Month: January 2026

For eight months, the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Karen Bass have butted heads over police hiring amid a budget crisis.

The conflict began last spring when the council voted to reduce LAPD hiring to 240 new police officers this budget year — just half the officers Bass had requested — in order to close the city’s $1 billion budget gap and stave off layoffs of other city employees, including civilian workers in the LAPD.

Last month, the council bumped the number of hires up to 280 after the LAPD said it had already hired its 240 allotted officers just halfway through the fiscal year. But the council still declined to fully fund up to 410 positions, which the mayor had called for in a letter.

On Wednesday, the council finally approved the hiring of up to 410 officers this year after hearing back from the city administrative officer that the money used to fund the positions this year will come from the LAPD’s budget, and not from the city’s general fund.

The hiring of the officers delivers a modest victory to Bass, who promised she would find the money for additional police hires when she signed the budget in June. Bass said the additional hires — which would bring the police force to around 8,555 officers by the end of the fiscal year — still would not match the number of officers lost through attrition this year.

“The second largest city in the United States cannot have an effective police department when it is operating with the lowest staffing levels in years,” she said. “And with only five months until Los Angeles welcomes tens of thousands of fans from around the world for the FIFA World Cup, investing in more police officers is critical to public safety.”

Still, the mayor’s victory comes after months of tension, with some council members questioning the fiscal wisdom of hiring more officers than the city budgeted for during a time of fiscal crisis.

“An overwhelming majority of us support additional… hiring,” said Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who chairs the council’s powerful Budget and Finance Committee. “My concern has been and continues to be the fiscal impact to next year.”

While Yaroslavsky said she would have preferred to stick to the original council plan of 240 hires this year, she thanked the city administrative officer and the police department for finding funds to hire the additional 130 officers for the rest of the fiscal year.

The motion to continue hiring up to 410 officers passed in a nine to three vote.

The funding for the hires, which is about $2.6 million in total for this fiscal year, will come from pots of money within the police department, including a tranche from the “accumulated overtime,” bucket, which is used to pay out overtime to officers who are retiring. The city found the $12 million allotted for that was not being fully drawn down this year.

Some on the council took issue with the additional hiring, saying the city did not know how it would pay for the ongoing cost of the hired officers, which will grow to about $25 million in the next fiscal year.

“How are we going to pay for the ongoing cost?” asked Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who voted against the new plan. “We are sort of back to where we were in December where we are committing ourselves to a $25 million price tag with no plan for where that’s going to come from.”

In a report, the city administrative officer said the $25 million should be found in “ongoing reductions with the Police Department” that would not result in layoffs to civilian staff at the department or take from the city’s general fund.

“This is robbing Peter to pay Paul,” said Councilmember Monica Rodriguez about the funding decision.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell, who attended the city council meeting, took issue with councilmembers criticizing the increased hiring.

“We’re working on a skeleton crew,” he said. “This department is doing amazing things for the residents of this city, but it doesn’t seem to be appreciated.”

The dispute between the state and Santa Anita Park over the use of a new betting machine was ratcheted up Wednesday when four major trade unions sent a letter to Rob Bonta, the California attorney general, urging the state to return the terminals it confiscated on Saturday. Santa Anita filed suit against the state on Tuesday seeking the same.

Collectively, the Service Employees International Union, the Teamsters, California State Pipe Trades Council and the State Assn. of Electrical Workers created a special letterhead with all their logos to show their solidarity on the issue. The two-page letter, obtained by The Times, was stinging and pointed, calling the state’s removal of Racing on Demand machines as “not only misguided but reckless.”

It went on to say: “By removing these terminals, your agency has introduced unnecessary uncertainty into an industry already confronting significant economic challenges. This decision undermines innovation, discourages investment and jeopardizes the more than $1.7 billion in annual economic impact that California horse racing generates for local communities, workers and the state as a whole.”

The seizing of the 26 Racing on Demand machines and the money within the machines by 21 state Department of Justice employees and two Arcadia Police personnel on Saturday is forcing those in the horse racing orbit to take sides.

The state, by virtue of the raid, seems to be siding with the California tribes, who have purview over almost all non-pari-mutuel gambling in the state and oppose the machines. It includes casinos, table games and slot machines among other forms of gambling.

Santa Anita, and by extension Del Mar and Los Alamitos, contend the game, played on a machine that has the look and feel of a slot machine, say the betting is conducted between patrons in a commingled pool and paid out based on how much money is bet on each combination. The house, in this case Santa Anita, does take money off the top to run the game but is not involved in determining the payoffs.

The stated goal of the tracks is to use some of the money generated by the machines to increase purses, which is a huge liability in California racing now. A lot of states, most notably Kentucky and New York, use money from casino racing to help their race purses.

The current takeout on the 3 X 3 game, the one used on the machines where you pick first, second and third in three different races, is 22%, meaning the return to bettors is 78% of the money bet.

Jan. 21 (UPI) — The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday okayed contempt of Congress resolutions for Bill and Hillary Clinton for refusing to testify about Jeffrey Epstein.

The committee voted 34-8 to approve the contempt resolution against former President Bill Clinton and 28-15 in favor of the contempt resolution for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Both resolutions received bipartisan support, with nine Democrats voting for the former president’s contempt resolution and three for the former Secretary of State’s contempt resolution.

All Republican members of the committee voted in favor of both contempt resolutions.

The nine Democrats who voted in favor of Bill Clinton’s contempt resolution include Reps. Maxwell Frost of Florida, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Lateefa Simon of California and Emily Randall of Washington.

Also supporting that resolution were Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ayanna Pressley and Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico. Two, Reps. Dave Min of California and Yassamin Ansari of Washington voted “present.”

Tlaib, Stansbury and Lee also voted in favor of the resolution against Hillary Clinton, while Min voted “present.”

