Netflix has confirmed it is making a documentary on convicted child killer Lucy Letby and it will be launched next month

The moment Lucy Letby was woken up in bed by police officers storming to question her over the deaths of seven babies has been released in a new Netflix documentary.

The film will feature fresh evidence and testimonies from the convicted child killer.

In the footage released as part of a trailer, Letby is in bed when police enter her bedroom. They tell her: “I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.” Letby looks stunned by what she is being told.

Later when she is being questioned by police she is seen telling them emotionally: “I felt like I’d only done the best for those babies.”

The streamer has this morning announced a new film called The Investigation of Lucy Letby. The feature length documentary will be released on February 4 and includes “new materials and testimony” from the British police who investigated the case and “never-before-seen footage of Letby” during her arrest and questioning.

The documentary also includes contributions from the mother of one of the victims speaking about her experiences and involvement in Letby’s trial. This is the first time that a family member involved in the prosecution has spoken in a documentary.

A Netflix documentary on this subject has been rumoured for some time. In August 2025, reports suggests the global streaming giant is working with production company ITN to make the programme about the woman found guilty of murdering seven sick babies and trying to kill seven more in hospital. The news came days after experts urged the Government to delay the inquiry into the Letby case over concerns about evidence at her trial.

Those approached to take part in the TV documentary include outspoken statistician Richard Gill – who has called the conviction of ­Britain’s worst mass baby murderer a major miscarriage of justice. A source said: “This is sure to be hugely controversial, the show will be watched the world over. The people at the heart of this story are utterly devastated. Families of those involved in the case will desperately hope this programme treads extremely carefully.”

There has already been a number of documentaries about the convicted killer including on ITV, Channel 4 and BBC.

In ITV documentary Lucy Letby : Beyond Reasonable Doubt? there were a number of medical experts who are critical of large elements of the evidence used to convict her.

After two trials, Letby was found guilty of killing seven newborn babies and attempting to kill seven others in one of the most shocking murder cases in British history. She was handed fifteen whole life sentences, meaning she will never be released from prison.

Letby has failed twice in appeal. Instead, her defence team are attempting to use another route to get a judge to re-examine the case.

They have submitted an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent public body which examines potential miscarriages of justice.

In response to the ITV programme, the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Lucy Letby was convicted of 15 separate counts following two jury trials.

In May 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed Letby’s leave to appeal on all grounds rejecting her argument that expert prosecution evidence was flawed.”

On Tuesday it was confirmed Letby will face no further charges over additional deaths and collapses of babies that were investigated by police.

Cheshire Constabulary passed additional evidence to prosecutors last year for consideration, linked to eight potential offences of attempted murder and one offence of murder at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Another two allegations of attempted murder and murder were linked to one child at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Lady Justice Thirlwall’s inquiry report into how Letby was able to commit her crimes on a hospital neonatal unit is due to be published this year.

* The Investigation of Lucy Letby will be released on Netflix on February 4.

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JUST minutes from a faux ‘seaside’ town filled with ice cream parlours and arcades is one of the most rural train stations in the UK.

Cromford Station in the Derbyshire Dales welcomes just one train an hour and it is one of the most quaint in the country – there’s even a holiday cottage right on the platform.

Cromford Station opened to passengers in 1849 and is often considered one of the prettiest in the UK.

In 2024, it was highlighted by the BBC as one of the “plenty of picturesque stations closer to home.

The rural station was also named one of the ‘best’ British railway stations by The Telegraph by a writer who has visited more than 500 across the country.

The small station has two platforms, but since 1968, only platform one has been in use.

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Trains are operated by East Midlands Railway and head to Matlock – a journey that takes 6 minutes – Lincoln Central and Cleethorpes.

There’s usually just one train to each destination per hour.

The building that sits on platform two is what was once the old waiting are, now used as a holiday cottage aptly called ‘The Waiting Room Holiday Cottage‘.

The quaint cottage has been completely transformed with a bedroom, new kitchen, cosy living area with an open fireplace and even underfloor heating.

It has one bedroom but can sleep up to four people thanks to its pull out sofa and can be booked from £325.

This disused platform might also look familiar to Oasis fans as it was used for the Some Might Say single cover in 1995,leading to fans rushing to stay there.

Cromford itself is a small village with some of the prettiest spots being around Cromford Mill Pond.

Just minutes up the road is the larger town of Matlock Bath which has long been considered a ‘seaside town’ despite it being 70 miles from the coastline.

However, when you’re strolling along the River Derwent during the summertime, it will feel like you’re by the seaside as there are fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and arcades.

You can get beautiful cliff-top views over the water, and there are boat parades too – also known as the Matlock Bath Illuminations.

Discovering the town’s seaside charm is exactly what travel writer Catherine Lofthouse did when she visited a few years ago.

She said: “You will find this lively town at the bottom of a limestone gorge in deepest Derbyshire — not a county ordinarily known as a must-visit for a bucket and spade holiday.

“But Matlock Bath has been ignoring its inconvenient geography for centuries. Once famed as a spa resort, the town saw a decline in the fashion for mineral bath treatments.

“Instead there was the rise of railway travel in Victorian times, which encouraged locals to turn this village into an eccentric destination, caring not a jot that the nearest beaches are in Skegness or north Wales.”

Similar to other seaside towns like Llandudno, Matlock Bath even has a cable car.

Called the Heights of Abraham Cable Car, which is around a third of a mile long, it takes visitors right up goes up to the into the Peak District hillside.

When you get to the top of Masson Hill, visitors can explore Masson Cavern which has been turned into an immersive experience.

There’s also Great Rutland Cavern, Womble Mania, multiple viewing platforms, a sculpture trail, playground and a hilltop restaurant and cafe.

For families, Matlock Bath has another must-visit tourist spot – Gulliver’s Kingdom theme park.

In spring last year, the theme park opened a new thrilling ride called ‘Tree Top Drop’.

The drop ride at the park gives riders an incredible view of the park before suddenly plunging 15 metres.

Gulliver’s Kingdom has around 30 rides and attractions – it will reopen on March 14, 2026 for the season.

Entry to the park can cost as little as £24 if booked in advance, or £27 on the day.

Here’s another attraction minutes away from Matlock Bath…

Head to Crich Tramway Village for a fun day out – writer Catherine Lofthouse reveals why it’s the perfect family day out…

“My boys love a visit to Crich Tramway Village on the edge of the Derbyshire Dales, with its dramatic scenery over the Derwent Valley, trams of all shapes and sizes, historic buildings and fun for all the family.

“It’s the perfect place to visit if you’re gutted by the news that Blackpool’s heritage trams will no longer be spotted along the seafront as they cost too much to run. 

“But luckily Crich has several Blackpool trams from different eras, including an unusual open-topped one that looks more like a barge than a bus, that sometimes runs in nice weather.

“Once you’ve paid to visit Crich, your ticket is valid all year so you can go back as much as you like to ride the rails.

“A ticket covering either one adult and four children or two adults and three children is around £50, so it’s good value if you live close enough to make the most of visiting lots of times during the summer season.

“One little touch that my boys love is receiving an old coin on arrival, which is used to pay the conductor for your ticket on the first tram you board.

“Adults are given an old penny and children a halfpenny. It certainly helps get you in the spirit of days gone by, before you even step foot on a tram.

A visit to Barnett’s sweet shop, with jars of goodies and ice creams to choose from, is a hit with the little ones, while adults can enjoy a drink in the Red Lion, a pub that’s been reconstructed brick by brick from its original site in Stoke.”

For more on Derbyshire, here’s why Derby makes one of the best city breaks for an affordable holiday and fun attractions.

If you’re heading to the Peak District, discover these lesser-known spots from one local who grew up there.

One year ago this week, a case of measles was recorded in Gaines County, Texas.

