This unique eatery a has been a prominent landmark in the area since 1989.
It was established inside the country’s first Japanese-themed community garden and offers picturesque views for diners.
Ridout first began as Queenstown Japanese Garden, which was opened in 1970.
It became a popular leisure venue for the nearby residents and consisted of 23 shops that sold everything from furniture and sports equipment to clothes and electronic goods.
And of course, food and beverages could be purchased at the garden’s singular restaurant called Queen’s Garden Restaurant, which offered both Western and Chinese cuisines.
However, a fire destroyed the property in June 1978, with almost all the shops going up in smoke.
The local government invested in rebuilding the location, which was renamed Ridout after the nearby roundabout.
But despite the scenic remodel, the space lacked the crowds of Queenstown due to the limited retail and dining options.
So in 1981, Kentucky Fried Chicken set up shop in the garden, attracting crowds to the park.
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McDonald’s eventually replaced the fast food outlet in 1989, becoming one of the country’s oldest outlets.
Open 24 hours, Ridout Tea Garden’s McDonald’s shares a premises with a Thai restaurant, which closed during the Covid pandemic, and a plant nursery.
The single story pavilion features large sliding doors and floor-to-ceiling windows, offering stunning views for customers while dining.
It has established itself as a beloved location with residents of the area.
Football fans even crowded into the fast food outlet to watch their teams play via a live telecast during the 2010 World Cup.
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The locations has become popular with tourists too, after going viral on Instagram.
Described as “tranquil” and a “hidden gem”, this McDonald’s has a unique outdoor area for families to explore.
You can even visit the turtles and fish that inhabit the pond.
And of course, Western tourists will be excited to try the different menu options available.
You can opt to dine indoors or in a covered over outdoor area with fans during your visit.
And this isn’t the only awe-inspiring McDonald’s out there, you can visit one that has taken up residence inside an abandoned plane.
The new head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States has warned his staff that he will not tolerate any resistance to President Donald Trump’s agenda for the organisation.
Friday was the first full day of David Richardson’s leadership at FEMA, after the agency saw a shake-up at its helm earlier this week. But he began his tenure as head with a stark warning for the agency.
“I — and I alone in FEMA — speak for FEMA. I’m here to carry out the president’s intent for FEMA,” he reportedly told staff in an agency-wide call.
He predicted that 20 percent of the staff would oppose Trump’s vision for the FEMA, which he has pledged to dismantle.
“Obfuscation, delay, undermining. If you’re one of those 20 percent of people and you think those tactics and techniques are going to help you, they will not, because I will run right over you,” Richardson said.
“Don’t get in my way,” he added. “I know all the tricks.”
FEMA is the agency charged with coordinating and carrying out the federal government’s response to natural disasters and other emergencies, ranging from hurricanes and flooding to domestic attacks.
But it has long been criticised for lagging response times, inadequate resources and disorganisation, particularly during major disasters like 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, which displaced tens of thousands of residents in Louisiana and killed more than 1,300 people.
Trump has responded to such criticisms by pledging to do away with FEMA altogether and redistributing its functions to individual states.
“ When there’s a problem with the state, I think that that problem should be taken care of by the state,” Trump said in January. “That’s what we have states for. They take care of problems. And a governor can handle something very quickly, you know?”
During his campaign for re-election in 2024, he also spread falsehoods about the agency, including that it had refused to offer relief to Republican residents in North Carolina, which had recently suffered widespread flooding from Hurricane Helene.
Trump and his allies have framed the cuts as necessary to combat “fraud” and “waste” across the government, though he has not offered definitive proof of wrongdoing.
At FEMA, an estimated 2,000 employees were terminated or accepted buyout offers to resign. A 2023 Government Accountability Office report indicated that FEMA only had 5,000 full-time staff members, as well as a group of reservists and emergency-response workers who could be called up to address a crisis.
To become the administrator of FEMA requires undergoing a Senate confirmation hearing and a vote.
But while those Senate hearings continue for high-level government positions, Trump has named interim leaders to govern the organisation in the meantime.
Cameron Hamilton was removed as acting administrator of FEMA after testifying at a House subcommittee hearing on May 7 [Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo]
Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, served in that role since Trump started his second term.
He had been a prominent critic of FEMA during the administration of former President Joe Biden. But his time as FEMA chief came to an abrupt halt earlier this week, in the wake of an appearance before an appropriations subcommittee in the House of Representatives.
At Wednesday’s hearing, a Democratic Representative, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, asked Hamilton about the idea that FEMA could be shuttered.
Hamilton responded with measured opposition. “I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he said.
He added that it was ultimately not his decision to make and criticised FEMA as part of an “overextended federal bureaucracy”.
“I’m not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination such as consequential as that should be made. That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body,” Hamilton told the committee.
But the very next day, Hamilton was removed from his role as FEMA’s interim head and replaced by Richardson, a Marine veteran.
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Hamilton’s removal was related to his testimony at the subcommittee hearing.
“My understanding is that this individual testified saying something that was contrary to what the President believes and the goals of this administration in regards to FEMA policy,” Leavitt said. “And so, of course, we want to make sure that people in every position are advancing the administration’s goals.”
Critics, including Representative DeLauro, blasted the switch-up as indicative of a White House that will not tolerate dissent, even when necessary.
“The Trump administration must explain why [Hamilton] has been removed from this position,” DeLauro said in a statement. “Integrity and morality should not cost you your job.”
Richardson, meanwhile, has proceeded to set a stricter tone for his tenure, with his fiery Friday phone call. He warned FEMA staff that any actions not “within our missions” would be considered a waste of taxpayer funds.
“We’re going to find out how to do things better. We’re going to find out how to push things down to the states that should be done at state level. Also we’re going to find out how we can do more cost-sharing with the states,” he said.
Trump has been criticised for denying requests for assistance, including from Republican-led states like Arkansas, which suffered tornadoes during the week of March 14, destroying neighbourhoods. Multiple deaths were reported.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders — who worked as Trump’s press secretary during his first term — has written to the president to appeal his denial of aid.
“Since 2023, Arkansas has experienced an unprecedented frequency of disasters, with four federally declared disasters and ten state-declared disasters. These overlapping events have severely strained the capacity of state and local agencies to respond and recover effectively,” Huckabee Sanders wrote.
“Many Arkansans are still living in temporary conditions or repairing damages from previous events, only to be displaced or impacted once again. The state and its citizens are in dire need of assistance to recover, rebuild, and mitigate further loss.”
The incident comes days after Oman said it mediated a ceasefire deal between the US and the Houthi group.
Air raid sirens were heard in Israel as a missile was launched towards the territory by Yemen’s Houthis, who say they are retaliating against Israeli sites in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel’s military said it intercepted the projectile on Friday using its air defence systems.
There were no reports of injuries or damage from the missile attack, according to a military statement.
The incident came days after Oman said it mediated a ceasefire deal between the United States and the Houthis, with the Yemeni group saying the agreement did not include Israel.
Houthi rebels fired a “hypersonic ballistic missile” towards Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, while also claiming a drone attack “targeting a vital Israeli enemy target” in the same area, according to the group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree.
Israeli media reported that air raid sirens were sounded in several areas across central Israel, with people receiving early warning mobile messages about the missile attack.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israel would respond forcefully in Yemen and “wherever necessary”, describing the Houthi missiles as “Iranian”.
‘Going to strike back’
“The Israeli defence minister has released some comments saying that Israel is going to strike back with full force,” said Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan. “But these comments aren’t really surprising because we’ve heard them from Israel Katz previously when the Houthis had launched any sort of ballistic missile towards Israel.”
However, “this time it’s a little bit different because earlier in the week one of those missiles actually made impact … at quite a strategic location at the main airport inside of central Israel,” Salhut said.
Friday’s missile sent thousands of people “running towards shelters and safe rooms”, she added.
