Month: January 2026

Several people were missing after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides across New Zealand’s North Island.

Rescue workers are searching for several people, including children, missing after landslides in New Zealand, where homes have been evacuated and roads closed as heavy rains hit almost the entire eastern seaboard of the country’s North Island.

Several people were missing on Thursday afternoon following a landslide which hit Mount Maunganui holiday park on North Island, at approximately 9:30am local time (20:30 GMT, Wednesday).

According to Radio New Zealand, the landslide hit campervans and a shower block at the popular tourist spot during the last week of summer school holidays.

Two people were also missing after a landslide struck a house in neighbouring Papamoa, police said. A 47-year-old man was missing after he tried to cross the Mahurangi River north of Auckland, and his car was caught in floodwaters, according to Radio New Zealand.

Officials briefing reporters about the ongoing rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui said they still hoped to find survivors but that the potential for further landslides was hampering operations.

Police District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said that “it is possible that we could find someone alive”, adding that he would not comment on the number of people missing, only to say that “it is in the single figures”.

Fire and Emergency Commander William Park said first responders had detected signs of life in the rubble but withdrew after concerns of further ground movement.

“My understanding was members of the public … tried to get into the rubble and did hear some voices. Our initial fire crew arrived and were able to hear the same. Shortly after our initial crew arrived, we withdrew everyone from the site due to the possible movement of the slip,” Park said.

Local media cited Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell as saying children were among those missing.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on X that he was “actively monitoring situations across the country”, including in Mount Maunganui.

Climate change, caused by fossil fuels and other pollutants, is making extreme rainfall and other disasters more frequent, leading to unprecedented flooding in places around the world.

Scientists have warned that similar extreme weather will continue to worsen without significant steps taken to reduce pollution.

Caracas, January 21, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Four Venezuelan private banks received a reported US $300 million from an initial US-administered sale of Venezuelan crude.

According to Ecoanalítica, Banesco, BBVA Provincial, Banco Mercantil, and Banco Nacional de Crédito offered a combined $150 million to customers on Tuesday via foreign exchange auctions, with the rest of the funds expected to be made available by the end of the week.

Unofficial reports suggested that private sector importers in the food and healthcare sectors would be given priority. Analyst Alejandro Grisanti stated that the dollars were purchased slightly below 400 bolívars (BsD) per USD. Unlike in prior exchange tables, the banks were not obliged to use the official exchange rate set by the Central Bank, which stands currently at 347 BsD per USD.

The $300 million comprises a portion of the recently announced $500 million sale of Venezuelan crude that had been in storage due to a US naval blockade since early December, with proceeds reportedly deposited in US government-run accounts in Qatar.

Since the January 3 bombings and kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, US President Donald Trump and senior officials have vowed to take control of the Venezuelan oil industry and defend the interests of Western energy conglomerates.

The initial agreement involved around 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude with an estimated return of over $2 billion. Tankers from commodity traders Vitol and Trafigura began moving oil cargoes to Caribbean storage hubs last week.

The allocation of the remaining $200 million from the already executed sales is presently unknown. US officials previously claimed that Venezuela would only be allowed to import from US manufacturers while also floating the possibility of swap deals involving diluents and spare parts for the oil sector and electric grid.

Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed the $300 million received by private banks and identified protecting workers’ incomes as the government’s priority at this moment.

“$300 million has entered the country, to cover the incomes of our workers, protecting their purchasing power from inflation and from foreign exchange instability,” she said during a televised broadcast on Tuesday.

Rodríguez likewise stressed the importance of stabilizing the forex market, with constant devaluations eroding the Venezuelans’ purchasing power. The highly speculative parallel market exchange rate skyrocketed to 900 BsD/USD in early January before expectations of foreign currency injections brought it down under 500.

Amid the initial US-enforced oil deals, the interim Rodríguez administration and National Assembly are moving forward with a reform of the country’s Hydrocarbon Law to expand conditions for foreign investment.

Former President Hugo Chávez overhauled energy legislation in 2001 to establish state control over the oil industry. The Hydrocarbon Law, which was later amended in 2006, mandated that state oil company PDVSA hold majority stakes in all joint ventures and raised royalties and income tax to 33 and 50 percent, respectively.

On Thursday, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez argued that the oil reform is aimed at adapting to the country’s “economic reality” and should not be “a cause for fear or concern.” A first debate on the bill is scheduled for Thursday.

“It is essential to find optimal conditions for investments in so-called green oilfields that are yet to be explored,” he said during a meeting with deputies. “As such, we have to ensure that this foreign investment is protected and profitable.”

The parliamentary leader, who also discussed other upcoming legislative projects, highlighted the so-called Productive Participation Contracts (CPP) as key instruments for oil sector growth that will be included in the reformed legislation.

The CPP models were introduced under the 2020 Anti-Blockade Law. According to industry sources, they are concession-type deals that grant private partners increased control over operations and sales and faster returns on investment through lower taxes and royalty exemptions.

Since 2017, Venezuela’s oil industry has been hard hitby US unilateral coercive measures, including financial sanctions, an export embargo, and secondary sanctions, which aimed at strangling the Caribbean nation’s most important revenue source. US officials have announced a selective flexibilization of sanctions in the immediate future to facilitate oil deals.

The recent naval blockade had an immediate impact on crude output, forcing PDVSA to shut down wells as it ran out of storage. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to the blockade as “leverage” to impose conditions on the Venezuelan government. 

US forces reportedly seized a seventh oil tanker on Tuesday. According to the US Southern Command, the Liberia-flagged Sagitta had loaded crude in Venezuela and is on the US Treasury’s blacklist. US authorities did not disclose whether they took control of the vessel or if it will turn over its cargo.

HOLLY Ramsay and Adam Peaty have shared happy snaps from their Maldives honeymoon after the epic family drama over their wedding.

The couple had a dramatic build up to their December 27 wedding day after Olympian Adam uninvited his parents and wider family from the nuptials.

The situation made headline news for weeks, but Holly and Adam couldn’t have looked more relaxed as they enjoyed their honeymoon in the Maldives.

Holly, 26, looked sensational in a green bikini and wrap skirt while donning a Miu Miu hat in one snap.

Meanwhile Adam, 31, showed off his swimmer’s physique as he posed on the beach.

The newlyweds were also seen posing by a swimming pool, Adam with his arm around his wife’s waist.

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Adam Peaty’s family’s shock reaction to Brooklyn Beckham’s rant

gifts galore

Holly Ramsay shows off nearly £10k of designer bags as she thanks husband Adam

He then snapped a picture of Holly heading for dinner in a long cream dress as she made her way across an ornamental pond.

Adam captured the snaps on Instagram: “Honeymoon so far featuring palm trees.”

The couple are already back from their trip, as over the weekend, Holly shared snaps of her three designer handbags while in Romania supporting Adam at a swimming event.

While they are busy getting on with married life, Adam’s family have given up of reconciling with their son.

It came after Holly’s dad Gordon Ramsay’s latest dig, when he called himself “dad” as he commented on a clip of Adam’s wedding speech, in which he declared he would “always choose” Holly.

The subtle snub after Adam reportedly uninvited his parents – Caroline and Mark – has sparked fears “he’s made his choice”.

An insider close to Adam’s parents said: “It’s been a really emotional time for them as a family.

“They’re coming to terms with what has happened and that Adam has picked his side.

“It’s dashed any hope of reconciliation in the near future.

“They’re keeping their heads down and trying to move on quietly. It’s clear Adam’s made his choice.”

NEW YORK — A judge overseeing Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal case said Wednesday that two members of Congress lacked the legal right to intervene and press their demand for a court-appointed observer to ensure the government complies with a new law ordering release of its files on Jeffrey Epstein.

But the lawmakers are free to bring a civil lawsuit or work through the tools they have in Congress to improve oversight, U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ruled.

U.S. Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) had co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act that was signed into law by President Trump in November. It required the public disclosure of files related to the sex trafficking investigations into Epstein, the late financier, and Maxwell, his longtime confidant.

