“I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private.
“Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.
“I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.
“For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family.
“The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.
“Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they’ll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade.
“But I believe the truth always comes out.
“My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn’t stopped.
“My mum cancelled making Nicola’s dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress.
“Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.
“They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated. My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since.
“During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me ‘evil’ because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola’s Naunni at our table, because they both didn’t have their husbands.
“Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.
“The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was ‘not blood’ and ‘not family’.
“Since the moment I started standing up for myself with my family, I’ve received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders.
“Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last Summer.
“My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song.
“In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead.
“She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.
“We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment.
“My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we’ve tried to come together as one.
“My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable.
“Despite this, we still travelled to London for my dad’s birthday and were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him.
“He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.
“When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn’t invited. It was a slap in the face.
“Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all.
“My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first.
“Family ‘love’ is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it’s at the expense of our professional obligations.
“We’ve gone out of our way for years to show up and support at every fashion show, every party, and every press activity to show “our perfect family.”
“But the one time my wife asked for my mum’s support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.
“The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety.
“For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared. I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief.
“My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press, or manipulation.
“All we want peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.”
WASHINGTON — A stunning military intervention in Venezuela. Telling the New York Giants which coach to hire. Threats against Iran, Denmark, Greenland and Colombia. Posing with someone else’s Nobel Peace Prize. Dangling the potential of deploying U.S. troops in Minneapolis. Flipping off a critic. Announcing an aggressive round of tariffs. Threatening political enemies.
For President Trump, this blizzard was just the first half of January.
If a president’s most valuable currency is time, Trump operates as if he has an almost limitless supply, ever willing to share no matter the day, the hour or the circumstance.
He’s rewritten the role of the presidency in a divided country, commanding constant attention with little regard for consequences. For all his talk about strength, his approach leans more toward virality than virility with social media as his primary accelerant.
“The president exists loudly,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. “The president will play with fire. I haven’t seen him yet play with live hand grenades, but I’ve seen him come damn close. That’s just the way he is, and it’s not going to change.”
At least Trump thanks you in the process.
During his second term, the Republican president has signed off of his social media post with the catchphrase “thank you for your attention to this matter” 242 times, according to data compiled by Roll Call Factbase. For good measure, he often uses all capital letters and a few exclamation points.
Trump’s decades of seeking attention
He has spent decades seeking attention, first in the New York tabloids and later as a reality television star. Attention, positive or negative, is its own reward. In the attention economy, Trump is what Wall Street might call a market maker.
The gambits often have a tenuous relationship with truth and sometimes involve misogyny or racism. They can step on the administration’s other priorities and don’t always bend political realities in Trump’s favor (see affordability concerns and the Epstein files ).
But they’re hard to ignore.
“He’s saying hello to you in the morning, and he says good night to you at the end of the day,” Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said. “You’re never not going to hear from him.”
In his second term, he observed even fewer constraints on where to assert his presence, with a fondness for sports. During September alone, Trump attended three major sporting events around New York City. His visit to the U.S. Open final forced long security lines and delayed the start of the match. The crowd — dominated by New York’s elite — booed him, but that didn’t matter. He was still on the stadium’s big screen and all over social media.
That’s where some of the biggest changes during Trump’s second term have unfolded.
During his first administration, many Silicon Valley leaders were cold — or outright hostile — to Trump. He was banned from platforms including Twitter and Facebook after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The leaders of those companies are now openly allied with Trump or at least friendly with him. Twitter is now named X and owned by Elon Musk, who led the Department of Government Efficiency during the first months of the second term and has returned to the president’s orbit after a brief falling-out. Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg were among the technology executives who attended Trump’s inauguration last year.
AI quickly produces memes and videos
Trump, who’s not known to use a computer, this time has his own social media platform, where his team relies on fresh artificial intelligence technology to quickly produce memes and videos that keep the president at the forefront of the online conversation. Those posts often veer into crude territory, such as one in October that showed him wearing a crown, flying a plane, dumping excrement on his opponents.
“The social media we’re talking about in Trump’s second term is not the social media of Trump’s first term,” said Nolan Higdon, a lecturer at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he focuses on critical media literacy.
For now, there are few brakes on Trump’s impulses.
House Speaker Mike Johnson brushed off the excrement post as “satire.” Vice President JD Vance, a devout Catholic, has defended Trump’s posts, including one depicting him as the pope. In an interview with Vanity Fair, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles described Trump, who doesn’t drink, as possessing an “alcoholic’s personality,” meaning he “operates (with) a view that there’s nothing he can’t do.”
Indeed, his approach has been remarkably successful in achieving the disruption he seeks to impose in the U.S. and abroad. He uses social media as a weapon, warning of aid that will be cut off to states that resist him. His posts regarding Greenland and Denmark sparked a genuine diplomatic crisis and raised questions about the long-term sustainability of NATO.
The two nagging exceptions revolve around Epstein and affordability.
After telling his supporters to “not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein,” he eventually gave in to congressional pressure and signed a bill that earned overwhelming support on Capitol Hill calling for the files to be made public. The Justice Department has already missed deadlines for the release, and Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois have said the flurry of news this month has amounted to a distraction from the Epstein issue.
Trump has similarly struggled to convince the public that he understands and is responding to their concerns about high prices. After calling affordability challenges a “Democratic hoax,” he has tried to take action, including delivering a prime-time address last month. But that speech and more recent efforts, including the mortgage rate push, were quickly drowned by the deluge of more jarring news.
Indeed, a Michigan visit last week to talk about affordability may ultimately be best remembered for images of Trump delivering an obscene gesture at someone who was yelling at him from afar.
Trump’s central challenge
That underscores Trump’s central challenge heading into an election year that will test his grip on power. While his hard-line approach may delight supporters, it does less to convince a broader swath of Americans that he’s an effective president.
Approval of Trump’s handling of most issues is low, but health care stands out as a particular weakness for him. Only about 3 in 10 U.S. adults approved of the way he was handling health care, according to a December AP-NORC poll. That was slightly lower than his overall approval. He’s also slipped on immigration since the start of his second term, when this stood out as a relative strength. According to a January AP-NORC poll, about 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of his performance on immigration, down from about half of Americans toward the beginning of his first term.
Meanwhile, Democrats are taking stronger steps toward winning American attention spans. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, hosts a podcast and taunts Trump by mocking him on social media.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is perhaps the most successful Democrat to translate a digital media machine into political success. Over the course of about a year, the 34-year-old went from a relatively unknown state lawmaker to the leader of the nation’s largest city by introducing himself to voters with videos that showed him in unscripted environments, like the course of the New York City marathon.
“They’re learning not to impose an old framework on a new paradigm,” said Basil Smikle, a former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party and a professor at Columbia University.
The long-term question is whether Trump has fundamentally changed the presidency. Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary under then-President George W. Bush, said Trump “is the definition of unique” and predicted that the next president — regardless of party — will communicate differently.
“Whoever succeeds him,” Fleischer said, “the velocity of the presidency will slow down.”
Sloan writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report.
Period. No conditions. No debate. It’s been written here before and, after Sunday, it literally bears writing again.
The Rams are going to win the Super Bowl.
Sunday gave it life. Sunday made it real. Sunday was the test that all championship teams must pass, and the Rams did so with frozen hands and puffy faces and a will that wailed.
How they beat the Chicago Bears in a divisional playoff game at a frigid, snowy Soldier Field in front of a bundled-up crowd going bananas, heaven only knows.
How they did so while blowing a lead on a last-minute miracle pass and then nearly botching the game on an overtime drive, even heaven surely has no idea.
But they did it, somehow, some way, swear to Stafford, they did it, winning 20-17 in overtime with an outcome that could be described in one word.
Puka Nacua was bouncing and gesturing and shouting that word during the on-field postgame interview.
