Month: January 2026

Top Los Angeles federal prosecutor Bill Essayli faced blistering criticism from gun rights groups, including the NRA, after he posted on X Saturday about the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers.

Essayli, the first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, wrote: “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.”

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, was believed to be a “lawful gun owner with a permit to carry,” according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. Bystander videos show Pretti holding a phone, but nothing appearing to be a weapon appeared in those that circulated in the hours after the shooting.

In response to Essayli’s tweet, the NRA posted on X: “This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong.”

The post continued: “Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

After receiving significant backlash, Essayli accused another gun rights organization of “adding words to mischaracterize my statement.”

“I never said it’s legally justified to shoot law-abiding concealed carriers,” he posted on X. “My comment addressed agitators approaching law enforcement with a gun and refusing to disarm.

“My advice stands: If you value your life, do not aggressively approach law enforcement while armed. If they reasonably perceive a threat and you fail to immediately disarm, they are legally permitted to use deadly force.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in L.A. referred The Times to Essayli’s post on X clarifying what he initially said. He declined further comment.

Gov. Gavin Newsom joined in the criticism, writing on X, “Wow. Even the NRA thinks Trump’s DOJ stooge in California has gone too far for claiming federal agents were ‘legally justified’ to kill Alex Pretti.”

Earlier, a 2nd Amendment lobbying group, Gun Owners of America, also criticized Essayli.

“We condemn the untoward comments of @USAttyEssayli. Federal agents are not ‘highly likely’ to be ‘legally justified’ in ‘shooting’ concealed carry licensees who approach while lawfully carrying a firearm,” the group posted on X. “The Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting — a right the federal government must not infringe upon.”

Essayli’s post received a community note — a crowdsourced fact-check — noting that “the U.S. Constitution (particularly the 2nd, 4th, and 14th amendments) prohibit officers from shooting citizens merely for possessing a weapon that is not an “imminent threat.”

The shooting drew a large crowd of protesters in a city that had already seen widespread demonstrations after the fatal shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7.

Essayli, a former Riverside County assemblyman, was appointed as the region’s interim top federal prosecutor by U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi last April.

Since taking office, he has doggedly pursued President Trump’s agenda, championing hard-line immigration enforcement in Southern California, often using the president’s language verbatim at news conferences.

One station in the UK recorded just 68 entries and exits between 2024 and 2025

A railway station has earned the title of the UK’s most deserted, with a mere 68 people passing through in an entire year. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) data reveals that a Nottinghamshire station takes the crown as the least frequented in the UK.

Elton and Orston station, nestled between two quaint villages, recorded just 68 entries and exits between 2024 and 2025. This figure is largely estimated from ticket sales, marking a significant drop in footfall – from 212 passengers between 2023 and 2024.

The station’s demand is so low that only two East Midland Railway trains make a pit stop each day. These operate from Monday to Saturday, one heading towards Nottingham and the other bound for Skegness.

Elton and Orston lacks any staff or ticket office. It first opened its doors in 1850, but over the course of the 20th century, passenger numbers began to dwindle.

According to the latest census, Orston boasts a population of 512. Despite such sparse use, railway stations are often kept operational as it’s simpler to arrange infrequent train stops than to secure permission for permanent closure, reports the Express.

Previously, Denton train station in Tameside, Greater Manchester, held the dubious honour of being the quietest station. It saw only 54 entries and exits between 2023 and 2024.

Denton is served by just two trains per week, linking the area with Stockport and Stalybridge on Saturdays. However, passenger numbers at the station have seen an uptick over the past year.

Fresh data revealed that Denton recorded 100 entries and exits during 2024 and 2025.

The Office of Rail and Road suspects that being crowned Britain’s quietest station may have actually drawn more curious visitors.

A spokesperson had previously noted: “In previous years, usage at some of the least used stations presented as part of these statistics has increased the following year.

“We understand that highlighting the least used stations within these statistics can encourage people to visit them.”

Least used stations 2024/2025

• Elton and Orston, Nottinghamshire – 68
• Shippea Hill, Cambridgeshire – 76
• Ince and Elton, Cheshire – 98
• Denton, Greater Manchester – 100
• Reddish South, Greater Manchester – 102

Syrian defence ministry says extension aims to help transfer of ISIL prisoners from facilities previously held by SDF.

A ceasefire agreement between Syria’s military and Kurdish-led forces has been extended for 15 days, the Syrian Ministry of Defence announced.

The ministry said late on Saturday that the extension, which began at 11pm local time (20:00 GMT), aims to support a United States operation to transfer ISIL (ISIS) prisoners from detention facilities previously controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The SDF also confirmed that the ceasefire was extended, stressing in a statement that the deal “contributes to de-escalation, the protection of civilians, and the creation of the necessary conditions for stability”.

Reporting from the Syrian capital Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Ayman Oghanna said the announcement has spurred a feeling of relief in the country.

“While this ceasefire is welcome in Syria, there’s still a lot of concern because the central issue that has caused the fighting between the SDF and the government hasn’t been resolved,” he said.

“And that issue is integration: integrating SDF fighters and civil institutions into [Syrian] government institutions.”

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a deal with the SDF in March of last year to integrate the group into state institutions following the fall of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad.

But the plan faltered amid disagreements between the two sides over how best to implement the agreement, spurring a wave of deadly clashes in several parts of the country in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, Damascus announced a four-day truce to halt a wave of fighting that saw Syrian government forces rapidly advance and seize territory previously held by the SDF.

Syrian ​forces were approaching a last cluster of Kurdish-held cities in the northeast when the ‍ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, giving the SDF until Saturday night to come up with a plan to integrate with Syria’s army.

The advance has brought key oil fields, hydroelectric dams and some facilities holding ISIL fighters and affiliated civilians – including al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa province – under government control.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has been calling on both the Syrian government and the SDF to ensure that the ceasefire holds.

On Wednesday, Washington announced it had begun transferring ISIL-linked detainees from Syria to Iraq. The US military has said as many as 7,000 people could be transferred to Iraqi-controlled facilities.

“We are closely coordinating with regional partners, including the Iraqi government, and we sincerely appreciate their role in ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS,” US Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US forces in the Middle East, said.

Al-Maliki remains a potent force despite longstanding claims he fuelled sectarianism and failed to stop ISIL expansion.

Iraqi former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is on the verge of a return to power after being nominated as the country’s next premier by an alliance of Shia political blocs that hold a majority in parliament.

The Shia Coordination Framework said on Saturday that it had picked al-Maliki, leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, as its nominee for the post based on his “political and administrative experience and his role in managing the state”.

