Jan. 23 (UPI) — Vice President JD Vance told March for Life participants that he understands their frustration but assured them that more progress will be made to curb abortions.

Vance addressed the 53rd annual March for Life event on Friday, telling attendees that the proverbial “elephant in the room” is that little progress has been made to rein in abortion at the federal level.

“We are going to continue to make strides over the next three years to come,” Vance said, adding that abortion is an existential matter.

“It is about whether we remain a civilization under God, or whether we will ultimately return to the paganism that has dominated the past,” Vance told march attendees.

“There is still much road ahead to travel together,” he said, as reported by PBS. “Let the record show, you have a vice president who practices what he preaches.”

The annual pro-life event drew many participants who expressed frustration that more has not been done to restrict abortion after the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v Wade and left such laws up to respective states.

Vance, 41, called that decision the most important made by the Supreme Court during his lifetime.

He also cited the expansion of the federal government’s policy against providing foreign aid to organizations that support providers of abortion services.

“We believe that every country in the world has the duty to protect life,” Vance told March for Life participants.

The annual event drew tens of thousands to the nation’s capital, where they gathered on the National Mall before proceeding to the Supreme Court.

Many were dismayed that the Trump administration has not done more to follow up on the Supreme Court ruling.

“This administration has not moved when it absolutely could move,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told media on Thursday.

“This is not the direction that we were hoping for,” she added.

While the Trump administration has focused on other matters during the president’s second term in office, the abortion matter largely has been relegated to individual states.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing an ambitious trade diversification strategy aimed at reducing Canada’s heavy reliance on the United States and positioning the country as a leader in a new, more flexible global trading order. Triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policy and threats against allies, Carney has accelerated efforts to forge new economic partnerships, including a rare recent trade deal with China. His approach goes beyond that of many Western allies, reflecting a belief that the traditional, U.S.-led rules-based trading system is fragmenting.

Carney’s trade vision:
Carney has openly argued that multilateral institutions and global trade rules are being eroded, making smaller “plurilateral” agreements between select countries more viable than broad global deals. He has cast Canada as a bridge between the European Union and Pacific Rim economies and pledged to double non-U.S. exports over the next decade. Diplomatic outreach to countries long peripheral to Canadian trade policy including Qatar, Ecuador, Indonesia, and the UAE signals a deliberate effort to widen Canada’s economic map.

China as a necessary partner:
China has emerged as a central, if controversial, pillar of Carney’s strategy. As Canada’s second-largest trading partner, Beijing offers the scale required to meaningfully offset U.S. dependence. Carney’s assertion that China has become a more “predictable” partner than the United States underscores Ottawa’s frustration with Washington, but it has raised alarms among trade experts. Economists warn that deeper integration with China risks exposing Canadian industries to market flooding and long-term strategic vulnerabilities, particularly as Chinese exports are increasingly redirected away from the U.S. to other markets.

Limits of diversification:
Despite diversification efforts, the United States still absorbs close to 70% of Canadian exports—far more than the EU’s roughly 20% exposure to the U.S. market. Analysts note that reducing U.S. export share by even 10% would require Canada to double exports to multiple large economies simultaneously, an extraordinarily difficult task. Energy trade illustrates the challenge: while Ottawa hopes to expand oil exports to Asia, about 90% of Canadian crude continues to flow south of the border.

Comparisons with Europe:
The European Union’s parallel push to diversify trade through deals with Mercosur, Indonesia, and renewed talks with India and Southeast Asia highlights both inspiration and contrast for Canada. Europe’s lower baseline dependence on the U.S. gives it greater room to manoeuvre, whereas Canada’s economy remains deeply integrated with U.S. supply chains. Ongoing negotiations over the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement further limit how aggressively Canadian firms are willing to pivot away from the American market.

Expanding the deal pipeline:
Carney has markedly increased the pace of trade diplomacy. Canada has concluded agreements with Ecuador and Indonesia, signed investment deals with the UAE, and restarted talks with India after a diplomatic freeze under the previous government. According to Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, Ottawa is now targeting the Philippines, Thailand, Mercosur, Saudi Arabia, and India, aiming to complete multiple agreements in a timeframe that traditionally yielded just one deal per year.

Analysis:
Carney’s strategy reflects a clear-eyed assessment that U.S. economic leadership can no longer be taken for granted. His emphasis on plurilateralism and diversification is politically resonant and strategically necessary, but structurally constrained. Canada’s geography, supply chains, and energy infrastructure tie it to the U.S. in ways that cannot be rapidly undone. Engagement with China may provide short-term relief and bargaining leverage, yet it introduces its own economic and strategic risks. Ultimately, Carney’s bid to shape a new trade order is less about replacing the United States than about buying insurance against American volatility. Whether that insurance proves sufficient will depend on how quickly Canada can translate diplomatic activism into durable, balanced trade flows.

With information from Reuters.

Bangladesh have decided to boycott next month’s men’s T20 World Cup and will be replaced by Scotland.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to formally announce the step but BBC Sport understands Scotland are now in line to take Bangladesh’s place in Group C as the highest-ranked team not already at the tournament.

Bangladesh had asked for their games to be switched from India citing safety concerns amid growing tensions between the countries and demanded to play them in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament, instead.

Earlier this week the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request, saying there was an “absence of any credible security threat” before the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) subsequently reaffirmed their position.

A source close to the ICC board said the BCB were given a final 24 hours to confirm they would travel to India.

That deadline has now passed and ICC officials have decided to press ahead with an alternative plan to invite Scotland to participate instead.

The ICC, Cricket Scotland and the BCB are expected to issue statements in due course.

Cricket Scotland officials had been closely monitoring developments for the past few weeks and it is understood that internally they have taken some operational steps to prepare for this scenario.

Scotland’s players were already back in training as they had been preparing for a one-day international tri-series with Namibia and Oman in Windhoek in March.

Nevertheless it will be a tight turnaround for Scotland’s players to obtain visas to enter India with their first match scheduled to be on the opening day of the tournament, against West Indies in Kolkata on 7 February.

Also in Scotland’s group are England – who they face in Kolkata on 14 February – plus Italy and Nepal.

A fourth-place finish at last summer’s Europe Qualifier had looked to have cost Scotland a place at the 2026 T20 World Cup as the Netherlands and Italy secured the two spots on offer for the region.

Zimbabwe withdrew from the 2009 T20 World Cup in England for political reasons and were replaced by Scotland who were the ‘next best’ team in a pre-tournament global qualifying tournament.

But with qualifying for T20 World Cups, which were expanded to 20 teams in 2024, now done on a regional basis it is not quite so straightforward and this was a discretionary decision by the ICC based on rankings.

Scotland are currently 14th in the ICC T20 rankings and also represent a low-maintenance choice from the ICC’s perspective.

Jen Carr (aka The Travel Mum) has just taken her family skiing without the eye-watering price tag and reveals why a resort you may not have thought of might be Europe’s best-kept secret when it comes to a budget skiing trip

When you hear the word skiing, chances are you picture luxury chalets and a holiday bill that rivals a small mortgage – add children into the mix and suddenly a week on the slopes feels completely out of reach.

But what if skiing didn’t have to mean the Alps, or eye-watering prices? Jen Carr who writes a blog called The Travel Mum says she recently took her family to Zakopane, which is tucked away in southern Poland.

With ski hire from just £55 for kids, affordable lessons, cosy chalets and plenty to do off the slopes, this charming mountain town delivers all the winter magic without the financial hangover, she says.

And she adds that it’s easy to reach, refreshingly family-friendly and far cheaper than many European resorts, meaning it’s fast becoming the go-to choice for savvy travellers planning a ski trip in 2026.

