Month: January 2026

DRC, South Sudan Exchange Prisoners to Boost Security Cooperation

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan have completed a major prisoner exchange following a recent diplomatic meeting. The border town of the Aru territory in the DRC serves as a haven for numerous South Sudanese refugees escaping the civil conflict in their homeland.

In August 2025, the French humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that over 33,000 South Sudanese refugees had been documented on the Congolese side of the border.

The DRC government said the bilateral meeting was held to reinforce security cooperation and the permanent exchange of intelligence between the two countries. The two delegations agreed to exchange detainees as a strong gesture of peace.

“There have been problems: a South Sudanese soldier entered our country through Aguruba, and finally, he was bogged down in mud and got lost. His colleagues came to search for him, and that is when his colleagues, before returning, took hostage a soldier of the Republican Guard and a policeman. Before that, they had already taken a village chief hostage. Fortunately, the chief of the chiefdom has spoken with the commissioner and the village chief was returned,” Richard Mbambi, the police administrator of the Aru territory, revealed.

 “But the soldiers, on leaving, I think they received orders from their superiors, took an element of the Republican guard and an element of the police, and that is what made us agree with the commissioner that we should meet in order to resolve the problem. We brought the soldier who was held in detention and another South Sudanese who had been arrested. We have just returned them to the commissioner, who has also returned the soldier and policeman who were taken on that day,” he added.

The South Sudanese delegation, led by the commissioner of Morobo district, emphasised that the meeting was significant to strengthening coexistence and peace between the neighbouring countries.

“Today, we have met with your authorities to resolve the situation which is going on between us. We must resolve our differences, we must put in efforts so that we no longer return to situations that have already taken place,” said Charles Dhata, the South Sudanese commissioner.

The security situation at the border between the two countries in the Aru territory remains bleak, as many refugees are fleeing the civil war atrocities in South Sudan. Various sources have reported instances of looting in several local communities within Congolese territory, carried out by rogue elements of the South Sudanese security forces and some individuals disguised as refugees. Discussions during the meeting addressed these concerns.

In December 2025, more than 40,000 South Sudanese refugees were relocated to sites with potable water, schools, and health facilities, with the support of the National Commission for Refugees of the MSF and local authorities.  

Police administrator Richard stressed the importance of exchanging intelligence between the two countries. This exchange aims to address differences and enhance security in two regions.

“The recommendations that we have made are notably that we must meet from time to time, at least every quarter, so that there are exchanges between the authorities of the territory,” he said.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan carried out a significant prisoner exchange following a diplomatic meeting aimed at enhancing security cooperation and intelligence sharing between the two countries.

The exchange involved resolving incidents of soldier detentions at the border town of Aru, a refuge for many South Sudanese fleeing civil conflict.

The meeting addressed the security challenges posed by the civil war in South Sudan, including looting incidents in Congolese communities by rogue South Sudanese forces. Refugee support efforts have seen over 40,000 South Sudanese relocated to camps with basic facilities, facilitated by Médecins Sans Frontières and local authorities.

Regular bilateral meetings are recommended to further reinforce peace and security.

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Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead the way

NOMINATIONS for the Brit Awards 2026 have been announced, and it looks set to be a glorious year for the girls.

Olivia Dean and Lola Young are in the running for five gongs each, while a whopping 70 per cent of the nominees are women – the most in the event’s history.

Olivia Dean is the first artist confirmed to perform at the Brit Awards 2026Credit: Getty
Jack Whitehall is back on hosting duties for the sixth timeCredit: John Marshall – JM Enternational

When are the Brit Awards 2026?

The Brit Awards 2026 will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

To watch the ceremony on telly, viewers can tune in to ITV1 at 8pm.

Fans can vote for Song of the Year and International Song of the Year via WhatsApp from 12pm on January 30 to 6pm on February 13.

Who has been nominated for the Brit Awards 2026?

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

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ALBUM OF THE YEAR

  • Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
  • Lily Allen – West End Girl
  • Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
  • Sam Fender – People Watching
  • Wolf Alice – The Clearing

SONG OF THE YEAR

  • Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas – Blessings
  • Chrystal & Notion – The Days (Notion Remix)
  • Cynthia Erivo ft. Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity
  • Ed Sheeran – Azizam
  • Fred Again, Skepta & Plaqueboymax – Victory Lap
  • Lewis Capaldi – Survive
  • Lola Young – Messy
  • Myles Smith – Nice To Meet You
  • Olivia Dean – Man I Need
  • Raye – Where Is My Husband!
  • Sam Fender & Olivia Dean – Rein Me In
  • Skye Newman – Family Matters

GROUP OF THE YEAR

  • The Last Dinner Party
  • Pulp
  • Sleep Token
  • Wet Leg
  • Wolf Alice

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

  • Barry Can’t Swim
  • EsDeeKid
  • Jim Legxacy
  • Lola Young
  • Skye Newman

ALTERNATIVE/ROCK ACT

  • Blood Orange
  • Lola Young
  • Sam Fender
  • Wet Leg
  • Wolf Alice

POP ACT

  • Jade
  • Lily Allen
  • Lola Young
  • Olivia Dean
  • Raye

HIP HOP/GRIME/RAP ACT

  • Central Cee
  • Dave
  • Jim Legxacy
  • Little Simz
  • Loyle Carner

R&B ACT

  • Jim Legxacy
  • Kwn
  • Mabel
  • Sasha Keable
  • Sault

DANCE ACT

  • Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas
  • FKA Twigs
  • Fred Again, Skepta & Plaqueboymax
  • PinkPantheress
  • Sammy Virji

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • Bad Bunny
  • Chappell Roan
  • CMAT
  • Doechii
  • Lady Gaga
  • Rosalia
  • Sabrina Carpenter
  • Sombr
  • Taylor Swift
  • Tyler The Creator

INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR

  • Alex Warren – Ordinary
  • Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club
  • Disco Lines & Tinashe – No Broke Boys
  • Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
  • Gracie Abrams – That’s So True
  • HUNTR/X – Golden
  • Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
  • Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not
  • Rose & Bruno Mars – APT.
  • Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
  • Sombr – Undressed
  • Taylor Swift – The Fate Of Ophelia
Lola Young has been nominated for five Brit AwardsCredit: PA

INTERNATIONAL GROUP

  • Geese
  • Haim
  • HUNTR/X
  • Tame Impala
  • Turnstile

Where is the event taking place?

As part of a new strategy move, Manchester is becoming the home of the ceremony.

The city’s Co-Op Live is hosting the awards in 2026 and 2027.

It’s the first time in the Brits’ nearly 50-year history that the ceremony will be held outside of London.

How much are tickets to the show?

Tickets to the Brit Awards 2026 sold out rapidly after going on sale in early December 2025.

Standard seated tickets started at £109.95, excluding fees, and were available via Ticketmaster and the official Brits website.

Tickets were limited to four per household, with standing available only for those aged 16 and over, while under-14s must be accompanied by an adult.

Who is performing on the night?

Olivia Dean is the first artist confirmed to perform at the Brit Awards 2026.

She’s nominated for Artist and Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, as well as Song of the Year twice and Pop Act.

Olivia said: “It feels crazy to have five nominations. It’s very surreal and I’m still processing it.”

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Europe’s biggest hotel is in a VERY surprising part of the UK

IF you’ve ever wondered where the biggest hotel in Europe is you might be surprised to learn that it’s right here in the UK.

The Royal National Hotel, is in the heart of Bloomsbury and has a whopping 1,630 rooms across eight floors – making it the largest in Europe by room number.

Royal National Hotel has a classic British pub-style bar insideCredit: Booking.com
There’s a huge choice of rooms from single to triple plus which can sleep up to fourCredit: Unknown

Run by Imperial London Hotels, the Royal National Hotel is an ideal spot for London tourists as it’s a two-minute walk from Russell Square station.

It’s 15-minutes from Soho so easy access to theatres, and a short tube journey away from King’s Cross and Euston.

There’s a choice of rooms for all from a cosy single to double rooms, twins and even triple rooms.

For a bit more space, check out the standard plus rooms, family rooms which sleep three or the standard plus family room.

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All rooms come with an en-suite, free Wi-Fi, TV, radio as well as tea and coffee making facilities.

You can book on a room only basis, or a bed and breakfast basis which comes with an unlimited buffet.

When it comes to eating, the Royal National Hotel has ‘The London Pub’ which is a ‘modern twist on the traditional British pub’.

It has local craft beers and ales, as well as a large selection of small plates to sharers.

Most read in Best of British

For lighter bites, the hotel also has Blooms Coffee & Pizza which is open from 7am with pastries and coffee.

At 12pm it serves up sandwiches, salads and stone-baked pizzas.

You’ll find the Royal National in Russell Square – just two minutes from the tube stationCredit: Alamy
Europe’s largest hotel is in the heart of BloomsburyCredit: Alamy

The hotel gets rave reviews too, one wrote on Tripadvisor: “More than five stars for our stay! Location is wonderful, it was a brilliantly comfortable room and all the staff were excellent.”

Another said: “Our short stay at the hotel was absolutely perfect. The location couldn’t be better really easy to get around the city and just a quick trip to St. Pancras for the Eurostar.”

A one-night stay in a single or double room starts from £99 per night in January.

A standard plus family room that sleeps up to three people can be booked from £119 in January.

The hotel currently has an offer which takes 30 per cent off a Sunday stay when you choose a long weekend in London.

Or book direct to get 20 per cent off your stay.

Another popular hotel run by Imperial London Hotels is the President Hotel, also in Bloomsbury.

It was made famous back in 1963 by The Beatles when they used it as their London base during their rise to fame – at this point the hotel had just opened and it was brand new.

The legendary band known for hits like ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Let it Be’, even had a pillow fight in room 444.

There were then plenty of famous photos of the band taken around Russell Square.

One of the most well-known shots is referred to as the ‘shish-kebab’ and was taken on September 12, 1963.

A single and double room in the President Hotel start from £119 per night in January.

A twin room with an extra bed sleeping up to three people can be booked from £139 in January.

The Beatles stayed in the President Hotel on their rise to fameCredit: Unknown

For more London hotels, Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding found the best value all inclusive central London hotel – with free food AND alcohol for £55pp a night.

And here are the 10 best-rated hotels in London on Tripadvisor – with stays from £30pp per night.

The Royal National Hotel is the largest in EuropeCredit: Imperial London Hotels

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Federal officers detain a 5-year-old boy who school official says was used as ‘bait’

A 5-year-old boy arriving home from preschool in Minnesota was taken by federal agents along with his father to a detention facility in Texas, school officials and the family’s lawyer said, making him the latest child caught up in the immigration enforcement surge that has riled the Twin Cities in recent weeks.

Federal agents took Liam Conejo Ramos from a running car while it was in the family’s driveway on Tuesday afternoon, Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik said during a news conference Wednesday. The officers then told him to knock on the door to his suburban Minneapolis home to see if other people were inside, “essentially using a 5-year-old as bait,” she said.

Stenvik said the family has an active asylum case and has not been ordered to leave the country.

“Why detain a 5-year-old?” she asked. “You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.”

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that “ICE did NOT target a child.”