It was the start of an outbreak that killed two children and sickened at least 760 people. Thousands more in the U.S. have contracted measles since.

In April, the Pan American Health Organization, an offshoot of the World Health Organization, will determine whether the same virus strain first recorded in west Texas on Jan. 20, 2025, has been transmitted without interruption in the 12 months since.

If it has, the U.S. will officially lose the measles elimination status that the organization conferred in 2000.

Meeting those requirements “took several decades of really hard work,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease specialist and emeritus professor at UC Berkeley. “Losing that distinction is an embarrassment for the United States. It’s another nail in the coffin for the credibility of this country.”

In public health terms, elimination means that a disease has become rare enough, and immunity to it widespread enough, that local transmission dwindles quickly if a case or two emerges.

Scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are studying virus sequences from multiple sites around the U.S. to determine whether more recent measles cases are descended from the original outbreak or were introduced from other locations, a distinction that could affect whether the U.S. keeps its status.

Regardless of the international committee’s ultimate ruling, what is clear is that a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease kept largely in check for a quarter of a century is surging back.

There were 4,485 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. between Jan. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In 2025 alone, there were 2,242 — the highest annual case count since the early 1990s.

“Measles is incredibly contagious, and it is the thing that comes first when you take your foot off the gas, in terms of trying to keep vaccination levels up,” said Dr. Adam Ratner, a New York-based pediatric infectious disease specialist and author of the book “Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children’s Health.”

“It didn’t have to turn out this way,” he said. “It doesn’t help us that there haven’t been clear messages from HHS.”

In March, after the first child death from measles in more than a decade in the U.S., Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a statement that noted vaccines’ effectiveness in preventing measles’ spread, but stopped short of outright recommending that parents vaccinate their children.

A month later, he posted on X: “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,” outraging many of his anti-vaccine supporters.

Yet as the year went on, Kennedy and the agencies he leads upended the nation’s vaccine delivery system, while publicly sharing misleading and inaccurate information about immunizations.

Kennedy dismissed the members of a key vaccine advisory committee to the CDC and replaced them all with handpicked appointees, many of whom have been openly critical of vaccines or have spread medical misinformation.

Late last year, the CDC altered its website on vaccines and autism to include inaccurate statements linking immunizations to the neurodevelopmental disorder. Earlier this month, the CDC abruptly slashed the number of diseases it recommends children be vaccinated against from 17 to 11.

While the CDC has not officially changed MMR vaccine recommendations, the agency’s conflicting actions and confusing statements have only further depressed vaccination rates, experts said.

“The messages that are coming out of this CDC are crazy. It’s hard for pediatricians. It’s hard for parents,” Ratner said. “Nothing has changed about how safe the MMR vaccines are … or how well they work. It is all the messaging. And I’m very concerned that that is speeding up, not slowing down.”

Vaccination rates in the U.S. were already dipping before Kennedy’s appointment to Health and Human Services. Only 10 U.S. states — including California — meet the 95% vaccination threshold required to prevent community transmission of measles.

Forty-five states reported confirmed measles cases last year, and at least nine states have logged cases in January alone.

“If you go to cdc.gov, you would expect to see a huge banner saying, ‘Measles outbreak, get your vaccine now,’” said Dr. Jeff Goad, a Chapman University School of Pharmacy professor and president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “And it’s not there.”

The Pan American Health Organization will review data from the U.S. and Mexico on April 13 to determine whether those two countries will endure the same fate as Canada, which lost its measles elimination status in November.

“Whether or not we officially lose elimination status is an academic exercise at this point,” said Mathew Kiang, an assistant professor of epidemiology and population health at Stanford University. “The reality is that without concentrated efforts to ramp up vaccination, we will continue to have these long, extended outbreaks across the U.S. We’re witnessing the results of a years-long effort to disassemble the vaccine infrastructure in the U.S. that has been accelerated by the current administration.”

Ruben Loftus-Cheek emerges as Aston Villa and Man Utd target, Spurs weigh up Crysencio Summerville move, Liverpool interested in Micky van de Ven and Nottingham Forest eye Kostas Tsimikas.

AC Milan and England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 29, is a target for Aston Villa, who are looking to bolster their midfield ranks after France international Boubacar Kamara, 26, sustained a serious knee injury. (Telegraph – subscription required, external)

Loftus-Cheek has also been offered to Manchester United, with exploratory talks having taken place. (Talksport), external

Villa have enquired about Fenerbahce striker Youssef En-Nesyri in the past 24 hours, and the 28-year-old Morocco forward will decide his future soon with Napoli and Juventus also interested. (Fabrizio Romano, external)

Tottenham are considering a £25m move for West Ham‘s 24-year-old Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville. (Mail), external

Liverpool are interested in Tottenham and Netherlands centre-back Micky van de Ven, 24, who is yet to sign a new contract with Spurs. (Mail – subscription required, external)

Manchester United are set to tell Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, 31, they want to keep him for another year and would like a decision from him before this summer’s World Cup. (ESPN), external

Nottingham Forest will allow Brazilian left-back Cuiabano, 22, to leave on loan this month, with Liverpool‘s 29-year-old Greece full-back Kostas Tsimikas, currently on loan at Roma, among their list of targets. (Athletic – subscription required, external)

Forest have had an offer for Napoli defender Mathias Olivera rejected, but remain in talks for the 28-year-old Uruguay international. (Tuttomercatoweb – in Italian), external

Celta Vigo have submitted a formal loan offer to Wolves for Fer Lopez, 21, and would cover all of the Spain Under-21 attacking midfielder’s salary. (Sky Sports, external)

Real Madrid are considering a move for Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, 28, who is open to a move away from Al-Hilal, with Manchester United also eyeing the former Wolves captain. (AS – in Spanish), external

Chelsea and England playmaker Cole Palmer, 23, is willing to return to Manchester to join Manchester United, although the former Manchester City player has a contact until 2033 at Stamford Bridge. (Express), external

Barcelona want to sign Manchester City captain, Bernardo Silva, 31, on a free transfer when the Portugal midfielder’s contract expires at the end of the season. (Nacional – in Spanish), external

Brentford and Nigeria defensive midfielder Frank Onyeka, 28, is being chased by Championship duo Sheffield United and Coventry City for a January move, while Valencia are also interested. (Standard, external)

Schalke have reportedly agreed terms to sign Bosnia-Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko, 39, who only joined Fiorentina in July. (Sky Sport – in German), external

CRUISE ships only seem to be getting bigger and better and a huge one is launching from Europe next year.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ship yet, named the Norwegian Aura, will set sail from Barcelona next summer.

The seven-day sailing from Barcelona in May 2027 will travel to Valetta, Salerno and Rome, before heading to its homeport in Miami in June.

The ship will be 344 metres long and be able to host up to 3,840 guests.

Onboard, the ship will have a number of attractions including the fleet’s first Ocean Heights attraction which will span three decks.

As a part of this, there will be a duelling mat racer waterslide, Aura Free Fall slide, The Wave pendulum-style raft ride and the Drop dry slide.

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Also at Ocean Heights, passengers will find a ropes course, a 7.6 metre climbing wall and an amusement park style area called Aura Midway.

On the ropes course, which sits 24 metres above the ship, passengers can make their way down the side of the ship – if they’re brave enough.

There will be play areas for various ages too, with an aqua park for children including a splash pad, interactive water features and family waterslides.

In addition to all of this, Ocean heights will also have mini golf and an overhanging cabana.

In total, the ship will feature six slides at sea – three waterslides, one dry slide and two waterslides in the Kids’ Aqua Park.

For those who prefer to miss out on adrenaline, then there is a funfair too, with traditional games, prizes and competitions.

Compared to other ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, the Norwegian Aura will have more outdoor space.

For example, on Ocean Boulevard, passengers can grab a bite to eat whilst taking in the view of the sea.

