The former Grand Tour host, 66, has delighted fans with his Clarkson’s Farm series in recent years, with the Amazon Prime Video show taking home the first ever Reality Docuseries at the NTAs.
“I had a heart thing and a bit of cancer but we live in a time when doctors can fix things very easily,” he said. “It was annoying rather than emotional – I missed a lot of the harvest, which I love.”
Speaking onstage during the ceremony he also took the opportunity to celebrate his co-stars, telling the star-studded: “Crikey! Some lovely programmes in that category.
“I don’t want to drone on forever but I just want to say on behalf of everyone who makes this show, thank you.”
Jeremy stunned fans – and his Clarkson’s Farm castmates – when he spoke candidly about his health in the most recent series, and was seen telling Kaleb Cooper that the disease was “aggressive” but had been discovered early.
He also revealed that he had undergone an operation to remove part of his prostate. In an update after the episode aired, he shared that he is now in remission.
Jeremy’s appearance at the NTAs comes after Kaleb gave the Mirror an update after 11 sheep were stolen from Clarkson’s Farm last week.
The Clarkson’s Farm breakout star told us on the red carpet: “We had 11 sheep stolen. It’s in the police’s hands now, so we’re just waiting to hear back from their investigation.
“But it’s going to be incredibly hard to track down because, of course, it’s been so dry this year, so we can’t find tracks, you know? They’re checking all the cameras in the local area at the moment to see if they can track it back.”
The Clarkson’s Farm star said that while sheep theft was not something he heard about particularly often, its impact on farmers could be devastating.
He added: “I wouldn’t say it happens a lot. I think it happens, but you don’t hear of it very often. But it’s very serious. You’ve actually taken someone’s livelihood away.
“[They rely on] that money to keep the farm going, keep people paid and jobs, and so on. So I think it’s very serious. We had 11. I’ve heard of some cases where it’s been about 50.”
LONDON: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has voiced support for the UK’s new ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
He told The Guardian that the decision, announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, “became unavoidable as a result of a continuous effort of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by a large group of Jewish terrorists in the West Bank.”
Olmert added: “The crimes of these terrorists are actively assisted by police and military units over a long period of time.
“The highest levels of government led by Minister of Defence (Israel) Katz and Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu are actively supporting these terrorists and avoid taking the necessary measures to stop it.”
Olmert’s comments come as Israelis prepare to go to the polls late next month. “Millions of Israelis are appalled by this terror and are actively resisting the terrorists,” he said.
“Sanctions are directed against the terrorists not against Israel, and as such they are unavoidable.”
In announcing the new UK policy, Miliband referenced earlier comments by Olmert, saying: “Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli prime minister, has described what is happening as, I quote, ‘a violent and criminal effort to ethnically cleanse territories in the West Bank.’”
WASHINGTON — Work on the White House North Portico appears to be nearing completion before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States in late September.
Scaffolding was being taken down Tuesday after workers over Labor Day weekend removed a shroud that had obscured the work. The Executive Mansion’s front columns had been covered since July. The work, ordered by President Trump, began in June.
The portico was first completed in 1830 during Andrew Jackson’s presidency. Administration officials said previously that stonework and plaster on the structure were being refurbished because of routine damage from age and weather exposure.
Trump has said he noticed it was in “deplorable condition” before insisting on repairs. The work is part of the president’s sweeping overhaul of the White House and other federal property in the nation’s capital — with most of his more ambitious moves drawing lawsuits and criticism from preservationists.
Trump said last week that workers finished construction of a helipad on the South Lawn.
His signature project, a White House ballroom and underground bunker, continues as legal fights play out. Multiple lawsuits were filed after Trump demolished the East Wing before going through the usual regulatory steps for major work on historic federal buildings in Washington. The massive project will add more square footage than what the existing White House footprint comprises.
That means Trump must host Xi’s state dinner, scheduled for Sept. 24, in existing spaces and in a construction zone — a circumstance that will afford the president a new opportunity to extol his ballroom project.
Barrow and Martin write for the Associated Press. Barrow reported from Atlanta.
The visitors were in a commanding and deserved position at half-time, McGinn’s opener making him the club’s all-time record European goalscorer with 12.
Buendia’s strike and Jackson’s first Villa goal – benefiting from Yann Sommer’s rush of blood – had them cruising.
Brugge were poor and George Hemmings, Villa’s first Champions League/European Cup teenage starter in 43 years, could have had at least one.
Yet the hosts made it uncomfortable for Emery’s men with Nicolo Tresoldi’s penalty after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s blatant handball setting up an anxious last half an hour, during which Tresoldi hit the post.
It can be viewed as a blessing in disguise that Villa had to battle their way through and ride out the hosts’ pressure to earn their first win of the season. Adding the grit and determination to the quality of the opening half to prove they can get the job done.
Not that they needed the evidence themselves, Emery and his squad always have that faith and the internal desire to progress no matter the obstacle.
It was the same last season. A below-par 1-0 win over limited Bologna – thanks to another McGinn goal – got Villa going and they hardly looked back.
The victory kicked off the staggering run of 17 wins in 20 games which formed the backbone of returning to the Champions League and giving Villa momentum to win the Europa League.
Since then, of course, Villa’s spine has been torn out and Emery has to integrate 10 new players into his methodical methods.
Three points in Brugge may not spark another relentless run but it gives Emery and Villa the foundations of this new era.
“It’s a new Villa and it was a big test for the new players to dig in,” McGinn told Uefa.
“It was Joao Gomes and George Hemmings’ first Champions League game. It’s not easy to go away at a place like this in difficult weather conditions. Club Brugge were pushing and pushing and pushing and we had to stand strong. We managed to do that.
“It was so important to show a real gritty performance and get a victory at a very, very tough place to play.”
PARIS: Last year’s winner Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé are among the top contenders for the men’s Ballon d’Or.
The 30 men’s and 30 women’s nominees were revealed by France Football magazine on Tuesday, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony in London on Oct. 26.
In the women’s field, two-time winner Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay are among the favorites. Aitana Bonmatí, the winner of the past three awards, did not make the cut after missing most of the season through injury. She returned at the end of Barcelona’s quadruple-winning season that included another Champions League title.
