Month: December 2025

Hello! I’m Mark Olsen. Welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies.

Even as the year winds down, there are still some exciting new releases hitting theaters.

Few films this year are arriving on quite the wave of expectation behind Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme,” in part because of the unhinged, go-for-broke promo push from its star Timothée Chalamet. The film tells the story of Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman in 1950s New York who dreams of becoming a champion table tennis player and will stop at nothing to make it happen.

As Amy Nicholson put it in her review, “Like Marty, Chalamet was raised in New York City, and since he arrived on the scene, there’s never been a doubt he’ll win an Oscar. The only question is, when? To Chalamet’s credit, he’s doing it the hard way, avoiding sentimental pictures for pricklier roles about his own naked ambitions. … The movie’s moxie makes it impossible not to get caught up in Marty’s crusade. We’re giddy even when he’s miserable.”

The surprise winner of the Golden Lion at this year’s Venice Film Festival, Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother” is a gently enigmatic film revolving around, as the title suggests, parents and siblings. Told in three separate stories — set in New Jersey, Dublin and Paris — the film stars Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Mayim Bialik, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Charlotte Rampling, Luka Sabbat and Indya Moore.

Tom Waits in Jim Jarmusch’s movie “Father Mother Sister Brother.”

(Atsushi Nishijima / Mubi)

In his review, Tim Grierson wrote, “The film’s persistent brittleness may make some viewers antsy. That’s partly the point, but hopefully, they’ll soon be swept away by the movie’s melancholy undertow. … Eventually, we learn to look past Jarmusch’s deceptively mundane surfaces to see the fraught, unresolved issues within these guarded families. The characters occasionally expose their true selves, then just as quickly retreat, fearful of touching on real conflict.”

Tim Grieving spoke to composer Daniel Blumberg, who won an Oscar earlier this year for “The Brutalist,” about his work on “The Testament of Ann Lee,” director Mona Fastvold’s portrait of the founder of the Shaker religious movement. Singing and dance were an integral part of the Shakers’ spiritual practice, so the music for the film was of special importance.

“Ann Lee was very radical and extreme,” said Blumberg, “and Mona is as well.”

De Los also recently published a list of the 25 best Latino films of 2025 as picked by Carlos Aguilar. His favorites include Amalia Ulman’s “Magic Farm,” Pasqual Gutierrez and Ben Mullinkosson’s “Serious People,” Diego Céspedes’ “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,” Petra Costa’s “Apocalypse in the Tropics” and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent.”

All three of this year’s Envelope roundtables are now available to watch: actors, actresses and directors.

New Year’s Eve at the movies

Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps in the movie “Phantom Thread.”

(Laurie Sparham / Focus Features)

When people talk about holiday films, they typically mean Christmas. But what if the movies that featured a New Year’s Eve scene were sneakily better? To judge by the titles playing around town this week, an argument could be made.

Take for example Kathryn Bigelow’s “Strange Days.” An exciting techno-thriller set during the last two days of then-future 1999, it’s about a hustler (Ralph Feinnes) who finds himself in way over his head. The film builds to a huge millennial New Year’s Eve street party filmed in downtown Los Angeles. Still something of a rarity on streaming, “Strange Days” will be showing in 35mm at the New Beverly on Friday afternoon and then at the Aero on Wednesday 31, early enough in the evening to leave time for more fun after.

Then there is Paul Thomas Anderson’s achingly romantic and bitingly funny “Phantom Thread,” in which the controlling fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) initially refuses to leave the house on New Year’s Eve, but then races to be with his muse and lover Alma Elson (Vicky Krieps) after she goes out without him. The movie will be showing on New Year’s Day in 70mm at the Aero.

Anderson’s 1997 “Boogie Nights,” which will show in 35mm at Vidiots on the afternoon of Dec. 31, features a very different take on New Year’s Eve. In a pivotal sequence, many of the film’s characters converge on a NYE party to ring in the transition form 1979 to 1980. It does not go well.

jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine in 1960’s “The Apartment.”

(Bettmann Archive / Getty Images)

Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment” will play in 35mm at the New Beverly on Saturday and Sunday and also at the American Cinematheque’s Los Feliz Theater on Dec. 30. In the film Jack Lemmon is a lonely office drone who finds his complex relationship with a co-worker (Shirley MacLaine) ultimately coming to a head on a fateful New Year’s Eve.

Rob Reiner’s 1989 “When Harry Met Sally…” will likely be playing several times over the next weeks in tribute to the filmmaker. Starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal as two friends trying to figure out if their relationship can (or should) be something more, the film features not one but two memorable New Year’s Eve scenes. It will be playing at the New Beverly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Katie Holmes, left, and Sarah Polley in the movie “Go.”

(Tracy Bennett / Columbia Pictures)

Doug Liman’s “Go,” from a screenplay by John August, is not strictly speaking a New Year’s Eve movie, but it does take place in the sort of liminal zone of ongoing partying that occurs during holiday time. With a cast that includes Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Timothy Olyphant and many more, the film revolves around a few grocery store co-workers, some low-stakes drug dealing, questionable choices and a lot of miscommunication. The movie shows at Vidiots on Tuesday.

In a review of the film, Kevin Thomas wrote, “When all is said and done, ‘Go’ is a film about people going too far, which works precisely because its makers know when to hold back. ‘Go’ keeps us guessing … but it never forgets it’s a comedy; if it was too serious it would burst like a bubble. So uniformly skilled and talented is the film’s cast, which has 15 featured players, that it is impossible to single out any one. ‘Go’ is perfectly titled: Exhilarating and sharp, it never stops for a second.”

Points of interest

The Marx Brothers’ eternal comic mayhem

Chico Marx, left, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Margaret Dumont in the movie “Animal Crackers.”

(Universal)

It has become a tradition around town for theaters to show Marx Brothers movies at the holidays, and who are we to argue with that? For pure whimsy and comedy that hits somewhere deep in the unconscious, the Marx Brothers are still pretty much unbeatable.

The New Beverly played some Marx Brothers movies on Christmas Day. For those who still want more, Vidiots will be showing 1935’s “A Night at the Opera,” directed by Sam Wood and including the famous stateroom scene in which more and more people cram into a single room on an ocean liner.

On New Year’s Day, the Aero will show 1933’s “Duck Soup,” directed by Leo McCarey, in which the brothers take over the fictional nation of Freedonia. That will be followed by 1930’s “Animal Crackers,” directed by Victor Heerman, in which Groucho Marx plays African explorer Rufus T. Firefly.

Eric Rohmer’s ‘The Green Ray’

A scene from Eric Rohmer’s “The Green Ray.”

(Janus Films)

Initially released as “Summer” in the U.S., Eric Rohmer’s “The Green Ray” won Venice’s Golden Lion in 1986. The film follows Delphine (Marie Rivière, who co-wrote the script with Rohmer), a single woman in Paris, as she struggles to find someone to go on a holiday trip with her, leading to a series of serio-comic misadventures. The film will show Thursday in 35mm at the American Cinematheque’s Los Feliz Theater.

Reviewing the film in 1986, Michael Wilmington asked if watching a Rohmer film is really, to quote Gene Hackman on Rohmer movies in “Night Moves,” like watching paint peel? “Not at all,” Wilmington wrote. “‘Summer’ is one of the masterpieces of 1986. It’s one of the most finely wrought, stimulating films of an erratic year. It’s intellectual in the best sense: engaging you emotionally and mentally. It moves faster, wastes less time, and has more to offer than most movies now on view — and those who are skipping it are missing one of the year’s real treats.”

