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.

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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.  

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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.

Jan. 24 (UPI) — On this date in history:

In 1848, gold was discovered at John Sutter’s mill near Sacramento. The discovery touched off the great gold rush of 1849.

In 1908, the first Boy Scout troop was organized in England by Robert Baden-Powell, a general in the British army.

In 1916, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an income tax was constitutional.

File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

In 1939, 20 divisions of General Francisco Franco’s Fascist armies smashed through the Llobregat River defense line west of Barcelona, closing in on Spain’s most important city.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy denied that the United States had planned to provide air cover for the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, a charge made by Anti-Castro refugee leaders, including Antonio de Varona, vice president of the Cuban Revolutionary Council, but later withdrawn.

In 1984, Apple’s Macintosh computer went on sale. Price tag: $2,495.

In 1993, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black American to serve on the nation’s highest court, died of cardiac arrest at age 84.

In 2008, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned after losing a confidence vote in the Senate.

File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI

In 2011, a suicide bomb attack at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport international arrival gate killed 37 people and injured more than 170 others.

In 2013, a federal judge in Chicago sentenced U.S. citizen David Coleman Headley to 35 years in prison for his role in a 2008 terror attack that killed 160 people in Mumbai.

In 2018, a Michigan judge sentenced former Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to up to 175 years in prison for molesting some 168 women and girls.

File Photo by Rena Laverty/EPA-EFE

In 2024, Russian authorities said all 74 passengers on a military aircraft carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed when the plane was shot down in the southern Belgorod region of Russia. The Russian government blamed Ukrainian forces for shooting down the Ilyushin II-76 military transport, but Ukraine never fully took responsibility.

In 2025, less than a week in office, President Donald Trump fired the inspectors general from at least a dozen federal agencies. Eight of the watchdogs sued Trump, saying he violated a federal law that requires 30 days notice for such terminations. A federal judge found the president violated the law but didn’t require him to reinstate the inspectors general.

Small Business Administration Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware testifies before the Small Business Committee in Washington, D.C., on July 13, 2023. Ware was one of eight inspectors general who sued President Donald Trump for illegally firing the watchdogs. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

More than a dozen states sound the alarm, declaring emergencies or urging people to stay home.

More than 8,000 flights set to take off over the weekend have been cancelled as a major storm bears down across the United States, threatening widespread heavy snow and a band of catastrophic ice stretching from east Texas to North Carolina.

At least 3,400 flights were delayed or cancelled on Saturday, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware, and more than 5,000 were called off for Sunday.

Roughly 140 million people from New Mexico to New England were under a winter storm warning, as forecasters say damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival that of a hurricane.

Snow fell ‍over parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas on ‍Friday ahead of a winter storm expected to converge with bitter Arctic cold and engulf much of the US over the weekend.

“This is a mean storm,” Jacob Asherman, a meteorologist at the US Weather Prediction Center in Maryland, told Reuters news agency. He said it was the biggest so far this ​season in terms of intensity and scope.

Life-threatening wind-chill readings had plunged to below minus 45 degrees Celsius (minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The meteorologist warned that exposure to such cold without proper clothing “can lead to hypothermia very, very quickly”.

The ‍worst was predicted for parts ⁠of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, where ice up to an inch thick was likely to coat tree limbs, power lines and roadways, Asherman said.

Governors in more than a dozen states sounded the alarm, declaring emergencies or urging people to stay home. Texas Governor Greg Abbott told residents on X that the state Department of Transportation was pretreating the roads and urged residents to “stay home if possible”.

Utility companies braced for power outages because ice-coated trees and power lines can keep falling long after a storm has passed.

President Donald Trump said via social media on Friday that his administration was coordinating with state and local officials and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was “fully prepared to respond”.

The storm represents the ‍first major test for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office just weeks ago.

He told local news station NY1 on Friday that the city’s sanitation workforce would transform into “the nation’s largest snow-fighting operation” in advance of the heavy snowfall expected on Sunday.

FOOTBALL, music, TV, fashion, food and great nightlife… Manchester has everything you could want from a great city break.

But for those looking to stray off the beaten tourist track, we asked a few born-and-bred locals, including two very famous soap stars, for the city’s best hidden gems.