She said Immigration and Customs Enforcement was conducting an operation to arrest the child’s father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, who McLaughlin said is from Ecuador and in the U.S. illegally. He fled on foot without the boy, she said.

“For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias,” McLaughlin said, adding that parents are given the choice to be removed with their children or have them placed with a person of their choosing.

Stenvik said another adult who lives at the home was outside when the father and son were taken, but agents wouldn’t leave Liam with that person. DHS didn’t immediately to respond an email Thursday asking if Conejo Arias had asked to keep his son with him.

Liam and his father were being held in a family holding cell in Texas, Marc Prokosch, the family’s lawyer, said during the news conference.

“Every step of their immigration process has been doing what they’ve been asked to do,” Prokosch said of the family’s asylum claim. “So this is just cruelty.”

Minnesota has become a major focus of immigration sweeps by DHS-led agencies. Greg Bovino, a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol official who has been the face of the crackdowns in Minneapolis and other cities, said 3,000 “of some of the most dangerous offenders” have been arrested in Minnesota in the last six weeks.

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.

Liam is the fourth student from Columbia Heights Public Schools who has been detained by ICE in recent weeks, said Stenvik. A 17-year-old student was taken Tuesday while heading to school, and a 10-year-old and a 17-year-old have also been taken, she said.

The district is made up of five schools and about 3,400 students from pre-K to 12th grade, according to its website. The majority of the students come from immigrant families, according to Stenvik.

She said they’ve noticed their attendance drop over the past two weeks, including one day where they had about one-third of their students out from school.

Ella Sullivan, Liam’s teacher, described him as “kind and loving.”

“His classmates miss him,” she said. “And all I want is for him to be safe and back here.”

Golden writes for the Associated Press. AP reporter Kathy McCormack contributed to this story.

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Dodgers Dugout: Time for our Hall of Fame voting, with one big newcomer to the ballot

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell and it’s time for our annual Dodgers Dugout Dodgers Hall of Fame voting.

I get dozens of emails every season from fans who want to know why their favorite Dodger isn’t in the Hall of Fame. Which got me thinking (always a dangerous proposition), what if we had a Dodgers Dugout Dodgers Hall of Fame, as selected by the readers? We started it in 2022 and so far, readers have voted 16 people into the Hall. It’s time to vote again.

The way it works: Below you will see a list of candidates divided into two groups, players and nonplayers.

In the players’ category, you can vote for up to 10 players. You don’t have to vote for 10, you can vote for any number up to and including 10. Your vote should depend on what the player did on and off the field only as a Dodger. The rest of his career doesn’t count, which is why you won’t see someone such as Frank Robinson listed. And you can consider the entirety of his Dodgers career. For example, Manny Mota was a good player and has spent years as a Dodgers coach and a humanitarian. You can consider all of that when you vote. And remember this is the Dodgers Hall of Fame, so there might be some people considerably worthy of being in a Dodgers Hall of Fame who fall short of the Baseball Hall of Fame in your mind.

In the nonplayers category, you can vote for up to three.

To recap, you can vote for up to 10 people on the players ballot, and three on the non-players ballot, meaning you could vote for 13 people total if you desire. But no more than 10 players and three non-players.

Whoever is named on at least 75% of the ballots will be elected. The eight people receiving the fewest votes will be dropped from future ballots for at least the next two years. Active players or active non-players are not eligible.

How do you vote? For the players ballot, click here. For the nonplayers ballot, click here. Or you can email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. You have until Feb. 1 to vote. Results will be announced soon after that.

I tried to compile a ballot that had players representing each era of Dodgers baseball. I’m sure there’s a player or two you think should have been on the ballot. Send that player’s name along and he might be included in next year’s ballot. And it’s possible the player you are thinking of has already been on the ballot, but dropped off due to lack of support.

Before we get to the ballot, let’s review previous results.

2025 inductee

Don Sutton, named on 75.7% of ballots

2024 inductees

Walter O’Malley, 79.4%
Pee Wee Reese, 76.3%

2022 inductees

Tommy Lasorda, 87.7%
Walt Alston, 86.5%
Fernando Valenzuela, 80.6%
Maury Wills, 76.6%
Gil Hodges, 75.3%
Orel Hershiser, 75.1%
Branch Rickey, 72.1%

Note: In 2022 you had to be named on only 65% of the ballots to be inducted. It has been 75% all other years.

2021 inductees

Sandy Koufax, 95.6%
Vin Scully, 92.7%
Don Drysdale, 90%
Jackie Robinson, 88.9%
Roy Campanella, 84.7%
Duke Snider, 78.2%

How the rest of the 2025 ballot fared:

Jaime Jarrín, 65.8%
Peter O’Malley, 65.1%
Steve Garvey, 64.4%
Don Newcombe, 62.1%
Ron Cey, 61.6%
Mike Piazza, 50.3%
Dusty Baker, 47.7%
Davey Lopes, 47.1%
Manny Mota, 46.7%
Red Barber, 45.4%
Carl Erskine, 42.9%
Tommy Davis, 42.5%
Kirk Gibson, 40.6%
Jim Gilliam, 40.5%
Mike Scioscia, 39.7%
Johnny Podres, 36.7%
Ross Porter, 35.3%
Willie Davis, 33.9%
Buzzie Bavasi, 32.1%
Eric Karros, 30.1%
Jerry Doggett, 29.8%
Bill Russell, 29.5%
Zack Wheat, 28.9%
Eric Gagne, 28.2%
Carl Furillo, 27.9%
*Rick Honeycutt, 26.7%
John Roseboro, 26.1%
Pedro Guerrero, 25.3%
Dazzy Vance, 23.3%
Tommy John, 23.3%
Andre Ethier, 23.1%

Bottom 12, eliminated from at least next two ballots

Helen Dell, 22.7%
Adrián Beltré, 21.4%
Steve Yeager, 20.6%
Leo Durocher, 18%
*-Ned Colletti, 12.9%
*-Steve Sax, 10.8%
*-Casey Stengel, 5.2%
*-Red Adams, 4.7%
*-Jim Lefebvre, 3.8%
*-Billy Cox, 3.6%
*-Cookie Lavagetto, 2.6%
*-Monty Basgall, 0.8%

*-first time on ballot.

The Dodgers Dugout Dodgers Hall of Fame

Listed in order of percentage:

Sandy Koufax, 2021 (95.6%)
Vin Scully, 2021 (92.7%)
Don Drysdale, 2021 (90%)
Jackie Robinson, 2021 (88.9%)
Tommy Lasorda, 2022 (87.7%)
Walt Alston, 2022 (86.5%)
Roy Campanella, 2021 (84.7%)
Fernando Valenzuela, 2022 (80.6%)
Walter O’Malley, 2024 (79.4%)
Duke Snider, 2021 (78.2%)
Maury Wills, 2022 (76.6%)
Pee Wee Reese, 2024 (76.3%)
Don Sutton, 2025 (75.7%)
Gil Hodges, 2022 (75.3%)
Orel Hershiser, 2021 (75.1%)
Branch Rickey, 2022 (72.1%)

Note: In 2022, you had to be named on only 65% of the ballots to be inducted. It has been 75% all other years.

The 2026 ballot

Players

Vote for no more than 10 players. Vote here or email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. Click on the player’s stats to be taken to his overall career stats. If you don’t wish to read all the comments, scroll to the bottom where you will see just a straight list of candidates without comments. But I worked hard on these, so throw me a bone, will ya?

Dusty Baker (1976 to 1983, .281/.343/.437): Baker is one of the most loved Dodgers since they moved to L.A. He was a very good player and part of the group of four Dodgers who hit at least 30 homers in 1977, becoming the first team to do that. Baker did it on the final day of the season, homering off of Houston ace and Dodger nemesis J.R. Richard in the sixth inning. Baker finished fourth in MVP voting in 1980, when he hit .294 with 29 homers and 97 RBIs. He hit .320 in strike-shortened 1981 and .300 in 1982.

Ron Cey (1971 to 1982, .264/.359/.445): Cey is almost criminally underrated by those who grew up outside of L.A. He was good for 20-30 homers, 70-90 walks and 80-100 RBIs every year and played a solid third base. He was a direct contemporary of Mike Schmidt, so he often got overlooked when it came to discussing the best third basemen during his era. But the Dodgers made four World Series with Cey as the starting third baseman, and he played a huge part in the team getting there each time.

Tommy Davis (1959 to 1966, .304/.338/.441): Davis put together one of the greatest seasons in Dodgers history in 1962, when he hit .346 (leading the league) with 27 doubles, 27 homers, 120 runs scored and a league-leading 153 RBIs. He followed that up in 1963 by leading the league in hitting again with a .326 average. Those were the only two batting titles in L.A. Dodger history until Trea Turner won a title in 2021. Those seasons are even more impressive when you consider that Dodger Stadium was an extreme pitcher’s park in those days.

Willie Davis (1960 to 1973, .279/.312/.413): Davis was an outstanding defensive player who led the NL in triples twice (1962 with 10 and 1970 with 16) and whose offensive numbers don’t look as impressive as they should because he played during one of the biggest pitcher’s eras in baseball history. His best season was probably 1969, when he hit .311 with 23 doubles, eight triples and 11 homers, or it could have been 1962, when he hit .285 with 18 doubles, 10 triples and 21 homers, or 1971, when he hit .309 with 33 doubles, 10 triples and 10 homers. He didn’t walk much and had moderate power, but he caught everything hit to him (except for that one game in the 1966 World Series, but let’s not get into that). He is still the L.A. Dodgers career leader in runs (1,004), hits (2,091) and triples (110).

Carl Erskine (1948 to 1959, 122-78, 4.00 ERA): “Oisk” is what he was called, and “Oisk” was known for his big overhand curve. But what I love about Erskine is he became a staunch supporter of Jackie Robinson from the day Erskine joined the team as a rookie in 1948, one year after Robinson broke the color barrier. At one point during the 1948 season, Erskine left the clubhouse after a game to talk to Rachel Robinson and Jackie Robinson Jr. Fans filed by and stared at this white man talking to these two Black people. Some didn’t care. Some were taken aback. Some shook their head. The next day, Jackie came up to Erskine and thanked him for talking to his family in the open, which was quite a thing for a rookie to do in those days. He said, “You know, you stopped out there in front of all those fans and talked with Rachel and little Jack.” Erskine replied, “Hey Jackie, you can congratulate me on a well-pitched game, but not for that.” In 2005, he wrote a book titled “What I Learned From Jackie Robinson.”

Andre Ethier (2006 to 2017, .285/.359/.436): On Dec. 13, 2005, the Dodgers made one of their best trades ever when they sent Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez to Oakland for Ethier, who became their starting right fielder for the next 10 seasons and put himself on many all-time top 10 lists in L.A. Dodgers history. You knew what you were going to get from Ethier every season: A .280-.290 average with about 20 homers and 80 RBIs. He was the first Dodger to have at least 30 doubles in seven consecutive seasons, made the All-Star team twice and won a Gold Glove.