The 5-star resort has won Europe’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort at the World Travel Awards for the second year running, and lucky guests can enjoy a wide range of facilities that include a whopping 10 pools

A luxury hotel nestled on a peninsula in Corfu has grabbed the title of Europe’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort at the World Travel Awards for the second year running.

Ikos Odisia bagged the prestigious award in 2024 and has won again in 2025 for its resort situated on the tranquil eastern coast of the island, within the serene Dassia Bay area. Considering this modern resort only welcomed its first guests in 2023, it’s quite an achievement. So, what sets this all-inclusive holiday apart from the rest?

When you’re holidaying at an all-inclusive resort, a top-notch pool is a must-have, and Ikos Odisia doesn’t disappoint with a staggering 10 heated outdoor pools to pick from. There’s also a splash pool for the little ones and an indoor pool in the spa area.

And if you prefer your own space, rooms with private pools are on offer, including brand new three and four-bedroom villas set to launch in summer 2026, reports the Express.

Once you’ve claimed your sunlounger, you can simply sit back and bask in the sunshine, with towel service and waiting staff on hand to deliver your chosen cocktail. The same high standard of service extends to the hotel’s sandy beach, decked out with cushioned loungers and parasols, ensuring you can settle in comfortably after a refreshing dip in the azure sea.

Another spot to relax is the resort’s opulent spa, which boasts a thermal suite featuring a sauna and steam bath, a spa pool with stunning sea views, and an array of high-end treatments. If you’re holidaying with little ones and fancy some peace, kids’ clubs are on hand for children aged six months and up, offering both morning and afternoon sessions.

For those under four, there’s an additional charge for the creche. However, for 4-12-year-olds, the kids’ club is part of the package and provides a vast selection of activities to keep them entertained all day.

Guests can also book activities like paddleboarding, yoga classes, tennis, or a round of golf. Complimentary bike hire is available if you fancy exploring the peninsula, and the resort can organise electric car hire should you wish to venture further afield.

Dassia boasts numerous stunning beaches, offering popular activities from sailing to water skiing, so it’s well worth taking some time to explore.

When it comes to all-inclusive dining, many might envision chaotic buffets, but at Ikos Odisia, you’re spoilt for choice. While a Mediterranean buffet is available for all-day dining, there are also seven à la carte restaurants serving a diverse range of cuisine, including Greek, Spanish, Peruvian, and Asian options, complemented by an impressive premium wine list.

Naturally, it’s always nice to venture out from the resort in the evenings to sample some local cuisine. As part of your all-inclusive package, you can take advantage of the Dine Out option at three local restaurants. This allows you to experience the local cuisine and soak up the town’s atmosphere without any additional cost.

As dusk falls, why not pop into one of the resort’s cocktail bars for a pre-dinner drink?

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The hotel also offers a variety of entertainment options, ranging from live music to fireworks displays, as well as beach parties to fully embrace those balmy summer nights. For more information about Ikos Odisia and to make a booking, visit their official website.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Dec. 26 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Friday it will move ahead next week with administrative steps to make North Korea’s state newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, publicly accessible.

The ministry said a consultative meeting of supervisory agencies held Friday confirmed a consensus to reclassify Rodong Sinmun from “special materials” to “general materials,” clearing the way for broader public access.

Participants in the meeting included the Ministry of Unification, the National Intelligence Service, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Commission.

Following completion of required administrative procedures, including the issuance of official notices to supervisory and handling agencies, the ministry said the reclassification will take effect next week.

Deputy Unification Ministry spokesperson Jang Yun-jeong said earlier Friday that the government has been reviewing ways to expand public access to North Korean materials. She noted that many such materials, including Rodong Sinmun, are currently designated as special materials and can be handled only by authorized agencies.

In a written response submitted Thursday to the office of Yoon Gun-young, the intelligence service said it plans to decide on reclassification through interagency consultations, citing the public’s right to know and the promotion of inter-Korean exchanges.

The Unification Ministry also said it is pushing to amend the Information and Communications Network Act and enact a separate law on the management and use of North Korean materials, a move that would allow access to North Korean websites and publications such as Rodong Sinmun.

President Lee Jae-myung has said the public should not be treated as inherently vulnerable to propaganda or agitation.

The plan has drawn mixed reactions. Some experts have urged a cautious, phased opening of North Korean media, while others have called for countermeasures against Pyongyang’s sophisticated propaganda efforts and warned of potential cybersecurity risks from North Korean websites.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

BREAKINGBREAKING,

Agreement follows talks aimed at ending weeks of deadly clashes along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

Thailand and Cambodia said they have signed a ⁠ceasefire ​agreement to end weeks of fierce fighting along their border that has killed more than 100 people and forced the displacement of more than half a million civilians in both countries.

“Both sides agree to an immediate ceasefire after the time of signature of this Joint Statement,” ‍the Thai and Cambodian defence ⁠ministers said in a statement on Saturday.

“Both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement,” the ministers said.

The ceasefire is scheduled to take effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) and extends to “all types of weapons” and “attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructures, and military objectives of either side, in all cases and all areas”.

The agreement, signed by Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Seiha, ‌ends 20 days of fighting, the worst between the two Southeast Asian neighbours in years.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow soon.

The new series of BBC’s Call The Midwife will feature a brand new cast playing some of the much-loved characters at the ages they were when WWII broke out

The prequel of BBC One’s Call the Midwife, set at the start of World War Two and featuring younger versions of at least three of the show’s best-known characters, will launch next year on Christmas Day.

Despite the audience not knowing the actors who will play the earlier models of Jenny Agutter’s Sister Julienne, Pam Ferris’ Sister Evangeline or Judy Parfitt’s Sister Monica Joan, BBC bosses have such confidence that the show’s loyal fans will tune in, that the drama is expected to keep its prime festive slot.

Executive producer Pippa Harris, of Neal Street Productions, revealed that the prequel would kick off in the place usually reserved for Call the Midwife. Introducing the upcoming 15th series, she was asked if BBC bosses were concerned about being left with “a blank space” for 2026 and replied: “No, it will be on at Christmas.” That festive outing will be the first glimpse that viewers have of the wartime spin-off, which came about after writer Heidi Thomas had a desire to go further back in time.

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“Having wept, laughed, and raged my way from 1957 to 1971, I found myself yearning to delve into the deeper past,” she has explained. The brand new series, which does not yet have a title and will film next year, is set in 1939, nearly two decades before Jennifer Worth’s original memoirs began in 1957.

Heidi admits she needed a “temporary pause in the usual pattern” after 15 years of Call the Midwife. “I don’t think any other show has produced a series every year for that period of time,” she said. “So I think this is a lovely opportunity for us to press pause and refresh a little bit and come back with more exciting things.”

She stressed that a 16th series, picking up in 1973, would follow on TV in due course. “We’re not going anywhere,” she stressed, “Except for maybe Australia.” A movie version for cinema release, set in 1972 and featuring the regular cast, is likely to be set in Australia.

