Month: April 2025

Block on removal of migrants without due process sets up the possibility of another challenge by the Trump administration to the power of the courts.

The United States Supreme Court has ordered a temporary halt on the deportation of two Venezuelan men using the antique wartime law invoked previously by the administration of President Donald Trump to send hundreds of people to El Salvador.

The country’s top court issued the order to pause the deportation of the men in immigration custody early on Saturday, after their lawyers filed an urgent petition citing an imminent risk of removal without due process. The ruling sets up the possibility of another challenge by the Trump administration to the power of the courts, and even a full-blown constitutional crisis.

“The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court,” the justices wrote in an unsigned order.

Two of the nine justices on the Supreme Court, conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissented from the decision.

The court issued the ruling following an emergency appeal filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

Trump’s use of the wartime legislation, last used during World War II, to deport alleged members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang by claiming they are “conducting irregular warfare” in the US has prompted a vigorous debate over the constitution’s ability to rein in executive power.

The Supreme Court had said in April that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given “a reasonable time” to contest their pending removals.

“We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process,” ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email to The Associated Press.

The White House has not yet commented on the ruling.

Two federal judges had refused to intervene to stop the latest deportation proceedings, and the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has yet to act, prompting the ACLU to file a petition directly with the Supreme Court.

According to the ACLU, some of the men had already been loaded onto buses and were told they were to be deported.

During a hearing on Friday, a government lawyer had said he was unaware of plans by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deport the men that day, but there could be deportations on Saturday.

“I’ve spoken with DHS. They are not aware of any current plans for flights tomorrow, but I have also been told to say they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow,” Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign told a district court in a separate but related case.

In March, the Trump administration deported 238 alleged Venezuelan gang members and 23 members of a Salvadoran gang to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.

The deportations took place despite a US federal judge granting a temporary suspension of the expulsions.

Among those deported was Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a resident of the US State of Maryland, who had secured a protection order preventing the process from going ahead.

The Trump administration later acknowledged that it had wrongly deported Garcia, but has refused to abide by a separate Supreme Court order to return him to the US.

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who met with Garcia in El Salvador on Thursday, said as he returned to the US that it’s “very clear that the president” is “blatantly, flagrantly … defying the order from the Supreme Court”.

“This case is not only about one man, as important as that is. It is about protecting fundamental freedoms and the fundamental principle in the constitution for due process that protects everybody who resides in America,” Van Hollen said.

Bangkok, Thailand – As Myanmar slowly recovers from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that killed thousands in March, an even greater catastrophe continues to shape the nation’s future – this one man-made.

Myanmar remains gripped by a civil war and after four years of fighting the military regime finds itself increasingly encircled.

But the impact of the earthquake could prove decisive for the conflict in the coming year.

Striking in Myanmar’s central Sagaing Region on March 28, the quake killed at least 3,649 people, with more than 5,000 injured and 145 still missing, according to figures from the military government.

The seismic shock flattened houses, factories, Buddhist pagodas, apartment blocks and brought down bridges and ripped up roads in Sagaing city and nearby Mandalay.

It also disrupted electricity supplies to factories producing munitions for the military, said Tin Lin Aung, a former major in Myanmar’s army who defected to the resistance movement in 2022.

In a clear sign that military supplies are stretched, bullet and artillery casings recently captured from government forces bear this year’s manufacturing date, Tin Lin Aung said.

“When I was in the military, we used to joke that some of the bullets were older than us,” he said.

“Now they are being used straight away,” he said.

The reported interruption to the military’s ammunition production comes as areas the army still controls in Myanmar are surrounded on almost all sides by longstanding ethnic armed groups and newer armed opposition forces.

Despite this, the military maintains an iron grip on the country’s major cities and core critical infrastructure.

Hemmed into urban strongholds, the military has tried to reverse its losses through indiscriminate air strikes and burning villages in rural areas – a campaign the United Nations suspects involves war crimes.

‘More momentum than the military’

Sagaing city was devastated by the quake and it remains under military control, while much of the surrounding countryside is governed by a patchwork of resistance militias – such as the People’s Defence Force (PDF) – which are loosely coordinated by the opposition National Unity Government (NUG).

The NUG declared a truce in earthquake-affected areas until April 20, except for “defensive operations”, yet the military’s operations have continued.

According to the NUG, the Myanmar military’s aerial and artillery attacks killed at least 72 civilians between the quake striking on March 28 until April 8. Two more civilians, including a 13-year-old girl, died from bombing by military aircraft on April 10, the Myanmar Now news outlet reports.

A Sagaing-based PDF fighter who requested anonymity said some rebel units had pivoted to relief efforts in central Myanmar even though their military adversaries were taking advantage of the lull in battle.

“Since the quake, the military has used the Sagaing-Monywa road more confidently because of the truce,” she said. But PDF forces in Sagaing expect fighting to intensify after the April truce is over.

“The PDF has more momentum than the military here,” she told Al Jazeera, adding that the NUG is now “coordinating better with ethnic armed organisations”.

“There will be more fighting in coming months,” said Ko Ko Gyi of the Sagaing PDF’s Battalion 3.

Regional security analyst Anthony Davis said he doubted the earthquake would distract the military from its strategic objectives, adding that most soldiers had stayed in their garrisons rather than help with relief efforts.

“The military isn’t taking time off to save people. They’ll keep up the air strikes and, where possible, launch ground offensives to weaken the PDF,” Davis said.

But it is western Rakhine State – largely spared from the earthquake – that is still the most consequential battleground currently, he said.

There, the rebel Arakan Army (AA) has clashed with the military’s forces around the state capital Sittwe and Kyaukphyu, the site of a key pipeline that transports gas from across Myanmar to China.

The AA has simultaneously pushed out of its home territory in the west of the country and into Myanmar’s central heartlands in Magwe, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions, Davis said.

“They are the swing player who can significantly move this conflict one way or another,” he added.

Commanding an estimated 40,000 soldiers, the AA has a proven record of defeating the military regime’s forces.

In eastern Myanmar’s Kayah State, a senior resistance commander said the earthquake had underscored the suffering of displaced communities who “bear the brunt of the ongoing wars”.

“The side who’s willing to care for the people can sway public opinion and will succeed in the coming battles,” he said.

In the north and northwest, the military is on the back foot.

The Kachin Independence Army captured Indaw town in the northern Sagaing Region on April 7 after an eight-month siege, despite declaring its own post-quake truce. Chin resistance forces recently gained control of Falam township in western Myanmar – though they had not announced any ceasefire.

Political analyst Kyaw Hsan Hlaing said the military is still grappling with the aftermath of the earthquake and that may create openings for the AA and others to seize more towns.

“However, any such gains would likely be incremental, as the military’s longstanding control and ability to adapt, especially in regions like Bago and Magwe, even under crisis conditions remain significant,” he said.

“In the long term, the earthquake is unlikely to fundamentally shift the balance of power in Myanmar,” he said.

‘Divine intervention’

While the earthquake has not dealt a decisive blow to military rule, the quake has delivered a psychic shock to the regime’s generals.

