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

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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.”

Transitional Presidential Council says plans to remove Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, flouting warnings from US.

Members of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) have announced plans to remove Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, flouting warnings from the United States against doing so.

The announcement on Friday further deepens a standoff with Washington over the leadership of the crisis-wracked Caribbean country, which has repeatedly delayed elections due to spiralling gang crime and instability.

“We are the ones who appointed ⁠Didier Fils-Aime in November 2024,” council member Leslie Voltaire said at a news conference. “We are the ones who worked with him ​for a year, and it is up to us to issue ‍a new decree naming a new prime minister, a new government and a new presidency.”

Five of the nine-member panel had voted in favour of removing Fils-Aime and replacing him within a 30-day period, several members said. However, the vote had yet to be ​published in the country’s official gazette as of late Friday, a necessary step before ‌the decision becomes legally valid.

The TPC was established in 2024 as the country’s top executive body, a response to a political crisis stretching back to the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. It quickly devolved into infighting, questions over its membership and allegations of corruption.

The council ousted Prime Minister Garry Conille just six months after being formed, selecting Fils-Aime as his replacement.

Despite being tasked with developing a framework for federal elections, the council ended up postponing a planned series of votes that would have selected a new president by February.

Instead, tiered federal elections are now expected to start in August. Meanwhile, the council’s mandate is set to dissolve on February 7.

On Friday, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that he had spoken to Fils-Aime and “emphasised the importance of his continued tenure as Haiti’s Prime Minister to combat terrorist gangs and stabilise the island”.

Rubio added that the TPC “must be dissolved by February 7 without corrupt actors seeking to interfere in Haiti’s path to elected governance for their own gains”.

In addition, on social media, the US embassy in Haiti issued several statements in both French and Haitian Creole, warning that the politicians could face a steep cost.

“To the corrupt politicians who support gangs and sow trouble in the country: the United States will ensure they pay a heavy price,” the statement said, though some social media users interpreted the Creole phrase “pri final” or “final price” to imply even more dire consequences.

The volley of stark statements is being seen as a reflection of US President Donald Trump’s increasingly aggressive actions in Latin America.

The heightened tensions come one day after the US embassy in Haiti warned that Washington would “regard any effort to change the composition of the government by the non-elected Transitional Presidential Council” as an “effort to undermine” Haiti’s security.

The US has not clearly articulated its issues with the council, but it had previously imposed visa restrictions on an unnamed Haitian official for “supporting gangs and other criminal organizations, and obstructing the government of Haiti’s fight against terrorist gangs designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations”.

TPC member and economist Fritz Alphonse Jean later revealed he had been the one targeted with the visa restrictions.

Jean, however, denied the US allegations and claimed the council was being pressured to acquiesce to the wishes of both the US and Canada.

The latest back-and-forth comes as more than 1.4 million Haitians remain internally displaced due to gang violence, with millions suffering from a lack of access to sufficient food as transport routes remain constricted.

Earlier this week, a United Nations report said that an estimated 8,100 people were killed in violence in the country between January and November of last year, a major uptick from 5,600 killed overall in 2024.

In a statement, Carlos Ruiz-Massieu, who leads the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), said the country had entered a “critical phase” in the push to restore democratic institutions that can properly respond to the nation’s woes.

“Let us be clear: The country no longer has time to waste on prolonged internal struggles,” he said.

French prosecutors say Russia-linked tanker ‘Grinch’ under investigation after interception in western Mediterranean.

The French navy has diverted an ‍oil tanker, suspected of being part of Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet”, ‍towards the port of Marseille-Fos for further investigation, according to reports.

The office of the ​prosecutor in the southern French city of Marseille, which handles matters related to ‌maritime law and is investigating the case, said on Friday that the ship had been diverted, but did not specify where to.

A source close to the case told the AFP news agency that the tanker is expected to arrive on Saturday morning at the port of Marseille-Fos in southern France.

