The two sides went into the game struggling at the wrong end of Division One, with Blackburn in 20th place and only outside the relegation zone on goal average, and Blackpool only one point and two places better off.

The home side had won just one of their previous eight league matches while Rovers’ form had improved with two wins from three before the trip to Bloomfield Road.

The Tangerines included future England World Cup winner Alan Ball in their side while Blackburn had Mike England, a Wales international defender who would go on to make almost 400 appearances for Tottenham and manage his country for eight years.

A crowd of 20,851 saw Neil Turner give Blackpool the lead only for George Jones to equalise before half-time.

The home side took control in the second period, with goals from Bobby Waddell and top scorer Ray Charnley, with Ball adding a fourth.

England then wrote himself into the history books by getting Blackburn’s second of the afternoon – and the final goal to be scored in the Football League in England on Christmas Day.

The two sides were once again due to play the return fixture at Ewood Park on Boxing Day but it was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Blackpool eventually pulled themselves away from trouble to finish in 13th place but Rovers had a disastrous run in the new year, winning only three of their remaining 20 matches to drop to the bottom of the division and suffer relegation to the second tier.

That match in 1965 was the last we would hear of football on Christmas Day until 1983, when Brentford attempted to play their Third Division match with Wimbledon at 11am.

“I see it as a tremendous opportunity for the family to enjoy a fresh-air Christmas morning,” said Brentford chairman Martin Lange at the time.

Supporters did not agree and, with many complaining, the game was brought forward to Christmas Eve with promotion-bound Wimbledon winning 4-3.

Dec. 24 (UPI) — Italy’s antitrust authority accused Mark Zuckerberg-owned Meta Platforms of antitrust violations Wednesday and ordered it to immediately suspend its WhatsApp business solution terms to support access by artificial intelligence competitors.

Officials for Italy’s Autorita Garante Della Concorrenza e del Mercato (the Italian Antitrust Authority) accused Meta Platforms Inc. officials of abuse of a dominant position regarding Meta’s integration of its Meta AI into WhatsApp.

The accusation arises from the messaging app more prominently displaying the Meta AI service on WhatsApp than competing AI services and the pending exclusion of Meta AI competitors from WhatsApp as of Jan. 15.

“Meta’s conduct appears to constitute an abuse, since it may limit production, market access or technical developments in the AI Chatbot services market to the detriment of consumers,” AGCM officials said.

Wednesday’s order applies to Meta Platforms Inc., Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., WhatsApp Ireland Ltd. and Facebook Italy Srl.

The antitrust authority is working with the European Commission to ensure Meta’s conduct is addressed effectively.

It began investigating the matter in July to determine if Meta engaged in an illegal abuse of a dominant position and expanded the investigation to include the new WhatsApp business solution terms that were added Oct. 15.

Investigators determined Meta’s conduct rises to the level of abuse that could limit production, market access or technical developments in the AI chatbot services market.

Such abuse could harm consumers and Meta’s competitors, while undermining contestability, the authority said.

Meta Platforms owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and is controlled by majority shareholder Zuckerberg.

Ever since Hugo Chávez came to power in 1998, the United States has attempted to overthrow the Bolivarian Revolution. They have tried everything short of a full-scale military invasion: a military coup, selecting a substitute president, cutting off access to the global financial system, imposing layers of sanctions, sabotaging the electricity grid, sending in mercenaries, and attempting to assassinate its leaders. If you can think of a method to overthrow a government, the United States has likely tried it against Venezuela.

However, in 2025, the escalation became unmistakable. The US sent its warships to patrol Venezuela’s coast, began sinking small boats and killing those on board as they left the South American mainland, and seized an oil tanker bound for Cuba. The quantity of attacks on Venezuela has increased, suggesting the quality of the threats has now reached a different magnitude. It feels as if the United States is preparing for a full-blown invasion of the country.

Donald Trump came to office saying that he was opposed to military interventions that did not further US interests, which is why he called the illegal US war on Iraq a waste of “blood and treasure”. This does not mean Trump is against the use of the US military – he deployed it in Afghanistan (remember the “Mother of all Bombs”) and Yemen, and has fully backed the US/Israeli genocide against the Palestinians. His formula is not for or against war categorically, but about what the US would gain from it. With Iraq, he stated that the problem was not the war itself, but the failure to seize Iraqi oil. Had the US taken Iraq’s oil, Trump would likely have been in Baghdad, ready to build – with Iraqi treasure – a Trump hotel on one of the former presidential properties.

Naturally, the US military buildup in the Caribbean is about Venezuelan oil – the largest known reserves in the world. The US-backed politician, Maria Corina Machado, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize just this week after supporting the Israeli genocide and calling for a US invasion of her own country, is on record promising to open up her country’s resources to foreign capital. She would welcome the extraction of Venezuela’s wealth rather than allow its social wealth to better the lives of its own people, as is the goal of the Bolivarian Revolution started by Hugo Chávez. A hypothetical “President Machado” would immediately surrender any claim to the Essequibo region and grant ExxonMobil full command of Venezuela’s oil reserves. This is certainly the prize.

But it is not the immediate spur. A close reading of the 2025 National Security Strategy of the United States shows that there is a renewed emphasis on the Western Hemisphere. The Trump Corollary to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine is clear: the Western Hemisphere must be under US control, and the United States will do what it takes to ensure that only pro-US politicians hold power. It is worth reading that section of the National Security Strategy:

“After years of neglect, the United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American pre-eminence in the Western Hemisphere, and to protect our homeland and our access to key geographies throughout the region. We will deny non-Hemispheric competitors the ability to position forces or other threatening capabilities, or to own or control strategically vital assets, in our Hemisphere. This ‘Trump Corollary’ to the Monroe Doctrine is a common-sense and potent restoration of American power and priorities, consistent with American security interests.”

When Argentina faced local elections, Trump warned that the US would cut off external financing if candidates opposing pro-US President Javier Milei lost. In Honduras, Trump intervened directly to oppose the Libre Party, even offering to release a convicted drug trafficker (and former President). The United States is moving aggressively because it has accurately assessed the weakness of the Pink Tide and the strength of a new, far-right “Angry Tide”. The emergence of right-wing governments across South America, Central America, and the Caribbean has emboldened the US to squeeze Venezuela and thereby weaken Cuba – the two major poles of the Latin American left. Overturning these revolutionary processes would allow a full-scale Monroe Doctrine domination of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since the 1990s, the United States began to speak of Latin America as a partner for shared prosperity, emphasizing globalization over direct control. Now, the language has changed. As the Trump Corollary asserts: “We want a Hemisphere that remains free of hostile foreign incursion or ownership of key assets and that supports critical supply chains…We want to ensure our continued access to key strategic locations.” Latin America is seen as a battlefield for geopolitical competition against China and a source of threats like immigration and drug trafficking. The attack on Venezuela and Cuba is not merely an assault on these two countries; it is the opening salvo of direct US intervention on behalf of the Angry Tide. This will not deliver better lives for the population, but greater wealth for US corporations and the oligarchies of Latin America.

Trump is ready to revive the belief that any problem can be solved by military force, even when other tools exist. The Trump Corollary promises to use its “military system superior to any country in the world” to steal the hemisphere’s resources.

The aggression against Venezuela is not a war against Venezuela alone. It is a war against all of Latin America.

Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor, and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is an editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest books are On Cuba: Reflections on 70 Years of Revolution and Struggle (with Noam Chomsky), Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Movements for Socialism, and (also with Noam Chomsky) The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of US Power. Chelwa and Prashad will publish How the International Monetary Fund is Suffocating Africa later this year with Inkani Books.

Source: Globetrotter

The 1999 romantic comedy is available to watch on Film 4 this evening

This much-loved romantic comedy is set to return to our televisions on Film 4 on Christmas Day.

Written by Richard Curtis, and starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, the nineties classic Notting Hill spins the tale of an improbable romance between a British bookshop owner and a world-famous American actress. The film features a fantastic supporting cast including Rhys Ifans, Hugh Bonneville, Emma Chambers, Tim McInnerny and Gina McKee, and remains a favourite for its feel-good factor, nostalgia and unforgettable quotes.

Its award-winning soundtrack, brimming with hits from iconic musicians, perfectly complements this heartwarming narrative. The life of travel bookshop proprietor William Thacker (played by Grant) takes a surprising twist when the beautiful and renowned US actress Anna Scott (portrayed by Roberts) walks into his Notting Hill, London shop to buy a book. Their lives couldn’t be more contrasting – Will, a divorcee, cohabits with his messy Welsh flatmate Spike (Ifans), while Anna stays at the Ritz hotel during her promotional tour for her latest film.

After Anna surprises Will with a kiss, a flirtation develops into a romance, leading her to meet his eccentric circle of friends. However, as in any love story, there are heartbreaking hurdles to surmount, and the couple find themselves separated due to misunderstandings and miscommunication. Packed with iconic one-liners, including the unforgettable “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy”, the film became a runaway hit with both critics and cinema-goers when it premiered in 1999.

The rom-com hauled in £31 million at UK box offices alone, cementing its position as Britain’s biggest-grossing film of the time. The movie garnered numerous awards, including a BRIT Award for its outstanding soundtrack featuring numbers such as Ronan Keating’s When You Say Nothing At All, Elvis Costello’s She, and Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine.

Fans still adore every element of this treasured classic. On Rotten Tomatoes, where it boasts an impressive 84% rating, one critic wrote: “Charming, feel-good romantic comedy that still holds up. Notting Hill has just the right mix of humor, heart, and sincerity. “The chemistry between Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts is natural and warm, and the story – while simple – hits all the right notes. It’s light but not shallow, and there are moments that genuinely stay with you.”

Another admirer suggested it should be considered the definitive romantic comedy template: “Expertly written and brilliantly directed!” they said. “Classic that should be a sort of ‘model’ for love stories. With Roberts and Grant in the lead, what could go wrong hey? Razor sharp wit and spectacular characters, this is a winner.” A third viewer, who admitted they don’t usually gravitate towards romantic films, gave it a glowing five-star rating and remarked: “Not a rom-com type but this really worked for me. The two leads were superb / It’s perfect… one of the best rom coms of all time.”

Notting Hill is on Film 4 at 11.15pm on Christmas Day.

This valley in the Yorkshire Dales is home to charming villages, historic mining sites, scenic trails and England’s highest pub at 1,732 feet

Nestled at the northernmost point of the Yorkshire Dales, this dale is steeped in history from its mining past, with countless tales etched into its landscape.

Swaledale, a delightful Dale, is home to the River Swale, England’s fastest river, which gracefully meanders through its verdant fields. Tucked away amidst this natural beauty is the Tan Hill Inn, England’s loftiest pub, inviting guests to drop by as they traverse the undulating hills of Yorkshire.

Perched at an impressive 1,732 feet above sea level, this historic pub dates back to the 17th century and exudes a cosy charm. Adorned with exposed beams, a stone-flagged entrance and a crackling fire, it provides the perfect tranquil spot for a pint and a bite while exploring the region.

At the heart of the Dale lies Reeth, a central village boasting three popular pubs, charming arts and crafts shops, and a delightful bakery offering local pies and breads. Fridays are a highlight in the area, as the village transforms into a bustling market, with stalls lining the streets selling a variety of eclectic goods.

In Reeth, you’ll discover a museum that illuminates the fascinating rural life of the Yorkshire Dales and its rich local heritage. Here visitors can explore decades of the area’s heritage, with exhibits spanning geological specimens to prehistoric discoveries and, naturally, equipment linked to its rich lead mining past.

Following their trip, one delighted guest said on TripAdvisor that the museum was a “wonderful surprise”. They said: “I love a museum, and I have visited my fair share, but this was a truly surprising little gem.

“I have never seen quite so much variety crammed into such a small space, and the range of information covering the local community in its history was wonderful. A great amount of detail is provided in a clear and understandable manner, combined with humorous and heartwarming local stories.”

For those eager to experience the lush landscapes of the valley, the Swale Trail is an absolute must. Whether tackled on foot or by bicycle, according to enthusiastic explorers, it’s a destination that justifies the effort.

Following their adventure, one visitor said: “Amazing views. We did this by ebike, but imagine you’d need quite a high fitness level for the Gunnerside to Keld route on pedal power alone. Gunnerside to Keld, however, has the best views. This route overall is actually one of the best trails around but seems relatively undiscovered.”

The area’s traditional allure is evident throughout the year, but it’s particularly enchanting during spring and summer when the hardy Swaledale sheep graze and beautiful wildflowers bloom amidst the stunning hay meadows. Even on the chilliest days, the valley continues to reveal a wealth of trails and hidden treasures.

The apocalyptic site, dubbed a ‘doorway to hell’, exists right here on Earth and has been burning since 1971 — only one person is known to have ever descended inside.

Straight out of a dystopian thriller, a fiery ‘Gate to Hell’ exists right here on Earth.

This ominous sight, located in Turkmenistan, has been aptly named the ‘Doorway to Hell’, having first been set alight back in 1971. Over half a century later, it’s still burning. The Darvaza Gas Crater, locally known as the Shining of Karakum, is a blazing sinkhole that’s been spewing out natural gas since 1971.

Legend has it that Soviet geologists accidentally collapsed a natural gas chamber while drilling and subsequently set it on fire in an attempt to contain the lethal gases and prevent them from spreading. What the engineers anticipated would be a flame extinguishing itself within a few weeks has now been burning for over 50 years (hardly surprising given that the country ranks fourth globally in natural gas reserves).

Interestingly, Turkmenistan holds no official records of the incident as relevant documentation is either classified, inaccessible, or missing from the archives – consistent with the country’s policy of secrecy. This ‘Gate to Hell’ can be found ablaze near the village of Darvaza, nestled in the heart of the Karakum Desert, and measures approximately 60-70 meters wide and 98ft deep.

The hellish pit can be seen from miles around and has become a major tourist attraction for Turkmenistan, reports the Daily Star. Despite the seemingly inhospitable conditions of this blazing chasm, visitor accounts suggest that, astonishingly, there may be some signs of life within the crater.

The only known human descent into the crater was undertaken by Canadian explorer George Kourounis. In November 2013, Kourounis ventured to the bottom of the Darvaza Gas Crater with National Geographic, aiming to gather soil samples for the Extreme Microbiome Project to investigate potential signs of life in the crater’s harsh environment. Equipped with a specialised heat-resistant suit, Kourounis managed to spend roughly 17 minutes inside the fiery abyss.