Dembélé and Mbappé both played for France at the World Cup, where their team lost to eventual champion Spain in the semifinals. Although it’s difficult to win the accolade without a major trophy, Mbappé made history when he overtook Lionel Messi for the most all-time World Cup goals (22), in fewer games.
After claiming a second straight Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain, Dembélé has a chance to retain the Ballon d’Or.
Kane had one of his best seasons, scoring 73 goals for club and country and winning the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich. Kane also led England to a third-place finish at the World Cup.
Spain captain Rodri, who claimed the award in 2024 and played an instrumental role in midfield to help Spain secure their second World Cup title, was also included.
The 39-year-old Messi, who has a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, was on the shortlist after guiding Argentina to a runner-up finish at the World Cup and winning Major League Soccer with Inter Miami. The other three Ballon d’Or winners still active, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luka Modric, were not in the list.
PSG dominate
Dembélé was one of nine PSG players — 10 including newly acquired Ferran Torres — nominated for the men’s award, alongside Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha. Torres scored Spain’s winner in the World Cup final.
In an interview with France Football, Dembélé said he expects the award to remain at PSG. Asked to name his top three in no particular order, he cited PSG teammate Kvaratskhelia, Kane and Mbappé. He also mentioned Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, Ruiz and Pacho, but did not include himself.
“I don’t think the trophy is undecided. I think it will remain in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player,” he said.
The other men’s nominees include Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, as well as Manchester City striker.
Italy, which did not qualify for the World Cup, and the Netherlands and Germany had no representatives. Only one player from Serie A, Lautaro Martínez of Inter Milan, was selected.
There was no goalkeeper nominated, ensuring Lev Yashin remains the only keeper to win the coveted trophy (1963) for another year.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is moving from its traditional Paris home to London this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the first award won by England great Stanley Matthews.
The voting system
The Ballon d’Or was created by France Football and has been awarded since 1956 for men, and since 2018 for women. It is voted for by journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings for the men’s award and the top 50 FIFA-ranked countries for the women’s award.
Each journalist, one per country, selects players in ranked order with points attributed to each position. The winner is the player who receives the most points.
Organizers say the trophy is awarded based on three criteria, in order of importance: 1, individual performances, decisive and impressive character; 2, collective performances and titles won; 3, class and fair play. The performance period is Aug. 3, 2025 to July 19 — the day of this year’s World Cup final.
Jamaica petitions the British monarch over questions about the legality of the transatlantic slave trade.
Jamaica’s campaign for reparations from the United Kingdom is part of a broader push for countries to pay for their roles in the transatlantic slave trade and hundreds of years of slavery.
Momentum is building. In March, a United Nations resolution said the claims represent a step towards a remedy for the descendants of enslaved people. Most Western countries abstained from the vote, and the United States opposed it.
In June, African and Caribbean nations met in Ghana – where hundreds of thousands of people were forced onto slave ships. They put together a plan for reparatory justice, which would include debt relief and other support for African nations.
Last month, a UN committee said governments are obliged by law to consider paying damages.
So, will the legal argument boost the case for reparations?
Presenter: Dareen Abughaida
Guests:
Hilary Beckles – vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies and chairman of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) Reparations Commission
Lawrence Goldman – emeritus fellow in history at St Peter’s College, University of Oxford, and former editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Patrick Vernon – British historian and social commentator knighted in 2026 for his services to racial equality and social justice
The National Television Awards are back for 2026 and every year, the biggest TV talent takes on one another to win the top prizes in the coveted categories
20:15, 08 Sep 2026Updated 20:44, 08 Sep 2026
Clarkson’s Farm won Reality Docuseries (Image: Getty Images for The NTA’s)
The big award ceremony is back, with Joel Dommett hosting for a sixth year in a row. Every year, he rubs shoulders with national treasures, such as Ian McKellen, and ahead of the ceremony, he told The Mirror that “just to be part of that is really cool”.
“There was a moment where I was still on stage with Ian McKellen for seven minutes, watching the VTs,” he told us, “I was just panting, because I was running around before, but then I was watching the VTs with Ian, who was presenting an award next. We had a nice little chat and I loved that moment because he’s someone you would never meet in real life.”
The NTAs are also celebrating their first all-female drama performance shortlist – with Gavin And Stacey star Ruth Jones to compete with Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Sheridan Smith and Vicky McClure for the prize.
Political analysts believe that the latest Houthi attacks open a new phase in Saudi Arabia’s approach to the Iran-backed group, marked by a shift from managing and containing escalation to firmly deterring it. They said that Riyadh will not accept the targeting of its citizens and residents on its territory, or attacks on its vital facilities.
The analysts told Asharq Al-Awsat that this phase is witnessing an advanced level of political, military, and security coordination between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s legitimate government, strengthening the latter’s ability to confront sources of threat and reshape the balance of power on the ground.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Tuesday that his country would not hesitate to defend itself against attacks by the terrorist Houthi militia and would use all available means to protect its interests.
Speaking at a press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow, the Saudi foreign minister said the Kingdom is putting forward diplomatic solutions to avoid further suffering for Yemen and its people, and will not hesitate to support what serves the interests of Yemen and the region. He highlighted that the path of diplomacy for dealing with the Houthis remains open.
Prince Faisal added that the Houthis prefer to put their narrow personal interests ahead of Yemen’s interests, while the country’s legitimate government has provided an opportunity to negotiate with them responsibly. He described their latest escalation as part of their pattern of provocation.
The limits of Saudi Arabia’s patience
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Jeddah-based Gulf Research Center, said Yemen’s legitimate government is fulfilling its responsibilities in confronting Houthi attacks targeting civilians and vital infrastructure across the country. He added that the government has worked to mobilize its capabilities and resources, and consolidate its ranks, particularly at the military level.
“The Kingdom will not tolerate any attacks against citizens, residents or vital facilities on its territory, and that its patience has limits,” Sager said. He expects Riyadh to respond “firmly and decisively against the sources of fire, in a manner proportionate to the scale and intensity of the attacks,” citing recent developments in Iraq.