Carl Furillo (1946 to 1960, .299/.355/.458): “The Reading Rifle” led the NL in batting average at .344 in 1953, the second of his two All-Star seasons with the Dodgers. He finished sixth in MVP voting in 1949 when he hit .322 with 27 doubles, 10 triples, 18 homers and 106 RBIs. He was a good fielder with a great arm, racking up 24 assists in 1951, more than earning his nickname. He was a steady player for the Dodgers for years and played in seven World Series, including the 1955 and 1959 title teams.

Eric Gagné (1999 to 2006, 25-21, 3.27 ERA, 161 saves): Gagne was a failed starter who came out of nowhere to seize the closing job in spring training in 2002. He converted 84 consecutive saves at one point, and few people left Dodgers games early when Gagne was the closer because they wanted to see him pitch. He was dominant and won the Cy Young Award in 2003. Then injuries derailed him and he pitched little in 2005 and 2006. He was with the Brewers when he was named in the Mitchell Report as a player linked to human growth hormone use. His tenure ended with the Dodgers 20 years ago, but it seems like a million years ago for some reason.

Steve Garvey (1969 to 1982, .301/.337/.459): Do I really need to write a lot about Garvey? One of the most popular Dodgers in history. But history hasn’t been kind to him, as many of the newer analytic numbers have downgraded him on offense. But, the importance of knowing every season that your first baseman was going to hit .300 with 100 RBIs can’t be overstated. He was named NL MVP in 1974 and finished in the top six in voting five times. He also made eight All-Star teams and won four Gold Gloves.

Kirk Gibson (1988 to 1990, .264/.353/.433): There are Dodgers with better numbers not on this ballot, but he makes the list because he turned the Dodgers from losers to winners in an incredible 1988 season, when he seemed to get every clutch hit the team needed, especially when he hit that amazing pinch-hit home run in Game 1 of the World Series. It’s up to you to decide if one miraculous season is enough to make him a Dodgers Hall of Famer.

Jim Gilliam (1953 to 1966, .265/.360/.355): It seemed that every season Jim Gilliam would be on the bench, squeezed out of the lineup by a hot rookie or flashy newcomer, then by the end of April, either the new player would be a bust or an injury would open a spot and Gilliam would end the season as the starting second baseman. Or starting third baseman. Or starting left fielder. But let me recount a story Vin Scully told me about Gilliam for my book: “I was introducing the team, and I would introduce, ‘So and so is the shortstop’ and so on, and I introduced Jim as ‘Jim Gilliam, baseball player.’ He was one of the smartest players. I remember Walter Alston saying that Jim never missed a sign. Never. Like anyone else, you are going to drop a ball, you are going to make an error, but Jim never made a mental mistake. And on the base paths, he’d go from first to third all the time. He always did the right thing. He was very quiet and not at all ‘on,’ but he was a consummate baseball player. He was married in St. Louis, and the team bus stopped at the reception while the photographer was taking pictures. Jim said to the photographer, ‘One more.’ The photographer took it and Jim got on the bus and we went to Busch Stadium.” The Dodgers retired Gilliam’s No. 19 shortly after he died after the 1978 season.

Pedro Guerrero (1978 to 1988, .309/.381/.512): You can make an argument that Guerrero is the best hitter in Dodgers history. He is fifth in OPS+ and had at least 1,000 more plate appearances than the four people ahead of him on the list. He hit .320 in 1985, then blew out his knee on an ill-advised slide in spring training of 1986. He came back in 1987 to hit .338. He had power, hitting 30-plus homers three times (back when that really meant something) and had a good eye at the plate. Defensively, however, he was brutal. He was not a good fielder at third, and hated playing there, but you have to give him credit for going out there whenever he was asked.

Tommy John (1972-78, 87-42, 2.97 ERA): After being a mainstay of the rotation in 1972-73, John was on his way to a career year in 1974 (13-3, 2.59 ERA) when he tore a ligament in his elbow. It always meant the end of a pitcher’s career, but John agreed to undergo a first of its kind surgery, taking a ligament from a different part of his body to replace the one in his elbow. He came back in 1976 to win 10 games, then went 20-7 with a 2.78 ERA in 1977, finishing second in Cy Young voting. He was almost as good in 1978 and went 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in six postseason starts with L.A. Since then, hundreds of pitchers have had the surgery now named after him.

Eric Karros (1991 to 2002, .268/.325/.454): Karros had an interesting career. He is the all-time L.A. Dodgers home run leader, yet rarely gets mentioned when the subject is all-time great Dodgers. He led the league in only two categories in his career (games played in 1997 and double plays grounded into in 1996). He never made an All-Star team. He was often overshadowed by Mike Piazza. But he rarely got hurt and was good for 25-30 homers every season.

*-Joe Kelly (2019-21, 2023-24, 9-5, 3.72 ERA, 3 saves): Kelly is remembered for two things with the Dodgers: His Mariachi jacket, and not being afraid to hit an Astros batter or two after the sign-stealing scandal. After the Astros cheated to win the 2017 World Series, the Dodgers didn’t face them again until 2020. Kelly decided someone had to pay a price. The game was uneventful through five innings, and then Kelly decided to shake things up. After retiring Jose Altuve on a popup, he had a 3-0 count against Alex Bregman when his next pitch, ball four, flew behind Bregman’s head. The next batter, Michael Brantley, wasn’t on the 2017 Astros. Kelly threw him three pitches, none particularly close to him, and got him to ground to first. When Kelly covered first base in an attempt to complete a double play, he got annoyed when Brantley’s foot clipped his leg. Kelly glared at Brantley and suddenly, from the Astros dugout, someone shouted “just get on the mound, little … “ The … represents a word we can’t use in a family newsletter.

The next batter: Yuli Gurriel. With a 2-0 count, a Kelly pitch went well inside, sending Gurriel sprawling. He walked Gurriel on the next pitch. That brought us to the main event: Carlos Correa.

Correa was the most vocal Astro to defend their title after the sign-stealing was discovered. He was particularly pointed in his comments toward the Dodgers. Kelly started with a pitch that made Correa duck. He seemed none too happy. The at-bat continued and Kelly struck Correa out with a breaking ball in the dirt.

And then the fun began. Correa chirped at Kelly. Kelly, according to Astros manager Dusty Baker, said “Nice swing ….” Kelly made a pouty face at Correa, who started walking toward the Dodger dugout. The benches cleared. No punches were thrown. The game resumed and nothing much interesting happened after that, other than the Dodgers winning, 5-2.

But, on social media, Kelly became one of the most loved Dodgers of all time. He still is. So that puts him on the ballot.

Of course, Kelly is also known for hitting Dodger Hanley Ramirez in the ribs with a pitch, which pretty much ended the Dodgers’ postseason. He talks about that here.

*-Clayton Kershaw (2008-25, 223-96, 2.53 ERA): What can I say that I haven’t already written over the last 10 years? We can quibble over his postseason stats all day, but he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer with the only question being how many people leave him off their ballot.

Davey Lopes (1972 to 1981, .262/.349/.380): There were certainly more prolific base stealers in baseball history, but there may have never been a better base stealer than Lopes. In 1975, he led the NL with 77 steals and was caught only 12 times. In 1976, he led with 63 steals and was caught only 10 times. At the age of 40, he stole 47 bases and was caught only four times. Admittedly, that was with the Cubs, so it doesn’t count for our purposes, but it’s my favorite Lopes stat. My favorite thing Lopes always did with this: He was often batting behind the pitcher, and when the pitcher made an out, particularly if he had to run hard on a ground ball, Lopes was a master of taking his time getting to the batter’s box, allowing the pitcher a little extra time to recuperate. Lopes would reach the batter’s box and see that he “forgot” to knock off the weighted donut off the bat, so he’d return to the on-deck circle to do so. Or he’d go back for a little extra pine tar. It was always a lot of fun to watch.

Manny Mota (1969 to 1980, 1982, .315/.374/.391): To think of Mota as only a pinch-hitter is a mistake. He hit .305 in 124 games with the Dodgers in 1970 and .323 in 118 games with the team in 1972. He made the All-Star team in 1973, when he hit .314. But pinch-hitting is what made him famous. Mota set the record (since surpassed) for most career pinch hits in 1979 when he collected his 145th. He seemed to be able to get a hit whenever he wanted to. Eighteen players have at least 100 pinch-hits in their career. Mota is the only one with a .300 average in such situations. After retiring for good as a player, he became a coach for the Dodgers and remains active in the organization to this day.

Don Newcombe (1949 to 1951, 1954-1958, 123-66, 3.51 ERA): Newcombe could have been a two-way player if the Dodgers would have let him. In 1956, he went 27-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 38 games, 36 starts and 268 innings with 15 complete games. At the plate, he hit .234 with six doubles, two homers and 16 RBIs. He won the Cy Young and MVP awards after the season. He was rookie of the year in 1949 and was the first player to win all three major baseball awards. He went 20-5 during the Dodgers’ World Series championship season in 1955. That year, he hit .259 with nine doubles, seven homers and 23 RBIs. How good a hitter was Newcombe? He pinch-hit 88 times in his career. Newcombe struggled with alcoholism for years but became sober in 1967 and worked for the Dodgers for years, helping athletes and others across the country in their struggles with sobriety. “What I have done after my baseball career and being able to help people with their lives and getting their lives back on track and they become human beings again means more to me than all the things I did in baseball,” Newcombe said in 2008.

Mike Piazza (1992 to 1998, .331/.394/.572): The best-hitting catcher in baseball history was an All-Star every full season with the Dodgers and finished as the MVP runner-up two consecutive seasons. His best season was 1997, when he hit .362 with 32 doubles, 40 homers and 124 RBIs in 152 games. He wasn’t much defensively, but not as bad as people said, and the less said about his trade to Florida in 1998, the better.

Johnny Podres (1953 to 1955, 1957-66, 136-104, 3.66 ERA): Podres pitched for four of the Dodgers’ World Series title teams (1955, 1959, 1963 and 1965, though he didn’t pitch in the ’65 World Series) and was MVP of the 1955 World Series, the first title for the Dodgers, when he went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA, good for two complete-game victories over the New York Yankees, including a 2-0 shutout in the decisive Game 7. He was often overlooked on the team, overshadowed by Koufax or Newcombe or Drysdale, but he was a key pitcher for the team for 12 years.

John Roseboro (1957 to 1967, .251/.327/.382): Roseboro made five All-Star teams with the Dodgers and won two Gold Gloves. He was the starting catcher on three World Series title teams and when people mention the great Dodgers pitching staffs of the 1960s, they seldom mention who was catcher for all those great pitchers. It was Roseboro.

Bill Russell (1969 to 1986, .263/.310/.338): Russell was a converted outfielder who went on to become one of the longest-tenured Dodgers in history, second all-time in games played for the team with 2,181, trailing Zack Wheat (2,322). If there is one word to describe Russell, it’s “steady.” He never was the best shortstop in the NL, and was never the worst. He never led the league in anything, made the All-Star team three times, seldom struck out, didn’t have a lot of power. But he went out there every day and rarely cost his team a game, and also was known among fans as the best clutch hitter on the team. He replaced Lasorda as manager in 1996 and was fired in 1998 during the infamous Fox era.