During the thrilling exploration episode, Kourounis described their mission as “looking for alien life right here on Earth”, given that the crater’s hostile, methane-rich environment mirrors that of certain planets found beyond our solar system. And indeed, they discovered signs of life. Kourounis’ expedition unearthed several types of bacteria in the soil from the crater floor.

Recounting his experience of the apocalyptic ‘Door to Hell’, Kourounis said: “It is burning with a tremendous amount of flame like there is a lot of fire down there. Day or night, it is clearly burning. You can hear the roar of the fire if you stand at the edge. The heat, if you are downwind of it, is unbearable. There are thousands of little flames all around the edges and towards the centre. It’s a very volatile place.”

Now, in a dramatic twist, after blazing fiercely for more than 50 years, it appears the flames in this ‘Gateway to Hell’ are at last dying down, though gradually. During a press briefing in June this year, Irina Luryeva, a director at Turkmenistan’s state-owned energy firm Turkmengaz, revealed to the world that the crater was finally burning out, stating: “The reduction [in fires] is nearly threefold. Whereas before a huge glow from the blaze was visible from several kilometres away, hence the name ‘Gateway to Hell’, today only a faint source of combustion remains.”

John Slusher shouldn’t admit this. When the former Nike executive signed on to oversee LA28’s commercial operations last year, he looked at the private organizing committee’s lofty financial goals with some concern. Sales were “incredibly slow.” There was momentum around the first Olympics in L.A. in more than 40 years, but not many results.

Yet.

Weeks after celebrating his one-year anniversary with the group responsible for organizing and delivering the 2028 Games, Slusher and his team delivered a $2-billion present.

After announcing 15 partnerships in 2025, LA28 met its goal of reaching $2 billion in corporate sponsorship by this year, which Slusher said puts the group well on track to meet or exceed its $2.52-billion goal for domestic partnerships that serves as the largest line item funding the 2028 Games.

“Each avenue of commercial, whether it’s sponsorship, licensing, ticketing, hospitality, they’re all just kind of smoking hot, if you will, right now,” Slusher said in a recent interview with The Times. “I think there’s a lot of momentum and a lot of excitement around driving the business. And I think we’re all super focused on delivering an amazing, financially responsible Games.”

Since its bid for the Games began in 2016, LA28 has promised to deliver and operate the event with private funds. The estimated budget is $7.15 billion for L.A.’s first Olympics since 1984. After last year’s Paris Olympics, focus has shifted to the United States as the country begins a major decade of major sports events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Olympics and the 2034 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City.

“There is still much work to do and I can assure you the team is not resting,” U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Sarah Hirshland said during a media conference call. “But the reality is that this success puts the LA28 Games on track to be very successful while building significant commercial value for Team USA for many years to come. We couldn’t be more pleased with where we sit.”

Slusher, the chief executive officer responsible for revenue for LA28 and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties, said the group is still selling for major sponsorship categories, including quick service restaurant, retail, tech and finance. Ticket registration begins on Jan. 14 with 14 million tickets available for the Olympics and Paralympics, which would break the record for Games tickets sold. Volunteering opportunities connected to LA28 in the community have already begun and volunteer applications for the Games open in the summer of 2026.

From record commercial growth to launching volunteer and community ticketing programs earlier than ever, our north star continues to be delivering a fiscally responsible Games with meaningful impact for L.A. and beyond,” LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover said in a statement. “We’re working day in and day out to make the Games more accessible than ever to the millions of people who want to get involved in a meaningful way.”

LA28 announced a ticket donation program with hopes of making tickets accessible to local fans through community groups. The Rams were the first participants, donating $5 million. Tickets will begin at $28 and LA28 plans to have one-third of tickets under $100.

Ticketing and hospitality is supposed to cover $2.5 billion of LA28’s total budget, the second-largest source of revenue for the Games.

A study done by the Southern California Assn. of Governments estimated the Games will generate between $13.6 billion and $17.6 billion in additional gross domestic product across a six-county region between 2024-2029. The study considered LA28’s $7.15-billion budget, estimated visitor spending and a portion of Games-related transportation infrastructure investments.

While only four of the Olympic venues are outside of L.A. County, the study estimates that five other Southern California counties — Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Imperial — could still enjoy roughly 33% of the economic benefit because of visitor spending and work provided elsewhere in the region. Orange County, which will host the volleyball competition at Honda Center and surfing at nearby Trestles, could draw between $2.88 billion and $2.44 billion in gross domestic product from the Games, the second-most behind L.A.’s range of $8.96 billion and $11.97 billion.

The study was limited to only short-term gains up to five years after the Games, which does not take into account any “legacy effects.” The 2028 Games will have no permanent venue construction, but the planning agency notes that transportation infrastructure built to support the Games could benefit the region for decades in the future.

Transportation updates are largely the responsibility of the city, which is relying on federal grants to expand the Metro rail system and add more buses for the Games. Improvements to Los Angeles International Airport have been plodding: The People Mover train’s opening date has been delayed again to June 2026.

Outside of money used for infrastructure improvements, L.A. is also at risk to foot the first $270 million in potential overruns from LA28. If the private organizing committee’s debt goes further, the next $270 million would go to the state and anything remaining would return back to the city.

Jordan’s military said the attacks ‘neutralised arms and drug traffickers’ and destroyed their laboratories and factories.

Jordan’s military has launched strikes on drug and weapons smugglers in the country’s northern border regions with Syria, targeting sites used as “launch points” by trafficking groups into Jordanian territory, according to reports.

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, said the strikes on Wednesday “neutralised a number of arms and drug traffickers who organise weapons and narcotics smuggling operations along the northern border of the Kingdom”.

Jordan’s armed forces destroyed “factories and workshops” used by the trafficking groups, Petra reports, adding that the attacks were carried out based on “precise intelligence” and in coordination with regional partners.

The Jordanian military did not name the partner countries involved in the strikes but warned that it would “continue to counter any threats with force at the appropriate time and place”, Petra said.

Syrian state broadcaster Al-Ikhbariah TV reported on its Telegram channel that the Jordanian army had carried out air strikes on locations in the southern and eastern countryside of Syria’s Suwayda governorate.

A resident of Syria’s Suwayda border region told the AFP news agency that the bombardment “was extremely intense and targeted farms and smuggling routes”, while the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said jets and helicopters had reportedly taken part in the raid.

The observatory said photos taken at the scene of the attacks showed destruction at an abandoned military barracks of the former al-Assad regime in Suwayda.

There were no initial reports of casualties from the Jordanian attacks and no official comment from authorities in Damascus.

A farm believed to have been used for storing drugs was among the targets, according to the Zaman Al Wasl online news site, which also reported that similar Jordanian attacks had been carried out previously in a bid to stem the flow of captagon – an addictive, amphetamine-type stimulant.

Before the removal of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, captagon had become the regime’s largest export and key source of funding amid the country’s years of grinding civil war.

Produced in vast quantities in Syria, the synthetic drug flooded the region, particularly the Gulf states, prompting neighbouring countries to announce seizures and call on both Lebanon and Damascus to ramp up efforts to combat the trade.