He added that the Houthis had misread Saudi patience, saying that “they do not adhere to reason or logic and continue to receive instructions.” He said that the group had been given several opportunities over the past years but failed to make use of them.
A more decisive phase
Yemeni writer Saleh Al-Baidani said the latest developments point to “a shift from managing and containing escalation toward a more decisive approach focused on deterrence.”
He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The Kingdom has provided ample opportunities for de-escalation and a political settlement, but the Houthis misread this restraint, treating it as a permanent limitation on Saudi action rather than a calculated political choice that could be reassessed as circumstances evolve.”
He added that the recent attacks on Saudi territory and vital facilities have elevated the threat to a level that makes the previous approach increasingly difficult to sustain. Al-Baidani said: “When the Houthis evolve from a party to the Yemeni crisis into a regional pressure tool more directly linked to Iran’s calculations and its wider confrontation in the region, the approach to dealing with them inevitably changes.”
According to Al-Baidani, the escalation is no longer linked solely to the Yemeni file, but has come to affect Saudi national security, the security of the Red Sea, energy supplies and the safety of international maritime corridors.
Saudi-Yemeni coordination
The Yemeni writer highlighted that coordination between Saudi Arabia and the legitimate government has entered a different phase compared to previous years, whether at the political, military or security levels.
He added: “The Kingdom appears more aware of the importance of having a Yemeni partner capable of managing the confrontation on the ground, while the Yemeni government realizes that any serious move against the Houthis requires a regional umbrella and political, military and economic support.”
Al-Baidani concluded that the success of the next phase remains contingent on the ability of the Yemeni side to unify military and political decision-making, and to transform multiple forces and fronts from a point of weakness into a source of pressure on the Houthis.
He added: “If that is achieved, we may not be facing a fleeting military round, but rather an attempt to reshape the balance of power that has settled over the past years.”
On Tuesday, Yemeni government forces expanded the scope of their field advance on a number of fronts, managing to liberate the Al-Yatama area in the Khabb wa ash-Sha’af district of Al-Jawf Governorate, northeast of Sanaa, a day after recapturing the Al-Labanat area in the same governorate. This came in parallel with the launch of a large-scale military operation in Al-Bayda Governorate, southeast of Sanaa, and the continuation of clashes on the western coast and west of Taiz, on the sixth day since the start of the Houthi escalation.
The advance comes at a time when government forces have begun, over the past few days, to shift from containing Houthi ground attacks to regaining the initiative on several axes, capitalizing on the group’s retreat from some positions, while army units, resistance forces and the Giants Brigades continue their operations on more than one front.
Dana Williamson, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s onetime chief of staff, is seeking to delay her criminal sentencing date for political corruption because of health issues, according to documents filed last week in federal court.
Williamson’s attorney McGregor Scott, asked the court to delay her Sept. 17 sentencing and seal documents related to her health condition.
Scott submitted documents that reference a Sept. 4 surgery that Williamson underwent, medical records, and a text message from Williamson’s mother about the surgery.
Williamson underwent a liver transplant earlier this year, prompting a judge to delay a February hearing in her case.
A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of California didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the requested sentencing delay.
Williamson, a veteran political consultant who also formerly worked for former Govs. Jerry Brown and Gray Davis, admitted she took part in a scheme from 2022 to 2024 to skim campaign funds from then-U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, now a leading candidate for governor, and divert the money to Becerra’s then-chief of staff.
She also admitted in her plea deal to filing a false tax form in 2024 and lying to FBI agents that same year.
Beyond lying to the FBI about the scheme involving Becerra, Williamson misled federal authorities on another topic, the plea agreement stated.
She lied to FBI agents when asked about the state’s lawsuit against video game company Activision Blizzard Inc., details contained in the November indictment against Williamson and other public records show.
Sabalenka began the match in cruise control, breaking in sixth seed Noskova’s opening service game and racing into a 5-2 lead, before being broken as she served for the set.
Although she dominated the subsequent tie-break, the double fault she hit in her last service game – one of four in the match – would prove a feature of her performance, as would her failure to convert break points.
She wasted three early in the second set before conceding a break in the sixth game with a double fault at 30-40 as Noskova forced a decider.
After hitting two more double faults to be broken for a third time, she looked down and out after Noskova held to love for a 4-2 lead, but won the next three games to turn the match around.
She then won the tie-break – for a 10th successive time at the US Open, in a run dating back to 2021 – to complete her comeback, sealing the victory with a nerveless second-serve ace.
This was only Sabalenka’s second quarter-final victory since March, with the top seed unable to replicate her early season hard-court success – which included titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami – on the clay or grass.
She suffered last-16 exits in Toronto and Cincinnati in the build-up to the US Open, but has rediscovered something approaching her best form at the tournament where she is yet to lose a quarter-final in six attempts.
For Noskova, this defeat, during which she hit more winners, fewer unforced errors, and saved seven of her nine break points, ends a run of 11 consecutive singles wins at Grand Slams.
About 2,300 women and children from dozens of countries are being held at Roj camp in Syria, many of them linked to ISIL. The Syrian government wants to close the camp, but there are currently no formal plans for what will happen to those being held there. Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith has an exclusive report from inside the camp.
WASHINGTON — Lonnie Bunch is stepping down from the leadership of the Smithsonian Institution following a tumultuous year in which President Trump tried to remake the portrayal of U.S. history by the Smithsonian museums and other cultural entities.
Bunch said in a news release Tuesday that he was departing the position he had held since 2019 “with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude.” The Smithsonian said he would leave the post at the end of the year.
Bunch’s departure comes two months after a White House report branded the leaders of the Smithsonian Institution, especially at the National Museum of American History, as radical activists who cannot be trusted, an indication that Trump could be preparing to install his own team.
Anthea M. Hartig, the first female director of that museum, faced growing scrutiny from Trump and other Republicans over the summer after the White House Domestic Policy Council’s report saying the museum’s leadership doesn’t tell history “in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic.”
Three weeks after the report’s release, Trump ordered his administration to install signs in front of the U.S. history museum telling visitors that some of the exhibits are inaccurate. Hartig pushed back, telling lawmakers during congressional hearings that the report “does not fairly or accurately characterize the full body of work at the museum.”
