The blackout arrives as the government has encouraged citizens to be ready for a ‘disaster’ lasting up to five days.

Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, has faced a widespread power outage after strong winds triggered a transmission problem, the state utility said, as the Arctic island contends with the fallout from the crisis fuelled by United States President Donald Trump’s territorial designs.

At about 10:30pm on Saturday (00:30 GMT, Sunday), social media users began reporting a sudden blackout that occurred at the same time, Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq reported.

The utility company posted on Facebook that gusty winds at the main Buksefjord hydroelectric power plant had caused “a line error on our transmission line” and that they were working to restore power with an emergency plant.

Water supplies were also affected in some areas, Sermitsiaq reported, as well as internet connectivity.

Power had been restored to 75 percent of the city’s population of about 20,000 by 3:30am on Sunday (5:30 GMT), the utility said in an update, calling on people to be conservative in their use of electrical devices as the utility continued to reboot.

The outage came on the heels of the government releasing a brochure with details about disaster preparedness that encouraged Greenlanders to store sufficient drinking water, food, medicine, warm clothing and alternative communication devices to last at least five days.

The government emphasised that the guidance was not an expression that a crisis was imminent. But Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, has been thrust into the geopolitical spotlight for weeks amid United States President Donald Trump’s escalating threats to seize the island.

Trump appeared to partly back off at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, claiming he had ruled out taking Greenland by force. He and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had agreed on a “long-term” framework for a future deal involving Greenland and the Arctic region, the president said.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said much of the supposed deal was murky, including whether Trump would seek control of territory near US military bases, as some reports suggested.

“I don’t know what there is in the agreement, or the deal, about my country,” Nielsen said.

“But sovereignty is a red line,” he added.

WARNING: This report contains references to suicide.

Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett suffered heartbreak against Justin Gaethje in his quest to claim a UFC interim title as he lost on points to the American in Las Vegas.

Pimblett, 31, was as brave as he was bloodied through five action-packed rounds that had both men swinging at the final bell.

Gaethje rolled back the years for a vintage performance, forcing Pimblett to raise his game to a new level and fight fire with fire.

Both men raised their arms at the end, but the judges rightly gave 37-year-old Gaethje the victory on all three scorecards.

“Paddy is right; Scousers do not get knocked out,” Gaethje said.

“My coach was definitely upset at me after the first round, but I just love this so much, it’s really hard to control myself sometimes.

“I knew I had to put him on his back foot, he is very dangerous and has great timing. I had to steal his momentum and confidence.”

With victory, Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title for the second time and will now face absent champion Ilia Topuria once he returns from a personal hiatus.

Pimblett applauded Gaethje as the scorecards were read out, taking the fourth loss of his career with grace.

The Briton was the favourite going into the contest and showed incredible resilience and heart, but could not control the storm of Gaethje overall.

“I wanted to be walking away with that belt. I know how tough I am and I don’t need to prove that to anyone,” Pimblett said.

“I think 48-47 was a fair scorecard. I won’t lie, he hit me with a body shot in the first round and it got me. I thought I was winning the round up to that point.

“You live and you learn; I’m 31, I will be back better.”

Pimblett also used his post-fight interview to shine a light on mental health issues as he has done before in his career.

“In a few of my post-fight interviews before, I’ve mentioned men killing themselves; two lads who I know have killed themselves over the last few months,” Pimblett said.

“Men, speak up, don’t bottle your feelings up.”

There are many different approaches to making a tour film that captures the life of musicians on the road. Perhaps you focus on the highs of performance or the boredom of traveling, the anonymous backstage rooms and endless planes, buses and hotel rooms. But what if you made all of that seem really fun?

Directed by Tamra Davis, “The Best Summer,” which debuts at Sundance tonight in the Midnight section, is rooted in a box of videotapes that the filmmaker found early last year while evacuating from the fires near her longtime family home in Malibu. Though they are now separated, Davis still shares the compound with Michael Diamond, better known as Mike D of the group Beastie Boys. On those tapes was footage Davis shot in late 1995 and early 1996 as the band toured through Australia and Asia, sharing bills with the likes of Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Pavement, Beck, Rancid, the Amps and Bikini Kill.

“I just always had a camera in my hands,” Davis, 64, said in an interview conducted earlier this week. “I identify as a filmmaker. This is normal for me to have a camera in my hand. People don’t think twice about it. It’s so unobtrusive.”

A few days before Davis would drive to Park City, Utah, with her friend, neighbor and co-producer Shelby Meade, the two were sitting on the backyard patio of Davis’ Malibu home (it survived the fires just fine) as a couple of dogs ran around the yard. When she spots a hawk flying overhead, Davis calls for one of her two sons to be sure to round up the few chickens roaming around.

“The Best Summer” brings a blast of ’90s nostalgia to the festival. Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna and Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon are both expected to attend the screening as well.

A throughline for the movie is Davis and Hanna interviewing members of the bands, asking them a standard series of questions including their favorite color, what they’re reading and what their personal motto is before Hanna gets into trickier concepts about performance and persona, seemingly figuring those things out for herself in real time.

“With Mike, I filmed so much — every time I went out on the road with them,” says Davis. “So I had tons of Beastie Boys stuff. I didn’t know I had all of that other stuff. I filmed Foo Fighters and Beck and Pavement, I didn’t know I filmed any of that. I looked at it and I see, oh my gosh, I’m so diligent: Oh, I better get Pavement. Check.”

At the time of the tour, Davis had recently finished directing “Billy Madison,” which launched the movie career of Adam Sandler. Having made music videos for countless bands, including many on the tour, Davis had also directed Drew Barrymore in the 1992 noir remake “Guncrazy” and Chris Rock in the rap mockumentary “CB4.” She would go on to direct Dave Chappelle in “Half Baked” and Britney Spears in “Crossroads,” as well as work extensively on documentaries, including “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child,” which played Sundance in 2010.