On the film, to be shot at the end of next year, Heidi said: “Australia is likely, I can say that. But there are a number of places within Australia where that could be, all of which would be very different. We won’t be making any official announcements until we know exactly .” One possibility is that Miriam Margolyes will make a welcome return as Mother Mildred, as the actress is based in Australia.

Helen George, who has played nurse Trixie Aylward since the first episode aired in 2012, said she was happy to have a year off before returning to make the movie. “The truth is no one knows who’s going to be in the film yet,” she admitted. “It has to make sense that all of these characters end up in Australia. So even though I may want to go – of course I bloody do! – it can’t be so extraordinary that it doesn’t make sense.”

She said a feature-length film would provide the “space and the time” to explore their characters further. “Australia is so beautiful, when we did the South African Christmas special it was so cinematic and the lighting is all different. This would be their missionary work potentially, because this is what the nuns would do. It makes complete sense for them to branch out into the world.”

Trixie wasn’t born in 1939, but Helen, 41, believes that expanding the Nonnatus world backwards is also a fantastic idea. “The prequel will have characters that we know so well, but we’ll be going back and seeing the start. When we first began, we’d have sets with the remnants of buildings that had been bombed in the Blitz. It’s fascinating to go even further back, and I will definitely be watching.

“The fact that the British public still want us around is amazing,” she laughed. “It’s right to change the format – we all need a new lease of life.”

In the series starting next month, it is 1971 and the midwives and nurses are getting to grips with the women’s liberation movement. In one scene, some of the Nonnatus regulars are seen burning their bras, and while she didn’t do that herself, actress Linda Bassett, who plays nurse Phyllis Crane, said she did get involved in other ways.

“I was involved in various women’s groups – it affected all our relationships, people were very enthused,” she recalled. “I was very young and we had groups where we sat in a circle and got out speculums and looked up our own vaginas, at the cervix. That was what we did! I don’t think Heidi wanted to put that in the film. It was all about being free and feeling at one with your body and not being ashamed.”

Linda, 75, said she didn’t actually burn her bra. “That was a publicity thing. People did it and I’m not knocking it but no, I didn’t.” Annabelle Apsion, who plays Poplar’s much-loved mayor and shop-owner Violent Buckle, said it had been fun to film the bra burning, with some members of the team finding it quite emotional.

“Lisa, who directed it, was crying, because she remembered all of that. A lot of young women now don’t realise how things were. It would probably be a big shock to them to hear that women didn’t get the same pay for the same job.

“It was a beautiful day and it was hilarious how the men, like Dr Turner, were saying things like ‘have you left me a casserole?’”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves will miss at least a month with a grade 2 strain in his left calf, the team announced Friday, one day after he left the game against the Houston Rockets at halftime.

Reaves, averaging career highs in points (26.6), assists (6.3) and rebounds (5.2), had already missed three games with what the team called a “mild” calf strain. He returned off the bench while playing on a minutes restriction against Phoenix on Dec. 23 and reprised his starting role on Christmas Day in a loss to the Rockets. But after scoring 12 points in 15 minutes in the first half, he was ruled out for the second half with “left calf soreness.”

Calf injuries have been major concerns across the NBA since three stars — Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum — suffered Achilles tears during last year’s playoffs. Haliburton and Lillard have previously dealt with calf injuries.

Lakers star guard Luka Doncic suffered a calf injury on Christmas Day last year while with the Dallas Mavericks and missed two months, during which he was traded to the Lakers.

“I know how it is to go to a calf injury. It’s not fun at all,” Doncic said Thursday after the game. “[I’ll] just be there to support him. Take your time. Calves are dangerous so take your time.”

The Lakers (19-10) are losing their second-leading scorer at a critical time of the season. They have lost three consecutive games, their only losing streak of the season, and their defense in the last 15 games has been among the worst in the league.

After the third consecutive blowout loss, coach JJ Redick questioned how much his players cared. He promised an “uncomfortable” film session and team meeting at practice on Saturday before the Lakers face Sacramento at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday.

After a difficult stretch of the schedule that included eight out of 10 games against teams with winning records, the Lakers have four of their next five against teams in the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Outside of a home game against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, the Lakers play the Sacramento Kings, the Memphis Grizzlies (on Jan. 2 and 4) and at New Orleans on Jan. 6.

Reaves’ absence could extend until the beginning of the Lakers’ Grammy road trip that begins on Jan. 20 against Denver.

Dec. 26 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Unification Ministry and the National Security Office have told families of South Korean nationals detained in North Korea that President Lee Jae-myung’s recent remarks on the issue resulted from a misunderstanding of a question and problems with on-site interpretation, according to relatives.

Family members said Unification Vice Minister Kim Nam-joong and officials from the ministry met relatives of detainees, including the families of missionaries Kim Jeong-wook and Choi Chun-gil, ahead of Christmas. They offered condolences and said the government would address the detainee issue, while explaining that Lee’s comments at a foreign press briefing on Dec. 3 stemmed from a misunderstanding of the question.

Relatives also said the National Security Office contacted families after the Dec. 3 briefing at the presidential guesthouse and said the detainee issue had been reported to Lee in September. Officials said Lee confused it with a separate case involving a South Korean detained in connection with a Cambodia scam incident, and said interpretation problems prevented an appropriate response, the families said.

At the Dec. 3 briefing, Lee responded to a question about South Koreans detained in North Korea by saying he was hearing about it “for the first time” and asked national security adviser Wi Sung-lak whether it was true. After the question was clarified, Lee said he lacked specific details and would review the matter.

The presidential office said the next day that six South Korean nationals, including defectors, were detained from 2013 to 2016 on charges including espionage.

Choi Jin-young, the son of detained missionary Choi Chun-gil, said he was told Lee knew about the detainees but there had been “a slight misunderstanding.” Choi said the government promised to handle the issue going forward.

But he said the explanations “sounded like nothing but excuses” and argued the case risks being forgotten. He said he urged the government to at least run a public awareness campaign.

Choi also criticized remarks in government briefings suggesting there is little that can be done without inter-Korean dialogue, saying families consider that “heartbreaking.” He said the government could still pursue cooperation by raising the issue with senior Chinese officials.

Kim Jeong-sam, brother of detained missionary Kim Jeong-wook, said he hoped the incident would prompt the government to focus more on the detainee issue. He said he was told the matter is included in the administration’s 100 key policy tasks, adding that the explanation about Lee’s remarks eased some concerns.

South Korea says six of its nationals have been detained in North Korea since 2013 through 2016 on charges including espionage. They include missionaries Kim Jeong-wook, detained in October 2013, Kim Guk-gi, detained in October 2014, and Choi Chun-gil, detained in December 2014, along with three former North Korean defectors. A defector journalist working for a North Korea-focused outlet is also reported to have been abducted by North Korea in China.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to launch a “gap year” scheme to give school and college leavers a taste of the Army, Royal Navy and RAF, but without making a long-term commitment.

The paid 12-month course is aimed at under-25s and is part of efforts to help solve long-term recruitment and retention problems in the armed forces.

Applications open in spring 2026 to be part of the first cohort of 150 recruits, with ministers planning for the scheme to eventually grow to 1,000 young people a year.

The programme is paid but officials have yet to announce a salary.

The MoD says those who join the “gap year” programme will learn skills of leadership, teamwork and problem solving to set them up “for life” whether they pursue a career in the armed forces or not.

