Month: January 2026

WHEN choosing where to head for some winter sun, popular destinations that crop up include Thailand and the Maldives.

But what if I told you there was a cheaper alternative, where they love Brits, that is booming this year?

Sri Lanka has been named a trending destination for 2026, with demand soaring.

According to TravelSupermarket, searches for holidays to Sri Lanka are up 605 per cent (only behind Gozo, which saw a surge of 1,900 per cent).

According to Chris Webber, Head of Holidays and Deals at TravelSupermarket: “Sri Lanka has rocketed up as the UK became its second-largest visitor market, with improved connectivity making the destination far more accessible.”

Having welcomed nearly two million tourists last year, the UK is the biggest market in Europe – only beaten by Indian tourists.

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Direct flights from the UK take just under 11 hours, starting from £634 return with Sri Lankan Airlines.

And the current $50 (£37.81) 30-day visa is also set to be scrapped for Brits this year.

So with all that, what can you actually expect from the island?

Being under British rule for more than 100 years (1815 to 1948), you can expect to see a lot of UK influence.

Locals drive on the left side of the road, with a huge tea and cricket culture as well.

It certainly makes conversations easy with locals too, who always want to talk about the sport.

Sri Lanka was also named the most family-friendly island last year, as well as the world’s best island by Big 7 Travel.

Off the coast of India, the tiny island is the size of Ireland, so is manageable to explore.

It is also known for its world-famous beaches, with Goyambokka Beach often named one of the best in the word, as well as Mirissa Beach.

And the island is home to the huge population of Sri Lankan elephants, one of the largest in the world.

With around 6,000 roaming across the island, there are a number of ethical safaris you can go on, although the best are found in the southeast of the island.

During my visit, one of the standout highlights was a sunrise tour of Sigiriya, a 5th century fortress “in the sky,” built on a huge ancient rock.

With a 6am wake up and 1,200 steps, it is certainly a challenge, but worth it for the breath-taking views of the forest and mountain landscape.

When it comes to bucket-list hotels, there are also amazing ones to stay at too.

Jetwing Vil Uyana, named one of the best eco-hotels in the world, starts from £266 a night (with breakfast).

Or there is Cape Weligama, named one of the world’s best, which starts from £542 with breakfast.

The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor went on a Sri Lanka-Maldives combo holiday – here’s who to do it.

LOVE Island star Paige Thorne was left with a bloodied nose after her boyfriend accidentally punched her in the face on a ski slope.

Paige, 28, and Josh Foreman filmed themselves having fun on the slopes of Avoriaz, France, as they sledded down a mountain on his snowboard.

After one failed attempt, they had another go and burst out laughing as they came to a stop in the powdery snow close to the bottom.

But as they lay giggling, the snowboard began to slide down the slope.

Josh reacted quickly and sprung up to chase it down, unwittingly bashing Paige’s face in the process.

She staggered down the remainder of the slope on foot filming herself on a selfie stick saying: “I’ve got a nose bleed.”

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When she eventually caught up with Josh she said: “You punched me in the nose as you stood up.”

Shocked, he replied: “Shut up! Did you get it on camera?”

In the comments, one follower wrote: “Omg he didn’t even realise lol. Bet that hurt! What are you filming with just out of interest?”

Paige replied: “I know, he’s got such thick gloves he had no clue! Surprisingly it didn’t but I think because of the altitude and the cold it just made it real easy to bleed lol x.”

The paramedic found the mountains tough going overall, writing that the region wasn’t for “the faint-hearted”.

Paige recently faced backlash for saying she has “let herself go” after putting on 6lbs since she and Josh started dating.

She said on TikTok: “I honestly thought it was a myth – you get a boyfriend, you find the right one, you settle down and then do you know what happens?

“You stop caring about your appearance, you let yourself go, yada yada yada.

“I always thought no, that will never be me.”

However, Paige said that she’s been “smashing” three advent calendar chocolates a day, as well as skipping the gym – which has led to her skin breaking out and a gain of 6lbs.

The comments section of the TikTok was almost immediately filled with people responding to Paige’s weight admission, with many insisting she needs to be more responsible with her videos.

“This is a toxic message to girls,” one raged.

Reporting from Muscatine, Iowa — Five days away from the Iowa caucuses, Rick Santorum was greeted here by a packed room of supporters and a battery of cameras and reporters, suggesting that his long-shot presidential campaign, once just a wisp on the radar screen, had finally found a spark just when it needed it the most.

It was just a day earlier that a new CNN-Time poll showed Santorum in third place, surging past rivals Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann. The poll seemed to confirm what had been felt here for days—that social conservatives here, a key to success in this state, were finally beginning to rally around a single candidate.

And so Santorum awoke to a changed world. For months, the former Pennsylvania senator had criss-crossed the state with little return on his investment, and had been, for all intents and purposes, an afterthought in the political conversation.

But Gingrich’s decline in the state seems to have given Santorum an opportunity. And Thursday he seemed to be relishing the moment, speaking to the media at length and passionately addressing the overflow crowd at a restaurant here along the Mississippi River.

“We’ll turn this country around and Iowa will be the spark that did it,” he told the crowd.

While Santorum spent most of his time criticizing President Obama, he took some shots at Ron Paul, a favorite to win next Tuesday’s caucuses. He warned the crowd that Paul’s foreign policy beliefs jeopardized the nation’s security, saying Paul would dismantle the U.S. Navy.

“Congressman Paul would take every ship we have and bring it into port,’ Santorum said. He also suggested that Paul, a Texas Republican, would be ineffective as president. “He’s passed one bill in 20 years,” he said.

And in a sign that Santorum was now being taken more seriously as a threat, he was ripped on the campaign trail by Rick Perry for requesting earmarks as a senator. Perry’s campaign also cut a new radio ad attacking Santorum.

In his remarks in Muscatine, Santorum resisted the suggestion that he was merely a candidate for evangelicals and other social conservatives, highlighting his national security credentials and emphasizing his role in reforming welfare while in the Senate in the 1990s. “We’ve got a pretty broad message. It’s not just focused in one area,” he said. “We’re excited that we’re resonating beyond the social conservatives.”

But, inevitably, talk returned to matters of faith and family, Santorum’s most comfortable zone. He was asked about his opposition to same-sex marriage. He restated his support for traditional unions and blasted liberals who, he said, “want to drive faith and the conclusions that come from faith out of the public square and out of the public law.”

He invited supporters of gay marriage to “come to the public square, make your case” but to not condemn him for his beliefs. Santorum, of course, has notoriously been victimized by an online effort to connect his name with a gay sexual act.

He said that it’s the “birthright” of every child to have a “mom and a dad.”

Santorum disputed the argument that he would be a poor candidate in the general election against Obama, arguing that his blue-collar Pennsylvania roots would help him do well in Midwestern swing states. He served in the House and two terms in the Senate before being routed by Democrat Bob Casey in 2006, knocking him from public life.

Afterward, one attendee, Steve Maher of Muscatine, said he was now leaning toward caucusing for Santorum over Bachmann. “The thing that concerns me about Bachmann is not so much her as a candidate but her organization,” he said, referring to the defection of Bachmann’s Iowa campaign manager, Kent Sorenson, to Paul’s camp. And, he said, he had soured on Gingrich, who has been the target of a blitz of negative ads in the state. “I’m suspicious of his backround,” he said. “Some of the ads are starting to get to me.”

“I’m looking for someone where I don’t have to worry about their morality or integrity,” Maher said.

Earlier in the day, Santorum spoke to about 40 people at an event in Coralville, Iowa. He’ll wrap up the campaign day in Davenport.

HEADING off to different destinations in the UK can get expensive, but from tomorrow you could save money across thousands of popular rail routes.

Running from January 6 to 12, the Great British Rail Sale will return with discounts on over three million tickets.

Travellers can book travel during the sale for trips between January 13 and March 25 to get the discount.

Nearly all train operators are taking part, meaning that if there is a UK town or city you have wanted to visit for a while, there couldn’t be a better time to go.

Here are some of the best offers in the sale, great for staycations and day trips.

London St Pancras to Whitstable

Tickets between London St Pancras and Whitstable in Kent are being cut down from £15.10 to £7.50.

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The historic seaside town of Whitstable is famous for its oysters, but also has a beautiful pebble beach with multicoloured beach huts and a plethora of independent shops to explore.

For family-friendly beaches, head to either West Beach or Tankerton Beach.

Deputy travel editor Kara Godfrey, who has visited Whitstable, said: “Whitstable has a pebble beach – there is the famous pink Wheelers Oyster Bar, which sells, you guessed it, fresh oysters, plus The Lobster Shack on the seafront.

“Along with wine bars, the town is the starting point for a 25-mile walk from Whitstable to Ramsgate, part of the King Charles III England Coast Path.”

It takes around one hour and 20 minutes to reach Whitstable from London.

London Waterloo to Exeter

Tickets between Exeter in Devon and London Waterloo have a dramatic price slash from £41.70 to just £10.

Exeter is a major city in Devon and is full of history including a grand cathedral.

