South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet US President Donald Trump this week. Having seen what happened with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, one thing is clear — fact-checking Trump is not useful.

Trump, in any case, has access to any facts he needs; if he chooses to process them in a creative way, telling him he is wrong is not a winning tactic.

What Ramaphosa really needs to do is present Trump with something he desires. South Africa doesn’t have spare $400 million flying palaces to offer, so what do we have?

The whole kerfuffle around the Afrikaners claiming to be “refugees” has taken up a lot of head space. Clearly, there is no genocide going on in South Africa. Anyone who studies the stats or who knows the reality on the ground can tell you that being black and poor makes you by far the most at risk of violent crime. If anyone is at risk because of their identity, it is foreigners.

Many believe that the real issue is South Africa’s 2024 International Court of Justice genocide case against Israel — and this is payback.

But the Trump regime is in an unsustainable position with contradictory foreign policy directions. Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East took in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia — and skipped Israel. None of these countries favours destruction of Gaza and driving all its surviving inhabitants out. 

So, what can Ramaphosa offer Trump?

He was a lead negotiator in the talks that ended apartheid. He knows how to frame issues in the language of the other side and to win trust. 

South Africa is also uniquely positioned relative to the sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. We have a vocal Jewish community with strong voices for and against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, so he has access to those who know the language of that side. 

We also have a diverse Islamic community, members of which have played a direct role in humanitarian aid in Gaza — Gift of the Givers. So, he has access to the language of that side too.

The biggest thing missing in the Israel-Palestine conflict is someone who can talk to both sides and who can help them to find common ground. Whether Ramaphosa can do that is untested but he is more qualified than most. If he could play a significant role in persuading the apartheid regime to give up power, he must have a rare skill.

Would Trump buy this? Maybe. Maybe not. But it is an easier sell than fact-checking him on his definition of “refugees” and “genocide”.

It is certainly a better idea than offering to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, as Ramaphosa has before. Vladimir Putin is not someone who looks for common ground and there is no civil society to stand up to him, even if societal support for his war shifted decisively against him. 

In Israel, it is different. Netanyahu’s hold on power is far more tenuous. There are many who believe he wants endless war to put the threat of a criminal trial on hold. Even if Netanyahu himself and his hardline cabinet resist peace efforts, they do not have a unified or cowed society behind them.

What else could Ramaphosa offer?

Clearly the Afrikaners being exported aren’t refugees and refugee advocates are rightly angry that they are being given a free pass when others — particularly Afghans who are at risk for having worked for the US occupation — are being threatened with being sent home. In international law, refugees are defined by the 1951 Refugee Convention as people in imminent danger of being killed or severely injured because of their identity or proximity to war. 

A core principle is that no one should be sent back to a country where they face a serious threat to their life or freedom; this principle is called non-refoulement. The convention was adopted in large part in response to the shiploads of Jewish refugees from Nazism who were turned back to their deaths — although work on it started between the two world wars, arising from World War I refugees.

A big misconception about refugees is lumping them in with other migrants. Someone fleeing lack of economic opportunity — even if it is so severe that they risk starvation — is not a refugee, but an economic migrant, and they have no protection under the convention. A large fraction of economic migrants — the majority in some countries — arrive by regular means and overstay their visas.

Another big misconception is that people who arrive by irregular means such as unauthorised border crossings or leaky boats are “queue-jumpers”. There is no orderly queue. People fleeing imminent danger don’t sit at home filling in forms and waiting for a police clearance (as the Afrikaners did). Anyone who has a reasonable claim to be a refugee is an asylum seeker, and is entitled to have their claim evaluated; they should only be sent home if the claim is not valid.

Ramaphosa could offer to take on any of those who have been properly vetted if the US provides reasonable compensation for the costs of rehousing them and integrating them into society. That would put South Africa on the right side of history and absolve the Trump regime of being accused of sending deserving claimants to refugee status home to their deaths.

So, win-win.

Ramaphosa uses his unique skills and positioning to try to find common ground between Israel and Palestine and relieves Trump of refugees he doesn’t want. It’s not as flashy as a flying palace but it could work.