The ‘Grinch ‘ tanker was intercepted by French naval forces on Thursday while on the high seas in the western Mediterranean, between the southern coast of Spain and the northern coast of Morocco, France’s maritime police said in a statement.

It added that navies of other countries, including Britain, supported the operation.

Video footage released by the French military of the operation showed a unit of soldiers descending from a helicopter onto the deck of the Russia-linked ship. The boarding of the vessel involved a navy boat and two navy helicopters, according to reports.

The Grinch, which was sailing under a Comoros flag, left the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk in ​early January and is suspected of operating under a ‍false flag and of belonging to the secretive fleet of ships that enables Russia to export oil around the world despite international sanctions due to Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

The AFP news agency reported that a ship called “Grinch” is under United Kingdom sanctions, while another named “Carl” – with the same registration number – is sanctioned by the United States and European Union.

Prosecutors in Marseille said they were investigating the ship’s alleged failure to confirm its nationality.

The EU has ‌imposed 19 packages of sanctions against Russia, but Moscow has adapted to most measures ‌and continues to sell millions of barrels ⁠of oil to countries such as India and China, typically at discounted prices.

Much of the oil, which is key to financing its war in Ukraine, is carried by what is known as ‌a shadow fleet of vessels operating outside of Western maritime industry regulations.

In October, France detained another Russian-linked sanctioned tanker, the Boracay, off its ‍west coast and released it after a few days.

The Boracay’s Chinese captain is to stand trial in France in February over the crew’s alleged refusal to cooperate with investigators, according to French judicial authorities.

ZION Foster has shared a candid post about “traumatic moments” and “stress” following his split from Jesy Nelson.

The couple parted ways following the birth of their twin daughters, who have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1, but remain close as co-parents.

Now, with the release of the first trailer for Jesy’s new Amazon Prime docu-series; Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, Zion has shared an insight into what went on behind the cameras.

Sharing the trailer, Zion wrote: “It’s finally here, coming to your screens via @primevideouk & @navybee.tv.

“The past year and a half has been a rollercoaster. When @jesynelson and I started this project we couldn’t see the road ahead, but to see how it all played out and having it filmed simply feels like God’s plan. The show is raw, authentic and honest.”

Continuing to reference their daughters Ocean Jade and Story Munroe’s diagnosis, Zion admitted it has been a “traumatic” time.

JESY’S PAIN

Jesy Nelson shares ‘most painful time of her life’ in first look at new doc

‘DEVASTATED’

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

He said: “As a new family we were under immense pressure and stress. Alot of traumatic moments but nonetheless we made it here today. I believe this is only the beginning of our journey.

“Praying for clarity, peace and growth so we can continue to navigate the challenges we face; and give Ocean and Story the best support system possible. God’s in control”.

The new docu-series, titled Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix follows the 34-year-old’s life after going solo and becoming a mum.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Jesy and Zion had parted ways, despite getting engaged four months ago.

A source said of the singer: “She and Zion remain friends and are fully focused on their daughters.”

With the source adding that the former couple are “united in co-parenting”, Zion and Jesy have been focusing on the wellbeing of their twins.

Ocean and Story have Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 — the most severe form of a rare disease affecting muscle strength and movement.

Jesy and Zion have been told it is unlikely the girls will ever walk, and may face serious breathing and swallowing difficulties.

Jesy is working tirelessly to raise awareness of SMA and campaigning for the condition to be added to the NHS newborn heel-prick test, which currently screens for ten other conditions.

Symptoms of SMA depend on which type of condition, but the most common include floppy or weak arms and legs, as well as swallowing and breathing problems.

If untreated, the life expectancy of a baby with SMA Type 1 is two years.

Early intervention is ­considered critical in limiting long-term impacts.

If the twins had been tested and treated in time, there is a chance they would have avoided disability.

It is now unlikely they will regain their neck strength after the disease caused nerve cells to die, leading to progressive muscle weakness.