From Exeter you can also hop on a number of other trains to see the seaside, such as Teignmouth, Dawlish, Torquay or Paignton.

If travelling from Exeter to London Waterloo, while it might take longer than the Exeter to London Paddington route, it comes in considerably cheaper, meaning you could get to the capital for a bargain.

It takes around three-and-a-half hours to travel between Exeter and London Waterloo.

London Marylebone to Birmingham

From London Marylebone, you could head on a cheap day trip to Birmingham for 50 per cent less than the usual price.

Tickets to Birmingham Moor Street from London Marylebone will be slashed from £14 to £7.

The station sits right in the city centre, making it ideal to explore the city itself.

Visitors can explore the city’s vast network of canals, leading to it being dubbed the ‘Venice of the North’.

In fact, Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice itself.

The canals are popular for narrowboat trips as well as walking, cycling and watersports.

The journey from London to Birmingham takes less than two hours.

Birmingham to Liverpool

If you are based in Birmingham and fancy heading away on the train for cheap, then you could head to Liverpool for just £5.70 with West Midlands Railways.

Liverpool is a great spot to head to if you are a Beatles fan as there is The Beatles Story Museum, which takes visitors on an immersive journey of The Beatles.

Beatles fans should also head to The Cavern Club where the band once played.

In the historic dockyard, Royal Albert Dock, there are also a number of museums and shops worth exploring.

The journey between the two cities takes around an hour and a half.

London Kings Cross to Cambridge

With Great Northern, you could head from London King’s Cross to the historic university city of Cambridge for just £7.60.

Sat on the River Cam, Cambridge is home to the world-renowned University of Cambridge which dates back to 1209.

Visitors can explore the university’s numerous colleges including Trinity College which was founded by Henry VIII.

One of the top experiences in the city is punting on the River Cam, which is a unique way of seeing the gardens behind the university’s famous colleges.

Another key spot worth visiting is Cambridge Market Square, which is open every day and sells local produce, street food and crafted items.

Newcastle to/from Edinburgh

With TransPennine Express, those in Newcastle can hop across the England-Scotland border into the Scottish Capital for just £4.20.

Edinburgh is home to a wealth of history, including the famous Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.

If you fancy doing something a little more active, you can hike up Arthur‘s Seat too and discover breathtaking panoramic views of the city and sea below.

Alternatively, those in Edinburgh can hop on a train to Newcastle and explore Victoria Tunnels that were used as shelters during the Second World War.

Also in Newcastle, visitors can head to the Quayside where they will be able to go on a walk next to the River Tyne and discover the area’s seven bridges.

Manchester to Glasgow

Also with the TransPennine Express, travellers can head from Manchester to Glasgow for as little as £8.30.

Known for its Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture, Glasgow is home to the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the National Theatre of Scotland.

Though if you aren’t a big fan of performances, there are a number of museums too.

For example, you could head to The Gallery of Modern Art, home to art by local and international artists.

Or if you are travelling with kids, perhaps head to the Glasgow Science Centre, which has exhibits for all ages including a planetarium.

Leicester to Lincoln

Taking under two hours, you could head from Leicester to Lincoln from £9.10 with East Midlands Railway.

Known for its medieval cathedral, the historic city is home to a number of fascinating places to explore, including a library designed by the famous architect Christopher Wren, Lincoln Castle with its Victorian prison, and even the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, which has a number of exhibits in old Victorian barracks.

If you love art, head to the Usher Gallery where you will find works by Turner and Lowry.

For a bite to eat, make sure to visit The Cornhill Quarter, which is one of the city’s newly regenerated areas, with a number of shops, bars and restaurants.

In other rail news, there’s a little-known UK train trick that lets you visit up to three destinations for the price of one.

Plus, the UK train line ‘that time forgot’ is crowned one of the best in the world by National Geographic.

If you’re after an affordable holiday, then you’re in luck

The Yuletide season can often leave your purse feeling a tad empty. But, being a bit skint doesn’t mean you have to forego a delightful holiday.

If you’re yearning for a break but need to keep the costs down, then we’ve got good news for you. Skyscanner has put together a list of 10 of the most budget-friendly countries to visit this year, featuring destinations such as the vibrant Czech Republic, Italy’s romantic nooks and crannies, and Norway’s rugged coastlines.

All these spots won’t break the bank, with average return flight prices coming in at £136 or less, reports the Express.

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10. Tromsø, Norway

Average return flight price: £136

It’s famous for the midnight sun and the Northern Lights but Norway has plenty more to offer visitors. From reindeer feeding to arctic fishing trips and more, this stunning Scandinavian country is well worth a visit.

9. Venice, Italy

Average return flight price: £134

The Floating City is famous across the world. Its labyrinthine passages of canals and islands are truly wondrous to behold but it also boasts some amazing architecture and art.

8. Agadir, Morocco

Average return flight price: £130

Built on the shores of a long stretch of golden sand with the Atlantic ocean lapping at the shores, this resort town has it all. From bustling souks to surfing lessons and amazing natural beauty, Agadir is the perfect place to explore. Plus, the average temperature even in January is 20C.

7. Bucharest, Romania

Average return flight price: £128

Sometimes known as ‘little Paris’ due to its elegant architecture, Bucharest is a great place to get away for the weekend. Wander the city’s many parks and snack on delicious street food. If you want to get further afield, then Transylvania is on the city’s doorstep.

6. Berlin, Germany

Average return flight price: £128

This buzzing city is jam packed with history from Brandenburg Gate to the Berlin Wall – but it’s also an amazing place to explore.

Sample coffee and pastries from one of the millions of cafes, wander along the canals or explore the famous nightlife.

5. Prague, Czech Republic

Average return flight price: £122

Prague looks like something that is straight from the pages of a fairytale. It’s fabulously well preserved architecture lines the river, offering some truly stunning views.

Why not visit the famous Old Town or wander across the Charles Bridge before stopping in for a drink at one of the city’s many bars?

4. Copenhagen, Denmark

Average return flight price: £117

The capital of cool, Copenhagen is at the forefront of fashion and perfect for a cultured weekend away. Cycle along the canals like locals do, enjoy a coffee in one of the trendy cafes and enjoy the world class food scene.

3. Madrid, Spain

Average return flight price: £114

Less touristy than Barcelona, this Spanish city is rich in art and history. Madrid is home to three prestigious art museums and a vibrant food scene. Sample tapas, dine al fresco and then wander through the verdant green spaces of this cool little city.

2. Milan, Italy

Average return flight price: £111

When you hear Milan, you think luxury but this city is actually the second cheapest to fly to. It’s a hub of fashion, art and history but it’s also a perfect starting point to explore some of Italy’s most magical scenery like the Dolomites.

1. Lyon, France

Average return flight price: £105

This walkable city has Roman ruins, UNESCO World Heritage sites and plenty more to explore. Try some of the local delicacies at a traditional bouchon (restaurant) and browse the markets.

Wanna bet? If the wager involved Shohei Ohtani, the answer from gamblers was yes more often than it was for any other player in any sport last year, according to data from BetMGM.

When betting on game results in 2025, gamblers placed the most wagers on NFL games. However, when betting on individual athletes, gamblers placed the most wagers on Ohtani, the two-way superstar for the World Series champion Dodgers and National League most valuable player. Saquon Barkley, the running back for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, ranked second.

That data considered only BetMGM wagers that involved individual players — sometimes for awards such as MVP, a spokesman said, but most often for prop bets determined by individual performance.

By way of example from another sportsbook, Caesars Sports offered these World Series prop bets for Ohtani: Would he hit a leadoff home run? Drive in at least seven runs? Collect at least 10 hits? Hit a 470-foot home run? Hit at least five home runs? Deliver a walk-off hit? Hit two home runs and strike out 10 batters in the same game? Strike out 20 batters in the series? (Ohtani did not do any of those eight things.)

The most popular major leaguers beyond Ohtani among bettors, according to BetMGM, all were sluggers: Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees ranked second, followed by Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds, Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers and Bryce Harper of the Phillies.

Yet the most notorious MLB prop bets last year involved pitchers, not hitters.

In November, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on federal charges that they “rigged pitches” — that is, they tipped bettors about whether they would throw a pitch outside the strike zone in specified situations and how hard they would throw it. Prosecutors say bettors won hundreds of thousands of dollars for themselves and paid Clase and Ortiz thousands of dollars for their help.

The pitchers have pleaded not guilty, with a trial scheduled for May. Prosecutors told the court last month that Clase, a three-time All-Star, likely would face 87 to 108 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines — that is, up to nine years — if convicted on each of the four counts in his indictment.

The pitchers also face a potential lifetime ban from baseball. Clase, 27, is under contract for $6 million this year; the Guardians hold a $10-million option for 2027 and another for 2028. Investors who pooled their money to support him in exchange for a percentage of his career earnings are at risk of losing their investment.

The types of prop bets placed on Clase and Ortiz may become even less popular next season.

On the day after Clase and Ortiz were indicted, Major League Baseball announced an agreement with sports book operators to cap such pitching prop bets at $200. The operators, MLB said, represented “more than 98% of the U.S. betting market.”

