News Desk

Hundreds of businesses are closing their doors in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the midwestern United States, as anti-ICE protesters continue to call for the federal agency to leave the city as part of a large-scale economic protest that has been named The Day of Truth and Freedom.

Friday’s walkout includes small businesses, unions, faith groups, and educators across the city, which has become a focal point of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency’s aggressive actions. The call, organised by a coalition of community groups, also urges a suspension of consumer spending.

“It is time to suspend the normal order of business to demand immediate cessation of ICE actions in MN,” the group organising the protest wrote on its website.

There are solidarity marches in cities across the US, including New York City, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Seattle, among others.

At the Minneapolis protest, the group is also planning a march that begins at 2pm local time (20:00 GMT) and ends at the Target Center — an arena in downtown Minneapolis.

Eyes on Target

The big-box retailer, in particular, has been in the crosshairs of organisers because of the company’s close ties to Minneapolis, where its headquarters are located, and it is the state’s fourth-largest employer.

The group is calling for Target stores to exercise protections under the Fourth Amendment, which would mean federal agents do not have the legal authority to enter a residence or place of business without a warrant signed by a judge.

In a document shared with organisers, the group pointed to two incidents of concern. One on January 8, when Customs and Border Patrol aggressively forced two US citizens onto the ground and subsequently detained them while working at a store in Richfield, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and another three days later in nearby St Paul, where Customs and Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino entered a store with other agents.

“Where Target leads, others follow. Our state is under occupation from federal agents, and they are attacking Minnesotans quite literally inside of Target stores. We need Target to stand with Minnesotans against these attacks,” the document said.

Target has been quiet about the protests and calls from its workers to take a stance. The company sent a memo to staff, according to Bloomberg News, warning of potential disruptions.

The pressure by anti-ICE protesters is the latest in a wave of pushback against the retail giant by progressives in the past year. There was a call for boycotts after the company rolled back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, which the company later attributed to a reason for a downturn in sales in early 2025.

The looming tensions have not made a dent on Wall Street, as the company’s stock is up 1.3 percent in midday trading.

Target did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.

The political response

“The Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement operations have resulted in countless dangerous criminal illegals being removed from the streets – including rapists, murderers, burglars, drunk drivers, and more. Making American communities safer will create an environment in which all businesses can thrive in the long term and their customers can feel safe. Joe Biden and Democrat leaders should’ve never let countless dangerous criminal illegals enter our country to begin with. And now the Trump Administration is cleaning up the Democrats’ mess,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Al Jazeera in a statement.

When pressed for a response to this reasoning and asked whether ICE would commit to holding accountable agents who break the law, the White House declined to provide additional comment.

The allegations concerning the agency’s conduct have led to the protests, including claims that ICE’s actions violated First and Fourth Amendment protections and threats towards protesters.

Among them are the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a case that has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties advocates, and the Department of Justice’s decision not to investigate the agent behind the shooting, which has invoked further outrage. One of the economic blackout’s calls is to hold Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot and killed Renee Good, legally accountable.

“I understand why people are choosing to participate in the January 23 blackout, and I support those decisions. At the same time, our small businesses, especially immigrant-owned businesses, are under a lot of pressure right now, and they could really use our support. However you choose to show up, I hope we keep our neighbours and local businesses in mind,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement provided to Al Jazeera.

Representatives for Governor Tim Walz did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.

HE is already one of the most famous men in Britain, with a record 18 Brit Awards and record sales exceeding 80million.

And today, Robbie Williams has made history once again when his latest album Britpop soared to the top of the charts – meaning he has now surpassed The Beatles to become the act with the most No1 albums in UK history, with a total of 16.

In an exclusive chat after finding out the news, he said: “It’s absolutely insane.

“I’m still trying to take it all in and figure out what it all means.“I can just tell you that I’m glad that it’s happened to me.”

It comes a week after it was revealed he has quit the UK and is now splitting his time between the Bahamas and Miami, having only moved back to London from Los Angeles in 2022.

Revealing why he left the UK, he said of his new life in the sun: “Not going to lie, it’s not s**t. I’m done with bad weather.“

HE’S THE ONE

Inside Robbie Williams’ wild career as he looks set to eclipse The Beatles

BRIT OF A SHOCK

Robbie Williams surprises fans by dropping new Britpop album

“I was out of the UK for like 24 years and then I was in the UK, and I know what I prefer.

“Unfortunately it goes dark and grey at the end of September. And if you’re lucky, it doesn’t stop being dark and grey until the end of May.

“So I’m doing away with that bit and just being in the sunshine. And if you can, why not? Why wouldn’t you?”

And maybe he’ll come back here in the summer?

“Yeah. I mean, everybody’s heading to the Cotswolds, aren’t they? I’d like to do that.”

I’m bigger than the Beatles and Jesus. There you go, there’s your headline.

Robbie Williams

Robbie’s incredible new chart feat was unveiled this afternoon, although neither of the surviving Beatles members Sir Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr had been in touch… yet.

He quipped: “No, but I’m bigger than the Beatles and Jesus. There you go, there’s your headline.

‘I’m a more monster’

“It doesn’t make any sense. The Beatles, the best band to ever exist. They did everything before they split up and then achieved what they achieved with their solo careers and stuff.

“And here’s this daft [bloke] from Stoke, wandering into the party and claiming some sort of record that overthrows them for five minutes.

“In my life and in my mind, I’ll have that mean happiness for me.

“But I also realise that the Beatles are the Beatles. Elvis is Elvis. And I should be stacking some shelves in an Asda in Stoke-on-Trent, so I’m just very, very lucky.”

It’s an astonishing feat, having landed his first solo No1 album in 1997 with Life Thru A Lens after leaving Take That – and also scoring seven No1 singles along the way.

Ayda’s coming in tomorrow and a few of the kids are coming in tomorrow too. I guess I’ll be celebrating by buying Ayda a handbag. She doesn’t do cheap handbags.”

Robbie Williams

Joining on a Zoom call from a lavish hotel suite in Paris, he said he will be celebrating there this weekend – and his wife Ayda Field will be reaping the rewards.

He admitted: “Ayda’s coming in tomorrow and a few of the kids are coming in tomorrow too. I guess I’ll be celebrating by buying Ayda a handbag.

“She doesn’t do cheap handbags.”

At only 51, there’s plenty of life in Robbie yet, and I won’t be surprised if he has loads more No1s in the future.

Asked if he has a total he wants to hit, he said: “I think this could be an end to want and need in this particular field…”

But then he conceded: “Oh, who am I kidding?

“I always want more. I’ve got a more problem. I’m a more monster. The hole is unfillable. So, yeah, f**k, scrap everything I’ve just said. I want more.”