Committee chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., was pleased with the bipartisan support for both resolutions.

“I’m very happy that we had a bipartisan vote today to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress,” Comer said, as reported by The Hill. “This shows that no one’s above the law.”

He said that he anticipated some bipartisan support from committee Democrats and is “very, very proud of the ones who did.”

The former president did not show up for a scheduled deposition regarding his relationship with Epstein on Jan. 13, and neither did any of the committee’s Democratic Party members.

Hillary Clinton did not show up for her scheduled deposition on Jan. 14.

The committee had given both Clintons several months of advance notice for their respective hearings at the Rayburn Office Building in Washington, D.C., but Bill Clinton rescheduled his deposition twice before not appearing last week.

The former president appears in photos with Epstein and others.

Epstein was a financier and convicted sex offender who hung himself while jailed in New York City in 2019 and awaiting a federal trial on child sex trafficking charges.

The Clintons recently wrote Comer to say the subpoenas issued for each of them are not “legally valid” and they won’t appear at any deposition hearings.

The measures go to the House floor for consideration and, if passed, could result in charges against both Clintons and time in jail if they are found guilty.

U.S. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his long-standing ambition to bring Greenland under U.S. control, declaring there was “no going back” on the issue and refusing to rule out the use of force. His remarks, accompanied by leaked private messages and AI-generated images shared on social media, have triggered alarm across Europe and raised fears of a renewed transatlantic crisis.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and a strategic Arctic location rich in minerals and critical for missile defence and shipping routes. Trump has repeatedly argued that U.S. control of the island is essential for global security, a claim Denmark and European allies strongly reject.

Trump’s Message: Security First, Allies Second

Trump said Greenland was “imperative for National and World Security” after speaking with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. To underline his stance, he shared AI-generated images portraying Greenland and Canada as part of the United States, signalling that the issue is not symbolic but strategic.

He also leaked private texts from European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who questioned Trump’s intentions. Trump responded by renewing threats of massive tariffs on French wines and champagne, intensifying fears of economic retaliation.

NATO and Europe Under Pressure

Trump’s comments have placed NATO under severe strain, with Denmark warning that the crisis threatens core principles of sovereignty and democracy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told parliament that “the worst may still lie ahead,” rejecting any negotiations over national borders.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used the World Economic Forum in Davos to call for a “new independent Europe,” signalling that European leaders increasingly see Trump’s America as an unreliable security partner.

Trade War Fears Resurface

Trump’s Greenland rhetoric has revived memories of last year’s trade tensions. The European Union has warned it could reactivate tariffs on €93 billion worth of U.S. imports as early as February 6. Brussels is also considering deploying its powerful Anti-Coercion Instrument, which could target U.S. services, technology firms, and investment access.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attempted to calm markets, dismissing fears as “hysteria” and urging patience. However, financial markets reacted sharply, with global stocks sliding, gold hitting record highs, and U.S. stock futures falling to one-month lows.

Russia Enters the Narrative

Russia has seized the moment to question Danish sovereignty over Greenland. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Greenland as a “colonial conquest,” a comment that further complicates Arctic geopolitics. While Moscow denied seeking control of the island, its remarks underline how Trump’s stance is opening space for rival powers to challenge Western unity.

Public Backlash and Global Anxiety

Protests erupted in Switzerland ahead of the Davos forum, with demonstrators denouncing Trump’s policies as imperialistic. Investors, meanwhile, are reviving the so-called “Sell America” trade, signalling declining confidence in U.S. political stability and predictability.

Implications

Trump’s Greenland push risks reshaping transatlantic relations in three major ways:

• Security: It weakens NATO cohesion at a time of rising global instability.
• Economics: It threatens another U.S.–EU trade war, with serious consequences for global markets.
• Geopolitics: It accelerates European efforts to reduce dependence on U.S. security guarantees while giving rivals like Russia diplomatic leverage.

Analysis

Trump’s insistence on Greenland reflects a transactional and power-centric worldview where sovereignty is negotiable and alliances are conditional. By framing territorial acquisition as a security necessity, he is blurring the line between strategic competition and outright coercion.

While the administration portrays the dispute as manageable, the reaction from Europe suggests a deeper rupture. The crisis is less about Greenland itself and more about whether the U.S. under Trump still respects the norms that underpin the Western alliance. If this approach continues, Europe’s push for strategic autonomy may shift from rhetoric to reality permanently altering the balance of power within the transatlantic relationship.

With information from Reuters.

AMANDA Holden has revealed that she once prepared a Sunday roast in front of her family — while naked.

The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 54, said she stripped off while cooking the meal because it was a hot day.

And she added that her two daughters Lexi, 19, and Hollie Rose, 13, were used to seeing her without clothes.

She told the Table Manners podcast: “You know on the cusp between winter and summer where you have to give up roast dinners and turn it into a barbecue?

“My whole family moan about Sunday roast, but I make them have it, and then this one particular Sunday it was boiling hot so I did just strip off and cook everything naked.”

She said husband Chris Hughes, 51, “enjoyed it”.

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But she added: “I didn’t eat naked.

“I always don’t mind being naked.”

Amanda recently admitted her boobs have grown – and shared the very unusual reason why.

While filming with close pal Alan Carr for their BBC series Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job, Amanda‘s chest became the topic of conversation.

Alan pointed out: “Your breasts have got bigger since the last one.”

Amanda, wearing a low-cut summer dress, replied: “They have. It’s because of the Saganaki cheese.”

Funnyman Alan quickly quipped, “Have you just been rubbing it straight in?,” prompting Amanda to burst out laughing.

After a dawn briefly interrupted by the explosions of missiles fired from MH-60L helicopters, there was a silence greater than the one traditionally accompanied by the crickets in Caracas: uncertainty about what the target had been. Social media users posted different images from their homes in which the fires resulting from the explosions rose in columns of uncertainty.