In a country where astrology and superstition guide the highest political decisions, many interpret the natural disaster as a cosmic rebuke against Myanmar’s military leadership.

“They see this earthquake as divine intervention – punishment for the mistakes of the king. From what I hear, they are not blaming him [regime leader Min Aung Hlaing] directly. But there are questions about his leadership and capacity,” said former major Tin Lin Aung, who still maintains contacts within the secretive military establishment.

According to Tin Lin Aung, the regime has ordered civil servants nationwide to recite a protective Buddhist chant nine times daily for nine consecutive days. The number nine has auspicious symbolism in Buddhist tradition.

He also described growing confusion within the ranks over the regime’s response to the earthquake – appealing for international aid and assistance, declaring a truce, while also continuing its attacks.

“They know the people hate them more and more, and their leader seems lost,” he said.

Richard Horsey, senior Myanmar adviser at the International Crisis Group, said even if Myanmar military’s commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing dismisses these supernatural interpretations, the fact that his inner circle takes them seriously creates real vulnerability. Instead of causing an internal coup, he suggested the quake as a bad omen would more likely signal the erosion of Min Aung Hlaing’s authority and the rise of open criticism.

“You go from there to people feeling they can just ignore his orders and do their own thing because everyone else agrees with them, not him,” he said.

Political analyst Kyaw Hsan Hlaing said some sources suggest that beliefs in the quake as a portent of collapse for military rule may be used to push the narrative that the regime needs to “act decisively to regain control”.

Superstition is just one of many factors shaping the military’s decisions in the conflict, he added.

The earthquake has also “done enormous damage to the basic fabric of Myanmar,” Horsey said, noting that Mandalay’s residents are potentially facing relocation due to extensive housing damage.

Given the scale of the quake, it would likely affect the civil war – “but in ways that are hard to predict”, he said.

Criticised for its ineffectual and disinterested response to earthquake victims, along with continued attacks at a time of national emergency, the military’s poor reputation has plummeted even further in the eyes of the people and its adversaries.

The powerful ethnic armed groups involved in the conflict will probably be even more unwilling to negotiate for peace with the military following the quake, Horsey said.

“Even if you could get a spirit of compromise, which seems not to exist”, few would believe the military’s sincerity in adhering to any peace deal or ceasefire document.

“Who would believe that piece of paper,” Horsey said, when it is signed by a military that is considered “so illegitimate and so incompetent.”

In Memphis, Ja Morant shrugged off a sprained right ankle for 22 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals for the Grizzlies.

The 25-year-old two-time All-Star suffered the injury in his side’s opening play-in loss to the Golden State Warriors and was only cleared to play shortly before the start of Friday’s game.

“Got an MRI, ultrasound, met with different doctors, got a shot, slept, woke up, came to the gym about 5:30, went through walkthrough,” Morant said.

“After that, sat for about 30 minutes until it was time to see another doctor and get an injection and start my pre-game stuff.”

Asked after the game how the ankle held up, he said, with a laugh, “I couldn’t feel it, that’s why I was out there.”

Zach Edey added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies while Scotty Pippen Jr hit 13 points.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd paid tribute to his players after their season.

“We had an incredible season when you look at the injuries that we’ve had, the Doncic trade, and for us to even be here playing in this game is incredible,” Kidd said.

“It shows the character of that group in the locker room, the fight, and being prepared. It was an incredible season and with the change and injuries, some people were saying we shouldn’t be here.”

April 18 (UPI) — California is suing the White House and the federal Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, over cuts being made to AmeriCorps, Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., confirmed in a statement.

“We’ve gone from the New Deal, the New Frontier, and the Great Society to a federal government that gives the middle finger to volunteers serving their fellow Americans. We will sue to stop this,” Newsom said in a statement on his website.

Earlier in the week, DOGE announced it was moving to eliminate virtually all jobs within the agency, placing a majority of employees on leave.

AmeriCorps was created under former President Bill Clinton and launched in 1994. It provides opportunities for young Americans who are ostensibly volunteering their time and receive only a minor financial stipend for their service.

While the program grew under President Barack Obama, it faced major cuts during President Donald Trump‘s first term in office.

AmeriCorps members are deployed in situations such as the catastrophic fires in Southern California, helping to distribute supplies and with other recovery efforts, a fact Newsom highlighted in his statement.

The agency’s volunteers assisted 26,000 homes negatively affected by the fires, while packing 21,000 food boxes of supplies.

More than 6,200 AmeriCorps members in California provided a collective 4,397,674 hours of service during the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to Newsom’s office. They also planted approximately 39,200 trees and mentored almost 74,000 students.

In a parallel move, the governor’s office announced it was stepping up enlistment in the California Service Corps, state-run agency with a similar mandate.

The news comes just days after Newsom announced the state was launching a separate lawsuit against the White House.

On Wednesday, the governor announced California was suing levied earlier in the month by the Trump administration.

Newsom at the time said California is the largest manufacturer in the country, and as such, the duties will negatively affect the state to a disproportionate level. He said California is arguing that Trump does not have the authority to implement such changes.

MARKS and Spencer fans have been leaving five-star reviews for the ‘best’ knickers ever which are just £6.

The popular underwear item is said to both “hold tummies in” and be “so comfortable.”

5

5

If you have been using old pairs of pants for years, it could be time to treat yourself to this M&S pair, which come in a range of colours. 

The Lace Cotton Rich Shaping Knickers not only helps to give you a smooth silhouette, but also looks pretty with the detailing too.

You can pick up a two-pack in black, white or rose quartz, making them ideal for everyday wear.

The multi-set costs just £12, meaning each of the popular knickers is just £6 each.

Numerous shoppers have left glowing five-star reviews, with one saying: “Well made and comfortable shaping briefs that hold my tummy in.”

Another added: “Great everyday cotton pants , comfortable and good fit.”

And a third begged: “Please don’t discontinue this product!”

Shoppers say the knickers fit true to size, with the options of size eight to 24 available.

The description reads: “Smooth your silhouette and enjoy comfortable support with these cotton-rich shaping knickers. 

“They’re designed in a high-leg style with smooth lace cuffs. 

“The firm tummy control offers a flattering look under clothes.”

There is also a lacey matching bra – either wired or unwired – for £18 available if you want the underwear set.

Popular bra

Alternatively, shoppers have been raving about their Flexifit Non Wired Full Cup Bra, which ranges from an A to an E cup. 

5

5

Posting online, brunette beauty Abi Nunn, a midsize girl from the UK, praised the bra for being comfortable.

It has no wiring or padding and according to M&S, the Flexifit technology will keep it in place all day. 

The straps can be adjusted to be worn crossback and even better, it’s also suitable for low impact sport activity.

One person said: “I love this bra, it’s SO COMFY!”

Another added: “Been wearing these for many years, best bra ever!”

5

Why Everyone Is Loving M&S

Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale revealed to Fabulous why M&S is the shop of the moment. She explained:

“M&S has really pulled it out of the bag this season, there is so much good product to be excited about.