A central figure in Iraq’s politics, the 75-year-old first became prime minister in 2006, as the country appeared to be unravelling amid a wave of violence unleashed by the United States-led invasion of 2003.

He stepped down after ISIL (ISIS) seized large parts of the country in 2014, but has remained an influential political player, leading the State of Law coalition and maintaining close ties with Iran-backed factions.

The move paves the way for negotiations aimed at forming a new government, which will need to manage powerful armed groups close to Iran, such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq, while facing growing pressure from Washington to dismantle them.

Potent force

Al-Maliki was Iraq’s only two-term premier since the US-led invasion, and had, over the years, managed to appease both Tehran and Washington, becoming a powerbroker whose approval is considered indispensable to any governing coalition.

He remains a potent force in Iraqi politics despite longstanding accusations that he fuelled sectarian strife and failed to stop ISIL from seizing large areas of the country a decade ago.

The politician spent nearly a quarter of a century in exile after campaigning against the governance of former President Saddam Hussein, but returned to Iraq in the wake of the 2003 invasion that toppled the longtime leader.

He became a member of the de-Baathification commission that barred members of Saddam’s Baath party from public office.

The US-authored programme was widely blamed for fuelling the rise of post-invasion rebel groups by purging thousands of experienced civil servants who were disproportionately Sunni.

Two stars of The Night Manager season two appeared in a beloved period drama on Apple TV+

*Warning – This article contains major spoilers for The Night Manager season 2.*

A “breathtaking” period drama with The Night Manager stars has had fans watching it “on repeat”. The Night Manager has returned for its second season on BBC One, with Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Jonathan Pine.

The first season of the hit BBC thriller aired back in 2016, and centred around Jonathan, the night manager of a luxury hotel in Cairo, who was also a former British solider. At the start of the series, Jonathan was recruited by Angela Burr (Olivia Colman), the manager of a Foreign Office task force investigating illegal arms sale. He was tasked with infiltrating the inner circle of arms deal Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie).

The start of the second season saw Angela identify Richard’s body, but a shock twist was later unveiled, as Richard was confirmed to be alive and working with his son Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva) in Colombia.

Jonathan was reunited with Angela last week, who revealed that Richard had threatened her family if she didn’t comply with his orders to fake his death. An explosive set of events then ensued, as Jonathan rushed to stop Teddy killing a young boy, with Richard soon learning of Jonathan’s reappearance in his life.

Ahead of the penultimate episode of season two airing on BBC One tonight (Sunday, January 25), fans might be interested to watch another drama with two of this season’s stars.

Tom Hiddleston and his season two co-star Hayley Squires, who plays Jonathan’s colleague Sally Price-Jones, both star in Gothic romance series The Essex Serpent.

Based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Perry, the six-part period drama is set in the Victorian era and tells the story of Cora Seaborne (Claire Danes) who moves from London to Essex, relishing her newfound freedom after being widowed by her abusive husband.

She becomes intrigued by the myth of a creature known as the Essex Serpent, leading her to the community’s spiritual leader, Will Ransome (played by Tom), as she seeks to uncover the origins of the creature. “But when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature,” the synopsis adds.

Actress Hayley played Martha, a highly intelligent servant in Cora’s household, acting as her closest confidante. The show’s cast also includes Frank Dillane, Clémence Poésy, Jamael Westman, Lily-Rose Aslandogdu, Gerard Kearns, Michael Jibson, Caspar Griffiths, and Dixie Egerickx.

Ryan Reffell, Nitin Ganatra, Christopher Fairbank, Deepica Stephen, Yaamin Chowdhury and Greta Bellamacina round out the stacked cast.

Filming for The Essex Serpent began in February 2021 in a number of Essex locations, including Alresford, Brightlingsea, North Fambridge and Maldon, as well as across London, including Gordon Square in Bloomsbury. The show debuted on Apple TV+ in May 2022, where it received positive reviews from critics and viewers alike.

“What a joy to watch. Everything about this is first class from the minute it starts to the end. Beautifully filmed with a lot of scenes that are utterly breathtaking. Such an emotional and complex story,” one person wrote on IMDb.

Another added: “This series is absolutely exquisite! Every detail from the cinematography, music, writing, setting and acting all blend together in perfect harmony. The themes of social and economic class disparities, science, scapegoating, superstition, faith and of course infinite love, weave together effortlessly to make this a very powerful story.”

A third said: “I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of The Essex Serpent. It did not disappoint, I’ve been a fan of Tom Hiddleston a long time, and he yet again gives another great performance. I love Claire Danes role as Cora, she makes me want to be more carefree as her. A beautiful forbidden romance, mystery, and a struggle with one’s own beliefs reign in this show. Eager for more.”

A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “Mesmerising from the start, and thoroughly captivating to the end. The story is brilliant, the characters solid, and the eerie mood of the Essex estuaries is masterfully captured on screen. All the events, along with the terrifying and exciting music, made me fall in love with this series. I keep watching it on repeat.”

The Essex Serpent is available to stream on Apple TV+, while The Night Manager airs every Sunday at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website

Bragi Jonsson is Icelandic but hates the winter’s freezing cold there. In fact, he hates it so much that since 2020, he has been heading south during the winter

A retired security guard who swapped his life in Europe for a sun-soaked Southern Hemisphere country has shared how much his life there really costs.

Bragi Jonsson is Icelandic but hates the winter’s freezing cold there. In fact, he hates it so much that since 2020, he has been heading south during the winter, staying in Thailand for months at a time. The 69-year-old rents somewhere cheap and spends his time relaxing, enjoying the warm weather and local culture.

The Mirror caught up with Bragi during his most recent trip to Pattaya, a vibrant coastal city on the Gulf of Thailand that is known for its energetic beaches, diverse nightlife and the Big Buddha.

“It is pretty nice. This is my fifth time I’ve come down here,” Bragi explained while sunning himself in the 30 °C January weather. Bragi is one of an increasing number of Europeans who call Thailand their home, at last for part of the year.

By one estimate, there are around five million foreigners living in the country, around 300,000 of which are North American, European or Australian. One reason is the more generous visa rules that were introduced in 2024, with visa-free access extended to 60 days for tourism, up from 30. The process is further streamlined by the adoption of Thai e-Visa and a new Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, though authorities are enforcing stricter checks on long-term “visa runs”.

READ MORE: One of the UK’s ‘worst seaside towns’ is getting a huge £37.5million revampREAD MORE: ‘I leave my toddler and partner at home and take therapy trips abroad’

Another big reason – beyond the pleasant weather – is the cost of living.

“It is much cheaper to live down here than in the UK or Iceland. I’ve got a lovely place down here and it’s cheaper to go out dining than cooking at home,” Bragi explained.