That uncertainty lasted a few hours, initially with a statement from the Foreign Ministry stating that Nicolás Maduro, in the exercise of his duties, had activated all the necessary defense protocols and plans to protect the nation, while also announcing the state of national emergency. Hours later, through a voice note recorded by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, it was announced that the whereabouts of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were unknown. At the same time, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López warned of a further escalation of violence, said that the attacks had included civilian sites, and called for the consolidation of a wall of resistance made up of civilians and military forces in the face of the “invasion.”

A wall that no one saw erected before, in his statement from his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump said that cordial talks had been established with Delcy Rodríguez and that she was completely willing to work. A microphone became a dagger for the official narrative in less than 24 hours. Since July 28, 2024, the government’s ability to manage the media agenda had been undermined by a “data-beats-narrative” premise, which was validated by official voting records. Any attempt at explanation was no longer credible. Dissociation became a way of continuing to govern without legitimacy.

Since January 3, the Venezuelan government has had to juggle between showing that there is collaboration with the US and defending two central figures, such as Maduro and Flores. “It’s nothing personal, it’s just business” is one of the lessons that chavismo seems to have learned from Michael Corleone. As of today, even the son of Nicolás Maduro (“Nicolasito” Maduro Guerra) has said that he feels it’s necessary to reopen the US embassy in Caracas and even the Israeli one, which was closed long before.

Jorge Rodríguez: “If we are going to promote peaceful coexistence, we have to rectify, we have to look for mechanisms where there is calm (parsimonia), engagement (encuentro), and where we can tone down the arrogance (soberbia) a bit, but you (the opposition) have to tone down the pettiness (mezquindad).”

While the chavista leadership seeks to please the interests of the Trump administration and position itself as an indispensable ally for foreign investment, the grassroots support of the ruling PSUV party chants and performs choreographies on social media saying that it will rescue Maduro and Flores from an “illegal” imprisonment. In the meantime, it is at least interesting that those regime groups that have the most to lose from this sudden rapprochement with Washington are the most loyal ones, while the leadership in Caracas receives the CIA director.

Watching a spokesman as radical as Diosdado Cabello say that he wants the opening of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington is a sign that something has changed. In his words: “We are not afraid to sit down and talk to whoever we have to talk to. Doubting is betrayal. Unity turns us into a single body, there are no free agents here.”

Cabello has also accepted the (very slow and selective) release of political prisoners in these terms: “It has to do with a process of national reconciliation that the acting president has announced. Those who have cases of drug trafficking, rape, attacks on children, and murder are excluded.” But neither repression nor the verbal attacks on NGOs have ceased. Not even by Jorge Rodríguez, who on January 13 said that Foro Penal were petty and self-interested. Cabello said that “the so-called NGOs are charging families, saying that detainees are released thanks to them. Thanks to them? If NGOs do anything, it’s to slander detainees, because they receive money from abroad.”

Meanwhile, the “workers’ president” now shares prison with the world’s most famous criminals. Chavismo can try to turn the man who ordered mass kidnappings into a poor hostage of the US imperialism, while Delcy says that if she has to go to Washington, she will do so accompanied by the spirit of a brave people. The most reasonable scenario is that the legal battle over Maduro’s release will take years, along with an artificial anti-imperialist narrative.

Cabello tries to compensate for the impact of January 3 by claiming that nothing has really changed.

The Rodríguez siblings have already toned down the level of conflict. Addressing non-chavista lawmakers in the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez said: “If we are going to promote peaceful coexistence, we have to rectify, we have to look for mechanisms where there is calm (parsimonia), engagement (encuentro), and where we can tone down the arrogance (soberbia) a bit, but you (the opposition) have to tone down the pettiness (mezquindad).”

It is necessary to highlight that historically, in the official narrative, the opposition is an extension of Washington’s interests. That rectification has also become evident in the claims of international sectors of the left that have shifted from the term “invasion” to “intervention” to sum it up as an “illegal” detention. Nicolasito has framed it that way on a podcast tour, where he downplays the importance of the new Miraflores–White House relationship and instead focuses on the conditions under which his father and stepmother are being held..

The removal of Alex Saab and Freddy Ñáñez from the cabinet can also be considered a gesture to the Trump administration—the former for being Maduro’s financial operator (imprisoned by the US and later released by the Biden administration), and the latter for being in charge of the Venezuelan government’s “communications guerrilla” during moments of greatest tension between Miraflores and the White House.

Between biting their tongues and appealing to selective memory, the regime now seems focused on appropriating the narrative and confronting disputes over the truth. Cabello tries to compensate for the impact of January 3 by claiming that nothing has really changed: “the only thing that didn’t work out for them is that the Bolivarian Revolution is still governing and the country is at peace.”

But still, “data beats narrative.” Starting with Delcy Rodríguez, in this provisional government that Trump says is obeying him, there are actors indicted and under investigation for crimes related to money laundering and drug trafficking. Not to mention the cases of human rights violations, which do not expire.

MINNEAPOLIS — An appeals court on Wednesday suspended a decision that restricts immigration officers’ aggressive tactics in Minnesota, while Maine declined a request for more undercover license plates for U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicles, citing “abuses of power” during the Trump administration’s crackdown.

The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals was persuaded to freeze a judge’s ruling that bars officers from using tear gas and other means of control against peaceful protesters while the administration pursues an appeal. Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, began in early December.

An injunction ordered last week by U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez harms “officers’ ability to protect themselves and the public in very dangerous circumstances,” lawyers for the government argued.

Minnesota remains a major focus of immigration sweeps by agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. State and local officials who oppose the effort were served with federal grand jury subpoenas Tuesday for records that might suggest they were trying to stifle enforcement.