And he is relishing the success.

On whether he knows where his other No1 awards are, he panned the camera over to a table featuring all 16.

“Why would I?” he chuckled.

“They’re coming everywhere with me now.

“There’s nothing in my house that would suggest I am me and I do what I do for a living.

“Those should be somewhere. Maybe in the garage where I could, if I’m just showing people around, go, ‘Oh, yeah, those. Oh, who put those there?’”

During the chat, he also let slip that he has “five albums ready to go”, so there will be more music to come in the next few years.

He explained: “They’re all demos right now. But I don’t think I will be writing, I don’t think I have to write for a long time. I’ve already done it all. There’s a vault full of stuff.”

But self-deprecating as always, he added: “Whether great swathes of the general public will want it from me, who knows and who cares? But I’ve got stuff to deliver.”

Robbie’s 16 chart-topping albums

Philip Young admits to 48 offences committed between 2010 and 2023 ‍against ex-wife Joanne Young.

A former British town councillor has admitted to drugging and raping his ex-wife over the course of more than a decade, alongside five other men also charged with sexual offences against her.

Philip Young, 49, who served on Swindon borough council in the south of England, pleaded guilty on Friday to ​48 offences committed between 2010 and 2023 ‍against ex-wife Joanne Young, who prosecutors previously said had waived her legal right to anonymity.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court, the former Conservative Party local politician pleaded guilty to 11 ‍counts of ⁠rape, 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy to allow sexual activity, seven counts of assault by penetration and four counts of sexual assault.

He also pleaded guilty to ‌14 counts of voyeurism, including one count which stated Young recorded his ex-wife “on no fewer than 200 occasions”, and a charge of publishing obscene articles by publishing ‌photos and images of her “on ⁠no fewer than 500 occasions”.

Five other men also appeared in the court, charged with sexual offences against Joanne Young, the Press Association news agency reported.

Norman Macksoni, 47, and Richard Wilkins, 61, both pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.

Wilkins also pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault by penetration.

Connor Sanderson Doyle, 31, pleaded not guilty to sexual assault by penetration and sexual touching.

Dean Hamilton, 47, is yet to enter a plea to one count of rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration.

Mohammed Hassan, 37, pleaded not guilty to sexual touching.

The five men were all granted bail and are due to stand trial on October 5, said PA.

Joanne Young, 48, was present in court with her sister and a member of witness support.

Last year, Wiltshire Police detective superintendent Geoff Smith described the case as a “complex and extensive investigation”, noting that the victim had waived her “automatic legal right to anonymity”.

Dozens of people rescued in Lampedusa after vessel crossed from Tunisia in dangerous conditions, Save the Children says.

One-year-old twin girls are missing at sea after a boat carrying dozens of migrants and refugees reached the Italian island of Lampedusa this week, nonprofit group Save the Children has said.

The organisation said on Friday that 61 people, including the missing twins’ mother and 22 unaccompanied minors, were rescued from the vessel a day earlier after crossing to Lampedusa in “extremely difficult conditions” made worse by Cyclone Harry.

“They described having departed from Tunisia, braving stormy seas for at least three days, and arriving in a state of great physical and psychological distress,” Save the Children said in a statement.

A man died after disembarking the boat, the group added.

The Central Mediterranean is the deadliest known migration route in the world, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Forty-nine people, including 12 children under age five, died last October when their boat capsized after leaving the Tunisian coastal village of Salakta.

“Nearly 1,000 deaths and disappearances have been recorded in the Central Mediterranean this year [2025], with the death toll since 2014 reaching more than 25,000,” the IOM said at the time.

“At least 30 children have lost their lives off the coast of Tunisia already this year [2025], compared to 22 in all of 2024.”

Tunisia has seen an increase in departures in recent years, according to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, which tracks crossings.

And in 2020, Tunisian nationals made up more than 60 percent of the Central Mediterranean crossings, the IOM said, as the country faced high unemployment rates as well as deepening socioeconomic and political hardships.

On Friday, Save the Children said people continued to risk their lives “on dangerous and often deadly journeys” due to an absence of safe migration routes.

Giorgia D’Errico, the group’s director of institutional relations, said the European Union has responsibility for every decision that puts those fleeing poverty, violence and persecution at risk.

“We cannot silently watch the loss of human lives, including so many children, that has continued for years, making the sea, once again, a deadly border: this unacceptable massacre must end,” she said.

The eight-part Netflix series from the writer behind Mad Men is coming soon.

A star of the Mission Impossible film franchise and HBO series The White Lotus has been confirmed to appear in Netflix’s ‘answer to Heated Rivalry’.

Michelle Monaghan has been cast in an upcoming, eight-part series set to be released on the streamer. The new drama has yet to confirm its title but filming is currently underway.

It comes from creator Nick Naveda, while Bridget Bedard acts as showrunner. Naveda has previously penned indie movies Say You Will and Words on Bathroom Walls. Meanwhile, Bedard’s credits include Grosse Point Garden Society, Transparent and has worked as a writer on Mad Men episodes.

Netflix have confirmed some plot details and the series will takes place in the small working-class town of South Dorothy, Minnesota, where the high school hockey team has been churning out state championships and NHL stars for decades. This is primarily down to their legendary Coach “Sully” Sullivan being at the helm.

However, a bus crash claims the lives of several players and Sully himself. This tragic loss knocks the legs out from under the high school’s legendary team.

The town looks to Harper Sullivan, Coach Sully’s widow, to coach a new team of battered and broken young men. She is tasked with resurrecting the team from the brink of defeat, and bringing South Dorothy back to life.

What unfolds is the hopeful and unforgettable story of an underdog team who comes together to galvanize their town, reclaim their way of life, and turn their shared grief into an unstoppable superpower.

Michelle Monaghan leads the cast in the role of Harper Sullivan. Viewers will recognise her from the most recent series of The White Lotus as well as Tom Cruise’s love interest in multiple Mission Impossible films. She has also starred in season one of True Detective as well as The Family Plan.

She will be joined by and ensemble cast which includes:

• Emilie Bierre (Teacup, A Colony) as Riley Sullivan
• Shai Chase (Diary of a Muslim Cynic, ANINO) as Henry Sullivan
• Josh Macqueen (Motorheads, Black Snow) as Rhett Nelson
• Costa D’Angelo (Tell Me Lies, the upcoming East of Eden) as Owen Boone
• Carter Shimp (Best Medicine, Curse of the Sin Eater) as Austin Ryder
• Ethan Holder (Ballard) as Cooper Cunningham
• Isaac Arellanes (My Life with the Walter Boys, Reservation Dogs) as Manny Rodriguez
• Chloe Avakian (Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, This Is Not a Test) as Izzy Miller
• Caleb Baumann (It’s Not Like That, Grey’s Anatomy) as Elu
• River Codack (Happy Face, Earth Abides) as Tyler Walker
• Angus Albinati as Jack McGrath
• Callum Orchison (The Best Is Yet to Come) as Derek Marchbanks

Production has not long got underway on the new series and there is yet to be a release date confirmed. However, the streamer is expected to issue further updates in the near future.