Ocean and Story are under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital in ­central London and have received treatment, including a one-off gene-therapy infusion approved by the NHS.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signaled that President Trump should apologize for his false assertion that troops from non-U.S. NATO countries avoided the front line during the Afghanistan war, describing Trump’s remarks as “insulting” and “appalling.”

Trump said that he wasn’t sure NATO would be there to support the United States if and when requested, provoking outrage and distress across the United Kingdom on Friday, regardless of individuals’ political persuasion.

“We’ve never needed them, we have never really asked anything of them,” Trump said of non-U.S. troops in an interview with Fox News in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. “You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that, and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”

In October 2001, nearly a month after the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S. led an international coalition in Afghanistan to destroy Al Qaeda, which had used the country as its base, and the group’s Taliban hosts. Alongside the U.S. were troops from dozens of countries, including from NATO, whose mutual-defense mandate had been triggered for the first time after the attacks on New York and Washington.

U.K. sacrifice

In the U.K., the reaction to Trump’s comments was raw.

Starmer paid tribute to the 457 British personnel who died and to those who have been left with profound life-long injuries.

“I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country,” Starmer said. “I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country.”

Prince Harry weighed in too, saying the “sacrifices” of British soldiers during the war “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.”

“Thousands of lives were changed forever,” said Harry, who undertook two tours of duty in Afghanistan in the British army. “Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.”

After 9/11, then-Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the U.K. would “stand shoulder to shoulder” with the U.S. in response to the Al Qaeda attacks. British troops took a key role in many operations during the Afghan war until their withdrawal in 2014, particularly in Helmand province in the south of the country. American troops remained in Afghanistan until their chaotic withdrawal in 2021 when the Taliban returned to power.

More than 150,000 British troops served in Afghanistan in the years after the invasion, the largest contingent after the American one.

Ben Obese-Jecty, a lawmaker who served in Afghanistan as a captain in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, said that it was “sad to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply by the president of the United States.”

Trump and Vietnam

Anger was further fueled by the fact that the comments came from someone who didn’t serve in the Vietnam War at a time when he was eligible.

“It’s hugely ironic that someone who allegedly dodged the draft for the Vietnam War should make such a disgraceful statement,” said Stephen Stewart, author of “The Accidental Soldier,” an account of his time embedded with British troops in Afghanistan.

Trump received a deferment that allowed him to not serve in Vietnam because of bone spurs, but he has been unable to remember in which foot, leading to accusations of draft dodging.

Repeated NATO slights

It wasn’t the first time that Trump downplayed the commitment of NATO countries over the last few days. It has been one of his pivotal lines of attack as he escalated his threats to seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory belonging to Denmark.

Trump’s allegation that NATO countries won’t be there when requested stands in stark contrast to reality.

The only time Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty has been used was in response to the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. The article is the key mutual defense clause, obliging all member countries to come to the aid of another member whose sovereignty or territorial integrity might be under threat.

“When America needed us after 9/11 we were there,” former Danish platoon commander Martin Tamm Andersen said.

Denmark has been a stalwart ally of the U.S. in Afghanistan, with 44 Danish soldiers killed there — the highest per capita death toll among coalition forces. Eight more died in Iraq.

The latest controversy surrounding Trump comes at the end of a week when he has faced criticism — and pushback — for his threats to Greenland.

Trump also threatened to slap tariffs on European nations opposed to his ambitions to annex Greenland, which raised questions over the future of NATO. And though Trump backed down after a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in which he said they formed the “framework” for a deal over Arctic security, transatlantic relations have taken a hit.

His latest comments are unlikely to improve relations.

Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson suffered horrific injuries when a British army Land Rover hit a mine in Afghanistan in 2006, said that Trump’s latest comments were “the ultimate insult” and called on Starmer to stand up to Trump over them.

“Call him out,” she said. “Make a stand for those who fought for this country and for our flag, because it’s just beyond belief.”

Taking her up on that, Starmer said, “what I say to Diane is, if I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologize and I’d apologize to her.”