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his country would stop bombing Yemen as the Houthis had agreed to stop their attacks on US ships in the Red Sea.
But the Houthis have continued to fire missiles and drones towards Israel, most of which the Israeli military says it has intercepted, without casualties or serious damage occurring.
The Houthis have attacked numerous vessels in the Red Sea linked to Israel and its allies in what they state is an act of solidarity with Palestine.
According to Israeli media, the Houthi group has launched 28 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones at Israel since March 18, when Israel resumed its genocidal war on Gaza.
Israel has been waging a devastating war on the enclave since October 2023, killing more than 50,000 Palestinians, after a Hamas-led attack into southern Israel that month.
Once considered the gateway to Athens, this abandoned airport is set to gain a second life after a multi-billion pound investment
The Ellinikon Project is being led by Lamda Development
Airports have become a source of increasing intrigue for travellers, with some becoming tourist destinations in their own right. But for all the internationally acclaimed airports with waterfalls and state-of-the-art attractions, there are some that are in dire need of repair and some which have been abandoned altogether.
The Ellinikon International Airport (ATH) is one former air hub that has become a relative ghost town, though that soon may change. The airport previously served as the primary airport in Greece for 63 years, accommodating 20 million passengers annually.
But what was once the main gateway for Athens and its surrounding cities, was closed after the opening of the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH) in 2001 made it redundant. The decision to close Ellinikon was also influenced by noise and security concerns.
Ellinikon subsequently became a symbol of Greece’s economic struggles, though plans to transform the airport into a smart coastal city will see those fortunes reversed. The abandoned airport is set to be the site of the “largest urban regeneration project in Europe” with a total investment of €8.5 billion (approximately £7.2 billion).
The Ellinikon Project centres around the sustainable idea of a “15-minute city”
Lamda Development, a Greek real estate developer, has revealed that the first phase of this initiative is set to finish by early 2026 and will include a public park, spanning two million sq metres. According to Odisseas Athanasiou, Lamda Development CEO: “Ellinikon is the first area in Greece to be developed from the outset as a smart city and it was designed to be environmentally sustainable and resistant to climate change.”
The development is planned in collaboration with various international and local partners, with the master plan including a combination of residential, commercial, recreational and cultural spaces. The project will reportedly create more than 10,000 new homes, a 200-hectare park, shopping centres, hotels, and a wide range of cultural and entertainment venues.
The entire urban project revolves around a central concept: the “15-minute city”. In essence, this means that the layout will be designed to ensure all essential services are reachable within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from residential areas. This central concept is meant to promote quality of life, while also reducing the area’s reliance on cars.
That said, sustainability is a key priority for the Ellinikon Project. The development will be integrated with renewable energy sources, smart grids and waste management systems. The buildings will also need to meet high environmental standards, with a focus on energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of sustainable materials.
The plan is also to make Ellinikon a new hub for tourism and international business in Athens, attracting travellers with state-of-the-art commercial spaces and entertainment centres like a Hard Rock casino. The project also includes plans for the development of a 400-wide marina, which will cater to the growing demand for luxury yachting in the Mediterranean.
The Tower at Ellinikon is also set to become the tallest building in Greece and one of the tallest in the Mediterranean. It will feature 50 floors of 173 luxury residences, including one- to five-bedroom apartments and penthouses.
Ellinikon Airport joins the ranks of other airports around the world that fell short of success, including Montréal Mirabel International Airport in Canada
The building is pre-certified for LEED Gold, emphasizing its commitment to sustainability through climate-conscious design and advanced biophilic architecture. In fact, the entire project will feature extensive use of smart city technologies, including intelligent transportation systems, smart lighting, and advanced security features.
The Ellinikon Project is expected to have a significant economic impact on Athens and Greece in general. The construction and upkeep of the development alone will lead to thousands of jobs, ideally attracting foreign investment.
Since the final flight from Ellinikon Airport in 2001 – when an Olympic Airways Boeing 737 flew to Thessaloniki – the airport has been closed for 25 years. But this second-chance development will see its legacy renewed.
PAKISTAN says it has launched a military operation against India with 25 missiles strikes.
It is the latest esclation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals after a week of clashes on the border and in Kashmir.
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Indian paramilitary soldier patrols along the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar
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Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, third standing on tank, delivers his speechCredit: AP
Pakistan’s military said it used medium-range Fateh missiles to strike more than 25 military sites.
They claimed to have attacked airbasess and weapons depots in the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as locations in India-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan dubbed the attack “Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos”.
India military officials called Pakistani’s strikes a “blatant escalation” and said they had come under attack by drones and “other munitions”.
Islamabad blamed New Dehli for “continuous provocation” – with the attack coming after Indian missiles hit targets in late on Tuesday.
India claimed it had been hitting back over the deaths of 26 tourists in a terror attack in Kashmir.
New Dehli blames Islamabad for the attack – and has repeatedly accused Pakistan of being a haven for terrorists.
The US has already called on both sides to step back from the edge of a potentially devastating war.
Trump’s secretary of state Marco Rubio said Washington would help starting “constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts” .
India strikes Pakistan airbase with ‘ballistic missile’ as nations on brink of war
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
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Taylor Swift’s voice may make a cameo in “It Ends With Us” — the 2024 film now embroiled in legal drama — but a representative for the pop star says that’s where her involvement in the movie ends.
The legal saga erupted late last year when Lively accused Baldoni, along with his team, of orchestrating a smear campaign against her after she reported on-set sexual harassment. Baldoni filed a countersuit alleging that Lively’s accusations are baseless and have caused serious harm to his career, reputation and personal life, further escalating the high-interest legal brawl.
In a statement to The Times on Friday, a spokesperson for Swift denied that the singer had any level of involvement in the film beyond agreeing to license her song “My Tears Ricochet” to be used in the trailer and a scene.
“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see ‘It Ends With Us’ until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history,” the spokesperson said, alluding to her record-breaking Eras Tour.
“Given that her involvement was licensing a song for the film, which 19 other artists also did, this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swift’s name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case,” the statement continued.
Swift’s name became a part of the conversation when documents Baldoni’s team published online alluded to a “a famous, and famously close, friend of Reynolds and Lively.” Lively and Swift have been friends for more than a decade and have collaborated professionally in addition to making high-profile social appearances together, like at last year’s Super Bowl.
Baldoni’s team alleges that Reynolds and the unnamed “megacelebrity friend” “pressured” him to accept changes Lively made to the script.
Lively, according to the documents published online, allegedly sent a message to Baldoni referring to herself as the character “Khaleesi” from “Game of Thrones,” and Swift and Reynolds as her “dragons.”
“My dragons also protect those I fight for,” Lively allegedly texted Baldoni. “So really we all benefit from those gorgeous monsters of mine. You will too, I can promise you.”
This village just outside Bristol has experienced a boom since the pandemic, drawing travellers with its picturesque countryside, award-winning pub and historic architecture
Somerset is ripe with walking trails, particularly around the Chew Valley(Image: Publicity Picture)
Somerset is a hub of some of the UK’s best-loved cities – but there’s more to explore beyond familiar favourites like Bath and Bristol. It is within the quieter villages of the region that travellers will find some of the best spots to roam the scenic countryside and appreciate historic architecture.
One such hidden gem is Pensford. Nestled between Bath, Bristol and Wells, Pensford is a small village – with a population of only about 1,000 people – but its petite size makes it ideal for a tranquil staycation. It has also been experiencing a tourist surge post-pandemic.
Pensford lies in the Chew Valley – a reservoir named for the River Chew and home to a rich biosphere. It is known for its countryside, historic buildings and the striking Pensford Viaduct, a disused railway viaduct that dominates the landscape
The village dates back to the 14th century, and much of its medieval street layout remains intact today. In fact, Pensford is home to many protected buildings with Grade-II accreditation and is a recognised conservation area because of its historical significance.