It is also where the ship’s coastal hideaway – Infinity Beach – can be found, as well as hot tubs and an outdoor bar.

At Vibe Beach Club, adults can sprawl across day beds and loungers – as well as escape kids for some time.

For another outdoor space, passengers can explore Horizon Park, which will be located at the very top of the ship.

Here, there will be lawn games and live music.

The Haven is the ship’s “elevated retreat’ with large suites including two-bedroom family villas with a large balcony and the three-bed duplex with two king beds, three bathrooms and a large balcony.

All guests of The Haven will also get access to the private restaurant by the same name, bar, lounge, pool and sundeck as well as a 24-hour butler and concierge service.

Other rooms on the ship include ocean-view rooms, balcony rooms, studios and suites.

Deck plans of the ship currently have a lot of areas that simply state ‘to come’.

However, there are a few areas that have names on the deck plans.

These include Adventure Alley and Little Explorer’s Cay on Deck 8.

On Deck 16 there is also the Haven Restaurant, Haven Bar, a sauna and an ice room.

Featured itineraries include a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean, from Miami.

The ship will call at Miami, Florida; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, before returning to Miami.

This cruise currently costs from £1,084 per person.

For more cruise news, these are five of the best cruise deals around Europe and the Caribbean.

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Today Disneyland is so fully formed that it‘s taken for granted. We debate ticket prices and crowd calendars, strategizing the optimal time to visit.

The new documentary “Disneyland Handcrafted” hits pause on all of that.

Culled from about 200 hours of mostly unseen footage, director Leslie Iwerks’ film takes viewers back to the near beginning, tracing the largely impossible creation of the park from a year before its opening.

“Can you imagine L.A. without Disneyland?” Iwerks asks me during an interview.

To begin to answer that question cuts to the importance of “Disneyland Handcrafted,” which premieres Thursday on Disney+. For while Disneyland is corporately owned and managed, the park has become a cultural institution, a reflection of the stories and myths that have shaped America. Disneyland shifts with the times, but Iwerks’ film shows us the Walt Disney template, one that by the time the park opened on July 17, 1955, was so set in place that it would soon become a place of pilgrimage, a former Anaheim orange grove in which generations of people would visit as a rite of passage.

Walt Disney surveying the Anaheim land that would become Disneyland, as seen in Leslie Iwerks’ film “Disneyland Handcrafted.”

(Disney+)

Iwerks comes from a family of Disney royalty. Her grandfather, Ub, was a legendary animator instrumental in the development of Mickey Mouse. Her father, Don, was a cinematic and special effects wizard who worked on numerous Disney attractions, including the Michael Jackson-starring film “Captain EO.” As a documentarian, Iwerks has explored Disney before as the director of “The Imagineering Story” and has a long career of films that touch on not just Hollywood but also politics and environmental issues.

Here, Iwerks reveals just how fragile the creation of Disneyland was.

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1. A worker applies gold detailing to the ornate spires of Sleeping Beauty Castle, showcasing the elegance and precision that defined the centerpiece of Disneyland Park. 2. A craftsperson applies paint to the stone facade of Sleeping Beauty Castle. 3. A glimpse of Sleeping Beauty Castle under construction. (Disney+)

Having watched the film now numerous times, there are many small moments that stick with me. A worker, for instance, carefully sculpting the concrete on Sleeping Beauty Castle just months before opening while a narrator speaks of the park’s rising cost. A construction vehicle toppling, with its driver escaping a life-changing accident by jumping out just in the nick of time as Disney himself talks up how there have been very few accidents. And the mistakes, such as frantically learning — and failing — at how to build a river.

That Disneyland is as popular today as it was in 1955 — the film reveals that more than 900 million people have visited the park — is no accident. We live in stressful, divisive times, and Disneyland was not only born of such a moment but built for them, arriving in 1955 in a post-World War II America that was adjusting to more internalized, less-overtly-visible fears. The specter of nuclear annihilation was now forever a reality, and the Cold War heightened the sense of uncertainty.

A fake world inspired by a real one that never existed, don’t mistake Disneyland for nostalgia. Disneyland seeks to reorient, to show a better, more optimistic world that only exists if we continue to dream — to imagine a walkable street, for instance, in which a fairy tale castle sits at its end. Disneyland isn’t so much an escape from our world as it is a place where we go to make sense of it, a work of live theater where we, the guests, are on a stage and can play at idealized versions of ourselves.

“Why do we care? Why does it matter?” asks Iwerks. “I think what matters, for Disneyland, is that Walt set out to create the happiest place on Earth. Right there, putting that stake in the ground. That’s so impressive. That’s so risky. And yet he did it by sheer belief that he wanted families to come together and experience a place they could come back to time and again, a place that would continue to grow and always be evolving through cultures, through time, through generations.”

The front gates of Disneyland under construction.

(Disney+)

What makes the film so poignant is that Iwerks essentially gets out of the way. The footage was initially commissioned by Disney and shot for use in the company’s then weekly ABC series, which was funding the park. Some of the clips have appeared in episodes of “Walt Disney’s Disneyland,” but very few. For that show, Disney was selling the public on the park. With the public having long been sold, Iwerks can show us the park in shambles, a dirt path entering a wood-strewn Frontierland while Harper Goff, then Disneyland’s art director, speaks of a frustrated Disney lamenting that half the park’s money is gone and it remains nothing but a pile of muck.

“This is what worry is,” Goff says in the narration.

“What rose to the surface was how much pressure there was during this one year,” Iwerks says. “It was impossible. It was building what ultimately was a mini city in less than a year, pulling together all those construction workers, all those people who handcrafted this whole park in record time using their own skills, artistry and storytelling.”

Adds Iwerks, “You can’t remodel your kitchen right now in a year.”

Since the film is a light cinéma vérité style, Iwerks doesn’t editorialize as to how it all did get done. But we see workers, for instance, straddling beams in Tomorrowland with no support, making it clear this was an era with fewer regulations. Iwerks herself points to the ABC funding, acknowledging that the arrangement simply necessitated the park being completed in a year. But when it opened, it was far from finished. Disneyland’s struggles on opening day have long been mythologized, be it stories of weak asphalt or plumbing disasters.

A craftsperson works on the yellow decorative trim of King Arthur Carousel in Fantasyland.

(Disney+)

Iwekrs is more interested in showing us the race against time, especially for a park that deviated from the light theming and simple rides of amusement parks of the era. Throughout the film’s hour and a half running time, Iwerks is making the argument that Disneyland simply wasn’t practical. Two months before opening we see a concrete-less Main Street while we’re told of a debate as to whether Disneyland should delay its planned July date. The decision was made not to, as the park was running out of money and there was a fear any push would ultimately kill it.

And in some ways it’s a surprise we’re seeing any of this. Iwerks notes the film was completed years ago, but sat on the shelf. She credits Disney executive Jason Recher with pushing it through. “I showed him a link, and he said, ‘This has to be seen.’ It takes someone with a vision to see that this could get out there and be appreciated by audiences,” Iwerks says. “I was thinking this would never see the light of day.”

The end result is a film that will likely be cherished by Disney fans but also admired by anyone interested in the making of an American classic. One of the most striking moments in the film is that of the cars of the Disneyland Railroad being ferried on trucks past downtown’s City Hall, a reminder that Disneyland, no matter its influences, its stewards or its changes, is a Southern California original.

Jan. 22 (UPI) — Nine Muslim-majority countries across the Middle East and Asia have announced their acceptance of President Donald Trump‘s invitation to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace intergovernmental organization, as they seek a permanent cease-fire to end the fighting in Gaza.

In a joint statement Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates said they “welcome” Trump’s invitation and will join his Board of Peace.

The foreign ministry of Kuwait followed hours later with a similar statement of its own.

The eight nations, led by Saudi Arabia, placed Gaza at the center of their acceptance.

