RSF drones target Sudan’s Khartoum in fourth day of sustained attacks | News
Explosions were heard in the vicinity of Khartoum International Airport amid uncertainty over its reopening.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have targeted Sudan’s capital Khartoum and its main airport with drones for a fourth consecutive day, as the government-aligned Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) attempts to resume air traffic after regaining control of the city several months ago.
Drones and surface-to-air missiles were heard above the capital in the early hours of Friday morning, residents living close to the Khartoum International Airport told Al Jazeera, before loud explosions went off.
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It is unclear whether the capital’s main airport was successfully hit and the extent of the damage.
The attack marks the fourth consecutive day of attacks that began on Tuesday, a day before the airport was scheduled to become operational after at least two years of war.
A single plane operated by the local Badr Airlines landed on Wednesday, before an airport official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the airport’s reopening has been postponed “under further notice” because of incoming attacks.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, said that “despite authorities saying that operations are scheduled to start on October 26, there are concerns that this will not happen”.
The war, which started in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced about 12 million more and left 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, making it the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Return to Khartoum
The Sudanese military retook the capital from the paramilitary force in March. Since then, residents have been tentatively returning to their homes, often to find them destroyed.
Alfatih Bashir’s house in Omdurman, which he built using all his savings, has collapsed ceilings and damaged walls. “I built it when I was working abroad,” Bashir told Al Jazeera, adding that now he did not posses the necessary funds to repair the damage.
“I’m not working, I’m just sitting idly with my wife and two children. We sometimes barely have enough to eat. How can I even start to rebuild?” he said.
Authorities are still assessing how many houses have been damaged in the conflict, but the scars of the battle between the military and the RSF are visible across the capital.
Another resident, Afaf Khamed, said she fainted when she saw the extent of the damage.
“This house is where we were born, where all our family members got married. I now live here with my sister, and we can’t rebuild because we don’t have anyone to help us,” she told Al Jazeera.
The collapse of the local currency makes reconstruction an impossible feat even for those who have retained a job during the war. While salaries have remained stable, the Sudanese pound spiked from 600 pounds to the US dollar in April 2023, when the conflict started, to 3,500 pounds.
Goods are also hard to come by in the war-torn country, hampering reconstruction. Shop owner Mohammed Ali said materials take too long to arrive because of security checks, and that makes them more expensive. As a consequence, “fewer and fewer people are coming to buy building materials”, he said.
Sudan’s government has pledged to rebuild the capital, but its focus as so far has been on state institutions, while residents are left to figure out how to rebuild on their own.
Huge clue Beckham family feud is thawing as David and Victoria throw support behind son Brooklyn
DAVID and Victoria Beckham have publicly thrown their support behind their eldest son Brooklyn in a rare social media move that has tongues wagging.
Brooklyn, 26, showed off his kitchen skills in a new Instagram video, flipping fluffy buttermilk pancakes to Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight.
While he’s been keeping his distance from the famous family for months, both Posh and Becks quietly “liked” the clip in a huge hint that the frosty feud could be thawing.
The gesture comes after Brooklyn and wife Nicola Peltz failed to publicly support Victoria on socials as her hit Netflix documentary landed earlier this month.
They were also notably absent from her Paris Fashion Week show and the premiere of the documentary.
The couple snubbed David’s lavish 50th birthday celebrations earlier this year in a move that left the family heartbroken.
Sources previously claimed the rift had reached breaking point, with Victoria and David having “accepted they won’t see Brooklyn for the foreseeable future.”
Meanwhile, the Beckhams’ other children are busy making their own mark in the spotlight.
Romeo, 23, is following in his dad’s football footsteps, Cruz, 20, has formed a band and is gigging around London, and 14-year-old Harper is said to be keen on following in her mums footsteps into fashion and beauty.
Victoria recently defended her kids from “nepo baby” criticism, telling The Sun: “It’s not their fault — give them a chance.”
Cruz is releasing his first single today and has already received critical acclaim, being signed to a top music management company — all off his own bat.
“Cruz has got music coming out soon,” Victoria told The Sun.
“He’s spent the last ten years learning his craft — much like I did with Roland — learning to play instruments.
“He taught himself to play about seven instruments. He writes his own songs, he’s put a band together.
“He’s properly done it from the grass roots up. He hasn’t just come in and sung his songs, or demanded anything.
“I mean I can’t really give him any advice — the industry has changed so much.
“But I told him, ‘Don’t expect immediate success’. It’s almost better if it isn’t an immediate success.
“You know, it’s like with my fashion thing — it’s taken me 20 years to get it to where it is.
“You’ve got to start small and build it up. And that’s exactly what he’s doing, playing tiny venues, no fuss, doing his thing.
“I am so proud of him.”
She added: “But he is a nepo. I mean, I feel sorry for these kids that are considered nepo-babies.
“The kids are simply the kids of their parents. It’s not their fault.
“Give them a chance. What matters is that people are good and kind.
“It is fine to be ambitious, but it is more important to be kind. Let the music speak for itself before you judge.”
High school football: Thursday's scores
CIF City and Southern Section high school football scores for Thursday, Oct. 23.
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Undocumented immigrant charged over deadly California highway crash
Oct. 24 (UPI) — A district attorney in Southern California has filed manslaughter and DUI charges against a 21-year-old man in connection with a highway crash that killed three people and injured several others.
Jashanpreet Singh, 21, of Yuba City, was arrested Tuesday after the semi-truck he was driving at a high rate of speed crashed into stopped traffic on the 10 Freeway West near Ontario, Calif.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson filed a four-count complaint Thursday charging Singh with three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving while under the influence of a drug causing injury, with great bodily injury and multiple victims enhancements.
Three people were killed and at least three others were injured, at least two seriously, according to the complaint.
One of the deceased victims has been identified in court documents as Jamie Flores Garcia. The other two were identified as Jane Doe and John Doe.
Federal immigration authorities have identified Singh as an Indian citizen and an undocumented immigrant.
Anderson rebuked law enforcement over the crash, which he said “was easily avoidable if the defendant was not driving in a grossly negligent manner and impaired.”
“Had the rule of law been followed by state and federal officials, the defendant should have never been in California at all,” he said in a statement.
The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday said it has lodged an immigration detainer for the suspect. It said Singh entered the United States in 2022 through the southern border and was then released into the country.
It blamed the Biden administration for the crash.
“It’s a terrible tragedy three innocent people lost their lives due to the reckless open border policies that allowed an illegal alien to be released into the U.S. and drive an 18-wheeler on America’s highways,” Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
The crash comes amid a political immigration fight, with the Trump administration seeking to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
The Trump administration and Republicans frequently blame the previous Biden administration and Democrats.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rebuked Democrat-run California for failing to “enforce my new rules for obtaining licenses to operate trucks.”
The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat feuding with President Donald Trump, responded that Duffy was manipulating facts “to score cheap political points” as the state does not determine commercial driver’s license eligibility.
“The FEDERAL government approved and renewed this individual’s FEDERAl employment authorization multiple times — which allowed him to obtain a commercial driver’s license in accordance with FEDERAL law,” it said on X.
“State rules and regulations for commercial driver’s licenses must be CONSISTENT with the standards set by FEDERaL law.”
Singh is to be arraigned Friday at the Rancho Cucamonga Superior Courthouse. No bail was set and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said it will request the suspect not be granted bail due to the seriousness of the offense and his potential to be a flight risk.
Plaid Cymru eyes Senedd success after historic Caerphilly by-election
Gareth LewisWales political editor
Getty ImagesIn a matter of moments, more than 100 years of history came crashing down for Labour as the results were read out.
For Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle, his victory – at the 14th time of asking – must feel like it has been a long time coming.
This could be the sign that voters see his party as a viable alternative to Labour, with next May’s Welsh Parliament election on the horizon.
The Labour stronghold has been breached and Plaid has stormed it.
For Reform, who had such high expectations, there are lessons to be learned.
Despite surging across the UK, they fell short in this big test.
Their ambition to be the biggest party after next year’s Welsh Parliament election has taken a knock.
There will be questions about how effective the party is at getting their supporters out to vote, as the party had been banking on a high turnout being good for them.
The turnout was 50.43% – higher than any previous Senedd election.
For Labour, this was an awful result.
If their 11% vote share is mirrored across Wales next May, under the new proportional voting system, they could be facing a wipe out.
Mark Lewis/BBCBefore the vote, one source told me about the concept of a good defeat – something the party could work off.
This was not it.
The party’s MSs meet this morning to start the difficult conversation of how to turn this round.
One Labour source has suggested to me that the party will need a “retail offer” – something stand-out – that will grab voters’ attention.
“People are desperate for material improvement to their lives,” the source said.
“We can talk about improvements and we can talk about legacy issues like free prescriptions but there needs to be a big sell on something new.”
The deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the party needed a “compelling story”.
Matthew HorwoodAnother source said that First Minister Eluned Morgan needs to try to differentiate herself even further from her UK colleagues.
She has tried this with her concept of the Red Welsh Way, but has also spoken of a partnership in power.
Welsh Labour and UK Labour working together has its benefits, but it was never going to be easy.
Voters in Caerphilly have not bought the idea that two Labour governments working together is better for Wales.
Next May, the entire Welsh electorate could deliver the same verdict.
For now, whatever happens, Caerphilly has written itself into the pages of Welsh political history.
We are about to find out if this result is an eye-opening anomaly or a genuinely new chapter.
The much-mocked UK city that’s set to be huge next year according National Geographic
WHEN Brits think about the best cities in the UK, the ones that come to mind are probably the likes of York, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Brighton or London.
But according to National Geographic, one of ‘best places in the world to travel to in 2026’ is Hull – all thanks to its lively bar scene, award-winning aquarium, and completion of a huge project costing millions.
Hull, is a port city in East Yorkshire that sits on the north bank of the river Humber.
National Geographic has named it as one of the best places in the entire world to visit next year, but it’s not always been so up and coming.
For example in Hull took top spot in the book Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places to Live in the UK back in 2003.
However, it’s set to become more popular in 2026, and National Geographic mentioned that one of the reasons why is Hull’s investment into conserving its rich maritime history.
Hull was a very important trade route during the 13th and 14th centuries.
Thanks to this, you can see Dutch-influenced architecture buildings that line the streets of the quaint Old Town.
Since 2020, the Maritime Museum has been undergoing a huge revamp worth £11million, but it will finally reopen to the public next year.
This has been part of a wider £27.5 million project to promote Hull’s maritime history which has gone into restoring the museum and ships.
Another reason is the city’s new leisure spots that have transformed warehouses and the old waterside Fruit Market to become bars, restaurants, and art galleries.
The publication added: “There’s also a spectacular performance amphitheater, called Stage@TheDock, overlooking River Hull where it meets the Humber Estuary.”
It continued: “And a former shipyard has for over 20 years been the base for The Deep, one of the United Kingdom’s most highly respected aquariums and marine conservation centers.”
The Deep is one of the country’s best aquariums, and the attraction is listed as one of top thing to do on Hull’s TripAdvisor.
Inside, visitors will be able to see sharks, turtles, penguins, and the UK’s only Green sawfish.
Head into the city and you’ll find the towering Hull Minster, the largest parish church in England (by floor area), it’s over 700 years old and is known to have some of the finest medieval brickwork in the country.
If visitors want to get a panoramic view of Hull, they can choose to climb the 180 steps up the spiral staircase.
It’s not just all about history, as Hull is a star of the screen having been used in the backdrop of lots of well-known TV shows and movies.
It even has its own showbiz trail called ‘It Must Be Hullywood‘, a walking route designed for tourists to see sites of their favourite shows.
And they’re big shows too like The Crown, Bodies, Enola Holmes 2 and ITV‘s Victoria starring Jenna Coleman.
Visitors to Hull can download a guide or grab a leaflet to follow the trail at their own pace.
It’s not the first time Hull has been revealed to be a city on the rise, it was even named one of Time Out’s best places to visit in 2024. In 2017, Hull was named the UK City of Culture.
Last year, Sun Travel explored Hull as part of Sun Travel’s Best of British series, and writer Hope Brotherton went to explore the city, here’s what she discovered.
For shopping, Hope suggested heading to Humber Street which used to be lined with fruit and veg traders but now has cool independent clothing and homeware shops, an art gallery and some of the city’s trendiest restaurants.
When it comes to things to do, head to Dinostar, an interactive dinosaur museum designed specifically for inquisitive kids where there’s everything from yrannosaurus Rex skull to Triceratops bones.
Other stops include the William Wilberforce House Museum and the Hull & East Riding Museum of Archaeology.
Hull has plenty of pubs and in 2023 was crowned the UK’s cheapest place for beers last year – some of Hope’s favourite included The Minerva pub and the Lion and Key.
The city is also rightfully proud of their Hearth Restaurant & Bakery, which is even listed in the Michelin Guide.
After spending a weekend in the city, Hope said: “From its maritime history to its free walking tours and other cultural attractions, Hull has it all for a great weekend break.
After 48 hours in the city, I could see why the locals I met are so proud to come from Hull – I would be, too.”
National Geographic’s ‘best places in the world to travel to in 2026’…
The Dolomites, Milan, Italy
Québec, Canada
Beijing, China
Dominica
Rabat, Morocco
Hull, Yorkshire, England
North Dakota Badlands, U.S.
Manila, Philippines
Black Sea Coast, Türkiye
Khiva, Uzbekistan
Akagera National Park, Rwanda, East Africa
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Route 66: Oklahoma, U.S.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Oulu, Finland
South Korea
Guimarães, Portugal
Basque Country, Spain
Maui, Hawaii, U.S.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coastal Oaxaca (Costa Chica), Mexico
Fiji
Medellín, Colombia
Banff, Canada
Top UK winter holiday spot little-known and ‘unspoilt’ village
Broadway has been dubbed the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’ thanks to its charming architecture and uncrowded streets. Here’s everything you need to know
The ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds ‘, a village in Worcestershire, has been lauded for its “beautiful” and “unspoilt” charm.
Broadway, particularly popular during the summer, is being promoted as an ideal spot to visit during the colder months, offering a unique winter allure. In fact, BBC’s Countryfile named it one of the top winter holiday destinations in the UK.
Situated beneath Fish Hill and just a two-hour drive from central London, Broadway invites visitors to leisurely stroll along its high street, taking in the local pubs, shops and cafes before venturing into the Cotswold hills.
Tourists can appreciate the historic buildings lining the high street before exploring some of the village’s attractions. The Design Museum, housed in Gordon Russell’s original grade-listed workshop, showcases the work of the renowned furniture designer.
According to the village’s official website, other notable creatives linked to the area include William Morris, John Singer Sargent, and Mary Anderson, reports Gloucestershire Live.
A key attraction is the Broadway Tower, nestled within a 50-acre parkland estate. It provides stunning views over the landscape, and on a clear day, visitors can see across 16 counties.