Pylas writes for the Associated Press. AP journalist Anders Kongshaug contributed to this report from Copenhagen.

A visitor to a village named among the ‘coolest postcodes to move to in 2023’ by The Times, summed up her experience in three words

A visitor was left scratching their head after a visit to a village that’s been dubbed one of the UK’s coolest spots.

Potto, nestled in North Yorkshire, might not be the first place that springs to mind when considering hip locations. With a modest population of 324 and a name derived from the Old English word for ‘pot’, its main attractions are a Victorian-era village hall and the inaugural branch of the Tomahawk Steakhouse chain.

The village once boasted a railway line established in the 19th century, but its distance from the village centre and the advent of buses offering direct routes to Middlesbrough led to its closure in 1954. The village lacks a shop, and the local primary school shut down when enrolment dwindled to a mere 14 pupils.

Back in the 1950s, the landlord of the Dog and Gun became infamous for his practice of scrutinising patrons from his window before deciding whether they appeared ‘respectable’ enough to enter – earning the pub the moniker ‘The Pub That Never Opens’. This unique character – or rather, the absence of much else – surprisingly landed Potto on the Times’ list of ’11 coolest postcodes to move to in 2023′.

The publication stated: “Looking for more from life? And by that we mean “moor”. The beautiful, blustering plains of the North York Moors are the perfect place for burnt-out city folk to disconnect from the world. It’s no wonder the quaint village of Potto, on the edge of the national park, is such a well-kept secret. It has just 120 houses, no shop, not even a main pathway, so it feels as if you can properly hide away here. Take a walk to Whorlton Castle on the edge of the moors, or if you want a longer adventure head out to the Cleveland Hills, which can be seen from Potto. Have a meal at Tomahawk Steakhouse, the only restaurant for miles (luckily it has great reviews, with locals raving about its Himalayan-salt dry-aged steaks).”

ExaminerLive’s Megan Banner chose to visit Potto, having been raised in nearby Darlington and describing herself as an “admirer of all the picturesque spots in Yorkshire.”

Following her trip to the village, her assessment can be captured in three simple words: ‘is this it?’

“This tiny Yorkshire village, praised as the ideal getaway for those ‘seeking to truly escape the hustle and bustle’, houses the first branch of Tomahawk Steakhouse alongside several appealing glamping pods and camping locations. Yet, considering its absence of a shop or main thoroughfare, I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘is this all there is?’,” she noted.

“The homes were idyllic, but beyond the 120 residences and a single pub, there wasn’t much else. The Tomahawk Steakhouse, a renowned steakhouse restaurant and bar, is known for its exceptional Himalayan salt dry-aged beef. It’s a hit across the North East, but I anticipated more from this coveted postcode.

“Despite boasting only one pub, no shops, and a church, the breathtaking views are worth noting. The sweeping, picturesque vistas that envelop this quaint village make it a sanctuary for countryside strolls. However, in my view, an appealing postcode should offer more than just scenic walks. Its proximity to the North York Moors enhances its allure for outdoor enthusiasts, and it’s certainly a hotspot for Instagram aficionados. But for me, a village needs to provide more.”

She added: “I can see why people might be drawn to relocate here; it’s a charming little village, but I believe it doesn’t offer much beyond its natural beauty.”

Ospreys are currently playing out of Bridgend this season where a crowd of 4,052 turned out to watch in wet and windy conditions.

Fans were asked to light their phone torches on 11 minutes as a message to say “they will not ignore the disgraceful treatment of Ospreys players, staff, and supporters”.

The crowd obliged and there were resounding boos directed towards rugby bosses.

Ospreys staff had been in tears this week not knowing what the future holds and that frustration was shared by the fans.

Lynne Jones, of Ospreys Supporters Club said she feels let down by the WRU and Y11.

“I’m emotional, angry and upset, it’s devastating,” she told BBC Wales Today.

“The silence from the WRU – it’s not on.”