“A brand once known for its ‘frumpy fashion’ that notion is long gone with it now being one of the leading high street stores for womenswear.

“Its handbag range in particular is super strong with them selling 170% vs plan, with lots more designer dupes for just a fraction of the price.

“The brand is now also the #1 for style perceptions, compared to the #3 spot it had last year, this comes from a really strong design team focused on modernising the brand, not only taking into consideration how the pieces look, but how easy they are to wear also.

“Price is also a big factor with you being able to get many good quality pieces all for under £30.

“After having a sneak peak of the upcoming collection there are so many more amazing pieces that are dropping over the next few months to keep your eyes on.

“Think leopard print dresses, colourful co-ords, embroidered boho jackets, plus lots of swimwear and amazing accessories, as well as great wardrobe staples that will last year on year.”

A British couple who were among four people killed in a cable car crash near Naples have been named as Elaine Margaret Winn and Graeme Derek Winn, according to Italian media.

The mountain cable car cabin plunged to the ground after one of the cables supporting it snapped on Thursday, local officials said.

The cable car operator said it had passed a safety inspection just two weeks ago and that a criminal investigation has been opened.

The Foreign Office said it was in touch with local authorities – but it has not confirmed the identities of the victims.

Earlier reports carried by some Italian media had given the woman’s name as Margaret Elaine but it is now believed she was known as Elaine.

The two other victims include the driver of the cable car, named by authorities as 59-year-old Carmine Parlato, and an Israeli woman identified as Janan Suliman.

A fifth person in the cabin, Ms Suliman’s brother, was “extremely seriously injured” in the crash and airlifted to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition, officials said.

Authorities in Torre Annunziata have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Sixteen people were rescued from a second cabin which was also on the line near the bottom of the valley at the time of the incident. They were winched to safety.

The mayor of Castellammare di Stabia – where the cable car is located – said it was believed a traction cable had snapped.

“The emergency brake downstream worked but clearly not the one on the cabin that was about to reach the top of the hill,” he told Italian media on Thursday.

He added that there had been regular safety checks on the cable car line which runs three kilometres from the town to the top of the mountain.

Shortly after the crash, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was on a trip to Washington, expressed her “sincere condolences” to the families of the victims.

The Mount Faito cable car has been operating since 1952. A similar accident on the line in 1960 left four people dead.

During a seemingly normal school day, Basem (Saleh Bakri), a dedicated West Bank educator with hypnotizing eyes, encourages his student Yacoub (Mahmoud Bakri) to get back on track with his studies and to “regain control of his life.” But whatever autonomy the young man can re-assert seems futile in the face of the Israeli occupation that hinders any sense of normalcy. Yacoub’s aspirations for a future have been replaced by anger, all-consuming and warranted after spending two years in prison.

That conflicting, burning sentiment of wishing to move forward despite constantly being reminded that your existence is devalued propels Farah Nabulsi’s feature debut “The Teacher,” even as it occasionally stumbles through its more melodramatic aspects. Nabulsi’s Oscar-nominated 2020 short film “The Present” chronicled a Palestinian father’s negotiation through a dehumanizing Israeli checkpoint along with his young daughter. (Bakri also played the protagonist in that bite-size indictment.)

Within the first few minutes of “The Teacher,” Yacoub winds up dead at the hands of an Israeli settler, leaving his younger teenage brother Adam (Muhammad Abed Elrahman) behind. Yacoub’s defiance seems to transfer directly into Adam, whose worldview has been upended. “The Teacher” was shot on location in the West Bank and the arid landscapes and homes captured by cinematographer Gilles Porte feel true to Palestinian life, making for an arresting visual statement.

Nabulsi, unfortunately, muddles the story with multiple subplots, some inelegant acting and contrived English-language dialogue. There’s Lisa (Imogen Poots), a well meaning NGO worker who becomes romantically involved with Basem, and the Cohens, a Jewish couple whose American-born IDF soldier son has been kidnapped in pursuit of liberating imprisoned Palestinians. Basem is secretly part of this operation.

These add-ons make “The Teacher” unfocused on its way to a larger geopolitical picture. What remains consistent through all the tangents, though, is Bakri’s performance as Basem, radiating a sturdy tranquility, not the kind that comes naturally but an inner peace he forces himself to exude in order to save lives, his own and those of young men like Adam. If he surrenders to the fury that undoubtedly courses through him, then his personal suffering (revealed in flashbacks) would be in vain. The core of “The Teacher” is Basem’s relationship with his pupil, a surrogate child he must protect.

Halfway through the film, Basem and Adam share a grief-stricken embrace after the boy threatens to hurt his brother’s killer. From a wide shot, Nabulsi and editor Mike Pike cut to Adam’s desperate hands on Basem’s back. The intensity with which the teen hugs his teacher, a father figure, helps a viewer comprehend the depth of the sorrow, imbuing “The Teacher” with a moving potency.

But what can you teach someone when their daily reality is so painful? When they must stand simmering in rage as their home is demolished? What purpose can a teacher serve in the face of these agonizing circumstances? Plenty.

That spirit-crushing feeling of powerlessness is what director Nabulsi aims to fend off, admittedly through not always effective narrative means, but with emotional sincerity nonetheless. Basem’s concern is not whether these boys learn a single word of English, but his presence — the everyday reliability that he will be there regardless of how little strength they may have left — is resistance incarnate. Among the ruins, the most important school assignment left is to live despite it all.

Esther González scored a goal in each half and Gotham FC breezed past Angel City 4-0 on Friday night.

González opened the scoring at BMO Stadium with a shot from inside the box that ricocheted off the post in the 18th minute. She got her second by using her head to flick in a corner kick by Sarah Schupansky in the 75th minute.

Gotham (2-2-1) had gone 2-0 on an own goal from Miyabi Moriya after a freak deflection looped the ball over Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson in the 67th minute. Geyse scored her first NWSL goal in the 85th minute to make it 4-0.

Angel City dropped to 2-2-1.

Elsewhere in the NWSL, the Seattle Reign beat the Portland Thorns 1-0 and the Utah Royals defeated the Chicago Stars 1-0.

The humanoid robots were no match for human rivals as they made their half-marathon debut in the Chinese capital.

Humans took the lead over robots and kept it easily as they raced to victory at Beijing’s Yizhuang half-marathon.

Thousands of runners joined 21 humanoid robot rivals in a world-first 21km (13 miles, 352 yards) challenge in the Chinese capital on Saturday.

But not every bot was up to the task. One collapsed moments after the starting gun and lay motionless for minutes before regaining its feet. Another slammed into a barrier after only a few strides, taking its handler down with it.

Some machines made it to the finish line but still trailed the humans badly. Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, clocked a time of 2 hours and 40 minutes. The men’s winner finished more than an hour earlier.

“Generally, these are interesting demonstrations,” said Alan Fern, a robotics professor at Oregon State University, “but they don’t demonstrate much regarding the utility of useful work or any type of basic intelligence.”

“The robots are running very well, very stable… I feel I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and AI,” said He Sishu, a local AI engineer watching from the sidelines.

