time with our daughter. Even though it’s only going to be a few hours, we miss her a lot. She’s very tiny. Every [moment] is precious with her.
Was it worth it?
Isidoro: Yes, even though it’s a few hours and hopefully Paraguay will pull it off.
Jorge Espinosa of Los Angeles
Jorge Espinosa of Los Angeles.
How much did you pay for tickets?
For the USA versus Paraguay ticket, I think I paid like $1,800, and for another match, I think I paid about $1,020, so a little less. I think that’s when the prices started to go down.
Why did you want to come to the World Cup?
I’ve always wanted to go. I missed my chance to go to Brazil in 2014. I really wanted to go, but I had just taken a huge trip to Asia, so I couldn’t really go. I didn’t have any money left and I’ve been thinking about the World Cup being here since it was awarded to the U.S. I was really bummed out when it was awarded to Qatar instead of the U.S. and also instead of Australia. I’m really excited about it. It feels unreal.
What does it mean for the World Cup to be in your hometown?
It means so much. I remember when they had it here in ‘94. I didn’t get a chance to go to any of the games, but the energy that you feel around the city is like next level. The events they’ve been hosting are so awesome. You get to meet more people from other walks of life and other countries.
Did you have to give up anything to be here?
I just pretty much had to pick up more debt, but I get points so it’ll help fly somewhere. Also, debt disappears when you die so they can try coming after me for that World Cup money, but they never will. [Laughs]
Was it worth it?
I looked at the price and was like, “It’ll never be this cheap in my life, ever.” It’s only ever going to go up, and, hey, it’s in my backyard.
FOR the past eight years I’ve wasted hours on busy, overpriced trains, travelling between London and my hometown of Devon.
But I recently discovered I could skip the sweaty crowds and do the journey in my sleep for the same price.
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The Riviera Sleeper travels between London and CornwallCredit: The Sun – Cyann Fielding
While you might have heard of the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Scotland, I bet you aren’t familiar with Great Western Railway’s Riviera Sleeper from London to Cornwall.
The full journey from London to Penzance in Cornwall takes eight hours overnight, compared to the daytime five hour journey.
With the normal route being popular (and often packed with chaotic carriages where I arrive home disheveled and sweaty) I thought I would opt for the overnight option to Devon instead.
It takes just over five hours compared to my usual 2hr30, departing at 11:45pm and arriving at 5am.
I booked the cheapest seats on offer, paying £47.50 with a railcard, although the cheapest without a railcard is £43.
This got me an upright seat – if I had opted for a sleeper berth with a single or twin cabin, this would have set me back an extra £49 or £59, respectively, on top of the ticket price.
(Although for my journey, I couldn’t find any for less than £200).
The major benefit of booking a cabin is that you can use the fancy lounges – which have showers – at Paddington, Penzance, and Truro, with breakfast also included onboard.
People in the cheap seats get access to an onboard cafe for drinks and snacksCredit: The Sun – Cyann Fielding
I, however, was not one of the lucky ones, and instead boarded my seat shortly after arriving at London Paddington Train Station at around 11pm.
The train itself is weirdly clean – quite different from your standard daytime Great Western Railway train – and devoid of the usual crowds as well.
Replacing the loud beeping mechanical doors are retro-style doors you need to lean out of the window to open.
Then it comes to the part I was both dreading and anticipating – the seats.
Unlike the daytime trains, the Riviera Sleeper has a different style seat, with an overhead reader lightCredit: The Sun – Cyann Fielding
The operator claims they are similar to airline seats and at first glance, look a lot nicer than what you find on Ryanair.
But when it comes to the actual comfort – I think I would have preferred a budget flight middle seat.
It felt like sitting on a stack of squashed cardboard boxes, and bizarrely even more uncomfortable than the daytime GWR seats.
The head rest is annoyingly high, and the promise of extra legroom was unfounded.
Just the same as a daytime carriage you get a tray table, and then you’ll find plug and USB sockets by your feet.
Additions that you don’t get on the daytime trains include an overhead reading light and swish curtain on the window.
The service departs London for Cornwall at 11:45pmCredit: Alamy
So, how did I sleep? Well, I didn’t.
I simply couldn’t get comfortable as the seats are too small to lie across comfortably.
The minutes I did manage to get some sleep was when I put my feet on the seat next to me, I was quickly awoken by someones shouting “FEET” as they walked through the cabin.
I may be just 5″1, but the headrest didn’t help either – I knocked my head a few times just fidgeting and ended up slumping down in my seat to avoid it.
And all of this is without mentioning the disruption of passengers boarding at half-midnight, with the football playing on their phones at full volume.