One of the most-visited historic landmarks in the area is the 14th-century St Thomas à Becket Church. Set just beside the striking Victorian railway viaduct on the banks of the River Chew, the Grade II listed church boasts a tower that is nearly 700 years old.
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The viaduct is another Grade II listed landmark that towers over the village. Standing at 29m tall and consisting of 16 stone arches, the viaduct was once the track for a busy railway line. However, after a flood caused significant damage in 1968, it never reopened as a railway line and now serves as purely an architectural landmark to accent the surrounding countryside.
The village is home to The Rising Sun gastropub, which draws Britons from all over with its award-winning beer garden(Image: Bristol Post)
Still, the viaduct is a huge draw for travellers for its historic significance and for the distinct vantage point it offers. Visitors will certainly also want to make a stop at The Rising Sun gastropub at the foot of the landmark, home to an award-winning and dog-friendly beer garden.
Pensford’s other two pubs – Travellers Rest and the George and Dragon – are also worth a visit. When you’re ready to hit the road again, there are plenty of nearby walking trails to explore. To appreciate the full beauty of the village and the surrounding countryside, you can join parts of the Two Rivers Way and the Three Peaks Walk – which is about a mile long.
The Two Rivers Way route itself runs from Congresbury in the River Yeo valley to Keynsham on the River Avon, where it meets the River Avon Trail – about 25 miles in length. It passes through farmland and historic villages around the Chew Valley.
The Three Peaks Circular Walk – which is about 17 miles long – leads into the rolling tops of Maes Knoll, Knowle Hill and Blackberry Hill. It then crosses the Two Rivers Way at Pensford and Chew Magna.
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Exceptionally adventurous travellers can head to Hidden Valley Bushcraft and Forest School to really test their mettle. Located just outside Pensford, the school offers training in outdoor survival skills such as campfire cooking, shelter building and even overnight wild camping.
Of course, if you’re in the area it’s worth stopping into Bristol, which is only seven miles away and ranked 48th on Time Out’s list of the world’s 50 best cites for 2025. That said, travellers to Bristol Airport may find that their car is in worse condition than when they arrived.
Many holidaymakers using Bristol Airport have returned to find their cars damaged and with unexplained mileage after parking in unofficial ‘airport’ car parks. The local council has subsequently increased efforts to clamp down on this practice, which has been “blighting” the countryside and causing problems for locals.
Retreat to the castle – feeling like a queen, Karen Rockett beds down in a serene lodge at Leeds Castle, Kent and takes a brave dip in the cold water outside bath
Japanese Princess Kako will visit Brazil in June for the 130th anniversary of Japan-Brazil diplomatic relations.
She will arrive in Sao Paulo and visit Brazil between June 5 and June 15. Crown Princess Kiko (L-R), Princess Mako and Princess Kako attend the new year greeting at the East Plaza, Imperial Palace in Tokyo in January 2020. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
May 9 (UPI) — Japanese Princess Kako will visit Brazil in June for the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil.
She will arrive in Sao Paulo and visit Brazil between June 5 and June 15. It’s her fourth oversees visit.
Events during her visit include an appearance in the capital of Brasília for a ceremony and luncheon marking the diplomatic anniversary.
On June 10, Kako will attend the 130th anniversary celebration hosted by Brazil’s Congress.
While in Brazil, Kako will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. She will visit other Brazilian cities during the trip, including Rio de Janeiro.
The Brazilian government invited the princess to visit the country in February. Lula met with Princess Kako in March when he visited Japan.
Kako returns to Japan June 17.
Kako is the second daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.
Pakistan said it struck multiple Indian military bases in the early hours of Saturday, May 10, after claiming that India had launched missiles against three Pakistani bases, marking a sharp escalation in their already soaring tensions, as the neighbours edge closer to an all-out war.
Long-simmering hostilities, mostly over the disputed region of Kashmir, erupted into renewed fighting after the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that saw 25 tourists and a local guide killed in an armed group attack. India blamed Pakistan for the attack; Islamabad denied any role.
Since then, the nations have engaged in a series of tit-for-tat moves that began with diplomatic steps but have rapidly turned into aerial military confrontation.
As both sides escalate shelling and missile attacks and seem on the road to a full-scale battle, an unprecedented reality stares not just at the 1.6 billion people of India and Pakistan but at the world: An all-out war between them would be the first ever between two nuclear-armed nations.
“It would be stupid for either side to launch a nuclear attack on the other … It is way short of probable that nuclear weapons are used, but that does not mean it’s impossible,” Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told Al Jazeera.
So, how did we get here? What are the nuclear arsenals of India and Pakistan like? And when – according to them – might they use nuclear weapons?
How tensions have spiralled since April 22
India has long accused The Resistance Front (TRF) – the armed group that initially claimed credit for the Pahalgam attack, before then distancing itself from the killings – of being a proxy for the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based armed group that has repeatedly targeted India, including in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left more than 160 people dead.
New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan denied any role.
India withdrew from a bilateral pact on water sharing, and both sides scaled back diplomatic missions and expelled each other’s citizens. Pakistan also threatened to walk out of other bilateral pacts, including the 1972 Simla Agreement that bound the neighbours to a ceasefire line in disputed Kashmir, known as the Line of Control (LoC).
But on May 7, India launched a wave of missile attacks against sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It claimed it hit “terrorist infrastructure”, but Pakistan says at least 31 civilians, including two children, were killed.
On May 8, India launched drones into Pakistani airspace, reaching the country’s major cities. India claimed it was retaliating, and that Pakistan had fired missiles and drones at it. Then, for two nights in a row, cities in India and Indian-administered Kashmir reported explosions that New Delhi claimed were the result of attempted Pakistani attacks that were thwarted.
Pakistan denied sending missiles and drones into India on May 8 and May 9 – but that changed in the early hours of May 10, when Pakistan first claimed that India targeted three of its bases with missiles. Soon after, Pakistan claimed it struck at least seven Indian bases. India has not yet responded either to Pakistan’s claims that Indian bases were hit or to Islamabad’s allegation that New Delhi launched missiles at its military installations.
How many nuclear warheads do India and Pakistan have?
India first conducted nuclear tests in May 1974 before subsequent tests in May 1998, after which it declared itself a nuclear weapons state. Within days, Pakistan launched a series of six nuclear tests and officially became a nuclear-armed state, too.
Each side has since raced to build arms and nuclear stockpiles bigger than the other, a project that has cost them billions of dollars.
India is currently estimated to have more than 180 nuclear warheads. It has developed longer-range missiles and mobile land-based missiles capable of delivering them, and is working with Russia to build ship and submarine missiles, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Pakistan’s arsenal, meanwhile, consists of more than 170 warheads. The country enjoys technological support from its regional ally, China, and its stockpile includes primarily mobile short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, with enough range to hit just inside India.
A motorcyclist rides past shattered windows of a restaurant outside the Rawalpindi cricket stadium after an alleged drone was shot down in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on May 8, 2025 [Aamir Qureshi/ AFP]
What’s India’s nuclear policy?
India’s interest in nuclear power was initially sparked and expanded under its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who was eager to use it to boost energy generation. However, in recent decades, the country has solidified its nuclear power status to deter its neighbours, China and Pakistan, over territorial disputes.
New Delhi’s first and only nuclear doctrine was published in 2003 and has not been formally revised. The architect of that doctrine, the late strategic analyst K Subrahmanyam, was the father of India’s current foreign minister, S Jaishankar.
Only the prime minister, as head of the political council of the Nuclear Command Authority, can authorise a nuclear strike. India’s nuclear doctrine is built around four principles:
No First Use (NFU): This principle means that India will not be the first to launch nuclear attacks on its enemies. It will only retaliate with nuclear weapons if it is first hit in a nuclear attack. India’s doctrine says it can launch retaliation against attacks committed on Indian soil or if nuclear weapons are used against its forces on foreign territory. India also commits to not using nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.