In its announcement, the league noted that most prop bets are not solely influenced by one person — that is, whether Ohtani hits a home run depends in significant part on how he is pitched.

“However, ‘micro-bet’ pitch-level markets (e.g., ball/strike; pitch velocity) present heightened integrity risks because they focus on one-off events that can be determined by a single player and can be inconsequential to the outcome of the game,” the league statement said. “The risk on these pitch-level markets will be significantly mitigated by this new action targeted at the incentive to engage in misconduct.”

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (UPI) — Korea Land and Housing Corp. said the state-run company selected several private-sector enterprises as preferred bidders for a large-scale city development project in Vietnam.

Among them were the country’s leading contractors, Hyundai E&C and POSCO E&C, along with JR Asset Management. Public-sector involvement is also expected through the Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corp.

The Vietnamese government is seeking to attract investment to move forward with a multibillion-dollar project to construct a new city in the fast-growing Southeast Asian country.

The initiative is designed to transform a 2,000-acre site in Bac Ninh Province, about 12 miles northeast of Hanoi, into a self-sufficient urban center capable of accommodating more than 100,000 residents.

Midway through 2024, LH signed a memorandum of understanding with Bac Ninh Province to pursue the development. Last August, it asked the provincial government to issue an investment policy approval.

Once the approval is secured and related administrative procedures are completed, LH plans to establish a special purpose company with Vietnamese partners to implement the 50-year phased initiative, which is scheduled to conclude in 2076.

Early last year, LH estimated the project’s value at $4.1 billion, but the company noted that the figure would be subject to change depending on project scope and other factors.

The Seoul administration has expressed high hopes for the initiative. For example, President Lee Jae Myung cited it during a meeting with To Lam, general secretary of Vietnam’s Communist Party, in Seoul last August.

“We will provide full support to advance cooperation on the Bac Ninh new town development,” Lee said at the time.

THE tinsel is back in its box and there’s not a mince pie in sight as for most Brits, it’s back to the grind.

But for lots of places across the world, the celebrations are continuing with festivities like The Twelfth Night and Orthodox Christmas.

While most countries celebrate Christmas in December, usually on the 24 or 25 day of the month, some continue into January.

The celebration of the Twelfth Night generally marks the end of the Christmas festivities and is celebrated with various customs around the world.

France

In France, the Twelfth Night is celebrated with a Galette des Rois, otherwise known as a king cake.

Inside the cake is a hidden bean and whoever finds it is crowned as king or queen for the day – and gets to wear a paper crown.

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In the Provence region, Christmas is celebrated from early December all the way to February 2.

The celebration of Epiphany is held on January 6 to commemorate the visit of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus.

Celebrations conclude on Candlemas, which is exactly 40 days after Christmas.

Spain

In Spain, January 5 is known as El Día de los Reyes, which in English means ‘Three Kings’ Day’.

During this time, the streets are filled with colourful parades with mechanical floats and sweets are thrown into the crowds.

Children will leave their shoes outside their doors in the hope of gifts, and there’s a tradition to write letters to the three kings too.

The following day on January 6, is a public holiday and families will gather together to share a Roscon de Reyes.

It’s a circular sweet bread topped with sugar and dried fruits.

Just like in France, a bean is hidden inside and whoever finds it has to buy the cake for the following year.

Greece

For those who are Orthodox, especially Greek Orthodox, there’s a tradition of a strict fast with no meat, dairy or oil on January, 5.

The following day on January 6, is called Theophaneia or Fota which means ‘lights’ and marks the end of the Christmas period.

On this day is a huge feast called Theophany which commemorates the baptism of Jesus.

One popular event on January 6 takes places near water, locals will go to the beach, lakes or rivers, and Orthodox Priests throw a cross into the water.

Swimmers will then dive in to catch it as the cross brings good luck for the year.

In certain destinations there are different traditions, like in Lefkada, where instead of a cross, a priest will throw a batch of oranges.

In Kastoria, there’s a carnival. And in Halkidiki, a group of men will protect a sausage from locals trying to ‘steal’ it.

Italy

Italy also holds Twelfth Night on January 5, 2026 – and it’s celebrated alongside the legend of La Befana.

Depicted as a kind-hearted old woman, she plays a central role in the festivities as on the Twelfth Night, she flies on her broomstick to fill children’s stockings by the fireplace.

In Venice locals will race along the Grand Canal – other places hold costume parades, and even burn puppets.

America

New Orleans classically celebrates the Twelfth Night as it’s also the beginning of carnival season, Mardi Gras.

There’s a king cake party and plenty of parades along the French Quarter.

Ireland

There’s no Twelfth Night celebrations in Ireland, but there is Nollaig na mBan, otherwise known as Women’s Christmas.

This day is held on January 6, 2026 and is traditionally a day celebrating women and their hard work during the festive season.

Communities will put a call out for nominations to celebrate local women who are honoured at an awards ceremony.

Georgia

In some countries, Christmas falls on January 7, 2026.

This is because they follow the Julian calendar, which means their festivities take place 13 days after December 25.

On a Georgian Christmas Eve, which is held on January 6, church services can stretch on until 4AM the following morning.

Then during Georgia’s Christmas Day on January 7, lots will take to the streets for an ‘Alilo’ parade.

Some will even dress up as those depicted in the Christmas story, and will hold Georgian flags – children taking part are often given sweets.

Another key aspect of the Georgian Christmas is its ‘Chichilaki’ Christmas tree, which are made with curly strands of hazelnut or walnut wood.

These are meant to create a bushy ‘beard’ which resemble the beard of St Basil.

Despite the later celebration, children typically open presents on December 31, which are brought to them by by their own Santa called Tovlis Papa (which means Grandfather Snow).

Ethiopia

Ethiopians celebrate on January 7 as they also follow the Julian calendar.

Festivities include a feast which they have after a 43 day fast where they avoid meat, dairy, eggs and alcohol.

To celebrate they’ll eat spicy chicken strew, bread, beer and honey wine.

There’s an all-night church service and attendees will traditionally wear all white.

Men and boys will take part in games like Ganna (which is similar to hockey) and Yeferas Guks – which is spear throwing while riding a horse.

Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, those who are Orthodox Christian would have fasted for 40 days until the first star on January 6.

They will then feast on the January 7 alongside extended family usually eating traditional meat pies and sweet treats.

Like in Georgia, children will generally receive and open presents on New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas.

The day is a public holiday and usually at this time of year, it snows in Kazakhstan, so locals will have a white Christmas.

Plus, here’s Sun Travel’s top 7 picks for January holidays from cheap flights to hot breaks to beat the winter blues.

And discover the 7 short-haul destinations perfect for a January holiday with flights from £14.99.

Last week, a prominent Saudi Sheikh, Mohammed Al-Issa, visited the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its liberation, which signalled the end of the Nazi Holocaust. Although dozens of Muslim scholars have visited the site, where about one million Jews were killed during World War Two, according to the Auschwitz Memorial Centre’s press office, Al-Issa is the most senior Muslim religious leader to do so.

Visiting Auschwitz is not a problem for a Muslim; Islam orders Muslims to reject unjustified killing of any human being, no matter what their faith is. Al-Issa is a senior ally of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS), who apparently cares little for the sanctity of human life, though, and the visit to Auschwitz has very definite political connotations beyond any Islamic context.

By sending Al-Issa to the camp, Bin Salman wanted to show his support for Israel, which exploits the Holocaust for geopolitical colonial purposes. “The Israeli government decided that it alone was permitted to mark the 75th anniversary of the Allied liberation of Auschwitz [in modern day Poland] in 1945,” wrote journalist Richard Silverstein recently when he commented on the gathering of world leaders in Jerusalem for Benjamin Netanyahu’s Holocaust event.

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Bin Salman uses Al Issa for such purposes, as if to demonstrate his own Zionist credentials. For example, the head of the Makkah-based Muslim World League is leading rapprochement efforts with Evangelical Christians who are, in the US at least, firm Zionists in their backing for the state of Israel. Al-Issa has called for a Muslim-Christian-Jewish interfaith delegation to travel to Jerusalem in what would, in effect, be a Zionist troika.

Zionism is not a religion, and there are many non-Jewish Zionists who desire or support the establishment of a Jewish state in occupied Palestine. The definition of Zionism does not mention the religion of its supporters, and Israeli writer Sheri Oz, is just one author who insists that non-Jews can be Zionists.

Mohammad Bin Salman and Netanyahu – Cartoon [Tasnimnews.com/Wikipedia]

We should not be shocked, therefore, to see a Zionist Muslim leader in these trying times. It is reasonable to say that Bin Salman’s grandfather and father were Zionists, as close friends of Zionist leaders. Logic suggests that Bin Salman comes from a Zionist dynasty.

This has been evident from his close relationship with Zionists and positive approaches to the Israeli occupation and establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, calling it “[the Jews’] ancestral homeland”. This means that he has no issue with the ethnic cleansing of almost 800,000 Palestinians in 1948, during which thousands were killed and their homes demolished in order to establish the Zionist state of Israel.

