Cutter Gauthier scored with 1:03 left in overtime to give the Ducks a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night at Honda Center.

Vegas’ Mitch Marner whiffed trying to execute a backhand pass from behind his own goal, sending the puck right to Gauthier in the slot for a wrist shot and his 13th goal of the season.

Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe and Troy Terry each had a goal and an assist, Olen Zellweger also scored, and the Ducks ran their record in games going past regulation to 6-1. Lukas Dostal made 29 saves.

Braeden Bowman scored for the third straight game, Shea Theodore and Tomas Hertl each had a goal, and Jack Eichel had two assists for the Golden Knights. Akira Schmid made 29 saves.

Vegas extended its point streak to six games (3-0-3) but couldn’t turn around its overtime woes, dropping to 1-6 in three-on-three hockey.

The Golden Knights jumped to a 2-0 lead on goals from Theodore and Bowman 1:12 apart early in the first period. Bowman is the second Vegas rookie to post a three-game scoring streak and has four goals and one assist through his first six games.

The Ducks responded when LaCombe buried a one-timer through heavy traffic, followed by Zellweger tying it up at 2-all 34 seconds later.

Hertl put Vegas back in front on the power play with 2:01 left in the first period when Eichel’s long shot redirected in off his hand standing at the top of the crease.

Terry made it 3-3 with 6:10 left in the second period on a wrist shot from the right circle set up by Leo Carlsson’s entry into the zone off the rush.

Up next for the Ducks: vs. Vancouver at Honda Center on Wednesday night.

Ukrainian president’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak confirms search, saying he has offered ‘full cooperation’.

Anticorruption authorities in Ukraine have searched the home of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, as a major corruption investigation continues to roil the country and cause consternation among allies.

Andriy Yermak, who leads Kyiv’s negotiating team concurrently trying to hash out the terms of a United States-proposed plan to end the four-year war with Russia, confirmed his apartment was being searched on Friday and said he was fully cooperating.

“There are no obstacles for the investigators. They have been given full access to the apartment, and my lawyers are present on-site, cooperating with the law enforcement officers. From my side, there is full cooperation,” he said on social media.

In a joint statement, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said the searches were “authorised” and linked to an unspecified investigation.

Earlier this month, the two anticorruption agencies unveiled a sweeping investigation into an alleged $100m kickback scheme at the state atomic energy company that ensnared former senior officials and an ex-business partner of Zelenskyy.

Friday’s searches come as the Ukrainian president faces growing pressure from the administration of United States President Donald Trump to agree to Washington’s proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ukraine and its European allies had raised concerns that the Trump-backed plan comprised some elements that Russia has been actively pushing for, including that Ukraine cede additional territory and curtail the size of its military.

But a revised proposal has been put forward, and Kyiv has said it is open to negotiations.

The searches are also likely to worsen tensions between Zelenskyy and his political opponents amid the peace negotiations.

In a statement on Thursday, the European Solidarity opposition party criticised Yermak’s role as a negotiator and called on Zelenskyy for “an honest dialogue” with other parties.

‘Black Friday’

Viktor Shlinchak, a political analyst at the Kyiv-based Institute for World Politics, described the searches as a “Black Friday” for Yermak and suggested Zelenskyy may be forced to dismiss him.

“It looks like we may soon have a different head of the negotiating team,” he wrote on Facebook.

Yermak, 54, is Zelenskyy’s most important ally, but a divisive figure in Kyiv, where his opponents say he has accumulated power, gatekeeps access to the president and ruthlessly sidelines critical voices.

A former film producer and copyright lawyer, Yermak came into politics with Zelenskyy in 2019, previously working with him during the now-president’s time as a popular comedian.

He is widely considered the second-most influential man in the country and even sometimes nicknamed “vice president”.

The corruption investigation revolves around an alleged scheme involving Energoatom, the state-run nuclear power company that supplies more than half of the country’s electricity.

“That [case] has been swirling around Ukraine for several weeks now, rocking the government,” Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands reported from Kyiv on Friday. “The allegation is that some $100m … has gone through a kind of laundromat,” he explained.

Anticorruption investigators have said they suspect that Tymur Mindich, a one-time business partner of Zelenskyy, was the plot’s mastermind.

Mindich has fled the country, with any criminal proceedings against him likely to be carried out in absentia. Two top ministers have also resigned over the scandal.

Challands also noted that the inquiry comes after Zelenskyy’s government had tried in July to take away the Ukrainian anticorruption agencies’ independence and place them under the control of his prosecutor-general.

But the Ukrainian leader backtracked after mass public protests.

The UNESCO-listed town comes alive with lanterns and tinsel in December – with 30p beers and T-shirt weather.

If you’re fed up with the prospect of yet another freezing cold Christmas market, clutching an £8 mug of mulled wine to keep warm, there’s an alternative option.

For a truly unique festive experience, this market deserves a spot on your bucket list.

With beers at just £0.30, hot chocolates for £1.50 and hundreds of twinkling lanterns lighting up the evening sky.

This enchanting market destination is Hoi An – a UNESCO-listed port town along Vietnam’s central coastline. Throughout December, this historic port transforms with glowing lanterns, fairy lights and tinsel adorning shop windows.

Whilst it might not deliver a conventional Christmas experience – it provides a breathtaking alternative at a fraction of the cost.

There are numerous stalls to explore offering everything from keepsakes to local confectionery and handcrafted goods. Vietnam is renowned for being budget-friendly and Hoi An maintains this reputation, reports the Express.

