She showed that the coupons include a free Lidl tote bag, a bakery item, and fresh fruit.
Chloe said: “So go to Lidl and get a pastry and some fruit, or you could even get stuff to make avocado on toast. There’s loads of options.”
She added: “You’ve got a free breakfast and a bag to carry it home in.”
In the caption section, Chloe also explained that there’s “no minimum spend so you can get these freebies without buying anything else.”
Five Lidl rosés you need this summer, according to a wine expert – a £6.99 buy is as light & crispy as £22 Whispering Angel
The video received 78.5 views and 74 comments after four days of being shared on her account.
Many wanted to share their excitement after hearing the news.
One wrote: “Got mine. Thank you for sharing.”
A second added: “Free strawberries! I’m going to get everyone in my house to download it!”
Whilst a third said: “It’s true, I had also downloaded the Lidl app, from which I also got this shopping bag, muffins and many other things.”
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There are specific steps to take when downloading the app
Why do Aldi and Lidl have such fast checkouts
IF you’ve ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you’ll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff.
Aldi’s speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals.
It’s all part of Aldi’s plan to be as efficient as possible – and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers.
Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process.
It also uses “shelf-ready” packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock.
On May 29th, Elon Musk officially stepped down from his role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), concluding a 130-day tenure marked by controversy and unmet fiscal goals. His departure follows public criticism of a Republican-backed spending bill that, contrary to DOGE’s mission, significantly increases the federal deficit. This development underscores the complex interplay between political affiliations, corporate responsibilities, and the influence of high-profile individuals on emerging financial markets.
His resignation marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing scrutiny of his leadership and its impact on Tesla. While Musk’s departure from DOGE was intended to refocus attention on Tesla, it has done little to ease growing concerns among investors and the public about his commitment to the company’s core goals of innovation and sustainability. Instead of restoring confidence, the move has highlighted deeper issues within Tesla, as the company continues to struggle with declining sales and mounting reputational challenges. These concerns are compounded by perceptions that Musk’s attention is divided, raising questions about whether he remains fully dedicated to steering Tesla through a critical period of transformation. As a result, his leadership is now under intensified scrutiny, with stakeholders demanding clearer direction and renewed focus on the values that once defined Tesla’s pioneering identity.
Tesla Takedown as a Global Backlash Against Musk
The hashtag #TeslaTakedown trended widely on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms in early 2025, marking a global protest movement targeting Tesla and its founder, Elon Musk. Activists across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia called for divestment from Tesla by urging individuals and institutions to sell off their vehicles and shares. The movement was sparked by a series of controversial decisions by Musk, most notably his decision to join the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which critics say undermined public trust in Tesla’s independence.
Even before the protest gained global momentum, Tesla was already grappling with unstable corporate performance, particularly in the stock market. In the first quarter of 2025, Tesla ranked among the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500, with shares losing over a third of their value. This significant decline was largely fueled by public backlash against Musk’s aggressive efficiency policies under DOGE, which disrupted Tesla’s operations. Meanwhile, Tesla’s electric vehicles have struggled to maintain market share amid a surge of Chinese EVs dominating Asian and European markets. This fierce competition has led to weakened demand, production slowdowns, and mass layoffs. The company is currently laying off more than 10% of its global workforce—its largest reduction in four years—underscoring declining sales and the ongoing failure to deliver an affordable EV in the face of a price war with Chinese rivals. In addition, Tesla reported a gross profit margin of just 17.6% in Q4, the lowest in over four years.
Sustainability is a myth to Musk.
The situation deteriorated further when the United States, under the Trump administration, withdrew from the Paris Agreement, casting fresh doubts on Musk’s environmental commitments, especially given his newly acquired role within the administration. Tesla has long branded itself as a green tech pioneer committed to zero-emission vehicles and the reduction of carbon emissions. The company’s stated goal is to operate fully carbon-neutral factories to help create a more sustainable future. However, this commitment was called into question in 2022 when Tesla was removed from the S&P 500 ESG Index. Established in 2019, the index evaluates companies based on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Tesla’s removal prompted Musk to publicly denounce ESG as a scam, citing examples of tobacco companies receiving higher ESG ratings than Tesla, despite its focus on clean energy innovation. S&P justified the decision by pointing to allegations of racial discrimination and a failure to maintain a healthy workplace environment. In response, Tesla issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to equity and non-discrimination, after which it was eventually reinstated.
Tesla’s ESG Commitment and Consumer Trust
Musk’s dual role as both the head of multiple tech companies and a government bureaucrat places him in a difficult position, torn between saving his company and navigating political criticism. On one hand, Tesla’s poor ESG record with S&P has made Musk skeptical of ESG initiatives; on the other, public trust in Tesla’s electric vehicles, which are projected to play a key role in future sustainable innovation, is at risk. Without substantial reform, the divestment movement could continue to grow. The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement signals a loosening of domestic environmental policies, including the blocking of EV subsidies, increased fossil fuel production, and a backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Following the U.S. withdrawal, many investors divested from their holdings, indicating a decline in ESG funds, with an estimated outflow of up to 6.1 billion US dollars in the first three months of 2025, after 4.3 billion US dollars had already been withdrawn in the last quarter of 2024.
The U.S. policy towards environmental issues directly contradicts Musk’s goals for Tesla as a leader in sustainable technology and creates serious challenges for the company in fulfilling ESG commitments. Trump’s open support for Musk amid the #TeslaTakedown controversy, even going so far as to call the protests a form of domestic terrorism, has only damaged Tesla’s reputation further. Trump also praised Musk’s budget-cutting measures, especially the termination of DEI-related contracts. This endorsement has triggered a decline in Tesla’s stock and raised investor concerns about Musk’s political entanglements with the Trump administration. Additionally, Tesla’s long history of overpromising and underdelivering, such as missing production targets or releasing products that differ sharply from initial announcements, has damaged its credibility and fueled accusations of greenwashing. Societal skepticism toward Tesla’s commitment to sustainable innovation continues to grow.
Blurred Lines Between Politics and Business
Elon Musk’s resignation from DOGE marks a crucial step toward repairing Tesla’s reputation, which had noticeably declined in early 2025. This move signals a renewed focus on Tesla’s core mission, including the return of customers who had grown skeptical of the company’s commitment to sustainable innovation. It underscores the difficult reality that balancing dual roles as a politician and a business leader is inherently vulnerable to conflicts of interest and that one must be prioritized to meet customer expectations effectively. Musk’s involvement with DOGE indicated that he placed political ambitions, particularly those aligned with Trump, above Tesla’s fundamental goals. Trump’s strong influence shaped policy decisions that reflected his controversial and dismissive approach to criticism, which conflicted with Tesla’s values and threatened the company’s commitment to sustainability.
Sustainable leadership is essential for building authentic commitments that resonate with the public, and the #TeslaTakedown movement serves as a clear wake-up call for Musk. Ultimately, only by drawing a clear line between business and politics can Tesla rebuild public trust, regain its competitive edge, and chart a sustainable path forward.
The budget airline has announced that it will be launching a new flight route to a little-known European city from October, with fares starting from just £15
Ryanair has launched a new flight to a pretty European city(Image: Getty Images)
Ryanair has unveiled plans to introduce a new flight route to the lesser-known European city of Rzeszów in Poland, starting from October. The budget airline will operate flights twice a week to and from the Polish city.