Philip Machanick is an emeritus associate professor of computer science at Rhodes University. https://www.facebook.com/MakanaCitizensFront

Over the past 12 months, there have been some interesting developments in the country’s ailing transport sector. It could not come at a better time. Most of the sector is dominated by state-owned Transnet, which operates and controls the country’s transport infrastructure and is estimated to have cost the economy R1 billion a day in 2023 — the equivalent 4.9% of annual GDP (R353 billion) — mostly due to poor leadership, mismanagement, port delays, rail disruptions and infrastructure bottlenecks.   

However, there are promising signs of change. Here are three reasons to be cautiously optimistic: 

1. Government is prioritising the transport sector 

In March 2025, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana announced in his budget speech that R402 billion would be allocated to transport and logistics public infrastructure development. 

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) will spend more than R100 billion to maintain roads and reseal over 16 000km of roads. Meanwhile, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has been allocated R19.2 billion for upgrades, particularly for signalling, set to improve the lives of commuters, especially in Mamelodi, KwaMashu, Motherwell and Khayelitsha. 

The government has also announced it will seek private sector participation to help address issues on the ore, chrome, coal and manganese lines, as well as improving terminals at the port of Richards Bay. Investment from the private sector is vital, as most port maintenance and operational difficulties require expensive equipment and infrastructure attention. 

Early in 2025, the Durban Container Terminals received more than 100 new cargo handling equipment, which includes 20 straddle carriers and nine rubber-tyred gantry cranes, which will boost the port’s operations. More equipment is heading for Durban and will be delivered in August and December 2025. This is expected to increase productivity at the port but more investment is needed in other areas as well.  

2. Skills development is set to give the sector a significant boost 

One of the biggest challenges facing the transport sector is the lack of specialised skills in various logistical, management and IT areas.  

“There’s a critical skill shortage globally, which is exaggerated here in South Africa,” says Dave Graham, Group chief executive of SACO Shipping South Africa. 

It is no coincidence that the theme at the annual Southern African Transport Conference, of which the minister of transport is a patron, was “Upskilling and reskilling the transport industry for current and future challenges”.  

A shining beacon for the sector has been the Transport Education Training Authority, which for a number of years, and across all transport sub-sectors (including aerospace maritime, freight handling, road passenger, taxi, road and rail freight), has been highly active and innovative in deploying bursaries and learning opportunities to address the skills gap, and in so doing support economic development, transformation and job creation in the sector. 

The authority has recently entered into a three-year partnership with the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business to design and deliver an International Leadership Development Programme for senior managers in the transport sector. The year-long course will equip rising leaders in the sector with vital skills to think innovatively, leverage technology and apply global best practice in the South African transport context. 

The course extends the skill sets of professionals working in various areas, which will create a network of knowledge-sharing and a platform for greater collaboration in the future. 

An interesting aspect of this programme is the inclusion of an international component, with the first cohort attending study immersions in Shenzhen, China, and Mexico City, Mexico, which have been designed to expose participants to developments in transportation, electrification and smart systems as well as offer insights into different models of managing public transport and serving a diverse population.  

3. Private sector is willing to step up 

The private sector is willing to assist in revitalising the transport sector. When Transport Minister Barbara Creecy invited private investors to help turn around the country’s freight rail network, numerous requests were received. These look particularly at investment for key export corridors, including the Northern-Cape to Saldanha Bulk Minerals Corridor and the Limpopo and Mpumalanga to Richards Bay Bulk Minerals Corridor.   

While private sector participation in the transport industry is complex, there is not only investment capacity, but also the necessary skills to assist here. The Bigen Group, for instance, has been involved in the planning and development of projects like the Tambo Springs Intermodal Terminal and the Matsapha Container Terminal in eSwatini. 

Many local logistics companies have also found innovative ways to address the unique challenges posed to the transport landscape.  

Another example can be seen in the creation of the Multimodal Inland Port Association, which was launched in 2024 by role players in the logistics sector. It brings together various organisations and entities to improve the process of moving cargo from road to rail. 

Speaking at its launch, Dr Juanita Maree, chief executive of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders, offered this valuable insight: “Our logistics network is at a turning point, with more alignment across the country than ever before.” 

She seems to speak for the transport sector as a whole when she says, “By working together, we can achieve significant advancements. It is crucial to continuously foster dialogue, share insights and raise awareness to build a sustainable supply chain for the future.” 