Mike D, left, MCA and Ad-Rock of Beastie Boys as seen in the documentary “The Best Summer,” premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

(Tamra Davis)

At the time of the Australian tour in “The Best Summer,” Davis and Diamond were newly married and there is a honeymoon vibe of sunny sweetness to the proceedings. The bands play for sprawling crowds in between lots of playful hangout time.

It was though manager John Silva, who works with a number of the bands in the movie, that Davis was able to start the process of getting permissions and untangling the tricky issues of music rights. She had to show each individual band the movie in order to get their approval.

“The only people I wanted notes from was the bands,” Davis says. “I work all the time with Netflix, Paramount, whatever, like all those things. I can’t get that note and then translate it to the band. But if Adam [Horovitz of the Beastie Boys] had a note or if Kim [Gordon of Sonic Youth] had a note, I would do those notes. And I felt so proud to do their note and be like, ‘Done, you’ve got that.’ That’s why I wanted to make sure it was self-funded because I could control it like that. It could just be between me and the artist. It’s just me doing the end credits.”

Working with editor Jessica Hernandez, Davis wanted to keep the loose feel of the original footage, including how she often would shoot entire songs in a single take, her camera moving from one musician to the next as one might naturally look at them from the audience. The raw sound comes from the built-in microphone on her camera. Some additional post-production work had to be done on the interview footage, but the audio of the concert footage is, for the most part, she says, unaltered.

“It’s like watching a memory,” said Davis. “And for me especially, to watch it again was like a ‘Black Mirror’ episode of going back and somebody being like: This is what it looked like from your point of view at this time. That was your experience.”

It’s something Davis has heard from other band members after showing them the film. “Adam said it felt like I reached into his brain and pulled out that memory,” she says. “He didn’t realize there was somebody filming it. So to him he was like: How did you know that memory existed in my head?”

Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Kathleen Hanna, Tobi Vail, Tamra Davis and Alfredo Ortiz in the documentary “The Best Summer.”

(Mike Diamond)

Davis had previously put Hanna in the Sonic Youth video for their 1994 song “Bull in the Heather” as well as in a short film called “No Alternative Girls,” so the two already knew each other. But they latched onto each other during the tour, taking on the informal project of the interviews and collecting candid and revealing moments with Gordon, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus and others.

“It became like that friendship that you have at summer camp,” says Davis. “[Hanna] goes, I was so glad that you and I had that same energy where we were just these girls going into people’s dressing rooms, ‘OK, we’re here to interview you.’ We were just bored. We were trying to get something to do.”

It was Diamond who suggested to Davis that the end credits should say “Starring Kathleen Hanna” for the outsized role she has in the film. Another highlight of “The Best Summer” is when Hanna interviews Horovitz. The two would marry in 2006, and their moments together in the film have the energy of a rom-com meet-cute.

“She’s so bossy and she’s really forward,” said Davis. “And I’m pretty bossy too, but she’s just like, ‘Look, this is how it’s gonna go.’ And just her questions are so good. When I started to really put it together, I loved all of that. I think before I showed it to her, I texted her a couple times and I was like, ‘Kathleen, I’m making this movie and you’re all over it.’ And she was like, ‘Am I going to be embarrassed?’ And I’m like, ‘No, you’re going to love this.’”

Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of the band Sonic Youth, as seen in the documentary “The Best Summer.”

(Tamra Davis)

One thing that jumps out watching the concert footage is the lack of cell phones, how the ubiquitous screens that one sees nowadays in the audience at shows did not yet exist.

“I think there’s an authenticity about it,” Davis says. “When I look at my female performers and the artists in this film, I love how they present themselves and how equal they seem with the men. I just feel that open acceptance of everybody. I know that my kids really like that world. When you see a whole video and they’re not cutting, there’s authenticity in that. Now we never have that experience of what that’s like, to have that connection with the band — and they’re connected to you as well.”

With a few possible feature film projects percolating, Davis has been at work on a memoir, currently scheduled to come out next year, that includes anecdotes of when she went to Italy as a teenager and found herself watching Federico Fellini shoot “City of Women” or hustled her way into shadowing Francis Ford Coppola as he made 1981’s “One From the Heart.”

As a woman working as a director in Hollywood in the 1990s, there were not a lot of choices presented to Davis and she often felt she had to make the most of whatever was available.

“Sometimes people are like, oh my God, it’s amazing you got to direct ‘Billy Madison,’ you got to direct Chris Rock in ‘CB4’ or ‘Half-Baked’ with Dave Chappelle. That’s what I was offered,” she recalls. “These were unknown comedians. They’d never done a feature film. As a girl, that’s what you get what’s offered. But then how do you turn that into something special? I thought those guys were the funniest people I’ve ever met in my life. So I direct like a fan.”

It’s a statement of purpose that’s guided Davis even as she’s ping-ponged between a huge amount of TV work, from “P-Valley” to the TV version of “High School Musical.”

“I become the best viewer for that show,” she says. “And so it’s not me imposing my style on them. It’s me appreciating how much I love that, what I’m seeing in front of me. And trying to get that best version across.”

Revisiting the ’90s while making “The Best Summer” has been a positive experience for Davis, one she hopes will resonate with others as well, not simply as a fun tour doc revisiting a very specific time, but also as a reminder the things can be small, personal and handmade.

“I’m think it’s exciting for young filmmakers to see that there’s a film in the festival that’s shot by one person,” she says. “It makes you feel like you don’t need to have a gigantic everything to make a movie. One person can make a film. I feel like that’s inspiring.

“And then I’m also excited as a woman of age that you can get a film into Sundance, that your career is not over,” she adds. “I always felt like, ‘Oh, you’re too young.’ Then it’s, ‘You’re too old.’ It was never the right time for me. But I felt like it was my time, so you just had to keep doing it.”

SACRAMENTO -In his first public appearance since returning from China last week, Gov. Jerry Brown spoke to a group of crime victims on the Capitol steps, and shared some of his own recent experiences with the state’s criminal element.

Brown said he has been the victim of two recent burglary attempts, one at his home in Oakland last year and one at his downtown Sacramento loft just a few days ago.