Even though I saved money compared to a cabin, I definitely would only book this seat again if it was a last resort – I’d rather just stick to the daytime trains (which even in the noise I manage to get quick naps on).
There was one perk to trying this overnight train, however.
My train got into Exeter St David’s around 4:37am and because this was the stop before mine, I was starting to stir.
I also knew what was coming – a section of the track which I believe is home to the most beautiful train journey in the UK.
The biggest perk is getting to see the sunrise as you chug along the Devon coastCredit: The Sun – Cyann FieldingThough you’ll have to get up early to see itCredit: The Sun – Cyann Fielding
From Exeter, the train runs past Starcross, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth with beaches and red cliffs on the left side of the train.
And at this time in the morning, a beautiful summer sunrise adds washes of orange, red and yellow.
While getting up early to see this might not be attractive and of course it depends on the time of year you are on the sleeper train, I would definitely recommend it.
The sea was perfectly calm, with only a couple of people entertaining their dogs on the beach, the sand was untouched and the water reflecting all the bright colours of the sky made it look like something from a postcard.
It almost made the seriously uncomfortable seat worth it… almost.
WASHINGTON — The question hangs in the halls at the Capitol: Was it worth it?
Congress, which never authorized the war against Iran yet never fully objected to it, now must grapple with the consequences of President Trump’s nearly four-month conflict: the lives lost, the billions spent and the national security fallout that has reordered the political dynamics in the Middle East.
Ask senators what they think about the deal Trump struck to end the war, and they do not search too far for words.
“Pathetic. Failure. Inevitable conclusion of a combination of never making the case to the American people, flawed strategic vision, lack of grasp of the regional dynamics,” said Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“How many ways, can I say, bad, bad, bad?”
Many Republicans too have been critical. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said it’s hard to see what leverage the U.S. gained to force Iran to a better negotiation.
“You want to be able to give the benefit of the doubt,” she said. But, she said, “I think we’re in a place where there is a deal that has been signed, but it doesn’t appear to me that it puts us in that much of a different position than prior to the beginning of the war.”
Others in the GOP remain supportive of Trump’s efforts. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a past chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said that because of the president’s actions, “We are safer today.”
“You can criticize — oh, he didn’t totally win,” Johnson said. “Well, that was always going to be very difficult.”
As Trump moves on to the next phase, it is left to the Congress to pick up the pieces: explaining the war to voters back home, restocking the military arsenal that has run low from bombing runs and trying to ensure the fragile ceasefire holds as the United States seeks to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions and work toward an uneasy peace.
More money for the Pentagon
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the rounds on Capitol Hill last week as lawmakers consider Pentagon funding as part of the Republican majority’s next big budget package.
The White House has asked for a remarkable $1.5 trillion for the Defense Department this year, on top of the extra money the GOP delivered as part of the Trump’s tax cuts package last year.
Republicans are considering a sizable, $350-billion-plus increase in Defense spending on par with the White House’s budget request that the GOP could pass on its own, through the reconciliation process that allows Senate majority rule over potential objections from Democrats.
Senators, meanwhile, are seeking to set some guardrails on Hegseth with a provision to block a portion of his travel fund until the Pentagon delivers various reports. One such report is on an investigation into the strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed more than 165 people on the first day of the war, most of them children.
Officials have acknowledged that they believe the U.S. was responsible for the strike and say it was based on faulty intelligence.
What’s next in Iran?
Lawmakers are still processing what just happened after Trump swiftly signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran and opened a window of 60-day talks toward ending Tehran’s nuclear program, which got underway Sunday in Switzerland.
“I understand the president’s trying to find a peaceful solution to this,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who serves on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees. “I commend him for that. But we’ve got a lot of questions.”
Senators are particularly concerned about the tentative deal’s provision for a potential $300-billion fund for the “reconstruction and economic development” of Iran.
To many skeptical Republicans, that money sounds similar to the “planeloads of cash” narrative they used against the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, which offered a slim fraction of that amount, some $1.7 billion overall. To this day, Trump tells an exaggerated story of how that payment to Iran, for U.S. military equipment it never received, was made.
“The only concerns I have are the money and the conditions,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
“If we send a trainload, a shipload, it’s gonna age as well as that,” he said, referring to the Obama-era issue.
What was gained and lost
Over and again Congress tried and failed to exert its authority under the war powers act to halt the U.S. military action in Iran.
The House ultimately passed a war powers resolution that sought to force an end to the war after a small number of Republicans joined the Democratic measure last month. The Senate has voted nine times, including last week, but failed to reach the majority needed.
