PARIS — In a hypothetical nuclear war involving Russia, China and the United States, the island of Greenland would be in the middle of Armageddon.

The strategic importance of the Arctic territory — under the flight paths that nuclear-armed missiles from China and Russia could take on their way to incinerating targets in the United States, and vice versa — is one of the reasons President Trump has cited in his disruptive campaign to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark, alarming Greenlanders and longtime allies in Europe alike.

Trump has argued that U.S. ownership of Greenland is vital for his “Golden Dome” — a multibillion dollar missile defense system that he says will be operational before his term ends in 2029.

“Because of The Golden Dome, and Modern Day Weapons Systems, both Offensive and Defensive, the need to ACQUIRE is especially important,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Saturday.

That ushered in another roller-coaster week involving the semiautonomous Danish territory, where Trump again pushed for U.S. ownership before seemingly backing off, announcing Wednesday the “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security that’s unlikely to be the final word.

Here’s a closer look at Greenland’s position at a crossroads for nuclear defense.

ICBM flight paths

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, or ICBMs, that nuclear adversaries would fire at each other — if it ever came to that — tend to take the shortest direct route, on a ballistic trajectory into space and down again, from their silos or launchers to targets. The shortest flight paths from China or Russia to the United States — and the other way — would take many of them over the Arctic region.

Russian Topol-M missiles fired, for example, from the Tatishchevo silo complex southeast of Moscow would fly high over Greenland, if targeted at the U.S. ICBM force of 400 Minuteman III missiles, housed at the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and the Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.

Chinese Dong Feng-31 missiles, if fired from new silo fields that the U.S. Defense Department says have been built in China, also could overfly Greenland should they be targeted at the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

“If there is a war, much of the action will take place on that piece of ice. Think of it: those missiles would be flying right over the center,” Trump said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Pituffik Space Base

An array of farseeing early warning radars act as the Pentagon’s eyes against any missile attack. The northernmost of them is in Greenland, at the Pituffik Space Base. Pronounced “bee-doo-FEEK,” it used to be called Thule Air Base, but was renamed in 2023 using the remote location’s Greenlandic name, recognizing the Indigenous community that was forcibly displaced by the U.S. outpost’s construction in 1951.

Its location above the Arctic Circle, and roughly halfway between Washington and Moscow, enables it to peer with its radar over the Arctic region, into Russia and at potential flight paths of U.S.-targeted Chinese missiles.

“That gives the United States more time to think about what to do,” said Pavel Podvig, a Geneva-based analyst who specializes in Russia’s nuclear arsenal. “Greenland is a good location for that.”

The two-sided, solid-state AN/FPS-132 radar is designed to quickly detect and track ballistic missile launches, including from submarines, to help inform the U.S. commander in chief’s response and provide data for interceptors to try and destroy warheads.

The radar beams out for nearly 3,450 miles in a 240-degree arc and, even at its furthest range, can detect objects no larger than a small car, the U.S. Air Force says.

Expert sees holes in Trump’s arguments

Pitching the “Golden Dome” in Davos, Trump said that the U.S. needs ownership of Greenland to defend it.

“You can’t defend it on a lease,” he said.

But defense specialists struggle to comprehend that logic given that the U.S. has operated at Pituffik for decades without owning Greenland.

French nuclear defense specialist Etienne Marcuz points out that Trump has never spoken of also needing to take control of the United Kingdom — even though it, like Greenland, also plays an important role in U.S. missile defense.

An early warning radar operated by the U.K.’s Royal Air Force at Fylingdales, in northern England, serves both the U.K. and U.S governments, scanning for missiles from Russia and elsewhere and northward to the polar region. The unit’s motto is “Vigilamus” — Latin for “We are watching.”

Trump’s envisioned multilayered “Golden Dome” could include space-based sensors to detect missiles. They could reduce the U.S. need for its Greenland-based radar station, said Marcuz, a former nuclear defense worker for France’s Defense Ministry, now with the Foundation for Strategic Research think tank in Paris.

“Trump’s argument that Greenland is vital for the Golden Dome — and therefore that it has to be invaded, well, acquired — is false for several reasons,” Marcuz said.

“One of them is that there is, for example, a radar in the United Kingdom, and to my knowledge there is no question of invading the U.K. And, above all, there are new sensors that are already being tested, in the process of being deployed, which will in fact reduce Greenland’s importance.”

‘Golden Dome’ interceptors

Because of its location, Greenland could be a useful place to station “Golden Dome” interceptors to try to destroy warheads before they reach the continental U.S.

The “highly complex system can only work at its maximum potential and efficiency … if this Land is included in it,” Trump wrote in his post last weekend.

But the U.S. already has access to Greenland under a 1951 defense agreement. Before Trump ratcheted up the heat on the territory and Denmark, its owner, their governments likely would have readily accepted any American military request for an expanded footprint there, experts say. It used to have multiple bases and installations, but later abandoned them, leaving just Pituffik.

“Denmark was the most compliant ally of the United States,” Marcuz said. “Now, it’s very different. I don’t know whether authorization would be granted, but in any case, before, the answer was ‘Yes.’”

Leicester writes for the Associated Press.

Fernando Mendoza will enter the NFL Draft after leading Indiana to a 16-0 season and its first College Football Playoff national championship, he announced on social media Friday. The quarterback was awarded the Heisman Trophy and is expected to be taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first pick of the draft.

As impressive as those accomplishments were, the moment Mendoza will best be remembered by Hoosiers fans came with 9:18 to play in the title game against Miami. He took off on a designed running play from the 12-yard line, accelerated and bounced off several defenders before diving into the end zone, thrusting the ball over his head to score.

Now there’s a bobblehead to commemorate that historic moment. And there may be no one happier than Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Rawitch doesn’t get excited by any old bobblehead. He sees so much sports memorabilia that it takes something special to grace his desk.

But he’ll make room for the “Fernando Mendoza Diving Touchdown Bobblehead,” issued this week by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. Rawitch, you see, is an Indiana graduate, even though he grew up in Northridge and covered high school football games for The Times while in high school.

“In my office I only have really unique, random bobbleheads like Dave Matthews and Jack Kerouac,” he said. “And this definitely qualifies.”

Phil Sklar, CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, said Hoosiers bobbleheads are on pace to shatter records for college championship sales.

“We anticipate the Fernando Mendoza Diving Touchdown Bobblehead to be one of the most popular that we have ever offered,” he said.

Rawitch also can appreciate a timely bobblehead. The MLB Hall of Fame and Museum features an exhibit on the history of baseball bobbleheads called “Getting the Nod.”

“We have more than 1,000 in our museum collection and it’s clear how popular they are among fans as a way of commemorating big moments,” said Rawitch, who plans to purchase the one of Mendoza. “Unfortunately, the Mendoza one won’t quite fit there, but it will look great in my office!”

Mendoza described the touchdown run on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Thursday night, saying the play was designed for him to run to his left but that he saw daylight to the right and improvised.

“It’s like when you miss your exit on maps, and you’re like, ‘Oh shoot, here we go,’” he told Fallon. “But luckily it was an exit to a touchdown. I saw these huge football players in front of me and I was like a human pinball machine. I was like, boom, boom, bang, getting banged up and all of a sudden I’m in the air and I was like ‘I might as well reach for the touchdown.’”

To which Fallon replied, “Legendary!”

Mendoza spent two seasons at Cal before transferring to Indiana, where he completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards with an FBS-leading 41 touchdowns. He rushed for 276 yards and seven more scores.

If he goes to the Raiders, Mendoza would join fellow quarterbacks Cam Newton and Joe Burrow as the only players to be the No. 1 overall pick after having won a national title and the Heisman Trophy.

This town in Norfolk is the longest-established ‘Cittaslow’ in the UK and has fully embraced a slower pace of life with a focus on sustainable living and local produce and businesses

For people sick of the fast-paced frenzy of a lot of busy areas, this ‘unspoilt’ town in Norfolk could be perfect for you.