James Pelham, founder of Manchester Bites Food Tours, which shows visitors around the city on three-hour eating and drinking tours, reveals his hidden foodie gems:

Peveril of the Peak pub on Chepstow Street

This great pub is green tiled on the outside and looks a bit out of place amongst all the new glass offices.

It’s run by the city’s longest-serving landlady and it’s always got a good crowd in. I’ve been going there since I was a teenager.

Rad’s Caribbean on Jersey Street in Ancoats

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This hole in the wall Caribbean takeaway is run by the nicest family and offers proper home cooked Caribbean food.

The portions are huge, they really should charge more. In the summer, you can go to nearby Islington Marina and eat your lunch there.

Kabana curry cafe on Back Turner Street

Manchester has a few little curry cafes that opened up in the 1980’s to cheaply feed the growing population of South Asian workers. Thankfully we’ve still got them.

Rice ‘n’ Three (a plate topped with rice and three curries) is one of the best lunches in the city and places like This & That and Kabana fight it out for people’s favourites.

The lamb Karai at Kabana is worth travelling a long way for, but it’s only available on Sundays. 

Great North Pie Company in Kampus

Winner of pie of the year and dozens of other awards, this is a great spot for a quick lunch or a few pints in the summer.

They change a few of the pies up seasonally as well so worth a few visits a year.

The Jane Eyre cocktail bar, Cutting Room Square

A nice little neighbourhood cocktail bar on Cutting Room Square in Ancoats. Good beer and food as well. 

Josh Martin, Founder of Free Manchester Walking Tours, has shown everyone around the city, from the Uruguayan rugby team to Noel Gallagher. Here are his top five hidden gems:

Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square

I know what you’re thinking…What’s so hidden about Manchester Central Library?

But there are so many hidden offerings, including the BFI’s media library, interactive history archive, the Henry Watson music library (including keyboards!), and Manchester Visitor Information Centre with a nice gift selection.

Social Refuge on Great Ancoats Street

A coffee shop, bar and bookshop on the blossoming Great Ancoats Street, that hosts regular events such as live music, pub quizzes, comedy, book signings and talks.

Tib Street in the Norther Quarter

Lemn Sissay’s poetry is in the pavement, ceramic birds on the walls, the Northern Quarter’s unique street signage, and a huge mural from Manchester’s ‘City’s of Hope’ street art festival.

Tib Street’s shops include a high-end butchers, hipster coffee, a florist, a buddhist bookshop, vintage sports fashion, and the institution that is Afflecks Palace.

This & That curry house on Soap Street

Tucked away down a backstreet, This & That is the originator of Manchester’s ‘rice ‘n’ three’ curry houses that gained popularity through the 1980s.

For around a fiver you’ll get three incredible curries and rice, as well as a good chat with whoever you end up sat next to on the table.

Mayfield Park

Manchester’s green spaces might be small, but they make up for it with intrigue.

Perhaps best of all is Mayfield Park, which incorporates our industrial heritage, ancient wildflowers, wetland spaces, and play areas that invite the whole family to enjoy the outdoors.

Diane Dernie, the mother of former paratrooper Ben Parkinson, appeared on BBC Breakfast to address Donald Trump’s recent comments on the actions of Nato troops

A mum whose son sustained “catastrophic injuries” while serving in Afghanistan spoke out on BBC Breakfast following Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about Nato forces.

The US president faced widespread criticism after suggesting that Nato troops had “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines”.

Diane Dernie, mother of ex-paratrooper Ben Parkinson, appeared on the BBC programme on Saturday (January 24) to address the claims, describing her reaction as one of “shock” and “disbelief”.

Host Charlie Stayt introduced Diane by noting that Ben is “regarded as the most severely injured British soldier to survive in Afghanistan”, reports the Express.

Diane explained: “Ben was in Helmand Province in 2006, so 19 and a half years ago, when his Land Rover was caught in a landmine explosion. Catastrophic injuries, 37 separate injuries, the loss of both his legs, severe brain injury, spinal injuries, and given a zero chance of survival.

“Ben overcame everything, and now Ben has a marvellous life. He raises awareness, he raises money for military charities and supports his local schools. He has a good and he has a worthwhile life.

“But he didn’t pick up those injuries way behind the front line.”

When questioned about her reaction to Trump’s statements, she responded: “Well, when we first read what he’s written, it was shock. Disbelief that someone could say something so utterly wrong.