This development follows the cancellation of five flights from its Maastricht base, including Alicante, Bari, Girona, Porto, and Zadar, and the confirmation of the base’s closure after October 2025.
AirAdvisor experts have scrutinised these changes, suggesting that the airline is pivoting towards destinations with heavy diaspora populations and underused regional airports.
They elaborated: “Ryanair’s route reshuffle sends two clear signals: regional airports in the UK are getting more love, while underperforming bases like Maastricht are being cut loose.
Ryanair will be offering a twice-weekly route between Edinburgh and Rzeszów in Poland(Image: Getty Images)
“For UK passengers, this creates more direct options from places like Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Norwich, but also leaves them exposed to short-notice route cancellations.”
The launch of this flight route in October provides the Polish community in Scotland with a more affordable alternative for flying back to Poland over the Christmas period.
Fares are set to range between £15 and £30, resulting in savings of approximately £20 to £50 compared to booking routes with connections, reports the Express.
Those planning to capitalise on cheaper routes for their winter holidays can also consider Rzeszów as a destination, complete with a charming Christmas market.
Rzeszów Christmas markets make for a stunning winter getaway(Image: Getty Images)
And the market square makes for a great historical and cultural destination even when it isn’t the festive season.
Taking to TripAdvisor, one visitor wrote: “The History of Market Square in Rzeszów dates back to the 15th century, but the current look of the market is much different from its original form.
“It is the result of a great fire which broke out in the 19th century. No matter what, it is nowadays beautiful as well, especially during early morning or evening.”
While another added: “Remarkable selection of things to eat and drink for dinner and dessert or appetiser for noshing while you sit and watch the world go by. Absolutely beautiful in all the seasons.”
IF your child’s birthday is coming up and the thought of splashing the cash on a lavish cake sends shivers down your spine, fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
A mother has revealed that rather than forking out hundreds of pounds for a personalised cake for her daughter’s birthday, she DIY-ed a supermarket buyCredit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa
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For less than £20, Amy was able to celebrate her child’s birthday in styleCredit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa
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Amy nabbed the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake from WaitroseCredit: Waitrose
But in a bid to save cash, one savvy mum took matters into her own hands and was able to cut costs by DIY-ing her little darling’s birthday dessert.
Posting on social media, a mother named Amy shared a step-by-step tutorial of how she DIY-ed her daughter Myla’s pink birthday cake – and it cost her less than £20.
So if you’re on a budget and your purse is feeling tighter than ever before, then you’ll need to listen up.
The pink coloured golden sponge cake, which is filled with raspberry jam and topped and decorated with pale pink and dark pink buttercream, cost Amy just £18.
Then, using some pink icing and ribbons she already had, she was able to personalise the cake – and we think it looks incredibly professional.
Alongside a short clip shared online, the influencer penned: “Making my daughter’s first birthday cake, saving £100s!”
Showing off the box-fresh vintage-style cake, which is decorated with whirls and swirls of piping, Amy beamed: “Come with me to DIY my daughter’s first birthday cake for only £18!”
Amy confirmed that she used letter cutters to cut out “Myla is one” in pink icing, which she placed on top of the cake.
Following this, she attached pretty pink bows, which she already had from Shein, and was able to stick these to the cake with cocktail sticks.
The simple chocolate cake recipe using only TWO ingredients – it’s sweet and you won’t even need to put it in the oven
We think Amy’s DIY cake looks brilliant and is a great way for those strapped for cash to save money, without having to scrimp on the celebrations.
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @mummyandmylaa, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 178,600 views.
Not only this, but it’s also amassed 2,782 likes, 31 comments and 780 saves.
Social media users were impressed with the jaw-dropping cake and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this.
Time-saving mum hacks
Morning Routine
Nighttime Preparation: Set out clothes for yourself and the kids, pack lunches, and organise backpacks before bed.
Effortless Breakfasts: Keep simple, healthy breakfast options on hand, such as overnight oats, smoothie packs, or pre-made breakfast burritos.
Meal Planning
Weekly Meal Prep: Dedicate time each week to plan your meals to eliminate daily decision-making.
Bulk Cooking: Prepare larger quantities and freeze portions for future use.
Hands-Off Cooking: Make use of slow cookers or Instant Pots for easy, unattended meal prep.
Ready-to-Use Veggies: Purchase pre-chopped vegetables or chop them all at once to save time during the week.
Household Chores
Daily Laundry: Do a load of laundry every day to prevent a buildup of dirty clothes.
Continuous Cleaning: Encourage kids to clean up after themselves and perform small cleaning tasks throughout the day.
Efficient Multitasking: Fold laundry while watching TV or listen to audiobooks/podcasts while cleaning.
Organisation
Family Command Centre: Set up a central hub with a calendar, to-do lists, and important documents.
Daily Decluttering: Spend a few minutes each day decluttering to maintain an organised home.
Organised Storage: Use bins and baskets to keep items neat and easy to locate.
Kid Management
Prepared Activity Bags: Have bags packed with essentials for various activities (e.g., swimming, sports).
Routine Visuals: Implement visual charts to help kids follow their routines independently.
Task Delegation: Assign age-appropriate chores to children to foster responsibility and reduce your workload.
One person said: “Love that. Wish I hadn’t already ordered a cake almost the exact same.”
Another added: “This is genius!”
A third commented: “Super cute!”
Not only this, but another parent beamed: “Omg that cake is adorable, I wish I knew about it before!”
This is genius!
TikTok user
At the same time, one user wondered: “What it nice? I worry that supermarket cakes can be dry inside as they are sat on the aisle for a while.”
To this, the content creator replied and confirmed: “Not dry at all!!!
“Honestly, it tasted AMAZING, no regrets!!!”
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — On Jan. 1, Pete Buttigieg’s second term ended, and the “Mayor Pete” era in South Bend was over. In the Democratic presidential candidate’s telling, he presided over a Rust Belt comeback story in Indiana’s fourth-largest city, a metaphor for what is possible elsewhere in America.
Before Buttigieg took office in 2012, downtown had been moribund for decades. Aging, abandoned homes dragged down spirits in poorer neighborhoods. Unemployment was high, wages low, evictions common. White residents were fleeing by the thousands. A Newsweek article declared South Bend, population 101,860, one of America’s “dying cities.”
For the record:
11:05 a.m. Jan. 9, 2020An earlier version of this story said Pete Buttigieg had called his demotion of South Bend’s black police chief his “first serious mistake as mayor.” Buttigieg wrote in his memoir that the mistake was his initial support of the chief.
Today, unemployment in the Greater South Bend area is less than 4%, down from nearly 10%; development has accelerated in the city’s downtown; and the population has stopped shrinking. Local business boosters recently raised street banners that said, “Thanks Mayor Pete.”
“South Bend’s trajectory has been transformed,” Buttigieg said in his farewell address to the city’s Common Council on Dec. 9.
Pete Buttigieg appeals to Democrats anxious to win back Rust Belt voters who defected from the party in 2016.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
That’s the resume that Buttigieg is promoting to make the jump from mayor to president. It’s a part of his appeal to Democrats who are anxious to win back Rust Belt voters who defected from the party in 2016.