“The ‘Jewish state’ claim is how Zionism has tried to mask its intrinsic Apartheid, under the veil of a supposed ‘self-determination of the Jewish people’,” wrote Israeli blogger Jonathan Ofir in Mondoweiss in 2018, “and for the Palestinians it has meant their dispossession.”

As the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Bin Salman has imprisoned dozens of Palestinians, including representatives of Hamas. In doing so he is serving Israel’s interests. Moreover, he has blamed the Palestinians for not making peace with the occupation state. Bin Salman “excoriated the Palestinians for missing key opportunities,” wrote Danial Benjamin in Moment magazine. He pointed out that the prince’s father, King Salman, has played the role of counterweight by saying that Saudi Arabia “permanently stands by Palestine and its people’s right to an independent state with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital.”

UN expert: Saudi crown prince behind hack on Amazon CEO 

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid of Israel’s Channel 13 News reported Bin Salman as saying: “In the last several decades the Palestinian leadership has missed one opportunity after the other and rejected all the peace proposals it was given. It is about time the Palestinians take the proposals and agree to come to the negotiations table or shut up and stop complaining.” This is reminiscent of the words of the late Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban, one of the Zionist founders of Israel, that the Palestinians “never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

Bin Salman’s Zionism is also very clear in his bold support for US President Donald Trump’s deal of the century, which achieves Zionist goals in Palestine at the expense of Palestinian rights. He participated in the Bahrain conference, the forum where the economic side of the US deal was announced, where he gave “cover to several other Arab countries to attend the event and infuriated the Palestinians.”

US President Donald Trump looks over at Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman al-Saud as they line up for the family photo during the opening day of Argentina G20 Leaders’ Summit 2018 at Costa Salguero on 30 November 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina [Daniel Jayo/Getty Images]

While discussing the issue of the current Saudi support for Israeli policies and practices in Palestine with a credible Palestinian official last week, he told me that the Palestinians had contacted the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to ask him not to relocate his country’s embassy to Jerusalem. “The Saudis have been putting pressure on us in order to relocate our embassy to Jerusalem,” replied the Brazilian leader. What more evidence of Mohammad Bin Salman’s Zionism do we need?

The founder of Friends of Zion Museum is American Evangelical Christian Mike Evans. He said, after visiting a number of the Gulf States, that, “The leaders [there] are more pro-Israel than a lot of Jews.” This was a specific reference to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, and his counterpart in the UAE, Mohammed Bin Zayed.

“All versions of Zionism lead to the same reactionary end of unbridled expansionism and continued settler colonial genocide of [the] Palestinian people,” Israeli-American writer and photographer Yoav Litvin wrote for Al Jazeera. We may well see an Israeli Embassy opened in Riyadh in the near future, and a Saudi Embassy in Tel Aviv or, more likely, Jerusalem. Is Mohammad Bin Salman a Zionist? There’s no doubt about it.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

During Oscar season, The Envelope also likes to celebrate actors in roles that might not otherwise garner awards attention. You can sense a whole life behind these portrayals; they draw you in and make you want to know more.

April Grace as Sister Rochelle, ‘One Battle After Another’

Amid the controlled chaos that is Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” young Willa (Chase Infiniti) is brought to a nunnery that used to be part of her parents’ revolutionary group French 75. What Willa doesn’t know is that her mother (Teyana Taylor) betrayed the group in order to save herself from prison, and is still alive.

Sister Rochelle, played by April Grace with seething intensity, sets her straight. “Your mother was a rat, and that makes you a baby rat,” she spits, and Willa’s world crumbles further.

Grace will be familiar to eagle-eyed PTA fans; in “Magnolia,” she played Gwenovier, the reporter who calmly destroyed Tom Cruise’s character. When the offer of Sister Rochelle came, “I didn’t need to look at the role, I trust Paul implicitly,” she says. “He is there for the actor, whatever you need.”

Grace has worked in film and television for over 30 years, “but I started out in theater, so character development is really important to me.” She created a backstory for Sister Rochelle, building up the reasons she was so hostile to Willa. “Sister Rochelle is all about community, and you don’t betray your community.”

Of Infiniti, Grace notes, “She was just lovely, and she made my job really easy, just looking at her” trying to act tough, “like you don’t even know you’re a baby.”

Jacobi and Noah Jupe as Hamnet and Hamlet, ‘Hamnet’

(Dania Maxwell / For The Times)

Jacobi Jupe plays the title role in “Hamnet,” as the ill-fated son of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and Agnes (Jessie Buckley). He was thrown into the deep end on his first day, when his father leaves the family for London. “I didn’t really know Paul, and I had to get so intimate and so upset but hold it together, and I was a bit nervous,” Jacobi recalls. “But Paul is such a lovely person, and I instantly trusted him, so it was really easy to do that scene.”

His big brother Noah adds, “And it’s what spurs on your entire character, the courage from that scene, so it’s a big thing to start with.”

It gets harder from there. Jacobi depended on his mother (actor Katy Cavanagh), Buckley and director and co-writer Chloé Zhao — “they were my three mums on that shoot” — to help him process his own death scene. “It was shocking, really, because I spent so long being Hamnet and feeling his emotions, and having to let him go was really hard.”

Noah was hired to play the actor playing Hamlet just before the part was to be shot. “That is an opportunity you cannot turn down,” he says, even though he only had a week to prepare the most famous soliloquies in the Western canon. “I learned the sword fight in eight hours.”

During rehearsals onstage, there was no Globe audience before him except for Buckley. “I just found myself performing to her, which then made all of the scenes I was doing like a conversation between me and Jessie.”

Zhao showed Noah his brother’s scenes so that his Hamlet would carry echoes of the lost child. “It was like watching yourself without all of the self-consciousness or the criticism,” he says of seeing Jacobi’s portrayal, “and just truly marveling at a performance by someone that is literally part of your heart.”

Hadley Robinson as Belle, ‘The History of Sound’

With one glance at Hadley Robinson’s Belle, you can feel the weight of the baby in her arms, the sorrow in her eyes, and the exhaustion in her soul. The film, directed by Oliver Hermanus and written by Ben Shattuck, centers on Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O’Connor), secret lovers who travel the American countryside to record folk music after World War I. After they part, Lionel writes David for years without hearing back, and finally travels to his home to see him again.

Unknown to him, David had married Belle, and died several years earlier. Lionel instead meets Belle, now remarried and with a baby.

In a powerful scene, Belle tells Lionel her own love story — meeting David, falling for him, losing him — fully aware that she’s talking about her great love to David’s great love. But her loneliness is so thorough, she’s almost grateful to have someone to share David with. Lionel barely speaks as he absorbs the information.

“It was absolutely a monologue,” says Robinson. “But I found that to be so much easier to prepare, because there was so much in there that the character couldn’t help but be specific, because I was given an exact template.” She journaled as Belle for a week before her one day on set. “I’ve never had a role that was that devastating before.”

Though Lionel says nothing, Robinson praises Mescal as a scene partner. “I have found listening to be extremely difficult, and the way Paul listens is like a superpower. He was so incredibly present in that room.” He stayed on set all day, even when he was offscreen, “and rehearsed with me as well. He really showed up in a way that not all actors do.”

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week confronting the fallout from the stunning capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — and familiar complaints about the Trump administration deciding to bypass Congress on military operations that have led to this moment.

Democratic leaders are demanding the administration immediately brief Congress. Republican leaders indicated over the weekend those plans are being scheduled, but some lawmakers expressed frustration Sunday that the details have been slow to arrive.

President Trump told the nation Saturday that the United States intends to “run” Venezuela and take control over the country’s oil operations now that Maduro has been captured and brought to New York to stand trial in a criminal case centered on narco-terrorism charges.

The administration did not brief Congress ahead of the actions, leaving Democrats and some Republicans expressing public frustration with the decision to sideline Congress.

“Congress should have been informed about the operation earlier and needs to be involved as this situation evolves,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said in a social media post Saturday.

Appearing on the Sunday news shows, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of New York, ticked through a growing list of unknowns — and laid out plans for their party to try and reassert Congress’ authority over acts of war.

“The problem here is that there are so many unanswered questions,” Schumer said on ABC’s “This Week.” “How long do they intend to be there? How many troops do we need after one day? After one week? After one year? How much is it going to cost and what are the boundaries?”

Jeffries told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he was worried about Trump running Venezuela, saying he has “done a terrible job running the United States of America” and should be focused on the job at home.

In the coming days, Jeffries said Democrats will prioritize legislative action to try and put a check on the administration, “to ensure that no further military steps occur absent explicit congressional approval.”

As discussions over Venezuela loom, lawmakers also face major decisions on how to address rising costs of healthcare, prevent another government shutdown and deal with the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files.

Much of the unfinished business reflects a Congress that opted to punt some of its toughest and most politically divisive decisions into the new year, a move that could slow negotiations as lawmakers may be reluctant to give the other side high-profile policy wins in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections.

