Donald Trump announces pledges to a Gaza reconstruction fund during the first meeting of his Board of Peace.

Donald Trump has told the first meeting of his Board of Peace that nine member nations have pledged $7bn to a reconstruction fund for the Gaza Strip, with five countries agreeing to deploy troops to an international stabilisation force for the Palestinian territory.

Addressing the board in a meeting in Washington, DC, on Thursday, the United States president said the US will make a contribution of $10bn to the Board of Peace, although he didn’t specify what the money will be used for.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait have raised an initial down payment for Gaza reconstruction, Trump said.

“Every dollar spent is an investment in stability and the hope of a new and harmonious [region],” said Trump. He added, “The Board of Peace is showing how a better future can be built right here in this room.”

The funds pledged, while significant, represent a fraction of the estimated $70bn needed to rebuild the Palestinian territory that has been decimated after more than two years of Israel’s genocidal war.

Proposed stabilisation force

Meanwhile, Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania have pledged to send troops for the Gaza stabilisation force, part of Trump’s 20-point plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza. Egypt and Jordan have committed to training police officers.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced his country would contribute up to 8,000 troops to the proposed force “to make this peace work”.

The force, led by a US general with an Indonesian deputy, will start in the Israeli-controlled city of Rafah and train a new police force, eventually aiming to prepare 12,000 police and have 20,000 troops.

While the disarmament of Hamas was a part of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, the group has been reluctant to hand over weaponry as Israel continues to carry out daily attacks on Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said any international force must “monitor the ceasefire and prevent the [Israeli] occupation from continuing its aggression.” Disarmament could be discussed, he said, without directly committing to it.

Trump first proposed the board last September as part of his plan to end the war. But since the October “ceasefire”, Trump’s vision for the board has morphed, and he wants it to have an even more ambitious remit to tackle other conflicts worldwide.

The board has faced criticism for including Israeli representatives but not Palestinians.

Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said that Palestinians want to see concrete solutions rather than pledges.

“Past experiences with conferences, with regard to reconstruction, with regard to the peace process, all ended up with large needs for funding that were delayed or [plans] that were not implemented,” he said.

“Palestinians don’t want to see this again; they don’t want to see the Board of Peace as another international body that falls into the category of crisis management rather than finding a tangible solution to this longstanding problem, the Palestinian problem,” Mahmoud noted.

More than 40 countries and the European Union confirmed they were sending officials to Thursday’s meeting. Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are among more than a dozen countries that have not joined the board, but are taking part as observers.

★★★★★ Man on the Run, a documentary directed by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville, chronicles Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles solo career with previously unseen footage

Sir Paul McCartney gave director Morgan Neville a blank piece of paper and told him ‘no notes’ after watching documentary Man on the Run for the first time.

Ahead of it being unleashed to fans next week, The Beatles legend has found a few more words to describe the two-hour film calling it ‘madcap’, ’embarrassing’ at times and often ‘overwhelming’ to watch, “But I come out of it thinking, ‘Yeah I’m OK,” says Paul at a very special screening.

The room of family, friends and rock royalty certainly agree. Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher and Sharon Osbourne are among those turning out to the film’s UK debut on a rainy night in Soho. Actor Paul Mescal, who is playing the mop-topped musician at the peak of Beatles-mania in a brand new four part film release, is also in attendance at the Ham Yard hotel.

While Mescal could be seen to be doing his homework, this brand new documentary from Academy Award winner Neville focuses on Paul’s life as he navigates the demise of the Fab Four and the ascension of Wings in its wake.

So what do you do when you quit the biggest band the world has ever seen? If you’re Paul McCartney you start another one.

Paul admits his boundless enthusiasm has led him into trouble at times, but turning a group of musicians practising at a remote farmhouse into a credible 70s rock band makes a gripping plotline for this joyous documentary showcasing a fascinating upheaval in his life, alongside a great love of his life.

Much of the never before seen clips that tell Paul’s story in intimate and raw detail are are thanks to his late wife Linda.

‘Next to a presidential library, Paul McCartney has the best personal archives,’ Neville was told of his subject before they set to work. “It also helped that Paul married a photographer because Linda takes pictures of everything and there are so many home movies too,” the grateful filmmaker says at a Q+A following the screening. “I thought I lost it all,” Paul says. “You know this was the 60s and 70s, you’d have a lot of break ins, you didn’t really bother locking your door too much. Fans would come in and nick a load of stuff. It was how it was. I kind of automatically just thought it’s all gone, but the kids at my office were fantastic. They looked in every little storage unit and every little drawer and they found it all and logged it. There’s amazing stuff there.”

For Paul, the most special memories he sees on screen are the moments of him and late wife Linda together.

“Seeing me and Linda interacting is very special because you know she’s not here anymore. It’s me and Linda, the kids. The music. Me and John. These memories it’s like a life flashing in front of you. There are so many cool things. All the stuff with the kids and Linda is lovely to see. Obviously it’s emotional because she looks so beautiful. She’s so cool.”

Daughter Stella who is in the theatre gives an approving cheer from her seat. “So that comes over,” notes Paul. “You know and the kids aren’t little anymore and they have kids of their own now.”

Paul married New York photographer Linda in March 1969, in a quiet civil ceremony at Marylebone Register Office in London with Ringo Starr among a select group of guests. Less than a year later, after a decade together the four Beatles went their separate ways – which for Paul was straight to a remote 183 acre farm on the Kintyre Peninsula in Scotland.

Talking on camera, a now 83-year-old Paul says all he wanted to do after the Beatles finished was ‘grow up’. Months into setting up his young family into chaotic country living, the call to create music couldn’t be ignored even from his rural retreat.

First came debut album McCartney, followed up months later by 1971’s Ram as he formed a double act with Linda.

“What am I doing singing with Paul McCartney?” Linda asks in the early home footage, admitting she can’t sing and could play only one note on the keyboard. “It’s a start,” Paul replies.

Ram was released just as Paul launched legal action to dissolve the Beatles’ partnership. It was poorly received. Undeterred, Paul set about forming a larger group this time recruiting Denny Laine, a friend from his time in 60s rock group the Moody Blues to join him and Linda. The trio took on more members, naming themselves Wings as they recorded experimental new material and set off to play in the type of tiny venues that had become a distant memory for superstar Paul.

“We’d show up at universities, not bother to book hotels, just take the kids and dogs in a van and for some reason we thought that was a great idea,” says Paul.

But at the start the enthusiasm was not reciprocated. The band were initially received as a ‘dud’ from fans and critics, with even Paul’s collaborator Lennon mocking his music.

After an early mauling from the industry who had once revered him, it was a slow road to success before Wings’ live shows developed into must-see tours and they produced some of the biggest selling singles and albums of the decade, including number one hit Mull Of Kintyre, Jet, Silly Love Songs and Live And Let Die, the theme to the 1973 James Bond film of the same title.

Paul said Linda’s responses to his boundless energy continues to inspire him today. “Anything crazy I would say, ‘Should I do that? Could I do that?’ And she’d say ‘Yeah, it’s allowed!’ It’s a great philosophy to have.”

The film is not just a family portrait, but also an insight into Paul’s complicated relationship with Lennon. Paul admits he felt he was punished most for the demise of the band and even bought into the blame himself.

“I thought that’s the kind of bastard I am, it leaves you in this kind of no man’s land, but the truth, John had come in one day and said he was leaving The Beatles, he said, ‘it’s kind of exciting, it’s like telling someone you want a divorce’.”

The film also sees Paul reflect on John’s ‘diss track’ about him following their break-up, How Do You Sleep?, which featured on 1971’s Imagine album with the Plastic Ono Band.

“The only thing you did was Yesterday (one of the song’s lyrics), was apparently (former Beatles manager) Allen Klein’s suggestion, but (at) the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘but all I ever did was Yesterday, Let It Be, The Long And Winding Road, Eleanor Rigby, Lady Madonna, f*** you, John,” says Paul. “How do I sleep at night? Well, actually, quite well, but you’ve got to remember, I’d known John since he was a teenager, and that’s kind of what I loved about John. He’s a crazy son of a bitch, he’s a lovely, lovely, crazy guy.”

Paul says one of his ‘greatest blessings’ is that he got to reconcile with John before his death in December 1980. Their children recall the last meeting of the two families in John’s New York City apartment, as ‘one big reunion’.

Stella and sister Mary also recall hearing the fateful moment Paul got the call that his best friend was gone. Stella says she heard a wave of commotion before seeing her dad rush out of their home and out onto the farm alone. The famous ‘Drag, isn’t it?’ clip of Paul reacting publicly to John’s death is shown in the film with Sean Ono Lennon defending the response as coming from a place of pure shock and grief, far from the Paul he recognised.

Reflecting on the period of life captured in the archive film, photo and audio recordings, Paul says: “It’s a heck of a story. It would be nice if people took away the fact that in my craziness and my enthusiasm, we stuck with it and we made it work. There’s something brave about that. It didn’t have to work out, you know, but it did.”

