UK police arrest protesters near base used by US

South Korean K-pop megastars BTS will kick off their world tour on Thursday, riding the momentum of a chart-topping comeback album and a landmark performance in the heart of Seoul.

The seven-member group -- widely regarded as the world's biggest boy band -- took to the stage together for the first time last month following a years-long hiatus prompted by mandatory military service, after releasing their latest studio album "ARIRANG".

The performance, staged on the doorstep of the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace, drew more than 100,000 fans to central Seoul, the group's label said, while its Netflix livestream attracted an estimated 18.4 million viewers worldwide, according to the streaming giant.

Spanning 85 shows in 34 cities worldwide, the highly anticipated tour, kicking off in BTS leader RM's hometown Goyang, is set to be a major money-spinner for BTS, potentially outdoing Taylor Swift's recent Eras Tour, according to analysts.

Their latest album "ARIRANG" is billed as reflecting the maturing boy band's Korean identity. It is named after the traditional Korean folk song about longing and separation, often dubbed South Korea's unofficial national anthem.

Ahead of the tour, the group has moved beyond themes of adolescent pain and internal conflict, entering "a realm of looking more deeply" into themselves, Kim Jeong-seob, the author of "The universe of BTS", told AFP.

BTS -- short for Bulletproof Boy Scouts in Korean -- have already championed UNICEF campaigns, the Black Lives Matter movement and efforts to combat anti-Asian racism.

Describing the tour as the start of a "new chapter", Kim said current global issues -- such as wars and ethnic and religious conflicts -- could be reflected in their work, conveyed in more indirect ways.

Goyang, about 16 kilometres (10 miles) northwest of Seoul, has  already turned into a purple-lit celebration zone ahead of the concert, with landmarks such as Ilsan Lake Park lit up nightly in tribute to BTS and their global fanbase, known as ARMY.

The shows will be held at Goyang Stadium on April 9, 11 and 12, with about 40,000 attendees per night -- around 120,000 in total. 

"ARMYs, there's talk of rain on Thursday, the day of the concert, and now that I'm here at the venue, it feels quite cold!" BTS member Jimin said on Tuesday on their superfan platform, ahead of the concert.

"To all the ARMYs coming to watch, please make sure to dress warmly!!"

- Future of K-culture -

The group's latest album "ARIRANG" — also the name of the tour — has already cemented their comeback success.

They recently became the first K-pop act to top the US Billboard 200 for two consecutive weeks with the album, while its tracks also secured top spots across multiple Spotify charts, including Top Songs Global and Top 50 Global. 

Many K-pop boy bands have faced career downturns after completing mandatory military service, in a fiercely competitive industry where momentum is hard to regain.

But BTS are proving that is not going to be the case for them, said American sociologist Sam Richards, a professor at Pennsylvania State University.

"This is extremely significant for the future of K-culture and the nation of Korea because it means that unprecedented growth in soft power will continue," he told AFP.

Behind BTS's continued dominance is the strength of ARMY, widely known as one of the most organised fan communities in the world.

The group's official community on Weverse has over 34 million members, while their Instagram following is over 80 million.

"The guys built their following through social media and direct fan engagement before the industry fully understood how to do that, particularly with platforms like Twitter and SoundCloud," Jeff Benjamin, Billboard's K-pop columnist, told AFP. 

"ARMY were never made to feel like consumers, but like they were friends and participants in BTS' story, making the group's rise feel personal to millions of people in a way that superstardom doesn't typically resonate."

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The world's top golfers are gearing up for a demanding test at Augusta National, where firm, fast conditions await in Thursday's opening round of the 90th Masters.

Longer rolls on the fairways will be countered by difficulty keeping approach shots on Augusta's undulating greens, which promise to be lightning-fast.

"It's about patience like it always is around here," defending champion Rory McIlroy said, adding that if the dry, windy conditions persist "double digits under par would be an amazing (final) score."

Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson tee off at 7:25 a.m. (1125 GMT) to launch the battle for the green jacket, with McIlroy off at 10:31 a.m.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, a four-time major winner and two-time Masters champion, tees off at 1:44 p.m. in the penultimate group.

"I'm excited to get the week going," Scheffler said. "The golf course looks like it's going to get pretty firm and fast, so it should be an exciting tournament.

"Feeling pretty prepared. My prep work is mostly done. Just get out there and start competing."

Two-time major winner Jon Rahm of Spain says players must "embrace it and go out there and play good golf" on the formidable layout under the Georgia pines.