Fans have already shared their anticipation after the update of the show was shared on social media. Many have made the connection that the storyline seems inspired by the tragic 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Canada.

Although direct inspiration of this to the show is unconfirmed by makers of the show. One fan shared heir excitement and posted online: “Anyone else getting Friday Night Lights vibes but on ice? Okay Netflix… this has potential.”

Another added: “Netflix’s response to Heated Rivalry.” While someone else admitted: “Didn’t expect a hockey drama from Netflix.”

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

The Pakistani military is forcing thousands of families to evacuate from Khyber District’s Tirah Valley ahead of a security operation it says will target Pakistani Taliban fighters who now control parts of the region. Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder filed this report.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has deployed a military radar in the Somali region of Puntland as part of a secret deal, amid Abu Dhabi’s ongoing entrenchment of its influence over the region’s security affairs.

According to the London-based news outlet Middle East Eye, sources familiar with the matter told it that the UAE had installed a military radar near Bosaso airport in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region earlier this year, with one unnamed source saying that the “radar’s purpose is to detect and provide early warning against drone or missile threats, particularly those potentially launched by the Houthis, targeting Bosaso from outside”.

The radar’s presence was reportedly confirmed by satellite imagery from early March, which found that an Israeli-made ELM-2084 3D Active Electronically Scanned Array Multi-Mission Radar had indeed been installed near Bosaso airport.

READ: UAE: The scramble for the Horn of Africa

Not only does the radar have the purpose of defending Puntland and its airport from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, but air traffic data reportedly indicates it also serves to facilitate the transport of weapons, ammunition, and supplies to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), further fuelling the ongoing civil war in Sudan.

“The UAE installed the radar shortly after the RSF lost control of most of Khartoum in early March”, one source said. Another source was cited as claiming that the radar was deployed at the airport late last year and that Abu Dhabi has used it on a daily basis to supply the RSF, particularly through large cargo planes that frequently carry weapons and ammunition, and which sometimes amount to up to five major shipments at a time.

According to two other Somali sources cited by the report, Puntland’s president Said Abdullahi Deni did not seek approval from Somalia’s federal government nor even the Puntland parliament for the installation of the radar, with one of those sources stressing that it was “a secret deal, and even the highest levels of Puntland’s government, including the cabinet, are unaware of it”.

READ: UAE under scrutiny over alleged arms shipments to Sudan

KATIE Price has shared a series of engagement snaps on Instagram – sending fans into a frenzy.

The star, 47, shared a picture of rose petals arranged to read ‘will you marry me’, before showing off a huge diamond engagement ring.

Katie then posted a picture of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, with the caption “My Richard Gear [sic] swept off my feet. Manifesting does work”.

One of the pictures shows her holding hands with a mystery man boasting a tattoo of her name.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

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The confrontation between the United States and Iran has entered a more volatile phase, marked by direct military strikes, heightened rhetoric and the steady erosion of long-standing restraints. From attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities to Tehran’s calibrated retaliation across the region, the risk of escalation has become tangible rather than theoretical. For Gulf states, whose security and economic stability are directly exposed to any US–Iran conflict, the implications are immediate. It is within this environment that Qatar’s diplomacy between Washington and Tehran should be understood: not as neutrality for its own sake, but as a calculated effort to contain risks that escalation would only magnify.

Periods of heightened tension between the United States and Iran have long carried consequences well beyond Washington and Tehran. Following a wave of protests inside Iran that, according to varying estimates, resulted in the deaths of several thousand people, rhetoric between Tehran and Washington has hardened markedly. This included President Trump’s threat to intervene on behalf of the protesters, a development that further heightened the urgency of diplomacy in the Gulf. The Gulf’s geography, concentrated energy infrastructure and interlinked security environment mean that even limited confrontation risks rapid regional spillover. Against this backdrop, Qatar’s approach toward Washington and Tehran has consistently prioritised de-escalation, mediation and the maintenance of political channels at moments when such channels appeared increasingly fragile.

Qatar has emerged as an effective and credible mediator at moments of acute tension between the United States and Iran, offering practical avenues that have helped prevent crises from escalating further. Drawing on its sustained relations with Tehran and its strategic partnership with Washington, Doha has maintained discreet and trusted channels that allow both sides to communicate when direct engagement becomes politically constrained. This positioning has enabled Qatar to facilitate de-escalatory outcomes that have saved face for both parties, reinforcing its role as a mediator that creates political space for restraint rather than confrontation.

This role was most visibly demonstrated in September 2023, when Qatar helped facilitate a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States, alongside the release of frozen Iranian funds for humanitarian purposes. The process required months of indirect negotiations, careful sequencing and political reassurance on both sides. While the agreement did not signal a broader rapprochement, it underscored an important point: even amid deep hostility, diplomacy remains possible when credible mediators are available.

For Doha, such mediation is not an end in itself. It reflects a broader conviction that the Iranian nuclear issue, and US–Iran tensions more generally, cannot be sustainably managed through coercion alone. Qatar has consistently aligned itself with the view that dialogue rather than military action offers the only viable path toward containing risks and preventing escalation. This position does not imply indifference to Iranian regional behaviour or to proliferation concerns; rather, it reflects an assessment of costs, uncertainty and unintended consequences for regional security. As such, even in the aftermath of Iran’s calibrated missile strike on the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar — a Qatari military facility hosting US forces — launched in June 2025 in response to US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, Doha moved swiftly to engage both sides and contain the crisis. Through urgent outreach and established communication channels, Qatar contributed to broader efforts that helped support a fragile ceasefire that has broadly held since, underscoring both its capacity to be effective in mediation and the trust placed in Qatari diplomacy.

A military confrontation aimed at overthrowing the Iranian regime would almost certainly generate effects that extend far beyond Iran’s borders. Internally, such a scenario risks producing state collapse, fragmentation of authority and the re-politicisation of ethnic and sectarian identities within a large and highly complex society. Externally, the spillover effects could include large-scale refugee movements toward neighbouring states, including across the Gulf, as well as severe disruptions to maritime security and energy markets. Taken together, these outcomes would pose immediate challenges to Gulf states whose own stability is closely tied to regional calm.

