Jonathan Ross hosts Channel 4’s new social experiment Handcuffed, where 18 contestants are cuffed together as they compete to win a £100,000 prize

Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing is the brand new social experiment from Channel 4.

Hosted by Jonathan Ross, the new series sees 18 contestants cuffed together as they compete to win £100,000.

A synopsis for the new Channel 4 series reads: “Could you survive being handcuffed to a total stranger? In a brand new social experiment, Jonathan Ross is challenging 18 brave Brits to do just that, as they compete to win a £100,000 prize.

“The nine pairs will have to cope with being chained to each other 24/7, doing everything – quite literally – just inches apart. If it gets too much, they can uncuff at any time, but if they do they’ll be out of the competition. The last pair standing takes all. Jonathan’s starting the competition as he knows best, in a TV studio with a live audience.

“The competitors represent a complete cross section of British society, and have never met each other before. As the cuffs are locked in position with the duos either side of a special screen, they’ll only discover who they’ve been chained to once the divide goes back.

“In a divided Britain, Jonathan’s hoping living in such close proximity will force these opposites to talk, listen, and maybe even learn from each other. As the pairs set off for each other’s houses, to walk a mile in their partner’s shoes, we focus in on three of the couples.”

Among the participants are Somerset contestants Sir Benjamin Slade, 79, the 7th Baronet of Maunsel, and bus driver Morag, 64. They’re joined by London-based model Bambi, 29, and Suffolk’s millionaire businessman Anthony, 60, reports Somerset Live.

Here’s the complete roster for Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing.

Jo, 39, Manchester

Jo, a plus-size fashion brand owner, describes herself as “loud, mindful and crazy.”

When asked about her biggest concern, Jo admitted: “I’m nervous about the proximity. I’m on the autistic spectrum and being in close proximity to a stranger is going to be quite a challenge for me.”

Reuben, 29, Portsmouth

Reuben, a property developer, characterises himself as “confident, cocky, and disciplined.”

Discussing the toughest part of the experience, Reuben revealed: “The hardest thing about the experience was definitely the speed of walking and the chafe of the cuff after several hours, having my partner slow and drag me down was tedious.”

Sir Benjamin Slade, 79, Somerset

Benjamin, the 7th Baronet of Maunsel, reflected on his experience: “I was surprised by having some challenging and honest conversations about class,” adding: “The hardest thing was having sleep apnoea which means I don’t get any sleep and having to pee 6 times a night.”

George, 60, London

Prison Officer George describes himself as “pragmatic, empathetic, and lively” and joined the show “purely for the spirit of adventure,” which has led him to experiences ranging from topless waitering to skydiving from 15,000ft, and even volunteering as the first Officer in Belmarsh for the High Secure Unit.

Claire, 48, Hampshire

Claire, an “eccentric, persistent, bubbly,” horse trainer from Hampshire, was surprised by her own patience. She admitted: “The level of patience I’ve got. I was surprised! I didn’t think I had it in me. Also, how much of a bubble I live in- I didn’t realise how different other people’s lives are to mine.”

Bambi, 29, London

Model and content creator Bambi described herself as “loud, chill…but also not chill- I’m a bit of a contradiction!” When asked about her biggest worry, Bambi confessed: “The actual intricacies of the day to day; showering, going to the toilet- the basics. Also, as much as I’m a social butterfly and love being around people I like my own space and I do take a lot of time to myself. I think my biggest concern is I’m not going to have that time to relax and unwind and I think that’s going to really get to me.”

Nina, 42, London

Hairdresser Nina characterises herself as “moody, loud and fun,” and found the most challenging aspect of being handcuffed was being paired with someone whose beliefs were “completely opposite” to her own.

Sara, 55, Northhamptonshire

Mum-of-seven Sara describes herself as being “bubbly, annoying and kind.”

Reflecting on the most challenging aspect of her experience, Sara said: “Being involved in something so intense then the sad feeling afterwards when life returns to normal. To be honest looking back it felt like an out-of-body experience.”

Lin, 38, London

Political commentator Lin characterises herself as “Charismatic, opinionated, and a leader.”

Regarding her biggest concern, Lin said: “Going to bed, I’m a really private person, the whole going to bed and showering, I’m apprehensive about how it’s going to work.”

Frank, 27, Derbyshire

Green Party Councillor Frank explained his motivation for joining the programme: “As a politician, I spend every day trying to get someone else to agree with me, but what most elected representatives forget is that genuine understanding comes from putting yourself into the shoes of another and taking the opportunity to truly question yourself. Participating in Handcuffed was the only way for me to grow personally and professionally.”

Bob, 70, Yorkshire

Retired soldier Bob, who describes himself as “well-travelled and a musician.”

spoke about the toughest element of the programme: “Not knowing what was coming next and the lack of privacy from always having a camera nearby meant it sometimes felt quite restrictive, and that I maybe wasn’t able to get to know my partner as well as I would have liked.”

Chris, 38, London

Youth worker Chris admits he’s most apprehensive about his “everyday life,” when it comes to taking part in the show. He confessed: “I’m quite particular and I like things a certain way. When I get home, I take off all my clothes put them in the wash basket and put on my house clothes because who just sits on their bed when you’ve just been on the tube? I’ve got a lot of insecurities that I’m still trying to work through: I suffer with lupus so there’s a part of me that’s not comfortable looking at my own self let alone being around another person- it’s very exposing.”

Charlie, 44, West Sussex

Practical Homemaker Charlie describes herself as “determined, kind and strong-minded.”

On what surprised her about her journey, Charlie revealed: “I think learning about my own levels of resilience, to always be open minded and not to judge a book by its cover.”

Rob, 32, Staffordshire

Rob is an adult content creator who characterises himself as “eccentric, straightforward, kind.”

On what surprised him the most about the experience, he shared: “That two people, living two completely different lives worlds apart can become great friends. We put our judgements aside and listened to our hearts.”

Morag, 64, Somerset

School bus driver Morag identifies herself as being “enthusiastic, vegan and hippie.”

On what surprised her the most, Morag admitted: “I was surprised to find myself so emotional, particularly in the first few days.”

Angie, 44, Stourport

Salon proprietor Angie describes herself as “direct, impulsive and wild.”

Reflecting on the most challenging aspect of the experience, Angie explained: “Not having control of what I was doing, where I was going, and that what was in store for us. I became very hyper vigilant, and I went through a process of unwrapping all these things that I didn’t know about myself. I don’t like being told what to do so this was an adjustment for me to hand over control. Being away from my husband was so hard, it’s the first time we have spent that much time apart with zero contact.”

Tilly, 37, North London

Barmaid Tilly is “loud, loving and kind”. She frankly revealed her motivation for joining Handcuffed: “I wanted to win the money… and for the experience, but mainly the money.”

Anthony, 60, Suffolk

Business proprietor Anthony, who characterises himself as “generous, genuine and happy,” shared that the toughest element of the experience was having to reveal so many “deep and repressed” aspects of himself to a complete stranger.

MAJOR changes to train ticket rules will be rolled out next month in a bid to stop fare dodgers.

The new conditions for refunding tickets will come into effect on April 1.

From April, passengers will be unable to get a refund on Off-Peak and Anytime train tickets after 11:59pm the day before travel.

This means travellers who change their plans last minute will not be able to get their money back.

Rail bosses said that the new rule was to clamp down on fraud that has cost the network around £40million a year.

They said fare dodgers had been claiming refunds on tickets that were not scanned through barriers, even if they made the journey.

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The current rules allow ticket holders to get refunds of up to 28 days after the day of travel, if the ticket has not been used.

But this leaves many travellers who might have to cancel their train journey a day before, due to illnesses or cancelled events, with no opportunity of a refund.

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “Deliberate fare dodging has no place on our railways.

“It drains much-needed revenue and undercuts the trust of passengers who play by the rules.

“Changing refund rules will help stamp out fraud, keeping money in the railway – which will ensure we can deliver an improved railway with passengers at its heart.”

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says he “will never jog again” after being “embarrassed in front of the whole world” by his red card at the end of Saturday’s home defeat by Manchester City.

Farke, 49, headed straight on to the Elland Road pitch at the final whistle to confront referee Peter Bankes, aggrieved at several decisions in his side’s hard-fought 1-0 loss in the Premier League.

Farke, sent off for the first time in his 16-year managerial career, said he did not swear or use threatening language towards Bankes and his fellow officials, and that he was shown the red card before he said anything.

He gave an 11-minute answer when asked about the incident in his news conference for Tuesday’s match with Sunderland (19:30 GMT).

“I jogged over,” he said. “Not one bad word. No swear words or bad language. I just wanted to ask him why he didn’t add any [further stoppage time] on. He didn’t speak to me and just pulled out the red card.

“To pull out a red card and embarrass me in front of the whole world, I wasn’t happy. Even the assistants were shocked the red card was shown. This is not how we should work with each other. I have so much respect for the referees.

“I don’t think Peter did it on purpose, he just misjudged it. I will never jog again.”

The former Norwich boss could appeal against the dismissal but is yet to decide if he will.

“I’m not sure what the processes are and when we can appeal it,” he said. “I can just give you my gut feeling this should not be a red card.

“When there has been a clear and obvious mistake, and for me this was a clear and obvious mistake, it should be overturned. This is what I’ve experienced when players have a red card by mistake, it can be overturned, and I expect the same.”

Early on Monday, a suspected Iranian drone crashed into the runway at the United Kingdom’s RAF Akrotiri base in southern Cyprus. British and Cypriot officials said the damage was limited. There were no casualties.

Hours later, two drones headed for the base were “dealt with in a timely manner”, according to the Cypriot government.

The incidents came as Prime Minister Keir Starmer signalled on Sunday that the UK was prepared to support the United States in its confrontation with Iran – raising the prospect that it could be drawn deeper into a war it did not choose by its closest ally.

In a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany, Starmer said the European group was ready to take “proportionate defensive action” to destroy threats “at their source”.

