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The LeadJennie Garth, known for her role as Kelly Taylor in 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' opens up about the psychological impact of early fame and how she found new purpose in her 50s. The 54-year-old actress, who felt 'stuck' and unfulfilled as her daughters grew up, has launched a podcast and book titled 'I Choose Me,' sharing her journey of self-discovery and the lessons learned from her decades in Hollywood.Finding Purpose at 50Approaching her 50s, Garth experienced a classic midlife crisis, questioning her path and purpose after noticing potential acting jobs becoming 'few and far between.' The deaths of her 90210 co-stars Luke Perry in 2019 and Shannen Doherty in 2024 intensified her sense of urgency, prompting her to share what she's learned with other women experiencing similar standstills. Her new venture, 'I Choose Me,' named after an iconic line from her character on the show, combines memoir and self-help as Garth reflects on her journey from teenage star to mature woman finding her voice.The Price of Early FameGarth candidly admits that her early fame 'screwed with her mind,' describing how she spent 20 years 'trying to keep her head above water.' Starting on the hit show at just 18, she felt developmentally 'held back from the realities of the world,' watching peers experience normal milestones while she was 'slammed into' fame. The experience left her questioning how her unusual path affected her relationships and personal growth, as she struggled to form normal connections while constantly being judged and typecast in the industry.Hollywood's Changing LandscapeThe actress reflects on the sexism she faced in the 90s, noting how young female actors were 'exposed to far more than they should' in terms of sexualization and discrimination. She recalls unspoken expectations about appearance and the pressure to conform to certain standards, including her own decision to get breast enhancement at 24. Garth also discusses how the industry typecast her and her co-stars, keeping them in a 'sort of Aaron Spelling-nighttime-soapy category' that limited their growth opportunities, despite the quality of their work.A New ChapterNow in her 50s, Garth feels she's finally 'caught up' developmentally and is embracing her age with greater wisdom and resilience. Through therapy and self-help, she's found a new voice and purpose, sharing her experiences to help other women navigate similar challenges. Her journey from teenage star to empowered woman reflects both the lasting impact of early fame and the potential for reinvention later in life, as she continues to work while also focusing on personal growth and helping others find their own path to self-acceptance.

U.S. President Donald Trump is confronting a shrinking set of diplomatic and military choices as the fragile cease‑fire with Iran shows signs of unraveling.Escalating Tensions as the US‑Iran Ceasefire StallsOptimism for a new peace proposal evaporated this week, with both sides digging in and demanding the other concede first. Trump has described the April 8 cease‑fire as being on “life support,” while senior officials hint at a possible resumption of hostilities. Tehran’s demands – an end to fighting on all fronts, lifted sanctions, and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz – have been dismissed by Trump as “garbage.”Polls and Market Numbers Reveal Growing Domestic PressureTwo‑thirds of Americans surveyed by Reuters/Ipsos say Trump has not provided a clear rationale for the war.Gas, oil and fertilizer prices are climbing, amplifying public discontent.Trump’s approval rating sits at 36%, down from 47% a year ago.The cease‑fire, in place since April 8, remains fragile, with recent missile and drone attacks on the UAE testing its limits.Strategic Consequences for the Middle East and US Global PostureA renewed US‑Israel bombing campaign could strain Washington’s ammunition stockpiles and divert attention from the Indo‑Pacific, where China remains a primary concern. The Center for Strategic and International Studies warns that the Iran conflict has already eroded US readiness for other confrontations. Moreover, Iran’s hardened stance and resilient military posture suggest that further escalation may not force the concessions Washington seeks.What Path Might Trump Take Next?Analysts argue Trump will have to prioritize either a nuclear‑deal concession or control of the Strait of Hormuz, likely favoring the former to protect energy markets. Any escalation risks a broader regional war and could become a decisive liability in the upcoming mid‑term elections. The most plausible scenario is a negotiated settlement that limits Iran’s nuclear program while leaving the Hormuz issue unresolved, allowing Trump to claim a diplomatic win while managing domestic political fallout.

