Medical sources in Gaza City say at least one person has been killed and 15 wounded throughout the day in Israeli attacks.

United States envoy Steve Witkoff says he and his colleague Jared Kushner have held “constructive” talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israel continues its deadly bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a short statement on Sunday, Witkoff said the “positive” discussion focused on “the continued progress and implementation planning for Phase 2 of President Trump’s 20-Point Plan for Gaza”, which the US and Israel are advancing in “close partnership”.

Witkoff added “broader regional issues” were also discussed in the meeting on Saturday, a likely reference to heightened tensions between the US and Iran and speculation that Washington and Tel Aviv may still yet attack Iran as they did during the 12-day June war against Tehran.

Israel, in the meantime, continues bombarding Gaza despite agreeing to a ceasefire in its genocidal war, committing near-daily violations of the October 10 agreement brokered by the US.

Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said the sounds of Israeli gunfire and shelling coming from the eastern part of the Gaza Strip were almost non-stop on Sunday.

Medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital in the city said at least one person had been killed and 15 wounded throughout the day, Mahmoud added.

Further north, local sources in Jabalia refugee camp reported a drone attack on a medical facility that is located next to the so-called yellow line that separates Israeli- and Palestinian-controlled zones. Israeli military vehicles also unleashed heavy fire east of Jabalia and fired artillery shells in various areas of the town.

The extent of possible casualties was not immediately clear. “It’s a very difficult situation right now, and it’s unsafe for paramedics and Palestinian Civil Defence crew members to reach the area,” Mahmoud said.

At least 484 Palestinians have been killed and 1,321 others wounded in Israeli attacks since October 11, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. Israeli attacks have killed 71,657 people and wounded 171,399 others in Gaza since October 7, 2023, the ministry says.

Rafah reopening sparks hope, fear

Amid the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, the enclave’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt is expected to reopen in the coming days in both directions, the head of Gaza’s technocratic committee Ali Shaath said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday.

“Opening Rafah signals that Gaza is no longer ‌closed to the future and to ⁠the war,” Shaath said.

The reopening of Rafah would mark the fulfillment of a key tenet of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, which called for allowing people to flow through Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world in both directions.

Ahmed al-JoJo, a Palestinian living in Gaza, has spent more than a year separated from his fiancee after she crossed into Egypt – unknowingly departing just days before the checkpoint closed indefinitely.

“I lived through all the stages that followed her departure – alone without her, and without any motivation for life,” he told Al Jazeera.

Opening the crossing “would be a solution, but only a partial one”, he noted.

“This is the impact of the war, and what it has done to us,” al-Jojo said. “It’s separated us. The first step is for me to leave through the crossing.”

But Palestinians have previously waited out rumours of reopenings that never came to fruition. There is also widespread suspicion that Israel will use Rafah as a one-way exit that will aid in ethnic cleansing.

Israeli officials, for their part, have insisted that the full reopening be conditioned on the return of the one remaining deceased captive, as well as the disarmament of Hamas.

United States President Donald Trump realises “the rules-based international order” never existed, and he’s “willing to turn his back on that”, former Trump administration official Christian Whiton argues.

Whiton tells Steve Clemons that US foreign policy remained fairly consistent over the past 80 years while Trump is happy to upset “the globalists and the establishment unity party in Washington – Republican and Democrat – and all the generals”.

In Europe, the US would like to see more populist, anti-immigration governments, Whiton said, adding that Western societies should “cast aside” the idea that they are “inherently racist, a patriarchy [with] … a racist, imperialist history”.

BBC broadcasting legend Sir Mark Tully has died aged 90.

The veteran journalist, who spent 30 years at the Beeb, was hailed as a “towering voice of journalism” by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Posting a tribute on X, the Indian PM said: “Saddened by the passing of Sir Mark Tully, a towering voice of journalism.

“His connect with India and the people of our nation was reflected in his works.

“His reporting and insights have left an enduring mark on public discourse. Condolences to his family, friends and many admirers.”

Sir Mark was born in India in 1935 and later moved to England at the age of nine.

After studying history and theology at Cambridge, he first started working for the BBC in the 1960s.

He returned to India in 1965 to work as an administrative assistant at the broadcaster, before taking on a reporting role.

Sir Mark went on to lead reporting for India and the whole South Asian region.

Some of his famous coverage included included military rule in Pakistan, Tamil Tigers’ rebellion in Sri Lanka and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Almost three decades later, in 1994, Sir Mark resigned from the BBC.

He later became the voice of BBC Radio 4 programme Something Understood, which explored religion and spirituality.

And he went on to slam the broadcaster for the decision to scrap it in 2019, accusing the company of “underestimating the asset”.

Mohit Bakaya, controller at BBC Radio 4 and director of BBC Speech audio, said Sir Mark “embodied the spirit” of the station.

He added: “He was known to the Radio 4 audience for his reflective, spiritually inspired essays on Something Understood.

“His broadcasts were never about certainty or instruction; they were about curiosity, compassion and making space for complexity.

“Sir Mark embodied the spirit of Radio 4 at its best; thoughtful, generous and searching.

“His voice will be greatly missed by colleagues and listeners alike.”

He was knighted in 2002 by King Charles III, then-Prince of Wales, at Buckingham Palace.

Jonathan Munro, interim chief executive of BBC News and current affairs, said Sir Mark was “a joy to speak with”.

In a statement, he said “We are sad to hear the passing of Sir Mark Tully.

“As one of the pioneers of foreign correspondents, Sir Mark opened India to the world through his reporting…

“…bringing the vibrancy and diversity of the country to audiences in the UK and around the world.