But there’s a hitch. Among residents of color, who make up nearly half of South Bend’s population, reviews of Buttigieg’s legacy are noticeably mixed — some positive, some outright hostile.
The local criticism has taken on national importance in the Democratic primary, where he has struggled to attract voters who aren’t white. It’s a weakness that’s been offset by Buttigieg’s significant support in the two states that hold the first nominating contests, Iowa and New Hampshire, where black and Latino voters are deeply underrepresented compared with the Democratic Party overall.
“Pete isn’t ready to lead the free world, a world of huge diversity and tremendous need. He is not ready. That’s all I can say behind that,” said Common Council member Henry Davis Jr., one of Buttigieg’s most vocal critics, who unsuccessfully ran against the mayor in 2015.
But other black leaders have rallied to Buttigieg’s side, including the area’s NAACP president, Michael Patton, who has said he’s “grateful to Mayor Pete” for his work.
Life remains a struggle for many South Bend residents. Poverty is still stubbornly high, and homeless residents are a regular sight.
The Greater South Bend area “has become more segregated between White and African American/Black residents since 2010,” according to a forthcoming regional housing report prepared by South Bend and neighboring Mishawaka. (The report did not examine segregation data in South Bend alone, though the city is by far the most populous town in the metropolitan statistical area that was analyzed.)
The city also has “one of the highest foreclosure rates in the United States,” with an eviction rate that is “extremely high,” the report said. In South Bend, racial discrimination is the primary factor cited by tenants when making fair-housing complaints, bucking the national trend, where disability is the most common complaint, according to the report.
Buttigieg’s campaign defended his record, saying he devoted resources to a variety of programs to create affordable housing, fund home repairs and increase shelter capacity for homeless residents, while pointing to some forces that were beyond the city’s control.
“Indiana has pretty hostile laws toward tenants, unfortunately,” campaign spokesman Sean Savett said of the city’s foreclosure and eviction numbers.
Nonprofit housing developer Seymour Barker in South Bend. He’s a fan of Pete Buttigieg.
(Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times)
Seymour Barker, 74, of Granger, Ind., who helps run a community development corporation, 466 Works, that receives grants from South Bend to help build new housing on the southeast side, said “the city has supported us every step of the way, and it’s all happened under the administration of Mayor Pete.”
“I can’t tell you the experience of other African Americans under him,” Barker said, “but that’s been our experience with him.”
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After taking office, Buttigieg went to work on the city’s blight, launching an initiative to repair or demolish 1,000 abandoned or derelict homes in 1,000 days, a goal he reached ahead of schedule.
Common Council member Regina Williams-Preston, an occasional critic from the city’s black community, accused Buttigieg of moving too quickly against property owners who didn’t have the money to make repairs right away. Buttigieg acknowledged the program needed some adjustments.
But other residents happily welcomed Buttigieg’s demolition work. On a recent Thursday afternoon in December, two South Bend Bureau of Streets trucks rumbled by as James Underwood strung up Christmas lights outside a home on the 1100 block of Johnson Street, the block that saw the most houses targeted for repair or removal, according to city data.
As a result of that program, Underwood, a 60-year-old factory worker, bought a condemned home to fix up, between shifts, to give to one of his four children. He’s still trying to track down the absentee owner to finalize the sale, but he couldn’t be happier that two abandoned “eyesores” across the street had been razed.
“I would put a vote toward him because of what he did in this neighborhood and others,” Underwood said of Buttigieg. As he spoke, city workers in green vests piled out of their trucks to clear leaves from the sidewalks outside a home charred by a fire.
A South Bend home destroyed by fire.
(Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times)
As Buttigieg progressed through his administration, he benefited from some fortunate timing. He arrived in office after the worst shocks of the Great Recession and then served through an uninterrupted run of national growth.
During Buttigieg’s first year, South Bend processed construction permits for commercial and residential projects valued at $69.8 million, city data showed. Within four years, in 2016, that figure had blossomed to $190 million.
Buttigieg harnessed that growth to lure new private investment. In the city’s downtown, Buttigieg invested public dollars to make the streets more walkable and to help finance some private development. Two new hotels opened, and young professionals started moving in, which boosted neighborhood merchants.
“He’s not afraid to ruffle feathers and get a job done that he thinks needs to be done,” South Bend restaurant owner Peg Dalton says of Buttigieg.
(Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times)
When South Bend native Peg Dalton opened her restaurant in 2001, since renamed Peggs, “there was literally not a car on the street,” she said. As she spoke to a reporter, the spaces outside her restaurant that day were all taken.
Buttigieg cultivated local business leaders to draw support for his political initiatives, according to Dalton, telling them on issues such as raising pay for city workers or changing the flow of city streets downtown: “I need your support on the ground.”
“He’s not afraid to ruffle feathers and get a job done that he thinks needs to be done,” said Dalton, 55.
One of the biggest changes to South Bend under Buttigieg’s administration was the growth of the city’s Latino population, now estimated to make up more than 15% of the city’s residents. Buttigieg pushed for an identification-card program designed so residents without ID, including immigrants, could get access to social services.
Paul Beltran, 33, a healthcare case manager who emigrated from Ecuador, credited Buttigieg for being “accessible and present.”
(Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times)
Paul Beltran, 33, a healthcare case manager who emigrated from Ecuador and a volunteer at his church, Vida Nueva Church of God, credited Buttigieg for being “accessible and present” and for the times he addressed residents in Spanish.
“It’s not 100% fluent,” Beltran said of Buttigieg’s Spanish, but “he could carry a conversation, to a point.”
Nanci Flores, a prominent local activist, said there was still work to be done to assist the city’s immigrant community. But “even when we don’t always get it right, I still see a city working to follow a compassionate and inclusive example,” Flores said.
Buttigieg’s relationship with black residents, who make up more than a quarter of the city’s population, has been much rockier.
Some black residents began distrusting Buttigieg when he demoted the black police chief less than three months after arriving in office. There were allegations that the chief had improperly recorded white officials accused of making racist comments. In his memoir, Buttigieg wrote that initially supporting the chief had been his “first serious mistake as mayor.”
Tensions erupted in June after a white South Bend police officer shot and killed a black man, Eric Jack Logan. The officer, who didn’t have his body camera turned on, said Logan had threatened him with a knife. Angry black residents heckled Buttigieg at a town hall meeting. “We don’t trust you!” one woman shouted.
“It’s a mess. And we’re hurting,” Buttigieg said of the shooting in the June presidential debate.
As with many such protests around the nation, the angst went much deeper than a single shooting.
“I have been here all my life, and you have not done a damn thing about me or my son or none of these people out here,” Logan’s distraught mother, Shirley Newbill, told Buttigieg at a protest. “It’s time for you to do something.”
But Underwood, the factory worker, who is black, said he thought some of the criticism of Buttigieg was “overblown.”
“One guy can’t fix all the problems,” Underwood said. “You can’t blame one guy.”
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that China is preparing to invade Taiwan. Hegseth made the comments at a global defence meeting in Singapore. Chinese officials rejected the allegations as ‘defamatory’.