“Food, for example, £4 for a course would be expensive. I like pad thai. A good steak with beer is £5. Altogether, it’s cheap living down here. If you really go local at the food stands, you can live cheap.”

In terms of beer, a large bottle of Chang or Singha beer can be bought in the shops for 70 baht, or around £1.60, with the price rising to roughly double that in bars.

“There is a big nightclub further down the beach (in Pattaya), and it’s more expensive the closer you go to there. There’s a bar with ladies who look after you. Every bar lady tries to chat you up. It’s a nice gesture, but you have to tip them,” Bragi added.

At the moment, Bragi is paying £240 a month for his accommodation, a studio apartment which includes water, electricity, and internet. studio apartment.

Bragi, who retired in 2021 after years spent working as a security guard in Iceland and in hotels, continued: “I never wanted to own anything. The most expensive thing I’ve owned is a car. I never wanted to own a property. I work and travel. I have a permanent address in Iceland and pre-settlement status in the UK, but I am hoping to move to Thailand longer term.”

When asked if he missed anything about his home country, Bragi said “nothing”. “I wouldn’t survive up there. The rent is so expensive. And it is damn cold over there. My plan is at least seven/eight months in Thailand, maybe move around to Bali or Vietnam. I am definitely not going to Iceland. I don’t worry about anything. I am just living life.”

As Bragi doesn’t own a home in Iceland. When he’s not in Thailand, he travels the world, house sitting for families in the UK and elsewhere in Europe via HouseSitMatch.

He has now stayed in over 70 properties and doesn’t see himself stopping anytime soon. He saves on rent and household bills, and can enjoy exploring new places during his retirement. But his biggest tip for exploring unknown areas is fascinating – he takes part in Geo Caching – essentially a treasure hunt via GPS on your phone. “It has taken me to so many places that I would never have known about, you can do it anywhere in the world and it keeps you fit and healthy – I see lots of families doing it too.”

According to Thomas Cook data, it’s mainly couples that are heading to Thailand on holiday – accounting for 51% of all bookings. What’s more interesting is holidaymakers are leaning into luxury, with 93% of bookings to Thailand made this month opting for four- and five-star accommodation. Nicholas Smith, holidays digital director at Thomas Cook, said: “We’ve seen bookings to Thailand increase by more than 400% year-on-year, as holidaymakers look to stretch their budgets further while still ticking off long-haul, bucket list destinations. Strong value on accommodation and experiences, paired with Thailand’s reputation as a safe and flexible choice for first-time long-haul customers, are all playing a part.”

Videos quickly emerged Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester by federal immigration agents, with Democratic leaders in Minnesota saying the footage showed the deadly encounter was the result of untrained federal officers overreacting and the Trump administration saying the man provoked the violence.

It was the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis by federal immigration authorities this month. The killing of Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7 also was captured on videos and produced a similar schism among political leaders.

At around 9 a.m. on Saturday, federal agents patrolling Minneapolis killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti after a roughly 30-second scuffle. The Trump administration said shots were fired “defensively” against Pretti, who federal authorities said had a semiautomatic handgun and was “violently” resisting officers.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who said he watched one of several videos, said he saw “more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents, shooting him to death.” Frey has said Minneapolis and St. Paul are being “invaded” by the administration’s largest immigration crackdown, dubbed Operation Metro Surge.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti attacked officers, and Customs and Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino said Pretti wanted to do “maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” In posts on X, President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called Pretti “a would-be assassin.”

The shooting Saturday occurred as officers were pursuing a man in the country illegally wanted for domestic assault, Bovino said. Protesters routinely try to disrupt such operations, and they sounded their high-pitched whistles, honked horns and yelled out at the officers.

Among them was Pretti. At one point, in a video obtained by the Associated Press, Pretti is standing in the street and holding up his phone. He is face-to-face with an officer in a tactical vest, who places his hand on Pretti and pushes him toward the sidewalk.

Pretti is talking to the officer, though it is not clear what he is saying.

The video shows protesters wandering in and out of the street as officers persist in trying to talk them back. One protester is put in handcuffs. Some officers are carrying pepper spray canisters.

Pretti is seen again when the video shows an officer wearing tactical gear shoving a protester. The protester, who is wearing a skirt over black tights and holding a water bottle, reaches out for Pretti.

The same officer shoves Pretti in his chest, leading Pretti and the other protester to stumble backward.

A different video then shows Pretti moving toward another protester, who falls over after being shoved by the same officer. Pretti moves between the protester and the officer, reaching his arms out toward the officer. The officer deploys pepper spray, and Pretti raises his hand and turns his face. The officer grabs Pretti’s hand to bring it behind his back, and deploys the pepper spray canister again and then pushes Pretti away.

Seconds later, at least half a dozen federal officers surround Pretti, who is wrestled to the ground and hit several times. Several agents try to bring Pretti’s arms behind his back, and he struggles.

Videos show an officer, who is hovering over the scuffle with his right hand on Pretti’s back, back away from the group with what appears to be a gun in his right hand just before the first shot is heard.

Someone shouts, “Gun, gun.” It is not clear whether that’s a reference to the weapon authorities say Pretti had.

And then the first shot is heard.

Videos do not clearly show who fired the first shot. In one video, seconds before that shot, one officer reaches for his belt and appears to draw his gun. The same officer is seen with a gun to Pretti’s back as three more shots ring out. Pretti slumps to the ground. Videos show the officers backing away, some with guns drawn. More shots are fired.

The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after he “approached” Border Patrol officers with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun. Officials did not say whether Pretti, who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon, brandished the gun or kept it hidden.

An agency statement said officers fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “violently resisted” officers trying to disarm him.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expressed dismay at the characterization.

“I’ve seen the videos, from several angles, and it’s sickening,” he said.

Trump weighed in on social media by lashing out at Walz and Frey. He shared images of the gun that immigration officials said was recovered from Pretti and said “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”

Fingerhut writes for the Associated Press.

Christen Press welcomed herself to the U.S. women’s soccer team by scoring twice in her debut in the first game of 2013. The team said goodbye Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park, honoring Press before its first game of 2026, a 6-0 win over Paraguay.

In between, Press played 154 more times for the U.S., winning two World Cups, an Olympic bronze medal and scoring 62 more goals, retiring as the ninth-leading scorer in team history.

But those are just numbers because as good as Press was, she wants to be remembered for the legacy she left behind, for the barriers she broke, for the inspiration she continues to provide for players who followed her to the national team.