The Artist's Journey Through Love and LossFalling in and then out of love is a universal experience that often brings sadness, grief and heartbreak, and with time, hope and healing. Photographer Diana Markosian used her camera lens to document these complex feelings in her new project, Replaced.She brings the viewer on her journey of having, losing and reclaiming love, in a project that blurs documentary and fiction. "[The moments] no longer existed in the way they had, and I wanted to reclaim them," she says. "I wanted to feel that I could exist in my own story again."Recreating Intimate Moments Through ArtTo document their relationship, Markosian and her team worked with an actor to play her ex-partner. Each intimate image from the series, taken over three months, is a replica of an exact moment once shared with her ex and now shared between her and the actor. Her connection to him deliberately led to his being cast as her partner in the series so that the experience would feel as real as possible.With the actor, she visited Miami, Paris, Naples, Capri and Nice, all places she had once traveled to with her ex-partner. "These locations carry an existing weight of romantic myth," she says. "They are already shaped by cultural narratives of love, desire and idealized experience."The Emotional Toll of ReenactmentShe stayed at the same hotels and did the activities they had once done together, describing the experience as painful but cathartic. "It hurts so much, watching myself be replaced, watching those memories erased, and I didn't want to live in this any more," she says. "I'm so grateful that the project happened quickly."One of the most tender moments she recreates with the model appears in an image of them seated in a bathtub, holding one another with a red light glowing around them. Their vulnerability allows the viewer to reflect on a delicate moment between two people whose past love no longer exists, fostering empathy and prompting the audience to reflect on their own past relationships.Art as a Tool for Processing EmotionsCreating these intimate photographs enabled her to contemplate her journey. "I wanted to acknowledge how these same spaces can be reoccupied," she says, before adding: "If anything, [the project] just showed me how much I loved this person."For the past 16 years, Markosian has not let go of her camera, often using it to reach back and understand her past. "Art has given me a way of processing. I was studying writing, and suddenly found myself holding a camera and not wanting to let go of it; it became just a friend in my life," she says.A Career Built on Memory and ReconnectionShe first picked up a camera at 20, during graduate school at Columbia University. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she wanted to see the world, so she moved back to Moscow, Russia, where she was born. There she taught herself how to use the camera.Today, her lens serves as a tool for reconnecting with her past life and reclaiming it as her own. In her previous, highly regarded photo monograph Inventing My Father, she demonstrates her unique ability to reveal the unseen past through her images. Working on the book for 10 years, she depicts her journey of finding her father after 15 years of no contact, following her move to California in 1996 from Armenia, where he lives."Father, my previous work of the past decade, it's all rooted in memory, and I think what's beautiful about memory, there's a blend of fiction, interpretation, and it's very subjective," she says. "So I think I love existing in that territory because none of it is really real."

The Escalation of Audience Aggression: Clapton and Sykes Hit by Stage ObjectsTwo high-profile incidents involving legendary guitarist Eric Clapton and Bring Me the Horizon frontman Oli Sykes highlight a disturbing trend of audience aggression that is blurring the lines between fan interaction and safety hazards.Two Distinct Incidents Highlighting Audience AggressionOli Sykes was struck in the head by a phone during a performance in St Louis, resulting in a mild concussion. Despite the injury, Sykes continued the show but cut a song and a fan interaction segment.Eric Clapton was hit in the chest by a vinyl album in its sleeve during a concert in Madrid. While this forced him to forgo an encore, it did not impact his subsequent performance in Barcelona.The Cultural Impact AnalysisThese incidents are not isolated; throwing objects onto the stage has become routine. Unlike protests, many of these acts are driven by a desire to "gift" items or capture photos, creating a volatile environment for performers.A Decade of Disruption: Artists React to Stage IntrusionThe issue has reached a boiling point, with major artists expressing frustration over years of being hit by objects. Adele famously threatened to "kill" fans who threw items, while Billie Eilish noted she has been hit for six years. A major spate occurred in 2023, affecting stars like Bebe Rexha, Harry Styles, and Cardi B.The Future of Stage Etiquette and Security ProtocolsAs physical safety becomes a primary concern, the live music industry may need to implement stricter crowd control measures and clearer communication regarding stage etiquette to protect artists from preventable injuries.

The Passing of a TrailblazerJason Collins, the first openly gay active player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), has died at the age of 47 after battling cancer. His family confirmed the news in a statement, describing his fight against glioblastoma as "valiant." Collins revealed his diagnosis in September 2025, disclosing he had stage four glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.A Career in Professional BasketballThe 7-foot center (2.13 meters) played 13 seasons in the NBA, making significant contributions to several teams. Selected 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 draft, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets on draft night. Collins also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards.Collins helped the Nets reach back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 alongside teammates Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson, showcasing his value as a professional athlete.A Historic Moment in SportsIn April 2013, Collins made headlines when he became the first active male athlete in one of North America's four major professional sports leagues to publicly come out as gay. His decision was announced in a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated, which received widespread support across the sports world.Former United States President Barack Obama publicly praised Collins' courage, stating that he "couldn't be prouder" of Collins for taking this step. His coming out represented a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports.Enduring Legacy and Impact"Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar," his family said in their statement. "Our family will miss him dearly."Arn Tellem, Collins' former agent and current vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons, emphasized the lasting impact of his decision to come out: "Jason's legacy stands as a beacon for tolerance, dignity, respect, inclusion, compassion, and understanding. He left this world better than he found it."The Future of LGBTQ+ Representation in SportsCollins' passing comes at a time when LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports continues to evolve. His courageous decision to come out in 2013 paved the way for other athletes to be open about their identities without fear of professional repercussions. As sports organizations continue to promote diversity and inclusion, Collins' legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence future generations of athletes.