"With how much control they have over the agronomy here they can do whatever they want. Most likely going to go with firm and difficult," Rahm said. 

"It's in such good shape and so healthy they could make it one of those Masters where the winner is six-, seven-under."

Fred Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, sees a shotmaking premium in such conditions.

"It's such a demanding course. You can make a bogey any hole," Couples said.

It won't take much to send shots rolling off target, and that's when the trouble starts.

"When you get out of position around this golf course, that's one of the greatest challenges -- getting the ball back in position and trying to make your par," Scheffler said.

It won't help that breezy conditions are expected for round one, adding to the pressures for the field of 91.

"When it's windy it's all you could want," Couples said. "It's spectacular. The greens are getting faster. That's what you want -- to play as tough as it can."

As 2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia put it: "This course tests you every single hole. When it's windy the wind switches and it's really tricky."

Sweden's Alex Noren likes the risk versus reward decision-making that Augusta demands.

"It's always a lot of thinking here, but it's even more when it's dry," he said. "It's going to be interesting."

- 'You know what' -

Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who edged McIlroy at the 2024 US Open only to lose to him in Sunday's final Masters group last year, wants to build his rivalry with the five-time major winner from Northern Ireland.

"Do I respect him as an individual, 100 percent. Do I want to beat him every time I see him? Absolutely. There's no question about it," DeChambeau said.

"What's so brilliant about the game of golf is that juxtaposition, having that sportsmanlike respect and then wanting to just absolutely beat the living you know what out of him."

McIlroy enjoyed hosting the Masters Champions Dinner, admitting to nerves before his speech.

"I wanted it to be about all of us as a collective group. I wanted to convey how grateful I was to be there," said McIlroy, who admitted putting a dent in the Augusta National wine cellar.

"It put more of a dent in my wallet," McIlroy joked.

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The Grand National is a radically different challenge than it was when Mick Fitzgerald rode Rough Quest to victory in 1996, but he told AFP you have "to evolve or you die".

The National, raced over four miles and with its 30 daunting fences, is a race that transcends horse racing, attracting once-a-year punters and a large global television audience.

However, there have been a series of modifications in recent years -- a reaction to animal welfare groups' concerns -- the latest in 2024.

These included shortening the run-up to the first fence and modifying several others, including one of the signature obstacles, Becher's Brook.

They also reduced the maximum number of runners from 40 to 34.

"If someone was to say we have to make these changes so the National can last 100 years then so be it," Fitzgerald told AFP by phone on Tuesday.

"One has to evolve or die -- to give a little so one can carry on."

Fitzgerald has bitter experience of how a fall in the National can have an impact.

Having experienced the greatest moment of a hugely successful career in 1996, he suffered serious spinal injuries in the 2008 edition which led to him retiring later that year.

The 55-year-old Irishman compared the changes to anti-smoking regulations, admitting "times have changed".

"It is like smoking," he said. "Back in the day one could smoke in pubs, planes and cinemas.

"If somebody said to you today 'Go ahead, smoke on the plane' you would reply 'You are kidding me'.

"Times have changed, as they have with the National.

"The risk has been reduced, but it was inevitable it would be, as people's attitudes have changed as to what is acceptable."

- 'Reality check' -

Fitzgerald, who also won a Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Chase, said the race still retains some of its aura.

"It is still a unique test," he said.

"I am not going to dress it up as still being the greatest race. though it is the greatest steeplechase, but it is not the same test it was 20-30 years ago.

"The fences are obviously not the same, the horses jump them differently.

"Most horses could get round these days whereas in the old days you needed a horse of a certain type to navigate the course."

Minutes after crossing the line on Rough Quest 30 years ago, when asked what it was like to win, Fitzgerald memorably said: "After that... even sex is an anticlimax!"

He still believes the jockey who wins on Saturday will occupy a status apart from his rivals.

"If someone who knows little about racing asks you what you do for a living and you reply 'jockey', they will ask you not about did you win a Gold Cup or a Derby but the Grand National," he said.

"It has a unique fascination for people.

"Absolutely it makes a difference to have that on your CV. Gives you a bit of kudos.

"You have succeeded where some of the legends of the sport fell short -- John Francome, Peter Scudamore and Jonjo O'Neill."

Jockeys will pay their annual visit to a children's hospital in Liverpool on the eve of the National.

"It is a reality check," said Fitzgerald, who is a patron of the hospital.

"It makes one realise galloping round a track does not matter, when you see the parents and their seriously ill children.