Speaking to a crowd of about 200 people carrying pictures of murdered family members on a warm, sunny Sacramento day, Brown said a man was apprehended “on my balcony trying to break in. Luckily I wasn’t home.”

In remarks to reporters later, the governor gave more details. “A guy got up to the roof, got on to the balcony and was trying to break in and one of my neighbors called the police,” he said. “He was arrested and I think he’s out on his own recognizance.

The Sacramento Police Department reported an incident at 9:35 p.m. Sunday night on Brown’s block when witnesses “called in a suspicious subject. Officers arrived, contacted and identified the subject. He was later arrested for prowling.”

In a separate incident, Brown recalled, “about a year ago, my wife was alone and three gentlemen show up about 1 [a.m.] trying to break in. The California Highway Patrol “came to the scene and held them for 40 minutes and they said they were looking to buy real estate in the neighborhood.”

ALSO:

Jockeying begins for 2014 races

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anthony.york@latimes.com

@anthonyyorklat

Like Jovic, Belarusian Sabalenka is yet to drop a set at this year’s Australian Open.

She has now reached at least the quarter-finals in 13 consecutive Grand Slam appearances and is two wins away from a fourth successive final in Melbourne.

The champion in 2023 and 2024, she lost last year’s final to American Madison Keys.

The 27-year-old appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory against 17th seed Mboko, leading by a set and a double break.

However, she almost let a 4-1 lead slip in the second set and eventually clinched victory in a tie-break.

“She’s an amazing player, it was quite a fight and I’m super happy that I was able to close this match in straight sets,” said Sabalenka.

“The second set was a bit tricky but I’m happy with the level I played and happy to be through.”

Surrounded by the gorgeous views of the New Forest, we discovered a booze-free spa break with relaxing hydrotherapy facilities, Thai-inspired treatments and indulgent food

Tucked away in the scenic landscape of the New Forest, Careys Manor offers the ultimate winter escape, and its alcohol-free Clear Head Club Spa Break is perfect for anyone wanting to detox.

It’s designed to help you reset, recharge and feel genuinely refreshed – although booze is not banned, you can still order alcoholic drinks if you wish.

The package combines calming treatments with mindfulness activities, surrounded by peaceful forest views that make switching off easy.

The spa at Careys Manor

Attached to the hotel is SenSpa, a Thai-inspired sanctuary that feels like a complete break from everyday life. Its expansive hydrotherapy facilities are the true highlight – more than just your standard steam room and sauna, the spa offers relaxing amenities that focus on the mind as well as the body, such as a crystal steam room and a herbal sauna.

For a refreshing reset in between, try the experience showers, switching between warming “tropical rainfall” and detoxing “cold sea storm”. It’s a multisensory experience unlike any spa we’d experienced before.

Top treatment at SenSpa

Guests get a 30-minute treatment with the Clear Head Club package, and we opted for SenSpa’s Anti Stress Massage, the ideal remedy for anyone carrying tension in their back, neck and shoulders. Using targeted Swedish massage techniques, the therapist worked deeply yet considerately to release tight muscles and remove built-up knots.

It’s the kind of treatment where you feel yourself drift off into a relaxed state in just a few minutes, and come out feeling noticeably looser and lighter.

What else?

With three restaurants on site, you’re not short of delicious food options after your treatment. Choose from British classics at Cambium, authentic Thai cuisine at Zen Garden and French flavours of Le Blaireau.

If you’re craving some fresh air, the beautiful scenery of the New Forest is on your doorstep – perfect for a bit of forest therapy.

How to book

The two-night Clear Head Club Spa Break starts from £445 per person and includes dinner each evening (£35per person per day allowance), four-hour SenSpa hydrotherapy pass plus 30-minute treatment of your choice and welcome smoothie, forest therapy guide and mindful walks in the New Forest National Park.

Jan. 24 (UPI) — Canadian officials might ink a trade deal with China, and U.S. President Donald Trump said that would trigger a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods sent to the United States.

Trump announced the new tariffs would take effect immediately if Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney turns Canada into a conduit for Chinese-made goods intended for the United States.

“If [Prime Minister] Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘drop off port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken,” the president said on Saturday in a social media post.

“China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric and general way of life,” Trump said.

“If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A.”

In a subsequent post, the president said the world does not need China to “take over Canada,” and the proposed trade deal will not “even come close to happening.”

Carney met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last week and made a deal to lower some of the tariffs imposed by one another on some of their trade goods.

China will lower its tariffs on Canadian agricultural products, while Canada will lower its tariff on up to 49,000 electric vehicles that are made in China.

The Canadian government in 2024 placed tariffs on Chinese vehicles in 2024 in a coordinated effort with the United States.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Carney earlier this week told an audience that the international order led by the United States is done.

He criticized the use of tariffs by leading economic powers, which he said exploits the vulnerabilities of smaller nations and their respective economies.

Many viewed it as a thinly veiled criticism of Trump and his tariff policies.

Trade tensions arose between the United States and Canada over the past year as the president has sought to counteract tariffs on U.S. goods sent to its neighbor to the north.

Trump also has suggested making Canada the United States’ 51st state, which rankled many to the north.

Polls have opened in Myanmar for the third and final round of a controversial general election, with a military-backed party on course for a landslide win amid a raging civil war.

Voting began in 60 townships, including in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay, at 6am local time on Sunday (23:30 GMT, Saturday).

Critics say the polls are neither free nor fair, and are designed to legitimise military rule in Myanmar, nearly five years after the country’s generals ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, leading to a civil war that has killed thousands and displaced more than 3.5 million people.

Aung San Suu Kyi remains in detention and, like several other opposition groups, her National League for Democracy (NLD) has been dissolved, tilting the political playing field in favour of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which is leading in the polls.

So far, the USDP has secured 193 out of 209 seats in the lower house, and 52 out of 78 seats in the upper house, according to the election commission.

That means that along with the military, which is allocated 166 seats, the two already hold just under 400 seats, comfortably surpassing the 294 needed to come to power.