Mike Scioscia (1980 to 1992, .259/.344/.356): Scioscia was with the Dodgers for 13 seasons, never won a Gold Glove, never led the league in any offensive category and made only two All-Star teams. But what he did can’t be understated: He gave you above average play almost every season for 13 seasons. You never had to worry about the position when Scioscia was there, and he hit one of the most important home runs in Dodgers history when he connected off Dwight Gooden in Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS.

Dazzy Vance (1922 to 1932, 1935, 3.17 ERA): Vance was the first true ace the Dodgers had and is still one of the greatest pitchers in their history. He led the league in wins twice, in ERA three times and in strikeouts seven consecutive seasons. Vance’s actual first name was Arthur, but he was called “Dazzy” because of his dazzling fastball. You can read more about him here.

Zack Wheat (1909 to 1926, .317/.367/.450): The most unappreciated great player in Dodger history. Wheat was just relentless at the plate, hitting over .300 every year with mid-range power. He hit .375 in 1923 and 1924. He is still the team’s all-time leader in several offensive categories. He was beloved in Brooklyn and served as a mentor for several young Dodgers, including future manager Casey Stengel. “I never knew him to refuse help to another player, were he a Dodger or even a Giant,” Stengel said. “And I never saw him really angry and I never heard him use cuss words.” Read more about Wheat here.

*-Alex Wood (2015-18, 2020, 31-21, 3.54 ERA): Wood went 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 2017, but never quite reached those heights again. He was the one guy who thought there was something fishy going on with the Astros in the 2017 World Series and had catcher Austin Barnes changes signals after every batter when someone was on base during Game 4. He gave up only one run and one hit in 5.2 innings for the only Dodgers’ victory in Houston. He was a valuable member of three Dodgers World Series teams, winning one with them in 2020, pitching four innings of shutout relief over two games.

Steve Yeager (1972 to 1985, .229/.299/.358): Yeager was one of the best defensive catchers in history who had the misfortune of being a direct contemporary of the best defensive catcher in history, Johnny Bench. Otherwise, Yeager would have multiple Gold Gloves. His best season offensively was 1977, when he .256 with 21 doubles and 16 homers. Dodger fans remember how he blocked the plate, becoming an almost impenetrable wall whenever a runner tried to score and Yeager had the ball.

Nonplayers

Vote for no more than three. Vote here or email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com.

Red Barber: Barber was a Dodgers broadcaster from 1939 to 1953 and mentored a young Scully. His folksy style and catchphrases made him one of the most famous announcers in the U.S. Among his phrases: “They’re tearin’ up the pea patch,” “Can of corn,” “Sittin’ in the catbird seat,” “Tighter than a new pair of shoes on a rainy day.”

Buzzie Bavasi (former general manager): In Bavasi’s 18 years as the team’s GM, the Dodgers won eight NL pennants (1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1963, 1965 and 1966) and four World Series titles (1955, 1959, 1963 and 1965).

Jerry Doggett: Called games in Brooklyn and Los Angeles from 1956 to 1987, and was a key part of the memorable Vin Scully-Jerry Doggett-Ross Porter broadcasting trio.

Rick Honeycutt: Honeycutt pitched for the Dodgers from 1983-87 and went 33-45 with a 3.58 ERA. The Dodgers traded Dave Stewart and Ricky Wright to acquire him and got Tim Belcher when they dealt him away. But he’s mainly here for his long tenure a pitching coach, from 2006-19, under four different managers. He and Ron Perranoski hold the record for most years as Dodgers pitching coach.

Jaime Jarrín: The longtime Spanish language broadcaster for the Dodgers, who started with the team in 1959 and retired after the 2022 season. In 1998, Jarrín received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame. In February 1998, Jarrín was the first recipient of the Southern California Broadcaster Assn.’s President’s Award. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that year.

Peter O’Malley: O’Malley was team president starting in 1970 and became team owner in 1979 until he sold the Dodgers in 1998. Many fans consider the Peter O’Malley era to be the golden age for the L.A. Dodgers.

Ross Porter: Dodgers broadcaster from 1977 to 2004. On Aug. 23, 1989, Porter set a major league record for broadcasting 22 straight innings on radio by himself in a six-hour, 14 minute game against the Expos in Montreal. Also hosted the postgame “Dodger Talk” on the radio for many years and contributed the “Ask Ross Porter” segment to this newsletter for several years. Currently answers reader questions at his Ross Porter Sports Facebook page.

*-new to ballot this year.

Here is the ballot without comments:

Players (vote for no more than 10)

Dusty Baker
Ron Cey
Tommy Davis
Willie Davis
Carl Erskine
Andre Ethier
Carl Furillo
Eric Gagné
Steve Garvey
Kirk Gibson
Jim Gilliam
Pedro Guerrero
Tommy John
Eric Karros
*-Joe Kelly
*-Clayton Kershaw
Davey Lopes
Manny Mota
Don Newcombe
Mike Piazza
Johnny Podres
John Roseboro
Bill Russell
Mike Scioscia
Dazzy Vance
Zack Wheat
*-Alex Wood
Steve Yeager

Non-players (vote for no more than three)

Red Barber
Buzzie Bavasi
Jerry Doggett
Rick Honeycutt
Jaime Jarrín
Peter O’Malley
Ross Porter

*-new to the ballot

My ballot

There are four people should definitely be in: Clayton Kershaw, Dazzy Vance, Zack Wheat and Jaime Jarrín. Vance and Wheat played 100 years ago, yes, but they were outstanding players and should be in. It would be like someone starting a Dodgers Hall of Fame 100 years from now and not including Duke Snider and Don Drysdale. Kershaw is one of the greatest Dodgers of all time. And Jarrín was the Spanish-language broadcaster for the team for more than half a century and helped open them to a new market.

If you don’t vote for those four, no one is going to yell at you, but it’s hard to justify putting 10 (or four) on the ballot ahead of them.

And finally

Clayton Kershaw comes out of a regular-season game for the final time. Watch and listen here.

Until next time…

Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

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Ryanair launches ‘big idiot’ seat sale in scathing attack on Elon Musk

RYANAIR has launched a sale aimed at ‘idiots’ following the airline’s spat with Elon Musk.

It is good news for people wanting a cheap holidays, however.

Ryanair has launched a sale targeting ‘idiots’ such as Elon MuskCredit: Ryanair

The huge sale has been launched as an attack on Elon Musk as the millionaire’s relationship worsens with the airline’s CEO.

The website homepage states: “Ryanair‘s big ‘idiot’ seat sale.

“Only available for Elon Musk and any other ‘idiots’ on X! Book today before Musk gets one.”

To get a seat in the sale, you must book by the end of today and travel between today and April 30, 2026.

Read more on travel inspo

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze


HOL YES

I’m a travel editor & mum-of-3… my favourite family holidays from just £3pp a night

One of the cheapest offers available is a flight to Szczecin, Poland for £14.59 from London Stansted Airport.

Then there are loads of flights available for £14.99 to destinations across Europe.

For example, still from London Stansted, you could head to Aarhus in Denmark or Bucharest in Romania for that price.

In fact, for £14.99, there are 67 destinations on offer from London Stansted Airport.

If you live in Bristol – or close to the city – you could head off to Barcelona in Spain for just £14.99.

Or explore Prague in the Czech Republic for the same price.

From Manchester, you could head to Bologna in Italy, also for £14.99.

Or perhaps head off to the winter wonderland of Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland for the same price.

The sale comes as the relationship between Elon Musk and Ryanair’s boss, Michael O’Leary intensifies.

The new sale features a cartoon graphic of Elon Musk and Michael O’Leary stood on a plinth with the label ‘Big Idiots’.

CEO Michael O’Leary appears to be hitting Elon Musk in the graphicCredit: Getty

In O’Leary’s hand is a big sign that states “I [heart] Ryanair” and the airline boss appears to be thumping the owner of Tesla on the head with the sign.

The sour relationship between the two millionaires came after Michael O’Leary said he would not follow other airlines in installing Starlink Wi-Fi – which is owned by Elon Musk – on Ryanair planes.

The airline boss said that the equipment to install the Wi-Fi would create extra aeronautical drag that would cost £250million each year.

He said in a statement: “We don’t think our passengers are willing to pay.”

Musk replied saying that O’Leary’s calculations were wrong.

According to The Independent, O’Leary then told Ireland‘s Newstalk: “I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk.

“He’s an idiot. Very wealthy, but he’s still an idiot.”

Musk responded that the airline boss “needs to be fired” and suggested that he himself could buy Ryanair.

In other airline news, there’s a European islands losing ALL their Ryanair flights – affecting 400,000 passengers.

Plus, Ryanair boss warns of another ‘messy’ summer of flight cancellations – and these are the worst months.

There are loads of flights to destinations across Europe from £14.99Credit: Getty

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Possible Change To F-47 6th Generation Fighter’s Designation Raised By Trump

President Donald Trump has brought up the possibility of changing the designation of the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter if the program gets to a point where “I don’t like it.” The nomenclature was chosen in part to highlight his personal support for the program, which is currently one of the top acquisition priorities across the entire U.S. military.

Trump highlighted the F-47 as an example of the U.S. military having the “best equipment” in a speech today at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting at Davos in Switzerland. He also remarked on the jet’s designation. The Air Force announced in March 2025 that it had picked Boeing to build the F-47. The service views the jet as critical to providing air superiority for U.S. forces in future conflicts, especially high-end fights, such as a potential one against China in the Pacific. The Air Force has said it plans to buy at least 185 F-47s, with the first examples entering operational service toward the end of the decade.

🇺🇸 President Trump on U.S. military equipment:
We have the best equipment.

F-47… they say it’s the most devastating plane fighter jet ever. Who knows.

They called it 47. If I don’t like it, I’m going to take the 47 off it.

I wonder why they called it 47. We’ll have to think… pic.twitter.com/Tz1RJ4jPwP

— Visioner (@visionergeo) January 21, 2026

“They say it’s [the F-47] the most devastating plane, fighter jet ever,” Trump said. “They called it 47. If I don’t like it, I’m going to take the 47 off it.”

“I don’t know why they called it 47. We’ll have to think about that,” he continued. “But if I don’t like it, I’m going to take that 47 off.”

Whether anything in particular spurred Trump’s comments today is unknown. TWZ has reached out to the Air Force and the White House.

The Air Force has previously explained, in detail, how it arrived at the F-47 designation.

Firstly, it is a reference to the World War II-era piston-engine P-47 Thunderbolt fighter. P-47s continued to serve for years afterward in the United States and elsewhere globally, long enough to see their nomenclature change to F-47 with the decision to phase out the “P” for “Pursuit” prefix.

A post-World War II picture of what had, at that point, been redesignated an F-47 Thunderbolt. USAF

The “47” in F-47 is also a reference to the founding year of the independent U.S. Air Force, 1947. The service was originally a branch of the U.S. Army.

Lastly, the F-47’s designation is a reference to Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States. For a time, the future of the program that led to the F-47 was very uncertain, and there was a real possibility it might have been cancelled. The Trump administration ultimately decided to proceed, announcing Boeing as the winner of the competition last March.

