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

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

We found a relaxing spa break surrounded by nature at this family-run North Yorkshire hotel, where you can enjoy impressive views, locally sourced food and fun outdoor activities

Down a scenic country road near Skipton, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, is the vast 1,000-plus acre family-owned estate that is home to The Coniston Hotel. Here you’ll receive a warm Yorkshire welcome – upon check-in and throughout your stay. It’s the ideal getaway for those looking to combine outdoor adventures with downtime spent in the award-winning spa.

The Dales are The Coniston’s top-level rooms, which are modern and roomy and open out onto a private patio area with peaceful views out over the estate.

Dinner at The View restaurant uses Yorkshire produce as much as possible – including venison and livestock from the estate – with cute notes on the menu about its local suppliers. Portions are reassuringly hearty and we found plenty of options for two vegetarians.

The spa at The Coniston Hotel

The Nàdarra Spa is a short distance from the main building. You can make the dash in your robe and slippers if you wish (the hotel staff jokingly call this “free cold therapy”), or there are changing facilities inside.

There’s an indoor pool (pleasingly adults-only except between 9am and 10am), an aromatherapy steam room and three different saunas, but it’s worth braving another few chilly steps outside to one of the two outdoor infinity hydropools. These give stunning views over the estate’s lake, best enjoyed with a drink in hand ordered from the passing spa staff.

Top treatment at The Coniston Hotel

We booked the Mum To Be Cocoon treatment (from £95) which uses luxurious Ishga oils enriched with seaweed from the Scottish Hebrides. It started with a back massage lying on our side, before turning over to get our legs, arms, neck and scalp gently but effectively worked on. It’s tricky to get comfortable during the later stages of pregnancy, but we felt ourselves nearly drifting off during this, even while basically sitting upright.

What else is there to do at The Coniston Hotel?

This isn’t really the sort of hotel where you spend your time lounging about by log fires. It’s a place to get out and about in your wellies and Barbour jackets and make the most of the incredible countryside around you. The Coniston’s on-site activities include fishing, clay pigeon shooting at the well-equipped range and – the one we opted for – Land Rover driving experiences. It was a brilliant hour spent taking the high-spec car off-road around the estate’s rugged terrain, guided by our jolly instructor Bob.

How much does it cost to stay at The Coniston?

Rooms at The Coniston Hotel start from £129 (room only). The One-Hour Land Rover Taster Experience costs £150 for two people.

A British bloke who goes on holiday to Benidorm five times a year decided to visit a brand new destination for the first time in years but he says he will not make the same mistake again

A Brit who “turned his back” on his beloved Benidorm to finally try a new holiday destination instantly regretted it – and vowed to stick to what he knows best from now on.

James O’Brien, a self-employed investment trader from Reading, visits the popular Spanish resort five times a year. But this month the 39-year-old took a trip to Benalmadena, another Costa del Sol resort, to see if the grass was greener.

However, he then went viral on Facebook after writing a post explaining that “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”.

He said his holiday was “boring” and all he imagined throughout his underwhelming trip was “wish we just went Benidorm” and “imagine if we was in Benidorm now”.

James explained there was a lack of entertainment, bars, atmosphere and that the walk along the “depressing looking beach” was ruined further by being next to a busy road.

Signing off his humorous post, he said: “Yes it’s January but if we was in Benidorm at least we would have had plenty of entertainment, nice walks, nice beaches, plenty to do/explore and could get a kebab at 3am. Just confirms how much we love Benidorm and how much it has to offer. We won’t be making this mistake again!”

After his post got picked up by various Benidorm pages, James had a quick chat with the Mirror about why he loves the Costa Blanca resort and why he was compelled to make the post.

He said: “I felt I had to write something as I turned my back on Benidorm for the first time in years and it backfired on me.

“I first visited Benidorm in 2015 and fell in love with the place. I have lived there and have been going back around five times per year ever since. I have been lucky enough to have visited various other places over the years but Benidorm just has something special that I have never found anywhere else, I just feel at home when I’m there.”

James added that the entertainment was “unbelievable” both day and night and that it goes on 365 days a year. He said the people were all friendly and that everyone there simply wanted to enjoy a good time.

In the past, he used to go just for the strip, but the more he went, the more he realised how big Benidorm really was.

He now also spends time in the Old Town which is a “different world” to the strip where he takes in the architecture while visiting wine bars and eating tapas.

The holiday lover explained that past the Old Town was the Poniente side where there are two stunning beaches before adding that the Rincon de Loix neighbourhood offers family friendly entertainment, hotels and restaurants.

He added: “I could keep going, the place is huge and has so much to offer and caters for all different tastes and ages, you really could have two or three different holidays in one as there is so much to do and experience.”

The spot James hated, Benalmedena, is roughly five hours from Benidorm and just outside Malaga.

The picturesque coastal town has amusement parks, a harbour, aquarium and plenty of bars and nightlife. But this clearly, according to James anyway, has no match on Benidorm.