By Jonathan Parks-Ramage Bloomsbury: 384 pages, $30 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores
Mason Daunt said he would pick up the flowers himself. Like Mrs. Dalloway, he spends the day leading up to his big party — in his case a baby shower in Los Angeles — reminiscing and worrying. Unlike Virginia Woolf’s titular heroine, though, Mason is distracted from his errands by a billionaire with a penis statue emergency, a session with a wolfman dom in his favorite virtual reality dungeon and, as if that weren’t enough, a minor zombie apocalypse.
Jonathan Parks-Ramage knows exactly what he’s doing in evoking bourgeoisie Clarissa Dalloway’s routine in the opening section of his new novel, “It’s Not the End of the World.” Woolf’s most famous book is about an upper-class woman’s busy day, sure, but it’s also about the ways in which she is caged by the very expectations that come with her privilege, and it’s counterbalanced by the cultural uneasiness following World War I and the delusions and ultimate suicide of the novel’s other main character, PTSD-ridden Septimus Smith. Parks-Ramage takes the idea of a wealthy, sometimes frivolous main character getting ready for a party and dials it up to 11. But then, in an ambitious move that brings a delightful element of camp to the novel, he abandons that relatively safe and simple premise in favor of an exercise in maximalism. Which is to say that his plot goes off the rails — and it works.
Over the course of the first third or so of “It’s Not the End of the World,” readers learn about Mason Daunt and his world. It’s 2044, Mason is a white gay artist married to Yunho Kim, a formerly successful Korean American screenwriter recently blacklisted after being questioned by the House Anti-American Speech Committee, and the two are having a baby via a surrogate, Astrid. Money is never far from Mason’s mind, and he’s constantly aware of how much he and Yunho are spending: $10,000 a month for Astrid and her girlfriend Claudia’s L.A. rental; $100,000 on the baby shower, including a WeatherMod fee to ensure that the cloud seeding technology company will get rid of the pesky wildfire smoke and leave Mason and Yunho’s backyard to bask in L.A.’s promised sunshine.
Mason has everything, it seems: a loving and virile husband, a mansion, a closeted gay billionaire buying up his morally vacant art, and the latest iOSCerebrum installed in his brain (which, in order to make the virtual BDSM dungeon he goes to authentic, is “synced with his state-of-the-art ThrashJacketTM to ensure authentic haptic violence”). What could go wrong?
Only everything, of course. As the day’s events unfold, interrupted by flashbacks of the 14 months leading up to it, a mysterious pink fog begins to appear around L.A. No one knows what it is, but wherever it descends, people seem to lose their minds. By the time Mason gets home, he’s witnessed a brutal amount of violence perpetrated by those who’ve inhaled the pink fog. Parks-Ramage delights in the gory details, the intestines and missing flesh and dangling jawbones, bringing Mason up close and personal with the ugliness that he is, otherwise, guiltily but only intellectually aware of (Mason’s sessions with Vex, his dom, involve being shamed for his wealth and his part in deepening inequality amid worsening climate change). If you’ve seen “Sinners,” and enjoyed the campiness of its vampires, you’ll have fun with the not-technically-but-functionally zombies Parks-Ramage deploys in this section of the book.
Much like the worst kind of gender reveal party, Mason and Yunho’s baby shower has consequences. Mason, shockingly still alive following the shower’s events, is charged with murder. Yunho, Astrid, her baby and Claudia have all disappeared from Mason’s life, although they are, unbeknownst to him, living in one of his mansions in Montana, and have started a utopian anarchist commune with three dozen or so people. Most of the sections that take place on the ranch closely adhere to the perspective of 4-year-old Gabriel, the child of Mason and Yunho’s good friends and business partners. At first Gabriel is very happy on the ranch, living with their care pod, but as tensions are ratcheted up with a local militia, they’re increasingly exposed to violence and trauma.
Parks-Ramage doesn’t sugarcoat how bad things could get and, in fact, leans into the absurdities of what the world might look like if climate change continues unabated, American democracy crumbles even further and billionaires meddling in government gain more legitimacy (a basically immortal Peter Thiel turns up in the novel’s last section).
“It’s Not the End of the World” is a wild ride of a novel. Its ridiculous moments are clearly deliberate, and it’s not subtle — but as Mason used to think in college when his classmates critiqued his artwork for being too on the nose, “Well, the world was on fire so what was the point of being elliptical and academic?” Sometimes you have to laugh so you won’t cry — and as is usually the case with camp, there is something true and painful running beneath the humor.
In this case, it’s the question of children: Why do we have them? Are they our hope for the future or the reason we maintain an illusion of hope? Are they merely a way to give ourselves a pretense of immortality? Parks-Ramage doesn’t come to a specific conclusion, and although some of his more righteous characters seem to be firmly on the reproduction-is-immoral side, his depiction of Gabriel’s childlike wonder and imagination is tender and loving. It’s a good reminder that, no matter how awful or hopeless things get, we can still imagine dragons.
Masad, a books and culture critic, is the author of the novel “All My Mother’s Lovers” and the forthcoming novel “Beings.”
The European country chooses between conservative historian Karol Nawrocki and pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.
Poles are voting in a decisive presidential run-off that could have a major impact on the nation’s future role in the European Union.
Polling began at 7am local time (05:00 GMT), with pro-EU Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski from the centre-right Civic Platform of the governing Civic Coalition facing off against conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party.
(Al Jazeera)
The run-off follows a tightly contested first round on May 18, in which Trzaskowski won just more than 31 percent, and Nawrocki won nearly 30 percent, eliminating 11 other candidates.
The winner will succeed incumbent Andrzej Duda, the outgoing nationalist conservative president who was also backed by PiS and blamed for holding up justice reforms by using his veto against Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist government.
The campaign has highlighted stark ideological divides, with the outcome expected to determine whether Poland continues along a nationalist path or pivots more decisively towards liberal democratic norms.
Trzaskowski, the 53-year-old son of a famous jazz musician, has promised to restore judicial independence, ease abortion restrictions and promote constructive ties with European partners.
Nawrocki, a 42-year-old former boxer, who is favoured by United States President Donald Trump, has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Polish values, and is sceptical of the EU.
Amid rising security fears over Russia’s war on Ukraine, both the candidates support aid to Kyiv, though Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for neighbouring Ukraine, while Trzaskowski supports it.
The two candidates have taken a similarly hardline approach to immigration, both using anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, building on growing resentment among Poles who see themselves as competing for strained social services with 1.55 million Ukrainian war refugees and migrants.
While Trzaskowski has proposed that only working Ukrainians should have access to the country’s child benefit, Nawrocki has gone further, saying he would also be against Ukraine joining NATO or even the EU.
Polls close at 9pm (19:00 GMT) when an exit poll is expected. Final results are likely to be announced on Monday.
Re “Tribe Risks Rejection, Pushes Plan for Casino Near Capital,” Dec. 20: Native American gaming on nonreservation land would set a dangerous precedent and absolutely should not be allowed. Granting permission to even one such tribe places us on a slippery slope that could quickly turn into a landslide of applications for similar treatment by the many tribes that are suddenly appearing from seemingly out of nowhere. I am against any and all tribal gaming, as I believe it is inherently unfair to allow them to profit in an untaxed manner while other Californians, by virtue of their ethnic roots, are not allowed the same privilege. This is a very clear example of an “uneven playing field.”