The road ahead 

We need all of these initiatives to work, not only to boost our economy but to improve the lives of ordinary South Africans. According to the National Household Affordability Index (February 2025) poor South Africans are spending as much as 58% on transport and electricity, leaving them with very little to spend on food and other essentials. 

In addition, during 2024, a shocking 278 derailments and 687 collisions were reported. 

With a renewed focus on improving infrastructure, attracting investment and upskilling professionals in the industry, all of South Africa stands to gain from a strengthened and revitalised transport industry.  

Rayner Canning is the director of Business Development at the UCT Graduate School of Business.

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Name something more British than the awkward moment when one person wants to contest the service charge at dinner and the other just wants to pay the bill and skedaddle 

The whole situation becomes ten times more uncomfortable when it happens on a first date… 

This point of contention isn’t going to get any easier any time soon, in fact, it might end up causing even more tension. That’s because the UK’s unwritten restaurant rules around service charges and tipping seem to be changing across the nation.

Service charges are being added to bills just about everywhere these days – from your local pub to the tiny cafe on the corner. And honestly, with the struggles the hospitality industry has been facing amid the cost of living crisis, it’s not much of a surprise.

But what might come as a shock to some is that it’s becoming the norm to see service charges of 15% these days on bills, instead of the 10 or 12.5% we’d all become accustomed to. 

How are service charges changing in the UK?

Experts have claimed that 15% is going to become the new industry standard when it comes to restaurant service charges, while some suggest we could see this moving more in-line with the 20 to 25% tipping rate that’s standard across America in the future.

A number of popular restaurants have already started adding a 15% charge to bills so it’s not difficult to see how this could quickly increase.

In London, European restaurant The Wolseley has a discretionary 15% service charge as well as a mandatory £2.50 cover charge.

Similarly, Fallow in St James’s Market, a popular brunch spot, adds a 15% service charge to bills and a £1 charge to be donated to support the UN Women UK. 

The story is also the same at Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat restaurants in Mayfair and Bishopsgate, plus Bob Bob Ricard and Bebe Bob in Soho.

Some believe the fees have been driven up by new government legislation that made it mandatory for all tips to be passed on to workers without any deductions.

Corin Camenisch, marketing and growth Lead at SumUp, tells Metro: ‘The current economic climate presents challenges for consumers, hospitality workers and employers. Part of the reason for the rise in service charges is the Allocation of Tips Act, which dictated that all tips and service charges must be given to hospitality staff. The act aimed to to create a fairer playing field for those in the service industry, meaning employees get a fair slice of their well earned gratuity, while also giving consumers peace of mind that when they tip, their money is going to the right place. 

‘Cash tips are already protected by law, but the new legislation goes further to cover tips added to a card payment which are more and more becoming the norm.  Many hospitality workers are on the national or living wage and rely on tips, so making sure they get their fair share of the pie is the right thing to do both for businesses and the wider economy.’

And while these charges might be a positive for hospitality employees, not all diners are happy about the changes. 

Metro journalist Gergana Krasteva branded London’s tipping culture ‘out of control’ after being charged a 12.5% service fee for just one glass of wine at a bar in High Street Kensington. 

She said: ‘I’m happy to tip if I sit down and have dinner at a restaurant, but not if the wine is poured in front of me at the actual bar and then I carry it to my table. Plus, they didn’t give me an option. It was only after that I realised, which is the more annoying part. In general, I think tipping is out of control in London.’

And Tom Bourlet had strong feelings about the idea of 25% charges like in the US.

He told us: ‘I’ve not seen any charge higher than 10% but it would be a shock to suddenly see 25% put on. Without wanting to sound harsh, I wouldn’t exactly be happy, that’s a huge amount to add. 10% being added to each drink in bars is bad.’

And it’s clear from new research by SumUp, that people in the UK aren’t keen to leave bigger tips.

Despite the number of businesses that have been applying suggested tips to digital payments increasing by 78% between 2022 and 2024, Brits haven’t got on board with digital prompts to pay more. Instead, we’ve been sticking firmly at the familiar 10% rate.

The average tip given by customers over the last three years remained between 10.2% and 10.6% according to the data.

Corin comments: ‘Unlike the US, where tipping is ingrained as the norm, British customers have historically been more reserved about tipping. Even as digital tipping simplifies the process, it seems this cultural reticence persists. 