Engelmayer largely agreed with the Justice Department’s insistence that he had no authority to grant the congressmen’s request to speed the release of that material. They had urged Engelmayer to name an independent monitor to ensure that the government immediately released the more than 2 million documents it has identified as investigative materials. Khanna and Massie said the slow disclosure of the documents violated the law and had caused “serious trauma to survivors.”

A month after the deadline had passed for the materials to be made public, only about 12,000 documents have been made public. The department has said the release of the files was delayed by redactions required to protect the identities of those who were abused.

Engelmayer said the questions raised by Khanna and Massie raised about whether the department was complying with the law were “undeniably important and timely.” But, he said, the way in which the members of Congress were trying to intervene was not permitted.

The judge, who inherited Maxwell’s case after the trial judge was appointed to an appeals court, ruled that has no authority to supervise the department’s compliance with the new law, and that Massie and Khanna have no standing, or legal right, to insinuate themselves into Maxwell’s case.

Engelmayer said he has received letters and emails from Epstein abuse survivors in support of the lawmakers’ request for appointment of a neutral overseer.

“These express concern that DOJ otherwise will not comply with the Act,” wrote the judge, who was nominated by President Obama.

The department has been “paying ‘lip service’ to the victims” and “failing to treat us ‘with the solicitude’ we deserve,” survivors wrote, according to Engelmayer.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her December 2021 sex trafficking conviction. She recently petitioned the federal court for her release, maintaining that new information has emerged that warrants her release. A jury found that she had helped to recruit girls for Epstein to abuse over the last quarter-century and had also participated in some of the abuse.

Epstein died in a federal jail in New York in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.

Sisak and Neumeister write for the Associated Press.

Coming off Sunday’s 30-point victory over then-No. 12 Maryland — the program’s largest win margin over a top-15 team since 1992 — it would have been easy for the UCLA women’s basketball team to take unranked Purdue lightly.

Instead, the Bruins played with the intensity and focus characteristic of an NCAA Tournament game, dominating from start to finish in a 96-48 triumph Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion.

The third-ranked Bruins (18-1 overall, 8-0 in Big Ten) won for the 12th straight time and are more than halfway to tying the program record of 23 in a row set last year. The 48-point win marked the sixth straight by 18 points or more.

All five starters scored in double figures. Gabriela Jaquez led the way with 25 points (on 10-of-11 shooting), Lauren Betts had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Kiki Rice and Charlisse Leger-Walker each had 15 and Gianna Kneepkens had 14.

The Bruins donned throwback jerseys, an homage to UCLA’s 1977-78 AIAW championship squad, and showed why a second national title is a possibility come April if the team continues to perform at its present level.

“We want to honor the players and teams who came before us,” Close said. “More importantly, we want to play in a way that honors them.”

Nya Smith scored 14 points, Avery Gordon had 13 and Tara Daye had 10 for the Boilermakers (10-9, 2-6), who lost their third consecutive meeting with UCLA and fell to 2-4 all-time against the Bruins.

Jan. 21 (UPI) — A Texas jury on Wednesday found former school police officer Adrian Gonzales not guilty of felony charges accusing him of endangering children during the 2022 mass shooting at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School that killed 19 students and two teachers.

Following seven hours of deliberations that capped off a two-week trial, the jury returned to the courtroom in Corpus Christi, Texas, Wednesday evening, when presiding Judge Sid Harle read its unanimous verdict that Gonzales was found not guilty on all charges.

Gonzales, 52, was facing 29 felony charges, one for each of the 19 fourth-grade students killed and 10 students wounded in the May 24, 2022, shooting.

Wearing a blue suit, Gonzales received the verdict while standing between two members of his defense counsel, one of whom placed a hand on the right shoulder of Gonzales, who bowed his head upon receiving the judge’s words.

Some members of the victims’ families who were in the courtroom cried, wiping eyes and noses with tissues, but remained silent on hearing the verdict.

On the morning of May 24, 2022, 18-year-old Salvador Rolando Ramos entered his former Robb Elementary School with an AR-15-style rifle and opened fire.

Ramos was in the school for 77 minutes before the nearly 400 officers who responded engaged Ramos, who was shot dead at the scene.

The prosecution during the trial argued that Gonzales failed to protect the students and failed to confront the gunman despite a witness having alerted him to Ramos’ location before he entered two connected classrooms.

The defense, however, successfully countered that Gonzales did what he could under the circumstances and with the information he had, arguing that he had rushed into the building after arriving on the scene, but retreated with other officers once the bullets rang out.

Nico LaHood, the primary defense attorney for Gonzales, told reporters following the verdict that the jury found gaps in the prosecution’s evidence.

“We felt Adrian was innocent from the beginning when we analyzed the situation,” he said. “We knew it was going to be a challenging case because of the emotions, the sheer emotions behind it and those precious babies being taken from those families.”

During closing arguments, special prosecutor Bill Turner told the jury that Gonzales did not follow his training, failing to engage Ramos until after children were being shot.

“If you have a duty to act, you can’t stand by while the child is in imminent danger,” he said. “If you have a duty to protect the child, you can’t stand by and allow it to happen.”

He then compared Gonzales to teachers who tried to protect students, saying they put the children first and students who tried to protect one another.

“Adrian Gonzales had a duty to put the kids first,” he said.

LaHood, in his closing arguments, told jurors that Gonzales “drove into danger” and did more than other Uvalde police officers to protect the children.

Convicting Gonzales, he argued, would inform police officers whether and ho to react to future similar situations.

“What you tell police officers is, ‘Don’t go in. Don’t react. Don’t respond,'” he said.

Gonzales is one of two former Uvalde police officers facing charges in connection to the mass shooting.

Pete Arredondo, the former Uvalde School District police chief, is facing 10 counts of child endangerment. His trial has yet to be scheduled.

President Donald Trump climbed into a heavily armored Cadillac Escalade presidential limo after arriving in Davos in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum this morning. This may be the first time Trump has ridden in one of these SUVs, at least at such a high-profile event. The Escalade configuration limos also look to be a new addition to the U.S. Secret Service’s fleet of highly specialized cars and other vehicles.

Trump had initially left Washington, D.C., for Davos last night on board a VC-25A Air Force One jet, which had to turn around “out of an abundance of caution” due to a “minor electrical issue,” according to the White House. The President, as well as other officials and members of the press, ultimately flew to Zurich aboard a smaller C-32A aircraft. A U.S. Marine Corps VH-60N Marine One helicopter then took Trump from Zurich to Davos, where a motorcade, which included at least two Escalades, as well as several Chevy Suburban SUVs, was waiting.

From what can be seen in pictures from Davos, the Escalades have very heavy armoring, especially around the front windshield and doors. They also have an array of antennas at the rear of the roof, as well as one at the front right above the driver’s seat. This is not surprising given that Secret Service vehicles used in the presidential motorcade typically have extensive secure communications suites that can connect with the White House communications vehicle, better known as the Roadrunner.

Details about the Secret Service Escalade are otherwise limited, though it is safe to assume it has a host of additional defensive and other features we cannot readily see. It is also unclear whether Trump has made use of a Secret Service Escalade before elsewhere. Based on the limited motorcade imagery we have reviewed taken over the last few months, we have not seen it. TWZ has reached out to the Secret Service and the White House for more information.

The Secret Service has certainly shuttled Trump (and other Presidents and Vice Presidents) around in the past in up-armored Chevy Suburbans, including during previous trips to Davos. Since the early 2000s, Suburbans have been used increasingly interchangeably with more eye-catching custom-built presidential limousines for presidential movements. The latter vehicles, nicknamed “Beasts,” externally resemble stretched Cadillac sedans, but are actually now built on a modified truck chassis. The Secret Service has disclosed in the past that the newest version incorporates internal design elements taken directly from the Escalade line. You can read more about the Beasts here.

The video below shows President Trump’s motorcade, full of Chevy Suburbans, in Davos in 2018.