Giving their verdict immediately after the London premiere are two men who know exactly what it’s like to launch a solo career in the shadow of an iconic British band. Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller spoke to the Mirror following the screening. Weller hailed the movie as ‘fantastic.’ “It’s great to see that period of time ,the early 70s again, on screen like that.” Lifelong Beatles fan Gallagher called the project ‘amazing’ as the theatre lights came up.

Sharon Osbourne, who also posed for photos with Paul ahead of the screening, said she could see a movie of late husband Ozzy’s life being depicted on screen one day and was moved to tears by the film at several points. “It was incredible… very emotional. Especially the family moments with Linda. It was beautiful.”

*Paul McCartney Man On The Run airs on Prime Video on February 27*

With its own onsite pub and nine acres of land, Weetwood Hall Hotel is a proper Northern retreat.

Even though parts date back to the Tudor period, all mod-cons are taken care of – so here’s everything you need to know.

Where is Weetwood Hall Hotel?

Weetwood Hall Hotel is just five miles from Leeds city centre and on a direct bus route to all the main attractions.  

The hotel’s large car park, free for residence, lends itself to road trip adventures.

If you’re in town for one of the many sporting events Leeds plays host to, Weetwood is well placed being 2 miles from Headingley Stadium and 6 miles from Elland Road.

What is the hotel like?

This four-star hotel gives you a proper Yorkshire welcome, and the friendly staff are on hand for all your needs.

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It is built around a gorgeous 17th-century Jacobean manor house, set in nine acres of peaceful woodlands with its own traditional pub.

Parts date back to 1540, so it has real history – but it’s been thoughtfully updated into a modern hotel with quirky style.

It’s a nice balance of historic charm and modern convenience.

What are the rooms like?

You’ve got solid options. Signature rooms are comfortable and well-appointed, or upgrade to one of the king rooms, which really deliver on atmosphere with four-poster beds and period features.

Fast WiFi, proper amenities, and comfortable beds make for a good night’s sleep. 

Standard rooms cost from £31.05pp based on two sharing. See weetwood.co.uk.

What is there to do?

Weetwood’s Stables Pub has real character – it’s housed in the original horse stables and makes for atmospheric evening drinks.

It’s a cosy drinking hole serving traditional English beers and Yorkshire gin, plus there are big screens for watching sports.

For sunny days, there’s also outdoor seating in a lovely large courtyard. 

Once you’ve unpacked, why not take a ride on the little yellow water taxi (£3 per person per trip) to the free Royal Armouries Museum where Henry VIII’s and an elephant’s armour is on display.

Harewood House, one of the Treasure Houses of England, is an 18 minute drive away.

What is there to eat and drink?

The breakfast was delightful, with hot and cold options plus a very popular pancake station.

Convive Restaurant handles dinner with classic British dishes and cocktails, while afternoon tea costs £32.50 per person. 

At the onsite Stables pub, sample some of the many varieties of Yorkshire gin that are on offer.

Is the hotel family friendly?

For a family getaway, book one of the Weetwood’s family rooms with space for up to 4 people.

Make sure to ring ahead to organise a travel cot for the little ones.

Furry friends are welcome for a service charge of £25 per stay.

Is there access for guests with disabilities?

Fully accessible rooms are available and equipped with an adjustable electric bed, wet room and orthopaedic raised seating.

My friend Andrea and I had hiked about 3½ miles before we perched ourselves atop boulders near the Brown Mountain Dam waterfall. We eagerly pulled out our sandwiches, jalapeño pimento cheese, and chips and queso we’d carried in our backpacks.

Nearby, a small group of hikers glowered at us, eating jerky and protein bars, commenting on the resplendent meal before us (which we’d purchased from local deli Maciel’s). It seemed they were rethinking their food choices. 💅

I love spending time in nature, regardless of whether I’m lounging on a blanket with a friend at a park or hauling my body up a steep fire road to summit a local peak. But the uniting factor of many of the best experiences I’ve had outdoors is great food.

Below you’ll find three hikes that will lead you to great picnic spots around L.A. You’ll see that I’m defining “picnic spots” as a place that offers enough open space to take a seat, including on park benches, picnic tables and flat ground.

Before we dive in, I’d like to remind you of something I frequently scream on trails: Orange peels are trash! Please don’t leave any food out in nature that you bring with you.

“There is a common misconception that ‘natural trash’ such as orange peels, banana peels, apple cores, and shells from nuts and seeds are OK to leave behind on the trail, in campgrounds, or in other outdoor spaces,” Leave No Trace’s Erin Collier and Brice Esplin wrote in this article. “While these things are natural, they are not natural to the places they are being left. These types of trash attract wildlife to areas with human activity, affecting their health and habits.”

Now that you’ve vowed to pack out what you pack in, let’s dive into this week’s hikes.

Oak woodlands and riparian habitats are among several plant communities in the mountains around L.A., including along the Gabrielino Trail near Pasadena.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

1. Gabrielino Trail to Gould Mesa campground

Distance: 3.6 miles out and back
Elevation gained: About 300 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs allowed? Yes
Accessible alternative: The first mile of this trail is paved!

The Gabrielino National Recreation Trail is a 28.8-mile long journey from Chantry Flat Recreation Area north of Sierra Madre all the way to Ventura Street & Windsor Avenue trailhead near the Hahamongna Watershed Park in La Cañada Flintridge. It is a multi-use trail for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

The trail has several beautiful sections, including from its western entrance in Hahamongna to the Gould Mesa Trail Camp.

To begin your hike, you’ll park at a large free dirt lot near the backside of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. If hiking in a wheelchair or seeking a paved path, I recommend parking at this smaller paved lot.

You can either take the paved trail or an unofficial dirt trail that follows the Arroyo Seco before leading you to the official trail. Either way, it’s a fairly easy stroll along the Arroyo Seco, shaded by coast live oaks, bay laurels and sycamore trees. After hiking about two miles, you’ll reach the Gould Mesa Trail Camp, where you can set up your picnic at one of the campground’s tables, or nearby along the creek.

And if you’d like to go a bit farther, you can continue onward to the Paul Little Picnic Site or the Brown Mountain Dam waterfall that I mentioned above. Regardless of where you stop, I promise you’ll be treated to a stunning landscape and likely hear the chirp and squawk of scrub jays, California quail and more.

Hikers make their way up a trail to the Griffith Observatory.

(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)

2. Griffith Observatory via Fern Dell/Four Loops (Griffith Park Explorer Segment 6)

Distance: 4.1 miles
Elevation gained: 750 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs allowed? Yes
Accessible alternative: Griffith Park Explorer Segment 4 — Anza, Autry and Main

How often do you act like a tourist in your own city? Well, now’s the time!

The Fern Dell/Four Loops trail is a 4.1-mile figure-eight-shaped looping path through Griffith Park’s southern end. Although it doesn’t officially include a stop at the Griffith Observatory, that’s what I’d recommend, as it is such a serene place to share a meal with family and friends.

To begin, you’ll park in an O-shaped lot north of the Trails Cafe, where you could grab a meal to-go before heading out. You’ll head north from the lot, following the West Trail in a loop back south to the aptly named Loop Trail. After completing the Loop Trail’s loop, you’ll head south before taking the Observatory Trail on your next loop. If following the Griffith Park Explorer map, you’ll want to take note of when to turn to head to the Griffith Observatory.

If the Observatory area is busy, consider going just a little farther north to the Berlin Forest to have your picnic. Just make sure to link back up with the Fern Dell/Four Loops trail so you can not only enjoy the lush greenery in the Fern Dell area, but also make it back to where you parked.

One of many benches on the way to Mt. Thom and Tongva Peak in Verdugo Mountains.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

3. Mt. Thom and Tongva Peak via Brand Park

Distance: About 3 miles
Elevation gained: 1,950 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs allowed? Yes
Accessible alternative: Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park loop

If you’ve ever looked out your plane’s window as you flew out of Hollywood Burbank Airport, and thought, “My, that trail looks hard,” you would have been correct.

The trail from Brand Park in Glendale to Mt. Thom is a grueling dirt trail, but its payoff includes stunning views of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys and San Gabriel Mountains. And along the way, you’ll find benches and other lookout spots that would make for epic picnic spots. (Plus, if you do it, you could brag from your plane window, “I hiked up there and had these great tacos from that very peak!”)

To begin your hike, you’ll park near the Miss American Green Cross statue before heading northeast up the trail. Please note that there isn’t any water access on the trail, and it has limited shade outside of its lookout points with benches, which you’ll reach just under a mile in.

You’ll reach Mt. Thom about half a mile farther, but it will be a steep half mile. Keep going for about three-quarters of a mile, and you will find a quick offshoot that’ll take you to Tongva Peak. This is a fabulous place to relax, take in the views and, most importantly, eat.

If you’d like to skip the steep section, I’d recommend parking near the Sunshine Preserve, a critical wildlife passageway managed by the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy. From here, you’ll take Sunshine Drive up to Las Flores Motorway, which offers an easier incline to reach Mt. Thom and Tongva Peak.

Either way, you should spot some benches and flat areas to take a seat or lay out a blanket and enjoy the expansive views of Glendale, Burbank and the cities beyond there. I promise: Your meal will taste even better after the climb to Mt. Thom — especially since it won’t be just jerky or a protein bar!