A glass of locally-brewed beer costs between £0.30 and £0.70 – even at the tourist-popular riverside locations.

Asia travel experts TransIndus describe December as one of the finest periods to experience Hoi An.

A spokesperson said: “Daytimes are usually in the low- to mid-20s, so it’s T-shirt weather for exploring the old streets, and in the evenings you might just want a light jacket if there’s a breeze coming off the river.”

It falls at the tail end of the wet season, meaning occasional downpours or overcast days are possible – but once the rain clears, the atmosphere becomes genuinely enchanting.

They said: “When the rain clears and the pavements start to dry, the reflections from the lanterns in the puddles are beautiful.

“You get steam rising off the street-food stalls, scooters back out within minutes, and the whole old town has this slightly surreal, cinematic feel.”

December in Hoi An blends Western festive imagery with Vietnamese lantern celebrations. Visitors might spot a nativity display or youngsters wearing Santa hats, before witnessing a silk-draped, illuminated riverboat gliding peacefully across the water.

It’s an ideal destination to break away from traditional Christmas habits and immerse yourself in a completely different culture.

A search is under way for a British man who fell overboard from a cruise ship off the coast of Tenerife.

The Spanish coastguard said it had been coordinating search and rescue efforts for the 76-year-old since 09:48 local time (09:48 GMT) on Thursday.

The incident happened on the Marella Explorer 2, operated by TUI, while it was located just north-west of the Spanish island.

TUI’s Marella Cruises said the man was “seen entering the water while the ship was on passage to La Gomera”, adding that it was supporting his family and working with local authorities.

In a statement, the coastguard said the ship participated in the search before docking in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the early hours of Friday.

Rescue boats, two helicopters and a specialist search and rescue aircraft have been deployed to the area.

Lesley-Anne Kelly, a passenger on the ship, recalled the moment an alarm sounded while she was having breakfast with her mother on Thursday morning.

She said the alarm was followed by an announcement of “man overboard”.

Mrs Kelly said the captain told passengers the ship had to stay in place until the coastguard allowed it to leave, and later announced that the search had been stood down due to darkness.

“It was pretty sombre last night, especially after the announcement that they were standing down the search,” she said.

Passengers were told that witnesses were being interviewed, she added.

Mrs Kelly said she believed people “had clearly seen it happen”, adding: “It was breakfast time. Everybody was up and about. It was pretty bright, so yeah I can imagine if someone had gone in at that time of the day they would have been seen by multiple people.”

Local media reports say the ship was on its way back to the Canary Islands from the Portuguese island of Madeira when the incident happened.

It is believed to have departed Tenerife on 21 November for a seven-day tour around the Canaries and other nearby islands.

The Foreign Office said it has not been approached for consular assistance in this instance.

The Malta-registered Marella Explorer 2 holds up to 1814 passengers across its 14 decks and 907 cabins, according to TUI’s website.

Twenty-five years ago (25!), I was talking with John Cusack about his movie “High Fidelity,” the one where he played Rob Gordon, a record store owner and compulsive list maker. We were batting around top-fives — Rob’s top five movies: “Blade Runner,” “Cool Hand Luke,” the two “Godfather” films and “The Shining” are as good a list as any — and I asked Cusack if he, like Rob, had a funeral music top five.

“‘Many Rivers to Cross’ feels like the perfect choice at No. 1,” Cusack answered, citing the great Jimmy Cliff’s enduring anthem of perseverance.

Now Cliff has crossed over to the other side, which makes it feel like a good time to cue up “The Harder They Come” — though there is never a bad time to play that trailblazing reggae soundtrack.

I’m Glenn Whipp, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of The Envelope newsletter, thankful I can see clearly now the rain is gone. Let’s look at how box-office success is all relative these days when it comes to awards season.

With Oscar voters, box-office perception is reality

Misato Morita and Brendan Fraser in the movie “Rental Family.”

(James Lisle / Searchlight Pictures)

What movies are you seeing this Thanksgiving weekend? If you’re pushing aside the pie and leftovers, chances are you might be buying a ticket for “Wicked: For Good” or “Zootopia 2.” The “Wicked” sequel opened to an estimated $150 million last weekend, besting the original and making my optimistic forecast for its Oscar prospects look a little rosier.

Meanwhile, “Rental Family,” a sweet, superficial drama starring Brendan Fraser looking to savage your heartstrings once again, opened to just $3.3 million from nearly 2,000 screens. Even in a lead actor field that isn’t particularly deep this year, Fraser’s chances of returning to the Oscars are now pretty much nil.

“Rental Family” is the latest fall film festival awards contender starring an A-list (or A-list-adjacent) actor to disappear at the box office. The list includes “The Smashing Machine” (Dwayne Johnson), “Christy” (Sydney Sweeney), “After the Hunt” (Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield) and “Die My Love” (Jennifer Lawrence).

Going through these titles, you could make a case that moviegoers are simply showing discernment. None of the movies worked. Critics shrugged, and audiences responded in kind. Good on Johnson and Sweeney for using their star power to stretch, but when people are questioning if they can afford to eat out at McDonald’s, they’re going to need a reason to buy a ticket beyond mere curiosity.

The dead-on-arrival opening weekends of these movies have recast the lead actor and actress Oscar races, boosting anyone not stained by perception of outright failure.

But in this post-pandemic age of moviegoing, what constitutes success? Pushing through to December when the critics groups (as well as “critics” groups) start handing out awards and nominations, the goal is to convey an impression of success and hope that financial windfall might follow.