25.01.2018 – Donald Trump arriva al WEF di Davos

There is a question of how new the Escalades may actually be. Though elements of their bodies are outwardly different, underneath, Suburbans and Escalades have shared the same core platform for decades. The Secret Service has already been using armored Suburbans of the same generation as the Escalades seen in Davos to move Trump for some time.

So are the Escalades really just the Secret Service’s existing armored Suburban base configuration that we have seen in the past, but given an Escalade facelift, including a new front fascia and chrome accents, among other features? They could also be Escalades of this generation customized identically to their Suburban counterparts for the role. It’s unclear at this time, but adapting the already custom-armored Suburban configuration that currently carries the President with a more grand look certainly would make sense, especially for Trump. Also, the latest Escalade model based on the newest generation of Suburban is now itself over half a decade old, making use of an even older generation of Escalade like this to develop an entirely new limo configuration questionable.

The Chevy Suburban family has been the SUV of choice for the Secret Service, as well as many other U.S. government agencies, for decades now. GM has separately developed a factory-standard up-armored Suburban configuration for the U.S. State Department in recent years.

However, last March, the Secret Service shared that Director Sean Curran had “met with GM executives to discuss advancements that could benefit the next generation of armored SUVs” in a post on X.

An accompanying picture from Curran’s visit with GM, seen below, showed an image on display at the GM site featuring a newer generation Escalade flanked by seals of the office of the President of the United States. The presence of the seals pointed to a configuration intended for use as a presidential limo role.

Reuters also reported last March that GM had received a new contract from the Homeland Security Department and the Secret Service for the development of a next-generation presidential limousine. Though that story mentioned Director Curran’s trip to GM, it did not explicitly say what vehicle the new limo might be based on or when it might enter service.

“We are too far out to speak to any specific costs or dates,” a Secret Service spokesperson had told Reuters last year. “Our engineering, protective operations and technical security teams work for years to develop the state-of-the-art framework that is used to produce these highly advanced vehicles.”

It is also worth noting that the most recent version of the Beast made its public debut in 2018 during President Trump’s first term when he visited New York City for that year’s U.N. General Assembly meeting, as seen below. The Secret Service has said in the past that the custom vehicles have a typical life span of around eight years. With this timeline in mind, a new version could be on the cusp of entering service, if it hasn’t already.

(READ FULL DESCRIPTION) – PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP & MOTORCADE, USING BRAND NEW BEAST LIMOUSINES.

Regardless, the Secret Service has a clear imperative to keep its fleets as capable and otherwise up-to-date as possible to help in protecting the president, as well as other senior U.S. officials and foreign dignitaries. In the past, TWZ has highlighted the ever-growing threats posed by drones, including weaponized commercial types, as something the Secret Service also now has to factor into its vehicle requirements.

“Countering evolving threats require [sic] us to constantly explore new innovations and improvements to our armored fleet of protective vehicles,” the Secret Service wrote in the post on X last year regarding Director Curran’s meeting with GM.

If President Trump begins making more use of Secret Service Escalades, more details about those vehicles may begin to emerge.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

MICHELLE KEEGAN and Mark Wright have shared rare pictures of their baby girl Palma from a sun-soaked holiday in Abu Dhabi.

The trio have been enjoying some time away at the stunning Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Both doting parents have taken to Instagram to share peeks into their beautiful holiday, with sweet snaps of their little girl.

Mark, 39, shared a series of pictures on his feed, including one of Palma crawling in the sand as the pair look down at her in pride.

In another photo, Michelle, 38, holding Palma in her arms while standing on the beach with the sun in full view in the background.

A third snap showed Mark holding Palma by the swimming pool as the tot wears a cute yellow sun hat on her head.

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He captioned the post: “Special memories spent with my 2 girls, my world. What a beautiful resort @rixospremiumsaddiyat thank you for having us.”

Meanwhile, Michelle took to her own page to post some similar pictures, with the first one being of her wearing a brown beach hat and white maxi dress while posing for a selfie.

She also shared pictures of the incredible resort as well as one of Palma wearing a yellow dress and standing by a fountain.

The former Coronation Street actress captioned hers: “Magic in the Middle East.”

Her followers flocked to the comments section, especially after seeing a rare glimpse of Palma.

One person gushed: “Bless her Palma crawling and standing already. That time has flown. Growing up so fast.”

Another social media user commented: “Awwwww look at Palma in her cute outfit.”

Somebody else enthused: “Awwwww beautiful. Holidays are the best with your baby xx.”

The Netflix star previously took to her stories to share some behind the scenes action from the holiday.

Covered in raspberries and an iPad, Michelle highlighted the tactical use of kids’ TV to get through a meal.

“The actual reality of coming out for a meal with a baby. Thank you Ms. Rachel for adding to the ambiance.”

She added: “Messy, messy girl.”

Michelle and Mark welcomed Palma into the world on March 6 last year.

They announced the happy news with a black and white photo of their baby swaddled in a crochet blanket.

The couple shared: “Together we have a new love to share. Our little girl. Palma Elizabeth Wright, 06.03.25.”

The first-time parents have kept their firstborn largely out of the spotlight, hiding her face from social media snaps to maintain her privacy.

JERUSALEM — Several countries have said they will join President Trump’s Board of Peace, while a few European nations have declined their invitations. Many have not yet responded to Trump’s invites.

Chaired by Trump, the board was originally envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. But the Trump administration’s ambitions have since expanded, with Trump extending invitations to dozens of nations and hinting at the board’s future role as conflict mediator.

A White House official has said about 30 countries were expected to join the board, without providing details, while about 50 had been invited.

Here is a tally by the Associated Press on what countries are joining, which are not and which are undecided.

Countries that have accepted to join the board

— Argentina

— Armenia

— Azerbaijan

— Bahrain

— Belarus

— Egypt

— Hungary

— Indonesia

— Jordan

— Kazakhstan

— Kosovo

— Morocco

— Pakistan

— Qatar

— Saudi Arabia

— Turkey

— United Arab Emirates

— Uzbekistan

— Vietnam

Countries that will not join the board, at least for now

— France

— Norway

— Slovenia

— Sweden

Countries that have been invited but remain noncommittal:

— Britain

— China

— Croatia

— Germany

— Italy

— European Union’s executive arm

— Paraguay

— Russia

— Singapore

— Ukraine

Liverpool have become the top-earning Premier League club for the first time, according to analysis from financial firm Deloitte.

The Reds won the English top-flight title last season and generated 836m euros (£702m) – more revenue than any other English side.

Manchester United fell to their lowest ever position in what is the 29th edition of the Deloitte Football Money League.

Real Madrid again top the list with a 1.2bn euro (£1.01bn) revenue, despite not winning the Champions League or La Liga last season, as both Manchester clubs dropped down the list.

Barcelona were second, moving back into the top three for the first time since 2019-20 after generating 975m euros (£819m), despite playing away from their Nou Camp stadium last season as it was renovated.

Bayern Munich are third on 861m euros (£723m), Champions League winners Paris St-Germain fourth on 837m euros (£703m) and Liverpool fifth.

Manchester City dropped from second to sixth with a revenue of 829m euros (£697m).

Manchester United, who finished 15th in the Premier League and were beaten by Tottenham in the Europa League final, went from fourth to eighth with 793m euros (£666m).

United have topped the money league on 10 occasions, most recently in 2017.

Their matchday revenue will also suffer this season as they are not involved in European competition and have been knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup at the first hurdle.

“If you went back 10 or 15 years, and you looked at Manchester United‘s matchday revenue it was the industry leader,” said Deloitte Sports Business Group lead partner Tim Bridge.

“If you looked at their ability to generate commercial revenue, it was the benchmark by which everybody then went to market and set their strategy. I don’t think that remains the case.”

There are six English clubs in the top 10, with Arsenal (822m euros, £690m) in seventh, Tottenham (673m euros, £565m) in ninth and Chelsea 10th with 584m euros (£491m).