3 things to do

Runners participate in a previous 4 Mile Hill Challenge run.

(Aztlan Athletics LLC)

1. Frolic for feathered friends in L.A.
Athletes from beginner to elite have until Friday to sign up for Saturday’s 4 Mile Hill Challenge, a trail run and walk in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. Proceeds from the race benefit the Audubon Center at Debs Park. Race onlookers can partake in bird-themed activities as they cheer on their athletes. Register at 4milehillchallenge.com.

2. Get moving in Montebello
Montebello Outdoor Adventures will host a hiking trip from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Puente Hills Preserve. Guests will meet at the Cathy Hensel Youth Center (236 S. Taylor Ave. in Montebello) before being taken by free transportation on the day trip. Registration is required. Register at montebellorecreation.com via the Trips and Tours page.

3. Foster the forest in Sunland-Tujunga
The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter will host a volunteer workday from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday in Sunland-Tujunga. Volunteers will water and mulch four or more trees, helping them stave off disease or death, especially in hotter months. Participants should bring gloves and sun protection. Tools provided. Location released upon registration. Register at act.sierraclub.org.

The must-read

A motion-sensor camera captures an adult female mountain lion in the Verdugo Mountains in 2016.

(U.S. National Park Service via Associated Press)

I continue to be amazed by the ongoing legacy of P-22, L.A.’s dearly departed lion king. On Thursday, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to list six specific mountain lion populations — more than 1,400 pumas — in Southern California and the Central Coast as threatened under state law. “Hemmed in by freeways and housing, cougar clans in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana mountains — both included in the listing — have a 16% to 28% chance of extinction in 50 years if they aren’t able to reach lions to mate with in other areas, providing genetic diversity,” wrote Times staff writer Lila Seidman. It’s hard to imagine this happening without the advocacy for mountain lions stimulated by P-22, whose memorial in 2023 lasted more than three hours and drew thousands of guests.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

Do you have a story of love on the hiking trail? Did someone break up with you atop a mountain? Or perhaps it was a marriage proposal on a peak! On April 3, The Times will host L.A. Affairs Live, a competition show featuring real dating stories from people living in the Greater Los Angeles area. The event is a spin-off of our popular dating and romance column of the same name. Seven to 10 storytellers will be selected to perform 5- to 7-minute relationship stories related to the theme of “Starting Fresh.” A live audience will choose the winner. The winner will get a written version of their story published as an L.A. Affairs column and receive a $400 payment. So, do any of our Wild readers have a lowercase-wild story to tell? Learn more about how to audition here. The deadline to submit is midnight Sunday!

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

A long-awaited set of reports on how to build a fire-resilient Pacific Palisades, commissioned by Los Angeles city officials for $5 million, found that much of the hilly enclave remains out of compliance with standards for evacuating during a disaster.

The reports, by the city and the global infrastructure firm AECOM, also recommended that the city complete significant brush clearance work, bolster its water system and move electrical wires underground.

All of the recommendations are frequent asks from Palisades residents. Many have already been discussed at length by independent experts. They will inform the city’s “Long-Term Recovery Plan” for rebuilding infrastructure and improving wildfire resilience after the Palisades fire killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in January 2025.

The reports outlined nearly a billion dollars in infrastructure projects through 2033, including more than $650 million for electrical undergrounding and $150 million for water system repairs.

“Full recovery is a long-term, multi-year effort that requires sustained coordination — and it must continue to be community-led,” Mayor Karen Bass wrote in a Tuesday newsletter to Palisades residents that included links to the reports. “This past year has been unimaginable for the Palisades community, but I remain committed to supporting you through every step of the recovery.”

She noted that the Long-Term Recovery Plan would be finalized “in the months ahead.”

A month after the fire, Bass selected Illinois-based Hagerty Consulting to work on fire recovery under a yearlong contract for up to $10 million.

However, in June, Bass announced that AECOM would develop a recovery plan for the city. Hagerty, which had struggled to explain its role at community meetings, ultimately focused on debris removal logistics and finished its work in December, billing the city $3.5 million.

In December, the city authorized payments of $5 million for AECOM’s first set of reports — which were originally due in mid-November — and an additional $3 million to the company for long-term recovery planning.

Palisades residents say they are frustrated at the price tag and feel that the effort has been chaotic and lacked urgency. Some have questioned whether the reports would contain an honest assessment of the situation, given that AECOM is not working independently of the city.

The three AECOM reports consist of recommendations for improving the Palisades’ fire resiliency, a plan for rebuilding public infrastructure destroyed in the fire and how to coordinate traffic and other logistics as the area becomes a construction zone.

The resiliency report found that “almost all” local streets within the Palisades are narrower than permitted by the city fire code — particularly in the Alphabet Streets, Rustic Canyon and Castellammare areas. A “majority” of long dead-end streets did not fulfill the sections of the fire code ensuring that fire engines have enough space to turn around, the report said.

A lawsuit filed in December alleged that the city has routinely failed to comply with similar state regulations when it approved new construction in the city’s “very high fire hazard” areas.

These codes “directly impact the ability to fight fires and for civilians to safely evacuate,” said Jaime Hall, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, who are a group of resident associations in the Santa Monica Mountains and a fire safety advocacy organization. “They’re not just regulations on a piece of paper.”

The resiliency report also found that residents experienced “evacuation warning fatigue” from routine false alarms, making them hesitant to evacuate.

Additionally, many intersections in the Palisades could serve as bottlenecks during evacuations, leading to significant delays, the resiliency report said, basing the conclusion on a traffic pattern analysis. A Times investigation found that the city had not conducted a similar analysis to help comply with state law.

Requirements to clear vegetation around homes, including the state’s upcoming Zone Zero regulations, are not enough to meaningfully reduce wildfire risk in the Palisades, with its steep topography and dense vegetation, the resiliency report found. The city should work with land managers — including the state and county — on measures such as cutting gaps in vegetation for firefighter access, maintaining defensible space around community infrastructure and restoring native vegetation, the report said.

The public infrastructure report listed $150 million for “wet” infrastructure repairs, which included replacing aging and leaky water main pipelines.

The resiliency report outlined further potential improvements to provide more water for firefighting, such as building larger pipelines and additional tanks to move and store more drinking water; improving connections between local water systems; and tapping stormwater, treated wastewater or even seawater from the Pacific.

During the Palisades fire, hillside tanks ran out of water. Many fire hydrants, particularly in higher-elevation areas, lost pressure and ran dry. The resiliency report said that installing pressure monitoring systems could “ensure water availability and prevent dry hydrants by streaming live data to fire crews,” and that remote-controlled valves could also help maintain water pressure during a fire.

The city’s Department of Water and Power is already considering options for improving the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which was empty and awaiting repairs of its floating cover when the Palisades fire erupted.

The city has also committed to placing power lines underground in the Palisades where feasible.

The infrastructure report laid out six undergrounding projects that would cost the city $664 million, after nearly 57% of all electric service points — from power distribution poles to transmission lines — were completely destroyed in the fire.

Alina Muller repeats history from Sochi in 2014, scoring an overtime winner as Switzerland beat Sweden 2-1 to claim bronze in the women’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Muller scored the winner 12 years ago as a 15-year-old against the same opponents in a 4-3 victory to win the bronze medal.

WATCH MORE: Winter Olympics Video

Available to UK users only.

Feb. 19 (UPI) — The Commission of Fine Arts has unanimously approved plans for President Donald Trump‘s almost 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom plans, the first hurdle in starting the building project.

The commission, whose members were all appointed by Trump, including his executive assistant, Chamberlain Harris, 26. The original architect of the ballroom recused himself from the vote. Trump fired all the previous members in October.

But now, the project must win approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which could vote on March 5.

“This is a facility that is desperately needed for over 150 years, and it’s beautiful,” The Washington Post reported Commission Chair Rodney Mims Cook Jr. said.

But the CFA’s secretary said comments have been negative.

“In two decades of casework here, I’ve never seen as much public engagement on this. We’ve literally gotten, in the past week or so, more than 2,000 various messages,” said Thomas Luebke, CFA secretary, CBS News reported. “The vast, vast majority is negative, in general.”

Trump initially said the construction would cost $200 million and would be funded by private donations. He later said the project could cost twice that amount, but donors would pay for it. Officials from the National Trust for Historic Preservation challenged the construction in federal court and sought an injunction to stop the build. The judge refused the injunction but ordered the administration to undergo a review process.

The Capital Planning Commission is led by Will Scharf, a White House staff secretary appointed by Trump. Two other White House officials — James Blair and Stuart Levenbach — are also on the commission.

Luebke read a summary of the comments to commissioners, CBS reported. He cited demolition without permits or oversight, a scale that will “dwarf the White House,” lack of transparency in funding and contracts and a “fundamental miscarriage of democratic principles.”

“The ballroom seems to shout power,” one commenter wrote, Luebke said.

Harris responded, “This is sort of like the greatest country in the world. It’s the greatest house in the world and we want it to be the greatest ballroom in the world.”

The public comments, Luebke said, were “overwhelmingly in opposition — over 99%.”