Officials hope the scheme will bring a broader range of people into the forces, and that some decide to stay to pursue a career in the military.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “This is a new era for Defence, and that means opening up new opportunities for young people to experience and learn from our Armed Forces.

“This gap year scheme will give Britain’s young people a taste of the incredible skills and training on offer across the Army, Royal Navy and RAF. It’s part of our determination to reconnect society with our forces, and drive a whole of society approach to our nation’s defence.

“As families come together at this time of year, and young people think about their futures, I want the outstanding opportunities on offer in our Armed Forces to be part of that conversation in homes across the UK.”

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: “As ever with Labour, the reality does not match the spin. A scheme involving just 150 participants is barely a pilot, let alone the ‘whole of society’ response they claim to be delivering.

“Of course, the Australian scheme has its strengths but these tiny numbers do nothing for our war readiness, and expose the harsh reality that Labour is prioritising higher welfare spending over a proper increase in the defence budget. Meanwhile, their Defence Investment Plan is months behind schedule, and we still have no idea when, or how, they intend to reach 3% of GDP on defence.

“In contrast, the Conservatives are serious about defending our country, which is why we announced the Sovereign Defence Fund, to raise an additional £50bn for defence and strengthen our deterrence by giving our Armed Forces the modern capabilities they need.”

The “gap year” scheme was recommended by the UK Strategic Defence Review in June after being inspired by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The ADF gap year programme has been in operation for more than a decade, with applicants offered the chance “get a feel for military life while enjoying unique experiences you can’t find anywhere else”.

VICTORIA Beckham gushed over her husband David Beckham as he continued a sweet family tradition with their daughter, Harper.

The former Spice Girl gave an insight into their family Christmas which they celebrated with their extended families and three of their four children, Cruz, Romeo and Harper.

Victoria shared a range of photos and videos from their festive Christmas, including a video of David dancing with Harper, 14, to the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton hit, Islands in the Stream.

David and his wife have long danced to the hit song at anniversary and birthday celebrations as a mark of their love, have even inspired a viral TikTok trend in 2024.

Now David is continuing the tradition with his daughter and they sung the lyrics as they danced, and the former England footballer then dipped Harper who held on and smiled.

“Truly the best daddy,” Victoria captioned the video which she shared to her Instagram stories.

united front

Inside the Beckhams’ Christmas without Brooklyn as they ‘send message’ to son

FESTIVE FEUD

Brooklyn Beckham spends Xmas with famous tennis star

Notably absent from their celebrations was the couple’s oldest son, Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz.

Brooklyn himself posted a Christmas Eve snap of his wife, declaring that she’s his “everything” amid the feud with his family.

The couple then spent Christmas Day hitting the courts with tennis  player Reilly Opelka, as well as Nicola’s brother Bradley.

The ongoing feud between Brooklyn and his family escalated this month when he blocked his famous parents on Instagram.

The move infuriated brother Cruz, 20, who addressed the drama – revealing that Brooklyn removed the entire family – including 14-year-old Harper – from his social media.

The musician confirmed his parents woke up to being banned from seeing Brooklyn’s profile, and said: “My mum and dad would never unfollow their son.

“They woke up blocked. As did I.”

Brooklyn’s wife Nicola is also not following any of the Beckham family on Instagram – weeks after the couple were absent from David’s long-awaited knighthood celebrations.

Meanwhile David and Victoria were not present for Brooklyn and Nicola’s New York wedding vow renewal in August.  

The couple, who tied the knot in 2022, were last pictured with David and Victoria last Christmas.

Earlier this week, Brooklyn reportedly called for his parents to apologise to Nicola, with a source claiming: “There was a long briefing war where it was open season on Nicola. They (David and Victoria) targeted Nicola and thought that they could do so without consequences.

“You can’t inflict that much pain and damage on two people and then expect to pick up the relationship via a public social media post. The person who caused the pain does not get to decide when they declare it is over.

“If they want to make up then they need to apologise and acknowledge the pain caused and make changes to show that it is not going to happen again.”

A British travel expert has shared the location of what she believes to be the most beautiful place on Earth, advising others of five things to know before planning a visit to the breathtaking scenery

Following her visit to what she hailed as the “most beautiful place on Earth”, a travel expert has compiled a list of five essential pointers for anyone wanting to experience this breathtaking destination themselves. Emma Ansley Knight turned to TikTok after returning from the Brazil-Argentina border in South America, describing her journey as “such a bucket list moment”.

“Literally felt a tear come down my face when I stood over the Devil’s Throat waterfall for the first time,” she added. “Just amazing how powerful nature can be.” She went on to explain that the Brazilian side of her destination offers roughly a 1.5km walk with “beautiful panoramic views” of the cascades, which she suggests tackling first.

“Someone said that from the Brazilian side you can see the falls, and from the Argentinian side you can feel the falls, which I thought was a great way of describing it,” Emma said. The Argentinian side is quite different, however, featuring multiple walking routes and providing more of a “full day experience”, she added.

Her destination? Iguazu Falls. Also referred to as Iguaçu Falls, it sits on the Iguazu River and forms part of the world’s largest waterfall network.

“If you want to see the falls at their absolute fullest, you are best off going in the rainy season, which is roughly between November and March,” Emma advised.

“We went in December and just before that it had rained so much that the flow of the falls was five times higher than usual.”

She went on to describe the Devil’s Throat, the most impressive cascade at Iguazu Falls. “You can see the water thundering down it from the Brazilian side,” she said.

“And on the Argentinian side, you can head along a walkway and stand pretty much right at the top of it – and wow, what an experience that was.”

Regarding accommodation options, Emma outlined several choices. “On the Brazil side, you have Foz do Iguaçu, which is where we stayed. And on the Argentina side there’s Puerto Iguazu – and if your budget allows, you can even stay in the National Park itself.”

Emma concluded by reminding visitors that crossing from one side of the falls to the other requires passing through border control, meaning you must make sure you have your passport with you.

Iguazu National Park achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1986 due to its exceptional natural splendour. Its website advises: “The semicircular waterfall at the heart of this site is some 80m high and 2,700m in diameter and is situated on a basaltic line spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil.

“Made up of many cascades producing vast sprays of water, it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The surrounding subtropical rainforest has over 2,000 species of vascular plants and is home to the typical wildlife of the region: tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and caymans.”

To get to the destination from Brazil, you can catch a flight from either Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro to the local airport, Aeropuerto Internacional de Foz do Iguaçu. The journey from Rio takes roughly two hours, while flights from Sao Paulo shave off about 15 minutes.

Alternatively, if you’re travelling from Buenos Aires in Argentina, you can fly directly to the Aeropuerto Internacional de Puerto Iguazu. This flight is slightly quicker, clocking in at around one hour and 50 minutes.

The world’s longest suspension bridge is currently in Turkey but a new record could be held if the government in Italy gets its way with its hugely ambitious Messina Bridge project

The world’s longest suspension bridge has been given the green light – and it could prove hugely popular with Brits. Just four months ago, the Italian government’s plans to build the longest suspension bridge in the world was approve. It would connect the mainland region of Calabria to Sicily.

However, a lot can happen in that time. The controversial Messina Bridge project, which would cost a staggering £11.7bn, faced a huge stumbling back last month, meaning it is once again on hold. But more on that shortly.

If the bridge ever gets built along the Strait of Messina, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni still intends, it would be a hugely ambitious infrastructure challenge that has been talked about in Italy for decades.