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“When most people think of skiing, they imagine eye-watering prices in the Alps – luxury chalets, expensive lift passes and a holiday bill that quickly spirals,” Jen says. “But skiing doesn’t have to cost a fortune, especially if you’re travelling with children or trying it for the first time. Poland’s winter capital, Zakopane, offers a brilliant ski experience at a fraction of the price of many European resorts. Family-friendly, easy to reach and refreshingly affordable, it’s fast becoming a go-to destination for budget-conscious travellers who still want proper winter magic”

Zakopane is a picturesque mountain town tucked into the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland, close to the Slovakian border. It’s long been a favourite winter escape for locals, known for its wooden alpine-style architecture, hearty Polish food and welcoming atmosphere – but it’s only recently begun to appear on the radar of UK skiers. Getting to Zakopane from the UK is surprisingly straightforward. “Fly into Kraków Airport, which is well served by low-cost airlines from cities including London, Manchester and Edinburgh,” the travel expert adds. “From Kraków, Zakopane is around a two-hour drive.

“The cheapest option is a direct FlixBus, which runs regularly and costs as little as £5–£10. Private transfers and car hire are also easy to arrange if you’re travelling with children or lots of luggage.” During Jen’s week in Zakopane, they stayed in a chalet with Snomads – a small, independent company offering fully hosted ski trips with a strong sustainability focus. “The chalets are cosy, warm and ideal for families or groups of friends looking to split costs,” she says. “They care of everything from ski hire and lessons to transfers and days out. Our host, Maks, ensured everything ran seamlessly, meaning we didn’t waste any time navigating logistics. For first-time skiers and families, it takes away a huge amount of stress.”

According to Jen, one of Zakopane’s biggest selling points is just how affordable skiing is. Equipment hire and lessons cost a fraction of what you’d expect elsewhere in Europe. “To put the prices into perspective, five days of ski hire (skis, boots and helmet) for a child under 13 cost just £55. For adults, five days of skis, boots, poles and helmet came in at around £90. “We found five days of skiing to be the perfect amount. We arrived on Saturday evening, took Sunday to relax and acclimatise, skied Monday to Friday, and travelled home the following Saturday. It gave us time to enjoy the trip without feeling rushed.”

Jen says that if you’re travelling with young children, Zakopane is an excellent place to introduce them to skiing. “Our children were aged between three and six. The three-year-olds gave it a good go, but anything longer than 30 minutes was a stretch. The five- and six-year-olds, however, absolutely loved it and made huge progress over three days of three-hour lessons. Private lessons with two children per instructor cost around £90 per child for three hours. Jen spent £270 on nine hours of lessons for their eldest child, which she says was money extremely well spent, as he now loves skiing.

Zakopane is also particularly well suited to beginners, with several smaller ski areas offering gentle slopes, modern lifts and excellent instruction, she adds. And when you’re taking a break from skiing, the region is famous for its geothermal spas, where soaking in warm mineral-rich pools after a cold day could be just the tonic. Entry costs around £15–£20, making it great value for families.

You could also try a traditional kulig sleigh ride. A kulig is a horse-drawn sleigh ride through snow-covered forests – particularly magical in the evening when the trails are lit by lanterns. Many tours include a bonfire, warm drinks and grilled sausages. Or take a trip to Snowlandia, which is a winter wonderland featuring a giant snow maze, ice sculptures, a small farm and a huge sledging hill – a big hit with kids.

And if skiing isn’t for you, sledging is just as fun, you can rent a sledges for as little as £3–£5 per day. Jen says Zakopane proves that a ski holiday doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag. “It’s ideal for families, first-time skiers and anyone wanting to test the waters without spending thousands.

“With affordable accommodation, low-cost ski hire and lessons, and plenty to do off the slopes, this charming Polish town offers genuine winter magic – without the financial sting. If you’ve ever wanted to try skiing but feared the cost, Zakopane might just be the perfect place to start.”

Jen worked out that the trip came in at £208 per person for flights, transfers and 7 nights accommodation (based on £30 flights, £10 return bus and 8 people sharing a Chalet.

• Flights £30pp
• Bus transfer £5pp
• Accommodation based on 8 people sharing £168pp
• 5 day ski hire £90 p/adult
• £20 per hour per person for a private lesson, based on a group of 4
• Ski Hire for children under 13 – £55

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Attack comes as the Pakistani military readies for its fight against armed groups in areas along border with Afghanistan.

A suicide bombing attack at a wedding in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least seven people, according to the police.

The bombing tore through a building housing members of a peace committee during a wedding ceremony on Friday in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police official Muhammad Adnan said on Saturday.

The committees are made up of residents and elders and supported by Islamabad as part of its efforts to counter fighters in the regions along the Afghan border.

Three people were confirmed dead on Friday. Four others, who were among those hurt in the attack, died in the hospital, Adnan added.

The suicide attack came as the Pakistani military readies for its fight against armed groups in the areas along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes, despite harsh winter conditions in the region.

No group has claimed responsibility for Friday’s bombing. However, suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out numerous attacks in the country in recent years.

The TTP, which operates on both sides of the Afghan border, has labelled peace committee members as traitors. The TTP’s stated goal is to replace Pakistan’s system of governance with the strict brand of their own understanding of Islamic laws.

The TTP has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021, when US and NATO troops left the country after 20 years of war. Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuaries in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover there.

Islamabad has accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing the Pakistani group to plan its attacks from Afghanistan. Kabul denies the charge, saying the group’s activities are Pakistan’s domestic problem.

A deal engineered by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) allowing Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to leave the prison from where they have been under siege by Syrian government forces is a move that will protect U.S. troops in that country, a U.S. official told The War Zone Friday morning. There are still about 1,000 U.S. troops in Syria, tasked with continuing the fight against ISIS, the official added.

The Syrian government has been battling the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed SDF fighters for weeks as it tries to assert its control over the entire country after the December 2024 overthrow of dictator Bashar Al-Assad. The government wants to subsume SDF into its own security apparatus. That fighting, said the official, is allowing ISIS greater freedom of movement. Two U.S. Army soldiers and an interpreter were killed last month in an ISIS ambush.

The deal to allow SDF fighters to leave Raqqah is an effort to keep a fragile truce, which expires Jan. 24, from falling apart, the official noted. The truce was arranged on Jan. 20 in an effort to stop the bloodshed between the government and SDF after a previous ceasefire broke down.

“In a rare sign of goodwill in Syria, Syrian President Al Sharaa agreed to allow 800 SDF fighters and civilians safe passage from Raqqah to Kobani,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. “SDF were holed up for the last week in the Raqqah prison, where they sought temporary refuge in the fighting. Earlier today, a convoy of more than 160 vehicles arrived safely in Kobani, a traditionally Kurdish region.”

“The deal was brokered by U.S. Central Command as a measure to cool things down in Syria after weeks of intense fighting between the Syrian Government and SDF,” the official added. CENTCOM declined comment.

The safe passage decision comes as U.S. troops have elevated security concerns as they transport some 7,000 ISIS prisoners from Syria to Iraq, a highly complex operation. CENTCOM has carried out three waves of attacks against ISIS leaders in the wake of the deadly ambush, called Operation Hawkeye Strike, and U.S. officials are wary of retaliation.

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“We are closely coordinating with regional partners, including the Iraqi government, and we sincerely appreciate their role in ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said earlier this week. “Facilitating the orderly and secure transfer of ISIS detainees is critical to preventing a breakout that would pose a direct threat to the United States and regional security.”

Continued fighting between the two groups would imperil U.S. troops, the official explained.

“We don’t want to put U.S. troops in the middle” of fighting “between the Syrian government and the SDF,” said the official. “It would have fomented further instability and violence that would have made an already complex operation transferring ISIS prisoners even more challenging.”

The official declined to offer specifics of how the transfer is being carried out, but said that the U.S. is “looking to do it in days, not weeks.”