Later, in a televised address, he confirmed that Westminster approved a US request to use British bases for the “defensive purpose” of destroying Iranian missiles “at source in their storage depots, or the launches which are used to fire the missiles”.

But his agreement did little to placate US President Donald Trump, who said the decision came too late.

UK-based military analyst Sean Bell cautioned against reading too much into the Akrotiri incident.

“I understand the projectile that hit Cyprus was not armed, it hit a hangar [with] no casualties, and appears to have been fired from Lebanon,” he said, citing sources.

Al Jazeera was not able to independently verify the claim.

The broader context, he argued, is more consequential.

The US has taken the action “and everybody else is having to deal with the fallout”, he said.

Iran’s military strength lies in its extensive ballistic missile programme, he said, adding that while some have the range to threaten the UK, they do not extend far enough to strike the US.

“I don’t think [US] President Trump has yet made the legal case for attacking Iran, and … international law makes no discrimination between a nation carrying out the act of war and a nation supporting that act of war, so you’re both equally complicit,” he said.

Bell said that Washington likely reframed the issue, communicating to London that, whatever triggered the escalation, US forces were now effectively defending British personnel in the region.

That shift, he suggested, provided a legal basis to “not to attack Iran, but to protect our people”, allowing the UK to approve US operations from its bases under a “very, very clear set of instructions” tied strictly to national interest and defence.

UK officials ‘tying themselves in knots’

However, concerns of complicity had reportedly shaped earlier decisions, according to Tim Ripley, editor of the Defence Eye news service, who said the British government initially concluded that US and Israeli strikes on Iran did not meet the legal definition of self-defence under the United Nations Charter.

When Washington requested the use of bases such as RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Starmer is understood to have consulted government lawyers, who advised against participation.

Up until Starmer’s televised address, in which he approved the US request, the UK had not considered the campaign a war of self-defence, said Ripley. While Washington’s legal reasoning has not changed, the war’s trajectory has.

Iranian retaliatory strikes – which have seen drones and missiles targeting Gulf states – have placed British expatriates and treaty partners under direct threat.

“The basis of our decision is the collective self-defence of longstanding friends and allies, and protecting British lives. This is in line with international law,” Starmer said.

According to Ripley, several Gulf governments, which maintain defence relationships with the UK, sought protection, allowing London to focus on protecting British personnel and partners rather than endorsing a broader campaign. However, with memories of the Iraq War hanging over Westminster, British ministers have stopped short of explicitly backing the US bombing campaign.

British officials are “tying themselves in knots” trying to describe a position that is neither fully participatory nor detached, he said.

US-UK: A strained relationship

Starmer on Monday told Parliament that the UK does not believe in “regime change from the skies” but supports the idea of defensive action.

But Ripley warned that any arrangement allowing US warplanes to operate from British air bases carries significant risks.

Iran’s missile systems are mobile and launchers mounted on trucks, he said. From RAF Fairford or Diego Garcia, US aircraft face flight times of seven to nine hours to reach Iranian airspace, necessitating patrol-based missions.

Once airborne, pilots may have only minutes to act. The idea that a US crew would pause mid-mission to seek fresh British legal approval is unrealistic, he said.

London must rely on Washington’s assurance that only agreed categories of “defensive” targets will be struck. If an opportunity arose to eliminate a senior Iranian commander in the same operational zone, the temptation could be strong. Yet such a strike might fall outside Britain’s stated defensive mandate. The aircraft would have departed from British soil, and any escalation could implicate the UK, Ripley said.

Bell highlighted another weakness: Britain has no domestic ballistic missile defence system.

If a ballistic missile were fired at London, he said, “We would not be able to shoot it down.”

Intercepting such weapons after launch is notoriously difficult, reinforcing the argument that the only reliable defence is to strike before launch.

The UK, therefore, occupies a grey zone: legally cautious, operationally exposed and strategically dependent on US decisions, it does not fully control.

Beyond the legal and military dilemmas, Starmer must also contend with a sceptical public.

A YouGov poll conducted on February 20 found that 58 percent of Britons oppose allowing the US to launch air strikes on Iran from UK bases, including 38 percent who strongly oppose.

Just 21 percent support such a move, underscoring limited domestic backing for deeper involvement.

Authorities in Tehran have called for international action and solidarity after several hospitals and schools were impacted by United States and Israeli air strikes on the country as Iran continues to fire missiles and drones across the region.

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the two countries “continue to indiscriminately strike residential areas, sparing neither hospitals, schools, Red Crescent facilities, nor cultural monuments”.

“These actions constitute the deliberate commission of the most heinous crimes of international concern. Indifference to this ongoing and extreme injustice will only further darken the future of humanity by jeopardising the shared values upon which our global community stands,” he wrote in a post on social media.

Pir Hossein Kolivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, wrote a letter publicised late on Sunday to the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), demanding an explicit condemnation of attacks impacting children and educational and medical centres.

He also said monitoring and support mechanisms outlined in the Geneva Conventions must be invoked, adding that the ICRC must “adopt immediate measures” to stop similar incidents from taking place again as the war rages.

“The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a member of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, declares its full commitment to the fundamentals of humanity, impartiality and independence, emphasising that damaged centres had no military applications,” Kolivand wrote.

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement at the start of the war on Saturday that rules of war must be upheld as an obligation, not a choice.

“Civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, homes and schools must be spared from attack. Medical personnel and first responders must be allowed to carry out their work safely,” she said.

Hospitals sustain damage

Multiple Iranian hospitals have been damaged as a result of air attacks and were evacuated by authorities, but there are not believed to have been any direct strikes on any hospitals yet.

In Tehran, major strikes on Sunday damaged multiple medical centres located in two areas, according to official accounts, footage circulating on social media and information geolocated by Al Jazeera.

Videos broadcast by state media from the entrance and surrounding area of Gandhi Hospital in northern Tehran showed significant damage after a projectile struck a nearby area.

Mohammad Raeiszadeh, the head of Iran’s Medical Council, told state media from the hospital on Monday that the in-vitro fertilisation department was destroyed along with its equipment, forcing staff to move cells and embryos. Footage also showed an infant being moved by nurses on Sunday night.

The hospital appears to have been damaged after the Israeli military struck buildings housing Iranian state television’s Channel 2 and a communications antenna nearby.

This led to state television programmes being disrupted for several minutes. The broadcaster confirmed that some of its departments were bombed on Sunday without divulging details.

World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said reports of damage to the hospital are “extremely worrying” and the United Nations agency is working to verify the incident.

After a separate attack on Sunday, the Iranian Red Crescent Society released a video showing the aftermath of strikes near one of its main buildings located near Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital.

[Translation: Right now. Direct attacks by the Zionist regime and America on the vicinity of the Red Crescent building, Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital, Welfare Organisation, and Motahari Hospital in Tehran]

Footage circulating online showed plumes of smoke rising and debris scattered after the strikes. According to the Red Crescent, the ICRC’s Spoljaric visited the site of the damaged medical treatment facility on Monday and condemned any strikes impacting humanitarian centres.

Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital, the Motahari Hospital specialising in helping burn victims and the Valiasr Hospital are all located nearby. They reported either sustaining some damage or having to hurriedly move patients out.

The main target hit by Israeli warplanes in the area appeared to have been the central headquarters of the Iranian police. Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan did not comment specifically on the targeting of the headquarters but confirmed that police buildings were receiving regular direct hits.

On Monday afternoon, fighter jets conducted bombing runs across Tehran once again. Attacks damaged the main building of the province’s medical emergency services, located in Iranshahr Street in the downtown area. Videos released by state-affiliated media showed staff evacuating, and the state-run Tasnim news agency said several staff members were injured.

According to Iranian authorities, the Aboozar Children’s Hospital in western Iran’s Ahvaz and three medical emergency centres in the provinces of East Azerbaijan, Sistan-Baluchistan and Hamedan were also damaged.

The Iranian Red Crescent said that by noon on Monday at least 555 people had been killed after 131 counties across the country were attacked.

During and after the killing of thousands of people during January’s nationwide protests, Iranian authorities have consistently rejected calls for transparency and condemnations by the UN and international human rights organisations for attacks on hospitals by state forces to detain protesters and medical staff helping the wounded. A number of doctors and medical personnel remain incarcerated and face national security and other charges.

Schools, sports centre take hits

In Tehran, an air strike targeting 72 Square in the eastern neighbourhood of Narmak damaged a high school with authorities reporting that at least two children were killed.

Local media said the target of the attack was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former populist president who may potentially have a role in shaping Iran’s political future after the killing of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials. It was unclear whether Ahmadinejad was present at the site of the attack or was harmed.

There were also multiple casualties after a sports centre was targeted in Lamerd in the southern province of Fars, local authorities said on Saturday.

But the single largest casualty incident announced by Iranian authorities was from a girls school in the southern city of Minab.

After two days of working through the debris, authorities said 165 people were killed and 95 wounded, most of them children. The governor on Monday afternoon released a handwritten list of 56 of the victims but did not provide further information.

The US said it was aware of civilian casualty reports from the school and was investigating. The Israeli army said it was not aware of any Israeli or US strikes in that area.

Education International, a global federation that brings together organisations of teachers and other education employees, condemned the school attack.

“Children, teachers, and schools must never be military targets. The killing and wounding of students and educators is an intolerable violation of human rights and a grave breach of international humanitarian law,” it said.

SCREAMING matches, tears and table mutiny is what you expect from Christmas Day with your in-laws – not at the Brit Awards.

But this year’s swanky ceremony in Manchester’s Co-op arena was a hotbed of misbehaving drunk stars, disgruntled execs who weren’t dished up their puddings and desperate agents who, on the night, were still begging organisers to get their A-listers into the label after-parties – with one Hollywood actor being repeatedly turned away because “they’re known for being a nightmare”.

On Saturday night, over 1,000 of the biggest names in music and entertainment descended on Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena floor to enjoy a swanky three-course meal before Harry Styles opened the Brits.