“But then, when you actually see the interview, when you see his affect, and you listen to his tone of voice, this man just shows utter disrespect, disparaging the effort and the sacrifice that our troops made. And you just wonder how a man in his position can be so wrong.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has responded to Trump’s remarks, branding them “insulting and frankly appalling”.

Speaking to Charlie and co-presenter Rachel Burden, Diane said: “We very much appreciate and agree with everything that Sir Keir Starmer said yesterday, but we want him to address that directly to Donald Trump.”

Charlie asked: “He (Starmer) said that if he had said words like that, he would be apologising. What’s the step you want him to take, Sir Keir Starmer?”

Diane replied: “That’s what he should be telling Donald Trump directly. That he should retract and apologise for his comments.”

BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on the BBC.

San Francisco 49ers legend John Brodie has died at the age of 90.

The quarterback was the 1970 NFL MVP and spent all his 17 NFL seasons with the 49ers.

Brodie led the NFL with 2,941 yards and 24 touchdowns during his MVP season and his number 12 jersey was retired by San Francisco when he ended his playing career in 1973.

“The 49ers family is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the franchise’s all-time great players, John Brodie,” said 49ers co-chairman Dr John York.

“As a kid, my 49ers fandom began by watching John play quarterback on television. He displayed an incredible commitment toward his teammates and his support of the organisation never wavered after his playing days.

“John became a dear friend of mine, and he will always be remembered as an important part of 49ers history. We express our deepest condolences to his wife Sue and the entire Brodie family.”

A new Pentagon strategy document softens tone on traditional foes, China and Russia.

The United States military will prioritise protecting the homeland and deterring China while providing “more limited” support to allies in Europe and elsewhere, according to a Pentagon strategy document.

The 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) released on Friday marks a significant departure from past Pentagon policy, both in its emphasis on allies taking on increased burdens with less backing from Washington and its softer tone towards traditional foes, China and Russia.

“As US forces focus on homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific, our allies and partners elsewhere will take primary responsibility for their own defense with critical but more limited support from American forces,” it said.

The new document urges “respectful relations” with Beijing and describes the threat from Russia as a “persistent but manageable” one affecting NATO’s eastern members.

It makes no mention of US ally Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

The previous NDS, released under President Donald Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, described China as Washington’s most consequential challenge and said Russia posed an “acute threat”.

The Trump administration’s strategy document takes aim at the past administration for neglecting border security, saying this led to a “flood of illegal aliens” and widespread narcotics trafficking.

“Border security is national security,” and the Pentagon “will therefore prioritise efforts to seal our borders, repel forms of invasion, and deport illegal aliens,” it said.

The 2026 NDS also includes no mention of the dangers of climate change, which Biden’s administration had identified as an “emerging threat”.

Like Trump’s national security strategy, which was released last month, the NDS elevates Latin America to the top of the US agenda.

The Pentagon “will restore American military dominance in the Western Hemisphere. We will use it to protect our Homeland and our access to key terrain throughout the region,” it said.

The document mentions the “Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine”, a reference to the declaration two centuries ago that Latin America was off limits to rival powers.

Since returning to office last year, Trump has repeatedly employed the US military in Latin America, ordering a shocking raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as well as strikes on more than 30 alleged drug-smuggling boats that have killed more than 100 people.

Trump’s administration has provided no definitive evidence that the sunken vessels were involved in drug trafficking, and international law experts and rights groups say the strikes likely amount to extrajudicial killings, as they have apparently targeted civilians who do not pose an immediate threat to the US.

Caracas, January 23, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan healthcare workers marched to the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Caracas on Thursday to demand the release of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores following their kidnapping by US forces on January 3.

During the march, nurse Betsy Caraballo emphasized her desire for the president’s return “to continue with his public policies,” particularly those focused on the healthcare sector. 

“The empire must release him because this was a kidnapping. He is a constitutional president and the people are calling for his return,” she told reporters. Multiple grassroots and sectoral organizations have staged marches in recent weeks to support Maduro and Flores while condemning their kidnapping.

Upon reaching the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office, the demonstrators, accompanied by Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the president’s son and National Assembly deputy, delivered a letter addressed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.

The letter urged the UN official to publicly condemn both the violation of international law principles and the infringement of Maduro and Flores’ personal immunity and integrity. It also demanded the immediate release of both officials by the United States government.

