Keller, who led the consortium that bought Strasbourg for one euro in 2012, has helped revive a club that were playing in the amateur fourth tier after financial collapse.

They returned to the Ligue 1 within five years, and are now competing on the European stage – two years after entering into the partnership with Chelsea.

“Discussions with Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly have been about how to create a smart multi-club model from the beginning, while using more financial power,” said Keller.

“We improved every year and were in a strong financial position before the takeover, but with new partners we can dream a little bigger and think about getting into the top six or seven to qualify for Europe every year.”

At the Stade de la Meinau, BlueCo’s investment is evident, with cranes finishing the stadium’s expansion from 26,000 to 32,000 seats – the final touches of a £157m redevelopment.

Walking around the modernised stadium, there is incredible attention to detail, including monuments to every male and female player to wear the blue jersey.

“The good balance is ambition but with tradition,” Keller said.

“We are investing a lot to set up an organisation around the team to help the players go higher. That’s in staff, data, physio, player care and scouting networks.”

Sporting director David Weir was hired last month, after leaving Brighton.

But, just as at Chelsea, Strasbourg’s squad had already been transformed by BlueCo – with £112m spent on building the youngest squad – averaging just 21.5 years of age – in the big five leagues. Chelsea are fourth – behind their partner club, plus Paris St-Germain and Parma.

Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos was the first to benefit from a move between the clubs – spending 18 months on loan at Strasbourg – and says he still watches their matches and texts manager Liam Rosenior.

“We try to work well with the technical team of Chelsea to have good players for Strasbourg,” says Keller. “It would have been impossible for us to have Mike Penders, Andrey Santos or Dorde Petrovic in the past, so that’s positive.

“Strasbourg and France is a good step for the young players to develop, and this BlueCo project is about building quality.

“We are investing a lot in a young generation. It can happen that one player per year is good enough for Chelsea. But our project is to have other players around top clubs in Europe, not just Chelsea. It’s not correct to say they are coming to go to Chelsea.

“They are coming to Strasbourg because of the ambition.”

Strasbourg sold £74m of players in the summer – including Dilane Bakwa to Nottingham Forest and former captain Habib Diarra to Sunderland, both for about £30m.

Takaichi’s suggestion earlier this month that Tokyo could intervene militarily if Taiwan is attacked has enraged Beijing.

Japan has denied a report that said United States President Donald Trump had advised Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi not to provoke China over Taiwan’s sovereignty.

In a news briefing on Thursday, Japan’s top government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said “there is no such fact” about an article published in The Wall Street Journal claiming that Trump had made such a remark to the Japanese leader.

He declined to comment further on the details of the “diplomatic exchange”.

The row between Asia’s two biggest economies began after Takaichi had suggested earlier this month that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

Takaichi’s remark ignited anger in Beijing.

After the incident, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping pressed the issue in a phone call with Trump on Monday, saying Taiwan’s return was an “integral part of the post-war international order”.

The WSJ reported on Thursday that, shortly after that phone call between the US and Chinese leaders, “Trump set up a call with Takaichi and advised her not to provoke Beijing on the question of the island’s sovereignty”. The report quoted unidentified Japanese officials and an American briefed on the call.

Takaichi said in her reporting of the call with Trump that they discussed the US president’s conversation with Xi, as well as bilateral relations.

“President Trump said we are very close friends, and he offered that I should feel free to call him anytime,” she said.

Beijing, which has threatened to use force to take control of the self-ruled island, also took other punitive steps to register its anger over Takaichi’s initial remarks in parliament on November 7.

It summoned Tokyo’s ambassador and advised Chinese citizens against travelling to Japan.

As the diplomatic row escalated, the Chinese embassy in Tokyo issued a new warning to its citizens on Wednesday, saying there had been a surge in crime in Japan, and that Chinese citizens had reported “being insulted, beaten and injured for no reason”.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry denied any increase in crime, citing figures from the National Police Agency in response that showed the number of murders from January to October had halved compared with the same period in 2024.

Last week, Japanese media reported that China will again ban all imports of Japanese seafood as the diplomatic dispute between the two countries escalated.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated on Thursday a call for Japan to officially retract Takaichi’s comments.

“The Japanese side’s attempt to downplay, dodge, and cover up Prime Minister Takaichi’s seriously erroneous remarks by not raising them again is self-deception,” Guo told a regular news briefing.

“China will never accept this.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s public silence on Japan’s escalating dispute with China has further frayed nerves in Tokyo.

Some officials worry that Trump may be prepared to soften support for Taiwan in pursuit of a trade accord with China, a move they fear will embolden Beijing and cause conflict in an increasingly militarised East Asia.

“For Trump, what matters most is US-China relations,” said Kazuhiro Maejima, a professor of US politics at Sophia University.

“Japan has always been treated as a tool or a card to manage that relationship,” Maejima told Reuters news agency.

Washington’s envoy to Tokyo has said the US supports Japan in the face of China’s “coercion”, but two senior ruling party lawmakers said they had hoped for more full-throated support from their top security ally in Washington, DC.

Poland’s next submarines will be provided by Sweden, in the shape of the advanced A26 class. Under the long-running Orka acquisition program, Warsaw announced today that it will buy three of the boats, which use an air-independent propulsion system, to replace the Polish Navy’s single Soviet-era Kilo class submarine. The new multirole subs will be able to launch and recover uncrewed underwater vessels (UUVs), as well as be used for minelaying, intelligence collection, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and more.

The Saab design was chosen in favor of competing offers from France’s Naval Group, Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Italy’s Fincantieri, South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, and Spain’s Navantia.

“We are honored to have been selected and look forward to the coming negotiations with the Armaments Agency in Poland,” said Micael Johansson, president and CEO of Saab, in a statement announcing the order today.

“The Swedish offer, featuring submarines tailored for the Baltic Sea, is the right choice for the Polish people. It will significantly enhance the operational capability of the Polish Navy and benefit the Polish economy,” Johansson added.

The Swedish offer was made by the country’s government on behalf of Saab. At this point, no contract has been signed, but Saab and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) will now complete the procurement process together with Polish authorities.

Statements on Poland’s selection of the A26 were also provided by the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, and Pål Jonson, the Swedish Minister of Defense:

Poland has chosen Sweden as partner for its submarine program.

This shows the strength not only of the cooperation between our countries, but also of Sweden as a defense-industry nation. It is confirmation that the Swedish defense industry stands strong. Saab has a… pic.twitter.com/WhSFlQru7n

— Ulf Kristersson (@SwedishPM) November 26, 2025

🇵🇱🇸🇪Today is a historic day for the Swedish-Polish partnership and for increased security in the Baltic Sea. Poland has selected Swedish submarines for the Polish navy. This will strengthen our common defence, security, and defence industrial base. pic.twitter.com/2WjiSu8o5L

— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) November 26, 2025

Saab says that the deal will include industrial cooperation with Poland as well as technological transfer, as part of a broader strategic partnership between the two countries. For Sweden, the first export customer for this promising design provides a significant boost to the program, at a time when delays and cost overruns mean it’s much-needed. A total of five boats increases the demand for in-service support, and the Polish seal of approval could open the door to more exports.

Although it has been reported that the three submarines will cost $2.52 billion, it remains unclear when they might be delivered.

The A26 uses air-independent propulsion (AIP), a technology that The War Zone has examined in detail in the past. Specifically, as well as diesel engines, this employs a Stirling-type engine as previously used in the influential Swedish Gotland class design. The Stirling auxiliary engine burns liquid oxygen and diesel to drive electrical generators that can be used for either propulsion or charging the batteries. The result is a conventionally powered submarine that’s able to remain submerged for reportedly more than 18 days, without needing to surface or use a snorkel.

The A26 has the option of being fitted with vertical launch system (VLS) cells, compatible with Tomahawk land attack missiles, which might be of interest to Poland as it seeks to reinforce its long-range strike capabilities.