The experience, which is usually luxurious to say the least, got off to a shaky start when guests, who’d forked out over £25,000 for a table, were hastily ushered out because Robbie Williams still needed time to rehearse.

The delay in proceedings ended up causing chaos before the show had even begun, and later, angry guests were overheard moaning about the meagre portion sizes and a Manchester tart pudding, which, for hundreds of guests, failed to materialise.

One top celebrity agent moaned to me: “A table costs £25,000, but four bits of celeriac, a tiny bit of venison and no pudding is outrageous.

“Everyone on my table wanted tequila shots, but when we went to order them, the staff said they couldn’t serve them straight.

“Then, because Robbie’s rehearsal messed with timings, there wasn’t time for the puddings to come out before the show started.

“Some tables got their tarts, others got absolutely nothing – and there was no apology. We were all starving.

“The service felt like we were at a badly organised wedding.”

On the floor, music and acting royalty, including Jeff Goldblum and Oasis legend Noel Gallagher, mingled amid discontent – before acts including Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Mark Ronson put on epic performances.

As the ceremony got started, not everyone was having fun.

Love Islander’s Toni Laites and Cach Mercer had a screaming match mid-way through the show – leaving them on the brink of a split.

Meanwhile, Maya Jama, Olivia Attwood and Lola Young broke the strict “no vaping rule” and irked their nearby table neighbours by puffing out fumes.

One well-respected publicist told me during the night: “It was like sitting next to the Flying Scotsman sitting near Lola Young.

“She was exhaling these huge plumes of vapour. It was ignorant and arrogant.

“And don’t get me started on Bez – he’d had so much to drink he looked like he was struggling to stand.

“He was dressed like a court jester, and he tried to introduce himself to Alex Warren, who looked totally baffled by the entire interaction.

“Alex was totally polite, but he didn’t have a clue who this seemingly mad man was who was trying to shake his hand.

“Eventually, someone he was with got Bez away from him so he could carry on watching the show.”

Censoring was a big point of contention on the night too, with Jack Whitehall’s funniest quips – including a gag about Peter Mandelson – and Geese drummer Max Bassin’s shout of: “I just want to say: free Palestine and f*** I.C.E,” all edited out by ITV.

“It was bizarre,” another publicist quipped to me the following day.

“Noel Gallagher shouted ‘Up the f***ing blues,’ and rather than just beeping out the swear word, they decided to lose the entire sentence – meaning anyone watching at home just suddenly heard him being booed by Manchester United fans in the arena.

“The BBC totally botched up the Baftas, so maybe ITV were scared of getting it wrong.

“But it meant that some of the editing didn’t make a whole lot of sense.

“Why are you letting one of the night’s biggest stars get loudly booed with zero context?”

It was like sitting next to the Flying Scotsman sitting near Lola Young.

As the clock ticked closer to 11pm, stars keen to get out of the arena and to after parties thrown by major labels including Warner and Sony, found themselves being blocked by security.

“People just wanted out towards the end,” one of the on-site crew explained.

“The floor usually is chaotic towards the end of the ceremony because people are drunk, but you can’t have half the tables suddenly going missing.

“Vernon Kay and Sharon Osbourne managed to evade capture, but security were trying to turn most people back to their tables.”

The rush to the after-parties made sense, given how tight the guest lists were.

I’m told one major Hollywood acting agent was ringing around organisers on the day to try and get their client, who is a household name and has been in massive films, into a bash.

“The guest list is full, that’s the party line,” one insider told me.

“But basically, if your client is a nuisance, they aren’t getting in.

“This actor is known to party hard and can be a nuisance. His agent was begging him to be allowed into the parties, but everyone kept saying no.

“In the end, he didn’t bother coming, which was a relief. But there was no way this agent would have let their Hollywood client slum it on the pavement outside.”

Out in the cold

As stars and execs jostled to get into the parties, Selling Sunset star Breana Tiesi was left shivering on the pavement outside of Warner Music’s bash after briefly stepping outside the event and being told she wasn’t allowed back in.

“Bre was furious,” one onlooker told me. “She was an invited guest and had been inside.

“But she stepped out and wasn’t allowed to get back inside again.

“They kicked up a massive stink, and it eventually got sorted. But it wasn’t a good look.

“Amber Gill then ended up in tears and was sobbing in the foyer – all while you’ve got mega A-list stars like Dua Lipa singing a cocktail just a few feet away.

“It’s scenes you just can’t make up.”

OUR neighbour across the English Channel is officially the most-visited country in the world.

France has everything, from top class skiing in the mountainous Alps, to incredible campsites, beautiful beaches and glamorous seaside cities.

According to EuroNews, France has retained its title of being the ‘world’s most visited country’ – and even beat its own record.

In 2024, it recorded 100million visitors and in 2025 topped that with 102million travellers.

As seasoned travellers to France, here’s where Sun Travel recommends for anyone heading over there.

Sainte Maxime

If you want an affordable alternative to St Tropez, Head of Sun (Digital) Caroline McGuire has a must-visit spot.

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She said: “The first time I holidayed in Sainte Maxime was 30 years ago and while it has grown in popularity since then, the seaside town retains its elegant and traditional charm.

“Known as the ‘low-key little sister’ to the world famous, mega bouji
St. Tropez (which can be reached via 15-minute ferry from the town’s
port), Sainte Maxime offers the same kind of relaxed, Provencal vibe
for considerably less money.

“If you’re looking for a fun-filled family stay, Eurocamp’s five-star
Prairies De La Mer holiday park is just 15 minutes down the road by
bus.”

La Rochelle

Travel Reporter Alice Penwill has a lot of memories from holidaying in France. She said: “As a child, a lot of my summer holidays consisted of taking the ferry from Dover to Calais and then driving onwards.

“One of my most memorable breaks was in the coastal city of La Rochelle in southwestern France.

“Going in the height of summer, temperatures can be incredibly high and I remember cooling off and splashing about in the sea on Plage des Minimes.

“That was until it was time to leave and look for well-needed shade which we found within the historic city. There’s lots to see there too and plenty of little cafes to stop at by the waterfront.

“For those who are a fan of seafood, you can’t really go wrong here with plenty being caught off the Bay of Biscay and served up fresh in the local restaurants.”

Camp Du Domaine, Bormes Les Mimosas – Lisa

Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot has a firm favourite place when it comes to holidaying in France, she explained: “One seaside village on the Cote d’Azur holds such a special place in my heart I have returned nearly every year for 50 years!

“My parents first took us to Camp du Domaine, a 5* beachfront campsite when I was six years old. And I have returned to the site nearly every year since – bringing my own family too.

“The village of Bormes itself tumbles down the hills of the Massif des Maures – a maze of pretty medieval streets and stone alleyways.

“It is known as a ‘village fleurie’ for the gorgeous flowers that adorn the hamlet – particularly the yellow mimosa that blooms from January to March.

“And our campsite sits on the coast at La Faviere with its vast swathe of sandy beach. We bring our caravan but the site also features a host of bungalows that dot the pine-covered hills of the site.”

Morzine

Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski revealed her top town in the Alps: “Morzine is famed for its picturesque, powdery ski slopes, with a huddle of smaller mountains in the main town, overlooking cosy restaurants that dish up tartiflette by the bucket load.

“There’s so much more to it than this, though. The peaks are just as beautiful in the summer months, transforming into grassy trails for mountain bikers, while its waterways are great for rafting.

“If you’re not much of a skier or snowboarder, husky sledding is an experience that will blow you away.

“You’ll soar along untrodden paths in a fur-lined sled pulled by a galloping pack, taking in the sights at speed.

“The Alps resort is so action-packed it can easily be described as an adventure playground for adrenaline junkies.

“But if you do want to take things at a more leisurely pace, take advantage of some of the serene spas or book onto a snowshoeing experience through the wintry woodland – keep your eyes peeled for birds including the golden eagle and buzzards.”

Brittany

Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding is a fan of northern France. She said: “The Brittany region in northwest France features a fairytale-like city called Quimper.

“When visiting you will be wowed by the amount of historic, quaint buildings. Meander around the medieval Old Town – you will find the Gothic Saint-Corentin Cathedral and streets lined with Breton Gothic architecture.

“Many of the houses are half-timbered with overhanging upper stories, making you feel as if you have stepped into the scenes of a Disney princess movie.

“The name actually originates from the Breton term ‘kemper’, which means ‘confluence’, referring to the three rivers that meet in the city.

“For those who love gifts, independent makers and crafts, the city is a haven as it is full of pottery-making spots and even an artistic embroidery school.

“It’s full of charm, but not so many tourists making it the ideal alternative French destination.”

La Rosiere

Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire revealed one of her favourite ski spots, and you might not have heard of it.

She said: “La Rosiere isn’t one of the best-known French ski resorts, but its high altitude means that you are far more likely to get decent snow
than other locations.

“The lesser-known quality, and the lack of big hotels, means that the
village has also retained much of its charm, with plenty of quaint
little cafes and restaurants.

“The best of the best being L’Ancolie, a log cabin-style restaurant
with open fires and red checked curtains that serves favourites like
fondue, raclette and a pudding with meringue, chocolate sauce and ice
cream that was so delicious it still makes its way into family
discussions, two years on.

“When it comes to skiing itself, I can think of no better destination
for a child to learn the ropes, with plenty of  kid-friendly green
slopes and blue runs.

“La Rosiere is relatively small, but with 83 runs of varying
difficulty, it kept us very happy for a whole week.

“We stayed with Ski Beat, at a catered-chalet that was literal spitting
distance of the ski school (helpful when you’re trying to coax a
little one into their uncomfortable boots pre-9am.”

Paris

And of course, how can you take a trip to France without seeing the country’s capital, Paris?

Travel Reporter Alice Penwill went to Paris and back in one day on the Eurostar, and here’s what she got up to: “As someone who had never been to the city before, a day trip was a lovely introduction.