First and foremost, Congress faces the monumental task of averting yet another government shutdown — just two months after the longest shutdown in U.S. history ended. Lawmakers have until Jan. 30 to pass spending bills needed to keep the federal government open. Both chambers are scheduled to be in session for three weeks before the shutdown deadline — with the House slated to be out of session the week immediately before.

Lawmakers were able to resolve key funding disputes late last year, including funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, also known as food stamps, and other government programs. But disagreements over healthcare spending remain a major sticking point in budget negotiations, intensified now that millions of Americans are facing higher healthcare costs after lawmakers allowed Affordable Care Act tax credits to expire on Thursday.

“We can still find a solution to this,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), who has proposed legislation to extend the tax credits for two years. “We need to come up with ways to make people whole. That needs to be a top priority as soon as we get back.”

Despite that urgency, Republican efforts to be the author of broad healthcare reforms have gotten little traction.

Underscoring the political pressure over the issue, four moderate House Republicans late last year defied party leadership and joined House Democrats to force a floor vote on a three-year extension of the subsidies. That vote is expected to take place in the coming weeks. Even if the House effort succeeds, its prospects remain dim in the Senate, where Republicans last month blocked a three-year extension.

Meanwhile, President Trump is proposing giving more money directly to people for their healthcare, rather than to insurance companies. A White House official said the administration is also pursuing reforms to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

Trump said last month that he plans to summon a group of healthcare executives to Washington early in the year to pressure them to lower costs.

“I’m going to call in the insurance companies that are making so much money, and they have to make less, a lot less,” Trump said during an Oval Office announcement. “I’m going to see if they get their price down, to put it very bluntly. And I think that is a very big statement.”

There is an expectation that Trump’s increasing hostility to insurance companies will play a role in any Republican healthcare reform proposal. If Congress does not act, the president is expected to leverage the “bully pulpit” to pressure drug and insurance companies to lower healthcare prices for consumers through executive action, said Nick Iarossi, a Trump fundraiser.

“The president is locked in on the affordability message and I believe anything he can accomplish unilaterally without Congress he will do to provide relief to consumers,” Iarossi said.

While lawmakers negotiate government funding and healthcare policy, the continuing Epstein saga is expected to take up significant bandwidth.

Democrats and a few Republicans have been unhappy with the Department of Justice’s decision to heavily redact or withhold documents from a legally mandated release of files related to its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Some are weighing options for holding Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi accountable.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont), who co-sponsored the law that mandated the release with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), said he and Massie will bring contempt charges against Bondi in an attempt to force her to comply with the law.

“The survivors and the public demand transparency and justice,” Khanna said in a statement.

Under a law passed by Congress and signed by Trump, the Justice Department was required to release all Epstein files by Dec. 19, and released about 100,000 pages on that day. In the days that followed, the Justice Department said more than 5.2 million documents have been discovered and need to be reviewed.

“We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible,” the Justice Department said in a social media post on Dec. 24. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told MS NOW last week that pressure to address the matter will come to a head in the new year when lawmakers are back at work.

“When we get back to Congress here in this next week, we’re going to find out really quick if Republicans are serious about actually putting away and taking on pedophiles and some of the worst people and traffickers in modern history, or if they’re going to bend the knee to Donald Trump,” said Garcia, of Long Beach.

Courtenay confirmed the news on his LinkedIn page,, external saying: “I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone I worked with at Red Bull. I made so many great friends there and I hope I’ll still see many of you in the paddock. It was an incredible two and a bit decades.

“But now I’m looking forward to settling into my new role and team, and hopefully making plenty more new friends, as I do my very best to help McLaren continue its recent success in the coming years.”

Courtenay reports to McLaren racing director Randy Singh in his new role.

Red Bull are expected to promote principal strategy engineer Hannah Schmitz, who has worked closely with Courtenay for the past 15 years, to lead their strategy team.

The new F1 season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 6-8 March.

Before that, there are three pre-season tests for teams to prepare new cars following major changes to both the chassis and engine rules for 2026 – in a private session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 26-30 January, followed by two in Bahrain, on 11-13 and 18-20 February.

The Israeli military has spent the past 24 hours expanding the so-called “yellow line” in eastern Gaza, particularly in eastern Gaza City’s Tuffah, Shujayea, and Zeitoun neighbourhoods, according to Al Jazeera teams on the ground, squeezing Palestinians into ever smaller clusters of the enclave.

The Israeli army’s actions on Monday are also pushing it closer to the key artery of Salah al-Din Street, forcing displaced families sheltering near the area to flee as more of them come under intensive threat, as Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza shows no signs of abating.

Israel now physically occupies more than 50 percent of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire took effect, Israeli attacks have killed at least 414 Palestinians and injured 1,145 in daily truce violations despite the ceasefire deal mediated by the United States on October 10.

Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said, “The ongoing Israeli attacks on the ground, the expansion of the ‘yellow line’ are meant to eat up more of the territory across the eastern part, really shrinking the total area where people are sheltering.”

“Everyone is cramped here. The population here not just doubled but tripled in many of the neighbourhoods, given the fact that none of these people is able to go back to their neighbourhoods. We’re talking about Zeitoun, Shujayea, as well as Tuffah,” he added.

“It was not until the past few minutes that the sounds of hums, the drones buzzing, faded away, but it had been going on for the past night and all of yesterday. Ongoing explosions that could be heard clearly from here,” Mahmoud said.

Intense artillery bombardment and helicopter fire also resumed on Monday in the areas south of the besieged enclave, north and east of the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.

On Sunday, Israel launched more attacks into parts of Gaza outside its direct military control. At least three Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks in Khan Younis, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

A five-storey building belonging to the al-Shana family in the Maghazi camp in central Gaza collapsed. It had been subjected to Israeli bombing at the end of 2023.

Civil Defence teams are searching for missing people under the rubble. The Wafa news agency reported that at least five people were injured.

Israeli push to make Rafah crossing ‘one-way exit’

Expectations have heightened around the possible reopening of the Rafah crossing, fuelling both desperate hope and deep fear.

For many in Gaza, there is some hope it could offer a lifeline, allowing the sick and wounded to access medical care, reuniting separated families, and giving some people a rare chance to move in or out of the Strip. Some also see it as a potential sign of easing restrictions.

But fears remain strong. Many worry the opening will be limited and temporary, benefitting only a few. Others fear it could become a one-way exit, raising concerns about permanent expulsion, effectively Israeli ethnic cleansing, and whether those who leave will be allowed to return.

“Until this moment, there’s nothing on the ground other than the headlines we’ve been reading over the past couple of days, the expectation now that within days the Rafah crossing is going to open and allow for movement in and out of Gaza. So far, we know the Israeli military is pushing for Rafah to be just a one-way exit,” Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud reported.

After months of uncertainty, people in Gaza who have suffered unimaginable loss and destruction are cautious. Even the possibility of relief comes with questions and little trust in what will happen next.

At least 71,386 Palestinians have been killed and 171,264 injured since the start of the war in October 2023, according to the latest figures from Gaza’s Ministry of Health. At least 420 people have been killed since the ceasefire was agreed upon three months ago.

The Israeli military continues to block a large amount of international humanitarian aid amassing at the Gaza crossings, while maintaining that there is no shortage of aid despite testimonies by the United Nations and others working on the ground.

The water bubbles up hot from the earth and sunlight filters down through the branches of mighty oaks.

But before you can soak in Santa Barbara County’s highly popular Montecito Hot Springs, you’ll need to hike a little over a mile uphill, threading your way among boulders, oaks and a meandering creek. And before the hike, there are two other crucial steps: getting to the trailhead and knowing what to expect.

The trail to Montecito Hot Springs.

These rustic spring pools are about 95 miles northwest of L.A. City Hall, just upslope from well-to-do Montecito, whose residents include Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Though the trail and hot springs are part of Los Padres National Forest, the trailhead is in a residential neighborhood of gated mansions. Beyond the trailhead parking area (which has room for eight or nine cars), the neighborhood includes very little curbside parking. After visitation surged during the pandemic, some neighbors were accused by county officials of placing boulders to obstruct public parking. Parking options were reduced further when county officials added parking restrictions earlier this year.

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Bottom line: Unless you can arrive on a weekday between 8 and 10 a.m., you’re probably better off taking a rideshare service to get there. Whenever you arrive, you’re likely to have company. And you might want to wait until the landscape dries out a bit from the rains of recent weeks.

As Los Padres National Forest spokesman Andrew Madsen warned, “the foothills of Santa Barbara are especially fragile and hiking is especially precarious in the aftermath of heavy rains.”

All that said, the hike is rewarding and free. From the Hot Springs Canyon trailhead at East Mountain Drive and Riven Rock Road, it’s a 2.5-mile out-and-back trail to the hot springs, with about 800 feet of altitude gain on the way.

Arriving at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, I got the last parking spot at the trailhead, stepped past the signs forbidding parking before 8 a.m. or after sunset, then stepped past another sign warning that “this is a challenging and rugged hike.” Also, there are no bathrooms or trash cans on the trail or at the springs.