Aylsham is the oldest established ‘Cittaslow’ town in the UK, having qualified as one in November 2004. The term ‘Cittaslow’ is Italian for ‘slow city’ and is an accredited place with a population of under 50,000 people that focuses on improving the quality of life for its residents by adopting a slower, more community-focused pace of life.

The turning point for the residents of Aylsham came over 20 years ago when the loss of the town’s livestock market, followed by the opening of a supermarket and planned residential growth all became too much.

The community became desperate to change its focus and started by supporting local businesses and maintain high street shops, as well as protecting the environment, conserving local traditions and creating a people-friendly urban fabric.

Now Aylsham is a popular place to visit because of its slow movement, alongside its weekly markets, local produce and historic buildings.

One of the major features of the town is the Blickling Estate which has been the site of a medieval manor house owned by the last Anglo-Saxon King and late became home to the family of Anne Boleyn, the second queen of Henry VIII. Today, Blickling has one of the most significant libraries across the country and boasts significant and rare interior Jacobean plaster ceilings.

Away from the history of the town, Aylsham town centre boasts a traditional market square with independent shops, local food and a strong community feel. The ‘traditional, unspoilt’ market place is surrounded by 18 ^th century houses that reflect the town’s prosperity from the cloth trade from that era.

Today, the picturesque area holds markets on Mondays and Fridays and many people who visit also take in the wealth of shops, pubs and tearooms along its quaint streets. One Aylsham reviewer wrote of the town: “Aylsham is a thriving market town with good bus kink to Norwich and the coast. Lots of lovely independent shops and places to eat.”

Is there a town you think we should be shouting about? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

HAVE YOU ever watched a TV series or film and thought ‘I want to go to where they filmed this’? Well, one historic market town used in major TV productions is the ideal staycation getaway spot.

Found in Wiltshire, Corsham is widely known for its picturesque, honey-coloured houses which have led to its high street being named one of the prettiest in the UK.

According to The Telegraph, “Corsham’s High Street, a handsome run of Bath stone and bunting, hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“[F]ilm crews have flocked in: productions such as Remains of the Day, Poldark and Rivals have been made here.

“The street has many award-winning independents, from bookshops to jewellers to delis (try Woody’s for fresh salads and cheeses).”

The Telegraph added how in the spring of this year, the team at Bath’s Beckford Bottle Shop will also open Corsham House at No 13 – a wine-led bar and restaurant with accommodation upstairs.

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But there is so much more to Corsham than just its high street…

The town is set right on the edge of the Cotswolds, meaning it is the perfect base to explore the area that is capturing the hearts of so many celebrities.

In fact, famous drummer and founder of Pink Floyd, Nick Mason, lives near Corsham.

And famous faces tend to appear in the town quite often thanks to it being a popular filming spot.

In October, the town’s high street was transformed for the filming of the second series of Disney series Rivals, originally created by the late Dame Jilly Cooper.

Celebs spotted include David Tennant.

The town has featured in other productions too, including Poldark.

If you want to explore one of the spots used for the filming of Poldark, head to St Bartholomew’s Church.

Known locally as St Bart’s, the Grade-I listed church features a large churchyard, tower and spire.

And if you aren’t tempted to visit already, Corsham also has a number of very special residents….roaming peacocks.

They are long-term residents of the town, having been introduced by the Methuen family from Corsham Court in the 1920s.

They can often be seen strutting the streets and causing traffic chaos.

You can head to Corsham Court itself as well.

The historic manor is home to a number of art collections, with over 160 pieces of art on display.

The public can visit the house and gardens for £12.50 per adult or £6 per child and explore the state rooms, cabinet room, picture gallery and state bedchamber, which were all designed by Capability Brown and John Nash.

The breakfast room and library are still used by the family living at the house, so are only open for two weeks of the year.

Just a short walk from Corsham Court, you will find The Pound, Corsham’s gallery, theatre, cinema and a cafe-bar.

The Pound often hosts a number of events and workshops, and if you are there in June, make sure to visit the Blue Sky Festival which celebrates the arts.

For another historic find, head to the Corsham Almshouses which were built back in the 17th century.

They were originally houses for the poor and elderly.

When it comes to grabbing a bite to eat, you won’t be short of options in Corsham.

One top spot is The Flemish Weaver with a traditional English pub vibe that dates to the 17th century.

Inside, the pub has a cosy atmosphere and even your furry friends won’t be left out as the pub is dog friendly.

The menu has lots of choice including fish and chips with tartare sauce and garden peas for £16 or the pie of the day with mash, vegetables and gravy for £17.

And if you are thirsty, try out the pub’s very own Flemish Ale.

Alternatively, you could head to the Methuen Arms – a Georgian coaching inn that serves, breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.

It even has rooms so you can stay there too from £88 per night.

Bath is just down the road as well, around 10 miles away, which is a great city to explore if you are a Bridgerton fan.

For more spots to explore in the UK, here’s the town with one of the most beautiful streets in the UK.

Plus, five pretty English villages that will make you feel like you’re in The Holiday with cosy pubs and cottages.

The confrontation between the United States and Iran has entered a more volatile phase, marked by direct military strikes, heightened rhetoric and the steady erosion of long-standing restraints. From attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities to Tehran’s calibrated retaliation across the region, the risk of escalation has become tangible rather than theoretical. For Gulf states, whose security and economic stability are directly exposed to any US–Iran conflict, the implications are immediate. It is within this environment that Qatar’s diplomacy between Washington and Tehran should be understood: not as neutrality for its own sake, but as a calculated effort to contain risks that escalation would only magnify.

Periods of heightened tension between the United States and Iran have long carried consequences well beyond Washington and Tehran. Following a wave of protests inside Iran that, according to varying estimates, resulted in the deaths of several thousand people, rhetoric between Tehran and Washington has hardened markedly. This included President Trump’s threat to intervene on behalf of the protesters, a development that further heightened the urgency of diplomacy in the Gulf. The Gulf’s geography, concentrated energy infrastructure and interlinked security environment mean that even limited confrontation risks rapid regional spillover. Against this backdrop, Qatar’s approach toward Washington and Tehran has consistently prioritised de-escalation, mediation and the maintenance of political channels at moments when such channels appeared increasingly fragile.

Qatar has emerged as an effective and credible mediator at moments of acute tension between the United States and Iran, offering practical avenues that have helped prevent crises from escalating further. Drawing on its sustained relations with Tehran and its strategic partnership with Washington, Doha has maintained discreet and trusted channels that allow both sides to communicate when direct engagement becomes politically constrained. This positioning has enabled Qatar to facilitate de-escalatory outcomes that have saved face for both parties, reinforcing its role as a mediator that creates political space for restraint rather than confrontation.

This role was most visibly demonstrated in September 2023, when Qatar helped facilitate a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States, alongside the release of frozen Iranian funds for humanitarian purposes. The process required months of indirect negotiations, careful sequencing and political reassurance on both sides. While the agreement did not signal a broader rapprochement, it underscored an important point: even amid deep hostility, diplomacy remains possible when credible mediators are available.

For Doha, such mediation is not an end in itself. It reflects a broader conviction that the Iranian nuclear issue, and US–Iran tensions more generally, cannot be sustainably managed through coercion alone. Qatar has consistently aligned itself with the view that dialogue rather than military action offers the only viable path toward containing risks and preventing escalation. This position does not imply indifference to Iranian regional behaviour or to proliferation concerns; rather, it reflects an assessment of costs, uncertainty and unintended consequences for regional security. As such, even in the aftermath of Iran’s calibrated missile strike on the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar — a Qatari military facility hosting US forces — launched in June 2025 in response to US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, Doha moved swiftly to engage both sides and contain the crisis. Through urgent outreach and established communication channels, Qatar contributed to broader efforts that helped support a fragile ceasefire that has broadly held since, underscoring both its capacity to be effective in mediation and the trust placed in Qatari diplomacy.