“I headed to the beautiful Musee d’Orsay to see impressionist artwork by the likes of Monet, Degas, Renoir and Vincent Van Gogh.

“Then I walked along the Left Bank of the Seine all the way towards Notre Dame, where I stopped by the famous Shakespeare And Company bookshop.

“There’s plenty of places to stop by with a food tour too – make sure to stop by the Jewish Quarter for a tasty pastrami sandwich.

“I’m sure I’ll go back to the city soon – and hopefully I’ll get to even spend more than one day exploring it.”

For more on Paris and how to spend a day there, hear more from our Sun Travel Editor (Digital) Caroline McGuire who loves exploring its flea markets and reveals her favourite cocktail bar.

Chantilly

Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski also visited Chantilly, a town famous for its whipped cream, she said: “It may be only a half an hour train ride from the chaotic capital city, but Chantilly feels lightyears away from Paris.

“Its cobblestone streets, which remain peacefully quiet in the peak months, have an old world feel to them.

“This may be partly down to its mighty chateau, which prides itself in its historic equestrian training with public demonstrations taking place regularly throughout the year.

“You’ll likely spot the horses in training if you take a stroll around its magnificent grounds, too. Don’t forget to poke your head inside if you’re a fan of art through the ages, because this grand building houses the second largest collection of antique paintings after the Louvre.

“And let’s not forget what Chantilly is truly famous for: its special whipped cream, first created in the 17th century and still a much loved dessert today.

“Not only will you find Chantilly cream on every restaurant menu in the small town centre but you can also join masterclasses led by one of the “whipping knights” (essentially an expert), where you’ll learn the exact technique.

“Be prepared to return to your hotel with an aching arm, because tradition states that it must be whipped by hand.”

Lille

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey would recommend a trip to one destination you can easily get to from the Eurostar, she said: “The city of Lille makes for the perfect weekend break or even a quick 24 hour trip.

“Being just one stop on the Eurostar from the UK, it’s quicker for me to get to the French city than it is to commute to the office, in fact.

“Nicknamed Little Paris, it is certainly easier to get around than the capital as well.

“It even has its own ‘Arc de Triomphe,’ albeit in the form of the small 17th-century Porte de Paris in the middle of a roundabout.

“Otherwise hop in a retro Citroen 2CV for a car tour of the city, grab a famous vanilla cream waffle from Meert and end with drinks at the rooftop Nu before hopping on the train home.

“Don’t fancy a day trip? Spend the night at the city’s Mama Shelter, complete with vintage games consoles and fantastic on-site restaurant.”

Trouville-Sur-Mer

Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire has a favourite seaside town too, she said: “Trouville-sur-Mer is just 50 minutes from the ferry port at Caen, which can be reached via a six-hour ferry crossing from Portsmouth.

“The quaint seaside town has been popular with holidaymakers since the
1800s, thanks to its huge sandy beach and fabulous cuisine. But it has
resolutely kept its quaint charm.

“Yes, there’s a kids’ arcade but it’s tucked into the basement of the
glamorous casino. Yes, there’s crazy golf but it’s petite, just off the old-fashioned wooden boardwalk surrounded by grand 19th-century mansions.

“This particular area is famous for its crepes, so we made it our
mission to sample as many as possible — with chocolate, ice cream and
seafood.

“Given its Channel-front location, the town is also very big on moules
— we even spotted a pizza piled high with them.

“And you’re spoilt for choice for groceries, thanks to the town’s
twice-weekly street market, where verything from shucked oysters and
giant tomatoes to the stinkiest cheese and hot coq-au-vin is on sale.”

For even more on France, one Sun Writer explored the country by campervan with beautiful beaches, hidden lakes and medieval towns.

Another visited the off-the-radar paradise island off the French coast with delicious seafood and salt marshes.

Colorado backup quarterback Dominiq Ponder died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash in Boulder County. He was 23.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, Ponder was driving a 2023 Tesla Model 3 at around 3 a.m. when he lost control on a righthand curve. The car went through a guardrail and hit an electrical line pole before rolling down an embankment and catching fire.

Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation “shows that speed is suspected as a factor,” police said.

A three-star prospect out of Carol City High in Opa Locka, Fla., Ponder spent a year at Bethune-Cookman University before transferring to Colorado. He was a redshirt in 2024 and saw minimal action in 2025 — going 0-for-1 passing and rushing twice for minus-4 yards in two game appearances — but still made an impact on his coaches and teammates.

“Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader,” Colorado Coach Deion Sanders wrote Sunday on X. “Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”

Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion called Ponder “a joy to be around & coach!”

“gonna be tough but man this one hurts Lord,” Marion wrote on X. “getting that call from his dad today didn’t feel real. Love you Dom! God cover his family & our team, especially our qb room!

Fellow Colorado backup quarterback Colton Allen posted a lengthy tribute to Ponder on Instagram.

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”

Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo said in a statement that Ponder “epitomized the values of passion, enthusiasm, leadership, toughness, and intelligence that were revered by his teammates and coaches alike. Our hearts go out to his family and all of his teammates during this difficult time.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

“This is the very lifeblood of the Qatari economy.” Qatar has announced it is halting liquid natural gas (LNG) production because of Iranian attacks on key facilities. Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi explains the impact in Doha.

The joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran has entered day three. The Pentagon has now shared some new details in its first formal press briefing on the conflict since it began over the weekend.

Readers can catch up on the events of the first day of the war with our initial rolling coverage here, and the important events from day two here.

What the United States has dubbed Operation Epic Fury “was highly classified, so that at H-Hour [the start of the operation], the enemy would see one thing, speed, surprise, and violence of action,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine said at this morning’s press conference at the Pentagon. “The first movers were CYBERCOM [U.S. Cyber Command] and USSPACECOM [U.S. Space Command], layering non-kinetic effects, disrupting and degrading and blinding Iran’s ability to see, communicate, and respond.”

“At H-Hour, the beginning of major combat operations [1:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday, February 28], 9:45 AM local Tehran time, as dawn crept up across the Central Command AOR [Area of Responsibility], the sky surged to life. More than 100 aircraft launched from land and sea – fighters, tankers, airborne early warning, electronic attack, bombers from the states, and unmanned platforms forming a single synchronized wave.”

“This was a daylight strike based on a trigger event conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces enabled by the U.S. intelligence community,” Caine added. “The first shooters at sea were Tomahawks [land attack cruise missiles] unleashed by the United States Navy. Closed in on Iranian naval forces and began to conduct strikes across the southern flank in Iran. On the ground, forces fired precision standoff weapons – measured, deliberate, precise, and lethal. This was a massive, overwhelming attack across all domains of warfare, striking more than 1,000 targets in the first 24 hours.”

“We are now roughly 57 hours into the operation,” Caine further explained. “In the initial phase, CENTCOM’s [U.S. Central Command] focus was systematic targeting of Iranians [sic] command and control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites, and intelligence infrastructure designed to daze and confuse them. Coordinated space and cyber operations effectively disrupted communications and sensor networks across the area of responsibility, leaving the adversary without the ability to see, coordinate, or respond effectively.”

“The combined impact of these strikes – swift, precise, and overwhelming – has resulted in the establishment of local air superiority. This air superiority will not only enhance the protection of our forces, but also allow them to continue the work over Iran. Over the course of the last two days, the Joint Force has launched hundreds of missions from land and sea and delivered tens of thousands of pieces of ordnance. The effort continues to scale,” the Chairman continued. “This included American B-2 bombers, which, again, similar to [Operation] Midnight Hammer [against Iran in 2025], flew a 37-hour round-trip sortie from the continental United States, dropping precision, penetrating munitions on Iranian underground facilities across the southern flank, slightly deeper. Additionally, Israel has separately executed hundreds of sorties against hundreds of targets.”

The U.S. and Israel launched major joint military operations “Epic Fury” and “Roaring Lion” against Iran and conducted targeted decapitation strikes, reportedly killing the Ayatollah.

Latest snapshot of American air and naval assets in the region (more info and sources below): pic.twitter.com/sub7xpdXXq

— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) March 1, 2026

“While we’ve prosecuted a relentless offensive campaign, our defense has been equally important across the theater,” Caine also said. “Operations have remained [inaudible] and disciplined. Once again, our integrated air and missile defense network is performing exactly as it’s intended. U.S. Patriot and THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] batteries, along with ballistic missile defense-capable Navy destroyers, continue to coordinate and execute intercepts with vision and consistency.”

“I wish that every American could hear the voice communications like I have as these joint operation centers remain calm, focused, cool, while executing under fire over and over again. Collectively, these systems have intercepted hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting U.S. forces, our partners, and regional stability,” Caine noted. “The threat from one-way attack UAVs [uncrewed aerial vehicles] has remained persistent. Our systems have proven effective in countering these platforms, engaging targets rapidly. Each intercept represents hundreds of hours of training, readiness, and technology, all coming together to work as designed. We will remain vigilant in the counter-UAV fight, and the defense of the region is not ours alone. As the threat grew, our partners surged in beside us. Air defense batteries in Qatar, the UAE [United Arab Emirates], Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia joined the fight, proof positive that years of training, trust, and, hard-earned integration pay off.“

Caine also said he was aware of the loss of three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, to apparent friendly fire over Kuwait, but declined to provide more details. All six crew members are safe, and you can read more about the incident here.

At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.

Read more:https://t.co/i2y3Q3vo2E

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026

In addition to the aforementioned friendly fire incident, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has now confirmed the death of a fourth U.S. service member. The individual in question “was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, [and] eventually succumbed to their injuries,” according to an official statement. Yesterday, the Pentagon confirmed that the three previously known fatalities of U.S. service members occurred during Iranian strikes on Kuwait.

CENTCOM Update

TAMPA, Fla. – As of 7:30 am ET, March 2, four U.S. service members have been killed in action. The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries.

Major combat operations continue and our…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026

The rest of our new ongoing coverage continues below, with the most recent updates at the top.