‘To British punters’ credit, they will go out and support venues and they’ll tip the same 10% regardless of how bad the economy and inflation may hit them.’

Do you have to pay a service charge?

Don’t worry – if you’re not happy with the idea of paying an extra 15% or 20% on top of your bill, we checked with an expert and, yes, you can ask for it to be removed without sounding like a dreadful person.

Etiquette coach John-Paul Stuthridge told Metro: ‘The hospitality industry is often too turbulent at the best of times. It rarely has healthy cash flow or reserves other industries can depend on, not least the high turnover of staff and cost of recruitment. Throw in an extensive lockdown and a world cost of living crisis, restaurants have added service charges to help recoup their losses. Increasing the charge further helps them combat the crisis that is hard for some to say no to.

‘You can much more easily not go to a restaurant that’s upped its prices by 15%, but how many people will just accept a 15% service charge and politely say nothing? Many.’

He continues: ‘Whether you should ask to remove it may depend on how charitable you feel, or if the service genuinely deserved it. It is your call.’

If you truly don’t feel like the service is worthy of the charge on the bill, don’t get mean about it, just be, as John-Paul recommends, ‘direct and honest’.

‘No reason needs to be given, however, if you are asked, then give your polite feedback in an honest, but short to-the-point manner,’ he adds. 

‘The higher the figure for service charge, the less likely customers will oblige, but having it removed altogether, so guests can tip the individual server the amount they want to give remains a legitimate and more proper compromise.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

If you didn’t have time to pack lunch before work, you might find yourself grabbing a meal deal from the shop when midday rolls around.

And while the likes of Tesco and Sainsbury’s offer a main, snack and drink for £4 or less, a new study has claimed that another supermarket is actually offering UK shoppers the ‘best value’ for money.

The team at NetVoucherCodes compared the most expensive meal deal items available at seven top shops – including Boots, Poundland and Morrisons – and an unexpected retailer was found to offer the biggest savings.

It was Waitrose that actually came out on top as part of the analysis – despite selling the most expensive meal deal of the bunch.

While Waitrose’s meal deal might cost £5, you can actually save up to £5.30 on your lunch if you buy the most expensive items included in the offer. 

The example given featured a GLO Pulled Beef & Onion Salad (£4.80), Taiko Mini Nigiri (£2.50) and Jimmy’s Iced Coffee (£3).

If you purchased these items outside of the meal deal, it would cost you £10.30, meaning you’re saving £5.30 by using the deal. 

Comparatively, Poundland was found to be the cheapest meal deal overall at £3, but it offered the smallest saving on the most expensive items included. 

If you were to buy a premium wrap or sandwich from the store, as well as Woodys Skewers and a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato or Red Bull, it would cost you £5. So with the deal, that’s a saving of £2. 

Elsewhere, Tesco ranked in second place when it came to savings, with the meal deal costing £4 and the most expensive meal deal combo giving shoppers a saving of £5.15. 

Boots was third, Co-op was fourth, followed closely by Sainsbury’s and Morrisons in fifth and sixth place respectively. 

NetVoucherCodes adds that for the study, only the classic meal deal price at each store was considered, without any other promotions such as loyalty card prices or premium meal deal offerings.

This comes after Tesco recently made a big change to its meal deal, adding the ‘food of the gods’ to the line-up.

Pot Noodles are now available to grab as a snack option, but there is a bit of a catch – it’s only available in selected stores across the UK and it’s only one specific flavour you can get.

Customers can add the Chicken & Mushroom Pot Noodle (90g) as a side option in 50 Tesco stores nationwide.

Locations where this is available includes Barnsley, Prescot, Hanley, Swansea, Hastings, Wrexham, Peterborough, Bristol and Swindon.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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Everyone’s financial situation is different, meaning everyone’s saving goals will be different.

While some might send regular instalments into an ISA each month, others may be a bit more ad-hoc, depending on what they can afford.

If saving a little bit more of your paycheck is your goal, but you’re unsure of the best way to start, then the 50/30/20 rule is for you.

This is a tried, tested and proven technique that allows you to start regularly saving each month.

Here’s a closer look at how it works…

What is the 50/30/20 rule?

The 50/30/20 rule helps keep spending on non-essentials within an allocated budget each month.

Essentially, the rule involves dividing your spending into three categories: needs, wants and savings.