There had been speculation that firings were in the offing. Trump doesn’t have the power to fire leaders at the Smithsonian with the swiftness he’s managed at other top cultural institutions in Washington, most notably the Kennedy Center, where a board of his supporters named him chairman.
The Smithsonian operates outside the executive branch and museum directors report to Bunch, who is subject to oversight from a Board of Regents that includes Vice President JD Vance, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and so-called citizen regents.
Roberts, who serves as Smithsonian’s chancellor, said in a release that Bunch had “pursued excellence in the telling of our nation’s story.”
The White House did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The Smithsonian has been under examination by the Trump administration since 2025 as it has focused on the images and messages presented to the public as the nation approached its 250th anniversary.
A March 2025 executive order, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, led to signs being changed at federal parks, exhibits being altered or in some cases removed, and military bases being renamed. Trump specifically cited the National Museum of African American History and Culture and argued that the Smithsonian as a whole was engaging in a “concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history.”
Several months later, the White House ordered a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions before the country’s 250th birthday, with a goal of aligning the institution’s content with Trump’s interpretation of American history.
In a letter sent to Bunch at the time, the White House detailed the steps it expected the organization to take as part of the announced review. The examination is of all public-facing content, including social media, exhibition text and educational materials, to “assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals,” according to the letter.
That review initially focused on eight museums — the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Kinnard and Fields write for the Associated Press. Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C.
EW YORK: Aryna Sabalenka kept alive her hopes for a third straight US Open championship by fighting off Linda Noskova 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) on Tuesday in a thrilling quarterfinal matchup of major champions.
Sabalenka finished off the match with a second-serve ace to turn back the Wimbledon champion and reach the semifinals in Flushing Meadows for the sixth straight year.
Sabalenka — who needed to win to maintain the No. 1 ranking — will face either No. 3 Jessica Pegula or No. 26 Emma Navarro on Thursday in the semifinals.
Noskova, the No. 6 seed, won her first major title at the All England Club and narrowly missed becoming the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to follow a title on the grass by reaching the final four on the hardcourts of New York.
WASHINGTON — Nearly a quarter century after a day “etched forever into the memories of Americans,” President Trump honored the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on Tuesday by vowing to “never forget.”
The event at the Ellipse was spearheaded by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and showcased a massive, 21-foot, nearly 17,000-pound steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York, which had traveled for months across the country as part of the Steel Across America tour.
The steel beam will make its way through New York in a procession on Friday by retracing the steps of fallen New York City firefighter Stephen Siller. Trump’s presence at the event on Tuesday just outside the White House began a week of commemorations that will culminate in several events on Friday, including one at the Pentagon that Trump will attend.
“This battered piece of steel here today on the Ellipse is a reminder that America is blessed with a strength no fire can consume, no evil can conquer and no terror can destroy,” Trump said.
Trump noted that the Sept. 11 attacks were one of few moments in history that “divide time into really what came before” and after.
His remarks briefly dipped into the political, as Trump warned of people turning a “communistic way” — a reference to his frequent attacks on Democrats as more democratic socialists gain influence in the party.
During his remarks, Trump paid particular tribute to two men who died in the attacks: Jeffrey Palazzo, a New York City firefighter, and Welles Crowther, a young equities trader who became known as the “man in the red bandanna” after rescuing several people in the attacks.
Trump said the U.S. Coast Guard will commission a new fast-response cutter this weekend in New York in honor of Palazzo, a Coast Guard reservist who was working out of Staten Island’s Rescue Squad 5 when he responded to the attacks 25 years ago.
And the president recognized Crowther, also a volunteer firefighter, by awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Crowther’s mother, Alison, and sister, Paige, accepted the award, which is considered the nation’s highest civilian honor.
In attendance were a smattering of top Cabinet officials and members of Congress, including Republican Reps. Mike Lawler of New York and Dan Meuser, whose Pennsylvania district is near Shanksville, where Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11, 2001.
Trump praised at length Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial firm that had been housed at the World Trade Center. Lutnick lost his younger brother, Gary, as well as more than 650 employees in the attacks.
“He’s done an amazing job,” Trump said of Lutnick. “He’s rebuilt Cantor Fitzgerald, and he’s given much of the profits to some of the families or the families of people who perished.”
About 150 first responders from New York, as well as some from Washington and Pennsylvania, were in attendance, Trump said.
“This steel beam represents the best of our country,” said Frank Siller, the foundation’s chairman and CEO who is the brother of Stephen Siller. “It’s important to recognize that the heroism that was exhibited that fateful day was nothing short of incredible.”
Kim writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Will Weissert contributed to this report.
Matthew Brennan emerged victorious in the 16th stage of the Vuelta a Espana to claim his fourth stage win of this year’s race.
The British Visma Lease-a-bike rider sprinted to victory ahead of Bryan Coquard and Vito Braet in Palos de la Frontera.
Brennan, 21, held up four fingers to celebrate each of his four stage wins in his first Grand Tour.
“It’s unbelievable, four victories here and the plan was for one,” Brennan said after the 181km stage.
Stage 16 was expected to be another chance for the sprinters.
A five-man breakaway got up the road early on, but with 100km remaining the peloton started to reel them in. The break was caught with around 23km remaining, setting up the bunch sprint finale.
Spanish rider Enric Mas of Team Movistar maintained his 2min 6sec general classification lead on Felix Gall, with Primoz Roglic a further four seconds behind.
The next stage takes place on Wednesday, consisting of 185km from Dos Hermanas to Seville, offering another sprint finale.
Ten years ago, Walt Disney Imagineering announced what was widely perceived by the public as a risky — and ill-advised — project: Disney California Adventure’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror would be remade into a ride featuring Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” And it would open in just a few months, ahead of the 2017 summer tourist season.
Fans, to say the least, were not happy. They saw the makeover as a marketing move, done solely because a new movie in the franchise was being released. They were also skeptical of the tight timeline.
Retired Imagineer Joe Rohde, who led the project, heard the complaints.