"You realise what is really important in life."

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Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen told Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday that "teamwork is willingness" during an Earth-to-space call celebrating the achievements of the historic lunar journey.

"Willingness is a huge ingredient in a successful team," said the Artemis II crewmember, who added he can't wait to share more images and experiences with the people of Canada upon return. The splashdown is scheduled for Friday.

Hansen is the first non-American to ever fly around the Moon, a journey he took on NASA's Artemis II mission along with American colleagues Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover.

"Canadians are so proud of what you're doing and the collaboration," Carney said. "I'm thrilled. I'm absolutely thrilled to be speaking with you, Jeremy and the crew. We've all been watching and inspired by what you're doing."

During the event Carney asked Hansen to expand on previous comments on the risks and rewards of space travel -- "You said the other day that this mission is a risk for a good reason, which really struck me."

"You've got lots of young people watching," Carney added. "It's a positive challenge for this generation."

"Risk is necessary -- but calculated risk, well-thought out risk and risk that you balance with others," Hansen responded.

The prime minister also probed Hansen on one burning issue: "A lot of Canadians just wanted one point of reassurance, that the preference is for maple syrup over nutella on your pancakes in the morning."

Carney was referring to a viral image of a jar of nutella floating through the Orion space capsule, and his question had the crew in fits of laughter.

"I'll take that as a yes," Carney said, also extending an invitation to visit Ottawa, the Canadian capital.

"Don't look too closely right now," the prime minister added. "You'll notice that it's still pretty white, but the snow is going to go."

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New Zealand's self-described "fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo-acapella-rap-funk-comedy-folk duo" Flight of the Conchords sold out their first shows in eight years in minutes this week, sparking a frenzy among fans.

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement formed the musical comedy act in 1998, soaring to worldwide fame off the back of their HBO comedy series of the same name with tunes including "Business Time" and "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros".

The duo announced on Tuesday four shows to be held at Wellington venue Meow Nui from next week -- their first gig since 2018.

Tickets went on sale on Wednesday and sold out within half an hour.

The shows will be a warm up for the band as they prepare for the Netflix is a Joke Festival in Los Angeles in May, where they will perform two shows.

McKenzie told state broadcaster RNZ last month that the pair were in "hysterics" trying to remember their own songs.

"We ended up watching ourselves. We have to pull up YouTube clips to remember how to play our songs," McKenzie told RNZ.

"We're like a bad covers band of ourselves."

Many fans had hurt feelings after missing out on tickets for the Hiphopopotamus and Rhymenoceros' Wellington shows.

One posted on popular Wellington Facebook page Vic Deals saying they were "not above selling an organ or two" in order to get tickets.

Another person offered to "sell a limb", and several people are considering heading to the venue anyway.

"We should all band together and just have a massive listening party outside the venue".

It will be business time for the Flight of the Conchords when their first show begins next Thursday.

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Daniil Medvedev slipped to an embarrassing 6-0, 6-0 thrashing by Matteo Berrettini in the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Wednesday, as Alexander Zverev dug deep to beat Cristian Garin.

Medvedev completely unravelled against Berrettini after missing two break points in the opening game, making 30 unforced errors and serving five double faults.

Medvedev did not win more than two points in any of the last 11 games and his frustrations boiled over in the second set, smashing his racquet into the court four times.

Berrettini wrapped up the double-bagel victory, the first such defeat of former world number one Medvedev's career, in just 49 minutes.

"I think it was one of the best performances of my life," Berrettini said.

"I think I missed three shots in the entire match and it is not easy against a tricky player like Daniil. I think the game plan was perfect and my weapons were working."

The former Wimbledon runner-up, now ranked 90th, will face Joao Fonseca in the last 16 after the Brazilian teenager beat Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

World number three Zverev, who is hoping to complete the set of all three clay-court Masters 1000 titles this week, staged a late comeback to edge out Chilean qualifier Garin 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Zverev has reached the semi-finals at each of the Australian Open, Indian Wells and the Miami Open this year but was in danger of a shock exit after losing the first set and then trailing 4-0 in the third.

Garin also served for the match when 5-3 ahead in the deciding set, but Zverev broke and then sealed victory as he reeled off five consecutive games.

He had to stave off three break points in a nervy 12th game to avoid a tie-break, but eventually got the job done on his third match point.

"My level was not there at all to be honest," Zverev said after taking two hours and 50 minutes to get over the line.

"But it was my first clay-court match in 11 months. I didn't have much time to prepare as I played well in Miami.