Three other English sides made the top 20, with Aston Villa (450m euros, £378m) 14th, Newcastle United (400m euros, £335m) 17th and West Ham United (276m euros, £232m) in 20th.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun blasts Israel’s ‘policy of systematic aggression’ that directly targets civilians in Lebanon.

Israel said it attacked four crossing points on the Syria-Lebanon border, saying they were used by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons, following earlier attacks on southern Lebanon that killed at least two people and injured almost 20.

The latest Israeli violence on Wednesday comes despite a US-brokered ceasefire, which ended more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon in 2024 and which Israel has repeatedly violated.

“Once again, Israel is pursuing a policy of systematic aggression by carrying out air strikes on inhabited Lebanese villages, in a dangerous escalation that directly targets civilians,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in a statement late on Wednesday.

“This repeated aggressive behaviour reaffirms Israel’s refusal to abide by its obligations arising from the cessation of hostilities agreement,” President Aoun said.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health said at least 19 people were wounded in Israeli air strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Qanarit.

The state-run National News Agency said Israeli warplanes bombed buildings in several south Lebanon villages and towns, including al-Kharayeb, al-Ansar, Qanarit, Kfour and Jarjouh, after the Israeli army issued warnings that it would carry out attacks on targets inside the country.

Earlier in the day, the Health Ministry said an Israeli strike on a vehicle in the town of Zahrani, in the Sidon district, killed one person. The ministry also said that an Israeli strike targeting a vehicle in the town of Bazuriyeh in the Tyre district killed another person.

The AFP news agency said its correspondent reported seeing a charred car on a main road in Sidon with debris strewn across the area and emergency workers in attendance. A photographer with the agency was also slightly wounded along with two other journalists who were working near the site of a heavy Israeli strike in Qanarit, where 19 people were injured.

The Israeli military said on social media that it targeted four border crossings on the Syria-Lebanon border used for “weapons transfer” and that it had also “eliminated” a “key Hezbollah weapons smuggler” in the Sidon area of southern Lebanon.

A Lebanese army statement decried the Israeli attacks that targeted “civilian buildings and homes” in a “blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty” and the ceasefire deal.

The Lebanese military also said such attacks “hinder the army’s efforts” to complete the disarmament plan for Hezbollah, which was part of the ceasefire agreement.

Hezbollah has rejected calls to surrender its weapons amid the ongoing Israeli attacks, which have killed more than 350 people in Lebanon despite the ceasefire signed in November 2024, according to a tally of casualties from AFP.

Blue Origin, the rocket company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, says it will launch more than 5,400 satellites to create a new communications network.

Named TeraWave, it will offer continuous internet access around the world, with the ability to move large amounts of data much more quickly than rival services.

But even after launching thousands of satellites, Blue Origin would still have far fewer in orbit than Elon Musk’s Starlink, which currently dominates the satellite internet market.

Starlink – part of Musk’s rocket firm SpaceX – also offers internet and phone services to individual customers, while Blue Origin says TeraWave will be focused on data centres, businesses and governments.

Blue Origin said its network, at its fastest, would allow upload and download speeds of as much as 6 terabits per second, much faster than rival commercial satellite services currently offer.

Another competitor to TeraWave is Amazon, the technology giant that made Bezos a multi-billionaire. He is still Amazon’s executive chairman after stepping down in 2021 as its chief executive.

Amazon’s satellite venture is called Leo. While it currently has only 80 satellites in orbit, having launched dozens more just last week, it plans to have more than 3,000 in orbit.

Like Starlink, Amazon is also more focused on the general public than businesses and governments, pitching Leo as a way to offer high-speed internet access globally. It has not said when all of the Leo satellites will be in orbit.

Blue Origin said it will start launching its TeraWave satellites by the end of 2027.

In November, the company successfully landed a rocket booster on a floating platform for the first time.

Only SpaceX had previously accomplished this feat.

In April, Blue Origin launched an 11-minute space flight with an all-female crew, including Bezos’ now-wife Lauren Sánchez, singer Katie Perry and CBS presenter Gayle King.

But some commentators said it was “tone deaf” for celebrities to be taking part in such a fleeting and expensive trip at a time of economic struggle.

Former National Basketball League (NBL) player AJ Ogilvy has publicly come out as gay.

The Australian basketball star, who played for the Illawarra Hawks and Sydney Kings, shared the news during a recent interview with out gay player Isaac Humphries.

At the start of their sit-down, which was in support of the NBL’s Pride Round event, Ogilvy reflected on his expansive career that ran from 2010 to 2022.  

“I was very lucky with my career. I got to travel the world and get paid to play basketball, which is, you know, such a privilege. [But] I probably didn’t live my life as authentically as I probably could have during my time in the NBL,” he explained.

Ogilvy went on to reveal that he’s been married to his husband for 18 months, adding that they met while he was playing in Sydney, Australia.

When Humphries asked Ogilvy if he kept his husband away from the team and his life as a basketball star, the latter revealed: ” While I was in Sydney, I probably kept it separate, but I also wasn’t, I guess, super discreet about it.

“Some of the guys probably knew. Nothing was, I guess, ever explicitly said, especially at your level of, you know, openness. While I was in Wongong, definitely more of the guys got to know him. A couple of the guys, my old teammates, were at the wedding.”

While discussing his coming-out journey, the 37-year-old athlete revealed that he initially planned to keep his sexuality private.

“I think part of it was I viewed it as just my business, but the world shifted probably in between our generations. Like when the marriage equality vote rolled around, I was very vocal about that while still not publicly saying, I’m a gay man,” he continued.

Despite initially planning to keep his sexuality away from the public, Ogilvy went on to say that Humphries’ historic coming-out announcement inspired him to embrace his identity. 

“A bunch of my friends started me the video, and were like, ‘Hey, did you see this about Isaac. It was just such a huge moment, not just in the MBL, but basketball and across really the world,” Ogilvy explained.

“[It] was hugely beneficial to have someone of your stature and attitude be able to step forward and proudly say, ‘This is who you are.’”

Elsewhere in the interview, the Sydney-born athlete opened up about the difficult moments he faced while trying to maintain a double life.

“I think for a long time it was, ‘I want to be a basketballer and to be a basketballer I had to be this, I have to present as straight. I have to not show this side of my personality,’” he continued.

“So I had two social media accounts. One that I’d use for basketball stuff, and one that I just had friends on where I could be more open. Growing up, it wasn’t just in basketball; it was like a media as a whole, it just wasn’t positive portrayals of gay relationships. It was more, ‘It’s going to be a sad life, a lonely life.’ [It] definitely weighed on me pretty heavily.”

Towards the end of their sit-down, Ogilvy praised the NBL’s Pride Round as another driving force behind his decision to publicly come out, adding: ” There’s now a place for us to have this conversation, for us to be able to talk as openly as this.”

Check out the pair’s full interview here or below.

WASHINGTON  — The Supreme Court gave a skeptical hearing Wednesday to President Trump’s claim that he has the power, acting alone, to fire Federal Reserve Board governor Lisa Cook for a past mistake on a mortgage application.

Most of the justices said they were not convinced that what Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. described as Cook’s “inadvertent mistake” was grounds for removing her from the central bank board.

They also questioned Trump’s failure to give her a hearing.

Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh told Trump’s lawyer he had overplayed his hand.

“Your position is that there’s no judicial review, no process required, no remedy available and a very low bar for cause that the president alone determines,” he told Trump’s Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer. “That would weaken, if not shatter, the independence of the Federal Reserve.”

“Why are you afraid of a hearing?” asked Justice Amy Coney Barrett. “If you have the evidence … give her a chance to defend herself. That just wouldn’t be that big of a deal.”

Trump has sought to take control of the independent bank board because it has not lowered interest rates as far and as fast as he prefers.

He has clashed with Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome H. Powell and threatened to fire him. More recently, Trump’s prosecutors said they were investigating Powell for possible criminal false statements in a congressional hearing.

In August, Trump posted on social media that he had “cause” to fire Cook after he was told she may have committed mortgage fraud.

