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Woman says famous Scottish island ‘isn’t always like the videos you see online’

A woman who lives on one of Scotland’s most visited islands and shares her everyday life online has opened up on how it may not match what many tourists imagine

Colourful houses in Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland
A woman who lives on Scotland’s most popular island has shared how it’s not always as nice as tourists think (file)(Image: Westend61 via Getty Images)

Scotland is renowned for its breathtaking terrain featuring peaks, such as the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness. Countless visitors flock to the nation to experience its natural beauty and scenery, alongside attractions like historic castles.

The country is equally celebrated for its cultural heritage, made up of its diverse selection of whisky, tartan kilts, bagpipes and the traditional delicacy haggis. Scotland is believed to provide a tranquil retreat from England’s bustling cities, but one woman has revealed the stark truth about living on the nation’s most sought-after island, the Isle of Skye. Stretching 50 miles in length, it’s the biggest island in the Inner Hebrides, distinguished by its striking landscape and charming fishing communities.

Niamh Mackinnon, 22-years-old, documents her island life through clips on TikTok and YouTube.

In a recent TikTok upload, the Scottish local explained: “I live on the most popular island in Scotland and the reason we’re so popular is because of specific landscapes, one of them being the Old Man of Storr, so I thought today I would show you what it’s like at the height of summer because it might not be the picturesque, tranquil, peaceful dream that you are being sold online sometimes but we’ll see, let’s go.”

The Old Man of Storr is a soaring rocky formation on the Trotternish Ridge that is considered the most iconic hike on the Isle of Skye.

Niamh prepared for her journey to the beloved landmark, bundling up in several clothing layers, waterproof trousers and hiking boots.

As she arrived, Niamh was faced with rows of parked cars and dreary weather, prompting her to say: “I’m not trying to just complain in this vlog but the midges are so bad. I need to get a move on and look how busy it is.”

She embarked on the trek up the Old Man of Storr, but the conditions were far from ideal – grey skies, rain, fog, and a muddy path surrounded by grass.

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The young vlogger reflected on the changes over time: “I’m not even that old and there was a time when I was younger where you would come up here and know every single person that you passed. Tragic.”

Sitting amidst the bustle, Niamh shared her mixed feelings: “I’m just sitting here like looking at how busy it is and everything and I don’t know, this is when I start to feel a bit like hypocritical or like bad about how much I post Skye online because it also makes me sad seeing this place so busy when I remember a time when it was so quiet and peaceful.”

She continued, grappling with her emotions: “And of course it’s nice for other people in the world to get to experience this and it’s on my doorstep so I don’t wanna be greedy but yeah, it’s a weird feeling to be honest.”

Although the Old Man of Storr was the focus of her video, the fog meant it was barely visible.

Niamh concluded her video early, opting to head back down due to the wet conditions, crowds, and limited visibility of the Storr. She pointed out that this is “just the reality of Skye sometimes.”

Niamh’s TikTok video has racked up an incredible 2.4 million views, alongside thousands of likes and comments. A shocked viewer asked: “This is…the HEIGHT of summer???”

Another user shared their experience: “I know this weird feeling. It’s the same here in the Swiss alps.

“As a kid you knew almost everyone you met on a hike. Now it’s packed and most tourists don’t even say hello.”

A third remarked: “A lot of places seem to struggle with excessive tourism having a negative impact. Hope that a happy balance can be found for the area you live in.”

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‘Why isn’t he paying?’ Trump’s golf visit to cost Scottish taxpayers

It may not be typical golf attire, but one of the most ubiquitous outfits seen on President Trump’s golf course Friday ahead of his visit was the reflective yellow vest worn by Scottish police.

The standard issue garb that is far removed from the traditional Turnberry tartan was highly visible on the dunes, the beaches and the grass as thousands of officers secured the course in advance of protests planned during the president’s visit to two of his Scottish golf resorts.

Trump was expected to arrive Friday evening to a mix of respect and ridicule.

His visit requires a major police operation that will cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds as protests are planned over the weekend. The union representing officers is concerned they are already overworked and will be diverted from their normal duties, and some residents are not happy about the cost.

“Why isn’t he paying for it himself? He’s coming for golf, isn’t he?” said Merle Fertuson, a solo protester in Edinburgh holding a hand-drawn cardboard sign that featured a foolishly grinning Trump likeness in a tuxedo. “It’s got nothing whatsoever to do with public money, either U.S. or U.K.”

Policing for Trump’s four-day visit to the U.K. in 2018 cost more than $19 million, according to Freedom of Information figures. That included more than $4 million spent for his two-day golf trip to Turnberry, the historic course and hotel in southwest Scotland that he bought in 2014.

Police Scotland would not discuss how many officers were being deployed for operational reasons and only said the costs would be “considerable.”

“The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements,” Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the visit would not be detrimental to policing.

“It’s nonsensical to say it won’t impact it,” said David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, the officers’ union.

Kennedy said he expects about 5,000 officers to take part in the operation.

He said a force reduction in recent years has police working 12-hour shifts. Communities that are understaffed will be left behind with even fewer officers during Trump’s visit.

“We want the president of the United States to be able to come to Scotland. That’s not what this is about,” Kennedy said. “It’s the current state of the police service and the numbers we have causes great difficulty.”

The Stop Trump Scotland group has planned demonstrations Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries. The group encouraged people to “show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.”

Trump should receive a much warmer welcome from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is expected to meet with him during the visit. Swinney, the left-leaning head of Scottish government and former Trump critic, also plans to meet with the president.

Ha and Melley write for the Associated Press. Melley reported from London. Will Weissert contributed to this report from Edinburgh.

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Why isn’t EastEnders on tonight? BBC soap taken off air again in major schedule shake-up

EastEnders fans may be disappointed tonight as the BBC soap has been taken off its usual 7.30pm slot on BBC One – and won’t be back on air again until next week

Jack, Denise
EastEnders has been taken off air again tonight in another schedule shake-up(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

EastEnders fans won’t be able to take their usual Thursday visit to Albert Square tonight, as the soap has been taken off air yet again in another huge schedule shake-up.

The BBC soap has seen huge changes in the schedule over the past few weeks with major sporting events such as Wimbledon and the Women’s Euros broadcasting on the BBC. Although Wimbledon came to an end over the weekend, the Women’s Euros are still in full swing – affecting EastEnders‘ schedule.

The Lionesses are still very much in the running to take home the title with their quarter final against Sweden being broadcast on the BBC tonight from 7pm, wrapping up at 10.15pm. This means that unfortunately there’s no room for EastEnders on tonight’s schedule.

Linda Vic
The soap will be back on air next week – as the new owner of the Vic will be revealed(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

However, EastEnders fans still received their two hour dose of Walford drama this week, as the soap aired a double bill on Tuesday night. The dramatic episodes saw Karen Henthorn reprise her role as Julie Bates after 27 years as Jay Brown contacted her to let her know Nigel was in Walford.

Julie wasn’t best pleased that Nigel and Phil had kept her in the dark, and towards the end of the double bill, she was seen taking Nigel home to Scotland. A heartbroken Phil couldn’t bring himself to say goodbye to his best friend – but is it the last we’ll see of Nigel?

EastEnders fans will have to wait until Monday for the next instalment, and once again, they’ll have to deal with another schedule shake-up. Fans will be treated to another double bill on Monday night, with both episodes dropping at 6am on iPlayer.

Oscar Branning
This week saw the return of Oscar Branning – and he’s set to up the drama next week(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

For those who want to wait until the evening, the first episode will be airing on BBC One at 7.30pm, with the second airing straight after at 8pm.

The soap will air in its usual 7.30pm slot on Tuesday, however will be taken off air again next Wednesday for the second semi-final of the Women’s Euros. Business will commence as usual on Thursday evening, as the soap will be back in its usual 7.30pm slot.

Spoilers for next week tease an explosive week for the soap, as the new owners of the Queen Vic will be revealed. It’s the end of an era for the Carters as Linda and her mother Elaine agreed to sell. Next week, the auction will begin as a bidding war ensues between the Slaters, the Beales and a developer. But who will emerge victorious?

Elsewhere, it looks like Max Branning may not be too far away from returning to Walford as Linda Carter decides to tell Oscar the fact her daughter Annie is his biological half-sister. Oscar’s father Max Branning has no idea Linda’s daughter is his child.

Oscar decides Max needs to know the truth and is keen to tell him, leaving Linda terrified. Lauren Branning is tasked with trying to reason with her brother – is Max’s return sooner than we think?

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Trump threatens Russia with tariffs if war on Ukraine isn’t resolved within 50 days

President Trump said Monday he would punish Russia with tariffs if there isn’t a deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days, the latest example of his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump made the announcement during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” the Republican president said. He said they would be “secondary tariffs,” meaning they would target Russia’s trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy. “I use trade for a lot of things,” Trump added. “But it’s great for settling wars.” Besides the tariff threat, Trump and Rutte discussed a rejuvenated pipeline for U.S. weapons. European allies plan to buy military equipment and then transfer them to Ukraine. Trump said there would be “billions and billions” of dollars purchased.

Rutte said Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark would be among the buyers to supply Ukraine. He said “speed is of the essence here,” and he said the shipments should make Putin “reconsider” peace negotiations.

Trump exasperated with Putin

Trump has long boasted of his friendly relationship with Putin, and after taking office in January repeatedly said that Russia was more willing than Ukraine to reach a peace deal. At the same time, Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of prolonging the war and called him a “dictator without elections.”

But Russia’s relentless onslaught against civilian areas of Ukraine wore down Trump’s patience. In April, Trump urged Putin to “STOP!” launching deadly barrages on Kyiv, and the following month said in a social media post that the Russian leader “has gone absolutely CRAZY!” as the bombardments continued.

“It just keeps going on and on and on,” Trump said on Monday. “Every night, people are dying.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday.

Zelenskyy said he had “a productive conversation” with Kellogg about strengthening Ukrainian air defenses, joint arms production and purchasing U.S. weapons in conjunction with European countries, as well as the possibility of tighter international sanctions on the Kremlin.