The Lead: Virtual Renovations Fill a Real‑World VoidYoung people facing sky‑high property prices are turning to a growing subgenre of "cosy" games that simulate home‑ownership, cleaning, painting and decorating virtual houses. Titles like Hozy and MakeRoom provide a calming, controllable environment that mirrors the desire for stability many cannot achieve offline.The Rise of Cosy Gaming as a Substitute for Home‑OwnershipRooted in early social simulators such as Harvest Moon (1996) and The Sims (2000), cosy gaming emphasizes gentle, low‑stakes tasks—think farming in Stardew Valley or interior design in Renovation Plan. The latest twist adds abandoned‑house makeovers, letting players experience the satisfaction of turning a derelict property into a tidy, aesthetic space.The Numbers Behind the TrendIn 2020, Steam recorded only 19 cosy‑gaming releases.By 2025, that figure exploded to 616 titles, a more than thirty‑fold increase.In the UK, 29% of adults aged 20‑34 still live with their parents, underscoring the housing affordability crunch.Societal Implications of Virtual Home‑RenovationThe appeal lies not just in escapism but in a sense of agency. With unemployment high and mortgage thresholds soaring, players find a predictable sanctuary where they can control paint colours, furniture placement and even virtual plumbing without tax bills or structural decay. Critics argue this may mask deeper anxieties, yet many gamers report reduced stress and a boost in mood after completing a virtual room makeover.Outlook: Will Cosy Gaming Remain a Niche or Shape Future Game Design?As the housing market stays unaffordable for many, developers are likely to double down on home‑ownership mechanics, integrating more realistic budgeting tools and community‑building features. If the trend continues, cosy games could evolve from simple time‑wasters into platforms for financial literacy and social connection, blurring the line between virtual comfort and real‑world empowerment.

The Cultural Phenomenon of Northern SoulAlan Byron's film is an absorbing docu-celebration of the northern soul scene that flourished from the late 1960s to the end of the 1970s. It was a fascinating, vernacular youth movement and a kind of regional open secret: a club culture, a zine culture, a music-and-fashion culture which uncynically invented and sustained itself without the need for any svengali figure from London to keep the show on the road. Northern soul fans were passionate about thumpingly sensual mid-60s American soul, a musical style which they kept alive on the all-night dancefloor by doing spectacular spins and drops, while the official voice of the music business decreed that disco or MOR rock or glam or heavy metal was where it was at.The Wigan Casino LegacyDJs would travel to the US to sort through the boxes and mounds of 7-inch vinyl which had been discarded by Motown and the radio stations – basically prospecting for gold – and bring it back to northern English clubs. The principal clearing house was the mighty Wigan Casino which mounted legendary all-nighters from 2am to 8am, attracting soul fans from miles around who knew that this was the only place where certain tracks could be heard. (No Spotify or Apple Music in those days.)Cultural Resistance and RecognitionLicensing laws meant that only Coca-Cola could be served, but dancers took amphetamine, a part of the northern soul scene that has perhaps only recently been acknowledged fully, and is in fact not looked into all that closely here. It carried on through the 1970s, all but ignored by the cultural gatekeepers of the south; that is, until documentarist Tony Palmer brought his cameras and lights into the club to make The Wigan Casino as part of Granada TV's This England strand, an outsider incursion grumblingly resented at the time but now treasured as a unique archive record.Understanding the Movement's IdentityWhat is fascinating about northern soul is the way it survived under the media-cultural radar and appears to resist larger interpretive analysis. It was not overtly political, unlike punk or reggae, and there is no consensus here about the status of the northern soul consumers. Were they unemployed, poor, alienated and angry? Not necessarily. Many here recall having good jobs and apprenticeships of the sort they wouldn't have now.Enduring Influence and MysteriesAs for whether it was revolutionary in any sexual sense, commentator Paul Mason suggests that there was something homoerotic in the male atmosphere. Maybe, yes: but no one here has any first-hand experience to share about that. As for the Wigan Casino itself, the building's lease was terminated by the council at the end of the 70s prior to planned demolition; just when the tenants might have disputed this, the building mysteriously burned to the ground. (Maybe we need David Peace to write a novel about that.) Northern soul was clearly the godfather of the club and rave scenes of the 90s and beyond, but for me, a question remains: what did the American acts themselves think of it? Were they ever tempted (or invited) to play live at the Wigan Casino?