At the same time, Congress did not affirmatively authorize the war with a use-of-force resolution, as has been done in certain other conflicts, including the Iraq war.
“I’m glad that the conflict has finally ended and hope the ceasefire holds,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement.
But she said the country must be clear-eyed about what has come about. Not one of the president’s objectives has been achieved, she said, and Iran won significant concessions.
“The American people are paying the price with higher costs in every aspect of life and tens of billions in tax dollars spent,” she said.
Mascaro writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
READY to swap the school run for a family getaway?
Young’s Rooms is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a two-night family escape to The Crown in Chertsey, the ultimate home-away-from-home conveniently located near the thrills of Thorpe Park and a 20-minute drive from Chessington World of Adventures.
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Forget cookie-cutter corporate rooms, The Crown in Chertsey promises comfort and personality.
Think beautifully-designed bedrooms with plenty of space for the whole crew to kick back and relax.
While grown-ups can enjoy bubble baths and honesty bars, kids will be kept occupied with their very own ‘Borrow Boxes’, brimming with books, toys, activities and games to keep the boredom at bay.
Downstairs, the pub is the heart of the action.
Whether you’re fuelling up with a hearty breakfast or tucking into a three-course feast of homemade pies and fresh seafood, it’s all about seasonal British produce that deliver on flavour.
And yes, the Sunday roasts come with bottomless Yorkshires and gravy – enough to satisfy even the hungriest little explorers!
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The prize is:
Two-night stay for a family of four at The Crown in Chertsey
Three course meal per person, including a bottle of wine of up to £50 value for adults, and juices and soft drinks for kids (as guided by GM) on one evening
Family breakfast before checkout on both days
Enter below and good luck!
To win, enter using the form below by 11:59pm on July 4, 2026.
Skin Rocks is the skincare and anti-ageing brand founded by Caroline Hirons, and it has a steady stream of fans – including our beauty editor. Here’s her honest review of every product…
Laura Mulley Beauty & Wellness Editor and Octavia Lillywhite Acting beauty and wellness editor
17:16, 03 Feb 2025Updated 15:26, 26 May 2026
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Skin Rocks is the skincare brand founded by influencer Caroline Hirons(Image: Laura Mulley)
Octopus one even moderately interested in beauty will know about skincare super-influencer and author Caroline Hirons – as well as her expanding range of products, Skin Rocks. Shunning gimmicks and trends and instead focusing on brilliant formulas with clinically proven results, as well as with no-nonsense instructions, Skin Rocks has quickly become popular with beauty fans – including myself.
As Reach’s Beauty and Wellness Editor, I and my team have been lucky enough to try every product from Skin Rocks, often before they hit the shelves, from cleansers and moisturisers, through to the latest launch, The Strong Acid, so we know which are really worth shouting about. Spoiler alert: I’ve never used a Skin Rocks product I didn’t like – they’re expertly formulated, never irritate my skin, and are well packaged – but here are the products that I would genuinely rebuy when I get to the bottom…
Really well formulated: they’re very effective but never pill or irritate the skin
Packaging looks and feels great, and is clear to understand, with notes about who it’ll suit (and who it won’t), and handy guides on the lids showing how much to use
Clinically proven results
Lots of the products are refillable, with refills costing a little less
Lots of the products come in fragranced or fragrance-free options (I always choose fragrance-free)
Cons
The prices range from mid range to high end
Bottles are made of glass and are heavy (good for recycling, less good for travelling)
If double cleansing to you still sounds like too much time and effort, here’s why it’s probably worth you doing:
Oil removes oil, which is why an oil-based balm cleanser is effective for make-up, SPF (especially water-resistant stuff) and sebum, the skin’s natural oil (which you don’t want to strip, but removing excess can be good). If your skin is normal/dry, you don’t use make-up and you’ve not applied SPF, you won’t need an oil-based balm cleanser. (Though by the way, if you’ve not applied SPF, that’s a bigger problem).
Meanwhile a cream, gel or foaming cleanser will get off all the everyday grime, sweat and pollution – bits that those oil cleansers are not as effective at. That is why you might find the cream or gel cleansers aren’t the best for removing layers and layers of waterproof mascara – it’s not designed to.
Though it’s probably your first step in a routine, this is the latest cleanser Caroline has released – and it’ll come as no surprise to learn that it’s truly one of the best I’ve ever tried. It melts into the skin, breaks down make-up and SPF easily, and emulsifies away quickly with water and a flannel, leaving skin feeling conditioned but absolutely no oily residue left behind.