Welcome to Bunker Talk. This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn’t cover. We can also talk about the stuff we did or whatever else grabs your interest. In other words, it’s an off-topic thread.

This week’s second caption reads:

U.S. Navy Adm. Rich Correll, commander, U.S. Strategic Command, enters a launch control center at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Dec. 15, 2025. Correll took command of USSTRATCOM on Dec. 5, 2025, after serving as the deputy commander for three years. Malmstrom is the first missile base he has visited in his new position. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jack Rodriguez Escamilla)

Also, a reminder:

Prime Directives!

• If you want to talk politics, do so respectfully and know that there’s always somebody that isn’t going to agree with you. 
• If you have political differences, hash it out respectfully, stick to the facts, and no childish name-calling or personal attacks of any kind. If you can’t handle yourself in that manner, then please, discuss virtually anything else.
• No drive-by garbage political memes. No conspiracy theory rants. Links to crackpot sites will be axed, too. Trolling and shitposting will not be tolerated. No obsessive behavior about other users. Just don’t interact with folks you don’t like. 
• Do not be a sucker and feed trolls! That’s as much on you as on them. Use the mute button if you don’t like what you see.  
• So unless you have something of quality to say, know how to treat people with respect, understand that everyone isn’t going to subscribe to your exact same worldview, and have come to terms with the reality that there is no perfect solution when it comes to moderation of a community like this, it’s probably best to just move on. 
• Finally, as always, report offenders, please. This doesn’t mean reporting people who don’t share your political views, but we really need your help in this regard.

A HOTEL cleaner charged with selling Liam Payne cocaine has praised the tribute song penned by his One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson.

On track Dark To Light, from his new album, Louis asks if he could have done more to help someone in need.

Ezequiel David Pereyra, who worked at the Buenos Aires hotel where Liam, 31, fell to his death in October 2024, said: “He’s right. We all could have done more.”

The 22-year-old Argentine added: “If the hotel had acted differently, Liam could have been saved.

“What happened was very sad. Liam’s death was truly tragic and could have been prevented.”

Pereyra was charged with supplying drugs in January 2025 and sent to Marcos Paz jail to await trial.

LOVE OF LIAM

Emotional Louis Tomlinson pays heartbreaking tribute to Liam Payne on new song

HIDDEN MESSAGE

Harry Styles pays tribute to late One Direction bandmate Liam Payne

On December 30 he was released under house arrest after the court of appeals agreed he had family support, a fixed address and no criminal record.

He is now being represented by a new lawyer.

He told The Sun: “I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to be with my family and I am trying to handle all this as best as I can.”

Waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, 25, is also accused of supplying cocaine.

It doesn’t look like there’s going to be a trial any time soon. This could take years.

Source

He was released under house arrest two weeks before Pereyra and mum Sandra said: “I still can’t believe he’s with me.”

Both men face 15 years in jail if convicted.

A trial date has yet to be set and sources said it is unlikely there will be one this year — causing fresh heartache for Liam’s family.

The evidence is being re-examined by judges who will decide whether the case can proceed.

A source said: “They still haven’t been able to agree which is why they had to release Pereyra and Paiz.

“They can’t keep them behind bars awaiting a trial forever.

“It doesn’t look like there’s going to be a trial any time soon. This could take years.”

‘Biggest mistake’

In October, on the anniversary of Liam’s death, Pereyra exclusively spoke to The Sun from jail for the first time offering his ­condolences to the star’s family.

He claimed bosses at the CasaSur Palermo hotel turned a blind eye to Liam’s drug use in the month he died.

He said: “They had him in an isolated bunker and let him do anything he wanted including drugs in the room, and public areas.

“Bosses said he was making them too much money, triple the money.

“The biggest mistake was not calling an ambulance when Payne passed out in the lobby.”

Liam had flown out with girlfriend Kate Cassidy for a five-day holiday, to see his ex-1D bandmate Niall Horan in concert.

Liam extended the trip but Kate returned to the US.

An autopsy confirmed he died from multiple trauma and internal and external bleeding.

Toxicology reports revealed alcohol, cocaine and an antidepressant.

Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been told to find a new club this summer, Arsenal eye summer move for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, while Liverpool are set to battle Bayern Munich for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande.