“Well, it’s sort of the point, right?” she said ahead of Saturday’s farewell ceremony before a crowd of 19,397. “I feel really lucky that I had the opportunity to play long enough to overlap with some of these young players and be able to see the growth of the game, how far it’s come, and be able to see what the next generation of player feels like.

“It’s different, and it’s going to take different things for people to have success.”

Talk about following in Press’ footsteps: The first score Saturday came from Reilyn Turner of the Portland Thorns, like Press a Southern California native who scored her first U.S. goal on a left-footed shot in the first half of her international debut. The second goal, less than two minutes into the second half, came from Kansas City’s Ally Sentnor.

Reilyn Turner, second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring in a 6-0 U.S. win in an international friendly with Paraguay on Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

And that opened the floodgates, with the U.S. getting an own goal from Paraguay’s Fiorella Martínez followed by scores from Trinity Rodman — who was celebrating the three-year contract, reported to be worth a record $6 million, she signed Thursday with the Washington Spirit — a second goal from Sentnor and another from Emma Sears.

Press scored her final international goal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Ten months later, playing with Angel City FC in the NWSL, she shredded the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, an injury that required four surgeries and nearly 25 months to repair. She never played another game for the national team and made just three more starts for Angel City before announcing her retirement last October.

By then Press, 37, had made the transition from soccer star to businesswoman and media personality with Re-Inc, a gender-neutral community-driven fashion brand, and the Re-Cap Show, an award-winning soccer podcast, both of which she runs with wife and former teammate Tobin Heath.

U.S. midfielder Trinity Rodman celebrates after scoring in the second half against Paraguay on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

That, Press said, will continue to provide her with a link to the game.

“We’re so integrated into the women’s sports ecosystem, through podcasts, through merchandise and through the women’s soccer community,” she said. “I have spent a lot of time looking at the business of women’s sports and how we need to reimagine it.

“In a dream world, I’d be able to continue to influence the ecosystem as a businessperson.”

Press got her start in soccer in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, about a dozen miles from where her career officially ended Saturday in Carson. As a preschooler she played with older kids in co-ed league because one team was short a girl.

“I didn’t touch the ball once,” she remembered years later. “I picked daisies and waved to my mom.”

U.S. forward Emma Sears, left, scores past Paraguay defender Fiorella Martinez in the second half Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

She went on to win two CIF Southern Section titles at the Chadwick School and a Hermann Trophy at Stanford before starting a club career that took her to eight teams in three countries. With the national team she went to three Olympics, won World Cups and played a key role in the landmark lawsuit against U.S. Soccer that ended with the women earning equal pay with the men’s team.

It’s a résumé that already is challenging the next generation of national team players.

“I admired her for a long time,” said Seattle Reign winger Maddie Dahlien, 21, who made her national team debut Saturday. “She made a name for herself a little later. You never know when your opportunity will be. So make the most of it when it comes.”

U.S. coach Emma Hayes never had a chance to work directly with Press, though she wanted to bring her overseas to Chelsea FC when Hayes managed there and Press was looking to move to the Women’s Super League.

U.S. defender Gisele Thompson, left, moves the ball past Paraguay midfielder Fatima Acosta in the second half Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“I’ve always admired her and thought what a fantastic football player she is. Very different to what was a more traditional American forward at the time,” Hayes said. “What she’s achieved, as well-traveled as she is, what an honor to be coaching on the day she gets celebrated in her hometown.”

For Press, it was a celebration that marked the transition from one stage of life to the next. And, she acknowledged, there are a few things she’s going to miss.

“I am so sad that I don’t play soccer anymore,” she said. “I miss training. I miss being on a team, being around young people. I miss being outside every day. I miss the grass. I miss the discipline and ritual that football brings to my life.”

“I like to talk about all the things that I miss, because I think ‘I’m retired. It’s easy now.’ No. I had the best job in the world. And it’s an irreplaceable job.”

The £60 million Airlander 10 mega airship is the size of a football pitch and can carry up to 100 passengers. It doesn’t need a runway and can land on grass, gravel, sand or even water

The world’s largest aircraft, cheekily dubbed the “flying bum” due to its peculiar shape, doesn’t even require a runway for landing. The £60 million “mega airship”, complete with double bedrooms and an onboard bar, is set to redefine air travel.

Hybrid Air Vehicles, the manufacturers, aim to have a commercial fleet of the Airlander 10 soaring through the skies by 2029. At a whopping 92-metres, it will be the world’s largest aircraft, designed to revolutionise the way we travel.

The makers also anticipate that the aircraft will be able to reach locations currently “inaccessible to all but helicopters”.

That is because the Airlander 10 can take off and land without the use of a runway. They claim it can land on “grass, gravel, sand, marsh, or even water”, requiring only “very short” take off and landing distances.

George said: “The aircraft can land in any open space, it doesn’t need a paved runway, so all of a sudden you have taken away some of the barriers to entry for the aircraft. You can try out something because you’re not committing to millions of dollars of infrastructure.”

He added: “You could take that aircraft on a multi-place trip. You could go from the coast of Saudi Arabia in-land to places that are really inaccessible to all but helicopters now and that aircraft at its maximum capacity that can hold 100 people.”

George – whose company purchased the design after the US military abandoned the project following the Iraq War’s conclusion – embraced the “flying bum” nickname but told the Mirror he has “personally never seen it.”

Nevertheless, head of marketing Hannah Cunningham revealed that a refined version destined for commercial aviation would be “less bum” than earlier iterations. Currently, the company has no operational prototypes, having instead built two mock-ups of the passenger compartment that will be suspended beneath the helium-filled flotation system.

The firm previously operated a test aircraft which caused traffic gridlock when it soared above Bedford in August 2016. However, it has since been withdrawn from service.

That situation may soon shift as manufacturers HAV have secured a site in Doncaster to construct the new, enhanced Airlander 10 within the coming 12 to 18 months. The company then faces a lengthy Civil Aviation Authority approval process that could result in the South Yorkshire facility churning out two dozen units annually from 2030.

The aircraft promises an end to the cramped, deafening cabins of conventional aeroplanes, according to HAV, with the vessel described as a “more comfortable” flying experience. It cruises at 3,000 metres, sufficiently low that air-pressurisation isn’t required.

With a maximum speed of 80mph, it avoids the drone and vibration of contemporary jets. While it sacrifices speed, being six times slower than a Boeing Dreamliner, it compensates with endurance, claiming the capability to cover 4,000 miles in a single journey.

The Airlander 10 is set to be one of the most environmentally friendly aircrafts, thanks to a collaboration between HAV and UK-American company ZeroAvia. The partnership aims to power the aircraft with hydrogen-electric engines, significantly reducing the Airlander 10’s emissions to perhaps just 1 or 2 per cent of those from a typical kerosene-powered commercial plane.