Recent developments in the region have already altered the strategic balance. Since the October 7 attacks and the subsequent regional confrontations, Iran’s network of allied non-state actors has come under sustained pressure. Several elements of the “axis of resistance” have been weakened militarily and politically, reducing Tehran’s ability to project influence in certain theatres. At the same time, the US attacks on Iran in June 2025 have dispelled any remaining misconception about Washington’s willingness to strike Iran directly and degrade its nuclear enrichment capacity.

From a Gulf perspective, however, further escalation offers diminishing returns. Weakening Iranian regional influence does not automatically translate into regional stability, particularly if pursued through strategies that risk state collapse. For Gulf states, the priority is not the dramatic remaking of Iran’s political system, but the avoidance of chaos that would be costly, unpredictable and difficult to contain. This assessment is not limited to Doha. In recent years, Qatar’s position has increasingly converged with those of Saudi Arabia and Oman, both of which have invested in reducing tensions with Tehran through dialogue and confidence-building measures. Their efforts to communicate the risks of military escalation to the Trump administration reflected a broader regional mood, one that favours containment and engagement over confrontation. This convergence is notable given the political differences that have historically separated Gulf capitals.

Qatar’s mediation efforts offer a pathway that helps prevent regional chaos at a moment when escalation increasingly offers diminishing returns. By keeping channels open, facilitating limited agreements and discouraging maximalist strategies, Doha seeks to reduce the likelihood of miscalculation. Such efforts rarely produce dramatic breakthroughs, and they are often invisible by design. Yet their absence would likely make escalation more probable, not less.

In an increasingly polarised regional environment, the value of de-escalation is easily overlooked. It lacks the clarity of deterrence and the euphoria of military action. Still, as Qatar’s engagement between Washington and Tehran illustrates, diplomacy, however incremental and imperfect, remains one of the few tools capable of preventing crises from spiralling into wider conflict. In a region where the costs of war are shared far beyond the battlefield, that contribution should not be dismissed lightly.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

A new defense spending bill making its way through Congress would add $240 million to the U.S. Army’s budget for the purchase of more MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones. This is despite top Army leaders having declared last year that they would stop buying “obsolete” MQ-1Cs amid continued questions about the uncrewed aircraft’s relevance, especially in future high-end fights.

The Senate Appropriations Committee released details about the latest draft Defense Appropriations Act for the 2026 Fiscal Year, which it had negotiated with its counterparts in the House of Representatives, earlier this week. The funding boost for MQ-1C contained therein is more specifically said to be for the procurement of Gray Eagle 25M variants for the Army National Guard. Prime contractor General Atomics has already been under contract to deliver examples of this version of the MQ-1C to National Guard units since 2024.

As noted, the Army had moved to halt any future purchases of MQ-1Cs last year. The service did not request any funding to buy more Gray Eagles in its proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year, though it did ask for $3.444 million for continued upgrades for its existing fleet of the drones.

“We will cancel procurement of outdated crewed attack aircraft such as the AH-64D [Apache attack helicopter], excess ground vehicles like the HMMWV [the High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee] and JLTV [Joint Light Tactical Vehicle], and obsolete UAVs [uncrewed aerial vehicles] like the Gray Eagle,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George had written in a joint letter outlining a major shakeup in modernization priorities last May. “We will also continue to cancel programs that deliver dated, late-to-need, overpriced, or difficult-to-maintain capabilities. Yesterday’s weapons will not win tomorrow’s wars.”

“Our Army must transform now to a leaner, more lethal force by infusing technology, cutting obsolete systems, and reducing overhead to defeat any adversary on an ever-changing battlefield,” that letter added.

Originally known as the Warrior, versions of the MQ-1C have been in Army service since the late 2000s. The drones are very much a product of the Global War on Terror era. The design is derived from General Atomics’ iconic MQ-1 Predator, but with features more tailored to the Army’s operational and logistical needs. It notably still has a heavy-fuel piston engine, like the Predator, despite General Atomics having separately moved to a turboprop on the MQ-9 Reaper. The Gray Eagle is also designed to operate with a smaller logistical footprint and have lower crew training requirements than the MQ-1 or MQ-9.

Army units today use Gray Eagles to perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and attack missions, both independently and as part of crewed-uncrewed teams with AH-64 Apaches. The drones each have a sensor turret under the nose with electro-optical and infrared cameras, and can carry munitions and other stores on up to four underwing pylons.

Over the years, General Atomics has worked to improve the endurance and other capabilities of the MQ-1C. The aforementioned Gray Eagle 25M is the most recent iteration of the design, and was unveiled in 2022. This latest version has an improved engine, increased onboard power, and a new flight computer offering a significant boost in processing power. General Atomics has said that the Gray Eagle 25M also brings an open-architecture systems backend to the MQ-1C family, opening new opportunities for the rapid integration of additional capabilities.

General Atomics Aeronautical – Gray Eagle 25M

Questions have been building for years now about the future relevance of MQ-1C, as well as its MQ-1 and MQ-9 cousins, especially in support of large-scale conflicts against adversaries with robust integrated air defense networks. The service careers of the Gray Eagle, as well as the Predator and Reaper, have been almost exclusively defined by operations in permissive or semi-permissive airspace. U.S. operations targeting Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen in recent years underscored the vulnerability of the MQ-9, in particular, even to opponents with relatively limited air defense capabilities.

The Army and General Atomics are not unaware of these realities, and there have been significant investments made over the past decade or so to try to ensure the relevance of the MQ-1 and MQ-9 families. Heavy emphasis has been put on air-launched loitering munitions and other uncrewed aerial systems – capabilities the U.S. military now refers collectively to as “launched effects” – as a way to both increase the capability of the Gray Eagle (and the Reaper) and help keep those drones further away from threats.

General Atomics also disclosed last year that the MQ-1C had demonstrated its ability to shoot down other drones using millimeter-wave radar-guided AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles, highlighting another potential role for the drones going forward.

General Atomics has also developed a self-protection pod that features threat warning sensors and a launcher for decoy flares that the MQ-1C and MQ-9 can carry. The Army had been working on a more capable podded electronic warfare system for the Gray Eagle called Multi-Function Electronic Warfare-Air Large (MFEW-AL), but indicated last year that it was backing away from that program.

Launched effects and new podded capabilities do still look key to the future of the MQ-1C in Army service.

“So, when we train on the West Coast, we’ll use an MQ-1 to lead the half [a group of helicopters] into the objective,” Col. Stephen Smith, head of the Army’s elite160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Night Stalkers, said last year during a talk about how his unit is preparing for future operations in more contested airspace.

“We can hang different capabilities on that platform [the MQ-1C]. So that platform could look like a Black Hawk. It could look like a [MH-]47. It could look like a Little Bird,” Smith added. “So we’re using that as a decoy, [and there are] potentially other capabilities on [the] side of that aircraft.”