Skin Rocks’ first cleanser, and it’s a real goodie. As I’ve already covered, it’s not completely effective on layered up waterproof mascara, but for everyday make-up and daily grime, especially if your skin is on the drier side, it’s perfect. If I was only going to use one cleanser from Caroline’s range it would be the next one, but my colleague Octavia, with her dryer skin, would pick this one.
Due to popular demand, this and The Gel Cleanser (below) are now available in supersize 250ml tubes.
Exfoliating acid toners can brighten, renew and refine skin – though they are easy to overdo if you pick the wrong one for your skin type, age or routine – something I’m definitely guilty of. Caroline’s collection of three, covers all skin types and she’s really clear that the Strong is what is says in the bottle – so it’s not for everyone.
The Control Acid, £45 hereIdeal for oily, congested and spot-prone skin, this salicylic acid (BHA) helps to control breakouts and minimise pores.
The Gentle Acid, £53 hereThe brand’s original all-skin-types formula, contains AHA and PHA, is for tackling signs of ageing. It’s not actually that gentle compare to a lot that is on the market, but it’s a great balance of suitable for everyone to use but with effective results. I think you’ll notice a difference within a week if this is the first time you’re adding an acid toner to your regime.
The Strong Acid, £75 here NEWThis is about as strong as an acid can get and stay on the right side of legal in this country. It’s a combination of AHAs, BHAs and PHAs in a secret formula (to prevent copycats) and even Caroline herself advises you don’t add it to your regime unless your skin is used to acid exfoliators already. You’ll feel it tingling on your skin when you apply (use cotton pads – not hands – for this one, and don’t be afraid to scrub a bit with them as you go to aid exfoliation). Two to three times a week is enough to see impressive results.
Retinoid 1 and 2 were Skin Rocks’ first products, and are a brilliantly formulated – and foolproof – way to introduce skin-renewing and anti-ageing ingredient vitamin A into your skincare routine: start with Retinoid 1, then move on to Retinoid 2. I find that I can use Retinoid 1 every night without any irritation, peeling or flaking; a rarity for me when using this potent ingredient.
Designed for more experienced users, Skin Rocks has launched its most advanced retinoid formula to date, created to deliver powerful results when targeting visible signs of skin ageing. The formula combines the brand’s highest concentration of vitamin A with 0.21% retinal and 0.5% Adapinoid — a third-generation retinoid known for helping to reduce breakouts while also addressing fine lines, texture, and overall skin ageing concerns.
According to Skin Rocks’ clinical studies, Retinoid 3 helped reduce the depth of deep wrinkles, minimise the appearance of UV pigmentation, and improve overall skin texture after four weeks of use. The studies also reported improvements in skin firmness, elasticity, and brightness. In consumer trials, 81% of users said their skin felt firmer after two weeks, while 91% felt their skin looked more youthful after eight weeks. The accompanying before-and-after images and customer feedback are equally impressive.
I’m fussy about eye creams – lots either irritate my skin, aren’t moisturising enough, or are too rich – but this one is absolutely perfect – immediately silky, smoothing and plumping. I’d happily use this one forever if I could.
Skin Rocks Moisturisers:
Keeping things as simple as possible, there are only three moisturises in the range – light, normal and rich, with each available fragranced or unfragranced. As someone with combination and occasionally blemish-prone skin, I go for the lighter Moisturiser, and it’s as close to a perfect face cream as you can get. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why it’s so good, but it layers well with other products, leaves my skin looking and feeling much healthier and, crucially, doesn’t cause breakouts.
My colleague Octavia on the other hand, can’t get enough of the the rich version: ‘My skin is normal-to-dry, but generally dehydrated (probably because I’m better at drinking coffee than water) so I love, love, love The Rich Moisturiser, which I’ll happily use all year round. I love the instant drink feeling it has and how well it dried down to a make-up base with no pilling. It’s just silky. It’s not my only moisturiser, I change things up, but it’s a core part of my repertoire.’
I don’t mess about when it comes to eye cream – I’m very particular! Many either irritate my skin, aren’t hydrating enough, or are too heavy – but this is instantly silky, smoothing and plumping. I’d happily use this one forever if I could afford to.
Admittedly the one Skin Rocks product I haven’t thoroughly tested, mainly because of the aforementioned stripping of my skincare routine down to basics in a bid to repair its barrier, but I has tried it a few times, and it feels so nice on the skin and gives an instant subtle glow, and I love how it contains more antioxidants than just vitamin C.