A day earlier, renowned Argentine professor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel requested that UN Secretary-General António Guterres urgently establish a commission to investigate the conditions of detention and treatment of the Venezuelan president and the first lady, who is also an elected legislator.

In his communication, Pérez Esquivel stressed that this expert human rights commission must safeguard the well-being of Maduro and Flores following their “kidnapping” in an operation that “violated Venezuela’s sovereignty.”

Washington’s January 3 attacks saw military and civilian sites bombed in Caracas and surrounding areas, killing over 100 people. Maduro and Flores were indicted on charges including drug trafficking conspiracy, and both pleaded not guilty in their arraignment hearings on January 5. The trial will resume on March 17.

US officials have never presented evidence of the involvement of high-ranking Venezuelan officials in narcotics activities, while specialized agencies have consistently found the Caribbean nation to play a marginal role in global drug trafficking.

Diplomacy for resolving “differences”

US officials followed the January 3 military operation by imposing conditions on the Venezuelan oil industry and vowing to control crude sales for an indefinite period. Simultaneously, Caracas and Washington have moved forward in the reestablishment of diplomatic ties.

Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has repeatedly defended the importance of diplomacy. During a televised broadcast on Wednesday, Rodríguez pledged to engage with US counterparts with “no fear.”

“We are in a process of dialogue with the US, with no fear of facing our differences, from the most sensitive to the least sensitive ones, through diplomacy,” she stated. Venezuelan leaders have sought to highlight the legacy of independence hero Simón Bolívar as a guiding principle for diplomatic efforts.

For his part, US President Donald Trump praised the ongoing relationship with the Venezuelan authorities on Thursday aboard Air Force One, hailing Rodríguez for demonstrating “very strong leadership.”

Trump’s comments followed a Wednesday White House announcement that Rodríguez is expected to make an official visit to the US, although “no date has been set.” The purported official trip would be the first by a Venezuelan president to the US in over a quarter-century.

At the same time, the White House continued its Venezuela policies with the appointment of diplomat Laura Dogu as chargé d’affaires at the US Venezuela Affairs Unit, based in Colombia. This unit has been responsible for managing relations between the two countries since the suspension of diplomatic relations in 2019.

Dogu, who is lined up to take over as ambassador if ties are restored, began her diplomatic career in the 1990s. She has served as an ambassador to various Latin American countries over the last decade and succeeds John McNamara, who had held the post since February 2025. McNamara traveled to Venezuela earlier this month to discuss the potential reopening of the US embassy with Venezuelan authorities.

Venezuela suspended diplomatic relations with the US in 2019 after the Trump administration recognized the self-proclaimed “interim government” led by Juan Guaidó as the country’s legitimate authority. Embassies and consulates have remained closed since then. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello recently stated that efforts to reopen the embassies are “progressing.”

The Trump administration’s January 3 attacks drew domestic criticism and renewed congressional efforts to curtail the White House’s use of military force abroad. However, a War Powers Resolution failed to garner a majority in the House of Representatives on Thursday. A previous initiative was likewise narrowly defeated in the Senate.

The first of its kind nature reserve in West Yorkshire has been named one of the ‘wonders of the world’ to visit in 2026 and it’s a traveller’s paradise.

A stunning nature reserve, whose landscape famously inspired the Brontë sisters, is being touted as a must-see for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers.

This pioneering nature reserve in West Yorkshire has been making waves after recently being named one of the wonders of the world to visit in 2026 by esteemed international travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller.

The picturesque reserve was established in May 2025 as part of King Charles’ initiative of 25 National Nature Reserves (NNRs), designed to conserve wildlife and celebrate UK landscapes by providing enhanced protection to the unique topography within these designated areas.

Covering 3,148 acres (1,274 hectares) – roughly double the size of Ilkley Moor – the reserve connects eight natural sites within the Bradford and South Pennines area, including the famous Penistone Country Park in Haworth, once home to the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne.

The Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve brings together Trench Meadows, Ilkley Moor, Bingley Bog North, St Ives Estate, Baildon Moor, Shipley Glen, Harden Moor and Penistone Country Park, reports Yorkshire Live.

A whopping 90% of the Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve’s safeguarded area consists of priority UK habitats such as wetlands, peat bogs, and heathland.