The ministers said they “reaffirm their countries’ commitment to supporting the implementation of the mission of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration … aimed at consolidating a permanent cease-fire, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza and advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law.”

So far, at least 19 countries have agreed to join the Board of Peace, though no major European nation and several U.S. allies invited have either declined the invitation or remain uncommitted.

Trump first announced the board as part of a 20-point plan aimed at securing a cease-fire in Gaza, which has been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. On Friday, the White House announced the board’s appointed members, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, World Bank President Ajay Banga and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, among others.

While initially conceived to help bring an end to the two-year-old Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the board’s charter does not mention the Palestinian enclave, raising concerns over the scope of the board. Trump has suggested that it will seek to address other world conflicts, stating that “it might” replace the United Nations.

The announcement comes after Israel confirmed it accepted the offer on Wednesday, and Kosovo and Bahrain on Tuesday.

Concerns have also been raised about those invited to join, such as President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Both Trump and the Kremlin have confirmed that Putin was asked to join, and Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the U.S. president told reporters Putin had accepted.

“This is the greatest board ever assembled, and everybody wants to be on it,” he said. “But, yeah, I have some controversial people on it. But these are people who get the job done. These are people that have tremendous influence. If I put all babies on the board, it wouldn’t be very much.”

The Kremlin has yet to confirm.

Canada has indicated it is willing to join, but that it will not pay the $1 billion Trump is requesting as a fee.

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada, speaking during the World Economic Forum, said that Ottawa sees the board as a vehicle for peace in Gaza and that it should be designed to meet the needs there.

He said the board needs to coincide with the “immediate full-flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza” where “conditions are still horrific.”

“We think there’s aspects of the governance and the decision-making process that could be improved,” he said. “But we will work with others, obviously work with the United States because we can improve the situation there and to move onto a path to a true two-state solution.”

Asked if Canada is willing to pay the $1 billion fee, Carney replied: “We would write checks and deliver in kind to improve the welfare of the people of Palestine, but we want to see it delivered direct to those outcomes, those outcomes promoting peace.”

“I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private.

“Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.

“I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.

“For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family.

“The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.

“Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they’ll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade.

“But I believe the truth always comes out.

“My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn’t stopped.

“My mum cancelled making Nicola’s dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress.

“Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.

“They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated. My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since.

“During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me ‘evil’ because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola’s Naunni at our table, because they both didn’t have their husbands.

“Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.

“The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was ‘not blood’ and ‘not family’.

“Since the moment I started standing up for myself with my family, I’ve received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders.

“Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last Summer.

“My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song.

“In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead.

“She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.

“We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment.

“My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we’ve tried to come together as one.

“My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable.

“Despite this, we still travelled to London for my dad’s birthday and were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him.

“He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.

“When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn’t invited. It was a slap in the face.

“Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all.

“My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first.

“Family ‘love’ is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it’s at the expense of our professional obligations.

“We’ve gone out of our way for years to show up and support at every fashion show, every party, and every press activity to show “our perfect family.”

“But the one time my wife asked for my mum’s support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.

“The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety.

“For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared. I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief.

“My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press, or manipulation.

“All we want peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.”

Global stock markets rallied on Thursday as US President Donald Trump rolled back tariff threats linked to Greenland.

Attending the World Economic Forum’s annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said he had agreed the “framework of a future deal” on Greenland after meeting with Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary-general.

The president claimed he would not use military force to seize the island from Denmark, and also dropped plans to impose extra tariffs on European countries from 1 February.

Details of the future deal are scarce, although investors were visibly cheered by the de-escalation.

Just after the opening bell in Europe, France’s CAC 40 traded 1.31% higher, Germany’s DAX saw a 1.23% lift, Spain’s IBEX 35 was up 1.05%, while Italy’s FTSE MIB rose 0.97%. The UK’s FTSE 100 traded 0.76% higher, while the wider STOXX Europe 600 was up 1.15%.

A global boost as tensions ease

The optimism in Europe mirrored movements in Asian markets, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 1.73%, China’s SSE Composite Index up 0.14%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 up 0.75%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng drifted less than 0.1% higher, while South Korea’s Kospi saw a 0.87% boost, breaching the 5,000 mark for the first time and closing at a record 4,952.53.

Over the last 12 months, the Kospi has emerged as the world’s best-performing index on the back of the AI boom, with South Korea home to pivotal chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

Semiconductor firms, which are already highly valued, saw their stocks climb even further after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang spoke at Davos on Wednesday. Huang claimed that the AI transition would require trillions of dollars of investment, easing fears around overvaluations — at least for now.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which tracks 30 US semiconductor companies, closed 3.18% higher on Wednesday.

Looking at broader US sentiment, S&P 500 futures traded 0.40% higher, Dow Jones futures were up 0.20%, while Nasdaq futures rose 0.64%.

Gold and US Treasuries

As EU-US tensions eased, demand for safe haven assets slid.

As of around 9:30am CET, gold traded 0.19% lower at $4,828.30 per ounce — following a record high of over $4,800 reached on Wednesday.

The metal’s popularity is linked to its liquidity and status as an inflation hedge, but a weaker dollar and falling US interest rates have also boosted bullion.

When the greenback falls in value, this makes gold comparatively cheaper for foreign buyers and therefore drives up demand and prices. Low US interest rates also increase gold’s appeal compared to interest-bearing assets, as investors aren’t significantly losing out if they choose the metal over assets like bonds.

The Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against six other currencies, traded less than 0.1% higher at 98.81 on Thursday.

Yields on long-term US bonds also slid after a spike earlier in the week, linked to Greenland tensions and threats to Federal Reserve independence as Trump prepares to name a new chair. Another reason for the earlier yield spike is volatility in Japan, with some investors moving money away from US assets into higher-yielding Japanese debt.

In the days ahead, markets will be watching for more details on Trump’s Greenland deal, as Denmark has stressed that the island’s sovereignty is not up for negotiation. An emergency summit between EU leaders will take place in Brussels on Thursday to address the US threat.

WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee is offering to sell private dinners with President Clinton, places on foreign trade missions and other forms of exclusive access to senior officials to party donors willing to pony up $100,000 or more.

In a recent fund-raising letter, the party offered big contributors a pricey catalogue of favors, including high-level briefings, VIP status at the Democratic National Convention and a “personal DNC staff contact” to help cut through red tape in the Washington bureaucracy.

Lesser donors receive lesser privileges, such as lunch with Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore. For $1,000, a donor can get an invitation to events with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Tipper Gore and female political appointees, according to the letter, which was first disclosed by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The high-roller solicitation comes just weeks after Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) promised during a public forum in New Hampshire to create a bipartisan commission that would recommend ways to clean up campaign financing practices and end the sale of influence and access in Washington.

It also flies in the face of then-candidate Clinton’s 1992 pledge in his campaign manifesto, “Putting People First,” to end the “cliques of $100,000 donors” buying access to Congress and the White House.

Republicans have long rewarded big-dollar donors with access to top officials, including photo opportunities and receptions with President George Bush at the White House during his tenure and seats near him at public events. But critics said the new Democratic letter had taken the practice to new lows of influence-peddling and assailed Clinton for making promises of places at the presidential dinner table and on government-sponsored trade missions.

“This is outrageous,” said Ann McBride, president of Common Cause, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group. “They’re auctioning off access to the President of the United States to the highest bidder.”

McBride called on Clinton to disavow the fund-raising tactic and announce that neither he nor any member of his Administration would participate in the promised dinners, briefings, trade missions or other activities.

“Clinton gave a speech today about building community among people. He should remember that one thing that helps build community among average citizens is the belief that they have access to their government and their voices will not be drowned out by the rich and powerful,” McBride said.

A White House aide defended the practice as legal under current campaign financing laws and as a legitimate use of incumbency.