UPDATE: 9:36 AM EST-

The Israeli military may be mulling a possible ground invasion of Lebanon, after Hezbollah launched missiles and drones toward Israel overnight, which would open up a major new front in the war. Those attacks from the Lebanese militants were in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, over the weekend.

In a briefing to reporters in Israel, a military spokesperson was asked if the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were preparing for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon. The spokesperson said, “all options are on the table,” and then said Hezbollah “made a very bad mistake” by choosing to strike Israel overnight.

“The IDF will react very swiftly, and they will pay a heavy price,” the spokesperson added. “Hezbollah opened fire at us last night. It knew exactly what it was doing.”

⭕️ In response to the rockets fired from Lebanon to Israel, the IDF precisely struck senior Hezbollah terrorists in Beirut, dozens of Hezbollah & Iranian terrorist regime command centers, and a site that was used by Hezbollah to store weapons in the Tyre.

The IDF is prepared…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 2, 2026

In a brief update on X, the IDF said today it “struck” a “senior terrorist” from Hezbollah in Beirut and will be providing more details in due course.

צה”ל תקף לפני זמן קצר באופן ממוקד, מחבל בכיר מארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בביירות, פרטים נוספים בהמשך

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 2, 2026

Subsequently, the Israeli military said it had killed Hezbollah’s intelligence chief, Hussein Makled, overnight. The IDF also claimed it killed Sayed Yahya Hamidi, who it described as Iran’s deputy minister of intelligence for ‘Israel affairs,’ and Jalal Pour Hossein, who it claimed was the head of the espionage division (at the ministry of intelligence).

Hezbollah’s intelligence chief was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut overnight, the IDF announces.

The IDF says it can now confirm that its overnight strike in the Lebanese capital killed Hussein Makled, “who served as the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters.”

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 2, 2026

Israeli airstrikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon today killed at least 31 people and injured 149, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

A video from the IDF shows Israeli strikes overnight in Dahiyeh in Beirut:

There are rumors of concern within the Pentagon, as well as other parts of the Trump administration, about the United States getting bogged down in a larger conflict. This comes now amid the prospect of Israel expanding operations against Lebanon.

“Inside the Pentagon, and among some members of the Trump administration, there was deepening concern Sunday that the Iran conflict could spiral out of control, said people familiar with the situation.
“The mood here is intense and paranoid,” one person said. https://t.co/fWS7y5rSlY

— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) March 2, 2026

Chief among the reported concerns of U.S. officials is the stockpile of suitable interceptors for air defense systems, especially as Iran continues to launch missiles and especially drones at targets across the region. The inventory of Iranian long-range one-way attack drones is something that the propaganda arm in Tehran is trying to capitalize on. This is something TWZ highlighted in an in-depth piece regarding questions hanging over any major new American air campaign against Iran shortly before the conflict erupted.

Video: New Iranian propaganda video showing an underground drone armory and various drone operations from the past several days. pic.twitter.com/zs6T47dJEJ

— Evan Kohlmann (@IntelTweet) March 2, 2026

Another two Iranian drones heading toward the British airbase of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus were “successfully intercepted,” according to a spokesperson for the Cypriot government. The incident comes after an Iranian drone reportedly struck the base last night. The incident is not thought to have caused any casualties and only limited damage.

Cypriot authorities have opened emergency shelters following the Iranian drone strike against RAF Akrotiri.

In a joint statement, the United States and six allied Gulf states — Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — have condemned Iran’s “indiscriminate and reckless attacks” across the region. They blame Tehran for strikes that have “targeted sovereign territories, endangered civilians, and inflicted damage on civilian infrastructure.”

The statement continues: “Iran’s actions represent a dangerous escalation that violates the sovereignty of multiple states and threatens regional stability. Targeting civilians and non-combatant states is reckless behavior that undermines stability. We stand united in defense of our citizens, our sovereignty, and our territories, and we reaffirm our right to self-defense in the face of these attacks, while underscoring our commitment to regional security and commending the effective cooperation in air and missile defense that prevented greater loss of life and destruction.”

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry on Monday shared a statement released jointly with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and the United States.

In the statement, the countries strongly condemn Iran’s indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks… pic.twitter.com/DesM2ZkYea

— KUWAIT TIMES (@kuwaittimesnews) March 2, 2026

The statement confirms that, so far, attacks have occurred in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Cyprus can also be added to this list.

Of these, there have been notable reports in the last 12 hours of explosions in Dubai and Samha in the UAE, and in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

A cameraman films the moment of an Iranian strike in the city of Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emiarates. pic.twitter.com/fm1A8oUnQK

— Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) March 2, 2026

Among the high-profile targets to be hit is the Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia, one of the Middle East’s largest. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry announced today that some operations at Ras Tanura have been halted, after an attack set fire to part of the complex. The ministry said that the refinery sustained “minor damage from falling debris” due to the interception of “two drones in the refinery’s vicinity.”

“Some operational units at the refinery were shut down as a precautionary measure, without any impact on the supply of petroleum products to local markets,” Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said.

Iran carried out strikes on the ARAMCO oil refinery located in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia.

Huge amount of smoke is seen coming out from the facility following the attack. pic.twitter.com/GZdgKpc0xB

— Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) March 2, 2026

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog, says there is no evidence that any of Iran’s nuclear facilities have sustained damage or have been hit in U.S.-Israeli strikes so far.

According to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations nuclear watchdog, one of the targets of the strikes was the Natanz nuclear facility, the Reuters news agency reported. “Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday,” Reza Najafi told reporters at a meeting of the IAEA board of governors.

The Natanz nuclear facility was among the sites struck in the U.S-Israeli airstrikes against Iran in June 2025.

The U.S.-flagged oil tanker Stena Imperative suffered at least two direct hits from a suspected Iranian projectile while in the Port of Bahrain, a maritime security official confirmed to TWZ.

It is unclear at the moment if the ship was struck by a missile or a drone, the official added.

Shortly before 5:30 a.m. Eastern, the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization, which is managed by the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom, stated that it “received a report of an incident in the Port of Bahrain. The Company Security Officer reported that the vessel had been struck by two unknown projectiles, causing a fire. The fire has been extinguished, and the vessel remains in port. All members of the ship’s crew are safe and have evacuated the vessel. Authorities are investigating.”

“Vessels are to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO,” the organization added.

It has been reported that the tanker is part of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program, which “exists to enhance U.S. supply chain resiliency for liquid fuel products.” The Tanker Security Program came into effect in 2021 and empowered the Department of Transportation to create an ad-hoc 10-ship expanded U.S.-flagged tanker fleet for use in a crisis.

The ship being the US-flagged Stena Imperative. The tanker is part of the US Maritime Administration’s Tanker Security Program and is fitted to refuel US warships.

In early February, it was reported that Iranian gunboats had approached in attempts to board Stena Imperative. https://t.co/OGzO1YXerw pic.twitter.com/KD0rwkOaXZ

— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) March 2, 2026

Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has appointed Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza as acting defense minister after his predecessor was killed in an airstrike.

#Iran’s president has appointed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general Majid Ebnelreza as acting defense minister after his predecessor was killed in Israeli-US strikes. pic.twitter.com/ClPVr8fCve

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 2, 2026

Contact the editor: thomas@thewarzone.com

The new Yellowstone spin-off Marshals features a stellar cast of recognisable faces, so where might fans already know them from?

Marshals: A Yellowstone Story has just begun, with Kayce Dutton (played by Luke Grimes) returning to screens in an exhilarating series premiere.

The new spin-off began on CBS last Sunday night (1st March) in the US, with new episodes also dropping each Monday on Paramount+ across the globe.

Picking up from the fifth and final season of the flagship Western drama created by Taylor Sheridan, the series follows Kayce Dutton (played by Luke Grimes) as he joins a team of US Marshals who fight violent crime across Montana.

With countless Yellowstone fans expected to tune in, fans will no doubt be wondering where they recognise the show’s brilliant cast of newcomers and old favourites.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest names gracing the screens in the latest epic chapter in the Dutton saga.

Who stars in Marshals: A Yellowstone Story?

Luke Grimes will be reprising his leading role as Kayce, with fellow Yellowstone star Brecken Merrill also returning as his on-screen son, Tate. Away from the hit Western franchise, Merrill has also appeared in the 2025 thriller film Lifeline.

Grimes has recently appeared in the film Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, and has also starred in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy as Elliot, the younger brother of Jamie Dornan’s Christian Grey.

Two additional stalwarts from the original series are confirmed to be returning: Gil Birmingham as Chief Thomas Rainwater, the Chairman of the Broken Rock Reservation, and Mo Brings Plenty as his trusted aide, Mo.

Birmingham is perhaps best known for his roles in the Taylor Sheridan-scripted films Wind River and Hell or High Water, as well as for playing Billy Black in the Twilight films. Mo has appeared in the films Jurassic World Dominion and Dead Man’s Hand, as well as TV shows The Good Lord Bird and Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

The main cast is rounded out by four newcomers portraying Kayce’s colleagues with the US Marshals. They are Arielle Kebbel (The Vampire Diaries) as Belle Skinner, Ash Santos (American Horror Story) as Andrea Cruz, Tatanka Means (Killers of the Flower Moon) as Miles Kittle, and Logan Marshall-Green (Upgrade) as Pete Calvin.

Kebbel has also appeared in hit shows such as Gilmore Girls and co-starred with Grimes in Fifty Shades Freed, while Marshal-Green is recognised for his roles in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Prometheus, and When They See Us.

Meanwhile, Santos has appeared in Lindsay Lohan’s Christmas rom-com Our Little Secret, Mayor of Kingstown, and Pulse, and Means is also known for Western drama series The Son, Reservation Dogs and Kevin Costner’s ambitious Horizon film series.

Brett Cullen (The West Wing) is also set for recurring appearances as Harry Gifford, the head of Montana’s US Marshals unit who distrusts Kayce and the rest of the Duttons.