Credible Minimum Deterrence: India’s nuclear posture is centred around deterrence – that is, its nuclear arsenal is meant primarily to discourage other countries from launching a nuclear attack on the country. India maintains that its nuclear arsenal is insurance against such attacks. It’s one of the reasons why New Delhi is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), as it maintains that all countries uniformly disarm before it does the same.
Massive Retaliation: India’s retaliation to a first-strike from an aggressor will be calculated to inflict such destruction and damage that the enemy’s military capabilities will be annihilated.
Exceptions for biological or chemical weapons: As an exception to NFU, India will use nuclear weapons against any state that targets the country or its military forces abroad with biological or chemical weapons, according to the doctrine.
What is Pakistan’s nuclear policy?
Strategic Ambiguity: Pakistan has never officially released a comprehensive policy statement on its nuclear weapons use, giving it the flexibility to potentially deploy nuclear weapons at any stage of a conflict, as it has threatened to do in the past. Experts widely believe that from the outset, Islamabad’s non-transparency was strategic and meant to act as a deterrence to India’s superior conventional military strength, rather than to India’s nuclear power alone.
The Four Triggers: However, in 2001, Lieutenant General (Retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, regarded as a pivotal strategist involved in Pakistan’s nuclear policy, and an adviser to the nuclear command agency, laid out four broad “red lines” or triggers that could result in a nuclear weapon deployment. They are:
Spatial threshold – Any loss of large parts of Pakistani territory could warrant a response. This also forms the root of its conflict with India.
Military threshold – Destruction or targeting of a large number of its air or land forces could be a trigger.
Economic threshold – Actions by aggressors that might have a choking effect on Pakistan’s economy.
Political threshold – Actions that lead to political destabilisation or large-scale internal disharmony.
However, Pakistan has never spelled out just how large the loss of territory of its armed forces needs to be for these triggers to be set off.
Has India’s nuclear posture changed?
Although India’s official doctrine has remained the same, Indian politicians have in recent years implied that a more ambiguous posture regarding the No First Use policy might be in the works, presumably to match Pakistan’s stance.
In 2016, India’s then-Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar questioned if India needed to continue binding itself to NFU. In 2019, the present Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India had so far strictly adhered to the NFU policy, but that changing situations could affect that.
“What happens in the future depends on the circumstances,” Singh had said.
India adopting this strategy might be seen as proportional, but some experts note that strategic ambiguity is a double-edged sword.
“The lack of knowledge of an adversary’s red lines could lead to lines inadvertently being crossed, but it could also restrain a country from engaging in actions that may trigger a nuclear response,” expert Lora Saalman notes in a commentary for the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Has Pakistan’s nuclear posture changed?
Pakistan has moved from an ambiguous policy of not spelling out a doctrine to a more vocal “No NFU” policy in recent years.
In May 2024, Kidwai, the nuclear command agency adviser, said during a seminar that Islamabad “does not have a No First Use policy”.
As significantly, Pakistan has, since 2011, developed a series of so-called tactical nuclear weapons. TNWs are short-range nuclear weapons designed for more contained strikes and are meant to be used on the battlefield against an opposing army without causing widespread destruction.
In 2015, then-Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry confirmed that TNWs could be used in a potential future conflict with India.
In reality, however, experts warn that these warheads, too, can have explosive yields of up to 300 kilotonnes, or 20 times that of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. Not only could such explosions be disastrous, but some experts say that they might well affect Pakistan’s own border populations.
Benidorm’s flirty barman, Mateo, was played by Jake Canuso for 11 years from 2007 to 2018 and is now unrecognisable from his time on the hit ITV sitcom set in Spain
Jake was the charming barman in ITV’s popular sitcom Benidorm(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
For 11 years, from 2007 to 2018, he was the charming barman in ITV’s popular sitcom Benidorm. However, actor Jake Canuso, now 55, looks vastly different from his days as heartthrob Mateo Castellanos.
Jake shared the screen with stars such as Crissy Rock – who has since revealed her childhood sexual abuse trauma – as well as Johnny Vegas, Steve Pemberton and Sherrie Hewson. He holds the record for being the longest-serving character on the show, having appeared in all 74 episodes. These days, he sports a new look with longer hair and stubble, and it appears he’s been spending some time at the gym. In a harrowing incident back in 2004, Jake narrowly escaped death during the Indian Ocean tsunami on Boxing Day while holidaying in Ko Phra Thong, Thailand.
After spotting the initial waves, he climbed a tree for safety but ended up trapped underwater when the tree snapped. This traumatic experience led to him developing aquaphobia, leaving him too frightened to swim for several years.
Jake shared the screen with stars such as Crissy Rock and Sheila Reid(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
Hollywood star and Spider-Man actor Eric Roberts co-starred in the film, which also featured a host of British talent including EastEnders‘ Steven Beale actor Aaron Sidwell and Marc Bannerman, who played Gianni di Marco in the soap.
Jake has recently branched out from acting, offering personalised videos on the popular celebrity messaging platform Cameo. He’s garnered numerous five-star reviews and promotes his services with the tagline: “Mateo from Benidorm at your services.” His videos start at £56 and can be delivered within 24 hours.
Last year, he encouraged his Instagram followers to purchase a video, saying: “It’s nearly Valentine’s Day. Last chance to get a cheeky Valentines message from Benidorm’s Barman Mateo. Check out the link and if you book today all messages will be done by tomorrow.”
Jake offers personalised videos on the popular celebrity messaging platform Cameo
Before his breakout role in Benidorm, Jake was a professional dancer for 18 years, sharing the stage with big names like Rozalla, the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox, and Elton John. He also featured in music videos for Alex Party’s hit 90s single Don’t Give Me Your Life, Carter USM’s Let’s Get Tattoos, 2 Unlimited’s Here I Go, and Kylie Minogue’s Give Me Just A Little More Time.
He’s made a name for himself in pantomimes, starring in Aladdin in Birmingham in 2014 and Jack and the Beanstalk in Bradford the following year. Other Benidorm actors have pursued various roles and jobs, including working as an ASDA delivery driver and appearing in Ted Lasso.
On a typical day, Mai Rupa travels through his native Shan State, in eastern Myanmar, documenting the impact of war.
A video journalist with the online news outlet Shwe Phee Myay, he travels to remote towns and villages, collecting footage and conducting interviews on stories ranging from battle updates to the situation for local civilians living in a war zone.
His job is fraught with risks. Roads are strewn with landmines and there are times when he has taken cover from aerial bombing and artillery shelling.
“I have witnessed countless people being injured and civilians dying in front of me,” Mai Rupa said.
“These heartbreaking experiences deeply affected me,” he told Al Jazeera, “at times, leading to serious emotional distress.”
Mai Rupa is one of a small number of brave, independent journalists still reporting on the ground in Myanmar, where a 2021 military coup shattered the country’s fragile transition to democracy and obliterated media freedoms.
Like his colleagues at Shwe Phee Myay – a name which refers to Shan State’s rich history of tea cultivation – Mai Rupa prefers to go by a pen name due to the risks of publicly identifying as a reporter with one of the last remaining independent media outlets still operating inside the country.
Most journalists fled Myanmar in the aftermath of the military’s takeover and the expanding civil war. Some continue their coverage by making cross-border trips from work bases in neighbouring Thailand and India.
But staff at Shwe Phee Myay – a Burmese-language outlet, with roots in Shan State’s ethnic Ta’ang community – continue reporting from on the ground, covering a region of Myanmar where several ethnic armed groups have for decades fought against the military and at times clashed with each other.
Ta’ang National Liberation army officers march during an event to mark the 52nd Ta’ang revolution day in Mar-Wong, Ta’ang self-governing area, northern Shan State, Myanmar, in 2015 [File: Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP]
Fighting to keep the public informed
After Myanmar’s military launched a coup in February 2021, Shwe Phee Myay’s journalists faced new risks.