Sarah Collins-Davies, chair of the Ospreys Supporters Club added: “It’s been an emotional week for the supporters, but I can’t imagine how difficult it has been for the players and coaches.

Ospreys supporter Annette Davies says she is fearful for the future with so many unanswered questions.

“There has to be clarity,” said Davies.

“We’re told there will be an Ospreys side next season – what does that mean? Are we ending next season? Are we even going to have the players to have a season, because we have a lot of players out of contract.

“Who’s going to want to sign for us? Knowing they might not be here at the end of that following season.”

The Ospreys have produced Wales and British and Irish Lions internationals like Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar, Adam Jones, Shane Williams and Justin Tipuric and attracted star names like Justin Marshall, Tommy Bowe, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah and Ryan Jones.

They are the most successful Welsh team in terms of silverware since the inception of regional rugby in 2003, although their last trophy was in 2012.

An illustrious past. But what an uncertain future looks like, remains to be seen.

Bangkok, Thailand – For Thai national Khaochat Mankong, 2026 was meant to be the biggest year of her life.

After filing the necessary paperwork with the United States embassy in Bangkok, Khaochat, 27, was poised to start a new life with her American husband in California.

Last week, Khaochat watched those plans evaporate in an instant as US President Donald Trump’s administration announced an indefinite pause on the processing of immigrant visa applications from 75 countries, including Thailand.

The US Department of State said it had suspended applications for the targetted countries because their migrants claimed welfare benefits at “unacceptable rates”.

“I’m shocked; I never thought they would interfere with permanent visas or marriage visas,” Khaochat, an English tutor in Bangkok, told Al Jazeera.

“But now everything has to be paused for who knows how many years.”

Khaochat said she had hoped to raise a family in the US and had no intention of claiming any welfare benefits.

“If they want to screen people, then test language ability, check financial accounts,” she said. “I have the language skills, I have money. Why should I be blocked from living with the person I love?”

Similar stories of punctured dreams have flooded Thai social media in recent days.

Married couples have expressed fears of being separated for the long term or having their children denied the right to stay.

Prospective migrant workers have also voiced their dismay at the changes, which have put a freeze on EB-class employment visas as well as the K-class spousal and dependent visas.

Songtham Artsomjit, 26, said he could no longer see a pathway to the US after paying a Thai agency $800 to start the paperwork for an EB-3 unskilled work visa.

“I was going to work on an assembly line making flat-bed trailers in Wisconsin,” Artsomjit told Al Jazeera, describing his plan as a hoped-for “turning point in life” that would lead to permanent residency.

“Instead, I’ve taken a job in a supermarket in Israel,” he said, adding that he was more afraid of poverty than “the risks of war there”.

While some would-be migrants are holding on to hopes that the suspension will be lifted, Trump’s pause appears to be part of a long-term strategy to severely restrict legal migration to the US.

Thailand, one of only two US treaty allies in Southeast Asia with a formal diplomatic relationship dating back to 1833, has expressed disappointment at being included on a list that includes many much poorer, conflict-afflicted countries such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia and Myanmar.

Last week, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, a candidate for prime minister in Thailand’s general elections next month, said he had met with US Charge D’Affairs Elizabeth J Konick to seek clarification on the suspension.

Phuangketkeow said he had queried the logic of including Thais in the freeze, given their contributions to the US economy and closeness of Washington and Bangkok’s ties, saying “these questions are not good for the relationship.”

For many Thais, the sense of injustice has been shaped by the relative success of the Thai diaspora in the US, many of whom built lucrative businesses after migrating to take up low-paid jobs in restaurants, warehouses and factories.

The median annual income of Thai-headed households in 2023 was $82,000, higher than the national average of $75,000, according to the Pew Research Center.

Once a key base in the US fight against communism and, more recently, an ally against China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, Thailand has had an increasingly strained relationship with its oldest treaty ally since Trump’s return to office.

Like other export-reliant countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand has weathered significant economic upheaval due to Trump’s tariffs.