Val Miftakhov of ZeroAvia commented: “Airlander is another exciting airframe for line-fit for our powertrains as it can open up a whole new market in air travel due to its range, efficiency, and ability to operate from almost anywhere.”

He added: “Like ZeroAvia, Hybrid Air Vehicles is an aerospace innovator with exciting manufacturing and growth plans for the UK that can deliver hundreds of well-paid jobs in different regions in the UK.”

Jan. 24 (UPI) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope for ending the nearly four-year-old war started by Russia after the first trilateral talks concluded on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Zelensky was not among his country’s representatives but said six Ukrainian officials negotiated with Russian military intelligence and armed forces representatives, while the United States sent Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Dan Driscoll, Alexus Grynkewich and Josh Gruenbaum to help create a viable framework for ending the war.

He thanked officials from the United Arab Emirates for hosting the talks, which he described as “constructive,” and said Ukraine is ready to move forward on securing an agreement to end the war.

“The central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war,” Zelensky said in a post on X.

Such parameters would include participation from U.S. officials to help encourage a peace agreement.

“I highly value the understanding of the need for American monitoring and oversight of the process of ending the war and ensuring genuine security,” Zelensky said, adding that U.S. officials asked which “security conditions” might be required to secure the peace.

He said the Russian military contingent identified several issues to be discussed if another meeting is held, and attendees are to report on the talks with their respective national leaders.

The talks were held for two days and were the first in which Russian and Ukrainian officials met to negotiate an end to the war that started when Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump met while in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week to discuss the talks that were held on Friday and Saturday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is winning the war and is prepared to continue fighting until all military objectives are achieved, no matter how many Russian troops are killed, The New York Times reported.

Russia also launched an aerial attack early Saturday morning that sent more than 350 drones and 15 missiles to strike targets in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

The attack killed one and damaged a hospital and maternity ward, Ukrainian officials said.

The U.S. contingent acted as mediators to help ensure the talks are more productive and stand a better chance of ending with a viable peace deal that ends the fighting.

A 37-year-old Minneapolis man, who is believed to be a US citizen, has been killed by a federal agent.

Greg Bovino, Border Patrol commander said that officers tried to disarm an individual who “violently resisted”.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he spoke to the White House after “another horrific shooting by federal agents”.

More on this story.

Applicants are advised not to book any travel before receiving their valid passport

People have been told they can save money when buying their new passport by doing one thing. Holidaymakers and business travellers have been told it will also usually mean they get their document in three weeks.

According to His Majesty’s Passport Office, if you apply for your UK passport online, it is not only cheaper but typically quicker as well. His Majesty’s Passport Office says applying online costs £12.50 less than completing a paper form and sending it by post, with most people using the standard online service receiving their passport within three weeks.

In a message posted on X, the Passport Office said: “It’s cheaper and easier to apply for your passport online! You’ll usually get your passport within 3 weeks using our standard service. Our processing time starts from when we receive your documents.”

An adult passport costs £94.50 online versus £107 by post, a saving of £12.50. The online service can be used to apply for, renew, replace or update a passport, with payments made by debit or credit card. Applications can be made here.

Crucially for those still holding older documents, passports that are burgundy or bear the words ‘ European Union ‘ on the cover remain valid until their expiry date. Applicants are warned not to book travel until they have a valid passport in hand, as any new passport issued will carry a different number from the old one.

For those in a rush, faster – and pricier – options are available, including the Online Premium service and the one-week Fast Track, though the Passport Office advises checking processing times before applying. For those who are not as tech-savvy, assistance is available at the Post Office through the digital Check and Send service.

Here, staff can help with taking a digital photo and filling out the application, although this service does come with an additional charge. Paper applications can still be obtained from Post Offices, but these take more time to process and require applicants to supply their own photos. A distinct paper Check and Send service is also provided for an extra fee.

Standard Passport Fees (UK applications)

Method Adult (16+) Child (under 16)

Online (standard service): adult – £94.50; child – £61.50

Postal (paper form): adult- £107.00; child- £74.00

Premium (same-day service): – adult – £222.00*; child – £189.00

Fast Track (1-week): adult – £178.00*; child – £145.00

*Not available for first-time adult applications

For the latest money saving tips, shopping and consumer news, go to the new Everything Money website

Amber Gill, who won Love Island in 2019, has issued a hilarious takedown on Curtis Pritchard after her former co-star returned to the villa yet again

Amber Gill has issued a scathing attack on Curtis Pritchard after he returned to the Love Island villa again. The TV star, 28, shot to fame when she and then-boyfriend Greg O’Shea emerged victorious from the ITV2 dating series in 2019, on which Curtis also appeared, finishing in fourth place with then-girlfriend Maura Higgins.

The pair called time on their relationship shortly after leaving the show and Curtis has since returned to the villa to try to find love again on the spin-off All Stars spin-off, having made his entrance to the programme as a Bombshell earlier this week. It comes after he signed up to appear on Love Island Games in 2023, and also finished in third place on last year’s edition of All Stars alongside Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.

READ MORE: Love Island star Greg O’Shea marries model girlfriend 6 years after winning ITV2 showREAD MORE: Inside Maura Higgins’ unstoppable rise as Love Island star is darling of the Golden Globes

As Amber watched Curtis’s arrival on screen, she took to TikTok to post a video where she demanded to know just why Curtis has appeared time and time again on various formats of the show. She began: “I’m not being funny but how many times do we need to see this guy do the salsa?

“I mean, like, all love but it’s been seven years man [since he first appeared on the show], how many times do I have to watch him with the f****n’ budgie smugglers on f****n’ waltzing about the place with a headpiece on doing the splits and that. Like how many timesssss!”

The news of Curtis’ latest return to the villa was also revealed on social media, with a post from the show’s official account. Alongside a shirtless picture of Curtis, the caption read: “Bringing Bombshell confidence and hoping for less drama this time round, Curtis is dancing back into the All Stars Villa!”

Ekin wrote: “Just chocked on my Nando’s,” and received over 300 replies. Amber said: “You’re kidding me”, and Ronnie Vint wrote: “Anyone wanna coffee.” Sammy Root wrote: “Who’s idea was that”.

A fan then commented: “This has to be the last love island all stars I’m sorry how many times can we recycle.” Meanwhile, on the post that announced that Lucinda Strafford would also be making a comeback was flooded with comments about how many times she had been on the show before, one fan wrote: “Only just won love island games? She shouldn’t be on the show.” Another said: “Nooo she needs to rest!! She just won love island games.”