In 2021, the year before President Biden appointed her, she bought homes in Michigan and Georgia and said each would be her “principal residence.”

In response to the allegation, Cook’s attorney said she had told the mortgage lender that the Georgia property was a “vacation home,” not her primary residence.

Cook sued to retain her seat. A federal judge blocked her removal on the grounds that her alleged wrongdoing came before her appointment. The D.C. Circuit Court agreed in a 2-1 decision.

In September, Trump’s lawyers sent an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court and said this was “yet another case of improper judicial interference with the president’s removal authority.” They said the court should set aside the lower court ruling and uphold Cook’s firing.

For much of the past year, the court’s conservatives have granted appeals from Trump’s lawyers and allowed the president to fire agency officials who had fixed terms in office.

Last month, they were ready to overturn a 90-year-old precedent and to rule that Trump has the “executive power” to remove and replace these officials.

But Roberts and the conservatives were also ready to make an exception for the Federal Reserve Board. They suggested the central bank is not an executive agency subject to the president’s direct control.

In October, they opted to keep Cook’s firing on hold, and they scheduled arguments on how to proceed.

But Roberts agreed with Kavanaugh that Trump’s lawyers had gone too far.

“You began by talking about deceit,” he told Sauer. “Does what you said apply in the case of an inadvertent mistake contradicted by other documents in the record? Under your position, it doesn’t make a difference, right?”

Sauer had argued the courts could not review Trump’s decision to fire a Federal Reserve Board governor.

Kavanaugh, a former White House lawyer, said Trump’s position would destroy the independence of the Federal Reserve, which had been supported by both parties.

“What goes around comes around,” he said. “All of the current president’s appointees would likely be removed for cause on Jan. 20, 2029, if there’s a Democratic president. … Then we’re really at at-will removal. So what are we doing here?”

While the justices were skeptical of Trump’s arguments on Wednesday, it was not clear how they will rule.

They could rule that Trump has to give Cook a hearing and an opportunity to defend herself. Or they could rule more directly and say that an alleged misstatement on a past mortgage application did not rise to the level of “cause” for firing a Federal Reserve Board governor.

Representing Cook, Washington attorney Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush, said the court should preserve the Federal Reserve as a unique and independent agency.

“There is an unbroken history going back to its founding in 1913 in which no president, from Woodrow Wilson to Joseph Biden, has ever even tried to remove a governor for cause, despite the ever-present temptation for lower rates and easier money,” he said.

He argued that the independence of the Federal Reserve is more important than resolving the allegations against Cook.

“It’s less important that the president have full faith in every single governor, and it’s more important that the markets and the public have faith in the independence of the Fed from the president and from Congress,” he said.

Arne Slot has good memories in Marseille. It was here in 2022 when his Feyenoord side held on to secure a place in the Europa Conference League final.

On the eve of this week’s game in the bowels of the Stade Velodrome, he was asked about those memories. He was also bizarrely and rudely asked about Xabi Alonso’s links to the Liverpool job.

Any noise surrounding the future of the Liverpool boss was quietened by a trademark European away performance from his side, who added Marseille to Eintracht Frankfurt and Inter Milan as the teams they have beaten on their travels this season.

Their unbeaten run of 13 matches (W7 D6) in all competitions may have been uninspiring for the large part but it is the longest ongoing streak of any team from Europe’s big five leagues. In itself, credit must be due for that. Liverpool last lost a game in November.

Crucially for Slot, it was a first win in a game that Mohamed Salah started for Liverpool since November 4, when they beat Real Madrid in the Champions League. It now looks like a line has been firmly drawn after Salah’s interview at Leeds and both player and manager can move on for the betterment of the football club.

The reality is that both need each other. Pre-match, Slot told TNT Sports: “The moments when I didn’t play him, I was trying something different. We have missed goals from all the ball possession. If there’s one player in the history of Liverpool that can score goals, it’s Mo Salah.”

It was a night where Salah did not add to his club record of 46 Champions League goals for Liverpool, even though he really should have when he fired wide in the second half, but the assurance with which Liverpool played in a 4-2-2-2 setup will leave Slot delighted and may well give him food for thought for the coming weeks.

“It says a lot about how big a professional he [Salah] is that he can be away for more than a month with a different team and be so fit to play 90 minutes for us after one day of training,” said Slot. “He was so close to a goal. It would usually be a goal from him, but it didn’t harm us because we scored three.”

While tickets are much less cheaper than UK alternatives, this festival has a line-up packed with incredible big name acts, and you’re much less likely to be wading through mud in this sunny city

Festivalgoers will have a Glastonbury-shaped hole in their hearts in 2026 as the world-famous festival takes a year off. The festival’s tradition of having a “fallow year” every few years is designed to let Worthy Farm’s land recover and regenerate from the huge event.

But music lovers need not despair, there are lots of Glastonbury alternatives out there both in the UK and beyond. One in particular that’s popular with Brits thanks to its affordable ticket prices and lack of mud has a great line-up for 2026, and flights take just under 2.5 hours from London.

FIB Benicàssim – often simply known as Benicàssim – takes place in Castelló de la Plana, just north of the city of Valencia. Its location close to the sunny Spanish coast and July dates mean that you’re practically guaranteed sunny days, so no need to pack your wellies for this one.

Taking place between July 16 and 18, the festival has an incredible line-up for fans of all sorts of genres, and includes performances from The Prodigy, Biffy Clyro, The Kooks, Kaiser Chiefs, and Tinie Tempah among the big names. There are also lots of punk and indie acts to look out for such as DEADLETTER, Circa Waves, and RATA.

Ticket prices are much lower than UK festivals. In 2025, Glastonbury tickets cost £373.50 plus a £5 booking fee. FIB Benicàssim tickets start at just €55, about £48 for general admission, which gives you access to the site and all stages for four days.

For €135 (approximately £117), there are also VIP tickets which include access to VIP bars and food options, exclusive toilets, preferential access lanes into the festival, plus three pints of beer. Golden VIP tickets cost from €245, around £213, and come with all the advantages of VIP as well as front stage access to the Main Stage and nine drinks.

However, it’s worth noting that unlike Glastonbury, camping isn’t included. This is because many people choose to stay in nearby hotels or glampsites. A basic camping pitch on the festival grounds costs €27, about £23, and for another £9 you can buy a voucher that gives you unlimited access to showers. Summer camping can be a sweltering experience, so large tarps are installed to shade the tents underneath and cool things down.

If you don’t fancy taking all your camping gear on the plane, there are glamping options that also give you a more comfortable experience. While these aren’t yet available to buy, there will reportedly be a range of bell tents and other pre-pitched options so you can leave your bulky camping kit at home.

Many festivalgoers skip the tent entirely and stay in nearby Castellón or Oropesa. The festival offers the option of an official shuttle bus from towns close to the festival site, so you pay for the wristband once and don’t need to worry about transport. Staying in a hotel means you can enjoy air conditioned nights in a proper bed, charge your phone, and get ready for the day ahead.

You could even combine your festival trip with a beach holiday, and a couple of days in sunny Valencia will soon help you recover from any party excesses. Nearby Grau de Castelló is a charming port town with Mediterranean beaches, Valencian restaurants, and the beauty of the mountains in Desert de les Palmes.

READ MORE: Ryanair launches new £23 flights to home of ‘Europe’s answer to the Maldives’READ MORE: Alton Towers gives sneak peek of new Bluey rollercoaster opening this year

Brits travelling to Benicàssim have two options for airports. The closest one is Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport, about half an hour from the festival site. However, flights from the UK are limited to a Ryanair services from London-Stansted and Manchester. Valencia Airport is just over an hour from Benicàssim and offers a wide range of flights including an easyJet route from London-Gatwick, and Ryanair services from regional airports including Birmingham, East Midlands, Bristol, and more.

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

Barcelona come from behind to beat Slavia Prague 4-2 to maintain their hopes of a top eight finish in the league phase.