A political action committee founded by former Vice President Kamala Harris is urging donors to come to the aid of Gov. Tim Walz, her 2024 running mate, and contribute to a defense fund.

“The Justice Department is going after Trump’s enemies list,” Harris’ email said, referring to President Trump.

In Maine, meanwhile, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, said she won’t grant a request for confidential license plates sought by Customs and Border Protection, a decision that reflects her disgust over the tactics of immigration officers elsewhere. Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. A message seeking comment from CBP was not immediately returned.

“We have not revoked existing plates but have paused issuance of new plates. We want to be assured that Maine plates will not be used for lawless purposes,” Bellows said.

Portland Public Schools, the largest and most diverse district in Maine, said it kept the doors locked at two schools for a few minutes Tuesday because of concerns about activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“This is an understandably tense time in our community, as reports and rumors of immigration enforcement actions grow,” the district said.

Greg Bovino of the U.S. Border Patrol, who has commanded the Trump administration’s big-city immigration crackdown, said more than 10,000 people in the U.S. illegally have been arrested in Minnesota in the last year, including 3,000 “of some of the most dangerous offenders” in the last six weeks during Operation Metro Surge.

Bovino defended his “troops” and said their actions are “legal, ethical and moral.”

Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, said advocates have no way of knowing whether the government’s arrest numbers and descriptions of the people in custody are accurate.

Separately, a federal judge said he’s prepared to grant bond and release two men after hearing conflicting testimony about an alleged assault on an immigration officer. Prosecutors are appealing. One of the men was shot in the thigh last week.

Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Minneapolis on Thursday for a roundtable with local leaders and community members, according to sources familiar with his plans who spoke on condition on anonymity because the trip had not yet been officially announced.

Brook and Whittle write for the Associated Press. Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. AP reporters Ed White in Detroit and Ali Swenson in Washington contributed to this report.

Jan. 21 (UPI) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiated Operation Catch of the Day in Maine on Wednesday and arrested several people on its first day.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the new ICE operation, saying those arrested on day one include “illegal aliens” who have been convicted of many crimes, including aggravated assault, false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child.

“Governor [Janet] 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 Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

“We have launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the state,” McLaughlin said. “Under President [Donald] Trump and [Homeland Security] Secretary [Kristi] Noem, we are no longer allowing criminal illegal aliens to terrorize American citizens.”

While McLaughlin referred to Mills and others as “sanctuary politicians in Maine,” neither the state nor any of its cities appear on the Department of Justice’s list of sanctuary states, counties and cities.

Maine’s governor last week said state and local officials have prepared for the federal immigration law enforcement operation there.

Mills on Jan. 14 said officials tried to learn more about the ICE operations in Maine, including when and how they might work.

“My administration is taking proactive steps to prepare,” Mills said in a social media post on Jan. 14.

“I have directed the Maine State Police to work closely with local law enforcement as necessary to provide whatever support is needed in advance of and during any potential federal operations,” she said.

“We also have been in touch with city officials in Portland and Lewiston, as well as the [Maine] Attorney General’s Office, to coordinate our response,” Mills explained.

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

“Maine knows what good law enforcement looks like because our law enforcement are held to high professional standards,” Mills said. “They don’t wear a mask to shield their identities, and they don’t arrest people to fill a quota.”

She said if the federal government’s plan is “to be provocative” and to “undermine the civil rights of Maine residents,” such tactics are not welcome in the state.

Mills urged Maine residents and others who intend to protest ICE activities in Maine to do so peacefully and stay “reserved and resolved” if they encounter any hostility.

Israel has faced international condemnation after it bulldozed the headquarters of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem.

The UN said razing the compound violates international law.

What are the implications of the demolition?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Shireen Salti – Political analyst who specialises in Palestine-Israel public affairs

Francesca Albanese – UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory and a former lawyer at UNRWA

Gideon Levy – Columnist at Israeli news outlet Haaretz

THE RISING star of the modeling world, Kaia Gerber, is the cover girl for the latest issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

The 24-year-old model, and daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford, captivates audiences with her latest photoshoot full of itty bitty dresses and braless looks

Kaia stuns in a daring tiny white frock, embracing a braless look that has set the internet abuzz.

The white dress, by Victoria Beckham, plunges down to her abdomen, showing off some serious cleavage.

The look was accompanied by an oversized Victoria Beckham leather jacket, knee-high tights by Falke,  a black Kokin New York hat, and Christian Louboutin heels.

The sultry shoot, photographed by Luis Alberto Rodriguez and styled by Carlos Nazario, radiates a mix of sensuality and sophistication, embodying the essence of modern femininity.

In the spread, Kaia is also seen wearing a Saint Laurent leather bomber with a cut-out Prada bikini top, and a red leather Givenchy dress.

Durga Chew-Bose interviews Kaia for the cover article, and the model reflects on her growth within the industry and the pressures that accompany her role as a public figure.

Kaia also discusses her relationship with Givenchy’s Sarah Burton, who’s been dressing her for red-carpet appearances.

At last fall’s Academy Museum Gala, Kaia wowed the crowd in a custom-designed Lyon-lace cape-back dress, evoking the essence of the legendary Audrey Hepburn, a muse for Givenchy.

Sarah Burton noted, “Kaia’s involvement in the dress’s design brings our collaboration to life; it’s always electric when we create together.”

The British designer added, “The dress is both timeless and modern, perfectly capturing Kaia.”

Kaia shares later in the article that she’s currently on her journey of self-discovery and empowerment, stating, “It’s not lost on me that part of my job is just being what people want me to be and being a canvas or mirror for people to reflect their own ideas onto.”

This perspective demonstrates her maturity and understanding of the complexities of the modeling world.

The February issue of Harper’s Bazaar hits newsstands on February 3, and promises to deliver more than just stunning visuals.