A military confrontation aimed at overthrowing the Iranian regime would almost certainly generate effects that extend far beyond Iran’s borders. Internally, such a scenario risks producing state collapse, fragmentation of authority and the re-politicisation of ethnic and sectarian identities within a large and highly complex society. Externally, the spillover effects could include large-scale refugee movements toward neighbouring states, including across the Gulf, as well as severe disruptions to maritime security and energy markets. Taken together, these outcomes would pose immediate challenges to Gulf states whose own stability is closely tied to regional calm.

Recent developments in the region have already altered the strategic balance. Since the October 7 attacks and the subsequent regional confrontations, Iran’s network of allied non-state actors has come under sustained pressure. Several elements of the “axis of resistance” have been weakened militarily and politically, reducing Tehran’s ability to project influence in certain theatres. At the same time, the US attacks on Iran in June 2025 have dispelled any remaining misconception about Washington’s willingness to strike Iran directly and degrade its nuclear enrichment capacity.

From a Gulf perspective, however, further escalation offers diminishing returns. Weakening Iranian regional influence does not automatically translate into regional stability, particularly if pursued through strategies that risk state collapse. For Gulf states, the priority is not the dramatic remaking of Iran’s political system, but the avoidance of chaos that would be costly, unpredictable and difficult to contain. This assessment is not limited to Doha. In recent years, Qatar’s position has increasingly converged with those of Saudi Arabia and Oman, both of which have invested in reducing tensions with Tehran through dialogue and confidence-building measures. Their efforts to communicate the risks of military escalation to the Trump administration reflected a broader regional mood, one that favours containment and engagement over confrontation. This convergence is notable given the political differences that have historically separated Gulf capitals.

Qatar’s mediation efforts offer a pathway that helps prevent regional chaos at a moment when escalation increasingly offers diminishing returns. By keeping channels open, facilitating limited agreements and discouraging maximalist strategies, Doha seeks to reduce the likelihood of miscalculation. Such efforts rarely produce dramatic breakthroughs, and they are often invisible by design. Yet their absence would likely make escalation more probable, not less.

In an increasingly polarised regional environment, the value of de-escalation is easily overlooked. It lacks the clarity of deterrence and the euphoria of military action. Still, as Qatar’s engagement between Washington and Tehran illustrates, diplomacy, however incremental and imperfect, remains one of the few tools capable of preventing crises from spiralling into wider conflict. In a region where the costs of war are shared far beyond the battlefield, that contribution should not be dismissed lightly.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

A new defense spending bill making its way through Congress would add $240 million to the U.S. Army’s budget for the purchase of more MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones. This is despite top Army leaders having declared last year that they would stop buying “obsolete” MQ-1Cs amid continued questions about the uncrewed aircraft’s relevance, especially in future high-end fights.

The Senate Appropriations Committee released details about the latest draft Defense Appropriations Act for the 2026 Fiscal Year, which it had negotiated with its counterparts in the House of Representatives, earlier this week. The funding boost for MQ-1C contained therein is more specifically said to be for the procurement of Gray Eagle 25M variants for the Army National Guard. Prime contractor General Atomics has already been under contract to deliver examples of this version of the MQ-1C to National Guard units since 2024.

As noted, the Army had moved to halt any future purchases of MQ-1Cs last year. The service did not request any funding to buy more Gray Eagles in its proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year, though it did ask for $3.444 million for continued upgrades for its existing fleet of the drones.

“We will cancel procurement of outdated crewed attack aircraft such as the AH-64D [Apache attack helicopter], excess ground vehicles like the HMMWV [the High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee] and JLTV [Joint Light Tactical Vehicle], and obsolete UAVs [uncrewed aerial vehicles] like the Gray Eagle,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George had written in a joint letter outlining a major shakeup in modernization priorities last May. “We will also continue to cancel programs that deliver dated, late-to-need, overpriced, or difficult-to-maintain capabilities. Yesterday’s weapons will not win tomorrow’s wars.”

“Our Army must transform now to a leaner, more lethal force by infusing technology, cutting obsolete systems, and reducing overhead to defeat any adversary on an ever-changing battlefield,” that letter added.

Originally known as the Warrior, versions of the MQ-1C have been in Army service since the late 2000s. The drones are very much a product of the Global War on Terror era. The design is derived from General Atomics’ iconic MQ-1 Predator, but with features more tailored to the Army’s operational and logistical needs. It notably still has a heavy-fuel piston engine, like the Predator, despite General Atomics having separately moved to a turboprop on the MQ-9 Reaper. The Gray Eagle is also designed to operate with a smaller logistical footprint and have lower crew training requirements than the MQ-1 or MQ-9.

Army units today use Gray Eagles to perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and attack missions, both independently and as part of crewed-uncrewed teams with AH-64 Apaches. The drones each have a sensor turret under the nose with electro-optical and infrared cameras, and can carry munitions and other stores on up to four underwing pylons.

Over the years, General Atomics has worked to improve the endurance and other capabilities of the MQ-1C. The aforementioned Gray Eagle 25M is the most recent iteration of the design, and was unveiled in 2022. This latest version has an improved engine, increased onboard power, and a new flight computer offering a significant boost in processing power. General Atomics has said that the Gray Eagle 25M also brings an open-architecture systems backend to the MQ-1C family, opening new opportunities for the rapid integration of additional capabilities.

General Atomics Aeronautical – Gray Eagle 25M

Questions have been building for years now about the future relevance of MQ-1C, as well as its MQ-1 and MQ-9 cousins, especially in support of large-scale conflicts against adversaries with robust integrated air defense networks. The service careers of the Gray Eagle, as well as the Predator and Reaper, have been almost exclusively defined by operations in permissive or semi-permissive airspace. U.S. operations targeting Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen in recent years underscored the vulnerability of the MQ-9, in particular, even to opponents with relatively limited air defense capabilities.

The Army and General Atomics are not unaware of these realities, and there have been significant investments made over the past decade or so to try to ensure the relevance of the MQ-1 and MQ-9 families. Heavy emphasis has been put on air-launched loitering munitions and other uncrewed aerial systems – capabilities the U.S. military now refers collectively to as “launched effects” – as a way to both increase the capability of the Gray Eagle (and the Reaper) and help keep those drones further away from threats.

General Atomics also disclosed last year that the MQ-1C had demonstrated its ability to shoot down other drones using millimeter-wave radar-guided AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles, highlighting another potential role for the drones going forward.

General Atomics has also developed a self-protection pod that features threat warning sensors and a launcher for decoy flares that the MQ-1C and MQ-9 can carry. The Army had been working on a more capable podded electronic warfare system for the Gray Eagle called Multi-Function Electronic Warfare-Air Large (MFEW-AL), but indicated last year that it was backing away from that program.

Launched effects and new podded capabilities do still look key to the future of the MQ-1C in Army service.

“So, when we train on the West Coast, we’ll use an MQ-1 to lead the half [a group of helicopters] into the objective,” Col. Stephen Smith, head of the Army’s elite160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Night Stalkers, said last year during a talk about how his unit is preparing for future operations in more contested airspace.

“We can hang different capabilities on that platform [the MQ-1C]. So that platform could look like a Black Hawk. It could look like a [MH-]47. It could look like a Little Bird,” Smith added. “So we’re using that as a decoy, [and there are] potentially other capabilities on [the] side of that aircraft.”

Night Stalker UAS Operations

Overall, the more central question has increasingly been how long the MQ-1C’s career with the Army will continue. Discussions in Ukraine about buying Gray Eagles in the months following Russia’s all-out invasion in 2022 highlight that there is still debate about the utility of armed drones in this general category in higher-end conflicts. At that time, Ukrainian forces were making heavy use of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones, which offer a broadly similar array of capabilities to the MQ-1C. Growing air defense threats had largely pushed Ukraine’s TB2s out of the equation as the conflict dragged on, but they notably returned to use on a limited level last year.