Seventeen other parties have won a small number of seats in the legislature, ranging from one to 10, according to the election commission.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who heads the current military government, is widely expected by both supporters and opponents to assume the presidency when the new parliament meets.

The military has announced that the parliament will be convened in March, and the new government will take up its duties in April.

While the military has pledged that the election will return power to the people, rights monitors said the run-up was beset with coercion and the crushing of dissent, warning that the vote will only tighten the military’s grip on power.

A new Election Protection Law imposed harsh penalties for most public criticism of the polls, with the authorities charging more than 400 people recently for activities such as leafleting or online activity.

Ahead of the third round of voting, Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, also called for the rejection of its outcome, calling it “fraudulent”.

“Only an illegitimate government can emerge from an illegitimate election,” he wrote on X on Saturday.

“As Myanmar’s election ends, the world must reject it as fraudulent while rejecting what follows as simply military rule in civilian clothing.”

Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Hasan told Parliament on Tuesday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a member, did not send observers and would not certify the election, citing concerns over the lack of inclusive and free participation.

His comments were the first clear statement that the 11-member regional bloc will not recognise the election results.

In Myanmar’s second city of Mandalay, Zaw Ko Ko Myint, a 53-year-old teacher, cast his vote at a high school around dawn.

“Although I do not expect much, we want to see a better country,” he told the AFP news agency. “I feel relieved after voting, as if I fulfilled my duty.”

The previous two phases of the election have been marked by low voter turnout of about 55 percent, well ⁠below the turnout of about 70 percent recorded in Myanmar’s 2020 and 2015 general elections.

Official results are expected late this week, but the USDP could claim victory as soon as Monday.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD thrashed the USDP in the last elections in 2020, before the military seized power on February 1, 2021.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors human rights abuses in the country, at least 7,705 people have been killed since the outbreak of the civil war, while 22,745 remain detained.

But the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a monitoring group that tallies media reports of violence, estimates more than 90,000 have been killed on all sides of the conflict.

Rachel Duffy, who was the first female Traitor to win the series, claimed she’d been trained by a former FBI agent prior to going on The Traitors, in order to help her sniff out the deceitful

Rachel Duffy has come clean about the “obvious lie” she told on The Traitors. She claimed that she had “months” of FBI training but has now admitted that this was not completely true.

Whilst on The Traitors, Rachel was one of the original murderous trio who the Faithfuls were trying to catch. As she and fellow Traitor Stephen both reached the end, they took the prize pot, splitting £95,000 between the two of them.

One claim that made Rachel seem more trustworthy to the Faithfuls was that she had completed months of FBI training, helping her notice microexpressions that happen on liars’ faces. She used this claim whenever she was questioned on how she could know with such certainty that Fiona was a Traitor.

READ MORE: Traitors star Faraaz Noor ‘threw away’ £95,750 prize thanks to one terrible decisionREAD MORE: The Traitors winner Rachel Duffy plans to publish fantasy novel after £47,000 prize

But, she has now told The Mirror that this was not the entire truth. “I did one of [the FBI agent’s] training courses, but I did… I obviously lied,” she admitted.

“And so I had said it was a four-month online course… but it was more of like a one-day course on an e-book. But it did help because it gave me something in my back pocket.”

Rachel has also shared that though she has no plans for further reality TV appearances, she is thinking of writing a book. “No immediate plans to go for reality TV. I think I’ve done enough with that one.” she said.

“I think my focus now is on the kids and potentially bringing my book to life. So I’ve written a book, taken 10 years to write it… it’s about murder and lies… a contemporary fantasy novel for young adults all about Irish redheads in a magical forest.”

Family pride in Rachel ran deep according to the proud mum: “My husband was the only one that knew, and he’d never watched the show. So when I told him… he said, ‘that’s great’, and ‘oh, good job’… My little kids watched last night with the family and they just couldn’t get over it.”

Rachel was the first female Traitor to win the series and she and Stephen were the first Traitor pair to win together. Prior winners have either been groups of Faithfuls or a single male Traitor.

The pair’s win largely came down to a pact they made early on. After they both turned on their other Traitor Hugo, they agreed not to dob each other in. That pact lasted all the way to the end.

In the tense final, Rachel repeatedly told Stephen that she would not turn on him but both of them seemed to waver, with Rachel even agreeing with Faraaz to vote Stephen out. But when it came to the roundtable, she and Stephen both got rid of Faraaz instead, whilst he voted for Stephen and Jack voted for Rachel.

Then they both teamed up to get rid of Jack, leaving them as the only two left in the game. As such, they split £95,000 between the two of them.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Top Los Angeles federal prosecutor Bill Essayli faced blistering criticism from gun rights groups, including the NRA, after he posted on X Saturday about the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers.

Essayli, the first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, wrote: “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.”

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, was believed to be a “lawful gun owner with a permit to carry,” according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. Bystander videos show Pretti holding a phone, but nothing appearing to be a weapon appeared in those that circulated in the hours after the shooting.

In response to Essayli’s tweet, the NRA posted on X: “This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong.”

The post continued: “Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

After receiving significant backlash, Essayli accused another gun rights organization of “adding words to mischaracterize my statement.”

“I never said it’s legally justified to shoot law-abiding concealed carriers,” he posted on X. “My comment addressed agitators approaching law enforcement with a gun and refusing to disarm.

“My advice stands: If you value your life, do not aggressively approach law enforcement while armed. If they reasonably perceive a threat and you fail to immediately disarm, they are legally permitted to use deadly force.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in L.A. referred The Times to Essayli’s post on X clarifying what he initially said. He declined further comment.

Gov. Gavin Newsom joined in the criticism, writing on X, “Wow. Even the NRA thinks Trump’s DOJ stooge in California has gone too far for claiming federal agents were ‘legally justified’ to kill Alex Pretti.”

Earlier, a 2nd Amendment lobbying group, Gun Owners of America, also criticized Essayli.