Night Stalker UAS Operations

Overall, the more central question has increasingly been how long the MQ-1C’s career with the Army will continue. Discussions in Ukraine about buying Gray Eagles in the months following Russia’s all-out invasion in 2022 highlight that there is still debate about the utility of armed drones in this general category in higher-end conflicts. At that time, Ukrainian forces were making heavy use of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones, which offer a broadly similar array of capabilities to the MQ-1C. Growing air defense threats had largely pushed Ukraine’s TB2s out of the equation as the conflict dragged on, but they notably returned to use on a limited level last year.

The Army does still have a need for assets that can loiter for long periods of time and operate from austere areas, and ones that are not exquisite, particularly when operating across the broad expanses of the Pacific. Drones like the Gray Eagle could play useful supporting roles in areas further away from the front lines, such as providing more localized defense and situational awareness around island outposts.

Much about the Army’s vision for its future aviation capabilities, crewed and uncrewed, is still in flux. Even before the broader shakeup in modernization priorities last year, the service had moved to make major changes to its future aviation plans, heavily influenced by an ever-expanding threat ecosystem. The Army notably cancelled its Future Attack Recon Aircraft (FARA) high-speed helicopter program in 2024. The service also halted plans for a direct replacement for the now-retired RQ-7 Shadow drone last year.

Just last month, the Army issued a new contracting “challenge” to industry, calling for prospective short or vertical takeoff and landing (STOL/VTOL) capable drones to take over at least a portion of the roles currently being performed by Gray Eagles. TWZ regularly highlights the benefits of reduced runway dependence or complete runway independence in the context of expeditionary and distributed operations across an array of far-flung locales in a future major conflict. Not having to rely on established traditional runways opens the door to new operational possibilities and helps create targeting dilemmas for opponents that reduce vulnerability to friendly forces.

General Atomics has been working on a short-takeoff and landing-capable drone based in part on the MQ-1C, now referred to as Gray Eagle STOL, in recent years. There has already been extensive flight testing of a demonstrator, dubbed Mojave, from sites on land and ships at sea. Other companies in the United States are also working on STOL/VTOL-capable uncrewed aircraft designs that could be relevant to the Army’s future needs.

GA-ASI Mojave STOL UAS Completes First Dirt Operations

In the meantime, Congress looks set to keep the Army ordering more MQ-1Cs for at least a little while longer.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

Jan. 23 (UPI) — Mexican influencer Nicole Pardo Molina, known online as “La Nicholette,” was kidnapped in broad daylight Tuesday in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, one of the regions most affected by violence linked to organized crime.

The abduction occurred in the afternoon as the content creator exited her vehicle and was intercepted by several armed men who forced her into another car, according to authorities and local media.

The attack was captured by the security camera of her Tesla Cybertruck. Footage that quickly spread on social media shows a masked man carrying a long gun blocking her path while another individual forces the woman into a white sedan.

Following the report, the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office said it opened an investigation and activated search protocols for a disappearance under violent circumstances. In an official statement, prosecutors warned that “the victim’s physical integrity could be at risk.”

Mexican Army personnel were deployed to the area, though authorities have not reported any arrests or released official information on the influencer’s whereabouts.

Sinaloa is widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most violent states and has long been identified as a stronghold of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the country’s most powerful criminal groups. The state records high levels of homicides, kidnappings and other high-impact crimes amid internal disputes and ongoing federal security operations.

La Nicholette, 25, has more than 160,000 followers on Instagram and over 100,000 on TikTok, where she shares lifestyle content focused on business ventures and luxury vehicles. She is also active on Twitch, YouTube, Snapchat and OnlyFans.

According to reports, the influencer has ties to Phoenix, where she spends part of the year. Her public profile expanded in 2023 following the release of the corrido “La Muchacha del Salado,” performed by Grupo Arriesgado. Corridos are a traditional Mexican music genre that narrates social stories and, in recent years, has been used to portray figures linked to the drug trade.

The case has sparked concern in both Mexico and the United States, where followers and social media users are calling for progress in the investigation amid persistent violence in the country’s northwest.

Drone footage shows ice building along the shores of Lake Michigan as a powerful winter storm driven by a stretched polar vortex threatens more than 160 million people across the US, bringing heavy snow, freezing rain and dangerous Arctic cold.

Music’s biggest night is just around the corner.

The Recording Academy next weekend will salute this season’s standout music at the 68th Grammy Awards. Last year’s hybrid awards show-fundraiser had its rocky moments but nonetheless raised $9 million for L.A. wildfire relief efforts.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s ceremony, from how to watch to which artists to keep tabs on.

How can I watch?

The Grammys return to downtown L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 1. The awards show begins at 5 p.m., broadcasting live on CBS and streaming live (premium subscribers only) and available on demand on Paramount+. The premiere ceremony, which isn’t televised, begins at 12:30 p.m.

Who is performing?

The Recording Academy on Tuesday announced that two-time Grammy winner Sabrina Carpenter will perform on awards night. This year, Carpenter is nominated for six Grammy Awards, including album (“Man’s Best Friend”), and record and song (“Manchild”) of the year.

The ceremony for the second consecutive year has also invited all eight best new artist nominees to take the Grammys stage. This year’s contenders are Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, Katseye, the Marías, Addison Rae, Sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young.

The best new artist race is among the 2026 Grammys’ tightest, but Dean’s prospects are rosier after her breakout song “Man I Need” topped Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart in December. If the British artist — or her competitors Rae or Young — takes home gold, it will mark the ninth time in a row that the honor has gone to a solo female artist.

Who is hosting?

Comedian Trevor Noah will host the ceremony for the sixth and final time, capping off a “generational run” with the Grammys.

“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Trevor Noah back to host the Grammys for his sixth, and sadly, final time,” the show’s executive producer Ben Winston said in a statement earlier this month.

Winston called Noah “the most phenomenal host”: “smart, so funny, and such a true fan of the artists and music.”

Noah is up for a Grammy Award this year for his audio narration of his children’s book “Into the Uncut Grass.”

Who are the main contenders?

L.A.’s own Kendrick Lamar led this year’s nominations with nine, including album (“GNX”) and record (“Luther”) of the year. Trailing just behind were Lady Gaga and producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff, with seven nominations each.

What’s new this year?

While not technically new, the Grammy for album cover will be presented this year for the first time since 1973.

“In today’s digital world, album covers are arguably more impactful than ever,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told Grammy.com in June. “Chances are, there’s an iconic cover that’s instantly recognizable to you, even if you never owned the physical album. Their cultural significance is undeniable.”