Though technically in the race, the robots weren’t exactly autonomous athletes. Each one came with a team of engineers, and some needed physical support to stay upright.

Chinese firms like DroidVP and Noetix Robotics fielded bots of all shapes and sizes, with a few even donning boxing gloves and headbands. Officials likened the event more to motorsport than a traditional race.

Tang Jian, CTO at Tiangong’s lab, said they plan to shift focus to real-world tasks: “A focus going forward will be industrial applications … so they can truly enter factories, business scenarios, and finally households.”

Brookside was the groundbreaking soap that shocked the UK for 21 years. From tragic deaths to dramatic reinventions, here’s where its most iconic stars are now

It was the gritty soap that shocked the nation, smashed taboos, and made suburban cul-de-sacs the stage for explosive drama.

Brookside was a typical soap that followed the everyday lives of its characters, from dramatic break-ups to shocking crimes that tackled real issues in the UK. First airing on Channel 4 on November 2 1982, the Liverpool-based soap ran for 21 dramatic years before its final episode aired on November 4, 2003.

Created by Phil Redmond, Brookside was never afraid to go where other soaps wouldn’t – from the UK’s first lesbian kiss on pre-watershed TV to tackling domestic abuse, incest, and even a body buried under the patio. But what happened to Brookside’s cast after the show ended?

READ MORE: Prue Leith warns she ‘hasn’t got much longer’ as she soaks up time with TV star husband

From tragic losses to completely unexpected career paths, here’s what became of some of the show’s biggest stars.

Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill)

Jimmy was a troubled drug addict turned teacher on the show, standing as one of Brookside’s longest-running characters on-screen. Played by Dean Sullivan, he joined the series in 1986 and featured in major storylines.

Sadly, in 2023 Dean died at 68 years old after battling prostate cancer, which he bravely shared just months before he died. The actor had been diagnosed in 2018 and had been undergoing treatment.

Fans and co-stars paid tribute following his death.

Sue Jenkins (Jackie Corkhill)

Jackie Corkhill was Jimmy Corkhill’s long-suffering wife, navigating his emotional spirals and schemes through many of the show’s most gripping plots.

Actress Sue Jenkins has continued acting since the show ended, with roles in Coronation Street, Holby City, and Doctors. She also appeared in theatre productions and is now a vocal supporter of arts education.

Now aged 66, Sue is married to David Fleeshman with three children, Richard, Emily and Rosie.

Anna Friel (Beth Jordache)

Beth Jordache became a cultural icon when she featured in the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television, in a storyline that made international headlines. The episode aired in January 1994, and also featured Margaret Clemence played by Nicola Stephenson.

Since then, Anna has carved out a hugely successful acting career on both sides of the Atlantic, starring in shows like Pushing Daisies, Marcella, and The Girlfriend Experience. She’s also become a red carpet regular and award-winning actress.

Anna, 48, has been married twice and has one child.

Claire Sweeney (Lindsey Corkhill)

Lindsey was part of the troubled Corkhill clan, embroiled in love triangles, dodgy dealings, and emotional showdowns. Lindsey was originally a recurring character and was later promoted to the show’s regular cast in 1995

Actress Claire became a household name post-Brookside, moving into musical theatre, releasing an album, and becoming a Loose Women panellist. She recently returned to soapland with a role in Coronation Street.

This week, Claire surprised fans of Brookside as she revisited the homes where the show was once filmed in West Derby. The 53-year-old took to Instagram with number of pictures and videos from the spontaneous trip down memory lane.

In the video she shared on Instagram, Claire told fans she had visited the area last year but noticed a “beautiful little surprise” under the Brookside sign in remembrance of Dean Sullivan, who played on-screen dad Jimmy.

Michael Starke (Sinbad Sweeney)

Sinbad Sweeney was a window cleaner with a heart of gold. He was a fan favourite, joining the cast in 1984.

Actor Michael Starke went on to appear in The Royal, Coronation Street, and even had a stint in Benidorm. He’s also become a regular on the pantomime circuit and a proud ambassador for Liverpool’s arts scene.

Now aged 67, his most recent appearance was in Hollyoaks as a taxi driver between 2021 and 2023.

Jennifer Ellison (Emily Shadwick)

Emily’s time on the soap ended in heartbreak, and her character’s tragic fall from a window was one of Brookside’s most shocking exits.

Actress Jennifer turned to pop music, reality TV (Dancing on Ice, Hell’s Kitchen), and theatre, before opening her own dance academy in Liverpool. She also starred in the West End and lives a quieter life focused on family.

She is married to Rob Tickle and has three children.

Louis Emerick (Mick Johnson)

Mick Johnson was the straight-talking single dad and mini-mart owner with a strong moral compass. He made his final appearance on August 22 2001 with the character’s first appearance coming in 1989.

Actor Louis Emerick, 64, has continued acting in TV dramas and soaps, including Coronation Street and Doctors, and appeared in theatre tours across the UK.

Where are the others?

Several cast members left the industry altogether – some moved abroad, others stepped away from the limelight. A few, like Ray Quinn (who briefly appeared in the later years), reinvented themselves entirely. Ray went on to become a singer and X Factor finalist, with a stage career.

READ MORE: ‘Life changing’ health app helps ‘morbidly obese’ mum shed almost 3 stone

Dalton Smith has made numerous sacrifices since becoming a boxer.

They include nights out with friends, holidays abroad and forgoing all the other indulgences young men in his home city of Sheffield regard as rites of passage in their transition from youth to adulthood.

But arguably the greatest concession of them all has been deeply personal. So deep in fact that, before Saturday’s pivotal bout against Mathieu Germain, the 27-year-old reveals it involves his own sense of self and bond with his father and trainer, Grant.

“Boxing is a sport that completely takes over your identity. I’ve been doing it since I was six and I’m labelled as a fighter,” Smith says.

“Every fighter will only be able to tell you who they really are when their career is over.

“I’m talking about the person, not the fighter.

“You can’t really know who you are as a person, what you’re all about, until you give it all up and decide to do something else.

“Right now, all I know about me is what I’m like as a fighter. And to be honest, that’s the only thing I need to know at this stage of my life.”

Smith, who has already claimed the British, Commonwealth and European crowns, faces the visitor from Canada at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield this weekend.

The venue is located only a short walk away from the gym where, under the watchful eye of Grant, Smith has chosen to give up another aspect of his life in order to pursue greatness.

“I won’t have my dad as just my dad until the day I retire,” he admits. “We can’t have the kind of relationship we’d love to have until I stop fighting.

“We can’t view ourselves as father and son. We have to see ourselves as boxer and coach because I’m a fighter, I’m a warrior, and I have to prepare to go to war. We can’t have the attachments we’d like to have until I stop.

“It’s not easy. It’s far from easy in fact, but I wouldn’t have it any other way because being a fighter has given me the kind of opportunities that I’d never have been able to have in another career.”