Another notable feature of the A26 design is its sail, which is raked along its leading edge and which flares out toward the top. As we have discussed in the past, this feature is understood to have been chosen to increase its stealth characteristics. The A26 also features an X-form rudder. As we have discussed in the past, this configuration provides improved maneuverability, efficiency, and safety, and also helps reduce the acoustic signature across significant parts of the submarine’s operating envelope compared to the more traditional cruciform system.

Other details of the A26 design include a length of around 217 feet and a surfaced displacement of 2,122 tons. The submarine has a standard complement of just 26 sailors but can also accommodate up to 35 more, including commandos for special forces missions. The commandos can be delivered via the Multi-Mission Portal, similar to an oversized torpedo tube, which provides access to a flexible payload lock.

The A26 is also being built for the Royal Swedish Navy, with two Blekinge class boats under construction at Saab’s Kockums shipyard in Karlskrona. Originally planned to be handed over in 2024 and 2025, it recently emerged that delays would push the delivery of the first of these boats to 2031, while increasing costs will see the program reach a price tag of 2.3 billion Euros (around $2.7 billion). The second Swedish submarine is scheduled to be delivered in 2033. Between them, the new boats will replace the Royal Swedish Navy’s two Södermanland class submarines.

Buying three advanced submarines marks a major advance for the Polish Navy, which has, for many years, only had a single Project 877E Kilo class submarine, the ORP Orzel, in its fleet. The age of this boat and the impossibility of obtaining spare parts and support from Russia mean that it’s unclear if the Orzel is currently operational.

As Saab’s Johansson pointed out, the Polish Navy will be getting a submarine that has been purpose-designed for the Baltic Sea. Notably shallow and confined, with dense littorals, including complex undersea obstacles and islands, the Baltic imposes very particular requirements on submarine designs, something that has long been reflected in successive classes built in Sweden (as well as in Germany).

In particular, the Baltic environment calls for diesel-electric submarines that are able to transit covertly in areas with a water depth of less than 82 feet and operate in an environment with a potentially high density of anti-submarine warfare forces and naval mines.

Warsaw’s investment in the three new submarines is just one part of a much larger defense spending spree — what the Polish Armed Forces themselves describe as “one of the highest levels of defense spending in NATO.”

The Polish Air Force is gearing up to receive 32 F-35A fighters, which will be armed with long-range precision weapons. Dozens of FA-50 light combat aircraft are also being delivered.

Poland’s first F-35 is on the move! 🏃‍♂️

AZ-01 has been moved to the final finishes facility to receive its stealth coating, bringing it one step closer to rollout.

Poland’s 32 F-35s will strengthen NATO and European allies in the region. pic.twitter.com/N8TqsMHBLG

— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) July 31, 2024

Within the air defense branch, Poland plans by 2032 to introduce new air and missile defense systems procured under the Narew and Wisła programs, which cover the short-range and medium-range air defense segments, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Polish Land Forces are getting 250 of the latest Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tanks, worth up to $6 billion, that will serve alongside a similar number of German-made Leopard 2s already in use. The Land Forces also expect to benefit from additional investments in operational fires, including new tube and rocket artillery, which will be employed in combination with 96 new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. Furthermore, a significant South Korean arms package includes tanks, short-range ballistic missiles, and self-propelled artillery, as well as the aforementioned FA-50s.

Alongside the new submarines, Polish naval capabilities are also being reinforced by new coastal missile units and mine warfare technologies.

All of this military buildup comes in direct response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, which has provided Poland with a salutory reminder of the importance of robust defenses. With its choice of the A26 class, Poland will be getting one of the most capable conventionally powered submarines available and making another statement about how strongly it takes its defense.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

Former The Only Way Is Essex sisters Sam and Billie Faiers, who have made their fortune off of reality TV, have announced their joint reality show has been axed after just one series

Sam and Billie Faiers have faced a bitter career blow as their joint reality TV show has got the chop after just one series.

The reality TV sisters, who shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex before taking on their own hugely-successful series The Mummy Diaries, joined forces yet again last year – four years after The Mummy Diaries came to an end.

Sisters Sam, 34, and Billie, 35, came back together in Sister Act, which was filmed last year and premiered in August this year. However, Sam has now revealed the programme will not continue, which she says is due to a heavy workload.

Sam, who has been with partner Paul Knightley since 2014, revealed the news during a Q&A session on her Instagram stories on Wednesday, after a fan asked: “Love watching you and Billie on Sister Act, will we see another series soon?”

Revealing the news, Sam replied: “Billie and I had the best time filming Sister Act last year. It was honestly such a special experience. We don’t have any plans for another series right now as work is pretty full on for both of us.”

Despite Sam’s claims that the decision was taken due to workload, it has been reported that unexpected low rating figures are a factor in Sister Act facing the chop. An insider told The Sun: “Sam hadn’t been on TV in a while and it doesn’t look like viewers missed her.

“Viewing figures weren’t what they hoped, and a lot of the show was based around the sisters selling products, which felt a bit like one long advert.” Sister Act came off the back of Sam and Billie’s ITV reality show, The Mummy Diaries, which documented their lives as parents.

Sam and her partner Paul Knightley – who share children Paul, nine, Rosie, seven, and three year old Edward together – quit the programme in 2021.

After Sam left, Billie and her husband Greg Shepherd – who are parents to Nelly, 11, Arthur, eight, and two year old Margot – continued with the show and renamed it The Family Diaries, which came to an end in 2024.

In one episode of Sister Act, some viewers slammed Sam for offering “dangerous” medical advice to Billie, ahead of Arthur getting his tonsils removed following “six” bouts of tonsillitis. Billie said: “Arthur is getting his tonsils out. He had tonsillitis, I’d say six times last year, and it made him so poorly.

“When the doctor looked at them, straight away he said to me, ‘Nah…’ he went ‘They are really, really unhealthy tonsils. But tonsils serve no purpose in your body.”

Sam feared that if Arthur had his tonsils removed, his body would not be able to tell him or other people that he is ill. Sam said: “Everything in your body serves a purpose.

“When you’re not well, and something inflames in your body, or your tonsils are raised, or your hair is falling out, or you’ve got a rash, it’s because your body is telling you something isn’t right.

“So it’s Arthur’s body’s way of telling him I’ve got an allergy, or you know, I’ve got a virus, and that’s his way. So when they’re out, how else is his body going to tell you that something is wrong?”

One viewer blasted Sam on social media, writing: “Don’t ever mess about waiting for tonsils out mine was left when I was you by 17 rushed into hospital because it made me soo ill had swollen all over from leaking I’ve had fibromyalgia for 15 years nothing can help and now serve arthritis all over from sport pus single parent disabled daughter I wish I could dream everything be OK with positivity or a cream or holistic but life not like that.”

And another penned: “She’s no doctor and shouldn’t be allowed to give advice that’s dangerous.”

European country prepares for two waves of nationwide strikes in November and December which could cause “major disruption” – and UK tourists are being warned to be prepared

Brits planning trips to Italy this November or December are being warned to brace for “major disruption” across the country on three key dates. Families visiting loved ones, holidaymakers enjoying winter breaks, and those heading to festive Christmas markets should prepare for significant transport chaos as Italy faces two waves of national strikes.

Industrial action will kick off today, Thursday, November 27, continuing through Friday, November 28, with another strike scheduled for Friday, December 12, 2025. While disruption levels differ between regions and operators, travel specialists are urging anyone flying, catching trains or using local transport to expect delays, cancellations and drastically reduced services.

Italy’s biggest unions have announced a 24-hour rail strike running from 9pm on Thursday, November 27 until 9pm on Friday, November 28, affecting the entire Italian Republic. With workers downing tools across everything from railways to public services, travel chaos is anticipated along the nation’s busiest routes, including cities beloved by British tourists such as Rome, Milan, Venice and Florence.