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“They look at the schedule and go, ‘You can’t do anything in that amount of time. There’s nothing you can do that is worth doing in this short amount of time, so we think this is going to be bad,’ ” says Rohde, whom I chatted with at the recent Disney fan convention D23.
Rohde‘s new book, “Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible,” is out this week and in it, he demystifies the creative process, heavily touching on his four-decade career at Imagineering as a jumping-off point on how to stay inspired and find art in the everyday. In a revealing chapter on what became Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout!, Rohde writes about creating art out of a series of limitations.
Famed retired Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, whose book “Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible” demystifies the creative process.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
He notes that the new “Guardians of the Galaxy” film was not the reason for changing the drop tower ride — rather, the motivating factor was giving the Disneyland Resort something new to promote for 2017 and to begin to bring Marvel into the parks.
When assigned the project, Rohde initially pitched a Dr. Strange-inspired attraction, believing the hotel facade of Tower of Terror could quickly and easily translate to a mysterious sanctum. Execs, however, rejected the concept, arguing Dr. Strange wasn’t popular enough. They told Rohde and the team to focus on Spider-Man.
Now it was Rohde’s turn to say no. “Spider-Man needs room to swing,” Rohde writes in his book. “We only go up and down. There’s nowhere for Spider-Man to be!”
Bringing Marvel superheroes into a theme park, Rohde tells me, is something of a challenge.
“Marvel is a character brand,” Rohde says. “When we watch these movies or read the comics, our primary investment is in the psychology of the character. Spider-Man is a great example of this. Spider-Man’s life is a constant emotional crisis of one kind or another. It’s almost more of a soap opera format.
Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! is today the dominating structure of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“So, you have an art form — the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Marvel Comic Universe — in which settings are disposable and are disposed of in order to drive character development. That works great in a film, but when it comes to place-making, it is difficult to lock yourself on the experiences of places, which is part of what makes theme parks theme parks. All through your day in a theme park the primary actor you engage with is the architecture and the landscape.”
With Spider-Man out, “Guardians of the Galaxy” was the compromise everyone could agree on. Only now the clock was ticking. Rohde notes that the team had to stop viewing the Tower of Terror as a hotel, and instead look at it as something of a blank page — an empty canvas that just happened to be in the shape of a blocky silhouette that jolts guests 190 feet in the air. Remove the hotel signage, and suddenly the mass resembled many things: “a grain silo, a fortress, a bank, a storage facility, possibly a prison,” Rohde writes.
Arguably, the facade for Mission Breakout! represents a bit of each of those. In “Floating Mountains,” Rohde says he began reimagining the building by taking inspiration from Marvel comic artist Jack Kirby, but he has also spoken of finding influence in architect Renzo Piano, who worked on France’s Centre Pompidou. The end result is a retro sci-fi building with high-tech-like pipes drawing one’s attention.
The chapter documents a frantic race against time. The star of the ride is an audio-animatronic of the Rocket Raccoon character, but it wasn’t always clear the figure could be finished by the deadline. And instead of using just one ride profile like the Tower of Terror, Mission Breakout! aimed for four, but Rohde writes the team had two as a fall-back plan (ultimately, they prevailed with their original intent).
Rohde notes that to get it done, a concession was made: limited reviews but a fixed, unchangeable budget with a strict deadline. And the team had to make a decision and commit. Little tinkering.
Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! is now considered one of the most popular attractions at Disneyland.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
“You have to allocate a certain percentage of time and energy to prepare for a review, and that can be two weeks of energy,” Rohde says. “In this case, the most crucial thing about this project was its opening day. If you back out of that opening day just with production time, it becomes clear there’s no time to change. There’s no time to ask someone if they like it or don’t like it. So we have to decide we’re going to do it, and we’re going to do it for this much money, and you can look at it once before we start, and once before we build.”
Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission Breakout! opened on time, and with enough budget left over to create an “after dark” version during the Halloween season, which is currently running. And those fans who initially viewed the project with skepticism? Many were quiet after opening day, as Mission Breakout! is considered one of the Disneyland Resort’s most popular attractions.
Aside from replacing the former tension with chaotic elevator maneuvering, the makeover was a success because it’s not a rehash of a scene from the film. Rather than rely heavily on plot, it focuses on one frantic moment — a prison breakout — to create a zany, screwball comedy feel. In short, it’s a singular work of art, one that stands apart from its cinematic counterparts.
And that’s key to the appeal of “Floating Mountains,” as throughout Rohde makes the case that theme parks — often derided as commercial entities — are indeed vital spaces. He speaks of art as living on a spectrum. On one end, “art for art’s sake,” and on the other, “utterly commercial enterprises with no purpose other than to harvest value out of an intellectual property.”
“Theme parks,” says Rohde, “rocket somewhere in the middle of this.”
“I do believe that their social impact alone should argue for the fact that, no matter what you think of high art, of low art, something is going on here that people find very affecting,” he says of theme parks. “I think it is an art form.”
This week in SoCal theme parks
Inside Kingswell skate shop is a wall documenting the building’s history as the first L.A. outpost of what would become the Walt Disney Co.
(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)
A Disney history celebration. Walt Disney launched his animation career in Kansas City, Mo., in 1920. But when his Laugh-O-gram Studio failed after only about two years, he decided to move west. Here in Los Angeles, Walt and his brother Roy would in 1923 rent a small studio space on Kingswell Avenue in Los Feliz, near where he was staying with his uncle. They called their operation the Disney Bros. Studio, and it was officially the formation of what would become the Walt Disney Co. In September 2024, a small strip on the corner of Kingswell and Vermont avenues was designated the Disney Bros. Cartoon Studio Square. This Sunday, the space will host a mini-block party from noon to 5 p.m., with photo ops, events and skating demonstrations courtesy of the Kingswell skate shop,
Welcome the Lucas Museum. The long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has arrived in L.A. and is welcoming members for previews. The space officially opens Sept. 22, and its emphasis on pop culture and “Star Wars” likely means there’s many an overlap with the Disney fan community. The Times has a bevy of coverage, including an architecture review as well as an analysis of its collection and how it deviates from typical art gallery fare.