England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been told to leave Real Madrid, despite reports in Spain suggesting new manager Alvaro Arbeloa has urged the 27-year-old to find a new club this summer. (Mail) , external

Arsenal are exploring the possibility of launching a summer move for 25-year-old Atletico Madrid and Argentina forward Julian Alvarez. (ESPN) , external

Bayern Munich will have competition from Liverpool in the race to sign Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomande, 19, from RB Leipzig. (Bild – in German), external

Liverpool‘s English defender Joe Gomez, 28, is wanted by AC Milan. (Calciomercato – in Italian), external

West Ham have rejected a bid worth £32.9m plus £3m in add-ons from Flamengo for 28-year-old Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta. (Athletic – subscription required) , external

Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, and Brighton and Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, 22, have emerged as more realistic targets for Manchester United than Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson, 23, who they believe will join Manchester City. (The I – subscription required) , external

Liverpool are looking to bring Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas, 29, back from his loan at Roma. (Talksport) , external

Chelsea have made initial approach to Juventus to discuss a loan deal for 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz, who is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Rennes will target Toulouse’s English centre-back Charlie Cresswell, 23, should 20-year-old French defender Jeremy Jacquet leave them for Chelsea. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Barcelona will attempt to ward off interest in attacking midfielder Fermin Lopez by offering the 22-year-old Spaniard a new contract. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Brighton have made 19-year-old English winger Tommy Watson available for loan, with several clubs in the Championship and one in the Premier League interested. (Sky Sports), external

Jan. 23 (Asia Today) — Osaka Prefectural Police arrested six Chinese nationals on suspicion of running unlicensed taxi services for Chinese tourists by abusing permits intended for welfare taxi operations, Japanese media reported.

Investigators said the suspects used vehicles bearing green license plates similar to regular taxis to pick up Chinese travelers at Kansai International Airport and drive them to destinations in Osaka and Kyoto. Authorities allege the group earned more than 30 million yen (about $192,000) in illegal proceeds over about a year and a half.

Police said the scheme exploited Japan’s welfare taxi system, which is meant to transport patients or people with disabilities, not general passengers. Officials said the suspects used reservations and payment arrangements through Chinese social media platforms.

Police previously arrested five people by December on suspicion of violating the Road Transport Act. Authorities said the operation was tied to a nursing care service company based in Osaka’s Minami Ward. The firm’s representative director, a 43-year-old woman of Chinese descent, held a limited permit for welfare taxi service, Japanese media reported. She previously received a summary order and a 700,000 yen (about $4,500) fine for a similar alleged violation, the reports said.

In Japan, licensed taxi operators display green license plates, while private and rental vehicles use white plates. Welfare taxi services operate under a special permit allowing transport only for eligible passengers, and their licensing requirements are less stringent than those for regular taxis, authorities said.

Japanese media have reported a rise in illegal passenger transport cases in major regions. The Nikkei reported arrests for unlicensed passenger transport in the Tokyo and Kansai areas increased from 17 cases in 2022 to 33 cases in 2023. In one case cited in media reports, a driver arrested at Haneda Airport allegedly charged Chinese passengers 1,700 yuan, about 35,500 yen ($228), for a ride to Tokyo’s Ginza district.

Crackdowns in Osaka and Tokyo intensified in 2025, with police expanding monitoring of social media activity and stepping up airport patrols, Japanese outlets reported. Similar cases have also been detected in areas including Fukuoka and Yokohama, the reports said.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota shut their doors on Friday and thousands of protesters turned out in the frigid cold as part of an economic protest against the immigration crackdown in the state.

The widespread rallies come after organisers encouraged residents to skip work or school and refrain from shopping in a show of opposition to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The ICE operation ordered by Trump administration in the state have been going on for more than six weeks.

The administration has characterised it as a public safety operation aimed at deporting criminals illegally in the country. Critics warn migrants with no criminal record and US citizens are being detained too.

On Friday, about 100 clergy members were arrested at the Minneapolis airport while holding a protest calling on US airlines to refuse to transport detainees arrested by ICE.

A spokesman for the airports commission told the Minnesota Reformer that the arrests took place after the “permitted activity went beyond agreed upon terms” and was to done to protect the public safety and airport access.

Thousands of federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota as part of “Operation Metro Surge”.

The killing of 37-year-old Minneapolis woman Renee Good earlier this month flared tensions across the state and brought condemnation from local officials.

“We want ICE out of Minnesota, and we want ICE out of every state, with their extreme overreach,” said Bishop Dwayne Royster, whose organisation Faith in Action is supporting local partners in Minneapolis during the strike. “We want Congress to stand up and provide oversight to ICE.”

Friday’s marches are thought to be the largest display of opposition to date to the current immigration policy in the state, as thousands of people walked downtown through temperatures of -10F (-23C).

As they made their way to the city’s NBA arena to hold an anti-ICE rally, taking place on the home court of the Minnesota Timberwolves, protesters chanted and played music.

On Friday morning, Minneapolis resident Corey Lamb closed his business, Harriet Grove Botanicals, in solidarity and headed to a protest. He objected to the presence of ICE agents in his city, and was outraged by Good’s death in early January.

He also saw the immigration raids as an economic threat to his business, and others in his community.

“We have a lot of friends that we rely on, we have a lot of businesses that we rely on, in order to make our business work,” Lamb told the BBC.

“When those individuals are struggling because they’re afraid of being detained or disappeared, it has an effect not only morally but economically on what’s going on here, and also in the greater Midwest.”