Another I can’t give a full review to as hyperpigmentation or melasma isn’t a big skin concern of mine, but as I’m naturally freckly I used this regularly in summer to try and reduce some of the unwanted post-summer pigmentation. If the clinical studies and incredible before-and-after photos of this new serum are anything to go by, this is the product I’d trust to help to tackle serious hyperpigmentation. I’ve also recommended it to others on numerous occasions and the feedback I’ve had was excellent.
Like all of Caroline’s products, it’s foolproof to use – it doesn’t pill, irritate or need introducing slowly into your routine, and feels wonderfully hydrating on the skin – and the results speak for themselves.
Another newbie on the Skin Rocks roster: a supercharged essence that does more than just hydrate skin – it’s clinically proven to make your other skincare products work more effectively, too, plus it increases moisture and skin firmness, and minimising the look of pores.
I’ve been using this liquid after cleansing and before serums for a couple of weeks now, and it’s an excellent way to add another light layer of hydration to my skin, especially at this time of year when the weather’s getting colder. I haven’t noticed a dramatic difference, but skin does feel smoother, softer and more hydrated afterwards.
I find this one quite difficult, because it’s a literal extra step in your skincare regime that I’d hope was already covered in other areas. But at the same time, it takes every one of your skincare products and makes it work harder, which in turn makes them better value for money. So overall, I wouldn’t say it’s the most essential product to have in your routine (I’d always prioritise a good cleanser, SPF and targeted serum), but if you can afford this additional step, it’s definitely a nice-to-have – a luxurious extra boost.
Conclusions – which Skin Rocks products I’d buy again tomorrow
Overall, it’s difficult to find fault with any of the Skin Rocks products. They’re a brand I completely trust, and I genuinely feel my skin would thrive using nothing but their range. That said, if I had to narrow it down to a few standout favourites, I’d choose the Retinoids, The Moisturiser, and whichever cleanser best matches your skin type and cleansing preferences.
If you’re beginning to notice new signs of ageing and want to introduce something effective into your skincare routine with visible results, I’d especially recommend The Acids. There are three options to choose from, so you can pick the one that best suits your skin’s needs and where you are in your skincare journey.
For more of Caroline’s practical, no-nonsense skincare advice, you can also pick up her books, Skincare: The New Edit, £17, and her latest one, Teen Skincare, £16.99.
After 10 days of crazed moviegoing at the Cannes Film Festival, Times film critic Amy Nicholson and Times film editor Joshua Rothkopf are all but spent. They leave with 10 recommendations (listed below in alphabetical order), including several titles you’ll be hearing about during awards season, but also, admittedly, more reservations than usual.
Amy Nicholson: There are worse ways to spend your life than watching four movies a day in the south of France. For a week and half, we ran in and out of the dark theaters, blinking at the shock of the sun and bickering about what we just saw with the highest concentration of film lovers anywhere — most of us jacked up on espresso or rosé. Yet, we’re flying home miffed that the movies themselves were mediocre. Cannes is meant to launch ambitious, prickly works by grandmasters and next-generation talents. This year, the programming looked like a party with an impressive invite list — Nicolas Winding Refn, Asghar Farhadi, Hirokazu Kore-eda — but upon arrival, all the guests felt like old acquaintances tapped out of anything interesting to say.
I’m being harsh. Cannes had good movies, too. But I needed this year’s Cannes to be great. Audiences trickling back into theaters deserve to see something fantastic. Instead, too many filmmakers took the crowd’s attention span for granted; even the strongest films in competition could delete a half-hour of dead air. Fittingly, the majority of my favorites came from Cannes’ kookier programming sections, Directors’ Fortnight and Un Certain Regard — and I suspect many of yours did, too, oui?
Joshua Rothkopf: I did find a handful of films from the main competition that impressed me, but point taken: Nobody is served if we can’t admit that this year’s edition was weaker than others. We could blame screenwriting or pacing (though paradoxically I was impressed by both the longest and the shortest movies in competition). Maybe it’s an overall lack of boldness. When a restored version of Ken Russell’s salacious 55-year-old “The Devils” eclipses virtually everything else shown at the festival, a certain timidity is hard to deny. There were too many “nice” films: perfectly respectable but not what I want Cannes to be.
Fortunately, we saw enough to sharpen up a list of favorites. Here’s what stirred us.