For example: Joachim Trier’s decidedly unsentimental family drama “Sentimental Value” has parlayed its strong word of mouth and critical acclaim to decent-enough ticket sales in its limited engagement the last two weeks. No one expects a Norwegian-language movie to burn up the box office. Doing fine is a victory.

Then there’s Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon,” a modest, moving portrait of legendary Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, which opened last month in five theaters, quickly expanded to nearly 700 screens before retreating to a few dozen. It didn’t flame out commercially but has grossed a mere $2 million. That’s … OK. The strong reviews for the film and its lead, Ethan Hawke, have kept Hawke in the conversation for his first lead actor Oscar nomination.

Is it fair that Hawke lives while Lawrence, Sweeney, Roberts and Johnson, whose movies opened wide to disastrous results, feel finished?

“Oscar voters aren’t going to watch a movie that has been deemed a failure,” says a veteran awards publicist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the situation candidly. “When people read those scary headlines opening weekend, they don’t forget.”

Oscar Isaac in “Frankenstein.”

(Ken Woroner / Netflix)

Netflix, which opens its contending films in qualifying releases before they land on the streaming platform, is mostly immune to this kind of negative publicity as it doesn’t report box-office numbers. But it will release the number of “views” its films rack up. Guillermo del Toro’s monster movie “Frankenstein” accumulated nearly 63 million views in its first 10 days; Kathryn Bigelow’s riveting thriller “A House of Dynamite” totaled 31.6 million in its first two weeks. (The company defines a view as the total time spent watching a movie divided by the running time.)

Guess which movie is currently Netflix’s perceived Oscar favorite?

The movie to watch this weekend then, in more ways than one, is Chloé Zhao’s celebrated drama “Hamnet,” which has piled up audience awards at film festivals the last several weeks. Focus Features is platforming it in 100-plus theaters, and if you live in Southern California, you won’t have to drive too far to see this beautiful story of love and loss and transcendent catharsis.

What narrative will emerge? I’ll write more about “Hamnet” on Monday. For now, get thee to a theater and let me know what you think.

THERE’S a huge landmark that’s been under renovation for the last decade – and it’s under three hours away from the UK.

The huge structure overlooks the capital of Hungary and is about to reopen in March 2026.

If you’ve been to Budapest in the past decade, you might have noticed that the Citadella that sits on Gellért Hill has been undergoing a huge renovation.

It’s been shut for 11 years so far and has been undergoing a major renovation since 2020 – but it’s finally about to reopen.

The work has cost an estimated HUF 20 billion which is just under £46million.

While efforts have gone into maintaining the original structure,new features have been added too.

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One of those is a new pedestrian bridge built entirely of glass.

There will also be a walk-through exhibition on Hungary’s history, called ‘The Bastion of Freedom’ which will be inside the large rondella.

The inner courtyard will have a new water feature and an eternal flame.

There’ll also be a new café and gift shop, and it will have incredible panoramic city views overlooking Danube, Buda Castle and Margaret Island.

Outside, locals and tourists will have plenty of room to enjoy the views as there will be twice as much green space as before.

There will be 10,000 shrubs, 100,000 perennials, and over half a million bulbs that will be planted in the area, along with 128 large trees.

The site is free to explore as it is an open outdoor public site – but you might need to pay to go inside.

The Citadella in Budapest was built by the Austrian Habsburg Empire between 1850 and 1854.

Its purpose was to serve as a military stronghold after the Hungarian Revolution between 1848 and 1849, which is why it sits on a hill overlooking the city.

Now, it’s considered a symbol of freedom with The Liberty Statue representing Hungary’s independence – it was added in 1947.

The Citadella is due to reopen to the public on Hungary’s Independence Day, March 15, 2026.

Budapest is a popular city break destination for Brits as it’s just a two and a half hour flight away from the UK.

Other popular historical sites include the Buda Castle district, the Matthias Church and and St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Budapest is also known for its famous thermal baths – for example the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest is one of the best and largest spa baths in Europe.

It has 15 indoor baths and 3 grand outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms with a ticket costing around £22.

For more trips to Europe – here are 39 of the best city break destinations – and the no.1 is VERY cheap.

Plus, discover the five European cities with lesser-known tours that let you explore like a local.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) began to restore trading on Friday after a technical issue disrupted operations on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq.

The shutdown was triggered by a cooling system failure at a data centre in the Chicago area, according to the facility’s operator, CyrusOne.

Engineering teams have since restarted several chillers and installed temporary cooling equipment to stabilise conditions, a spokesperson told Bloomberg.

According to CME Group’s indications, trading in US equity futures should be restarting soon after a glitch knocked it out for several hours.

The CME, one of the world’s largest derivatives exchanges, hosts near-continuous trading in millions of contracts tied to the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq 100. Friday’s interruption left traders grappling with uncertainty as they awaited the restoration of the platforms that underpin much of global futures activity.

The outage halted trading of US Treasury futures, while European and UK bond markets that trade on a different exchange were reported unaffected.

Futures in individual stocks were not affected, either. Coinbase Global rose 2.6% in pre-market trading as Bitcoin stayed above $91,000.

Wall Street is operating on an abbreviated schedule on Friday after being closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Stock trading will close at 1pm Eastern Time (7pm CET).

In European trading, Germany’s DAX rose 0.20% after the release of fresh inflation data.

Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.23% on gains in energy and mining stocks. The CAC 40 in France rose 0.19%.

In other dealings, Brent crude, the international standard for pricing, rose 0.13% to $62.62 per barrel.