A significant 42% of this reserve is newly protected, with around 58% (738 hectares) of land recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

This pioneering nature reserve is the first of its kind, safeguarding endangered wildlife species such as curlews, adders, and golden plovers by providing them with interconnected habitats and enhanced protection.

Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve, the only UK location to feature on Condé Nast Traveller’s list, finds itself in esteemed company alongside breathtaking destinations like the Faroe Islands and El Salvador’s El Imposible National Park.

The publication lauded the nature reserve, stating: “One of the reigning monarch’s ongoing Kings Series of nature reserves, the Bradford Pennines Gateway is part of a nationwide initiative to protect and celebrate the UK’s natural heritage, enhance biodiversity, and give local communities better access to nature.”

Rather like King Charles himself, there’s something stoic and un-showy about this 1,272-hectare region, resided in, and beloved by, the Brontë sisters and encompassing Ilkley Moor, Penistone Hill Country Park, Harden Moor and Bingley North Bog.”

Characterising the reserve as “landscapes of unhurried drama”, the publication heaped praise on its “undulating moors, wind-polished gritstone tors and views that collapse into long, moody distances broken only by the slow, stately flap of a marsh harrier”. It concluded: “If Britain ever needed proof that the everyday could still surprise, the Bradford Pennines Gateway delivers with quiet aplomb.”

The stunning Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve is the fruitful result of a collaboration between Bradford Council and Natural England, boasting an impressive array of biodiversity set against breathtaking views.

Dubbed as a ‘2026 Wonder of the World’, this reserve is a perfect retreat for nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers, offering an exciting day out discovering its diverse wildlife.

The village in West Cork is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Ireland, thanks to its renowned multicoloured buildings that make the place feel like it’s straight out of a storybook

Looking like something plucked straight from a picture postcard, this charming Irish village offers the perfect retreat, brimming with tranquillity and vibrant hues, whilst boasting easy access to mountain trails and stunning sea vistas.

Nestled in West Cork, the village of Eyeries has earned its reputation as one of Ireland’s most picturesque spots, renowned for its distinctively painted buildings that give the area an almost fairy-tale quality. The settlement is immaculately maintained, with residents taking enormous pride in keeping their streets pristine and their floral displays spectacular – efforts that have earned them recognition in the ‘Tidy Town’ competition over the years.

Beyond its striking architecture, the village is blessed with breathtaking mountain scenery on all sides and captivating coastal panoramas across Coulagh Bay. This prime position delivers magnificent sunsets and serves as an excellent starting point for discovering the Ring of Beara.

Located a mere eight-minute journey from Castletown-Bearhaven, the route connecting them is ideal whether you prefer to stroll, pedal or drive across the peninsula.

This particular circuit tends to see far fewer visitors compared to the Ring of Kerry, providing a much more peaceful experience for those tackling the celebrated 140km shoreline drive.

The bay itself remains wonderfully serene; as something of an undiscovered treasure, it doesn’t draw large crowds of holidaymakers, making it an ideal sanctuary for relaxation.

What’s more, the waters are perfect for a refreshing dip, whilst the pathways hugging the coastline provide excellent opportunities for rambling and cycling, with sweeping vistas at every turn.

The village boasts a delightful selection of places to enjoy a meal, pause for afternoon tea, or simply wander through whilst admiring the vibrant cottages. It’s easy to see why creative types flock here, captivated by its distinctive character and relaxed ambience.

Popular haunts tucked within the village include the classic Causkey’s Bar, O’Shea’s Bar and Murphy’s Restaurant. Given its coastal setting, seafood dominates the menus at local establishments, with diners consistently praising the quality in their feedback.

A visitor who ate at Murphy’s, a local institution operating since the 1950s, posted an enthusiastic review on TripAdvisor. They wrote: “We had a gorgeous night in Murphy’s. Wonderful, attentive staff who even offered to take a photo of us and turned on the lights outside. The food was a real delight- fresh seafood and beautifully cooked meat. Would definitely recommend!”.

Another guest at the distinctive pink-hued Breen’s Lobster Bar and Restaurant shared a review, saying it’s “so worth the wait”. They said: “Would plan my trip around this restaurant for fantastic, highest-quality fresh food, very well priced.