April 18 (UPI) — Judge Amy Burman Jackson, in an emergency Friday morning hearing, paused the Trump administration layoffs of 1,500 of the 1,700 workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Jackson ordered the administration to give unions and other groups who have sued documents related to the CFPB case. She said the mass layoffs won’t happen in the meantime.

The judge scheduled an April 28 hearing to hear testimony about the mass firings.

She is considering whether the mass layoffs essentially dismantling the agency violated her previous court order barring the layoffs and ordering reinstatement of previously fired CFBP workers.

At Friday’s hearing, Jackson said, “We’re not going to disburse 1,483 people into the universe and have them be unable to communicate with the agency anymore until we have determined whether that is lawful or not.”

The National Treasury Employees Union said in a statement that the CFPB issuing reduction in force layoff notices just days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ordered a “particularized assessment” first indicates that order has not been followed.

“For the CFPB to issue RIF notices-in which we are already identifying mistakes-to a large group of employees less than four business days from the D.C. Circuit order’s issuance indicates that CFPB has likely not made the required particularized assessments,” NTEU President Doreen Greenwald said.

Union attorney Deepak Gupta said the agency tried to time the layoffs so plaintiffs, “would not be able to come to the court in an orderly fashion” before employees’ computer access is shut off Friday.

An appeals court partially paused Jackson’s order, but it still prevents the bureau from conducting a reduction in force without the “particularized assessment” that the laid off employees are unnecessary to carry out the agency’s statutory duties.

The Trump administration contends it followed that procedure and went line by line through the CFPB’s business units. The union, however, insists the broad scope and fast speed means no such assessment occurred, warning in a filing Thursday that “entire offices, including statutorily mandated ones, have or soon will be either eliminated or reduced to a single person.”

The groups initially sued acting CFPB Director Russell Vought in February, accusing the Trump administration of attempting to dismantle the consumer watchdog.

Shortly after taking on the role, Vought ordered the CFPB’s staff to stop work, closed the agency’s headquarters and fired probationary and term employees.

Amid concerns that officials were poised to lay off the vast majority of the CFPB’s workforce in mid-February, Jackson temporarily barred the administration from firing staff without cause or conducting a reduction in force.

CFPB employees later testified to the court that top officials still planned to conduct mass layoffs, as the judge weighed whether to grant a broader injunction against the administration.

Mark Paoletta, CFPB’s chief legal officer, in a sworn declaration ahead of Friday’s hearing said the agency’s leadership determined that the CFPB should move forward with just 200 employees.

“An approximately 200 person agency allows the Bureau to fulfill its statutory duties and better aligns with the new leadership’s priorities and management philosophy,” Paoletta wrote.

A CFPB employee who also filed a declaration with the court Friday painted a more frenzied picture of the push to cut agency staff led by a member of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“DOGE member Gavin Kliger managed the RIF [reduction in force]. He kept the team up for 36 hours straight to ensure that the notices would go out yesterday (April 17),” said the employee, identified as Alex Doe.

“Gavin was screaming at people he did not believe were working fast enough to ensure they could go out on this compressed timeline, calling them incompetent,” they added.

According to the legal brief, team members raised the concern that “there was a court order requiring they do a particularized assessment, but they were told that all that mattered was the numbers.”

Hundreds of employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have received layoff notices in the latest attempt by President Donald Trump‘s administration to reduce the size and scope of the bureau.

The reduction-in-force notices, which were reviewed by NPR, Politico and The New York Times, were sent out to effected employees starting Thursday afternoon.

Russ Vought, acting director of the CFPB, wrote to the employees that the “action is necessary to restructure the bureau’s operations to better reflect the agency’s priorities and mission.”

The notices said the laid-off workers would lose access to email and work systems Friday evening and would officially be “separated” from their jobs in mid-June.

One CFPB employee who received a notice estimated to Politico that up to 1,500 of the bureau’s 1,700 employees could be affected by the layoffs, an estimation echoed by a Thursday evening legal filing by the CFPB’s staff union.

“Entire offices, including statutorily mandated ones, have or soon will be either eliminated or reduced to a single person,” the Federal District Court filing reads.

The Trump administration previously moved to institute mass layoffs at the CFPB shortly after taking office earlier this year, but a federal judge ordered the employees to be reinstated, saying the action was outside the administration’s authority.

Parts of the federal judge’s decision were overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on April 11. The three-judge panel said the Trump administration could eliminate employees who are determined to be unnecessary to carry out the legally-mandated duties of the bureau.

Mark Paoletta, the CFPB’s chief legal officer, sent a memo to employees on Wednesday saying the bureau would be reducing enforcement work that could be left to state-level authorities. He wrote that the CFPB would “deprioritize” oversight in areas including student loans and medical debt.

Serampore, India – It is a warm morning in March, and 65-year-old Ashish Bandopadhyay has cycled the 10 minutes from his home to a tea shop in the Chatra neighbourhood of Serampore, about 30km (19 miles) from Kolkata.

Dressed in a pastel pink polo shirt, Ashish takes charge of the shop, declaring it’s his “turn” to run it today. “I don’t work here,” he explains with a smile while tearing open a packet of milk as he prepares to brew a fresh pot of cha (the Bengali word for tea). “I’m just an old-timer and a customer who loves volunteering.”

Located in the old part of the town, this hole-in-the-wall shop is locally known as Naresh Shomer cha er dokaan (Naresh Shome’s tea shop). In India, the process of preparing and sharing tea forms an important part of social bonds.

And that is what this tea shop is all about. For a century, it has been a space for relaxation, conversation and shared moments. But it takes the social bond one step further: customers not only drink tea but also brew and serve it.

Ashish, who has now retired from his office job with a construction company, has been visiting this tea shop since he was 10 years old. It is where he meets friends to catch up over a cup of tea.

Each weekday morning, 60-year-old owner Ashok Chakroborty opens the shop and then leaves for his office job.

“One of us takes control of running the shop till the time he returns in the evening. Today was my turn,” Ashish says. In all, there are 10 volunteers who take turns in the shop seven days a week. None are paid – most are volunteer-customers who, like Ashish, have retired and receive a pension from their former employers.

Today, Ashish arrived at the shop at 9am and closed for lunch at noon. He reopened at 3pm. “If not every day, I prefer to stay here for the majority of the week. After my departure, another person steps into my role,” he says.

There’s no fixed rota – “whoever is free does it,” Ashish explains. “We keep the cash in a wooden box on the shelf after using it to buy milk or sugar. And there hasn’t been a single day without a caretaker.”

The legacy of Naresh Chandra Shome

Little has changed in the 100 years the five-by-seven-foot tea shop has been going – “except for a few whitewashes and a ceiling repair”, Ashish notes. Despite the layers of paint, the walls are stained dark with soot and smoke from the coal-fired traditional clay stove.

Tea is still served in clay cups as well as paper ones, with a refill costing just five rupees (approximately $0.06).

The shop offers a modest tea menu with simple, straightforward options. Customers can choose from milk tea – with or without sugar – and black tea served plain or with lemon, or Kobiraji cha (black tea with spices). Jars of biscuits complete the shop’s offerings.