‘All of a Sudden’
I’m not convinced that the utopian vision of end-of-life care presented in Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s drama has a fighting chance in America, but we deserve the opportunity to grapple with its compassionate turns and have that discussion. The director of “Drive My Car” continues his process-centric exploration of workplace relationships in this quietly revelatory movie, one with a centerpiece conversation that merits comparison to the long walks of Richard Linklater’s “Before” movies. Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto let a day’s stroll linger into profundity, the twilight dimming and human connection brewing in all its possibilities. Is it too late for them? It doesn’t need to be. — Joshua Rothkopf
‘The Beloved’
Esteban (Javier Bardem), a renowned bad boy Spanish filmmaker, returns to his homeland from New York to shoot a period picture in the desert. Off-screen, he’s gifted one of the four leading roles to his estranged daughter (Victoria Luengo), an aspiring actor who hasn’t seen her father in 13 years. Esteban failed as Emilia’s dad. Can he succeed as her director, especially when her big break packs this much pressure? Not likely, especially as Emilia has inherited his disastrous boozing habits. “The Beloved’s” actual director, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, unleashes his leads to become a tag team of destruction, each blaming the other for what’s going wrong on set. They’re both mired in clashing narratives of their relationship. Sorogoyen shows us the truth, as well as the visible frustrations of the film-within-a-film’s cast and crew that risk shutting down this too-passionate passion project. — Amy Nicholson
‘Bitter Christmas’
(Iglesias Mas / Sony Pictures Classics)
Pedro Almodóvar’s self-flagellating film about his artistic process has a Charlie Kaufman-lite structure that I’d rather let audiences discover on their own. In brief: Almodovar’s avatar, a filmmaker named Raúl (Leonardo Sbaraglia), gets dragged over the artistic coals by the dramatic female characters he’s been writing for decades, one of whom dares him to simply coast on his legacy. Too many veteran filmmakers in his year’s Cannes competition seem to have accepted that bargain, so when Raúl got to the end of a new script and decided it wasn’t up to his standards, I nearly shouted “Bravo!” Navel-gazing cinema about the creative process isn’t usually my bag, but Almodóvar doesn’t take his own misery that seriously, even inserting a manic pixie dream hunk, a male stripper-slash-firefighter played by Patrick Criado, for a little bump and grind. — Amy Nicholson
‘Clarissa’
It’s been 101 years since Virginia Woolf first published “Mrs Dalloway,” a novel about persnickety party hostess Clarissa Dalloway colliding with her former lovers, one male and one female. The plot seems simple, but every glare and sigh tells a whole story about modernization, capitulation, cynicism and violence. Twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri have transplanted the tale to present-day Nigeria and stacked the cast with Sophie Okonedo, Ayo Edebiri, Nikki Amuka-Bird, David Oyelowo and the staggeringly talented India Amarteifio as the diva in her captivating youth before she married a tedious oilman and started bullying the help. “Clarissa” makes several smart adjustments, swapping in a traumatized Boko Haram soldier for a shell-shocked veteran of the Great War, and cocking an eyebrow at the shiny new yoga studios and coffee shops littering Lagos’ once-lush waterfront. Better still, it’s sexy as heck — the flashbacks are one swimsuit party after another. — Amy Nicholson
‘Club Kid’
The one-sentence pitch of Jordan Firstman’s debut dramedy — a gay nightclub promoter sobers up when he discovers he has a 10-year-old boy — sounded as fun as snorting a line of aspartame. I stand corrected. “Club Kid” is a blast: a spicy, surprising and irreverent comedy that rarely peddles the audience anything artificially sweet. Firstman stars as Peter, a debauched millennial aging out of a New York scene that never cared about him as a person in the first place. His business partner Sophie (Cara Delevingne) is a horror; his selfish squatter-roommate Nicky (Eldar Isgandarov) is even worse and so hilarious I’d watch a spin-off sequel just about him. Peter’s shock son Arlo (Reggie Absolom) has a casual charm that pickpockets your heart, but it’s the script’s sour quips that will have you urging people to get past the treacly set-up and go see “Club Kid” themselves. — Amy Nicholson
‘The Diary of a Chambermaid’
Art punk Radu Jude’s latest satire is about a Romanian immigrant with a burlesque double life. By day, Gianina (Ana Dumitrașcu, fantastic) is the live-in housemaid of a daft Parisian family; by night, she’s an actress in a turn-of-the-20th century slapstick farce about a housemaid whose master suckles her patent leather boots. In neither world can she openly say what she thinks (although in her native tongue, she curses her employers and their young son plenty). Fast, crisp and snide, “The Diary of a Chambermaid” gives equal weight to the monotony and the absurdity of Gianina’s grind. And Jude isn’t above including a mocking slow-motion shot of a spoiled French boy totally whiffing a soccer kick. — Amy Nicholson
‘Fatherland’