A family-friendly UK holiday can be had for just £6.60 per person per night – but there are a few things you’ll need to know before booking this Kent caravan park

An online travel expert has discovered what he claims to be the UK’s most affordable holiday, costing a mere £6 per person per night. Haven, who runs the site, assures guests of “the warmest welcome possible” at their coastal holiday parks scattered across the UK.

YouTuber Steven decided to put this promise to the test by visiting their Kent Coast Caravan Park, just an hour’s drive from London.

On his Beachlife and Beyond channel, Steven meticulously outlined what you receive for your money, expressing overall high levels of satisfaction. However, there were a couple of unpleasant surprises that made Haven’s welcome slightly less warm than Steven had anticipated.

Upon arrival at the park for his off-peak getaway, Steven noted that the weather was “absolutely awful”. Despite this, he remained optimistic, and an initial inspection of the accommodation left a positive first impression.

Steven reported that everything was immaculately clean, but he wasn’t convinced by the comfort of the sofa-bed that unfolded from the large corner sofa. He advised: “I recommend, if you’re going to come to one of these caravans, bring your own duvet cover and sleep on top of that. Otherwise the poor sod who ends up lying on this is going to have a really bad back.”

Despite that initial hiccup, Haven staff were quick to provide extra bedding when Steven raised the issue. The caravan was equipped with a decent-sized telly, which was likely to be in high demand given the dismal weather that week.

Steven advised: “We’ve brought our own laptop and HDMI cable, that’s another top tip for you. Haven sites don’t tend to have very good internet…so download some films, stick them on a laptop, bring an HDMI cable and you’re grand.”

In a surprising twist, the caravan boasted not one but two microwaves. Steven also noted: “This is a first for us, a dishwasher in a Bronze caravan.”

The bedroom came complete with sheets and pillowcases – a rarity at similar sites, according to Steven. He was further impressed by the addition of a second TV in the main bedroom.

“I am beyond impressed,” he said.

For those looking for entertainment outside the caravan, there’s a Wetherspoons on site, along with bingo and other activities. However, guests will need to purchase one of Haven’s “Play Passes” to access these facilities.

Without these passes, Steven warned, you’re “effectively banned from the rest of the site”. He added: “They’ve got ‘Gandalf’ on the door stopping you getting into anything.”

While there’s a supermarket on site, prices can be steep, so Steven made the half-hour journey to an Aldi in nearby Rochester for his weekly shop. For those preferring not to drive, supermarket deliveries are available direct to caravans.

The park also boasts a fish and chip restaurant, a Papa John’s pizza franchise, and a Burger King offering caravan delivery.

With the miserable weather, the caravan grew rather cold by afternoon. He grabbed a quick evening meal before venturing out to experience the park’s entertainment.

“Microwave curry in a caravan,” he remarked. “Don’t tell me I’m not a man of culture.”

Despite being low season for British holidays, the bingo hall was surprisingly packed. “Everyone who’s a seasoned holiday park-goer will know that they take bingo very seriously,” he noted. “They are hardcore.”

There’s absolutely no mercy for anyone getting overexcited and calling “House” prematurely, with the entire room of holidaymakers chanting “Shame on you”.

Even when British weather disappoints, several indoor alternatives keep restless children occupied, including two sizeable amusement arcades.

However, disaster struck upon Steven’s return to his caravan when he discovered the shower’s temperature dial was jammed on the coldest setting. He resorted to boiling kettle water for washing.

Despite the shower malfunctioning, Haven responded swiftly by sending a security guard and arranging for a plumber to visit the next day. However, it became apparent that the shower issue couldn’t be resolved immediately.

On the third day, things took a turn for the worse when the site experienced a power outage. A representative from Haven was contacted, who expressed their pleasure that Steven had enjoyed his stay, whilst also apologising for the power disruption.

Regardless of these hiccups, Steven was thrilled with the value he got from his holiday: “We paid a total of £99 for five people for three nights.

“That’s the equivalent of £20 each for the stay, which makes it £6.60 a night.”

He further noted that without the entertainment passes, the cost would have been around £4 per person per night.

Cole Palmer is fit to play for Chelsea against London rivals Arsenal in Sunday’s Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old forward fractured his toe when stubbing it on a door last week and subsequently missed the wins over Burnley and Barcelona.

The England international has struggled with injury this season and featured only five times across all competitions.

“He is available to start,” said Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

“Everyone is happy, the team-mates are happy, we are all happy and the most important thing is Cole is happy because a footballer wants to play games and make the sessions every day.

“He is our best player, we are happy he is back. We need to give him time to be 100% fit. He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do very good for this club in the future.”

History Illustrated is a series of perspectives that puts news events and current affairs into historical context, using graphics generated with artificial intelligence.

ONE of Europe’s most underrated cities will soon get a metro system after decades of planning.

Belgrade in Serbia – one of the oldest city’s is Europe – is also Europe‘s biggest capital city without a subway, but soon that will change.

As part of a contract between Chinese and French construction companies, Belgrade’s first subway line is expected to open in 2030 costing around €4.4billion (£3.8billion).

A second line will follow in the early 2030s and a third line has also been planned.

Designs for the new metro network in the city could include driverless trains that would be operated from a single hub and doors separating the platforms from the track.

Digging of the tunnels will start next spring, with each tunnel set to be around 100 metres long and cost around €20million (£17.5million).

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According to Bloomberg, Andreja Mladenovic, who runs JKP Belgrade Metro and Train, who is overseeing the project, said: “Belgrade has grown far too big not to have a subway.