In March that year, two reporters with the outlet narrowly escaped arrest while covering pro-democracy protests. When soldiers and police raided their office in the Shan State capital of Lashio two months later, the entire team had already gone into hiding.
That September, the military arrested the organisation’s video reporter, Lway M Phuong, for alleged incitement and dissemination of “false news”. She served nearly two years in prison. The rest of the 10-person Shwe Phee Myay team scattered following her arrest, which came amid the Myanmar military’s wider crackdown on the media.
Spread out across northern Shan State in the east of the country, the news team initially struggled to continue their work. They chose to avoid urban areas where they might encounter the military. Every day was a struggle to continue reporting.
“We couldn’t travel on main roads, only back roads,” recounted Hlar Nyiem, an assistant editor with Shwe Phee Myay.
“Sometimes, we lost four or five work days in a week,” she said.
Police arrest Myanmar Now journalist Kay Zon Nwe in Yangon in February 2021, as protesters took part in a demonstration against the military coup [Ye Aung Thu/AFP]
Despite the dangers, Shwe Phee Myay’s reporters continued with their clandestine work to keep the public informed.
When a magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit central Myanmar on March 28, killing more than 3,800 people, Shwe Phee Myay’s journalists were among the few able to document the aftermath from inside the country.
The military blocked most international media outlets from accessing earthquake-affected areas, citing difficulties with travel and accommodation, and the few local reporters still working secretly in the country took great risks to get information to the outside world.
“These journalists continue to reveal truths and make people’s voices heard that the military regime is desperate to silence,” said Thu Thu Aung, a public policy scholar at the University of Oxford who has conducted research on Myanmar’s post-coup media landscape.
Journalists with Shwe Phee Myay conduct a video interview in Shan State, Myanmar, in September 2024 [Courtesy of Shwe Phee Myay]
On top of the civil war and threats posed by Myanmar’s military regime, Myanmar’s journalists have encountered a new threat.
In January, the administration of US President Donald Trump and his billionaire confidante Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
USAID had allocated more than $268m towards supporting independent media and the free flow of information in more than 30 countries around the world – from Ukraine to Myanmar, according to journalism advocacy group Reporters Without Borders.
In February, The Guardian reported on the freezing of USAID funds, creating an “existential crisis” for exiled Myanmar journalists operating from the town of Mae Sot, on the country’s border with Thailand.
The situation worsened further in mid-March, when the White House declared plans for the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to reduce operations to the bare minimum. USAGM oversees – among others – the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, which were both leading providers of news on Myanmar.
Last week, RFA announced it was laying off 90 percent of its staff and ceasing to produce news in the Tibetan, Burmese, Uighur and Lao languages. VOA has faced a similar situation.
Tin Tin Nyo, managing director of Burma News International, a network of 16 local, independent media organisations based inside and outside Myanmar, said the loss of the Burmese-language services provided by VOA and RFA created a “troubling information vacuum”.
Myanmar’s independent media sector also relied heavily on international assistance, which had already been dwindling, Tin Tin Nyo said.
Many local Myanmar news outlets were already “struggling to continue producing reliable information”, as a result of the USAID funding cuts brought in by Trump and executed by Musk’s DOGE, she said.
Some had laid off staff, reduced their programming or suspended operations.
“The downsizing of independent media has decreased the capacity to monitor [false] narratives, provide early warnings, and counter propaganda, ultimately weakening the pro-democracy movement,” Tin Tin Nyo said.
“When independent media fail to produce news, policymakers around the world will be unaware of the actual situation in Myanmar,” she added.
‘Constant fear of arrest or even death’
Currently, 35 journalists remain imprisoned in Myanmar, making it the world’s third-worst jailer of journalists after China and Israel, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The country is ranked 169th out of 180 countries on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index.
“Journalists on the ground must work under the constant fear of arrest or even death,” Tin Tin Nyo said.
“The military junta treats the media and journalists as criminals, specifically targeting them to silence access to information.”
Myanmar journalists, wearing T-shirts that say “Stop Killing Press”, stage a silent protest for five journalist colleagues who were jailed for 10 years in 2014 [File: Soe Than Win/AFP]
Despite the dangers, Shwe Phee Myay continues to publish news on events inside Myanmar.
With a million followers on Facebook – the digital platform where most people in Myanmar get their news – Shwe Phee Myay’s coverage has become even more critical since the military coup in 2021 and the widening civil war.
Established in 2019 in Lashio, Shwe Phee Myay was one of dozens of independent media outlets which emerged in Myanmar during a decade-long political opening, which began in 2011 with the country’s emergence from a half-century of relative international isolation under authoritarian military rule.
Pre-publication censorship ended in 2012 amid a wider set of policy reforms as the military agreed to allow greater political freedom. Journalists who had lived and worked in exile for media outlets such as the Democratic Voice of Burma, The Irrawaddy and Mizzima News began cautiously returning home.
However, the country’s nascent press freedoms came under strain during the term of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy government, which came to power in 2016 as a result of the military’s political reforms.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s government jailed journalists and blocked independent media access to politically sensitive areas including Rakhine State, where the military committed a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya community and for which it now faces international charges of genocide.
But the situation for independent journalists dramatically worsened following the 2021 coup. As the military violently cracked down on peaceful protests against the generals seizing power, it restricted the internet, revoked media licences and arrested dozens of journalists. That violence triggered an armed uprising across Myanmar.
‘If we stop, who will continue addressing these issues?’
Shwe Phee Myay briefly considered relocating to Thailand as the situation deteriorated after the coup, but those running the news site decided to remain in the country.
“Our will was to stay on our own land,” said Mai Naw Dang, who until recently served as the editor of Burmese-to-English translations.
“Our perspective was that to gather the news and collect footage, we needed to be here.”
Their work then took on new intensity in October 2023, when an alliance of ethnic armed organisations launched a surprise attack on military outposts in Shan State near the border with China.
The offensive marked a major escalation in the Myanmar conflict; the military, which lost significant territory as a result, retaliated with air strikes, cluster munitions and shelling. Within two months, more than 500,000 people had been displaced due to the fighting.
With few outside journalists able to access northern Shan State, Shwe Phee Myay was uniquely positioned to cover the crisis.
Then in January this year, Shwe Phee Myay also received notice that USAID funds approved in November were no longer coming and it has since reduced field reporting, cancelled training and scaled back video news production.
“We’re taking risks to report on how people are impacted by the war, yet our efforts seem unrecognised,” editor-in-chief Mai Rukaw said.
“Even though we have a strong human resource base on the ground, we’re facing significant challenges in securing funding to continue our work.”
During staff meetings, Mai Rukaw has raised the possibility of shutting down Shwe Phee Myay with his colleagues.
Their response, he said, was to keep going even if the money dries up.
“We always ask ourselves: if we stop, who will continue addressing these issues?” he said.
With a staggering 4.8 million Brits slated to visit Turkey this year, experts have issued a warning over the country’s strict rules when it comes to buying or distributing e-cigarettes
Turkey is slated to welcome a record-number of Brits this year(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Droves of Brits are being warned over one country’s unexpectedly strict rules. This year, a staggering five million UK tourists are slated to visit Turkey, as it prepares for a record-breaking boom in international visitors.
Lured in by endless stretches of golden sand, stunning history, and party-mad resorts – it seems Turkey is reaping the benefits of anti-tourist sentiment in hotspots like Greece and Spain. However, the country, which is mainly located in West Asia but also covers a small part of Southeast Europe, has long prohibited the sale of vapes.
While technically not a new rule, purchasing or distributing e-cigarettes and liquids is prohibited in the country. According to Reuters, many people still buy vaping products in the country online – but this could land tourists in hot water.