Ellyn Jameson Barry also has a recurring role as Dolly Weaver, while the first season has so far featured guest appearances from Chad Michael Collins (Sniper) as Owen Kilborn, and Loren Anthony (The Lone Ranger) as Jim Kane

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Finally, main cast member Kebbel has hinted that several “recognisable” country music stars will be making guest appearances throughout the series.

This includes singer Riley Green making his acting debut, while others will be making cameo appearances performing some of their hit tracks. Keep your eyes peeled for some familiar faces.

Marshals: A Yellowstone Story continues Sundays on CBS and Mondays on Paramount+.

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ONGOING escalations in the Middle East have seen thousands of flights cancelled in recent days, leaving even more stranded.

While the majority of those affected are in Dubai, along with Doha and Abu Dhabi, the airspace closure has had a knock-on effect to other countries.

Dubai‘s main airport is not just one of the world’s busiest, but is a major hub which connects Europe to long-haul destinations in Africa and Asia.

Not only that, but airlines that were due to fly over the airspace may be forced to cancel or reroute flights.

Here are some of the other destinations that have also been affected by the US-Iran crisis, outside of the Middle East.

Thailand

Tourists heading to Thailand have been caught up in the flight cancellations as well.

HOL NO

EVERYTHING you need to know about holidays and flights affected by Iran crisis

GROUNDED

Cyprus airport evacuated as easyJet and British Airways among 60 flights cancelled

Local media reported 59 international flights cancelled in recent days, either to the Middle East or via the airspace.

Thailand has already looked into offering support by hotels and food for those stuck at the airport, with plans for special travel packages for those still unable to fly.

Despite this, direct flights such as with Norse Airways to Bangkok are still operating later this week.

Others on social media said they were having to fly via other routes such as South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Another said: “Fly Oman Air – We just flew them yesterday from Phuket to Muscat to London”.

And Thailand is still deemed safe to travel to, excluding the areas on the Malaysia and Cambodia border.

Maldives

The Maldives is also seeing flight cancellations, especially those to and from Europe.

European tourism makes up half of the annual visitor numbers, with the majority of flights being via the Middle East.

Around 28 flights were cancelled over the weekend, affecting more than 5,000 passengers.

One person wrote on TikTok: “We’ve had to rebook our Emirates flight and we are going from the Maldives to Shanghai to then get back to London”.

Direct flights can still operate with Virgin Atlantic although these might now take longer.

The Maldives is still on the safe travel list.

Bali

Brits heading to Bali would have most likely travelled via the Middle East.

However, more than 15 flights have been cancelled since the weekend, affecting flights from Bali via Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.

Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport’s Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi said: “As of Monday afternoon, a total of 15 international flights have been cancelled.”

Brits will instead have to look at flying via other hubs such as Singapore, with Singapore Airlines, or via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines.

Stranded tourists are saying they are booking flights via Shanghai instead, or to fly via Australia and Los Angeles.

Bali remains safe to travel to.

Sri Lanka

Tourists have also been left stuck in Sri Lanka due to the Middle East cancellations.

SriLankan Airlines has cancelled 10 flights to the Middle East due “the continued closure of airspace in certain parts of the Middle East.”

These were due to fly to Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh, and Kuwait.

Some passengers aid they were stuck in Colombo Airport, while others said they were having to fly via Bangkok instead.

SriLankan Airlines does operate a direct route from London once a day, which still appears to be in operation.

All of Sri Lanka remains on the safe travel list.

Australia

One of the main flight routes between the UK and Australia is via Dubai, which has resulted in many flight cancellations.

As many as 115,000 Australians are thought to be currently stranded in the Middle East right now.

Nearly 30 flights were left stuck at airports across Australia yesterday, with mainly planned to fly to Doha or Dubai.

Alternative routes include going via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong, or flying directly to Perth.

However, flights are likely to take longer due to rerouting to avoid the airspace.

There are no travel warnings in place for Australia.

Egypt

Egypt holidays and flights remain unaffected, with routes from the UK not flying over the Middle East airspace closure.

There are travel bans in place across Egypt, mainly across the Libya and Israel border.

However, the tourist destinations of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada remain safe to travel to.

Turkey

Turkey also remains unaffected as flights from the UK do not go over the Middle Eastern airspace.

The majority of Turkey remains safe to travel to, excluding the border with Syria.

Blaming Iran for previous attacks on Americans in the region, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says Washington didn’t start the war, but under President Donald Trump, “we’re finishing it”.

Despite any talk of top-order frailties, India remain a frightening T20 team.

Yes, they were well beaten by South Africa and given a scare by USA but there is a reason they came into this tournament as overwhelming favourites.

Between the end of the last T20 World Cup in 2024 and the start of this, India won 33 of their 41 matches making them the most consistent team cricket’s most inconsistent format has seen.

With the bat, they started slowly in this tournament but gained momentum by scoring 256-4 against Zimbabwe in the penultimate match of the Super 8s.

They scored 69 runs in the final four overs that day – something that is becoming a clear strength.

India are only the 10th fastest-scoring team in the middle phase of an innings but have hit more boundaries than anyone else at the death. They have hit 57 boundaries in the last four overs compared to England’s 44.

And while India have not lost a T20 at the Wankhede since 2017, it is a ground with bad memories for England.

It is where they lost to West Indies in the group stage, were beaten by a record 150 runs by India last year – Abhishek scored 135 from 54 balls that day – and lost to South Africa in their largest one-day international defeat in terms of runs at the 2023 World Cup.

That day, England wilted in the Mumbai heat and temperatures are forecast to hit 39 degrees during the daylight hours on Thursday.

It will not be much cooler when the match begins at 19:00 local time.

ICONIC 90s actress Ali Larter has left fans’ jaws on the floor, showing off her youthful look at the Actor Awards.

The actress, known for her roles in Legally Blonde, Varsity Blues, and Landman, was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

One day after her 50th birthday, Ali stepped out on the red carpet at the Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards.

She posed for photos at the event in a strapless crimson gown by Zuhair Murah with a sweetheart neckline.

The gown, which accentuated her curves, reached all the way to the floor.

Ali looked absolutely ageless, completing the look with bouncy curls in her blonde hair, a bold dark red lip, and chunky jewelry.

On the red carpet, the actress opened up about her gratitude in an interview with E!.

“Life is beautiful. I’m on a show that has just caught on with people all over the world. My children are healthy. My parents are great. I’m just full of gratitude,” she said.

She also told the outlet that her outfit choice was intentional.

“I feel like this is a celebration of acting and actors… It’s kind of a throwback to the retro queens, the heroines. And I just think that his dresses express femininity – it accentuates the curves,” she said.

Big winner

Landman was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series against several other hit shows.

Nominees included The Diplomat, Severance, The Pitt, and The White Lotus.

Ali stars in Landman alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Michelle Randolph, Demi Moore, Sam Elliott, and Kayla Wallace.

Ultimately, the cast of HBO Max’s The Pitt walked away with the award.

The show’s star, Noah Wyle, delivered the acceptance speech with the rest of the cast beside him.

The benchmark European gas price, traded on the Dutch TTF hub, rose by as much as 45% to around €46 per megawatt-hour in early afternoon trading.

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UK natural gas prices also surged, with the NBP benchmark climbing sharply in tandem with continental markets.

High market volatility has driven sharp minute-by-minute swings.

The sharp increase follows US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which have heightened tensions in a region critical to global energy flows.

QatarEnergy announced early Monday afternoon that it had halted liquefied natural gas production linked to the giant North Field gas reservoir following an attack on its facilities, but gave no further details as to the extent of the impact on operations.

Strait of Hormuz disruption raises global concerns

A large proportion of the world’s energy supply comes from the Middle East, and before the announcement from Qatar, the seaborne oil and gas transport was at the centre of market fears.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage largely controlled by Iran, is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints for oil and LNG, including exports from Qatar.

Iran has moved to block traffic through the strait following the strikes, raising concerns about supply interruptions.

“In modern history, the Strait of Hormuz has never been actually closed, albeit a temporary slowing of traffic has occurred,” said Maurizio Carulli, global energy analyst at Quilter Cheviot.

He added that “about 20% of global oil supply transits through the Strait of Hormuz and 38% of seaborne crude oil trade.”

Carulli does not expect oil shipping companies to send through their vessels until “the military situation de-escalates”, due to the risk of ship damage or seizures, as well as temporary unavailability of insurance cover.

“Satellite data shows that oil tanker transit had virtually halted over the weekend, a precautionary measure by shipping companies,” he added.

Any sustained disruption could affect LNG shipments from Qatar, which supplies around 12% to 14% of Europe’s LNG imports.

Europe exposed to global competition

While Europe does not rely primarily on Qatari gas, analysts say the indirect impact could still be significant.

If supplies to Asia are disrupted, buyers there may seek alternative cargoes, increasing global competition for LNG.

This would likely push prices higher worldwide, including in Europe.

Qatar, the world’s third-largest LNG exporter after the United States and Australia, has become an increasingly important supplier to Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced European countries to reduce their dependence on Russian pipeline gas.

Low storage levels increase vulnerability

Europe’s relatively low gas storage levels have added to market anxiety.

Storage across the European Union is currently below 30% capacity as the winter heating season draws to a close, compared with around 40% at the same point last year.

Germany and France, the bloc’s two largest economies, are among the most vulnerable.

Germany’s gas storage facilities were 20.5% full as of Saturday, while France’s stood at 21%, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe.

Lower reserves leave countries more vulnerable to supply disruptions and price volatility, particularly if global LNG markets tighten further.

SACRAMENTO — The race for California governor couldn’t be much closer. And that’s scary for Democrats.

Only the top two vote-getters in the June 2 primary — regardless of their party — will advance to the November election. And although still unlikely, it’s increasingly conceivable that both could be Republicans.

“Scare tactics,” claim naysaying Democrats of such speculation.

But Democrats should have heeded scary rumblings 10 years ago when long shot Donald Trump was first running for president — and not buried their heads in the sand again two years ago when Joe Biden was feebly seeking reelection.