“We condemn the untoward comments of @USAttyEssayli. Federal agents are not ‘highly likely’ to be ‘legally justified’ in ‘shooting’ concealed carry licensees who approach while lawfully carrying a firearm,” the group posted on X. “The Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting — a right the federal government must not infringe upon.”

Essayli’s post received a community note — a crowdsourced fact-check — noting that “the U.S. Constitution (particularly the 2nd, 4th, and 14th amendments) prohibit officers from shooting citizens merely for possessing a weapon that is not an “imminent threat.”

The shooting drew a large crowd of protesters in a city that had already seen widespread demonstrations after the fatal shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7.

Essayli, a former Riverside County assemblyman, was appointed as the region’s interim top federal prosecutor by U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi last April.

Since taking office, he has doggedly pursued President Trump’s agenda, championing hard-line immigration enforcement in Southern California, often using the president’s language verbatim at news conferences.

One station in the UK recorded just 68 entries and exits between 2024 and 2025

A railway station has earned the title of the UK’s most deserted, with a mere 68 people passing through in an entire year. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) data reveals that a Nottinghamshire station takes the crown as the least frequented in the UK.

Elton and Orston station, nestled between two quaint villages, recorded just 68 entries and exits between 2024 and 2025. This figure is largely estimated from ticket sales, marking a significant drop in footfall – from 212 passengers between 2023 and 2024.

The station’s demand is so low that only two East Midland Railway trains make a pit stop each day. These operate from Monday to Saturday, one heading towards Nottingham and the other bound for Skegness.

Elton and Orston lacks any staff or ticket office. It first opened its doors in 1850, but over the course of the 20th century, passenger numbers began to dwindle.

According to the latest census, Orston boasts a population of 512. Despite such sparse use, railway stations are often kept operational as it’s simpler to arrange infrequent train stops than to secure permission for permanent closure, reports the Express.

Previously, Denton train station in Tameside, Greater Manchester, held the dubious honour of being the quietest station. It saw only 54 entries and exits between 2023 and 2024.

Denton is served by just two trains per week, linking the area with Stockport and Stalybridge on Saturdays. However, passenger numbers at the station have seen an uptick over the past year.

Fresh data revealed that Denton recorded 100 entries and exits during 2024 and 2025.

The Office of Rail and Road suspects that being crowned Britain’s quietest station may have actually drawn more curious visitors.

A spokesperson had previously noted: “In previous years, usage at some of the least used stations presented as part of these statistics has increased the following year.

“We understand that highlighting the least used stations within these statistics can encourage people to visit them.”

Least used stations 2024/2025

• Elton and Orston, Nottinghamshire – 68
• Shippea Hill, Cambridgeshire – 76
• Ince and Elton, Cheshire – 98
• Denton, Greater Manchester – 100
• Reddish South, Greater Manchester – 102

Syrian defence ministry says extension aims to help transfer of ISIL prisoners from facilities previously held by SDF.

A ceasefire agreement between Syria’s military and Kurdish-led forces has been extended for 15 days, the Syrian Ministry of Defence announced.

The ministry said late on Saturday that the extension, which began at 11pm local time (20:00 GMT), aims to support a United States operation to transfer ISIL (ISIS) prisoners from detention facilities previously controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The SDF also confirmed that the ceasefire was extended, stressing in a statement that the deal “contributes to de-escalation, the protection of civilians, and the creation of the necessary conditions for stability”.

Reporting from the Syrian capital Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Ayman Oghanna said the announcement has spurred a feeling of relief in the country.

“While this ceasefire is welcome in Syria, there’s still a lot of concern because the central issue that has caused the fighting between the SDF and the government hasn’t been resolved,” he said.

“And that issue is integration: integrating SDF fighters and civil institutions into [Syrian] government institutions.”

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a deal with the SDF in March of last year to integrate the group into state institutions following the fall of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad.

But the plan faltered amid disagreements between the two sides over how best to implement the agreement, spurring a wave of deadly clashes in several parts of the country in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, Damascus announced a four-day truce to halt a wave of fighting that saw Syrian government forces rapidly advance and seize territory previously held by the SDF.

Syrian ​forces were approaching a last cluster of Kurdish-held cities in the northeast when the ‍ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, giving the SDF until Saturday night to come up with a plan to integrate with Syria’s army.

The advance has brought key oil fields, hydroelectric dams and some facilities holding ISIL fighters and affiliated civilians – including al-Aqtan prison in Raqqa province – under government control.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has been calling on both the Syrian government and the SDF to ensure that the ceasefire holds.

On Wednesday, Washington announced it had begun transferring ISIL-linked detainees from Syria to Iraq. The US military has said as many as 7,000 people could be transferred to Iraqi-controlled facilities.

“We are closely coordinating with regional partners, including the Iraqi government, and we sincerely appreciate their role in ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS,” US Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US forces in the Middle East, said.

Al-Maliki remains a potent force despite longstanding claims he fuelled sectarianism and failed to stop ISIL expansion.

Iraqi former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is on the verge of a return to power after being nominated as the country’s next premier by an alliance of Shia political blocs that hold a majority in parliament.

The Shia Coordination Framework said on Saturday that it had picked al-Maliki, leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, as its nominee for the post based on his “political and administrative experience and his role in managing the state”.

A central figure in Iraq’s politics, the 75-year-old first became prime minister in 2006, as the country appeared to be unravelling amid a wave of violence unleashed by the United States-led invasion of 2003.

He stepped down after ISIL (ISIS) seized large parts of the country in 2014, but has remained an influential political player, leading the State of Law coalition and maintaining close ties with Iran-backed factions.

The move paves the way for negotiations aimed at forming a new government, which will need to manage powerful armed groups close to Iran, such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq, while facing growing pressure from Washington to dismantle them.

Potent force

Al-Maliki was Iraq’s only two-term premier since the US-led invasion, and had, over the years, managed to appease both Tehran and Washington, becoming a powerbroker whose approval is considered indispensable to any governing coalition.