All this comes as CENTCOM has been working to ease tensions between the Syrian government and the SDF. That group has been a major ally against ISIS, but has also been embroiled in fighting against not just the government, but Turkish-led forces in the north as well, adding to regional instability.

“We have been working to support the negotiated integration of SDF forces into Syrian government forces,” the official posited; however, several previous such efforts have broken down and hostilities resumed. For his part, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi expressed optimism about this latest ceasefire.

“We convened a productive and constructive meeting in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with U.S. Ambassador [to Turkey] Tom Barrack and Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Central Command,” Abdi explained on X. “The support of the United States and President Trump’s policy for the ceasefire [is] of utmost significance and greatly appreciated. Additionally, Ambassador Barrack’s commendable efforts to facilitate dialogue and negotiations between us and the Syrian government are serious, essential and highly valued. We will diligently and with all our capabilities work to achieve genuine integration and maintain the current ceasefire.”

U.S. forces in Syria are mostly based in the northeast, but there is also a base in southern Syria, called Al-Tanf, located along the borders of Jordan and Iraq. U.S. forces across Syria have been subjected to attacks by Iranian-backed militias as well as ISIS, prompting frequent kinetic responses.

The current level of U.S. troops in Syria is about half what it was a year ago, when a U.S. official told us there were plans to drastically reduce the American footprint in that country. There may be a new effort underway that would eliminate the U.S. military presence from the country, where America and allies have been battling ISIS since it took over large swaths of land in Syria and Iraq in 2014.

“Washington is considering a complete withdrawal of American troops from Syria,” The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing anonymous U.S. officials. CENTCOM declined comment about that story when we asked.

The potential of having no troops in Syria raised alarms by some Republican senators worried that the lack of a U.S. presence in that country would create a dangerous security risk.

“Wow, if true, ISIS would love that,” Lindsey Graham (R-SC) exclaimed on X. “A small footprint of Americans working with locals is an insurance policy against the reemergence of ISIS and an attack on our homeland. I believe it’s time for a new approach and new eyes on Syria. I am confident that many senators – on both sides of the aisle – share my concerns about the implications of withdrawal when Syria is so unstable.”

Reducing the number of troops in Syria has been a goal of U.S. President Donald Trump. He called for a sudden, complete withdrawal during his first term in 2019, however, that was never fully implemented before he left office.

Whether Trump can pull off removing all U.S. forces from Syria during his second term remains to be seen. The country is still a very volatile place in a strategic area bordering Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey that has seen many parties wage hostilities there. And, as long as ISIS remains a force in Syria, it will continue to foster instability.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

Harry Styles has been a busy guy the last few years. Now there’s a new tour, album and single, “Aperture,” to show for it.

Important to his process? Widening his friend circle and going out dancing.

The writing process “came at a time when I was starting to, like, go out dancing a lot more,” Styles told BBC Radio 1 on Thursday. “Also, I was just hearing a lot of different types of music and I was … going to parties with friends and stuff.”

His music-related experiences started to influence his creative vibe at the same time that his producer “was working with a lot of modular synth stuff.” Where others might see simply a packed social life, for the former One Direction member it was a perfect, timed-up collision of influences that he found himself “really diving into.” He was going out, but also writing music at home, noodling on the piano.

“Especially if you’re a touring musician … your life slowly becomes more isolated. The corners just start coming in,” Styles told John Mayer on Friday on his SiriusXM show. “Whether it’s the people you trust or you know, your friendship circles get slightly smaller over time, just as people’s do when they grow up.

“I think for me the last couple years … was just about opening back up “

The resulting first single from “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” — named “Aperture” — was recorded last, he told various interviewers. It is a 5-minute, 11-second track that, like Bad Bunny’s “Baile Inolvidable,” defies current conventions that dictate that four minutes is plenty for a pop song, and three minutes is even better. But Styles seemed unconcerned.

“It was largely about having that reminder of this feeling of being in the audience,” Styles told Mayer of his time spent, um, researching. “What this means to people is so magical and that’s what I wanted. That’s the music that I wanted to make. I wanted it to feel like it was made from the dance floor.”

He described a shift in perception that allowed the new recording to emerge.

“I used to feel like I have to be in the studio for this set amount of time and cranking and doing these things,” the solo artist told Mayer. “And I think like a lot of things, it’s important to go, like, I’m not feeling something.

“I know people who write a song a day and do that thing. And I think I’ve kind of shifted a bit to OK, if I spend two weeks just living my life and then I write a song in a couple weeks and a song happens, I’m like, ‘Oh, this was the last couple weeks of my life.’”

The next year of his life, however, will include a tour that hits major cities around the world, with a 30-date residency at New York City’s Madison Square Garden this fall as his only stop in the United States. (His 15 sold-out shows last time around at MSG set a record and earned Styles a banner at the venue.)

Don’t complain too much, Americans: London got only six dates, albeit at the massive Wembley Stadium, while Amsterdam got six at Johan Cruyff Arena, which holds up to 71,000 people for concerts. Sao Paulo, Mexico City, and Sydney and Melbourne in Australia got two dates apiece.

NBC’s Steve Kornacki helped with the Together Together tour’s “breaking news” announcement Thursday about the New York dates, working the map kind of like an election night as he compared Style’s 30 MSG dates in 2026 to a mere 15 in 2022. The residency will run Aug. 28 through Halloween, with the Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 shows dubbed “Harryween,” Kornacki said. No mention of whether those shows will be any different than the others or if the khaki-pants-wearing data analyst was simply making a funny.

Commenters on Styles’ Instagram post announcing the tour definitely did not think there was anything funny about the tour announcement.

“this has got to be the silliest tour date lineup i’ve ever seen are you joking,” one commenter said.

“Okay I guess we won’t be seeing you then,” said another. “Love, All of Europe.”

A third riffed off the album title: “New York all the time. Other places, occasionally.”

And still another went off on the topic of the hour, affordability.

“with the way the world is going right now, especially in the USA, expecting fans to pay to travel far/to another country, pay hotels etc is unreal. not very ‘together together,’” the person wrote. “if there is a second leg, announce it before people drop mortgage payments for you.”

IF you want the camping live but with a bit of glam, then there’s one in Europe that is rated five stars.

Union Lido Mare sits on the outskirts of Venice and families call it ‘the best campsite ever’.

It is the first five-star campsite in Italy with capacity for 12,000 guests.

It’s a popular spot for families as there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained, it has swimming pools and more relaxing infinity pools.

The campsite also has two enormous waterparks called Aqua Park Laguna and Speedy Island.

Aqua Park Laguna has a swimming pool surrounded by white sand, a non-stop wave pool, and lots of different slides – some of which are 10 metres high.

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There are also water massage beds, waterfalls and Jacuzzis.

Speedy Island has fast slide towers, a lazy river, and it has a play castle with slides, fountains, and water games.

There are play areas too and multiple entertainment venues – including an outdoor theatre and activity spaces.

Funny World is the campsite’s theme park which has a games arena, a drop tower, rollercoasters, mini-golf and go-karts.

There’s a fully-equipped spa as well as around two dozen shops on the site – including two supermarkets – and a dozen cafes, bars and restaurants.

Guests can get competitive with the daily program full of sports, fitness and entertainment – like football, beach volleyball and archery.

There’s a special program for the youngsters too so no one is left out with activities for those from 18 months to 12 years old.

Each day ends with a Speedy Disco in the Amphitheatre.

One visitor wrote called it the “best campsite ever” and on their review wrote: “The aqua park is the best pool area I have ever visited.

“The beach area is great and I could go on all day. If your thinking about booking this place don’t hesitate.”

Another added: “A great place for families with kids. The water park on site keeps them entertained all day.”

Of course there’s a beach too which private, Blue Flag and stretches for just under a mile.

There’s a deckchair and umbrella rental on offer and free playgrounds on the sands too.

For anyone wanting to head there on holiday there are plenty of accommodation options from camping with pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes.