Private adversary air company Top Aces has now begun flying its F-16 Vipers, the only ones currently in the hands of a private operator, with the ubiquitous military data link capability known as Link-16. The addition of Link-16 completes a vision started years ago for an adversary aircraft that truly represents the current 4th-generation-plus fighter threat. Equipped with Top Aces’ open architecture Advanced Aggressor Mission System (AAMS), these aircraft can now replicate the high-end threats that U.S. military pilots may soon face in the Pacific and elsewhere.

Top Aces began receiving its F-16s, which are early block ex-Israeli Air Force F-16A/B Netz variants, in 2021 and subsequently began upgrading them with a host of new capabilities. The AAMS is the core of that upgrade package and includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an infrared-search-and-track (IRST) pod, the Thales Visionix Gen III Scorpion helmet-mounted display system, and, with a recent provisional approval to operate Link-16, now has a fully integrated datalink. AAMS permits the rapid integration of new sensors and functions that a customer wishes to use to improve the threat representations to their fleet pilots, such as IRST and advanced jamming pods like the ALQ-188.

The War Zone was on hand as the newly integrated aircraft (N854TA) performed adversary missions with other Top Aces F-16s during a large force exercise known as Sentry South 26.1. The private aggressor support firm actually led the entire ‘red air’ operation for the exercise, which is a unique arrangement that puts immense trust on an entity that exists outside of the Department of War.

Sentry South 26.1 and the Air Dominance Center (ADC), which acts as a hub for the exercise, were created to help Air National Guard (ANG) pilots have the best fighter training available. Located in Savannah, Georgia, at the southern end of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, the ADC’s footprint is small, but its training impact is huge for both ANG pilots and their active-duty counterparts. The exercise was developed by fighter pilots to provide 5th-generation fighter integration through a focused, tailored, cost-effective approach. The airspace they have, just 30 miles off the coast, runs 200 miles north to south and 120 miles east to west. That box is among the best military flying areas anywhere in the country, and it’s ideally suited for fighter training. 

This iteration of Sentry South involved over 75 aircraft from the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. It was a mix of both 4th and 5th-generation fighters. Over 700 sorties were flown over the two-week exercise, focusing on both offensive and defensive counter-air missions. For many of the pilots, it was their capstone exercise for their initial training on the F-22. It is a multi-day, high-intensity scenario designed to test trainees or validate operational concepts in simulated, contested environments. Its goal is to validate the combat readiness of student pilots while improving their tactical decision making.

Matthew ‘Bang’ Belle is the adversary air program manager for Top Aces. He is in charge of all Top Aces operations in the United States, as well as for any foreign partners trained here on U.S. soil. He has been with the company for about 18 months after retiring from the USAF, where he flew the F-16 as an aggressor, accumulating over 2,000 hours during his career. 

Belle told The War Zone, “We got some great reviews from all of the forces that participated in Sentry South 26.1. They really enjoyed having us take over the red air lead and run the mission commander spot from the aggressor side. It was the culmination of everything we have been doing to the aircraft over the last few years. The exercise is all about challenging blue air’s thinking in the air-to-air domain. It is meant to complicate things that they do not see at their home station.”

“The vision when we first started was that we were going to be the legacy bearers from the aggressors. Russ ‘Puck’ Quinn (former Top Aces president) saw a niche that needed to be filled. He knew there were a bunch of 3rd-generation fighters throughout the market and believed there was a place for 4th-generation fighters. So he made that happen, and so we got this 1978 jet (early block F-16A/B), and we saw that we could provide the Air Force and allies a good representation of what our adversaries are doing right now. It’s not just a jet with wings and a cool motor that makes it go really fast and really high. These current 4th-generation fighters are fully integrated, so they have near-5th-generation avionics but in a 4th-generation body. Puck saw that is where we needed to go.”

The AAMS and the AESA radar, along with the Scorpion helmet and Link-16, have really upped the game in terms of quality adversary support in a crowded adversary air services provider (ADAIR) market. The Scorpion helmet allows the pilot to avoid turning the aircraft’s nose towards the enemy aircraft to target it when employing certain weapons and sensors. This is especially true when employing simulated heat-seeking missile shots. The helmet also displays basic flight and navigational data and can also project objects from the aircraft’s new Link 16 datalink system out into the visual space all around the aircraft. In other words, if a friendly is 30 miles away at 10 o’clock high, it can shoot that in augmented reality to the pilot.

Top Aces is also using the Air Force’s AN/ALQ-188 jamming pod. The AN/ALQ-188 is a common sight at U.S. air combat exercises and can simulate certain types of hostile electronic countermeasures systems. Top Aces F-16s have controls inside their aircraft that allow the pilots to scale the electronic attack to whatever the blue air wants, whether it be just a nuisance or a full scale ‘melt your face off’ EW attack. Top Aces is also the only ADAIR company that is authorized to refuel from USAF KC-135 tankers, which helps them stay in the fight longer and provides more presentations for blue forces.

Belle states, “The key that has unlocked everything in the past month was that our engineering section here at Top Aces and our chief test pilot were able to get a provisional approval (from the Federal Aviation Administration) to operate Link-16 on our AAMS aircraft. That was the missing key we now have that ties it all together, so we can present this integrated solution that we think closely resembles a 4th-gen-plus adversary aircraft. It’s a real game-changer. The fact that I can be well outside of normal influence ranges on blue air, have them on my scope with Link-16, where they don’t know that I have that situational awareness (SA), and then transition that SA to the IRST pod, and they still don’t know they are being targeted. So they are making decisions like they are not targeted and not vulnerable. As they get closer, I have all of my weapon solutions cued up and ready to shoot with the AESA radar. Link-16 enables all of that to happen.”

 “It also allows us to fly red air tactics with the F-35. It is just like we are one of them. We are replicating 5th and 4th gen packages. It gives blue air not just reps in the gym for blocking and tackling, it affects training outcomes completely and that is what we are really excited about. Link-16 ties it all together.”

What the pilot sees on his center pedestal display showing the Link 16 data is also totally customizable, which is critical for achieving highly-tailored training goals. For instance, the system can easily filter out information that would give the red air team too big of advantage or that would not accurately reflect the capabilities of an enemy. This scalability based on the training objectives makes it far more than just a datalink system for the red air force, it can dramatically boost the fidelity of the threat being presented.

Chris ‘Bluce’ Wee is Top Aces chief test pilot and flew several missions with the upgraded jet during Sentry South 26.1. Wee was a former test pilot in the USAF and was in charge of a host of modernization projects for both the F-16 and all variants of the F-15, including the F-15EX.

Wee told The War Zone, “I’ve been doing modernization and development, making fighters better for the better part of the past 12 or 13 years, and so it was really cool to jump in at Top Aces and look at what we’ve got and look at where we wanted to be and find things that we can improve on. A couple of things that I jumped into right away was really the optimization of our systems together. The idea that we could take old Israeli airplanes and make them high-end aggressors was really fascinating to me.” 

“I first learned of Top Aces sometime in 2022. I was out at Black Flag at the 442 (422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron), the OT test organization out there at Nellis, when I came around the corner and saw some old pilots I knew from my aggressor days. I had no idea what they were doing, but when I got talking to them, I was amazed. There is nothing as maneuverable as this airplane (the F-16A, the agility of which you can read about here), and then you stack on top of that modern equipment, it’s amazing. There are limitations; no company in the world is, from a regulatory standpoint or even a monetary standpoint, able to go out there and buy an APG-83 or APG-82 (AESA radar) or any frontline fighter radar or some of, you know, ‘exquisite’ technologies that are protected by classified information. The fact that we’re doing that to the best of our ability was really intriguing to me.”

Wee was able to jump into the chief test pilot position and immediately review the systems and begin providing recommendations to improve integration. 

Wee added, “We were able to tweak some things here in the software and really go out and develop that to the point where you know it’s really optimized. You get in this airplane and you know the between the helmet, the Link-16, the AESA radar, the IRST, you just have all these tools available to you to do this really important mission that is training the next generation of fighter pilots that are going to be out there, you know, protecting the nation for the rest of my life, at least, which is [a] pretty neat thing to be a part of.”

During Sentry South 26.1, Wee flew four missions in the updated AAMS jet, accumulating over 10 hours, and conducted several aerial refuelings from KC-135s.

Speaking about the new Link-16 capability, Wee explained:

“Datalink, from a very basic standpoint, is when you can look at the picture in your jet and immediately see what everyone’s doing and where they are; you don’t have to be looking outside necessarily to do that. In fact, I would really prefer my wingman to be like miles away from me because we’re probably not gonna hit each other if he’s miles away from me, and I don’t have to worry about him as much. I can just look at my screen, and I know where my wingman is, and what he’s doing. I can see that he’s targeting something because I can see data being passed between our airplanes, which is really helpful to know, not only within our own airplanes but also with the joint force airplanes. We were flying with Marines, F-35s, and guard F-16s. Being able to see where people are and what they’re doing and if they’re doing what I’ve told them to do, just by looking at the link, is a huge capability.”

Top Aces flew twice a day for four days during the exercise. During the first and last day, they focused on defensive-counter-air missions. Blue air students were tasked with defending the target area during a 90-minute vulnerability period (vul), and so they wanted to maximize the number of red forces across the ‘lane,’ so they could challenge their ability to defend a geographical area. 