The colossal bridge, consisting of two towers stretching 400-metres (1,300 feet), would span an incredible 3.3km (2.05 miles). Three lanes of traffic would sit either side of two railway lines in the middle.

It would be particularly welcomed by Brits travelling in Italy, because it would cut their journey to Sicily to just ten minutes, compared to taking the ferry, which can take a lot longer than the 30 minutes crossing when you factor in the immense queuing at peak times.

Speaking earlier this year, Meloni said: “It is not an easy task but we consider it an investment in Italy’s present and future, and we like difficult challenges when they make sense.”

Transport minister Matteo Salvini spoke in August that the goal was to have it built between 2032 and 2033. He also boasted that 120,000 jobs a year would be created, something he said would bring economic growth to the poor regions of Sicilia and Calabria, which is on the tip of Italy’s boot.

Rome was given the approval for the project in August after years of the plans being scrapped. One of the biggest reasons plans have been halted historically was concerns of mafia fraud, including worries about taxpayers’ money being siphoned off by the Sicilian and Calabrian gangsters.

Other concerns have repeatedly been raised about environmental damage, cost and safety, and given the region is one of the most seismically active areas in the Mediterranean, designers promised the Strait of Messina Bridge would be able to withstand earthquakes.

However, last month, yet another setback was reported, after an Italian court ruled the bridge would go against EU environmental and tender rules.

The Court of Auditors ruling concluded: “The assumptions regarding the various ‘reasons of public interest’ are not validated by technical bodies and are not supported by adequate documentation.”

But the Italian government is refusing to give up and has vowed to review the ruling carefully and continue with its ambitions of making the bridge a reality.

As well as still having to convince the Italian Court of Auditors and both national and EU environmental agencies, there would also be pushback from the 4,000 residents who live either side of the Strait.

Their homes would be at risk of demolition and this could mean legal challenges regarding having to abandon their properties.

As it stands, the current world’s longest suspension bridge is the 915 Canakkale Bridge in Turkey – which connects Asia to Europe and takes six minutes to cross.

Construction across the passage of water (Dardanelles Strait) started in 2017 and it only became open to the public three years ago. Journey times have been cut by up to 93%.

This means 90-minute ferry trips can be avoided by using the bridge that starts in Gelibolu, Turkey, which is based on the European side of the country, to the Asian town of Lapseki.

Brydon Carse takes two wickets in three deliveries, as Michael Neser and Mitchell Starc are both dismissed for a duck to leave Australia 121-9 on day two of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.

FOLLOW LIVE: The Ashes fourth Test – day two

Available to UK users only.

More than 40 million Americans under winter storm warnings or weather advisories as heavy snow expected.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled and delayed in the United States due to winter storm Devin, airline monitoring website FlightAware reports, dealing a blow to air travel during peak holiday time.

A total of 1,581 flights “within, into or out of the” US were cancelled and 6,883 delayed as of 4pm US Eastern Time (21:00 GMT) on Friday, according to FlightAware, which describes itself as the world’s largest flight tracking data company.

The delays and cancellations came as the US National Weather ⁠Service warned of winter storm Devin causing “hazardous travel conditions” and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast.

More than 40 million Americans were under winter storm warnings or weather advisories on Friday, plus another 30 million under flood or storm advisories in California, where a so-called atmospheric river has brought a deluge of rain.

New York City, the largest US city, was bracing for up to 250mm (10 inches) of snow overnight on Friday, the most expected in four years. Temperatures were forecast to drop into the weekend when an Arctic blast is expected to swoop down from Canada.

New York’s John F Kennedy airport, ⁠Newark Liberty international airport and LaGuardia airport warned travellers of potential delays or cancellations. More than half of the flight cancellations and delays took place at these three airports, according to FlightAware.

JetBlue Airways cancelled 225 flights on Friday, the most among the US carriers, closely followed by Delta Air Lines, which cancelled 212 flights. Republic Airways cancelled 157 flights, while 146 were cancelled by American Airlines and 97 by United Airlines.

“Due to winter storm Devin, JetBlue has cancelled approximately 350 flights today and tomorrow, primarily in the Northeast where JetBlue has a large operation,” a JetBlue spokesperson told the Reuters news agency.

On the US West Coast, powerful winter storms brought the wettest Christmas season to Southern California in 54 years.

There was still a risk of more flash flooding and mudslides on Friday despite slackening rain around Los Angeles, the National Weather Service warned.

Firefighters rescued more than 100 people on Thursday in Los Angeles County, with one helicopter pulling 21 people from stranded cars, officials said.

Surrounded by a stunning coastline, the UK has some breathtaking beaches to visit – here are five of the best hotels to stay at which make the most of their magical seaside locations

If you are dreaming of escaping the chaos of everyday modern life but don’t want to travel abroad, the UK has some idyllic beaches and beautiful coastline destinations to explore.

Treat yourself to a well-deserved break at a spot Queen Victoria compared to a scene from a fairytale ballet, try your luck at dolphin and seal spotting or relax in acres of subtropical gardens above a sandy cove before snorkelling in crystal clear waters.

From balmy Cornwall and sunny Devon to the remote Isle of Harris via Snowdonia National Park, the new Good Hotel Guide shared with us this year’s five Editor’s Choice picks for the best seaside hotels, which offer something for everyone.

With ‘all the comforts one could possibly desire’, the Ashworth family’s much-loved hotel stands in two-acre subtropical gardens above sandy Carne Beach in the unspoilt National Trust landscape of the Roseland Peninsula. Appealing to guests of all ages, with its country-house comforts and timeless charms, it is perfect for multi-generational family stays. The well-trained, friendly staff ‘make it so special’ say Guide readers.

The least-pricey country-view bedrooms have comfy seating and such pleasing touches as fresh flowers and fruit, magazines, a Roberts radio and Penhaligon bath products. Facilities include a lounge, drawing room, sun lounge, bar, library, conservatory and gym, plus indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and croquet. There is a lift, and public rooms have access for a wheelchair user. Days can be spent building sandcastles, investigating rock pools, snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, walking the Southwest Coast Path or waterborne exploration aboard the hotel’s motor launch Alice Rose.

You can dine à la carte in the Quarterdeck seafood brasserie, on the terrace, or in the dining room from a five-course fixed-price menu, where silver service, and hors d’oeuvres and cheese trolleys hark back to a more civilised age, and “being able to choose from a sumptuous selection of puds is true luxury”. They serve cream teas (of course), a cracking Sunday lunch, and early supper for children under seven. Dogs are allowed in the bedrooms and gardens, and Carne is one of the few beaches locally that permits dogs all year round, though be sure to follow the Canine Code.

Country-view doubles from £406.

Walls of windows afford glorious Atlantic views from Emma Stratton’s fun hotel on the clifftop above a sheltered, sandy beach with caves and rockpools. Built in the Californian Modern style, with Scandi-inspired interiors, it was launched by Emma’s father, a farmer and engineer, in 1959, and, while evolving with the decades, it still reflects his passion for sustainability.

This is very much a child-friendly family affair with spacious sea and countryside-facing bedrooms, some sleeping three or four. In a separate building, apartment suites for four to six guests have a separate bedroom or bunkroom for the kids, a living area and a Juliet balcony or a patio (choose a ground-floor apartment and the dog can come too). Two-hour sessions for children under five are offered in the play-space crèche, with a kids’ club for over-fives, so parents have a bit of a breathing space, perhaps for spa treatments, wellness classes or a steep in the hot tub in the sensory spa garden.