Although Damascus denied any involvement in the drug trade, analysts estimated that production and smuggling of captagon brought in billions of dollars for al-Assad, his associates and allies as they looked for an economic lifeline amid the civil war, which was fought between 2011 and the regime’s toppling last year.

Algeria’s parliament unanimously passed a law declaring France’s colonisation a crime. Lawmakers celebrated in the chamber as they demanded an apology, reparations and assigned France legal responsibility for the harms caused during colonial rule.

BBC thriller The Night Manager is set to return to screens after its successful debut back in 2016

BBC thriller The Night Manager is set to return to screens for its second season.

Based on the characters created by John le Carré, the series followed Jonathan Pine, a night manager of a luxury hotel in Cairo and a former British soldier, who was recruited by the manager of a Foreign Office task force to infiltrate the inner circle of a dangerous arms dealer.

The show won multiple BAFTAs, Emmy Awards, and Golden Globes, including Best Actor for Tom Hiddleston as Pine.

Almost ten years after its explosive finale captivated over ten million viewers, the hit BBC spy thriller is now back with a bang as Pine takes on an explosive new case.

The official synopsis teases: “Jonathan Pine thought he’d buried his past. Now living as Alex Goodwin – a low-level MI6 officer running a quiet surveillance unit in London – his life is comfortingly uneventful.

“Then one night, a chance sighting of an old Roper mercenary prompts a call to action and leads Pine to a violent encounter with a new player: Colombian businessman Teddy Dos Santos.

“On this perilous new journey, Pine meets Roxana Bolaños, a businesswoman who reluctantly helps him infiltrate Teddy’s Colombian arms operation. Once in Colombia, Pine is plunged deep into a deadly plot involving arms and training of a guerrilla army.”

The logline concludes: “As allegiances splinter, Pine races to expose a conspiracy designed to destabilise a nation. And with betrayal at every turn, he must decide whose trust he needs to earn and how far he’s willing to go before it’s too late.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the BBC thriller’s return, including release date, cast, and episode details.

When will The Night Manager be released?

The first episode of season two is set to premiere on BBC One on Thursday, January 1 at 9pm. The new series will then be available to stream on Prime Video from January 11.

Who is in the cast of The Night Manager?

Tom Hiddleston returns as former British intelligence operative, Jonathan Pine, with Diego Calva as Teddy, and Camila Morrone as Roxana. They are joined by Indira Varma as Mayra, Paul Chahidi as Basil, and Hayley Squires as Sally.

Olivia Colman reprises her role as Angela Burr, alongside returning cast members Alistair Petrie as Sandy Langbourne, Douglas Hodge as Rex Mayhew, Michael Nardone as Frisky, and Noah Jupe as Daniel Roper.

The cast and creatives have promised “danger, espionage, betrayal, love, heartbreak, drama, and suspense” in the next chapter of Pine’s story.

How many episodes are in The Night Manager?

The Night Manager season two consists of six hour-long episodes. After the first episode premieres on New Year’s Day, the drama will continue three days later on Sunday, January 4 at 9pm on BBC One.

The following four episodes will air every Sunday at 9pm, with the explosive finale expected to air on February 1.

For international viewers, the first three episodes will drop on Prime Video on Sunday, January 11, with subsequent instalments premiering every Sunday through to February 1.

The Night Manager season 2 premieres on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Thursday, January 1

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

Christmas is three days away, and you’re running out of time to get a gift for the Angels fan in your life. How about a Dodgers cap?

If ever a winter posed a loyalty test, this one could. The Dodgers spent $69 million on Edwin Díaz, the best closer available in free agency, and another $2 million in championship parade costs. The Angels spent $2 million on a closer who put up an 8.23 earned-run average last season.

Next year the Dodgers will try to become the first National League team to win three consecutive World Series. The Angels will try to end baseball’s longest postseason drought at 11 years, still without much of a plan beyond rushing first-round draft picks to the major leagues while treading the financial waters until Anthony Rendon’s contract runs out.

On Sunday they missed out on Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, who signed with the 102-loss Chicago White Sox. Of the Angels’ five acquisitions this winter, three did not play in the majors last season, and not because they are up-and-coming prospects.

If you’re an Angels fan and you’re sick and tired of this, should you reconsider your loyalty?

Jim Bowden believes you should.

Bowden, formerly the general manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, serves as a baseball insider on several media platforms. On “Foul Territory” last week he suggested fans of small-market teams have an option that might be more constructive than getting angry.

In Pittsburgh, for instance, the owner would rather complain about the lack of a salary cap than spend enough money to build a winner around generational pitcher Paul Skenes.

“You don’t have to be a Pirate fan,” Bowden said. “You can retire as a Pirate fan, or trade yourself to the Dodgers.

“If you want to see your team win, right now the Dodgers have got the best chance to win a World Series again. As a fan, you can root for any team you want.

“You don’t have to root for the team in your home city. You can see the Dodgers play in your home city. They’ll come into Pittsburgh and beat you.

“If it bothers you that much, just become a Dodger fan. It’s fine.”

Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto celebrates with teammates, coaches and owners after the Dodgers’ World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 1.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

The Angels no longer operate as a large-market team, and their circumstances could get even more dire in the near future.

On Sunday, Sports Business Journal reported that the parent company of FanDuel Sports Network is in jeopardy of shutting down if it cannot complete a sale to streaming service DAZN. The Angels would not disappear from your screens and streams, but it likely would mean the Angels would take a big cut in local broadcast revenue for a second consecutive year.

The Dodgers’ bandwagon shows no sign of slowing. The Dodgers set a franchise attendance record last season. They offer stadium tours in English, Spanish and Japanese. They launched a fan club in Japan.

So, as a frustrated Angels fan, you could hop on that bandwagon. Or you could try another large-market team — say, the New York Mets.

Mets owner Steve Cohen is worth $23 billion, according to Forbes. When Cohen bought the Mets in 2020, he said this: “If I don’t win a World Series in the next three to five years — I’d like to make it sooner — I would consider that slightly disappointing.”

The Mets still have not won a World Series since 1986. On Friday he took to social media to criticize “the usual idiots misinterpreting a Post article on Mets payroll.”

On Sunday, given the Mets’ losses of Díaz and beloved slugger Pete Alonso in free agency, New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro shot back, comparing Cohen to greatly unloved former owner Fred Wilpon in this adaptation of a Christmas carol: “Steve’s beginning to look a lot like Wilpon/Mets fans say ‘Hell, no!’/What’s the point in being so rich/And a ruthless sonofabitch/If you don’t spend dough?”

The concept of fan free agency — essentially what Bowden suggested — is not new. Every now and then some disgruntled fan will publicly disown his favorite team, then invite rival teams to suggest why he should support them. If you’re creative enough, rival teams will send you some free swag.

That level of desperation is what many Dodgers fans felt a decade and a half ago, when former owner Frank McCourt needed a loan to cover payroll, hired a Russian physicist who channeled positive energy toward the team and “diagnosed the disconnects” among baseball operations personnel, and disparaged as “un-American” the league’s refusal to approve a television contract that he said would have provided the revenue to keep the Dodgers out of bankruptcy court.

Fans wearing Shohei Ohtani Dodgers jerseys wait to enter Angel Stadium before a game between the Angels and Dodgers on Aug. 12.