In an extremely short period of time since approval of the 2000 ballot proposal that guaranteed tribes this unfair business advantage, Native American tribes have parlayed huge gaming profits into tremendous political clout. As political contributions and lobbying from tribal windfalls continue to increase, Californians can only expect to see more perks and political favors go inequitably to these “impoverished” tribes and their wealthy financial backers. This nonsense needs to stop now.
Moses Swaibu was one of the brightest prospects in Crystal Palace’s youth ranks, but he ended up in a shady world of cash, danger and fixing rather than football’s limelight.
Nile Ranger was a £10,000-a-week Newcastle United “wonderkid” with the world at his feet before his off-pitch behaviour attracted more headlines than his talent on it.
Twenty-six Palestinians have been killed and 150 injured in Israeli tank shelling and gunfire near an aid distribution centre in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to medics and local residents.
Mohammed Ghareeb, a local journalist in Rafah, told the BBC that thousands of Palestinians had gathered near a US-backed humanitarian aid distribution centre when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd.
Local journalists and activists shared harrowing footage of bodies and wounded individuals being transported on donkey carts to the Red Cross field hospital in the al-Mawasi area of Rafah, as rescue teams were reportedly unable to reach the scene.
The BBC has contacted the IDF for a response.
Mr Ghareeb said the crowd of Palestinians had gathered near Al-Alam roundabout around 04:30 local time (02:30 BST), close to the aid centre run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, shortly before Israeli tanks appeared and opened fire.
“The dead and wounded lay on the ground for a long time,” Mr Ghareeb said.
“Rescue crews could not access the area, which is under Israeli control. This forced residents to use donkey carts to transport victims to the field hospital.”
The Red Cross field hospital said 26 people had been killed and 150 injured.
Efforts were under way to transfer the casualties to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis for further treatment, the doctor added.
Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told the AFP news agency that more than 100 people were wounded “due to gunfire from Israeli vehicles towards thousands of citizens”.
The incident underscores the dire humanitarian conditions in Rafah, where recent Israeli military operations have severely limited access to aid and emergency services.
On Saturday, crowds of civilians rushed aid trucks in Gaza, the World Food Programme has said, as hunger and desperation create chaotic scenes.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a new US and Israel-backed organisation that has been distributing food at designated sites across Gaza. Israel set up the plan after accusing Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies.
The GHF said it distributed two million meals this week, which the BBC has not been able to independently verify.
Hamas responded to the US ceasefire proposal by saying it is prepared to release 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 dead hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners.
However, the group also repeated its demands for a permanent truce, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and guarantees for the continuous flow of humanitarian aid. None of these are in the deal on the table.
Hamas said it had submitted its response to the US draft proposed by Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East.
Witkoff said the proposal was “unacceptable and only takes us backward” and insisted the US deal was “the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days.”
The forward made a claim of £46.5million against his former club, believing he was owed a signing bonus, his final three months’ salary and an “ethical” payment.
A much loved EastEnders star is tipped to return to the BBC show this year – reprising her role as one of the soap’s most iconic characters a full 20 years after she walked away
CLOVIS, Calif. — Overcoming intense pressure to quit from President Trump, dozens of local protesters and other prominent critics of transgender athletes in girls’ sports, 16-year-old AB Hernandez bounded past many of her peers to win multiple gold medals at California’s high school track and field championships Saturday.
The transgender junior from Jurupa Valley High School — who competed despite a directive from Trump that she be barred from doing so — won state titles in the girls’ triple jump and the girl’s high jump and took second place in the girls’ long jump.
Hernandez’s success at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis came amid high heat — with temperatures above 100 degrees for much of the day — and under an intense spotlight.
Earlier in the week, Trump had said on social media that he was “ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow” Hernandez to compete, wrongly alleging she had won “everything” in a prior meet and calling her “practically unbeatable.” Protesters gathered outside the meet both Friday and Saturday to denounce her inclusion and the LGBTQ+-friendly state laws allowing it.
Despite all that, Hernandez appeared calm and focused as she competed. When her name was announced for the long jump, she waved to the crowd. When she was announced for the high jump, she smiled.
Hernandez beat out all other competitors in the triple jump, though the runner-up was also awarded 1st place under new rules established by the California Interscholastic Federation after Trump issued his threats.
Hernandez tied with two other girls in the high jump, with the three of them all clearing the same height and sharing the gold.
Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, heaped praise on her after the events in a statement provided to The Times, saying, “As your mother, I cannot fully express how PROUD I am of you.”
“Watching you rise above months of being targeted, misunderstood, and judged not by peers, but by adults who should’ve known better, has left me in awe of your strength,” her mother said. “Despite it all, you stayed focused. You kept training, you kept showing up, and now you’re bringing THE GOLD HOME!!!
During some of Hernandez’s jumps, a protester could be heard on a bullhorn from outside the Buchanan High School stadium chanting “No boys in girls’ sports!” California Interscholastic Federation officials banned protest signs inside the facility, but outside protesters held a range of them — including ones that read “No Child Is Born in the Wrong Body,” “Trans Girls Are Boys: CIF Do Better,” and “She Trains to Win. He takes the trophy?”
Josh Fulfer, a 46-year-old father and conservative online influencer who lives near the stadium, said he was the protester on the bullhorn. He said Hernandez should not have been competing — regardless of how she placed — because her presence in the competition had a negative “psychological effect” on her cisgender competitors.
“I stand with truth,” he said. “Males should not be pretending to be females, and they shouldn’t be competing against female athletes.”
Loren Webster, a senior from Wilson High School in Long Beach who beat Hernandez in the long jump, said she wasn’t giving Hernandez much thought — instead, she was focused on her own performance.
“It wasn’t any other person I was worried about. I knew what I was capable of,” Webster said. “I can’t control the uncontrollable.”
A child holds a protest sign alongside a family member and others opposed to transgender athlete AB Hernandez competing in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships, at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
The intense focus on Hernandez over two days of competition Friday and Saturday reflected a broad rise in conservative outrage over transgender girls competing in sporting events nationwide, despite their representing a tiny fraction of competitors. It also reflected a concerted effort by Trump and other prominent conservative figures to single out Hernandez, individually, as an unwitting poster child for such concerns.
Recent polls, including one conducted by The Times last year, have shown that many Americans support transgender rights, but a majority oppose transgender girls participating in youth sports. California has long defended transgender kids and their right to participate in youth athletics, but other states have increasingly moved to limit or remove such rights entirely.
Marci Strange supports protestors as they protest against transgender athlete AB Hernandez competing In the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships, at Veterans Memorial Stadium In the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
Trump first latched onto transgender issues with fervor during his presidential campaign, spending millions of dollars on anti-transgender political ads. Since being elected, he has issued a wave of executive orders and other policies aimed at rolling back transgender rights and protections.
Again and again, Hernandez has been singled out in that discussion.
Earlier this week, Trump referenced Hernandez in a social media post in which he said his administration would cut federal funding to California if it didn’t block her from competing in this weekend’s state finals and more broadly get in line with his executive order purporting to ban transgender youth from participating in school sports nationwide.
The following day, U.S. Justice Department officials referenced Hernandez again, announcing the launch of an investigation into whether California, its interscholastic sports federation and the Jurupa Unified School District are violating the civil rights of cisgender girls by allowing transgender students such as Hernandez to compete in sports.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez competed for Jurupa Valley High School in the high jump at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
At the meet Friday and Saturday, Hernandez often blended in with the hundreds of other athletes, hardly drawing attention. She was less conspicuous by far than the protesters there to denounce her for competing.