“His public service commitments and dedication to journalism saw him work as a bureau chief in Delhi, and report for outlets across the BBC.

“Widely respected in both India and the UK, he was a joy to speak with and will be greatly missed.”

American Patrick Reed shot a level-par 72 in his final round to ease to a four-shot victory in the Dubai Desert Classic.

The 35-year-old LIV golfer finished the tournament at 14 under par to claim what was his first Rolex Series victory on the DP World Tour.

Reed, the Masters champion in 2018, started the final round with a four-shot lead over Spaniard and fellow LIV player David Puig, an advantage he maintained in the early going despite not making a birdie across the front nine.

Puig birdied the eighth and ninth to briefly cut into his playing partner’s lead, before both birdied the 10th and bogeyed the 11th.

When the Spaniard bogeyed the 13th, and Reed made his second birdie of the day on the same hole, it was a straightforward finish to the tournament for the former world number six.

“I couldn’t really get anything going on the front nine, it was a bit of a grind today,” Reed told Sky Sports.

“Instead of putting the foot on the gas early, I was just trying to protect that four-shot lead. I didn’t think I hit it that badly, I just couldn’t get anything close.

“When you’re trying to protect, sometimes instead of looking at flags, you’re looking away and then you misjudge the wind and all of a sudden you’re 50 feet away. That’s kind of what happened.”

The United States no longer views China as a top security priority, according to the Pentagon’s 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to focus on the Western Hemisphere in a break from a decade of foreign policy that saw Beijing as the biggest threat to US security and economic interests.

The strategy document says US allies and partners such as South Korea “must shoulder their fair share of the burden of our collective defense”. This is in line with Trump’s rhetoric calling on US allies in Europe and the Asia Pacific to step up and boost their defences to counter security threats from Russia and North Korea.

Released late on Friday, the 34-page Department of Defense blueprint comes weeks after the announcement of Trump’s National Security Strategy, which seeks to “restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere” by reinforcing the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century US policy opposed to European colonisation and interference in the Americas.

So what’s new in the NDS? And how will it impact US allies in the Asia Pacific?

What’s in Trump’s National Defense Strategy?

The major shift in the NDS lies in the shifting approach of the US Defense Department, which considers security of the “homeland and Western Hemisphere” its primary concern.

The document noted that the US military would be guided by four central priorities: defend the homeland, push allies around the world away from reliance on the US military, strengthen defence industrial bases and deter China as opposed to a policy of containment.

The Pentagon document said relations with China will now be approached through “strength, not confrontation”.

“It is neither America’s duty nor in our nation’s interest to act everywhere on our own, nor will we make up for allied security shortfalls from their leaders’ own irresponsible choices,” the document said.

Instead, the US would prioritise “threats to Americans’ interests”, it said.

The Pentagon said it would provide “military and commercial access” to key locations, such as Greenland, and construct the president’s “Golden Dome” missile defence system for North America.

Trump’s threat to take over Greenland has roiled transatlantic ties while the US abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3 has sent shockwaves across the world and raised questions about the undermining of international law. Trump has justified US actions in Venezuela as necessary to secure US security and economic interests.

The unclassified version of the NDS, which is released every four years, is uncharacteristically laden with photos of the defence secretary and president and repeatedly targets the administration of former President Joe Biden.

Under Biden, the Pentagon described “revisionist powers” like China and Russia as the “central challenge” to US security.

The NDS followed the release in December of the National Security Strategy, which argued that Europe is facing civilisational collapse and did not cast Russia as a threat to US interests.

The NDS noted that Germany’s economy dwarfs Russia’s, arguing that, therefore, Washington’s NATO allies are “strongly positioned to take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense, with critical but more limited US support”.

The strategy blueprint noted that this includes taking the lead in supporting Ukraine’s defence.

The document also addressed the question of Iran, repeating the US position that Tehran cannot develop nuclear weapons. It also described Israel as a “model ally”. “And we have an opportunity now to further empower it to defend itself and promote our shared interests, building on President Trump’s historic efforts to secure peace in the Middle East,” it said.

What’s the impact on US allies?

First, Europe is pushed further down on Washington’s list of priorities and has been told to shoulder more responsibility for its own defence. Many NATO allies had already increased their defence spending and offered to provide security guarantees to Ukraine against Russian threats.

For South Korea and Japan, the US Defense Department recognised the “direct military threat” from North Korea, led by Kim Jong Un, and noted that Pyongyang’s “nuclear forces are increasingly capable of threatening the US Homeland”.

About 28,500 US soldiers are stationed in South Korea as part of a defence treaty to deter the North Korean military threat. Seoul has raised its defence budget by 7.5 percent for this year after pressure from Trump to share more of the defence burden.

The NDS noted that South Korea “is capable of taking primary responsibility for deterring North Korea, with critical but more limited US support”, which could result in a reduction of US forces on the Korean Peninsula. “This shift in the balance of responsibility is consistent with America’s interest in updating US force posture on the Korean Peninsula,” the document said.

Harsh Pant, a geopolitical analyst based in New Delhi, said the defence strategy is line with the Trump administration’s push to get allies to take control of their own security.

“The Trump administration has been advocating that the relationship that they see now in terms of security cooperation with their allies is one where allies will have to bear a heavier burden and pay their share,” Pant told Al Jazeera.

“America’s allies in the Indo-Pacific will have to be much more cognisant of their own role in shaping the regional security architecture. America will be there, and it will continue to have an overarching presence, but it won’t foot the bill in ways that it has done in the past,” said Pant, who is the vice president of the Observer Research Foundation think tank.