Additionally, the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery, situated in a charming 17th-century building, offers guests the opportunity to delve into the village’s intriguing history.
Animal enthusiasts will find the Cotswold Farm Park just a 20-minute drive away from Broadway.
Visitors can get up close with over 50 rare breeds, cuddle chicks or pet rabbits, providing an excellent family outing.
Holiday-makers have showered the village with glowing reviews, praising its picturesque architecture and range of attractions.
One guest shared on TripAdvisor: “Just beautiful, lots of shops and places to eat and drink. Best visited out of season so you can appreciate the buildings and old world charm.”
Another said: “The Broadway High Street just oozes Cotswold charm. It has a village green and is lined with historic buildings and honey-coloured houses with thatched roofs. Many of the houses were built in the 17th century, and some of the buildings, like the Abbot’s Grange and the Prior’s Manse, date back to medieval times.”
A third described Broadway as a “beautiful village”, noting: “Other Villages around aren’t a patch on this place. Plenty of shops to visit, pubs, restaurants, tea rooms.”
Meanwhile, another said: “Amazing Village in the Cotswolds. Been coming here for years when nearby. There is something for everyone and a very dog friendly place. Lovely food places and never struggled with parking.”
What bans? ‘Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition’ due in 2026
A new expanded edition of Maia Kobabe’s award-winning graphic memoir “Gender Queer” will be released next year.
Oni Press has announced that “Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition” will be available in May. The special hardcover edition of the seminal LGBTQ+ coming of age memoir includes commentary by Kobabe as well as other comic creators and scholars.
“For fans, educators, and anyone else who wants to know more, I am so excited to share ‘Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition,’” Kobabe said in the news release. “Queer and trans cartoonists, comics scholars, and multiple people who appear in the book as characters contributed their thoughts, reactions, and notes to this new edition.”
The new 280-page hardcover will feature “comments on the color design process, on comics craft, on family, on friendship, on the touchstone queer media that inspired me and countless other people searching for meaningful representation, and on the complicated process of self-discovery,” the author added.
Released in 2019, “Gender Queer” follows Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, from childhood into eir young adult years as e navigates gender and sexuality and eir understanding of who e is. The books is a candid look into the nonbinary author’s exploration of identity, chronicling the frustrations and joys and epiphanies of eir journey and self discovery.
A page from “Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition” by Maia Kobabe.
(Oni Press)
“It’s really hard to imagine yourself as something you’ve never seen,” Kobabe told The Times in 2022. “I know this firsthand because I didn’t meet someone who was out as trans or nonbinary until I was in grad school. It’s weird to grow up and be 25 before you meet someone who is like the same gender as you.”
Since the publication of “Gender Queer,” the political climate has been increasingly hostile to the LGBTQ+ community. Right-wing activists and politicians have pushed for legislation to restrict queer and trans rights, including how sexual orientation and gender identity can be addressed in classrooms. Caught in the crossfire of this conservative, anti-LGBTQ+ culture war, “Gender Queer” has become one of the most challenged and banned books in the United States.
In addition to commentary by Kobabe, “Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition” will feature comments from fellow artists and comics creatives Jadzia Axelrod, Ashley R. Guillory, Justin Hall, Kori Michele Handwerker, Phoebe Kobabe, Hal Schrieve, Rani Som, Shannon Watters and Andrea Colvin. Sandra Cox, Ajuan Mance and Matthew Noe are among the academic figures who contributed to the new edition.
“It’s been almost seven years since I wrote the final words of this memoir; revisiting these pages today, in a radically different and less accepting political climate, sparked a lot of new thoughts for me as well,” Kobabe said in the news release. “I hope readers enjoy this even richer text full of community voices.”
A page from “Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition” by Maia Kobabe.
(Oni Press)
Cheapest day of the week to go on holiday, according to a travel expert
Booking your holiday on a specific day could actually make your trip cheaper when compared to the rest of the week – and it’s good news for those who want short breaks
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to booking a holiday. Once you’ve chosen where you’d like to go, you have to consider what time of year you’d like to travel, how long you want to go for, and whether you want an all-inclusive resort holiday or want to get out and experience a new culture.
But what you might not have considered before is the exact day of the week you want to fly out. Most people will either pick the start of the week if they’ve taken time off from work, or will opt to travel on the weekend in order to squeeze a couple of extra days out of their trip.
According to one travel expert, however, travelling on specific days of the week could actually make your holiday cheaper or more expensive – and it’s not always a good idea to avoid the weekends.
A holiday expert named Rob, who is an insider for On The Beach, shared a TikTok video in which he looked through the On The Beach data for 2026 holidays and found that some days of the week are cheaper to travel on.
He stipulated that the data he looked at was specifically for couples’ holidays in 2026, but said that “it goes to show that picking the right date can save you a lot of money”.
Rob ran through the days of the week, starting with the most expensive day to travel – Wednesday.
Explaining why this is, he said: “It’s probably because midweek flights are packed with business travellers, so that pushes the price up, especially on short-haul flights. So that’s your baseline, and one to avoid if you can.”
Next, saving just 1% in comparison to Wednesday, is Tuesday, and the third most expensive day to travel is Saturday. Sunday is marginally cheaper as the middle day on the list, coming in at the fourth cheapest and fourth most expensive.
Speaking about Sunday, Rob said: “Sunday gives you about a 5% saving versus Wednesday. Not to be sniffed at, 5% can be a big difference. Hotels love a Sunday check-in, [as there are] quieter lobbies and fewer crowds, and often, because of this, [there are] lower rates. Plus, you skip the weekend airport chaos.”
The third cheapest day to travel is actually a Monday, as Rob said people “tend to hate the idea” of travelling on a Monday on a psychological level, as it reminds people of going to work.
Second place went to Thursday, as you miss out on the weekend rush, but coming in first place, and saving a whopping 13% compared to those travelling on Wednesday, is actually Friday.
While travelling on a Friday might seem like it would be expensive because it’s so popular, Rob said that’s actually why it’s cheap – as there are more flights and more package deals available.
He said: “There are more flights. Airlines put on more leisure routes because there’s more demand, which means prices get driven down. It’s also the day most hotels want you to check in, meaning more package deals, more discounts, and overall better value.”
Rob ended his video by stating that his data is “foolproof” and booking a holiday on a Friday won’t always work out cheaper, but it’s certainly worth a look if you’re planning a holiday for 2026.
Domestic violence allegations from 1996 surface against chief of Donald Trump’s campaign
Donald Trump’s effort to overcome his deep unpopularity among female voters was dealt a setback Friday as decades-old domestic violence allegations surfaced against Stephen K. Bannon, the controversial new chief executive of his campaign.
In January 1996, according to a police report, Bannon grabbed his wife’s wrist and neck, then smashed a phone when she tried to call 911 from their Santa Monica home. Police photographed “red marks on her left wrist and the right side of her neck,” the report said.
Years earlier, three or four other arguments also “became physical,” Bannon’s wife, Mary Louise Piccard, told police. The couple divorced soon after the 1996 altercation.
Bannon was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, battery and witness intimidation, and the Los Angeles Municipal Court issued a domestic violence protective order against him, according to a statement Santa Monica city officials issued Friday. Bannon pleaded not guilty, records show.
The case was dismissed when Piccard did not show up for trial in August 1996, according to the statement. Politico and the New York Post first reported on the case Thursday.
Details of the case emerged just hours after Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, faulted him for hiring Bannon last week in the latest shake-up of his campaign’s high command.