(Luke Hales / Getty Images)

In 2011, the year McCourt took the team into bankruptcy, the Angels outdrew the Dodgers for the only time. The Dodgers fans did not bail on their team. They waited for better days.

That is where Angels fans are now — and, for that matter, where Pirates fans are too. Bowden’s suggestion that unhappy Pirates fans exhausted by the perennial futility try the Dodgers did not go over well in Pittsburgh. At the Pirates’ fan site Rum Bunter, Emma Lingan wrote: “Fandom isn’t a streaming subscription you cancel when the content gets bad.”

This year’s World Series was the best and most dramatic I ever covered. But the one that was the most fun was the 2002 World Series: the underdog Angels, the Disney team no one projected for a happy ending, rampaging through October and toppling giants. As The Times’ headline on the Game 7 victory put it: “Fantasyland!”

If you were there in 1982 and 1986, when the Angels had six chances to win one game to clinch their first World Series appearance — and lost all six — then you could have a greater appreciation of 2002. And, if you were there for McCourt bankruptcy, you can have a greater appreciation of Guggenheim majesty.

So get that Angels fan in your life an Angels cap. That fan will be able to wear that cap proudly one of these years, and all the tears will make the cap fit that much more snugly.

Dec. 24 (UPI) — Americans are not in a jolly mood when it comes to spending for the holidays, with a majority saying it’s been difficult to afford things, according to a CBS News/YouGov survey released Wednesday.

The nationally representative sample of 2,267 U.S. adults was interviewed between Dec. 15 and 17, and asked 16 questions about the holidays and the economy in general.

With items costing more now than they did last year, respondents cut down on gifts, entertainment and travel.

When asked about things to buy for the holiday, 58% said it would be difficult, including 17% “very difficult” and 41% “somewhat difficult.” Conversely, 8% said it will be “very easy to afford” and 34% “somewhat easy.”

Regarding prices compared with last year, 27% said they cost “a lot more,” 44% “a little more,” 24% “the same” and 5% “little less” or “lot less.”

People with lower incomes obviously are struggling more.

For family incomes under $50,00, it is “difficult to afford” for 71% versus 56% for $50,000 to $100,000 versus 58% more than $100,000.

Based on the type of gifts, 42% say they are buying fewer gifts for others, 32% less for food and drinks, 48% for airlines/travel and 50% for entertainment. Of those categories, more spending was 5% for airlines/travel, 6% for entertainment, 16% gifts for others, and 17% food and drinks.

Despite financial concerns, the respondents are more positive this holiday season with 48% saying they feel “grateful,” 43% “happy,” 39% “stressed,” 29% “excited,” 29% “exhausted” and 23% “sad.”

People are preferring to avoid paying for things on credit. It breaks down to 45% using no credit, 30% using some, 16% using mostly credit and 9% using all credit.

People were also asked about the economy in general, with 32% saying it is good and 63% bad.

Thirty-two percent of people said their financial situation was good for them, down from 39% in July. Since January is has been in the 30s.

Compared with past years, 41% said it is worse in 2025, 36% not changed and 22% better.

Inflation is on people’s minds with 76% saying their income hasn’t kept up with their income, which is close to 75% in July and 77% in February. The annual inflation rate in the United States is 2.7% ending in November compared with 3.0% in September 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Respondents were negative about the job market with 5% saying it’s “very good,” 29% “fairly good,” 32% “fairly bad,” 20% “very bad” and 14% not sure. The national unemployment rate was 4.6%, released by the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics, reflecting the labor market status for November.

Among the bright spots, more Americans rate the condition of the stock market as good than bad, especially for those whom the market’s performance matters a lot to their finances. The stock market was listed as 10% “very good,” 32% “fairly good,” 14% “fairly bad,” 6% “very bad” and 38% “not sure.”

Another good sign is gas prices, with 32% saying they are going down compared with 12% in October. Only 20% say fuel prices are going up vs. 34% in October, with 33% saying the are the same vs. 38% two months ago.

The current average is around $2.85 per gallon for unleaded, compared with $3.04 a year ago, according to AAA. The highest average was $5.02 on June 14, 2022.

The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide, according to gender, age, race and education based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is 2.5 points.

The 50-year-old has opened up about her impressive transformation

Alison Hammond has worked hard to lose weight after being given some scary health news. The TV presenter made two huge lifestyle swaps, which led to remarkable results both inside and outside her body, helping her discover ‘new love’.

Aside from losing an impressive 11 stone, the beloved TV host known for her work on programmes like ITV’s This Morning and Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off also managed to ‘reverse’ her prediabetic condition through dedication and determination.

The 50-year-old first earned public fame during a brief appearance on Big Brother back in 2002. Alison stepped into the famous house at just 22 years old, and her brief fifteen days on the reality show led to a successful TV career that has spanned decades.

In recent years, the presenter has slimmed down and achieved an incredible 11 stone loss with the help of a personal trainer. However, alongside her fitness regime, she cut out two key items from her diet after receiving a prediabetic diagnosis.

Speaking to Women’s Health, she said: “My mum had Type 2 diabetes and she was worried for me, so when I then found out that I was pre-diabetic, that was frightening. I thought ‘I have to be an adult about this’. The sweets had to stop, and the fatty foods.”

Alison, who weighed 28 stone at her heaviest, maintains her fitness by working with her personal trainer twice weekly and keeps weights in her bedroom for additional workouts. She said: “I try to vary it so it’s not the same every day.

“If I miss a session or two with my trainer, I notice it. That kick you get out of the way you feel is so good.” Following a complete lifestyle transformation, according to a previous report by Surrey Live, the TV star revealed she’s no longer prediabetic.

She said: “Because my body’s working properly, I can allow myself a bit of sugar here and there. I love my new shape and although I still have areas I’m conscious of, such as my arms and tummy, it’s great being able to wear things I would never have been able to before. I mean, look at me, I’m a bombshell.”

What is prediabetes?

Diabetes UK reports that people may be classed as being pre-diabetic if their blood sugars are “higher than usual, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes”. It added that, for those who catch this condition before it gets over the limit, people can reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, and it may be possible to prevent or delay the condition from developing.

Prediabetes doesn’t have any symptoms. If you start to have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, it means you have probably already developed it. Diabetes UK shared a list of signs people may want to look out for, including:

• going to the toilet more often, especially at night
• feeling more tired than usual
• losing weight without trying
• genital itching or thrush
• cuts and wounds taking longer to heal
• blurred vision
• feeling extremely thirsty

Diabetes UK claimed that there are an estimated 6.3 million people at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the UK based on blood sugar levels. Specialists believe that 1.3 million people are currently living with type 2 diabetes but are yet to be diagnosed

1-6

Name the six countries or territories Donald Trump has said or suggested he would like to annex, acquire or take control of.

7-10

The original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (of which only one survives) were located in which four present-day countries?

11-15

Name the only five Caribbean countries to ever qualify for the finals of the men’s football World Cup.

16-21

The equator passes through which six African mainland countries?

22 & 23

Name the only two countries in South America that do not border Brazil.

24-28: Name these countries from their distinctive landmarks:

24

25

26

27

28

29-33: Where were these famous movies filmed? Clue: none are in the country the story is set.

29

30

31

32

33

My best Christmas on tour was in South Africa in 2015. The Boxing Day Test was the opening match of the series and it was going to be highly competitive. South Africa were still packed with big guns and we had just won the Ashes the previous summer.