"I am happy to get the win. It was a tough match and he is someone playing well, especially here."

The 28-year-old will face unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs, who downed 2023 champion Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1, in round three.

Zverev has not won an ATP title since Munich 12 months ago, while the last of his seven Masters triumphs came in Paris in 2024.

- Musetti sent packing -

Fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti slumped to a 7-6 (8/6), 7-5 defeat by Monaco's Valentin Vacherot in just his second match since retiring from his Australian Open quarter-final in January with an upper leg injury.

Musetti lost on his return at Indian Wells last month and then withdrew from Miami with an arm issue.

He finished runner-up in Monte Carlo last year to Carlos Alcaraz and reached the last four at Roland Garros, Madrid and Rome, but suffered an early exit to start this season's European clay swing.

Sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced past Marin Cilic in straight sets, while 2024 finalist Casper Ruud got the better of tricky Frenchman Corentin Moutet.

Czech 11th seed Jiri Lehecka came from a set down to beat Chile's Alejandro Tabilo, but two other seeds, Flavio Cobolli and Francisco Cerundolo, both lost.

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After a successful trip around the Moon, everything has been going smoothly on the Orion spacecraft’s journey back to Earth – except for the $23 million toilet, which has gotten clogged.

The system designed to flush wastewater into space is malfunctioning, and NASA believes that a chemical reaction in the urine treatment system is the culprit.

The fecal disposal system, in a separate conduit, is working properly.

Astronaut Christina Koch said the so-called Universal Waste Management System was giving off "a burning heater smell."

Rick Henfling, flight director for the Artemis II mission, stressed Tuesday that "the toilet remains operational. The challenge that we're working through is evacuating the wastewater tank," he said. "So we're having to fall back to some other alternate means."

Under Plan B, the four astronauts are using personal reusable containers called "collapsible contingency urine disposal devices."

The toilet problem was reported just hours after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Koch adjusted the system's controls, restarted them with the help of mission control, and that appeared to resolve the issue.

"I'm proud to call myself a space plumber,” Koch said in her first briefing from the spacecraft, which is to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday. She called the toilet “probably the most important piece of equipment on board."

However, the problem has persisted. The astronauts are unable to flush the wastewater into space.

The issue has been a constant topic of discussion at press conferences held at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. 

This is the same center that in 1970 received astronaut Jack Swigert's message: "Houston, we've had a problem," after an oxygen tank explosion aborted Apollo 13’s Moon landing, starting a harrowing emergency that eventually brought those three astronauts back to Earth safely.

- Chemicals, not ice -

NASA initially thought the toilet problem might be due to freezing in the filters.

But Henfling said that the problem was not ice. The spacecraft has been rotated to face the sun to "bake off any ice" and heaters have been activated, "and we still see blockage," he said.

"The latest theory is related to some of the chemistry that goes into ensuring that the wastewater doesn't develop any biofilms," or microorganisms, he said. The chemical reaction may be generating some debris that's "getting clogged in a filter.”

The toilet on board Orion is similar to the one on the International Space Station, but this is the first time it has been used on a crewed deep-space mission.

The Apollo astronauts didn't have a toilet and used special bags for waste.

On the Orion spacecraft, which is five meters in diameter and a little over three meters high, the toilet is located beneath the floor – the only place on board where the astronauts can be alone.

The cramped toilet space is very noisy inside, so they must protect their ears. It has suction systems to compensate for microgravity.

Feces are placed in disposable bags that compact and will be brought back to Earth.

Lori Glaze, associate administrator of NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, said that "as soon as we get this down on the ground, we'll be able to get inside and we will get to the root" of the problem.

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Argentine MPs on Wednesday inched closer to adopting a bill promoted by President Javier Milei that authorizes mining in ecologically sensitive areas of glaciers and permafrost.

The amendment to the so-called Glacier Law, which was approved by the Senate in February, would make it easier to mine for metals such as copper, lithium and silver in frozen parts of the Andes mountains.

It has outraged environmentalists, who say it will weaken protections for crucial water sources.  

Thousands of people took part in a demonstration on Wednesday afternoon outside parliament, marked by isolated skirmishes with police. 

Some held aloft banners with slogans such as "Water is more precious than gold!" and "A glacier destroyed cannot be restored!"

Seven Greenpeace activists were arrested earlier in the day after scaling a statue outside parliament and unfurling a banner urging lawmakers "not to betray the Argentine people." 