Also, the number pays tribute to the founding year of our incredible @usairforce, while also recognizing the 47th @POTUS’s pivotal support for the development of the world’s FIRST sixth-generation fighter (2/2). https://t.co/wjBynCSejr

— General Ken Wilsbach (@OfficialCSAF) March 21, 2025

“The generals picked a title, and it’s a beautiful number,” Trump had himself said during the televised unveiling of the F-47 at the White House last year.

Trump does have a long history of being outspoken when it comes to the aesthetics of major U.S. military weapon systems, especially warships, as well as more technical aspects of their design. The president has also made pronouncements about ordering substantial changes to high-profile programs in the past that have not come to pass.

Even before being elected president, Trump was well known for being particularly conscious of his personal brand, as well.

With all this in mind, it would make sense that Trump would not want to be so directly associated with the F-47 if the program were to run into serious trouble or become the subject of some other controversy, or even if he just does not personally like the design of the jet. Whether or not any such developments have already occurred, but have not yet been publicly disclosed, is not known.

U.S. military aircraft designations are not set in stone. Sometimes significant changes are made to the nomenclature of designs still in development, as well as those already in service. The decision to change the designation of the Air Force’s newest electronic warfare jets from EC-37B to EA-37B is just one recent example.

The US Air Force’s EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare jet, an example of which is seen here, was originally designated EC-37B. L3Harris

To date, the Air Force and Boeing have been upbeat publicly about progress on the F-47. The Air Force confirmed last year that the initial prototype is in the process of being built and that a first flight is targeted for 2028. When asked today for an update on how many F-47s are now in any stage of production, and if there have been any changes to the first flight schedule, Boeing directed TWZ to contact the Air Force.

“I won’t even touch the first flight day the Air Force has put the date out there; I’m just going to stay away from all of that,” Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, had said at a media roundtable last November. “It’s all about execution, and that’s what is getting all of my attention. We’re in a good spot.”

Though much about the F-47 is currently classified, it is known that much groundwork for the program had already been laid before Boeing won the contract last year. This includes the Air Force, in cooperation with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, having test-flown relevant X-plane demonstrators for years beforehand.

A rendering of the F-47 that the U.S. Air Force has released. USAF

The Air Force has acknowledged delays with the separate Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program, which is developing advanced jet engines that could power the F-47 and other aircraft in the future. What engines are expected to power the F-47 initially is unclear. You can read more about what is otherwise known about the design here.

The Pentagon has also thrown its full weight behind the F-47 program. Last year, U.S. officials announced plans to effectively shelve the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter program in part to ensure there would be no competition for resources with the F-47.

Congress is now moving to get the F/A-XX effort out of purgatory in a new defense spending bill, but certainly not at the expense of F-47. In addition to nearly $900 million for F/A-XX, the legislation would appropriate an extra $505 million for F-47. That would bring the total budget for the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter program in the current fiscal year to almost $3.1 billion.

It remains to be seen whether the F-47’s designation ultimately changes as work on the jet continues to move ahead.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

Joseph has been a member of The War Zone team since early 2017. Prior to that, he was an Associate Editor at War Is Boring, and his byline has appeared in other publications, including Small Arms Review, Small Arms Defense Journal, Reuters, We Are the Mighty, and Task & Purpose.




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Oscar nominations 2026 revealed as Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo Di Caprio go head to head for Best Actor

LEONARDO Di Caprio and Timothee Chalamet will battle it out for the Best Actor gong after the Oscars nominations list was revealed.

The One Battle After Another star and Marty Supreme actor – who picked up the same accolade at the Golden Globes this month – will again lock horns.

Leonardo DiCaprio has been nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars for his role in One Battle After AnotherCredit: AP
He will battle it out with Timothee Chalamet, who scooped the Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in Marty Supreme this monthCredit: Alamy
Jessie Buckley is a name in the frame for Best Actress after her role in HamnetCredit: Alamy
Fans have been left gobsmacked after Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were snubbed for any gong, after their roles in Wicked: For GoodCredit: AP

The Oscars, which will be the 98th ceremony of its kind, takes place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15.

Though the prestigious nominations list has been made public today, with Hollywood actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman revealing the nominations for all 24 Oscars 2026 categories.

Hamnet’s Jessie Buckley, Song Sung Blue’s Kate Hudson and Bugonia protagonist Emma Stone are all in the mix for Best Actress.

Frankenstein’s Jacob Elordi will be hoping to scoop the Best Supporting Actor accolade and is in the mix with Sean Penn and Benicio del Torro.

STATUE SCOOP

Oscars 2026 nominations live stream FREE: Start time and how to watch ceremony

Meanwhile, for Best Supporting Actress, Elle Fanning, Teyana Taylor and Wunmi Mosaku are all contenders.

Hamnet director Chloe Zhao will be hoping to trump One Battle After Another’s Paul Thomas Anderson after the latter scooped the Best Director accolade at the Golden Globes.

Yet with Hamnet, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s book scooping the Best Picture at the Globes, it remains to be seen if it will replicate that success in March.

Other categories include Best Picture, Best Casting (new category debut), Best Cinematography, Best Directing and Best Documentary Feature Film.

FAN FURY

Additionally, Wicked fans are up in arms after Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were snubbed – claiming the pair “were robbed”.

Oscar nominations were released on Thursday morning, with Wicked: For Good and its cast notably absent from the list.

Both stars were nominated for their roles in Wicked at the 2025 Oscars.

“F**K THE OSCARS,” one angry fan posted.

“Oh they PLAYED W MY MOTHERS,” a second complained.

Oscars 2026 Nominations

Best Picture
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams

Best Director
Chloe Zhao – Hamnet
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler – Sinners

Best actor
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Michael B Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

Best actress
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Best supporting actor
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgaard – Sentimental Value
Best supporting actress
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
Best original screenplay
Blue Moon
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best adapted screenplay
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
Train Dreams
Best animated feature
Arco
Elio
K-Pop Demon Hunters
Little Amélie of the Character of Rain
Zootropolis 2
Best international film
The Secret Agent
It Was Just an Accident
Sentimental Value
Sirat
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Best original score
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Best original song
Dear Me from Diane Warren: Relentless
Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters
I Lied to You from Sinners
Sweet Dreams of Joy from Viva Verdi!
Train Dreams from Train Dreams
Best costume design
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
Sinners
Best cinematography
Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Train Dreams
Best documentary feature
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting Through Rocks
Mr Nobody Against Putin
The Perfect Neighbour
Best editing
F1
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best production design
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Best makeup and hairstyling
Frankenstein
Kokuho
Sinners
The Smashing Machine
The Ugly Stepsister
Best sound
F1
Frankenstein
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Sirat
Best visual effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Jurassic World: Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Sinners
Best casting
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sinners
Best short documentary
All the Empty Rooms
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
Children No More: “Were and are Gone”
The Devil is Busy
Perfectly a Strangeness
Best short film (animation)
Butterfly
Forevergreen
The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Retirement Plan
The Three Sisters
Best short film (live action)
Butcher’s Stain
A Friend of Dorothy
Jane Austen’s Period Drama
The Singers
Two People Exchanging Saliva

OSCARS LOWDOWN

The 98th Oscars ceremony is set for Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theater at Ovation Hollywood.

Conan O’Brien returns as host after last year, delivering his signature wit to celebrate 2025 films across 24 categories, including the new Best Casting.

It will air live on ABC from 7pm ET (11pm GMT), with simultaneous streaming on Hulu.

In the UK, ITV1, STV, STV Player and ITVX will broadcast the prestigious 2026 Oscars.

Meanwhile, UK bookmakers Coral have already revealed their top tips for the winners.

Spokesperson John Hill said: “One Battle After Another is the warm favourite to win the Best Picture at the Oscars.

“It has topped the betting since it was released, and it remains long odds-on to land the top prize.

“Timothee Chalamet and Jessie Buckley are also firm favourites in the Best Actor and Best Actress markets respectively in what is likely to be a good night for the pair,” he added.

Teyana Taylor could scoop Best Supporting Actress for her role in One Battle After AnotherCredit: AP
Michael B Jordan has been nominated for his role in SinnersCredit: PA
The ceremony will air on Sunday March 15Credit: Getty

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Newsom, on world stage, accuses Trump of trying to suppress dissent

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday morning said he was not surprised the Trump administration blocked his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland the day before, saying it was another example of the president trying to stifle dissent.

“Is it surprising the Trump administration didn’t like my commentary and wanted to make sure that I was not allowed to speak?” No,” said Newsom, who is weighing a 2028 presidential run. “It’s consistent with this administration and their authoritarian tendencies.”

The Democratic governor spoke Thursday morning in Davos, less than a day after his scheduled conversation with Fortune at USA House was canceled. Newsom said the event had been positioned as a discussion following Trump’s speech at the global forum. However, Newsom said the Trump administration “made sure it was canceled.”

“That’s what’s happening in the United States of America,” said Newsom, whose Thursday appearance speaking with Semafor’s Ben Smith was at a different location. “Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech — it’s America in reverse. They’re censoring historical facts. They’re rewriting history.”

The USA House is a privately run and corporate sponsored venue serving as the official United States hub at the Global Economic Forum. The venue featured several Trump administration speakers this week.

Newsom’s office said they were told last minute that a “venue-level decision” had been made to “not include an elected U.S. official” in the programming. A spokesperson for Fortune, which was hosting Newsom’s fireside chat, said USA House “determined it would not be able to accommodate the governor’s participation and communicated that decision to Fortune.”

White House officials declined Wednesday to directly address whether the administration had played a role in blocking Newsom’s appearance, instead issuing a statement attacking the governor personally.

“No one in Davos knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in the statement.

Newsom noted he looked at the list of people attending his appearance Thursday, which he said included major businesses like Microsoft, before he accused corporate America of falling in line rather than challenging Trump’s rhetoric and policies. At one point, Newsom held up a pair of red knee pads featuring Trump’s signature — a prop he has used to point to an excessive deference to Trump.

“Many American universities are selling out, and yes, many corporate leaders are selling out to this administration,” Newsom said. “Selling out our values, selling out our future, selling out what makes America great and (it) breaks my heart. People need to stand up.”

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Change to travel insurance policies that could catch Brits out this summer

Change to travel insurance policies that could catch Brits out this summer – The Mirror


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Wave goodbye to bathroom doors in hotels

HOTELS are stripping bathroom doors from rooms – creating a privacy nightmare for guests.

The bizarre cost-cutting ploy has enraged customers who say they’re being treated like barnyard animals.

Hotels across the world are getting rid of proper, solid bathroom doors – and customers aren’t thrilledCredit: PixelsEffect
People are demanding privacy when using their hotel room’s bathroomCredit: Getty

Traumatized travelers are increasingly demanding hotel bosses “bring back proper doors.”

Unfortunately, old-fashioned solid doors are being replaced with “sliding barn doors, curtains, strategically placed walls and other replacements” such as glass, according to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal.

“Hotels are stripping away the only thing separating us from the animals: the bathroom door,” its probe revealed on Tuesday.

The only problem is that – apart from the obvious lack of privacy – replacing proper doors with inferior alternatives “aren’t as proficient in the art of noise and smell containment,” the WSJ warned.

“I’ve been married for 25 years, I love my husband, but I don’t want to see him use the restroom,” complained Denise Milano Sprung.