You won’t see shelves of fruit-flavoured vapes in Turkey(Image: Getty Images)
“We’ve heard of so many travellers returning from Antalya, Marmaris, and Bodrum saying they were caught completely off guard,” Mike Byers, a vape expert over at WickdUp explained. “Shops that once stocked basic vape gear now won’t sell it at all — and if you’re used to picking up supplies on arrival, you could be left without.”
Luckily, Brits are still allowed to bring in ‘personal supplies’ of vapes and liquid into Turkey. Most vape brands agree this classed as ‘one device, spare pods or refill bottles no greater than 30ml in volume, or up to 10 disposable vapes per person’.
“Having a larger supply of e-liquids is easier to explain than carrying multiple devices, so it’s best to pack only what you’ll realistically use during your stay,” advises vape brand Freesmo. “The general rule is to avoid raising any suspicion that you’re importing vapes for sale.”
Turkey also classifies e-cigarettes as tobacco products, which are all banned for those under the age of 19. So, just because you can legally vape in the UK, doesn’t mean you will be able to if you’re visiting the country this year.
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Last month, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy said after the ITB Berlin Fair that Turkey was witnessing ‘signs of new records in tourism’ as it attempts to bolster its appeal as a holiday destination. “Turkey has become the country with the highest number of early reservations in Germany,” the politician added.
“We aim to welcome over seven million visitors from both Russia and Germany this year. Additionally, we expect 4.8 million visitors from the U.K. in 2025″
The country suffered two earthquakes last month(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
The ambitious target may have taken a slight hit following the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Sea of Marmara on April 23, 2025, and saw thousands of terrified locals flee their homes while their buildings shook. A smaller 4.7-magnitude quake hit the village of Doğanyol just five days later. No deaths were reported from either incident.
The FCDO also advises against all types of travel to within 10km of the border with Syria due to ‘fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism’. However, this does not impact popular hotspots such as Bodrum, Antalya, and Istanbul.
Have you been caught out by Turkey’s vaping rules? Email [email protected] for a chance to share your story
SAN FRANCISCO — The Trump administration must halt much of its widescale downsizing of the federal workforce, a California judge ordered Friday.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco issued the emergency order in a lawsuit filed by labor unions and cities last week, one of multiple legal challenges to President Trump’s efforts to drastically shrink the size of a federal government he calls bloated and too expensive.
“The Court holds the President likely must request Congressional cooperation to order the changes he seeks, and thus issues a temporary restraining order to pause large-scale reductions in force in the meantime,” Illston wrote in her order.
The temporary restraining order directs numerous federal agencies to halt acting on the president’s workforce executive order signed in February and a subsequent memo issued by the Office of Personnel Management and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
The order, which expires in 14 days, does not require departments to rehire people. Plaintiffs asked that the effective date of any agency action be postponed and that departments stop implementing or enforcing the executive order, including taking any further action.
They limited their request to departments where dismantlement is underway or poised to begin, including at the Department of Health and Human Services, which announced in March it would lay off 10,000 workers and centralize divisions.
Illston, who was nominated to the bench by former President Clinton, said at a hearing Friday that a president has authority to seek changes in the executive branch departments and agencies created by Congress.
“But he must do so in lawful ways,” she said. “He must do so with the cooperation of Congress; the Constitution is structured that way.”
Trump has repeatedly said voters gave him a mandate to remake the federal government, and he tapped Musk, his billionaire advisor and major campaign donor, to lead the charge through DOGE.
Tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, left their jobs via deferred resignation programs or have been placed on leave as a result of Trump’s government-shrinking efforts. There is no official figure for the job cuts, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation, and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.
Lawyers for the government argued Friday that the executive order and memo calling for large-scale personnel reductions and reorganization plans provided only general principles that agencies should follow in their own decision-making process.
“It expressly invites comments and proposals for legislative engagement as part of policies that those agencies wish to implement,” Eric Hamilton, a deputy assistant attorney general, said of the memo. “It is setting out guidance.”
But Danielle Leonard, an attorney for plaintiffs, said it was clear that the president, DOGE and the Office of Personnel Management were making decisions outside their authority and not inviting dialogue from agencies.
“They are not waiting for these planning documents” to go through long processes, she said. “They’re not asking for approval, and they’re not waiting for it.”
The temporary restraining order applies to agencies including the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, Interior, State, Treasury and Veteran Affairs.
It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.
Some of the labor unions and nonprofit groups who filed the lawsuit are also plaintiffs in another suit before a San Francisco judge challenging the mass firings of probationary workers. In that case, Judge William Alsup ordered the government in March to reinstate those workers, but the U.S. Supreme Court blocked his order.
Plaintiffs include the cities of San Francisco, Chicago and Baltimore; the American Federation of Government Employees union; and nonprofit groups Alliance for Retired Americans, Center for Taxpayer Rights and Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.
Shane Lowry moved to within a stroke of leader Kevin Mitchell after he shot 65 to finish the second round of the Truist Championship at 11 under.
The Irishman’s round featured six birdies and was the lowest of the day in soggy conditions on Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course.
Overnight leader, American Mitchell, who led the way with a 61 on Thursday, made two bogeys and five birdies in his round of 67.
“There’s a consistency to my whole game that has been very good,” said Lowry.
“I think I’m just maturing as a golfer, taking the rough with the smooth, the good days taking them well and the bad days working through them.”
The 38-year-old dismissed suggestions the damp conditions in Pennsylvania played to his strengths.
“Everyone says that to me every day when it rains!” added Lowry.
“I live in South Florida. I think I’m able to handle them probably better than a few people, but I don’t particularly like or enjoy going out and playing in these conditions.”
Rory McIlroy – last year’s winner and a four-time champion at the event – had an up-and-down round which included six birdies and three bogeys.
The 36-year-old Northern Irishman, who completed a career Grand Slam with his thrilling win over Justin Rose at last month’s Masters, ended the day in a six-way tie for fourth on seven under.
“I felt like today was another sort of scrappy one,” said McIlroy.
“I made what I feel are some uncharacteristic mistakes compared to how I’ve played the majority of the year.
“So just got to try to iron that out over the next couple of days, try to shoot a couple of scores without as many bogeys on the card.”
Tommy Fleetwood made his second consecutive round of 68 to finish on four under, but fellow Englishman Rose is well off the pace at seven over after a round of 77.
Pope Leo XIV, the first US pontiff, called his surprise election a “cross” and a blessing as he celebrated his first Mass as pope in the Sistine Chapel. The Chicago-born missionary vowed to be a “faithful administrator” and said the Church must shine through “the dark nights of this world.”
Australia’s Go-Jo is one of 37 artists hoping to lift the Eurovision trophy in Basel, Switzerland
The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest pops its cork on Sunday, with a “turquoise carpet” parade featuring competitors from all 37 nations.
But the competition really begins on Tuesday, when the first semi-final will see five countries unceremoniously kicked out.
Another six will lose their place at the second semi-final on Thursday, before the Grand Final takes place in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday, 17 May.
This year’s entrants include two returning contestants, one professional opera singer, a thinly veiled allusion to sexual emissions and a dance anthem about a dead space dog.
It’s a lot to take in.
To help you prepare, here’s a guide to all 37 songs in the contest, which I’ve sorted into rough musical categories, mainly for my own sanity (it didn’t work).
Left-field pop bangers
Pavla Hartmanova / BBC / Alma Bengtsson
From left to right: JJ, Remember Monday and KAJ
Win or lose, UK contestants Remember Monday have given headline writers a gift with the title of their entry: What The Hell Just Happened?
A souped-up, full throttle pop anthem, it cherry-picks the best bits of Queen, Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Beatles, presumably to remind voters of Britain’s rich musical heritage.
With eight tempo changes, it could prove tricky for voters to grasp, but the band’s stellar harmonies and sparkling personalities should carry them through.
Crucially, the song avoids the Eurovision cliches of jackhammer dance anthems and windswept balladry – something Remember Monday have in common with this year’s favourites.