They ignored the warning signs and paid the price.

Now, the latest independent poll of likely voters shows that Republican candidates are running in two of the top three places for governor — meaning it’s possible both could qualify for the November ballot, guaranteeing the first election of a GOP chief executive in 20 years.

The best odds are on one Democrat and one Republican finishing in the top two — virtually assuring a Democratic victory in November.

California is too solidly Democrat — and President Trump too despised here — to envision a Republican beating a Democrat to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom.

But Democrats could beat themselves if the current field of candidates remains intact. There essentially are eight Democrats and only two Republicans competing in the primary.

If the combined Democratic vote is splintered among the eight Democratic contestants, the two Republicans could end up finishing first and second.

“It’s hard to come up with the math that makes that work,” asserts Mark Baldassare, polling director for the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. He just completed a survey in which “a lot of things show that a Democrat and Republican [top-two finish] is the likely outcome,” he says.

But political data guru Paul Mitchell has been running primary election simulations and after Baldassare’s latest poll, he calculated the chances of an all-Republican finish at 18%.

That seems like the danger zone.

The solution is for some Democratic candidates who have little hope of winning to drop out of the race — very soon, in fact. They shouldn’t even file their official candidacy papers that are due by Friday. After that deadline, it’s impossible to remove their names from the ballot even if they’re no longer really running.

The PPIC poll, released last week, showed a statistical tie between the top five contenders — three Democrats and two Republicans, all within 4 percentage points of each other.

The breakdown:

Republican former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton, 14%; Democratic former Rep. Katie Porter, 13%; Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, 12%; Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, 11%; Democratic hedge fund founder Tom Steyer, 10%.

Then came five Democratic stragglers.

Former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former state Controller Betty Yee each had 5%. Trailing them were San José Mayor Matt Mahan with 3% and state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond at 2%.

Mahan’s a centrist wild card who jumped into the race while the polling was underway. So, there’s a valid excuse for his poor showing.

Swalwell and Steyer entered late last year and apparently took votes away from Porter and Becerra.

Porter and Yee are the only prominent female candidates, but they aren’t particularly being helped by female voters, the poll showed.

There was good news in the survey for Democrats hoping to pick up more congressional seats in California and help the party seize control of the House of Representatives from Republicans.

Asked whether they’d vote for a Democrat or Republican for Congress, 62% replied Democrat and only 36% Republican. That’s not surprising, since Democrats already hold 43 of California’s 52 seats.

Newsom and the Democratic-controlled Legislature last year gerrymandered California’s House districts with the goal of gaining at least five more seats. Voters approved that move by passing Proposition 50.

The especially bright news in the poll for Democrats was that in the five new House districts considered the most competitive, Democrats had a slight edge in voter preference. That was also true in districts held by Republicans.

Additionally, Democrats are much more enthusiastic than Republicans about voting in the congressional contests.

In the competitive districts, nearly two-thirds of voters disapprove of tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in corralling undocumented immigrants. And 57% disapprove of Trump.

Anti-Trump sentiment is extremely high among all voters — 30% approval and 70% disapproval.

One head-scratcher in the poll was the voters’ denial about their political polarization. They were asked what qualification they considered most important in choosing a governor. Only 6% said it was the candidate’s political party. Rubbage.

“There are very few people who are voting outside their party,” Baldassare notes.

Two-thirds of voters answered that a candidate’s stand on issues is the most important consideration for them. Voters of both parties, plus independents, rated a candidate’s position on “affordability” as “very” important — and it topped their list of concerns.

A majority of voters said California is “going in the wrong direction.” This is a gloomy finding for Democrats who have been ruling state government — and most large cities — for many years.

But a much larger majority believe the country also is headed in the wrong direction. Back at ya, Republicans. It’s the GOP that’s in total control of the federal government.

Both parties in California have reasons to run scared this year.

What else you should be reading

The must-read: California Democrats unite against Trump, differ on vision for state’s future
Salud: Retired 100-year-old fighter pilot from Escondido receives Medal of Honor
The L.A. Times Special: Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris have traveled parallel paths. Will they collide in 2028?

Until next week,
George Skelton

—
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Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. I’m Eric Sondheimer. The state basketball playoff pairings are out, but let’s look back on quite a weekend of championship basketball.

Sierra Canyon double

Sierra Canyon’s Jerzy Robinson drives against Ontario Christian’s Kaleena Smith in the first half of the Southern Section Open Division championship game.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

For the first time in the history of the Southern Section Open Division, one school swept the boys and girls titles: Sierra Canyon.

The girls final drew the largest individual game crowd at Toyota Arena, with Sierra Canyon and All-American Jerzy Robinson upsetting Ontario Christian and All-American Kaleena Smith 69-62. Robinson scored 32 points. Smith scored 30 points.

“What a battle,” Sierra Canyon coach Alicia Komaki said. “There were a lot of top players on that court.”

The duel between Robinson and Smith, however, was one to remember. The 5-foot-4 Smith was purposely being guarded by the 6-1 Robinson.

“Jerzy is an elite defender and can guard anybody,” Komaki said. “She was going to do whatever she could to win.”

Here’s the report.

Maxi Adams of Sierra Canyon rises to deliver a dunk against Harvard-Westlake in Open Division championship game.

(Steve Galluzzo)

In the boys final, heavily favored Sierra Canyon saw its lead drop to three points with 19.3 seconds left before prevailing over a stubborn Harvard-Westlake team 59-53. Here’s the report.

In Southern Section Division 1, Crean Lutheran held off JSerra. In Division 2, Bishop Amat routed Hesperia. Here’s the report.

Palisades’ OJ Popoola, right, grabs an offensive rebound during Palisades’ 75-56 win over Cleveland in the City Section Open Division championship game on Feb. 27, 2026.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Palisades won the City Section Open Division boys title, the first upper division title for the Dolphins since 1969. Here’s the report.

State playoffs

The state basketball playoffs begin this week with regional action. The finals are March 13-14 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Here’s the link to pairings.

Sierra Canyon received the No. 1 seed for boys and girls in the Open Division. The teams will host a doubleheader Saturday night, with the boys hosting the winner of Santa Margarita-Redondo Union and girls playing Sage Hills. Redondo Union was once considered to be the strongest challenger to Sierra Canyon but was upset in the Open Division playoffs. That matchup of two pressing teams would be quite interesting if Redondo Union can get past Santa Margarita.

Harvard-Westiake boys will host the winner of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at Santa Maria St. Joseph on Saturday. The top girls game will take place Saturday matching Etiwanda at Ontario Christian.

Division 1 boys looks like a strong 16-team field with La Mirada seeded No. 1 and hosting Mater Dei on Tuesday.

Baseball

Star center fielder Anthony Murphy of Corona has added closing duties this season. The Panthers are 4-0.

(Nick Koza)

Last season, Corona had as its closer shortstop Billy Carlson, who became a first-round draft pick. This season, center fielder Anthony Murphy has taken over as a closer, throwing 92 mph fastball for the 4-0 Panthers.

No. 1 St. John Bosco and No. 2 Orange Lutheran began their seasons with shutouts relying on their aces, Julian Garcia and Gary Morse, respectively.

Oaks Christian won the Easton tournament championship and is 5-0. The Sheffer brothers, Carson and Ryan, have been performing well.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is 4-0 and getting strong hitting from catcher Jacob Madrid, who had two home runs in a win over El Dorado. James Tronstein of Harvard-Westlake has seven hits in 10 at-bats.

El Segundo has several players off the 2023 El Segundo Little League championshp team making major contributions during its 4-0 start. Logan Brooks, the older brother of Loyola freshman Brody Brooks, has 10 RBIs.

Here’s this week’s top 25 rankings by The Times.

Softball

No. 1-ranked Norco is 4-0 behind its two college-bound pitchers, Coral Williams and Parker May.

Oaks Christian has started 6-0 and picked up wins over Huntington Beach and Mater Dei last week.

Granada Hills, one of the top teams in the City Section, will be tested this week with games against Sierra Canyon and Oaks Christian.

Track and field

Servite’s 4 x 100 relay team ran the second-fast time in state history at 40.05 in a stunning display of speed for this early in the track season at the Mustang Roundup at Trabuco Hills. The team was made up of Jorden Wells, Benjamin Harris, Kamil Pelovello and Jace Wells.

Maximo Zavaleta of King ran the 3,200 in 9:07.81 and the 1,600 in 4:09.86. Harris won the 100 in 10.46. Pelovello ran the 200 in 21.19.

Rosary’s girls 4 x 100 relay team won in 45.96 seconds. Maliyah Collins, a sophomore at Rosary, won the 100 in 11.77 and the 200 in 24.13

Soccer

El Camino Real’s boys soccer team celebrates winning the City Section Open Division title for a second consecutive season.

(Eliza Lotterstein)

Rivals El Camino Real and Birmingham had another dramatic City Section Open Division boys final, with El Camino Real winning on penalty kicks. Here’s the report. Cleveland won the girls Open Division championship over Granada Hills.

Mater Dei boys and Santa Margarita girls won Southern Section championships in the Open Division.

The regional playoffs begin Tuesday with the first state championships taking place March 13-14 in Sacramento.

Here are the pairings.

Here’s the complete championship scores.

Soccer fiasco

To say the City Section soccer playoffs were a mess would be an understatement.

Six teams were removed from the playoffs via forfeits for having ineligible players who broke CIF rule 600 by playing in an outside competition during their season. The Southern Section had one school forfeit in its playoffs, Calabasas, in Division 3, allowing Los Alamitos to be named champion.

Here’s the rundown.

A shoutout for turning in cheaters

Let’s hear it for the snitches, informers, tattletales.

If the issues in high school sports are ever going to be fixed, then cheaters need to be exposed.

Here’s a look at what’s wrong and what’s right in coming forward.

Robert Garrett still waits

From 2011, longtime Crenshaw football coach Robert Garrett talks to De’Anthony Thomas, one of his best former players.