Barcelona came from behind to defeat Slavia Prague 4-2 on a freezing night in the Champions League, with Fermin Lopez scoring twice and Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski adding second-half goals to secure the victory.

The win on Wednesday lifts Barcelona to ninth place in the standings with one game ⁠remaining on 13 points, level with seven other teams vying for a top-eight finish and direct qualification for the round ​of 16. Slavia languish third from bottom with just three points.

On a bitterly cold evening in ‍Prague, with temperatures dropping to -8 degrees Celsius (17.6 degrees Fahrenheit), Slavia stunned the visitors with an early lead.

A cleverly worked corner in the 10th minute saw Tomas Holes flick a delivery from the near to the far post, where Vasil Kusej bundled the ball across the line ‍under pressure from ⁠Frenkie de Jong.

Barcelona levelled in the 34th minute through Lopez, who unleashed a sharp, angled strike from inside the box, squeezing the ball past keeper Jindrich Stanek at the near post after a faint deflection off the Slovak’s shoulder.

Lopez doubled his tally and gave Barcelona the lead in the 42nd minute with a fine effort from the edge of the box. The attacking midfielder found the bottom right corner with precision, leaving Stanek no chance.

Barca’s advantage lasted just two minutes as an unfortunate defensive mishap saw Slavia equalise. ​Under pressure defending a corner, Lewandowski inadvertently deflected the ball off his shoulder and into ‌his own net to send the teams into half-time level at 2-2.

After regrouping at the break, Barcelona took control of the game in the second half, relentlessly attacking Slavia’s defence.

Raphinha, Pedri and Lopez all squandered good opportunities before substitute Olmo produced a moment of magic. In ‌the 64th minute, he hammered an unstoppable strike from the edge of the box into the top corner, restoring Barcelona’s lead in emphatic style.

Lewandowski atoned for his earlier own ‌goal by sealing the victory in the 70th minute.

Marcus Rashford – another second-half ⁠substitute – went on a blistering run down the left flank and delivered a cross into the box. Although Lewandowski initially struggled to control the pass, he reacted quickly to poke the ball past Stanek and give Barcelona a two-goal cushion.

“We knew it would be a difficult match with ‌the cold weather, they’ve put a lot of pressure on us, it was tough … My feet and hands hurt, can barely feel them … It was tough, but we managed to come back and win,” Lopez told Movistar Plus.

“We were aware ‍that goal difference was something important. Looking to secure a top-eight finish, we wanted to keep a clean sheet, but it was difficult. Good thing we managed to play well and got the win.”

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced its latest immigration enforcement operation, this time in the northeastern state of Maine.

On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that immigration raids had begun a day earlier, under the name “Operation Catch of the Day”.

In a statement, a Trump administration spokesperson appeared to signal that targeting Maine was a political response to the ongoing feud between the president and the state’s governor, Democrat Janet Mills.

“Governor Mills and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Maine have made it abundantly clear that they would rather stand with criminal illegal aliens than protect law-abiding American citizens,” said spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.

But rumours have swirled that Maine was singled out for its significant Somali American population in the cities of Portland and Lewiston. Estimates put the total number of Somali Americans in the state at about 3,000.

Trump has repeatedly denounced the Somali community over the past several months, comparing its members to “garbage” at a December cabinet meeting. As recently as Tuesday, he used his White House podium to call Somalis and Somali Americans “ a lot of very low IQ people”.

Racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric has been a trademark of Trump’s campaigns for public office, and he has repeatedly singled out specific groups – including Haitians and Mexicans – to falsely tie their immigrant identity to pervasive criminal activity.

Parallels with Minnesota

Trump’s focus on the Somali community comes after a handful of members were implicated in a fraud scandal in Minnesota, a midwestern state where immigration enforcement operations were launched in December.

Those efforts have been marked by violent clashes between federal agents and protesters, and one woman, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, was shot dead in her car after an interaction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Fears that those tensions could spill into Maine dominated a Wednesday news conference with city officials in Portland.

Mayor Mark Dion told reporters that immigrant communities in the region felt “anxious and fearful” as ICE agents began their crackdown.

“They see this action as unpredictable and a threat to their families,” he explained.

He also questioned whether a heavy-handed operation was necessary to address immigration infractions in the area, and he called on ICE to adopt different tactics than it had in Minnesota.

“I want to underscore one important point: While we respect the law, we challenge the need for a paramilitary approach to the enforcement of federal statutes,” Dion said.

“Federal immigration law is lawful. Its administration and enforcement is lawful,” he added. “What we’ve been concerned with, as a council, is the enforcement tactics that ICE has undertaken in other communities, which to our mind appear to threaten and intimidate populations.”

Nevertheless, Dion expressed optimism that ICE would adopt a more tailored approach to apprehending local suspects.

While the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has seen nearly 2,000 immigration officers flood its streets, the mayor predicted that Maine would not see the same “massing of federal agents”.

“We’re seeing very individualised activity by ICE. A person here, a neighbourhood there,” he said. “Their conduct, at least as it is current in Maine, seems to be focused, which would indicate to me – and this is the speculation – that they’re functioning on the basis of an actual court warrant.”

That, he said, marked a departure from the “random, show-me-your-papers kind of experience” that residents had experienced in Minnesota.

Outrage at ICE operations

Still, while Dion advocated for a wait-and-see approach to the ICE operation, other city officials took a harder stance.

One Portland city councillor,  Wesley Pelletier, described the unfolding raids as part of “an agenda of white nationalism and might makes right”.

“This is a war of terror that’s being waged on our city by the federal government,” Pelletier said. “We’ve seen people of all ages getting thrown on the ground and getting thrown into trucks.”

So far, Fox News quoted ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde as saying the agency had made 50 arrests so far as part of operation “Catch of the Day”. Hyde added that ICE had identified nearly 1,400 individuals to detain in Maine.

Wednesday’s statement from the Department of Homeland Security highlighted four arrests as examples, showing people from Sudan, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Angola.

It described the four individuals as “the worst of the worst” and accused them of crimes ranging from aggravated assault to endangering the welfare of a child, though it was unclear in one case if the accusation had resulted in a conviction.

“We are no longer allowing criminal illegal aliens to terrorize American citizens,” McLaughlin said in the statement.

But Democratic officials in the state suggested that the Trump administration had refused to coordinate in the lead-up to “Catch of the Day”, heightening anxiety on the local level.

On January 14, nearly a week before the operation was launched, Governor Mills posted on social media that she had “attempted, unsuccessfully thus far, to confirm” the upcoming surge in federal immigration enforcement.

In a video statement, she said the state had reached out to local governments in Portland and Lewiston to prepare. She added that she too felt “angry” about the expected surge.

“Our goal, as always, will be to protect the safety and the rights of the people of Maine,” Mills said.

“To the federal government, I say this: If your plan is to come here to be provocative and to undermine the civil rights of Maine residents, do not be confused. Those tactics are not welcome here to the people of Maine.”

She also took a jab at the trend of federal agents using masks and other facial coverings to conceal their identities.

“Look, Maine knows what good law enforcement looks like because our law enforcement are held to high professional standards,” Mills said. “They are accountable to the law. And I’ll tell you this: They don’t wear a mask to shield their identities, and they don’t arrest people in order to fill a quota.”

A political rivalry

Mills and Trump have long been political adversaries, with their feud erupting in a public forum. In February last year, shortly after Trump returned to office for a second term, he hosted a White House gathering for governors, where he called out Mills personally.

“Is Maine here? The governor of Maine?” Trump said while outlining policies barring transgender athletes from sporting events. “Are you not going to comply with it?”

“I’m complying with state and federal law,” Mills responded. The tension escalated from there.

“You’d better comply because otherwise you’re not getting any, any federal funding,” Trump shot back.

“See you in court,” Mills replied.

“Good. I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a really easy one. And enjoy your life after, governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics,” he said.

The interaction made national news and cemented the frosty relationship between the two leaders, with Trump demanding an apology and slamming the Democratic governor for months afterwards.