Meow Wolf taps dozens of L.A. artists for new venue. Meow Wolf is getting closer to unveiling its Los Angeles locale. When doors open — the company is targeting late 2026 — expect a walk-around, floor-to-ceiling experience that pays homage to the art of cinema with a sci-fi, psychedelic-like bent. And to bring that vision to life, the Santa Fe, N.M.-based experiential art collective will be working with nearly 40 L.A. artists across multiple mediums. Meow Wolf last week unveiled its roster of artists with ties to the L.A. region.
A new Magic Mountain coaster is on the way. Six Flags Magic Mountain, garnering headlines tied to the safety of its X2 coaster, is looking ahead to 2027 and teasing a Thursday announcement for its next big thrill ride. The park last week posted a video to social media hinting at more info to come this week on what is expected to be a glider coaster with bike-like seating.
Ride report
An actor performing as Ozzy Osbourne during a haunted house at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights.
(Scott Strazzante / For The Times)
This week’s ride report is actually a haunted house report. Of the eight spooky mazes at Universal Studios Hollywood this year, there were two clear standouts for me: the “Sinners” maze, which I documented last week, and Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness. This walk-through attraction, which Halloween Horror Nights mastermind John Murdy has described as something of a passion project, is a filled with cartoonishly sinister imagery in an homage to the recently deceased heavy metal legend.
Murdy says he didn’t have any hesitation about crating a haunted house based on Osbourne’s solo career so soon after he died last summer. “It hit everybody really hard,” the lifelong Osbourne fan says of the artist’s death. “It hit his fan community really hard. We needed to do something for the fans to celebrate this guy’s legacy.”
A giant animatronic bat in a haunted house inspired by the music of Ozzy Osbourne.
(Scott Strazzante / For The Times)
In an unique twist, nearly every scare actor is performing as some embodiment of Osbourne. The attraction is also filled with little nods to Osbourne’s life and legacy, including pictures donated from the family and a toy cow as a nod to an early job of Osbourne’s in a slaughterhouse. Murdy estimates the house features about 20 songs from Osbourne’s solo career, bookended by “Crazy Train” and “See You on the Other Side.” A train, of course, figures heavily into the maze, and an early ride scene appears to take us straight to hell.
It gets demented, but in a silly way that feels all-in-good-fun rather than anything frightening. Case in point: A centerpiece of the attraction is a giant animatronic bat, which is holding the severed head of Osbourne, only here the musician is depicted as a werewolf. Osbourne, says Murdy, was also heavily religious, so the walk-through culminates with the artist on a church-like throne. But it’s no ordinary cathedral, as jetting our from under Osbourne’s chair is a blue dragon, a nod to the tattoo the singer had on his chest.
It’s a love letter to Osbourne, and Murdy’s appreciation of the artist runs deep. He notes that as a seventh- or eight-grader in the early ‘80s, he wrote a term paper defending the artist. “I didn’t like the fact that people were condemning things when they hadn’t even bothered to read the lyrics and know what they are about,” Murdy says. “Take ‘Crazy Train.’ It’s about the Cold War. It’s about a fear that society is going off the rails. At an early age I was already going, ‘Don’t trust things that you hear at face value.’ ”
Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.
Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter.
Ride on,
Todd Martens
P.S.
I can admit when I was largely wrong. Last week I expressed concerns about the way Halloween Horror Nights was adding the character of Nikki from “Obsession,” worrying a hyped incognito approach could open up the actor — or regular paying guests — to being uncomfortably approached by attendees. But while Nikki is not easy to find, she’s far from anonymous, all bloodied up and holding a brick. Plus, she’s accompanied by multiple handlers who keep folks from crowding the performer’s space.
There is a game-like aspect to this. Those who speak a password, released via social media, receive a fake business card, which does mean many a guest is standing there shouting a password at the actor. This is slightly awkward, and where I still have some reservations.
An actor as Nikki from “Obsession” interacting with guests during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.
(Scott Strazzante / For The Times)
But many who find Nikki may discover it’s a highlight of the night. I’m not someone who seeks out characters at theme parks, largely because they’re there more for photos than to completely interact. Nikki is different. Nikki is in full immersive theater mode, responding entirely in character and pushing guests to talk about their devotion — to her, to another, to anything. In my minute with the actor, she aggressively quizzed me on my nonexistent love life, forcefully walking toward me so I had to gently stumble backward, which she lightly mocked.
Despite the unnerving tone of the actor’s questions, I was charmed. More of this type of interacting and play is always welcome. Now, I just wonder why she was so consumed with the health and age of my cat.
LONDON — More than 400 flights were canceled Tuesday due to a technical issue in Britain’s air traffic control system, reported the flight monitoring website Flightradar24.
Britain’s National Air Traffic Services said a problem had been identified in its flight processing system and engineers were urgently working on the issue, which affected flights across the U.K.
In an update, it said it had “implemented a fix and our flight system is starting to recover.”
About 425 flights to and from U.K. airports, including Heathrow, were canceled, affecting services operated by multiple airlines including British Airways, EasyJet, KLM and Lufthansa.
The affected airports, which also included Stansted and City in London, as well as airports in Manchester, Birmingham and Scotland, said the technical issue caused disruptions. They warned passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline.
Budget airline EasyJet said some of its flights were “unable to operate” and that the system failure caused “delays to flights across Europe.”
Some passengers took to social media to complain about being stuck on the tarmac for hours. Many expressed frustration about a lack of communication from airlines.
Heathrow’s website showed that many short-haul flights departing for European destinations had been canceled or delayed.
Arriving flights did not appear to be affected. It was not immediately clear what caused the technical problem.
CAIRO: An Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission has uncovered a 4,300-year-old tomb near Cairo belonging to an ancient judge who heard the grievances of ordinary people, local authorities said.
The tomb was found at Saqqara, a sprawling necropolis south of the capital, and dates back to the reign of Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi, one of the most influential rulers of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty who oversaw a period of administrative reform in the 24th century BC, the Egyptian tourism and antiquities ministry said.
It was built for Yunmen, a high-ranking official whose duties included listening to the appeals of the kingdom’s subjects and weighing their complaints before the state.