Situated across from Chatra Kali Babu’s Crematorium, family members often come for tea after bidding farewell to loved ones.

The shop was founded by Naresh Chandra Shome, who worked for Brooke Bond, a tea company that traces its roots to the colonial era in India. All Ashok, the current owner, knows about Shome from that period is that he left his job to become a freedom fighter.

Following India’s independence from British rule in 1947, Shome joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and remained an active member until his death in 1995 at the age of 77. Throughout his life, his tea shop served as a gathering place where comrades would meet, sit and exchange ideas over cups of tea.

Today, the tea shop sits next door to the local CPI(M) office. “Shome was a helpful man and was active in community service. His shop was well known then and now. There is a photo of him in the party office,” says Prashanto Mondal, 54, a regular customer at the tea shop.

He recalls how he was first brought to the shop by a colleague during a lunch break 25 years ago.

“There are many tea stalls in Serampore, but I always come here, almost daily, because of the shop’s unique atmosphere and sense of camaraderie,” the LPG gas delivery agent explains.

After finishing his tea, Prashanto gets up to help Ashish refill the coal in the oven. Like Prashanto, most customers help with duties such as fetching milk from the nearby shop or filling water from the tap.

“We have heard stories of Naresh Shome during his activist days,” says Ashish. “He would sometimes leave the shop abruptly for urgent community service or be taken by the police, always asking his customers to look after the shop. I believe this legacy has endured – customers naturally take responsibility for the tea shop in the owner’s absence – the test of time.”

From colonial past to Bengali adda and cha

In about 1925, Shome opened the tea shop on the ground floor of the building owned by his aunt. But before it was a gathering spot for tea drinkers and conversationalists, the 350-year-old building on the banks of the Hooghly River housed various types of shops, including one that sold utensils.

Exposed wooden beams on the ceiling seem to bear the weight of history. The thick limestone walls stand as silent witnesses to the many Bengali, Danish and English people who’ve passed through over the years. The shop looks out towards Chatra ghat (steps leading down to the river), where Hindus have cremated their dead for generations. Now, a modern electric crematorium has taken the place of traditional wood pyres.

The town of Serampore, home to about 200,000 people, predates the West Bengal capital of Kolkata by a few centuries and has been ruled at times by both the Danes and the British. The town was a Danish trading settlement named Frederiksnagore from 1755 to 1845, until the British took over, staying until independence in 1947.

Once, horse-driven carriages transported European officers and their families along the streets. Today, the bylanes bustle with motorbikes, electric rickshaws and cars. European-style buildings stand alongside the tall apartment complexes built in more recent decades.

Local restoration activist Mohit Ranadip explains that the tea shop holds an important position in the cultural history of Serampore. Ranadip is a member of the Serampore Heritage Restoration Initiative, a local citizen-led body dedicated to preserving and promoting the town’s heritage.

“Adda and para culture are still very relevant in the [Chatra] locality and maybe that is the reason why the tea shop is still so popular,” he says.

In West Bengal, para culture loosely refers to a neighbourhood or locality, defined by a strong sense of community. Each para inevitably has its adda spot – the corner of a street, park or, indeed, a tea shop. Adda is a beloved pastime that is unique to West Bengal. Markedly different from mere small talk or chatting, it is best described as an informal group conversation that’s long, fluid and relaxed in nature. A cup of cha invariably binds these gatherings together.

In the Chatra neighbourhood, Naresh Shome’s tea shop is a focal point for this adda tradition, attracting people from all walks of life to converge and share their daily experiences over steaming cups of tea.

Prashanto and his colleagues, Karthick and Amal, discussed the remaining gas cylinders they had to deliver by the end of the day. Some came on their own for a quick tea. The customers who dropped by in the evening were more relaxed, like Anima Kar, who came with her daughter to catch up with her brother.

The state of West Bengal’s connection with tea also runs deep. About 600km north of Serampore, the tea industry took root in the hills of Darjeeling in the mid-19th century during the British Raj. The first commercial tea gardens were established in Darjeeling and the surrounding areas. The emerald green tea estates of Darjeeling still produce some of the world’s most expensive tea.

At about 6pm, as evening sets in, Ashok returns from his clerical job. Wearing an olive green T-shirt, he takes over from Ashish, seamlessly continuing the shop’s daily rhythm.

Ashok is the son-in-law of Lakhirani Dakhi, the owner of the building. He has been in charge of the shop since Shome’s death.

“Today Ashish da (brother) gave me 400 rupees ($4.65) as the day’s income,” says Ashok, as he poured tea into clay cups. He says he has never faced any problems with customers not paying; without fail, they always leave the correct amount for tea in the cash box or return later to pay what they owe.

“We sell around 200 cups most days,” he adds. 

‘A question mark on the future’

“I love the tea with masala (spice mixture) made by Ashok da,” says 50-year-old Anima, who has been a customer for years. “If Kolkata has a coffee house where people meet for some quality time and adda, well, this tea shop is our humble equivalent.”

Anima used to come with her father when she was a child and remembers Shome. Now, she sometimes visits with her family. “The tea shop remains an enduring symbol of tradition, community living and a love for tea. Every morning and evening, people are drawn not just by the tea, but by a profound sense of belonging and shared history,” Anima says.

At 9pm, Ashok pours the last pot of tea for the four remaining customers and prepares to call it a day.

In the past couple of years, he has started to worry about the future of his iconic shop.

“I doubt whether the younger generation will carry forward this cherished legacy of trust. There are very few visitors from the younger generation who come and participate in the tea shop,” he says.

His son, Ashok says, is an engineer and hasn’t shown much interest in the shop.

Restoration activist Ranadip shares his concerns: “The younger generation is so busy that they have little time for adda, which seriously puts a question mark on the future of the shop like this.”

Despite the shop’s uncertain future, Ashok remains hopeful that others will step forward to preserve it, just as previous generations have. “I choose to stay optimistic that the shop will continue its legacy, as it has for so many years,” Ashok says.

BUYING supermarket own brand can save you cash, with 64% of us recently switching to cheaper products to reduce grocery bills.

But one item many of us still pay top price for is the humble kitchen towel as many cheaper varieties just aren’t up to the job.

12

Plenty claims to be 50% more absorbent than rivals and boasts you only need one sheet.

But how do own brand rolls match up to the popular brand? Lynsey Hope finds out:

Sainsbury’s Super Absorbent Kitchen Towel

• £2.50 for 2 rolls
• £1.25 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “The Sainsbury’s rolls were my best buy.

“Not only were these paper towels strong but they were also super absorbent, managing to clear up lots of mess before I had to tear off a new sheet.

“They came off the roll well and remained pretty robust.

“They did get a bit flimsy when they got wet, as you’d expect, but I managed to use one sheet five or six times and it still remained intact.

“Top effort from Sainsbury’s. Great value option.”

Efficiency: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Overall score: 10/10

Tesco Kitchen Rolls 

• £2.50 for 2 rolls
• £1.25 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “Tesco has shrunk the size of the cardboard tubes in their rolls so you get the same number of sheets, but they are not as bulky to store.