His administration also took a series of escalating actions designed to target Mills, including launching an education probe in her state, suspending a marine research grant and freezing other federal funds to Maine.

In response to this week’s ICE deployment, Mills issued a short statement acknowledging the Trump administration’s latest efforts.

“Together, we will continue to place the safety and civil rights of Maine people above all else, and remain vigilant in our defense of due process and the rule of law,” she wrote.

Maine is set to hold its next gubernatorial race in 2026, as part of the year’s midterm election cycle.

Having served two terms as governor, Mills is not eligible for re-election and will instead be making a run for the US Senate, challenging Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

A “brujo,” a “magician,” “a social arsonist” and the “father of Chicano Theater” — these are just a few of the monikers that have been bestowed upon Luis Valdez over the course of his decades-long career. The 85-year-old filmmaker and playwright is responsible for “La Bamba” and “Zoot Suit,” films that raised a generation of Latinos and are now upheld as classics — both were inducted to the National Film Registry of the U.S. Library of Congress.

Valdez awakened a movement, bringing Chicanos from the California fields he grew up working in to stages and screens all over the world. His stories shifted the frame, placing us at the forefront of the American story, allowing us to see our dreams, anxieties and struggles reflected back at us. In David Alvarado’s upcoming documentary, “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez,” it’s the celebrated storyteller’s turn to be on the other side of the lens.

The film traces Valdez’s beginnings as the son of migrant farmworkers in Delano, Calif., to his early days in theater helming El Teatro Campesino — a traveling performance troupe who worked alongside Cesar Chavez to mobilize farmworking communities, raising awareness about strikes and unions through skits and plays. Incorporating folk humor, satire and Mexican history, their work later evolved to include commentary on the Vietnam War, racism, inequality and Chicano culture more broadly.

Narrated by Edward James Olmos, who broke out as the enigmatic pachuco with killer style and a silver tongue in 1981’s “Zoot Suit,” the documentary was awarded the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film last year.

De Los spoke with Olmos and Alvarado ahead of the film’s world premiere on Thursday at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

David, what was your introduction to Luis’ work? And how did it influence you as a filmmaker?

David Alvarado: I grew up watching things like “La Bamba” with my dad, and it made a huge impression on me, but at the time, as a kid, I didn’t really know the name Luis Valdez. Then in 2006, I was an undergrad at the University of North Texas, and I got a Hispanic Scholarship Award. At the celebration, Luis gave a speech and I was just blown away. I was a young wannabe filmmaker trying to learn how to make movies, and somebody like me was up there onstage telling a story about how he got there. I felt really inspired and I always carried that with me. Then in 2021, I was at a juncture in my career where I had told these science and technology stories, and I loved it, but I wanted to do something more personal. I thought back to Luis Valdez. Where was his story? So I reached out to him and that’s where this all started.

Mr. Olmos, your breakthrough came from playing El Pachuco in “Zoot Suit,” first in the play and then the film. What was your first impression of the story?

Edward James Olmos: I remember I had been doing theater for years, and I was walking out of an audition for another play at the Mark Taper Forum when I heard someone say, “Hey, do you want to try out for a play?” And I said, “Excuse me?” And she said, “Well, do you or don’t you?” And I said, “OK, what do you want me to do?” I didn’t know who she was, or what the play was about, but the next day, I was standing there with 300 other guys getting handed a little piece of paper with the opening monologue [for “Zoot Suit.”] I knew from reading it that this was serious, really serious, so I just became the character immediately.

I remember when they called me and asked me to do the role, it was on a Friday night, around 8 o’clock, and they were going to start rehearsals on Monday morning. I hadn’t gotten any phone calls, so I thought [the part] was gone. Then all of a sudden, the phone rang and they asked me if I wanted the role of El Pachuco. I said it would be my honor, my privilege. I hung up the phone and I slid down the side of the wall crying. I just completely lost it.

DA: Eddie really stole the show. I mean, it’s just undeniable. What he brought [to the production] was exactly what Luis was looking for, and I think it’s what Chicanos wanted to see and hear at the time. He really struck a nerve, and that was a huge part of the success of “Zoot Suit.” What Luis tapped into with this collaboration with Eddie, with the Teatro Campesino, or later with “La Bamba,” that was his gift: finding people who could represent the true nature of what it means to be Chicano.

(Elizabeth Sunflower / Retro Photo Archive / Sundance Institute )

There’s so much incredible archival footage here from the Teatro Campesino. What was your reaction to seeing some of that early work?

EJO: That footage is priceless, and that’s one of the reasons this movie is really important, because Luis is truly someone that has given our culture a voice. He gave me my voice. When you want to learn about a culture, you try to study what’s been written about them, any documentation or books, but nothing compares to their art. Right now, I’m working on a piece with Luis called “Valley of the Heart,” a play that he wrote over the last 12 years. It’s a never-been-told love story between a Mexican American and a Japanese American in an internment camp during World War II. It’s been difficult to make, but once people see it, they’re going to be thankful because it doesn’t matter what culture you are, the humanity of it comes through. That’s how people will feel after seeing David’s documentary, too. It’s inspiring.

DA: I think people are ready for the real story of America. I mean, the documentary and “Valley of the Heart” are part of American history, they talk about a real American experience, and it’s not the kind that people hear anymore. People are thirsty for that kind of authenticity, and to re-evaluate what the American story really is.

One of the core themes within the documentary is how we as Chicanos view the American Dream: Can we achieve it by being ourselves, or do we have to assimilate? We see that identity struggle play out as Luis and his brother, Frank, take different approaches in their lives, and it’s later paralleled in the story of “La Bamba.”

DA: That’s such a core pillar of the film. We all want the American Dream, but what that dream is confusing to a lot of people. The quest to get there through assimilation is something that Chicanos, Latinos and other immigrants have tried at the expense of their own heritage and identity. They give it all up and lay it at the altar of the American Dream. They try to fit in, and be this other thing, and so often, that doesn’t work. In his own life, Luis’ answer to that was if America is supposed to be this multicultural beacon of democracy, then let’s have a space for Chicanos to play a role there. I’ll retain my culture and be an American.

He and his brother tried to make it together, but they weren’t taking the same approach. In Frank’s story, that caused him a lot of pain, and he never quite made it that way. Luis, in very important ways, did make it. The fact that his work speaks to those themes, and was part of his personal life, I couldn’t leave that on the editing room floor.

In the documentary, we see the triumph of “Zoot Suit” being the first Chicano production on Broadway, and then the crush of it being panned by critics who didn’t seem to get it. Mr. Olmos, you say that the reaction wasn’t a loss for you all, it was a loss for America. What did you mean by that?

EJO: Well, because it wasn’t going to be spread around the country and understood. To me, the theater is magic. When it really works, it’s amazing. But [those negative reviews] stopped us from that growth process. There was one critic from the New York Times, Richard Eder, who said it was street theater on the wrong street.

I have to tell you, though, the people who were given the opportunity to see that play in New York, even after the critics panned it, always gave us a cheering standing ovation at the end. They burned the house down every single night. Even in L.A., that play was monumental. But that criticism hurt Luis badly, it hurt us all. I think if we’d gone through Arizona, Texas, Chicago, Miami before hitting New York, we would’ve been a powerhouse that would still be running today. It’s one of those stories that deserves to be revived over and over again.

The story of “Zoot Suit” is set in the 1940s, during a time of intense scrutiny and discrimination for Mexican Americans. How did the story resonate in the 1980s, and what do you think it has to tell us now?

EJO: People came from all over the world to watch the play, but Latinos kept coming back. Some of them had never been to a theater before in their lives, and they were bringing in family, friends to come and see it every weekend. It was a beautiful experience, one that was like giving a glass of water to somebody in the middle of the desert. They cherished us for giving them the opportunity. Now, we’re needed more today than we were even then. Today’s time is uglier than almost any time.