He remains a potent force in Iraqi politics despite longstanding accusations that he fuelled sectarian strife and failed to stop ISIL from seizing large areas of the country a decade ago.

The politician spent nearly a quarter of a century in exile after campaigning against the governance of former President Saddam Hussein, but returned to Iraq in the wake of the 2003 invasion that toppled the longtime leader.

He became a member of the de-Baathification commission that barred members of Saddam’s Baath party from public office.

The US-authored programme was widely blamed for fuelling the rise of post-invasion rebel groups by purging thousands of experienced civil servants who were disproportionately Sunni.

Two stars of The Night Manager season two appeared in a beloved period drama on Apple TV+

*Warning – This article contains major spoilers for The Night Manager season 2.*

A “breathtaking” period drama with The Night Manager stars has had fans watching it “on repeat”. The Night Manager has returned for its second season on BBC One, with Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Jonathan Pine.

The first season of the hit BBC thriller aired back in 2016, and centred around Jonathan, the night manager of a luxury hotel in Cairo, who was also a former British solider. At the start of the series, Jonathan was recruited by Angela Burr (Olivia Colman), the manager of a Foreign Office task force investigating illegal arms sale. He was tasked with infiltrating the inner circle of arms deal Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie).

The start of the second season saw Angela identify Richard’s body, but a shock twist was later unveiled, as Richard was confirmed to be alive and working with his son Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva) in Colombia.

Jonathan was reunited with Angela last week, who revealed that Richard had threatened her family if she didn’t comply with his orders to fake his death. An explosive set of events then ensued, as Jonathan rushed to stop Teddy killing a young boy, with Richard soon learning of Jonathan’s reappearance in his life.

Ahead of the penultimate episode of season two airing on BBC One tonight (Sunday, January 25), fans might be interested to watch another drama with two of this season’s stars.

Tom Hiddleston and his season two co-star Hayley Squires, who plays Jonathan’s colleague Sally Price-Jones, both star in Gothic romance series The Essex Serpent.

Based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Perry, the six-part period drama is set in the Victorian era and tells the story of Cora Seaborne (Claire Danes) who moves from London to Essex, relishing her newfound freedom after being widowed by her abusive husband.

She becomes intrigued by the myth of a creature known as the Essex Serpent, leading her to the community’s spiritual leader, Will Ransome (played by Tom), as she seeks to uncover the origins of the creature. “But when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature,” the synopsis adds.

Actress Hayley played Martha, a highly intelligent servant in Cora’s household, acting as her closest confidante. The show’s cast also includes Frank Dillane, Clémence Poésy, Jamael Westman, Lily-Rose Aslandogdu, Gerard Kearns, Michael Jibson, Caspar Griffiths, and Dixie Egerickx.

Ryan Reffell, Nitin Ganatra, Christopher Fairbank, Deepica Stephen, Yaamin Chowdhury and Greta Bellamacina round out the stacked cast.

Filming for The Essex Serpent began in February 2021 in a number of Essex locations, including Alresford, Brightlingsea, North Fambridge and Maldon, as well as across London, including Gordon Square in Bloomsbury. The show debuted on Apple TV+ in May 2022, where it received positive reviews from critics and viewers alike.

“What a joy to watch. Everything about this is first class from the minute it starts to the end. Beautifully filmed with a lot of scenes that are utterly breathtaking. Such an emotional and complex story,” one person wrote on IMDb.

Another added: “This series is absolutely exquisite! Every detail from the cinematography, music, writing, setting and acting all blend together in perfect harmony. The themes of social and economic class disparities, science, scapegoating, superstition, faith and of course infinite love, weave together effortlessly to make this a very powerful story.”

A third said: “I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of The Essex Serpent. It did not disappoint, I’ve been a fan of Tom Hiddleston a long time, and he yet again gives another great performance. I love Claire Danes role as Cora, she makes me want to be more carefree as her. A beautiful forbidden romance, mystery, and a struggle with one’s own beliefs reign in this show. Eager for more.”

A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “Mesmerising from the start, and thoroughly captivating to the end. The story is brilliant, the characters solid, and the eerie mood of the Essex estuaries is masterfully captured on screen. All the events, along with the terrifying and exciting music, made me fall in love with this series. I keep watching it on repeat.”

The Essex Serpent is available to stream on Apple TV+, while The Night Manager airs every Sunday at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

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Bragi Jonsson is Icelandic but hates the winter’s freezing cold there. In fact, he hates it so much that since 2020, he has been heading south during the winter

A retired security guard who swapped his life in Europe for a sun-soaked Southern Hemisphere country has shared how much his life there really costs.

Bragi Jonsson is Icelandic but hates the winter’s freezing cold there. In fact, he hates it so much that since 2020, he has been heading south during the winter, staying in Thailand for months at a time. The 69-year-old rents somewhere cheap and spends his time relaxing, enjoying the warm weather and local culture.

The Mirror caught up with Bragi during his most recent trip to Pattaya, a vibrant coastal city on the Gulf of Thailand that is known for its energetic beaches, diverse nightlife and the Big Buddha.

“It is pretty nice. This is my fifth time I’ve come down here,” Bragi explained while sunning himself in the 30 °C January weather. Bragi is one of an increasing number of Europeans who call Thailand their home, at last for part of the year.

By one estimate, there are around five million foreigners living in the country, around 300,000 of which are North American, European or Australian. One reason is the more generous visa rules that were introduced in 2024, with visa-free access extended to 60 days for tourism, up from 30. The process is further streamlined by the adoption of Thai e-Visa and a new Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, though authorities are enforcing stricter checks on long-term “visa runs”.

READ MORE: One of the UK’s ‘worst seaside towns’ is getting a huge £37.5million revampREAD MORE: ‘I leave my toddler and partner at home and take therapy trips abroad’

Another big reason – beyond the pleasant weather – is the cost of living.

“It is much cheaper to live down here than in the UK or Iceland. I’ve got a lovely place down here and it’s cheaper to go out dining than cooking at home,” Bragi explained.