“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
Yeah, they’re now headed for Seattle for next week’s NFC championship game against the Seahawks.
And, yeah, this is the same Seahawks team that they beat in November in Los Angeles, the same Seahawks team they led by 16 points in the fourth quarter just a couple of weeks ago in Seattle before losing in overtime.
There will be no such collapse again. The Rams are tougher now. They’re more resilient now. After Sunday, they believe that they can survive anything now.
It’s possible that a judge or arbitrator in the high-stakes breach-of-contract case awards monetary damages to the Rose Bowl and the City of Pasadena based on a prediction of lost revenue over the length of a lease that runs through June 2044, freeing the Bruins to abandon their longtime football home for SoFi Stadium.
In another scenario, that judge or arbitrator considers the possibility of wild success under new coach Bob Chesney leading to a packed stadium and figures there’s no way to reasonably calculate damages, given that the team’s longstanding attendance woes don’t provide a reliable blueprint for future revenue. In that instance, UCLA most likely would be forced to stay at the Rose Bowl.
“I don’t think that it’s a sure thing either way,” said Russell Korobkin, a UCLA law professor who specializes in contracts and was one of three legal experts who spoke with The Times about the case. “I wouldn’t want to be betting on the outcome.”
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza dives across the goal line for a touchdown during the Hoosiers’ 27-21 win over Miami for the College Football Playoff national championship on Monday night.
(Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)
From the Associated Press: Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title.
The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth and four with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.
Indiana would not be denied.
“I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”
Mendoza’s touchdown gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who came to life in the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.
Lakers star Luka Doncic celebrates against the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 2.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
From Broderick Turner:Lakers guard Luka Doncic was voted as a Western Conference starter for the NBA’s All-Star team, becoming the 15th player in NBA history to earn six All-Star selections before the age of 27.
Doncic, who received his fifth starting nod, leads the league in scoring (33.3), is fourth in assists (8.6), is making 46.4% of his shots and is hitting 33.7% of his three pointers.
He received the most votes of the All-Stars with 3,402,967.
The other West starters are Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama.
Clippers surge past Wizards for their sixth straight win
Clippers star James Harden, center, drives to the basket in front of Washington’s Justin Champagnie, left, and Alex Sarr during the Clippers’ 110-106 win Monday.
(Nick Wass / Associated Press)
From the Associated Press:James Harden scored 36 points, and when he finally missed a couple big free throws in the final seconds, the ball came right back to him as the Clippers edged the Washington Wizards 110-106 on Monday for their sixth straight victory.
Harden made two free throws with 36.9 seconds left to give the Clippers a 108-106 lead, and after the teams traded scoreless possessions, Kyshawn George missed a three-pointer for Washington. Harden was fouled with 5.9 seconds left. At that point, he was 16 for 16 from the line, but he missed both free throws.
The Wizards couldn’t secure the rebound, and the ball bounced back to Harden, who was fouled again. This time he made both shots to seal the win.
Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune celebrates after scoring in a NWSL semifinal against Portland in November. Bethune is among the players who likely will see playing time Saturday in an international friendly between the U.S. and Paraguay on Saturday.
Twenty months later, Hayes still hasn’t reached the bottom of that pool, making this month’s training camp in Carson an important one with World Cup qualifying looming in the fall.
“Some of the pool players are going to get an opportunity to shine,” she said. “Some are high-potential prospects. I think about Hal Hershfelt or Croix Bethune, players who have not had a lot of opportunity with us. I get a chance to really see where they’re at.
“My message is these players really have to take these opportunities because they will become few and far between.”
Ducks forward Mason McTavish, center, celebrates with teammates Drew Helleson, right, and Ryan Strome after scoring in the first period of a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers at Honda Center on Monday night.
Cutter Gauthier scored twice on his 22nd birthday — the second into an empty net in the final minute — to push his season total to 22. Mason McTavish also scored to help lift the Ducks to their fourth victory in a row following a nine-game losing streak.
Lukas Dostal made 19 saves, surviving a wild scramble on a late 21-second two-man advantage.
1891 — The International YMCA in Springfield, Mass. is the site of the first official basketball game. Peach baskets were used, but it wasn’t until 1905 that someone removed the baskets’ bottoms.
1937 — Nels Stewart of the New York Americans becomes the NHL’s all-time scorer with his 270th goal in a 4-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
1952 — George Mikan scores 61 points, a career-high, to lead the Minneapolis Lakers to a 91-81 double-overtime victory over the Rochester Royals.
1966 — Ted Williams, longtime star of the Boston Red Sox, is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Williams was a two time triple crown winner, a two time MVP and the last player to hit over .400 — despite losing five prime years to service in the Marine Corps.
1968 — Elvin Hayes scores 39 points to lead Houston to a 71-69 victory and end UCLA’s 47-game winning streak. A regular-season record 52,693 fans attend the game at the Houston Astrodome.
1970 — Cincinnati’s Tom Van Arsdale and Phoenix’s Dick Van Arsdale are the first brothers to play in the same NBA All-Star game. Dick scores eight points for the West team, while Tom scores five for the East, which wins the game 142-135 at Philadelphia.
1980 — President Carter announces the U.S. Olympic team will not participate in the Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the previous month.
1980 — Terry Bradshaw passes for 309 yards and sets two passing records to help the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 and become the first team to win four Super Bowls.
1985 — Joe Montana passes for a Super Bowl record 331 yards and three touchdowns to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a 38-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Roger Craig scores a record three touchdowns.
1996 — Rudy Galindo, in the biggest upset in decades, wins the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, earning two perfect marks along the way.
2001 — Alan Webb of South Lakes High School in Reston, Va., becomes the first American prep runner to break four minutes for the indoor mile, with a time of 3:59.86 at the New Balance Games in New York.
2002 — Steve Yzerman becomes the ninth player in NHL history to notch 1,000 assists, which he earns on Mathieu Dandenault’s game-winning goal when Detroit beats Ottawa 3-2 in overtime.
2007 — Utah coach Jerry Sloan passes Larry Brown for 4th on the NBA’s all-time win list (1,010) after the Jazz beat the Chicago Bulls, 95-85 at the United Center.
2008 — Despite a shaky Tom Brady, New England Patriots are too much for the banged-up San Diego Chargers in the AFC championship game, pulling out a 21-12 victory that sends them back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in seven seasons.
2008 — Lawrence Tynes, who missed a 36-yard field goal at the end of regulation following a bad snap, nails a 47-yarder in overtime to give the New York Giants a 23-20 win over Green Bay in the NFC championship at Lambeau Field. The Giants win their 10th straight on the road in the third-coldest championship game ever.
2013 — San Francisco’s Frank Gore runs for a pair of second-half touchdowns and the 49ers rebounds from a 17-0 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 in the NFC championship game.
2013 — Joe Flacco outduels Tom Brady, throwing three touchdown passes in the second half and leading the Baltimore Ravens to their first Super Bowl in 12 years with a 28-13 victory over the New England Patriots for the AFC championship.
2016 — Kathryn Smith is promoted by the Buffalo Bills to take over as special teams quality control coach, making her the first full-time female coach in the NFL.
2017 — Henrik Sedin had a goal for his 1,000th career point before Luca Sbisa scored the winner early in the third period to help Vancouver beat Florida 2-1. Sedin converted a pass from twin brother Daniel on a 2-on-1 rush for his 11th goal of the season. Henrik Sedin became the 85th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 points, and the 38th to accomplish the feat with one franchise.
Compiled by the Associated Press
Until next time…
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
1 of 3 | Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Jan. 8. During the press conference, Albanese announced the establishment of a royal commission on antisemitism, in response to the Bondi beach terrorist attack. Photo by Lukas Coch/EPA
Jan. 20 (UPI) — Broad gun reform is coming to Australia after its parliament overwhelmingly passed a package of gun laws on Tuesday in response to last month’s Bondi Beach shooting.