“It’s an absolute game changer.”

He added: “It costs more at first when you build it, but cuts costs later.

“It’ll be state-of-the-art, and worth it.”

Plans for a subway network in the city were first considered in the 1930s when the capital was growing in population.

However, World War II stopped these plans going ahead.

In the 1960s, Belgrade’s economy was expanding again and new plans were drawn up in the 70s, however these went nowhere.

In the early 80s, a debt crisis meant all hopes were lost for a metro network, and over the following decade, Yugoslavia disintegrated.

It wasn’t until 1999 that Belgrade could rebuild itself.

Today, the often-overlooked city is home to floating nightclubs and secluded beaches.

As a result of sitting on two rivers, Belgrade has a number of floating restaurants, bars and nightclubs referred to as ‘Splavs’.

Along the Sava River, Splavs often play pop music, whereas the Splavs that are found on the banks of the Danube River have more of a rock vibe.

And drinks onboard are super cheap, with a beer setting you back around £3.40 or a cocktail setting you back around £4.75.

But Belgrade doesn’t just have floating bars and restaurants, there are also a number of historical locations to explore.

For example, you could head to the Belgrade Fortress, which was built back in the third century to protect the city from invaders.

The fortress, of course, has a number of panoramic viewpoints, but visitors can also participate in a number of activities and attractions, as well as explore museums.

You could also visit the Church of Saint Sava, which is a large Orthodox church.

Or explore the Nikola Tesla Museum, which is dedicated to the life and work of the famous inventor.

The museum contains many of his personal belongings as well as his inventions.

Return flights from London Luton Airport to Belgrade cost around £36 in January and the flight takes around three hours.

In other rail news, a world-famous English city is getting a new train station in huge £6.7billion plans.

Plus, a brand new crime-themed train experience is coming to UK city… but you don’t actually go anywhere.

One celebrity will be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing this weekend

One Strictly Come Dancing star could end up missing out on the semi-final as they’re dealt a devastating blow.

This weekend, another celebrity will be booted from the competition, and it’s not looking promising for one celebrity couple.

Whilst Balvinder Sopal is the bookmakers’ favourite to depart the competition this weekend, it appears it’s also grim news for Alex Kingston and Amber Davies, as they could also miss out on claiming the Glitterball Trophy.

According to exclusive odds provided by Betway, Balvinder has odds of 250/1 of departing this weekend, whilst Alex Kingston has 33/1, and Amber has odds of 20/1 of leaving before the semi-final, which takes place in two weeks’ time.

Nevertheless, the top three frontrunners predicted to reach the final are George Clarke, Karen Carney and Lewis Cope, reports Wales Online.

Last weekend, presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced that no elimination would take place after La Voix was forced to withdraw from the competition.

It was a shocking moment for the remaining celebrities, but it meant none of them were at risk of being axed from the show.

La Voix and her dance partner, Aljaz Skorjanec, appeared on Saturday’s show to discuss their decision to withdraw.

La Voix broke down as she said, “I came into the show as a minority, as a redhead, and you’ve all embraced me wonderfully.

“I cannot thank you enough… this is not how I wanted my journey to end,’ before joking: “At least it gives someone else in this competition a chance to win.”

Aljaz added, “I’ve been lucky this year. I’ve made two friends for life. On Saturdays/ Sundays, we all laugh with La Voix, and from Monday to Friday, I had the best time with Chris.

“I haven’t done a single crunch in the past six months, but I’ve got my six pack back, it’s amazing.

“Like Motsi said, ‘We all need it. The world needs more of you. Strictly needed it, you made my life a joy.. You are so beautiful in what you do.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday on BBC One.

IF you cross the Tamar Bridge from Devon, there is a pretty riverside town that is often dubbed the Gateway to Cornwall.

And the destination that sits on the waterfront has lots to see from historical cottages to a cosy award-winning pub.

Saltash is found on the western banks of the River Tamar right on the county’s natural border with Devon.

Thanks to its location, it’s known as the ‘Gateway to Cornwall‘.

Saltash is the very first town in Cornwall anyone will come to if they cross the border over the Tamar Bridge.

It’s also accessible by the Royal Albert Railway Bridge which is known as one of the UK’s Brunel Bridges – as it was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

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Anyone stopping to explore the town will find plenty of restaurants, cafes and independent shops.

Saltash even has an award-winning pub called The Two Bridges Inn.

It was voted Pub of the Year for 2025 by CornwallLive.

The pub sits on a hill with a view of the Royal Albert Bridge if you sit in the large beer garden.

It was selected by a public vote where Cornwall’s pub lovers voted for their favourite place to drink and eat.

Throughout the year, the pub hosts events like Murder Mystery evenings, Music Bingo, discos, quizzes and lots of live music.

Of course there are ale and cider festivals throughout the year too.

Visitors can explore the town on The Saltash Heritage Walk which is a series of trails exploring the town’s history.

It focuses on the area near the river and its connection to Elizabethan times, the Norman church, and Tudor architecture.

Someone who took on the walk wrote on Tripadvisor: “There is plenty of history to see in such a small town, lots of old-worldy buildings if you venture down most nooks or crannies.”

One historical attraction in Saltash is Mary Newman’s Cottage.

The a grade two listed cottage was built around 1480 and is even said to be the home/birthplace of Sir Francis Drake’s first wife.

Inside it’s authentically furnished and visitors can look at traditional Tudor tools, costumes and games.