The Army does still have a need for assets that can loiter for long periods of time and operate from austere areas, and ones that are not exquisite, particularly when operating across the broad expanses of the Pacific. Drones like the Gray Eagle could play useful supporting roles in areas further away from the front lines, such as providing more localized defense and situational awareness around island outposts.

Much about the Army’s vision for its future aviation capabilities, crewed and uncrewed, is still in flux. Even before the broader shakeup in modernization priorities last year, the service had moved to make major changes to its future aviation plans, heavily influenced by an ever-expanding threat ecosystem. The Army notably cancelled its Future Attack Recon Aircraft (FARA) high-speed helicopter program in 2024. The service also halted plans for a direct replacement for the now-retired RQ-7 Shadow drone last year.

Just last month, the Army issued a new contracting “challenge” to industry, calling for prospective short or vertical takeoff and landing (STOL/VTOL) capable drones to take over at least a portion of the roles currently being performed by Gray Eagles. TWZ regularly highlights the benefits of reduced runway dependence or complete runway independence in the context of expeditionary and distributed operations across an array of far-flung locales in a future major conflict. Not having to rely on established traditional runways opens the door to new operational possibilities and helps create targeting dilemmas for opponents that reduce vulnerability to friendly forces.

General Atomics has been working on a short-takeoff and landing-capable drone based in part on the MQ-1C, now referred to as Gray Eagle STOL, in recent years. There has already been extensive flight testing of a demonstrator, dubbed Mojave, from sites on land and ships at sea. Other companies in the United States are also working on STOL/VTOL-capable uncrewed aircraft designs that could be relevant to the Army’s future needs.

GA-ASI Mojave STOL UAS Completes First Dirt Operations

In the meantime, Congress looks set to keep the Army ordering more MQ-1Cs for at least a little while longer.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

MINNEAPOLIS — A vast network of labor unions, progressive organizations and clergy has been urging Minnesotans to stay away from work, school and stores Friday to protest against immigration enforcement in the state.

Minneapolis and St. Paul have seen daily protests since Renee Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Jan. 7. Federal law enforcement officers have surged in the Twin Cities for weeks and have repeatedly squared off with community members and activists who track their movements.

“We really, really want ICE to leave Minnesota, and they’re not going to leave Minnesota unless there’s a ton of pressure on them,” said Kate Havelin of Indivisible Twin Cities, one of the more than 100 groups that is mobilizing. “They shouldn’t be roaming any streets in our country just the way they are now.”

On Thursday, a prominent civil rights attorney and at least two other people were arrested for their involvement in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a Sunday service at a church in St. Paul. They remained in federal custody Friday morning.

Vice President JD Vance meanwhile visited Minneapolis to meet with ICE officials and address reporters. He encouraged protesters to remain peaceful and urged city and state officials to cooperate with federal forces to ease the fraught situation in Minneapolis.

Organizers hope Friday’s mobilization will be the largest coordinated protest action to date, with a march in downtown Minneapolis planned for Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service warned of dangerously cold weather, and early Friday, the temperature in Minneapolis was minus 21 with a wind chill of minus 40.

Havelin compared the presence of immigration enforcement to the winter weather warnings.

“Minnesotans understand that when we’re in a snow emergency … we all have to respond and it makes us do things differently,” she said. “And what’s happening with ICE in our community, in our state, means that we can’t respond as business as usual.”

More than a hundred small businesses in the Twin Cities, largely coffee shops and restaurants, said they would close in solidarity or donate part of their profits, organizers said.

Somali businesses especially have lost sales during the enforcement surge as workers and customers, fearing detention, stay at home.

Some businesses are choosing to close in solidarity with the protesters rather than the “unscheduled interruption” of having agents apprehend staff, said Luis Argueta of Unidos MN, a civil rights group.

Many schools were planning to close Friday, but cited different reasons. The University of Minnesota and the St. Paul public school district said there would be no in-person classes because of the extreme cold. Minneapolis Public Schools were scheduled to be closed “for a teacher record keeping day.”

Clergy planned to join the march as well as hold prayer services and fasting, according to a delegation of representatives of faith traditions including Buddhist, Jewish, Lutheran and Muslim.

Bishop Dwayne Royster, leader of the progressive organization Faith in Action, arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday from Washington, D.C.

“We want ICE out of Minnesota,” he said. “We want them out of all the cities around the country where they’re exercising extreme overreach.”

Royster said at least 50 of his network’s faith-based organizers were joining the protest. About 10 were traveling from Los Angeles while others from the same group planned a solidarity rally in California, said one of the organizers there.

“It was a very harrowing experience,” said the Rev. Jennifer Gutierrez of the large immigration enforcement operation in Los Angeles last year. “We believe God is on the side of migrants.”

Dell’Orto writes for the Associated Press. AP journalists Jack Brook and Sarah Raza in Minneapolis, and Tiffany Stanley in Washington contributed to this report.

Arsenal are having an excellent season and are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, have won all seven of their Champions League, games, and hold a 3-2 first-leg lead over Chelsea in their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.

The Gunners are pushing for honours this season and signed a number of players, including midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Eze and striker Viktor Gyokeres as “win-now” signings.

That has meant manager Mikel Arteta has looked at using players with experience to get results, with Odegaard and Zubimendi preferred in midfield, while the Spaniard has favoured Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie at left-back this season.

Hincapie has experience of winning a league title after being part of the Bayer Leverkusen side that won the Bundesliga in 2023-24.

That has also made things difficult for Nwaneri’s fellow academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The 19-year-old full-back also took his chance during Arsenal‘s injury crisis last season, making 42 appearances in all competitions, including playing in both games of the impressive Champions League quarter-final win over Real Madrid.

Lewis-Skelly’s performances were so good he was given an England debut by Thomas Tuchel, scoring against Albania in a 2-0 win and looked a strong contender to be the Three Lions’ starting left-back at the World Cup.

But he has started in just nine of his 23 appearances this season, including once in the Premier League, and dropped out of the England squad.

It was always going to be hard for young players to break through from the academy into the first team at a club like Arsenal and stay there.

And after two excellent breakthrough seasons for Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, it looks as though the development path will be slightly different to what the pair imagined at the start of the season.

FAMILIES will be thrilled to hear that an enormous wooden playground is set to open this summer.

Tucked away in Suffolk, the play area will be set within the four-acre grounds of Helmingham Estate in Stowmarket.

The attraction will be called Guildenacre and will be suitable for children of all ages who can immerse themselves in a magical adventure.

There will be four themed areas around the playground – the first will be Flint’s Hollow, home to Flint the Badger.

You’ll be able to tell where it is as it has badger stripes covering the top of the turrets.

Flint’s Hollow will have tunnels, burrows and two-storey lookout spots.

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Once the kids get up there, they’ll be able to look across the grounds before heading back down on the twisty slide.

Up amongst the trees is Eira the Owl’s Canopy Keep with wooden walkways and rope ladders.

There’s a stargazing deck and even talking tubes where children can send messages to their playmates.

The biggest part of the playground is Elderglade which is looked over by Atlas the Stag.

Here there are climbing walls, tunnels, ladders, multi-level walkways, bridges and several impressive slides to race down.

The Ember Den is the fourth area and is the ideal place for older children with an exciting zip line and racing slide.

On the ground there are play trails and balance beams too.

Each area of the playground is linked through bark pathways – so anyone with pushchairs or wheelchairs can easily access it.

There’s also a den building zone for children to build their own hideout.

Adults won’t have to go far for drinks and snacks either as there will also be a place to pick these up within the wood – at the Grade II listed Wades Barn.

The new adventure playground also includes a separate car park and the planned opening is for summer 2026.

Helmingham Hall itself is a moated 16th century manor house with a 400-acre deer park.

It has Grade I listed gardens surrounding the house. It also has a café and shops in the Coach House Courtyard.