“It’s important that people know what’s going on up there before they show up,” said Madsen. “It’s not all that glamorous.”

Even though it’s only 1.2 or 1.3 miles to the hot springs, plan on about an hour of uphill hiking. Once you’re above the residential lots, you’ll see pipes along the way, carrying water down the hill, along with occasional trailside poison oak. As you near the pools, you’ll pick up the scent of sulfur and notice the water turning a strange bluish hue. Then the trail jumps across the creek — which I initially missed.

But there was a silver lining. That detour gave me a chance to admire the stone ruins of a hotel that was built next to the springs in 1870s. After a fire, it became a private club. Then it burned in the Coyote fire of 1964, which blackened more than 65,000 acres, destroyed more than 90 homes and killed a firefighter. The hot springs and surrounding land have been part of Los Padres National Forest since 2013.

Hikers look west from the ruins near Montecito Hot Springs.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

On a clear day with the sun in the right place, you can stand among the overgrown ruins, look west and see the ocean, a few old oil platforms and the long, low silhouette of Santa Cruz Island. This is what the native Chumash would have seen (minus the oil platforms) through the many years they used the springs before European immigrants arrived.

Pleasant as that view was, I was ready to soak, as were the two couples who got momentarily lost with me. (We were all Montecito Hot Springs rookies.) Once we’d retraced our steps to the creek and crossed it, the trail took us quickly past a hand-lettered CLOTHING OPTIONAL sign to a series of spring-fed pools of varying temperatures.

A dozen people were already lazing in and around the uppermost pools (one woman topless, one man bottomless), but several pools remained empty. I took one that was about 2 feet deep and perhaps 90 degrees. In one pool near me sat Ryan Binter, 30, and Kyra Rubinstein, 26, both from Wichita, Kan.

Hikers Ryan Binter and Kyra Rubinstein, visiting from Wichita, Kan., soak at Montecito Hot Springs.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

“She found this,” said Binter, praising Rubinstein’s internet search savvy.

At the next pool were Emanuel Leon, 20, of Carpinteria, Calif., and Evelyn Torres, 19, of Santa Barbara. The last time they’d tried this hike, they’d strayed off-track and missed the hot springs, so this time, they were savoring the scene.

“Revenge!” said Leon, settling in.

The soaking was so mellow, quiet and unhurried that I was surprised to learn that the pools were not erected legally. As Madsen of the Los Padres National Forest explained later by phone, they were “created by the trail gnomes” — hikers arranging rocks themselves to adjust water flow and temperature, with no government entities involved.

Legal or not, they made a nice reward after the hike uphill. The downhill hike out was easier and quicker, of course, but still tricky because of the rocks and twisting trail.

On your way out of Montecito, especially if it’s your first time, take a good look at the adobe-style grandeur of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church building, which looks like it was smuggled into California from Santa Fe. For food and drink, head to Coast Village Road (the community’s main drag) or the Montecito Village Shopping Center on East Valley Road. Those shops and restaurants may not match the wonder and comfort of a natural bath in the woods, but for civilization, they’re not bad.

I listened to the January 3 press conference with a knot in my stomach. As a Venezuelan American with family, memories, and a living connection to the country being spoken about as if it were a possession, what I heard was very clear. And that clarity was chilling.

The president said, plainly, that the United States would “run the country” until a transition it deems “safe” and “judicious.” He spoke about capturing Venezuela’s head of state, about transporting him on a U.S. military vessel, about administering Venezuela temporarily, and about bringing in U.S. oil companies to rebuild the industry. He dismissed concerns about international reaction with a phrase that should alarm everyone: “They understand this is our hemisphere.”

For Venezuelans, those words echo a long, painful history.

Let’s be clear about the claims made. The president is asserting that the U.S. can detain a sitting foreign president and his spouse under U.S. criminal law. That the U.S. can administer another sovereign country without an international mandate. That Venezuela’s political future can be decided from Washington. That control over oil and “rebuilding” is a legitimate byproduct of intervention. That all of this can happen without congressional authorization and without evidence of imminent threat.

We have heard this language before. In Iraq, the United States promised a limited intervention and a temporary administration, only to impose years of occupation, seize control of critical infrastructure, and leave behind devastation and instability. What was framed as stewardship became domination. Venezuela is now being spoken about in disturbingly similar terms. “Temporary Administration” ended up being a permanent disaster.

Under international law, nothing described in that press conference is legal. The UN Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against another state and bars interference in a nation’s political independence. Sanctions designed to coerce political outcomes and cause civilian suffering amount to collective punishment. Declaring the right to “run” another country is the language of occupation, regardless of how many times the word is avoided.

Under U.S. law, the claims are just as disturbing. War powers belong to Congress. There has been no authorization, no declaration, no lawful process that allows an executive to seize a foreign head of state or administer a country. Calling this “law enforcement” does not make it so. Venezuela poses no threat to the United States. It has not attacked the U.S. and has issued no threat that could justify the use of force under U.S. or international law. There is no lawful basis, domestic or international, for what is being asserted.

But beyond law and precedent lies the most important reality: the cost of this aggression is paid by ordinary people in Venezuela. War, sanctions, and military escalation do not fall evenly. They fall hardest on women, children, the elderly, and the poor. They mean shortages of medicine and food, disrupted healthcare systems, rising maternal and infant mortality, and the daily stress of survival in a country forced to live under siege. They also mean preventable deaths,  people who die not because of natural disaster or inevitability, but because access to care, electricity, transport, or medicine has been deliberately obstructed. Every escalation compounds existing harm and increases the likelihood of loss of life, civilian deaths that will be written off as collateral, even though they were foreseeable and avoidable.

What makes this even more dangerous is the assumption underlying it all: that Venezuelans will remain passive, compliant, and submissive in the face of humiliation and force. That assumption is wrong. And when it collapses, as it inevitably will, the cost will be measured in unnecessary bloodshed.  This is what is erased when a country is discussed as a “transition” or an “administration problem.” Human beings disappear. Lives are reduced to acceptable losses. And the violence that follows is framed as unfortunate rather than the predictable outcome of arrogance and coercion.

To hear a U.S. president talk about a country as something to be managed, stabilized, and handed over once it behaves properly, it hurts. It humiliates. And it enrages.

And yes, Venezuela is not politically unified. It isn’t. It never has been. There are deep divisions, about the government, about the economy, about leadership, about the future. There are people who identify as Chavista, people who are fiercely anti-Chavista, people who are exhausted and disengaged, and yes, there are some who are celebrating what they believe might finally bring change.

But political division does not invite invasion. 

Latin America has seen this logic before. In Chile, internal political division was used to justify U.S. intervention, framed as a response to “ungovernability,” instability, and threats to regional order, ending not in democracy, but in dictatorship, repression, and decades of trauma.

In fact, many Venezuelans who oppose the government still reject this moment outright. They understand that bombs, sanctions, and “transitions” imposed from abroad do not bring democracy, they destroy the conditions that make it possible. 

This moment demands political maturity, not purity tests. You can oppose Maduro and still oppose U.S. aggression. You can want change and still reject foreign control. You can be angry, desperate, or hopeful, and still say no to being governed by another country.

Venezuela is a country where communal councils, worker organizations, neighborhood collectives, and social movements have been forged under pressure. Political education didn’t come from think tanks; it came from survival. Right now, Venezuelans are not hiding. They are closing ranks because they recognize the pattern. They know what it means when foreign leaders start talking about “transitions” and “temporary control.” They know what usually follows. And they are responding the way they always have: by turning fear into collective action.

This press conference wasn’t just about Venezuela. It was about whether empire can say the quiet part out loud again, whether it can openly claim the right to govern other nations and expect the world to shrug.

If this stands, the lesson is brutal and undeniable: sovereignty is conditional, resources are there to be taken by the U.S., and democracy exists only by imperial consent.

As a Venezuelan American, I refuse that lesson.

I refuse the idea that my tax dollars fund the humiliation of my homeland. I refuse the lie that war and coercion are acts of “care” for the Venezuelan people. And I refuse to stay silent while a country I love is spoken about as raw material for U.S. interests, not a society of human beings deserving respect.

Venezuela’s future is not for U.S. officials, corporate boards, or any president who believes the hemisphere is his to command. It belongs to Venezuelans.

Michelle Ellner is a Latin America campaign coordinator of CODEPINK. She was born in Venezuela and holds a bachelor’s degree in languages and international affairs from the University La Sorbonne Paris IV, in Paris. After graduating, she worked for an international scholarship program out of offices in Caracas and Paris and was sent to Haiti, Cuba, The Gambia, and other countries for the purpose of evaluating and selecting applicants.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Venezuelanalysis editorial staff.

The Bombardier Global 8000 is the fastest private jet ever built with a top speed of 630mph, and during a test flight it briefly went supersonic. Only one has been delivered so far

Since the unfortunate demise of the Concorde programme in 2003, no supersonic airliner has graced our skies. Despite frequent claims of a successor to the iconic delta-winged aircraft, only military pilots have come close to breaking the sound barrier for over two decades.