Kaia’s candid insights about navigating the beauty and fashion worlds while maintaining her identity make this an essential for anyone interested in the evolving narrative of celebrity children today.

“I’m a daydreamer,” Kaia said in the interview. “I play out every scenario in my head.”

The model went on to say, “My imagination is really strong, and it’s been such a gift in my work. Not always a gift in relationships.”

The interview for Harper’s Bazaar also discussed how she’s evolved now that she’s an adult.

“Now that I’m more secure in my adulthood, I’m willing to show up messy and be kind of childish about certain things,” Kaia said.

This feature not only showcases Kaia’s modeling prowess but also offers a glimpse into her evolving narrative as a bold young woman in the spotlight.

What’s the absolute best way to give Gov. Gavin Newsom free publicity and a worldwide audience?

Freeze him out at Davos, where the rich and powerful are meeting in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland. The Trump administration is learning the hard way, in real time, that petty comes with a price — in this case, being laughed at by, well, the world.

And while Congress, Europe and law may hold no terrors for our president, we all know ridicule hits him in his soft, white underbelly.

In case you missed it, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the California governor has been banned from a scheduled media talk (allegedly under pressure from the White House) that was going to be a rebuttal to Trump’s ramble at the event, according to Newsom’s office.

On Wednesday, Newsom’s team announced that he had been turned away from USA House, the privately run but official gathering spot of the United States. Newsom was scheduled to do a fireside chat with Forbes magazine, but apparently when he arrived at the church-turned-conference hall, he was politely told to beat it.

“How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?” Newsom posted on X.

Cue the outrage. Cue the coverage.

Forbes didn’t know the snub was coming, according to screen shots of private text messages reviewed by The Times, but within minutes it was world news. Except maybe on CBS.

That’s a lot of focus on a guy who isn’t even a billionaire and doesn’t run a country, and supposedly isn’t even in the presidential race yet. In case you’re not personally familiar with the gathering at Davos, it’s pretty much the kings (and occasional queen) of the world coming together to think big thoughts. Getting cold-shouldered in that crowd is a big deal.

But it’s the kind of big deal that makes Newsom look good. Blackballing him from USA House was akin to screaming in his face that he’s a big meanie and the president wasn’t going to take it any more. So there!

It’s funny. It’s powerful. It gets him the kind of news coverage that other not-yet-candidates dream about.

It makes it clear that far from the useful foil that the Newsom-Trump rivalry is often explained as, Newsom is hitting on points that are hitting home. With Trump, and with voters. And now, maybe with world leaders — which just makes him that much more viable as a candidate. Without a doubt, this is Trump quashing dissent.

Earlier in the day, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent went after Newsom, calling Newsom “Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken.”

That’s a reference to the overly suave serial killer in the film “American Psycho” crossed with a popular 1990s version of a male Barbie known for its pretty eyes and good hair. To be fair, Newsom does resemble both of them.

That remark came in response to Newsom calling Bessent’s speech “smug” for suggesting that the average American couple was buying up homes as rentals for their retirements. Personally, like most of us, I can’t even afford an extra Barbie doll house, so to be fair, Newsom is right on that one.

Newsom also scored points off Trump’s speech. He called it “boring,” the most vicious insult you can hurl at Trump. But it was.

For more than an hour, Trump repeatedly called Greenland Iceland by mistake, while demanding it be turned over to him.

Yawn.

He went after windmills because “they kill the birds, they ruin your landscapes.”

Wut?

He went after Minnesota with a particularly rabid if overused bit of racism, because it “reminds us that the West cannot mass import foreign cultures, which have failed to ever build a successful society of their own.”

Yuck.

As Newsom pointed out in a press gaggle not too long afterward — right before being banned from his formal talk — for an American audience, it’s the same ugly drivel we’ve been subjected to for nearly a year. Absolutely none of it is fresh, though it remains awful and dangerous.

“My God, there wasn’t anything new about that speech,” Newsom said. “It was remarkably insignificant.”

It was certainly not a speech that won Trump credibility or support from those kings and queens. It certainly did not contain diplomacy or leadership, or frankly, even sense. Despite the laughter and applause from the audience, I doubt there are few if any outside of Trump’s team who would call it a success.

But for Newsom, Davos is a win.

Jan. 21 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would not impose new tariffs on eight countries in Europe because they opposed his plan to annex Greenland.

Trump had said Saturday he would add 1% to 25% tariffs on those countries unless they allowed him to take the Danish territory.

“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” he said.

Just before his announcement, the European Union’s parliament paused a vote on the trade deal that Trump negotiated with the bloc last summer. EU leaders were planning an emergency summit Thursday to work on a response to the threats.

Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday that he will not use force to annex Greenland but warned that if he did, the United States could not be stopped.

Trump’s comments on his ongoing pursuit of acquiring Greenland did not completely rule out escalation, though he referred to Iceland instead of Greenland at several points.

“We never asked for anything and we never got anything,” Trump said. “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.”

In Trump’s speech and responses during a Q&A with WEF President Borge Brende, he said inflation has been “defeated,” alleged protesters in Minnesota are “paid agitators” and suggested Europe is “not heading in the right direction.”

“People are doing very well,” Trump said. “They’re very happy with me.”

The president referred to the United States as the “economic engine” that all of Europe follows either up or down.

“In recent decades, it became the conventional wisdom in Washington and European capitals that the only way to grow a modern Western economy was through ever-increasing government spending, unchecked mass migration and endless foreign imports,” Trump said. “The consensus was that so-called dirty jobs and heavy industry should be sent elsewhere. That affordable energy should be replaced by the green new scam and that countries could be propped up by importing new and entirely different populations from far-away lands.”