North Korea routinely criticises the US military presence in South Korea and their joint military drills, which the allies say are defensive but which Pyongyang calls dress rehearsals for an invasion.

Seoul’s Ministry of National Defence said on Saturday that the US forces based in the country are the “core” of the alliance, adding: “We will be cooperating closely with the US to continue developing it in that direction.”

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said: “It is inconceivable that South Korea – which spends 1.4 times North Korea’s gross domestic product on defence and possesses the world’s fifth largest military – cannot defend itself. Self-reliant national defence is the most fundamental principle amid an increasingly unstable international environment.”

Lee made the comments after visiting China this month in an effort to improve ties with the country, which is Seoul’s largest economic partner, its top destination for exports and a primary source of its imports. Seoul wants to cultivate better ties with Beijing, which wields influence over North Korea and its leader.

What about Taiwan?

When the previous NDS was unveiled under Biden in 2022, it said the most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security was China’s “coercive and increasingly aggressive endeavor to refashion the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to suit its interests and authoritarian preferences”. A part of that strategy, Washington said at the time, was Beijing’s ambitions concerning Taiwan.

The Pentagon said four years ago that it “will support Taiwan’s asymmetric self-defense commensurate with the evolving [Chinese] threat and consistent with our one China policy”.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened to take it by force if necessary. In a New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to achieve the “reunification” of China and Taiwan, calling Beijing’s long-held goal “unstoppable”. Chinese forces have carried out wargames in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two.

In this year’s NDS, the US Defense Department does not mention Taiwan by name.

“The American people’s security, freedom, and prosperity are …  directly linked to our ability to trade and engage from a position of strength in the Indo-Pacific,” the document said, adding that the Defense Department would “maintain a favourable balance of military power in the Indo-Pacific”, which it called “the world’s economic center of gravity”, to deter Chinese threats.

It said the US does not seek to dominate, humiliate or strangle China but “to ensure that neither China nor anyone else can dominate us or our allies”. Instead, the US wants “a decent peace, on terms favourable to Americans but that China can also accept and live under”, the blueprint said, adding that, therefore, the US would deter China by “strength, not confrontation”.

“We will erect a strong denial defense along the First Island Chain (FIC),” the NDS said, referring to the first chain of islands off the East Asian coast. “We will also urge and enable key regional allies and partners to do more for our collective defense.”

Pant said it would be a mistake on the part of China “to read this as America leaving its allies”. He added that “there is an undercurrent [in Trump’s foreign policy] of how America wants to see a stable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific where China is not the dominant force.”

“And I think, therefore, for China, if it reads this as a weakening of American commitment to its allies, that would not really be in consonance with the spirit of this defence strategy.”

Deadly Israeli air strikes target areas across south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley amid simmering regional tensions.

Israel has launched a wave of air strikes across Lebanon, killing two people, in another near-daily violation of the November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Israeli attacks targeted areas in the eastern Bekaa Valley and several villages in south Lebanon, including Bouslaiya and Aita al-Shaab, the National News Agency (NNA) reported on Sunday.

A strike on a warehouse in Khirbet Selm in the Bint Jbeil district killed at least one person and injured another, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.

The Israeli military said the attack targeted a Hezbollah “weapons manufacturing site”, without providing evidence.

NNA reported that another person was killed in a separate strike in Derdghaya, east of the southern coastal city of Tyre. Several Lebanese news outlets identified the victim as Mohammed al-Hussayni, a school teacher.

The attacks come amid fears of a major Israeli assault to disarm Hezbollah amid simmering regional tensions and possible strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, the Lebanese group’s top ally.

The Lebanese government said earlier this month that it completed the stage of removing the group’s weapons south of the Litani River, 28km (17 miles) from the Israeli border.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to occupy five points within Lebanese territory.

The Israeli army has also levelled several villages along the borders and blocked their reconstruction, preventing their residents from returning.

In August of last year, the Lebanese government issued a decree tasking the army with formulating a plan to disarm Hezbollah.

But the group has refused to give up its weapons north of Litani, arguing that its military force is necessary to resist Israeli attacks, occupation and expansionism.

Lebanese officials have vowed to push on with a multi-phased plan to disarm the group across the country. The next stage of disarmament will target the region between the Litani River and the Awali River, about 40 km (25 miles) to the north.

Hezbollah has been severely weakened by Israel’s all-out assault against Lebanon in 2024, which killed most of the group’s top political and military leaders, including its chief Hassan Nasrallah.

Since the end of the war, Lebanon has been forced to accept a de facto one-sided ceasefire, where Israel attacks the country almost daily without any response from the Lebanese side.

Hezbollah has been calling on the Lebanese government to intensify its diplomacy and press the sponsors of the ceasefire – the US and France – to pressure Israel to stop its violations.

He’s known for raising temperatures on risque period drama Bridgerton and as it returns for a fourth season, Jonathan Bailey lifts the lid on those raunchy sex scenes

Bridgerton heartthrob Jonathan Bailey has spilled on the show’s infamous sex scenes, saying he finds it “hard not to laugh” while filming them. The saucy period drama returns at the end of this month for its fourth season, with Bailey reprising his role as Anthony Bridgerton.

He said: “I know the sex scenes have been a hot topic, but as a cast we get more excited by other scenes which require in-depth emotions.

“I know the sex scenes look glamorous, but on set with cameras, tens of people, intimacy coordinators and everything else – it actually feels a bit silly and it’s incredibly hard not to laugh.”

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The 37 year old has had his fair share of on-screen romps – his first just three minutes into Bridgerton’s first ever episode – but he’s keen to make sure there’s always a reason behind the steam. “I’m not a fan of, ‘Lets get our kit off because we have a scene to film,’” he explained. “It’s got to mean something.”