During his first time in the Love Island villa, Curtis became best known for making coffees in the morning in what soon became a viral moment. Speaking of his All Stars stint, he said: “I feel like I’m in a different stage in my life.

“The idea of settling down is a serious idea in my life right now. I haven’t found my true love… that sounds so cheesy doesn’t it. So, I thought, let’s give it another go. It was great fun last time; a lot of emotions. I feel excited to go back. I’m going to have a great fun time and hopefully leave with someone. It’s exciting.”

Asked if his comment followed him everywhere, he added: “It follows me everywhere! In hindsight, if I do find a girl this time, I will perhaps cuddle her in bed rather than make coffee… so Amy taught me a lesson.” Curtis is said to have “jumped” at the opportunity after splitting from his partner Sophie Sheridan towards the end of last year.

Curtis’ most recent relationship was with performer Sophie, with them believed to have met when they appeared in a pantomime production of Cinderella in Wolverhampton in 2021. There was speculation about a possible romance between them the following year and it was reported that they rekindled a romance following his stint on Love Island Games

Love Island All Stars airs on ITV2 and is available on ITVX.

PHILADELPHIA — Wishful thinking has characterized liberals for over a decade now: Signs are constantly materializing that the tide has turned and a new era of liberalism is dawning. The 1990 elections are being touted as the latest indicator. I respectfully dissent.

It is dubious, to begin with, whether there ever was a halcyon day in which everyone was liberal. The supposedly idealistic baby boomers, who came of age in the ‘60s, may not have been so idealistic at all–it is not as if draft-age students didn’t have a personal interest in seeing the Vietnam War terminated. And while joining the civil-rights movement might have been inspiring at the time, when civil rights and integration moved north, young, white liberals headed for the suburbs like everyone else.

In short, the premise that there is some golden liberal age whose return we are awaiting is seriously flawed. Nonetheless, it gave many liberals sustenance through the long drought of the ‘70s: Odd-numbered decades, the adage went, were conservative, while even-numbered decades were liberal. Well, that didn’t pan out, so many discovered a new iron-clad rule of U.S. history: Progressive decades come every 30 years (Let’s see–1930, 1960, that means . . . ). It’s thus tempting to see the 1990 elections as the harbinger of this messianic age.

The evidence is that Democrats retained or widened their smashing edge in governorships and state legislatures, gaining the upper hand in congressional redistricting. But this was true in 1970–Richard M. Nixon’s first midterm test–as well; and Democrats didn’t exactly suffer in the ‘80s redistricting.

Another supposed sign of the beating conservatives took was that Democrats enlarged their congressional majorities. That’s true–but by less than the historical average, despite a historically unparalleled freefall in the Republican President’s ratings–which also has nothing to do with growing liberal sentiment.

The final indicator of the allegedly bad news for conservatives is that such troglodytes as Clayton W. Williams Jr. in Texas and John R. Silber in Massachusetts were defeated, while liberal darlings Gov. Mario M. Cuomo of New York and Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey were reelected.

Of course, Williams and Silber both went out of their way to shoot themselves in the foot, and neither’s conqueror–Anne Richards in Texas, and Republican William Weld in Massachusetts–ran as liberals. In fact, Richards, who really is one of the few progressives in Texas, ran away from such an image; while the quintessential Texas progressive, Agriculture Commissioner Jim A. Hightower, shockingly lost .

As for Cuomo and Bradley, both barely won majorities against non-opponents. Then, of course, there’s Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, whose race-baiting reelection can hardly be viewed as a liberal victory. The news for liberals gets worse from there.

Voters strongly rejected environmental appeals in California and New York. Overall, pro-abortion-rights candidates nationally failed to profit from that issue. In short, the environment and abortion–two issues most liberal pundits thought would be The Issues of the ‘90s, catapulting us to victory–are not proving successful hot buttons. The Republicans have proved, however, that race–at least, in the guise of quotas, a more polite way to raise the issue than the heavy-handed Willie Horton approach–still works for them .

All these other issues are electoral sideshow, however: Voters want to hear what Democrats have to say about the economy and jobs. The reality is that doing anything meaningful on that front will require both reducing the deficit–meaning some tax increases, and cuts in popular programs such as Social Security and Medicare–and some investment in the young and the poor, through education and job training, so that there is some reason for jobs and money to be in America instead of Germany or Japan

That is what America needs. It is what Democrats are inclined to say. And if they do, they will lose.

Ask Bradley or Gov. James J. Florio in New Jersey; ask defeated Gov. James J. Blanchard in Michigan. Ask George Bush and the majority of congressmen what message they’ve gotten from the election, and the answer will be: No more taxes. There is no sign whatsoever that voters will pay for increased spending on social programs of any variety to help the economically disadvantaged, and a lot of evidence that such efforts are viewed as benefiting blacks at whites’ expense–not a particularly popular concept.

Most of all, the ridiculous budget debate revealed one amazing and shameful area of solid consensus: Don’t invest in the young, and don’t touch programs like Social Security for the old. We have become an elder-oriented society, beyond even the long-standing political strength of the senior lobby. The preternaturally self-conscious baby-boomer generation has turned out to be prohibitively self-absorbed. There will be even more spending on the elderly as we go, while racial and generational prejudices combine to provide dramatic underinvestment in kids. We would appear to be a society that has given up on its future.

This should not be a surprise after a decade of orgiastic private consumption; of an elderly President who derided conservation as “running out more slowly,” and of studies finding increased sexual activity among middle-class teen-agers who expected nuclear war to cut short their chances for adult sexual activity.

Like the Vienna Hapsburgs of 80 years ago, we live for a glorious past and a sumptuous, vaguely nostalgic present. Like the Madrid Hapsburgs of 250 years earlier, we spent ourselves into near-oblivion on a combination of overconsumption and armaments that are now of little use to new politico-military realities: We can blow up the world 17 times–but the Soviet empire these missiles are meant to deter is falling apart and we can’t deploy force flexibly enough to deal effectively with Iraq.

What is to be done? We must reduce spending, public and private, relative to saving. That will require not only raising taxes but also cutting federal outlays–something the recent budget morass shows Democrats still resisting. Of course, who could blame them? Republicans, and the public at large, are still resisting the reality that spending cuts must touch the comfortable and not just the welfare class–welfare, after all, accounts for only about 7% of the budget, while Social Security and Medicare are not only the largest but the fastest-growing items. Most of all, the nation must face the difficult task of setting priorities, and choosing priorities that focus on long-term gain–investing in jobs, education, infrastructure and debt payment.