Nominees in the resurrected category are Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia,” Djo’s “The Crux,” Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Perfume Genius’ “Glory” and Wet Leg’s “Moisturizer.”

The country album category has also been split into two groups this year: traditional country and contemporary country.

Additionally, Latin Grammy voting members were invited for the first time to join the Recording Academy as part of its 2025 class.

Times staff writer Cerys Davies contributed to this report.

Jan. 23 (UPI) — Tri-lateral talks on ending the Ukraine war between Russia, Ukraine and the United States were due to get underway in Abu Dhabi on Friday evening, the first time all three countries have been at the same table since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

The meeting follows four hours of late-night talks between U.S. negotiators, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow that the Kremlin said had been “substantive, constructive and very frank.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has dispatched a negotiating team to Abu Dhabi for the meeting, which he said would last for two days, described the talks as “a step — hopefully towards ending the war.”

Both sides cautioned that there could be no durable peace until there was a resolution to thorny territorial issues, notably the Donbas, where Russia is demanding Ukraine relinquish the remaining land it still controls — about 25%.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the Russian side had made it clear to Witkoff that no long-term solution should be expected to be achieved in the absence of a territory deal based on the “formula” agreed at the U.S.-Russia summit in Anchorage in August.

U.S. President Donald Trump called the summit to get a cease-fire but ended up with a loose agreement to end the war through Ukraine giving up territory in exchange for Russia agreeing to accept NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine — putting the onus on Kyiv.

Ushakov said Russia was genuine in its desire to resolve the conflict through “political and diplomatic means” but until then it fully intended to continue to pursue the goals of its “special military operation” on the battlefield, where it was winning.

Speaking in Davos on Thursday, Zelensky also said the whole process hinged on land.

“It’s all about the land. This is the issue which is not solved yet. The Russians have to be ready for compromises, not only Ukraine,” Zelensky said after meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, where he claimed post-war security guarantees had been finalized.

He said Friday’s Russia-Ukraine-U.S. talks might produce “variants” on how to solve the issue, referencing the Russian demand for Kyiv to pull back its troops from parts of its Donetsk and Luhansk provinces (the Donbas), on one side, and a U.S. proposal for those areas to form a demilitarized “economic” zone in exchange for security guarantees for Ukraine.

With Russia ruling out a cease-fire in the interim, an end to the fighting could be some way off.

Ukraine’s constitution requires that any deal of such consequence as ceding land must be ratified by Ukrainian lawmakers, and possibly the Ukrainian people in a referendum, while a security guarantee involving the United States would have to be authorized by Congress.

Everton manager David Moyes says it is a “big blow” that on-loan midfielder Jack Grealish has a stress fracture in his foot.

Moyes said he could not give a timescale for Grealish’s recovery.

The 30-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City, has made 22 appearances in all competitions for Everton this season.

He has scored two goals and provided six assists.

Grealish played the full 90 minutes as Everton beat former club Aston Villa 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.

More to follow.

IN a heartwarming update, Jana Duggar has welcomed her first child with husband, Stephen Wissmann. 

The couple, known for their appearances on the reality TV series, 19 Kids and Counting, announced the arrival of their baby boy on Instagram.

They have affectionately named him Archie Gerald Wissman. 

Jana and Stephen shared their joyous news on social media, expressing their excitement and gratitude. 

In the post, photographed by Justin Sharp, the new mom wrote, “We took some time to settle into our new rhythm before sharing this sweet news. Archie Gerald Wissmann arrived on December 30, 2025, and our hearts have been completely changed. We’re soaking in these early days, full of love, wonder, and so much gratitude.“

Fans chimed in to congratulate the reality TV couple.

“Finally you get your own happy ever after,” one fan wrote.

“I have NEVER been more happy for such a deserving soul,” another fan wrote. “Congratulations to each of you. That little boy is going to be so loved.”

“Ahhh we love Archie so much already and can’t wait to meet him!!” another fan wrote.

Jana is a prominent figure from 19 Kids and Counting, and she often posts updates with her husband Stephen Wissmann.

In August 2025, they announced the pregnancy, marking a significant and joyous milestone in their lives.

In a joint post on Instagram, they conveyed their enthusiasm, saying, “We are so excited, January 2026 is going to come with a little bundle of joy joining our family! We’re counting down the days and eagerly looking forward to this thrilling new chapter in our lives! Thanks to my sister-in-law @firstlens_photography for our beautiful photos!“

The couple shared maternity photos that captured intimate moments of Jana and Stephen as they embraced her baby bump and shared affectionate kisses.

In that post, one fan stated, “Jana is THE Duggar that I have been praying for the most. I wanted her to find happiness and have her own family. I’m so glad it is happening!”

Jana and Stephen opted for a private approach to their relationship, becoming engaged in June 2024 and celebrating their union in a ceremony in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, surrounded by family and close friends. 

The duo has continuously shared glimpses of their journey to parenthood, celebrating milestones along the way, from gender reveals to nursery preparations.

Family has always been a significant aspect of the Duggar household, with Jana often seen alongside her siblings and parents throughout her life. 

The arrival of baby Archie marks another milestone for Jana and Stephen. 

Followers eagerly await more updates as they navigate the beautiful journey of parenthood.

Forward Trinity Rodman’s new three-year deal to remain with the Washington Spirit has brought to an end months of speculation about the Olympic gold medallist’s future in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). It has also shattered the wage record for a female footballer.

The Spirit announced the signing in a statement on Thursday evening, calling it “one of the most significant contracts in the NWSL and the women’s game worldwide, reflecting both Rodman’s elite status and the Spirit’s role as a global standard-bearer in women’s football”.

The deal has not been without controversy, though. The furore over Rodman’s future with the Spirit spurred criticism of the NWSL salary cap and whether it hampered the league from attracting and maintaining top players.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the deal that split the sport in the United States, but has now set a new bar for women’s football across the world.

How did Rodman’s NWSL deal hit the headlines?

The 23-year-old Rodman became a free agent at the end of last season after five years with the Spirit. One of the biggest stars in the NWSL, keeping her in the league was considered vitally important as other US national team stars, including Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson, opted to play in Europe.

As the failure to agree to a new deal dragged on last year, with her previous contract ending on December 31, Rodman, too, drew interest from European teams that don’t have a salary cap. Months of speculation ensued, in particular that teams from England were heading the list of suitors on the continent who were prepared to step in and meet her wage demands.

What is the value of Rodman’s new Washington Spirit deal?

The financial terms of Rodman’s contract were not disclosed.

It is understood, however, that Rodman’s deal is worth more than $2m annually, including bonuses.

“Trinity is a generational player, but more importantly, she represents the future of this club and the future of women’s soccer,” Spirit owner Michele Kang said. “This agreement reflects our belief that elite talent deserves elite commitment.”