The next season of the show – the first part landing on Netflix January 29 – focuses on Anthony’s younger brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) who falls for maid Sophie (Yerin Ha) after meeting at a masquerade ball in a fairytale storyline resembling Cinderella. “It isn’t a slow start,” Bailey revealed. “I can’t wait for fans to see the first episode – it really starts off with a bang.”

As well as his part in the runaway success of Bridgerton, it’s fair to say Jonathan is having a bit of a moment. Last year he followed in the footsteps of Idris Elba and David Beckham to become People’s Sexiest Man Alive – something he finds “hilarious.” “But at the same time very flattering,” the Oxfordshire born actor added. “I mean who wouldn’t be flattered?”

His win came off the back of his stellar performances in Hollywood blockbusters Jurassic World Rebirth and the Wicked franchise. The second instalment of the latter, ‘Wicked For Good’, may have received mixed reviews and been snubbed in the latest Oscars noms, but it certainly sky-rocketed Bailey to worldwide fame.

“It was a dream role, and an experience I will never forget,” he said of the film. “We all had the best time, and even though it’s over, I am eternally grateful that, in Ariana [Grande] and Cynthia [Erivo], I have made friends for life.”

In his personal life, the fiercely private actor revealed in 2023 he was dating a “lovely man”, but his current relationship status is unknown. Offering an insight into his life away from the cameras, he did say he keeps “grounded” by his six nieces and nephews.

“When I get to do what the world views as ‘normal things’ like read them a story or build Lego with them – I don’t think they have any idea how happy they make me.”

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PARENTS could be putting themselves at risk of being questioned by social services, or even the police, if they let their children go on holiday alone.

Deciding when your kids are old enough to go off and do things on their own is a tough call – and it won’t always be popular with other parents either.

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp found this out back in 2024 after revealing that her 15-year-old son, Oscar, had gone Interrailing without adult supervision.

The property show host was visited by a social worker from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), after she mentioned her decision on social media.

Allsopp said that it had been “a huge shock” and that she had been questioned about “what safeguards were in place” for her son’s trip.

For parents hoping to avoid ending up in a similar position, there are some rules they need to follow, although generally speaking, it is more or less up to them to decide when their child is old enough.

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The UK government website states that legally, when it comes to leaving children unsupervised, there is no specific age limit.

However, it is an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) advises that children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone and that children under 16 should not be left alone overnight.

However, this is only advice and, legally, parents can only be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health“.

When it comes to travelling, the rules depend on which company your child is due to be travelling with, with different rules applying to different airlines or train operators, many of whom will offer “unaccompanied minor” services.

The UK government advises that parents will often have to book a separate ticket for this service, and will also have to fill out extra
paperwork.

They will need to provide airlines with information about the child, their parents/guardians and whoever is collecting the child at their destination.

Each airline will have their own age limits on which children can and cannot use this service, but this is generally available for kids up to 12 or 15, depending on the carrier. Parents should check before booking tickets.

Meanwhile, on the Eurostar, 12 to 15 years old can travel on their own between London and Paris, Lille or Brussels on trains departing between 6am and 5pm local time.

They must have a fully completed Eurostar unaccompanied minor form, which must be signed by their parent or legal guardian at the station in the presence of a member of the Eurostar team.

The parent or guardian must also ensure arrangements are in place for the young person to be met on arrival. 

Children under 16 cannot travel unaccompanied on direct trains between London and the Netherlands.

For Interrail tickets, children aged up to 11 must be accompanied at all times by at least one person with an Adult Pass. This doesn’t have to be a family member and can be anyone over 18.

The Interrail website also states that passengers under 18 “may have limitations in travelling alone using a pass”.

Each different country in Europe has its own rules for unaccompanied children, who may need extra documents signed by their parents or guardian, authorising them to travel.

There are no EU-wide rules on the matter, with each EU country deciding their own regulations, so parents should check the embassy of their child’s destination.

So, simply put, if you’re comfortable with it, your child is legally allowed to travel on their own aged 15, like Kirsty Allsopp’s.

However, transport companies and different countries will have different rules and guidelines, so it’s best to check what those rules are and what your responsibilities are as a parent or guardian.

As long as they’re not on their own “in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health” then you’re unlikely to be visited by the police or social services.

But it’s best to put some safeguarding measures in place, just to make sure you can do as much as you can to keep them safe from afar.

Meanwhile, there are also rules parents need to know if they’re travelling with their kids, if they don’t have the same surname.

And these confusing rules stopped a young child from boarding a plane for a family holiday.

Australian Jay Vine won the Tour Down Under – despite being knocked off his bike in a crash caused by a kangaroo.

Britain’s Matthew Brennan took the fifth and final stage of the race in Australia, on a day dominated by drama in the peloton.

The kangaroo ran across the road with under 100km of the race to go and launched itself into the peloton, knocking several riders to the ground before tumbling into more who were trying to avoid it.

Vine, having been knocked down, used a team-mate’s bike to claim the overall winner’s ochre jersey by one minute three seconds for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

Visma-Lease A Bike rider Brennan beat New Zealand’s Finn Fisher-Black of Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe to the line for the stage victory after a powerful acceleration on the uphill sprint finish.

Brennan’s team-mate Menno Huising of the Netherlands was one of the riders forced to abandon the race, having been injured in the kangaroo incident.

Tobias Lund Andresen of Decathlon-CMA CGM took third on the 169.8km stage around the Stirling near Adelaide.

Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid of Jayco-AlUla was second overall and Australia’s Harry Sweeney third for EF Education-EasyPost.

Lund Andresen took the blue points jersey, with Norway’s Martin Urianstad Bugge winning the mint-green king of the mountains jersey for Uno X Mobility.

Brennan ranks highly among several young talented British riders competing on the UCI World Tour this year.

He won 12 races in his debut elite-level season in 2025.

The win caps a good week for British riders at the first World Tour race of the year following Ethan Vernon’s sprint victory on Saturday’s stage four for NSN – the new team co-owned by World Cup winner Andres Iniesta.

That stage had been shortened to account for temperatures of up to 43C.

UK road champion Sam Watson won the opening prologue of the race for Ineos Grenadiers.

Many of the riders will now take on the one-day Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Melbourne, with Brennan a strong favourite for victory.

Brennan is particularly powerful on rolling one-day courses, and is set to compete in several of the sport’s biggest races this year, including the one-day Milan-San Remo in March, as well as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in April.

Follow the build-up, analysis and live text commentary of the game as Arsenal and Man United renew their rivalry.

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Celebrity Traitors champ says he doesn’t need a new man in his life because Amanda Holden is a perfect ‘partner’ – except for one crucial thing

Since his resounding triumph in the first series of Celebrity Traitors, Alan Carr has found himself somewhere close to the top of the showbiz A-list. He revealed that the “big streamers” have been in touch with offers of work, and he’s also becoming increasingly popular on social media, with close to two million followers.

But that doesn’t mean he’s turning his back on old friends. Alan remains very close to showbiz pal Amanda Holden. Discussing his plans for a 50th birthday party, he says he’s planning three events: one for family and friends, a second for industry contacts, and a final massive one for everybody else. “And I just know Amanda Holden is going to come to all three,” he told The Times.

While Alan’s single at present, he describes Amanda as his other half: “I don’t need a partner. She is my partner,” he says, before adding: “The sex is awful.”

Amanda was determined to find Alan a man, though, and helped him sign up to a dating app: “Amanda is an ally of the LGBTQI but even she was shocked because I think she thinks gay dating is like straight dating. She said, ‘Alan, they were asking for the length of your penis!’ She’s very worldly and very fun, Amanda. But in the world of gay dating she is a novice.”

Other potential guests at Alan’s “friends and family” party will almost certainly include Paloma Faith, who now appears to have forgiven him for having “murdered” her by stroking her face in a shocking Celebrity Traitors twist.

Alan says they’ve since reconciled, revealing on the Graham Norton Show: “I’ve seen her – it was very harsh and so grim killing her, but we are friends again now.”

Another close pal is platinum-selling artist Adele, who stayed in Alan’s spare room after an emotional break-up. Alan revealed that she “hibernated” in the room for so long that he thought she might have died: “Although she had purged her feelings in 21 she was still cut up about her ex and completely inconsolable.”

Writing in his book, Alanatomy, Alan recalled that he started to get a little worried after he and then-partner Paul Drayton hadn’t seen her for a few days. When Paul suggested knocking on the spare room door to check if she was OK, Alan replied: “‘I daren’t. What if she’s dead? We looked at each other. Just out of interest, if the world’s biggest star dies in your house, does the price go up or down? I’m asking for a friend. Would we get a plaque? Could we turn it into a museum? Would we have busloads of Adele fans tying wreaths to our knocker?’”

Adele did eventually emerge, and went on to officiate at Alan and Paul’s wedding, staging the event at her Los Angeles home in January 2018.

Alan and Paul announced their separation in January 2022 after 13 years together and three years of marriage. They described the split as a “joint and amicable” decision, although reports at the time suggested that Paul’s struggles with alcohol were “the final straw.”

Which goes some way to explaining why Amanda is now trying to push her close friend – and newly-minted A-lister – back into the dating pool.

Howard and Trish Davidson have found a way to go on holiday together, despite a devastating diagnosis that has change both of their lives

A couple who feared they’d never go on holiday together again have found a way to keep travelling despite a life-changing diagnosis.

Howard Davidson can still play the clarinet perfectly. In fact, last November, the retired BBC composer delivered a moving rendition of the Last Post at the Remembrance Service close to his home in Keynsham, on the outskirts of Bristol.

But much else has changed for the 76-year-old since his diagnosis with dementia during the Covid lockdown. “I love him dearly, but we can’t have a conversation anymore. I’m his conversational prompt,” explained his wife Trish, also 76.

With a history of the condition in the family, Trish says she “knew he would be diagnosed” when he began forgetting certain things. Despite that, the former charity chief remains incredibly positive. “I know how important it is to keep that brain going. I know I’ve kept him younger than was expected,” Trish said.

One way they’ve done that is by continuing to travel together. Now, travelling as a couple alone is “hugely stressful”. “He gets very anxious now. I can’t do it on my own anymore,” Trish explained.

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What they can do, and have done every year since 2022, is head on assisted trips with Dementia Adventure. The firm offers fully supported holidays for people living with dementia and their loved ones.

“We tried it very early on, in 2022. Now we’re on our fourth trip. The first time, we went to the Isle of Wight. We met up with one of the minibuses. There were no refreshments on the train, but the staff got us coffee and tea (when we arrived). They said ‘you don’t do anything now’. And we didn’t do a thing (all holiday).”

On their first holiday, Trish and Howard were part of a group made up of four couples and four guides. Howard was accompanied by either a volunteer or paid member of staff, offering Trish some much-needed respite. “Howard could look at trees and photograph leaves, which he loves doing, and I could listen to the tour guide at Osborne House. It provides us both with respite. It’s relaxed. I don’t have to worry about him.”