“We hope for the leadership of the United States, because it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its … ambitions are stopped by force,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

Talks on sending Patriot missiles

Russia has pounded Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, with hundreds of drones and cruise and ballistic missiles that Ukraine’s air defenses are struggling to counter. June brought the highest monthly civilian casualties of the past three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded, the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine said. Russia launched 10 times more drones and missiles in June than in the same month last year, it said.

At the same time, Russia’s bigger army is making a new effort to drive back Ukrainian defenders on parts of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.

Trump confirmed the U.S. is sending Ukraine more badly needed Patriot air defense missiles and that the European Union will pay the U.S. for the “various pieces of very sophisticated” weaponry.

While the EU is not allowed under its treaties to buy weapons, individual EU member countries can and are, just as NATO member countries are buying and sending weapons.

Germany has offered to finance two Patriot systems, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Monday in Berlin. As far as other European countries financing more systems is concerned, that would have to be seen in talks, he said.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was traveling to Washington on Monday to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Germany has already given three of its own Patriot systems to Ukraine, and Pistorius was quoted as saying in an interview with the Financial Times that it now has only six.

‘Weapons flowing at a record level’

A top ally of Trump, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said Sunday that the conflict is nearing an inflection point as Trump shows growing interest in helping Ukraine fight back against Russia’s full-scale invasion. It’s a cause that Trump had previously dismissed as being a waste of U.S. taxpayer money.

“In the coming days, you’ll see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves,” Graham said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” He added: “One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump. And you just watch, in the coming days and weeks, there’s going to be a massive effort to get Putin to the table.”

Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for international investment who took part in talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia in February, dismissed what he said were efforts to drive a wedge between Moscow and Washington.

“Constructive dialogue between Russia and the United States is more effective than doomed-to-fail attempts at pressure,” Dmitriev said in a post on Telegram. “This dialogue will continue, despite titanic efforts to disrupt it by all possible means.”

Megerian and Novikov write for the Associated Press. AP writers Lorne Cook in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

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‘Superman’ isn’t superwoke. Why immigration backlash is overblown

This story contains some spoilers for “Superman.”

In James Gunn’s “Superman,” the titular superhero is devastated when he learns that his birth parents sent him to Earth to subjugate humanity.

In theaters now, the film is set a few years into Superman’s caped career. The Kryptonian — who grew up as Clark Kent on a farm in Smallville, Kan. — always believed a message left to him by these birth parents was an encouragement to use his powers to be a protector and hero. He is more than shaken to learn that was never the case.

It’s Clark’s human father, Jonathan, who points out that the message’s intent doesn’t really matter.

“Your choices [and] your actions, that’s what makes you who you are,” he says to his son.

Being an alien refugee might be why Superman has his superpowers, but it’s who he is as a person that makes him a superhero. And although it is mostly left unsaid, Clark’s kindness and values come from how he was raised — by loving parents in America’s heartland.

Despite “Superman” being as all-American as ever, the movie has become the most recent front in America’s never-ending culture war because of comments made by Gunn acknowledging the character is an immigrant.

But Superman is more a story about the triumph of assimilation and opportunity. As the new movie also shows, Superman would not be Superman if he was not raised by Martha and Jonathan Kent on a farm in Kansas. And as much as Superman is undeniably an immigrant, it’s hard to deny in the current political climate that he also resembles the type of immigrants who have traditionally been more embraced in this country.

Since early last month, the Trump administration has aggressively targeted Latino communities across California. Immigration raids have seemingly indiscriminately taken people from their workplace, on their way to court and even in parking lots. Federal officials have pushed back on claims that these operations have targeted people “because of their skin color.” According to federal authorities, more than 2,700 undocumented immigrants have been arrested in L.A. since early June.

This is not the first time the U.S. government has targeted specific communities of color because of their ancestry. During World War II, 120,000 people of Japanese descent were incarcerated in wartime camps regardless of their citizenship.

Gunn, however, has long maintained that his “Superman” is “a movie about kindness [and] being good.”

The filmmaker, who has been outspoken in his criticism of President Trump, told the London Times that “Superman is the story of America. … An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country.” He reiterated that the movie is about “human kindness.”

The backlash was swift, with familiar right-wing commentators and personalities criticizing the film for allegedly being “superwoke” before it was released. Even former Superman actor Dean Cain has spoken out against Gunn’s comments and the perceived politicization of the character’s story.

In response, comic book fans, including Democratic politicians, have pointed out that Superman — an alien born on the planet Krypton, sent to Earth to escape his planet’s destruction — has always been an immigrant.

“The Superman story is an immigration story of an outsider who tries to always do the most good,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) posted Wednesday on X. “His arch nemesis is a billionaire. You don’t get to change who he is because you don’t like his story. Comics are political.”

“Superman was an undocumented immigrant,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office wrote Thursday on X in response to an image of Trump as Superman posted by the White House.

Others on social media have circulated clips from past Superman media, including from Cain’s show “Lois & Clark,” where the character’s immigration status is addressed.

Despite the accusation and backlash, Superman has never been as “woke” as the current debate makes him seem.

Created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, both children of Jewish immigrants, Superman’s first official appearance was in the first issue of “Action Comics” in the 1930s. With his iconic red and blue caped costume, the character is known as much for his godlike superpowers as he is for being the ultimate good guy with all-American looks and charm.

His adventures have spanned comics, radio, television and film. Besides evil billionaires, Superman has taken on superpowered supervillains, alien invaders and even his clones, as well as human threats like Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. Yes, some Superman stories are more political than others.

But Superman has never been radical in his politics. As a Kryptonian raised on Earth by human parents, the character has been shown in stories where he struggles with his own sense of otherness and belonging because he straddles two worlds. But other than rare outliers, his story has never delved deeply into how immigrants or those perceived as other are treated in the U.S. (For that, consider checking out some “X-Men.”)

That’s because Clark Kent’s immigration status or Americanness will never be questioned because of his appearance. That itself could be subversive, but that’s a debate for a different “Superman” movie.

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Contributor: Maybe the Epstein case isn’t closed, but it’s not going to be political dynamite

A lot of people online have been very, very upset over the Trump Department of Justice’s twofold conclusion, announced last Sunday, that Jeffrey Epstein’s death in jail in 2019 was a suicide and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had no “incriminating ‘client list’ ” among its Epstein files.

The tremendous uproar against the Justice Department and FBI has crossed partisan lines; if anything, it has been many conservative commentators and some Republican elected officials who have expressed the most outrage, with accusations and implications that the government is hiding something about the case to protect powerful individuals.

Given the sordid nature of the underlying subject matter and the fact the feds closely examined “over ten thousand downloaded videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography,” the obsession with the “Epstein files” gives off a vibe that is, frankly, somewhat creepy. To be sure, it is always righteous to seek justice for victims, but many don’t want public scrutiny.

The Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files has not been its finest hour. During a February interview on Fox News, Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said, in response to host John Roberts’ question about whether the Justice Department would release a “list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients,” that the list was “sitting on [her] desk right now to review.” It is an astonishing about-face for Bondi to now disavow that investigators have any such list. The Trump administration owes us all a clear explanation.

With that large caveat aside, though, the fact remains: This is just not the biggest deal in the world — and if you think it is, then you probably need to log off social media.

The midterm elections next fall are not going to be determined by the existence — or absence — of a “client list” for an extravagantly wealthy dead pedophile. Nor will they be decided on the absurd grounds of whether FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have somehow been “compromised.” (They haven’t.) Instead, the election — and our politics — will be contested on typical substantive grounds: the economy, inflation, immigration, crime, global stability and so forth. This is as it should be. There are simply better uses of your time than fuming over the government’s avowed nonexistence of the much-ballyhooed client list.

You might, for instance, consider spending more time, during these midsummer weeks, with your family. Maybe you can take the kids camping or fishing. Maybe you can take them to an amusement park or to one of America’s many national park treasures. You can spend less time scrolling Instagram and TikTok and more time reading a good old-fashioned book; you will learn more, you will be happier and you will be considerably less likely to traffic in fringe issues and bizarre rhetoric that alienates far more than it unifies.

Instead of finding meaning in the confirmation biases and groupthink validations of social media algorithms, perhaps you can locate meaning where countless human beings have found it since time immemorial: religion. Spend more time praying, reading scripture and attending services at your preferred house of worship. All of these uses of your time will fill you with a sense of stability, meaning and purpose that you will never find deep in the bowels of an X thread on the Epstein files.

Too many people today who are deeply engaged in America’s combustible political process have forgotten that there are more important things in life than politics. And even within the specific realm of politics, there are plenty of things that are more deserving of attention and emotional investment than others. Above all, it is conservatives — those oriented toward sobriety and humility, not utopianism and decadence — who ought to be able to properly contextualize America’s political tug-of-war within our broader lives and who ought to then be able to focus on the meaningful political issues to the exclusion of tawdry soap opera drama.

Like many others, I expect that the Justice Department’s recent — and seemingly definitive — waving away of the Epstein files saga will not actually prove to be the final word on the matter. To the limited extent that I allow myself to think about this sideshow, I hope that the administration does squarely address the many legitimate and unanswered questions now being asked by a frustrated citizenry that has seemingly been misled by the Trump administration, either in Bondi’s February statement or in this month’s report. But I also hope that the extent of this past week’s rage might serve as an edifying moment. Let’s return to the real things in life and focus on what matters most.

Josh Hammer’s latest book is “Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West.” This article was produced in collaboration with Creators Syndicate. @josh_hammer

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Ideas expressed in the piece

  • The article asserts that the Trump Department of Justice’s conclusion about Jeffrey Epstein’s death being a suicide and the absence of a “client list” is not as politically explosive as online discourse suggests, urging readers to prioritize substantive issues like the economy, immigration, and crime in upcoming elections.
  • It criticizes the administration’s handling of the Epstein files, noting Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier claim of possessing a client list as an “astonishing about-face” that demands public clarification.
  • The author dismisses the fixation on Epstein-related conspiracies as “creepy” and counterproductive, advising readers to invest time in family, outdoor activities, and religious practices instead of social media outrage.
  • While acknowledging legitimate public frustration, the piece emphasizes that midterm elections will hinge on traditional policy matters, not Epstein’s “sideshow,” and calls for conservatives to maintain focus on “sobriety and humility” in political engagement.