Helmingham Hall and Gardens is currently closed for the season and will open May 3, 2026.

Plus, one of England’s best playgrounds to reopen this summer after major £3million renewal.

And here’s London’s best family attraction that ‘feels like it was created for kids’ to get huge new nature playground.

Jan. 23 (UPI) — Mexican influencer Nicole Pardo Molina, known online as “La Nicholette,” was kidnapped in broad daylight Tuesday in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, one of the regions most affected by violence linked to organized crime.

The abduction occurred in the afternoon as the content creator exited her vehicle and was intercepted by several armed men who forced her into another car, according to authorities and local media.

The attack was captured by the security camera of her Tesla Cybertruck. Footage that quickly spread on social media shows a masked man carrying a long gun blocking her path while another individual forces the woman into a white sedan.

Following the report, the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office said it opened an investigation and activated search protocols for a disappearance under violent circumstances. In an official statement, prosecutors warned that “the victim’s physical integrity could be at risk.”

Mexican Army personnel were deployed to the area, though authorities have not reported any arrests or released official information on the influencer’s whereabouts.

Sinaloa is widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most violent states and has long been identified as a stronghold of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the country’s most powerful criminal groups. The state records high levels of homicides, kidnappings and other high-impact crimes amid internal disputes and ongoing federal security operations.

La Nicholette, 25, has more than 160,000 followers on Instagram and over 100,000 on TikTok, where she shares lifestyle content focused on business ventures and luxury vehicles. She is also active on Twitch, YouTube, Snapchat and OnlyFans.

According to reports, the influencer has ties to Phoenix, where she spends part of the year. Her public profile expanded in 2023 following the release of the corrido “La Muchacha del Salado,” performed by Grupo Arriesgado. Corridos are a traditional Mexican music genre that narrates social stories and, in recent years, has been used to portray figures linked to the drug trade.

The case has sparked concern in both Mexico and the United States, where followers and social media users are calling for progress in the investigation amid persistent violence in the country’s northwest.

Travellers heading to Spain have been warned of severe disruption

Holidaymakers travelling to Spain have been cautioned that they could face ‘severe disruption’. The alert mirrors guidance released by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Monday.

It follows a high-speed train crash on Sunday evening near Adamuz in the Córdoba province. At least 43 people died in the incident, with a further 159 people injured after two trains collided and derailed.

At the time, the FCDO warned of ‘severe disruption’. In an updated statement on its travel guidance page, it states: “On 18 January, two high‐speed trains collided near Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba in Andalusia, southern Spain.

“High‐speed rail services between Madrid and Andalusia remain severely disrupted. Renfe, the national railway operator, has introduced a replacement transport plan combining train and bus services. Additional bus and rail services operate on some routes.”

READ MORE: Foreign Office issues urgent Spain travel alert – ‘significant disruption’READ MORE: Couple jet off to Spain for eight-hour New Year’s Eve day trip – and make it home by midnight

You should:

• check the latest information with your train operator before you travel
• allow extra time for your journey
• follow local authority advice

If you need assistance or information about affected passengers, you can contact:

• ADIF: (+34) 900 10 10 20 @Adif_es
• IRYO: (+34) 900 00 14 02 @iryo_eu
• Emergency services (112 EMA): From inside Andalusia: 061; from outside Andalusia: (+34) 953 00 11 49

“If you are a British national and you or a family member have been affected by this accident and require consular support, call the nearest British Embassy or Consulate on 0034 91 714 6300.”

It is understood a high-speed train operated by Iryo travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed before colliding with another train. The second train, which was run by state rail operator Renfe, also derailed and plunged down an embankment, authorities confirmed.

Bianca Birleanu, 23, who was journeying to Huelva, revealed to newspaper El Pais: “We felt the first jolt and, in a fraction of a second, another very strong one.

“The table in front of our seat fell on top of us, the lights went out, and the carriage roof collapsed.”

Drone footage shows ice building along the shores of Lake Michigan as a powerful winter storm driven by a stretched polar vortex threatens more than 160 million people across the US, bringing heavy snow, freezing rain and dangerous Arctic cold.

Music’s biggest night is just around the corner.

The Recording Academy next weekend will salute this season’s standout music at the 68th Grammy Awards. Last year’s hybrid awards show-fundraiser had its rocky moments but nonetheless raised $9 million for L.A. wildfire relief efforts.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s ceremony, from how to watch to which artists to keep tabs on.

How can I watch?

The Grammys return to downtown L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 1. The awards show begins at 5 p.m., broadcasting live on CBS and streaming live (premium subscribers only) and available on demand on Paramount+. The premiere ceremony, which isn’t televised, begins at 12:30 p.m.

Who is performing?

The Recording Academy on Tuesday announced that two-time Grammy winner Sabrina Carpenter will perform on awards night. This year, Carpenter is nominated for six Grammy Awards, including album (“Man’s Best Friend”), and record and song (“Manchild”) of the year.

The ceremony for the second consecutive year has also invited all eight best new artist nominees to take the Grammys stage. This year’s contenders are Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean, Katseye, the Marías, Addison Rae, Sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young.

The best new artist race is among the 2026 Grammys’ tightest, but Dean’s prospects are rosier after her breakout song “Man I Need” topped Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart in December. If the British artist — or her competitors Rae or Young — takes home gold, it will mark the ninth time in a row that the honor has gone to a solo female artist.

Who is hosting?

Comedian Trevor Noah will host the ceremony for the sixth and final time, capping off a “generational run” with the Grammys.

“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Trevor Noah back to host the Grammys for his sixth, and sadly, final time,” the show’s executive producer Ben Winston said in a statement earlier this month.

Winston called Noah “the most phenomenal host”: “smart, so funny, and such a true fan of the artists and music.”

Noah is up for a Grammy Award this year for his audio narration of his children’s book “Into the Uncut Grass.”

Who are the main contenders?

L.A.’s own Kendrick Lamar led this year’s nominations with nine, including album (“GNX”) and record (“Luther”) of the year. Trailing just behind were Lady Gaga and producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff, with seven nominations each.

What’s new this year?

While not technically new, the Grammy for album cover will be presented this year for the first time since 1973.

“In today’s digital world, album covers are arguably more impactful than ever,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told Grammy.com in June. “Chances are, there’s an iconic cover that’s instantly recognizable to you, even if you never owned the physical album. Their cultural significance is undeniable.”

Nominees in the resurrected category are Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia,” Djo’s “The Crux,” Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Perfume Genius’ “Glory” and Wet Leg’s “Moisturizer.”

The country album category has also been split into two groups this year: traditional country and contemporary country.

Additionally, Latin Grammy voting members were invited for the first time to join the Recording Academy as part of its 2025 class.

Times staff writer Cerys Davies contributed to this report.

NUUK, Greenland — One year ago, days before Donald Trump reclaimed power, the head of Denmark’s People’s Party took a trip to Mar-a-Lago. Morten Messerschmidt thought he and Trump shared a common view on the perils of European integration. Together, he told local media at the time, they could make the West great again.

In Europe, just as in the United States, Messerschmidt thought it was “nationale suverænitet” — national sovereignty — that had over centuries given countries large and small the tools to build their culture, traditions and institutions. Those were the values that conservative movements across the European continent are fighting to protect.

But Messerschmidt now finds himself on the defensive. The far-right politician is suddenly distancing himself from an American president who, off and on over the last year, has made aggressive plays to annex Greenland, targeting Danish borders that have existed for roughly 300 years.

Trump pulled back from military threats against the island this week. “It’s total access — there’s no end,” he said in an interview on Thursday with Fox Business. Asked whether he still intended on acquiring the island, Trump replied, “It’s possible. Anything is possible.”

Despite Trump’s fixation on Greenland since his first term, he declined to meet with Messerschmidt at Mar-a-Lago last January. Instead, the Danish politician found himself discussing the matter with Marla Maples, the president’s ex-wife.