“The person who runs Dementia Adventure used to run five-star hotels, so we’re always going somewhere fun, doing something unique. It also means I can talk to like-minded people and have fun.” So far, activities have included glass blowing, a pantomime, and a steam train ride.

The group stays in the same accommodation, with staff on hand 24/7. “If someone started wandering in the middle of the night, they’d be there. They do all the cooking, washing up, organise games and activities. But we all have our own ensuite bedrooms,” Trish continued.

A five-day break with Dementia Adventure costs around £2,000 per person, but the firm can sometimes subsidise trips for those unable to afford the full price. Thanks to the generosity of donors and Postcode Lottery players, approximately 80% of holidays are already part-subsidised and 2026 prices are lower than 2025.

“Without Dementia Adventure, we couldn’t go away as a couple on our own. It is too stressful for me. Every day I have to say where we are and why. But Dementia Adventure is so well organised, we have a complete itinerary, they put it on the wall and discuss what we’re doing the next day,” Trish said.

Holiday guests receive a complimentary photobook of their experience, creating a tangible memory that can be shared with family and friends – something that is particularly valuable given that people living with dementia may not retain detailed memories of events.

This year Dementia Adventure has 11 trips planned, including to the majestic peaks of the Lake District’s Derwentwater and Windermere, the charming villages of the Isle of Wight, the wide open beaches of Norfolk, the dramatic landscape of the Peak District, the picturesque villages of Somerset and Devon, the cosy country pubs and dramatic moors of North Yorkshire, Cornwall’s rugged coastlines, the heather-strewn fields of Fife and the peaceful landscapes of the Wye Valley.

Dementia Adventure’s Chief Executive, Fiona Petit, said: “We are the only organisation in the UK running supported holidays exclusively for people living with dementia. For many individuals living with dementia, holidays may seem out of reach, but with the right planning and support, they needn’t be. We specialise in creating joyful holidays that bring back the possibility of travel and adventure. The opportunity to relax and enjoy the great outdoors can be priceless.”

It was alumni day on Saturday at Harvard-Westlake’s O’Malley Family Field, and the Wolverines unveiled a new way to honor their nine former players who made it to the major leagues. They have posted jerseys of the players on the outfield walls. Let’s just say they might run out of room the way things are going.

“That’s a good problem,” coach Jared Halpert said.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty joined former major leaguers Nik Turley and Josh Satin in being honored before a winter baseball game.

Youth players were there seeking autographs, and lots of former Harvard-Westlake players showed up.

Jack Flaherty with his mother at O’Malley Family Field on Saturday.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Halpert said two more former Harvard-Westlake players are close to reaching the majors and first-round draft pick Bryce Rainer of the Tigers will surely see his jersey on the wall one day.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Myanmar’s final stage of its disputed general election is under way despite the ongoing civil war. Al Jazeera speaks to rebel fighters who reject the process as illegitimate, while the UN is urging the world not to recognise the results.

Andy Burnham has been blocked from standing as a candidate for an upcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by Labour’s ruling body.

As a directly elected mayor, Burnham had to get approval from Labour’s national executive committee (NEC), after he applied to be a candidate on Saturday.

Labour sources have told the BBC lots of concerns were raised about the costs of an election to replace Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor and the “prospect of a divisive campaign”.

But allies of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer feared Burnham – a former cabinet minister – could mount a leadership challenge, should he return to Westminster.

The move is likely to infuriate Labour MPs and some ministers who said local party members should have had the option of choosing the Greater Manchester mayor as the candidate.

It is a big political gamble by allies of the prime minister and risks inflaming tensions within the party, which is consistently trailing Reform UK in national opinion polls.

One senior Labour source who had been supportive of Burnham’s candidacy said: “They’re gambling the PM’s whole premiership on winning a very hard by-election without their best candidate. It is madness.”

The decision was made by 10 members of the NEC, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, party chair Ellie Reeves and the prime minister himself on Sunday morning.

NEC sources told the BBC the vote was 8-1 in favour of blocking Burnham’s candidacy.

The prime minister was among those who voted to block Burnham from standing.

Mahmood abstained as the chair, while Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell voted to allow him to stand.

Sir Keir’s allies say Burnham is doing “a very good job” as mayor of Greater Manchester, adding a mayoral by election “would cost the party hundreds of thousands of pounds” and “cost the country millions of pounds during a cost-of-living crisis”.

The prime minister’s supporters were worried Reform UK “would outspend us ten to one” during the by-election campaign.

The argument those who blocked Burnham intend to make publicly is that during a period of geopolitics dominating the headlines and deep concerns about the cost of living at home, there would be no appetite in the country for a “return to political psychodramas of the Tory years”.

There was “overwhelming support” in the meeting “for upholding clear Labour Party rules preventing mayors and PCCs standing in by-elections”, a source said.

Earlier, Mahmood told the BBC allowing elected mayors to run as candidates in parliamentary by-elections had “organisational implications” for the party.

A mayoral election in Greater Manchester could also be costly for the taxpayer, with the last one costing about £4.7m.

When he’s not busy slathering the White House in gold or recklessly sundering foreign alliances, President Trump loves to talk about voter fraud.

Although the incidence is rare — like, spotting-a-pangolin-in-the-wild rare — Trump persistently emits a gaseous cloud of false claims. About rigged voting machines, dead people casting ballots, mail-in votes being manipulated and other fevered figments of his overripe imagination.

Voting is the most elemental of democratic exercises, a virtuous act residing right up there alongside motherhood and apple pie. But Trump has treated it as a cudgel, something dark and sinister, fueling a partisan divide that has increasingly undermined faith in the accuracy and integrity of our elections.