Reforms include a plan for a national gun buyback program, more stringent background checks and limits on imports of firearms.
Australia undertook legislation to tighten its gun laws after 15 people were killed in a shooting at a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Australia’s House of Representatives passed the gun reform package by a 96 to 45 vote. The package then passed the Senate.
Lawmakers returned to session two weeks early to discuss gun reform.
The shooters, 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, 24, owned the guns used in the shooting legally. Officials say they were motivated by anti-Semitism.
Tony Burke, Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs, said the new laws passed by Parliament would have prevented the shooting.
There are about 4 million registered firearms in Australia. The new buyback program seeks to reduce that number.
Along with gun reform, Parliament passed a bill meant to curb hate speech. Critics of the bill say it could have a chilling effect on free speech.
“This bill will have a chilling and draconian effect on political debate, on protest, on civil rights and on people speaking up against human rights abuses perpetrated by Israel or any other nation-state,” Sen. Mehreen Faruqi, deputy leader of the Greens party, said.
Picketers hold signs outside at the entrance to Mount Sinai Hospital on Monday in New York City. Nearly 15,000 nurses across New York City are now on strike after no agreement was reached ahead of the deadline for contract negotiations. It is the largest nurses’ strike in NYC’s history. The hospital locations impacted by the strike include Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, Montefiore Hospital and New York Presbyterian Hospital. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Wildfires in Chile have wiped out entire towns, killing at least 20 people. Tens of thousands of others have been forced from their homes. Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman has been seeing the damage in one of the worst hit areas.
Netflix is a Joke returns to LA this May, shining a worldwide spotlight on stand-up comedy in Los Angeles. On Tuesday, the third installment of the sprawling event put on by Netflix announced the first wave of A-list comedians including Bill Burr, Ali Wong, Kevin Hart, Nikki Glaser and many more performing between May 4-10 at venues across LA. Though the fest itself has been cut down from 11 days to 6, the amount of talent jammed into that week doesn’t appear to have slimmed down much at all.
Hosting more than 350 live events, the festival taking place in comedy clubs across LA including the Comedy Store, Laugh Factory and Hollywood Improv as well as major venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Intuit Dome and the Greek Theater. As per usual a mix of stand-up, variety shows, major comedy podcasts, tapings, exclusive events and screenings, and talent from various Netflix series and films will draw comedy fans from all over the world.
“What makes this fest so special is the sense of community—it’s a rare moment where the comedy industry and the fans come together in one place. We’re not just putting on shows; we’re creating one-of-a-kind experiences that celebrate the range, depth, and sheer brilliance of the comedy world right now,” said Tracey Pakosta, Netflix VP of Comedy Series.
So far other noteable performances on the bill include Mo Amer, Fred Armisen, Maria Bamford, Ralph Barbosa, Nate Bargatze, Ronny Chieng, Margaret Cho, Deon Cole, Larry David, Bert Kreischer, Nick Kroll, Bobby Lee, David Letterman, Lizzo, Conan O’Brien, Adam Sandler, Andrew Schulz, Iliza Shlesinger, Tom Segura, Jerry Seinfeld, Shaq, Taylor Tomlinson, Kill Tony, Mike Tyson, and Noah Wyle.
A few of the planned show highlights announced on Tuesday include “Night of Too Many Stars” hosted by Jon Stewart featuring A-list comics performing to raise money for benefit NEXT for Autism, a national organization providing programs and support for people living with autism. The comedy competition show “Funny AF with Kevin Hart” seeking to find the next big comedian will begin streaming on Netflix April 20 and will hold its live semi-finals and finals during the festival. Bargatze is performing two nights at the Intuit Dome along with other major gigs from Colombian pop star Feid and Saturday Night Live’s Marcello Hernandez teaming up to bring together the largest Spanish language comedy show to the Hollywood Bowl in the venue’s history as well as a variety show tribute to the late Pee-Wee Herman.
“In just 4 years, Netflix Is a Joke Fest has grown into the world’s biggest celebration of comedy. This year, we’re bringing together legends, trailblazers, and the next generation of voices for an entire week of unforgettable moments across Los Angeles,” said Robbie Praw, Netflix VP of Stand-up and Comedy Formats. “From iconic stand-up shows and live podcast tapings to musical mashups and surprise events, the scope of this festival truly reflects the variety and excitement of comedy today. We’re thrilled to welcome fans from all over to experience the magic, energy, and laughter that only Netflix can deliver.”
Tickets for events across the festival will go on sale beginning at 10am PT on January 23rd. A full list of performances can be found on the festival’s website.
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. I think the price of a Dodger Dog might have just gone up a little.
In case you were vacationing on Mars and missed it, last week the Dodgers and free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker agreed to a four-year, $240-million contract. The deal lets Tucker opt out if he wishes after the second or third year. It also includes a $64-million signing bonus and $30 million of the total salary is deferred, reducing the net present value to a mere $57.1 million a year.
Last season with the Cubs, Tucker, who turned 29 Saturday, hit .266/.377/.464 with 23 doubles, 22 homers and 73 RBIs. He walked 87 times and struck out 88 times in 597 plate appearances. He was hampered throughout the middle of the season by a broken pinkie, which he played through. He spent part of September on injured reserve with a strained calf and hit .259 in the postseason, with one homer in eight games.
In his career (769 games), Tucker is hitting .273/.358/.507, finished fifth in NL MVP voting in 2023 when he led the league with 112 RBIs and has an OPS+ of 142, meaning he has been 42% better than the league average.
Does this make him worth $57.1 million a year? Probably not, but the Dodgers obviously have a lot, lot, lot, lot, lot, lot, lot, lot, lot more money than everyone else. So, this is probably like me or you paying someone $50 a day to paint our house.
No matter the money, he should be a big upgrade over Michael Conforto. Tucker’s downside is his injuries the last two seasons, as he played in only 78 games in 2023 because of a broken shin. But what Dodger plays a full season anymore? Not many.
Of course, we all know what’s going to happen. The Dodgers will go into spring training favored. Someone somewhere will write that they will win 120 games this season. Injuries will hit the pitching staff. The offense will go into a week-long slump. They will win 93-100 games and everyone will say what a disappointment the team is. But, they will win the World Series.
It’s like the third part of any trilogy. You know what is going to happen, the fun part is how entertaining they make it until the curtain falls.
But what does this mean for baseball?
Not long after the Tucker-Dodgers news broke, the artist formerly known as Twitter went into meltdown with fans of 29 other teams saying the Dodgers are ruining the sport by buying all the best players. This brings to mind several thoughts.
Before I get to that though, an admission: I grew up a Dodger fan. If I grew up in Kansas City as a fan of the Royals, would I feel the same way? I don’t know, it’s impossible to say. No matter how impartial we try to be, all of us bring our biases into situations, even if it is subconsciously.
I do find it comical when Yankees fans, or Mets fans, complain about the Dodgers.
So, the thoughts:
1. Shohei Ohtani did the Dodgers a huge favor when he agreed to only receive $2 million a year from his 10-year, $700-million deal, receiving the remaining $680 million in $68-million installments from 2034 to 2043, with no interest. His salary still counts for $46 million per season under the luxury tax, but that’s a far cry from $70 million. The Dodgers also bring in millions of dollars a year in endorsements from brands that want to advertise with the team Ohtani plays for. Is this unfair? I don’t see how it is. The Angels could have been doing the same thing, but they pretty much bungled the handling of Ohtani throughout his career.
2. The Dodgers paid a record $169.4 million in luxury tax overages in 2025. It will be even higher next season, unless they shed some salary. Some of that money is distributed to small market teams. Some of those team owners basically pocket the money rather than invest it and make their team better. It’s hard to blame the Dodgers for anything here.