Different views on the topic

  • Critics argue the Justice Department’s reversal on Epstein evidence fuels distrust, with bipartisan outrage questioning whether powerful figures are being shielded from accountability, as highlighted in the article’s own reporting[2].
  • Conspiracy theories—previously amplified by now-FBI officials Kash Patel and Dan Bongino—insist Epstein was murdered to conceal a “client list” implicating elites, despite official findings of suicide and no evidence of blackmail[2][3].
  • Skeptics demand transparency, citing Bondi’s February 2025 Fox News interview where she claimed a client list was “on her desk,” contrasting sharply with the DOJ’s July memo stating no such list exists[1][4].
  • The DOJ’s refusal to release additional Epstein files—citing child abuse material and protection of innocent individuals—further fuels allegations of a cover-up, particularly among conservative circles[2][4].

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Emmerdale finally reveals who’s targeting Joe Tate – but it ‘isn’t Dr Crowley’

Emmerdale spoilers alluded to Dr Crowley being the one harassing Joe Tate on the ITV soap with the help of his accomplice Shaun, but Tuesday’s episode may have teased it’s someone else

There was a big hint on Emmerdale on Tuesday about who could be targeting Joe Tate
There was a big hint on Emmerdale on Tuesday about who could be targeting Joe Tate(Image: ITV)

There was a big hint on Emmerdale on Tuesday about who could be targeting Joe Tate, amid spoilers appearing to reveal all.

But amid new images and teasers revealing Shaun attacks Joe before Dr Crowley returns, wanting revenge, a scene in the latest episode hinted it was someone else out to get him. Joe’s made a number of enemies since his return, one being his uncle Caleb Miligan.

Joe had Caleb stabbed so he could steal his kidney, needing a transplant to survive after a chronic kidney disease diagnosis. Instead of asking for a donor he decided to steal Caleb’s kidney with the help of Crowley, who he paid a lot of money to keep him alive.

Things took a turn though when Joe got Shaun to stage a car theft and stab Caleb, with Joe then bringing his uncle to the place where Crowley would perform the operation. Crowley was mortified at the state of Caleb and had to battle to save his life, before giving Joe the organ.

Weeks on from this, the drama with Caleb as well as Joe’s other shenanigans came out, and Dawn Taylor shoved him from a window. With Joe still public enemy number one, he’s realised someone is targeting him.

READ MORE: Emmerdale confirms exit for character amid heartbreaking new health storyline

Emmerdale spoilers alluded to Dr Crowley being the one harassing Joe Tate
Emmerdale spoilers alluded to Dr Crowley being the one harassing Joe Tate(Image: ITV)

From keying his car, his medication going missing and his window being left open, to someone leaving him a sinister note, Joe is convinced Billy Fletcher could be to blame. Things escalate next week when a blackmail demand is made, before a terrifying incident unfolds.

Back to this week though, and a scene on Tuesday may hint that someone else is targeting Joe asides Crowley and Shaun. perhaps they’re even working together, ahead of the revenge drama next week.

Caleb Miligan showed up randomly at Home Farm in the latest episode, and he was acting strangely. He kept insisting on speaking with Kim Tate, saying he needed to see her and only her.

After a run-in with Joe, he noticed Shaun and asked who he was. Caleb began asking Shaun questions, saying he recognised his voice. Wanting to know who he was and why he was there, Caleb kept pressing for answers.

Joe had Caleb stabbed so he could steal his kidney
Joe had Caleb stabbed so he could steal his kidney(Image: ITV)

Shaun feared he was about to be exposed as his attacker, but Caleb left before this happened. Shaun fumed at Joe and vowed to leave, not wanting to stick around long enough for Caleb to work out the truth.

But given Caleb’s weird behaviour and random appearance, could he be out to get Joe? Might he be working with someone like Crowley to get his own revenge?

Spoilers have not revealed what happens to Joe or what it is Crowley is after. But with him set to loom over the character in a makeshift hospital, could Joe regret ever being in cahoots with him?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .



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UK’s ‘worst seaside resort’ insists abandoned £18.5m investment isn’t a ‘blow’

A popular seaside resort that has grappled with its image in recent years is facing yet another blow, as it seemingly struggles to sell a huge £18.5 million shopping complex

Scenic view of Garth Pier in Bangor, Northwest Wales
Bangor was recently dubbed the worst seaside resort in the UK(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A popular seaside city savagely ranked as one of the UK’s worst has clapped back at claims it has suffered a major blow over a £18.5 million complex.

For many, Bangor – nestled on the coast of Wales and just a stone’s throw from Snowdonia National Park – is a coastal gem wrapped up in nostalgia and natural beauty. Classed as the oldest city in the country, and commonly mistaken as a town, Bangor is filled with a rich history, unique architecture, and an impressive Victorian pier that stretches almost half a kilometre out to sea.

Residents insist their hometown has ‘lots to offer’, but Bangor was sensationally snubbed earlier this year when it was ranked as the worst seaside resort in the whole of the UK. Earning a measly 42 per cent overall destination score, almost 5,000 Which? members gave the destination just one star for its seafront/ pier, food and drink offerings, shopping experience, and tourist attractions. Bangor redeemed itself slightly with its scenery and parking availability.

Bangor is the oldest city in Wales and has the longest high street. Retail here has been hit especially hard since the Coronavirus pandemic started with major retailers like H&M, Topshop & Debenhams leaving or in the process of leaving with many independent and smaller shops following suit.
Bangor City Council says it was ‘disappointed’ by Which?’s survey(Image: Getty Images)

“It’s disappointing to see Bangor City named as one of the UK’s worst seaside towns,” said Bangor City Council at the time. “Such rankings often fail to capture the full picture and the unique charms that make Bangor City so special.”

However, Bangor’s sliding reputation has recently been cast under the spotlight once more due to the sale of its premier shopping complex, the Menai Centre, which reports describe as another ‘blow’ to the city. Developed back in 2007 by Cathco Property Group – reportedly costing £18.5 million to build – the 130,000 square ft building struggled during the pandemic, which caused almost 80 per cent of its shops to close down.

Lockdown restrictions come into force in Bangor due to the rise in Covid-19 cases. Pictured: Busy city centre at the Menai Centre and Deiniol Shopping Centre with Debenhams beyond and university. Photo by Ian Cooper
The Menai Centre cost more than £18 million to build(Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

According to North Wales Live, it was bought by Bearmont Capital back in 2023, who added a bunch of retailers including he Original Factory Shop (TOFS), Greggs, and Hays Travel to the complex. Plans to open a major health centre in the complex in place of the former Debenhams store, using Welsh Government funds, have also been unveiled.

The centre has now been placed up for auction with a guide price of just £4.2 million – a mere fraction of the price it cost to build. However, the sale does not include the Debenhams unit or a linked site, which was sold off a number of years ago. “If no stand out bids are received or bids received are of a similar value then a reserve price will be set on the property and it will be sold via a live online auction (date to be determined subject to Stage 1 of the process),” Savills, who is selling the property, said.

Bangor is the oldest city in Wales and has the longest high street. Retail here has been hit especially hard since the Coronavirus pandemic started with major retailers like H&M, Topshop & Debenhams leaving or in the process of leaving with many independent and smaller shops following suit.
Many of the shops inside the complex closed during the covid-19 pandemic(Image: Getty Images)

Speaking to the Mirror, a spokesperson for the council stressed that Bangor doesn’t have a beach and has never promoted itself as a ‘seaside resort’ – despite being located near the sea. “Similarly, Bangor does not promote itself as a tourist destination,” they added.

“We do, of course, have interesting attractions, such as St Deiniol’s Cathedral, Garth Pier (which won the National Pier of the Year award in 2022), and the University building, to name a few, and Bangor is an ideal base to visit North Wales’s attractions. However, to consider Bangor as a seaside resort would be flawed and inaccurate. In contrast to the Which survey, another survey found that the people of Bangor as the happiest people in the County.”

The spokesperson added that the council does not consider the sale of the Menai centre as a ‘blow to the city’ as most of the retail units within the complex are ‘occupied on long leases’ that won’t be impacted by the change of ownership. “The sale, several months ago, of the other Bangor shopping centre, namely the Deiniol Centre, has not impacted negatively on the units within it nor on the City and there is no reason to think that this one will,” they stated.

“This year, Bangor is celebrating 1500 since St Deiniol established his religious settlement here and to mark this important milestone, the City has come together and is hosting an ambitious programme of events. It has something for everyone, from a military parade to music concerts, from Bangor’s Across the World Exhibition to a History Festival, from the Summer Festival to the Christmas Festival and much more. The one exception being that Bangor does not have a beach.”

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

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McKinsey’s Koller: Valuation Isn’t Broken—Expectations Are

“Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies” has long been a definitive guide for corporate finance professionals. Eight editions in, the book’s lead author, Tim Koller—a partner at consulting giant McKinsey & Company—says the biggest surprise is what hasn’t changed. Koller speaks to Global Finance about one of the dealmaking world’s most enduring topics.

Global Finance: To what extent does geography play a role in affecting a company’s valuation?

Koller: It applies to most parts of the world. If you are a purely local business, in Europe or Asia, for example, then it’s less of an issue. But, if the US were to experience a severe recession, it would probably affect everybody. And then, of course, there are those businesses that are directly impacted—companies that export, import or compete with US companies. A lot of companies, even if they appear to be local, they’re competing with US-based companies, or they’re trading with US-based companies. So, the impact is felt far beyond the US.

GF: Are more companies growing frustrated with US volatility and seeking opportunities in Europe and the APAC region?

Koller: For most companies, it takes years to build or to change strategies from a geographic perspective. Some of the companies I talked to are thinking about these things, but, at this stage, you don’t just break into a market in a couple of months. If you want to build a business in a new country, or if you want to change your supply chain, these things take time. So it depends. If your supply chain is highly specialized, that could take years to restructure. If your supply chain is simple or there are lots of other producers, and you can switch from one country to another, that’s a little bit easier.