One result is a batch of new laws making it harder to vote.

Since the 2020 presidential election — the most secure in American history, per the Trump administration’s own watchdogs — at least 30 states have enacted more than 100 restrictive laws, according to New York University’s Brennan Center and the Democracy Policy Lab at UC Berkeley, which keep a running tally.

Texas passed legislation allowing fewer polling places. Mississippi made it harder for people with disabilities to vote by mail. North Carolina shortened the window to return mail ballots.

In California, state Sen. Carl DeMaio and allies are working to qualify a November ballot measure that would require a government-issued ID to vote, a solution in desperate search of a problem.

“We have the lowest level of public trust and confidence in our elections that we have ever seen,” the San Diego Republican said in launching the effort, sounding the way someone would by lamenting the damage a fire has done while ignoring the arsonist spreading paint thinner all around.

Amid all the manufactured hysteria, there is a place that is unique in America, with no voter registration requirement whatsoever.

If you’re a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older and have lived in North Dakota for 30 days prior to election day, you’re eligible to vote. It’s been that way for more than 70 years, ever since voter registration was abolished in the state in 1951.

How’s it working?

Pretty darn well, according to those who’ve observed the system up close.

“It works excellent,” said Sandy McMerty, North Dakota’s deputy secretary of state.

“In general, I think most people are happy with this,” political scientist Mark Jendrysik agreed, “because it lowers the record-keeping burdens and saves money.”

Jendrysik, who teaches at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, said voter registration was abandoned at a time when the state — now redder than the side of a barn — had vigorous two-party competition and, with it, a bipartisan spirit of prairie populism.

“There was an idea we should make it easier to vote,” Jendrysik said. “We should open up things.”

What a concept.

Walk-up voting hasn’t made North Dakota a standout when it comes to casting ballots. In the last three elections, voter turnout has run close to the national average, which puts it in the middle of the pack among states.

But there also hasn’t been a high incidence of fraud. In 2022, a study by the state auditor’s office found it “exceptionally” unlikely an election in North Dakota could be fraudulently influenced. (Again, like the country as a whole.)

In fact, Jendrysik said he can’t recall a single case of election fraud being prosecuted in the 26 years he’s lived in North Dakota and followed its politics.

It’s not as though just anyone can show up and cast a ballot.

Voting in North Dakota requires a valid form of identification, such as a state-issued driver’s license, a tribal ID or a long-term care certificate. It must be presented each and every election.

By contrast, a California voter is not required to show identification at a polling place before casting their ballot — though they may be asked to do so if they are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and their application failed to include certain information. That includes a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Could North Dakota’s non-registration system be replicated elsewhere?

Jendrysik is dubious, especially in today’s political environment.

North Dakota is a sparsely populated state with hundreds of small communities where, seemingly, everyone knows everyone else. There are about 470,000 eligible voters, which is a lot more manageable number than, say, California’s 30 million adult-age residents. (California has more than a dozen counties with north of half a million registered voters.)

“It’s unique to this state,” Jendrysik said, “and I think if they hadn’t done it decades ago, it would have never happened.”

(Fun fact: North Dakota also has no parking meters on its public streets, owing to a state law passed in 1948, according to Jendrysik, who has published two academic papers on the subject.)

McMerty, of the secretary of state’s office, believes others could emulate North Dakota’s example.

It would require, she suggested, rigorous data-sharing and close coordination among various state agencies. “We’re updating our voter rolls daily — who’s obtained a driver’s license, births, deaths. That kind of thing,” McMerty said.

Again, that’s a much easier task in a state with the population the size of North Dakota’s. (About 800,000 at last count.)

And there’s no particular impetus for others to end their systems of voter registration — unless it could be proved to significantly boost turnout.

We should be doing all we can to get people to vote and invest in our beleaguered political system. Rather than wasting time chasing shadows and phantoms or indulging the delusions of a sore-loser president.

A straight-set win over American seed Tommy Paul takes world number one Carlos Alcaraz into a 14th Grand Slam quarter-final, surpassing the record for the most of any player in the Open era before turning 23.

READ MORE: Altered serve an ‘important weapon’ for Alcaraz

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FOR fun city breaks with bargain beers and cheap flights, check out these European destinations.

Airport transfers experts at hoppa has analysed dozens of European getaways to reveal the cheapest European getaways this winter.

Prague, Czech Republic

One of the most popular spots for budget breaks is the Czech Republic capital, Prague where the average price of a pint is £2.17.

Being the birthplace of Budweiser, Pilsner, a visit to a brewery is a great shout – or check out the new immersive beer experience called Pilsner: The Original Beer Experience.

For some culture, check out landmarks like Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square.

In January you can get flights from Bristol and Stansted Airport from as little as £15 with Ryanair.

GO SEA IT

£9.50 holiday spot with shipwrecks, seals offshore & horseshoe-shaped waterfalls

COAST IT

Fascinating UK holiday spot with 2 coasts, secret seaside pools & hidden beaches

You can also catch direct flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester.

Bansko, Bulgaria

Bansko is a small town at the foot of the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria and is a very affordable place.

During the winter months, it’s a cheap skiing spot – during the summer visitors can explore the pretty Old Town or hike through the national park.

After all that hard work, sit down and get a beer which has a shockingly low average price of 90p.

To get to Bansko from the UK, you’ll have to fly to the nearest airport, Sofia.

One-way flights from both Bristol and Stansted Airport start from £16 with Ryanair. Other direct flights operate from Birmingham, Edinburgh and Liverpool.