There’s also lodging options and even a 4-star hotel on-site.

The Art & Park Hotel 78 double rooms – the most basic rooms called Park Suite which sleep four people start from €160 (£138.71).

Opposite the hotel building, are the five Garden Suites with private pool, and four Pool Suites.

There are 24 Family Homes too which are two-story apartments which can sleep up to seven people.

Those staying in either the Art & Park Hotel and Family Homes get use the beach with umbrellas, reserved sun loungers and changing rooms.

The Union Lido Mare just celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, having first opened in 1955.

Here are five affordable campsites with some of the UK’s best views – and pitches from just £11.

For more campsites, this expert has stayed at 100 and this Spanish one is best one for families – it’s right on the beach & has no sunlounger wars.

Love at first flight! Romance struck for lucky Lisa and Jamie Hobbs when they met by chance on an £800 package holiday with TUI to Tenerife in 2019

“Who doesn’t love a package holiday? But I’m prepared to bet that my husband Jamie and I are bigger fans than most – we met and fell in love on one! Sun, sea, sand… and the prospect of lots and lots of sex – a package holiday has all the elements needed for romance,” says Lisa Hobbs, 58, a PA from Ferndown, Dorset.

“We both booked a five day weekend break to Tenerife with TUI in 2019, Jamie to a four star hotel in Adeje and me in the nearby Marylanza Hotel in Playa de las Americas. We paid around £800 each for flights and accommodation. Waiting to board the plane I kept seeing a good looking man. He was glancing at me too.

“So you can imagine my delight when, mid-flight, Jamie handed me his number – on a TUI sick bag. We started messaging straightaway and arranged to meet the next night at a bar. ‘If I can do a magic trick and move my glasses without touching, you have to give me a kiss,’ Jamie said.

“‘Even if he doesn’t, I’m still going to kiss him,’ I thought to myself. It was love at first sight. I’ll never forget that first smooch – there were fireworks. We met the next day, and the day after that.”

Once home, Jamie, 59, who owns a maintenance company, and Lisa only lived 90 minutes apart, so became inseparable. She says: “We were intimate for the first time around Christmas time, and it was better than any present. In September 2021, on the way to Lanzarote, Jamie proposed to me in the same spot in Bournemouth airport where we met. And in September 2023 we married on a boat in Cyprus – on a package holiday, no less!

“I wrote my wedding speech on a TUI sick bag – it seemed only right. Jamie is everything I ever wanted in a man. He has me howling with laughter and is kind and caring. He’s a great kisser too.

“After we got together, it became clear how meant to be we truly were. Both married before – we have three grown up daughters between us – our divorce papers came through within two weeks of each other. Before we met, Jamie went to an Absolute 80s weekend at Butlins. I was supposed to be there too, but dropped out at the last minute.

“And six months before we met in Tenerife, we’d both been at the same hotel in Majorca. In fact, when a friend of mine was clearing old videos off her phone about five years after Jamie and I met, she came across a video of him at that very hotel. There he was, my future husband, the love of my life, just waiting for me to meet him six months later on the package holiday that would change both our lives. We kept missing each other by inches.

“Our paths crossed so many times. If there was ever a couple that was meant to be… it’s us. And the romance bug is catching. Recently, we flew with TUI to Austria with my daughter Lauren and her partner, and they got engaged on top of a mountain – another package holiday proposal! They really are the perfect place for love. We’ve been the image of happiness ever since. I’m still blissfully in love with my package holiday romance.”

Jamie says: “‘You’re going marry that lady’, my friend whispered to me as we locked eyes in the departure lounge. He was right – it was a real sliding doors moment. Although, he was a bit annoyed when I was glued to my phone all holiday, texting Lisa. Ping, ping, ping it went – all day and all night he long.

We had a holiday cuddle and kiss in Tenerife. But it wasn’t til our festive romp back home that I realised I’d pulled a cracker. We’ve never really had a proper argument, and I pinch myself every day waking up with Lisa. Thanks to our serendipitous package holiday, we have everything we ever wanted.”

Rams receiver Davante Adams knows what it’s like to come close.

The 12th-year pro played in four NFC championship games with the Green Bay Packers.

And lost every time.

“It feels almost like a mythical thing to me at this point,” he said of reaching the Super Bowl. “You do everything you can to get there and it’s been so hard and I’ve been working so hard at it.”

Adams gets another opportunity Sunday when the Rams play the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Adams is part of a Rams offense led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, a finalist for the NFL most valuable player award, and receiver Puka Nacua, a finalist for NFL offensive player of the year.

But Adams, 33, could be the X-factor for the Rams.

After stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets, Adams signed a two-year contract with the Rams that included about $25 million in guarantees. It took a third of the season to establish a consistent connection with Stafford, but Adams led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches despite sitting out three games because of a hamstring injury.

His returned for the wild-card victory over the Carolina Panthers, and had a key catch last Sunday during the winning drive against the Chicago Bears.

“I started off with a great experience with the Packers and didn’t have anything else to compare it to so you don’t, in a sense, take it for granted,” Adams said of participating in the playoffs. “Being back in a position where you’re with a great team and in a great situation, you definitely have a greater appreciation for times like this.”

In four NFC championship games, Adams has 22 catches for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2015, he had one catch for seven yards in a 28-22 overtime defeat by the Seahawks in Seattle.

The next season, he caught three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown in a 44-21 loss to the Falcons in Atlanta.

In 2020, he caught nine passes for 138 yards in a 37-20 defeat by the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara.

And in 2021, he caught nine passes for 67 yards and a touchdown in a 31-26 loss to the Buccaneers in Tampa.

“A guy like Tae, a Hall of Fame player like him, you want a guy like that to experience getting a Super Bowl,” Rams safety Kam Curl said. “So that gives us a little bit more motivation, especially what he brings to this team. He deserves it.”

Rams wide receiver Davante Adams tries to run past Carolina Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom during the Rams’ NFC wild-card playoff win on Jan. 10.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

Because of the hamstring injury suffered four days before against the Detroit Lions, Adams was not on the field on Dec. 18, when the Seahawks defeated the Rams 38-37 in overtime at Lumen Field.

Stafford passed for 457 yards and three touchdowns and Nacua amassed 225 yards receiving and two touchdowns. But it wasn’t enough against a Seahawks team that would go on to claim the No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs.

“It crushed me,” Adams said of not being able to play, adding, “It’s not a good feeling as a receiver, especially as one that has been relied on a lot in the past to be able to put things together and ultimately get you where you want to be as a team.”

Rams coach Sean McVay is happy to have Adams back for the third game between the teams.

“Everybody feels and notices when he’s on the grass,” McVay said. “He’s just got this swag that I think elevates the energy of our overall group and team.”

The Rams are aiming to win and advance to the Super Bowl for the third time under McVay.

Stafford, a 17th-year pro, played 12 seasons with the Lions before he was finally able to play for a chance to advance to — and win — a Super Bowl.

Adams has a fifth opportunity.

“He got a lot closer than I did for a long time,” Stafford said, laughing, and adding, “I don’t have that same experience, but I do know that as you get older in this game and longer in the tooth a little bit, you just appreciate these moments.”

Adams does as well.

Now he and the Rams must close the deal.

“We’re close,” he said. “We just have to finish it off.”

For many, having the perfect travel outfit is crucial for a flight. Now, Ryanair has urged travellers to not wear one specific item and it’s left passengers confused

Staying snug and comfortable on a flight can be challenging, especially if you’re cramped up in a seat without moving much for a few hours. Luckily, your choice of outfit could significantly improve your overall comfort on the plane.

Despite being the fastest way to travel around the world, planes aren’t known for being a comfortable way to travel. Passengers will often find themselves squished into a tight seat for hours with no space to stretch their legs or prevent their bottoms from going numb. In reality, the only passengers who enjoy any real comfort are those who fork out for expensive first-class seats.