Hernandez’s mother has pleaded with Trump and other adults in recent days to show her daughter compassion, calling it heartbreaking “every time I see my child being attacked, not for a wrongdoing, but simply for being who they are.”
She has said her daughter “is not a threat,” while the harassment directed at her is “not just cruel, it’s dangerous.”
Local protesters — some with ties to national conservative organizations — cast Hernandez’s competing in girls’ events in starkly different terms.
Before being escorted out by police, Sophia Lorey, outreach director for the conservative California Family Council, walked around the stadium Saturday wearing a hat reading, “Women’s Sports, Women Only.” She told members of the crowd that Hernandez was a boy and handed out pink “Save Girls’ Sports” bracelets and fliers directing people to an online petition calling on the California Interscholastic Federation to change its policies to bar transgender athletes from competition.
Trump administration officials have taken a similar stance.
In a letter Wednesday to interscholastic federation executive director Ronald W. Nocetti, Assistant Atty. Gen. Harmeet Dhillon, who was appointed by Trump to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, called Hernandez’s success in recent track and field events “alarming.” And she said the California policies allowing Hernandez to compete are a potential violation of Title IX, the 1972 federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs and other activities that receive federal funding.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez competed in three events including the high jump, triple jump and long jump at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
The remark came in a conversation on Newsom’s podcast in March, in which Hernandez was also singled out.
Kirk, a co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, asked Newsom whether he would voice his opposition to Hernandez competing in girls’ track and field events. Newsom said he agreed such situations were “unfair” but that he also took issue with “the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities,” including transgender people.
When Kirk suggested Newsom could say that he has “a heart for” Hernandez but still thinks her competing is unfair, Newsom again said he agreed.
Newsom has issued no such statement since. But, the playing field has shifted in California for transgender athletes since Trump started talking about Hernandez.
On Wednesday, the CIF announced a change in its rules for this weekend’s championships. Under the new rules, a cisgender girl who is bumped from qualifying for an event final by a transgender athlete will still advance to compete in the finals. In addition, the federation said, any cisgender girl who is beaten by a transgender competitor will be awarded whichever medal she would have claimed had the transgender athlete not been competing.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez competed for Jurupa Valley High School in the high jump at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
The CIF did not mention Hernandez by name in announcing its policy change, but it did make direct reference to the high jump, triple jump and long jump — the three events in which she was to compete.
Under the new rules, Hernandez shared her place on each of the event podiums with other girls.
The CIF did not respond to a list of questions about its new policy. A spokesman for Newsom applauded the change, but others were unimpressed.
Critics of transgender athletes rejected it as insufficient and demanded a full ban on transgender athletes. Fulfer, the protester on the bullhorn, said the CIF was “admitting that they’ve got it wrong for a long time” while still not doing enough to fix it — which Trump would see clearly.
“I hope Donald Trump sees what happens this weekend, and I hope he pulls the funding away from California,” Fulfer said.
LGBTQ+ advocates also criticized the rule change, but for different reasons, calling it a crass capitulation that singled out a teenager to appease a crowd of bullies picking a political fight.
“The fact that these same political players continue to bully and harass one child, even after CIF changed its policy, shows this was never about sports or fairness,” said Kristi Hirst, co-founder of the public education advocacy group Our Schools USA.
“It was simply about using a child, while compromising their personal safety on a national scale, to score political points and distract from the serious issues families and communities in this country are actually concerned about,” Hirst said, “affording groceries, the loss of health care, and access to quality teachers and resources in their public schools.”
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez competed for Jurupa Valley High School in the long jump at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
(Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)
Nereyda Hernandez said she hoped AB’s wins would serve as inspiration for other kids who feel “unseen.”
“To every young person watching, especially those who feel unseen or unheard, let AB be your reminder that authenticity, courage, and resilience shine BRIGHTER than hate,” she said. “It won’t be easy, but definitely worth it.”
It was a night when gnats came out by the hundreds at Cal State Fullerton’s Goodwin Field. Fans swatted them away. Players endured.
“In my ears, on my eyes,” said West Ranch pitcher Hunter Manning of the insect invasion. “You have to keep going.”
After 101 pitches in the Southern Section Division 2 championship game Saturday night, Manning celebrated by catching a pop fly for the final out with runners on second and third to close out a 2-1 win over Mater Dei and finish his senior season with a 10-0 pitching record as he heads off to UC Irvine.
It was the final game for coach Ryan Lindgreen, who is stepping down to devote more time to his three young children. Like last season when Hart coach Jim Ozella ended his coaching career with a Division 2 championship, Lindgreen got to celebrate the same way. West Ranch has decided not to play in next week’s Southern California regionals.
Errors got Mater Dei in trouble from the beginning, when a dropped fly ball off a hit by leadoff batter Landon Hu led to a West Ranch run in the first inning. Then a throwing error on a ground ball set up an RBI single by Ryan Oh in the fourth for a 2-0 lead.
Manning was in control for much of the game. He retired the first nine batters in order and finished with six strikeouts and no walks. But a one out error in the seventh gave Mater Dei an opening as Manning began to tire. Bradley Beaudreau singled and Brady Guth hit an RBI single to make it 2-1. After a flyout, Mater Dei had the tying and winning runs at second and third.
West Ranch players celebrate their Division 2 championship.
(Nick Koza )
On a 3-and-1 count to CJ Ciampa, Manning caught a pop up between home and first, launching the West Ranch celebratory dogpile. This team had two no-hitters in the playoffs and a walk-off hit from Ty Diaz in the semifinals to come away with the first championship in school history.
Glendora 2, San Dimas 0: Aaron Jacobsen delivered two doubles and the pitching duo of Tanner Gable and Brayden Johnson combined for the shutout in the Division 3 championship game.
Johnson threw the final 3⅔ innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts and no walks. Santiago Garza had three hits.
Pitcher Brayden Johnson of Glendora holds up championship plaque after 2-0 win over San Dimas in Division 3 final.
(Nick Koza)
Dramatic three-run triple in the bottom of the seventh gives Estancia 4-3 win over Pasadena Marshall in Division 6 final. pic.twitter.com/9RaomUFIKZ
Estancia 4, Pasadena Marshall 3: A three-run triple by Jake Humphries in the bottom of the seventh inning wiped out a 3-1 deficit and gave Estancia the Division 6 championship.
A major crisis is unfolding in Moldova, where Russia is using energy as a political weapon to influence the outcome of the autumn parliamentary elections. The first salvo came on Jan. 1, as Moscow halted the gas deliveries that had long provided low-cost electricity. Although Russia has since resumed gas flows to the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, the rest of Moldova has been left to grapple with soaring prices, growing public discontent, and rising pressure ahead of a crucial vote. The goal, quite clearly, is to derail the country’s European path and tip it back into Moscow’s orbit.
As is typical in the course of its geopolitical skullduggeries, Vladimir Putin’s regime has deployed disinformation, distractions, and complicated moves aimed at contriving a version of plausible deniability.