Minnesota and immigration were a particular focus of Trump on Wednesday. He referred to Somalis, which Minnesota has the largest population of in the United States, as “low IQ people.” He used this as an example of the harm he believes immigration brings.

“The situation in Minnesota reminds us that the West cannot mass import foreign cultures,” he said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg before heading to Davos herself, calling Trump’s threat of tariffs “simply wrong” because Europe agreed with the United States on the need to ensure the security of the Arctic.

Von der Leyen said that while Europe preferred to talk out differences, it was “fully prepared to act, if necessary, with unity, urgency and determination,” adding that leaders of EU nations would meet in Brussels to discuss their response at an emergency session of the European Council on Thursday.

Her comments came as the European Parliament was set to announce Wednesday that it was pausing ratification of a tariffs and trade deal with the United States inked in July because it was unlikely to pass.

Without the deal, $109 billion of U.S. exports to the EU will be subject to tariffs starting Feb. 7.

French President Emmanuel Macron told the forum in Davos on Tuesday that the EU must not fall prey to “the law of the strongest” and that it should hold out against what he said was a new type of colonialism, citing lopsided U.S. trade deals and an “endless accumulation” of new tariffs that become even less acceptable when used as leverage to alter borders.

Macron also levelled similar accusations at China, saying its “massive excess capacity and distortive practices threaten to overwhelm entire industrial and commercial sectors.”

“We prefer respect to bullies, we prefer science to conspiracies, and we prefer the rule of law to brutality,” said Macron, who is among those advocating deployment of a so-called “trade bazooka” that was created with China in mind when it was floated in 2023.

A deterrent against bids by global powers to strongarm the EU or member nations into policy shifts, the Anti-Coercion Instrument allows Europe to respond with counter-tariffs, restrict access to the Single Market, block bids for EU contracts, as well as target intellectual property rights and investment.

German officials told Politico that Berlin would ask the European Commission to look at the ACI option when EU leaders meet Thursday in Brussels, however, the outcome was being seen as dependent on what Trump says in his address Wednesday and the result of talks on the sidelines of the forum.

Speaking before departing Washington at a news conference to mark his first year in office, Trump initially ramped up his rhetoric, warning he was prepared to do whatever it took to acquire Greenland, before switching to diplomacy mode, saying he was confident he would be able to find a solution acceptable to both sides.

“I think something’s going to happen that’s going to be very good for everybody. … I think that we will work something out where NATO is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy. But we need it for security purposes, we need it for national security and even world security. It’s very important,” Trump said.

DAVID and Victoria Beckham fear estranged son Brooklyn could be left high and dry after he signed an iron-clad pre-nup.

There were also concerns over his change of Instagram profile photo — to one showing a tattoo of his wife Nicola Peltz’s eyes on the back of his neck.

His parents — stunned by their eldest child’s explosive statement on Monday — believe it is yet another sign he is viewing everything through the 31-year-old US actress.

The Sun can reveal Brooklyn, 26, signed a rigid pre-nuptial agreement ahead of their 2022 wedding, and will not gain any of her family wealth if they split.

The move is significant as Nicola’s businessman and investor father Nelson, 83, is worth an estimated £1.2billion.

The agreement means Brooklyn would only leave with half of what they have made as a brand.

READ MORE ON BECKHAM FEUD

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‘NICOLA OR US’

Beckhams believe they’ll only speak to Brooklyn again if he splits from wife

Those close to the aspiring chef insist it is irrelevant as they are stronger than ever as a couple, despite the furore around them.

But his parents have grown more concerned that he could be left stranded after drifting from many of his nearest and dearest.

A source close to David and Victoria said: “The fear is that he has been completely absorbed into the Peltzes and has become alienated from everyone else.

“If they ever did break up, Brooklyn would be completely ostracised and without much cash to show for it.

“It’s as if he’s being held captive or something, because heartbreakingly, that’s what it feels like for them. His future is completely in the hands of the Peltzes.”

We can reveal that after Brooklyn sent his family a “desist” legal letter asking them not to contact them directly, they were so concerned about his in-laws’ influence they replied with a letter addressed solely to him.

The insider explained: “David and Victoria felt it was the only way to get a message across to him without the Peltz family’s influence.

“It was like, ‘Give us a signal you’re OK, because we are concerned for you’. Everything they have done for Brooklyn has come from a place of love and worry.”

Brooklyn has also now updated his Instagram page with a new image featuring a tattoo of Nicola peering out from the back of his neck, which his family feels is another cause for concern.

On paper, Nicola and Victoria should get on like a house on fire

A source

Her eyes are above a letter she wrote to him before they got married, saying: “My forever boy…Just know we can get through it all together if you breathe slow and trust. I love you beyond. Love always, your future wifey.”

A pal said: “It’s so over the top and extreme to show his dedication in that way, it’s almost alarming. Why does he feel the need to do that within a loving relationship?”

The Sun understands that Victoria has been hit hard by Brooklyn’s six-page statement, posted on Instagram, in which he accused his parents of “controlling” him.

He also claimed they tried to interfere with his marriage and said his mum danced “inappropriately on me” at their wedding in Florida, after she “hijacked” their first dance.

Brooklyn said: “I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.”

One pal said: “Victoria has been on the phone to friends in floods of tears. She is totally devastated.”

Brooklyn’s wedding DJ Fat Tony also yesterday waded into the storm, posting a clip of Amanda in BBC comedy Motherland dancing wildly.

The caption read: “POV Victoria Beckham during Brooklyn’s first dance.”

He added: “Actual video footage it’s true I was there!”

The divide between the Peltzes and the Beckhams, including fashion designer Victoria and Nicola, was evident long before the wedding.

A source explained: “On paper, Nicola and Victoria should get on like a house on fire.

“They are both really ambitious, they love fashion, and family is the most important thing to them both. But for some reason, they just never hit it off. They never really gelled and the Beckhams never felt like they bonded with Nicola’s parents Nelson and Claudia.