The nationwide general strike on November 28 is set to impact multiple sectors, including transport. A second general strike on Friday, December 12, has been called by major union CGIL in opposition to the Italian government’s 2026 budget.

Yasmin Peskel, a travel expert at cabin charter company Blue Cruise, has warned holidaymakers not to assume their journey will be unaffected just because their specific route or airline hasn’t issued an alert yet, reports the Express.

She said: “Strike days in Italy rarely affect just one type of transport. Even when guaranteed services operate, they often run at reduced capacity, and the ripple effect can disrupt travel for the entire day.

“Flights may still go ahead, but passengers can face long queues, slower ground handling and delays getting to or from the airport.”

Yasmin also highlighted that while some rail and local transport services are “protected” by law during peak commuter hours, most travellers should anticipate reduced timetables throughout the strike periods, with last-minute changes likely.

She advised: “The most important thing is to stay flexible, even minor delays early in the day can snowball into wider disruption.

“If you’re visiting Italy’s Christmas markets, give yourself breathing room so the strikes don’t impact your plans.”

What travellers should expect: Because strike participation varies between regions and operators, not all disruption is uniform. However, travellers should be prepared for possible reduced rail services, especially outside guaranteed windows.

Other issues travellers may encounter are:

Possible last-minute train cancellations, even for pre-booked high-speed services

Slower airport processes due to staff shortages, even if flights operate

Limited bus, metro and tram services in major cities

Longer journey times, particularly when travelling between airports and city centres

Some flights during guaranteed protection windows, typically morning and early evening, may operate closer to schedule, but delays are still possible.

Yasmin’s advice for anyone travelling to Italy on or around the strike periods:

Allow extra time for every stage of your journey, especially airport transfers

Check your airline, airport and rail operator apps regularly for real-time updates

Book flexible or refundable tickets wherever possible

Plan alternative routes in advance, including taxis, airport shuttles or walking routes in cities

Expect crowds, both before and after strike windows

Avoid tight connections, including onward trains or excursions

Travel earlier in the day if your schedule allows, as later services are more vulnerable to cancellations

Key dates travellers should avoid if possible:

November 27 and 28, as there’s a nationwide rail strike and a general strike in Italy.

December 12, as there’s a country-wide general strike across Italy.

Travellers with bookings on these dates are urged to check for updates frequently, as service levels may change at short notice.

An amber weather warning has been issued on an island loved by Brits as locals and tourists have been told to stay ‘vigilant’ amid harsh conditions

A major Spanish island loved by British tourists has been hit by a winter storm that has covered the hotspot in snow and seen it battered by massive waves.

Locals and visitors sought cover from a freak hailstorm that brough extreme weather to Majorca, with a weather warning being issued for today. Tourist resorts on the island were turned white when a blanket of snow fell amid chilly temperatures on the Balearic island. The Spanish weather agency AEMET issued an orange weather warning on Thursday and told people on the island to be careful as even more harsh conditions could batter the holiday hotspot.

AEMET said: “Be vigilant and check the current weather forecast regularly.”

READ MORE: Incredible video shows hailstones ‘the size of baseballs’ battering homeREAD MORE: Massive Storm Alice floods rip through Spanish streets with cars swept away

The agency also warned people to be especially careful while visiting beaches and the coast, as 40ft waves are expected to batter the east of Majorca. The AEMET added: “Damage to people and property is possible, especially to vulnerable individuals or those in exposed locations.”

This storm led to terrifying 90kmph winds, which are expected to continue into the day. The shock winter storm also brought a blanket of snow to the island on Wednesday, amid the hailstorm.

Shocking images showed the size of these pieces of hail that smashed onto the island, with some locals saying they were the size of walnuts.

Yellow weather warnings was issued across the island yesterday but forecasters said the worst of the weather could be seen today.

A winter storm across southern Europe has seen temperatures dramatically drop across the typically mild area – and be a possible reason behind the shock conditions on Majorca.

Weather warnings were also issued on the Spanish mainland, with the heaviest snowfall expected around Santander, Bilbao and the Cantabrian Mountains, where 25cm of snow could drop within 24 hours.

Mountain zones inland from Santander were some of the areas on alert for around 20cm of snow, while several well-known places near Navarre and northern La Rioja could see up to 10cm. Even the normally milder inland region near San Sebastián is forecast to receive around 5cm as the cold air digs deeper across the north coast.

This comes as Brits could also be hit with heavy rain and snow in a storm that could reach the UK in just a few days. As much as 10cm of snow could settle in some parts of the nation.

Weather maps have predicted the chilly weather could sweep across the UK in the early hours of December 4. Rain is set to fall over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and southern parts of Scotland, while central and northern Scotland could see some serious snow.

Maps for December 5 show snowfall in England – initially be centred around the Yorkshire Dales and Pennines before spreading throughout the day. They suggest towns and cities like Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield could also see snow at around 3pm on that Friday.

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: During parts of Sunday’s game in Utah, LeBron James desperately motioned toward the Lakers bench for a sub. When asked after the game about a particularly labored stretch during the second quarter, James quipped that it wasn’t just that moment.

“First, second, third and fourth,” James joked Sunday in Utah. “Come get me.”

Two days later, James looked almost back to normal as he had season-high 25 points, showing he had no trouble pushing the pace in transition while the team was plus-18 with him on the court.

“It will get better every game,” James said Tuesday of his conditioning. “Today was another … testament to that. So great win for us, but I’m starting to feel better and better.”

Coach JJ Redick said the Lakers will be tracking James’ three-point shooting, play-making and transition points as indicators of how he is progressing in his return from sciatica that sidelined him for 14 games.

Here are more takeaways from Tuesday’s win over the Clippers.

UCLA BASKETBALL

Rori Harmon scored 26 points and No. 4 Texas held on to beat No. 3 UCLA 76-65 on Wednesday in the Players Era Championship.

After building a 23-point lead late in the third quarter, the Longhorns staved off UCLA’s late surge to advance to Thursday’s championship game.

Texas (6-0) will face South Carolina in Thursday’s title game, while the Bruins (6-1) will play Duke for third place.

Continue reading here

UCLA box score

USC BASKETBALL

Chad Baker-Mazara scored 23 points, Jaden Brownell added 16 points, and USC claimed the Maui Invitational championship with an 88-75 victory over Arizona State on Wednesday.

Baker-Mazara won the tournament championship for the second consecutive year after scoring 14 points in Auburn’s 90-76 victory over Memphis last season. Baker-Mazara made nine of 16 shots from the field against Arizona State with four three-pointers.

USC took the first double-digit lead of the game at 77-66 with 5:14 remaining on a basket by Ezra Ausar. The Trojans drew an offensive foul under the ASU basket and Jordan Marsh sank a jumper from the free-throw line to make it 81-69.

Continue reading here

USC box score

RAMS

From Gary Klein: The Rams, the team with the best record in the NFC, are getting stronger.

On Wednesday, the Rams designated receiver Tutu Atwell and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon to return from injured reserve. Both could play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., coach Sean McVay said.

The Rams also placed cornerback Roger McCreary on injured reserve, claimed cornerback Derion Kendrick off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks and signed veteran tight end Nick Vannett to the roster.

Continue reading here

DUCKS

Max Sasson and Drew O’Connor scored in a late 2:10 span, Nikita Tolopilo made 37 saves in his first NHL appearance of the season and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Ducks 5-4 on Wednesday night.

Sasson gave Vancouver the lead with 4:02 remaining on a tip, and O’Connor followed with 1:52 to go on a wrist shot. Cutter Gauthier got one back for the Ducks with seven seconds left, his 14th of the season.

Jackson LaCombe, Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish added goals for the Ducks, who have three victories in the first five games of a six-game homestand.