Other areas to explore nearby are Whitsand Bay and Bodmin Moor.

If you’re looking for an alternative to Cornwall then one writer says to visit her seaside county instead with less rain, and earlier sunrises.

Plus, find out more on the UK’s most popular holiday destination has world-class beaches, great pubs and TV-famous attractions.

These pretty twin beach villages are in the ‘forgotten corner’ of Cornwall…

Down the coast from Saltash are the twin beach villages Kingsand and Cawsand.

Kingsand and Cawsand sit side by side on the south east of the county.

They are often described as being in the ‘forgotten corner’ due to their secluded location on the Rame Peninsula.

The adjoining villages aren’t visited by tourists as much as the likes of St Ives, Port Isaac, Mevagissey, and Mousehole.

But both villages have beautiful shingle beaches and cosy looking cottages.

The banks of Cawsand have plenty of rockpools to explore, and when the sea is calm, boats can be hired for another adventure.

During the summer season, a vintage ice cream called Cawsand Bay Vintage Scoops on the promenade next to Cawsand beach to serve iced treats.

The village of Kingsand has another of the area’s favourite beaches.

The bay is well sheltered so it’s perfect for swimming, and it’s dog-friendly all year round.

The two village were historically separated by a stream, with Kingsand in Devon and Cawsand in Cornwall.

This division continued until 1844, when the boundary was adjusted, and Kingsand officially became part of Cornwall as well.

Both have a rich history of smuggling and fishing, you can even see remains of old pilchard cellars from the late 16th century on the shoreline beyond Kingsand.

The village boasts harming harbour, stunning coastal walks and an ancient church dating back to 440 AD

It’s almost December and the weather is pretty chilly, but it doesn’t mean we have to hibernate. There are so many stunning places in the UK that are perfect for a wintery trip, even when it’s cold outside.

One of these places is Cemaes in Wales, which journalist Catrin Williams recently visited. It’s the most northerly village in the country, and Catrin described it as the ‘perfect day out’. With a dramatic coastal walk and plenty of great shops and eateries, it’s not hard to see why.

Cemaes, originally a humble fishing village, has evolved into a bustling port over the centuries. Ships were constructed in the safety of the harbour, and locally quarried limestone, marble, bricks, corn, and ochre were shipped far and wide, according to North Wales Live.

Catrin said: “Walking along the harbour, it’s easy to imagine the buzz of trade that must have once filled the air.

“The high street is full of charm, it is lined with pretty and colourful houses. Small shops sell everything from handcrafted decorations to local crafts, and the cafes are equally inviting.”

Catrin stopped by Caffi Bane and got to a hot chocolate, the perfect pick-me-up on a chilly winter morning.

On the same street, the Stag Pub is a true local gem, buzzing with a friendly atmosphere and contributing to the village’s sense of community. There’s also a fish and chip shop that seemed to be very popular.

Catrin continued: “The beach is another highlight. Here, I discovered St Patrick’s Bell, part of a series of Time and Tide bells scattered around the coast of Great Britain.

“These bells ring with the high tide and serve as a thoughtful reminder of rising sea levels. I watched as the tide rolled in over Traeth Mawr, the beach with its stunning harbour view, it is a place that somehow feels both peaceful and alive with history.”

From the shore, Catrin walked along a section of the Anglesey Coastal Path, which forms part of the larger Wales Coast Path. The route offers breathtaking views of the sea on one side and rugged cliffs on the other, creating a picturesque landscape.

According to Catrin, the highlight of her visit was at the end of the walk: Llanbadrig Church, also known as St. Patrick’s Church. This is considered one of the oldest churches in Wales, with its roots tracing back to 440 AD, while the current structure is believed to have been built in the 12th century.

Local folklore tells the tale of a young St. Patrick who was shipwrecked on Ynys Badrig in the 5th century. Miraculously surviving the ordeal, he founded the church as an act of gratitude to God.

Raving about the village, Catrin said: “All in all, my day in Cemaes Bay was a perfect blend of history and beautiful scenery. Even in the quieter months of winter, there’s a warmth to the village that makes it feel welcoming.

“From the colourful streets and cosy cafes to the dramatic coastline and centuries-old church, it’s a place that is definitely worth a visit.”

Red Sanders, the legendary UCLA football coach, once said the rivalry with USC wasn’t life or death, it was more important than that.

Now, some 70 years later, almost half the Bruins roster needed a primer on what it means to play the Trojans.

“We have so many transfers and things,” interim coach Tim Skipper said, “so I wanted to make sure everybody knew how significant this game was.”

That could make Ciaran Dooley, the team’s creative content producer, a rivalry hero rivaling John Barnes, Anthony Barr and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Dooley produced a video that tried to pack the essence of a nearly century-old rivalry into about five minutes.

Putting aside any worries about where college sports are headed when one needs to explain anything about his biggest rival, the video had its intended effect, sparking cheers nearly a week before kickoff.

Starting with a minutelong hype reel narrated by Barr, the video explained some of the rivalry basics, such as both teams wearing their home uniforms and the winner getting to take possession of the 295-pound Victory Bell before painting it in their primary school color — preferably blue.

“A lot of it was like clips I’ve already seen being from L.A. and around the game,” freshman linebacker Scott Taylor said, “but a lot of the guys who haven’t been here don’t understand how big a deal this is to L.A. and how special this win can be.”