Lamb’s business was joined by hundreds of others, from restaurants and tattoo parlours to toy stores.

Kim Bartmann is the owner of six restaurants in Minneapolis, including four that remain open in the winter but that she shut on Friday.

While she supports the cause, she said the decision to participate had been a tricky one, given the costs.

“Everyone is in solidarity, but everyone needs to buy groceries and pay their rents,” she said, noting that staff at one of her locations had initially asked to stay open, before deciding the risk of backlash over not participating would be too great.

“Economically, it is a severe blow to my business,” she said.

She said sales at her restaurants, which include Barbette and Gigi’s Café, have already dropped more than 30% over the past three weeks as a result of the ICE operation, which has prompted her to limit her opening hours as customers and staff stay home.

“We have a lot of employees who are US citizens or have paperwork to work in the US who are still terrified to leave their homes,” she said.

ICE’s presence has outraged many of Minnesota’s residents, who have protested against their operations and other federal officers operating in their city.

This week, school officials in the suburb of Columbia Heights announced that four of their students had been detained by ICE, ranging from ages five to 17.

A two-year-old child was also detained on Thursday, while driving home from a grocery store with her undocumented father in south Minneapolis, according to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.

In a speech on Thursday, Vice-President JD Vance called for local Minnesota law enforcement to coordinate with federal officers to carry out immigration enforcement.

Minnesota, and some of its cities, have so-called “sanctuary” policies, which limit the ways that local government and law enforcement cooperates with ICE. The Trump administration has criticised these policies as a threat to public safety.

Meanwhile, a Minneapolis FBI agent resigned this week over concerns about the bureau’s handling of the investigation into Good’s shooting, CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, reported. The New York Times was first to report the resignation.

Tracee Mergen left “in part due to the pressure on her to reclassify/discontinue the investigation” over Good’s death, CBS News reported, citing sources.

The BBC has contacted the FBI for comment.

Earlier this month, US media reported that at least six prosecutors in the Minneapolis US Attorney’s office resigned over the administration’s handling of the federal investigation.

THE Brooklyn Beckham wedding fallout was caused by bride Nicola Peltz being a “brat” and not Posh Spice’s dancing, according to what the butler saw. 

The butler has also told The Sun that before Victoria’s infamous dance with her son, the newlyweds did have a first dance and Nicola boogied with her billionaire dad. 

Brooklyn, 26, claimed this week that his first dance at the 2022 wedding was “hijacked” by his mum and he was left “humiliated” by her “inappropriate dancing”. 

But the butler remembers the bride and groom having a romantic first dance to a version of Elvis Presley classic Can’t Help Falling in Love which was applauded by all the guests. 

Nicola, 31, then danced with her father Nelson — before Victoria was invited to dance with Brooklyn. 

The butler said this was Posh’s “two minutes” at the three-day event but it went horribly wrong when US singer Marc Anthony introduced the former Spice Girl as the “most beautiful woman in the room” and decided to put on a “dancey track”. 

READ MORE ON BECKHAM FEUD

‘DEVASTATED’

Victoria Beckham seen for first time since Brooklyn’s nuclear rant

SIBLING SPAT

Why Brooklyn Beckham’s brothers ‘can see no way back’ with him

The butler said: “That comment was it for Nicola. She just flounced out.

“Put simply, she just didn’t want to share the limelight with Victoria or anyone. She’s extremely self-centered.

“It was Victoria’s two minutes centre stage amid a three-day wedding. But even that was too much for Nicola.”  

The butler said Nicola blinked back tears as Brooklyn and Victoria took to the dancefloor. 

After a couple of slow dances involving the bride, Marc Anthony unwisely chose to belt out a “lively, upbeat dance track” to kick start the evening’s entertainment. 

Victoria, 51, threw herself into the song, “throwing shapes” and “twirling her son” around the dancefloor, whooping and pecking Brooklyn on the cheek. 

It comes as…

At one point Brooklyn’s hands were on his mum’s waist while her arms were placed around his neck. 

Guests looked on open-mouthed as Nicola ran from the room, followed by her mum Claudia, 70, and two of her brothers. 

Victoria has been unfairly cast as a villain of the piece. The truth is that Nicola behaved like a brat.

The Butler

The drama at the centre of the extravaganza at Nelson Peltz’s £79million oceanfront estate in Palm Beach, Florida, led directly to the fallout between Brooklyn and his family. 

Our source says: “The wedding had been beautifully choreographed and had run perfectly. It was a gorgeous occasion. But in a flash everything changed. 

“To suggest the relationship breakdown between Brooklyn and his parents was caused by Victoria twerking with him is misleading. 

“Nicola was upset by the words from Marc Anthony that preceded the dance. Victoria has been unfairly cast as a villain of the piece.

“The truth is that Nicola behaved like a brat.

She completely overreacted to the notion that she’d been upstaged at her own wedding.

“She fled the room in tears. 