Then, with each paycheck, allocate 50% to needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings or debt repayments.

For example, if your monthly income is £1,500 after tax, you might spend approximately £750 on needs, £450 on wants and £300 on savings or debt repayment.

Separating your money into pots like this is a failsafe budgeting technique.

Ed Fleming is the managing director at Savoo, a voucher code provider that donates to charity with every voucher used. He says: ‘When a lump sum comes into your account, it is easy to get carried away.

‘Putting it straight into different money pots or waiting until the month’s rent and bills have been subtracted makes it much easier to see exactly how much you have to play with.

‘Then, around halfway into the month, it’s easier to see how much you have for the remaining weeks to enjoy things like meals out, trips and hobbies.

‘You can then use tools like discount code sites, comparison sites, and clearance offers to reduce and help your money go much further.’

What if the 50/30/20 method doesn’t work for me?

Finances are very personal, so budgeting rules will never be a one-size-fits-all method.

For some, 50% of their paycheck may not be enough to cover all essential costs, while 30% may be more than they tend to spend on unessential things like gyms and subscriptions.

If this is the case, try splitting your money in a way that suits your specific costs. Maybe that’s more like 60/20/20 or 70/20/10.

Either way, it’s a good way to ensure you don’t spend too much on things you don’t really need, especially if you’re trying to save.

Conservative author, media figure and former Treasury official Monica Crowley was confirmed late Monday to become assistant secretary of state and chief of protocol with the rank of ambassador.

Crowley, who was a longtime former Fox News contributor and foreign affairs analyst, previously served in the first Trump administration and received the Alexander Hamilton Award from the Treasury Department during that time.

“Monica will be the administration representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028,” President Donald Trump said in a December statement announcing her nomination.

Crowley holds a doctorate in international relations from Columbia University.

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The Arizona native grew up in New Jersey and began her career in former President Richard Nixon’s post-presidency, when she worked as a research assistant.

Her book, “Nixon Off the Record,” was published in the wake of that role.

She joined Fox News Channel in 1996 – the same year it hit the airwaves – and often appeared with host Sean Hannity on “Hannity” and its predecessor “Hannity & Colmes,” with the late Alan Colmes.

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She also starred in one episode of “House of Cards,” where she played herself – and also hosted the syndicated “Monica Crowley Show.”

She has received several other awards, including Woman of the Year in 2010 from the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women.

During Trump’s first term, she backed out of a National Security Council role when allegations of plagiarism in her doctoral dissertation surfaced. Crowley rejected the claims as a “hit job.”

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The U.S. Travel Association lauded her nomination, saying that she will serve a “pivotal role” in the Trump administration.

“The speed with which this decision was made gives us great confidence that … Trump will seek to maximize the opportunities of the decade of sports and events that lies ahead,” said CEO Geoff Freeman.

“Landmark moments [she will be involved in planning] will attract millions of travelers to America and showcase the best of our great nation while creating a lasting benefit to our economy.” 

A retired police officer in the United Kingdom is reportedly taking legal action after he was arrested over a social media post warning about the rising threat of antisemitism in the UK following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks against Israel.

Julian Foulkes, a 71-year-old retired special constable from Kent, England, was arrested in November 2023 and had his home searched after one of his posts on X was reported to law enforcement, according to the Daily Mail. 

Foulkes reportedly grew concerned as anti-Israel protests swept across London and other major European cities in the weeks following the October 7 attacks. In a post on X that month, he warned about escalating antisemitism after rioters stormed a Russian airport searching for arrivals from Tel Aviv.

“One step away from storming Heathrow looking for Jewish arrivals…” he posted in a reply to a pro-Palestinian activist’s post.

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Foulkes told the Mail that he was “shocked and flabbergasted” after Kent Police officers arrived at his door later to search his home. 

According to bodycam footage reviewed by The Telegraph, an officer raised concerns about the books he was reading, including those by British author and commentator Douglas Murray, commenting that his bookshelf contained “very Brexit-y things.”

Police also reportedly raised concerns about a shopping list from his wife, a hairdresser, which included items like bleach, tin foil and gloves.

Police seized his electronic devices and detained Foulkes for eight hours before issuing him a caution — a formal warning given to a person who admits to an offense to avoid prosecution.