Continue reading here

Ducks summary

NHL standings

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

1913 — Notre Dame and Texas meet for the first time in a Thanksgiving showdown. Both carry perfect records into the game, with Notre Dame not losing a game in three years and the Longhorns on a 12-game winning streak. The Fighting Irish build on a 10-7 halftime lead, scoring 20 unanswered points for a 30-7 win at Austin, Texas. The win gives Notre Dame a 7-0 season for rookie coach Jesse Harper.

1947 — Howie Dallmar of the Philadelphia Warriors sets an NBA record for the most field-goal attempts with none made (15) in an 81-59 loss to the New York Knicks.

1949 — Steve Van Buren of the Philadelphia Eagles becomes the second NFL player, the first in 16 years, to rush over 200 yards. He runs for 205 yards in a 34-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1960 — Trailing 38-7, the Denver Broncos score 31 points to salvage a 38-38 tie with the Buffalo Bills.

1960 — Detroit’s Gordie Howe scores his 1,000th point with an assist, and the Red Wings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0. It’s Howe’s 938th NHL game.

1961 — Detroit’s Gordie Howe becomes the first to play 1,000 NHL games.

1965 — Gordie Howe becomes the first NHL player to score 600 goals. The milestone comes in Detroit’s 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

1966 — The Washington Redskins set an NFL regular-season record for most points in a 72-41 victory over the New York Giants. Both teams also set records with 16 TDs and 113 total points.

1980 — Dave Williams returns Eddie Murray’s opening kickoff in overtime 95 yards to give the Chicago Bears a 23-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The Bears tied the score with no time remaining in regulation.

1994 — Joe Montana of the Kansas City Chiefs becomes the fifth quarterback to surpass 40,000 passing yards in a 10-9 loss at Seattle.

1998 — Texas’ Ricky Williams becomes the leading rusher in Division I-A history, breaking Tony Dorsett’s record set 22 years earlier.

2009 — Graham Gano kicks a 33-yard field goal in overtime to give the Las Vegas Locomotives a 20-17 victory over the Florida Tuskers in the inaugural UFL championship game.

2011 — The Connecticut women’s basketball team wins its 89th straight at home to set an NCAA record, beating Dayton 78-38 behind freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis’ 23 points.

2015 — James Harden scores 50 points to lead Houston past Philadelphia 116-114 for the 76ers’ 27th straight loss dating to last season, the longest losing streak in major U.S. pro sports. The previous record was set by the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976-77 and matched by the 76ers in 2013-14.

2016 — Justin Tucker makes all four of his field-goal attempts, including ones from 52, 54 and 57 yards, in Baltimore’s 19-14 victory over Cincinnati. Tucker has made 34 field goals in a row, including 27 this season, and has connected on all 15 conversion. It is Tucker’s 11th game with at least four field goals since entering the NFL in 2012.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

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

Photographer Yasin Akgul says he will continue on his path ‘with even more reporting’ following his acquittal.

A Turkish court has acquitted four journalists accused of taking part in an allegedly unlawful demonstration they were covering in Istanbul earlier this year.

The ruling was issued on Thursday morning after the court found no evidence that the media workers – a photographer with the AFP news agency and three local journalists – had committed any offence, according to AFP and local media reports.

Those cleared are AFP’s Yasin Akgul, Ali Onur Tosun of Turkish broadcaster NOW Haber and freelancers Bulent Kilic and Zeynep Kuray.

Turkiye’s Hurriyet Daily News reported three other journalists had also been acquitted.

The reporters were arrested in March amid a mass protest movement triggered by the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is a critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish government has rejected accusations of political interference, insisting the judiciary acts independently.

They, along with thousands of protesters, had been accused of violating Turkiye’s Law 2911 on meetings and demonstrations – a measure rights groups say is used to curb peaceful assembly.

Supporters of Law 2911 say that it is necessary for public order to regulate all protests and assemblies. They cite its legal basis for dispersing gatherings that impede public movement or violate security instructions.

‘Journalists must be allowed to work unhindered’

AFP, which had repeatedly called for Akgul’s acquittal, hailed the court decision.

“AFP welcomes the acquittal of Yasin Akgul and his colleagues. This case against photographers doing their job on the streets of Istanbul should never have been brought,” Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director, said.

“Journalists must be allowed to cover demonstrations and protests unhindered,” he added.

Media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also welcomed the decision in a case it has described as “unlawful”.

AFP’s Akgul said the decision was expected even though it came late. “Now that the psychological strain of the trial process and my difficulty in focusing are gone, I will continue on my path with even more reporting,” he told AFP after the verdict. “The right decision has been made. I hope that other journalists who are still inside will also be freed as soon as possible.”

KATIE Price has revealed that her son Harvey will be put on a NEW fat jab after a series of trials.

Despite fans thinking Katie had put Harvey, 23, on fat jabs – the glamour model did not, but will soon put him on weight loss injections.

The 46-year-old former glamour model appeared on her podcast, The Katie Price Show, this week and opened up about her eldest child’s weight loss goals.

Harvey has several complex medical conditions, including Prader-Willi Syndrome, which causes an excessive appetite and weight gain, and autism

“He’s not started fat jabs,” Katie revealed on her podcast today.

She went on to say: “There are talks of fat jabs – of Mounjaro – for him.

WORRYING

Alex Reid’s management shares update after Katie Price’s ex was rushed to hospital

TUB TIME

Katie Price strips completely naked for bath with her bald CAT

“But when he was there, they’ve actually got a new weight loss drug coming out, and it’s new.

“They’ve clinically tested it on people and they’ve got a few people they’re putting it on first.”

Katie then said: “And if it works, then Harvey can go on it in the new year.

“But they want him to start the Mounjaro. Because if he goes on Mounjaro first and then goes onto this new one, it will work a lot quicker.

“The reason he hasn’t started Mounjaro yet is because they were trying to get him to lose weight through his diet, to try all avenues,” she explained.

Despite not being on fat jabs yet, Harvey has still lost a substantial amount of weight.

Back in October, Katie opened up about how much weight he had lost.

“Last I heard, he lost 22lbs, is he still going?” Katie’s sister asked on their podcast last month.

Katie then revealed: “He’s lost a stone and a half. I can notice it on his chest, but not the belly yet.”

She then revealed how Harvey had smashed three very expensive items.

“He’s smashed three iPads this week,” she confessed at the time.

Reiterating it was three devices he has broken, Katie kept on repeating the word three.

She added: “I’ve had an expensive week.

“Three iPad Pros,” she repeated again.

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Katie then gave an insight as to why Harvey had smashed up his devices, saying it’s “because he misses mummy“.

It is not known what kind of iPad Pro Harvey broke, but the new iPad Pro, which comes out later this month, will retail at £999.

Being told at check-in your room has been upgraded is always a highlight during any trip, but as a former hotel receptionist, there’s one way that can help you secure that benefit

Having worked as a hotel receptionist for several years after leaving university, I picked up a few skills, whether that was answering an onslaught of calls or knowing every single room layout by memory. I also collected some rather handy tips, including how to bag that desirable free room upgrade.

One of the most sought-after requests from guests was whether they could have their room upgraded. I get it. You’re away for a romantic weekend and want to make it extra special, without forking out extra. But asking us two hours after check-in on a Friday night isn’t going to cut it.

I worked at a luxury hotel & spa comprising 35 rooms, and upgrades were typically prioritised for those celebrating a special occasion, be it a birthday or anniversary. If a higher category of room were available, we would do our very best to offer it to the lucky guest.

Another factor to note is that upgrades can be arranged the night before, so if you’re hoping to request one at check-in at 3 pm, there’s a very slim chance an upgrade will be available. While this can vary from hotel to hotel, we would know our upgraded guests well in advance of check-in time.