“Nicola had already had a dance with Brooklyn, and her dad. 

“Victoria was only on the dancefloor because she was invited. 

‘Mood of wedding changed immediately’

“And it was a planned part of the reception. Victoria did not intend, and was not responsible for, upstaging the bride. 

“Victoria’s dancing was theatrical, not inappropriate.

“Was Victoria on her hands and knees and twerking Brooklyn? No. It was improvised fun.

“It was Marc Anthony who unwittingly devastated Nicola by upstaging her on her wedding day.  

“Nicola should have sucked up her mother-in-law getting praised. 

“It was terribly awkward when Nicola ran out.

“Everybody in the room saw it and the whole mood of the wedding changed immediately.” 

Brooklyn’s public statement over the wedding “humiliation” with his mum has flummoxed the butler. 

Our source said: “In the moment, Brooklyn did not find it awkward.  

“His mum was having fun. He didn’t grimace or ask her to stop. 

The party continued but the division was sewn and the tension between the families escalated from there.

The Butler

“He seemed totally fine with the dance, and went along with it. No one watching was in shock or gasping. It was just normal. 

“Nicola returned to the wedding after a few minutes. 

“The only chat among the guests was how she had overreacted to something so minuscule. 

“Victoria looked a little sad about what had happened. 

“The party continued but the division was sown and the tension between the families escalated from there.

“Brooklyn was put in an immediate, impossible situation over which side he was on — and nothing has changed since.”

The butler also told of simmering ­tension before the nuptials between Nicola and fashion designer Posh over the wedding dress. 

The two women had planned for Nicola to tie the knot in a Victoria-designed gown. 

But the bride-to-be dramatically changed her mind and instead chose a Valentino Haute Couture white dress for her big day. 

Yesterday Victoria was seen in public for the first time since US-based Brooklyn’s incendiary post dropped on his Instagram on Monday evening.

She wore a dark cap and shades as she was driven from the ­Beckhams’ London home in an Audi. 

Earlier yesterday DJ Fat Tony — a regular at Beckham family parties — recalled what he had witnessed at the Florida wedding. 

Speaking on ITV, he insisted of Victoria’s dance row: “There was no slut-dropping, no black PVC catsuit, no Spice Girl action.” 

The DJ, 60, said Marc Anthony had encouraged Brooklyn to place his hands on Victoria’s hips during a dance to one of his Latin pop tracks. 

And he confirmed Anthony had asked the “most beautiful” woman in the world to head on up to the dancefloor — saying Victoria’s name instead of Nicola. 

Fat Tony, real name Tony Marnoch, added: “Nicola had left the room crying her eyes out and Brooklyn is stuck there on stage.

“They then do this dance and Marc goes ‘put your hands on your mother’s hips’ and it was a Latin thing. 

“The whole situation was very awkward for everyone in the room.” 

Brooklyn Beckham’s statement in full

“I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private.

“Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.

“I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.

“For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family.

“The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.

“Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they’ll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade.

“But I believe the truth always comes out.

“My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn’t stopped.

“My mum cancelled making Nicola’s dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress.

“Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.

“They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated. My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since.

“During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me ‘evil’ because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola’s Naunni at our table, because they both didn’t have their husbands.

“Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.

“The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was ‘not blood’ and ‘not family’.

“Since the moment I started standing up for myself with my family, I’ve received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders.

“Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last Summer.

“My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song.

“In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead.

“She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.

“We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment.

“My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we’ve tried to come together as one.

“My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable.

“Despite this, we still travelled to London for my dad’s birthday and were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him.

“He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.

“When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn’t invited. It was a slap in the face.

“Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all.

“My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first.

“Family ‘love’ is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it’s at the expense of our professional obligations.

“We’ve gone out of our way for years to show up and support at every fashion show, every party, and every press activity to show “our perfect family.”

“But the one time my wife asked for my mum’s support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.

“The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety.

“For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared. I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief.

“My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press, or manipulation.

“All we want peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.”

New research has just revealed which cities Brits can get the nation’s favourite Sunday dinner for a fraction of the price

There are very few things more quintessentially British than an amazing Sunday roast or grabbing a bargain.

Fortunately for Brits, research has revealed which UK cities serve up the lowest-priced roast dinners so people can combine the two – with the cheapest coming in at a wallet-saving £6 less than the nation’s average.

At an average cost of just £12.48, roasts being served in the north-east city of Sunderland are the cheapest in the country. Research done by price comparison experts, Idealo, has revealed the top 10 best places to get a roast if you want to go easy on the purse strings, with fellow northern cities, Hull and Sheffield, and Wales’ second largest city, Swansea, also providing roasts for a bargain.

Sunderland locals or visitors to the city can go to grab a good deal and pubs like The Dun Cow, which is known for its generous portions and cosy, traditional atmosphere.