“Our waitress was fab and clearly knew her stuff and advised the fussy young one perfectly. Bonus was almost everything was gluten-free or available gluten-free. Very satisfied customer! Can’t praise it enough.”

PARK CITY, Utah — We’re back at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, now unspooling its final edition in a distinctly unsnowy Park City before it relocates to Boulder, Colo. in 2027. What hasn’t changed? Our capacity to get excited for some of the year’s strongest independent cinema: documentaries, dramas, midnight films, even a Charli XCX sighting or two.

How to make the best use of the festival? We’ve got daily recommendations for what to watch, critical diaries, videos and a steady stream of screening notes, interviews and events. Also, we’ll be updating this gallery through Monday with all the best portraits from the L.A. Times Studio @ Sundance Film Festival presented by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Plus, check out all of our video interviews and live panels on our Sundance home page. Happy festing!

Dave Franco of “The Shitheads”.

Kiernan Shipka, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Dave Franco, Macon Blair, seated, and Nicholas Braun, on the floor, of “The Shitheads.”

Domhnall Gleason of “The Incomer.”

Left to right, Gayle Rankin, Domhnall Gleason, Grant O’Rourke, Louis Paxton of “The Incomer.”

Chris Pine of “Carousel.”

Left to right, Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel Lambert, Chris Pine and Jenny Slate of “Carousel.”

Jenny Slate of”Carousel.”

Left to right, Joe Bird, Mia Wasikowska, Adrian Chiarella, Stacy Clausen of “Leviticus.”

Joe Bird, left, and Stacy Clausen of “Leviticus.”

Left to right, back row, Moon Choi and Jefferson White. Front row, Stephanie Ahn, and Son Sukku of “Bedford Park.”

Left to right, Midori Francis, Danielle Macdonald, Natalie Erika James and Madeleine Madden of “Saccharine.”

Keegan-Michael Key of “Buddy.”

Left to right, back row, Topher Grace, Casper Kelly, center, and Delaney Quinn. Front row, Cristin Milioti and Keegan-Michael Key of “Buddy.”

Cristin Miliot of “Buddy.”

Left to right, back row, Adriana Paz, Eme Malafe and Guillermo Alonso. Front row, Suzanne Andrews Correa and Jennifer Trejo of “The Huntress.”

Directors Hossein Keshavarz, Maryam Ataei of “The Friends House is Here.”

Left to right, back row, Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, center row, Gregg Araki, Olivia Wilde, seated, and Chase Sui Wonders of “I Want Your Sex.”

Left to right, Catalina Ruiz-Navarro, Brittany Higgins, Selina Miles, Jennifer Robinson, and Blayke Hoffman of “Silenced.”

John Wilson of “The History of Concrete.”

Left to right, back row, Hannah Lynch, Yvette Parsons, Arlo Green, Jackie van Beek and Jonny Brugh. Front row, THUNDERLIPS of “Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant.”

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1. Hannah Lynch and Arlo Green. 2. THUNDERLIPS of “Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant.”

Left to right, back row, Alejandro Edda, Alberto Guerra and Mao Nagakura. Front row, Kimberly Parker Zox, and Josef Kubota Wladyka of “Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty.”

Left to right, Judd Apatow, Maria Bamford and Neil Berkeley of “Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story.”

Barbara Kopple of “American Dream.”

Left to right, back row, B.K. Cannon, Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, Nicolette Doke. Front row, Jon Rudnitsky, Shereen Lani Younes, Shaun J. Brown of “The Screener.”

Left to right, back row, Angga Yunanda, Chicco Kurniawan and Anggun. Middle row, Maudy Ayunda and Wregas Bhanuteja. Bryan Domani, center front, of “Levitating.”

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo expects to be out for about four to six weeks with a calf injury.

Antetokounmpo played 32 minutes of his side’s 102-100 defeat by the Denver Nuggets on Friday before coming off in the final minute of the game.

“Probably the next steps will be, go to [an] MRI tomorrow,” said the 31-year-old, who produced 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists against the Nuggets.

“After the MRI, they’ll tell me, probably, I popped something in my calf, in my soleus, something. They’ll probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks that I’ll be out.

“This is from my experience being around the NBA.”

He added: “After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back. That will probably be the end of February, beginning of March.”