3. Other teams had chances to sign Tucker. Reports are that the Mets offered four years, $220 million (with a $75-million signing bonus). The Blue Jays offered 10 years, $350 million. So, the Dodgers aren’t the only team offering large contracts to players. The day after the Tucker news, the Mets agreed to terms with free agent Bo Bichette on a three-year, $126-million deal.
4. This is interesting. Guess when this was written:
“Consider it Part XIV in a continuing series.
“So now comes this: The Dodgers’ payroll increase is so enormous, it’s dragging the rest of baseball with it into uncharted fiscal territory.
“Yahoo Sports estimates that Major League Baseball’s opening day payrolls will rise 7.1% this season and that more than half of the increase will come from the Dodgers alone.”
That appeared in The Times in 2013. So this is nothing new. Before the Dodgers, it was the Yankees.
The Dodgers signed Kirk Gibson to a large deal (for the era) before the 1988 season. Do you want to give the 1988 World Series title back? The Dodgers gave Orel Hershiser a huge contract. They lavished big contracts on Darryl Strawberry, Don Stanhouse and Dave Goltz. They gave a record deal to Kevin Brown. This has been going on for years. It’s now how much money you spend, it’s if you spend it smartly.
5. Tying into the previous item, the Dodgers now have the best front office leader in baseball in Andrew Friedman. He was in charge of the small-market Tampa Bay Rays from 2004 to 2014, and in that time, this team with few resources made the postseason four times and the World Series once. People would say “What could Friedman do with money?” Now we know.
6. The Dodgers aren’t breaking any rules. They are just playing the same game everyone else is. Yes, they have financial advantages, but why shouldn’t they play fairly within the established rules? It’s up to MLB and the players’ union to decide that something needs to change. And there will probably be a lockout after the 2026 season. Will it end up with a salary cap, meaning you won’t be able to sign a player if it puts you over the cap? People are predicting a long, ugly, protracted dispute. In the meantime, the Dodgers have the core of their team set for well past whenever baseball returns after the labor dispute.
7. The Dodgers were pretty much laughingstocks to many because they couldn’t win a World Series despite the high payroll. That all changed in 2024. So suddenly it’s bad?
8. The Padres were up 2-1 in the 2024 NLDS and could have knocked out the Dodgers. The Blue Jays were up 3-2 in the 2025 World Series and were one hit away from winning it all. Would that have changed the narrative?
9. Whenever I ask people for the “golden age” of baseball, they will frequently say “When Mickey Mantle played.” Or “When Sandy Koufax played.” Guess what, when Mantle played, the Yankees were in the World Series almost every year, and won most of them. When Koufax played (in his prime), the Dodgers were in the World Series three times in four years and won two of them. Most sports become popular when there is one team to root against. Usually it’s a New York-based team, or the New England Patriots, or the Boston Celtics. Now it’s the Dodgers. Last season’s World Series was the most watched since 2017. Ratings during the season for network/streaming broadcasts were up 12%. If what the Dodgers are doing is ruining baseball, a lot of people watching haven’t caught on.
10. The Dodgers draw the highest road attendance of any other team. If the Dodgers are ruining baseball, the fans in other cities sure seem to want to watch them do it.
11. What are the Dodgers supposed to do, say, “This isn’t fair, so we are going to stop trying to improve our team?”
We’ll stop there. There are many pros and cons to the issue. So let’s ask you, Are the Dodgers ruining baseball?
OK, that may have been a little misleading. Kershaw is not coming back to the Dodgers, or the MLB. He is however going to be on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic.
“I just want to be the insurance policy,” Kershaw told MLB Network. “If anybody needs a breather, or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back, or if they don’t need me to pitch at all, I’m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.
“I learned a long time ago, you just want to be a part of great things.”
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.
I took my kids to try our Parkdean’s new all-inclusive dealsCredit: Catherine LofthouseMy kids made the most of the free Costa drinksCredit: Catherine Lofthouse
After all, what parent isn’t up for getting away from meal prep and cleaning dishes for a bit?
And with prices starting at £100 per adult and £40 per child for three cooked meals a day and unlimited hot and soft drinks, it’s a no-brainer if you want to take a break from the kitchen on your midweek stay.
We visited Parkdean Summerfields just above Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, a lovely little site with welcoming staff and a short walk from the golden sands of Scratby beach.
Just around the corner is sister site California Cliffs, whose facilities are also open to guests at Summerfields.
We made the most of the pool activities, including aqua paddlers and inflatables, and my six-year-old enjoyed all the kids’ entertainment on offer, as well as the free soft play above the Boathouse restaurant.
Instead of the running buffet you often find with all-inclusive packages, dishes from the Boathouse menu are made to order and brought to your table.
Even as a vegetarian, I was spoilt for choice and had four different evening meals including curry, noodles, pizza and pasta, plus multiple options for lunch and breakfast.
The boys cleared their plates every meal and declared the curly fries to be the biggest hit of the week.
My teenager probably racked up £100 worth of Costa hot chocolates over the course of our stay, before he’d even eaten any food.
If you’ve got a tween with an adult appetite, you could consider forking out for the adult meal tariff, as my 11-year-old found some of the options on the children’s menu to be a bit small for him.
One thing I love about the Parkdean offer is that you don’t need to sign everyone on your booking up for the all-inclusive deal.
If some of your party would rather self-cater or pay-per-meal to eat out, that’s fine.
So you’re only paying for those who will make full use of the food and drink package.
While the all-inclusive was launched at selected sites for just a few weeks in the autumn, it’s back with a bang at 42 Parkdean sites this spring.
With so much to love about this deal, the one thing I reckon needs a rethink is the name.
If you’re used to all-inclusive staples found at hotels abroad, such as unlimited alcohol and an all-you-can-eat buffet, you’ll need to adjust your expectations a bit.
It is a great option if you don’t want to drink boozeCredit: Catherine LofthouseWhile it is a saving for kids, it isn’t the all-inclusive you might know of when it comes to holidays abroadCredit: Catherine Lofthouse
You’ll pay extra for booze, branded kids’ drinks like Fruit Shoots, starters and desserts, so calling the Parkdean package something like bites, brews and bubbles included might make it clearer exactly what you’re getting for your money.
And anyone with littlies, stashing a box of cereal at the caravan for early starts is the way to go – my six-year-old usually tucks into breakfast by 7am, so waiting another couple of hours to be fed would be a bit of an ask for him.
There seems to be variations on the all-inclusive offer popping up around the UK now, after highly rated Potters Resorts in Essex and Norfolk pioneered the concept, particularly after the pandemic.
Some of the big family staycay names like Butlin’s have taken up the baton, launching a drinks package that includes beer, wine, spirits and cocktails on some breaks, starting at £25.95 per adult per day and £10.50 per child aged 6 to 14 per day.
Parkdean’s pared-back plan might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re happy with no alcohol but meals and drinks, it could easily become a staycay mainstay in your holiday calendar.
Jan. 20 (UPI) — The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments Tuesday over Hawaii’s so-called vampire rule gun law that requires people to ask permission before bringing firearms onto private property.
The Supreme Court will mull whether the “vampire rule” gun law violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The law was enacted as part of a larger package of gun reforms, including a ban on concealed firearms in places like schools, bars and other public places.
The law is referred to as the “vampire rule,” drawing from a trope in vampire fiction that vampires must be given permission by property owners to enter.
For a gun owner to carry a firearm on private property that is generally open to the public, they must receive express permission from the property owner.
The law has been challenged by a group of gun owners who argue that prohibiting guns in public spaces owned by private entities by default is unconstitutional. They say it should be up to the property owners to decide if guns are not permitted on their properties.
Hawaii is not the first state to have a law that does not allow firearms to be carried on private property without permission. New York, New Jersey, California and Maryland have similar laws.