“Portraying me as someone who serves a cause other than Denmark, and who would sympathize with threats to our kingdom, is unhealthy,” Messerschmidt wrote on Facebook this weekend. “It is slander.”

The Danish People’s Party is one of many far-right groups across Europe, which aligned with Trump’s MAGA movement in their fervent opposition to immigration and related issues, suddenly in rebellion against an administration it once thought of as an ideological ally.

The president’s moves are now compelling them to reconcile their alliance with Trump with a core tenet on the political right, that nationalism is largely defined by people and place over historic stretches of time — or as Trump often said on the campaign trail, “without a border, you don’t have a country.”

“Donald Trump has violated a fundamental campaign promise — namely, not to interfere in other countries,” Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany Party, or AfD, said in Berlin. Her colleague added: “It is clear that Wild West methods must be rejected.”

The rupture could jeopardize the Trump administration’s own stated goals for a future Europe that is more conservative and aligned with the Republican Party — a plan that relied on boosting the very same parties now questioning their ties to the president.

In its national security strategy, published in November, the White House said it would “cultivate resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations,” hoping to restore “Europe’s civilizational self-confidence and Western identity.”

And it is not clear whether the president’s decision to walk back his most aggressive threats is enough to contain the diplomatic damage. “The process of getting to this agreement has clearly damaged trust amongst allies,” Rishi Sunak, former prime minister of the United Kingdom and leader of its Conservative Party, told Bloomberg on Thursday.

Trump’s pressure campaign urging Ukraine to accept borders redrawn by a revanchist Russia had already strained relations between his inner circle and Europe’s far-right movements. But several prominent right-wing leaders say his aggressive posture toward Greenland amounted to a bridge too far.

On Wednesday in Switzerland, addressing growing concerns over the plan, Trump still left threats lingering in the air, warning European leaders that he would “remember” if they blocked a U.S. takeover.

“Friends can disagree in private, and that’s fine — that’s part of life, part of politics,” Nigel Farage, leader of the far-right Reform UK party in Britain, told House Speaker Mike Johnson in London earlier this week. “But to have a U.S. president threatening tariffs unless we agree that he can take over Greenland by some means, without it seeming to even get the consent of the people of Greenland — I mean, this is a very hostile act.”

In France, the head of Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, National Rally, said the United States had presented Europe “with a choice: Accept dependency disguised as partnership or act as sovereign powers capable of defending our interests.”

With overseas territories across the Pacific, Caribbean and Indian oceans, France has the second-largest maritime exclusive economic zone in the world after the United States. If Trump can seize Greenland by force, what is stopping him, or any other great power, from conquering France’s islands?

“When a U.S. president threatens a European territory while using trade pressure, it is not dialogue — it is coercion. And our credibility is at stake,” said the party’s young leader, Jordan Bardella.

“Greenland has become a strategic pivot in a world returning to imperial logic,” he added. “Yielding today would set a dangerous precedent.”

From Broderick Turner: Lakers coach JJ Redick understands there’s a “human element” to players looking for more minutes so they can score more points. He knows future contracts are important and his team isn’t immune to focusing on that.

The Lakers have five players on the final seasons their contracts and three more that have player options, making it eight potential free agents for the Lakers this offseason.

Redick broached this subject of contracts after the Lakers lost 112-104 to the Clippers on Thursday night at Intuit Dome for their sixth loss in nine games.

“Guys are worried about their futures,” Redick said. “And that’s what happens when you got a team full of free agents and player-options. I think it’s just natural that you’re gonna worry about the offense … and I’ve been there. (It gets) in your head a little bit: ‘Played five minutes (and) haven’t got a shot yet.’ And that’s a human thing. It’s not anybody’s fault.”

LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes are all in the final year of their contracts. Austin Reaves has a player-option for next season, but he’s going to see what he can earn in free agency. The Lakers can offer him the most — up to five years and $241 million.

DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart also have player-options.

When a team is in a tailspin — much like the Lakers, who’ve lost 10 of their last 17 — playing time and points can become major issues for players looking for new contracts.

Continue reading here

Lakers-Clippers box score

NBA standings

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: LeBron James downplayed any suggestion of a rift between him and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss on Thursday following an ESPN report that detailed how the now-minority owner of the team had started to turn on the Lakers superstar.

“Quite frankly, I don’t really get involved in that, or the reports, or whatever the case may be,” James said after the Lakers lost 112-104 to the Clippers at Intuit Dome.

The report detailed how years of in-fighting between the Buss siblings led to the family selling a majority stake of the team to Dodgers owner Mark Walter last year. As the franchise struggled to recapture the magic established under Jerry Buss, Jeanie had grown distant and resentful, the report said, that James didn’t take accountability for involvement with the decision to acquire Russell Westbrook in 2021. She reportedly floated the possibility of trading James to the Clippers in 2022 and didn’t believe James was grateful when the Lakers drafted Bronny James in 2024.

Continue reading here

Rams have intercepted plans

From Gary Klein: Kobie Turner makes his living as a pass rusher and run defender for the Rams, not a defensive back.

But the last time the Rams played the Seattle Seahawks, the third-year defensive lineman snatched a Sam Darnold pass near the goal line for his first career interception.

“It was like time almost stopped,” Turner recalled Thursday. “It was a perfect spiral. It was beautiful.”

Turner’s turnover was one of seven the Rams forced in two games this season against the Seahawks, including six interceptions.

Of the Rams’ 16 interceptions this season, more than a third came against the Seahawks.

The Rams aim to continue their torrent of takeaways against the Seahawks on Sunday when they play in the NFC championship game at Lumen Field.

Continue reading here

NFL playoffs schedule

All times Pacific
Conference championships
Sunday

AFC
Noon
No. 2 New England at No. 1 Denver (CBS, Paramount+)

NFC
3:30 p.m.
No. 5 Rams at No. 1 Seattle (FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes)

Super Bowl

Sunday, Feb. 8, 3:30 p.m., NBC, Peacock

Where will Kyle Tucker fit in batting order?

From Ed Guzman: The Dodgers made the signing of free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker official Wednesday, capped off with an introductory news conference at Dodger Stadium.

Tucker’s four-year, $240-million deal included a $64-million signing bonus, and the $60-million average annual value is the second-highest in baseball history, without factoring in deferred money, behind Shohei Ohtani’s $70 million in his 10-year deal with the Dodgers.

Despite lucrative offers from the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, Tucker went with the two-time defending World Series champions, who made room on their 40-man roster by designating outfielder Michael Siani for assignment.

“It’s a big decision, so you still got to weigh out everything,” Tucker told reporters, “but this team and this city and the fan base kind of makes it a little bit easier to make some decisions. That is just ultimately what we wanted to do, is come here and be part of that and try to win another World Series.”

With Tucker firmly in place, here are three takeaways from Wednesday:

Continue reading here

USC women lose to Michigan State

Kennedy Blair scored 21 points, and the No. 13 Michigan State women held off USC’s late surge for a 74-68 victory on Thursday night.

Michigan State opened the fourth quarter on a 13-5 run to stretch its lead to 66-54 with 5:15 remaining. Jazzy Davidson scored the last five points in a 10-0 run to help pull USC to 66-64 with 4:10 left before the Spartans sealed it from the free-throw line.

Kara Dunn scored 23 points and Davidson added 21 to lead USC (11-8 overall, 3-5 in the Big Ten). Kennedy Smith scored 15 points.

Continue reading here

USC box score

Big Ten standings

Darcy Kuemper cleared to return

Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, one of three netminders on Canada’s upcoming Olympic hockey roster, has been cleared to return after suffering a neck injury against the New York Rangers on Tuesday.

Kuemper said after returning to practice Thursday that he lost feeling in his arm when Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski ran into him in the first period of the game. He said he tried to shake it off, but had to be replaced by Anton Forsberg.