Rivalry lexicon such as “It’s always 8:47 in Westwood” — a reference to the Bruins’ 13-9 upset of No. 2 USC in 2006 — and “Eight more years!” — a chant that broke out at the Rose Bowl in 1998 at the end of the Bruins’ eighth consecutive victory over the Trojans — might need some explaining to a roster that includes 57 newcomers, 52 transfers and 42 players from out of state.

“I made this video to show what the rivalry is really about — the history, the passion, the bragging rights,” Dooley told The Times. “I know everyone on the team already knows what it is, but if there’s anything that I can do to motivate the guys just that much more for the game, I’m going to do it every time.”

Linebacker Isaiah Chisom, a transfer from Oregon State, said the coaching staff also brought in several former players to explain the significance of the rivalry before the Bruins (3-8 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) face the No. 17 Trojans (8-3, 6-2) on Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum. Veteran offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio and defensive back Cole Martin also talked about what the rivalry meant to them.

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) holds the ball and pushes Bruins linebacker Isaiah Chisom (32) on Aug. 30 at the Rose Bowl.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

“I think they’ve done a pretty good job at kind of bringing everybody together,” Chisom said, “so we all know how important this game is.”

Chisom didn’t need a refresher, having grown up in Southern California and played for Bishop Allemany High and Chaminade College Prep. He said he’s already attended a rivalry game and learned about the Bruins’ hatred for the Trojans from Chaminade assistant coach Reggie Carter, a former Bruins linebacker.

“He didn’t like anybody wearing any red,” Chisom said of Carter. “It’s been something I’ve been told for a long time.”

Skipper said he grew up watching the rivalry no matter where he lived — his father, Jim, was a coaching lifer who moved from one city to another and his older brother, Kelly, was DeShaun Foster’s running backs coach at UCLA.

“It’s awesome to finally be part of this thing,” Tim Skipper said. “You watch it so much, I’ve never been to one of these games, and to be able to work it and coach it is going to be awesome.”

Signs of rivalry week have greeted anyone who walked past the boarded-up John Wooden and bear statues on campus, though it’s been a little quieter than the Bruins would have preferred. That’s because they haven’t been able to ring the Victory Bell that’s residing across town after USC won last year’s game, 19-13, at the Rose Bowl.

“We want to get it back, we want to ring it after the game,” DiGiorgio said. “The [USC] guys, they planted flags on our field last year. I don’t know if we’re going to reciprocate that energy because I don’t know if that’s going to start anything, but we’re definitely looking forward to getting that bell back.”

The Bruins have won their last two trips to the Coliseum, giving DiGiorgio motivation to make it three in a row and end his college career 3-2 against the Trojans. There was a consensus at the team meeting Sunday that a victory over USC would make up for all the frustrations the team has endured during a season in which Foster was fired after only three games.

UCLA offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio (72) is confident a video the Bruins’ staff produced helped his teammates understand the importance of winning the USC rivalry game.

(John McCoy / Associated Press)

“Beating ‘SC would undo every wrong that has happened this season — that and the Penn State win [over the then-No. 7 Nittany Lions],” Chisom said. “I don’t think we could ask for anything more.”

Even those making their rivalry debut will know what they’re getting into thanks to the handiwork of a content creator whose video might help produce an upset.

“I believe that it enlightened, lit a fire under the guys,” DiGiorgio said, “to be a little excited for this week.”

16-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim is recovering after spending 9 months in an Israeli prison, for allegedly throwing rocks. The Palestinian American boy’s plight sparked widespread outrage and condemnation at Israel’s abuses in the occupied West Bank.

ONE of the world’s most famous museums is set to nearly double its entry fee for tourists.

The Louvre museum in Paris will increase its ticket prices by 45 per cent for most non-European Union visitors, which includes Brits.

The price hike is set to be introduced early next year, with tourists from countries including the UK, US and China having to pay €32 (£28) to enter the museum.

It is set to raise millions of euros each year to fund a huge overhaul of the Louvre’s most famous gallery.

The price increase follows a heist that took place in October that hit the news globally.

Security and management have been criticised since the incident, which saw four people steal jewellery worth over £76million from the museum.

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After the heist, an audit on the museum was carried out which highlighted how the museum has inadequate security systems and aging infrastructure.

As a result, from January 14, visitors from countries outside the European Economic Area (EU member states, as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) will need to pay an extra €10 (£8.76) to enter the museum.

The new price jump is estimated to raise between €15million (£13.1million) to €20million (£17.5million) each year for the museum, which will go towards supporting the Louvre’s modernisation plans.

Over the past year, the museum has faced a number of issues to do with its structure.

Back in January, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Louvre announced that the museum would be getting improvements and as a part of that suggested higher fees for non-EU residents in 2026.

As part of the report, Macron also said that the Mona Lisa would be moved to a new room to deal with the overcrowding.

It followed the leak of a letter from the museum’s director Laurence des Cars, which highlighted how the museum had several structural issues, water leaks and even that the museum could no longer cope with the current numbers of visitors heading to the attraction each day.

The Louvre will also have a number of other areas renovated, with new facilities added too, such as toilets and restaurants.

And earlier this month, the museum announced that the gallery which houses Greek ceramics was closed due to structural issues.

Each year the Louvre welcomes around nine million people, and more than a 10th of visitors are from the US.

Complaints about overcrowding and long queues at the museum have been going on for a while now, especially through the Salle des Etats gallery, which is where the famous Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is displayed.

Many visitors note how you actually only get a few seconds to see the painting and snap a picture.

The report carried out after the heist last month also revealed that the museum was spending more money on buying new artworks than actually maintaining the attraction itself.

In other museum news, the UK’s newest national museum is more like an IKEA store – and Kate Middleton is already a fan.