Despite this, there’s still a nifty way to help secure that free upgrade – by arriving early. Understandably, not everyone will want to arrive before official check-in time and potentially face a wait until their room is ready, but it could be well worth it. I’ll explain why.

While the upgrades are often in place for the next batch of arrivals, with key cards already assigned to guests, things can change. If you arrive early and inform us that it’s a special occasion, despite not mentioning it when you made the booking, we’ve got time to jiggle some rooms around – it’s surprising how many guests forget to mention the reason for their stay.

And it doesn’t need to be a special occasion. Upgrades are offered when and where they are available.

If we’re feeling extra nice, and it’s busy around the hotel, we might offer you an upgrade there and then, even if that means bumping someone’s once-upgraded room down. Our guests weren’t told if they had been upgraded until their arrival, so if anything changes, they are none the wiser, and we’d rather get you settled in your room.

Additionally, last-minute cancellations can and do happen, so if we suddenly had an empty room available that morning, you could be the one who joyfully gets to experience a two-storey suite with a roll top bath, because after all, first-come, first-served. Time is everything in the hospitality industry; it’s fast-paced and hectic, so arriving early allows us to gracefully offer that benefit before a mad rush of check-ins.

And that’s not all. Often, rooms can be ready long before 3pm, not all of them, but a vast number are waiting for their next visitors. At our hotel, if your room was ready, even if it was well before 3 pm, we would take you over. It not only helps you start your stay, but it also helps us deal with one less check-in during peak time on a Friday night.

Another perk of this is that if you arrive early and your room is ready, you have the luxury of time to check that you’re happy with your room. All of our rooms were unique with various styles, spaces, layouts and hotel views, so guests would often have a preference for what they desired after seeing photos on the website. (Side note: Photos on a hotel website do not always represent the room you will get, so be prepared).

But, if you check in early and aren’t completely satisfied with your room, we’d have the flexibility to easily move you to another one before another guest shows. After 3pm on a Friday, this is incredibly rare for a hotel of our size, but arriving just an hour or two earlier can make all the difference.

A Which? survey of thousands of customers judged Coaching Inn Group to be the best in the UK. Fresh from a trip to the Wetherspoons hotel, Milo Boyd went to see what all of the fuss is about

A lesser-known hotel chain has just been named the best in the country.

Earlier this month, a panel of 4,631 customers judged Coaching Inn Group to be the best in the UK. The chain has 36 individual hotels across the country, so I decided to hop on a train to Sheringham and then cycle across the beautiful North Norfolk countryside to the Manor Coastal Hotel and Inn in Blakeney to see what all the fuss is about.

During my first evening at the hotel, the lights cut out, prompting a quick fix from the staff. Minutes later – darkness. Off and on they went until defeat was conceded, prompting the arrival of candles. If anything, the effect was cosier, especially with a howling wind hammering against the windows throughout the night. Such unexpected acts are liable to happen, particularly at a rural hotel deep in the Norfolk countryside.

In 2013, the Manor suffered a far more serious misfortune. On 5 December, thousands across Norfolk and Suffolk were ordered to leave their homes as a great storm surge caused riverbanks to burst, sending houses toppling into the water. The cost of the damage was estimated at £1bn.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

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OPINION

Milo Boyd

“It happened so quickly,” Sophie, one of half a dozen of the Hill family who work in the Manor, told me, before showing how high the water rose as it rushed through the bar. “We weren’t fully open again until the following summer.”

The hotel bounced back from the flood then, and has seemingly gone from strength to strength ever since. Today, it sprawls across a large section of land replete with a trickling fountain and stone arches that tempt you to walk through the maze of walled gardens and ancient mulberry trees.

In total, the Manor has 36 rooms, the cheapest of which can be booked for £99 next week. It is classic budget hotel fare, albeit of the quality end of the spectrum. A comfortable double bed, a medium-sized TV, and a well-decorated bathroom. Everything is solid and clean.

The most expensive room – The Mulberry Suite – is the size of a small flat and features not just a living room, kitchenette, and two bathrooms, but a twin room as well as a master bedroom.

As pleasant as the rooms are, they’re not the main reasons why a visit to the Manor is a good idea, nor why it won the Which? award. Those reasons are the location and the charming staff.

The location

Blakeney is a lovely place. Just metres from the hotel’s front is the River Glaven, which winds its way through the National Nature Reserve. If you do decide to follow it along to the North Sea, make sure you pick up a pair of wellie boots from the front desk, or else suffer the same waterlogged shoe and muddy-trousered fate as I did.

Blakeney Point is renowned for its seal colonies, with Beans Boat offering guided tours throughout the year. Now is a particularly good time to go, as the pupping season is in full swing. A slightly more unusual day out can be had at Langham Dome over by the RAF base. During WWII, moving images projected onto the inside of the Dome taught trainees how to shoot down enemy aircraft. Today, a group of veterans is on hand to explain how it worked.

Dozens of times throughout my stay, the tranquility of village life was disrupted, for a moment, by the sound of training jet fighters flying over the North Norfolk Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For me, that’s a big bonus.

In the 19th century, the coastal village was much closer to the sea than it is today. The estuary has silted up over the past 100 years, coinciding with the decline of the fishing industry in the area, which has prevented all but the smallest boats from reaching the quay. What was once a fishing village is now a tourism village. In the summer, Blakeney’s two pubs and three hotels are packed full.

The staff

For me, this is the real reason why the Manor scored so well, and why people keep coming back. Many of the staff have been there for well over ten years. About half of them seem to be members of the Hill clan, including Tore, Karen, Sophie and Wayne. They were all on hand at various points during my stay to ensure everything was in its right place and to offer insights into the local area. For me, and the chatty returning customers who knew staff by name, such warmth is a major plus. It transforms the hotel from a place to stay and eat for the night, to somewhere homely that you want to be.

The verdict

The average cost of a room at the Manor is £128. While that isn’t very cheap, in the Which? survey, the hotel was one of only two to score four out of five stars for value for money. The other was Wetherspoons. I visited the Spoons Hotel in Canterbury last week, where a room for the night can be yours for just £55 and the average price is £70.

What Spoons offers that the Manor doesn’t is energy and vibes. The downstairs area was packed with thirsty customers from across the age spectrum. Everything in the room was solid enough, especially given the price.

However, what the Manor serves up – and where it stands apart from the competition – is its ability to deliver a stay that feels premium for a (sort of) budget price. From the tastefully decorated interiors to the warm, spacious rooms; and the natural surroundings to the lovely staff; everything about the hotel feels extremely well done. It very much lives up to the hype.

Lewis Crocker is set to return to Windsor Park for a voluntary defence of his IBF world welterweight title next spring.

The Belfast fighter beat Paddy Donovan by split decision to clinch the vacant belt in front of a sold-out crowd at Northern Ireland’s national football stadium in September.

Crocker and Donovan’s fight – a rematch of their March contest which ended in Donovan’s disqualification – marked boxing’s return to Windsor Park for the first time since Carl Frampton’s victory over Luke Jackson in August 2018.

It is understood a defence is slated for 11 April, with an opponent expected to be confirmed in the next fortnight.

Crocker, who is unbeaten in 22 professional bouts, has been vocal about his desire to fight Conor Benn, who defeated bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr in dominant fashion in their Tottenham Hotspur Stadium rematch on 15 November.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI in the build-up to that fight, Crocker’s manager Jamie Conlan mentioned Benn and WBC champion Mario Barrios as options for the 28-year-old.

However, Englishman Benn this week told Boxing News, external Crocker “is not really a name that is on my radar”.

With a victory in April, Crocker would be expected to return to the ring in late summer.

Bamboo scaffolding, a centuries-old technique that was traditionally ubiquitous in Hong Kong, is under scrutiny for its role in the city’s deadliest fire in more than a century.