How did Rodman’s deal first court controversy in the NWSL?

The Spirit and Rodman had previously struck a multi-year deal that both parties maintained was in compliance with the salary cap, but it was rejected by the league.

The NWSL’s salary cap is $3.5m for each team for the 2026 season, which brought Rodman’s salary sharply into the spotlight and remains an awkward sum, although the cap will increase each year until it hits $5.1m in 2030.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, who vetoed the deal at the time, reportedly believed it violated the “spirit” of league salary rules.

With the initial rejection, the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association filed a grievance claiming that the NWSL’s rejection of the contract violated Rodman’s free agency rights and violated the collective bargaining agreement.

How was Rodman’s deal resolved with the NWSL?

To address the salary cap issue, the NWSL in late December adopted a “High Impact Player” mechanism that allowed teams to spend up to $1m over the cap to sign players that meet certain criteria. Those included metrics like national team minutes, inclusion among the 30 candidates for the Ballon d’Or or player rankings by outlets like The Guardian or ESPN.

The NWSLPA filed a grievance over the rule, claiming it violated the collective bargaining agreement and federal labour law because player compensation must be negotiated. The NWSLPA maintains the league had no authority to “unilaterally create a new pay structure”.

Spirit President of Soccer Operations Haley Carter said the High Impact Player rule figured into the contract Rodman ultimately agreed to. Carter also said the grievances would not alter Rodman’s deal.

What have Rodman and Washington Spirit said about the deal?

“I think I’ve always had a vision and an idea of what I wanted my legacy to be,” Rodman said at Thursday evening’s event in Los Angeles to announce her new deal. “And for me, we’re doing that and I’m so grateful for that.”

For Washington Spirit, losing Rodman was an unpalatable scenario.

“I can’t think of the Washington Spirit without her,” Spirit owner Michele Kang said of the new deal. “And I hope she can’t think about her career without the Washington Spirit. So this is really monumental and it was really important, not only for the Spirit, especially for our fans who expect to see her. They come to Audi Field and that’s where Rowdy Audi clearly came out.”

Was a move away from the NWSL a real possibility for Rodman?

“Making my decision, the one question I was asked was: ‘Do you feel like you’re finished with the Spirit? Can you say that and feel confident leaving?’” Rodman said.

“I didn’t even need half a second, and I was like, ‘No, I’m not. I don’t feel ready to make a different decision.’ That’s just, again, getting drafted here and developing and maturing and learning – and failing – at the Spirit, in DC, it’s become so much of my legacy and my story. But on top of that, I still feel like there’s so much more I have to give and so much more that I want to do.”

Is Trinity Rodman the daughter of NBA legend Dennis?

Yes. Rodman, whose Olympic gold was secured with the United States at the Paris Games in 2024, is the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.

She was drafted at the age of 18 in 2021 and earned Rookie of the Year honours as the Spirit won their first NWSL title.

Rodman has since won 47 appearances and 11 goals with the US national team, more than any other player on the latest roster. She only played in one US match last year, a 2-0 victory over Brazil in April, because of injuries.

Rodman is currently with the national team in their annual January training camp in Carson, California. The team plays a match there against Paraguay on Saturday and then plays Chile on Tuesday in Santa Barbara.

UK politicians have accused Trump of avoiding military service during the Vietnam War.

United States President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from British politicians after claiming that NATO forces stayed away from the front line during the war in Afghanistan.

The US president made the remarks in an interview with Fox News, a US broadcaster, where he again questioned the value of the military alliance and suggested that NATO allies would not come to Washington’s aid if requested.

Speaking on Thursday, Trump said the US had “never needed” NATO and claimed allied forces remained “a little off the front lines” during the Afghanistan conflict.

The comments prompted a backlash across the UK political spectrum, with critics pointing to the scale of NATO casualties during the 20-year war and raising questions about Trump’s own military record.

Allies’ losses

The United Kingdom lost 457 service personnel in Afghanistan. More than 150 Canadian soldiers were killed, along with 90 French soldiers. Denmark lost 44 soldiers – one of the highest per-capita death rates among NATO members – despite the country recently facing continued pressure from Trump to sell its semi-autonomous territory of Greenland to the US.

Stephen Kinnock, a junior British minister, described Trump’s remarks as “deeply disappointing” and said European forces had paid a heavy price while backing US-led operations.

“Many, many British soldiers and many soldiers from other European NATO allies gave their lives in support of American-led missions in places like Afghanistan and Iraq,” Kinnock told the UK’s Sky News broadcaster on Friday.

“I think anybody who seeks to criticise what [our armed forces] have done and the sacrifices that they make is plainly wrong,” he added.

‘How dare he’

Kinnock also noted that the US remains the only NATO member to have invoked Article 5, the alliance’s collective-defence clause, following the September 11, 2001 attacks, prompting allies to rally behind Washington.

He said NATO was the most successful international security alliance “in the history of the world”, with the US and its European partners, including the UK, playing a central role.

Other UK politicians highlighted Trump’s history of avoiding military service during the Vietnam War. Trump received multiple draft deferments, including one based on a diagnosis of bone spurs in his heels – a medical claim that has previously been questioned.

“Trump avoided military service 5 times,” Ed Davey, leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats, wrote on X. “How dare he question their sacrifice.”

AGELESS pop legends Sinitta and Heather Small looked incredible as they stripped down to their bikinis and heels.

Both Sinitta, 62, and Heather, 61, sent their fans into meltdown with their sizzling holiday snap, as their followers rushed to brand them “perfect”.

80s pop icon Sinitta, who shot to fame with her hit So Macho, was seen with 90s star Heather.

The two women looked incredible as they showed off their toned figures.

Wearing white bikinis, they struck a fierce pose as they enjoyed some time together.

The two star friends paired their sexy look with high heels.

REUNITED!

80s icons Martin Kemp, Sinitta, and Toyah Willcox reunite to work in call centre

AISLE SAY!

Simon Cowell’s friend claims he has secretly married partner Lauren Silverman

Both Sinitta and Heather looked exactly the same as they had during their pop heydays.

Posting the incredible snap on social media, Sinitta teased: “New Girl Group Alert!! Black Girls in White Bikinis @heathersmallmpeople.”

Fans were quick to hail the pair “perfect” and “timeless”, as they praised the duo on how incredible they looked.

SINITTA’S SPLIT

The new pic comes just a few weeks after Sinitta revealed she had split from her mystery man, who she met in Miami a few years ago.

During their time together she never revealed her boyfriend’s identity.

Taking to Instagram at the beginning of the month, Sinitta, who previously appeared on Celebs Go Dating, told fans : “There is nothing wrong with starting the year single.