Bringing things back to the US is also very time consuming—no matter what industry it is. People are thinking about it and making plans, but for the most part, the timeframe of any kind of major structural change is fairly long, and you don’t want to commit to it until you probably know more about what’s going on.

GF: In this latest edition of your book, did you touch upon digital assets or how companies are building their own reserves?

Koller: We don’t address it, and I’ll tell you why. For the most part, a lot of what people are talking about is not a currency. We call it a cryptocurrency, but it’s not a currency. It is a speculative investment. And the nature of these speculative investments is unlike a stock or a bond. There’s no inherent valuation. We won’t know what the answer is eventually. It’s purely a function of supply and demand of investors and sentiment for many of these cryptocurrencies. It’s like investing in vintage automobiles or fine art. It’s nothing more than that. As far as I’m concerned, that’s why we don’t touch on it, because you can’t do anything with it, and then I wouldn’t understand why a company would put money into that. Because you’re really betting on market sentiment. You’re betting on other investors wanting to get into that market and pushing up the price.

GF: What about stablecoins?

Koller: Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies tied to real-world assets, usually the US dollar or another fiat currency. The more reputable ones are backed 1:1 by actual reserves. From a corporate valuation perspective, they’re not particularly interesting. If a cryptocurrency is simply pegged to the dollar but involves additional transaction costs, it doesn’t offer much advantage over using dollars directly.

There’s been talk for decades about something replacing the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency—whether the euro, the yuan, or others—but those alternatives face their own challenges. For a currency to be viable for transactions, especially everyday purchases, it needs to have a stable value. That’s why something backed by the dollar or another relatively stable fiat currency is necessary.

However, stablecoins don’t really factor into the strategic decision-making of most companies or investors unless they’re directly involved in currency or cryptocurrency markets. And that’s a niche area I’m hesitant to speculate on.

GF: Are there certain basic mistakes that happen at a company that hurts valuation or leads to their failure?

Koller: It’s rarely that a company is fundamentally unsound. The real issue is often the gap between how companies value themselves and how the market values them. Many CEOs and CFOs believe their companies are undervalued, but when we analyze hundreds of companies each year—using discounted cash flow models and peer comparisons—we usually find valuations are within 10% of fair value. That margin is small and can fluctuate day to day.

Companies, on the other hand, often have financial projections that are inconsistent with their market values, because the market doesn’t give them credit for things that they hope to achieve, unless they have a strong track record. For example, if an industry grows at 4% annually and a company projects 6% growth, the market may only price in 4%. If the company hits just that, it’s not a failure—investors never expected more. It’s not a disaster from a valuation perspective, because investors didn’t expect that anyway.

The bigger issue is the disconnect we saw in the dotcom bubble. There’s sometimes a disconnect, you might argue, with some of the big mega [magnificent seven] stocks. One of the characteristics I look for, in terms of potential overvaluation, is who are the investors in a company. And, in particular, what share of retail investors? And if you see a very high share of retail investors inside in a stock, that is often a sign of overvaluation. Retail investors don’t crunch the numbers. They typically buy based on emotion and hype. It may be a great company, but that doesn’t mean you should pay 100 times earnings for it.

GF: Could that also complicate M&A strategies?

Koller: Yes, although that does create an opportunity. Very few companies have the guts to take advantage of it. If my shares are overvalued, that’s the time when you can use those shares to buy something, and that’s great. We’ve seen a couple of those, but not that often.

GF: Over the eight editions on valuation, what’s the most surprising change that you’ve seen in how companies wrestle with value?

Koller: The most surprising thing isn’t how much companies have changed, but how little they have. And it’s not just because we’ve written a book, but other academics have done research. Many companies remain too short-term oriented. Large firms still try to cost-cut their way to success, which only works for a limited time. And while innovation continues, it often comes from smaller companies rather than the big players.

One positive shift has been the steady decline of conglomerates. More companies are breaking themselves up into simpler, more focused entities. This trend, certainly evident in the US and to some extent in Europe as well, has improved management effectiveness and is favored by investors who value focus and clarity. That’s probably the most meaningful change—the breaking up of complex companies into smaller ones.

GF: Do the recent headlines of Google and Meta being under scrutiny and possibly broken up exemplify that trend?

Koller: I can’t speak specifically to Google or Meta, because their business units are more interconnected than, say, a company making both valves and toothpaste—where there’s clearly no synergy. What matters isn’t size but complexity, especially when businesses don’t share customers, technologies, suppliers, or distribution channels. That’s when it makes sense to consider breaking them up.

More broadly, while the trend toward focused companies has been positive, many firms remain too short-term oriented. They often blame the stock market, but that’s not entirely fair. Our research shows that about 75% of investors—whether retail, index funds, or institutions—are long-term holders. The problem is that companies tend to pay too much attention to the loudest voices, which are often short-term traders. There’s still a lot of room for companies to take a more long-term approach, and that’s work that continues.

GF: In past editions or in this new edition on valuations, has there been any sort of trend or surprising development you noticed?

Koller: One major trend we’ve seen is the globalization of equity markets over the last 35 years. Today, the shareholder-base of large companies in Europe, Japan, and Taiwan often looks very similar to their US peers. As an individual investor, you can easily buy hundreds of international funds or even individual foreign stocks—and the same goes for investors abroad buying US equities. So, from a capital markets perspective, things have truly globalized.

However, corporate behavior still varies by region. On average, European companies continue to earn lower returns on capital than their US counterparts—though the gap has narrowed, and some of the best-performing companies in various industries are European. In Asia, there’s still a noticeable emphasis on size and prestige over value creation. I’m surprised that focus persists. While it’s slowly shifting, many companies still prioritize growth and scale rather than returns, which often results in lower valuations compared to US firms—unless they’re high-growth global competitors.

GF: What will modern finance look like in the future?

Koller: I’m hopeful that AI will help us value companies more effectively. Right now, it’s good at tasks like summarizing and researching quickly, and over time it may become more capable. But while tech—and AI in particular—makes up a large share of the stock market, it still represents a relatively small part of the broader economy. Most people still need housing, food, clothing, travel—those businesses aren’t going away.

AI will be used across many industries to improve customer experience, reduce costs, or enhance products, but it’s not fundamentally going to change things. Valuations are going to be disproportionate towards those companies.  But the real question is: Will companies use AI to actually boost profits, or will those gains be passed on to consumers, like with many past innovations? For investors and executives, the key is understanding whether AI is a true source of competitive advantage. That distinction will vary by industry, but it’s central to how we think about value in the future.

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Another Brit vanishes in Peru as Jamie Cooke isn’t seen in 3 days & family fly out for search – amid Hannah Almond case – The Sun

A DESPERATE hunt has been launched to find a missing Brit who suddenly disappeared in Peru just days after Hannah Almond was found in the country.

Jamie Cooke, 39, was last seen in the city of Miraflores on Monday.

Photo of Jamie Cooke, a missing British man in Peru.

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Brit man Jamie Cooke has disappeared in PeruCredit: Facebook
Photo of Jamie Cooke, a missing British man in Peru.

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He was last seen in the city of Miraflores on MondayCredit: Facebook
Missing person poster for Jamie Cooke, last seen in Miraflores.

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His family have now launched an urgent hunt for the missing BritCredit: Facebook

His family has now launched a desperate appeal to find the missing Brit in the South American country.

It comes as Brit backpacker Hannah Almond, who also disappeared in Peru, was found sleeping rough on the streets.

Sister Jade McKay said she flew out to Peru with her partner in a bid to find her missing brother.

In a public posting urging people to help find Jamie, she wrote: “My brother, Jamie Cooke, 39 years old, is missing in Peru.

“I have travelled from the UK to search for him and am currently in Miraflores with my partner.

“We are very worried and would appreciate any information from UK citizens travelling in the area.

“Please share and contact us if you have any news.”

Ms McKay shared two pictures of Jamie as part of her appeal to find him.

And anyone with information about the Brit’s disappearance has been urged to come forward as soon as possible.

An FCDO spokesperson told The Sun: “We are supporting the family of a British man reported as missing in Peru and are in contact with his local authorities.”

The Sun has reached out to Jamie’s family for further details.

Mum of missing Scots teen Cole Cooper, 19, reveals living ‘nightmare’ in heartbreaking interview over his disappearance

It comes as Brit woman Hannah Almond continues to live on the streets after she became too terrified to trust anyone.

Ms Almond, 32, disappeared after a violent robbery left her without a passport, phone, or money – and sparked a terrifying mental health spiral.

The yoga-loving fashion graduate from Grimsby had travelled to Cusco in March for a spiritual retreat to “find herself”, but ended up living under a bridge with an elderly homeless man.

Locals torched her few remaining belongings in a sickening attack.

After three days without contact, friends feared the worst.

But a man she met briefly in Lima caught a flight to Cusco and “just started wandering the streets asking after her” until he found her slumped on the pavement.

Despite being located, Ms Almond is still sleeping rough and refusing support – including food, shelter, and help from the British embassy – due to trauma from the robbery that’s left her terrified of strangers.

One of her pals has now flown from the UK in a desperate bid to persuade her to return home before she disappears again.

Piero Villanueva, the man who found the Brit,  revealed their emotional reunion and said she immediately recognised him and began crying.

He told local media: “I have just found her. She is safe and well.

“Hannah recognised me and approached me crying and I asked her to leave with me. Thanks God she’s safe.”

Woman sitting on a rock with an umbrella.

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Hannah Almond has been found after she was feared missing in PeruCredit: Instagram
Couple taking a selfie.

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Piero Villanueva, who briefly met Hannah in Lima, managed to track her down and find the Brit backpackerCredit: LR Noticias en Cusco

Piero, who met Hannah briefly in Lima earlier in her trip, travelled to Cusco after seeing news of her disappearance on social media.

“I decided to travel to Cusco at the request of her friends and family,” he said.

“I wanted to come and help find her and assist her because she didn’t have money or her passport and other documents because she had been robbed.”

He confirmed he is in touch with Hannah’s family, the British Consul, and a friend flying in from the UK.

“A friend of Hannah is arriving in Cusco today and I’m talking with him to be able to assist her,” he said.