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Foulkes said he accepted the caution out of fear that he would be kept from visiting his only surviving daughter, who lives in Australia.

He compared the ordeal to being targeted for a “thought crime.”

“This is absolutely an Orwellian-style thought crime. It’s absolutely ridiculous because I sent a tweet which was reasonable in the circumstances and it was a tweet based on events I’d read about just the previous day and in the previous week,” he told the Mail.

“It was taken out of context and I really can’t go through all the failings of Kent police – as much as I’d like to – but it’s been quite astonishing to me especially as I served with them for 10 years,” he added.

The Kent Police issued an apology to Foulkes on Monday, saying they had made a mistake and that his record had been cleared.

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“On 2 November 2023 a report was made to Kent Police about a social media post that was alleged to have been offensive, and Mr Foulkes was arrested on the same day,” the statement shared with Fox News Digital read. 

“Although he was offered and accepted an unconditional caution following his own independent legal advice, a subsequent review of the case by the force concluded that the caution was not appropriate in the circumstances and should not have been issued.”

“Kent Police apologizes to Mr Foulkes for the distress caused and how the report was investigated. We have expunged the caution from his record and are pleased to facilitate this correction. Mr Foulkes has been informed of the decision and a further review of the matter will now be carried out to identify any learning opportunities,” the statement continued.

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Foulkes says he has sought legal help and plans to sue the police force for wrongful arrest.

The Free Speech Union is raising money to cover the costs of his legal fight.

Concerns about free speech being under threat in the UK have drawn the attention of U.S. leaders like Vice President JD Vance.

In a speech to European leaders in February, Vance warned that Europe appeared to be retreating from some of its fundamental values it shares with the U.S. and adopting “Soviet-era” censorship.

British commentator and former Mumford and Sons guitarist Winston Marshall recently appeared at a White House briefing to ask the Trump administration if they would consider giving political asylum to Brits who faced prosecution for posting “hate speech” online.

The stars were out at Citi Field on Monday as the best young pitcher in the game took the bump.

Paul Skenes started on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the first-place New York Mets. And yes, girlfriend Livvy Dunne, who grew up less than 30 miles from the Mets’ ballpark, was in attendance.

Dunne’s gymnastics career just ended, so she’s finally getting a chance to see Skenes’ sophomore season.

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Dunne has also been a Sports Illustrated model in each of the last two years, and she decided to bring along some friends.

Camille Kostek (Rob Gronkowski’s girlfriend), Ellie Thumann and Xandra Pohl each threw out the first pitch on Monday to Mark Vientos, Tyrone Taylor and Huascar Brazoban, doing their best impression of Skenes himself.

The models even took a selfie ahead of time. Dunne was gifted a Mets jersey from the team, which she wore, despite her boyfriend pitching against them.

Skenes finished in third place in the National League Cy Young Award vote last year and was named the NL Rookie of the Year. He became the first rookie to start an All-Star Game since Hideo Nomo in 1995. He pitched to a 1.96 ERA and struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings.

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Skenes has not been as sharp as last year in his sophomore season, although his 2.77 ERA entering Monday is hardly anything to complain about.

Monday marks Skenes’ first start since manager Derek Shelton was fired after Pittsburgh started 12-26. It was a move Skenes admitted he was not surprised by.

“We’re 12-26. Someone’s gotta be held accountable,” he told reporters Friday. “Unfortunately, right now, it’s him.”

But Skenes said a managerial change won’t do much because it’s ultimately up to the players.

“Just how it goes. I don’t know if it fixes the root of the issue. We just need to play better,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Mets are tied for the second-best record in the sport at 26-15, tied with the Detroit Tigers and trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat the Mets in the National League Championship Series last season.

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Life wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows when Nicole Eggert joined “Baywatch” as Roberta “Summer” Quinn in 1992. 

On the most recent episode of the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast, Eggert opened up about her experience on the hit show. 

Eggert joined “Baywatch” for season 3, but she was originally meant to appear in a spin-off of the show that had a “‘90210’-esque feel at the beach.

The spin-off was meant to be “a high school at the beach training to be lifeguards,” but “Baywatch” became so popular, the second series was never created, Eggert revealed.

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“And they were like, ‘Spin-off nothing. This is what’s working, and we want it to stay like this,'” she said.