Wee explained, “As red air, we were trying to get in and protect the strikers. We were using the T-38 as strikers and were trying to help them get into the target area. If we could get to the target band, that would drive the debrief focus points on why the blue forces did not properly protect the lane for the period of time required. Were they allocating their radars to the right spot, and were they looking with the right modes on their radars? We were operating as MiG-1 (lead aggressor) for all sorties, which was really cool for us because we were able to lead the red package in all eight vuls we supported. We were able to manage our forces to align with the blue forces’ learning objectives. We worked very closely with the mission commanders as to what kind of threat they wanted and when they wanted to see it.”

On Wednesday and Thursday, the roles reversed to offensive counter air (OCA), and blue forces were trying to fight their way into the target band and hit targets on land and then fight their way out. Wee led a red force presentation that fought the blue air on the way in, then regenerated from pretend airfields to fight the blue forces on the way out of the target area. 

Lt. Col. Joseph ‘Stone’ Walz, who flew F-16s and F-35s and is now part of the Georgia Air National Guard, is the exercise director for Sentry South. Speaking about the value of having aircraft like Top Aces F-16s in his exercise, he told us, “I had the opportunity to bring in Top Aces to Sentry South 26.1. They normally support the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin. I like to build something that represents what pilots would expect if they were to go out and fly an operational plan. It’s about honing and shaping our pilots into the most combat-ready force we could be if we had to go to war. How Top Aces factors into that is if we get real aircraft and actual fighter jets that can prosecute errors and punish errors in the training environment, and now when my pilots have those errors, they get shot and can now go into the debrief and learn those lessons in a training environment so they don’t make the same mistakes in war. We can do that with other aircraft, but every aircraft I bring here, if I have to put them as red air, that is one less person who can fly blue air. Red air is a tax we all have to pay, but having these guys gets us more training, and you never know the lesson that someone will learn that will save their life someday.”

Being asked to lead red air forces as ‘MiG-1’ during Sentry South 26.1, Top Aces is proving that experience matters, which is their motto. 

Belle explained, “We are mostly all former aggressor pilots who have done the really big exercises at Nellis and in Alaska. We have handled 100 aircraft LFEs (large force exercises) and know how to build scenarios that really stress blue air’s weak points. We know where their change-outs are going to be, so we are a thinking adversary that brings in all the other red air like the F-35s and F-22s and puts it all together and says what would the Chinese do? We replicate that. We put the 4th and 5th-gen packages together, led by an experienced aggressor who knows how to exploit weaknesses. I can tell you from being on the blue side that when your bulletproof game plan is completely exploited and torn apart, you leave humbled, knowing you have to up your game. We are not there just to win, we are there to teach. We are there to have you leave the debrief with an outcome that says, I have to go back to the drawing board because what I thought works against my normal red air at Langley or Eglin didn’t work today. Why not?”

Top Aces has recently done much more software development to optimize what’s presented to the pilot and how the pilot interacts with the radar, the link, and the IRST pod, along with the helmet. It is all about placing information in the right place to make the pilot safer and more effective. Looking at human factors optimization, Top Aces is looking to make an even more threatening aggressor.

The IRST system that Top Aces flew during Sentry South 26.1 consists of a Northrop Grumman OpenPod, a modular, open-architecture design, equipped with Leonardo’s SkyWard, a long-wave IRST sensor. It is a scannable IRST pod, which means it has the ability to identify multiple contacts inside of a very large search area. 

Wee explained, “IRST is difficult for everyone. It is very susceptible to the conditions of the day whether it be humidity or clouds. We have some longer-range goals to improve our IRST system and achieve more accurate tracks through exquisite means. Right now, we only have one pod but we are actively seeking more. You can imagine having azimuth and elevation from one pod is pretty good, but having azimuth and elevation from more than one pod makes the solutions get better, especially if you leverage Link-16 and are able to pass some of that data between airplanes (triangulating range). These are all things we want to do to better replicate the threat.”

Another major training capability that Top Aces Link-16-enabled aircraft are now providing is called Constructive Wingman. This gives the upgraded aircraft the ability to lay out synthetic tracks of non-existent aircraft. 

Belle explained, “When the blue air looks at us, no longer do they see just one contact. They may now see two or three contacts and that is just complicating the training and driving better outcomes for their learning. The pilot pushes a few buttons to place an aircraft on my right at two miles and one on my left at two miles. I have a series of 10 commands that I can give it. I can tell it to go 50 miles from blue air and then reform behind me at 20 miles. Or better yet, I am going to turn around as the live fighter and these two contacts will continue going so blue air now thinks he has a bigger problem. But really, he/she is concentrating on synthetic tracks.”

This capability will help new F-35 student pilots as they will now see a more complicated tactical picture during their training. Currently, Top Aces provides aggressor training through the Air Force’s Combat Air Force Contracted Air Support (CAFCAS) program to F-35 pilots going through Formal Training Units (FTUs) at both Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and at Luke AFB in Arizona. The basic course lasts eight months and provides pilots with the training to accomplish a variety of missions.

The last few months have been extremely busy for Top Aces. Last summer, they went to Nellis AFB to participate in a large-force exercise at the end of weapons school, called Weapons School Integration (WSINT). WSINT is a series of complex, large-force employment missions that serve as the capstone portion of Weapons School classes. With their ability to air refuel, they participated in three- to four- hour missions. They also participated in Sentry North at Volk Field before flying to Mountain Home AFB to support training for the Dutch F-35As and the resident F-15E Strike Eagles.

We will be sure to keep you updated as Top Aces continues to add new capabilities to its unique AAMS F-16s.

Contact the editor: Tyler@twz.com

KERRY Katona’s boyfriend Paolo Margaglione left Dubai just hours after he was punched by Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews.

The Sun revealed today that Paolo was struck by Lee during his joint holiday with Kerry and her long-time pal Katie.

In her most recent New! Magazine column, Kerry revealed that Paolo had to leave their Dubai getaway ‘urgently’ after just a day in the country.

Despite the star describing it as a “work emergency”, The Sun’s revelation about Paolo and Lee’s bust up means that the former left just hours later.

Kerry wrote in her column: “Paolo and I travelled to Dubai for a romantic getaway for our first Valentine’s Day, where we had a mega-quick 20-minute catch up with Katie Price and her husband Lee.

“But unfortunately, during the trip, Paolo had to go back to the UK for a work emergency.

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“I got to spend literally 14 hours with him before he had to leave, which meant I was left alone in Dubai, which we were both gutted about.“

Earlier today, we told how during Paolo’s 14 hours in Dubai, he crossed wires with Lee.

An onlooker said: “Lee was having some cross words with Katie. He was acting in what appeared to be an aggressive manner.

“Paolo then appeared and stepped in. Lee seemed to be very angry and was shouting at him.

“It all got very heated and Lee threw some punches and one of them landed Paolo square on the head.”

The incident happened in a public part of the hotel where Kerry and Paolo had been staying, with Kerry thought to not have been present at the time of the altercation.

Katie and Kerry have been friends for over two decades, with the pair even heading on tour together earlier this year.

An onlooker added: “It was crazy to see this play out. The situation seemed to be pretty heated but then it erupted very quickly. It all happened so fast.

“Paolo looked very shocked by what had happened and walked away. Katie didn’t look in a great way either, she seemed shocked.”

The Sun understands the relationship between Katie and Kerry has been strained since the incident.

Kerry has been with Paolo since meeting on Celebs Go Dating last summer, with the pair smitten ever since.

While Kerry married Lee – who claims to be a ‘millionaire’ businessman – in a whirlwind week last month, just days after they first met.

WASHINGTON — In another era, the scene would have been unremarkable. But in President Trump’s Washington, it’s become increasingly rare.

Sitting side by side on stage were Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat. They traded jokes and compliments instead of insults and accusations, a brief interlude of cordiality in a cacophony of conflict.

Stitt and Moore are the leaders of the National Governors Association, one of a vanishing few bipartisan institutions left in American politics. But it may be hard for the organization, which is holding its annual conference this week, to maintain its reputation as a refuge from polarization.

Trump has broken with custom by declining to invite all governors to the traditional White House meeting and dinner. He has called Stitt, the NGA’s chair, a “RINO,” short for Republican in name only, and continued to feud with Moore, the group’s vice chair, by blaming him for a sewage spill involving a federally regulated pipeline.

The break with tradition reflects Trump’s broader approach to his second term. He has taken a confrontational stance toward some states, withholding federal funds or deploying troops over the objections of local officials.

With the Republican-controlled Congress unwilling to limit Trump’s ambitions, several governors have increasingly cast themselves as a counterweight to the White House.

“Presidents aren’t supposed to do this stuff,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said about the expansion of executive power in recent administrations. “Congress needs to get their act together. And stop performing for TikTok and actually start doing stuff. That’s the flaw we’re dealing with right now.”

Cox, a Republican, said “it is up to the states to hold the line.”

Moore echoed that sentiment in an interview with The Associated Press.

“People are paying attention to how governors are moving, because I think governors have a unique way to move in this moment that other people just don’t,” he said.