“We have to see now what’s going to happen, talk with Hannah’s mum and see what she wants to do,” he added.

“Hannah and her mum haven’t spoken yet. I’m talking with her mum but she’s an elderly lady and we don’t want to worry her anymore.”

Two people walking down the street, one looking at their phone.

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Footage from local media shows the pair together walking through Cusco together shortly after their reunionCredit: CuscoNoticias CTV47

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Hollywood isn’t ready for AI. These people are diving in anyway

When filmmakers say they’re experimenting with artificial intelligence, that news is typically received online as if they had just declared their allegiance to Skynet.

And so it was when Darren Aronofsky — director of button-pushing movies including “The Whale” and “Black Swan” — last week announced a partnership with Google AI arm DeepMind to use the tech giant’s capabilities in storytelling.

Aronofsky’s AI-focused studio Primordial Soup is producing three short movies from emerging filmmakers using Google tools, including the text-to-video model Veo. The first film, “Ancestra,” directed by Eliza McNitt, will premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 13, the Mountain View-based search giant said.

Google’s promotional materials take pains to show that “Ancestra” is a live-action film made by humans and with real actors, though it’s bolstered with effects and imagery — including a tiny baby holding a mother’s finger — that were created with AI.

The partnership was touted during Google’s I/O developer event, where the company showed off the new Veo 3, which allows users to create videos that include sound effects, ambient noise and speech (a step up from OpenAI-owned competitor, Sora). The company also introduced its new Flow film creation tool, essentially editing software using Google AI functions.

Google’s push to court creative types coincides with a separate initiative to help AI technology overcome its massive public relations problem.

As my colleague Wendy Lee wrote recently, the company is working with filmmakers including Sean Douglas and his famous father Michael Keaton to create shorts that aren’t made with AI, but instead portray the technology in a less apocalyptic light than Hollywood is used to.

Simply put, much of the public sees AI as a foe that will steal jobs, rip off your intellectual property, ruin your childhood, destroy the environment and possibly kill us all, like in “The Terminator,” “2001: A Space Odyssey” and the most recent “Mission: Impossible” movies. And Google, which is making a big bet by investing in AI, has a lot riding on changing that perception.

There’s a ways to go, including in the entertainment industry.

Despite the allure of cost-savings, traditional studios haven’t exactly dived headfirst into the AI revolution. They’re worried about the legal implications of using models trained on troves of copyrighted material, and they don’t want to anger the entertainment worker unions, which went on strike partly over AI fears just a couple years ago. The New York Times and others have sued OpenAI and its investor Microsoft, alleging copyright theft. Tech giants claim they are protected by “fair use.”

AI-curious studios are walking into a wild, uncharted legal landscape because of the amount of copyrighted material being mined to teach the models, said Dan Neely, co-founder of startup Vermillio, which helps companies and individuals protect their intellectual property.

“The major studios and most people are going to be challenged using this product when it comes to the output content that you can and cannot use or own,” Neely said by phone. “Given that it contains vast quantities of copyrighted material, and you can get it to replicate that stuff pretty easily, that creates chaos for someone who’s creating with it.”

But while the legacy entertainment business remains largely skeptical of AI, many newer, digitally-native studios and creators are embracing it, whether their goals are to become the next Pixar or the next Mr. Beast.

The New York Times recently profiled the animation startup Toonstar, which says it uses AI throughout its production process, including when sharpening storylines and lip-syncing. John Attanasio, a Toonstar founder, told the paper that leaning into the tech would make animation “80 percent faster and 90 percent cheaper than industry norms.”

Jeffrey Katzenberg, the former leader of DreamWorks Animation, has given a similar estimate of the potential cost-savings for Hollywood cartoons.

Anyone working in the traditional computer animation business would have to gulp at those projections, whether they turn out to be accurate or not. U.S. animation jobs have already been hammered by outsourcing. Now here comes automation to finish the job. (Disney’s animated features cost well over $100 million to produce because they’re made by real-life animators in America.)

Proponents of AI will sometimes argue that the new technology isn’t a replacement for human workers, but rather a tool to enhance creativity. Some are more blunt: Stop worrying about these jobs and embrace the future of uninhibited creation. For obvious reasons, workers are reluctant to buy into that line of thinking.

More broadly, it’s still unclear whether all the spending on the AI arms race will ultimately be worth the cost. Goldman Sachs, in a 2024 report, estimated that companies would invest $1 trillion in AI infrastructure — including data centers, chips and the power grid — in the coming years.

But that same report raised questions about AI’s ultimate utility.

To be worth the gargantuan investment, the technology would have to be capable of solving far more complex problems than it does now, said one Goldman analyst in the report. In recent weeks, the flaws in the technology have crossed over into absurd territory: For example, by generating a summer reading list of fake books and legal documents polluted with serious errors and fabrications.

Big spending and experimentation doesn’t always pan out. Look at virtual reality, the metaverse and the blockchain.

But some entertainment companies are experimenting with the tools and finding applications. Meta has partnered with horror studio Blumhouse and James Cameron’s venture Lightstorm Vision on AI-related initiatives. AI firm Runway is working with Lionsgate. At a time when the movie industry is troubled in part due to the high cost of special effects, production companies are motivated to stay on top of advancing tech.

One of the most common arguments in favor of giving in to AI is that the technology will unshackle the next generation of creative minds.

Some AI-enhanced content is promising. But so far AI video tools have produced a remarkable amount of content that looks the same, with its oddly dreamlike sheen of unreality. That’s partly because the models are trained on color-corrected imagery available on the open internet or on YouTube. Licensing from the studios could help with that problem.

The idea of democratizing filmmaking through AI may sound good in theory. However, there are countless examples in movie history — including “Star Wars” and “Jaws” — of how having physical and budgetary restrictions are actually good for art, however painful and frustrating they may have been during production.

Even within the universe of AI-assisted material, the quality will vary dramatically depending on the talent and skill of people using it.

“Ultimately, it’s really hard to tell good stories,” Neely said. “The creativity that defines what you prompt the machine to do is still human genius — the best will rise to the top.”

Like other innovations, the technology will improve with time, as the new Google tools show. Both Veo 3 and Flow showcase how AI is becoming better and easier to use, though they are still not quite mass-market products. For its highest tier, Google is charging $250 a month for its suite of tools.

Maybe the next Spielberg will find their way through AI-assisted video, published for free on YouTube. Perhaps Sora and Veo will have a moment that propels them to mainstream acceptance in filmmaking, as “The Jazz Singer” did for talkies.

But those milestones still feel a long way off.

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Number of the week

$329.8 million

The Memorial Day weekend box office achieved record revenue (not adjusting for inflation) of $329.8 million in the U.S. and Canada, thanks to the popularity of Walt Disney Co.’s “Lilo & Stitch” and Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.”

Disney’s live-action remake generated $183 million in domestic ticket sales, exceeding pre-release analyst expectations, while the latest Tom Cruise superspy spectacle opened with $77 million. The weekend was a continuation of a strong spring rebound for theaters. Revenue so far this year is now up 22% versus 2024, according to Comscore.

This doesn’t mean the movie business is saved, but it does show that having a mix of different kinds of movies for multiple audiences is healthy for cinemas. Upcoming releases include “Karate Kid: Legends,” “Ballerina,” “How to Train Your Dragon” and a Pixar original, “Elio.”

“Lilo & Stitch” is particularly notable, coming after Disney’s previous live-action redo, “Snow White,” bombed in theaters. While Snow White has an important place in Disney history, Stitch — the chaotic blue alien — has quietly become a hugely important character for the company, driving enormous merchandise sales over the years.

The 2002 original wasn’t a huge blockbuster, coming during an awkward era for Walt Disney Animation, but the remake certainly is.

Finally …

Watch: Prepping for the new “Naked Gun” by rewatching the classic and reliving the perfect Twitter meme.

Listen: My favorite episode of “Blank Check with Griffin & David” in a long time — covering Steven Spielberg’s “Hook” with Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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Why isn’t the world paying attention to Sudan? | Sudan war

Sudan’s devastating war is now entering its third year, and the conflict is far from over.

The United Nations has called this the most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world.

Killings, rapes and famine are affecting millions of people. What will happen to the people of Sudan if things don’t change? And why is this crisis being mostly ignored by the international community?

Presenter: Stefanie Dekker

Guests:
Elbashir Idris – Political affairs analyst
Bayadir Mohamed-Osman – Activist and poet
Omer Elnaiem – Head of UNHCR Africa content hub

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‘Deserted’ UK beach boasts three-miles of golden sand but getting there isn’t easy

Protected by a lush nature reserve and firmly out of the tourist spotlight, this beautiful three-mile beach needs to be on your bucket list – if you can actually get there

Sunset on the rocks at a very high tide on Sker Beach near Porthcawl, South Wales UK
Getting to this beach isn’t easy, but is well worth the effort(Image: Getty Images)

Sugar-like sand, clear waters, and not a soul in sight – it’s hard to believe this secluded beach is in the UK. Tucked away in the west of Porthcawl, Wales, and sheltered by the Kenfig National Nature Reserve lies the golden bay of Sker Beach.

Boasting three miles of soft golden sand, this rural slice of coast has somehow managed to escape the tourist limelight – despite being a stone’s throw from the insufferably crowded Morfa Beach. It’s an idyllic spot, one that will make you feel like you’ve discovered your own tropical island and is great for those wanting to spend the day soaking up the sun or braving the cool, cobalt waters.

But, with no direct car park, getting to Sker Beach is no easy feat. In fact, you can only access the shore on foot, by walking from Rest Bay or the Kenfig National Nature Reserve. It’s a 20-minute walk from Rest Bay and a 40-minute walk to the nearest toilet – so make sure you come prepared.

READ MORE: ‘Stunning’ UK seaside town with three-mile beach sees house prices plummet by £13,000

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Due to its rural location, there are no amenities on Sker Beach, so it’s essential you bring food, drink, and sun cream with you. Volunteer lifeguards patrol at certain times, but if there’s no flag, there’s no patrol.