Hawaii’s law applies to a host of private properties that are otherwise open to the public, including stores, restaurants and gas stations. Violating the law can carry a sentence of up to a year in prison.
The conservative majority in the Supreme Court has often ruled in favor of the rights of gun owners. In 2022, the high court’s Bruen decision struck down a New York law that required people to demonstrate a proper cause to carry a handgun in public outside of self-defense.
Hawaii’s state officials say their law adheres to the Bruen ruling.
Actor and comedian Russell Brand has been granted bail after being accused of two further sex offences, including rape.
The 50-year-old appeared via video link from the US for the six-minute hearing atWestminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday afternoon. Wearing a partially unbuttoned denim shirt, he spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
Brand previously denied two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault in relation to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.
The two latest offences are one for rape and one for sexual assault, with are both alleged to have taken place in London in 2009, according to court documents.
Brand will appear at Southwark Crown Court on 17 February.
In relation to the five original charges, a trial is scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court later this year.
Detectives began investigating allegations into Brand which came to light following reporting from the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches in September 2023.
Brand, who was born in Essex, rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and became a household name as host of TV shows such as Big Brother’s Big Mouth, and with his own radio programmes on stations including BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music.
He went on to establish a Hollywood career, starring in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek.
Netflix Inc. reached an amended, all-cash agreement to buy Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.’s studio and streaming business as it battles Paramount Skydance Corp. to acquire one of Hollywood’s most iconic entertainment companies.
Netflix, which previously agreed to pay $27.75 a share in cash and stock for the Warner assets, will pay the full amount in cash, according to a filing confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report on the revised terms. Warner Bros. plans to call a special meeting of shareholders to approve the deal. Netflix said stockholders should be able to vote on the transaction by April.
The changes are designed to expedite a sale and address claims by Paramount that its $30-a-share cash tender offer — for all of Warner, including cable channels like CNN and TNT — is superior. Paramount, the parent of CBS and MTV, has been urging investors to tender their shares.
The battle for Warner Bros., known for films from Casablanca to Batman, is one of the biggest media deals in years and has the power to reshape the entertainment industry. Paramount has been aggressively pursuing Warner Bros. since September, while streaming leader Netflix emerged as a surprise suitor, entering the chase after Warner Bros. put itself up for sale in October.
The new terms neutralize one of the primary criticisms from Paramount: that the stock portion of the Netflix offer makes its bid inferior. Netflix’s shares have lost 29% since its pursuit of Warner Bros. came to light. Paramount shares have also declined about 29% over that time.
The Warner Bros. board “continues to support and unanimously recommend our transaction, and we are confident that it will deliver the best outcome for stockholders, consumers, creators and the broader entertainment community,” Ted Sarandos, co-chief executive officer of Netflix, said in a statement.
Paramount shares were down about 1% in premarket trading in New York. Netflix was up 1.4%.
Warner Bros. also addressed another criticism by outlining how it values its cable networks, which would be spun off to its stockholders in a separate company called Discovery Global.
Warner Bros. has spurned multiple offers from Paramount. Its unwanted suitor has threatened to launch a proxy fight and has sued to force Warner Bros. to disclose more information about the Netflix bid and the value of the cable properties.
Warner Bros.’ advisers value the cable networks from as little as 72 cents a share to as much as $6.86 a share, according to the filing. Paramount has claimed those properties have no value even though cable networks account for most of its own sales and profit.
Under the spinoff plans, Discovery Global would have $17 billion of debt as of June 30, 2026, decreasing to $16.1 billion by the end of the year. Warner and Netflix also amended the agreement so that Discovery Global will have $260 million less debt than initially planned as a result of stronger-than-expected cash flow last year.
The filing projects 2026 revenue of $16.9 billion for the new Discovery Global networks and adjusted earnings of $5.4 billion before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
The latest proposal addresses Wall Street’s concerns around Netflix’s declining share value and speeds up a shareholder vote, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Geetha Ranganathan wrote. It also raises the stakes for Paramount to increase its offer, something it has repeatedly refused to do. It may take a bid of more than $32 a share to sway the Warner Bros. board at this point, she said.
Netflix has lined up more debt from Wall Street banks to help finance its amended agreement. The company now has $42.2 billion of bridge loans in place, according to a filing Tuesday, a type of facility that is usually replaced with permanent debt like corporate bonds.
A combination of Warner Bros. and Netflix would marry two of the world’s biggest streaming providers, with some 450 million combined subscribers, and provide Netflix with a deep library of programming to counter challengers like Walt Disney Co. and Amazon.com Inc. Hollywood labor unions and movie theater owners have expressed concern that the deal will hurt their members and businesses.
Sarandos and Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters told investors at a UBS conference on Dec. 8 that they’re “super confident” their deal will be approved. Leaders of Netflix and Warner Bros. were in Europe last week meeting with regulators to convince them of the merits of a deal.
Netflix is scheduled to report fourth-quarter financial results on Tuesday after markets close.
David Ellison, Paramount’s CEO, has argued that a merger with his company would preserve a more traditional Hollywood structure and keep some of Warner Bros.’ legacy intact. He has posited that his all-cash offer, backed by his family trust, is financially superior and says it would have an easier time getting approved by regulators.
Ellison has been mounting an offensive of his own but has yet to convince the Warner Bros. board or an overwhelming majority of the company’s shareholders. Institutional investors are divided and have called for Paramount to increase its offer.
European wine industry leaders said on Tuesday that United States President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 200% tariffs on French wine if Paris does not join the “Board of Peace” for Gaza must be handled “with composure”, insisting the issue goes beyond the wine sector itself.
The wine and spirits sector has been at the centre of EU-US trade tensions since Trump’s return to power in 2025, with the US remaining the top export market for EU producers.
Negotiations over exemptions from the 15% US tariffs imposed under last summer’s EU-US trade deal had been dragging on, before the agreement itself was thrown into question this weekend by MEPs after Trump renewed his threats over Greenland.
“These are geopolitical issues that go beyond the sectoral stakes of wines and spirits,” the French Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters (FEVS) said in a statement published on Tuesday. “As regards trade policy, this is an exclusive competence of the European Union. The issue must therefore be addressed at the European level, in a united and coordinated manner, and spoken with a single voice.”
Trump escalated tensions on Monday night, threateninga 200% tariff on French wine and champagne after an aide to French President Emmanuel Macron said France “does not intend” to accept an invitation to join the Gaza “Board of Peace” Trump is proposing.
“I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes and he’ll join, but he doesn’t have to join,” Trump told reporters.
Industry looks to Davos for a breakthrough
French wine producers are hoping talks in Davos this week between US, French and European leaders will help defuse the crisis.
“These statements by the President of the United States must be taken seriously, but with composure,” Gabriel Picard, President of the FEVS, said.
Industry representatives in Brussels echoed that stance.
“When we talk about wine, we are talking about terroir products, very well-known brands; it is an iconic product in France as well as in Europe,” Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, Secretary General of the European Committee of Wine Companies, told Euronews, explaining why the sector has been a frequent target in the EU-US trade dispute over the past year.
Trump had already singled out the EU wine and spirits industry in 2025, with the sector viewing itself as collateral damage of deteriorating transatlantic relations.
The EU-US trade deal struck last summer does not grant wines and spirits an exemption from the 15% US tariffs, despite efforts by the European Commission to secure special treatment.
The sector is considered strategic, with the US remaining the leading export destination for EU wine and spirits.
Sánchez Recarte noted that while wine exports to the US were particularly strong last year – accounting for 29% of EU exports – the surge was partly driven by US companies building up inventories ahead of new tariffs, and results later in the year were more concerning.
“After the EU-US trade deal, in July-August, we are seeing a significant decrease in the average value of exported wines,” he said.