The tension at the heart of Paweł Pawlikowski’s period piece, set in a ravaged, fallen Germany after the end of World War II, is one that goes unresolved. All that’s left are defensive denials, evasions of Nazi collaboration and the faint hope that something higher has survived. I could watch this kind of guilt-ridden post-apocalyptic movie for hours; instead, this lasts a scant 82 minutes. The conclusion, a wordless moment between father and daughter set to the strains of Bach played on a broken pipe organ, was the most devastating passage of the entire festival. “Fatherland” shows off Pawlikowski’s exquisite way with black-and-white evocations of European tragedy, but he’s never summed them up as poetically. — Joshua Rothkopf
‘Fjord’
People at the festival called this one complex; I found myself disagreeing. It’s actually a fairly straightforward story about a religious but mostly level-headed family flung into conflict with an overly sensitive branch of child protection services — and maybe with the whole of agnostic Norwegian progressivism. As reactionary as that sounds, I was totally rapt. Partly that’s due to a beautifully plotted courtroom scenario and the immersive performances of Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, reuniting after “A Different Man,” as parents increasingly out of their depths. But mainly, I credit Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, who knows a good story when he sees one, crystallizing its potency with every camera choice. — Joshua Rothkopf
‘Minotaur’
The ice-chilled return of Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (after a multiyear battle with long COVID) is worth the wait: a condensation of everything he does well into something so purely distilled, it should come with a proof warning. The movie kicks off as a casual portrait of the vacant nouveau riche lifestyles of the mini-oligarchs: fancy dinners, divorces, bathroom gossip. Then it becomes an erotic thriller (it’s based on Claude Chabrol’s 1969 “The Unfaithful Wife,” as was Diane Lane’s “Unfaithful”). But the best comes last, as the situation gets fixed in broad daylight with breathtaking brutality. The war in Ukraine? Someone else’s problem. “Minotaur” takes on the whole of Putin’s dissociative society and puts its winners above the blackened clouds, looking down at the rest of us. — Joshua Rothkopf
‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’
I am growing to love Jane Schoenbrun’s exfoliation of ’80s horror obsessions, especially for the movie’s nonjudgmental embrace: Let these movies be free in all their “problematic” badness and let them work on you. The fact that “Teenage Sex” sometimes plays like a bottle episode of “Hacks” doesn’t hurt. Hannah Einbinder brings vulnerability to a project that needs her brand of self-excoriating fearlessness. Points, too, for not turning this into yet another celebration of some forgotten male director reclaimed as a genius. Rather, the opposite: It’s about an abused scream queen (Gillian Anderson, gamely campy), a liminal, wintry campground and the exhilaration of running in the woods in your pajamas. — Joshua Rothkopf
AN eye-watering amount of cash is stuffed into suitcases, with Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews’ name printed onto a label stuck on top of the thousands upon thousands of $100 bank notes.
But rather than a show of his apparent wealth, today The Sun can reveal Lee’s boastful videos share the hallmarks of high-level scams – with his ex-fiancee Alana Percival warning that his time evading the heavy hand of the law may be running out.
Katie Price and Lee Andrews said I do in a surprise wedding just days after the former glamour model announced her ninth engagement.Credit: BackGridLee’s ex-fiance Alana Percival has warned that that his time evading the law is running outCredit: Click News and Media
Former glamour model Katie, 48, flew back to Dubai over the weekend to join Andrews, 41, in the country at a £36million mansion which he claims he bought in cash.
The shameless brag, like most that come from his lips, is not true and the London football club have had no dealings with Andrews.
No doubt, like many women, Katie may have seen the suitcases stuffed to the brim with what appears to be millions of pounds in cash.
His alleged vast fortune is, he claims, from complex deals with foreign embassies and treasuries that he’s spent the past nine years developing.
Sharing the two videos with The Sun to prove his “wealth”, Lee alleges he ships the cash to Africa for institutional investment.
However, our analysis found that the clips are almost identical to the dubious proof-of-funds videos often used by fraudsters to convince people they have large sums of money.
In one video, Lee’s name is written on a sheet of A4 paper along with the date, while the man filming references a fictitious code that The Sun has discovered does not exist in the real world banking system.
The wads of $100 notes are bound by plain bands labelled “BEP” (Bureau of Engraving and Printing).
To the untrained eye, it would seem Lee is sitting on a fortune.
But those BEP labelled bands are most commonly found on film sets, binding together fake wads of cash seen in blockbuster movies.
Authentic BEP bands include the institution’s name, a routing number, and a branch ID.
Andrews’s bands include none of those.
The videos are known as “Black Money Scams” – and are often seen in fraud cases.
Metal briefcases, locked with padlocks, labelled “FRAGILE – HANDLE WITH CARE” — are designed to look like a secure, official shipment of cash.