She and her husband had stayed at the Calgary Airport Marriott, where she was unimpressed with the hotel room’s frosted bathroom door.

Experts told the paper the move was to axe costs amid soaring employment, building and energy prices. And door handles, which might fall off or become stuck, add to that financial burden.

Some hotel guests don’t care though, particularly if they are traveling alone.

“If the toilet is in the middle of the room, I don’t really care, so long as I’ve got a comfy bed to sleep in,” said Jonathan Grubin, who often stays at CitizenM, which offers compact rooms.





Are you ready for your partner to know when you’re doing a bowel movement?


Comedian Becca Herries

There are also plenty of holidaymakers poking fun at the lack of privacy, and the potential impact on relationships.

Comedian Becca Herries, for example, has racked up hundreds of thousands of views of a video featuring her standing near a cheap-looking barnyard-style sliding door in a hotel, and weighing up the pros and cons.

“So when designing this, we wanted a door that allows you to both see and hear everything that’s happening behind this in an effort to create openness and transparency with our guests,” the comic stated, deadpan style, in the TikTok video.

“The person who decided it was a good idea to put a sliding door in every hotel room… [it’s] designed to either move your relationship forward or end it.

“Because hotels are not about relaxing, OK? It’s about, are you ready for your partner to know when you’re doing a bowel movement, cause if not, then maybe that’s not who you should be with.”

DIGNITY

Meanwhile TikToker Sadie Lowell (@bring_back_doors) is “on a mission to protect everyone’s dignity,” reported the Daily Dot last October.

She’s had enough of bathrooms without real doors or having see-through glass, which she slammed as an “invasion of privacy.”

“Bring bathroom doors back to hotels!” the digital marketer demanded.

“The commodification of privacy ends here. I will continue to name and shame hotels in 2026 and beyond if they decide a bathroom door isn’t needed,” she vowed.

There is a growing demand to return proper bathroom doorsCredit: Getty

“I get it, you save a few inches on every room and eventually you get to make an extra room without any noticing. That doesn’t mean I accept it.”

Her videos feature a horrifying array of bathrooms without proper doors, including a ceiling-to-floor glass version while staying at the Empire Hotel in New York City, NY.

And guests’ privacy is not just sacrificed in the States – it’s happening worldwide, warned Sadie’s hotel reviews.

“Nothing says romantic mini-break like struggling to defecate quietly in a glass box as your beloved turns on the TV and tries desperately to dissociate,” joked the Guardian newspaper in the UK.

“Sliding barn doors – what are we, animals, forced to do our business for all to see?”

Guests have told cost-cutting hotel bosses that they want their privacyCredit: Getty

Yet hotels have increasingly been ditching bathrooms over the past few years.

The U.S. Sun reported in August 2024 that bosses have been axing them as hotel rooms are getting smaller.

Sadly for desperate guests, it can force them to suddenly bolt to an alternative – and more private – restroom if they’re sharing their room.





Sliding barn doors – what are we, animals, forced to do our business for all to see?


The Guardian

Some have even been forced to use the bathroom in the hotel lobby on more than one occasion.

Or, visitors are forced to use swimming pool toilets.

One woman said she had a “frosted glass door” to the bathroom when sharing with a friend – only for one of them to get food poisoning.



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Top rain-proof UK holiday parks with indoor pools, arcades and fairgrounds

HAVE you ever been worried your getaway will be ruined by rain and you’ll be stuck in your room watching Netflix?

Well, the UK gets its fair share of rain and if you don’t want your holiday to be ruined, you might want to consider a holiday park with lots of indoor activities and attractions.

There are a number of holiday parks across the UK that have a lot of indoor attractionsCredit: Parkdean Resorts

From heated pools to soft play, there are some great holiday parks across the UK with indoor attractions – and some are even available this month and in February.

Cheddar Wood Resort & Spa, Somerset

Down in Somerset, you could head to Cheddar Wood resort & Spa with Darwin Escapes.

The countryside resort features a number of different lodges to choose from and activities for all ages.

When wet and miserable, head to the resort’s pool tables and two-lane bowling alley for a bit of competitive fun.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs


DRINK UP

I tested the Butlin’s £30 all-inclusive drinks package to limit – was it worth it?

Alternatively, head to the indoor heated pool for a splash about.

As part of the Go Active programme, families can have a go at a number of indoor and outdoor activities.

For indoor options, check out the sea scooter sessions at the pool or get stuck into a craft session.

Adults can even get some R&R at the Eden Spa where you can get a muscle massage from £50.

A three-night stay from January 30 for up to eight people costs from £399.

Parkdean Resorts’ Trecco Bay in Wales

Over in Wales, you could head to Parkdean Resorts’ Trecco Bay.

At the park, visitors will find a Splashland, which boasts an indoor swimming pool with a huge waterslide.

If you prefer your kids to keep dry, then head to the Arts and Crafts Den, which runs creative activity sessions throughout the day including painting pottery or building a bear.

There’s a sports dome too, which hosts a number of activities for kids to enjoy.

And for older kids who enjoy video games, there is a VR experience to test out.

A three-night stay from February 26 for four people costs from £141.

Parkdean Resorts’ Trecco Bay in Wales even has a VR experienceCredit: Parkdean Resorts

Butlin’s Minehead

Butlin’s is a great option if you want to stay inside.

Over at the biggest Butlin’s site – Minehead – visitors can enjoy various restaurants, a vintage fairground, the Skyline Pavilion and even a Chapel.

There is the indoor swimming complex with a Master Blaster flume, Black Hole and Space Bowl slides and a Blue Comet flume.

In the Skyline Pavilion, there are a number of bars, restaurants, shops, arcades and even the Skyline Stage where guests can catch a range of entertainment.

For little ones, there is also soft play.

Minehead has two soft play areas, one for kids up to the age of 14 and the other for toddlers.

For something calmer than running around in a play area, Butlin’s Minehead has shows you can catch as well, including Peppa Pig and the Dinosaur that Pooped.

And who doesn’t love a good arts and crafts session?

The resort hosts sessions for kids of all ages led by their trusty Redcoats.

For example, there can be painting sessions lasting an hour.

A stay at Butlin’s Minehead for four-nights from February 2 costs from £39, which is just £2.44 per person, per night.

Butlin’s Minehead is the biggest of the three resorts and includes an indoor swimming complexCredit: Butlins

Sandymouth Holiday Resort, Bude, Cornwall

If you love a Cornish getaway, but are scared the weather could ruin it – head to Sandymouth Holiday Resort.

Located in Bude, the holiday park is the perfect base to explore Cornwall but also stay at when the weather takes a turn.

There’s a heated indoor pool, with a separate shallow pool for little ones to splash in.

And you can use sea scooters, mini jet skis and Waterwalkerz in the pool too.

For dry fun, there is an indoor soft play area with a shipwreck, hidden slides and blocks to build your very own ship.

In the evenings, the holiday park also hosts dance sessions, music and family games.

Kids even get the chance to meet Charlie Bear for a hug and a photo.

A three-night stay for four people from January 23 costs just £125, which is equal to £10.42 per person, per night.

Center Parcs is great fun for both kids and adults with a huge subtropical swimming complexCredit: Alamy

Center Parcs, Woburn Forest

Located an hour from London, Center Parcs Woburn Forest in Berkshire is the perfect escape from the city when the weather is grim.

The site is one of Center Parcs’ newest villages and is home to a number of accommodation types, as well as activities and restaurants.

One of the main attractions is the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, which has a number of rides and slides.

For adults wanting a pamper session, there is the Aqua Sana Forest Spa with 25 experiences including the world’s first Mineral Room.

Kids over 12 years old can enjoy Interactive Darts, where there is a high-tech dartboard that tracks your throws.

There is also Interactive Shuffle, where your scores are automatically tracked as you try to make the perfect shot.

If you enjoy mini golf, Puttify is a mini golf course on the next level with neon lights and technology features throughout.

For kids over the age of three, there is a Gamebox too, where you play games in immersive worlds with your body as the controller.

A three-night stay costs from £699 in February.

For more holiday park news, we reveal the nine most popular Hols From £9.50 holiday parks of last year – as booking opens for 2026.

Plus, one of the UK’s most popular holiday parks reveals mega £50million expansion.

And some of these holiday parks don’t cost much eitherCredit: Center Parcs

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Trump’s Greenland ‘framework’ deal: What we know about it, what we don’t | Donald Trump News

United States President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he had reached a “framework of a future deal” on Greenland with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

He also withdrew his threat to impose 10 percent trade tariffs on eight European nations objecting to the sale of Greenland to the US – set to rise to 25 percent later in the year if no deal was reached.

Greenland is a self-governing territory which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly stated that the island is not for sale.

In a bid to defuse rising transatlantic tensions, Rutte met with Trump in Davos, Switzerland, during the annual summit of the World Economic Forum. During his speech at Davos on Wednesday, Trump reiterated that he wants to acquire Greenland, but ruled out taking the Arctic island by force.

On Thursday, Rutte told reporters that NATO countries would ramp up security in the Arctic as part of the agreement.

What has Trump said about the ‘framework’ for a future deal?

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump said that following a “very productive” meeting with Rutte, he had formed the “framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region”.

Trump added that, under this deal, he would not impose tariffs on the eight European countries that have opposed his attempt to acquire Greenland.

He added that additional discussions are being held about “The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland”.

The Golden Dome is Washington’s proposed multilayered missile defence programme, which is designed to counter aerial threats. Trump announced the project in May 2025. Under it, the US will deploy missile interceptors in space to shield against ballistic and hypersonic threats. The project is set to be completed by the end of Trump’s term in 2029.

In his post, Trump said more information about the framework would be made public as negotiations progress. These talks, he said, would be led by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the US side.

“We have a concept of a deal,” Trump told CNBC later on Wednesday.

But he offered no further details about what these negotiations, such as dates or venues for upcoming talks – would involve, nor specifics on who from Europe would join.

Why is the US at odds with Europe over Greenland?

On January 17, Trump announced that from February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would be charged a 10 percent tariff on their exports to the US.

On June 1, the tariff was to be increased to 25 percent, he said. “This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

One day after he made this threat, the 27 members of the European Union convened for an emergency meeting to discuss their options. While many wanted to try to resolve the dispute via diplomatic efforts, some called for the implementation of a never-before-used “bazooka” package of retaliatory tariffs and trade restrictions. However, this could take up to a year to fully implement.

But following his meeting with Rutte on Wednesday, Trump withdrew his threat of tariffs and said a “framework for a future deal” had been reached.

Why does Trump want Greenland?

Trump, and US presidents before him, have coveted Greenland for its strategic position.

The sparsely populated Arctic island of 56,000 people – mostly Indigenous Inuit – is geographically in North America but politically part of Denmark, making it part of Europe.

Greenland’s geographical position between the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans provides the shortest air and sea routes between North America and Europe, making it crucial for US military operations and early-warning systems, especially around the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap, according to the Trump administration.

Greenland also has plentiful deposits of minerals, including large amounts of untapped rare earth metals, which are required for the production of technology ranging from smartphones to fighter jets. With global warming, more shipping routes around Greenland are opening up as the ice melts, making it of greater interest to many nations.