“Being Alone is also a gift. time to reflect, learn and grow peacefully and in
Your own time.

“Some relationships are not meant to be forever in the same mode, they turn into friendships and some fade to pleasant memories.”

Sinitta’s love life has been a hot topic over the years.

In the late 80s she famously dated Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt.

Sinitta is also well known for very close friendship with Simon Cowell, who she briefly had a relationship with.

However, the pair are now described as “the world’s most friendly exes”, and can often be seen holidaying together.

80’S POP ICON

Sinitta shot to fame in the 1980s with hits like Right Back Where We Started and Toyboy.

It all started when she signed with Stock Aitken Waterman’s famous ‘Hit Factory’.

Following a string of Top Ten hits, Sinitta soon became a household name.

It was during this time that she became good friends with music mogul Simon.

MOVING ON UP

Meanwhile, Heather originally found fame with M People.

Throughout the 90s the band’s dance tracks, including Moving on Up and Search for the Hero, helped the them sell 10 million records.

However, Heather decided to pursue her own solo career towards the end of the decade, and in 2000 released her solo album, Proud.

The lead song, which has the same title, has received wide international acclaim for its positive message of being proud of your achievements.

Shows in the US including the Oprah Winfrey Show and The Biggest Loser have used it as their theme songs.

She has been married to David Neita since 2012, and she has a son, named James, from a previous relationship with rugby union coach Shaun Edwards.

Jan. 23 (UPI) — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi formally dissolved the House of Representatives on Friday, triggering a snap general election scheduled for Feb. 8 in a move aimed at securing a public mandate for her administration’s policy agenda just months after she took office.

The dissolution of the lower house came at the opening of the regular Diet session, a step not seen at the start of a session in roughly 60 years, according to news agency Kyodo.

In an official statement released by the Cabinet Secretariat, Takaichi argued that major policy shifts — including her administration’s economic measures to counter persistent inflation, structural fiscal reforms and national security initiatives — require direct public endorsement.

“Now that we have implemented immediate measures, we need to step up our efforts to realize a major policy shift,” Takaichi said in the statement. “If we do not begin implementing bold policies and reforms now, it will be too late.”

Following the Cabinet decision, the House speaker read the imperial dissolution proclamation at a plenary session, formally disbanding the 465-seat lower chamber. Official campaigning is expected to begin Jan. 27, setting one of the shortest election timetables in postwar Japanese history.

Takaichi is Japan’s first female prime minister. She took office late last year after winning a leadership contest within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party following the resignation of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, whose public approval had fallen sharply.

Since assuming office, Takaichi has sought to consolidate her authority within the party and its governing coalition, projecting a more assertive leadership style while pushing to advance her economic and security agenda.

The hardline conservative leader has maintained high approval ratings of around 70% amid a rightward shift in Japan, although the LDP’s support lags significantly below that of her personal numbers.

Opposition parties criticized the timing of the dissolution, accusing Takaichi of placing political strategy ahead of parliamentary deliberations on the fiscal 2026 budget. They argue the accelerated schedule leaves voters little time to assess competing policy proposals.

The ruling coalition, comprising Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party, holds only a razor-thin majority in the lower house and remains a minority in the upper chamber, forcing it to rely on opposition cooperation to pass legislation.

Public broadcaster NHK reported that inflation and cost-of-living pressures are expected to dominate campaign debates. Political funding scandals that have dogged the LDP in recent years are also likely to feature prominently, alongside debates over foreign residents, tourism policy and Japan’s security posture amid heightened tensions with China.

The previous lower house election was held in October 2024.

Exhausted by war, Damascus longs for unity as ceasefire sparks hope. But questions of integration and stability remain.

Damascus, Syria – Damascus had breathed a sigh of relief when a ceasefire between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was announced on the night of January 18. Fireworks lit up the sky, car horns blared and Syrians gathered in Umayyad Square to dance in jubilation.

The hope was that the conflict that flared up in the past few weeks in northern Syria was now over, and that the country had resolved one of the major issues still dividing it in the year since the overthrow of longtime leader President Bashar al-Assad.

“It’s a beautiful feeling, and I am sure it exists in every Syrian … we wish for all of Syria to be united,” said one Damascus resident, Saria Shammiri.

Yet the celebration was short-lived.

Fighting resumed the next morning as the government’s lightning push forced SDF leader Mazloum Abdi to accept less favourable terms: a withdrawal from Raqqa and Deir Az Zor, in northeastern Syria, further east towards Hasakah, a new ceasefire, and a four-day ultimatum for the SDF to fully integrate into state structures.

Anger towards the SDF

As the clock ticks down on that deadline, in Damascus and other areas outside SDF control, frustration towards the Kurdish-led forces has hardened after 15 years of division.

“The terrorist SDF doesn’t belong to this land … they are not Kurdish. They are occupiers,” said Maamoun Ramadan, a 75-year-old Syrian Kurd living in Damascus.

For many here, the SDF is no longer seen primarily as a force that fought ISIL (ISIS) at the height of Syria’s war, but as an actor that entrenched a parallel authority backed by foreign powers, such as the United States, keeping large parts of the country beyond the central government’s reach.

In cafes, taxis and government offices, the language is increasingly blunt. The SDF is accused of delaying reunification, monopolising oil and agricultural resources in the northeast, and shielding itself behind US support while the rest of the country endured sanctions, collapse and war. The renewed fighting has reinforced a belief among many Syrians that the standoff could only ever end through force or submission. But, still, many want a peaceful resolution.

“Dialogue is the foundation of peace,” said Sheikhmos Ramzi, a butcher, “the solution lies at the negotiation table. Violence only brings more violence.”

Anxious wait

There is also an undercurrent of anxiety. While the prospect of reunifying territory is popular, few in Damascus are blind to the risks. A prolonged confrontation could draw in regional actors, unsettle fragile border areas, or reignite communal tensions in the northeast, where Arab tribal communities, Kurds, and others coexist uneasily after years of shifting alliances.

Some residents privately express concern about what integration will actually mean on the ground. Will SDF fighters be absorbed into national forces, sidelined, or prosecuted? Will local administrations be dismantled overnight? And can a central state, stretched thin after years of war and economic crisis, realistically govern and stabilise territory it has not controlled for more than a decade?

For now, however, those questions are largely drowned out by a dominant mood: impatience. The ceasefire was welcomed not as an endpoint, but as a step towards what many here see as an overdue resolution. The government’s advances are framed as restoring sovereignty, not opening a new chapter of conflict.

In Damascus, unity is the word repeated most often. But it is a unity shaped by exhaustion, resentment and the desire to finally close one of the last unresolved fronts of Syria’s long war.