Clinton portrayed Bannon as a right-wing extremist who promoted racist, “anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, anti-women” ideas as chairman of the Breitbart News Network website.
Bannon, 62, took a leave from Breitbart last week to serve as CEO of the Republican presidential nominee’s campaign. The Trump campaign did not respond to inquiries about the police report.
Alexandra Preate, Bannon’s spokeswoman at Breitbart, declined to comment on the specific allegations, apart from noting that the charges were dismissed.
“He has a great relationship with his ex-wife,” she said.
The abuse allegations against Bannon surfaced as Clinton and her allies have been highlighting Trump’s history of making derogatory remarks about women. Clinton led Trump among female voters 58-35% in a Washington Post/ABC News poll at the beginning of August, and 60% of those polled overall said they saw Trump as biased against both women and minorities,
In March, police filed a battery charge against a previous Trump campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, after he yanked and bruised the arm of Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields at a Trump event in Florida. Prosecutors declined to prosecute the case.
If Trump had vetted Bannon before hiring him, his ex-wife’s accusations should have been disqualifying, said Katie Packer, who was deputy campaign manager for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign and led an effort to block Trump from getting the GOP nomination.
“Given the questions that women already have about how Trump views women and how he has treated women historically, elevating someone like this to such a high position only reinforces the idea that Trump doesn’t respect and value women,” Packer said.
Charlie Black, a Republican strategist who has informally advised the Trump campaign, said the allegations against Bannon fell into a “gray area” because the charges were dropped. But “of course it’s an issue,” he added, “because he’s in a position of CEO of the campaign.”
Piccard, who was Bannon’s second wife, did not respond to a phone message seeking comment.
She and Bannon, a former investment banker, were married in April 1995, three days before their twin daughters were born. Shortly before 9 a.m. on New Year’s Day 1996, police received a 911 call from their home in Santa Monica, but the line went dead. The police report gave this account:
An officer went to the front door and was greeted by Piccard, who appeared “very upset.” She burst into tears and took several minutes to calm down.
Bannon had slept on the living-room couch the night before, and he “got upset” in the morning when Piccard made noise while feeding the twin babies. When Bannon started to leave, she asked for a credit card for groceries, but he refused and went to his car, Piccard told police.
She followed him outside, told him she wanted a divorce and said he should move out. He laughed at her and told him he would never leave, according to Piccard. She said she spat at him when he was sitting in the driver’s seat of his car.
“He pulled her down, as if he was trying to pull [her] into the car, over the door,” the report said. Bannon grabbed her neck, pulling her toward the car again, and she struck him in the face and ran back into the house. She told Bannon she was dialing 911, and he “jumped over her and the twins to grab the phone.”
“Once he got the phone, he threw it across the room,” the report said. “After this, Mr. Bannon left the house.”
Piccard, whose name was blacked out in the police report, “found the phone in several pieces and could not use it.”
“She complained of soreness to her neck,” the officer wrote in the police report. “I saw red marks on her left wrist and the right side of her neck.”
Court papers in the divorce and child custody proceedings show Bannon was living primarily in Tucson at the time, to work on Biosphere 2, a desert refuge enclosed in a glass dome for research.
Piccard won custody of the twins in the divorce. During Bannon’s visit with the babies about nine months after the incident, in September 1996, he spanked one of them, Piccard wrote in child custody court papers. The twins were 17 months old at the time.
“I restrained him and told him that it was not acceptable to hit our daughter (he believes in corporal punishment),” Piccard wrote. Bannon “screamed at me” and “stormed out of the house.”
In March 1997, Piccard wrote that she only wanted to restrict Bannon’s visits with the children to neutral sites because he “has been verbally abusive to me in front of the girls and I do not feel safe meeting him” elsewhere.
Twitter: @finneganLAT
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UPDATES:
5:55 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Santa Monica officials detailing the charges against Bannon.
This article was originally published at 4 p.m.
NFL: Los Angeles Chargers beat Minnesota Vikings 37-10 on Thursday Night Football
The hosts got into the end zone on each of their opening two drives, with Herbert making an eight-yard touchdown pass to Oronde Gadsden II before Kimani Vidal, who finished with 117 rushing yards, punched in his first NFL touchdown from three yards.
Herbert then launched a 27-yard pass to the corner for Ladd McConkey to help make it 21-3 at half-time, but the Chargers quarterback gave up his only interception midway through the third quarter.
The Vikings took advantage, with Carson Wentz finding Jordan Addison at the back of the end zone to make it 24-10, but the hosts emphasised their dominance with a Tre’ Harris touchdown and two field goals in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings are now 3-4 and Wentz struggled on his fifth start in place of the injured JJ McCarthy, throwing for 144 yards, one touchdown and one interception while being sacked five times.
McCarthy has been out with a high ankle sprain suffered in week two but head coach Kevin O’Connell hopes the second-year quarterback can return next week, when the Vikings face a tough game at divisional rivals the Detroit Lions.
“If JJ is healthy, JJ will play,” said O’Connell. “I believe we’re right around the corner from seeing him be healthy, have a week of preparation and go compete.”
Lithuanian president says Russian jets violated the country’s airspace | Russia-Ukraine war News
Incursion follows series of drone incidents and airspace violations that have prompted fears that Russia is testing NATO.
Published On 24 Oct 2025
Two Russian military aircraft have briefly entered Lithuania’s airspace in what appeared to be a new provocation from Moscow as European Union leaders discussed how to strengthen their defences amid deepening concerns the war in Ukraine could spill over into their nations.
Lithuania’s armed forces said in a statement that the two aircraft – an Su-30 fighter and an Il-78 refuelling tanker – may have been conducting refuelling exercises in the neighbouring Russian exclave of Kaliningrad when they flew 700 metres (0.43 miles) into the country at 6pm local time (15:00 GMT) on Thursday.
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“This is a blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity of Lithuania,” said President Gitanas Nauseda on X, adding that his country would summon Russian embassy representatives to protest against reckless and dangerous behaviour.
Two Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the NATO Baltic Air Police were scrambled in response and were patrolling the area, the Lithuanian military said.
Russia’s Defence Ministry denied the incursion had taken place, saying the flights were conducted “in strict compliance” with rules and “did not deviate from their route and did not violate the borders of other states”.
The incident occurred after Nauseda and his fellow EU leaders attended a Brussels summit on Thursday, endorsing a plan dubbed Readiness 2030 to ensure that Europe can defend itself against an outside attack by the end of the decade.
It follows a series of mysterious drone incidents and airspace violations by Russian warplanes in recent weeks that have heightened anxiety that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be testing NATO’s defensive reflexes.
Three Russian military jets violated Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes on September 19 in what was described by Tallinn as an “unprecedented and brazen intrusion”.
Nine days before, NATO jets had shot down 20 Russian drones that entered Polish airspace, marking the first time an alliance member had engaged directly with Russia since the start of the Ukraine war.
Fellow Baltic state leaders Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze both expressed full solidarity with Lithuania.
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the incident showed that “Russia is in no way calming down or retreating” and that continued vigilance is required.
Thursday’s EU summit also saw the bloc greenlight a major package of sanctions against Russia for its war on Ukraine.
It stopped short of endorsing the use of Russian frozen assets to give Kyiv a large loan. Russia had threatened a “painful response” if its assets were seized.
B-1 Bombers Fly Off Venezuela’s Coast
U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers look to have just flown close to the Venezuelan coast, as well as outlying islands belonging to the country in the Caribbean Sea. Just last week, a trio of the Air Force’s B-52 bombers was tracked in the same general area of the Caribbean. The U.S. military subsequently confirmed those sorties and that the bombers had been accompanied by U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters. There is a larger U.S. government effort to put pressure on Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, ostensibly over illegal drug trafficking, with a growing possibility of direct military action against targets in that country.