Still, governors struck an optimistic tone in panels and interviews Wednesday. Stitt said the conference is “bigger than one dinner at the White House.” Moore predicted “this is going to be a very productive three days for the governors.”

“Here’s a Republican and Democrat governor from different states that literally agree on probably 80% of the things. And the things we disagree on we can have honest conversations on,” Stitt said while sitting beside Moore.

Tensions over the guest list for White House events underscored the uncertainty surrounding the week. During the back-and-forth, Trump feuded with Stitt and said Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were not invited because they “are not worthy of being there.”

Whether the bipartisan tone struck Wednesday evening can endure through the week — and beyond — remains an open question.

“We can have disagreements. In business, I always want people around me arguing with me and pushing me because that’s where the best ideas come from,” said Stitt. “We need to all have these exchange of ideas.”

Cappelletti and Sloan write for the Associated Press.

MILAN — Jordan Stolz’s run for the speedskating triple crown came up short in the 1,500 meters Thursday, with the American settling for silver behind China’s Ning Zhongyan at the Milan-Cortina Games.

Ning set an Olympic record, blazing the oval at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in 1 minute and 41.98 seconds. Stolz, who won gold in the 500 and 1,000 meters to become the first U.S. man to win in both distances in the same Olympic Games since 1980, had the fastest finishing kick of the top eight skaters, but reached for the line 0.77 of a second behind Ning at 1:42.75.

Stolz was the top-ranked racer in the 1,500-meter distance and raced in the final pair. Watching the speedskating superstar, Ning clasped his hands in prayer during the final race. When the final time flashed across the screen, his coach held Ning’s hands in the air. He began to sob. The 26-year-old earned his first Olympic gold medal after earning bronze in the 1,000 and the team pursuit.

Hoping to win four gold medals in Milan, Stolz still has an opportunity to add a third in the mass start on Saturday.

Feb. 19 (UPI) — A massive blackout left nearly five million people without electricity in Paraguay amid a heat wave that pushed temperatures above 108 degrees Fahrenheit across large parts of the country and as high as 116 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, according to local meteorological reports.

The outage affected 90% of customers of the National Electricity Administration, or ANDE, the state-run company that supplies nearly the entire population of 6.4 million people.

The interruption on Wednesday also disrupted drinking water services in urban areas due to reliance on electric pumping systems. Nearly 24 hours after the blackout, service had not been fully restored.

The lack of power also impacted health centers and hospitals in cities across the country’s interior. In those cases, emergency infrastructure and generators failed, and doctors and nurses were forced to perform surgical procedures, including a cesarean section, using the light from their cell phones.

Following the blackout, ANDE attributed the interruption to transmission lines going out of service within the system that connects to the Itaipú hydroelectric plant. The company later denied any malfunction at its facilities and said generation operated normally.

Paraguay is one of the world’s largest producers of hydroelectric power thanks to dams such as Itaipú and Yacyretá, which generate surpluses that are even exported to neighboring countries.

In January, Itaipú covered more than 80% of national electricity demand. However, the transmission and distribution system faces scrutiny over recurring failures and a lack of investment.

Specialists argue that the problem does not lie in energy generation but in the limitations of the transmission and distribution system.

“If we continue growing at the current pace, the system will not withstand it,” engineer Guillermo Krauch of the Paraguayan Institute of Electrical Sector Professionals told UPI.

The blackout comes as President Santiago Peña and Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano are scheduled to hold meetings in the United States with executives from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to analyze potential investment projects related to data centers and artificial intelligence developments in Paraguay.

The government of President Santiago Peña approved special electricity tariffs for large consumers, including data centers, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and high-energy industrial projects.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce seeks to position Paraguay as a regional technology hub supported by its renewable energy, abundant water resources and comparative cost advantages.

However, technical organizations warn that the accelerated expansion of high-consumption industries could worsen service deterioration if transmission infrastructure is not strengthened.

Víctor Giménez, special projects adviser at the Yacyretá dam, said Paraguay lived for decades under a “false sense of energy security.”

“That time is over. Companies now arrive with the intention to invest, but they leave once they understand there is no guarantee of electricity supply for the next five years,” he said.

Peña is currently in Washington to participate in the Board of Peace and hold meetings with business leaders interested in installing data centers in Paraguay.

The heat wave has lasted several days, and Paraguay ranked among the locations with the highest temperatures recorded globally this week.

We’re in something like award season no man’s land right now: the whirlwind of the Oscar nominees luncheon is behind us, but most of the major precursors have yet to be handed out. Which leaves less for the pundits to chew on, perhaps, though it also means there’s finally some spare time to catch up on your reading.

I’m Matt Brennan, editor in chief of The Envelope. Let me be of some assistance.

Cover story: ‘Sentimental Value’

(Christina House / For The Times)

After an entire award season’s worth of conversations about one of the top contenders, it’s rare to hear a new one this late in the game. But when I ran in “Sentimental Value” director Joachim Trier last week, he happily shared his point of view on an anecdote his editor, Olivier Bugge Coutté, recently shared with The Envelope about killing one of Trier’s darlings. “He was right,” Trier admitted with a half-rueful smile, after describing the elaborate aerial shot over a theater audience with which he originally intended to open the film.

Such candor is also a mark of contributor Bob Strauss’ interview with Trier and star Stellan Skarsgård about making the year’s most-nominated international feature, from their discussion of the stroke that permanently altered the actor’s process to bon mots about the film’s depiction of Netflix, demanding directors and more. I was most tickled by Skarsgård’s, um, unvarnished description of the small screen: “The narrative form of television is based on you not watching,” he tells Strauss. “It explains everything through dialogue so you can make pancakes at the same time.”

Digital cover: Kate Hudson

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

When contributor Amy Amatangelo sent me her pitch for a story on “Song Sung Blue,” it swiftly answered the question I want every pitch to answer: Why are you the right person to write this story?

“I am a lifelong Neil Diamond fan,” she wrote. “My dad loved him. I saw him in concert as a child. My dad and I danced to ‘Beautiful Noise’ at my wedding.”

So it was a no-brainer to set her up with this week’s digital cover star, nominated for playing one half of the film’s Neil Diamond tribute band. “Although she’s had a slew of successes in the interim,” Amatangelo writes of the 25 years since “Almost Famous,” “it can sometimes seem that we’ve underappreciated, and perhaps underestimated, Kate Hudson.”

‘Train Dreams’’ not-so-secret weapon

(Lauren Fleishman/For The Times)

Speaking of pitches, the most frequently suggested subject for coverage since the Oscar nominations (not-named-Chalamet-or-DiCaprio division) may be “Train Dreams” cinematographer Adolpho Veloso. Which already made the Brazilian’s wizardry one of the industry’s worst-kept secrets. Count contributor Emily Zemler’s profile among the final nails in the coffin.

“Capturing the enormous trees that would have existed in the early 20th century was a challenge,” she writes of the film, which spans the life of an itinerant logger in the Pacific Northwest. “The production went to protected parks, where they had to be cautious about not affecting the environment. ‘How do you shoot a movie where they’re supposed to be cutting those trees, but they cannot even get close to those trees?’ Veloso says. ‘It was almost like shooting stunts.’”

More stories from our Feb. 19 issue

Published on
19/02/2026 – 17:39 GMT+1

The European Commission’s push to embed a so-called European preference in public procurement is triggering heavy lobbying from EU capitals and foreign partners, Euronews has learned.

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The proposal, designed to counter Chinese and US competition, would see products made in Europe officially favoured in public contracts and support schemes. Critics have branded it protectionist, and several member states have sought to water down the definition of “made in Europe” to ensure access for like-minded countries.

According to EU officials, the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), which is set to define what made in Europe means, is likely to face another delay despite appearing on the Commission’s agenda for presentation on 26 February. The strategy was first delayed in November 2025.

A leaked draft of the IAA text seen by Euronews lists strategic sectors targeted for a European preference, including chemicals, automotive, AI and space. It also proposes EU-origin thresholds of 70% for EVs, 25% for aluminium and 30% for plastics used in windows and doors.

The draft has drawn intense pushback. Nordic and Baltic states warn that a strict made in Europe regime could deter investment and limit EU companies’ access to cutting-edge technologies from non-EU countries.

In a separate leak reported by Euronews last week, the Commission appeared to lean toward the German position: a European preference open to like-minded partners with reciprocal procurement commitments and those contributing to “the Union’s competitiveness, resilience and economic security objectives”.

Britain concerned about protectionism

The UK is among the partners wary of a protectionist turn, with British officials stressing that the EU and UK economies are highly intertwined.

“It’s not the moment to mess with what is already working,” one official told Euronews.

In particular, the EU remains the largest export market for British cars, while several European manufacturers produce vehicles in the UK, which in 2024 was the EU’s second-largest export destination after the US.

“Almost half of our trade is with the European Union. We trade almost as much with the EU as the whole of the rest of the world combined,” UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves said last week.

British sources also argue that London’s deep capital markets could help the EU secure investment to revive its industry – unless the bloc closes its market.

The Commission is weighing its next move, aiming to table a proposal ahead of March’s EU summit focused on competitiveness. But pressure is also mounting from within, with pushback from the Trade Directorate-General – traditionally a staunch defender of an open EU market.