Amr Al-Tayeb, director of the Saqqara archaeological site, told AFP that Yunmen’s duties “align with the ancient Egyptian concept of Maat”, the goddess and principle of truth, justice and social order.
The find was discovered during this summer’s excavation season in the Mariette Cemetery area of northern Saqqara, as part of a long-running joint project by the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The newly discovered mastaba, a flat-roofed tomb typically built for elite officials, contains two funerary chapels: one for Yunmen and another for his father, Ity, a senior scribe responsible for overseeing agricultural lands and offerings.
Yunmen’s chapel is adorned with finely carved reliefs depicting farmers at work, servants carrying offerings and scenes associated with funerary rites. Many of the paintings have retained their original colors despite spending more than 40 centuries buried beneath the desert sands, the ministry said.
Archaeologists also uncovered an ornate facade covered with funerary inscriptions, alongside formal depictions of the tomb owner.
In the neighboring chapel, dedicated to Ity, traces of painted offering scenes survive, alongside a false door, a symbolic gateway through which the dead were believed to receive sustenance from the living.
The discovery comes as Egypt seeks to promote new archaeological finds to support tourism, a key source of foreign currency for the country.
The weapons, seen in the tweet embedded below, comprise, clockwise from top left: S-71K Kovyor, an unknown smaller guided munition, S8000 Banderol, and S-71M Monokhrom:
For Russia, the requirement has become increasingly important as the war in Ukraine has evolved into a prolonged contest in which industrial capacity is as critical as technology. Russia has expended huge numbers of cruise and ballistic missiles against Ukrainian targets while also developing an enormous strike-drone campaign. At the same time, Ukrainian air defenses have become progressively more capable, forcing Moscow to use combinations of missiles, drones, decoys, and different flight profiles to penetrate or saturate the defensive network. One lesson is the fact that a weapon does not necessarily have to be as capable as a high-end cruise missile if it can be manufactured in much greater numbers and still present a credible threat to the target.
The S-71M, which TWZpreviously reported on in detail after Ukrainian intelligence obtained an example, is a compact, turbojet-powered weapon with a distinctly angular airframe intended to reduce its radar signature. Imagery from Egypt gives a better look at its front end, including a faceted nose flowing into a broad central fuselage. The nose has at least one optically flat transparency for an infrared or TV seeker. Its wings are sharply swept and fold against the belly of the weapon for carriage, while the rear of the weapon terminates in an inverted-V tail arrangement. The overall shape is notably different from Russia’s more conventional cruise missiles of the past.
An S-71M test article under the wing of a Su-57. via X
Ukrainian analysis found that the S-71M incorporates an OFAB-250-270 high-explosive fragmentation bomb as its warhead and relies primarily on inertial guidance, rather than carrying a sophisticated terminal seeker, although the seeker window raises questions about that.
Ukrainian intelligence also described its construction as being relatively straightforward, with fiberglass composite material making up much of the outer structure and no evidence identified of specialized radar-absorbing coatings.
As we noted previously, the weapon appears intended as a less expensive, but still survivable standoff weapon option that can be produced in significant numbers.
The S-71M has been tested from the Su-57 Felon fighter, also present at El Alamein. In a press release, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), responsible for the Su-57, said that the S-71M and the S-71K displayed alongside it “were designed for fifth-generation fighters,” although there is no reason why they couldn’t be launched from a wide variety of platforms.
A Su-57 performing at El Alamein, with one of its main internal weapons bays apparently loaded with Kh-69 standoff missiles:
Regardless of launch platform, the nature of the war in Ukraine make that the S-71M particularly useful. Russia has increasingly relied on extemporized glide bombs for attacks against targets relatively close to the front, but those weapons require the launching aircraft to operate within a certain distance of Ukrainian defenses. At least in their earlier iterations, such weapons were also crude and prone to failure. Longer-range cruise missiles offer considerably greater standoff but are more complex and expensive. The S-71M sits somewhere between those categories, providing an air-launched, powered weapon with a relatively large warhead and some degree of low observability without the cost and complexity of a full-size, truly stealthy cruise missile.
The S-71K appears to represent a more capable version of the basic concept. Public information remains limited, but the weapon has been associated with electro-optical guidance and greater onboard processing, potentially giving it a capability to deal with targets in a more flexible manner than the largely pre-programmed S-71M. Exactly how that capability is employed, and how autonomous the weapon actually is, remain less clear from the imagery and information released to date.
An S-71K missile presented in front of a Su-57 Felon at El Alamein. UACA close-up of the same S-71K missile at El Alamein. UACA Su-57 undergoes trials with a pair of S-71K missiles under the wings. via X
As displayed at El Alamein, the S-71K retains the overall faceted, low-observable appearance of the S-71M but has a visibly different airframe and wing arrangement. Its body is notably broad and compact relative to its length, with folding wings that are relatively thick, and a more refined inverted-V tail giving it more the appearance of a small uncrewed aircraft than a conventional air-to-surface missile.
A rear view of a test S-71K under the wing of a Su-57. via X
Meanwhile, the Banderol represents a somewhat different path to the same general problem. Ukraine’s intelligence service previously obtained and analyzed an example of the small jet-powered cruise missile, which TWZreported on last year. The weapon is considerably smaller than Russia’s principal cruise missiles and has been associated with launch from drones and helicopters. Its reported range of around 500 kilometers (311 miles) and relatively small warhead make it something of a complementary system intended to provide another, more economical way of putting a precision weapon onto a target from the air.
The front portion of a Banderol is seen nearest the camera in a line-up at El Alamein, which also includes a Yak-130M combat trainer and a Su-57. UAC
In terms of its appearance, the Banderol is more conventionally missile-like, with an ogival central fuselage, a pointed nose, and sharply swept folding wings. Its proportions underline just how small it is compared with Russia’s better-known air-launched cruise missiles.
An infographic prepared by Ukraine showing the Banderol cruise missile and some of its foreign-sourced components. GUR photo
The Banderol is particularly relevant in the context of the economics of the Ukraine conflict. Russian forces have increasingly used combinations of relatively inexpensive one-way attack drones and more expensive cruise and ballistic missiles. The drones can be produced in large numbers and used to complicate air-defense operations, while the more capable missiles provide greater speed, range, payload, or penetration capability. A small turbojet-powered weapon such as Banderol offers another point on that spectrum.