An all-day menu in the Wild Café caters to every taste, with nibbles, salads, sandwiches, pies and grills, moules frites, fish and chips, risotto… Adults can sip cocktails in the bar and on the terrace, with wine tastings and sophisticated dining in Ogo restaurant. Menus reflect the hotel’s values of locality and seasonality, with such dishes as whole lemon sole with mussel butter, rock samphire and elderflower caper sauce; Mora Farm roasted cabbage with smoked potato, Cornish gouda and potato skins. Walk the Coast Path to sharpen your appetite.

B&B doubles from £129 .

Centred on a cosy, beamed pub in a stunning situation above Babbacombe Beach, Lana de Savary’s dog-friendly spa hotel is a resort in its own right. “It’s a beautiful spot,” noted Queen Victoria as she sketched the scene from offshore, “…red cliffs and rocks with wooded hills like Italy and reminding one of a ballet or play where nymphs appear – such rocks and grottoes, with the deepest sea on which there was no ripple.”

The descent by road is a little hairy but there are moorings for yachting folk who come by water. Guests have a choice of ten coastal-chic inn rooms and suites, some for a family, as well as eight beach huts, beach suites and fishermen’s cottages. All rooms have a mesmerising sea view and are supplied with an espresso machine, a decanter of sloe gin, and Temple Spa bath products, and have a private terrace or balcony from which to spot dolphins and wave to Sammy the seal. The Shell Suite has a kitchenette, log burner and patio. Beach huts have a mezzanine bedroom, a waterfall shower, bifold doors to a decking area. Check for late availability for surprisingly low prices.

Dinner in the scenic restaurant might include Brixham crab and mussels, steak and ale pie, fish and chips, courgette pappardelle with smoked mozzarella and wild-garlic pesto. When the sun shines, they host lobster barbecues with live music, and days can be spent paddleboarding, sea kayaking, on mackerel fishing trips and generally messing about in boats.

B&B doubles from £175.

Perennially popular with readers, some of whom will have known it from childhood, this long-established hotel, in a hillside location, set back from the road, was founded at the dawn of the Edwardian era and received its first paying guests in 1904. Originally a somewhat eccentric mock-Tudor-cum-château edifice, for more than a century it was owned by the Cave family, who expanded and modernised it, with a 1960s facelift, and the addition of an extra floor in the 2000s. So it was that, when they sold it in October 2025, BLS UK Hotels acquired not just a hotel but a legacy of good will, and the new owners are pledged to retain the same staff and same values. This will be important to a faithful following who want continuity not fad and fashion, home comforts not hipster vibes.

The location is “fabulous”, overlooking golf course, dunes and sandy beach. The amenities are excellent, with three sea-view lounges for afternoon tea, a tennis court, nine-hole golf course, heated indoor swimming pool and spa bath. Dogs and kids are welcome. Spacious bedrooms, some for a family, with sea or hillside views, are decorated in coastal colours and have ample seating.

You can order from a lounge menu, while, in the restaurant (dress code smart casual), the menu features such dishes as garlic and thyme roast chicken with thyme jus, beef medallions with wild mushrooms and café de Paris butter, baked Mediterranean vegetable and goat’s cheese cannelloni.

B&B double from £270.

Forget promenades and bandstands, crowded beaches and candy floss, amusement arcades and bucket-and-spade shops – only Machair and sheep-grazed pasture lie between Patricia and Tim Martin’s Georgian manse and the Atlantic, in this sublime, end-of-the-world location on the Isle of Harris, against a backdrop of heather-clad hills. It provides the cosy ambience you want after outdoorsy days of hiking, wildlife spotting, swimming, surfing and sailing, with a library and first-floor drawing room where you can take afternoon tea by an open fire.

Maud the pug, Brodie the spaniel and moggies Mister and Wee Hamish are quite amenable to sharing the library, but drawing-room and dining rooms are out of bounds for visiting hounds, who are charged at just £25 a stay (maximum two). Bedrooms (three in an annexe) are traditional cottage style with patterned wallpapers, solid wood furniture and pretty china. All have views of garden, beach or hills; two have sitting areas with sofa and wrap-around windows.

An early supper is laid on for children before guests gather convivially for drinks and a set-price dinner of such sophisticated dishes as langoustine bisque with rouille and smoked scallop mayonnaise; roast quail and porcini risotto. A separate menu for vegans and vegetarians might include timbale of ratatouille, red pepper sabayon; Puy lentil, fennel and celeriac casserole, Strathdon blue cheese, honey and truffle vinaigrette. A hearty breakfast brings freshly squeezed orange juice, organic porridge with cream, Stornoway kipper, a full Scottish. They’re closed now until April, so look (and book) ahead.

Doubles, B&B, £315 per night for stays of 2 or 3 nights.

Ukraine is expanding its uncrewed surface vessel (USV) attacks to hit Russian targets on the Dnipro River and its tributaries. Kyiv’s USV campaign has previously hit enemy shipping, warships, and infrastructure in attacks made famous by the country’s State Security Service (SBU) and Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR).

Meanwhile, as Russia begins to build out its own USV effort, Ukraine also said it struck a storage site for those vessels on Tuesday night in a preemptive effort to keep them from being deployed.

The 40th Coastal Defense Brigade of the 30th Marine Corps recently released a video showing the Barracuda USV it developed carrying out a mission in the Dnipro region. The video purports to show the Barracuda making its way through an inlet before hitting a small camouflaged Russian boat and outpost. The video then cuts to aerial drone views showing an explosion and resulting destruction.

“The unmanned boat ‘Barracuda’ carried out another successful mission,” the Corps stated on Telegram.

The Barracuda USV is operated by a special unit of the same name, according to the 30th Marine Corps.

“The eponymous special unit, subordinated to the 40th Marine Brigade, independently designed and launched a water drone, which is already defending the coasts of Ukraine,” the Corps explained. 

Unveiled earlier this year, the Barracuda was designed to carry out several missions, including one-way attack, strikes with grenades and first-person view (FPV) drones and resupply, according to the Corps.

This modular design is similar to the Sea Baby USVs produced by the SBU and the Magura line of USVs operated by GUR that have frequently staged attacks in the Black Sea. In addition to serving as one-way attack weapons, the USVs previously deployed by Ukraine have brought down jets and helicopters and launched attacks using aerial drones. This onslaught has already kept Russia’s Black Sea Fleet (BSF) at bay, forcing it to retreat from Crimea to Novorossiysk. Ukrainian USVs have also damaged enemy military facilities in occupied Crimea and the Kerch Bridge.

However, unlike Ukraine’s long-range USVs, the Barracuda is not equipped with satellite communications.

“Its range is therefore limited, making it suitable primarily for short-distance missions among the islands of the Dnipro River, which corresponds with the operating area of the 40th Coastal Defense Brigade,” the Ukrainian United24 media outlet noted.

The unit claims that the Barracuda is guided in part by artificial intelligence, but does not provide any details.