Thai exports to the US have been subject to a 19 percent tariff since August, while talks on a comprehensive trade deal have faltered over US demands for opening the local market to its giant food producers.

“The Trump administration is not respectful of the relationship; it has a transactional worldview,” Phil Robertson, a US citizen based in Thailand and the director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, told Al Jazeera.

Robertson called Trump’s policy “crass and cruel” and predicted that the administration would “create so many hurdles and so much red tape” that it would become impossible to migrate to the US.

Not all Thais take issue with the changes.

Noi, who lives with her American husband in Niceville, Florida, said she supported the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict welfare claims by migrants.

“Ever since the Trump administration, there have been efforts to stop using our tax dollars to support immigrants from various countries,” Noi, who holds a green card entitling her to live in the US permanently, told Al Jazeera.

“Of course, this impacts the various countries that are being banned. But people are waking up and seeing what’s been happening.”

For Khaochat, the collapse of her dreams is loaded with a bitter irony.

“My partner voted for Trump,” she said.

These are the key developments from day 1,430 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is where things stand on Saturday, January 24:

Fighting

• Four people were killed and five were injured in Russian attacks on Cherkasy, in an area of Ukraine’s Donetsk region that is still controlled by Ukraine, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on the Telegram messaging app.
• Filashkin said that Russian forces shelled settlements in the Donetsk region 10 times over the past day, and that 109 people, including 17 children, were evacuated.
• Russian forces attacked the village of Komyshuvakha in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region with glide bombs and other weapons, killing one person, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said.
• Russian forces launched drones at Kherson city and several villages in the Kherson region over the past day, killing one person and injuring two others, the regional military administration said.
• Russian forces killed a 72-year-old man and injured two others, including a child, in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Hanzha, said.
• Ukraine’s Air Force said it shot down 76 Russian drones of 101 launched towards Ukraine over the past day.
• Several people were injured in Ukrainian attacks across front-line Russian areas and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, including five people injured on a bus in Russia’s Belgorod region, according to Russia’s TASS state news agency.
• The General Staff of Ukraine’s military claimed that Ukrainian forces hit a fuel depot and radar facilities, causing a fire, at the Penzanefteproduct fuel depot in Russia’s Penza region.
• The Russian Ministry of Defence said that its forces captured the village of Symynivka, situated about 47km (29 miles) northeast of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

Ukraine-Russia-US talks

• The first day of trilateral talks involving negotiators from the United States, Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi concluded late on Friday night, the Ukrainian presidency said in a post on X, adding that talks would continue on Saturday.
• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a statement after Friday’s talks, saying “it is still too early to draw conclusions” about the substance of the negotiations.

• “By now, our team should already have at least some answers from Russia,” said Zelenskyy. “We will see how the conversation develops tomorrow and what results it produces,” he added.
• Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said on X that the meeting had “focused on the parameters for ending Russia’s war and the further logic of the negotiation process aimed at advancing towards a dignified and lasting peace”.
• The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the talks were scheduled to last for two days “as part of ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis”.
• Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that talks between US and Russian officials on the eve of the Abu Dhabi meeting were “substantive, constructive and very frank”.

• Ushakov said that Russian Admiral Igor Kostyukov would be leading Moscow’s team in Abu Dhabi, and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev would meet separately on economic issues with Steve Witkoff, the envoy of US President Donald Trump.

Energy Crisis

• Maxim Timchenko, the head of Ukraine’s top private power producer DTEK, told the Reuters news agency that the energy situation in Ukraine was nearing a “humanitarian catastrophe” following repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
• Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state grid operator, says there are emergency power outages in most regions of the country following Russia’s latest aerial attacks.

Regional Security

• The Swedish Air Force said on Friday that it “intercepted two Su-35S escorting a Tu-22M [Russian military aircraft] over the Baltic Sea” on Thursday.
• France’s navy redirected the oil tanker “Grinch” to the port of Marseille-Fos for inspection, suspecting it is part of a “shadow fleet” of vessels Russia uses to export sanctioned oil, according to Reuters.