Exports of the EU spirits sector alone fell by 25% between August and November 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to Eurostat.
City face Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League group phase on Tuesday and when asked about Bobb’s injury, Guardiola replied: “He says he is not fit, so he is not fit.”
Semenyo’s signing adds competition on the right wing, where Brazilian Savinho also plays, meaning Bobb may well be allowed to leave this month either on loan or a permanent transfer.
Fulham have lost only one of their past seven games under Marco Silva, sitting 11th in the table and progressing into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Bobb has featured six times for Norway this year, helping them qualify for this summer’s World Cup, and would unite with compatriot Sander Berge at Craven Cottage.
He missed almost the whole of last season after fracturing a bone in his leg during training in August 2024.
ABERDEEN Station will close for important upgrades as soon as next week.
It will affect travellers across three consecutive weekends with no trains passing through the station while the work costing £3.6million take place.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Aberdeen Station will be closed for three consecutive weekends starting in JanuaryCredit: AlamyThe train station is set to undergo upgrades costing £3.6millionCredit: Alamy
Network Rail also explained that engineers will be upgrading equipment that allows trains to move between lines – almost a mile and a half of rail is set to be renewed.
No trains will run through Aberdeen Station between Saturday 31, January and Sunday 1 February, 2026.
Or Saturday 7 and Sunday 8, February and between Sunday 15 and Monday 16, February, 2026.
There are alternatives available through bus routes.
For ScotRail, buses will replace trains between Aberdeen and Dundee, Aberdeen and Montrose, Inverurie and Aberdeen, Dyce and Aberdeen.
Rail replacement buses for CrossCountry will travel between Dundee and Aberdeen.
LNER trains between London Kings Cross and Aberdeen will run between London Kings Cross and Dundee only.
Buses will then operate between Dundee and Aberdeen, calling at Arbroath, Montrose and Stonehaven.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: “The £8m redevelopment of Aberdeen station in 2022 delivered major improvements for customers and strengthened the station’s role as a key transport interchange.
“Continued investment in essential track and infrastructure upgrades will help improve performance and provide more reliable journeys.”
Aberdeen station was redeveloped in 2022 at a cost of £8million.
During this time there were upgrades made on the passenger experience like a new open-plan ticket office and addition of a first-class lounge.
There were improved retail and eatery stops and the pavilion had restoration work.
Other upgrades made by Network Rail in 2022 were to the tracks and sleepers.
Network Rail have put forward proposals for the £1.2billion upgrades and recently released a fly-over video showing what the future could look like for Liverpool Street.
It shows an enlarged, light and airy concourse to ease congestion during busy periods and additional ticket barriers.
Upstairs, the video reveals more eateries and cafes for passengers to use before or after their rail journey, and outside will be more green spaces.
It also shows renders of the new office building that’s set to be built above the station concourse near the Grade II* listed Andaz Hotel.
The City of London Corporation is consulting the public on the plans until January 21.
It is one of the world’s most famous and scenic train journeys, featuring 86 tunnels and 37 bridges
El Chepe takes 16 hours to complete, and runs between Chihuahua and Los Mochis, Mexico.(Image: Getty)
El Chepe, in Mexico, stands as one of the world’s most renowned and picturesque rail adventures and among the longest railway lines. The construction of El Chepe (The Copper Canyon route or Chihuahua-Pacific Railway) represented a remarkable engineering feat that took nearly 90 years to complete, with costs reaching approximately $90 million (£67 million).
It officially launched in 1961, and remains one of the most breathtaking railway experiences, whisking travellers through the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico, and linking Los Mochis, on the coastline, to the Chihuahua mountains.
This extraordinary rail adventure covers about 650-670 kilometres (400 miles) between Chihuahua and Los Mochis, Mexico and boasts 86 tunnels and 37 bridges.
The journey, which takes 16 hours to complete, can be done in a day, taking passengers through the Sierra Madre region, home to the Tarahumaras’ indigenous communities, known for their traditional lifestyle and unique culture.
The most complicated section to build was the 258 kilometres (160 miles) from the Creel station in Chihuahua to Heriberto Valdez (San Pedro) in Sinaloa.
The project took enormous technical and human efforts to overcome the obstacles of the imposing Tarahumara Mountains.
ChepeExpress said: “This region frequently serves as the backdrop for stories, films, documentaries, major newspaper articles, magazines and television networks, who come here from all over the world, attracted by the charm of the rustic countryside and the majesty of the railroad.”
Alongside this, the Chihuahua-Pacific route is one of the most “amazing and bold engineering projects, taking passengers through the canyons, great mountains, forests and ravines.”
National Geographic explained: “El Chepe’s First Class has panoramic windows, reclining seats and one on-board meal included in the train’s Urike restaurant, which serves traditional dishes from the states of Chihuahua and Sinaloa; Executive Class has spacious seating and access to its own bar; and Tourist Class includes basic, but comfortable upright seating and an on-board snack service.”
Or for seven nights in Antalya, it was a bargain £168pp when travelling in March.
Yet when it came to destinations further afield, it didn’t seem to bring up anywhere near as many cheap deals.
The cheapest for a week in Dubai in February I found was £1,638 with Skyscanner, using loveholidays.
While TravelSupermarket has deals for more than half this, costing £782 via Southall Travel for the exact same date.
This is likely to be because of the lack of deals they are searching.
When looking for this Dubai deal, Skyscanner had 896 results while Travelsupermarket had 2,133.
And one key feature missing is the “Anywhere” feature.
While Skyscanner has this for their flight search options, it isn’t yet an option for their package holiday searcher.
And TravelSupermarket has their own ‘Anywhere’ which makes it much easier if you know the dates you want to book, but aren’t sure on where to go.
This meant I could find a load of deals for everywhere from Costa Brave and Tuscany to Morocco for a bargain, rather than limiting myself to a destination per search.
Skyscanner had far fewer deals it searched forAnd TravelSupermarket had cheaper deals too
I appreciated Skyscanner’s search tools such as being able to order the holidays by being cheapest.
Also being able to choose a price range and board option were useful, as well as choosing whether they were direct flights or even what airline and tour operator to include.
However, I also like the option of being able to see which times of year are cheaper – again something they offer with their flights.
It is also something other websites offer such as loveholidays, so you can compare dates to see if there is a nearby cheaper day to fly out on.
I have no doubt that these functions will eventually be rolled out by Skyscanner, as it evolves.
And when it comes to short-haul holidays like Spain, it definitely came out with some bargains.
But until then, I would suggest price checking their holidays before booking with other holidays, just in case.
The Syrian government’s lightning-fast offensive took oil-rich territory long held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, before a ceasefire was agreed. While the truce is shaky, Al Jazeera’s Virginia Pietromarchi explains how recent developments have shifted the balance of power in the country.
Venezuelan officials emphasized the importance of helping children deal with the impact of the US attack. (Culture Ministry)
Mérida, January 21, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – The Venezuelan government launched a series of initiatives over the weekend to support communities affected by the January 3 bombings carried out by the United States.
On Friday, January 16, folk artists performed at the Rómulo Gallegos Urbanization in La Guaira state, where US forces struck the local port. The attack destroyed a medical supplies warehouse and a residential building, killing an elderly civilian woman.
During the event, Venezuelan singer-songwriter Benjamín Zambrano said that music helps restore collective spirit and identity. “Through song we invoke our roots, our conscience, our way of life, and our right to live in peace,” he stated.
Cultural events continued Saturday at the Ezequiel Zamora Urban Complex in Ciudad Tiuna, Caracas, organized by the Venezuelan Housing Mission and the Ministry of Culture. The large-scale housing complex is adjacent to Fuerte Tiuna, the capital’s main military headquarters where most of the US strikes took place.
During the recreational activity, Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas said the government has a responsibility to help more than 10,000 families recover from the impact of the January 3 attacks. The US operation likewise included the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.