Overall, the Barracuda appears to be a bit cheaper and less complex design that is better optimized for lower priority targets in riverine and shallow littoral areas. The lack of a satellite communications system is interesting as control of the boat would have to be provided locally, within line of sight of the boat or at least within line of sight of a relay, such as a drone, flying overhead. The boat could also follow waypoint navigation autonomously, but making pinpoint attacks in complex waterways would be a challenge for such a concept of operations.

The Barracuda attacks are part of a fight taking place on the Dnipro, its inlets and islands since the Ukrainian’s recaptured Kherson City in November 2023. With neither side being able to launch a major cross-river attack due to the difficulty of crossing a body of water while under fire from drones and artillery, the two sides have been jockeying for position in this area on a much smaller scale.

The success of Ukraine’s USVs has not been lost on Russia. Earlier this year, Moscow carried out a drone boat attack on a Ukrainian Navy reconnaissance ship in the mouth of the Danube River. That incident marked Russia’s first confirmed use of these weapons. In addition to building its own drone boats, Russia also created dedicated units to operate them. You can read more about Russia’s USV development in our story here.

The following video shows the August Russian USV attack on the Ukrainian ship.

Though there have been no confirmed Russian USV attacks since August, Ukraine remains concerned about the potential for future strikes. 

“As part of a systematic reduction of the Russian aggressor’s military-economic potential, on the night of December 24, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out successful strikes on several enemy targets,” the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff claimed on Wednesday. “The storage and maintenance site for unmanned boats in the area of Mirny in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea was hit.”

The General Staff did not provide any visual evidence of the results of the attack and said that the extent of the damage is still being determined.

While Ukraine’s Barracuda USVs have not yet been carrying out attacks on high-value targets, the drone boats give Kyiv’s beleaguered forces another weapon they can use to help defend its internal waterways.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

Internalized Shame

This community rejection can be painful. “It wasn’t strangers attacking me. It was my own people, speaking the same language I grew up with, who decided I didn’t deserve respect anymore. And that hurts in a way racism from outsiders never could, because it feels like rejection from your own bloodline,” says Vairavanathan.

Mental health professionals who work with South Asian clients say that collectivist traditions, where family reputation is often prioritized over individual expression, can lead to the stigmatization of LGBTQ identities.

On the AAHNA South Asian therapy website, they write that understanding taboos associated with sexual orientation “is crucial for effective therapeutic practice, as they can significantly influence mental health and well-being.”

Balancing Dual Identities

Jiya Rajput, a British Indian content creator and founder of the QPOC Project, says the balancing act of her sexual and racial identity can be tough: “Being both South Asian and queer sometimes feels like having two vastly different identities,” Rajput told Uncloseted Media. “I have tried my best to blend my queerness with my desi identity. However, it is not often easy, with stereotypes and prejudice sometimes making me feel out of place.”

This balancing act may involve navigating stereotypes and racism inside queer spaces, which can have negative mental health outcomes. A 2022 survey of LGBTQ Asian Americans found that discomfort with one’s race or ethnicity within queer communities was associated with lower psychological well-being for those who consider their racial identity important.

Dating as a Queer South Asian Woman

Balancing this dynamic can make dating challenging. A 2023 study revealed that queer Asian American women are frequently subject to rigid racial dating preferences, with most preferring to date within their own racial group, often as a reaction to feeling fetishized or rejected from white queer spaces.

And even dating within communities of color presents its own set of challenges. “Racism is not exclusively a white people’s issue,” Patel says, noting that she experienced subtle discrimination with another girlfriend who was neither white nor South Asian.

Photo courtesy of Patel

“[She] was genuinely trying to relate with me, she just couldn’t,” she says.

Patel remembers her girlfriend holding many assumptions, such as the belief that all South Asians share the same cultural traditions, such as Bhangra, a lively Punjabi dance, or Garba, a traditional Gujarati folk dance performed during festivals.

“It comes from a place of just wanting to be seen for their own culture,” Patel says, noting that many people of color aren’t accustomed to being truly heard or understood. “There’s so much excitement in dating someone from a different background that sometimes you forget to actually listen and receive the culture through their lens.”

When South Asian women do decide to date white women, Patel says it can feel like one “should just assimilate … and try to keep the pressures of being brown [and] growing up in a stricter, possibly patriarchal, culture at bay.”

These pressures in queer spaces caused Lavina Sabnani to leave her culture behind in an effort to feel accepted.

“It felt wrong to push away everything my ancestors carried with them for so long,” Sabnani told Uncloseted Media. “There’s a standard of whiteness at Pride, at lesbian parties, at cultural and social clubs. … Me and the other brown girls never get noticed. It was like you’re invisible within a community where you’re supposed to be counted in.”
“Being a lesbian South Asian means breaking the mold in every possible way,” says Hubiba Ali, a first-generation Pakistani American, self-described “butch lesbian” and food scientist from Chicago. “Pakistani women I was raised around don’t wear boyish clothes, have short, cropped hair, thick muscles, and hairy legs. They do not eat with gusto, laugh and joke boisterously, or take up space. I gave up a lot of my birthright participation in my culture in order to live free.”

Underrepresented and Under Researched

To make change, Sabnani says South Asian representation in queer spaces is essential. But it’s not happening yet. According to GLAAD’s “Where We Are on TV” 2024-2025 study, Asian Pacific Islanders represented only 11% of LGBTQ characters on broadcast, 2% on cable and 14% on streaming.

Even shows that strive for diversity, like “The L Word: Generation Q,” fail to include South Asian characters. “They had everyone—Black, Latinx, East Asian—but not a single South Asian woman,” says Patel.

She recalls a dating app called Her that featured an image of two white women kissing—one of whom had a tattoo of a Hindu deity.

“They’ll use our gods, but not our faces,” she says.
Outside of Patel’s research, little information exists about racism and homophobia toward queer South Asian women.

Photo courtesy of Patel

And even in queer nightlife, Ali describes feeling sidelined. She says that while there are a few South Asian LGBTQ organizations in Chicago, finding meaningful representation is hard even in those scenes.

“They tend to be hosted in a part of town colloquially known as ‘Boystown,’ which semantically already does not center women or lesbians,” she says. “The events are usually held at gay bars for gay men.”

Finding Acceptance

Patel says that to make spaces truly inclusive, folks need to “start by listening to queer brown women, understanding our unique challenges, and amplifying our voices.”

And despite all of these challenges, many queer South Asian women are still surviving and building a more inclusive future.

Artists like MANI JNX, a British Punjabi indie musician, are using music to explore queer South Asian love, trauma and joy. And visual creators like Mina Manzar are building online communities through art. “Funnily enough, here in NYC, so far from Pakistan, is where I’ve found the most vibrant and beautiful South Asian queer community,” Manzar told Uncloseted Media.

As for Patel, she has found a relationship with a Tamil woman that is grounded in mutual respect and cultural exchange. “I’ve learned how to make Tamil food, I’m learning the language, and she comes to Garba with me and dances every year,” she says. Their shared commitment to honoring each other’s traditions illustrates the importance of genuine cultural understanding in queer relationships that goes beyond surface-level acceptance or stereotypes.

Her hope is that the commitment to understanding that she has developed with her partner can become more reflective of how society tries to understand the experiences of queer South Asian women.

“Let’s just address each racialized group as a different racialized group and give them some damn visibility,” Patel says. “It’s not that hard.”

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Gus Atkinson added to England’s injury problems when he left the field on the second morning of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia.