I’d had a few months out with a stress fracture to the ball of my foot and it felt like a Christmas present when I proved myself fit enough to join the squad in Durban.

In contrast to that Australia tour five years earlier, I knew if I was fit I was going to play. It’s what I loved about the time England were coached by Trevor Bayliss. I felt as though he really believed in me and trusted me to be myself as a bowler. Even though I had an idea I would be playing, it was still a lovely feeling when the captain gave the nod, as Alastair Cook did that Christmas Day.

There was no bursting into tears in the toilets, just a calm, enjoyable Christmas on the seafront in Durban. It didn’t really feel like Christmas because it was hot and I was contemplating how I was going to bowl to Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and the rest the following day. I was far more content, even if I did have the prospect of facing Dale Steyn in my unenviable role as nightwatchman, which would ruin anyone’s peaceful Christmas.

I had no family travelling with me and I enjoyed Christmas lunch with the other guys who were in the same boat, then slid off to my room to relax, before hopefully watching us win the toss and bowling first on a spicy looking pitch. Now, that’s a real Christmas present.

We actually lost the toss, but won the Test by 241 runs. I got one of my favourite wickets in my career, a lifter to Faf Du Plessis on the fourth evening, just as he was providing significant rearguard. It felt like a degree of redemption for my previous Christmas letdowns.

Christmas on tour really does become like another Test week. I would always feel for the guys with families having to navigate this time of year. Balancing life between being a father, a husband, an international cricketer and Father Christmas must be tough.

Having family there does provide a degree of balance, which can be a great escape when you’re on a long tour. But explaining to a four-year-old why it’s not snowing and how Santa knows you’re not going to be at home is something I’d always leave to the guys with children.

As I settle down on this festive period, ready to eat my body weight in whatever is laid in front of me, I’ll be thinking of all the cricketers out there preparing to play a game the next day.

The nerves, excitement and disappointments are all part of being a sportsperson. It just so happens it is Christmas Day, too.

An attempted ICE arrest outside Baltimore turned violent after a man allegedly drove into law enforcement vehicles.

Two people were injured in a suburb of Baltimore after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents fired shots at a moving vehicle whose driver was allegedly evading arrest, according to US authorities.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said ICE agents had attempted to arrest two men from Portugal and El Salvador – who were allegedly living in the US illegally – as they were driving through Glen Burnie, Maryland, on Wednesday.

DHS said in a post on X that officers approached the vehicle and told the driver to turn off his engine, but the driver did not cooperate and instead drove into several ICE vehicles.

“Fearing for their lives and public safety, the ICE officers defensively fired their service weapons, striking the driver,” DHS said in a statement on X. The driver “then wrecked his van between two buildings, injuring the passenger”.

The two men later received medical attention, and no ICE agents were hurt during the incident, DHS said.

“Our brave officers are risking their lives every day to keep American communities safe by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our streets,” the DHS post also said. “Continued efforts to encourage illegal aliens and violent agitators to actively resist ICE will only lead to more violent incidents, the extremist rhetoric must stop.”

Local police confirmed to ABC News that ICE agents had approached a “white van” during an arrest on Wednesday and reported that the driver “attempted to run the agents over”.

The ICE agents then fired at the vehicle, which accelerated before coming to a rest in a wooded area of residential Glen Burnie, Maryland, ABC said.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore wrote on X that he was “aware of the ICE-involved shooting”,  and his office would continue to share more information as the investigation unfolded.

The shooting follows a similar incident in Minnesota on Sunday, when ICE agents fired shots at a Cuban man who also resisted arrest and attempted to ram ICE vehicles, according to ABC News.

The man, who had entered the US on a discontinued asylum programme, was approached by ICE agents in the city of St Paul while in an SUV.

The agents threatened to break his windows if he did not speak with them, prompting the man to drive away, ABC reported, citing Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. During the incident, the man hit an ICE agent with his vehicle.

The situation escalated when ICE agents pursued the man to his apartment building, where he later rammed an ICE vehicle with his SUV and hit a second agent, ABC said. ICE agents fired several shots before arresting the man, the report said.

‘Main reason for optimism’ is a belief that war in Ukraine will end in 2026 with Moscow’s ‘objectives’ achieved,’ pollster says.

A majority of Russians expect the war in Ukraine to end in 2026, a state-owned research centre said, as Russian forces make advances on the battlefield and efforts intensify to reach a ceasefire deal between Kyiv and Moscow.

VTsIOM, Russia’s leading public opinion research centre, said on Wednesday that its annual survey of sentiment around the outgoing year and expectations for the coming year found Russians are viewing 2026 with “growing optimism”.

“Expectations for next year traditionally look much more optimistic … In other words, while the negative perception of the current situation persists, Russians have become more likely to accept (or believe, hope?) future improvements this year, but they still do so with caution,” the organisation said in a review of its survey findings released online.

In a year-end presentation, VTsIOM deputy head Mikhail Mamonov said 70 percent of 1,600 people surveyed ​viewed 2026 as being a more “successful” year for Russia than this year, with 55 percent of respondents linking hope for a better year ‍to a possible end to what Russia officially calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

“The main reason for optimism is the possible completion of the special military operation and the achievement of the stated objectives, in line with the national interests outlined by the president,” Mamonov ‍said at the ⁠presentation.

Mamonov pointed to the Russian military’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine, Washington’s reluctance to finance the Ukraine war and the European Union’s inability to fully replace the ‌United States’ role in Ukraine – financially and militarily – as key factors behind the prospects for an eventual deal to end the fighting.

At the conclusion of the conflict, reintegration of Russian military veterans into society and the reconstruction of Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine, as well as Russian border areas, will be the main priorities, Mamonov added.

While the actual level of Russian public fatigue with the war is difficult to measure due to strict state controls on the media, expressions of public dissent as well as the prosecution of those who criticise Moscow’s war on its neighbour, approximately two-thirds of Russians support peace talks, according to independent pollster Levada, the highest number since the start of the war in 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in comments released on Wednesday that he would be willing to withdraw troops from Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end the war, if Moscow reciprocated by also pulling back its forces and allowed the area to become a demilitarised zone monitored by international forces.

In comments to reporters about an overarching 20-point plan that negotiators from Ukraine and the US had hammered out in Florida in recent days, Zelenskyy also said that a similar arrangement could be possible for the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Russian control.

Russia has given no indication that it will agree to any kind of withdrawal from land it has seized in Ukraine and has long insisted that Kyiv must give up the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas industrial area before any discussions on the cessation of fighting.

Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70 percent of Donetsk – the two regions that make up the Donbas.

Zelenskyy also said that figuring out the future control of the Donbas as part of the plan was “the most difficult point”, and creating a demilitarised economic zone in the region would require difficult discussions on how far troops would be required to move back and where international forces would be stationed.

Such discussions should be held at the leaders’ level, he said.

As Celia and Ray’s plans for April become clear, Emmerdale teases a sad twist for the teenager and a gunshot drives fans to fear the worst for two of the soap’s most beloved characters

A horrifying twist leaves April Windsor’s future uncertain on Emmerdale in the Christmas Eve episode, as fans are left fearing the worst for two more beloved characters.