And if you’re deciding to travel on a more budget-friendly airline, such as Ryanair, the little comfort you already had might be a sacrifice you have to make in order to pay less for your travel, such as having less legroom or smaller seats. Because of this, the little comfort you have will become even more sacred those hours you spend on the flight.

However, the airline has now taken to social media to urge passengers to avoid wearing one type of clothing item on their flights, which has left people confused.

In the video that was published onto TikTok, the airline shared a video of a plane with the Ryanair logo descending over turquoise waters before landing at what appears to be Corfu airport.

Celebratory music is heard playing over the video, when a voice is then heard saying the classic phrase many passengers will have heard before: “Thank you for flying Ryanair”. This is the music and statement heard after every Ryanair flight.

“It’s 2026, let’s stop travelling in jeans,” the text on the video read, adding a ‘please’ in the caption.

However, this statement left fans confused, as several viewers quickly took to the comment section to question why they shouldn’t wear jeans when travelling.

“What is wrong with jeans please explain,” one viewer asked. To this, the airline replied: “what’s right with them?”

Turns out, several people agreed with the airline’s statement, as jeans aren’t the most comfortable item to wear, especially if you have to sit down for ours on end. In response, one viewer commented: “So real. I’ll never get it.”

“Agreed. It needs to be banned. Comfies only!” another person said, while someone else shared: “always wear leggings.”

Another viewer jokingly said: “Ok I’ll fly in my 18th century historically accurate outfit.”

However, not everyone agreed with Ryanair’s statement, as some went on to say that they would continue wearing jeans on flights.

“no it’s an hour let me live,” another viewer said, showing them wearing a pair of jeans on a Ryanair flight.

Another person said they would continue to wear jeans as they ‘wouldn’t fit’ inside their carry-on bag, and they didn’t want to pay the airline its infamous extra fee for a checked-in bag.

As Kenya prepares for its next general election, due in less than 20 months’ time, 2026 will prove to be a critical year. With local and global restraints on political violence being hollowed out at the very time when trust in the credibility of the election system is at an all-time low, serious trouble beckons unless urgent steps are taken.

Violence in Kenyan elections is rarely the product of that perennial bogeyman, tribalism. It is almost exclusively a state-generated phenomenon that requires a particular alignment of circumstances. Two matter above all else: first, whether the election itself is credible; second, whether the incumbent is running for re-election.

Since the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1991, Kenya has had seven competitive presidential elections. It was only in four of them that significant violence was witnessed; in all four, the inevitably unpopular incumbent was running. In 2002, 2013 and 2022, when no incumbent was on the ballot, violence was comparatively muted, even where the credibility of the election itself was contested.

The lesson is clear. It is the efforts to improve the credibility of the election and to enforce institutional restraints on state actors that are the best safeguard.

Kenya has come some way in this regard since the conflagration that followed the disputed 2007 election. The 2010 constitution introduced checks on the wanton exercise of state power, most importantly an independent judiciary, which has proven a credible venue for settling election disputes. Reforms to the election system to enhance transparency, most evident in the 2022 elections, have also taken some of the sting out of the polls.

Today, however, that progress is at risk. And President William Ruto is running for re-election.

Following a long delay, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was reconstituted in July last year, albeit not without controversy following the president’s initial decision to ignore a court order stopping the appointment of commissioners following a legal challenge to their suitability.

That stained the commission’s credibility from the very start. The shambolic and violent by-elections for dozens of empty seats of senators and national assembly members, which took place in November, further damaged public confidence in the commission as an independent referee. This needs urgent addressing.

But the credibility of the election is down to more than just the IEBC. The Kenyan media has an especially important role to play. For years, out of fear of antagonising those in power, major media houses have treated the announcement of vote tallies as an official function best left to electoral bodies. That timidity has repeatedly undermined public confidence in election outcomes.

The 2022 election was a missed opportunity. Even with polling-station results publicly available, Kenyan media appeared unable – or unwilling – to independently aggregate figures and explain what the numbers were saying in real time. In 2027, the media cannot continue to ignore its responsibilities. There is time to collaborate, rebuild capacity and invest in data journalism. They should prepare to independently verify results and call the election, even when that makes power uncomfortable.

Media weakness is also increasingly being exploited through online disinformation. And the tools are becoming far more powerful. Kenya is no stranger to election manipulation in the digital age. It was one of the testing grounds for Cambridge Analytica, whose microtargeting operations during the 2013 election helped normalise data-driven psychological campaigning long before the scandal broke globally.

Today, artificial intelligence raises the stakes dramatically. AI-driven disinformation can flood platforms with synthetic content, fabricate audio and video, impersonate trusted voices, and target communities with tailored narratives at speed and scale.

In environments where trust in institutions is already thin, disinformation does not merely mislead. It can destabilise. It can delegitimise results before votes are cast, provoke panic or mobilisation based on false claims, and provide justification for repression in the name of preserving public order. A strong, capable, reliable and effective media will be crucial in mitigating such impacts.

Regional and international institutions and pressures have also been critical in containing the violent appetites of Kenyan elites, but these are now in decay. Today’s global environment makes such restraint far less likely. Across East Africa, governments are normalising repression as elections approach. In neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda, authorities have acted with impunity to suppress dissent and election protests.

And this regional shift is occurring alongside a broader collapse in global accountability. Western backing for Israel’s genocide in Gaza has accelerated the erosion of international norms, undermined institutions such as the International Criminal Court, and created a permissive environment for malevolent actors.

Given these circumstances, Kenya must focus on shoring up its internal defences. Time is running out to insist on reforms to insulate independent state institutions from political interference. Though the Kriegler Commission, set up in the aftermath of the 2007/8 election, recommended that any changes to election rules should be concluded at least two years before the polls, we are already past that deadline.

Still, 2026 presents an opportunity to rebuild the coalitions that can mobilise citizen action as a bulwark against state repression. In the 1990s, these included civil society organisations, the church and the media.

The Gen Z protests showed that Kenyan youth can also be a potent political force and it is likely that we will see them out on the streets yet again this year. The question is whether their elders will join them in standing up against state machinations.

Violence next year is not inevitable. But preventing it requires urgent action to protect the gains in electoral transparency and mobilise popular action as a shield against abuse of state power.

The clock is ticking.

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

Protests in Iran have petered out. Tens of thousands have been arrested. And those accused of supporting the unrest have had business assets seized and are being pursued on “terrorism” charges. The authorities – for now – have reasserted control.

Yet, in the shadow of the apparent calm, the very same grievances that sparked the unrest remain, leaving Iran with little choice but to make tough compromises to win sanctions relief and fix the economy or face further upheaval, experts say. With a battered economy, a weakened network of regional allies and the looming threat of a US attack, Iran is at a crossroads.

“This is not a stable status quo – it’s just not tenable,” said Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group. “I am not predicting that the system will hit rock bottom tomorrow, but it’s in a spiral and from this point on, it can only go down if it refuses to change”.

The recent demonstrations erupted in late December when protests over a currency collapse morphed into a nationwide upheaval calling for the overthrow of the Islamic republic – Iran’s system of governance.

The authorities’ response led to one of the most violent confrontations since the country’s 1979 revolution.

Iranian state media said the protests had left 3,117 people dead, including 2,427 civilians and members of the security forces. US-based human rights activists say that more than 4,500 people have been killed. Al Jazeera was not able to independently verify the figures.

Economic crisis

Protests in past years, such as the unrest sparked by a fuel price hike in 2019 or the women-led demonstrations in 2022, were followed by the state dispensing subsidies and loosening up on social restrictions. But this time around, it has limited options for addressing the distress that sparked the recent demonstrations.