“At low tide, a plaque in memory of all the lives lost on the S.S. Santampa and the Mumbles lifeboat is visible,” explained Bridgend County Borough Council. “At very low tides, wreckage can still be found.”

On TripAdvisor, the beach has received stellar reviews from travellers – who dubbed the coastal gem a ‘wild and wonderful place’. “It’s so lovely, [it’s] like being on the edge of the world,” one person hailed. “Definitely worth the walk.”

Another agreed, commenting: “[There’s] so much beach it feels deserted. Plenty of shelter in the dune areas, or on top of the pebble areas for reflection, reading a book or soaking up the sun!” while a third added: “This beach is one of the most unappreciated beaches in Wales. It has no tourists, no pretend surfers and no overcrowding.”

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Located some 173 miles from London, driving to Sker Beach will take around three hours and 22 minutes – followed by the 20-minute coastal walk. You can get indirect trains from the Big Smoke over to Pyle – which takes two hours and 37 minutes – for as little as £64.40.

You’ll then have to drive, or take a taxi, for six minutes to reach Kenfig National Nature Reserve and then walk to the beach. However, many travellers have slammed the car park here for issuing out hefty fines – so make sure you pay and don’t go over the time limit.

*Prices based on adult single fares on Trainline at the time of writing. Tickets may be cheaper if you have a Railcard.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

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New species of dog-sized killer dinosaur that roamed Earth 220m years ago discovered – but its name isn’t too catchy

A NEW dog-sized dinosaur species that roamed the Earth 220 million years ago has been discovered.

The Maleriraptor kuttyi is thought to be one of the earliest killer dinosaurs in history.

Illustration of four dinosaurs in a prehistoric landscape.

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The Maleriraptor kuttyi is thought to be one of the earliest killer dinosaursCredit: Márcio L. Castro.
Illustration of Maleriraptor kuttyi, a dog-sized dinosaur.

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The now-extinct dinosaur is believed to have lived some 220 million years ago – during the Triassic period.

The small but mighty beast could grow to a height of 3.2 feet and a length of 6.5 feet – about the size of a large-breed dog such as a Great Dane.

And the creature was one of the earliest known carnivorous dinosaurs, along with the rest of the Herrerasauria family.

Dr. Martín Ezcurra from the Argentina’s Natural Science museum said: “Herrerasaurs represent the oldest radiation of predatory dinosaurs.”

The fossilised dinosaur bones were discovered more than in Telangana, India forty years ago.

But only now have scientists identified exactly what species these bones belonged to.

Herrerasauria fossils were previously found in South and North America.

But the new bombshell discovery has proved that the creatures roamed far more of the Earth than previously thought.

And the dinosaurs in India are believed to have outlived those elsewhere.

Scientists believe this might be because India had a similar climate to South America during the Triassic period.

The unique dinosaur attraction in a famous London park that is free to visit

This comes after a giant horned dinosaur species was unearthed in Egypt.

The predatory dinosaur species, named Tameryraptor markgrafi, was originally discovered in 1914 by Ernst Stromer von Reichenbach who died in 1952.

The 95million-year-old skeleton was excavated in the Bahariya Oasis in Egypt before it was stored in the Bavarian State Collection for Paleontology and Geology in Munich, Germany.

But the remains were destroyed along with other Egyptian discoveries when Munich was bombed in World War Two.

Tragically the only remnants of the dinosaur discovery were Dr Stromer’s notes, illustrations of the bones and black and white photographs of the skeletons.

But Dr Stromer’s records have now been reanalysed in a new study.

Maximilian Kellermann, the study’s first author said: “What we saw in the historical images surprised us all.

“The Egyptian dinosaur fossil depicted there differs significantly from more recent Carcharodontosaurus found in Morocco.”

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California isn’t backing down on healthcare for immigrants

One of the many traits that set California apart from other states is the way undocumented immigrants are woven into our communities.

Their economic impact is obvious, and the Golden State would be hard-pressed to keep our status as a world-competing financial power without their labor.

But most Californians know, and are OK with the reality, that at least some of our neighbors, our kids’ classmates, our co-workers, are without legal documents, or in blended-status families.

Gov. Gavin Newsom took a stand Wednesday for those undocumented Californians that seems to have gone largely unnoticed, but which probably will be a big fight in Congress and courts. In his bad news-filled budget presentation, Newsom committed to keeping state-funded health insurance for undocumented residents (with cuts, deep ones, which I’ll get to). Although some are disappointed by his rollbacks, many of which will hit citizens and noncitizens alike, standing by California’s expansion to cover all low income people is a statement of values.

“We’ve provided more support than any state in American history, and we’ll continue to provide more support than any state in American history,” he said.

Sticking with that promise is going to be tough, and likely costly.

This decision comes as Congress considers a Trump-led budget bill that would severely penalize states (there are 14 of them) that continue to provide health insurance to undocumented immigrants. California, of course, has the largest number of such folks on its Medi-Cal plan and would be the hardest hit if that penalty does indeed become the new law — to the tune of $27 billion over six years, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

To put that in perspective, the governor is now estimating a nearly $12-billion budget shortfall this year. That federal cut would add at least $3 billion a year to our costs once it hits.

That federal cut, Newsom said, was “not anticipated in this budget,” which means we are ignoring it for the time being.

Federal programs aren’t open to noncitizens, and no federal dollars are used to support California’s expansion of healthcare to undocumented people.

But Congress is threatening an approximately 10% cut in reimbursements to states that insure undocumented people via the Medicaid expansion that was part of the Affordable Care Act. That expansion allows millions of Americans to have access to healthcare.

Those expansion funds are working in ways that many don’t know about. For example, as Newsom pointed out, behavioral health teams doing outreach to homeless people are funded by Medicaid dollars.

In all, about one-third of Californians rely on Medi-Cal, including millions of children, so this threat to cut federal funds is not an empty one, especially in a lean year.

Katherine Hempstead, a senior policy advisor for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which advocates for universal healthcare, said that the bill being debated by Congress is so full of cuts to healthcare that arguing against the provision penalizing coverage for undocumented people may not be a priority for most Democrats — making it more likely that the cut will get through.

“I don’t know if this is going to be a do-or-die issue,” she said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom presents his revised 2025-26 state budget during a news conference Wednesday in Sacramento.

Gov. Gavin Newsom presents his revised 2025-26 state budget during a news conference Wednesday in Sacramento.

(Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

And indeed, the pressure by Republicans to kill off coverage entirely for undocumented folks was quick.

“Gov. Newsom has only partially repealed his disastrous policy,” Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) said in a statement. “ It needs to be reversed entirely, or Californians will continue to spend billions on coverage for illegal immigrants and our state will lose an even larger amount in federal Medicaid funding.”

Newsom has given economic reasons for sticking with the state’s coverage for all low-income residents, regardless of status. When people don’t have access to routine care, they end up in emergency rooms and that is extremely expensive. And also, Medicaid has to cover that emergency care, so taxpayers often end up spending more in the long run by skimping on upfront care.

“It’s definitely important to the people that get the coverage because they don’t really have an alternative,” Hempstead said.

But that care has been vastly more expensive than California expected, also to the tune of billions of dollars in unexpected costs, in part because so many people have signed up.

To the dismay of many, Newsom’s budget reflects both recent economic woes — a $16-billion revenue hit caused by what he’s dubbing the “Trump slump” — as well as the state vastly understimating the cost of covering those undocumented folks.

That shortfall may force cuts in the coverage that undocumented people qualify for if the Legislature goes along with Newsom’s plan, or even parts of it.

Most notably, it would cap enrollment for undocumented adults age 19 and over in 2026, effectively closing the program to new participants. That’s a huge hurt. His plan also calls for adding a $100 per month premium, and other cuts such as ending coverage for the extremely popular and expensive GLP-1 weight loss drugs for all participants.

“I don’t want to be in this position, but we are in this position,” Newsom said.

Amanda McAllister-Wallner, executive director of Health Access California, called those cuts “reckless and unconscionable” in a statement.

“This is a betrayal of the governor’s commitment to California immigrants, and an abandonment of his legacy, which brought California so close to universal healthcare,” she said.

I strongly believe in universal single-payer healthcare (basically opening up Medicare to everyone), so I don’t disagree with McAllister-Wallner’s point. In better days, I would hope to see enrollment reopen and benefits restored.

But also, we’re broke. This is going to be a year of painful choices for all involved.

Which makes Newsom’s, and California’s, commitment to keep insurance for undocumented people notable. The state could back down under this real federal pressure, could try to find a way to claw back the benefits we have already given.

But there’s a moral component to providing healthcare to our undocumented residents, who are such a valuable and vital part of our state.

Although the fiscal realities are ugly, it’s worth remembering that in providing the coverage, California is sticking with some of its most vulnerable residents, at a time when it would be easier to cut and run.

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The Sports Report: Why isn’t the Kentucky Derby winner in the Preakness?

From John Cherwa: The horses have barely passed the finish line at Churchill Downs when many heads turn to the east, pointing to Baltimore, and start thinking about the Preakness, the second stop on racing’s Triple Crown. And that quickness belies the problem. It’s only two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.

It used to not be a problem when horses raced more often than they do today. The only racing that goes on nowadays is to see how fast you can get your superstar-in-the-making into the breeding shed, which is where the real money is made.

The Preakness is different from the Derby in so many ways. The biggest technical reason is the race is a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Derby. The biggest non-technical reason is the Preakness is fun, an experience trainers and owners enjoy rather than the price-gouging pressure cooker that is Louisville on Derby week.

“What the Derby thinks it is, that’s what the Preakness is,” Mickey Taylor, one of the owners of Seattle Slew, once said.

This year’s 150th anniversary of the Preakness is full of intrigue but short on stars, especially with Derby winner Sovereignty skipping the race. But it’s still an interesting race and the winner will etch his name in history. Here are five story lines to look for this week.