Plus, a new £12.5 million museum based on a very famous children’s artist to be ‘world’s largest of its kind’.

Authorities say 79 people remain missing and thousands of families have been displaced from their homes across Sumatra.

The death toll from floods and landslides on the western Indonesian island of Sumatra this week has risen to 174, a disaster official said, with about 80 more people still missing, as a punishing tropical storm system and heavy monsoon rains have battered the region.

“As of this afternoon, we have recorded that for the entire North Sumatra province, there have been 116 deaths and 42 people are still being searched for,” National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chief Suharyanto announced on Friday.

He said another 35 were killed in the island’s Aceh province and another 23 in West Sumatra.

While the rain had stopped, 79 people were still missing and thousands of families were displaced, he added.

Residents in Sumatra’s Padang Pariaman region, where a total of 22 people died, had to cope with water levels at least 1 metre (3.3ft) high, and had still not been reached by search and rescue personnel on Friday.

In the town of Batang Toru, in northern Sumatra, residents on Friday buried seven unclaimed victims in a mass grave. The decomposing bodies, wrapped in black plastic, were lifted from the back of a truck onto a wide plot of land as onlookers covered their noses.

Communications remained down in some parts of the island, and authorities were working to restore power and clear roads blocked by landslide debris, said Abdul Muhari, spokesman for Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency.

Indonesia would continue to airlift aid and rescue personnel into stricken areas on Friday, he added.

In Indonesia’s West Sumatra province, 53-year-old Misniati described a terrifying battle against rising floodwaters to reach her husband at home.

She said that, returning from early morning prayers at a mosque, “I noticed the street was flooded.

“I tried to run back to my house to tell my husband, and the water was already reaching my waist,” she told the AFP news agency, adding that it was up to her chest by the time she reached home.

Flooding disasters elsewhere in Asia

Meanwhile, in Thailand, the government said 145 people had been killed by floods across eight southern provinces. It said a total of more than 3.5 million people had been affected.

In the southern city of Hat Yai, the hardest-hit part of Thailand, the rain had finally stopped on Friday, but residents were still ankle-deep in floodwaters, and many remained without electricity as they assessed the damage to their property over the last week.

Some residents said they were spared the worst of the floods but were still suffering from their effects.

In neighbouring Malaysia, where two people have been confirmed dead, tropical storm Senyar made landfall at about midnight and has since weakened.

Meteorological authorities are still bracing themselves for heavy rain and wind, and warned that rough seas could pose risks for small boats.

A total of 30,000 evacuees remain in shelters, down from more than 34,000 on Thursday.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that it had already evacuated 1,459 Malaysian nationals stranded in more than 25 flood-hit hotels in Thailand, adding that it would work to rescue the remaining 300 still caught up in flood zones.

Separately, at least 56 people were killed by a cyclone in the South Asian island nation of Sri Lanka, authorities said.

FAMILY on the sofa, food coma setting in, the annual arguments are raging. 

But there’s one thing we can all agree on: the best Christmas films are the ones we already know the words to.

Forget the streaming giants’ flops; Google’s latest trends data proves we are still watching the same five classics we’ve seen a hundred times.

According to Google search rankings for December 2024, the only movies that matter are: Home Alone (1990), Love Actually (2003), Elf (2003), Die Hard (1988), and The Holiday (2006). 

These aren’t just films – they’re Christmas crackers that rule the roost for the entire season.

Baby, it’s cold online

Let’s face facts, the last proper Christmas film breakthrough was Will Ferrell’s hilarious Elf. Why?

Back then, films became classics because they were hammered on to terrestrial TV every Christmas Eve, year after year. It was a shared moment.

Now? Streaming channels pump out festive films that disappear quicker than the cranberry sauce. Remember 2021’s Love Hard, anyone?

There’s no big, shared night; just another cheap, made-for-TV sequel you’ll forget by Boxing Day. 

At Christmas, we don’t want novelty, we want nostalgia! We crave the familiar faces, the iconic soundtracks and the quotes we grew up with.

Top of the tree

Home Alone is the undisputed king of Christmas, topping the search list again. 

Macaulay Culkin is still the only star guaranteed to keep the kids quiet, have the parents chuckling and give millennials that lovely warm feeling of childhood. 

Coming in second, Love Actually – the ultimate festive romcom. 

Of course it charts high, adults are the ones doing the searching! Packed with A-list talent like Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley, it’s a love letter to London that we feel we own. 

Elf, meanwhile, sits happily in the “children’s films that adults secretly love” category. Good clean fun.

The debate that never dies

Every year, social media repeats the same classic film debates: should the Home Alone parents be arrested for gross negligence? Is the Grinch high-key relatable? 

But the one argument that will forever cause a family meltdown: is Die Hard a Christmas film?

Is it an action movie set at Christmas, or is John McClane a festive hero? We’ll never get a definitive answer, but the search numbers prove we’ll keep watching the chaos.

Bruce Willis bounces back into the charts partly because some people rewatch it purely to win the family argument!

The newest addition to the charts is The Holiday, featuring Cameron Diaz and the ridiculously handsome Jude Law. 

It has surpassed How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the first time. Why the sudden love? Algorithm-driven Christmas escapism. Cosy cottage-core and 2006 Jude Law at his best – it was a hit waiting to happen.

Maybe one day, a new festive favourite will break into the hallowed list and earn a permanent place. 

But until then, the classics will keep topping Google searches – because at Christmas, above all, we love a familiar story.