(Robert S. Helfman)

The mysterious absence of Crenshaw football coach Robert Garrett continues. The winningest coach in City Section history with 300 victories was put on administrative leave last August on the eve of the team’s season opener. March marks the eighth month of no action on his case. He sits at home, checks in on his computer, receives full pay and waits.

Here’s a look at his predicament in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Notes . . .

At the state wrestling championships, among the winners was Birmingham’s Slava Shahbazyan at 165 and two St. John Bosco wrestlers, Jesse Grajeda at144 pounds and Michael Romero at 150 pounds. Here’s the link to complete results. . . .

Chris Williams is the new football coach at Covina. He was head coach at Diamond Ranch. . . .

Ed Hematsiraki, 21, is the new boys basketball coach at Glendale High. . . .

Jeff Bailey has left Yorba Linda after 16 years as football coach and two Southern Section titles to become head coach at Beverly Hills, which was 0-9 last season. He’ll be making $205,000 a year. Here’s the report. . . . .

Scott Dodge is the new boys basketball coach at Godinez. . . .

Troy has opening for boys basketball coach. . . .

Will Burr is out at Harvard-Westlake after just one season as girls basketball coach. . . .

Anthony Jackson, who had a successful nine-year run as head football coach at Los Angeles High, is the new head coach at South East. . . .

Greg Fontenette has resigned as boys basketball coach at Valencia. . . .

Tara Davis-Woodhall, an Olympic track and field champion from Agoura who sponsored the school’s invitational Saturday, announced she was making a $100,000 donation to the track and field program. . . .

Freshman golfer William Hudson of St. John Bosco won the Servite Invitational. Here’s the report.

From the archives: Marques Johnson

One of the greatest former City Section high school basketball players, Marques Johnson, celebrated his 70th birthday with his annual dunk. The former Crenshaw High and UCLA player is a beloved basketball legend from Los Angeles. He has a daughter playing basketball for Windward.

He just finished a new book, “Crenshaw Chronicles.”

He was inducted into the City Section sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

His call on radio when UCLA’s Tyus Edney scored on a layup in 1995 during the Bruins’ title run and he yelled, “Yeah baby!” remains something UCLA fans never forget.

Recommendations

From ESPN, a story about the growing concern about street agents in the high school NIL business.

From SI.com, a story on a high school basketball team in Arizona being removed from the playoffs for racial taunts by its fans.

From the Daily Pilot, a story on Sage Hill girls basketball.

Tweets you might have missed

Until next time….

Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com, and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.

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Qatar’s state-run energy firm says it has halted liquefied natural gas production after Iranian attacks, sending gas prices soaring in Europe, as Saudi Arabia announced it was temporarily shutting down some units of the Ras Tanura oil refinery located near the country’s eastern region after a fire broke out following a drone attack.

“Due to military attacks on QatarEnergy’s operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City in the State of Qatar, QatarEnergy has ceased production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products,” the world’s largest LNG producer said in a statement on Monday.

Shortly after the announcement, natural gas prices in Europe soared by almost 50 percent.

Earlier, Qatar’s Defence Ministry said the country was attacked by two drones launched from Iran. “One drone targeted a water tank belonging to a power plant in Mesaieed, and the other targeted an energy facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, belonging to QatarEnergy, without reporting any human casualties,” it said in a statement.

“All damages and losses resulting from the attack will be assessed by the relevant authorities, and an official statement will be issued later,” it added.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence, in reports carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA), said two drones had “attempted to attack” the Ras Tanura refinery on Monday morning, and that a “small” fire had broken out after they were intercepted.

Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed plumes of smoke rising from the oil facility, located on Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast. The ministry said the refinery “sustained limited damage”, but there were no casualties.

Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the world’s largest oil processing facilities located near the eastern city of Dammam, has a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day. The facility is home to one of the largest refineries in the Middle East and is considered a cornerstone of the kingdom’s energy sector.

The attacks come as oil tankers have been piling up on either side of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and the bulk of Qatari gas flows.

The maritime disruptions and fears of a prolonged conflict have led to a sharp rise in global oil prices, which will have a significant impact on the global economy.

Iran has been launching retaliatory strikes, mainly targeting Israel and military facilities of the United States across the Middle East, after the US and Israel launched massive air strikes on the country.

In a statement published by SPA, the Saudi Ministry of Energy said some operations had been halted as a “precautionary measure” and that it did not foresee “any impact on the supply of petroleum products to local markets”.

Saudi Arabia had earlier said it would “take all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territory, citizens, and residents, including the option of responding to the aggression” after Iran targeted the capital Riyadh and the country’s eastern region with strikes over the weekend.

The US, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning Iranian attacks across the region and affirming their right to self-defence.

Rob Geist Pinfold, lecturer in defence studies at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that Iran “knows exactly what it’s doing” by attacking the Gulf countries.

“These countries have less of an appetite for a fight because, at the end of the day, this is not their war. So, Iran is banking that they will want a ceasefire as soon as possible, that they will be pressuring the Trump administration. But we have no signs of that whatsoever so far,” he said.

Pinfold added that there seems to be a “show of force” and “of unity” coming from the Gulf states, at least rhetorically.

“They’re trying to get the message across that they are one and that they are united and that they are resilient,” Pinfold said. “But under the surface, there are profound disagreements here about how to engage with Iran and whether to engage with Iran at all.”

Every March 2, HumAngle Media marks its anniversary. This year, the award-winning newsroom turns six, a milestone for a publication that has dedicated itself to covering conflict, humanitarian crises, and development challenges across Africa.

This year’s anniversary is marked by reflection and knowledge-sharing activities. On Monday, award-winning Irish investigative journalist Sally Hayden attended HumAngle’s editorial meeting, where she met the newsroom team. During the session, she described herself as “a big follower of the work” and added, “I’m star-struck,” expressing admiration for the organisation’s impact and growth over the years.

Founded in March 2020 by Ahmad Salkida, HumAngle was born out of a determination to report on conflict and terrorism with nuance, depth, and humanity. Over the years, Ahmad’s work – and that of the newsroom he built – has shaped both local and global understanding of crises across Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region.

“HumAngle stands as one of the most consequential media institutions covering conflict, displacement, extremism, governance failures, and community resilience in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin,” he said. 

From the outset, the newsroom set itself apart by centring people rather than power. Its investigations and analyses prioritise lived experiences, while holding authorities accountable. Through solutions journalism, HumAngle not only documents harm but also explores pathways to peacebuilding and conflict resolution across the continent. 

A HumAngle investigation on the social media interactions fuelling the ethno-religious violence crisis in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, was recently shortlisted in the Outstanding Contribution to Peace Category of the 2025 Festisov Journalism Awards. 

For the editorial team, the past six years have been defined by innovation, resilience, impact, creativity, and challenge.

Mansir Muhammed, Senior Specialist in GIS, open-source intelligence, and emerging technology, describes the journey as deeply impactful. In 2023, he collaborated with HumAngle’s former investigations editor, Kunle Adebajo, on an investigation that uncovered mass graves in Nigeria’s North East.

“We had access to knowledgeable fixers who took our reporter close to these scenes. We then took pictures and collected supplementary information. We further probed the coordinates using open-source intelligence and geospatial tools, including satellite imagery and data, alongside contextual information,” Mansir wrote in a reporter’s diary. 

The investigation went on to win the Sigma Award for Outstanding Data Journalism in 2024, a recognition of the newsroom’s growing strength in digital and data-driven reporting.

“The award showcases the kind of work we have been doing with digital journalism and geographic information systems,” he said. He urged the public to look out for more innovations and impressive output from the newsroom. 

The Sigma Award is only one of several recognitions HumAngle investigations have received. Beyond accolades, however, the team points to something more important: measurable impact on communities whose stories might otherwise have gone unheard. 

Most recently, an investigation by Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu, the Managing Editor, won the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Media Africa Award. The story explored the life of Modu Bakura, a 30-year-old resident of Bama, northeastern Nigeria, whose house was robbed in 2022, his wife killed, and his source of livelihood taken away. 

In its citation, the jury reflected on the story’s lasting power:

“There are some stories, even great stories, that one reads and immediately forgets. And then there are the stories that stay with you, that you think about days, weeks or even months later. Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu’s fascinating and heartbreaking profile of Modu Baraka – a trader in northeastern Nigeria whose life was unravelled by a robbery – is in the latter category.”

For Ibrahim Adeyemi, Investigations Editor, HumAngle’s defining feature is its editorial culture.

“We don’t tell basic stories. We ask critical questions which make our work distinct,” he said, adding that the most interesting thing about working with HumAngle is that every reporter is encouraged to think like an investigative journalist: to dig deeper, question assumptions, and follow evidence wherever it leads.

That philosophy has culminated in the development of the HumAngle Investigations Handbook, a practical guide designed to support reporters in producing rigorous, groundbreaking work.

Innovation at HumAngle extends beyond investigations.

“I’m proud to say that HumAngle is six. It’s been really fun watching HumAngle grow,” said Damilola Lawal, Creative and Innovation Manager at HumAngle. Working across animation, multimedia, motion graphics, and virtual reality, she has helped shape the newsroom’s visual and immersive storytelling. She describes her work as exciting. 

Looking ahead, she plans to push those boundaries even further. “I’m going to be diving into immersive storytelling and also look at creative and impressive ways that we can apply virtual reality,” she noted. 

HumAngle’s sixth anniversary will be marked with a week-long programme of activities, including editorial sessions and workshops with Sally Hayden. The sessions are aimed at strengthening capacity, refining processes, and scaling impact. 

In the years ahead, HumAngle plans to expand its investigative and storytelling capacity, strengthen digital security and newsroom resilience, and broaden its fellowships and capacity-building initiatives. Ahmad said that HumAngle remains committed to documenting Africa’s most complex conflicts, not only with rigour and courage, but with empathy, accountability, and an unwavering belief in journalism’s power to serve the public good.