For months, fans have watched as crime duo Celia (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray (Ray Absolom) have manipulated troubled teen April (Amelia Flanagan) into working for their drug ring and prostitution network.

Though April seemed to have gained some distance from the pair in recent weeks, tonight’s episode saw Celia issue a terrifying ultimatum.

The criminal mastermind met April in a cafe, where the youngster said she would start working for Celia again if she stopped blackmailing her father, Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnok) ,alone.

READ MORE: Ugg’s stylish clogs ‘keep feet so warm’ and are now 70% off in flash saleREAD MORE: Emmerdale Danny Miller’s impressive transformation wows fans ‘hard work is paying off’

But Celia had other ideas. She told April that she and Ray would be leaving the Dales soon to start up their business somewhere new – and that April would have to come with them, or else.

Celia told April she would need her answer by the end of the following day. When April pointed out this was Christmas, Celia, the village’s resident Scrooge, said: “What difference does that make?”

April is not the only character fans fear will be leaving the soap. Elsewhere in tonight’s episode, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) were left fearing for their lives after Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) took a shot at them… literally.

Evil Kev, who fans have deemed as “psychotic”, has been stalking the couple and is clearly not over Rob choosing to be with Aaron instead of him. While Rob and Aaron were busy affirming their love for each other, Kev ruined the happy moment by aiming a rifle at them from the shadows. Thankfully, he hit a post behind Rob rather than either of the love birds.

Though the police said it must have been poachers, Rob and Aaron knew the truth, especially after they received an envelope with Kev’s wedding ring and a bullet inside it.

Fans were horrified by the danger Rob and Aaron are in and quickly argued the villainous character had lost his mind. One wrote online in all capitals: “Kev U f***ing nutter.” Another added: “Kev is a psycho he needs locking up.”

A third said that they hoped this would show Rob just how “psychotic” Kev was: “Hopefully our boy has realised now there is no reasoning with this crazy psychotic idiot and it’s time to fight back!”

Another felt Kev was now beyond saving. “I can’t see how they can redeem Kev after this…he’s attacked them with a sword, shot at them and that’s just for starters. I really can’t see how ED could keep him after all this.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Welcome back to this week’s Lakers newsletter, where we’re making our interview lists and checking them twice. I have something to share: I never celebrated Christmas growing up. We didn’t do presents, trees, decorating or any of that.

What we did was basketball.

From spending Christmas Day eating my mom’s home-cooked meals and watching the NBA, I will now be at Crypto.com Arena covering the game my parents will inevitably ask about later. Talk about a special holiday gift.

LeBron James rounds into form

At this stage of LeBron James’ career, it’s not enough to just evaluate the Lakers superstar’s performance in a vacuum. So when coach JJ Redick was asked in Utah before James played his 10th game of the season whether the 21-time All-NBA honoree was “looking more like himself,” Redick didn’t have a straightforward answer.

“Well, I think you have to contextualize it,” Redick told reporters. “[He’s] ‘looking like himself’ as a 41-year-old coming off [a knee injury] and sciatica.”

Redick is premature in calling James a 41-year-old — his birthday is not until next week — but James is at least back to a version of himself. About a month since his season debut, James is starting to round into form, moving past the informal training camp and preseason period after sciatica kept him out all offseason.

James is averaging 27.6 points, 6.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in the last five games during which the Lakers (19-8) went 3-2. His shooting percentage improved to 53.8% compared to 41.3% in his first six games.

But James is in a new era of his play. His usage rate is the lowest it’s ever been. Redick commended the superstar’s willingness to play off the ball more with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves emerging as the team’s primary ballhandling options.

There are moments when James’ age is showing. A second jump that isn’t as quick as it once was. A dunk that looks more deliberate than explosive. Then he turns back the clock by bulldozing Luke Kornet on a vicious one-handed dunk. James, always one of the league’s best in transition, still leads the Lakers with 6.4 transition points per game.

Lakers star LeBron James dunks over San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet at Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 10.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“The thing about LeBron — it’s why he’s so great — is he can play with anybody,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “So it doesn’t matter who’s on the floor, but he’s always going to be effective.”

James showed he can still carry the team for stretches when Doncic suffered a left leg bruise during the first half against the Clippers, and the shorthanded Lakers, who entered the game without three starters, still chopped the Clippers’ 22-point lead to seven in the fourth quarter.

Doncic (leg) will remain out for Tuesday’s game against Phoenix, along with Rui Hachimura (groin) and Gabe Vincent (back). Reaves (calf) is questionable as his absence has surpassed one week.

The Lakers have been short at least one player for almost every game this season, Deandre Ayton pointed out Monday after practice as he prepared to return from a two-game absence because of an elbow injury. The injuries, highlighted by James’ 14-game absence, has made Redick feel like this team’s primary identity at the quarter mark of the season is “chaos.”

Yet leadership from players such as James has helped the Lakers find calm amid the confusion.

“This is not a quiet team,” Ayton said. “… We communicate. That’s what brings closure, where you know the guy might not be out there, or superstars might not be out there, but they with us in spirit.”

James was a vocal leader even while injured. When he returned to the court, his energy was infectious in practice, Reaves said, who often marvels at how James, despite playing in a record 23rd NBA season, still feels like one of the biggest kids in the gym.

So a month after his return, when asked in Utah about how James looked in the context of his age and recent injury history, Redick didn’t hesitate to follow up.

“Pretty damn good,” Redick said.

Holiday spirit

Lakers star LeBron James stands on the court during player introductions before a game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 18.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

While the NFL tried to use Beyoncé to take over Christmas last year, the games were all laughers. The NBA, meanwhile, planted its flag with a thrilling slate that had four of five games decided by six or fewer points.

“I love the NFL,” James said into the ABC camera last year after the Lakers won a 115-113 nail-biter over the Golden State Warriors. “But Christmas is our day.”

The Lakers are playing on Christmas for the 27th season in a row. James is slated for his 20th Christmas Day game, but even he’s grown tired of his personal tradition.

“I’d much rather be at home with my family,” James said. “But it’s the game. It’s the game I love. It’s the game I watched when I was a kid on Christmas Day, watching a lot of the greatest to play the game on Christmas. It’s always been an honor to play it. Obviously, I’m going to be completely honest, I would like to be home on the couch with my family all throughout the day. But my number is called, our numbers are called, so we have to go out and perform. And I look forward to it.”

The Lakers are 25-26 on Christmas Day. This year’s lineup is delicious. The Lakers at home against Houston — the only team in the league besides Oklahoma City ranked in the top five in offensive and defensive rating — is the prime-time entree. The 11:30 a.m. PST appetizer between San Antonio and Oklahoma City could be the star of the night.

Outside of James’ slightly Grinchy mood about playing, the Lakers were getting into the holiday spirit last week. Doncic gifted e-bikes to everyone in the organization, 103 in total. Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes held charity events. Vanderbilt and his foundation held a holiday giveback at the Boys & Girls Club last Friday while Hayes had giveaways in Compton and his native Cincinnati.

“Stuff like that just fills my heart up and makes me feel better,” Hayes said. “… Stuff like that, I just feel like it’s why God put us here, we’re here to help others.”