DA: It’s ugly, and it’s crass. We’ve had so long to try to figure out racism and get the American experiment back on track, and yet it just feels so depressing. Like when is the cycle going to end? At the same time, I hope that there’s a little bit of optimism in the film that the community can come together, and that we can find a way through this.

The documentary does a great job of showcasing the power of art. The performances from the Teatro de Campesinos allowed the farmworkers to really see themselves in a way that helped build a movement and made for a successful collective action. What do you hope this documentary can teach a new generation of Latinos today?

DA: For me, it’s to understand who you are, and to do what it takes to make it work here in America. When Luis spoke to me from that lectern, the thing that really got me going was that he said, “Whatever it is that you’re trying to do, whatever your project is, just stop doubting yourself and do it.” I remember thinking, “Oh my God. Maybe I can be a filmmaker. Maybe I could tell stories for a living.” So I hope that that’s clear in the film: that if you believe in yourself, you can fit into America, you can make a place for yourself.

But also, know that creation is an act of joy, and that the whole point of life is to find happiness and share it with other people. Despite all the heavy things we’ve talked about so far, I do want to point out the film is a joyful one of exploration. Luis has his moments when the world pushes back on him so hard, and it’s painful, but he just has so much love to give, and that’s the point of making art. I want people to walk away thinking that they can do it too.

EJO: David nailed it. That’s it exactly.

WASHINGTON — President Trump delivered a sharp critique of U.S. allies and rivals alike during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday, questioning Europe’s political direction, casting down on NATO’s reliability and reiterating his intent to push to acquire Greenland.

Speaking before an audience of global political and business leaders, Trump said European countries are “not headed in the right direction” in part because of what he described as bad immigration policies while asserting that the United States is a “great power” that needs to have outright ownership of Greenland in order to properly defend itself.

The remarks echoed his long-standing complaints that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has taken advantage of the United States, and questioned whether the allied countries would support the U.S. if the country needed them.

Here are some of Trump’s most notable remarks:

Renewing demands for Greenland: “It’s the United States alone that can protect this giant mass of land, this giant piece of ice, develop it and improve it and make it so that it’s good for Europe and safe for Europe and good for us. And that’s the reason I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States. Just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history.”

Military invasion ruled out: “We never asked for anything, and we never got anything, we probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable, but I won’t do that, OK? That’s probably the biggest statement I make because people thought I would use force. I don’t want to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

Outright ownership sought: “All we are asking for is to get Greenland, including right, title and ownership because you need the ownership to defend it. You can’t defend it on a lease. No. 1, legally it is not defensible that way, totally. And No. 2, psychologically.”

On European immigration: “Certain places in Europe are unrecognizable. Frankly, they are not recognizable. We could argue, but there’s no argument. Friends come back from different places — I don’t want to insult anybody — and they say, ‘I don’t recognize it.’ And that is not in a positive way. That’s in a very negative way. And I want to see Europe go good, but it’s not heading in the right direction.”

U.S. power: “The United States is keeping the whole world afloat. Without us, most of the countries don’t even work. And then you have the protection factor. Without our military — which is the greatest in the world by far — without our military, you’d have threats that you wouldn’t believe. You don’t have threats because of us and that’s because of NATO.”

On World War II impact: “After the war, which we won — we won it big. Without us, right now you’d all be speaking German and a little Japanese, perhaps.”

On NATO reliance: “The problem with NATO is that we’ll be there for them 100%. But I’m not sure that they’d be there for us if we gave them the call. … I’m not sure that they’d be there. I know we’d be there for them. I don’t know that they’d be there for us. With all the money we expend, with all of the blood, sweat and tears, I don’t know that they’d be there for us.”

Confusing Greenland for Iceland: “They are not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. I mean, our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland has already cost us a lot of money.”

A nod to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (who was at the forum): “We’re going to help the people in California. We want to have no crime. I know Gavin was here. I used to get along so great with Gavin when I was president. Gavin is a good guy. And if you needed it, I would do it in a heartbeat. We did help them a lot in Los Angeles, a lot early in my term when they had some problems. But we would love to do it. I would say this, if I was a Democrat governor, I would call up Trump. I would say come on in, make us look good, because we are cutting crime down to nothing and we are taking people out — career criminals — who are only going to do bad things and we are bringing them back to their countries.”

Whatever the circumstance — cold, snow, rain, wind, noise — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is cool, calm and collected.

But the 17th-year pro is not quiet.

Especially in the huddle. Especially at decibel-delirious Lumen Field in Seattle.

“He’s screaming,” tight end Davis Allen said Wednesday, chuckling. “He’s not talking normal, that’s for sure… He does a great job making sure guys are where they need to be.”

Since joining the Rams in 2021, Stafford is 3-1 at Lumen Field, where the Rams will play the Seahawks on Sunday in the NFC championship game.

Asked how he thought he had played in Seattle, Stafford instantly ticked through all of the Rams’ performances.

A Thursday night victory in 2021. Sitting out 2022 because of injury. A walk-off touchdown pass to win in overtime in 2024, and an overtime loss this season in Week 16.

“It’s always a great environment,” Stafford said.

“I think that gives a calm in the midst of some of those chaotic moments,” Coach Sean McVay says of Matthew Stafford.

(John Froschauer / Associated Press)

Stafford, 37, aims to continue what has been an MVP-level season with a victory that would give him a shot at a second Super Bowl title.

Two weeks ago, Stafford engineered a game-winning touchdown drive in a wild-card victory over the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C.. Last Sunday, he led a game-winning field-goal drive in overtime to beat the Chicago Bears in Chicago.

Stafford, who suffered a sprained right index finger against the Panthers, was not at his best for most of the game against the Bears.

On a cold, snowy and windy night at Soldier Field, Stafford completed only 20 of 42 passes for 258 yards, with no touchdowns.

His 47.6% completion percentage was the lowest of his 12-game playoff career, and the lowest since a 48.3% performance in a 2023 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium.

But Stafford is expected to bounce back against the Seahawks.

In four games at Lumen Field, he has passed for 1,454 yards and six touchdowns, with two interceptions.

On Dec. 18, he completed 29 of 49 passes for 457 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-37 overtime defeat.

The Rams had the ball in the fourth quarter but failed to move into field-goal range.

In overtime, Stafford connected with receiver Puka Nacua for a 41-yard touchdown pass. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold answered with a touchdown pass, and then converted a two-point conversion pass for the victory.

“Didn’t play up to our standard in some areas, and had chances to finish that game,” Stafford said. “But didn’t.”

The Rams and Stafford closed the deal in their divisional-round victory over the Bears.

As he did in the 2021 playoffs — when he engineered a 42-second, game-winning drive against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Stafford came up big in the divisional round when the Rams needed him most.

The Rams had the ball late in the fourth quarter but were forced to punt — and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sent the game into overtime with a spectacular touchdown pass.

In overtime, after Rams safety Kam Curl intercepted a pass, Stafford completed passes to tight end Colby Parkinson and receivers Davante Adams and Nacua during a drive that ended with a 42-yard, game-winning field goal by Harrison Mevis, putting the Rams in the NFC championship game for the third time under coach Sean McVay.

The top-seeded Seahawks are coming off a 41-6 rout of the San Francisco 49ers, a dominating performance that began with a kickoff return for a touchdown and did not let up in any phase.

Matthew Stafford lines up under center against the Carolina Panthers during a wild- card playoff game this month.

(Brian Westerholt / Associated Press)

McVay is confident that Stafford will once again handle the environment at Lumen Field.

“Just that command, that confidence, that poise, that ability to love those pressure-filled moments,” McVay said, “I think that gives a calm in the midst of some of those chaotic moments, and I think that resonates with his teammates, and it creates a belief that’s not exclusive to the offense.

“That’s our whole football team, coaching staff included.”

Center Coleman Shelton said because of the noise at Lumen Field, players lower their heads in the huddle to hear Stafford.

“You can hear the play-call the lower you go,” he said.

The plays are being delivered by a quarterback who “always rises to the occasion,” Shelton said.

“The harder the environment,” he said, “it almost seems like the more he thrives.”