At leats one image has recently emerged showing a Banderol carried by a Russian Mi-28NM Havoc attack helicopter. This would be in line with unconfirmed reports from Ukraine last month that Russia was using the Mi-28 as an additional launch platform for the weapon, including firing them from over the Sea of Azov to attack targets around Odesa.
Its reported use also illustrates how the distinction between a cruise missile and a large one-way attack drone is becoming increasingly blurred. The Banderol incorporates a conventional missile-like airframe and jet propulsion but has been associated with drone operations and makes extensive use of commercially available components. TWZ’s earlier examination of the weapon also highlighted the extent to which modern Russian weapons programs can combine relatively simple airframes with foreign-sourced electronics and propulsion technology.
Likely Banderol loitering munition on the ground (perspective exaggerates it’s size) and under Orion drone.
Banderol has been reported as one of the munition used in recent strikes and appears to use a jet engine and a FAB-100 warhead or similar. pic.twitter.com/j50DUsNuVe
Seen together at El Alamein, the three weapons provide an unusually useful snapshot of where Russian air-launched strike development is heading. They are presented alongside a fourth, so-far unidentified munition. This unnamed weapon is notably short and fat, with a cruciform tail, and an optical window in the nose. Its overall size and shape suggest it may have been developed specifically to arm drones.
The appearance of the weapons at an arms fair underscores the fact that Russia is not the only country confronting the problem of producing and fielding sufficient precision weapons at an acceptable cost. The growing interest in lower-cost cruise missiles, loitering munitions, attritable aircraft, and other forms of expendable precision strike is now evident well beyond Russia.
Russia is also clearly trying to make these weapons harder to intercept, an increasingly important consideration as Ukrainian air defenses have demonstrated an ability to shoot down even glide bombs in some circumstances. The S-71K in particular incorporates unusually pronounced low-observable shaping, suggesting that survivability was also a central requirement from the outset.
There is, however, a significant complication to Russia’s attempt to turn its wartime experience into an export opportunity. Buying any kind of weapons from Moscow has become considerably more difficult because of sanctions, restrictions on access to foreign technology and financing, and the wider political risks associated with maintaining a Russian defense relationship. Those factors matter just as much to a prospective customer as the performance of the weapon itself.
Author’s note: earlier reporting on the S-71 family appears to have transposed the S-71K and S-71M versions. Most authoritative accounts now indicate that the more refined, more stealthy version is the S-71K Kovyor (meaning carpet), while the simpler weapon is the S-71M Monokhrom.
Some fans claim Nintendo’s latest update about new film is ‘criminal’
Fans were stunned that a trailer was not shown for the film(Image: Nintendo)
Nintendo shared a huge update during a special presentation.
Fans have admit they are left in tears over an ‘insane’ decision regarding the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie. The adaptation is set to hit the big screen next year.
This afternoon (September 9) the popular games company behind the franchise hosted a special ‘Nintendo Direct’ in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the series. The main event for the presentation was the first reveal of gameplay for the upcoming remake of classic Nintendo 64 title, Ocarina of Time.
However, game designer Shigeru Miyamoto who helped create Legend of Zelda and other iconic series such as Super Mario Bros, Star Fox and Pikmin began the presentation by sharing the latest behind the film. He confirmed the release date of April 30, 2027 and also the title.
Unlike the game series, which usually utilises subtitles, the film will just be called The Legend of Zelda. Miyamoto told fans that they will “understand why it is called that” when they watch the movie for themselves.
He also explained that the film is a unique story that takes inspiration from plotlines and concepts from multiple titles across the series.
However, despite many predictions, there was no trailer or footage of the film itself shown. This did not sit well with many fans, who slammed the decision.
Several did not waste time in sharing their thoughts on social media. One posted: ” No trailer of the Zelda movie is insane to be honest.”
One agreed: “Holding a standalone Zelda direct and not having a movie trailer ready for it is absolutely insane.” Another added: “So there isn’t a Zelda movie trailer today… I mean it’s fine the movie isn’t out till April but this was the perfect time to release even just a glimpse.”
Someone else claimed: “No Zelda movie trailer is criminal I do have to say.” One person asked: “I thought we were having the Zelda movie trailer too?! What happened?!”
A person who tuned into the Direct commented: “I’m crying. No Zelda movie trailer, not even a teaser.”
Ahead of The Super Mario Bros Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Nintendo often shared cast and trailers during their Direct presentations. However, it was announced that future news about the Zelda movie will be shared via their app.
Some of the cast is known for the Zelda film including Benjamin Evan Ainsworth playing Link and Bo Bragason taking on the role of Princess Zelda . The title is set to feature Sam Neil’s final performance before his death but his role is still not known.
The Legend of Zelda will release in cinemas April 30, 2027.
LONDON: Israeli forces demolished a home on Tuesday that belonged to a Palestinian family in the nomadic hamlet of Khirbet Khalla Al-Dabaa, located in Masafer Yatta, south of the occupied West Bank.
Fourteen members of the Mohammad Ali Dabbaba family lost their home when Israeli authorities demolished their 200-sq.-meter residence, constructed from tin and stone, according to the Palestine News Agency.
Forces also filled a crucial water well for the Bedouin community, destroyed electricity networks, damaged several water tanks, and uprooted 15 trees. Additionally, Israeli forces demolished a residential cave belonging to Abdullah Dabbaba, which housed six people.
Israeli authorities have issued demolition notices for 14 inhabited caves and several homes in Khirbet Khalla Al-Dabaa, the report added.
Masafer Yatta consists of nearly 15 Palestinian hamlets located in the southern West Bank; Khirbet Khalla Al-Dabaa is one of them. Israeli forces and settlers regularly invade the area in an effort to evict its total population of 1,150 residents, half of whom are children. Since the 1980s, the area has been designated a military zone by Israel.
In late August, armed Israeli settlers detained a 22-year-old British activist in the village of Umm Al-Kheir in Masafer Yatta, who was part of a “protective presence” initiative intended to support Palestinian residents. He was deported from Israel last week.