“Yeah, kind of got hit on the side of my neck, and it pinched my neck and pinched the nerves, and my arm went dead,” Kuemper said. “So, yeah, wasn’t allowed to come back in until we did some further testing yesterday.”

Continue reading here

This day in sports history

1944 — The Detroit Red Wings defeat the New York Rangers 15-0 to set an NHL record for consecutive goals.

1959 — In the NBA All-Star game in Detroit, St. Louis’ Bob Pettit and Elgin Baylor of Minneapolis become the first co-winners of the MVP award, leading the West to a 124-108 victory.

1979 — Willie Mays is named on 409 of 432 ballots and elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

1980 — George Gervin of San Antonio scores 55 points in a 144-130 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

1987 — Hana Mandlikova upsets Martina Navratilova 7-5, 7-6 to win the Australian Open.

1988 — Steffi Graf wins the Australian Open with a 6-1, 7-6 victory over Chris Evert.

1993 — Mike Gartner of the New York Rangers sets an NHL record when he reaches 30 goals for the 14th consecutive season. Gartner, with three goals in the Rangers’ 8-3 victory over the Kings, surpasses Phil Esposito, Bobby Hull and Wayne Gretzky.

2001 — Sam Cassell scores 22 points and the Bucks hit a franchise record 14 three-pointers to beat the Knicks 105-91 and snap New York’s NBA-record 33-game streak of holding opponents to under 100 points.

2005 — Jennifer Rodriguez becomes the first American woman in nine years to win the World Sprint Speedskating Championship.

2008 — Baylor, which waited 39 years to get back into the Top 25, plays five overtimes in its first win as a ranked team. Curtis Jerrells scores a career-high 36 points, including 11 in the fifth overtime to lead No. 25 Baylor to a 116-110 win over No. 18 Texas A&M.

2010 — Lindsey Vonn makes it five wins in five downhills this season. Her 30th World Cup victory ties her with Croatia’s Janica Kostelic for eighth place on the career list and nearly halfway to Austrian leader Annemarie Moser-Proell’s 62 wins.

2011 — Francesca Schiavone wins the longest women’s match in Grand Slam history — a 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova that takes 4 hours, 44 minutes at the Australian Open. Schiavone saves six match points, then converts on her third match point in the longest women’s match at a major in terms of time in the Open era.

2011 — Aaron Rodgers runs for a touchdown and makes a saving tackle, B.J. Raji returns an interception for a score and Sam Shields has two interceptions to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 21-14 win over the Chicago Bears in the NFC championship game. The Packers, with road wins in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago, become the first NFC No. 6 seed to advance to the Super Bowl.

2011 — The Pittsburgh Steelers advance to their third Super Bowl in six years with a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets.

2012 — Skylar Diggins matches a season high with 27 points and No. 2 Notre Dame routs No. 7 Tennessee 72-44, holding the Lady Vols to their lowest scoring output in modern school history.

2015 — Klay Thompson sets an NBA record for the most points in a quarter, a 37-point third period that powers the Golden State Warriors to a 126-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Thompson makes all 13 shots and finishes with a career-high 52 points.

2022 — Buffalo wide receiver Gabriel Davis scores an NFL playoff record four TDs in the Bills’ epic 42-36 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in their divisional-round playoff at Arrowhead Stadium.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Jan. 23 (UPI) — Tri-lateral talks on ending the Ukraine war between Russia, Ukraine and the United States were due to get underway in Abu Dhabi on Friday evening, the first time all three countries have been at the same table since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

The meeting follows four hours of late-night talks between U.S. negotiators, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow that the Kremlin said had been “substantive, constructive and very frank.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has dispatched a negotiating team to Abu Dhabi for the meeting, which he said would last for two days, described the talks as “a step — hopefully towards ending the war.”

Both sides cautioned that there could be no durable peace until there was a resolution to thorny territorial issues, notably the Donbas, where Russia is demanding Ukraine relinquish the remaining land it still controls — about 25%.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the Russian side had made it clear to Witkoff that no long-term solution should be expected to be achieved in the absence of a territory deal based on the “formula” agreed at the U.S.-Russia summit in Anchorage in August.

U.S. President Donald Trump called the summit to get a cease-fire but ended up with a loose agreement to end the war through Ukraine giving up territory in exchange for Russia agreeing to accept NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine — putting the onus on Kyiv.

Ushakov said Russia was genuine in its desire to resolve the conflict through “political and diplomatic means” but until then it fully intended to continue to pursue the goals of its “special military operation” on the battlefield, where it was winning.

Speaking in Davos on Thursday, Zelensky also said the whole process hinged on land.

“It’s all about the land. This is the issue which is not solved yet. The Russians have to be ready for compromises, not only Ukraine,” Zelensky said after meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, where he claimed post-war security guarantees had been finalized.

He said Friday’s Russia-Ukraine-U.S. talks might produce “variants” on how to solve the issue, referencing the Russian demand for Kyiv to pull back its troops from parts of its Donetsk and Luhansk provinces (the Donbas), on one side, and a U.S. proposal for those areas to form a demilitarized “economic” zone in exchange for security guarantees for Ukraine.

With Russia ruling out a cease-fire in the interim, an end to the fighting could be some way off.

Ukraine’s constitution requires that any deal of such consequence as ceding land must be ratified by Ukrainian lawmakers, and possibly the Ukrainian people in a referendum, while a security guarantee involving the United States would have to be authorized by Congress.

Everton manager David Moyes says it is a “big blow” that on-loan midfielder Jack Grealish has a stress fracture in his foot.

Moyes said he could not give a timescale for Grealish’s recovery.

The 30-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City, has made 22 appearances in all competitions for Everton this season.

He has scored two goals and provided six assists.

Grealish played the full 90 minutes as Everton beat former club Aston Villa 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.

More to follow.

IN a heartwarming update, Jana Duggar has welcomed her first child with husband, Stephen Wissmann. 

The couple, known for their appearances on the reality TV series, 19 Kids and Counting, announced the arrival of their baby boy on Instagram.

They have affectionately named him Archie Gerald Wissman. 

Jana and Stephen shared their joyous news on social media, expressing their excitement and gratitude. 

In the post, photographed by Justin Sharp, the new mom wrote, “We took some time to settle into our new rhythm before sharing this sweet news. Archie Gerald Wissmann arrived on December 30, 2025, and our hearts have been completely changed. We’re soaking in these early days, full of love, wonder, and so much gratitude.“

Fans chimed in to congratulate the reality TV couple.

“Finally you get your own happy ever after,” one fan wrote.

“I have NEVER been more happy for such a deserving soul,” another fan wrote. “Congratulations to each of you. That little boy is going to be so loved.”

“Ahhh we love Archie so much already and can’t wait to meet him!!” another fan wrote.

Jana is a prominent figure from 19 Kids and Counting, and she often posts updates with her husband Stephen Wissmann.

In August 2025, they announced the pregnancy, marking a significant and joyous milestone in their lives.

In a joint post on Instagram, they conveyed their enthusiasm, saying, “We are so excited, January 2026 is going to come with a little bundle of joy joining our family! We’re counting down the days and eagerly looking forward to this thrilling new chapter in our lives! Thanks to my sister-in-law @firstlens_photography for our beautiful photos!“

The couple shared maternity photos that captured intimate moments of Jana and Stephen as they embraced her baby bump and shared affectionate kisses.

In that post, one fan stated, “Jana is THE Duggar that I have been praying for the most. I wanted her to find happiness and have her own family. I’m so glad it is happening!”

Jana and Stephen opted for a private approach to their relationship, becoming engaged in June 2024 and celebrating their union in a ceremony in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, surrounded by family and close friends. 

The duo has continuously shared glimpses of their journey to parenthood, celebrating milestones along the way, from gender reveals to nursery preparations.

Family has always been a significant aspect of the Duggar household, with Jana often seen alongside her siblings and parents throughout her life. 