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NBA PLAYOFFS RESULTS

All Times Pacific

Conference semifinals

Western Conference

No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 4 Denver Nuggets
Denver 121, at Oklahoma City 119 (box score)
at Oklahoma City 149, Denver 106 (box score)
at Denver 113, Oklahoma City 104 (OT) (box score)
Oklahoma City 92, at Denver 87 (box score)
Tuesday at Oklahoma City, 6:30 p.m., TNT
Thursday at Denver, TBD, ESPN
Sunday at Oklahoma City, TBD*

No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 7 Golden State
Golden State 99, at Minnesota 88 (box score)
at Minnesota 117, Golden State 93 (box score)
Minnesota 102, at Golden State 97 (box score)
Minnesota 117, at Golden State 110 (box score)
Wednesday at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m., TNT
Sunday at Golden State, TBD*
Tuesday, May 20 at Minnesota, 5:30 p.m., ESPN*

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Cleveland vs. No. 4 Indiana
Indiana 121, at Cleveland 112 (box score)
Indiana 120, at Cleveland 119 (box score)
Cleveland 126, at Indiana 104 (box score)
at Indiana 129, Cleveland 109 (box score)
Tuesday at Cleveland, 4 p.m., TNT
Thursday at Indiana, TBD*
Sunday at Cleveland, TBD*

No. 2 Boston vs. No. 3 New York
New York 108, at Boston 105 (OT) (box score)
New York 91, at Boston 90 (box score)
Boston 115, at New York 93 (box score)
at New York 121, Boston 113 (box score)
Wednesday at Boston, 4 p.m., TNT
Friday at New York, TBD, ESPN*
Monday at Boston, 5 p.m., TNT*

*if necessary

ANGELS

Taylor Ward hit a grand slam to cap a six-run ninth inning, and the Angels beat the San Diego Padres 9-5 on Monday night.

The Angels rallied against Robert Suarez, who had converted 18 consecutive save opportunities — including 15 this season. Alek Jacob replaced Suarez and struck out Jorge Soler before Ward delivered.

Suarez (0-1) yielded a one-out single before walking four straight batters, forcing in two runs. The right-hander gave up just one run in his first 18 appearances this year.

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Angels box score

MLB scores

MLB standings

LONG BEACH STATE VOLLEYBALL

Freshman Moni Nikolov posted six kills, four aces and a pair of digs and Long Beach State beat UCLA 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21 to win the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament Monday night.

It was the Beach’s (30-3) fourth championship in program history and first since 2019. Long Beach State also won the title in 2018 and claimed its first title in 1991 when current coach Alan Knipe was a player.

The 6-foot-10 Nikolov, who just turned 18, started the match with an opening-serve ace and ended UCLA’s two-time reign with a thunderous kill.

“Not for one second did we think we were going to lose that game,” Nikolov said. “Before the game in the locker room we told each other we were here. We were born for this …. game.

“Even when we were down five, we trusted each other because we knew we were the better team.”

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NASCAR

From Kevin Baxter: When Shane van Gisbergen was offered the chance to move from Australian Supercars to NASCAR two years ago, he had one question: Can I bring my dog?

And when we say dog, we really mean horse because Ronald is much closer to a small pony than he is to a large dog.

“He’s a pretty cool dog,” van Gisbergen said of the Rhodesian Ridgeback who weighs 130 pounds, which makes him five pounds heavier than Tyler Reddick, the reigning regular-season NASCAR Cup Series champion. Van Gisbergen wasn’t going to leave Australia without him.

“You can’t get rid of a dog,” he said. “He is part of our family.”

Van Gisbergen isn’t the only animal lover on the NASCAR circuit. About a dozen drivers travel with their dogs so regularly, at least two tracks have built dog parks for the race teams.

“It kind of brings a feeling of home on the road,” said Alex Bowman, who has three dogs, an 8-year-old charcoal Labrador named Finn, a year-old Golden Retriever mix rescue named Huck and a goldendoodle named Merle that belongs to girlfriend Chloe Henderson, a self-proclaimed “dog mom.”

“My dogs are my best friends. So it’s always cool to have them at the race track,” said Bowman, who finished fifth in Sunday’s 400-mile race in Kansas City, Kan., the 12th event on the Cup Series schedule.

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NHL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE, RESULTS

All times Pacific

Conference semifinals

Pacific 1 Vegas vs. Pacific 3 Edmonton
Edmonton 4, at Vegas 2 (summary)
Edmonton 5, at Vegas 4 (OT) (summary)
Vegas 4, at Edmonton 3 (summary)
at Edmonton 3, Vegas 0 (summary)
Wednesday at Vegas, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Friday at Edmonton, TBD, TNT*
Sunday at Vegas, TBD, TNT*

C1 Winnipeg vs. C2 Dallas
Dallas 3, at Winnipeg 2 (summary)
Winnipeg 4, at Dallas 0 (summary)
Dallas 5, at Winnipeg 2 (summary)
Tuesday at Dallas, 5 p.m., ESPN
Thursday at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m., TNT
Saturday at Dallas, TBD*
Monday at Winnipeg, TBD, ESPN*

Eastern Conference

Atlantic 1 Toronto vs. Atlantic 3 Florida
at Toronto 5, Florida 4 (summary)
at Toronto 4, Florida 3 (summary)
at Florida 5, Toronto 4 (OT) (summary)
at Florida 2, Toronto 0 (summary)
Wednesday at Toronto, 4 p.m., ESPN*
Friday at Florida, TBD, TNT
Sunday at Toronto, TBD, TNT*

Metro 1 Washington vs. Metro 2 Carolina
Carolina 2, at Washington 1 (OT) (summary)
at Washington 3, Carolina 1 (summary)
at Carolina 4, Washington 0 (summary)
at Carolina 5, Washington 2 (summary)
Thursday at Washington, 4 p.m., TNT
Saturday at Carolina, TBD*
Monday at Washington, TBD, ESPN*

* If necessary

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

1891 — Isaac Murphy wins his second straight Kentucky Derby aboard Kingman. In the stretch, Kingman comes from last in the four-horse field to beat Balgownan by one-half length.

1905 — World heavyweight boxing champion James J. Jeffries retires undefeated after 7 title defences; returns in 1910 to be beaten by Jack Johnson.

1950 — First ever race of the Formula 1 World Drivers Championship is run at Silverstone, England and won by Giuseppe Farina of italy in an Alfa Romeo.

1962 — LPGA Western Open Women’s Golf, Montgomery CC: Mickey Wright wins on the 4th hole of a sudden-death playoff with Mary Lena Faulk.

1976 — The New York Nets overcome a 22-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 112-106 and win the last ABA championship in six games.

1989 — Trinidad & Tobago ties US 1-1, in 3rd round of 1990 world soccer cup.

1992 — The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers 5-1 to eliminate the Patrick Division champions in six games and advance to the Prince of Wales Conference finals. It is the first time all four division winners are eliminated in the same round. The Norris Division champion Detroit Red Wings were swept by the Chicago Blackhawks in four straight games, and the Montreal Canadiens, who had won the Adams Division, lost in four games to the Boston Bruins. The Vancouver Canucks, the Smythe Division champions lost to the Edmonton Oilers in six games.

1995 — Team New Zealand’s Black Magic 1 completes a 5-0 sweep in the America’s Cup, beating Dennis Conner’s borrowed boat Young America by 1 minute, 50 seconds.

1998 — Chelsea of England win 38th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Stuttgart of Germany 1-0 in Stockholm.

2005 — Tiger Woods misses the cut at the Byron Nelson Championship to end his record of 142 consecutive cuts made over the last seven years on the PGA Tour. Needing a par on the 18th hole at Cottonwood Valley, Woods misses a 15-foot putt. He taps in for a bogey and a 2-over 72, leaving him at 1 over for the tournament.

2006 — English FA Cup Final, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (71,140): Liverpool beats West Ham United, 3-1 on penalties after 3–3 (a.e.t.); Reds 7th title.

2007 — Canada wins hockey’s world championship with a 4-2 victory over Finland. Rick Nash leads the way with two goals as Canada captures its’ 24th world title and first since 2004.

2007 — Rafael Nadal becomes the first player to win the Rome Masters three consecutive times by beating Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-2, 6-2. The victory extends his winning streak on clay to 77 matches. By reaching the final, the Spaniard broke John McEnroe’s record for most consecutive victories (75) on one surface.

2007 — At 16 years, 65 days Matthew Briggs debuts for Fulham in a 3-1 defeat at Middlesbrough; youngest player to appear in an English Premier League match.

2007 — PGA Players Championship, TPC at Sawgrass: American Phil Mickelson wins by 2 strokes ahead of runner-up Sergio García of Spain; event played in May for the first time.

2012 — Manchester City wins the English title for the first time in 44 years, surging past Queens Park Rangers 3-2 with Sergio Aguero scoring his team’s second goal late in injury time. Aguero scores during the fourth minute of injury time, two minutes after substitute Edin Dzeko made it 2-2. The winning goal snatches the trophy from defending champion Manchester United on goal difference.

2012 — PGA Players Championship, TPC at Sawgrass: Matt Kuchar wins by 2 strokes ahead of Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Martin Laird and Ben Curtis.

2014 — Henrik Lundqvist sets an NHL record with his fifth straight Game 7 victory. He made 35 saves to lift the New York Rangers to a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins and earn a spot in the Eastern Conference finals. Brian Boyle and Brad Richards score for New York, who rally from a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in the franchise’s 88-year history.

2015 — Derek Stepan scores 11:24 in overtime, lifting the New York Rangers past the Washington Capitals 2-1 and into the Eastern Conference finals. Stepan’s wrist shot from the left wing caps a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the series. The Rangers become the only team to manage that in successive years, doing the same thing to Pittsburgh in the second round in 2014.

2018 — Liverpool’s Egyptian soccer forward Mohamed Salah scores in a 4-0 win against Brighton to set the EPL goal scoring record (32) for a 38-game season.

2018 — PGA Players Championship, TPC at Sawgrass: American Webb Simpson wins by 4 strokes from Xander Schauffele, Charl Schwartzel and Jimmy Walker.

2019 — The Tradition Senior Men’s Golf, Greystone G &CC: Steve Stricker wins his first career major title by 6 strokes ahead of Billy Andrade, Paul Goydos & David Toms.

THIS DAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1911 — Detroit’s Ty Cobb hit his first grand slam. After six innings, the Tigers led the Red Sox, 10-1. Boston came back to win the game 13-11 in 10 innings.