Due to decades of international sanctions, as well as mismanagement and corruption, the Iranian rial’s value has nose-dived, and oil revenues have shrunk. Inflation last year peaked at more than 42 percent, according to International Monetary Fund data. By comparison, the rate was at 6.8 in 2016 – a year after Iran and world powers signed a deal that curbed Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. US President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018 – during his first term in office – and reimposed sanctions.

On top of that, Iran suffers from electricity outages and chronic water shortages, making life increasingly difficult for the average citizen.

To get some sanctions relief, Iran needs to negotiate a deal with the Trump administration. But that would require Khamenei making concessions on what have been Iran’s core foreign policy pillars, namely its nuclear programme, ballistic missiles and supporting a network of allies across the region.

They have been key components of Iran’s “forward defence” strategy – a military doctrine aimed at preventing fighting from reaching Iranian territory. Changes to any of these elements would represent a profound shift in the security architecture built up by Khamenei. While in the past, the supreme leader has shown openness to partially curbing the nuclear programme, concessions over missiles and the so-called axis of resistance have been non-negotiable.

“It is unclear whether Iran is willing to formally accept restrictions” on these three elements, said Mohammad Ali Shabani, an Iran analyst and editor of news site Amwaj.media. “As Trump has threatened a renewed bombing campaign if Iran resumes enrichment, Khamenei seems paralysed in his decision-making,” he added.

Trump has said that he wants Iran to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure entirely, an option that Iran has ruled out, insisting that its enrichment programme is for civilian purposes.

Concerning support for non-state actors in the region, Iran has been working on reconfiguring that network following the war last June with Israel, said Halireza Azizi, visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Israel has, in the past few years, degraded the arsenal and decapitated the leadership of what was Iran’s strongest ally in the region, Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Non-state actors in Iraq have become more involved in that country’s political system and, therefore, more cautious, and the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has collapsed. And finally, Iran itself was directly attacked by Israel, the first time it has faced a full-scale attack from its chief regional enemy.

After that war, a heated debate on the actual benefit of working with non-state actors ensued in Iran, Azizi said. The argument that prevailed was that Iranian soil had been struck only after regional allies were weakened, and not before.

“So the policy 1769252794 is to double down and try to revive that network” with some modification, Azizi said.

The focus, he said, has shifted to working with smaller groups in Iraq, find new ways to transfer weapons to Hezbollah and rely more on the Houthis in Yemen. It is too soon, and information is too limited, to assess whether the protests and the threat of a US strike have changed that calculus, but official channels indicate that there have been no modifications.

Is change inevitable?

Talks between Iran and the US are not off the table. At the height of the protests, tensions soared after Trump hinted that he was about to strike Iran over what he said was Iran’s brutal crackdown. But he toned down the rhetoric after Gulf Arab nations pushed him to refrain from attacking Iran – a move they fear would plunge the region into chaos.

On Thursday, Trump signalled that channels between Washington and Tehran were open. “Iran does want to talk, and we’ll talk,” he said during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

But his remarks came as the US moves military assets to the Middle East, likely an attempt to strong-arm Iran into a deal. “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use them,” Trump said on Friday.

Still, should Iran end up making major concessions, the perception of security and legitimacy may be hard to restore. For years, the implicit social contract between the Iranian people and the system has been based on the guarantee of security at the expense of social and political freedom. But that pillar of legitimacy was shattered by last year’s war with Israel, when at least 610 people were killed in Iran over 12 days.

“The social contract between state and society in Iran has withered over the decades, and with the disruptions to basic services over the past year amid electricity and water crises, the provision of security is now also under question,” Shabani said. “To ensure its longevity, the Islamic Republic is thus faced with the broader challenge of having to explain to the public what it can provide, and why it must continue to exist”.

According to Azizi, a transformation has already started with the political system moving from a clerical into a military leadership as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – an elite force established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution – has grown into the country’s most powerful economic and political actor.

“After the death or removal of Khamenei, we are not going to see the Islamic Republic as we know it,” Azizi said.

“Whether that it’s gonna give more impetus to the people to come to the streets to initiate regime change, or it’s going to result in a Soviet-style scenario of regime transformation with the security establishment reemerging in a different form, that is an open question, but change is inevitable.”

Oscar nominations are officially out, meaning for the next couple of months social media feeds will be saturated with debates over who and what is worthy of a statue. Leading that discussion is another Ryan Coogler masterpiece, this time “Sinners,” which is up for a record-breaking 16 awards, including best picture.

Set in the Mississippi Delta during the Jim Crow era, the film is often characterized as a horror movie, which is understandable given the villain is a vampire. However, what elevates “Sinners” beyond the gore — what makes it a delicious piece of historical fiction — are the details woven into the story’s fabric. From the presence of the Indigenous Choctaw people to the segregated sides of the same street, Coogler paints a picture of 1930s America with a documentarian’s brush. In traditional horror movies, fright is centered and dialogue is a backdrop. “Sinners” prioritizes the moment in time in which the fright occurs — both visually and sonically — making it as much a period piece as it is a movie with vampires in it.

How many Oscars “Sinners” will win is good fodder for all that social media debate. However, what is not debatable — in fact, what is painfully clear — is that Coogler made the best picture for our times. That’s because at its core “Sinners” is a story about belonging — both who does and who does not. There are no grand speeches about diversity undergirded by uplifting music. Instead, Coogler methodically reminds the audience that this country has always been a multiracial kaleidoscope by meticulously portraying life in America just a century ago.

The vampire Remmick is more than just an antagonist with fangs.

He is the immigrant son of an Irish man whose homeland was stolen and faith stripped away during the centuries of English rule. We don’t know how old the vampire is. But we do know that by 1690 roughly 80% of Ireland’s best farmland had been confiscated and turned into large estates for wealthy colonizers, displacing millions of people in the process. We know in 1845, potato fields — the primary source of food for the poor — became infested with a devastating fungus that destroyed 40% of the crop. The following year, nearly all of the potato fields had been infected, leading to years of famine.

Between 1846 and 1851, more than a million Irish people died from starvation or disease. And we know the vast majority of them did not have to die.

For while the Irish people fell from hunger, the healthy crops that were grown on their land were shipped to England, to feed their oppressors. Mass evictions — punctuated by women and children being dragged out of their homes in the dead of winter by British soldiers — compounded the devastation they endured. Countless fled to America and elsewhere in the hope of a better life.

By today’s standards, some immigrated to this country legally.

Most did not.

Almost all were greeted with racist hostility, sometimes by Irish Americans who thought distancing themselves from their desperate countrymen would grant them favor from the very people who despised them. Some pseudoscience in the late 1800s portrayed Irish Americans as members of a different race from other Northern European immigrants; they were not viewed socially as fully white until World War I. That was made clear from the “Irish need not apply” signs displayed in windows. It was evident by the anti-immigrant platform the Know Nothing Party adopted.

Who are they, you ask?

Well, you remember the way then-candidate Donald Trump claimed he didn’t know anything about Project 2025 or the way MAGA Republicans such as House Speaker Mike Johnson greet awkward questions with claims of “don’t know” or “don’t recall”? That is a strategy ripped from the pages from some of the ugliest moments in American history, some spearheaded by the Know Nothing Party. Ours is a history in which New York robber barons used the promise of belonging to splinter the poor into factions and manipulate them into fighting among themselves during the Gilded Age.

Perhaps this is why Jake O’Kane, a comedian and columnist based in Northern Ireland, recently said this about Irish American immigration agents: “You have betrayed your great-grandfathers and mothers who traveled on ships as immigrants to the country where you now hunt down immigrants. There is no Irish in you. You are house slaves.… Field slaves, they don’t want to take care of the massa. They don’t want to take care of the house. They want to burn the house down. And that is where you originated from. That’s the people you came from and now you are nothing but … house slaves.”

The history of the Irish in America is also why the “Sinners” vampire Remmick — in an attempt to convince Black people living under Jim Crow to join him — said: “I am your way out. This world already left you for dead. Won’t let you build. Won’t let you fellowship. We will do just that. Together. Forever.”