“We support the party and conduct normal fund-raising procedures that have been used by both parties,” spokeswoman Mary Ellen Glynn said. She said the Democrats must employ whatever tools they have to compete with aggressive Republican fund raising.

“Until the system is changed, we will not unilaterally disarm,” said Donald Fowler, co-chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Republicans have long courted wealthy donors with membership in such exclusive clubs as the Eagle Forum or Team 100, which entitle big donors to private receptions with top party leaders and attendance at policy forums. But Republican National Committee spokeswoman Mary Mead Crawford said she reviewed years of fund-raising letters and had not found any that offered such specific promises of access.

The closest parallel was a 1992 Republican appeal in which those who gave or raised at least $92,000 received a photo opportunity with Bush, lunch with then-Vice President Dan Quayle, a reception with Cabinet officers and breakfast with congressional leaders.

The Democratic fund-raising letter, mailed in late June over the signatures of Fowler and general party Chairman Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), offers to make $100,000 donors “managing trustees” of the party.

That contribution entitles the donor to two meals with the President, two meals with the vice president, one dinner with top Administration officials, honored guest status at the 1996 Democratic Convention, two annual retreats with top policy-makers, exclusive issues briefings, a daily fax on Administration activities and political announcements, a DNC staff contact to assist in handling “personal requests” and a spot on annual foreign trade missions. Donors must reimburse the government for the cost of the missions.

For $50,000, the contributor gets a presidential reception, dinner with Al Gore, two high-level briefings and special–but not “honored”–treatment at the 1996 convention.

“In spite of the fact that both Democrats and Republicans have pledged many times to change business as usual, everything just seems to go along the same path,” said Ellen Miller, director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign finance watchdog group. “If anything has changed in Washington, it’s that everything has become so much more obvious.”

TRACY Kennedy is our new £9.50 holidays Agony Aunt, and has years worth of Sun Holiday experience to share

Year after year, bargain holidays across the UK and Europe are released online with Sun Hols from £9.50.

And with over 300 holiday parks to choose from across 11 countries, there’s a whole load of choice.

Tracy has been holidaying with The Sun for nearly 30 years, and even has four Sun holidays booked this year alone.

With her years of experience, Tracy has perfected the £9.50 holiday booking process – and is here to answer questions sent in by Sun readers.

From how to bag the very best bargains, to the best holidays for adults, Tracy’s got all the advice you could need.

Read more on £9.50 holidays

HOL YES

40 of us take over a £9.50 Holiday park each year – it’s my kids favourite vacation

PITCH IN

We reveal the most popular £9.50 Holiday Parks last year as booking opens for 2026

Each week, one lucky Sun reader will receive a £100 Amazon voucher for submitting their question to our £9.50 Hols Agony Aunt.

This week that lucky reader is Patricia Drabble – congratulations, Patricia!

How do you get the park you want on the date you want when there is so much competition?

Tina Shepherd

There’s loads of us logging on for the dates and park you want, so you’ve got to be quick.

I’d say join Sun Club because you get that little bit of priority when booking.

With Sun Club, you can get on two minutes or three minutes past midnight before the last code comes out for Sun Savers, so you get that little bit of priority booking – which helps.

Obviously booking has now opened for everyone in this round of Hols from £9.50, but you can still access booking by signing up now – and it’ll help for when the next round comes out!

Be ready with a list of your top four parks from the list of those available.

But you should also add a few extras you wouldn’t mind going to, just in case you don’t get your top picks.

Don’t go into booking with no idea when you want go.

It’s best to know ahead of time which dates you can make. And, if possible, alternative dates.

Where would you recommend that has good entertainment on site, but also lots to do in the local area?
Patricia Drabble

If you want to try somewhere in North Wales, go for Lyons Sunnysands in Barmouth.

That has good entertainment, and it’s also practically on the beach.

I’ve never been there myself, but I have heard good things, and its been recommended to me lots of times by Sun readers.

Outside of Wales, I recommend Seal Bay for entertainment.

It’s one of my favourites. Their entertainment is spectacular – we didn’t get the passes and I wish we did!

They’ve got a great sports bar too, and its right on the beach. So you don’t even have to leave site.

But if you want to, you can go to Bognor for the day. I loved it there.

You’d probably need a car to get places though.

How do I find the best deals with two school aged children?
Fiona Curry

Again, it’s a case of getting in and booking early. You should book as early as you can to secure dates.

But before you book, do a bit of research just to compare costs.

You can do research on your chosen sites, and see what’s happening there on different dates as well.

October half term would be an ideal time to go if you don’t mind not paddling in the sea.

In October you’ve got all the Halloween activities going on, which is great for kids.

Some sites are also available during the summer. They will be slightly dearer – but when you compare them to the site’s direct price, you’re making a big saving.

Someone said on my group they saved nearly £500 on Seal Bay compared to booking with them direct. That’s a massive saving!

But you’ve got to be quick, because there’s thousands of people waiting.

Not just the people in my group, there’s people waiting online who aren’t even on Facebook.

Are there any Sun holiday parks that are more suitable for adults rather than families?
Karen Moses

There are a few adults-only parks to pick from on the website.

But if you want another resort and prefer a quieter time when there’s not lots of children around, then I’d say go on holiday when the kids are at school.

If you don’t fancy going to the family entertainment, you can go for meals at the on-site restaurant.

When the family entertainment’s on you could always go to the bar for a quiet drink.

Can I take my dog to any of the parks?
Helen Warrener

Yes, you can! But do make sure to check first. There are some that don’t actually allow dogs.

Look for the little green symbol of the dog on the website before you book them.

Some sites will end up charging you a hell of a lot more if you don’t book your dog on, and they will.

So always look out for that little green symbol.

Which are the best parks to choose if you don’t drive?
Jenni Sutcliffe

I’ve gone to quite a few parks without a car as I also don’t drive, so I only choose places I know I can actually get to.

And I don’t want to be panicking about public buses and whatnot to get there.

I’d recommend choosing places near train stations.

North Wales sites have a lot of train stations. That’s my go to place, because I know how to get there and it’s easy on the train.

Most sites in seaside towns will have train stations, too.

Some might be a short journey after the station, like a taxi or bus. But most of them have got a train station nearby.

But if you’re going over to the Isle of Wight, you’ll have to get a walk on ferry, too. There’s a walk-on discount starting from £10 per person.

Just look at United’s attack.

You have got Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2008 and would go on to be one of the greatest players of all time.

Then Rooney, the all-time top goalscorer for United and England.

And, while Carlos Tevez’s time at Old Trafford was not prolific, he scored 14 Premier League goals in 2007-08.

It was a forward line to fear. Up to this stage of the season, Ronaldo had scored 22 goals, Tevez 12 and Rooney nine.

Who do Arsenal have? Viktor Gyokeres, a striker who may go on to excel but, so far, has not lived up to his £55m transfer fee.

Bukayo Saka is clearly a world-class player out wide. But it is hard to make a case for Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard or Noni Madueke.

Gyokeres and Martinelli have nine goals this season, with Saka and Trossard on seven.

In midfield Declan Rice has to be considered one of the best in the world today, playing alongside Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi.

But Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes were superb for Alex Ferguson.

Did we mention Ryan Giggs came off the bench in the Champions League final too? It is United ’08, no doubt.

Emily Gibbs, 29, loves going on extreme day trips abroad for under £100

A mum leaves her toddler and partner at home to embark on solo “therapy” holidays. Her escapades have included a four-hour jaunt to Chamonix that takes less time than a day in London.

Emily Gibbs, 29, adores extreme day trips as they offer her “freedom” and “adventure” while providing a brief respite from parenting her three-year-old son, who stays at home with his dad.

She has visited Monaco and Gothenburg, France, and jetted off to the French Alps this January – enjoying a “picture perfect” train ride up in the mountains before returning home in time for bed. The mum of one, who runs a housekeeping agency, spent just £100 on the entire trip, departing at 8.30am and arriving back at Luton airport at 7.50pm the same day.