In an age of instant gratification and rapid memory loss, we must discover either large numbers of voters who care more about the future than the present (and more about the nation’s future than their own), or large numbers of politicians whose vision has not failed them. Unfortunately, as recent events proved, there are few of either.

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer is full of praise for referee Farai Hallam on his Premier League debut after he stuck with his original decision not to award Manchester City a penalty against Wolves despite VAR sending him to the monitor.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Manchester City 2-0 Wolves

Available to UK users only.

The road has an extreme gradient, no barriers, sharp hairpin turns and is the width of a bridleway – and is loved by some and hated by others

The UK’s wildest road was built by the Romans, is filled with sharp hairpin turns and is the width of a bridleway – so it’s no surprise drivers are willing to take an hour detour to avoid travelling on it.

The Hardknott Pass in the Lake District has an extreme gradient, no barriers and is notorious for breakdowns, accidents and being impassable in dangerous weather. While some people drive the route for the breath-taking views, those local to the area regularly beg inexperienced tourists to stay away.

Technically the Hardknott Pass is the most direct route from the central Lake District to West Cumbria but it is considered so difficult that drivers often decide to take an hour-long detour to avoid twisting up a single-track slalom on a mountainside.

It’s 13 miles long and has been described as one of Britain’s most outrageous roads – leading many to wonder whether it should remain a carriageway or be closed to traffic and instead celebrated as a national treasure.

The road has a long and celebrated history – it was originally laid by the Romans around 110AD and led to the dramatic stronghold at the top of the pass known today as Hardknott Fort.

After the Romans left, the road lingered unloved and uncared for until the 1880s when a local hotelier association paid for some improvements.

Later in 1913, the first motor vehicles drove over the pass and tanks during World War II where tested on the road which was eaten up so much by the heavy armoury that it had to be rebuilt.

Many reviews of the road reflect the opposing opinions of the pass.

One reviewer wrote: “Absolutely fantastic! I’ve been driving for years and am confident in my abilities so this proved an easy drive for me. Once over the peak, it’s definitely worth a stop at the old fort to take in the views, which are just stunning.”

Another said: “Satnav sent me this way, so we stumbled across it by accident. I consider myself a confident driver but it was a real mental challenge. The single track for two cars was challenging as the front wheel hung over the edge whilst rocks were crumbling. Sadly I could not appreciate the views at all as surviving felt more important.”

Have you taken on a particularly incredible UK road trip? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

It is a deal that ended years of uncertainty over the future of TikTok in the United States.

More than 200 million people in the US can continue using the Chinese video-sharing platform.

Concerns about national security triggered a debate on banning the app almost six years ago.

To address the concerns, an agreement to create a TikTok-US joint venture was reached between Washington and Beijing.

A number of US investors will now control the newly formed entity.

But why did TikTok become such a big political issue in the US?

Presenter: James Bays

Guests:

Einar Tangen – senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation

Sarah Kreps – founder and director of the Technology Policy Institute at Cornell University

Anupam Chander – professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center

These are the key developments from day 1,431 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is where things stand on Sunday, January 25:

Fighting

• Russian forces launched another major attack on Ukraine overnight on Saturday, killing at least one person and wounding four in the capital, Kyiv, and leaving 1.2 million properties without power nationwide, according to officials.
• Kyiv’s military administration reported strikes in at least four districts in the capital and said a medical facility was among the buildings damaged. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Russia targeted the capital and four regions in the country’s north and east.
• Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the worst-affected in the capital was the northeastern suburb of Troyeshchyna, where 600 buildings were without power, water and heat.
• Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia unleashed 375 drones and 21 missiles, including two of its rarely deployed Tsirkon ballistic missiles.
• At least 30 people, including a child, were also wounded during the same attack in the country’s second-largest city of Kharkiv. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said 25 drones had hit several districts in the city. Among those struck was a dormitory for displaced people and two medical facilities, including a maternity hospital, Terekhov wrote on Telegram.
• Ukrainian Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal wrote on Telegram late on Saturday that more than 800,000 Kyiv households were still without power, as were a further 400,000 in the Chernihiv region, north of the capital.

• Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said more than 3,200 buildings in Kyiv remained without heating in the late evening, down from 6,000 in the morning. Night-time temperatures were hovering around -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit).

• Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha denounced the attack as “barbaric” in a statement posted on X. He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of acting “cynically” for launching the attack amid United States-led trilateral talks on the war in the United Arab Emirates.
• In Russia, Ukrainian forces launched a “massive” attack on the border region of Belgorod on Saturday, damaging energy infrastructure, but causing no casualties. Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described the incident as “the most massive shelling of the town of Belgorod”.
• Gladkov said the attack damaged “energy sites” and that fragments of a downed drone triggered a fire in a courtyard of a building. Reports from the area also said the shelling and sounds of explosions had gone on for some time.

• The Russian Ministry of Defence said its forces had completed the takeover of the village of Starytsya in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, close to the border with Russia.

• The General Staff of Ukraine’s military said Russian forces had launched six attacks on an area including Starytsya. But it made no acknowledgement that the village had been captured by Russian forces.

Diplomacy

• Ukraine and Russia ended their second day of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi without a peace deal, with more talks expected next weekend, amid the massive Russian strikes across Ukraine.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X following the meeting that “the central focus” of the discussions was “the possible parameters for ending the war”, but he did not say if the negotiators were close to a deal.
• More discussions are expected next Sunday in Abu Dhabi, according to a US official who spoke to reporters immediately after the talks. The official, who requested anonymity, said negotiators “saw a lot of respect” during the discussions, “because they were really looking to find solutions”.
• The US official also voiced hopes for further talks, possibly in Moscow or Kyiv, beyond next week’s discussions in Abu Dhabi, adding that the next step would be a possible bilateral discussion between Putin and Zelenskyy, or a trilateral meeting that includes US President Donald Trump.
• An unnamed UAE government spokesperson told the Reuters news agency that there was face-to-face engagement between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi – rare in the almost four-year-old war triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion – and said negotiators tackled “outstanding elements” of Trump’s peace framework.

• The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also hinted at the prospects of additional talks with Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul after negotiations in Abu Dhabi, adding that Moscow remains open to a continuation of dialogue, the Russian state RIA news agency reported.

If the UK winter weather is getting you down, there’s a place not too far away with winter sun, stunning beaches and laid-back vibes

For UK residents who love to travel, the beginning of the year is always tricky to navigate – as we look outside at the bleak, rainy weather and the dark and depressing skies, it’s often impossible not to think about where else we could be that has sun in the sky and brightness overhead.

If the urge to take an impromptu winter break abroad becomes too much, here’s the hot tip: Cape Verde’s average February temperature is between 21C – 27C and has flights from £218pp return from London or £353pp return from Manchester.