I can’t remember when my terror of waves began in earnest. Maybe it was a singular incident that triggered it, like that monster wave in Biarritz, France, almost 20 years ago that body-slammed me on to the seabed, taking all the skin off my chin.

More likely is that my transition from fearless to frightened had been more of a slow creep, and a perfectly rational one when you consider the danger of riptides, hidden rocks, sharks and concussion. But for me, I feel it goes deeper. Almost inevitably my job will have had something to do with this. Nearly two decades of working as a journalist reporting on the very worst things that human beings can do to other human beings in a wide array of contexts has definitely eroded my sense that I can keep myself – and others – safe from harm in a dangerous world.

Air France and KLM announce pauses as Trump says ‘armada’ of US warships heading towards Middle East.

At least two European airlines have suspended flights to cities in the Middle East, with Air France saying it will temporarily stop service to Dubai as it continues to monitor the “geopolitical situation”.

Dutch airline KLM also halted flights until further notice to cities in Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and would not fly through the airspace of several countries in the region, including Iraq and Iran, according to the Netherlands’ state broadcaster NOS.

France’s national carrier Air France told the AFP news agency in a statement on Friday that it was making the changes “due to the current situation in the Middle East”, adding that “the company has decided to temporarily suspend its service to Dubai”.

“Air France is monitoring the situation in real time and will provide further updates on its flight schedule,” the French airline said.

KLM told public broadcaster NOS on Friday that it had suspended flights until further notice to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh and would not fly through the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Israel and several countries in the Gulf.

The airline did not disclose the reason for the suspensions and said it was in touch with Dutch authorities, according to NOS.

The latest flight disruptions come as United States President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a “big force” of US warships he described as an “armada” was heading towards the Gulf region, days after appearing to back away from threats of military action against Iran over a recent crackdown on antigovernment protests.

“We’re watching Iran,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“You know we have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case … We have a big force going toward Iran,” he said.

The schlocky dystopian action thriller “Mercy” touts itself as having been “filmed for Imax,” but that’s not such a selling point when almost the entire film is a dim close-up of Chris Pratt strapped to a chair. This real-time AI mystery is a mashup of “Judge Dredd” and “Searching,” in which a Los Angeles detective (Pratt) has to prove himself innocent of murder during a 90-minute trial conducted by an artificially intelligent system called Mercy, presided over by an entity known as Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson).

Written by Marco van Belle and directed by Russian action auteur Timur Bekmambetov, “Mercy” is a remarkably — though perhaps not surprisingly — conservative film, one that manages to be both pro-cop and pro-AI. It uncritically presents a city that has been rapidly transformed into a militarized surveillance state, with a judicial system run by robots serving as judge, jury and executioner. But hey, crime is down, or at least cordoned off in the Hollywood “Red Zone.”

Detective Chris Raven (Pratt), one of the first cops to utilize Mercy to try a murder case, finds himself on the wrong side of the law when his wife (Annabelle Wallis) is found stabbed to death at home; he is located blackout drunk at a bar at 11 a.m. Raven wakes up already inside the Mercy system with 90 minutes to prove his innocence or at least get his probability of guilt under 92% and avoid instant death. He has the entire AI surveillance apparatus at his fingertips, including police bodycam footage, video doorbells and social media accounts connected to the “municipal cloud,” and he gets the option to phone a friend, like his partner, Jaq (Kali Reis), distraught daughter Britt (Kylie Rogers) and sponsor Rob (Chris Sullivan), to try and pull the pieces together.

Of course all of this material is to make the film more cinematic, because watching Pratt and Ferguson talk to each other when they aren’t even in the same room isn’t all that compelling, filmed for Imax or not. But Bekmambetov and cinematographer Khalid Mohtaseb, as well as a team of six editors, have stitched together the shaky camera footage and the hands-free interface into a visual “surfing the web” aesthetic that can only be described as stomach-churning. Don’t sit too close to this one — the quick swiping through bodycam and cellphone footage on a huge screen is migraine-inducing. (Fine, I guess there are two ways to describe it.)

Since the film is a little over 90 minutes, our street-smart detective, who has relied on his gut and the terrifyingly invasive AI tools throughout the trial, is finally liberated from the chair in the third act, as the twisty-turny tale morphs into an attack on Mercy itself. There is some excellent location shooting in downtown Los Angeles during the climax, seen through the lens of a bodycam or quadcopter or drone camera. It’s not enough to save the aesthetic of the entire film, though, which is somehow both gray and nauseating.