His argument was based in a truth that is apparent today, which is why “Sinners” touched those of us who know what it’s like to be othered in society. For those of us watching some of the worst moments in this country’s history be repeated at the behest of modern-day robber barons making billions, while children are snatched out of schools and the poor fight among themselves.

It will be weeks before we find out whether “Sinners” is named 2025’s best picture. But we already know that it offers the clearest picture of the evil we see around us.

YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow

A Disneyland regular named Kellie Krueger has shared the three things she always do when arriving at the parks in order to avoid the worst of the queues that tourists might not know

The Disney parks make for a magical break as you wander past Sleeping Beauty’s castle, see your favourite characters and enjoy all the thrilling rides. However, due to the popularity of the different parks, you will most likely spend most of your time waiting in different queues and battling crowds of people.

To help, one Disneyland regular named Kellie Krueger, who often shared her go-to Disneyland tips with her thousands of followers under the username ‘@WeDontWearEars’, has shared her top tips on how you can best avoid the queues in the parks.

In one video, she went on to share three mistakes tourists often make before they even enter the park that results in spending more time than needed to get in.

“I’m a Disneyland local, I come to Disneyland at least once a week. So the way that I walk into the park is probably a little bit different than how you do it. Let me show you,” Kellie said at the start of her video, before going on to share her top tips to avoid queuing to get into Disneyland in California.

1. Alternative parking

“First of all, when I pulled up to head to Mickey and Friends [parking structure] today, would you look at that line?! Yeah, no,” she said as she drove past the long line of cars waiting to head into the popular Disneyland parking garage.

Instead, Kellie continued to drive right on Magic Way, which took her to the Pixar Pal’s entrance, which is only open between 8-11am every day. However, as she was in the that timeframe, she revealed the queueing only took her 10 minutes.

“I like to pull all the way over to the right, because that lane splits into two and you get through a lot faster,” she revealed.

As she later parked her car and got going, she revealed she always go to the second level to walk across the bridge and into the park instead of waiting for the trams.

2. Take ‘hidden’ second entrance with shorter queue

“But when I got there, that line was, yeah that’s a little too long for me,” Kellie said as she zoomed in the camera of the long line of people wanting to get into the park.

Because of this, she revealed that she walks over to a second entrance, referring to the security checkpoint, near the entrance to the Disneyland Hotel. She explained that before 7am, it’s only available for hotel guests. But the rest of the day, it’s free for any other visitor to use.

She then revealed that she didn’t want to walk all the way to the park, and is instead going on the monorail, which is free for all guests to use.

“I also sat facing the loading platform so I could get views like this on my way in,” she said, showing clips of her incredible view of the park attractions.

3. Pre-order your food

And as she got off, Kellie told viewers that she’d pre-ordered her lunch on the way to the park, and that was now ready to be picked up, which allowed her to avoid the long line of people waiting to order their food at Jolly Holiday at 11am. As she pre-ordered from her phone, she was allowed to take the significantly shorter line for mobile order, walking straight up to the counter to get her food.

But due to the popularity of the restaurant, there were no tables available for her to sit down and eat her food at the restaurant. So she quickly walked across the street to the Plaza Inn patio, which had plenty of tables free to use.

“You can’t do that in the morning during the character breakfast, but during lunch and dinner hours, they don’t care. It’s not a big deal,” Kellie explained.

Tottenham defender Ben Davies has undergone a second operation on a broken ankle and is a doubt for the World Cup should Wales qualify.

The 32-year-old was given oxygen before being carried off on a stretcher after 19 minutes of last weekend’s 2-1 Premier League defeat by West Ham United.

Davies has undergone further surgery that is liable to rule him out of Wales’ March World Cup play-off games and casts doubt on his Tottenham future.

The former Swansea defender has been at Spurs for 12 years, playing 448 games, but is out of contract at the end of the season, with the North London club in talks to sign Liverpool left back Andy Robertson.

Wales face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final at Cardiff City Stadium on 26 March, with the winners at home to Northern Ireland or Italy in the final on 31 March.

Wales manager Craig Bellamy recently described Davies as his “best player,” with Davies the only member of the current Wales squad to reach 100 caps.

Jan. 23 (Asia Today) — China’s youth unemployment rate remained elevated in December but declined for a fourth consecutive month, offering limited signs of improvement amid continued labor market pressure on young job seekers.

The unemployment rate for urban residents aged 16 to 24, excluding students, stood at 16.5% in December, down 0.4 percentage points from November, according to data released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics. Despite the decline, the figure remains in double digits, underscoring ongoing employment challenges.

The rate had fallen to 14.5% in June last year before rebounding sharply, peaking at 18.9% in August. It then eased to 17.7% in September, 17.3% in October and 16.9% in November, marking December as the lowest level recorded since the second half of last year.

By age group, unemployment among those aged 25 to 29 declined by 0.3 percentage points to 6.9% in December, while the rate for those aged 30 to 35 edged up 0.1 percentage points to 3.9%. China’s overall urban unemployment rate came in at 5.1%, below a government forecast of 5.5%.

Wang Pingping, director of population and employment statistics at the National Bureau of Statistics, said seasonal factors contributed to earlier increases.

“Unemployment typically rises in the first quarter due to winter conditions and the Lunar New Year holiday,” Wang said, adding that hiring activity improved after the holiday period and stabilized following graduation season in the third quarter.

China’s youth unemployment drew heightened attention after the rate reached a record 21.3% in June 2023. Authorities subsequently suspended publication of the data before resuming releases later that year using a revised methodology that excludes students enrolled in secondary and higher education.

The rate remains historically high, prompting the government to expand employment support measures. Human Resources and Social Security Minister Wang Xiaoping said recently that authorities will continue policies such as employment retention subsidies, tax and fee reductions, and lower unemployment and industrial accident insurance premiums.

However, analysts say the impact of such measures may be limited by the growing number of job seekers. China’s Ministry of Education estimates this year’s university graduate cohort will reach a record 12.7 million, with graduate numbers expected to continue rising until peaking in 2035.

As competition intensifies, increasing numbers of young people are turning to the national civil service examination, known as the Guo Kao, in pursuit of stable employment. Applications totaled 3.718 million last year, surpassing graduate school applicants for the first time in a decade.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

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

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

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

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

Screengrab from footage shows Israeli captive Omri Miran

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

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

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

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

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

KATIE PRICE’s ex-boyfriend JJ Slater has said “do not disturb”, after his ex revealed her shock engagement to another man – just weeks after their split.

The former glamour model, 47, shocked her followers when she announced she was set to get married for a FOURTH time, after she broke things off with MAFS star JJ.

The Sun revealed how Katie ‘s mysterious fiance is Dubai-based businessman Lee Andrews.

Yesterday, the mum-of-five sent her fans into a frenzy after sharing a series of engagement snaps on her Instagram stories.

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

But Katie and Lee’s whirlwind romance comes just weeks after she split from JJ.

GETTING HELP

Katie Price health update as she admits ‘I look ill’ after huge weight loss

GLOWING UP

Katie Price’s ex JJ Slater reveals post break-up weight loss as he sheds pounds

The pair had been together almost two years, before Katie called time on their relationship as she “wasn’t loved-up”.

The news that his ex-girlfriend has already moved on with another man is quite a tough pill to swallow, let alone that she is engaged already.

So, in a bid to get away from it all, JJ has taken himself away to get some winter sun.

The Married At First Sight star shared a clip of himself going on a hike.

He set the short video to Drake‘s song Do Not Disturb, as a way of him saying he needs to be alone, following Katie’s news.

JJ wrote over the top of the clip: “Staying on track even when daily routine changes.

“Simple, achievable and enjoyable plans put together, all I have to do is do the work.”