Emily, from Norwich, Norfolk, said: “I love going abroad on day trips. If I have a week where I’ve not got loads going on, I’ll just look at what cheap flights I can get and then go on a day trip somewhere.

“I love the freedom of walking through an airport by myself without any bags and knowing I’ll be back in my own bed at night time. I go on family holidays with my three-year-old son and his dad too, but these day trips are my independent time, they’re like my therapy.

“Chamonix was like a winter wonderland, it was picture perfect, like a scene from a movie. There was snow hanging off the trees and little chalets everywhere.

“It was like stepping into the scene of a Hallmark movie. The highlight of my trip was definitely the train ride up the mountain.

“I was just looking out of the window thinking, ‘how on earth am I doing this right now? I was in my own bed this morning and I’ll be back there in a few hours’ time’.

“It’s fun to push boundaries and see where you can get in a day. I managed to do the whole day for exactly £100. It’s no more than I’d spent on a day out in the UK, the train from Norwich to London is £60 alone.

“It was a tiring day, but I have a three-year-old son, so it was nothing compared to the sleepless nights that mothers go through. It’s just one day and then I’ll go home and recover the next day.”

Emily chose to visit the snowy ski resort of Chamonix, France, after previously savouring extreme day trips to Monaco and Gothenburg in 2025. The busy mum shared that she adores jetting abroad on day trips because of the “sense of adventure” it gives her.

While Emily treasures family holidays with her son and partner, she views her extreme day trips as “therapy trips” where she can enjoy herself on her own terms. For each adventure, Emily sets herself a £100 budget covering transport, food and activities, and she managed to secure return flights to Geneva for this journey for just £42.

On the day of her trip in January, Emily rose at 4am and drove two hours to Luton airport. She then caught the 8.30am flight to Geneva, touching down in the Swiss city at 11am.

Emily then hopped on a one-hour bus to Chamonix at 12.15pm, arriving at 1.05pm. Despite Chamonix being a renowned skiing and winter sports resort, Emily chose to stroll around, admiring the breathtaking snow-capped alps and engaging in conversation with fellow tourists.

After spending roughly an hour immersing herself in the atmosphere, at 2pm Emily took the Montenvers Mer de Glace train up through the mountains, which cost her £27. After the train ride, Emily returned to the town centre, where she grabbed some grub and watched skiers returning from a full day on the slopes.

“It was lovely,” she expressed. At 5.15pm she caught the bus back to Geneva, before boarding the 6.30pm train home, arriving in Luton at 7.50pm.

She then embarked on the two-hour drive back to Norwich and was snuggled up in bed by 11pm. All things considered, Emily got to spend four hours in Chamonix and although she wishes she had stayed longer, she said this was ample time to do everything she wanted to on the trip.

“I always want to stay longer, but I got to go up the mountains, I didn’t rush around, I wasn’t watching my clock,” she shared.

Despite a few queues at passport control, Emily said there were no downsides to her trip and is eagerly anticipating her next extreme day trip, a girls’ trip to a spa in Bucharest, Romania. She shares her story on @littlemomentswithemily.

Breakdown of Emily’s day in Chamonix

4am wake up

4:30am drive to Luton airport

6.45am Arrive at car park and free shuttle to airport

8.30am Flight to Geneva

11am Touched down in Geneva

12.15pm Caught the bus to Chamonix

1.05pm Arrived in Chamonix

2pm Took the Montenvers train up to the peak

3.45pm Rode the Montenvers train back down

4.05pm Explored the town and grabbed food and drinks

5.15pm Hopped on the bus back to Geneva airport

6.30pm Reached Geneva airport

7.50pm Flew back to Luton

11pm Back in bed

Expenses

Airport Parking £10

Return Flights (Luton to Geneva) £42

Return Bus (Geneva airport to Chamonix) £21

Montenvers Mer de Glace train £27

Jan. 22 (UPI) — A New York court judge has ordered the state to redraw its congressional map, striking down a Republican district and potentially giving the Democratic Party an advantage in securing an additional seat in the upcoming midterm elections.

Justice Jeffrey Pearlman of the Supreme Court of the State of New York issued his ruling Wednesday, declaring New York’s 11th Congressional District unconstitutional as it unlawfully diluted the voting power of Black and Latino voters.

“It is clear to the Court that the current district lines of CD-11 are a contributing factor in the lack of representation for minority voters,” Pearlman wrote in his 18-page order.

“Petitioners have shown strong evidence of racially polarized voting bloc, … they have demonstrated a history of discrimination that impacts current-day political participation and representation and they have shown that racial appeals are still made in political campaigns today. Taken together, these circumstances provide strong support for the claim that Black and Latino votes are being diluted in the current CD-11.”

Pearlman ordered the district map to be redrawn by Feb. 6, though the ruling is expected to be appealed.

The lawsuit was filed in late October by New York voters who challenged the 2024 congressional map for maintaining what they called in the court document “a fatal substantive defect: it dilutes Black and Latino voting strength in CD-11.”

New York’s 11th congressional district encompasses all of Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn. Held by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, it is the only Republican seat in New York City.

In a statement, Malliotakis said she is reviewing the decision.

“Nothing changes the fact that this is a frivolous attempt by Washington Democrats to steal this congressional seat from the people and we are very confident that we will prevail at the end of the day,” she said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., celebrated the decision on Wednesday.

“This ruling is the first step toward ensuring communities of interest remain intact from Staten Island to Lower Manhattan,” he said in a statement. “The voters of New York deserve the fairest congressional map possible.”

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the UK will not yet be signing up to US President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace over concerns about Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s possible participation.

Cooper told the BBC the UK had been invited to join the board but “won’t be one of the signatories today” at a planned ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The foreign secretary described the board as a “legal treaty that raises much broader issues” than the initiative’s initial focus on ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The charter proposed by the White House does not mention the Palestinian territory and appears to be designed to replace some functions of the United Nations.

Countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Israel have said they will become members of the board, and at Davos, President Trump said Putin had accepted an invitation to join the initiative.

But President Putin has not confirmed this and earlier he said his country was still studying the invitation.

Speaking to the BBC’s Breakfast programme from Davos, Cooper said the UK had received an invitation to join the board and strongly supported Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza.

“That’s why we are also clear we want to play our part in phase two of the Gaza peace process,” Cooper said.

But she added: “We won’t be one of the signatories today because this is a legal treaty that raises much broader issues.

“And we do also have concerns about President Putin being part of something that’s talking about peace when we’ve still not seen any signs from Putin that there will be commitment to peace in Ukraine.”

She said Putin had shown no willingness “to come and make that agreement and that’s where the pressure needs to be now”.

“But we will have continuing international discussions including with our allies,” the foreign secretary said.

Diplomatic relations between the US and the UK are on shakier ground after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on European nations if his demand to hand control of Greenland to his country was not met.

But US president appears to have backed down after saying the US was exploring a potential deal on Greenland after talks with Nato, as he dropped planned tariffs on eight European countries and ruled out using force to take the island.

Cooper welcomed the apparent climbdown on Greenland and said the UK and its European allies had put forward “positive, constructive proposals” on security in the Arctic.

But when asked about the Board of Peace, Cooper echoed other UK cabinet ministers who in recent days have been expressing concerns over Putin’s potential role in the scheme, given Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The UK has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies and together with France, signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops to the country if a peace deal is made with Russia.

As talks to end the war in Ukraine continue, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are due to meet in Davos on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Trump repeated his often-stated belief that Putin and Zelensky were close to a deal.

Trump’s Board of Peace was originally unveiled by the White House as part of a plan to rebuild Gaza and design its future governance.

But the leaked text of the board’s founding charter goes far beyond that purpose.