“Food, for example, £4 for a course would be expensive. I like pad thai. A good steak with beer is £5. Altogether, it’s cheap living down here. If you really go local at the food stands, you can live cheap.”

In terms of beer, a large bottle of Chang or Singha beer can be bought in the shops for 70 baht, or around £1.60, with the price rising to roughly double that in bars.

“There is a big nightclub further down the beach (in Pattaya), and it’s more expensive the closer you go to there. There’s a bar with ladies who look after you. Every bar lady tries to chat you up. It’s a nice gesture, but you have to tip them,” Bragi added.

At the moment, Bragi is paying £240 a month for his accommodation, a studio apartment which includes water, electricity, and internet. studio apartment.

Bragi, who retired in 2021 after years spent working as a security guard in Iceland and in hotels, continued: “I never wanted to own anything. The most expensive thing I’ve owned is a car. I never wanted to own a property. I work and travel. I have a permanent address in Iceland and pre-settlement status in the UK, but I am hoping to move to Thailand longer term.”

When asked if he missed anything about his home country, Bragi said “nothing”. “I wouldn’t survive up there. The rent is so expensive. And it is damn cold over there. My plan is at least seven/eight months in Thailand, maybe move around to Bali or Vietnam. I am definitely not going to Iceland. I don’t worry about anything. I am just living life.”

As Bragi doesn’t own a home in Iceland. When he’s not in Thailand, he travels the world, house sitting for families in the UK and elsewhere in Europe via HouseSitMatch.

He has now stayed in over 70 properties and doesn’t see himself stopping anytime soon. He saves on rent and household bills, and can enjoy exploring new places during his retirement. But his biggest tip for exploring unknown areas is fascinating – he takes part in Geo Caching – essentially a treasure hunt via GPS on your phone. “It has taken me to so many places that I would never have known about, you can do it anywhere in the world and it keeps you fit and healthy – I see lots of families doing it too.”

According to Thomas Cook data, it’s mainly couples that are heading to Thailand on holiday – accounting for 51% of all bookings. What’s more interesting is holidaymakers are leaning into luxury, with 93% of bookings to Thailand made this month opting for four- and five-star accommodation. Nicholas Smith, holidays digital director at Thomas Cook, said: “We’ve seen bookings to Thailand increase by more than 400% year-on-year, as holidaymakers look to stretch their budgets further while still ticking off long-haul, bucket list destinations. Strong value on accommodation and experiences, paired with Thailand’s reputation as a safe and flexible choice for first-time long-haul customers, are all playing a part.”

Videos quickly emerged Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester by federal immigration agents, with Democratic leaders in Minnesota saying the footage showed the deadly encounter was the result of untrained federal officers overreacting and the Trump administration saying the man provoked the violence.

It was the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis by federal immigration authorities this month. The killing of Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7 also was captured on videos and produced a similar schism among political leaders.

At around 9 a.m. on Saturday, federal agents patrolling Minneapolis killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti after a roughly 30-second scuffle. The Trump administration said shots were fired “defensively” against Pretti, who federal authorities said had a semiautomatic handgun and was “violently” resisting officers.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who said he watched one of several videos, said he saw “more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents, shooting him to death.” Frey has said Minneapolis and St. Paul are being “invaded” by the administration’s largest immigration crackdown, dubbed Operation Metro Surge.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti attacked officers, and Customs and Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino said Pretti wanted to do “maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” In posts on X, President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called Pretti “a would-be assassin.”

The shooting Saturday occurred as officers were pursuing a man in the country illegally wanted for domestic assault, Bovino said. Protesters routinely try to disrupt such operations, and they sounded their high-pitched whistles, honked horns and yelled out at the officers.

Among them was Pretti. At one point, in a video obtained by the Associated Press, Pretti is standing in the street and holding up his phone. He is face-to-face with an officer in a tactical vest, who places his hand on Pretti and pushes him toward the sidewalk.

Pretti is talking to the officer, though it is not clear what he is saying.

The video shows protesters wandering in and out of the street as officers persist in trying to talk them back. One protester is put in handcuffs. Some officers are carrying pepper spray canisters.

Pretti is seen again when the video shows an officer wearing tactical gear shoving a protester. The protester, who is wearing a skirt over black tights and holding a water bottle, reaches out for Pretti.

The same officer shoves Pretti in his chest, leading Pretti and the other protester to stumble backward.

A different video then shows Pretti moving toward another protester, who falls over after being shoved by the same officer. Pretti moves between the protester and the officer, reaching his arms out toward the officer. The officer deploys pepper spray, and Pretti raises his hand and turns his face. The officer grabs Pretti’s hand to bring it behind his back, and deploys the pepper spray canister again and then pushes Pretti away.

Seconds later, at least half a dozen federal officers surround Pretti, who is wrestled to the ground and hit several times. Several agents try to bring Pretti’s arms behind his back, and he struggles.

Videos show an officer, who is hovering over the scuffle with his right hand on Pretti’s back, back away from the group with what appears to be a gun in his right hand just before the first shot is heard.

Someone shouts, “Gun, gun.” It is not clear whether that’s a reference to the weapon authorities say Pretti had.

And then the first shot is heard.

Videos do not clearly show who fired the first shot. In one video, seconds before that shot, one officer reaches for his belt and appears to draw his gun. The same officer is seen with a gun to Pretti’s back as three more shots ring out. Pretti slumps to the ground. Videos show the officers backing away, some with guns drawn. More shots are fired.

The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after he “approached” Border Patrol officers with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun. Officials did not say whether Pretti, who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon, brandished the gun or kept it hidden.

An agency statement said officers fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “violently resisted” officers trying to disarm him.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expressed dismay at the characterization.

“I’ve seen the videos, from several angles, and it’s sickening,” he said.

Trump weighed in on social media by lashing out at Walz and Frey. He shared images of the gun that immigration officials said was recovered from Pretti and said “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”

Fingerhut writes for the Associated Press.