“That’s quite a handy innovation if you are short on cupboard space.

“This towel did a great job of cleaning up food mess such as jam and peanut butter and it was reasonably durable though not as tough as some others in this test.

“It felt quite thin and flimsy and wasn’t great at absorbing liquids which is why I had to knock the score down.”

Efficiency: 3/5

Value: 3/5

Overall score: 6/10

Plenty Original Kitchen Roll

• £5 for 2 rolls
• £2.50 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “A really robust and absorbent kitchen towel.

“It easily wiped away spilt food and liquids, without any seeping through to hands.

“It absorbed lots of water and strength-wise, it fared really well never tearing during a test.

“Even though it’s only two-ply, it seemed tough, absorbent and the roll seemed to go a long way, lasting better than many of the own brands.

“Plenty claims ‘one sheet does plenty’ and I agree.

“The plastic packaging is made of 55% recycled plastic.

“The only downside is the price as you are paying double the price for this – but it will do the job and it will last longer.”

Efficiency: 5/5

Value: 4/5

Overall score: 9/10

Morrisons Ultra Towels

• £3 for 2 rolls
• £1.50 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “Reasonably tough towels from Morrisons which were triple layered and so one of the best when it came to strength.

“This made them a little difficult to tear off the roll but once you got one, it did a great job of absorbing liquids and tackling difficult food mess.

“The packaging is made of 50% recycled materials.

“More expensive than most, even Waitrose, but they lasted well so I thought the value for money was reasonable.”

Efficiency: 4/5

Value: 3/5

Overall score: 7/10

M&S Absorbent Kitchen Towels

• £2.70
• £1.35 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “When I opened these up, the towels felt thick, soft and durable, exactly as you’d hope from a high end supermarket.

“My hopes were high, as they also claim to be triple-layered for strength.

“Sadly though as I tried to mop up some spilled water, I found they were actually pretty useless.

“The water didn’t absorb, soaked through to my hands and my clothes.

“I ended up in more of a mess than I started in.

“They weren’t much better when it came to food stains, such as jam or peanut butter, either, simply tearing on the second wipe.

“Hard to get off the roll each time, too. Shame.”

Efficiency: 2/5

Value: 2/5

Total score: 4/10

Essential Waitrose Kitchen Rolls

• £2.70 for 2
• £1.35 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “A very strong towel that held up against a reasonable amount of force before finally ripping.

“It wasn’t as good as absorbing liquids though when it came to popping up liquid mess and when I used it to clean up some jam, it all soaked through on to my hands.

“Not a terrible price, but there are better budget options.”

Efficiency: 4/5

Value: 3/5

Total: 7/10

Aldi Saxon Ultra Kitchen Towels

• £2.55
• £1.28 per 100 sheets

12

Lynsey says: “Aldi’s kitchen roll was just as good as Plenty when it came to soaking up liquids and durability.

“It’s three-ply and it was probably the toughest we tried.

“If it absorbs a lot of liquid, you could wring it out and use it again without the risk of it ripping.

“It cleaned up food spills well, too, only leaving the odd smear behind.

“Only 30% of the packaging was made from recycled plastic, which was lower than most, but otherwise felt these were budget friendly and a solid buy.”

Efficiency: 4/5

Value: 5/5

Total: 9/10

Asda Shades Everyday Kitchen Rolls

• £2.54 for 2
• £1.27 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “Surprisingly strong for the price, this two-ply towel didn’t tear easily at all.

“But sadly, that’s about it for the positives.

“It wasn’t great at soaking up liquid or mopping up spills and I had to use quite a lot of it to clean up mess, so whilst it might appear reasonable value, you need to use quite a lot of it to get the job done.

“The packaging is made with 55% recycled plastic.”

Efficiency: 2/5

Value: 2/5

Total: 4/10

Ocado Kitchen Towel

• £2.50 for 2
• £1.25 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “Although these are a good price, I thought the paper felt quite thin and flimsy compared to other own brands.

“The mess tended to leak off them when I wiped it up too.

“The sheets also came up quite small so most of the time I had to use at least two of them to get the job done, so I’m not sure they are great value for money either.”

Efficiency: 2/5

Value: 3/5

Total: 5/10

Lidl Floralys Kitchen Towel

• £2.99 for 4 rolls
• 74p per 60 sheet roll or £1.23 per 100 sheets

12

Lynsey says: “Lidl’s rolls were small with just 60 sheets per roll but you do get four for a good price.

“Wet or dry they could handle an impressive amount of force before ripping and they did a great job of soaking up liquid.

“They were pretty decent at clearing up food mess too, though I did end up with some of it on my hands where it soaked through.

“Shame they come in plastic packaging as overall, these two-ply paper rolls were a great budget option.”

Efficiency: 4/5

Value: 5/5

Total: 9/10

Who Gives A Crap

• £2.65 for 1
• £2.65 per 120 sheet roll or £2.20 per 100 sheets

12

Lynsey says: “This kitchen roll did a good job of absorbing spilt liquids, but it wasn’t as good as either Aldi or Plenty – and they are mega expensive.

“Sadly they were also among the weaker rolls in our test, tearing easily when you tried to mop up food mess.

“While it is an environmentally-friendly option with recyclable packaging, I didn’t feel they were good value or as efficient as some of the other rolls we tried.

“For added points, 50% of the firm’s profits are donated to sanitation projects across the world.”

Efficiency: 3/5

Value: 3/5

Total: 6/10

THOUSANDS on Universal Credit and other benefits can get tickets for days out from free this Easter Bank Holiday.

Plenty of UK attractions offer heavily discounted or even free admissions to those on benefits.

1

It means there’s no need to break the bank if you want to get out of the house next weekend.

We’ve rounded up some of the best places you can head to while saving some of that hard-earned money.

London Zoo

The iconic London Zoo offers tickets from £3 to those on a host of benefits. This includes those on:

The tickets must be bought in advance and can only be purchased online, for up to six people per household.

Children aged under three can attend for free and do not need to book, but must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket.

The zoo’s websites also says it sometimes releases extra Universal Credit tickets for sold-out dates closer to the day, so it’s worth checking ahead.

You can find out more by visiting www.londonzoo.org/plan-your-visit/london-zoo-tickets/universal-credit-tickets.

Peak standard entry tickets can cost up to £34.50 per adult, so two adults on Universal Credit buying a ticket can save over £60.

Eden Project

The Eden Project, an eco centre in Cornwall, offers tickets to adults on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and a host of other benefits.

This includes those on:

Tickets for adults cost £5 and £1 for children aged five to 16, for households up to two adults and two children.

All children aged under five can go for free.

The Eden Project website says tickets can be bought on the gate on the day of arrival, but strongly recommends pre-booking online.

You can find out more via www.edenproject.com/visit/universal-credit-pension-credit-day-ticket.

Royal Horticultural Society gardens

The Royal Horticultural Society runs garden centres up and down the UK, with some offering discounts to those on benefits.