A dangerous dependency on Russia
Historically, Moldova has depended on Russian gas via a complex mechanism involving the separatist region, where a large power plant generated electricity for the rest of the country. But on Jan. 1, 2025, both Moldova proper and the separatist enclave were plunged into an energy crisis after Russian gas supplies were halted following the expiration of a transit agreement with Ukraine.
It was actually Kyiv, engaged in full-scale war with Russia, that declined to renew the longstanding deal that allowed Russian gas to flow westward through its territory—but the move was telegraphed for many months, and alternatives existed.
Mainly, Russia could have easily rerouted gas to Transnistria via the TurkStream and Trans-Balkan pipelines, which run through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. But it declined to do so, even as households and businesses in Moldova faced skyrocketing prices, and Transnistria itself remained without gas. Russia justified this by accusing Moldova of owing $709 million in unpaid gas bills — a claim that has been thoroughly debunked: An independent international audit commissioned in 2023 found the true amount owed by the Moldovan government to Gazprom was just $8.6 million.
In early February, the European Union stepped in to avert a humanitarian emergency. It provided €20 million in emergency aid to subsidize gas deliveries to Transnistria for 10 days — from February 1 to February 10 — enabling the region to restart electricity production for Moldova proper. This was from arranged external deliveries, supported through EU subsidies.
The EU then offered to extend this arrangement through mid-April with a larger €60 million package. But Transnistrian authorities rejected the offer, reportedly objecting to conditions that would have required greater transparency and price alignment with EU standards. Some analysts believe the refusal reflected a desire to maintain dependency on Moscow rather than risk deeper integration with the West. Others simply have concluded Moscow was calling the shots.
Indeed, by mid-February, Russia resumed gas supplies to Transnistria. Deliveries came through the expected detour involving the Black Sea, Turkey, and the Balkans. But it is no longer reaching Moldova—ostensibly by a decision of the separatists.
Moldova’s pro-European government, led by President Maia Sandu, is convinced these maneuvers amount to a deliberate attempt to punish its Western, pro-EU tilt and sway the upcoming September parliamentary elections toward pro-Russian opposition parties. In response, Moldova accelerated diversification efforts, sourcing electricity and natural gas from Romania and other EU partners—at far higher prices than before.
Russia is, of course, under no obligation to provide anyone with gas. But the timing of its move is no coincidence, and the impact has been staggering: In Moldova proper, gas prices are up 24%, electricity 75%, and heating bills 40%. Because of downstream effects, overall inflation is expected to exceed 30%, creating severe economic distress just months before the vote.
The energy crisis triggered a sharp spike in inflation in Moldova. In January 2025, the annual inflation rate jumped to 9.1% compared to a year earlier, up from 7.0% in December 2024, marking the steepest increase in recent months. This surge was largely driven by significant hikes in tariffs for heating, gas, and electricity, as well as rising prices for food and medicine.
The result is a textbook case of Russia’s energy leverage at work: create pain for adversaries, reward loyal proxies, and manipulate regional infrastructure to achieve geopolitical goals. In this instance, to erode trust in Moldova’s leadership and swing the election. If the pro-Russian opposition were to win the election, the result will be a global shock because in the middle of the Ukraine war, a small but strategically consequential European country will have fallen, seemingly voluntarily, back into the Kremlin orbit.
The episode underlines the need for a longer-term strategy: one that shores up Moldova, counters Russia’s manipulation, and keeps this EU-candidate country on track.
Why Moldova Matters
If Moldova is pulled back into Russia’s orbit, the consequences will ripple far beyond its borders. It would deal a serious blow to Ukraine, whose EU accession is closely tied to Moldova’s. A pro-Kremlin government in Chișinău could legitimize and make permanent the Russian military presence in Transnistria, which has been in place for decades, even though Moldova’s government has considered this illegal.
A move in this direction would further destabilize NATO’s eastern flank and threaten Romania, Poland, and the entire Black Sea region. Worse still, inviting Russian troops into Moldova proper itself would undermine Moldovan sovereignty and European security.
Success in Moldova would also validate this model of energy blackmail and electoral interference. If left unchecked, similar tactics could be deployed in the Baltic states, the Balkans, and other vulnerable regions, many of which still rely on Russian energy or face internal political divisions that Moscow can exploit. The message would be clear: Russia can strangle a country’s economy, manipulate public opinion, and tilt an election—all at virtually no cost.
What Europe Must Do
Europe’s effort to assist in February suggests that there is an understanding of the stakes. But to safeguard Moldova’s democratic path and broader European security, the EU must do far more — not only to confront the energy blackmail but also to mitigate its political and social consequences.
· Provide Massive Economic Aid to Offset Inflation: Moldova cannot afford Western market prices for energy. Inflation has already hit ordinary citizens hard, creating fertile ground for political discontent. A robust EU aid package must go beyond energy subsidies to include targeted social assistance, price caps, and support for small businesses. This is not just an act of solidarity—it’s a strategic imperative to prevent anti-European forces from exploiting popular frustration.
· Counter Russian Disinformation at Scale: Moscow’s propaganda machine is working overtime to pin the energy crisis on Moldova’s leadership. Europe must respond with a coordinated campaign to expose Russian tactics, debunk misinformation, and promote media literacy. One promising step is the EU’s decision to open an Eastern Partnership office in Moldova—the first of its kind in the region—with disinformation as a top priority. But far more investment in narrative warfare is needed.
· Fast-Track Moldova’s EU Membership: Most importantly, it’s time to stop viewing Moldova through a narrow bureaucratic lens. The country faces governance challenges, yes—but so did many prior EU entrants. Moldova’s small size (2.5 million people) makes integration manageable, while its geopolitical importance is undeniable. A fast-tracked accession process, similar to the one Ukraine has received, would send a powerful message: that Europe stands with its partners in their hour of need. And it would focus the minds of voters, counteracting the interference from Moscow.
Russia’s playbook is clear: create hardship, fuel resentment, and leverage democratic elections to install loyalist regimes that will cement authoritarianism and attempt to make permanent their hold on power. If it succeeds in Moldova, the European dream will be blocked from that country for a generation. Ukraine will be further isolated, and the Kremlin will chalk up another geopolitical win without firing a shot.
This is not just Moldova’s problem. It is Europe’s. It can be averted — but time is running out.
This seaside town in Yorkshire is home to an award-winning beach and newly rebuilt promenade, though it is unfortunately overlooked by flashier resort towns
Withernsea beach has been awarded a Blue Flag for its exceptional cleanliness(Image: HullLive/Donna Clifford)
You may not have heard of this charming seaside town, but that’s exactly why it should be the setting of your next staycation. Often overlooked by Brits who beeline for destinations like Filey and Scarborough, this Yorkshire town is ideal for a quiet, cultural escape.
Withernsea has all the landmarks of a classic British seaside resort, except for the massive crowds. Travellers can peruse the local fish and chip shops and arcades without the long queues and exceptional mark-ups, and also enjoy an award-winning beach in peace.
Withernsea’s beach stretches for miles along the clear waters of the North Sea. The beach has managed to keep its Blue Flag status by maintaining exceptional water quality standards and shore cleanliness, going above and beyond to ensure its facilities are well managed.
The seaside town also recently redesigned and rebuilt its promenade and now boasts garden and play areas, as well as an open-air stage for summer entertainment. On the promenade, the Pier Towers are now the last surviving parts of the once-thriving 19th century pier.
