Comcast NBCUniversal's new theme park in Bedfordshire, Universal United Kingdom Resort, is set to open in 2031. The multi-billion-pound project will span 476 acres, create 28,000 jobs, and is projected to attract 8.5 million visitors annually, contributing £50bn to the UK economy.
Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are celebrating their wedding in Palermo, Sicily, after exchanging vows in London. The event has drawn a mix of pride and disruption among locals, with some welcoming the economic boost and others lamenting road closures and mass tourism impacts.
Despite being Disney's best international performer, Disneyland Paris has not recouped $4.2 billion of its initial investment after over 30 years. The resort's financial struggles stem from its massive scale, high construction debt, and initial public ownership structure.
The UK government is investing £1.3bn in infrastructure for the Universal United Kingdom Resort in Bedfordshire, promising 28,000 jobs and £50bn in economic growth. The funding will upgrade transport links and community facilities, with Universal's own £6bn investment contingent on infrastructure completion.
The UK government will provide £1.3bn in funding to help Universal build its first European theme park near Bedford. The investment aims to create tens of thousands of jobs and unlock significant economic growth.
Universal's new UK theme park, Universal United Kingdom Resort, will open in 2031 with £1.3bn in government funding. The US entertainment giant will invest £5bn, expecting 8.5 million visitors annually, creating 20,000 construction jobs and 8,000 permanent roles.
A search is underway on Queensland's Gold Coast for Mary, a two-year-old Tasmanian devil who escaped her enclosure at Paradise Country theme park early Tuesday morning. CCTV footage shows the shy marsupial on the move, and experts warn the public not to approach her.
A search is underway on Queensland's Gold Coast for Mary, a Tasmanian devil who escaped her enclosure at Paradise Country theme park. CCTV footage shows the shy marsupial on the move early Tuesday morning. Wildlife teams and a drone operator are searching, with experts warning the public not to approach her.
Paradise Country theme park on the Gold Coast has closed to search for Mary, a missing Tasmanian devil. The animal disappeared from its secure habitat, and authorities are involved in the search.
Baden-Württemberg, Germany, has enacted stricter smoking laws, banning smoking at outdoor pools, playgrounds, bus/tram stops, theme parks, and zoos. Hotels can no longer offer smoking rooms. Vaping and e-cigarettes are also included in the ban.
Galaxy Corporation has opened the world's first robot theme park in Seoul, featuring child-sized humanoid robots performing K-pop dances. The park aims to blend entertainment and technology, with plans for robot concerts, fashion shows, and global tours.
Keir Starmer has written to TNT Sports requesting they make the upcoming Champions League final free to view for UK fans. The Labour leader cited the importance of the competition and the need for 'hard-working people' not to pay for subscriptions to watch major sporting events.
UK government announces cost of living measures like VAT cuts & free bus rides, but they fail to address energy import shocks. Rising energy bills and global crises threaten household finances, highlighting the need for faster transition to clean power and greater state-led resilience.
The UK government has launched the 'Great British Summer Savings' scheme, temporarily reducing VAT on children's meals and activities from June 25 to September 1 to ease household budgets and support struggling leisure businesses. Children aged 5-15 can also travel free on local buses in August.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled a £300m 'Great British summer savings' plan, cutting VAT on attractions and children's meals, offering free bus travel for under-16s, and postponing fuel duty increases. The scheme aims to ease the impact of the war in Iran on households.
The 'Holy Pop' exhibition at London's Somerset House showcases fan collections and shrines dedicated to pop culture icons, exploring fandom as a spiritual practice, a coping mechanism for loss, and a form of 'citizen curation'.
Newly minted CEO Josh D'Amaro says that he wants to turn Disney Plus into "the immersive, interactive digital centerpiece of the company." It used to be that people went to the movies or theme parks to immerse themselves in Disney's fictional worlds. But now, D'Amaro says that he sees Disney Plus becoming "the primary relationship […]
The tiny Italian club are flying high with the help of the former Arsenal player, ambitious owners and a scouting guru inspired by Football ManagerThe serene sound of lapping water is broken only by the whir of a seaplane engine swooping to land. Outside the hangar to which the aircraft will soon return, a crowd has gathered well before kick-off. Later, most will scale the steep steps of the adjacent Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.To the right sits Villa Carminati, a new private members’ club that also houses hospitality guests on matchdays. It is a unique setting for a unique football club. When bathed in sunshine, as was the case for last Sunday’s goalless draw with Napoli, Como 1907 is a waterside paradise. Or, as their president Mirwan Suwarso puts it when drawing parallels between the club and Disney, it is the “theme park” division of the “main brand … Lake Como”. Continue reading...
Uber and Disney pointed to a resilient spending backdrop, with consumers continuing to shell out for rides, food delivery, vacations and theme park trips.
Disney revenue topped analyst expectations when the media giant reported its fiscal second-quarter earnings on Wednesday.
The 91-year-old Haw Par Mansion in Tai Hang, Hong Kong, a surviving section of the 1930s Aw family estate famous for Tiger Balm ointment, will reopen as Villa Haw Par under the FAC foundation. The Grade 1 historic building will feature international artist residencies, film screenings, and a bookstore, rather than becoming a museum or theme park.
Disneyland has begun using facial recognition technology at some entrance lanes in its California park to prevent fraud and streamline re-entry for visitors. The biometric system converts captured images into unique numerical values to verify entry status and crack down on annual pass sharing. Guests can opt out of the biometric lanes. The rollout comes amid ongoing national debate about facial recognition privacy concerns, with the ACLU warning about setting a precedent of face scanning at every turn.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort reported a 36% decline in net profit to HK$536 million (US$68 million) for the financial year ending last September, with revenue down 1.35% to HK$8.69 billion and visitor numbers falling 2.5% to 7.5 million. Managing director Tim Sypko attributed the drop to higher wages, anniversary-related expenses, and depreciation from new attractions including a Pixar-themed water parade. Despite the decline, the resort achieved its second-highest profit in 20 years and became debt-free for the first time.