Sofia, Bulgaria

The capital of Bulgaria has it all, culture, historical landmarks, vibrant city life and beers for an average price of £2.25.

Make sure to stop by the enormous Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which dominates the city’s skyline and is a must-visit.

For more on Sofia, check out what one traveller got up to on an extreme daytrip to the city from a self-guided tour to trying tasty traditional pastries.

One-way flights from both Bristol and Stansted Airport to Sofia start from £16 with Ryanair.

Budapest, Hungary

In Hungary‘s capital you can cruise along the Danube River, walk by the huge Buda Castle or Matthias Church and get citywide views from the Fisherman’s Bastion.

If you want to relax, head to Szechenyi Baths which is one of the best and biggest spa thermal baths in Europe.

It has 15 indoor baths and three grand outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms.

Not to mention that if you fancy a drink while in Budapest, the average price of a pint is just £2.26.

In January, you can fly directly from Edinburgh to Budapest with flights with Ryanair from £15.

You can also fly directly from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, London Luton, London Stansted, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.

Tirana, Albania

The capital of Albania is where you’ll find lively cafe culture, dynamic nightlife or relax in the Grand Park by the lake.

For trendy bars, head to the Blloku area where drinks won’t cost a lot – in fact the average price of a pint in Tirana is £2.28

Check out Skanderbeg Square if you like exploring historic sites, or museums like Bunk’Art.

For what you can fit into a day, read more on what these two travellers got up to in Tirana from ziplining over the mountains to a private lake and city tour.

In January you can fly directly from London Stansted from £15 with Ryanair. Or head to London Luton to fly with Wizz Air from £20.

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and one of Europe’s oldest cities.

It has plenty of beautiful historical buildings like the fortress and royal palaces. Or head to Knez Mihailova Street for shops, bars and restaurants.

Sava Lake is where you can have a go at water sports as well as tennis and cycling, with restaurants and bars perched on the shore.

For what to do in Belgrade, check out what one Sun Reporter got up to when she headed to the city that’s ‘grand without the price’.

The average price of a pint in Belgrade is £2.63.

It’s easy to explore Belgrade and public transport is completely free too.

You can fly from London Luton with Wizz Air from £28 – and the flight takes just two hours 50 minutes.

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava in Slovakia is fairly small for a European capital, but that doesn’t mean there’s any less to do.

From gazing at the pastel coloured buildings along small cobbled roads to ducking into a cafe or restaurant, or visit Bratislava castle which looks over the Danube River.

When you get thirsty after exploring, head to get a pint which costs £2.46 on average.

You can fly directly to Bratislava from Edinburgh from £15 with Ryanair in January.

Flights from Stansted Airport operated by Ryanair, and London Luton operated by Wizz Air both start from £18.

These are the cheapest European cities to fly to this year according to the experts – with loads of flights from £15.

And for more tips, here are nine ways to visit cities on the cheap from ‘alternative’ airports to staying in business hotels.

AN organ hums, a blaze of red lights dance across the venue and an enormous ruby-red object emerges from thick fog, creeping slowly towards the front of the stage.

Outside, Paris shivers under a smattering of snow, but inside the Accor Arena an audience is hot with anticipation.

Then, Lady Gaga suddenly appears among a blur of sequin-clad dancers and theatrical fire spurts, making the 20,000-seat arena buzz with energy.

But you may be shocked to learn that none of the people immediately around me have paid to attend this sell-out gig.

I was partying in a prime section of the stadium with Gaga lovers who had bagged their tickets through the ALL Accor scheme.

And gigs by some of music’s biggest names are just one of the many perks you can pick up for free as an ALL Accor customer.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

The loyalty scheme is a points-based system directly linked to your personal spend with Accor hotels, which includes budget brands such as Ibis as well as fancier ones Sofitel and Fairmont.

When you stay at an Accor site, you’ll accumulate points which can be redeemed in a number of countries, for gigs but also hotel stays and transport, including Eurostar.

Hotel chains Hilton, Marriott and IHG have similar schemes, too, and all save you a fair whack.

Recent research from consumer watchdog Which? found nine out of ten times it’s cheaper to book a hotel as a member, instead of through online sites such as Booking.com and Hotels.com.

I’ve written before about how I’m a big fan of loyalty programs, particularly when so many of us are strapped for cash.

Getting something for nothing – or just by spending what you do ordinarily – seems like a no-brainer.

Getting something for nothing – or just by spending what you do ordinarily – seems like a no-brainer

And with travellers ever savvier with their spend, hotel loyalty schemes are likely to grow and grow.

My trip to Paris could have been paid for almost entirely with ALL points.

From 15,000 points per night, ALL Accor customers can stay at the same fancy hotel as I did, the 4H Pullman Paris Eiffel Tower – where many rooms look on to the landmark.

A return Eurostar train fare from London to Paris would cost just over 13,000 ALL Accor points.

Gigs are a little more complicated to calculate, with a bidding system in place for tickets – although winning bids for concerts at the Paris Accor Stadium start at 20,000 points (around 400 euros) for two tickets.

You can earn ALL Accor points at 4,200 hotels globally – and not just by booking a stay.

Dining in an Accor hotel restaurant, booking a spa treatment and spending on your in-room TV, phone or mini bar all earn you points.

Easiest of all, if you “skip the clean”, meaning you ditch the housekeeping and towel changes for your room, you can earn up to 100 points a day.

With ALL Accor, points earned vary according to your status (Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond) and the brand you spend on.

But if you’re a loyal spender, do check out what’s on offer.

You could be stomping your feet at a Lady Gaga gig in no time.