Online flight tracking data shows at least two B-1 bombers departing Dyess Air Force Base in Texas earlier today. KC-135 tankers were also tracked leaving MacDill Air Force Base in Florida some 90 minutes later. What appeared to be B-1s, using the callsigns BARB21 and BARB22, were subsequently tracked flying near Venezuela. The available online tracks, which may not be entirely accurate, suggest that the bombers may have come within around 50 miles of the Venezuelan coast, and even closer to the Los Testigos islands.
Flight tracking data and publicly available air traffic control audio also subsequently pointed to a flurry of other U.S. military air activity over the Caribbean near Venezuela at the time, including the presence of KC-135 tankers and an RC-135 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. What type of RC-135 may have been in the area is unclear, but RC-135V/W Rivet Joints have been tracked in this general region in the past.
In addition, one of the Air Force’s E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft was tracked flying in the general direction of Puerto Rico — where the U.S. is staging significant military capabilities — today. Whether or not that sortie was directly related to the other U.S. military aerial activity in the southern end of the Caribbean is unknown, but the presence of this aircraft is of particular note. It facilitates communications and data sharing across a substantial portion of a theater and is uniquely capable of enabling complex military operations, relaying information to desperate ‘customers’ and fuzing and rebroadcasting data from various datalink waveforms. It is especially useful for enabling communications from the surface of the planet to aircraft in the air and other platforms around the battlespace, as well as supporting special operations missions.
The Wall Street Journal has further confirmed the B-1 sorties, citing anonymous officials. However, remarks from President Donald Trump have also now caused some confusion.
“There’s reporting that the US just sent B-1 bombers near Venezuela to ramp up some military pressure there. Is that accurate, and can you tell us more about that mission?” a reporter asked Trump at a press conference today.
“No, it’s not accurate. It’s false,” he responded. “But we’re not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons.”
TWZ has reached out to the Pentagon, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), and Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) for clarification and more information. STRATCOM redirected us to the Pentagon.
Regardless, as TWZ noted following the B-52 sorties last week, there is a well-established precedent for employing Air Force bombers in counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. The range and targeting capabilities that the B-52 and the B-1 possess can be and have been employed to help spot and track suspected drug smuggling vessels.
As was the case last week, the online flight tracking data at least clearly points to a show of force aimed at Venezuela. The U.S. military itself described last week’s B-52 flights as a “bomber attack demonstration mission.”
Any direct action against the U.S. military might take against Venezuela could easily involve standoff strikes launched from B-1s, as well as other platforms. The bombers could also prosecute targets on land and at sea with other conventional munitions as part of any such operation. Venezuelan armed forces have limited air defense capabilities, but they could still pose a credible threat, as TWZ has previously explored in detail.
Just yesterday, Venezuela’s Maduro pointedly claimed that his country’s military has 5,000 Igla-S man-portable short-range surface-to-air missiles in “key air defense positions” across the country. Reuters also reported yesterday that it had reviewed documents that appeared to corroborate this assertion. However, that same story noted that Venezuelan forces are only understood to have 1,500 so-called “grip stocks” that are needed to actually fire those missiles.
The video below, from 2009, shows Igla-S shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles in Venezuelan service.
Other Venezuelan air defense assets also continue to be spotted in forward-deployed positions.
The Venezuelan military’s other ground, air, and naval capabilities are similarly limited, but there are certain elements that could still present some degree of a threat in the event of a violent U.S. intervention. The country’s stocks of Russian-made Kh-31 air-launched supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles are one example of this, as TWZ highlighted just this week.
Any aerial activity off the Venezuelan coast today notably follows remarks yesterday from Trump about the possibility of ordering attacks on drug cartels on land. This comes as the administration’s current campaign of strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats has now expanded from the Caribbean Sea into the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Trump talked about the potential for strikes against cartel targets on land during a joint press conference with visiting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House last night. The president’s initial comments came in direct response to a question about strikes on boats in the Eastern Pacific. The Pentagon had announced the first known strike in that body of water earlier in the day. American authorities disclosed a second one some hours after Trump had made his remarks alongside Rutte.
“I will say, there are very few boats traveling on the water right now. Actually, that includes fishing boats, that includes any other kind of boat. But there are very few boats traveling on the water, so now they’ll come in by land … to a lesser extent,” Trump said. “And they will be hit on land also.”
Trump was then asked a question about legal authorities to conduct such strikes. Questions have already been raised about the legality of the U.S. strikes on boats alleged to be involved in drug smuggling, as well as the underlying intelligence. U.S. forces are known to have targeted at least eight small boats as part of this ongoing campaign since September, six in the Caribbean and two in the Eastern Pacific.
“Yes, we do, we have legal authority. We’re allowed to do that. And if we do by land, we may go back to Congress. But this is a national security problem,” Trump said. “And we will hit them very hard when they come in by land, and they haven’t experienced that yet, but now we’re totally prepared to do that. We’ll probably go back to Congress and explain what we’re doing when we come to the land.”
Trump did not elaborate on where strikes on land targeting drug cartels might occur.
The president’s comments yesterday were widely taken in the broader context of the U.S. government’s recent efforts to put particular pressure on the Maduro regime in Venezuela. However, Venezuela does not share a land border with the United States, or have an Eastern Pacific coastline. Mexico, among other countries, does. There have also been reports in the past that the Trump administration has been considering taking direct action against drug cartels in Mexico. That remains a possibility, but one that would be fraught with its own particular set of complexities and risks, as TWZ has previously explored in detail.
At the same time, Venezuela does continue to be a focal point in the U.S. government’s current ostensible counter-drug operations across the Western Hemisphere.
Beyond the flights by the B-1s and other aircraft today, there has also been a larger U.S. military build-up in the region, which includes a host of crewed and uncrewed aircraft. F-35Bs and AC-130s have also been forward deployed, for instance, among other aircraft. Among the U.S. naval flotilla is an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) packed with Marines with USS Iwo Jima at its center, as well as a handful of destroyers, a cruiser and a nuclear submarine. The appearance of the Ocean Trader, a shadowy special operations mothership, has been a particular stand-out. Helicopters belonging to the U.S. Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment have been spotted flying over waters near Venezuela, as well.
All of this comes amid reports that American forces could be poised to launch covert operations against Maduro and his regime. Last week, Trump confirmed reports that he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to undertake covert activities in Venezuela.
“Wouldn’t it be a ridiculous question for me to answer?” Trump said at a press conference last week when asked if the CIA now has the authority to depose Maduro. “But I think Venezuela is feeling heat. But I think a lot of other countries are feeling heat, too.”
It is worth noting that Trump has also been increasingly sparring with Colombian President Gustavo Petro in the past week or so. Petro has accused the U.S. government of “murder” in its strikes on the alleged drug-smuggling boats. Over the weekend, Trump had responded by calling his Colombian counterpart “an illegal drug leader” in a post on his Truth Social social network.
The scale and scope of any U.S. operation against ostensible cartel targets on land in Venezuela, or anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere, remains to be seen. Depending on the chosen course of action, such as standoff missile strikes, American forces would not necessarily have to be present on the ground, even briefly, either.
“Several people familiar with internal administration deliberations said any initial land attack would probably be a targeted operation on alleged trafficker encampments or clandestine airstrips, rather than a direct attempt to unseat Maduro,” The Washington Post reported yesterday. “Some said the U.S. deployments and boat strikes were psychological warfare to promote fractures in the Venezuelan armed forces or persuade Maduro to step down.”