THE SPLIT

After weeks of speculation JJ and Katie had split, she finally spilled the beans on her podcast earlier this month.

Speaking on the The Katie Price Show, she said: “I don’t wanna waste my time.

“You know, if I’m not loved up and it’s not going, these are mistakes I’ve made in the past.

“You stay, just go along, and then it ends up getting nasty.

“Yeah. And I don’t want that. So I’d rather have nipped it in the bud sooner rather than later.

“But yeah, I was there at Christmas, because, you know, the family and stuff, because it was already arranged, but it was over ages ago, really.”

SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT

In true Pricey style, she has wasted no time in moving onto the next man – and this time she wants to make new guy Lee her husband number four.

Katie sent fans into meltdown when she shared photos sporting a HUGE engagement ring.

She posted a picture from Dubai, with the caption “My Richard Gear [sic] swept off my feet. Manifesting does work”.

One of the pictures shows her holding hands with Lee, which boasted a tattoo of her name.

Lee also shared the same snaps on his own stories as well as the first picture of them both together.

He tagged her in the post as well adding a engagement ring emoticon.

This is the ninth time Katie has been engaged, and it will be the fourth time she ties the knot if the couple make it down the aisle.

Katie Price’s relationship history

We take a look back at the highs and lows of Katie Price’s relationship history.

1996-1998: Katie got engaged to Gladiators star Warren Furman – aka Ace – with a £3,000 ring. But their relationship didn’t make it as far as ‘I do’.

1998-2000: Katie described Dane Bowers as ‘the love of her life’ but she broke up with the singer after he allegedly cheated on her.

2001: Footballer Dwight Yorke is the father of Katie’s eldest child Harvey. He has had very little to do with his son throughout his life.

2002: Rebounding from Dwight, Katie famously had one night of passion with Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, allegedly taking his virginity.

2002-2004: Katie was dating Scott Sullivan when she entered the jungle for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!. He threatened to “punch Peter’s lights out” when chemistry blossomed between her and Peter Andre.

2004-2009: The jungle romance resulted in Katie marrying Aussie pop star Peter. They had two kids, Junior and Princess, before their bitter split in 2009.

2010-2011: Fresh from her break-up with Peter, Katie enjoyed a whirlwind relationship and marriage with cage fighter Alex Reid. They split 20 months after their Las Vegas wedding.

2011: Katie briefly dated model Danny Cipriani… but it ended as quickly as it begun.

2011-2012: They didn’t speak the same language, but Katie got engaged to Argentinian model Leandro Penna in 2011. He later fled home to South America.

2012-2018: Wedding bells rang once more after Katie met Kieran Hayler in 2013. They had two kids together, Jett and Bunny, before their break-up and divorce.

2018-2019: Katie moved on quickly with Kris Boyson. They had an on-off romance for one year and even got engaged. They split for good in 2019.

2019: Katie was linked to Charles Drury during her on-off relationship with Kris. Charles, who also dated Lauren Goodger, has always denied being in “official relationship” with her.

2020-2023: Car salesman Carl Woods took a shine to Katie in 2020. Their relationship was up and down for three years. They broke up for a final time last year.

2024-2026: After weeks of rumours, Katie confirmed her relationship with Married At First Sight star JJ Slater in February 2024. The pair split in January 2026 after two years together.

2026: Katie shocked fans when she revealed she is engaged to businessman Lee Andrews.

A SKI trip with a toddler might sound like a meltdown in the making.  

Tantrums in ski boots? Dragging a buggy through slush? No thanks. 

But our trip to Les Arcs in the French Alps proved otherwise. With a relaxed pace, the right resort and a dose of flexibility, a first family ski holiday can actually be . . . relaxing. 

Here’s how we pulled it off without losing our minds. 

TAKE THE TRAIN 

OUR trip started on the Eurostar from London St Pancras, and it was immediately clear — trains win.  

No long security line, no liquid bans, no making your kid take off their shoes.  

SLOPE IN

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PARK UP

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Just space to move, tables for colouring books and no need to wrestle luggage into an overhead bin. 

Sure, nine hours door to door with a three-year-old is a risky proposition — but it beats cramming into a car or navigating the airports followed by an alpine taxi transfer.  

This is especially true if you’re heading to Les Arcs.  

It’s the only French Alpine resort that you can travel to, door to door, entirely by rail from the UK, thanks to a seven-minute funicular connecting Bourg-Saint-Maurice station straight to the slopes. 

BREAK UP THE JOURNEY 

IN winter, Eurostar runs a so-called “direct” Snow Train, but only on Saturdays — and it involves a nine-hour slog with a change in Lille. With a toddler? Forget it. 

Instead, we took things slow and made a proper trip of it. We stopped overnight in Paris, staying at a brilliant Nestay apartment in Sentier — right on car-free Rue St Denis, a vibey street packed with bakeries and wine bars. 

Sprinkle in a little sightseeing and the journey quickly became part of the holiday, making the extra cost of train travel over flights feel worth it. 

RIDE THE FUN-ICULAR 

THE next morning, we hopped on the Paris Metro (now far more luggage and buggy-friendly thanks to Olympic upgrades) to Gare de Lyon, where we boarded the high-speed TGV to Bourg-Saint-Maurice.  

It’s a stunning five-hour ride. Our daughter, Lena, was glued to the window until she wasn’t — then it was iPad and Frozen on repeat. 

The queues in the cafe car are horrific, so top tip, order your snacks from your seat via the TGV website to skip the line.  

At Bourg, the real magic began. The funicular (a cross between a mountain tram and a Disneyland ride, which Lena loved) zipped us up to the resort. 

STAY SOMEWHERE CAR-FREE 

ARC 1950 won’t win awards for authenticity — it’s purpose-built, complete with ye olde clock tower and a fountain — but it’s perfect for families.  

The whole resort is pedestrian-only. That meant our three-year-old could wander around safely or make snowballs in the town square while we kicked back with a glass of wine. 

Our base for the week, the Pierre et Vacances Premium residence, was a win, with spacious modern apartments featuring a heated outdoor pool and a friendly vibe among lots of other families. 

LET SOMEONE ELSE COOK 

SKI holidays tend to give you two options — eye-watering restaurant bills or hours in the kitchen. 

Enter Huski — a food delivery service that drops oven-ready meals straight to your apartment.  

Think lasagne, curries, shepherd’s pie or even a full three-course dinner.  

Prices start at €8 per meal for simple mains, or around €20 for three courses.  

We stocked up online before we arrived, meaning more time on the slopes and less money dining out. 

BE FLEXIBLE – DON’T JUST SKI  

DESPITE the fantastic, friendly staff, Lena found her ski lesson at Yeti Camp was a bit of a shock. So we let her take it slow.  

On day three, we instead headed to Bois de l’Ours for brunch — great coffee, plush sofas and excellent Vietnamese noodle bowls. 

Les Arcs offers plenty to do for little kids and big kids besides skiing.  

While one of us hit the Arc 2000 zipline (terrifying but epic), the other explored the resort’s outdoor hot tubs and spas.  

There’s also sledging, tree-top adventure parks and play areas. 

While our ski holiday with a toddler wasn’t completely stress-free, a few smart choices made it more chilled than I ever imagined

Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from her Australian Open third-round match shortly before she was due to take the court against home qualifier Maddison Inglis.

Japan’s Osaka, 28, has cited a left abdominal injury for pulling out.

The announcement came about two hours before the pair were expected to take to Rod Laver Arena in Saturday’s night session.

“I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match,” Osaka, who was seeded 16th, wrote on Instagram.

“I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart but I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court.”

Inglis, 28, is ranked 168th in the world and moves into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

Having been overlooked by Tennis Australia for a wildcard, she came through three qualifying rounds and will now face either Polish second seed Iga Swiatek or Russian 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya for a place in the quarter-finals.