The text says the board would be “an international organisation that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict”.

The leaked document says the Board of Peace’s charter will enter into force once three states formally agree to be bound by it, with member states given renewable three-year terms and permanent seats available to those contributing $1bn (£740m), it said.

The charter declared the body as an international organisation mandated to carry out peace-building functions under international law, with Trump serving as chairman – and separately as the US representative – and holding authority to appoint executive board members and create or dissolve subsidiary bodies.

Last Friday, the White House named seven members of the founding Executive Board, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and former UK prime minister Tony Blair.

More have now said they will join it, including Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The Vatican has said that the Pope has also received an invitation.

Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh shared heartbreaking news during Thursday’s show

A Good Morning Britain star made a tragic death announcement on Thursday (January 22), as tributes poured in. The popular ITV show was presented by Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid, who kept viewers updated with the latest happenings both nationally and globally.

Joining them in the studio were Laura Tobin, providing regular weather updates, and Ranvir Singh, who covered the day’s other news stories.

During the programme, Ranvir reported the sad news of an 87-year-old woman who had tragically died in hospital after falling into a pothole while crossing the road. The family of Beryl Barrett has described her death as “unnecessary”.

Ranvir shared: “The family of an 87-year-old woman, who died after falling in a pothole, says she lost her life unnecessarily. Beryl Barrett was crossing the road in Nottinghamshire when she clipped the wheel of her walking aid and fell. She died six days later on Christmas Day,” reports Wales Online.

She continued: “Beryl’s MP raised her death with the Prime Minister, saying it was time to take action. The government says it’s investing £2 billion in the East Midlands to fix roads.”

Beryl’s family had previously released a statement saying: “We, the Barrett family, would like to address the event that we believe caused the death of our mother on 25 December. She was 87 years old, living independently in Warsop. She had a very active life. She regularly attended church, bingo and met family and friends for events.”

The statement revealed that Beryl fell backwards onto the road and received assistance from “many kind members of the public” and emergency services. The family said they were informed Beryl had fractured her femur and the top of her previous hip replacement. She was transported to King’s Mill Hospital.

They added: “It was recommended that she have surgery the following week. Sadly and absolutely unnecessarily, she went into respiratory failure and passed away on Christmas Day.

“We believe that, if that accident hadn’t occurred [despite her underlying health issues], she would not have passed away in this way.”

Beryl’s MP, Steve Yemm, demanded improvements to the county’s roads on Wednesday (January 21). Upon hearing of Beryl’s heartbreaking death, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, extended his “deepest sympathies” to her family.

He said: “I will make sure the roads minister meets the family at the earliest opportunity. It shows why tackling potholes really matters. We are investing £2 billion in the East Midlands to fix the roads and improve local transport. We are also putting in place tough new standards so that councils must prove they are fixing roads properly.”

Bert Bingham, a cabinet member on Nottinghamshire County Council, expressed his condolences: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of a resident in Warsop in December, and our thoughts are with their family and friends. Any reports of incidents on our highway resulting in injury are taken extremely seriously and are investigated to establish the circumstances in which they occurred. In this case, we do not feel that it is appropriate to comment further until any relevant investigations have taken place.”

Elsewhere, Richard and Susanna brought viewers breaking news on today’s GMB, reporting that multiple individuals remain unaccounted for following a devastating landslide at a campsite in the popular New Zealand destination of Mount Maunganui.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am

Reporting from Washington — Republicans have a boatload of presidential candidates, and Democrats have one clear front-runner, but in both parties most voters seem satisfied with their choices so far, a new poll indicates.

The latest survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center also finds that interest in the presidential campaign has risen notably as candidates have begun to enter the field. Two-thirds of voters said they were thinking about the campaign, up 8 points in two months. But fewer than 1 in 3 say they are thinking “a lot” about presidential politics this far ahead of the November 2016 election.

Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 57% say they have an excellent or good impression of their party’s candidates, while among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 54% do, the poll found.

For the GOP, that’s a notable switch from this point four years ago, when only 44% said they had such a positive view. The field at that time had only a couple of well-established political figures in it. Partisans on both sides have a more positive view of the choices than they did in the run-up to the 2004 election, when about 4 in 10 rated their parties’ candidates as excellent or good.

The survey asked for specific impressions of Hillary Rodham Clinton and six GOP presidential hopefuls — Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee.

Bush, the former governor of Florida and brother and son of former presidents, was the best-known on the GOP side, with only 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners saying they could not rate him. He also had the largest share with a negative impression, 35%, compared with 52% positive.

Walker, the Wisconsin governor, was the least known, with 36% not able to rate him. He also had the best ratio of positive to negative opinions, with only 17% unfavorable compared with 46% favorable. The numbers reflect the good start Walker has had in his as-yet-unofficial campaign, but also the fact that he has yet to establish a clear image for many.

Conservative Republicans are more likely than moderates or liberals to have opinions about the GOP field. They are a bit less positive about Bush than are moderates and liberals, but not dramatically so, with 37% of conservative Republicans and 34% of the party’s moderates and liberals having an unfavorable view of him.

Both Walker and Rubio, the Florida senator, get significantly more favorable opinions from conservatives than nonconservatives in the party — a potentially important factor in a party where conservatives dominate the primary voting.

Clinton’s ratings have declined, but she remains extremely popular among Democrats or Democratic leaners, with 77% having a favorable opinion of her. That’s down from 86% last summer, but still a much higher number than any of the Republicans garner among their partisans.

Among the public at large, opinion is closely divided on Clinton, with 49% viewing her favorably and 47% negatively. Her ratings are down most sharply among Republicans, 17% of whom now say they view her favorably.

The youngest Democrats, those aged 18 to 26, were least likely to have a positive view of Clinton, with 65% viewing her favorably. Among other age groups of Democrats, about 8 in 10 had a favorable view.

Although some liberal activists have pined for alternative candidates, 81% of liberal Democrats viewed Clinton positively, compared with 74% of conservatives and moderates. And despite her potential appeal as the first female elected president, male Democrats were about as likely to have a positive view of Clinton as females.

By contrast with Clinton’s generally positive ratings among Democrats, Vice President Joe Biden’s star has faded. Only 58% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents viewed him favorably, and among voters overall, 39% have a favorable view compared with 48% who view him unfavorably.

The Pew survey, conducted May 12-18, polled 2,002 adults, including 1,497 registered voters. The margin of error for the registered voter sample was +/- 2.9 percentage points.

For more on politics and policy, follow @DavidLauter on Twitter.

DENVER — Mikael Granlund and Cutter Gauthier scored in the shootout and Lukas Dostal stopped 40 shots as the Ducks defeated the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 2-1 for their fifth straight win Wednesday night.

Jeffrey Viel scored in his second straight game as the Ducks opened a six-game trip.

Artturi Lehkonen scored for Colorado, and Scott Wedgewood made 16 saves.

Alex Killorn played in his 1,000th game. He spent 11 years with Tampa Bay, winning the Stanley Cup twice, before signing with the Ducks as a free agent in 2023.

Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin returned after missing Monday night’s win over the Washington Capitals. He was involved in a car accident on his way to the rink and was held out as a precaution.

The Avalanche played without Gabriel Landeskog (upper body), defenseman Devon Toews (upper) and forward Joel Kiviranta (lower body). Forward Logan O’Connor has yet to play this season as he recovers from offseason hip surgery.

BEAUTIFUL islands in Europe that are often compared to Hawaii are losing all of its Ryanair flights.

The budget airline scrapped all flights, warning that they wouldn’t return unless the country scraps its increase in airport fees and taxes.

The Portuguese government has been accused of “inaction” that has seen a rise of 120 per cent in air traffic control fees.

Not only that, but a new €2 travel tax has also been introduced.

In response, Ryanair warned that all flights to and from the Azores will be cancelled from March 29.