Did the US ever own Greenland?

During his speech in Davos on Wednesday, Trump said: “After the war, we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But we gave it back.”

The US occupied Greenland in 1941 following Nazi Germany’s invasion of Denmark during World War II. It established a military and radio presence on the island, withdrawing following the end of the war. However, US forces have maintained a permanent presence at Pituffik Space Base, previously known as the Thule Air Base, in Greenland’s northwest ever since.

Denmark and the US reached an agreement in 1951, which allows the US to maintain military facilities in Greenland as part of mutual defence within the NATO framework.

Despite its presence on the island during World War II, the US never actually possessed the territory and its 1951 agreement with Denmark did not pass sovereignty of Greenland to the US.

What do we know about the framework of Trump’s future deal?

Specific details of the “framework” are unknown.

But Trump has described it as a pathway towards a “long-term deal”.

And he has specified some elements of what he expects from that deal. “It puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and to minerals,” Trump told reporters.

“It’s a deal that’s forever.”

On Thursday, Rutte told Reuters that will demand NATO countries ramp up Arctic security swiftly, as part of the security element of the agreement.

“We will come together in NATO with our senior commanders to work out what is necessary,” Rutte said.

“I have no doubt we can do this quite fast. Certainly, I would hope for 2026; I hope even early in 2026.”

But experts say not much else about the framework is known.

“We still don’t know what ‘framework’ actually means: is it political signalling, or does it contain concrete commitments, timelines and legal hooks? We also don’t know who the real parties are [US-Denmark only, or US-Denmark-Greenland] and what Greenland has formally endorsed,” Christine Nissen, the chief analyst at the Copenhagen-based Think Tank Europa, told Al Jazeera.

It is unclear whether Greenland has agreed to the framework of any deal or whether Greenlandic or Danish authorities were even consulted.

“There can’t be a deal without having Greenland as part of the negotiations,” Sascha Faxe, a member of the Danish parliament, told Sky News on Wednesday.

“We have a Greenlandic MP in Denmark and she’s very clear that this is not a prerogative of Rutte and NATO,” Faxe said, referring to Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, who represents one of the two parliamentary seats for Greenland in the Danish parliament.

She added: “They are very clear – Greenland is not for sale, they are not for negotiations – so it’s not real negotiations, it’s two men who have had a conversation.”

On Wednesday night, Larsen wrote in Danish in a Facebook post: “NATO in no way has the right to negotiate anything on its own about us from Greenland while bypassing us. Nothing about us, without us.”

In an X post on Wednesday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen wrote: “The day is ending on a better note than it began,” welcoming Trump’s ruling out the European tariffs and taking Greenland by force. “Now, let’s sit down and find out how we can address the American security concerns in the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the [Kingdom of Denmark].”

It is also not clear which other European leaders are on board with the deal. EU leaders are convening in Brussels on Thursday for emergency talks over the matter.

In an X post on Wednesday, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed Trump’s decision to not charge tariffs on European countries. “As Italy has always maintained, it is essential to continue fostering dialogue between allied nations,” she wrote, without specifying details about Greenland or the deal.

If Washington ends up owning parts of Greenland as American overseas territory, it is not clear whether Denmark will hand over the land or whether the land will be purchased at a price. It is also not known what this hypothetical price would look like.

What natural resources does Greenland have?

Greenland is incredibly rich in minerals, including rare earth minerals used in the manufacture of batteries and high-tech industries crucial for defence. According to a 2023 survey, 25 of 34 minerals deemed “critical raw materials” by the European Commission were found in Greenland.

Greenland does not carry out the extraction of oil and gas, and its mining sector is opposed by its Indigenous population. The island’s economy is largely reliant on its fishing industry.

However, during his speech at Davos, Trump said that it was national security, and not minerals, that made it imperative for him to own Greenland.

“To get to this rare earth, you got to go through hundreds of feet of ice. That’s not the reason we need it. We need it for strategic national security and international security,” Trump said.

Referring to Trump during an interview with Fox News’s Special Report with Bret Baier on Wednesday, Rutte said: “He is very much focused on what do we need to do to make sure that that huge Arctic region – where change is taking place at the moment, where the Chinese and the Russians are more and more active – how we can protect it.”

Amid global warming, the vast untapped resources of the Arctic are becoming more accessible. Countries like the US, Canada, China and Russia are now eyeing these resources.

Russia and China have been working together to develop Arctic shipping routes as Moscow seeks to deliver more oil and gas to China amid Western sanctions, while Beijing seeks an alternative shipping route to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Malacca.

“Negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the United States will go forward aimed at ensuring that Russia and China never gain a foothold – economically or militarily – in Greenland,” Reuters news agency reported, citing an unnamed NATO source.

On Wednesday, Russian news agencies quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying: “What happens in Greenland is of absolutely no consequence to us.”

What about the ownership of Greenland?

On Wednesday, Rutte said during the interview that the issue of whether Greenland will remain Danish territory did not come up during his discussion with Trump.

When Rutte was asked whether Greenland would remain under the Kingdom of Denmark, he responded: “That issue did not come up any more in my conversations tonight with the president.”

Trump has previously said that Washington needs to own Greenland, rather than lease it.

“You defend ownership. You don’t defend leases. And we’ll have to defend Greenland. If we don’t do it, China or Russia will,” Trump told reporters at the White House on January 9.

During his speech at Davos, Trump reiterated that he wants Washington to own Greenland, despite the US military presence there under the 1951 agreement.

Nissen, of Think Tank Europa, explained that this agreement already grants the US very extensive operational rights in Greenland pertaining to construction, movement and logistics. But, she added, the arrangement is not territorial, and sovereignty sits with Denmark and Greenland’s self-government.

“The US cannot exercise civil authority, change laws, control borders as a state, or transfer the territory. So Denmark and Greenland’s hard red line is straightforward: no ‘ownership’ and no territorial transfer through a deal.”

On Wednesday, The New York Times, however, cited three unnamed senior officials involved in the latest Greenland talks, reporting on the possibility that the framework could involve conversations over giving Washington sovereign control over small pockets of Greenland for military bases.

In theory, these pockets would be similar to the concept of the UK’s bases in Cyprus, which are regarded as British territory, one of the officials told The Times, while another confirmed this.

The UK has two Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) inside Cyprus, namely Akrotiri and Dhekelia. These are legally British-owned territories within Cyprus.

SBAs are purely for military use and governed almost entirely as military installations, where authority is essentially military and centralised.

“There are rumours that Trump may still imagine some form of US ownership of a very small piece of land, but Rutte has indicated that this was not substantively on the table,” Nissen said.

“If any element of the deal were to involve even a symbolic transfer of territory, that would cross a red line for Denmark, Greenland and Europe, and would set a dangerous precedent for sovereignty and the Western order.”

Nissen explained that even if there is a framework, Denmark and Greenland have legal options to constrain US ambitions for the island.

They could insist that US influence is limited to “rights of use” to territory rather than anything resembling sovereign control or exclusive jurisdiction. Essentially, she argued, they could use bureaucracy to bolster their positions.

“They can use governance tools that matter in practice: consultation clauses, joint oversight bodies, transparency requirements, clear review points and meaningful termination options – plus domestic law and permitting [land use, environment, infrastructure approvals] that can shape or slow what ambitions become on the ground.”

She explained that a likely outcome could involve strengthened US access to Greenland and an update to the 1951 defence deal — with more NATO branding, extra infrastructure and investment, and limited, targeted cooperation on minerals.

INTERACTIVE - yRGTS-united-kingdom-14-territories-1769067236

What are some overseas territories?

Greenland is actually one of two Danish self-governing overseas territories, the other one being the Faroe Islands.

The Arctic island was a Danish colony in the early 18th century, after an expedition led by Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede arrived in 1721. In 1979, it became a self-governing territory. Since 2009, Greenland has the right to declare independence through a referendum.

The UK has 14 overseas territories across the Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific and polar regions.

The inhabited ones, including Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Montserrat, are mostly self‑governing, with the UK responsible for defence and foreign affairs.

The US has five permanently inhabited territories — Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands — all with local governments but limited federal representation, and Puerto Rico is the largest as a self‑governing commonwealth.

Washington also controls nine mostly uninhabited islands used mainly for military or strategic purposes.

France has 13 overseas territories spread across the Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Pacific and South America. China has two Special Administrative Regions (SARs), Hong Kong and Macau, which are generally autonomous in terms of political, economic and legal systems.

Australia, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand and Portugal also have overseas territories in different parts of the world with different arrangements for self-government.

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‘Don’t believe Netanyahu, military pressure is getting us killed,’ says Israeli captive – Middle East Monitor

The armed wing of Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades, released a video message on Wednesday afternoon showing an Israeli captive currently held in Gaza, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported. The footage shows Omri Miran lighting a candle on what he described as his “second birthday” in captivity.

“This is my second birthday here. I can’t say I’m celebrating; it’s just another day in captivity,” said Miran. “I made this cake for the occasion, but there is no joy. It’s been a year and a half. I miss my daughters and my wife terribly.”

He addressed the Israeli public directly, including his family and friends. “Conditions here are extremely tough. Thank you to everyone demonstrating to bring us home safely.”

The captive also urged Israelis to stage a mass protest outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. “Bring my daughters so I can see them on TV. Do everything you can now to get us home. Netanyahu’s supporters don’t care about us, they’d rather see us dead.”

Screengrab from footage shows Israeli captive Omri Miran

He asked captives released in previous prisoner exchange deals to protest and speak to the media. “Let the people know how bad it is for us. We live in constant fear of bombings. A deal must be reached soon before we return home in coffins.

Miran urged demonstrators to appeal to US President Donald Trump to put pressure on Netanyahu: “Do not believe Netanyahu. Military pressure is only killing us. A deal — only a deal — will bring us home. Turn to Trump. He seems to be the only powerful person in the world who could push Netanyahu to agree to a deal.”

He also mentioned the worsening humanitarian situation: “The captors told me the crossings are closed; no food or supplies are coming in. As a result, we’re receiving even less food than before.”

In conclusion, the captive sent a pointed message to the Israeli leadership: “Netanyahu, Dermer, Smotrich, Ben Gvir — you are the reason for 7 October. Because of you, I am here. Because of you, we’re all here. You’re bringing the state to collapse.”

READ: US synagogues close their doors to Israel MK Ben-Gvir

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EastEnders fans uncover Amanda Holden’s forgotten soap role and she ‘hasn’t aged’

Amanda Holden appeared in EastEnders as Carmen, working alongside Ian Beale at a clothing stall, but fans are only just discovering the role and are amazed at how little she’s aged

EastEnders fans have been stunned after learning that Amanda Holden once appeared in the BBC soap.

The Heart Radio host, 54, has recently made a return to the small screen alongside her best friend, Alan Carr, for a new overseas property renovation programme.

Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job is currently broadcast on BBC One every Friday and chronicles the duo as they spend a summer on the Ionian island of Corfu.

They’ve purchased a somewhat more modest property than in their previous series, but they’re facing a significant challenge.

Amanda’s professional career took off when she became a judge on the ITV reality programme Britain’s Got Talent in 2007 alongside Simon Cowell, reports OK!.