On tap

Records and stats current entering Monday’s games

Dec. 23 at Suns (15-13), 6 p.m. PST

Nine days after the Lakers barely survived a dramatic fourth-quarter Phoenix comeback attempt, the Lakers and Suns run it back. In the midst of a challenging portion of their schedule that featured games against Western Conference front-runners Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston, the Suns have lost seven of their last nine games, including three of their last four.

Dec. 25 vs. Rockets (17-9), 5 p.m.

Entering Monday’s game against the Clippers, the Rockets lost three of their last four games. All the losses — to Denver, New Orleans and Sacramento — came in overtime. Kevin Durant is averaging 25.3 points while center Alperen Sengun is putting together a career year with 23.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists.

Dec. 28 vs. Kings (7-22), 6:30 p.m.

The Kings scored an improbable victory over the Rockets to break a six-game losing streak but remain in the Western Conference cellar. The Lakers needed a career-high 51 points from Austin Reaves to survive against the Kings on Oct. 26 without Doncic or James.

Status report

Lakers star Luka Doncic controls the ball during a loss to the Clippers on Dec. 20. Doncic sustained a left leg contusion in the game.

(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

Luka Doncic: left leg contusion

Doncic suffered the injury when he was kneed in the leg by the Clippers’ Bogdan Bogdanovic. He sat out of the second half and was seen on the practice court Monday with a wrap around his left calf. He is out for Phoenix, but is day to day.

Austin Reaves: left calf strain

Reaves was a partial participant in practice Monday and remained day to day. He passed the initial estimated one-week mark since being diagnosed with a mild left calf strain on Dec. 12.

Deandre Ayton: right elbow soreness

The center appeared to suffer the injury when he got tangled up with Phoenix’s Mark Williams on Dec. 14 and missed two games but will return against the Suns on Tuesday.

Rui Hachimura: right groin soreness

Redick said Hachimura started feeling pain in his hip after the game at Utah on Dec. 18. The coach expects Hachimura to be sidelined for three to five days, which leaves a Christmas Day return possible.

Gabe Vincent: low back soreness

Vincent will not be reevaluated until at least Christmas after a back issue first popped up before the game at Utah.

Favorite thing I ate this week

A meal worth savoring at Santa Monica’s Elephante: (clockwise from top) the pizza bianco, vodka sauce pasta and squash agnolotti.

(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)

I finally crossed an essential L.A. dining experience off of my list this week. I visited Elephante in Santa Monica and very much understand the appeal.

Everyone talks about the whipped eggplant, which we got, but the vodka sauce pasta was my favorite because the pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce had a slight smoky kick from the Calabrian chile. We also ordered the pizzo bianco, which is finished with a drizzle of hot honey and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. An order of the squash agnolotti pasta that features sage, brown butter and walnut pesto completed the spread.

In case you missed it

Lakers want Luka Doncic, LeBron James to engage more on defense

Luka Doncic gifts more than 100 e-bikes to Lakers players, staff

Lakers eventually respond to JJ Redick’s call for change, rally to beat Jazz

Natalia Bryant gets new restraining order against alleged stalker with added protection for family

Blake Griffin, Candace Parker among Basketball Hall of Fame nominees

Lakers’ Marcus Smart fined $35,000 for making obscene gesture at official

Lakers lose Luka Doncic to injury, then fall to Clippers despite LeBron James’ 36 points

Lakers ask officials for consistency as technical fouls pile up in loss to Clippers

Lakers’ Deandre Ayton expected back Tuesday, Austin Reaves injury status upgraded

Until next time…

As always, pass along your thoughts to me at thucnhi.nguyen@latimes.com, and please consider subscribing if you like our work!

Dec. 24 (UPI) — A million more files that might pertain to the former Jeffrey Epstein case have been found and will be released in weeks, federal officials announced on Wednesday.

Officials with the office of the U.S. attorney for Southern New York said they found more than a million more records and will review and redact those subject to the Epstein Files Transparency Act and release them.

“We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible,” the Justice Department said in a post on X.

“Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks,” the Justice Department said. “The department will continue to fully comply with federal law and President [Donald] Trump’s direction to release the files.”

The files were located in the Southern District of New York, which is based in New York City, and by the FBI, both of which forwarded them to the Justice Department for processing and eventual release as required by law.

The recently enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act required the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files after reviewing them and redacting certain types of information, including the identities of victims, child abuse materials and others.

All files were to be released no later than Dec. 19, which is the date that the Justice Department released hundreds of thousands of files, some of which were completely redacted and blacked out.

The Justice Department posted them on its Epstein Library webpage, where all released documents are to be deposited and made available to the general public via a dedicated search engine.

Despite posting hundreds of thousands of files, the department earlier said hundreds of thousands more files also will be released after undergoing review and redactions.

Some lawmakers have accused the Justice Department of violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act by not posting all available files by the deadline.

Officials said they have a large team of attorneys reviewing each file and redacting information as required and will post all additional documents as soon as possible.

The new batch of more than a million files that might be related to the Epstein case will greatly complicate and slow that process.

Epstein was a financier and convicted sex offender who hung himself while jailed in Manhattan in 2019 amid federal charges accusing him of sex trafficking of minors and related offenses.

Nasry Asfura has been declared the winner of Honduras’ razor-thin presidential election, after weeks of delays following technical problems and allegations of fraud.

The conservative National Party candidate – backed by US President Donald Trump – won with 40.3% of the vote, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE), edging out Salvador Nasralla of the centre-right Liberal Party, who got 39.5%.

In a post on X, Asfura said: “Honduras: I am ready to govern. I will not let you down.”

Meanwhile, Nasralla said at a press conference: “I will not accept a result built on omissions.” But he also urged his supporters to remain calm.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged all parties to respect the result “so that Honduran authorities may ensure a peaceful transition of authority”.

But the president of the country’s Congress, Luis Redondo, posted saying the result was “completely illegal”.

The vote was held on 30 November but the count was delayed twice by technical outages, which electoral officials called “inexcusable”.

The president of the CNE, Ana Paola Hall, blamed the private company tasked with tabulating the results for the delay.

She said the firm had carried out maintenance without warning or checking with the CNE.

The stoppage came a day after the portal displaying real-time results had crashed.

Results of the election were tight and, because of the tumultuous nature of the processing system, around 15% of the tally sheets had to be counted by hand for the winner to be decided.

There have been tensions in Honduras as a result of the delays with protests held across the country last week.

Thousands of supporters of the governing Libre party demonstrated in the capital Tegucigalpa over what they considered fraud in the vote.

The outgoing President, Xiomara Castro, had alleged that an “electoral coup” was taking place and earlier this month said the election was being marred by “interference” from Trump.

When he endorsed Asfura for president, Trump said there would be “hell to pay” if his very narrow lead was overturned in the count.

He also threatened to withdraw financial support from the US if Asfura didn’t win.

In a surprise move, the US president also pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, a member of Asfura’s National Party, who was serving a 45-year jail sentence in the US on drug and weapons charges.

Castro was barred by the constitution from standing for a second term.

Nine days after the vote, Nasralla accused “corrupt people” of manipulating the vote count in the Central American nation. He also said Trump’s comments had damaged his chances of winning.

In his statement following the announcement of the result, Rubio said the US would “look forward to working with his incoming administration to advance our bilateral and regional security co-operation”, adding the two countries would “end illegal immigration” to the US, while strengthening economic ties.