Paris, a long-time champion of a made in Europe strategy, says the concept has gained sufficient traction in Brussels to become reality and that the debate has now shifted to its implementation.

EU industry chief Stéphane Séjourné, who is overseeing the file, said on Tuesday that the European preference “entails quite a change of Europe’s economic doctrine”.

“It is therefore no surprises that it takes time and efforts to get to a common and smart version,” he added.

ONE of Asia’s biggest airport projects is underway and it will make it so much easier to travel to one of the country’s most famous landmarks.

Travellers will be able to get to the beautiful Taj Mahal so much quicker – in half the time – once building work is completed.

Noida International Airport is being built near Jewar in India and once fully constructed, will be one of Asia’s biggest airports.

The first phase will include the building of one terminal and one runway -which will handle 12million passengers each year.

The long-term masterplan could see it expand to accommodate up to 120million passengers per year with multiple terminals and up to six runways.

This would make it rival Asia’s other biggest and busiest airports including Beijing Daxing and Dubai International Airport.

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Inside terminal one will be automated check-in kiosks, contactless boarding systems, spacious lounges and waiting zones.

The design of the airport is to make it easy for passengers to move about which it has done by separating the arrivals, departures and baggage areas.

There will be lots of seating too in zones between check-in, security and boarding.

The waiting areas will be air-conditioned, there will also be Wi-Fi, prayer rooms and child care areas.

As for its aesthetic, the terminal will be light and airy with a white and see-through roof that is wavy to mimic the flow of a river.

There’s a central courtyard where travellers can get some fresh air – it also has plenty of greenery and shaded areas.

Designs show escalators on the outside and inside, along with shops, restaurants and cafes.

The airport will sit in Jewar, which will make it easier for travellers heading to Agra where the Taj Mahal is.

The mausoleum that sits on the bank of the river Yamuna in Agra sees up to eight million visitors every year.

Until the airport is up and running, travellers have to fly into New Delhi before heading almost four hours south by car.

The location of Noida International Airport will cut that travel time in half – from Jewar it will take just over two hours.

As for when the new airport will open, there is no date yet although local reports suggest it could be as early as next year.

Both IndiGo and Akasa Air have confirmed they will operate at the airport, although these will be for mainly domestic destinations.

When it comes to Brits, international routes are yet to confirmed if they will be to the UK, with destinations mentioned including Zurich and Dubai.

Current UK-India routes are operated by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

The original target opening was two years ago in September 2024, however construction is still ongoing.

The airport covers around 5,000 hectares, making it one of the largest airport sites in India once fully built.

Currently, the largest in the country by land area is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad which covers over 5,500 acres.

Here’s more on what will be the biggest airport in the world…

One airport in Saudi Arabia will become the biggest in the world once finished…

King Salman International Airport is set to surpass all other airports in size, including the current biggest airport in the world which is also in the country.

The 22sqm airport will feature six runways – up from two – parallel to each other and will be built around the existing King Khalid International Airport.

It will approximately be the same size as Manhattan in New York – or twice the size of the city of Bath, in the UK.

And now the airport has moved into its construction phase.

The airport will be designed by Foster + Partners, a UK firm which is behind London‘s famous Gherkin.

Inside, travellers will be able to explore 4.6sqm of shops.

A lot of features in the airport are set to include high tech, such as climate-controlled lighted.

Travellers will have plenty of seating, indoor and outdoor spaces with greenery and vast glass windows, ideal for a bit of plane spotting.

The airport was announced back in 2022 and is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman‘s Saudi Vision 2030 – which is set to make Riyadh into a major hub for transport, trade and tourism.

It will eventually accommodate up to 120million passengers each year, which is then expected to rise to 185million by 2050.

And the number of aircraft takeoffs will rise from 211,000 per year to over one million.

For more on new airports, this new £7.8billion airport is set to be built in pretty European city after a 50-year delay.

And this new £25billion mega airport wanting to take on Heathrow and Dubai reveals latest opening update.

THE £100million plans to revamp Plymouth’s train station have been scrapped.

It was set to be a new ‘gateway’ for the city, completely transforming the current site – but these plans are now under review and unlikely to go ahead.

Back in 2018, designs were first drawn up to transform the Devonshire station with a huge outdoor plaza and a revamp of Plymouth‘s train terminal.

The project called Brunel Plaza, would have seen 100 new homes built, a new hotel and a multi-storey car park.

There would have been a large pedestrian area too and outdoor dining spaces with seating areas.

The former railway offices behind the station were earmarked to become part of the university campus.

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In the original plans this was even considered to have a top floor viewing room, and even a sky cafe, which was going to act as a “beacon” at night for the city.

It was being developed by AHR, which had been appointed by US-based engineering giant Tetra Tech to develop the Brunel Plaza design on behalf of Plymouth City Council.

Their initial document said the idea was to develop the public area outside Plymouth Station to create a mainly pedestrian area that will create a welcoming spot to those arriving in Plymouth.

At the time, it said the upgrade was needed because “the railway station and its surrounding environment currently acts as a poor gateway and arrival point into Plymouth”.

In 2024 the council said the plan faced years of delay, there were also questions about funding and certain planning consent had expired.

Part of the transformation did go ahead however, the former railway offices are now part of the University of Plymouth.

Called Intercity, the building was renovated and opened in 2023 as a place for trainee healthcare professionals.

Plymouth City Council has now said it will review the scheme and bring out a new business plan later this year.

It also said that it is looking at a package of ways to improve public transport for Plymouth.

The city was once dubbed one of the most ‘underrated’ places to visit in the UK.

In 2023, Time Out revealed the 14 destinations that should be on your list this year that aren’t the usual tourist spots.

Plymouth came in seventh place thanks to its art scene and rich history.

While the plans to renovate the train station for Plymouth have been paused, local media further added that a train station is being considered in Plympton.

The Plymouth suburb did once have a train station, but it closed to passengers in 1959 and to goods traffic until 1954.

Shortly afterwards it was demolished.

Some expressed they would like to see a station return – one local wrote on a Facebook post: “The station at Plympton is a must and it’s great that they are finally looking at bringing it back.”

A proposal to open a station at Plympton was first raised in 2018, but no official plans have been made or drawn up.

For more on train stations, here are seven new ones coming to the UK under £14billion plans.

And here’s the UK’s busiest train station with 100million passengers which has finally got the go ahead for controversial £1.2billion expansion.

No one should be surprised that Leicester have appealed against their points deduction.

At no point have the Foxes admitted any wrongdoing, even with the evidence of their financial losses.

But this is a risky option as the appeal board can vary the penalty in any way. This includes increasing it, though that is believed to be unlikely.

Leicester’s position fluctuated over the course of the original hearing.

At one stage the club said a points deduction should be held back until they returned to the Premier League.

Then they shifted and claimed the independent commission did not have power to impose any sporting sanction. Then they said a fine should be levied… which should be zero.

Leicester are likely to again say that as a Championship club they cannot be punished for a Premier League rule break.

The Premier League, meanwhile, feels there was a mistake in failing to deduct one point for the late filing of accounts.

Leicester were found guilty on this count. But the independent commission chose not to apply any kind of penalty.

The Premier League disagrees and argues there is a principle at stake. If rules are broken there should be consequences.

If a club are allowed to file their accounts late and effectively get away without any sanction it offers no precedent or deterrent.

The Premier League has appealed on the basis that a sanction should be applied, in effect that one-point deduction.

The outcome of the two appeals could decide Leicester’s Championship status.

US president says at inaugural Board of Peace summit that Washington and Tehran should make a ‘meaningful deal’.

Donald Trump has renewed his threats against Iran, suggesting that Tehran has about 10 days to reach a deal with Washington or face further military strikes.

Speaking at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, DC, on Thursday, the United States president reiterated his argument that the joint Israeli-US strikes against Iran in June of last year paved the way to the “ceasefire” in Gaza.

Trump argued that without the US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the “threat” of Iran would have prevented countries in the region from agreeing to “peace in the Middle East”.

“So now we may have to take it a step further, or we may not,” Trump said. “Maybe we’re going to make a deal. You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.”

Trump’s comments come days after the US and Iran held a second round of indirect talks.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi said the two sides made “good progress in the negotiations” in Geneva and “were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles” for an agreement.

But the US has continued to amass military assets in the Gulf region, including two aircraft carriers and dozens of fighter jets.

Iran, which denies seeking a nuclear weapon, has said it would agree to curbing its uranium enrichment and placing it under rigorous international inspection.

But the Trump administration has said that it would oppose any Iranian enrichment. Washington has also sought to place limits on Tehran’s missile arsenal, but Iranian officials have ruled out any concessions over the issue, which they say is a non-negotiable defence principle.

On Thursday, Trump said his diplomatic aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have had “very good meetings” with Iran’s representatives.

“We have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things happen,” he said.

Last week, Trump said the US and Iran should come to an agreement “over the next month”, warning Tehran with “very traumatic” consequences.

But Iranian officials have expressed defiance against the US president’s threats.

“The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware,” Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei wrote on X on Thursday.