However, “having declared war against narco-terrorists, and designated Maduro as the head of at least one of them, ‘there really is no turning back unless Maduro is essentially not in power,’ said one person among those interviewed for this article who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive issue,” that report added. “‘At the end of the day, if you have authority to take out cartel runners … you can take out the cartel boss,’ the person said.”
Today’s B-1 sorties, coupled with Trump’s comments yesterday, only add to concerns about the potential for further major escalations in U.S. military operations aimed at Venezuela’s Maduro and other actors in the region.
Contact the author: [email protected]
Simon Cowell’s new TV show branded ‘big two fingers up to ITV’ over The X Factor
Simon Cowell is set to join forces with Spice Girl icon Mel B and Jonas Brother singer Joe Jonas for a brand new show called Who’s In The Band, and a pilot will be recorded next week
One of Simon Cowell’s new projects has been described as “a big two fingers up to ITV“.
The music mogul, 66, has linked up with Netflix for Simon Cowell: The Next Act, a six-episode docuseries which will follow Simon as he searches for Britain’s next big band. He is also going to be on the judging panel of new show Who’s In The Band, which records a pilot next week.
Spice Girl icon Mel B and Jonas Brother singer Joe Jonas will work alongside Simon for the latter, which ex-TV presenter turned producer Richard Bacon says will be popular with teenagers and young adults.
But the Netflix series, Simon Cowell: The Next Act, has particularly excited the TV industry. It is believed Netflix executives “felt bringing a name like Simon in for a factual entertainment show was a power move for the network”. Another source said the programme will be “a big two fingers up to ITV” after the cancellation of The X Factor in 2021.
READ MORE: Katie Price admits to kissing Eminem and two other huge stars including Hollywood iconREAD MORE: Simon Cowell joins forces with Spice Girl and Jonas Brother for brand new show
But a source close to Simon, who created the global X Factor franchise, has denied there is “a rivalry”. They added: “There’s no rivalry nor residual issue – Simon’s focus is entirely on new formats and discovering talent.”
The X Factor, though, was scrapped after nearly 20 years on British TV screens and, at its peak, attracted 10 million viewers on a Saturday evening. It was the launching pad for a number of top-selling British music acts in the last two decades, from One Direction to Little Mix and Leona Lewis.
But Simon, who is thought to be worth £475million, continues to work with ITV on Britain’s Got Talent, which is still a staple after more than 18 years. His latest ventures, though, on other networks have television circles excited, it is understood.
The source told the Daily Mail: “Success on Netflix would be priceless retribution against ITV for the way The X Factor came to a close.” This theory is rejected by Simon, born in Lambeth, south London, whose new show Who’s In The Band will be presented by K-Pop Demon Hunters star Rei Ami, 30.
READ MORE: Amanda Holden brands Simon Cowell ‘evil’ as she shares real reason behind his head injury
Simon’s latest search for talent comes after the Britain’s Got Talent auditions was sent into chaos when he fell down another set of steps, making it the latest in a series of mishaps for the long-time judge.
He missed the first two days of filming in Birmingham after the incident, leaving producers to call in Stacey Solomon to temporarily fill his place on the panel. The star then later reappeared on the third day of auditions with a visible graze on his forehead, explaining only that he’d had “an accident.”
His absence was finally addressed during the show’s Blackpool auditions, when a choir made up of ambulance staff took to the stage. Amanda Holden joked: “I thought they might be here in case anything went wrong with you again because you were poorly last week.”
Travel chaos as Alaska Airlines grounds all planes across US again after another IT outage
ALASKA Airlines was forced to ground all planes across the US on Thursday after being hit by an IT outage.
It’s the second time in three months that the carrier has been forced to halt all operations.
The outage has since sparked widespread travel chaos across the US.
More than 200 Alaska Airlines flights were delayed on Thursday, and more than 100 canceled, according to FlightAware data.
More than 300 flights heading out of Dallas and Chicago were delayed.
Over 140 planes jetting out of Seattle airport were delayed, according to FlightAware.
Federal aviation chiefs issued a ground stop for Alaska Airlines’ entire fleet just after 7:30pm local time on Thursday.
Passengers in Seattle airport were seen lounging on their suitcases in the terminal as they waited for information.
Luggage was piling up in the airport’s baggage reclaim area.
Airport staffers had to check labels to reunite passengers with their bags.
Others managed to get onto their planes but were left sitting on the tarmac.
Pilots told passengers on board jets they would be taking off but planes didn’t move.
“They were like, okay, we’re going to be taking off, it’s an hour fifty-eight to Burbank, and then we didn’t move,” Wilder McCullough, who was heading to California, told KOMO-TV.
Travelers in Austin, Texas, said gates were jammed, as reported by CNN.
Airline bosses have since spoken out and have apologized for any disruption.
“We apologize for the inconvenience,” the carrier posted on X.
Alaska Airlines statement
ALASKA Airlines has issued a statement after an IT outage grounded all flights on Thursday.
“An IT outage has affected our operations and has resulted in cancellations of some of our flights this evening and into tomorrow,” the carrier said.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that you check your flight status before heading to the airport.
“A flexible travel policy is in place to support guests.”
Source: X
“If you’re scheduled to fly tonight, please check your flight status before heading to the airport.”
Some travelers opted not to rebook canceled flights and decided to drive 16 hours to reach their destinations, as per the NBC affiliate KING-TV.
The outage is not a cyberattack and services are gradually being restored.
Passengers have been warned to expect delays on Friday.
Alaska Airlines was hit with an IT outage in July, which also sparked widespread chaos.
The airline is the fifth largest in the US, with a fleet of more than 200 planes.
Meanwhile, the government shutdown is now in its third week.
Federal officials have warned passengers to expect delays at airport security checkpoints.
Transportation Security Administration staffers are considered essential workers but they are not being paid as it stands.
‘Not many pub lunches require a trip across the Atlantic’: readers’ favourite UK country pubs with great food | Food and drink
Winning tip: fabulous food and views on a Scottish island
There are not many pub lunches that require a trip across the Atlantic, but to reach Tigh An Truish (a 30-minute drive south of Oban), visitors must cross the 250-year-old Bridge over the Atlantic – Clachan Bridge, which links the west coast of the Scottish mainland to the Isle of Seil. This transatlantic journey is well worth it for delicious and lovingly presented local fare (think Argyll venison and mussels brought into Oban harbour). The pub bustles with visitors and locals, while the adjoining restaurant is a warm space to coorie in from the wild west coast and enjoy the stunning views down the Clachan Sound.
Calum Hamilton
Homegrown ingredients in the South Downs
On a hot July Sunday in 2023 we came across the Sussex Ox at the foot of the hills that lead up to the Long Man of Wilmington, near Alfriston, in East Sussex. Following a path from close to the pub, we climbed the hill to get close to the mysterious figure cut into the hillside and fell in love with the view. Galloping back down for lunch at the pub, we encountered a horse in its garden and its rider happily sipping a pint – a sight that seemed to symbolise what makes a great country pub. But the best was yet to come: a Sunday lunch with many of the ingredients coming from the pub’s own farm in Jevington, grass-fed and sustainably reared. Big, complex flavours in classic Sunday roasts testified to the wisdom of this approach. Ales are from the Long Man brewery. Vintage crockery and charming staff completed our wholly satisfying afternoon. We have returned many times since as we keep being drawn back to South Downs walks and this picturesque and wholly hospitable country pub.