If adopted by the Chamber of Deputies in a vote late Wednesday after a marathon debate, it will be a new coup for Milei, who pushed through looser labor laws in February despite repeated street protests.

Nicolas Mayoraz, an MP from Milei's ruling La Libertad Avanza party, assured lawmakers that combining "environmental protection and sustainable development is possible."

Environmental activist Flavia Broffoni rubbished the government's position.

"The science is clear...there is absolutely no possibility of creating what they (the government) call a 'sustainable mine' in a periglacial environment," she told AFP after addressing the protest outside parliament.

- Lithium race -

There are nearly 17,000 glaciers or rock glaciers -- a mix of rock and ice -- in Argentina, according to a 2018 inventory.

In the northwest of the country, where mining activity is concentrated, glacial reserves have shrunk by 17 percent in the last decade, mainly due to climate change, according to the Argentine Institute of Snow Science, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences.

Milei, a free-market radical who does not believe in man-made climate change, argues the bill is necessary to attract large-scale mining projects.

Argentina is a major producer of lithium, which is critical to the global tech and green energy sectors.

The Central Bank has estimated, based on industry forecasts, that the country could triple its mining exports by 2030.

"Environmentalists would rather see us starve than have anything touched," Milei has argued. 

Supporters of the reform argue that it will clear up ambiguities in the current law, from 2010, on which periglacial areas -- areas on the edges of glaciers -- can be economically developed.

"We want legal certainty, we want clear definitions," Michael Meding, director of the Los Azules copper mining project in San Juan, told AFP. 

Enrique Viale, president of the Argentine Association of Environmental Lawyers, told AFP that the reform threatened the water supply of "70 percent" of Argentines.

Under the current law, a scientific body designates protected glaciers and periglacial environments.

The reform would give individual provinces more powers to decide which areas need protection and which can be exploited for economic purposes.

It has been backed by the governors of northern Andean provinces with strong mining sectors, namely Mendoza, San Juan, Catamarca and Salta.

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The Missouri women’s golf team ended the 22nd “Mo” Morial in third after finishing at 34-over-par as a team. The Tigers finished behind Texas A&M (21-over) and Baylor (24-over).

The Tigers shot 12-over in the third round on Wednesday, failing to catch the top two teams, as the Aggies shot 4-over and the Bears 8-over.

Senior Melanie Walker led the Tigers, finishing the event tied for 16th at 10-over. She shot 1-over in the final round, recording Missouri’s best score of the day, and moved up 13 spots on the leaderboard.

Freshman Ebba Liljeberg also finished 16th thanks to a 1-over day of her own on Tuesday. But she dropped two spots on the final day after shooting 4-over.

Junior Fleur van Beek was the third Tiger on the leaderboard after finishing tied for 27th at 12-over. Senior Addie Dobson tied for 29th at 13-over, moving up eight spots on the final day after shooting 2-over with three birdies.

Senior Jade Zamora started the day atop of the individual leaderboard after shooting even the first two days. But she dropped down alongside Dobson in 29th after shooting 13-over in the final round.

University of Louisiana Monroe senior Johanna Sjursen won the individual title at 1-over.

The Tigers will look to carry this top-three finish into the Southeastern Conference Championship from April 17-21 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

Sophie Cunningham, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft and the all-time leading scorer in Missouri women's basketball history out of Rock Bridge, is expanding her influence beyond the court as her professional career evolves.

According to reporting from The Athletic, Cunningham is stepping into broadcasting and joining coverage of the WNBA alongside Hall of Famer Sue Bird. Cunningham is expected to balance her playing career with studio analysis, signaling a transition toward long-term opportunities in sports media while continuing to play with the Indiana Fever.

The move reflects a broader trend of current and former players shaping media coverage of the league, bringing firsthand perspective and credibility.

A separate feature from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit highlights Cunningham’s growing presence off the court. She is part of the magazine’s 2026 issue, a platform that increasingly showcases female athletes. Cunningham described the experience as empowering and one that aligns with promoting strength and confidence among women, reinforcing her image as both a competitor and a public figure.

Together, the articles illustrate Cunningham’s evolution from a standout at Missouri to a multifaceted professional. Known for her toughness and leadership during her college career, she is now building a brand that extends into media and modeling while continuing her WNBA journey. Her path mirrors the growing visibility of women’s sports, where athletes are leveraging their platforms beyond competition.

Cunningham’s rise underscores her status as one of Missouri’s most notable basketball products, a hometown star who continues to expand her impact on and off the court.