The Welcome Tavern is also a charming pub that offers a delicious Sunday lunch, which is praised for its good value and generous portions. One reviewer said of the pub: “What a lovely historic nautical pub. “

While another said: “Lovely traditional pub with great Sunderland welcome from both staff an other customers. Had a great Sunday lunch with good music.”

But if Sunderland is too far away for you to take advantage of their cheap meats, veg and potatoes, other cities across the country are offering Sunday bargains.

Sitting at number two on the top 10 cheapest roast list is Swansea, where it costs on average £15.23, and rounding out the top three is the most central city in England, Coventry, which costs £16.65.

Recommendations for those areas include The Village Inn in Swansea – a highly rated local favourite with a warm, welcoming coastal atmosphere, and The Millpool in Coventry, with hand-pulled ales and a classic British pub menu.

Hull in East Yorkshire is not that much more expensive at number four which charges an average £16.76 for a Sunday dinner. The next six cities only have £1.18 between them – with Southend-on-Sea in at number five costing £16.80 and Sheffield in South Yorks., at number ten charging just £17.98.

Recently, Mirror writer Shania King-Soyza decided to tuck into a roast at a pub that Bristol Live readers crowned as the best roast dinner spot in 2024. The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer on King Street is one of Bristol’s historic pubs, established in 1673, and is renowned for its “nostalgic and refined” roast dinner.

“The moment we stepped inside, I was immediately taken by the stunning Grade II* listed building, which exuded a Tudor-like charm, with its dark wooden floors, dim lighting, and vintage tables and chairs. We then made our way to the extensive bar boasting a selection of 36 beers and ciders,” she wrote.

At the end of the dinner, Shania delivered her verdict. “I was also pleased with the portion size, and the presentation scored a perfect 10/10. However, considering my bill came to £19.50, I’m not sure I’d return specifically for their roast, but I’d certainly pop back for their beer selection and perhaps sample a tempting dessert,” she concluded.

Marcus Alvarado, saying he had lost his love for baseball after dealing with constant complaints from parents, has resigned as baseball coach at Chatsworth High, where he guided the Chancellors to a 2022 City Section Open Division championship at Dodger Stadium.

“I’m just tired about hearing parents complain,” he said Friday. “We call it travel ball mentality now. That’s not me.”

He said he intends to spend more time with his wife and daughter while waiting to see if he can regain his enthusiasm for coaching.

“It took the love out of the game,” he said. “I hope to regroup.”

He previously coached at Kennedy, where his father, Manny, was a longtime successful coach.

Chatsworth and El Camino Real have won the most City Section baseball titles with nine each. Eight were won by coach Tom Meusborn, who’s now at Sierra Canyon.

Another longtime coach is out at Sun Valley Poly, where Gabe Cerna was replaced by assistant Freddy Flores, who will serve as an interim coach. Cerna was head coach since 2009 but the school decided to go a different direction for a coach.

Also, Doug Bledsoe announced he has resigned after one season as football coach at Narbonne. The Gauchos went 0-10 and are banned from the playoffs for three years because of rules violations.

Jan. 23 (UPI) — Two were killed and another survived a lethal kinetic strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Southern Command announced on Friday.

Personnel with Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted the strike “on a vessel operated by designated terrorist organizations” at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Southcom officials said in a news release.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the release continued.

“Two narco-terrorists were killed, and one survived the strike. Following the engagement, U.S. Southcom immediately notified [the] U.S. Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system for the survivor.”

The Defense Department did not provide any more information on the strike, which was the first reported since U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores on Jan. 3.

Both were flown to New York, where they are charged with drug trafficking and related offenses in the U.S. District Court for Southern New York.

Southern Command began conducting aerial kinetic strikes on alleged drug-running vessels on Sept. 2.

It has carried out 36 strikes against an equal number of vessels that were said to be carrying potentially deadly narcotics, with many of the vessels sailing from Venezuela. At least 117 have died in the kinetic strikes.

A kinetic strike refers to the use of non-exploding munitions that rely on mass and velocity to knock out a target, according to the Department of Defense.

The Academy Foundation earlier this month laid off all five staffers with its Oral History Projects team, effectively dissolving the department responsible for conducting and preserving interviews with notable members of the film industry.

Two of those laid off were transitioned into different union roles within the Academy Foundation, the organization confirmed, Friday.

The layoffs were part of a consolidation of the collections department at the Academy Foundation, which along with the Academy Museum is operated under the umbrella of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Four of the five staffers who previously comprised the Oral History Projects department were in union roles.

In a statement posted on social media, the Academy Foundation Workers Union, AFSCME Local 126, called the cuts “a sad and reckless choice.” It also expressed frustration with what it called the Foundation’s “lack of transparency” and “disregard for the skills and expertise of our colleagues” during the restructuring.

“The Academy’s decision to abandon this dedicated project devalues the labor required to produce intellectually stimulating and rigorous long-form interviews, as well as underestimating the historical worth of each individual story,” the union wrote in an email to The Times.