Noreen Meehan
Puddings to die for in Monmouthshire
I find everything about the Angel Inn at Grosmont near Abergavenny to my liking. Centrally located in an ancient village set in glorious walking countryside, there is also a castle nearby where children can play while adults linger over drinks. The food is varied, generous and beautifully cooked by chef Jim Hamilton, with puddings to die for. The Angel Inn is also a friendly pub used by the community, with chess nights, quizzes and live music. There’s a central open fire, local beers, dogs, books and Welsh-language clubs. It is never cliquey and everyone is made to feel welcome.
Clare
Sea bass after a long walk in foodie Ceredigion
Y Talbot, in Tregaron, west Wales, led the charge in making Ceredigion a great foodie location, and they’ve kept up the quality. Steaks are a speciality, plus high quality favourites such as slow-cooked Welsh lamb and beautifully prepared sea bass. Seasonal dishes use local produce and there are also lovely rooms. The pub is great to visit after a long walk (I really recommend Cors Caron nature reserve with its peat bogs, ponds and walkways). It’s a dog-friendly place with beers from breweries like Wye Valley, Mantle and Purple Moose.
Maisie Baynham
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Readers’ tips: send a tip for a chance to win a £200 voucher for a Coolstays break
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Guardian Travel readers’ tips
Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers’ tips homepage
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Homemade pies in North Yorkshire
Walking into the Craven Arms in Appletreewick is like being wrapped up in the arms of a best friend. Its cosy and traditional decor is instantly warming, and if you take a look around you’ll see fellow punters with a rather smug expression; nobody can believe how lucky they are. Hot homemade pies smothered in rich gravy warm you up in winter. Fresh sandwiches stuffed with quality local ingredients fill you up in summer. Perch outside and you’ll dine with a backdrop of rolling Yorkshire hills.
George
The Swan Inn at Kettleshulme in the Peak District is a 15th-century village pub that has been reinvigorated after being saved from closure by a community buyout some years ago. The bar area is still original, with an open fire, but the restaurant is in a stunning new extension. The food is amazing with a surprising range of fish dishes for somewhere so far from the sea – the bouillabaisse is wonderful, as is the meat cooked on a Josper grill. And there are three gorgeous bedrooms if you want to stay the night.
Don Berry
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A hillside haven on the edge of Dartmoor
On the northern edge of Dartmoor, Belstone is a place where wily winds whisper secrets, and views sweep you off your feet. Perched on a Dartmoor hillside, the Tors inn is a haven of fine local fare, and the menu names all of the suppliers on a map. Fans of smoky flavours will appreciate the kitchen’s passion for smoking slow and low. Sunday roasts are a highlight, with tender meat paired with a vibrant variety of seasonal veggies, roasted to perfection. After a moorland stomp, rest weary feet and indulge in these tasty treats, followed by a decadent and comforting slice of sticky toffee pudding. Your senses will thank you as nature and nurture entwine in this hillside haven.
Laura
A welcoming candlelit bar in Cornwall
Set back from its greenstone, basaltic headland namesake, the gorse-yellow Gurnard’s Head is a welcome beacon. Step in off the moors between St Ives and St Just and you’ll be welcomed by a candlelit bar stocked with local Cornish ales and wines. Stop for a coffee, a seasonal supper of local produce, or stay the night if you can’t face leaving the warmth of the open fire. Definitely worth a short detour, whether you’re hiking the South West Coast path, cycling the West Kernow Way or driving down to Land’s End.
Helen
A cosy fire and excellent food in Norfolk
If you love beach walks, sand dunes and seals, you will love the Nelson Head in Horsey. This small pub with a cosy fire serves excellent classics such as steak pie and chilli con carne in rooms full of atmosphere, with old muskets and antique paraphernalia adorning the walls. A lovely mown field opposite with a marquee and picnic benches enables you to gaze at distant church spires while you sip your beverage.
Peter
Game, seafood and souffle in Northumberland
The Kirkstyle Inn in Slaggyford overlooks the beautiful River South Tyne, midway between Alston and Brampton. The journey there alone is well worth the trip, weaving through the once-industrial valley. The hospitality is friendly and informal, the menu is locally sourced, specialising in game (rabbit terrine, pigeon pie, grouse with blewit mushrooms) with some good seafood. It is expertly cooked, the wine list is impressive and the beer locally brewed at Twice Brewed. The Sunday lunch is generous and the best I have been served, and whisper a small prayer that the rhubarb souffle is on the dessert menu.
Alex Docton
POLITICS 88 : Republican Rivals Debate in Atlanta : Bush and Dole Clash Over Trade Policy, Cutting Deficit
ATLANTA — Vice President George Bush and Sen. Bob Dole, chief rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, clashed over trade policy and derided each other’s plans for reduction of the federal deficit at a presidential campaign debate here Sunday.
“I don’t think we should go down the protectionist road,” Bush declared in warning against tougher trade measures now pending in Congress at the debate staged here in Georgia to focus attention on the candidates’ views in advance of the March 8 Super Tuesday Southern primaries.
“The best answer (to the nation’s trade problems) is open markets,” Bush said, adding that he was concerned about “the inevitability of retaliation” against the United States by foreign trading partners.
But Dole, who is supporting stronger trade measures on Capitol Hill, disagreed sharply. “Every time I hear the word retaliation I am reminded that Japan and South Korea and Taiwan already block Florida oranges and Georgia peaches and Alabama melons.” Dole contended that an Alabama melon would cost about $55 in Japan because of that country’s restrictive trade practices.
‘Talking About Jobs’
“Let’s be realistic,” the Kansas lawmaker said. “We’re talking about American jobs, not protectionism.”
On the issue of the budget deficit, Dole dismissed a four-year budget spending freeze advocated by Bush as a “four-year cop-out” because the plan limits only overall spending rather than specific programs.
“He’s just going to freeze bad programs for four years and not do anything about it,” said Dole, who favors a one-year across-the-board ceiling on all spending programs, except aid for the needy. Dole contended that in four years Bush’s plan would leave the nation with a deficit of $153 billion.
But Bush disputed Dole’s figures and argued that the senator’s proposal “would cut into the muscle of defense.”
“How does your plan work?” Bush demanded of Dole.
“How does your plan work?” Dole shot back.
A Spirited Argument
Bush made his most spirited argument for his deficit plan in an exchange with New York Rep. Jack Kemp, who is vying with Pat Robertson, former religious broadcaster, to become the conservative alternative to either of the two front-runners.
Responding to Kemp’s charge that the budget freeze proposals meant that national security would be sacrificed “on the altar of mindless budgeting,” Bush said: “The freeze I’m talking about provides the President with flexibility.”
“The point is, Jack, you don’t care about deficits, you never have. You don’t think they’re important. And they are public enemy No. 1.”
“George Bush is now making my speech,” grumbled Dole, who has sought to depict himself in the campaign as the chief Republican foe of budget deficits.
Although Kemp and Bush argued about budget policy, the two were by and large in agreement in opposing changes in trade policy in contrast with Dole and Robertson. Trade has become a hot issue in the Super Tuesday Republican presidential campaign in large measure because of the impact of textile imports on the economies of South Carolina and other textile-producing states in this region.
Dole and Robertson both support trade legislation, which Bush and Kemp oppose.
‘Sounds Like Gephardt’
“Your trade talk sounds like Dick Gephardt,” Kemp told Dole at one point, referring to Missouri Rep. Richard A. Gephardt, who has based much of his drive for the Democratic presidential nomination on a controversial proposal to give the United States the power to retaliate against unfair foreign trade practices.