1911 — The New York Giants scored a major league record 10 runs before the St. Louis Cardinals retired the first batter in the first inning. Fred Merkle drove in six of the Giants’ 13 runs in the first en route to a 19-5 rout.

1923 — Joe Sewell of the Cleveland Indians struck out twice in one game for the first time in his career. Washington Senator rookie Wally Warmoth was the pitcher. In a 14-year career, Sewell had only one other multiple strikeout game.

1942 — Boston’s Jim Tobin became the only pitcher in modern history to hit three home runs in one game. Tobin led the Braves to a 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. His fourth at-bat was a fly ball caught against the fence in left field.

1955 — At Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle hits home runs from both sides of the plate for the first time in his major league career.

1958 — Teammates Willie Mays and Darryl Spencer each had four long hits as San Francisco beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles 16-9. Mays had two homers, two triples, a single and four RBIs, and Spencer had two homers, a triple, a double and six RBIs for a combined 28 total bases.

1958 — Stan Musial got his 3,000th hit with a pinch-double off Chicago’s Moe Drabowsky at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals won 5-3.

1969 — Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs reaches the 1,500 runs batted in milestone with seven RBIs in a 19-0 shellacking of the expansion San Diego Padres.

1976 — For the sixth consecutive game, George Brett of the Kansas City Royals collects at least three hits.

1980 — Ray Knight of Cincinnati hit two home runs in the fifth inning — including a grand slam — to lead the Reds to a 15-4 rout of the New York Mets.

1982 — The Chicago Cubs won game No. 8,000 in their history with a 5-0 victory over Houston at the Astrodome.

1989 — Kirby Puckett of the Minnesota Twins tied a major league record with four doubles against the Blue Jays. He became the 35th player to hit four doubles in a game, the first since Toronto’s Damaso Garcia in 1986.

1993 — George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hits his 300th career home run in the 6th inning of a 7-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Brett is only the 6th major league player with at least 3,000 hits and 300 home runs.

1994 — Tim Salmon of the Angels went 5-for-5 against the Seattle Mariners to give him 13 hits over three consecutive games.

2000 — Todd Stottlemyre of Arizona earned his seventh victory of the season as the Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 6-2. It was Todd’s 136th career win. He and father Mel Stottlemyre became the first father-son combination to record 300 wins.

2002 — Only 38 home runs shy of the exclusive 500 home run club, Jose Canseco retires at 37 age due to injuries sustained in recent years.

2007 — San Francisco rookie Fred Lewis hit for the cycle in a 15-2 win over Colorado, just four days after being called up from triple-A Fresno.

2009 — Soon after Adam LaRoche became the first player to have a home run taken away following a video replay review, Ross Gload lost one the same way when umpires reversed their call. LaRoche wound up with a double for Pittsburgh at PNC Park. Gload’s pinch-hit drive was finally called foul at Milwaukee and he eventually struck out. Both players had already rounded the bases when umps changed the original call.

2009 — Ryan Zimmerman’s 30-game hitting streak ended when he went 0 for 3 with two walks in Washington’s 6-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

2012 — Joey Votto hit a grand slam in the ninth inning for his third home run of the game, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a rain-delayed 9-6 victory over the Washington Nationals.

2023 — By striking out Brice Turang and Joey Wiemer of the Brewers in the 5th inning, Zack Greinke becomes only the fifth pitcher in major league history to have struck out 1,000 different batters in his career. The veteran Royals hurler, who is in his 20th season, joins Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens in the exclusive club.

2024 — In a first, women are the lead television announcers for both teams in today’s game between the Athletics and Astros. Jenny Cavnar was named the A’s lead broadcaster before the start of the season, and for the occasion the Astros have announcer Todd Kalas and in-game reporter Julia Morales switch roles, with Morales, a long-time friend of Cavnar’s, taking over in the broadcast booth.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

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This Isn’t a Flaw in the System—It Is the System

We live in a world where racism isn’t just a set of isolated incidents but a pervasive thread woven through every major system and institution that shapes our daily lives. The evidence surrounds us, yet many “fail to see it.” The roots of racism are deeply ingrained into the fabric of society. For example, something as simple as redlining, where financial institutions deny loans for specific neighborhoods based on race, is one such tool of racism. The systems around African-Americans were not designed to uplift but rather to suppress their existence. To demand equality, justice, and human rights, we must confront the inequalities embedded within our economic, legal, educational, healthcare, and political systems and work to deconstruct the structures that have long marginalized Black communities.

One of the most glaring manifestations of systemic racism is the racial wealth gap between African-Americans and white Americans. According to a recent article published by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), the median wealth of Black households is just $9,000, compared to $160,200 for white households. This vast disparity is not simply the result of individual choices or personal shortcomings but stems from centuries of exclusionary economic policies like slavery, Jim Crow laws, and discriminatory housing practices like redlining. As a result, African-American families have been systematically denied opportunities to build wealth through homeownership, business ownership, and access to financial resources.

Educational inequality is another major facet of systemic racism that has profound long-term effects on the African-American community. Despite the progress made in desegregating schools, the reality is that African-American children are still more likely to attend underfunded schools. According to a study done by EdBuild, schools that are predominantly white school districts receive $23 billion more than those in districts where the students are not predominantly white. This means fewer resources, less support, and a lower quality education, creating a cycle of limited educational achievement that would hinder economic mobility. School funding is often tied to local property taxes; according to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, 81% of school funding comes from property taxes. This means that communities with lower-income populations—disproportionately populated by Black families— have far fewer resources than affluent, predominantly white districts. The lack of access to quality education and the disproportionate funding faced by Black students has long-term consequences for their future success, limiting access to higher education and career opportunities.

The racial inequities in the healthcare system are stark and continue to aggravate the health disparities experienced by African-Americans. African-Americans are also more likely to suffer from chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and asthma, yet are less likely to receive appropriate care for these conditions. The higher rates of poor health outcomes for African-Americans are attributed to multiple factors, including lack of access to quality healthcare, economic barriers, and institutional biases within the medical field. Additionally, African-American women are three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes compared to their white counterparts. This crisis is driven by factors such as implicit bias in healthcare, where doctors may underestimate the pain of Black patients or fail to treat them with the same urgency as white patients. Despite improvements in healthcare access over the past several decades, these racial disparities persist and continue to contribute to poor health outcomes faced by African-Americans.

Despite growing support for addressing systemic racism, some argue that institutional inequalities are a thing of the past and that modern society offers equal opportunities to all. People against structural change often claim that disparities in wealth, education, and incarceration rates are due to individual choices rather than systemic barriers. They point to examples of successful Black Americans—CEOs, politicians, and entertainers—as evidence that racism is no longer a defining factor in American society. Some even argue that programs aimed specifically at correcting racial inequalities are themselves discriminatory, advocating instead for “colorblind” policies that treat all individuals the same. But this argument crumbles under the weight of historical context and current data. The presence of a few high-profile Black success stories does not erase centuries of legally sanctioned oppression or the enduring structures that continue to disadvantage millions of Black Americans. Relying on exceptionalism to dismiss systemic issues is dishonest—it ignores the reality that for every one Black millionaire, there are countless others facing discrimination in housing, education, employment, and healthcare. “Colorblindness” sounds appealing in theory, but in practice, it erases the unique challenges that the African-American community faces, making it harder, not easier, to achieve real equity.

Deconstructing institutionalized racism is not just a political task—it is a moral imperative. For centuries, African Americans have carried the weight of a system built to exclude them while being told to be patient, to work harder, and to wait for justice that never fully arrives. The pain is generational. The harm is measurable. And the silence of inaction is deafening. We cannot repair what we refuse to acknowledge. True justice requires us not to ignore race but to confront how it has been weaponized for generations. To suggest otherwise is not only naive—it’s dangerous. It’s time to rebuild a society that doesn’t just promise equality but delivers it.

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Kawhi Leonard isn’t surprised Clippers vs. Nuggets series is tied

Typically, Kawhi Leonard said after Game 4 Saturday at Intuit Dome, the four and five seeds in NBA playoff matchups are equal in many ways.

That appears to very much be the case in the fifth-seeded Clippers’ first-round series against the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets.

They have each won two games, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday night in Denver.

They had identical 50-32 records and split the four games they played against each other in the regular season.

“It’s like another four, five seeding series,” Leonard said. “You usually get some tough battles in these seedings. You guys watched the ending of the last two weeks, three weeks of the season and everybody was fighting. I think we pretty much have the same record. So, that’s how it is. The matchups might be different, different styles of play, but both teams are fighting to win.”

Three of the four games have come down to the final seconds. The Clippers lost Game 1 in overtime by two points. The Clippers won Game 2 on the road by three points. The Clippers blew out the Nuggets in Game 3 by 37 points. In Game 4, Aaron Gordon tipped in a Nikola Jokic missed three-pointer with a power dunk just before time expired to give Denver a two-point win.

The latest loss was emotionally draining for the Clippers after their rally from a 22-point deficit fell just short.

“Just bounce back,” Norman Powell said. “We know what time it is. We’ve all said it — that’s a good team over there. They’ve won a championship. They know what it takes. They got the will, they got the guys, they are not going to quit. It’s just us going back to the drawing board and seeing how we can improve.”

All five of Denver’s starters played at least 42 minutes in Game 4. But they got two days off to recover.

And the Nuggets have Jokic — he’s averaging a triple-double in the series with 28.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 10.8 assists.

“We’re going back to Denver, so I think now it’s best-of-three and the series is even and it’s completely different, I would think,” Jokic said.

The Clippers are leaning on their four top players to guide them and their formidable defense.

Leonard leads in scoring (26.5 points per game), followed by James Harden (21.3), Ivica Zubac (18.8) and Powell (16.8). Zubac leads the Clippers in rebounding (11.5 per game), Harden leads in assists (9.5), Leonard leads in steals (1.8) and veteran Nicholas Batum leads in blocks (1.2).

The Clippers are holding the Nuggets to 99.5 points per game in the series, the fifth-best defense in the postseason.

“We feel good that we can beat this team,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.

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