Finally.

DC Studios co-chief James Gunn shared a new teaser for “Supergirl” on Friday featuring the first proper look at Jason Momoa as the villain Lobo — and it appears the actor is as thrilled as fans are at the long anticipated unveiling.

In a clip shared on Gunn’s Instagram, Momoa is seen exiting his trailer smoking a cigar when he is asked whether he has any comments about playing the character. The actor responds with a grin that shows off his fangs. The video then cuts to footage from “Supergirl” that shows Momoa’s Lobo laughing astride a motorcycle. (Momoa shared the same clip.)

“It’s called making an entrance,” Gunn wrote in his post sharing an extended version of the teaser on social media platform X. The 30-second clip includes footage featured in the first “Supergirl” teaser with “House of the Dragon” alum Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El facing various space thugs before Lobo makes his grand entrance. Like the previous trailer, the new one is set to Blondie’s “Call Me.”

Directed by Craig Gillespie, “Supergirl” will follow the eponymous Kryptonian celebrating her 23rd birthday before meeting Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley). The reluctant superhero then sets off on a quest to face “an unexpected and ruthless adversary,” according to the movie’s logline. The film will also feature Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham. The movie, written by by Ana Nogueira, is based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s acclaimed comic book miniseries “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.”

Momoa, of course, is no stranger to the world of DC superheroes. The actor previously portrayed Arthur Curry — a.k.a. Aquaman, the reluctant, half-Atlantean ruler of Atlantis — in films including “Aquaman” (2018) and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” (2023).

Lobo is a dream role for Momoa, who previously described the intergalactic bounty hunter as his “favorite.”

“I always wanted to play Lobo,” the actor told Fandango in 2023. “If they call and ask me to play him, it’s a [definite yes]. … [I]f they ever call me and ask me to play, or ask me to audition, I’m there.” His casting was announced in 2024.

“Supergirl” will hit theaters June 26.

This year’s midterm election already was going to be frustrating for many voters in a vast, rural swath of Northern California whose staunchly conservative district has been redrawn to favor Democrats after the passage of Proposition 50 last fall.

Their longtime Republican congressman, Doug LaMalfa, a rice farmer from rural Butte County who had represented the region for 13 years, had vowed to run again in his newly configured district, despite the long odds.

But LaMalfa died during emergency surgery on Jan. 5.

Now, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom — a vociferous critic of President Trump who is weighing a 2028 presidential run — has chosen the latest day possible under state law for a special election to fill LaMalfa’s seat for the last few months of his term.

In a Jan. 16 proclamation, Newsom set the special election for Aug. 4.

The victor will represent California’s 1st Congressional District with its current boundaries, which stretch from the northern outskirts of Sacramento, through Redding to the Oregon border and to Alturas in the state’s northeast corner.

On June 2, voters will simultaneously cast ballots in the primary for the special election in the current district — and in the statewide primary for the November election for the new districts.

If the winner of the special election primary gets more than 50% of the vote in the primary, he or she will win outright, serving the rest of LaMalfa’s term, which ends Jan. 3, 2027.

“Voters will certainly be confused about the shifting district lines in two elections so close together in time,” Kim Nalder, director of the Project for an Informed Electorate at Sacramento State, said in an email.

She added that the special election is likely to get “fairly low turnout,” with those who do cast ballots being “better informed and more partisan.”

LaMalfa’s death put the razor-thin Republican majority in Congress in further jeopardy, with a margin of just two votes to secure passage of any bill along party lines after the resignation of Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene this month.

In California, several Republican-held seats, including LaMalfa’s, were imperiled in the fall when voters passed Proposition 50, which temporarily redraws the state’s congressional districts to favor Democrats. The proposition was a response to partisan redistricting in Republican states including Texas.

State law required Newsom to announce a special election for the remainder of LaMalfa’s term within 14 days of his death. The election had to be conducted within 140 days — or up to 200 days if consolidated with another election.