Earlier in the debate, Robertson introduced the trade issue into the discussion. “People that I’ve talked to can’t abide the thought that America is going to be No. 2 in the world in the 21st Century,” Robertson said. Decrying the rise of textile imports from China and the Soviet Union, the former broadcaster said: “I don’t believe we can continue to permit the deindustrialization of America.
“I’m for free trade in this country but it’s got to be fair. And I think if those people don’t deal fairly with us, it’s high time we started getting tough with them. I don’t want to preside over Uncle Sucker, I want to preside over Uncle Sam.”
But Kemp promptly took issue with that argument in impassioned terms.
‘Barriers to Imports’
“If we’re going to go to Iowa, Pat and Bob,” he said, addressing Robertson and Dole, “and tell the folks in Iowa we want to boost exports of grain and corn and soybeans and then go to South Carolina, as you both have done, and tell them you’re going to put up barriers to imports, we will be making a mistake under your leadership.”
Kemp charged that such a shift in trade policy would be like “the mistake that was made in 1929 and 1930 when a Republican Congress caused the worst trade war in the history of this world with the Smoot-Hawley tariff act.”
Calling for lower tax rates on labor and capital and stable exchange rates to spur economic growth, the New York congressman warned that putting up trade barriers “is not just protectionist, it is mindless with regard to the fact that we have to compete in an export war.
“So let’s not make the mistake we made in the 1930s.”
Sunday’s debate, like the debate staged here Saturday for Democratic presidential candidates, was sponsored by the Atlanta Constitution-Journal. It brought together all of the 1988 GOP presidential contenders for the first time since the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 16.
Republican Survivors
A prior effort to assemble all the Republican survivors on one platform failed 10 days ago in Dallas when Dole and Robertson refused to participate, charging that the arrangements in Bush’s home state unfairly favored the vice president.
Since winning the New Hampshire primary, Bush has seemed relaxed and confident on the stump, bolstered not only by his victory in the Granite State but also by his financial resources and his reputedly powerful organization in most of the 14 Southern and border Super Tuesday states.
The vice president’s chief rival, Dole, won the South Dakota primary and the Minnesota caucuses last week. But Dole’s satisfaction with those successes was dimmed by evidence of discord within his campaign organization, signaled most notably by the firing of two key advisers, David Keene and Donald Devine, by campaign Chairman William Brock.
Meanwhile Robertson campaign strategists have been concerned about the potential impact on his candidacy of the disclosures of the sexual misadventures of television evangelist Jimmy Swaggart.
For his part, Kemp, short on money and lacking the sort of Southern base Robertson can rely on among evangelical Christians, must win the backing of hard-core conservatives to stay in the race. His first objective is to finish ahead of either Bush or Robertson in the South Carolina Republican primary next Saturday, the results of which are expected to have considerable symbolic impact on the March 8 vote.
For second straight game, Adrian Kempe scores in overtime to give Kings a win
DALLAS — Adrian Kempe scored 37 seconds into overtime and the Kings beat Dallas 3-2 on Thursday night, handing the slumping Stars their fourth consecutive loss. It was the second game in a row in which Kempe scored the winning overtime goal.
Darcy Kuemper made 29 saves, and former Stars Corey Perry and Cody Ceci also scored as the Kings won in regulation for the first time this season.
Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson scored power-play goals for the Stars, and Johnston also had an assist. Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots.
Kempe scored from the slot on a pass from Quinton Byfield on the Kings’ only rush of overtime. It was Byfield’s second assist of the game.
The Stars have dropped four straight before New Year’s for the first time since Oct. 25-Nov. 2, 2021.
The 40-year-old Perry, who played for Dallas in 2019-20, knocked home a rebound at the crease for the game’s first goal late in the first period 22 seconds into a 35-second five-on-three power play.
Only 1:29 after Robertson tied the score 1-1 early in the second period, Ceci put the Kings back ahead with a slap shot redirected off the stick of Dallas’ Mavrik Bourque. Ceci was acquired by Dallas last February from San Jose and left for L.A. in free agency last summer.
Johnston’s team-high fifth goal of the season tied the score 2-2 early in the third period.
The Kings had a deflection goal by Alex Laferriere midway through the second disallowed after a video review determined his stick was too high.
Dallas’ Roope Hintz had two assists.
Alaska Airlines restoring operations following ground stoppage
Alaska Airlines on Thursday issued a ground stopped due to an IT issue. File Photo by John G. Mabanglo/EPA
Oct. 24 (UPI) — Alaska Airlines late Thursday announced it was “actively restoring operations” after issuing a ground stoppage due to an IT outage.
The airline said the temporary ground stop was caused by an IT outage affecting all operations.
“We apologize for the inconvenience,” it said on X.
The FlightAware air traffic tracking website states that 54 Alaska Airlines flights were canceled as of early Friday, though it was unclear which, if any, were related to the ground stoppage.
The ground stop comes as flights in the United States have been impacted by the ongoing government shutdown that began Oct. 1, during which many air traffic controllers are ordered to work without pay. The shutdown has worsened staffing shortages, leading to an increase of canceled and delayed flights.
In July, Alaska Airlines issued a system-wide ground stoppage due to an IT issue.
Asia shares rise on trade hopes, oil slips after Russia sanctions
Asian equities advanced on Friday as improving sentiment around U.S.-China trade relations and upbeat corporate earnings from Wall Street lifted investor confidence. The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week during Trump’s Asia tour, raising hopes of progress before the looming November 1 tariff deadline. Japan’s Nikkei index surged ahead of a key policy speech by new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is expected to announce a stimulus plan to support growth. Meanwhile, oil prices, which had risen earlier in the week after Washington imposed new sanctions on Russian energy majors Rosneft and Lukoil, slipped slightly as traders took profits and weighed potential supply disruptions.
Why It Matters
The market rally reflects cautious optimism that diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing could prevent further escalation in trade tensions, which have weighed on global growth. With the U.S. government shutdown delaying most official data releases, Friday’s consumer price index report has taken on added importance for investors seeking clues about inflation and the Federal Reserve’s policy direction. In Japan, inflation data showing a 2.9% rise in core consumer prices has kept expectations alive for a near-term rate hike, a significant shift after years of loose monetary policy. Energy markets, meanwhile, remain on edge as U.S. sanctions on Russian oil producers threaten to tighten global supply chains, potentially reshaping energy flows and impacting prices worldwide.
The unfolding developments are being closely watched by a range of global actors. The U.S. and China remain the principal players in the trade negotiations, with their decisions likely to shape market confidence in the weeks ahead. The Federal Reserve faces pressure to balance inflation control with growth stability as it prepares for its policy meeting next week. Japan’s new leadership under Takaichi is navigating a delicate mix of economic reform and inflation management. Global investors and multinational corporations are also directly affected, as currency movements, oil volatility, and trade uncertainty feed into market strategies and investment decisions.
What’s Next
Attention now turns to the release of U.S. CPI data, expected to hold at 3.1%, which will help guide the Fed’s next policy move amid limited economic visibility caused by the shutdown. The scheduled Trump–Xi meeting in Malaysia next week could determine whether Washington proceeds with additional tariffs on Chinese imports or opts for a temporary truce. Japan’s fiscal policy announcements later today may also set the tone for regional growth in the final quarter of the year. In energy markets, traders will be watching Russia’s response to the sanctions and any signs of supply re-routing that could influence oil prices in the short term.
With information from Reuters.