Sweating it out at the top are Swedish representatives KAJ, whose song Bara Bada Bastu is an ode to the restorative powers of the sauna, complete with dancers in skimpy towels.
Where the original was about a “fashion doll” operated by songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, Thorn’s response is all about taking control.
“If you think a man like you can manipulate me, go back to your mum,” she scolds. Yeouch.
Other countries sucking up to Italy
ERR / Sarah Louise Bennett
Tommy Cash and Gabry Ponte will represent Estonia and San Marino with tributes to Italian culture
Rome must be blushing. This year features not one, but two, songs about the vibrant culture of Il Bel Paese.
The first comes, not surprisingly, from San Marino – the independent microstate that nestles inside north-central Italy.
Titled Tutta L’Italia, it celebrates everything from the county’s football team and its vineyards, to the Mona Lisa (under her Italian name Gioconda).
Written by Gabry Ponte – one of the brains behind Eiffel 65’s Blue (Da Ba Dee) – it’s a slight, but fun, mixture of dance beats, traditional accordion playing and the folk dances of Calabria.
The staging could be its downfall, though, with Gabry marooned behind his DJ decks while the singers, who for some reason wish to remain anonymous, obscure their faces with masks.
More memorable, but definitely more unhinged, is Estonia’s Espresso Macchiato.
Performed by Tommy Cash (the only Eurovision contestant to have appeared on a Charli XCX record) it’s an affectionate-ish caricature of Italian stereotypes, featuring the indelible lyric: “Life is like spaghetti, it’s hard until you make it“.
Smut!
Sarah Louise Bennett / Alma Bengtsson
From left to right: Go-Jo, Erika Vikman and Miriana Conte
I’m trying to give up sexual innuendo, but Eurovision is making it har… difficult.
A trio of artists are trying to sneak smut past the censors, led by Malta’s Miriana Conte, with a throbbing club track called Serving.
In its original form, the song’s chorus revolved around the phrase “serving kant” – the word kant being Maltese for “singing” and a homophone for an English term that definitely doesn’t mean singing.
It’s a reference to a well-known phrase in the drag / ballroom world; but several countries complained it broke broadcasting guidelines, prompting a hasty re-write.
If the stunt was meant to generate headlines it worked, but now that Miriana has our attention, she’s not letting go.
Her performance, featuring a giant disco ball pursed between two red lips, is gloriously OTT, and she has an enviable set of pipes. Too bad the song is riddled with Europop cliche.
Another contestant doubling his entendres is Australia’s Go-Jo, who wants us to “take a sip” of milkshake from his “special cup”. Interpret that how you want but I’d be wary of hitching a lift in his ice cream van, if I were you.
With a smattering of Electric Six’s saucy disco funk, Milkshake Man is tasty enough to get Australia back in the finals after only achieving a semi last year.
Finally, we have Finland’s Erika Vikman, whose song Ich Komme is billed as a “joyous message of pleasure, ecstasy and a state of trance”.
Structured to mimic the pneumatic realities of lovemaking, it recalls iconic gay anthems such as Kylie’s Your Disco Needs You and Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff – and ends with Erika shooting into the sky astride a massive gold microphone that’s definitely not a stand-in for a phallus.
Three songs inspired by cancer
France Télévisions / Sarah Louise Bennett
From left to right: Louane, Klemen and Kyle Alessandro
Little in life is more devastating than the phrase “I’m afraid it’s cancer”.
The disease will affect one in two of us and, although survival rates have dramatically improved, the impact can be devastating.
This year, three separate Eurovision contestants have been touched by cancer, inspiring songs of unmatched heartbreak and reflection.
French singer Louane captures it best. Her song Maman, is an intimate conversation with her mother, who died when she was just 17 years old.
Over three verses, Louane describes the “emptiness” she was felt; and how she filled the void with bad behaviour and meaningless love affairs. But, as the song progresses, she tells her mum she’s settled down and found purpose… by becoming a mother herself.
She sings it beautifully, with a mixture of regret and strength. And when her daughter’s voice appears in the final moments of the song, it would take a steely heart not to shed a tear.
Over in Norway, 19-year-old Kyle Alessandro shared a similar story, when his mother was diagnosed with cancer in autumn 2023. Thankfully, she’s now in remission, but something she said during her treatment inspired his Eurovision entry: “Never lose your light.”
Kyle took that phrase and turned it into a thumping pop song about surviving adversity. “Nothing can burn me now,” he sings. “I’m my own Lighter.”
Klemen Slakonja, meanwhile, is a comedian best known in Slovenia for his impressions of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin – but his ballad, How Much Time Do We Have Left was written after his wife, actress Mojca Fatur, was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer.
As he sings, Klemen’s dancers raise him into the air and hold him upside down, to represent the disorientation the family felt.
“When she read her diagnosis, our world turned upside down and I felt that rush of blood in my head, the same one I feel whenever I am upside down in the performance,” he told Eurovision World.
Defying the odds, Mojca survived, and joins him on stage at Eurovision. It’s a deeply intimate and moving moment.
The bops
Sarah Louise Bennett / Valero Rioja / Alma Bengtsson
Left to right: Red Sebastian, Melody and Væb
Listening to this year’s line-up, it’s like the contestants all heard Cascada’s Evacuate the Dancefloor and went, “Nah, we’re good, thanks”.
There are club bangers everywhere, with Belgium’s Red Sebastian (named after the crab in The Little Mermaid, bless him) submitting an entire song about the loved-up liberation of an all-night rave.
“Where no words are needed to feel the connection / Where clocks never tick and where love is the ending.”
A favourite with fans, the 90s rave elements of Strobe Lights feel a little dated to me, but his meticulously-choreographed performance is a treat.
Denmark’s Sissal takes a similar sound, with a throwback Euro-bop called Hallucination that effortlessly evokes two-time Eurovision winner Loreen.
Sissal said her biggest goal was for the audience to feel they couldn’t sit down during the song. Mission accomplished.
Germany, meanwhile, have been hoping to reverse their 15-year losing streak with Baller, a super-catchy trance anthem that wouldn’t sound out of place at Berlin superclub Berghain.
Performed by Austrian siblings Abor & Tynna, it’s languishing in the middle of the field, after Tynna developed laryngitis, robbing the duo of the chance to impress fans at Eurovision’s various pre-parties. But now that she’s recovered, the song could rise up the rankings.
That’s less likely for Væb, aka the Icelandic Jedward. Their energetic dance-rap song, Roá, is all about rowing from Iceland to the Faroe Islands, “because no matter what happens in life you just keep on rowing through the waves”.
Sadly, it’s not as deep as it sounds.
Spanish star Melody fares better with Esa Diva, a pumping house track with a sprinkling of flamenco guitar, that documents her journey to fame.
And Azerbaijan’s Mamagama go all Maroon 5 on Run With U, a smooth pop song elevated by a twinkling riff on the saz – a long-necked plucked instrument similar to the lute.
Post-immigrant pop
Sarah Louise Bennett / Alma Bengtsson
From left to right: Shkodra Elektronike, Claude and Klavdia
OK, so I’ve stolen that description from Shkodra Elektronike.
They’re an Albanian duo living in Italy, who fuse the ethnic music of their hometown, Shkodër, to a progressive electronic sound.
Their song Zjerm (Fire) imagines a time when cross-cultural understanding would lead to peace and harmony – a world without a need for soldiers and ambulances, and where “oil would smell like lilac” (no, me neither).
Greece’s entry, Asteromáta, is also rooted in history and memory, as Klavdia describes the unbreakable bond that refugees share with their homeland.
“Even if they cross the seas / They shall never forget the sacred earth they called home,” she sings, in a haunting ballad that blends traditional Greek and Pontic elements with soaring strings.
Taking a more upbeat approach is Dutch singer Claude. A refugee from the bloody civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he moved to the Netherlands at the age of nine and fell in love with Eurovision while waiting in the refugee centre.