At least 55 people have died, and hundreds are still missing since scaffolding at a housing estate in Tai Po district caught fire on Wednesday, according to the latest government figures.

Bamboo is cheap, lightweight, and strong enough to withstand the city’s many typhoons and tropical storms. Hundreds of bamboo poles can often be seen lashed together on the side of a modern office tower.

But could one of Hong Kong’s iconic symbols also have served as the kindling for one of its most horrific tragedies in decades?

How is bamboo scaffolding used?

Buildings or housing estates – like the one in Tai Po district – encased in bamboo during significant renovation projects are not a rare sight in the city-state. Sometimes, the scaffolding can remain up for a year or more.

Bamboo scaffolding is built by speciality workers known as “spiders”. They lash together bamboo poles to build intricate grid-like scaffolding that is then typically covered in additional netting to catch construction materials.

While the use of bamboo has faded in other parts of Asia, it has been hard to replace it completely in Hong Kong, even with options such as metal scaffolding, said experts.

“It’s light, cheap and fast to build with,” Ehsan Noroozinejad, a senior researcher and construction expert at Western Sydney University, Australia, told Al Jazeera. “Crews carry poles by hand, cut them on site, and wrap awkward facades without cranes. That speed and flexibility keep projects moving and costs down.”

Because it is “light and easy to cut”, bamboo scaffolding also fits the narrow living environment of Hong Kong, said Xinyan Huang, deputy director of the Research Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

But there are other reasons, too, why bamboo is hard to replace.

“It [Hong Kong] has a long history, so it is a tradition, and it is not easy to change tradition,” Huang told Al Jazeera by email. “Any change in the construction industry will meet much resistance from current players.”

There are 4,000 bamboo scaffolding workers in the city, Hong Kong Free Press reported, citing union figures, although the industry is on the decline thanks to increased competition from metal scaffolding and an ageing cohort of workers.

Is bamboo scaffolding dangerous?

Prior to the fire, most concerns around bamboo scaffolding have focused on worker safety.

There were 22 fatal workplace accidents involving bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong between 2018 and 2024, according to government figures. Six accidents occurred while new scaffolding was being built, while the rest took place during repairs.

Besides the fact that bamboo is by its very nature combustible, it is also structurally weaker and less stable than steel, according to Huang. He told Al Jazeera that it should be phased out for larger projects.

“I think the bamboo scaffolding can be used for small-scale applications, such as installing an air conditioning unit and replacing a window of a room. However, the large-scale usage such as covering the entire building facade should be stopped. Perhaps, a maximum area of bamboo scaffolding can be defined in future regulation,” he said.

What role did bamboo scaffolding play in the Tai Po fire?

The fire is the deadliest in Hong Kong in more than a century, since a blaze in 1918 at the Happy Valley Racecourse in British Hong Kong led to the deaths of more than 600 people.

Bamboo scaffolding played a big role in spreading the fire, according to experts like Anwar Orabi, a lecturer in fire safety engineering at the University of Queensland, although it was helped by other materials in the estate.

The fire broke out on the scaffolding of one of the estate’s towers on Wednesday, but the speed with which the fire spread took many observers by surprise. Orabi said the design of the scaffolding made it difficult to keep the blaze limited to just a few floors.

“In my point of view, the scaffolding presented a path for the fire to spread vertically which compromised compartmentation. The fire ‘climbed’ the scaffolding, and ignited the multiple fuel sources in people’s homes,” he told Al Jazeera by email.

“Fire can break windows by imposing a strong heat flux [flow of heat] which heats up the glass and breaks it. It is also possible that many people left their windows open resulting in ingress of the fire. This resulted in a multi-storey fire,” he said. Heat radiation and embers from one building helped spread the fire to the next, he said, ultimately engulfing seven towers.

Hong Kong officials also say substandard construction materials were another contributing factor. The South China Morning Post reported that the netting placed over the scaffolding did not adhere to the fire code, citing local officials.

Senior police superintendent Eileen Chung said highly flammable Styrofoam boards had also been placed in windows in the housing estate’s lifts, public broadcaster RTHK reported, helping the fire spread.

Two directors and one engineering consultant from the company behind the construction have been detained, Chung confirmed.

Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee Ka-chiu, has promised that all housing estates undergoing significant improvements will now be inspected.

“The government has immediately arranged for inspections of all housing estates across the city undergoing major repairs, to examine the safety of scaffolding and building materials,” he wrote on Facebook.

IF you have always wanted to go on a ski holiday but thought they were too expensive, you are in luck.

This Black Friday, a limited new ski holiday deal is letting you spend a week on the slopes for under £100 each.

Launched by Sunweb, the seven-night stay includes accommodation and ski passes.

You have to be ready to book quickly, as the cheap holidays are only on sale until December 2.

One of the biggest bargains is staying in Val Cenis at the Résidence Les Toits Du Dévoluy, costing just £86 each.

The two room apartment sleeps up to four people, with the deal for seven nights, departing on April 11.

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One of the closest airports is Turin, and both Ryanair and easyJet fly there.

For another £86pp stay, you can stay in the resort of Superdévoluy in Le Massif du Dévoluy.

This is one of the biggest slopes in southern France so both beginners and pro skiers will be able to find something that suits.

This deal is much sooner, with the two-room apartment deal being for seven nights on December 13.

But it also means you can get in a great holiday just before Christmas.

The best airport to fly to is Grenoble, with both Ryanair and Wizz Air having cheap flights.

You will have to pay for your flights and ski gear yourself, although you can rent lots of the gear when you get there.

Another cheap deal is seven nights at Résidence Vacancéole La Turra also at Superdévoluy for around £136pp.

One skiing pro revealed how booking an April holiday can help you find the biggest bargain.

Ski Beat’s Laura Hazell told Sun Online Travel: “Around 1.5 million Brits go skiing every year.

“Often overlooked, but April is the go-to time for many ski experts and enthusiasts, with a more relaxed feel in the resorts, crisp virgin snow for an early morning start, and long lazy afternoons in uncrowded mountain restaurants.”

We spoke to the experts about the mistakes Brits always make on ski trips, and how to avoid them.

And a ski mum revealed the big mistakes people often make when booking a skip trip with kids.

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She told Sun Online Travel: “Decide if the holiday is predominantly for parents, with the kids looked after in Kindergarten or Ski School or if the idea is to spend family days skiing and playing together.

“Make sure that childcare, nursery slopes and non-ski activities are close to where you stay.”

Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen speaks to Talk to Al Jazeera about the prospects for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, whether Trump can bring Putin and Zelenskyy to the negotiating table, and why Europe insists on clear red lines. From frozen Russian assets to NATO deterrence and Finland’s unique position as a NATO member sharing a long border with Russia, Valtonen explains what a realistic settlement would require, and why she believes Moscow is still not interested in genuine peace.

The first, or maybe the second thing to be said about “The Artist,” a six-part comedy written and directed by Aram Rappaport, is that it streams from the Network, a free ad-supported streaming service Rappaport created to release his previous series, “The Green Veil.” The first three episodes premiere Thursday; the concluding three are due at Christmastime.

The second, or maybe the first thing to say about it is that it comes pulling a tramload of heavy talent — including Mandy Patinkin, Janet McTeer, Danny Huston, Hank Azaria, Patty Lupone, Zachary Quinto — which begs for it to be taken seriously, though that might not be the best way to take it.

Set in 1906, peopled with ahistorical versions of historical figures, the series is set largely in and around the Rhode Island “country home” of Norman Henry (Patinkin), identified by a title card as “an eccentric robber baron,” and seemingly what we’d call a venture capitalist today. (And one seemingly in need of capital.) Norman begins the series dead, carried out rolled in a carpet and set on fire like a Viking, before we skip back in time, meeting his wife, Marian (McTeer), who narrates from her journal and advises “the reader” that it is only on the final page that “you might be well enough equipped to tell fact from fiction, hero from villain.” I’ve seen only the first three episodes, so I have no idea, apart from where the story misrepresents its real-life characters. But that’s just poetic license and, of course, perfectly acceptable.