Visitors can take the 144 steps up to the top of Withernsea Lighthouse(Image: Hull Daily Mail / Hull Live)
Withernsea’s wide promenade reaches north and south from Pier Towers, the historic entrance to a once 1,200-foot long pier, built in 1877. The pier was continually reduced in length after consistent damage from ships before it was eventually removed in full.
While the pier is no longer there, the Pier Towers mark the place where it once stood and a model of the pier stands on the promenade close to the towers with plaques that describe its gradual demise. The Towers were fully restored in 2019 and are currently operated by the Withernsea Pier and Promenade Association.
The new Towers were opened to the public in June 2020 and contain several exhibitions and art and craft stalls. Within the structure, visitors can read the plans for the new Withernsea Pier, the Coastal Change Observatory, Windmills of Holderness and historic pictures of Withernsea.
Today, the Towers also represent the town’s maritime history, which can be explored at the museum located in the inland lighthouse. The famous lighthouse towers 127 feet above the beach and is the home of the Lighthouse Museum.
The town has become popular with retirees, though residents are worried about the local economy(Image: Peter Harbour)
The distinct serenity of the area has made the town particularly popular with retirees looking to escape the chaos of the city. Though there are growing concerns among residents about the local economy with a high turnover of independent businesses on the high street.
Valley Gardens is a must-visit spot, defined by its beautifully landscaped open space with ample seating. The Valley Gardens is the venue for the popular annual Summertime Special, and throughout the season its a hub for events in Withernsea.
Another annual event to keep an eye out for is Withernsea’s Blue Light Weekend. The event pays tribute to the emergency services and safety forces with a host of demonstrations from emergency teams.
The festival also has live entertainment, interactive exhibitions, games and food stalls. In 2025, the festival will run from August 2 to August 3.
Its been over 20 years since the first Unity Cup and since then it has yet to return however this year that all changed – The friendly competition is back but this time starring more countries than before.
06:30, 01 Jun 2025Updated 06:37, 01 Jun 2025
Nigeria came out on top, following the trend on from the original Unity Cup(Image: Getty Images)
This week, four nations with deep roots in the UK brought community, culture and football to Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium for the long-awaited return of the Unity Cup.
From steel pans and DJs to flags waving proudly in every direction, this was more than a football cup, it was a full on cultural link up and one that had been missing from the scene for twenty one years.
On Tuesday 27th May, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz beat Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors in a fierce Caribbean clash. The following day, Nigeria’s Super Eagles edged past Ghana’s The Black Stars, securing their place in the final. With the third-place match and final showdown happening on Saturday , fans showed up not just to support their teams but to celebrate community, culture and shared roots.
The Unity cup is back after two decades (Image: Getty Images)
What is the Unity Cup?
The Unity Cup is an international friendly football tournament originally launched in 2004, when teams from Nigeria, Jamaica and Ireland faced off at Charlton Athletic’s ground. Then it was a moment, now it’s a movement.
Two decades later, the tournament returned with clearer purpose: to celebrate the cultural impact of African and Caribbean communities in the UK, particularly in London. Where those communities have helped shape the city’s identity through food, music, language and history.
This year’s line-up features Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria and Ghana – four nations chosen for their heritage, their undeniable pride and their presence in the UK’s multicultural landscape.
From the food we eat, to the rhythms we dance to each of these cultures have left a mark in British identity in countless ways. The Unity Cup is a tribute to that legacy.
The first Unity Cup – Jamaica vs Ireland(Image: Getty Images)
Why Brentford?
It’s no coincidence that the tournament was hosted by Brentford FC. West London is known for its multicultural spirit, and Brentford’s commitment to inclusion made it the perfect stage.
Just weeks ago, the club was awarded the Premier League’s Intermediate Level for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (PLEDIS), highlighting their work both on and off the pitch – the decision to bring the Unity Cup her shows this wasn’t just a football event – it was a celebration designed to reflect the city.
From start to finish, the vibes were immaculate. On one end, a steel pan band played sweet melodies throughout the match. On the other, artist performances and DJs kept the energy high, soundtracking the day with bashment, afrobeats, gospel and everything in between.
Crowds were filled out in jerseys and flags, the crowd came with whistles ready. It wasn’t just a game – it felt like a mini carnival, with football as the headliner.
But beyond the party, there was a powerful undercurrent of unity. Because although every player on that pitch shares a Black identity, the cultural nuances between African and Caribbean communities are deep but the Unity Cup created space for both and what came from that space was a beautiful sight.
the real win was seeing the stands full of colour, culture, and connection in Brentford FC. (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
The Unity Cup created space for both and what came from that space was a beautiful sight.(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Brentford FC and NHS Blood & Transplant also used the event to host a ‘Bee A Hero’ blood donor drive – encouraging attendees to get their blood type tested and sign up as donors. This wasn’t a side initiative. It was central part of what made the Unity Cup feel different and deeply necessary.
This is especially important for Black communities, where conditions like sickle cell disproportionately affect lives. It the fastest-growing genetic condition in the UK. It causes excruciating pain, organ damage, and in many cases, lifelong complications. Treatment often relies on blood transfusions – but only 2% of donors in the UK are Black, even though over 55% of Black Londoners have the rare Ro subtype, which is crucial for sickle cell patients.
The Unity Cup didn’t just bring people together. It reminded them how they can help keep each other alive.
Before the big final, the third-place playoff saw Ghana beat Trinidad & Tobago 4-0, securing the bronze position after dominating both halves. But what most people really came to see is the fight for the first place title – Jamaica vs Nigeria.
The final match had all supporters on edge (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
The first half saw both teams scoring once, but in the final half the pressure was evident, the tackles were fiercer, the chants were louder – both teams were battling for the crown. The friendly competition started to look not so friendly.
But when the final whistle came, both teams had scored twice. Which left no option, but a penalty shootout – all eyes were peeled. In a tense final few minutes, Nigeria came out on top, edging past Jamaica after the Reggae Boyz missed a crucial spot-kick.
Whether it was the Reggae Boyz or the Super Eagles lifting the trophy, or you call it plan-tain or plan-tin, the real win was seeing the stands full of colour, culture, and connection in Brentford FC.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
A TOP doctor campaigning for pay rises and strike action has a sideline running two start-up companies, we can reveal.
Cardiologist Dr U Bhalraam is deputy co-chairman of the British Medical Association’s resident doctors committee — which is backing six more months of walkouts.
It is urging members to strike, claiming they are paid 23 per cent less in real terms than in 2008.
This is despite resident doctors — formerly known as junior doctors — getting an almost 30 per cent pay rise over the past three years.
On his website, Dr Bhalraam says he’s “focused on full pay restoration”.
But The Sun on Sunday has found that Dr Bhalraam has also set up two firms of which he is sole director and owner.
He launched Datamed Solutions Ltd, a data processing company, last June and just a few days later UBR Property Holdings Limited, which is described as a letting company.
They are both registered to his smart £330,000 house in Norwich, where he works at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Resident docs have taken industrial action 11 times since 2022, causing about 1.5million appointments to be cancelled.
A YouGov poll of 4,100 adults found almost half oppose the strikes.
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Dr U Bhalraam is deputy co-chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee — which is backing six more months of walkoutsCredit: Twitter