Visitors to the Harlow Carr garden centre or Rosemoor garden centre can get tickets for £1 for themselves and up to five people.

The group can be a mixture of children and adults, but only one member of the group needs to be receiving benefits.

You qualify if you receive the following benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income Support
• JSA
• ESA

You can find out more and book tickets via rhs.org.uk.

London Transport Museum

If you’re on Universal Credit, Pension Credit or a host of other benefits, you can get unlimited access to the London Transport Museum for a year for just £1.

The full list of qualifying benefits is:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• ESA

You will need to provide proof of receipt of one of the above benefits to get the annual pass.

You can find out more via www.ltmuseum.co.uk/visit/tickets.

Historic Royal Palaces

Visitors to any one of the historic Royal Palaces on Universal Credit can get tickets for just £1.

This includes the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens and Kew Palace.

You’ll be eligible for the cut price tickets if you in receipt of any number of benefits including:

• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Pension Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance

You can claim £1 tickets for up to six people per household, with only one person needing to prove they’re on benefits.

You can find out more via www.hrp.org.uk/one-pound-tickets

Cutty Sark

Take a trip to the Cutty Sark, in Greenwich, London, and get tickets for just £2 if you’re on a range of benefits.

You can also get discounted tickets for trips to the Royal Observatory Greenwich and National Maritime Museum.

The full list of benefits that qualify you for the £2 tickets is:

• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Pension Credit
• ESA
• Income Support
• JSA

You can claim £2 tickets for up to six people per household.

Tickets for kids under four and for someone accompanied by a disabled visitor are free of charge.

You can find out more via www.rmg.co.uk/plan-your-visit/tickets-prices/universal-credit-tickets.

York Castle Museum

Take in hundreds of years of history at York Castle Museum with discounted ticket prices.

Claimants on means-tested benefits like Universal Credit can get entry completely free of charge.

Children under five also go free.

Adult tickets usually cost £17 so a family of two children aged over five and two adults on Universal Credit could save over £50.

Find out more via www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/your-visit/tickets.

Coral Reef Waterworld

Coral Reef Waterworld in Bracknell offers concessionary tickets to those on certain benefits like Universal Credit.

Adult tickets usually costing £18.60 are worth £13.20 if you’re on Universal Credit or PIP, for example – a more than £5 discount.

The discounted tickets aren’t available to those on Tax Credits, JSA or ESA.

You can buy the tickets online via everyoneactivecoralreefwaterworld.digitickets.co.uk.

Edinburgh Zoo

Take in zebras and flamingos at Edinburgh Zoo without spending too much of that hard-earned cash.

Reduced price tickets are open to those on the following benefits, costing from £7:

• Universal Credit
• ESA
• JSA
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Income Support

Tickets can be bought for households up to six with proof of receipt of the benefits as well as ID needing to brought on the day of the visit.

To qualify you must have received a benefit payment in the last month.

Edinburgh Zoo says you must book any tickets in advance with only full price tickets available on the gate.

You can book via edinburghzoo.org.uk/universal-credit-tickets.

Standard adult tickets usually cost around £27.50, so you’re saving just over £20 opting for a Universal Credit entry.

National Theatre of Scotland

Theatre lovers can sign up to Theatre for a Fiver to get £5 ticket deals for National Theatre of Scotland productions across Scotland.

You’ll need to be aged between 14 and 26 though.

Once you sign up, you’ll receive a regular email containing the latest offers and discount codes to access great theatre for only a fiver.

The scheme is available to people on low-income benefits including: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Carer’s Credit, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).

Tank Museum

The Tank Museum in Dorset offers discounted tickets if you’re on any number of benefits including Universal Credit and Pension Credit.

Recipients of the following benefits get 75% off:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• ESA
• Income Support
• JSA

Tickets cost £5.75 for adults and £3.10 for children.

You’ll have to take proof of eligibility of the qualifying benefits with you on your visit.

Tickets are limited to six people per household (maximum two adults and up to four children) and must be bought on-site.

Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House, south west of Sheffield, offers cut price tickets to those on Universal Credit.

Tickets give you access to the house, garden, farmyard and adventure playground and cost £3 for adults and £1 for children three to 16.

Universal Credit tickets are available for those who currently receive one or more of the following:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• PIP

Tickets are only available to buy online in advance and proof of receipt of the qualifying benefit must be taken with you on the day of your visit.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Tyler Anderson gave up three hits and struck out six over six innings, Zach Neto hit an RBI double in his first at-bat of the season and the Angels beat the San Francisco Giants 2-0 on Friday night.

Brock Burke, Ryan Zeferjahn and Kenley Jansen each threw scoreless innings in relief of Anderson (2-0), with Jansen getting his 452nd career save as the Angels broke a four-game losing streak.

Logan Webb (2-1) struck out 12 while giving up four hits and walking none over six innings, but he stumbled after whiffing Jorge Soler and Logan O’Hoppe to open the second.

Nolan Schanuel roped a double to right-center field, and Neto — who missed the first three weeks of the season while rehabilitating his surgically repaired right shoulder — rifled a 106-mph one-hopper past shortstop Willy Adames and into left-center for an RBI double and a 1-0 lead.

Kyren Paris hit a grounder to the left of third baseman Matt Chapman that deflected off the glove of the five-time Gold Glove Award winner and into left field for an error that allowed Neto to score an unearned run to make it 2-0.

No. 9 hitter Jo Adell doubled and singled twice for the Angels.

The left-handed Anderson has limited right-handed hitters to a major league-low .077 average (four for 52) this season (minimum 50 plate appearances) after he held Heliot Ramos, Adames, Chapman, Wilmer Flores and Tyler Fitzgerald to a combined one for 12.

With a runner on first and two outs in the seventh, Paris, the Angels’ second baseman, made a lunging, backhand grab of LaMonte Wade Jr.’s one-hop smash and threw to first for the out, preventing the Giants from putting two on for the top of the order.

Up next: Angels right-hander Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 4.20 ERA) will start against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp (1-1, 4.80 ERA) on Saturday.

April 18 (UPI) — Thousands of people recited prayers while carrying large wooden crosses and walking through the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem acknowledging Good Friday.

People marking the Christian holy day follow the Way of the Cross or Via Dolorosa route through the streets of Old Jerusalem along the path Jesus is believed to have taken prior to his crucifixion and includes the 14 Stations of the Cross.

The procession has taken place each Good Friday for 2-thousand years, drawing thousands of people.

The Way of the Cross is one of several rituals that take place in the days surrounding Easter.

Palestinian Christinans on Friday faced restrictions accessing holy sites in Jerusalem while making their way from the West Bank territory.

An estimated 50,000 Christians live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. This year, Israeli officials limited the number allowed to leave the Palestinian enclave and enter Jerusalem to about 6,000.

Israel has around 180,000 Christians among its population of approximately 9.7 million people.

As part of global Easter remembrance, Pope Francis on Thursday visited a prison in Rome where he offered words of encouragement to prisoners. The Pope also marked the Way of the Cross at the Vatican on Friday, ahead of Easter Sunday.