The staff, for no evident reason, apart perhaps from the house lacking “a working kitchen,” lives in tents on the front lawn. They’re called inside by bells, attached to cords running out the windows, labeled the Maid, the Ballerina, the Boxer, the Doctor. The ballerina, Lilith (Ana Mulvoy Ten), is a sort of protege to Henry; she believes he’ll arrange for her to dance “Coppelia” back home in Paris, the fool. (Their scenes together are creepy.) Sometimes we see her naked (though tastefully arranged) in a metal tub. Her dance instructor, Marius (David Pittu), is waspish, bitter and insulting. The boxer is a sparring partner for Marian, who works out her aggression in the ring. She’s told us that she loathes her husband, and he her (though he professes his love in a backhanded way).

Danny Huston plays Edgar Degas, the artist in the series’ title.

(The Network)

And then there’s the eponymous artist (Huston), eventually identified as Edgar Degas, real-life French Impressionist, who was not, in fact, literally stumbling around Rhode Island in 1906, and certainly not accepting a commission to paint French poodles. (So much French!) You are free to make the connection between the show’s ballerina and those he famously painted, and her nude in the tub with his masterpiece pastels of bathing women. But apart from bad eyesight, a hint of antisemitism and Huston muttering in French, there’s no substantial resemblance to the genuine article. Here, he seems half out of his mind, or half sober. He is quite concerned with getting paid, and I don’t blame him.

The news of the day is that another person from history, Thomas Edison (Azaria) is coming to the house, looking for an investor for his new invention, a Kinetophone, a peep show with sound, like a turn-of-the-century take on a virtual reality headset. (There was such a thing; it was not a success.) This sets up a long flashback in which we learn that Marian and Edison knew each other in college, and that he betrayed her. Next up are Evelyn Nesbit (Ever Anderson) and her mother (Jill Hennessy), who have booked it out of New York after Evelyn’s unstable husband, Harry K. Thaw (Clark Gregg), shot architect Stanford White in the rooftop restaurant of White’s Madison Square Garden. That happened.

It’s a loud show, with much shouting and some brief violence, which, in its suddenness, verges on slapstick, and some less brief violence which is not funny at all. There is a superfluity of gratuitous profanity; F words and the less usual C word fly about like bats at twilight, clutter up sentences, along with many rude sexual and anatomical imprecations. Most everyone is pent up, ready to pop. At the beginning of the series, setting the table for what’s to come, Marian declares, “This is not a story in the conventional sense”; it’s “a cautionary tale,” but “not a tale of murder. This is a story of rebirth,” presumably hers. There’s a feminist current to the narrative: The men are patronizing and possessive, the women — taken advantage of in more than one sense — find ways to accommodate, manipulate or fight them, while holding on to themselves.

One can see why Rappaport might have had trouble landing this series elsewhere, or preferred to avoid notes from above. Aesthetically and textually, it’s the sort of absurdist comedy that used to turn up in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, something like the works of Robert Downey Sr. or William Klein, or maybe an ambitious film student’s senior thesis, given a big budget and access to talent; in its very lack, or perhaps avoidance, of subtlety it feels very old-fashioned. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it bad, or for that matter good, but it seems to me the perfect realization of the creator’s idea, and there is something in that. And there are those three concluding episodes, which will bring in Lupone and Quinto, their characters yet unknown, and may move the needle one way or the other. In any case, it’s not something you see every day.

A major airline is offering free flights for UK passengers to encourage travellers to explore lesser-known regions away from overcrowded hotspots and help reduce overtourism

Travelling isn’t always cheap, especially when jetting off abroad when the expense of flights are thrown into the mix.

Yet, in a new initiative from a major airline, British and European travellers can bag free flights, but there’s a catch if you’re looking to book.

In a bid to help reduce overtourism in popular destinations, Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has partnered with the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) to offer free domestic flights this winter. This will allow passengers to take advantage of two complimentary internal flights with any inbound international booking.

The hope is that this will encourage travellers to explore some of the country’s lesser-known regions, from its diverse landscapes to its stunning coastlines, rather than the touristy hotspots, such as Tokyo and Kyoto. This is the ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and experience another side of Japan, while avoiding the crowds altogether.

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ANA flies to more than 40 locations across Japan, all of which are included in the deal, so there are plenty of breathtaking places to choose from, including Fukuoka, Hokkaido and Nagasaki. You could also venture to the Okinawa Islands, which have often been described as the ‘Maldives of Japan’ due to their pristine sugar-white sand and crystal clear, turquoise waters.

However, there are a few conditions that must be met to take advantage of the free domestic flights. Firstly, it only applies to travellers arriving from the UK or Europe, and you will have to pay for your own international flight into Japan with ANA.

The cheapest time to book a flight from London to Tokyo is in January, with prices starting from £821. This coincides perfectly with the initiative, as it will run from November 24 to January 31, 2026, with flights still able to take place outside of this time frame.

Passengers will be given standard class flights only with the scheme, and may have to pay tax and visa fees depending on their chosen location. However, domestic flights do not have to start and finish at the same airport, allowing for more flexibility to explore the country.

The airline notes that it hopes this limited-time offer will “make regional exploration… easier and genuinely affordable”, along with encouraging “deeper, more sustainable engagement with Japan’s culturally diverse regions”.

You can visit the ANA website for more details and to book your flights. ANA has also shared itinerary examples with a stay in Tokyo before venturing to the hidden gems to help make booking the trip even easier.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

ICONIC spots like Yellowstone and The Grand Canyon are about to get much more expensive for Brits.

National Parks in the US are making entry fees more expensive for tourists in an effort to “put American families first”.

The US government has announced that beginning January 1, 2026, non-residents will have to pay an additional fee to enter its National Parks.

Non-residents will have to choose between buying a $250 (£189.23) annual pass or paying $100 (£75.69) per person “to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee”.

The current entry cost for Yellowstone is $20 (£15.14) for anyone on foot – so in this case, the new fee would cost $120 (£90.82) under the new bill.

Passes can be bought online and downloaded onto mobile phone – or linked to physical cards for convenience.

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President Trump signed an order back in July to raise entrance fees at national parks for overseas tourists.

The additional fees will go into funding for conservation and maintenance at each site.

The Annual Pass cost for residents of the US will be $80 (£60.55) and throughout the year there will be ‘resident-only patriotic fee-free days’.

These include Memorial Day (May 25, 2026), Independence Day weekend (July 3-5, 2026), and Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2026).

In 2024, National Parks around America saw a record number of tourists with more than 330 million visiting its sites.

The country’s most visited parks are the Everglades in Florida, Yosemite in California and Colorado‘s Rocky Mountains.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said: “President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first.

“These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.” 

Along with the price hike for National Parks, visitors heading to America now face a ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ under new rules.

The new fee falls under President Donald Trump‘s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and has seen Brits paying substantially more to visit America.

The fee applies to anyone who needs a ‘non-immigrant visa’ – which includes people travelling for business, study and temporary work for more than three months.

It will cost around $250 (£189.22) and was introduced on October 1, 2025

The cost is on top of all existing visa application fees.

Individuals will pay the fee once a visa is issued and if an application is denied, then you aren’t charged the fee.

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For more on America, hear from one Travel Reporter who ditched New York City for upstate and found hundreds of vineyards, NASCAR racing experiences & world famous waterfalls.

And another writer who visits New York on a budget – from the best times to book cheap flights and where to find the tastiest pizza.

They were going to win. They were going to lose. All in one breath, all in one month.

Win. Lose. Win. Lose. Win. Lose.

Win!!!

Weeks later the chest still pounds, the throat still thickens, the mind still has not completely grasped.

The Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series championship this fall in pure dramatic art.

A catch worthy of a statue. An out at home plate by history-making inches. A cheating outfielder steals a victory. A struggling first baseman steals a marathon. A sore-handed catcher steals a title.

The greatest postseason game by one player in baseball history. The greatest World Series by one pitcher in baseball history. The greatest moment by a Dodger benchwarmer in baseball history, a guy so embedded in the landscape of Los Angeles sports that he will be forever known simply by two abbreviated versions of his name…

Miggy Ro.

Enough said.

It’s perhaps appropriate today to give thanks for the drama, thanks for the art, thanks for the breathtaking uncertainty of the diamonds of October.

Thanks, baseball, for creating the tableau for the Dodgers’ 13 most memorable playoff moments, one for every win, one for every scream, one for every occasion when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier.

Then it did.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ Nick Castellanos is out at third after Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts gets the throw from Max Muncy and applies the tag in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

South Korea on Thursday confirmed the successful launch of its homegrown space rocket Nuri, which took off from Naro Space Center, with the main unit of the 13 satellites deployed establishing communication with King Sejong Station in Antarctica.

The 200-ton Nuri blasted off from the center in the country’s southern coastal village of Goheung, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul, at 1:13 a.m., slightly behind the original plan of 12:55 a.m. due to a sensor issue.

According to the KASA and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the main satellite, CAS500-3, made communication with South Korea’s research center in Antarctica at 1:55 a.m., allowing experts to check the unit’s condition.

“The fourth launch of Nuri was successful,” Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said during a press briefing at the center, noting all satellites have been put into orbit.

“This was an important turning point in which the focus of the space ecosystem shifted to the private sector from the previous government-oriented approach,” Bae added, noting the government will make efforts to become one of the world’s top five space powerhouses in an unwavering manner.

Yoon Young-bin, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), echoed the view, while stressing the government’s plan to continue efforts to bolster South Korea’s space exploration capabilities.

President Lee Jae Myung hailed the successful launch of Nuri in a social media post, calling it “a moment that opens a new chapter” in the country’s space exploration history.

Researchers will continue to monitor the main satellite through communication with other ground stations, including those in the central city of Daejeon and Norway, space authorities added.

The CAS500-3, built by Korea Aerospace Industries Co., is a medium-class satellite unit developed using the standard platform technology from the first CAS500 model.

The satellite will conduct observations of Earth’s auroras and upper atmosphere, and be used in various experiments, including the verification of three-dimensional stem cell cultivation using bio 3D-printing technology.

About two minutes after liftoff, Nuri separated the first stage, followed by the second-stage four minutes and 30 seconds into the flight.

After reaching the target altitude of 600 km, Nuri separated the main satellite, along with 12 cube satellites.

The main satellite will be tasked with conducting space science research, including measurement of space magnetic fields and plasma along with observation of auroras.

Nuri’s flight ended at 1:31 a.m., completing its 18-minute mission. It will later reenter Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate as it falls.

South Korea first launched the Nuri rocket in October 2021, which failed to enter orbit while carrying a 1.5-ton dummy satellite. In June 2022, the rocket successfully put a Performance Verification Satellite (PVSAT) and a 1.3-ton dummy satellite into orbit.

The third launch was held in May 2023 with South Korea putting a next-generation small satellite and seven cube satellites into orbit.

The latest launch marked the first time for Hanwha Aerospace Co. to oversee the entire assembly process as part of the government’s long-term plan to hand over space technologies to the private sector.

South Korea, meanwhile, plans to carry out the fifth launch in 2026, followed by another in 2027.

Yoon said KASA will seek to secure additional funding beyond the sixth launch.

“We are planning to secure funds for the seventh launch (in 2028) as part of efforts to advance Nuri’s performance, although it has not been confirmed,” Yoon said, noting the administration aims to launch the rocket at least once every year starting with the eighth launch.

KARI noted Hanwha Aerospace will take on a broader role in the fifth and sixth launches in terms of launch and operation.

“Currently, Hanwha Aerospace is playing a secondary role (in the area), but it will take a more proactive role in the fifth and sixth launches and receive technology transfers related to the launch process,” said Park Jong-chan, director of the Korean Launch Vehicle Enhancement Program at KARI.

Park added that while the government does not plan to charge for satellites loaded onto Nuri for public purposes through the sixth launch, KARI will coordinate with KASA on how to assess costs when the launch is led by the private sector starting with the seventh launch.

Following the liftoff, spectators at a launch viewing site at the Naro Space Center erupted in cheers, lifting their phones to capture the historic moment in photos and videos.

Park Sung-wook, 40, who traveled from the central city of Dangjin with his son, said observing the launch in person was “overwhelming,” adding, “We came here at 3 p.m. yesterday to wait, and it was absolutely worth it.”

Kim Do-yun, a 22-year-old university student who visited Goheung with friends, said he had worried the rocket might be difficult to see at night, “but it was even clearer than I had expected, which was surprising.”

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One Reddit user recently posted six travel hacks they said “made my trips way cheaper and smoother”. The tips covered topics ranging from booking flights, to finding your way around and eating

Travel, whether it’s a relaxed few days on the beach with a cocktail, a fast-paced city break, or an exciting adventure exploring a foreign land, can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience – but it can also be very stressful. Whether it’s making sure you’ve packed everything you need, sorting out travel to and from your destination, and of course, remembering your passport, there are a lot of things to think about before setting off.

Thankfully there’s a wealth of handy tips online to help make any trip easier. One Reddit user recently posted six travel hacks they said “made my trips way cheaper and smoother”.

The first of these is to book flights online using your internet browser’s incognito mode. This allows you to browse the internet without storing history or data, meaning sites you visit won’t have any information about you and adjust prices accordingly.

The Reddit user said: “Check the same route on your phone’s browser, prices sometimes differ.” To access incognito mode on Google Chrome, click the three dots in the top right and click New Incognito Window. Others browsers operate in a similar way.

The second tip was: “Save the offline version of your Google Maps area before you even leave home.” This will allow you to navigate using your phone without relying on having internet access, and without using data abroad, which can be costly.

The next was: “Carry a cheap carabiner, hangs bags, locks zips together, secures stuff in hostels.” And the fourth tip concerned one of the most important parts of travelling. The user said: “Eat your big meal at lunch – same food, half the price in most cities.”

Something leaking in your bag can be a nightmare, and this can be doubly frustrating while travelling as you might not have a way of containing it or cleaning it up. The Reddit user has a solution for this. They said: “Always pack a ziplock bag: wet clothes, snacks, leaking toiletries, you name it.”

The final tip read: “Last one: When you arrive somewhere new, take the first hour slow, no rushing, just orienting. Saves mistakes and money.”

Reddit users added their own tips in the comments. One said: “Always bring safety pins! They can fix so many different problems and/or help other travellers.”

Another wrote: “My essentials case is small sewing kit (I collect the ones from hotel rooms), 5cm wide cotton adhesive tape (find it more versatile than duct tape), and superglue. Can fix almost anything with that.”

Someone else said: “Keep all important information in a small notebook. Key addresses, directions, passwords, etc, in case your phone battery goes dead, or your phone is lost or stolen. Have heard so many stories of people having major travel problems due to a dead or missing phone.

“Saves a lot of time, money, and stress. If traveling with a partner, never keep all wallets and phones in one bag in case one is lost or stolen. I’m a huge fan of traveling with Ziploc bags, packing blocks, bandannas, small fabric shopping bags.”

And a different user added: “Book hotels that offer breakfast if you are in an expensive city such as Reykjavik, Iceland. I stuff myself with good, delicious food that last me for the day.

“In between, I have tasting samples of baked goods or something very light to snack on. It’s well worth it since breakfast can easily cost about £22 ($30) per person anyway.”