“It was evident at the wedding. It was very much us and them in the room. As one of the most famous families in the UK, it was weird for the Beckhams to play second fiddle to the billionaire Peltzes.”

Due to lockdowns, the two clans only met for the first time after Brooklyn and Nicola got engaged in 2020.

Her parents were reportedly offended when Victoria and David sent their security team to “sweep” their £76million Florida home ahead of their first visit, which was standard for the Beckhams.

The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life

Brooklyn

There were then differences over the wedding, with Nicola’s mum insisting they have just one wedding, with her as the planner.

Meanwhile, the Beckhams had hoped there would be events in both the US and the UK.

At the wedding itself, tensions were raised further when singer Marc Anthony gave a speech referencing how lucky the couple would be to have a marriage like David and Victoria’s.

However he did not mention the Peltzes, who have been hitched for 40 years.

Another key issue is believed to stem from Brooklyn feeling like he was being “controlled” by his parents during his “wild child” years.

In Monday’s six-part salvo, he hit back at the suggestion that Nicola has been influencing him.

He wrote: “The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life.”

However, the Beckhams believe they were only ever looking out for him.

A source explained: “The idea that they have ‘controlled’ him for years is just not how they see things at all. It’s heartbreaking.

“There was a time, about 10 years ago, when Brooklyn was a teenager and they were just concerned for him. He was doing typical teenage things like staying out late and lashing out, but they always tried to be there for him.

“They put up with a lot, but he is their son and they always had his best interests at heart.”

It was like Brand Beckham was more important than anything else

A source

However he got tired of the perception they were a big happy family.

The source added: “With every event, every post on social media and every family photo opp, it was all about making people think about the Beckhams in a certain way.

“It was like Brand Beckham was more important than anything else.

“It didn’t matter what was really going on behind closed doors, it was business as usual on the outside. He doesn’t want to live like that. It’s fake and exhausting.”

Brooklyn has multiple tattoos dedicated to his wife.

They include his entire wedding vows on his arm, a portrait of his wife and the letter ‘N’ on his ring finger.

Also below Nicola’s eyes are the coordinates where he was born, at London’s Portland Hospital in 1999.

He previously had “mama’s boy” inked on his chest, but covered it up with a design representing Nicola’s wedding bouquet.

NUUK, Greenland — President Trump retreated Wednesday from his most serious threats toward Denmark, easing transatlantic tensions and lifting Wall Street after rejecting the prospect he would use military force to annex Greenland, a Danish territory and the world’s largest island.

Instead, the United States struck a “framework” agreement in talks with NATO’s secretary general regarding the future of Greenland, “and in fact, the whole Arctic region,” Trump wrote on social media. He did not immediately provide details on the contents of the plan.

The whiplash of developments followed weeks of escalating threats from the president to control Greenland by any means necessary — including by force, if left with no other choice.

Now, “the military’s not on the table,” Trump told reporters at the economic forum in Switzerland, acknowledging sighs of relief throughout the room.

“I don’t think it will be necessary,” he said. “I really don’t. I think people are going to use better judgment.”

It was a turn of events that came as welcome news in Nuuk, where signs hang in storefronts and kitchen windows rejecting American imperialism.

“It’s difficult to say what are negotiating tactics, and what the foundation is for him saying all of this,” said Finn Meinel, an attorney born and raised in the Greenlandic capital. “It could be that joint pressure from the EU and NATO countries has made an impact, as well as the economic numbers in the states. Maybe that has had an influence.”

President Trump speaks during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday.

(Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

In his speech at Davos, Trump took note of the market turmoil his threats against Greenland had caused entering the conference. Announcing the agreement framework on social media Wednesday, he said he would pause punitive tariffs planned against longstanding European allies that had refused to support his demands.

Prominent world leaders — including from Canada, France and the United Kingdom, among Washington’s closest allies — had warned earlier this week that Trump’s militant threats against a fellow NATO member were ushering in a new era of global order accommodating a less reliable United States.

For years, Trump has called for U.S. ownership over Greenland due to its strategic position in the Arctic Circle, where ice melting due to climate change is making way for a new era of competition with Russia and China. An Arctic conflict, the president says, will require a robust U.S. presence there.

While the president rejects climate change and its perils as a hoax, he has embraced the opportunities that may come with the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet, the world’s largest after Antarctica, including the opening of new shipping lanes and defense positions.

The United States already enjoys broad freedom to deploy any defense assets it sees fit across the island, raising questions in Europe over Trump’s fixation on outright sovereignty over the land.

“We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it. We’ve never asked for anything else,” Trump said, addressing members of the NATO alliance.

“I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” Trump said. But Europe still has a choice. “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative,” he continued, “or you can say no, and we will remember.”

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The day before Trump’s speech, allies warned about a “rupture” in a global order in which the United States could be relied upon as a force of good. Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, in a speech Tuesday characterized Trump’s push to acquire Greenland as an example of why “the old order is not coming back.”

Trump apparently took note of Carney’s remarks, and told the crowd on Wednesday that Canada “should be grateful.”

“But they are not,” Trump said. “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

The president struck a similar tone with his demands for Greenland, repeatedly characterizing the United States as a “great power” compared with Denmark in its ability to protect the Arctic territory. At one point, he cited the American military’s role in World War II to justify his demands, telling the eastern Swiss audience that, “without us, you’d all be speaking German, or a little Japanese perhaps.”

It was a slight carried forward by the president’s treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, who derided Copenhagen for its decision to divest from U.S. treasuries. “Denmark’s investment in U.S. treasury bonds like Denmark itself is irrelevant,” the secretary said.

In several instances, Trump framed the transatlantic alliance as one that benefits other countries more than the United States.