Stacks of $100 bills are then laid out in an open case with a note to make it look personalised and real.
In fact, where these scams exist it’s all faked – the money is not real.
Andrews’ former fiancee Alana has warned the net may be closing in on him and claimed last week that a warrant was out for his arrest in Dubai.
And now those close to Katie tell The Sun they hope she can finally start to see what is happening.
“Alana is saying a warrant is out for Lee’s arrest in Dubai, he still appears to be taking money off women, but Katie still can’t see what he’s doing,” a friend tells The Sun.
“It’s exasperating. Those around her think Lee is bad news.
“The brags about his wealth, the videos of the fake cash, the claims he’s bought a £36million mansion in cash – it’s all laughable.
“Kate is usually shrewd but when it comes to matters of love, she thinks with her heart and not with her brain.
The video shows wads of cash in a suitcase and is designed to flaunt wealthCredit: The SunKatie reunited with Andrews in Dubai at the weekendCredit: wesleeandrews/Instagram
“It is painful for her friends and family watching her consort with this man.”
Alongside the videos supposedly proving his income stream, Andrews also provided three documents.
One of these is a payment guarantee letter for a $100m transaction, the first payment of a proposed $5bn.
It is signed by Mr Sikakaew, allegedly from the Thai bank Kasikorn, who holds a “Supreme SSID License”—a term not recognised in banking, as SSID is actually a name for a Wi-Fi network.
In the document, a scanned image of Lee’s passport appears to have been digitally manipulated and features glaring mistakes such as an upside-down photo and backward font.
A second document is a Memorandum of Understanding, which is a non-legally binding statement of intent to work with another party.
It mentions a “UN license for a mixed currencies redemption program”, something that also does not exist.
The letter, which outlines the transfer of $5bn to the Royal Thai Embassy in Kenya, is signed by American Joseph John Garrity, with no record of such a person being involved in high-level international finance.
The third document is a Capital Readiness Program prepared for Lee by Hachi Capital LLC — a business with no legitimate record.
A similarly named UK company called Hachi Capital Ltd was dissolved in 2013 and coincidentally featured Craig Boddington as director, the same name managing Lee’s account.
The program promises financial returns well beyond any realistic measure, claiming a 500 per cent return on investment per monthly cycle and as much as 100 per cent per 10-day cycle on “bullet trades”.
Further red flags include the business not being licensed or regulated by any major financial authority and has hallmarks of investment scams with six-figure set up fees designed to get clients to part with cash before realising any profits.
A number of women have spoken to The Sun after falling for such Andrews’ investment promises.
Crystal Janke claimed she lost £123k in investmentsCredit: InstagramAndrews claims he ships vast amounts of money to AfricaCredit: The Sun
The money has since disappeared, with Crystal filing a police complaint in the US.
Andrews denies the claims but Crystal to date is still insistent she’s not had a penny, after sharing with The Sun her bank statements which prove the transactions into Andrews’ account.
Earlier this year The Sun revealed that his company, Aura Worldwide Holdings Ltd, was actually dissolved in 2024.
But Andrews is still claiming it is open, despite paperwork proving otherwise, and is pushing his schemes upon women he meets on social media and women he knows through business.
Last month, another woman came forward to tell The Sun she had invested $1,000 but still had no return.
When she confronted Andrews, she claims he fobbed her off and made excuses about the whereabouts of her funds.
A friend of Katie’s told The Sun: “Why Katie cannot see what is going on under her nose is scary.
“None of this is legitimate and everyone is just praying for the moment the penny finally drops and she gets the hell out of this marriage.”
Andrews previously denied all the allegations brought against him by The Sun.
He later claimed his inflated LinkedIn CV was the result of errors by his former assistant and swiftly removed some of his false work history.
Among them was that he was a Member of the Board of Advisors for the Labour Party and Director of Philanthropy at The King’s Trust.
He said: “I think that’s been hyped up and made to look better than what it is and it needs to come down.
“I can’t take the showmanship of it, but I’ll take the accountability.
“The PA no longer works for me now anyway, for other reasons — probably because of that.”
He told us: “People don’t know I’ve met Harvey and two of the kids, I haven’t seen the young ones.
“I’ve been back and forth, I just don’t f***ing tell anyone. I lead a very private life. I tell people what they want to hear, the rest they can make up, you know.”
A representative for Katie later told The Sun this claim was a lie and that Andrews had never met her children.
Katie was warned over new husband by two of his exes who claim he is lying swindler who preys on womenCredit: InstagramLee’s ex Crystal Janke invested into his company Aura Worldwide Holdings LtdAlana Percival was previously engaged to Lee Andrews