That was until Canadian entrepreneur Patrick Dovigi took possession of his Bombardier Global 8000 – the fastest and most luxurious private jet ever constructed, boasting a rated top speed of 630mph.

During a test flight off the Californian coast late last year, the Global 8000 exceeded its recommended speed and breifly went supersonic, hitting Mach 1.02, just over 780mph.

The Global 8000 is not just speedy, but also versatile. Bombardier claims that the plane’s Advanced Smooth Flex Wing allows access to 30% more airports than its rivals – enabling the jet to land at notoriously challenging small airports such as Samedan, nestled in the Swiss Alps.

Currently, Dovigi’s Global 8000 is the sole example in service, and with the price tag of a fully equipped version exceeding $100million (£75m), it’s likely to remain a very rare sight as it darts between luxury resorts and major business hubs worldwide.

The Bombardier Global 8000 could complete the journey from London to New York in roughly five hours – cutting three hours off the time that trip would take on a commercial airliner. With a range of 8,000 nautical miles, this luxury jet can manage a round trip from London to Vancouver without needing to refuel.

At present, however, Dovigi’s flights are confined to Canadian airspace. Whilst the aircraft awaits commercial clearance from US and European aviation authorities, Bombardier anticipates both approvals will arrive in early 2026.

Hailing it as “the ultimate business aircraft” that “exceeds expectation in every way”, Bombardier’s chief executive Eric Martel claims the Global 8000 “is redefining the business aviation landscape with its innovative design, signature smooth ride, unmatched performance and a promise fulfilled to our customers”.

The jet’s incredible speed doesn’t just cut journey times – it also helps reduce jet lag. Meanwhile, the cabin pressure, equivalent to standing at 2,691ft altitude, places no more strain on passengers’ bodies than being atop a tall building, meaning travellers arrive feeling considerably more refreshed than those on standard commercial carriers.

Featuring four distinct living areas plus a dedicated crew rest zone, Global 8000 owners will have be likely to not only get up and stretch their legs, but also chill out and find some peace and quiet whilst airborne.

The Global 8000’s adaptable wings function as shock-absorbers, ironing out much of the buffeting caused by turbulence, whilst its maximum service ceiling – some 10,000ft higher than typical commercial flights – allows it to cruise above most adverse weather conditions.

Whilst just one Global 8000 is currently operational, proprietors of the roughly 2,000 earlier models, the Global 7500, may potentially upgrade their existing aircraft for the relatively modest sum of $3million (approximately £2.3m).

GORDON Ramsay has broken his silence on his ‘fiery’ wedding speech in his first interview since daughter Holly’s wedding ceremony to Adam Peaty.

The TV chef appeared alongside his daughter Tilly on ITV‘s This Morning as he discussed the highly-publicised Bath Abbey ceremony for the first time.

Gordon had raised eyebrows as he appeared to make a thinly-veiled dig at Adam’s ongoing family feud when he delivered a wedding speech during the nighttime celebrations.

But the star has insisted his speech was “perfect” despite courting controversy.

When asked by Cat Deeley about preparing his speech, Gordon said: “Being a dad of three daughters, you dream of that moment.

“I was a hot mess but the speech was perfect, it went well.

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“You’ve got to be warm and emotional but it was a tough gig.”

Elsewhere, Tilly had her say on the wedding and also called it “perfect” despite Adam’s family largely not attending.

Only his sister Bethany was present with his heartbroken mum Caroline banned from the Abbey amid a huge fallout with Adam and being left hurt after Holly refused to invite her to her hen-do with her A-list pals, including Victoria Beckham.

Speaking on the daytime show, Tilly added: “It was so emotional but so incredible to see her and Adam so happy. It was a big day for all of us.”

She also admitted she checked Gordon’s speech on Christmas Eve and confessed “no tweaks were needed” before confirming: “It made everybody cry.”

Gordon further revealed his “shock” at Holly’s decision to wear Tana’s wedding dress for a section of the reception saying: “It was a shock as she had it on for the majority of the night but I don’t know why she needed to change three times!”

The chef was alluding to her multiple dress changes for the big day – with the star wearing three gowns in total.

In Gordon’s speech he was understood to be heard saying his wife Tana “will be a good mum to them both,” amid the fallout.

Ramsay, 59, gushed at how beautiful Holly looked and told Adam he was a “lucky man”, adding: “Look at Tana and that’s what you have to look forward to.” 

And in a sly dig at Adam’s absent parents he told Holly, 25: “Shame you don’t have the same.” 

Adam’s feud with mum Caroline, 60, exploded last month after she was not invited to Holly’s hen do.  

Last night a Peaty family source hit back at Gordon’s speech saying: “It just goes to show that this was the Ramsays’ plan all along.”  

Adam hailed the 200 guests’ support in a “difficult time”. Sister Beth, 32, was his only family at the service, maid of honour with Holly’s sisters Megan, 27, and Tilly, 24. 

Adam’s mum, dad Mark, 65, and brothers James and Richard stayed at home in Staffordshire. 

Lauren Burnison’s life has changed significantly since she quit drinking in 2016. Now the Perthshire, Scotland mum runs alcohol-free travel company We Love Lucid

While many of us will be feeling the excesses of Christmas and New Year’s, fewer will have taken things as far as Lauren Burnison did back when she was drinking.

After growing up in Belfast in the grips of the Troubles, where a “blanket of fear” hung over everything, Lauren “bounded headlong into a void of self-loathing and addiction”. She left home and moved to Edinburgh and Buenos Aires during her years of “chaos”.

On New Year’s Eve 2002, things came to a heady, violent peak when her “testosterone-fuelled gang of twenty-something-year-old” pals clashed with some strangers on a booze-fueled bender on the streets of Argentina.

Today, things could not be more different for Lauren.

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Having long left Argentina behind, the 41-year-old quit alcohol in 2016 and embarked on an epic world trip. “I’d done a lot of travelling in the past, but this time it was different. This time, I was seeing life through the clear lens of lucidity,” she explained.

“Towards the end of my trip, I stumbled across a quaint little Andalusian town called Ronda, in southern Spain. It was there that I was inspired to create alcohol-free travel experiences.”

Over the past decade, Lauren has been channelling this newfound lust for life into We Love Lucid – a company that organises teetotal group trips, which claims to be the UK’s first alcohol-free travel company.

“Our trips are geared towards sober solo travellers who are looking for a new challenge and who want to connect with others like them. The focus is on connection and creating new and unforgettable experiences that don’t revolve around booze,” she explains.

Going booze-free has also changed Lauren’s family holidays.

“I recently embarked on a two-month road trip in Spain and Portugal with my four-year-old daughter. My motivation for the trip was partly to escape the dark Scottish winter, but it’s also an opportunity to expand our horizons and do something that challenges us,” the Perthshire woman explained.

“What I’m enjoying most about the trip is spending the majority of our time outdoors. It’s a brilliant tonic for mental health, and something I want to do more of when we get back to the UK. We prepare our meals outside and we eat outside under the stars. My daughter spends her days playing with other children and animals while I get on with the basic chores of cooking and washing, along with writing and making driftwood art. Sometimes, we head out to explore the local surroundings. Last week we visited the remains of an ancient Roman city in Extremadura, Spain. It was fascinating!

“The best days are the ones we haven’t planned, like an impromptu trip to the beach. We’re especially looking forward to the Big Wave surfing competition in Nazaré, where surfers tackle waves up to 100ft high.”

Had the single mum still been drinking, such a trip would “be almost impossible”, in part due to the hangovers, Lauren says. Not drinking has also freed up cash to spend exploring the world.

“There’s so much to do. We meet a lot of different people on the trip, and many ask why I don’t drink, so the topic comes up quite a lot. In fact, it has led to some interesting conversations and friendships. This year, I will celebrate ten years of sobriety, which is hard to believe sometimes. My sobriety is my biggest priority in life. Without it I wouldn’t be doing any of this.”

While plans for the coming year aren’t yet finalised, 2026 promises to be a big one for We Love Lucid. They will likely include a group climb up Mount Toubkal in Morocco, and a women’s-only journey along the Portuguese section of the Camino de Santiago, to raise funds for the She Recovers Foundation.

You can follow Lauren’s travels on her Substack and find out more about We Love Lucid on her website.

A QUIET UK beach in the UK has been named one of the country’s most secluded.

A study conducted by Jeep and Ordance Survey named Berrow Beach as one of the best, off-the-beaten-track spots.

The Somerset beach is often overlooked in favour of the nearby, more famous Brean Down and Burnham-on-Sea.

Stretching six miles, the beach is completely flat, and protected by dunes across the top.

One of the only things on the beach is a shipwreck, where the Norwegian SS Nornen ran aground in 1897.

And the beach is mainly used by dog-walkers in the winter months.

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However in the summer months, there is an ice cream van that comes right onto the sand.

There are some warnings to avoid going into the soft sand areas during low tide, as well as a beach patrol car.

Many have said it is good for people with mobility issues or young kids, being mainly flat and being able to drive right onto the beach.