“We will be with NATO 100%, but I’m not sure they will be there for us,” Trump said. But NATO Secretary Gen. Mark Rutte responded to the concern in their meeting, noting that the alliance’s Article 5 commitment to joint defense has only been invoked once — by the United States, after the September 11th attacks. “Let me tell you: they will,” Rutte said.

But Trump expanded on his thinking over Greenland in his speech to the summit, describing his fixation on Greenland as “psychological,” and questioning why the United States would come to the island’s defense if its only investment was a licensing agreement.

“There’s no sign of Denmark there. And I say that with great respect for Denmark, whose people I love, whose leaders are very good,” Trump said. “It’s the United States alone that can protect this giant, massive 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.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was among the people in the audience reacting to Trump’s remarks in real time. The president’s speech, he told CNN afterward, was “remarkably boring” and “remarkably insignificant.”

“He was never going invade Greenland. It was never real,” Newsom said. “That was always a fake.”

Wilner reported from Nuuk, Ceballos from Washington, D.C.

Angel Reese doesn’t miss.

The two-time WNBA All-Star has joined the cast of Netflix’s hit murder mystery “The Hunting Wives” for its second season, the streamer announced Tuesday. Reese will portray “Trainer Barbie,” which is described as a co-starring role.

It’s no secret that the Chicago Sky forward is a fan of the sexy, soapy, Texas-set drama. Reese declared the series a “CRAZYYY but good watch” on the social media platform X back in August (despite being unsatisfied with the first season’s cliffhanger finale). This caught the attention of “Hunting Wives” creator Rebecca Cutter, who made clear the admiration was mutual and thanked the basketball star for “watching [their] lil ol show.”

“[J]ust let me know if you need me for season 2,” Reese wrote in her response to Cutter with a winking emoji.

“On it my queen,” replied the showrunner with a saluting emoji. And it appears she really was.

The name of the role suggests that the character is tailor-made for Reese. The Baltimore native went by the nickname “Bayou Barbie” during her standout college career at Louisiana State University, which included an NCAA championship. After being drafted by the Chicago Sky in 2024, she also was called “Chi Barbie.”

“Trainer Barbie” marks Reese’s second casting announcement this month. Last week, it was revealed that Reese and fellow WNBA All-Star A’ja Wilson will voice characters in the upcoming animated sports comedy “Goat,” which touts NBA star Steph Curry among its producers. These projects follow Reese’s cameo in Oscar-winning Kathryn Bigelow’s 2025 political thriller “A House of Dynamite.” Fast becoming a fashion icon, Reese also walked the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and was a member of the 2025 Met Gala’s host committee.

In “The Hunting Wives,” Brittany Snow stars as Sophie O’Neil, an ex-Bostonian housewife who gets pulled into the world of Malin Akerman’s socialite ringleader Margo Banks. The second season, currently in production, will also see Kim Matula, Alex Fitzalan, John Stamos, Dale Dickey and Cam Gigandet join returning cast members Jaime Ray Newman, Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, George Ferrier, Karen Rodriguez, Hunter Emery and Branton Box.

DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,

US president says ‘framework of a future deal’ on Greenland and wider Arctic region reached with NATO chief Mark Rutte.

United States President Donald Trump says he is abandoning plans to impose steep tariffs on European countries opposed to his plans to take control of Greenland, after holding talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte.

Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday that the tariffs won’t be imposed because he and Rutte agreed to “the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region”.

“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations,” he said, without going into further details about what was agreed upon.

Trump has been threatening for weeks to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous island that belongs to Denmark, spurring widespread condemnation in Europe and around the world.

Trump announced on Saturday that he would impose 10 percent tariffs on Denmark, ‌Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, starting on February 1, over the countries’ opposition to his Greenland takeover push.

Trump has repeatedly accused Denmark of failing to do enough to secure Greenland’s territorial waters in the Arctic, and he has argued that the US needs to seize the island for its own national security.

But Greenlandic and Danish leaders have rejected the US president’s stance, which recently spurred mass protests under the banner, “Hands off Greenland”.

“Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media after Trump issued his economic threat on Saturday.

“Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld,” Macron said.

Trump’s aboutface on the tariffs came just hours after he told world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday that while the annexation of Greenland was necessary, his administration would not use force to do it.

“People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” said Trump, adding that he was “seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States”.

ONE Direction fans are convinced that Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles could have some secret tension.

The former bandmates both have new solo music coming out this Friday, and some are convinced that Louis isn’t too happy about the clash.

Taking to X, Louis – who previously had a close bond with Harry – has been promoting his upcoming album, How did I get Here?

And in one tweet, he wrote: “Going to need your help over the next few days to cut through the noise. Time to give this record the moment it deserves!”

Now, some are reading into his “cut through the noise” comment, suggesting that Harry is “the noise” in this instance.

In the replies to the tweet, one fan said: “Cut through the noise” why do I feel like this is harry shade?”

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Others in the replies questioned what Louis meant by the phrase, with one fan even beginning a new Reddit thread to discuss whether he was talking about Harry, who is releasing his single Aperture.

They continued that Louis appears to have shown less support for Harry than he has for former bandmate Niall Horan.

They said: “Also worth mentioning Louis commented on Niall’s post announcing new music supporting him, but did not for Harry. What do we think?

“Is there some petty behind the scenes beef between the two, or just a coincidence?”

One account replied: “Hmm if does kind of seem like poor form to release your single on the same day as your former bandmate is scheduled to drop an album.”

Others blasted Harry, who is dating Zoe Kravitz, for releasing his single on the same day as Louis’ new music drop.

However, defending the Watermelon Sugar singer, many brought up the fact that it’s often record labels who decide the date music is released rather than the artist.

“The dates aren’t chosen by artists, they’re being chosen by record label execs, months in advance,” explained one.