This is because the increase in costs would mean fares would go up by as much as 35 per cent – making it unsustainable to keep flying to there.

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The cancellations affect six routes, which includes London, as well as Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto.

This works out to 400,000 passengers a year who visit the islands.

Ryanair’s CCO Jason McGuinness said at the time that they were “disappointed” and were left with “no alternative”.

He added: “After 10 years of year-round Ryanair operations, one of Europe’s most remote regions will now lose direct low-fare flights to London, Brussels, Lisbon, and Porto due to ANA’s high airport fees and Portuguese Govt. inaction.”

The cancellations mean there are no budget airlines that operate flights to the Azores, flying to Ponta Delgada Airport.

This just leaves British Airways offering UK flights, which start from £113 one way. Flights from London Heathrow take around 4hr10.

Mr McGuinness also said: “As a direct result of these rising costs, we have been left with no alternative other than to cancel all Azores flights from 29 March 2026 onwards and relocate this capacity to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group network across Europe.”

The budget airline has scrapped thousands of flights in recent months due to an increase in airport costs and fees.

Earlier this month they confirmed that more than two million seats to and from Belgium would be axed up to 2027.

This means a drop from 11.6million passengers a year to 9.6million by next year.

Back in September 2026, more than two million seats were axed across Spain as well, affecting Tenerife North, Santiago and Vigo.

While the other airports still have airlines in operation, it means Brits can no longer fly direct to Vigo.

France has also been hit by Ryanair cancellations, affecting Brive and Bergerac.

Thankfully UK flights to the latter are set to resume this summer.

Here’s the UK airport getting new Ryanair flights.

And there is a Spanish city that is set to get more Ryanair flights.

According to the UN, more than 1,800 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians – about five per day – were documented in 2025.

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has approved the issuance of gun licences to Israelis in 18 additional illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, as the right-wing government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes to expand illegal outposts that undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

“The importance of the decision lies in the fact that these settlements will now be able to submit applications for a personal weapon licence,” Ben-Gvir, a far-right minister, wrote on Telegram on Wednesday, claiming that the efforts were to “enhance self-defence and increase personal security”.

Israeli settlers have been emboldened by a wide-scale armament programme spearheaded at the start of Israel’s genocidal war in the Gaza Strip by Ben-Gvir, and the near-total impunity they enjoy when carrying out attacks.

Israelis living illegally in the occupied West Bank have been armed with military-grade weapons ranging from US-made M16s to pistols and drones. Israeli authorities maintain that holding arms is necessary for their safety, but local and international organisations have long documented the organised, forced displacement of Palestinians from their ancestral lands.

Last year, Israel formalised plans to develop the illegal E1 settlement project, and this year, it is expected to push forward the plan to expand settlements near Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and across Ramallah.

In December, another 19 settler outposts built without government approval were retroactively approved by Israel’s government as official settlements. In all, the number of settlements and outposts in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem has risen by nearly 50 percent since 2022 – from 141 to 210 now.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 2024 that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and should come to an end “as rapidly as possible”.

In his statement, Ben-Gvir added that more than 240,000 Israelis have received gun permits since the expansion of the policy, compared with about 8,000 permits issued annually in previous years.

“An unprecedented number,” he said, adding that this contributed to “thwarting attacks, preventing infiltration, and stopping attackers even before security forces arrived”.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 1,800 settler attacks against Palestinians – about five per day – were documented in 2025, resulting in casualties or property damage in about 280 communities across the West Bank, and besting the previous year’s record of settler attacks by more than 350.

A total of 240 Palestinians in the West Bank, including 55 children, were killed by Israeli forces or settlers in 2025.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron appeared before the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland – the annual Alpine gathering of the global elite – to declare that now is “not a time for new imperialism or new colonialism”.

This, of course, was a reference to the current ambitions of Macron’s counterpart in the United States, Donald Trump, who, in addition to recently kidnapping the president of Venezuela and repeatedly threatening to seize the Panama Canal, has made a great deal of noise about taking over the self-governing Danish territory of Greenland.

Trump himself took to the podium in Davos on Wednesday for a typically rambling speech, during which he alternately babbled about windmills, snidely complimented Macron on his “beautiful” reflective sunglasses, and declared that he would not “use force” in the acquisition of Greenland – which he also accidentally referred to as Iceland.

Indeed, Trump’s designs on the island have got Europe’s panties in a bunch, and the European Parliament has announced its unequivocal condemnation of “the statements made by the Trump administration regarding Greenland, which constitute a blatant challenge to international law, to the principles of the United Nations Charter and to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a NATO ally”.

Following Macron’s intervention at Davos, Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported that European leaders had “lined up” in opposition to the “new colonialism” denounced by the French leader.

Now, it goes without saying that the categorically demented Trump should by no means be encouraged in his predatory international endeavours. But it bears pointing out that, when it comes to colonialism and imperialism, Europe is hardly one to talk.

Let’s start with France, which continues to rule a dozen territories scattered across the globe – many of them marketed as exotic holiday destinations – including the Guadeloupe islands in the Caribbean Sea and the archipelago of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.

While these territories have officially moved beyond lowly colonial status to bona fide departments of the French Republic and thereby part of the European Union, France can’t seem to shake the old patronising imperial mindset and attendant superiority complex.

When in December 2024, residents of cyclone-ravaged Mayotte – France’s poorest overseas territory – criticised the ineffective government response to the disaster, Macron charmingly snapped: “If it wasn’t for France, you would be in way deeper s***, 10,000 times more.”

How’s that for some “new colonialism”?

As for the tried-and-true “old” colonialism, France has a particularly appalling track record on that front, as well. Recall the case of Algeria, where some 1.5 million Algerians were killed during the 1954-62 war for independence from French rule.

Although Macron previously acknowledged that French colonisation of the North African country was a “crime against humanity” that was characterised by rampant torture and other brutality, he has consistently refused to offer a formal French apology.

But it’s not just France. Plenty of other European powers who are suddenly against colonialism also possess impressively savage legacies worldwide.

Indeed, from Africa to Asia to the Middle East and beyond, it’s difficult to find so much as a speck of land that has not been affected in some way or other by past centuries of European plunder, enslavement, mass killing, and similar atrocities.

The Spaniards decimated Indigenous populations across the Americas, Britain wreaked imperial havoc wherever it possibly could, and King Leopold II of Belgium presided over the deaths of 10 million or so Congolese starting in 1885, when he established the “Congo Free State” as his own personal property.

In 2022, Belgian King Philippe offered his “deepest regrets” for the abuses that transpired during the colonial era but withheld an official apology. As one article on the occasion of the non-apology noted, life in the Congo Free State was such that “villages that missed rubber collection quotas were notoriously made to provide severed hands instead”.

Over in Ethiopia, meanwhile, British historian Ian Campbell estimates that 19-20 percent of the Ethiopian population of Addis Ababa was wiped out over a mere three days during the Italian military occupation of East Africa in 1937.

The list of European atrocities goes on.

This is not, of course, meant as a suggestion that Trump should therefore have free rein to commit whatever crimes or plunder he pleases. It is simply a friendly reminder that you can’t be selectively opposed to colonialism. (Greenland, by the way, was a full-out colony of Denmark until not so long ago.)

Speaking of colonial atrocities, Europe has not, over the course of more than two years of Israel’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, managed to be sufficiently up in arms over the mass slaughter, preferring to go the route of superficial criticism and de facto complicity.

As the killing continues under the guise of a US-brokered ceasefire, Gaza is now, per the Trumpian vision, set to be administered by a so-called “Board of Peace” chaired by – who else? – Trump himself.

Also participating on the board will be Israeli prime minister and genocidaire extraordinaire Benjamin Netanyahu, which no doubt heralds a “new colonialism” of the most sinister variety.

Unfortunately for the world, however, blood-soaked hypocrisy is nothing new.

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