The arrival of baby Archie marks another milestone for Jana and Stephen. 

Followers eagerly await more updates as they navigate the beautiful journey of parenthood.

FOR MANY, heading to Japan is a dream come true with the vibrant cities of Tokyo and Kyoto – but from this year, visiting will become more expensive.

Across 2026, several new fees are being introduced in Japan that could see your holiday to the Asian country suddenly become a lot more expensive.

So if you are planning a trip to Japan, you might want to budget a bit extra…

Kyoto hotel tax

From March, anyone visiting Kyoto will have to pay Japan‘s highest-ever hotel tax.

The new system will be tiered based on the prices of rooms, with the fee ranging from ¥200 (93p) per night, to as much as ¥10,000 (£46.73) per night.

The city’s authorities have introduced the tax as a way for tourists ‘sharing the cost’ of tourism.

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The money collected from the new fee is set to go to transport upgrades, campaigns and a new express bus service that will connect the city centre to Higashiyama’s temple district.

It is estimated that the tax will generate around ¥12.6 billion (about £58.8million) each year, which is around double what the city’s previous tax raised each year.

Departure tax

Known as the departure tax, Japan will raise the fee for travellers leaving the country.

The fee will rise from ¥1,000 (£4.67) per person to ¥3,000 (£14.01) in July 2026.

The departure tax was originally introduced back in 2019 and applies to anyone who is leaving Japan.

The fee isn’t paid separately but is usually applied to either a flight ticket or ferry ticket.

However, if you depart within 24 hours of arriving – so let’s say you have a flight stopover – you will not be charged the fee.

The fee will apply to all travellers aged two or older.

Visa fees

Visa fees could also rise under Japan’s 2026 budget.

The plans suggest there could be a ¥15,000 (£70.07) processing fee for a single-entry visa.

This would cost five times more than the current fee, which sits around ¥3,000 (£14.01).

For multiple-entry visas, the fee could even rise to ¥30,000 (£140.13).

2028 introductions

Japan is also looking at introducing even more fees in the future.

By 2028, the country hopes to roll out the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA) for travellers from visa-free countries.

If this were introduced, it would mean that citizens from 71 countries and regions that currently have visa-exempt short-stays in Japan, would need to get a pre-authorisation to travel.

And this includes Brits.

It would, in practice, be similar to America’s ESTA.

The fee for this could be between ¥2,000 (£9.34) and ¥3,000 (£14.01) per person.

Existing fees

There are a number of fees already in place across Japan including Mount Fuji’s ¥4,000 (£18.70) entry fee which was introduced last summer to limit the issues of overtourism.

The fee applies to all four main trails of Mount Fuji.

In other tourist fee news, the cost of holidays is set to rise at home AND abroad thanks to pricier flights and new tourist tax rules.

Plus, new tourist tax to introduce £76 entry fee at 11 National Parks – while locals have free entry days.

More than 84 million passengers travel through London’s Heathrow Airport every year, making it the busiest hub in Europe

Heathrow Airport has made a major update to rules affecting every passenger. More than 84 million people use the London airport every year, making it the busiest hub in Europe.

It announced it has completed the roll-out of its new high-tech scanners which means major changes to what can be taken through security in hand luggage. The new equipment now allows electronics such as laptops to be left in luggage while clear plastic bags for liquids no longer have to be used.But a new key change is that liquids no longer have to be no more than 100 ml without clear plastic bags being used. Passengers can now carry up to 2 litres of liquids in their luggage.

Heathrow is the latest airport to make the change following the introduction of the high-tech scanners. Gatwick, Edinburgh and Birmingham airports have already upgraded and rolled out the 2-litre limit.

Passengers using most UK airports will still have to follow the rule which means they can keep liquid containers of up to 100ml in their luggage, without having to remove them and use clear plastic bags. Bristol and Belfast airports have also raised their liquid limits to two litres.

Heathrow Airport explains the change on its website saying: “Liquids in containers up to two litres can remain in cabin bags and be taken through security in all terminals (T2, T3, T4 and T5). Remember refillable metal or double walled containers must be emptied but these can be refilled once through security.”

It adds that the following liquids are allowed in the aircraft cabin:

• Baby food or baby milk: breast milk can be carried in the cabin; when it is stored in a clear, transparent container or commercially available storage bag. Metal or double walled containers are not permitted.
• The volume of each container / bag should not exceed 2 litres. Breast milk should be in a liquid format and not frozen. When travelling without an infant, breast milk can be carried in quantities up to 2 litres. This does not apply to formula milk or other baby juice / food. Please check with your airline as individual cabin / hand baggage allowance can vary.
• You may also wish to take advantage of our Reserve & Collect Service for collection by calling us on 0800 678 5324 or online via www.heathrow.com/shopping (Or feel free to use direct page link – Baby Milk – Airport Shopping | Heathrow Reserve & Collect)
• Liquid medicines: You are only permitted to carry quantities of liquid medication in excess of the 2 litre limit where it is needed during the course of your flight. All medication should be accompanied by documentary proof of authenticity, such as a prescription or letter from a medical practitioner confirming that you need them for your journey. Liquid medication that is not required on the flight should be carried as hold luggage. Find out more about travelling with medicines.

However the rule remains that explosive or flammable liquids, and those that are considered toxic, are not permitted in either hand or hold luggage.

Spring in Southern California has a certain rhythm: Dodgers fans return to Chavez Ravine, the jacarandas start to bloom, and L.A.’s mayor gives a speech — usually a long one — about how the city is doing.

Mayor Karen Bass, running for a second term in the June 2 election, is shaking up that routine, by delivering two different State of the City addresses nearly three months apart.

Bass said the first State of the City address, scheduled for Feb. 2, will serve as a countdown to the 2026 World Cup, which will feature eight matches at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium later this year. That speech is aimed at unifying the city, honoring its “people, neighborhoods and cultures,” according to an invitation that went out this week.

“It’s a day to really celebrate our city,” Bass said in an interview. “I mean, last year was very, very tough, and now we’re ready to get things together to welcome the world.”

The Feb. 2 address, planned at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, will spell out the city’s efforts to ensure that everyone in L.A., not just the buyers of expensive World Cup tickets, will have a chance to participate in the global soccer event, Bass said.

The second speech, planned for mid-April, will be more of a traditional State of the City address, focusing heavily on the mayor’s spending priorities and the release of her budget on April 20.

L.A. mayors usually deliver the State of the City address during the third week in April, using them to list their accomplishments and highlight new policy initiatives. In recent decades, they have been staged in the ornate City Council chamber, outside Griffith Park Observatory and even at an electric truck factory in Harbor City.

The speech planned by Bass for Feb. 2 falls on the first day that L.A. mayoral candidates are allowed to file paperwork with the City Clerk declaring their intention to run for that office.

Bass, who launched her campaign in December, is expected to face several challengers, including former schools Supt. Austin Beutner, community organizer Rae Huang and reality television star Spencer Pratt.

Beutner and Huang had no comment on the upcoming speeches. But Pratt questioned whether Bass is using the extra city speech to bolster her campaign.

“It’s no surprise that Karen Bass is using her position as the incumbent mayor to promote her re-election,” Pratt said in a statement, “but two state of the city speeches does seem excessive given that each event will cost taxpayers resources which could better serve the community elsewhere.”

Bass pushed back on that idea, saying the extra speech is not connected to her campaign, which already had its public kickoff.

“Every press conference — anything I do right now — could easily be attached to that, and it’s not true,” she said.

In recent weeks, Bass stayed mostly behind the scenes as the city marked the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 7, 2025, Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead. Although she did attend some events marking the anniversary, those were not part of her public schedule.

As an incumbent, Bass will always have the advantage of her City Hall bully pulpit, said Fernando Guerra, political science professor at Loyola Marymount University.

“People will say she’s using her position, and the speech, to get more attention and publicity,” he said. “That’s her job, to be out there. She should be talking to the city.”