His song, C’est La Vie, is a tribute to his mum, who taught him to see the positive in their situation.
Fizzing with freedom and joy, it combines elements of chanson and French-Caribbean zouk, and looks set for a top 10 placing.
Witchcraft, sorcery and moody goth boys
Sarah Louise Bennett / Alma Bengtsson
From left to right: Theo Evan, Justyna Steczkowska and Marko Bošnjak
The success of “goth gremlin witch” Bambie Thug at last year’s Eurovision has conjured a veritable coven of imitators in 2025.
Polish singer Justyna Steczkowska, representing her country for the second time, even includes a Slavic magic spell in her song, Gaja – summoning the spirit of the mother Earth to “cleanse” her of a toxic relationship.
It’s a suitably intense performance, with Justyna singing long sustained notes and playing a furious violin solo, before being hoiked into the rafters on a pair ropes.
What a time to be alive.
Marko Bošnjak, meanwhile, is cooking up a Poison Cake to feed to his tormentors – chiefly the people who bombarded him with homophobic hate messages after he was selected to represent Croatia.
The criticism was so intense that he lost his voice and couldn’t leave the house for five days.
His song is suitably melodramatic, replete with guttural synths and creepy playground chants. It’s a little overbaked, but should still sail through to the finals.
Taking a more ethereal approach are Latvian group Tautumeitas, whose song Bur Man Laimi translates as “a chant for happiness”.
Reminiscent of Bjork and Enya, its overlapping folk harmonies are based on traditional Latvian wedding songs, making it one of this year’s most captivating entries. I fear it may be too subtle to score well, though.
Further mystery is provided by, Theo Evan, Cyprus’s answer to Nick Jonas. The lyrics to his song, Shh, are a riddle, written by former tennis player Elke Tiel, whose “hidden truth will only be revealed on the Eurovision stage in May”.
He opens his performance perched between two pieces of scaffolding in a recreation of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Vitruvian Man sketch – so there’s a clue.
Shh is one of a number of gothic pop songs, sung by brooding young men with interesting hair.
Among the best is Kiss Kiss Goodbye, by Czechia’s Adonxs, who divebombs from an angelic falsetto to an unsettling baritone as he confronts his absent father.
Lithuanian band Katarsis are an interesting experiment, with a deliberately downbeat rock song that declares “the foundations of everything have begun to rot”.
Titled Tavo Akys (your eyes), it builds to a compelling climax, but it’s hard to see it being a vote-winner, unless Eurovision suddenly attracts an audience of depressed emo teens.
Rounding out the field are Armenian singer Parg, with the Imagine Dragons-inspired Survivor and Serbia’s Princ, whose overwrought ballad is called Mila.
Both performers give it their all, but the songs don’t feel strong enough to survive the semi-finals.
70s rock throwbacks
Getty Images / Alma Bengtsson
From left to right: Lucio Corsi, Napa and Ziferblat
Four years after Måneskin’s victory, Eurovision’s rock revival continues apace.
Italy are back at it again, thanks to Lucio Corsi – think David Bowie as Pierrot – and his glam rock ballad Volevo Essere Un Duro (I wanted to be tough).
A delicate anthem for people who feel they don’t fit in, it recalls how Lucio was bullied as a kid, and how he’s grown to embrace his fragility. At one point, he sings: “Instead of a star, [I’m] just a sneeze.”
It’s a timeless bit of songwriting that pulls off that crucial Eurovision trick of sounding new and familiar all at once.
Portuguese indie band Napa also have a 70s vibe, channelling Paul McCartney’s Wings on the soft rock tear-jerker Deslocado (out of place).
It’s another song about migration, written after the band were forced to relocate from Madeira to the Portuguese mainland due to the economic crisis.
“Even though we’ve been here for a few years we always have that desire to go back, and that anguish of saying goodbye to family,” said singer Guilherme Gomes.
Last but not least are Ukraine’s Ziferblat, who continue the country’s astonishing run of high-quality entries in the midst of a war with Russia.
Their song, Bird Of Pray, is an unexpected mix of 70s new wave band Cars, birdsong and the guitar riff from Rachel Stevens’ Sweet Dreams My LA Ex – while the lyrics are full of hope for a peaceful reunion with their loved ones.
It’s better than that makes it sound.
The ballads
Shai Franco / Sarah Louise Bennett / Maurice Haas
From left to right: Yuval Raphael, Nina Žižić and Zoë Më
Where would Eurovision be without a raven-haired woman bellowing into a wind machine set to “hurricane”?
Israel has strong form in this category, and sets the bar again with New Day Will Rise, a melancholy piano ballad sung in a mixture of English, French and Hebrew.
It’s hard not to interpret her lyrics as a response to those events – “everyone cries, don’t cry alone”. As a result, her participation hasn’t received the same level of criticism as Eden Golan, who represented Israel last year.
That can’t be said for Georgia’s contestant, Mariam Shengelia, who has been booed during pre-Eurovision appearances for her alleged support of the country’s authoritarian, pro-Russian, anti-LGBT ruling party, Georgian Dream.
Shengelia has denied the accusations, pointing out that her song – a stirring, quasi-militaristic ballad called Freedom – is about “freedom of choice, freedom to love, freedom to live as you want to live”.
Montenegro’s Nina Žižić tackles domestic abuse in Dobrodošli, a brooding and refined orchestral ballad.
The singer, who previously entered Eurovision in 2015 with the cyborg pop oddity Igranka, delivers her lyrics with passion and sincerity, but somehow the song never quite takes off.
Last but not least, we have defending champions Switzerland, represented by 24-year-old Zoë Më, who describes herself as a “little fairy”.
Appropriately enough, her self-penned song, Voyage is delicate as a fairy’s wings, fluttering with a soft-spoken plea to treat each other with kindness.
Automatically qualifying for the final, it’s a welcome oasis of calm amidst the steamy sauna sessions, moody goth haircuts and thrusting innuendo.
But that’s Eurovision for you. All human life is here. See you in Basel!
Seeing the casino scene is easy, but natural poker players can spot the two jokers in under five seconds.
It’s time to put your mind to the test by having a crack at the brainteaser below.
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Can you spot the two jokers hidden in this casino scene?Credit: casinos.com
This image is known as anoptical illusion,meaning there could be other less obvious elements to be found.
The casino scene and the cards held in one player’s hand, are clearly visible.
But only those with eagle eyes and the mind of a poker player will be able to spot the two Jokers in the image, from Casinos.com.
Did you manage to spot them both?
Read More On Optical Illusions
It takes viewers an average of 35 seconds to solve the brainteaser, and see the jokers.
So spotting both in 10 seconds means you’ve got 20/20 vision and then some.
One in ten people attempting the brainteaser give up altogether.
It might seem a bit daunting at first, but the trick is to carefully examine each section of the image.
You might wish to start from the top left corner of the image and work your way down, or maybe do the complete opposite – whatever gives you more confidence!
Another useful tactic is picking an element of the picture – in this case a card – and analyse what’s around it.
Everyone can see the famous painting – but you have 20-20 vision if you can spot the 3 differences in under 5 seconds
Still struggling to figure this one out? Have a look at the solution image at the bottom to check if you were close enough.
The two jokers blend very neatly into their backgrounds, making them very hard to spot.
The first one is tucked into the card dealer’s shirt on the front table.
Only the end of the card pokes out, making it tough to see.
The second one is up against the screen of the second slot machine on the right of the image.
How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me?
Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions.
Some benefits include:
Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility.
Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function.
Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes.
Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus.
Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief.
Taking ten seconds to differentiate between the jokers and their backgrounds is no small task.
Did you know that solving optical illusions is a great way of training your brain and improving creative thinking?
Brainteasers are purposefully designed to trick our vision and can be used as simple determiners of intelligence.