“Mercy” essentially argues that it’s the people behind the prompts who make artificial intelligence work (or not). Every person and system is fallible, but there’s no substitute for instinct — can a robot achieve that kind of intelligence? The film presents a fable in which a cop and a machine find their way through the maze of this mystery, essentially arguing that law enforcement should have access to this kind of surveillance, which is a concept more sickening than the jiggly found footage.

One would hate to see the carbon footprint of these AI trials. It’s laughable to suggest that the biggest problems of a near-future Los Angeles using an AI-powered judicial system would be a few scruffy Hollywood meth dealers — how would the city even have enough drinking water if it’s serving all those data centers? Perhaps those are the more pertinent questions, but “Mercy” doesn’t choose to engage with them.

Kelly: If you could relive one match from your career, what would it be?

Joao: When I won the league with Sporting it was during Covid times and we didn’t have the supporters in the stands. The game that gave us the title was when we beat Boavista. Everyone inside the dressing room felt that moment meant our names could be written in the history of the club and that probably was the most special game. I had also other ones, you know, like when I made my debut in the Premier League against Liverpool, which was a draw against them at Craven Cottage… that was really special as well. My game here against Manchester City when I scored my first goal for Tottenham that was really special too. I have a few!

Kelly: What’s been the toughest moment of your career?

Joao: Probably the time that I had at Bayern, I would say. I expected to play more when I went there but after the injury it was not easy for me to get the right chances.

Kelly: Moving away from football, tell me what it was like growing up in your house…

Joao: I’m a family person. I’m a proud father, proud son. I think in our lives, what we need is to give the right value to the family, because I couldn’t reach anything in my life without them. I have two boys – I’m a really proud dad and it’s the best feeling that you can have.

Kelly: What was a young Joao like? How would your parents maybe describe you?

Joao: At school I was not probably the best student but I always had the effort, you know, the commitment to learn. I think this is not just on the pitch, but also off the pitch. I always have been a respectful person with the right principles of family, and values as well.

Kelly: How do you escape from football in your time off?

Joao: Depends if my family is here or not but usually I like to spend my day off… if I don’t go to Portugal or they are here, I like to go to the city or a garden with them when the weather is good, which is something not particularly easy here! But yeah, enjoy it with family.

Kelly: Do you have any hobbies?

Joao: I like to play tennis but I don’t do it much because I can’t [because of the risk of getting injured]. We have a lot of golfers in the team but I like more active sports… movement. Golf is too lazy for me! I think for the mind it is good, but for the body, for me, I think is not the right sport.

Jan. 23 (Asia Today) — South Korean police took 73 nationals into custody Friday after they were forcibly repatriated from Cambodia on a chartered flight over alleged involvement in large-scale online scams and other crimes.

Korean Air flight KE9690 departed Phnom Penh and landed at Incheon International Airport at about 9:41 a.m., according to officials. It was South Korea’s fourth group repatriation of criminal suspects by charter flight and the largest return from a single country.

Authorities said arrest warrants had already been issued and were executed as the suspects boarded the aircraft. Under South Korea’s Nationality Act, the interior of a national carrier is treated as Korean territory for legal purposes, allowing warrants to be served during the flight process.

The suspects were then escorted from the airport to police units in multiple jurisdictions for questioning and further investigation.

Investigators allege the group defrauded about 869 South Korean victims of roughly 48.6 billion won ($33.6 million). Seventy suspects face fraud-related allegations, including romance scams and investment chat room schemes, while three are accused of other crimes including robbery and illegal gambling, officials said.

Among those repatriated was a couple accused of running a romance scam operation that used deepfake technology to pose as fictitious personas, allegedly taking about 12 billion won ($8.3 million) from 104 victims. Authorities said the pair attempted to evade capture, including by altering their appearance, and were not included in a previous repatriation in October.

Officials also cited a suspect accused of posing as an investment expert and allegedly taking about 19.4 billion won ($13.4 million), with victims including recent graduates and retirees.

Authorities said suspects were apprehended in multiple Cambodian locations and that seven scam compounds were identified. South Korean officials also said some victims, including men in their 20s who were allegedly confined and abused at the sites, were rescued.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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