Cape Verde is an archipelago in the Central Atlantic Ocean comprising ten volcanic islands known for its tropical climate with year-round sunshine making it a popular winter sun destination.

READ MORE: Brits are ditching UK for beautiful country with ‘better cost of living’

Direct flights from the UK take between 5 hours and 50 minutes to 6 hours and 45 minutes depending on which island you’re aiming for.

The islands of Sal and Boa Vista are the most popular with tourists and are viewed to have the best beaches, watersports and resorts. Santiago is the largest island with the capital Praia and has the UNESCO site, Cidade Velha – the first European colonial settlement in the tropics – while the island of Brava, known as the ‘Flower Island’ is famous for its green valleys, natural pools and stunning flower-lined trails.

If you’re heading to Sal, you’ll be treated to some overwhelming nature and wildlife including Shark Bay in which you can wade with harmless baby lemon sharks in shallow water or you can search for seasonal sightings of sea turtles, whales or dolphins on one of the island’s many eco-tours.

READ MORE: Stunning Spanish city slammed by fuming holidaymaker as ‘tourist scam’

Many reviews of Santa Maria beach on Sal highly recommend it. One reviewer wrote: “What a spectacle. Miles of fantastic beach, with white sand and crystal clear water. A dream we can’t wait to relive.”

Another said: “Simply a paradise beach in terms of colours.”

Sal’s Kite beach is also well-known as a prime spot for wind and kitesurfing enthusiasts and its Algodoeiro beach has calm waters favoured by people keen to swim and snorkel.

READ MORE: Ryanair currently has £15 flights to the Canaries in February and March

If you’re heading to Boa Vista, it also has a great selection of stunning beaches – in particular Santa Monica Beach known for its pristine, white sands.

The island also has unique landscapes including the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck – a historic Spanish freighter that ran aground in 1968 and has since become a major landmark – and its charming and laid-back capital city, Sal Rei.

Sal Rei can be translated to ‘Salt King’ from Portuguese which references the island’s historical salt trade and offers pristine beaches, historical sites and adventure in its natural landscapes.

Reviews praise its friendly, local atmosphere and ‘no stress’ vibe.

One reviewer of Sal Rei commented: “Sal Rei is a small and bustling town in which tourists simply fold into the fabric of real village life.

“The joy for me was that it remains a wonderful melting pot – Cape Verdeans, Italians, Portuguese, Africans, Dutch, Germans, Spaniards and English all seemed to integrate three dimensionally without any apparent drama.”

The Masked Singer viewers took to social media to brand the ITV show ‘rigged’ after Anton Du Beke and Kate Nash were eliminated in a double unmasking on Saturday night

Viewers of The Masked Singer have criticised the ITV competition show, claiming the ‘best singers’ are being knocked out following a double elimination on Saturday night (January 24). As The Masked Singer returned for another instalment, the judges were challenged with working out who was behind the remaining costumes after three previous unveilings.

Judges Maya Jama, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan, and Davina McCall were joined on Saturday night’s episode (January 24) by guest panellist Perrie Edwards, famous for being in girl group Little Mix. This week, Perrie and the fellow judges opted to vote out Arctic Fox after the studio audience automatically sent home Monkey Business with the lowest public vote.

Singer Kate Nash, famous for her track Foundations, was unveiled as the celebrity inside the Monkey Business outfit, while Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke was revealed when the panel voted out Arctic Fox, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Following the double elimination – the first of the series – fans flocked to social media to claim the programme is ‘rigged’ after the ‘best singers’ were sent packing. Over wrote: “Absolutely rigged.” Another said: “This whole thing is rigged. Why would you vote off Monkey Business and then go on to save Red Panda.”

A third said: “What what #maskedsingeruk this is stupid ! ! ? ? Joke best singers eliminated!” Another asked: “Why are all the good performs being unmasked and yet the others just because they are wearing a cute costume they stay?”

Anton Du Beke delivered a stunning performance of Barbara Streisand’s Woman in Love, whilst Kate Nash belted out Georgia Brown’s As Long As He Needs Me.

Anton Du Beke and Kate Nash joined the growing list of unmasked celebrities on this series of The Masked Singer, following revelations including The One Show host Alex Jones, rapper Professor Green, Sex Pistols legend John Lydon, and last week’s unveiling of Shakespears Sister vocalist Marcella Detroit.

A peaceful protest in support of a 37-year-old man shot and killed by immigration officers in Minneapolis was under way Saturday evening in downtown Los Angeles.

Demonstrators gathered at the historic Placita Olvera marketplace. A banner fluttered above reading, “From Los Angeles to Minneapolis, stop ICE terror.”

As the afternoon light began to fade, speakers led chants to “abolish ICE” and urged “ICE out of Minnesota, ICE out of L.A.”

They carried signs printed with messages “America hates ICE” and “Drop the charges on Minnesota activists.”

Aida Ashouri, a candidate running for city attorney, said she couldn’t imagine if she had been snatched as a child and deported to Iran, where her family is from. She said local city officials had created funds to aid families impacted by raids, but criticized some of those same officials for approving surveillance technology used by law enforcement.

Adi Renee, an educator who spoke at the rally said that Minneapolis protests, during which thousands of workers and hundreds of businesses shut down on Friday, had shown that labor unions could help to lead a political strike against ICE and the Trump administration.

“I’m really grateful to Minneapolis,” she said. “They’ve shown us that our public unions can call a political strike and they need to do it now.”

A speaker at the rally who identified herself as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America denounced violence by federal agents in Minnesota.

“We are here again after another shooting,” she said into a megaphone. “Our elected officials continue to fund ICE [which is] murdering and kidnapping our neighbors in the streets.”

By around 5 p.m. the protest had grown to at least 400 people. The crowd began marching down Los Angeles Street, blocking traffic. Demonstrators congregated in front of the federal building, many of them chanting, “The people united will never be defeated.”

A police helicopter circled overhead.

Prior to the protest, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement assailing the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a nurse, by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis, the second such death in that city this month involving U.S. immigration officers.

“This morning we learned of yet another tragic shooting in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents,” Bass said. “This violence has to stop and the president must remove these armed, federal forces from Minneapolis and other American cities.”

The Los Angeles County Republican Party cautioned against a rush to judgment in what is certain to be another highly volatile case.

“In the aftermath of any officer involved shooting, it’s important to figure out what happened, which often is not possible to ascertain immediately,” the party’s chairman said in a statement provided to City News Service. “We were not present at the scene of this regrettable incident in Minneapolis, and neither was Mayor Karen Bass.”

City News Service contributed to this report.