“However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”

Tensions between the Washington and Tehran have been escalating since late 2025, when Trump – while hosting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December – vowed to strike Iran again if attempts to rebuild its nuclear or missile programmes.

Days later, antigovernment protests broke out in Iran. Trump encouraged the demonstrators to take over state institutions, promising them that “help is on the way”.

Trump appeared to step back from the brink of attacking Iran last month, saying that the country agreed to halt the execution of dissidents under US pressure.

The two countries later renewed negotiations with the first round of talks since the June war taking place in Oman on February 6.

But threats and hostile rhetoric between Washington and Tehran have persisted despite the ongoing diplomacy.

In 2018, during his first term Trump nixed the multilateral nuclear deal that saw Iran scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting international sanctions against its economy.

DANNIELLA Westbrook has finally revealed the full extent of her recent surgery makeover after undergoing a full face, neck and brow lift.

The former soap star underwent multiple facial surgeries weeks ago in Dubai and was spotted looking swollen and bruised as she emerged from surgery.

But now the ‘results’ have been revealed with Danniella sharing a slew of new snaps post-surgery but ever the perfectionist, the star couldn’t resist adding a filter or two to the images before she posted them online.

The star’s new images featured a helping hand in order to enhance her appearance even more post-surgery.

The axed EastEnders star could be seen posing on a towel as she enjoyed the Dubai heat.

Wearing a blue bikini, Danniella showed off her filtered face and her body in the images.

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She pulled a series of sultry poses in which evidence of her recent nose operations could be seen thanks to some slight bruising still visible around the nostril area.

In another image, Danniella opted to wear a pair of glasses as she laid back and relaxed in the sunshine.

The 52-year-old, has been on a journey to rebuild her face after historic drug abuse, with this surgery following on from a nose operation last June.

Danniella had a full face, neck and brow lift in addition to a lip and nose reconstruction.

Following the operation, she left the facility in a wheelchair with a facial compression garment wrapped around her head.

A full recovery for a face, neck and chin lift can take up to nine months.

The surgery was performed by Danniella’s trusted Surgeon Dr Parviz Sadigh, who has carried out operations on her in the past.

Danniella became hooked on drugs at the age of 14 after beginning to take cocaine after shooting to fame as Sam Mitchell in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders.

The former star estimates that she has spent a whopping £250,000 on cocaine in her lifetime and was using at least five grams a day throughout her entire pregnancy with son, Kai.

Danniella was addicted to drugs throughout the 1990s and early 2000.

She then managed to stay clean before a number of relapses including in 2017 – the year after she last appeared on EastEnders.

Her latest known drug relapse was in 2021.

This abuse led to the collapse of her nose and cheekbones, with her septum – the cartilage that separates the two nostrils – falling out.

Last summer, Danniella went under the knife for a surgery to reconstruct her nose, with cartilage from her rib being used to fix her nose.

At the time, the star admitted she was hoping to rebuild her face so that she can kick start her acting career once again.

On the day of her surgery, she said: “Big day for me heading down for a very long surgery right now to rebuild my face.

“Then I can get back to work.”

There are two, seemingly irreconcilable, stories of how the Palisades fire became a deadly and destructive behemoth dominating post-fire discourse. One is told by the residents who lived through it, and the other by the government officials who responded to it.

Government officials have routinely argued they had little agency to change the outcome of a colossal fire fanned by intense winds. Palisadians point to a string of government missteps they say clearly led to and exacerbated the disaster.

Officials’ unwillingness to acknowledge any mistakes has only sharpened residents’ focus on them, functionally bringing to a grinding halt any discourse around how the two groups can work to prevent the next disaster.

Instead, residents have been left feeling gaslighted by their own government, while fire officials struggle to navigate the backlash to new fire safety measures.

When officials and residents do talk solutions, the former tend to emphasize personal responsibility — most prominently, Zone Zero, which will require residents to remove flammable materials and plants near their homes — while the latter often push for greater government responsibility: a bolstered fire service and a beefed-up water system.

The residents’ account goes like this:

The Fire Department failed to put out the Lachman fire a week prior. Mayor Karen Bass then left the country during dangerous weather while the deputy mayor for public safety position was vacant after Brian K. Williams, who formerly held the role, was put on leave after allegedly making a bomb threat against City Hall. L.A.’s city Fire Department officials failed to deploy 1,000 firefighters in advance of the fire and did not call for firefighters to work extended hours, while dozens of fire engines were out of commission at the time, waiting for repairs.

An aircraft drops fire retardant on the Palisades fire on Jan. 8, 2025.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile the L.A. Department of Water and Power left a water reservoir designed for firefighting empty and the city failed to analyze how it would evacuate the community.

However, when government officials — be it the mayor, the fire chief or the governor — describe the fire, they tell a different story:

The day after the fire erupted, Bass placed some of the blame on climate change, which some scientists argue has exacerbated fires in the area by increasing the frequency and intensity of hot, dry and windy conditions. Fire officials stressed that the winds during the first few days of the fires were so strong that there was little even the best-equipped fire service could do and that the fire grew so large that there wasn’t a single fire hydrant system in the world that could handle the demand.

Many residents don’t deny that, under such extreme conditions and after the fire reached a certain scale and ferocity, the destruction became inevitable — and there are many who would just like to move on from January 2025.

However, others remain frustrated that these official versions of the story do not acknowledge the government’s failure to prepare for such conditions and its failure to stop the fire before it passed the threshold of inevitability. Indeed, at times, officials have shied away from these uncomfortable discussions to shield themselves from potential liability.

One telling example: On the one-year anniversary of the fire, residents gathered to voice these frustrations at a protest in the heart of the neighborhood. But when Bass was asked to comment on the event, she dismissed it as an unfit way to commemorate the anniversary and accused organizers of profiting off the disaster.

Survivors gathered in Palisades Village to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Palisades fire on Jan. 7, 2026.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

This sort of dismissal has essentially forestalled any constructive discussions of climate change, the limits of the fire service and water systems and proposals like Zone Zero, since so many Palisadians now feel like any of that is just a fig leaf for the government’s agency and responsibility, and not a good faith discussion of how to solve the wildfire problem.

The reality is, how climate change is influencing wildfires in Southern California is still a subject of debate among scientists. That doesn’t mean that local leaders need to sit on their hands and wait for consensus. Experts can easily point to a litany of steps that can be taken to better protect residents, regardless of how profound the impact is of global warming on fire risk in the region.

Fire scientists and fire service veterans (who have the pleasure of speaking freely in retirement) argue both personal responsibility and government responsibility play key roles in preventing disasters:

Home hardening and defensible space slow down the dangerous chain reaction in which a wildfire jumps into an urban area and spreads from house to house. It is then the responsibility of a prepared and capable fire service to use that extra time to stop the destruction in its tracks.

The bottom line is that neither the government’s story nor the residents’ story of the Palisades fire is fundamentally wrong. And neither is fully complete.

The conversations around fire preparedness that need to happen next will require both homeowners and government officials to acknowledge they both have real agency and responsibility to shape the outcome of the next fire.

More recent wildfire news

Mayor Karen Bass personally directed the watering down of the city Fire Department’s after-action report on the Palisades fire in an attempt to limit the city’s legal liability, my colleague Alene Tchekmedyian reports. The revelations come after Bass repeatedly denied any involvement in the editing of the report to downplay failures.

Last Thursday, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced his office had opened a civil rights investigation into the fire preparations and response for the Eaton fire, looking for any potential disparities in the historically Black west Altadena, my colleague Grace Toohey reports. West Altadena received late evacuation alerts, and officials allocated limited firefighting resources to the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, the federal government is hard at work attempting to unify federal firefighting resources within the Department of the Interior — including from the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service — into one U.S. Wildland Fire Service by the end of the year. The effort does not yet include the federal government’s largest firefighting team in the U.S. Forest Service. Because it is housed under the Department of Agriculture, not the Department of the Interior, merging it into the U.S. Wildland Fire Service would probably require congressional approval.

A few last things in climate news

An investigation from my colleague Hayley Smith found that, as Southern California’s top air pollution authority weighed a proposal to phase out gas-powered appliances, it was inundated with at least 20,000 AI-generated emails opposing the measure. When staff reached out to a subset of people listed as submitters of the comments, only five responded, with three saying they had no knowledge of the letters. The authority ultimately scrapped the proposal.

The National Science Foundation announced last week that a supercomputer in Wyoming used by thousands of scientists to simulate and research the climate would be transferred from a federally funded research institute to an unnamed “third-party operator.” It left scientists shocked and concerned.

The Department of Energy has made new nuclear energy a priority; however, no new commercial-scale nuclear facilities are currently under construction, and it’s unclear how the U.S., which imports most of the uranium used by its current reactors, would fuel any new nuclear power plants. These sorts of technical challenges have vexed nuclear advocates who are fighting against a decades-long stagnation in nuclear development, triggered primarily by safety concerns.

This is the latest edition of Boiling Point, a newsletter about climate change and the environment in the American West. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. And listen to our Boiling Point podcast here.

For more wildfire news, follow @nohaggerty on X and @nohaggerty.bsky.social on Bluesky.