The LeadVictor Wembanyama returned from suspension with a dominant performance, scoring 27 points and grabbing 17 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a commanding 126-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The win gives the Spurs a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series, positioning them one win away from advancing to the conference finals.The Wembanyama RedemptionWembanyama's return was highly anticipated after he was ejected in Game 4 for elbowing an opponent, which resulted in an automatic suspension. The young star expressed his eagerness to return, saying "Very, very much" when asked how anxious he was to get back on the court. He delivered in spectacular fashion, scoring 16 of the Spurs' first 24 points and finishing with a double-double in just the first half alone (21 points, 11 rebounds)."I think one thing, the one word I'd like to use, just 'mature,'" Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of Wembanyama. "There's a lot that's happened in the last 48 hours, in the last game, and I think how that young man came out tonight and played in a variety of ways, in a variety of situations, not just in terms of his production, was extremely mature and then defensively, start to finish."The Statistical BreakdownThe Spurs received balanced scoring beyond Wembanyama's performance:Keldon Johnson: 21 points off the benchDe'Aaron Fox: 18 pointsStephon Castle: 17 pointsDevin Vassell: 12 pointsDylan Harper: 12 points, 10 reboundsFor the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards led with 20 points, while Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle each had 17 points. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 16 points and Naz Reid added 12.The Spurs led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter before settling for a 12-point advantage at halftime. After Minnesota tied the game at 61-all early in the third quarter, San Antonio responded with a 30-12 run to take control of the game.The Series ImplicationsThis victory gives the Spurs significant momentum and a 3-2 series lead. The team showed resilience and maturity, particularly from their young star Wembanyama, who channeled his frustration from Game 4 into a dominant performance."We played with the appropriate fear, discipline, execution, physicality, poise," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "And I thought we had it from an array of people tonight, and it was really good to see. We needed everybody, because at different moments of the game, different guys stepped up."The Timberwolves, meanwhile, struggled with consistency, particularly on defense. "We went away from what was working, and then, you know, defence just cratered," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. "In the last six minutes of the third quarter, lot of it was just ball contain stuff. And, you know, offensively found stuff that was working, then we just started breaking off plays, you know. And that's my job. I gotta get us back on track. That's on me."The Path ForwardThe series now shifts to Minneapolis for Game 6 on Friday, with the Timberwolves facing elimination. If necessary, Game 7 would be back in San Antonio on Sunday."I don't see nobody in our locker room that [is] worried at the end of the day," Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said. "Man, it's another basketball game. So you come out, put your boots on and get ready to go work."

First Ascent: The Allure of Carn Ffoi’s Jagged EdgeThe Guardian’s Country Diary captures a solitary climber’s obsession with a dark, looming rock outcrop on the brow of a Pembrokeshire hill. From a modest “home away from home,” the author watches the storm‑washed landscape settle, the wind drying the volcanic stone and setting the stage for a daring bouldering session.On‑Ground Details: Route‑Finding Without a GuidebookWithout a phone or detailed topos, the climber relies on a hand‑drawn booklet of routes that proves indecipherable. Instead, he scouts a potential line on the lee side of the boulder, warms his fingers, and visualises the climb in his mind before committing to the overhanging block.Physical Metrics: Climb Length, Elevation Gain, and Weather ConditionsClimb height: approximately 4‑5 metres of vertical gain.Elevation gain from base to summit: ~12 m above sea level.Wind: post‑storm gusts around 15‑20 km/h, drying the rock surface.Temperature: mild coastal chill, roughly 12 °C.Why This Matters: Highlighting Remote Coastal Climbing in WalesThe piece underscores a growing niche of climbers seeking untouched tors along the Welsh coast. The volcanic geology offers a texture “rough as old bark,” while the surrounding landscape—sandy Trefdraeth Bay, gorse scrub, and distant fishing boats—provides a dramatic backdrop that differentiates these sites from inland crags.Looking Ahead: Future Exploration of Pembrokeshire’s TorsAfter topping the boulder, the author spots a freshly‑moulted adder, a reminder of the area’s rich biodiversity. The encounter, combined with the panoramic sea view, suggests that Pembrokeshire’s tors will continue to attract adventurous climbers and nature enthusiasts alike, encouraging more detailed route documentation and sustainable access initiatives.