However, she previously pursued an acting career and featured in EastEnders long before becoming a household name.

In 1993, Amanda appeared in Albert Square as the youthful Carmen alongside Ian Beale actor Adam Woodyatt.

Carmen was employed at the clothing stall at Bridge Street Market and was keen to secure a permanent position there.

Her primary involvement centred around selling heart-patterned boxer shorts, which were anonymously delivered to Richard Cole, played by Ian Reddington, the market inspector, as a prank he found rather unamusing.

Amanda only featured in five episodes of EastEnders before departing Walford and moving on to a stellar showbiz career.

She previously discussed her brief role with her Heart Radio co-presenter, Jamie Theakston.

She revealed: “When I left drama school, EastEnders was one of the first jobs I got. I had to look after someone’s stall for half an hour, which was like four episodes or something. I was opposite Adam Woodyatt, your ex-flatmate! That’s not true.”

Amanda continued: “Ian Beale, I looked after a jewellery stall, and he had his fruit and veg, there was a lot of messing around with rude fruit, that’s all I’m going to say. I had a lot of fun; it was a nice show to do.”

EastEnders fans were taken aback when they discovered Amanda’s stint on the soap, with one Reddit user posting: “Another surprise! Another celebrity (before they were famous) appeared in EastEnders that I didn’t know about! 1993 – A teeny tiny Amanda Holden!”

Another chimed in: “Wow. I never knew about this one, it almost feels unusual to look at haha”, while another added: “I thought the same thing. Especially when I heard her speak. She had exactly the same voice as she has now lol.”

One fan commented: “Interesting I had no idea that she was in it before she got famous”, while another remarked: “Wow she hasn’t aged at all in 30 years.”

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer

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

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Tourists go inside Great Pyramid in Egypt and instantly regret decision

Egypt’s iconic pyramids are a must-see for many, but one group of tourists has found out the hard way that they might be better viewed from afar, as they ‘regretted’ going inside

For globetrotters eager to witness the world’s most spectacular sights, Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza undoubtedly feature prominently on their must-see lists. These ancient burial chambers for royalty trace their origins back to approximately 2580 BC, and remarkably remain as the sole survivor among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Exploring these pyramids certainly ranks as a dream experience for most travellers fortunate enough to get the opportunity, but as one tourist group recently found out, admiring these magnificent monuments from the exterior might be the wiser choice. They were left terrified by one detail as they explored the monuments, and said going inside isn’t for everyone.

A TikTok clip posted this month by a user called Aish captures her ascending the extremely steep internal stairway of the Great Pyramid at Giza – steps that normally guide visitors either downward from the entry point to the underground chamber, or upward towards the Grand Gallery and the King’s Chamber.

However, as she navigated the cramped passageway, a voice from behind could be heard announcing their intention to retreat, unable to cope with the confined conditions.

Initially, Aish pressed forward a few more steps, determined to continue her journey, but ultimately conceded defeat herself, stating: “Yeah, I think I’m going back, too. I’m going down.”

Text overlaying her footage read: “POV [point of view]: You went inside the pyramids and regret it instantly.”

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Her caption served as a cautionary note, suggesting the pyramids might prove unsuitable for those suffering from claustrophobia, which is an overwhelming fear of cramped or enclosed environments.

Viewers of Aish’s video were divided on her choice to retreat. Some felt she had “wasted” the opportunity by not experiencing everything the pyramids offered, whilst others who’d tackled the challenging ascent previously insisted it wasn’t “worth” the ordeal of the journey, regardless.

One viewer remarked: “I did it (traumatised) and the room when you go into was not even worth it… just an empty room with an empty tomb.”

However, another countered: “There should be a sign saying once you enter, you commit to the entire climb.”

A third person supported this view, saying: “If people are claustrophobic, they shouldn’t go in, because that just ruins it for everyone else then.”

Whilst countless tourists fantasise about venturing inside the Great Pyramid, the cramped conditions can prove shocking to many expecting the interior to match the grandeur of the exterior. According to Britannica, the Great Pyramid contains “very little open space” once inside, and temperatures can be sweltering.

To access the Grand Pyramid, visitors must initially scale 59 feet on the outside. From that point, you navigate down a descending passageway until it divides into one route continuing down to the subterranean chamber, and another ascending towards the Grand Gallery, along with the Queen’s Chamber and the King’s Chamber.

A Time Out journalist who previously explored the Great Pyramid described it as “one of the most magical experiences” of her life, yet stated she would “absolutely” never attempt it again.

She wrote: “The tomb itself is tiny, and there’s not much to do apart from stand there feeling pink, sticky and overwhelmed, while a lone security guard offers to take your photo and tells you to keep the noise down.

“Is it one of the most magical experiences of my life? Yes. Would I do it again? Absolutely not.”

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A banned pesticide is still showing up in Long Beach and other coastal communities

A highly toxic pesticide that was banned in California more than two decades ago is still widely used across the state, potentially endangering communities near farm fields and bustling shipyards, according to a new study.

For much of the 20th century, methyl bromide, an odorless and colorless fumigant, had been touted as a miracle product for its effectiveness in killing pests, both on farms and in the shipping containers that conveyed produce across the world. But research later determined that the neurotoxic gas also can cause serious health issues in humans and contributed to the depletion of the ozone, ultimately leading to its ban under the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty, in 2005.

However, researchers from UCLA and UC Irvine recently found that methyl bromide remains in use in 36 of 58 California counties, according to data collected by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation over the last decade. From 2016 to 2023, more than 12 million pounds of the pesticide were applied in these counties, according to those data. And more than 200 fumigation facilities had active permits to emit methyl bromide statewide during that eight-year span.

How is this possible?

Well, the international ban, it turns out, included broad exemptions.

The counties with the highest methyl bromide use — Siskiyou and San Joaquin — were made up of mostly rural communities that were using it for exempted agricultural purposes, such as soil fumigation for specialty crops without feasible alternatives or in greenhouse nurseries.

Los Angeles County ranked fifth, with 725,000 pounds of methyl bromide used. That was mostly due to it’s ongoing use to sterilize container cargo moving through the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles — another exemption to the Montreal Protocol.

As a consequence, communities near the ports — which already bear the brunt of diesel and air pollution — have been exposed to another toxic pollutant.

Because the pesticide’s use is exempted, the risks are unaccounted for in CalEnviroScreen, the tool the state uses to evaluate a community’s exposure to several types of pollution.

“These communities, like West Long Beach and Wilmington, they were already then designated as a disadvantaged community by the state of California,” said Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne, the study’s co-author and an assistant professor of environmental science at UCLA. “So I think this just underscores that there’s potentially even more environmental burdens that weren’t even being accounted for, unfortunately.”

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From January 2023 to April 2024, an air monitoring station just north of Long Beach’s Hudson Elementary School, which is downwind of two fumigation sites that handle the imported goods, found that the average levels of methyl bromide were 2.1 parts per billion — twice as high as the state’s threshold exposure for long-term health risks. In early 2024, hourly concentrations surpassed 960 parts per billion, just shy of the state’s short-term exposure benchmark.

Since then, the Los Angeles County agricultural commissioner has been collaborating with the fumigation facilities on ideas to reduce risk from the pesticide, including installing higher smoke stacks to disperse emissions and prohibiting fumigation during school hours.

And on Jan. 29, the South Coast Air Quality Management District will convene a public meeting to discuss how methyl bromide and other fumigants might be regulated in the future.

Theral Golden, a longtime resident of West Long Beach, said he plans to attend the meeting and will call for an outright ban of methyl bromide unless fumigation facilities can demonstrate that they can contain the harmful emissions.

“The building should be airtight,” Golden said. “It should not escape into the atmosphere at all. It may cost a lot of money. But that’s the cost of doing business. It’s costing us our lives.”

More recent air news

A deal to shut down Washington state’s last coal plant has been thrown into turmoil after the Trump administration ordered it to stay open for 90 additional days, according to New York Times climate reporter Claire Brown. The move is part of a broader effort by the Department of Energy to keep multiple aging coal plants operating nationwide.

A surprisingly small group of companies is driving most of the world’s carbon emissions, climate journalist Dana Drugmand writes in Inside Climate News. A new analysis finds that just 32 oil, gas, coal and cement producers were responsible for more than half of global fossil CO₂ emissions in 2024, with many of them actually increasing output while lobbying against climate action.

Air pollution isn’t just bad for our health, it’s bad for the economy. Shoppers Stop, a popular department store in India, pointed to poor air quality as a factor behind flat sales and falling earnings in late 2025, according to Lou Del Bello, Bloomberg’s energy and commodities editor.

A few last things in climate news

One year after the deadly Eaton fire, survivors are pushing back against California laws that shield electric utilities from paying the full cost of wildfires sparked by their equipment, Los Angeles Times investigative reporter Melody Petersen writes.

The world is dangerously overdrafting its freshwater, Los Angeles Times environmental reporter Ian James writes, as U.N. scientists warn that humanity has entered an era of “global water bankruptcy.” The report finds that rivers are running dry, lakes and wetlands are disappearing and groundwater is being pumped faster than it can be replenished — putting billions of people and much of global food production at risk.

Back in my home state, Detroit’s auto show is looking a lot less electric these days, Associated Press climate reporter Alexa St. John writes. The shift follows President Trump’s rollback of electric-vehicle incentives and fuel economy rules, moves that have already cost U.S. automakers billions, slowed EV sales growth, and, industry experts warn, could leave them falling behind as China and Europe race ahead on EVs.

This is the latest edition of Boiling Point, a newsletter about climate change and the environment in the American West. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. And listen to our Boiling Point podcast here.

For more air quality news, follow Tony Briscoe on X and Linkedin.

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What position will Kyle Tucker play? Takeaways from his Dodgers intro

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After addressing their two biggest needs this offseason, the bullpen and outfield, via free agency, the Dodgers appear to be relatively set with their roster a little more than three weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Arizona.

“There’s still some things we’re kicking around and some conversations that have been ongoing for a little bit that we’re going to continue to enhance and build up depth,” Friedman told reporters.

Asked if the Dodgers still are in the market for starting pitching, Friedman said: “We are not.”

That appeared to play out Wednesday night when the Mets acquired starting pitcher Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The 29-year-old right-hander had been someone the Dodgers were interested in, the Athletic reported this week. Considering their rotation already projected to feature Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki, the reported interest in Peralta was surprising.

But coming off a grueling postseason in which the starters, Yamamoto in particular, carried a heavy load, the Dodgers already were thinking about ways to navigate next season — especially with the World Baseball Classic in March.

Last month during winter meetings, Roberts hinted at a six-man rotation as a way to give starters extra rest over a long season. Among the Dodgers’ four starting pitchers during the postseason — Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow and Ohtani — only Yamamoto pitched the entire season. Snell and Glasnow spent significant time on the injured list, and Ohtani didn’t make his pitching debut until June.

The Dodgers have plenty of young pitchers who could step in, from ascendant minor-league prospect Jackson Ferris, to returning 2024 breakout rookies River Ryan and Gavin Stone, to the more-established Justin Wrobleski and Emmet Sheehan.

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