Multiple Venezuelan artists performed in Ciudad Tiuna on Saturday and Sunday as well.
On Saturday, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez also visited Ciudad Tiuna, where 463 apartments were reported damaged.
She called for swift efforts to restore the affected homes and emphasized the importance of supporting children. “We wanted to hold special events for our children, including psychological support sessions,” the acting president told press.
“The Venezuelan people should know that there is hope and a future for our children,” Rodríguez added, noting that recreational activities will continue over the coming weekends. The visit additionally provided a food market as well as healthcare and psychological services.
Rodríguez expands on upcoming economic reforms
The Ciudad Tiuna visit likewise saw Rodríguez comment on announced economic reforms, including two “sovereign wealth funds” to manage oil revenues. The acting president announced the initiative during her 2026 annual address before the National Assembly.
“The first fund will focus on social protection to improve workers’ incomes,” she affirmed. “This will ensure that foreign currency goes directly to hospitals, schools, food programs, and housing.”
The second fund will focus on “water, electricity, and road infrastructure.”
Over the weekend, Rodríguez also led a meeting of the National Productive Economy Council with representatives from private sector associations. She presented the 2025 economic growth forecast and the strategic roadmap for the current year.
Alongside the sovereign wealth funds, she outlined a package of legislative initiatives scheduled for the coming months. The government’s plans include a reform of the Hydrocarbon Law designed to “integrate the advances made under the anti-blockade law” in order to improve conditions for foreign investors.
According to Rodríguez, when the current law was enacted in 2001, Venezuela had “mature and developed oil fields to attract investment,” but now seeks to bring capital to “virgin or green fields.”
Former President Hugo Chávez implemented key changes to oil regulations in 2001 and 2006 to increase the Venezuelan state’s role in the sector while also raising tax and royalty payments to sustain social programs.
Acting President Rodríguez went on to present legislative projects to defend socioeconomic rights and streamline bureaucratic procedures.
In addition, she proposed creating “a national committee to defend Venezuela’s economic rights worldwide,” with representation from the national executive branch and sectors including oil, agriculture, industry, commerce, banking, non-oil exports, and community organizations.
“This committee,” Rodríguez argued, “will defend Venezuela’s economic rights in multilateral organizations and international forums, traveling the world to promote and uphold those rights.”
AMANDA Holden’s daughter Lexi just celebrated turning twenty, and looked stunning dressed up as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader in a throwback snap posted for the big day.
The much-loved TV personality, 54, took to her Instagram page to mark Lexi’s birthday, sharing the gorgeous snap alongside one of Lexi as a child.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Lexi looked gorgeous in her Halloween outfit, reposted by Amanda for her birthdayCredit: instagramShe struck a similar pose when she was just a childCredit: instagramLexi would have slotted right in with the cheer squadCredit: Netflix
Lexi, who signed her first modelling contract last year, looked effortlessly beautiful in the iconic outfit – a throwback picture of her in her Halloween outfit.
Holding a blue and white cheer pom pom above her head with one hand, the stunner smiled at the camera.
The second snap of her as a child sweetly shows Lexi holding her arm in the air in a similar way, sitting outside in the snow.
“Put your hand up if you’re 20 today!!!,” Amanda wrote in the post’s caption.
“Mama and Dada love you so much – our strong, bright, kind, loyal, funny girl!!! Little Lexi Lou.”
Amanda finished off the caption with a small black heart.
Fans of the family praised Lexi, as well as being stunned how fast she seems to have grown up.
“Oh my goodness. Beautiful!,” said one user.
“Wow what a beauty babe,” said another to Amanda. “I remember her being that tiny.”
A third added: “OMG 20??? How??? Happiest of birthdays beautiful Lexi.”
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders (DCC) became famous in the late 1970s, but thanks to the 2024 Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders they’ve gained renewed global fame.
The show follows the team selection process and documents the daily life of the thirty-six person cheer squad.
Amanda is also a proud mother to daughter Hollie, 13.
The Netflix show grew hugely popularCredit: NetflixLexi is often described as Amanda’s “mini me”Credit: GettyShe frequently posts stunning snaps on InstagramCredit: Instagram
A large, shiny pub with a thriving clientele appears to be doing well, but is the most f****d pub in London, according to a new, alarming study into the UK’s pubs
As you walk into the Spread Eagle in Wandsworth, it’s not completely obvious that it’s f****ed.
In fact, it seems like a perfectly nice pub. The bar staff are cheery, the Guinness is delicious and the place is generally spic and span. It’s early on a Thursday evening in January, but the drinkers are out in decent numbers. A sandwich board out front promises Six Nations fixtures will arrive in a fortnight to break the winter’s gloom.
The Spread Eagle is the kind of pub that offers a bit of something for everyone. When I visited, present was a lone man reading a book and tucking into one of the menu’s ‘traditional pub classics’; two mums cradling their children; and a group of marketers discussing Q2 strategy.
While calm enough on a Thursday evening, I get the sense that the Spread Eagle becomes a pretty lively place on a Saturday night when the rugby crowd piles in. Although probably not so lively as to disturb the guests staying over in the 21 ‘eclectically’ decorated rooms upstairs.
Overall, it is a fine-looking place that serves three regular cask-conditioned beers and has ‘an historic pub interior of national importance’, according to CAMRA. It’s not at all obvious that the Spread Eagle is f***ed, but it is. In fact, according to a new study, it is the most f***ed pub in the whole of London.
The Young’s-run boozer has been handed that unfortunate title by Ben Guerin, a digital comms expert and coder who has built ismypubf***ed.com.
“My friends and I were talking about where to go to the pub, we said we should go to somewhere that’s been affected by the changes. We both run businesses and have been affected. I had the idea on Thursday morning at 11am, had the website live at 7pm. It takes a spreadsheet from 2023, which has every single business in the UK, and another from 2026. You can group those together to work out the change. More than 42,000 pubs were analysed, of those, 78% or 80% were facing increases. 12% were either f***ed or absolutely f***ed, meaning their increase has doubled or more between 2023 and 2026,” Ben told the Mirror.
Based on business rates alone, the Spread Eagle is in an unenviable spot. Its rateable value is due to increase by 622%, from £16,750 in 2023 to £121,000 this year, pushing its annual tax bill up by 833% to £46,452, according to Ben’s analysis of publicly available data.
While the Spread Eagle is the worst hit percentage-wise in London, it is just one of 5,000 pubs across the UK facing a doubling of property tax.
Last week, the head of the Valuation Office Agency told MPs that 13 per cent of pubs – a total of 5,100 – have been hit with a 100 per cent rise in their so-called ‘rateable value’, which is used to calculate their business rates bill.
The average pub faces paying £1,400 a year more, rising to £12,900 over three years. Those with the largest rises in property tax valuations face even bigger increases. The Bertie Arms in Stamford, Lincolnshire, faces a near 2,000% rise – the biggest in the country.
Katie and James Genever, the landlords of the grade II-listed thatched village pub, told the Telegraph that the change would almost totally wipe out their profits. “It just feels like we are being targeted and come at from every angle. Hospitality is being whacked from all sides and used as a cash cow,” Ms Genever said.
The gloomy financial prospects of many pubs is difficult to overstate. A report by UK Hospitality has warned six venues will close every day this year without support – a total of more than 2,000. That far outstrips the 378 that closed in 2025, according to the Institute for Licensing. The British Beer and Pub Association worries pubs will need to sell an extra 1.3 billion pints of beer a year to offset surging taxes.
For Ben, who moved from New Zealand to the UK around a decade ago, the perilous state of the Great British pub is a major concern.