The governor’s office said that consolidating the special and state primaries was meant to reduce the risk of voter confusion since there are multiple elections with different boundaries.

But Newsom’s decision to leave LaMalfa’s seat vacant as long as possible has infuriated California Republicans. They say Proposition 50 has already disenfranchised voters in a region that has, for nearly a century, talked seriously about seceding to form their own state called Jefferson.

In a Jan. 16 letter to Newsom, the California Assembly Republican Caucus said the state’s rural residents “already suffer from a severe lack of meaningful representation in both Sacramento and Washington D.C.”

They added: “When a congressional seat representing one of the largest and most rural districts in the state is left vacant, it sends a clear message: OUR VOICES ARE NOT A PRIORITY.”

The lawmakers said the unfilled seat has “real consequences for communities that depend on federal advocacy for wildfire recovery, water access, agriculture, healthcare, and basic infrastructure.”

Nadler, at Sacramento State, said it appears Newsom is “continuing to use every tool at his disposal to enable his party to gain advantages in the House” and that the governor “understands the assignment in this new political era.”

Matt Rexroad, a California Republican political consultant and redistricting expert, said of Newsom’s choice to set the special election for August: “There’s no doubt at all that it’s politically driven.”

“He did Prop. 50 to stick it to President Trump and is attempting to deny House Speaker [Mike] Johnson another Republican vote for the rest of the year,” Rexroad said. “All of this is about Governor Newsom positioning himself to run for president.”

Assemblyman James Gallagher, a Yuba City Republican who is running to complete LaMalfa’s term, has said the governor could have called the special election for June 2, with a primary on March 31. Instead, he wrote in a statement last week, the governor “chose to play national political games” and will deny Northern California voters representation “for at least two months longer than what was needed.”

Gallagher announced his candidacy last week with an endorsement from LaMalfa’s widow, Jill, who wrote that “in the midst of our sadness and navigation of such a profound loss, I find myself very concerned about who may replace Doug as our Representative in Washington, D.C.”

“The kids and I believe this is what Doug would have wanted,” she wrote of Gallagher’s candidacy, adding: “James has our full support.”

In an interview Friday, Gallagher, the former Assembly Republican leader, said he was still reeling from the death of LaMalfa, whom he considered a mentor and close friend.

Gallagher said his motto for this election is: Unite the North State.

Because of Proposition 50, the current, deep-red district will be cleaved into three pieces. The northern half will be joined to a coastal district that will stretch all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge, while the southern half will be chopped into two districts that will draw in voters from the Bay Area and wine country.

“Prop. 50 was a big gut punch for us,” Gallagher said. “A lot of people felt like their representation was getting ripped away from them for political reasons — then you lose the guy who’s been your rock for many years. … It is a very difficult time.”

Gallagher will compete in the special election against Democrat Audrey Denney, an education director who unsuccessfully challenged LaMalfa in 2018 and 2020.

Denney will run in both the special election and in the election for the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District. State Sen. Mike McGuire, a Democrat who represents the state’s northwest coast, is among her competitors vying to represent the new district.

Gallagher told The Times on Friday that he had not decided whether he would run for a full term in a new district, “but I would say I’m considering it.”

A funeral service for LaMalfa is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico.

LaMalfa’s staff said attendees will include Johnson, numerous members of Congress and Newsom.

Edinburgh: Paterson, Graham, Goosen, Lang, Van der Merwe, Thompson, Vellacott; Schoeman, Ashman, D’arcy Rae, Young, Gilchrist, McConnell, Douglas, Bradbury.

Replacements: Morris, Venter, Hill, Hunter-Hill, Muncaster, Shiel, Scott, O’Conor.

Bulls: Le Roux, Jooste, De Klerk, Kriel, Arendse, Pollard, Burger; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Vermaak, Nortje, Coetzee, Gumede, Rudolph.

Replacements: Van Staden, Tshakweni, Smith, Ludwig, Carr, Papier, Vorster, Jacobs.