One person wrote: “This is one, huge sandy beach, especially when the tide is out.

“Perfect for my son to drive his RC car around without bothering anyone.”

Another commented: “There are sometimes horses having a gallop. People flying kites.

“It’s not a Blackpool type of beach! We love it people watching. Well worth it.”

Visitors can park right on the beach for £8 a day.

Taking of the stufy, Jeep Managing Director Kris Cholmondeley said: “There is so much of the Great British outdoors people have yet to experience.

“And together with Ordnance Survey, we want to enable people this Christmas period and beyond to travel ‘Off the Beaten Track’ in the Jeep spirit.

“Our ‘Get Lost with Jeep Compass’ map lists 100 ‘Off the Beaten Track’ outdoor locations – spots which showcase the best of Britain’s stunning landscapes, yet those that are lesser-known to the wider public.”

Other beaches to make the list include:

• Dungeness, Kent
• Crook Point Sands, Exmoor
• Shingle Street, Suffolk
• Sheringham Beach, Norfolk
• Saltwick Bay, Whitby
• Porth Joke Beach, Newquay

They didn’t just names beaches on the list either.

Lesser-known destinations named include Piddington Wood in Oxfordshire, Wimbleball Lake Activity Centre in Somerset and Oxendon Tunnels in Northamptonshire.

Oronde Gadsden II had the ball in his hands.

He could feel it against his gloves — and the sensation of the ball bouncing out of his grasp before it fell into the arms of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

Gadsden’s goal-line gaffe was one of several mistakes that played a role in ending the Chargers’ four-game win streak last weekend.

Quarterback Justin Herbert, however, continued to target the rookie tight end after the missed catch, providing a much-needed morale boost, Gadsden said.

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair intercepts a pass that deflected off the hands of Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II, bottom, during the Chargers’ loss on Dec. 27.

(Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

“It means a lot that he’s able to keep looking at me and keep throwing me the ball even after what happened,” said Gadsden, who has caught 47 passes for 641 yards and three touchdowns. “But it’d be better if we just make the plays. I know it can’t always go like that — can’t always go your way.”

Against the AFC West champion Denver Broncos (13-3) on Sunday, Gadsden will have a final chance to fine-tune his game ahead of the wild-card playoffs. But for some of the Chargers’ other starters, the game will offer something different.

Herbert will not play, giving him a chance to rest his surgically repaired left hand ahead of the playoffs. Trey Lance will start in Herbert’s place. Coach Jim Harbaugh said Friday that other starters would play only in a backup or emergency capacity.

Lance, who spoke to reporters Wednesday, said he’s “very thankful” and ready for his first start with the Chargers and fifth overall for the 25-year-old.

“Going through everything my first five years in the league, I’ve just learned to take everything one day at a time, one hour at a time,” said Lance, selected third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 draft. “If I’m in a meeting, that’s where I’m at. If I’m at home, it’s where I’m at.”

Along with Herbert, running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) also will not play — a move that could be precautionary since the rookie spent roughly half of the season on injured reserve after fracturing his left ankle.

Offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer (hamstring), who had slotted in at left tackle after Joe Alt’s season-ending injury, hasn’t practiced in two weeks and is listed doubtful.

Rookie offensive lineman Branson Taylor took reps at left guard in practice last week, which could be a sign that Zion Johnson, who has started every game at the position, may take a breather against Denver.

“I’m going to take full advantage of the opportunity,” said Taylor, who was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen told reporters he plans to play in order to achieve incentives that could add $1.75 million to his one-year contract. He has 74 catches for 741 yards.

Meanwhile, Denver is expected to play its starters as it tries to clinch the AFC’s top playoff seed and a first-round bye. The Chargers would be more than happy to play spoiler against their divisional foe, Gadsden said, as they go for an AFC West sweep on the season.

“I don’t think that us having dudes sit down lessens any chances that we have — any motivation or confidence — to win the game,” Gadsden said.

United States President Donald Trump has promised to “take back” Venezuela’s oil reserves and unleash them onto the global market after abducting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

But exploiting the Latin American country’s vast reserves would face a host of big hurdles, from decrepit infrastructure and legal obstacles to leadership uncertainty in Caracas and an excess supply of oil in the global market, experts say.

Venezuela possesses the world’s largest known oil reserves – estimated to be some 303 billion barrels – but currently produces only a tiny fraction of global output. Its estimated output was 860,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November, less than 1 percent of the world’s total, compared with 3.7 million bpd during peak production in 1970.

The oil sector’s decline has been blamed on the combined effects of US sanctions and years of underinvestment, mismanagement and corruption under Maduro and his left-wing predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

While the Trump administration could boost supply in the short term by lifting sanctions, restoring Venezuela’s output to anything near peak levels would require huge investment and likely take years, according to energy analysts.

‘Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is in poor shape’

Oil prices moved only slightly in trading on Monday amid market expectations that output would remain largely unchanged for the foreseeable future.

“Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is in poor shape overall, due to lack of maintenance for both equipment and oilfield wells,” Scott Montgomery, a global energy expert at the University of Washington, told Al Jazeera.

“The state oil company, PDVSA, is well known to suffer from corruption and lack of expertise – many well-trained people have left the country to work elsewhere – and has been unable to invest in the country’s petroleum sector,” Montgomery added.

Thomas O’Donnell, an energy and geopolitical analyst based in Berlin, Germany, estimated that Venezuela could return to peak production in five to seven years in the “absolute best” circumstances, including a peaceful transfer of power.

“Longer term, if things are sorted out, yes, Venezuela can become one of the world’s biggest producers of oil. As far as how long that takes, that has all to do with the transition and what is put in place to manage that – both the country’s security and also to manage the investments,” O’Donnell told Al Jazeera.

Mixed messaging from Trump administration

Trump’s administration has provided conflicting messages on Washington’s exact plans for Venezuela and its oil reserves.

On Saturday, Trump said the US would “run” Venezuela and that US oil companies were ready to invest billions of dollars to build up the country’s dilapidated infrastructure and “get the oil flowing”.

In interviews with US media on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to downplay Trump’s remarks about controlling the country, saying the president was referring to “running policy” and his plans related to spurring private investment, “not securing the oilfields”.

Trump later on Sunday said Washington was “in charge” of the country and was “dealing with” members of the acting administration without providing details.

Under international law, the US has no claim of ownership over Venezuela’s oil reserves, as sovereign states possess the right to control and use their natural resources under the United Nations-endorsed Principle of Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources.

Foreign investors, however, can claim compensation when authorities seize their assets.

ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips were awarded $1.6bn and $8.7bn, respectively, in international arbitration following the Chavez government’s 2007 nationalisation of the oil sector. Caracas did not pay out in either case.

US oil giants, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, have not commented directly on Trump’s claims about planned investments in Venezuela.

Chevron is the only large US oil company currently operating in Venezuela, the result of an exemption to US sanctions first granted by the administration of former President Joe Biden.

Consultancy Rystad Energy, based in Oslo, Norway, has estimated that Venezuela’s oil sector would need about $110bn in capital investment to return to its mid-2010s output of about 2 million bpd.

Patrick De Haan, an analyst at energy price tracker GasBuddy, said companies may be reluctant to commit to large investments in the country when global oil prices are hovering around $60 a barrel due to a glut of supply.

“It will take a longer amount of time than many likely realise. Oil companies in a low-priced environment of today would likely be cautious investing billions with oil prices already low,” De Haan told Al Jazeera.

“In addition, Trump seizing Maduro could lead to loyalists sabotaging efforts to increase output. A lot would have to go right to yield the most optimistic timelines.”

US companies are likely to carefully weigh political developments in Venezuela following their experiences with the Chavez government’s expropriation of their assets.

“Oil companies are not likely to rush into a situation where the state is in turmoil, security is lacking, and no clear path forward for political stability exists,” the University of Washington’s Montgomery said.

Maduro due in court in New York

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s deputy, is now leading the country following a ruling by Venezuela’s Supreme Court.

Maduro is scheduled to appear in a New York court on Monday to face charges related to alleged drug trafficking and working with criminal gangs.

Venezuela’s government has condemned the Trump administration over Saturday’s bombing and overthrow of Maduro, labelling his capture a “cowardly kidnapping”.

Russia, China, Iran and Brazil, among other countries, have accused Washington of violating international law, while nations including Israel, Argentina and Greece have welcomed Maduro’s forced removal.

OPEC, which sets limits on production for its 12 members, including Venezuela, is another factor in the Latin American country’s potential oil output.

“Venezuela is a member of OPEC, and like many countries, may become more actively subject to quotas if output climbs,” De Haan said.

Phil Flynn, a market analyst at the Price Futures Group, said reviving Venezuela’s oil production would face “significant challenges”, but he was more bullish about the near-term prospects than other analysts.

He said the market could conceivably see a couple of hundred thousand more barrels a day coming online in the coming months.

“We’ve not had a free Venezuela, and sometimes the US energy industry has the capability to do a lot more than people give them credit for,” Flynn told Al Jazeera.