Pace bowler Atkinson felt his left hamstring after the final ball of the fourth over he bowled on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

England said the 27-year-old felt some “soreness” and would spend time off the field in order to be assessed “over the next few hours”.

The final Test of the series in Sydney begins on Sunday, 4 January (23:30 GMT on 3 January).

England have already lost fast bowlers Mark Wood to a knee injury and Jofra Archer to a side strain on this Ashes tour.

Matthew Fisher was called up as cover for Wood. Fisher and Matthew Potts are the two England seamers yet to feature in the series.

Atkinson struggled in the opening two Tests of the tour, managing only three wickets.

He was left out of the third Test in Adelaide, then recalled for the Boxing Day match in Melbourne as Archer’s replacement.

Surrey’s Atkinson improved at the MCG, taking two wickets in Australia’s first innings, then making 28 with the bat as one of just three England players to reach double figures.

After bowling one over in Australia’s second innings at the end of the first day, he returned on Saturday morning and had nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind.

However, at the end of the fifth over of his spell, he bowled a slower ball to Travis Head and immediately felt for his hamstring.

Atkinson left the field and was replaced by substitute Ollie Pope.

Dec. 26 (UPI) — Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai face impeachment proceedings filed by opposition party leaders accusing them of constitutional and legislative violations.

Members of Taiwan’s KMT and TPP parties and two independent lawmakers secured enough support on Friday to advance impeachment proceedings to go before Taiwan’s Constitutional Court, Al Jazeera reported.

The impeachment effort is viewed as symbolic because a two-thirds majority is needed to impeach an official holding public office in Taiwan.

“It’s not possible to have a real impeachment,” Yen-tu Su, a constitutional law and democratic theory expert at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica, told Al Jazeera.

“They want to make a record that President Lai would be the first president considered impeached in the history of Taiwan’s democracy,” he said. “It’s a way to register their protest.”

The Legislative Yuan approved an impeachment motion with a 60-51 vote on Friday, but it would take 76 of its 113 seated members to impeach the president and premier.

The conflict arises from Lai’s administration refusing to enact a legislatively approved amendment that would give more public funding for local units of government, according to the South China Morning Post.

The Legislative Yuan is controlled by opposition parties, but Lai’s refusal to enact the law change created conflict, and Cho Jung-tai declined to sign the amendment.

Lai became president in 2024, but Taiwan’s legislature has been divided and mostly deadlocked since.

An image has emerged that appears to show, for the first time, one of China’s growing series of low-observable combat drones aboard the country’s super-sized Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan. The development is in line with previous predictions that this vessel will be capable of supporting high-end aerial drone operations as well as traditional amphibious assaults.

The image in question began to circulate recently online and shows the rear portion of the drone on the deck of the Sichuan, partly obscured by one of the vessel’s twin island superstructures. The characteristic twin, outward-canted tailfins of the drone suggest that this is a navalized version of the design that has been informally dubbed Type C by Chinese aerospace observers. It is part of a collection of aircraft that are considered to be broad Chinese equivalents of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

While the image appears to be genuine, it should be considered at least possible that the drone in question is a mockup. China makes considerable use of aircraft mockups, on land and at sea, to assist with the development and subsequent service introduction of aircraft carriers and assault ships.

The so-called Type C is a subsonic CCA or “loyal wingman”-type drone. Its key features include a swept lambda wing planform, the aforementioned canted tail fins, an internal stores bay, and a single jet engine fed by a dorsal intake. Overall, in terms of configuration, it has some similarities with the U.S.-made XQ-58A Valkyrie, but it is much larger. According to unconfirmed reports, it is said to be optimized for air-to-ground missions, although intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and electronic warfare would also be likely roles. The Type C is one of at least four new CCA-type drones that were publicly unveiled at the parade celebrating 80 years since the defeat of Japan in World War II, held in Beijing on September 3, 2025.

It would make a good deal of sense for the drone to now be evaluated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) onboard the Sichuan. As you can read about here, the first of the Type 076 assault ship left port for its first sea trials last month.

Thanks to its electromagnetically-powered catapult, the 44,000-ton Type 076 is unlike any other big deck amphibious warship in terms of the kind of air wing that it can accommodate, which is expected to be dominated by uncrewed types.

Previously, Type 076’s air wing was expected to include naval versions of the GJ-11 stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV), sometimes known as the GJ-21. This theory was supported by apparent GJ-11 mockups that appeared at a test and/or training site right on Changxing Island in Shanghai, very close to where the Type 076 was being built. This may well still be the case, but it now looks like a navalized Type C drone will at least supplement it.

The navalized GJ-11 is expected to operate primarily from China’s true aircraft carriers, including the catapult-equipped Fujian, which was commissioned last month. This carrier is expected to be followed by six more by 2035, according to a Pentagon report, which would provide the PLAN with a total of nine. Recent imagery indicates that China is now progressing with work on its fourth flattop, which is expected to introduce nuclear propulsion.

Returning to the Sichuan, in addition to drones, the warship will accommodate various helicopters, and very likely also a crewed tiltrotor aircraft, which is now in flight testing.

While we don’t yet know whether the Type C has been launched from the Sichuan, there have already been signs of preparations for flight trials. Shortly before the vessel left port for the first time, full markings had been painted on its flight deck, as part of its final fitting out.

Furthermore, as seen in the social media post below, evidence emerged at the end of October showing what looked to be a red-colored catapult test ‘truck’ on Sichuan’s deck. This, in turn, pointed to the start of testing of the ship’s lone catapult.

Again, as we have discussed before, as well as the catapult, the layout of the Type 076 design is heavily focused on sustained flight operations. These features include its unusually wide flight deck and the ship’s two islands. As such, fixed-wing drones can be launched by the catapult at the bow end and recovered via some form of arresting gear.

As TWZ previously wrote about the overall significance of the Sichuan:

“The potential value to the PLAN of having a fleet of very large deck amphibious assault ships that are highly capable of large-scale drone operations as well as traditional amphibious assaults is clear. These ships could be used to launch and recover UCAVs like the GJ-11 and other types of drones to perform a host of missions from maritime strike to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They could be used to provide additional ‘mass’ in support of the operations of larger carrier strike groups and help to free the air wings of flattops like Fujian up for tasks they might be better suited for. In addition, they could provide a lower tier of naval aviation support that could be employed independently.”

…

“Simply having more naval aviation capacity overall would give the PLAN added flexibility for various operations closer to the mainland, including a potential military intervention against Taiwan or defending its expansive and largely unrecognized territorial claims in places like the South China Sea. Type 076s could also help project naval and air power further from China’s shores, something that has also been a driving factor behind the country’s broader carrier ambitions.”

Chinese PLA Navy’s First Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship “Sichuan” Conducts First Sea Trial

It remains to be seen if the PLAN’s current ambitions include introducing the navalized Type C as part of the regular air wing for the Type 076, or whether it is currently being used as part of an evaluation that may lead to a different type of uncrewed aircraft going aboard the warship. By the same token, we don’t yet know if China currently plans to acquire more Type 076s, or if this design is also initially intended more to prove out the concept of super-sized assault ships.

For now, however, the appearance of the Type C, or a mockup thereof, aboard the Sichuan, underscores China’s broader goal of deploying a host of different uncrewed types aboard aviation-capable warships of various kinds.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com