Eggert “politely bowed out” of “Baywatch” after two seasons because it wasn’t what she signed up for.

“I had some crazy idea in my head that if I left the show, I would be able to detach myself from the stigma that the show had given all of us as actors, which is not a thing,” Eggert said.

The “Baywatch” stigma translated into her dating life, too.

“People have an idea of who you are, and that could be a number of things. And I think it’s harder for people to get to know you without this preconceived notion that they have going in,” Eggert said. 

Nicole said she’s “not like anyone” she’s played onscreen, which has thrown people off in her dating life.

Steve Kmetko, the host of the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast, asked Eggert what it was like being on the biggest television show in the world.

“Weird,” Eggert simply admitted. “We were being ripped apart in the press.” Due to the negative press, “the casting doors were not opening anymore,” according to the actress.

“And then all of a sudden it was like we were called ‘Baywatch bimbos’ and these dumb bimbos on the beach, and it’s T&A.

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“And then on the other hand, you have this No. 1 hit on your hand, and it’s like what a kerfuffle. What a mess,” Eggert admitted.

After Eggert stepped away from the hit series, she returned to the “Baywatch” universe in 2003 for “Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.”

Eggert told People magazine in 2024 that she didn’t know what she was signing up for when agreeing to join the “Baywatch” world.

“Oh my God, we’re going to be in a bathing suit all day every day?” she remembered thinking on day 1.

“All the girls worked out and were super tiny and fit, and I was like, ‘Whoops.’ And the one-piece bathing suits were not flattering. I didn’t want to wear it at all,” she said of the iconic red swimsuit. “It just wasn’t what I signed up for. It was a totally different show and ballgame and not where I wanted to be.”

While on break from shooting “Baywatch,” Eggert, then 18, decided to go under the knife. “I regret it now, of course,” she explained of getting breast implants. 

“I look at all these younger girls doing it and think, ‘God, leave your bodies alone!’ But when you have to put on that one-piece, and it’s like you’re so flat that it’s like pleating, you got pleats across the front … you’re like, ‘What is this?’ Nothing you can do. You can’t stuff it with anything. You can’t do anything.”

With time, Eggert started to question why she’d really gone through with the procedure. “It was a stupid 18-year-old decision,” she admitted to People.

Since getting the initial implants, Eggert has had several breast augmentation surgeries. In 2015, she appeared on an episode of “Botched,” wanting a breast reduction.

In January 2024, the actress announced she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer.

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Eggert first felt pain in her breast and gained 25 pounds within three months. Believing them to be symptoms of menopause, she was surprised to locate a lump during a self-exam in October 2023. 

“It really was throbbing and hurting,” she previously told People. “I immediately went to my general practitioner, and she told me I had to immediately go get it looked at. But the problem was, I just couldn’t get an appointment. Everything was booked. So I had to wait until the end of November to get it done.”

Results later showed that she had stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer. Both of Eggert’s parents had cancer. 

When NFL division races get hot and heavy late in the 2025 season, you will be able to catch plenty of the action on a Saturday on FOX.

The network announced on Monday that it would broadcast a Saturday doubleheader on Week 16 – Dec. 20 – with four NFC teams duking it out.

One game will feature a rematch of this past season’s NFC championship game as the Philadelphia Eagles, who open their season on FOX against the Dallas Cowboys, will battle the Washington Commanders in Landover, Maryland.

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The other game will have the Chicago Bears hosting their longtime NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers.

A one-hour gameshow will precede the doubleheader, the 11th by the network – a record. It’s also the 31st window of games this season for FOX, the most in the league.

The Birds are coming off their second Lombardi Trophy in seven years in February when they stopped the Kansas City Chiefs from the first-ever three-peat in the Super Bowl. The Eagles defeated the Commanders, 55-23, en route to the big game in the NFC championship. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley each had three rushing touchdowns in the game.

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Both the Eagles and Commanders and the Packers and Bears split their regular-season series last year. The home team won both NFC East matchups, while the road team was victorious in the North battles.

The Packers’ loss to the Bears last year came in Week 18, when it became apparent that the Packers were trying to play for seeding late in the game. But they lost, and then dropped their playoff game to the Eagles, which had been a rematch of the Week 1 contest in Brazil.

The season kicks off on Sept. 4.

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