The academy said that existing oral histories will remain accessible through its archive, and that it will continue to preserve film history through its museum, collection and digital initiatives.

The Academy Foundation established its Oral History Program in 1989 with the goal of documenting the careers of industry professionals using audio recordings. These conversations were archived in the Margaret Herrick Library.

The now-dissolved Oral History Projects department was founded in 2012 to streamline the collections process, and to date has recorded more than 185 interviews — each between four or five hours long. These provide invaluable details about filmmaker’s lives and careers, and the Academy Museum regularly draws on the Academy Foundation’s library and film archive materials for its exhibitions and film screenings.

“Through the work of OHP, the Academy has also become the primary preservation repository for filmmaker interviews from the guilds and other sources,” notes the organization’s website.

“The Academy’s Oral History Project (OHP) recorded and collected audio and video interviews with the individuals who form the rich fabric of filmmaking history — production and costume designers, documentarians, executives, actors, animators, technicians, composers, and more,” the union wrote in an email. “Without the department, these meticulously researched and skillfully crafted oral histories are no longer being produced.”

This is not the first time the academy has laid off staffers since it opened the Academy Museum in 2021. A 2022 restructuring effort, which created a new Academy Collection and Preservation Department, resulted in the layoffs of 16 members from the organization’s archive and library.

In an internal email to staff obtained by The Times, academy CEO Bill Kramer, said that the restructuring was necessary as the organization navigated “two worlds that are rapidly evolving — the film industry and the non-profit arts community.”

“We are working hard to stay focused on our mission while addressing this pivotal moment. And while we know how difficult these moments can be, we are confident in our steps to shape a sustainable organization that is well-suited to meet our goals now and in the future,” Kramer said.

Times staff writer Josh Rottenberg contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON  — Trump administration lawyers have joined California Republicans in urging the Supreme Court to block California’s new election map on the grounds that one district in the San Joaquin Valley was drawn to favor Latinos.

Two months ago, Trump’s lawyers called on the court to uphold a new Republican-friendly election map in Texas, arguing that it was a partisan gerrymander, not one driven by race.

“Plaintiffs bringing a racial-gerrymander claim have the heavy burden to show that race was the predominant factor motivating” how the map was drawn, Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer said then.

The Supreme Court agreed by a 6-3 vote and lifted a judges’ order that had blocked the Texas map, which was drawn to win five more House seats for Republicans.

Voting rights advocates had sued, noting Gov. Greg Abbott said the goal was to eliminate four “coalition districts,” which had a combined majority of Black and Latino voters and elected Democrats.

In a brief opinion, the justices said they presume state officials acted in “good faith” in drawing the maps of congressional districts.

“It is indisputable that impetus for the adoption of the Texas map (like the map subsequently adopted in California) was partisan advantage pure and simple,” wrote Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

The justices also said it was too late in the election-year calendar for reshuffling the districts again.

Undeterred, Trump’s lawyers now stake out the near opposite view to support the GOP’s attack on the California map, which was upheld by the voters in November.

“California’s recent redistricting is tainted by an unconstitutional racial gerrymander,” Sauer wrote.

He pointed to past comments from Paul Mitchell, the designated map maker, who said he hoped the Latino districts in the Central Valley could be “bolstered in order to make them most effective.”

Trump’s lawyer said District 13 in Merced County has an odd-looking “northern plume” that brings in Democratic voters near Stockton.

“California’s motivation in adopting the Prop. 50 map as a whole was undoubtedly to counteract Texas’s political gerrymander,” Sauer said. “But that overarching political goal is not a license for district-level racial gerrymandering.”

He advised the justices to declare the new California map unconstitutional and require the state to return to the former map.
The political impact of such a ruling is obvious. It would likely cost Democrats five seats in the House of Representatives.

Justice Elena Kagan, who oversees appeals from the West Coast, asked for a response from California by Thursday. That would suggest the justices may act on the GOP’s appeal in the first week of February.

Election law experts have been skeptical of the Republican arguments in the California case.

“I don’t think Republicans are likely to prevail here,” UCLA law professor Rick Hasen wrote on his Election Law Blog.

He said the legal challenge “comes too late,” the proposed remedy is too broad, and it ignores the fact that the California’s voters were focused on partisanship, not race. It’s their intent that counts, he said.

Then, Hasen added, there’s “the optics. It would be a terrible look for the Court … to allow Texas’s Republican gerrymander to go forward but stop California’s, especially if it’s a party line vote. That might be too much even for this Court.”

There is also a key legal difference in how the appeal arrived at the court.

In Texas, a three-judge panel heard the evidence, wrote a 160-page opinion and ruled against the state in a 2-1 decision.

In the California case, by contrast, a three-judge panel heard the evidence and rejected the racial gerrymandering claim in a 2-1 decision.

In December, Kagan dissented in the Texas case and argued the court should be reluctant to overturn the factual findings of the three judges who heard the case.