“Pubs are the heart of the local community. One of the things I’ve always loved about the UK in general. Everyone has a charm and heritage. Whether standing out on a pavement on a cold, wet January, or sitting in a beer garden in the summer. It’s really sad so many of them have been shutting down in recent years,” he said.
After weeks of fierce campaigning from pub supporters, Labour now seemed poised to row back on rates increases and offer some support to boozers that have faced a toxic cocktail of cost rises in recent years including: an increase in employers’ national insurance, the minimum wage, energy costs, business rates, inflation, new workers’ rights legislation and a rise in alcohol duty.
The government is expected to announce an overhaul to the way it calculates business rates for pubs within days, which it says will help soften the sharp hikes that a majority of the embattled sector faced in the aftermath of the Budget.
According to multiple reports, Treasury officials have conceded its overhaul to business rates – the commercial equivalent to council tax – left many local pubs facing a huge hike in their overall bill, despite the hospitality industry technically being offered a 5p cut.
At November’s Budget, the Chancellor scaled back the business rate discounts that businesses have enjoyed since the pandemic. It also confirmed the results of a much-anticipated re-evaluation of so-called rateable values, a central government estimate for the amount of rent a site will pay in a year, which left pubs across the country facing considerably larger bills.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, hailed the government’s decision to reopen the business rates increases, branding it a “huge win for pubs across the country”. She added: “This could save locals, jobs, and means publicans can breathe a huge sigh of relief. The BBPA has worked closely with ministers on a pub-specific solution that would ensure that bills are reduced in line with the government’s previous promise to pubs.”
Experienced pair Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry return to the Scotland squad in time for this year’s Six Nations, while there are places for young Edinburgh duo Liam McConnell and Freddy Douglas.
The 40-strong squad chosen by head coach Gregor Townsend, comprises 23 forwards and 17 backs.
Adam Hastings and Fergus Burke will provide competition and cover for star fly-half Finn Russell.
Ben White and George Horne are the scrum-halves, with Jamie Dobie an option at number nine but thriving on the wing for Glasgow Warriors.
Captain Sione Tuipulotu is joined by Glasgow team-mates Huw Jones and Stafford McDowall and Northampton Saints’ Rory Hutchinson as the specialist centres.
The back three selection will come from Blair Kinghorn, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe and Ollie Smith, who are all options at full-back, along with Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham, Kyle Steyn and Dobie.
McConnell, 21, and Douglas, 20, each have one cap and join Magnus Bradbury, Jamie Ritchie, Josh Bayliss and Glasgow trio Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey in the scrap for back-row places.
Cherry, 35, playing in Pro D2 in France for Vannes, is chosen along with fellow hookers Ewan Ashman and George Turner.
There are three loosehead props; Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland and Nathan McBeth, with Elliot Millar Mills and D’arcy Rae supporting standout tighthead Zander Fagerson.
Bordeaux’s Gray, with 81 caps, joins fellow stalwarts Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings as Max Williamson and Alex Craig bid to break the established order in the second row, along with Gregor Brown, who also operates at blindside flanker.
Scotland open the tournament in Rome on 7 February, then host England before a trip to Cardiff on three successive Saturdays.
France visit Murrayfield on 7 March and Scotland are in Dublin for the final round of fixtures seven days later.
Scotland finished fourth last year, with third place in 2023 and 2018 their best showings in Townsend’s eight previous attempts.
A HOLIDAY with kids can be costly, especially when you factor in flights, luggage, hotel and spending money.
As a single mum, I have to watch every penny, so when someone shared The Sun £9.50 holidays in our mum Whatsapp chat, it seemed too good to be true.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Helen and her school mum group (pictured) go away together every year with their familiesCredit: Refer to sourceHoliday parks have lots on for families for a bargain priceCredit: Haven
My friend Cherisse had been collecting tokens in The Sun every day and she booked a weekend away in the UK with her three children for less than £10.
They had booked a caravan for three nights, including use of the park’s facilities – an indoor pool, club house with nightly entertainment, kids activity sessions and a large playground.
We had all been saying that it would be fun to do a group holiday together, but with the cost of living crisis, we’d yet to get that out of the group chat.
But at £9.50 for a weekend away, I signed on straight away.
To get the best deal, we booked early in the season, selecting holiday cabins at Park Dean Kessingland Beach Holiday Park in Suffolk.
It was the first weekend in March and absolutely freezing! But the kids didn’t care.
They were just all excited to get away and spend the weekend together. Us parents were too.
Packing was easy since I could just throw everything in the car, including footballs, colouring books and the kids’ scooters.
As soon as we arrived, the kids were all outside playing together so the parents could unpack and have a cup of tea.
Our cabins weren’t all next to one another, but we were all on the same pitch and it was very safe for the kids to play on the grass outside, with at least one parent being able to see them from every angle.
Some of the families had teenage children with them, so we had built-in babysitters too (thank you Freya, Ava and Harrison).
This was how the weekend continued, only really seeing my children when they wanted food, snacks or money for the arcade.
Much easier for me, as a solo mum, than taking my two children on holiday by myself. It was actually relaxing and I came home feeling like I’d actually had a break.
The old saying ‘it takes a village’ was definitely true here.
It was my first time at a holiday park as an adult and I was really impressed with the caravans. We had a two-bed comfort caravan, which was spacious and very clean.
There is a large living area with a sofa and a small table and the heating, thankfully, was good, so it was really cosy.
I even had a partial view of the sea.
How to book Hols from £9.50 by joining Sun Club
Becoming a member of Sun Club lets you skip token-collecting completely…
Step 1: Simply head to thesun.co.uk/club and sign up to Sun Club for just £1.99 a month.
Or £12 for an annual subscription unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date.
Step 2: Once you have joined, head to the Offers Hub and click ‘Book’ on the Sun Hols from £9.50 offer from Tuesday, January 13.
Step 3: You will be taken to the Sun Holidays website to choose from thousands of breaks at over 300 parks across the UK & Europe.
Sun Club members do not need to collect any codewords or Sun Savers codes.
The last day to bookThe Sun’s £9.50 holidaysfor the current promotion isThursday, January 29, 2026
Isobel headed straight onto the beach – despite the cold weatherCredit: Refer to sourceHelen and her friends loved their group £9.50 Holiday so much that they are heading away again this yearCredit: Orchards Holiday VillageAt Kessingland, Helen’s group had the whole pool to themselvesCredit: Refer to source
During the day, the kids joined in with craft and sport activities, all included with the price.
There were also more extreme activities like Nerf Gun battles and slime workshops, but these cost a bit extra.
To use the indoor pool, you had to book a session and because there were so many of us, we filled up the pool capacity and had it to ourselves for two hours.
It’s not often you get a stay with a private pool for less than £5 per person for the whole weekend. Plus, since we were the only ones there, the staff let the kids play with the inflatable jet skis – usually these would cost extra.
It was brilliant.
In the evenings, there is a quiz night, kids disco, karaoke and a full cabaret show.
The site has a few low-cost options for dinner including a pub in the clubhouse, a pizza takeaway and fish and chips.
However, most of us opted to cook in our cabins to keep costs down. A quick pasta and my kids were itching to get back to clubhouse to hang out with their mates and play on the arcades.
Helen and mum friend, Kristina, had cocktails at the bar while the kids played togetherCredit: Refer to sourceThe kids love the famiy disco and children’s entertainment at UK holiday parksCredit: Refer to sourceThe older kids loved the arcades, so make sure you have lots of coinsCredit: HELEN WRIGHT
Even though it was cold, we still enjoyed rounders on the beach and two of the mums even went for a cold-water sea swim.
It really reminded me of the wholesome holidays of my childhood and everyone agreed it was a brilliant weekend. As we packed up the car to start the convoy home, we vowed to do it again every year.
And we have!
The following year, we paid a bit extra to go to a bigger resort, which has a wider range of activities, a huge adventure playground and a pool and water park.