The two judges in the majority in the California case said they did not see evidence of a racial gerrymander.

“We find that the evidence of any racial motivation driving redistricting is exceptionally weak, while the evidence of partisan motivations is overwhelming,” said U.S. District Judges Josephine Staton and Wesley Hsu.

John Brodie, who won an MVP award and was one of the NFL’s most prolific passers during a 17-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 90.

Brodie’s family said he died Friday, according to the 49ers. Brodie had a stroke on Oct. 24, 2000.

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

Brodie played for the 49ers from 1957-73 after breaking every major passing record at Stanford. He later played on what is now the PGA Tour Champions and won the 1991 Security Pacific Senior Classic.

Brodie’s 17 seasons are a 49ers record, and his 31,548 yards passing rank second to Joe Montana on San Francisco’s career passing list. When Brodie retired after the 1973 season, he trailed only Johnny Unitas and Fran Tarkenton on the NFL’s career passing list.

John Brodie gets a ride on the shoulders of an admiring crowd following a win over the Vikings that gave the 49ers the Western Division championship in San Francisco on Dec. 16, 1972.

(Associated Press)

His 214 touchdown passes are third in team history behind Montana and Steve Young.

“He was a great guy, a super competitor, I don’t care what it was: football, cards, golf,” said Jerry Mertens, a cornerback for the 49ers from 1958-65. “He was a great player and he enjoyed all the things that were competitive.

“The guy just did it all, and he was a great leader, there’s no question about that.”

Brodie won the most valuable player award in 1970 when he passed for 2,941 yards and 24 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions. He led the 49ers to the NFC championship game in 1970 and 1971. That was as close as he got to the Super Bowl.

When Brodie left football, the 49ers retired his No. 12 jersey, making him the fourth San Francisco player to be so honored.

Brodie led the NFL in yards passing three times and touchdown passes twice, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 1970 and second-team in 1965.

John Brodie drives from the 14th tee while playing as a professional in the Bing Crosby Pro-Am tournament at Pebble Beach on Jan. 16, 1959.

(Associated Press)

A 6-foot-1, 200-pounder during his playing days, Brodie was born in San Francisco on Aug. 14, 1935, but went to high school at Oakland Technical. He was a unanimous All-American at Stanford in 1956 and won the Coffman Award as the MVP in the East-West Game.

In college he earned three varsity letters in football under coach Chuck Taylor and two varsity letters in golf. The 49ers picked him at No. 3 in the first round of the 1957 draft.

Brodie had his best year statistically in 1965, when he had career bests of 242 completions, 3,112 yards passing, 30 touchdown passes and won the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

He surpassed the 30,000-yard milestone in the fourth game of the 1972 season.

After football Brodie remained a top golfer. At 56 and playing in the 1991 Security Pacific Senior Classic at Rancho Park in Los Angeles, he beat Chi Chi Rodriguez and George Archer with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

This tasty, scenic and thriving coastal town has got history that dates back over 2,000 years but may be hitting its true peak now and it needs to be on your staycation radar

Nestled into the north east of the county, there’s one town that has been described as ‘seafood nirvana’ because its vibrant and buzzing coastal cuisine.

Tynemouth is one of the Tyne and Wear area’s most popular locations and is dominated by high-quality, locally sourced and sustainable seafood options. The area’s premier dining spot is Riley’s Fish Shack which serves nationally-renowned charcoal-grilled mackerel, lobster and scallops sourced directly from nearby North Shields Fish Quay.

Away from food, the town is also known for its Blue Flag-awarded beaches, maritime history, a popular and bustling market and a number of well-respected surf schools.

Located just eight miles from Newcastle, Tynemouth has a history that spans over 2,000 years and was subject to a significant monastic stronghold which was dominated by Tynemouth Priory and Castle that is now open to visitors and locals alike.

Located on the rocky North Sea headland, the remains of the medieval priory are now managed by English Heritage and play host to a swathe of exhibitions charting it history and incredible views of the North Sea and the mouth of the River Tyne.

Away from its history, Tynemouth has two particularly well-known beaches – Longsands and King Edward’s Bay – that are known or their golden sands, surfing, clean water and stunning views.

In the town centre itself, there’s a thriving high street full of independent shops and Tynemouth Market – billed as the North’s most vibrant marketplace.

Filled with over stalls in Tynemouth Station that’s been restored to the former glory of its grand Victorian days, visitors come from all over the country to sample what’s on offer including vintage clothing, jewellery, antiques, street food and much more.

The market has got rave reviews with one person writing: “Lovely little market. Plenty of art, photography, keepsakes and great food options.

“But my favourite part was the Sidings, a little row of shops I’d not seen before. Can’t recommend a visit enough.”

Another wrote: “It’s an amazing place. Both sides of a Metro transformed into the largest market I’ve ever seen.

“Put it on your list of must see in the North.”