Christen Press welcomed herself to the U.S. women’s soccer team by scoring twice in her debut in the first game of 2013. The team said goodbye Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park, honoring Press before its first game of 2026, a 6-0 win over Paraguay.

In between, Press played 154 more times for the U.S., winning two World Cups, an Olympic bronze medal and scoring 62 more goals, retiring as the ninth-leading scorer in team history.

But those are just numbers because as good as Press was, she wants to be remembered for the legacy she left behind, for the barriers she broke, for the inspiration she continues to provide for players who followed her to the national team.

“Well, it’s sort of the point, right?” she said ahead of Saturday’s farewell ceremony before a crowd of 19,397. “I feel really lucky that I had the opportunity to play long enough to overlap with some of these young players and be able to see the growth of the game, how far it’s come, and be able to see what the next generation of player feels like.

“It’s different, and it’s going to take different things for people to have success.”

Talk about following in Press’ footsteps: The first score Saturday came from Reilyn Turner of the Portland Thorns, like Press a Southern California native who scored her first U.S. goal on a left-footed shot in the first half of her international debut. The second goal, less than two minutes into the second half, came from Kansas City’s Ally Sentnor.

Reilyn Turner, second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring in a 6-0 U.S. win in an international friendly with Paraguay on Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

And that opened the floodgates, with the U.S. getting an own goal from Paraguay’s Fiorella Martínez followed by scores from Trinity Rodman — who was celebrating the three-year contract, reported to be worth a record $6 million, she signed Thursday with the Washington Spirit — a second goal from Sentnor and another from Emma Sears.

Press scored her final international goal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Ten months later, playing with Angel City FC in the NWSL, she shredded the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, an injury that required four surgeries and nearly 25 months to repair. She never played another game for the national team and made just three more starts for Angel City before announcing her retirement last October.

By then Press, 37, had made the transition from soccer star to businesswoman and media personality with Re-Inc, a gender-neutral community-driven fashion brand, and the Re-Cap Show, an award-winning soccer podcast, both of which she runs with wife and former teammate Tobin Heath.

U.S. midfielder Trinity Rodman celebrates after scoring in the second half against Paraguay on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

That, Press said, will continue to provide her with a link to the game.

“We’re so integrated into the women’s sports ecosystem, through podcasts, through merchandise and through the women’s soccer community,” she said. “I have spent a lot of time looking at the business of women’s sports and how we need to reimagine it.

“In a dream world, I’d be able to continue to influence the ecosystem as a businessperson.”

Press got her start in soccer in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, about a dozen miles from where her career officially ended Saturday in Carson. As a preschooler she played with older kids in co-ed league because one team was short a girl.

“I didn’t touch the ball once,” she remembered years later. “I picked daisies and waved to my mom.”

U.S. forward Emma Sears, left, scores past Paraguay defender Fiorella Martinez in the second half Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

She went on to win two CIF Southern Section titles at the Chadwick School and a Hermann Trophy at Stanford before starting a club career that took her to eight teams in three countries. With the national team she went to three Olympics, won World Cups and played a key role in the landmark lawsuit against U.S. Soccer that ended with the women earning equal pay with the men’s team.

It’s a résumé that already is challenging the next generation of national team players.

“I admired her for a long time,” said Seattle Reign winger Maddie Dahlien, 21, who made her national team debut Saturday. “She made a name for herself a little later. You never know when your opportunity will be. So make the most of it when it comes.”

U.S. coach Emma Hayes never had a chance to work directly with Press, though she wanted to bring her overseas to Chelsea FC when Hayes managed there and Press was looking to move to the Women’s Super League.

U.S. defender Gisele Thompson, left, moves the ball past Paraguay midfielder Fatima Acosta in the second half Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“I’ve always admired her and thought what a fantastic football player she is. Very different to what was a more traditional American forward at the time,” Hayes said. “What she’s achieved, as well-traveled as she is, what an honor to be coaching on the day she gets celebrated in her hometown.”

For Press, it was a celebration that marked the transition from one stage of life to the next. And, she acknowledged, there are a few things she’s going to miss.

“I am so sad that I don’t play soccer anymore,” she said. “I miss training. I miss being on a team, being around young people. I miss being outside every day. I miss the grass. I miss the discipline and ritual that football brings to my life.”

“I like to talk about all the things that I miss, because I think ‘I’m retired. It’s easy now.’ No. I had the best job in the world. And it’s an irreplaceable job.”

The £60 million Airlander 10 mega airship is the size of a football pitch and can carry up to 100 passengers. It doesn’t need a runway and can land on grass, gravel, sand or even water

The world’s largest aircraft, cheekily dubbed the “flying bum” due to its peculiar shape, doesn’t even require a runway for landing. The £60 million “mega airship”, complete with double bedrooms and an onboard bar, is set to redefine air travel.

Hybrid Air Vehicles, the manufacturers, aim to have a commercial fleet of the Airlander 10 soaring through the skies by 2029. At a whopping 92-metres, it will be the world’s largest aircraft, designed to revolutionise the way we travel.

The makers also anticipate that the aircraft will be able to reach locations currently “inaccessible to all but helicopters”.

That is because the Airlander 10 can take off and land without the use of a runway. They claim it can land on “grass, gravel, sand, marsh, or even water”, requiring only “very short” take off and landing distances.

George said: “The aircraft can land in any open space, it doesn’t need a paved runway, so all of a sudden you have taken away some of the barriers to entry for the aircraft. You can try out something because you’re not committing to millions of dollars of infrastructure.”

He added: “You could take that aircraft on a multi-place trip. You could go from the coast of Saudi Arabia in-land to places that are really inaccessible to all but helicopters now and that aircraft at its maximum capacity that can hold 100 people.”

George – whose company purchased the design after the US military abandoned the project following the Iraq War’s conclusion – embraced the “flying bum” nickname but told the Mirror he has “personally never seen it.”

Nevertheless, head of marketing Hannah Cunningham revealed that a refined version destined for commercial aviation would be “less bum” than earlier iterations. Currently, the company has no operational prototypes, having instead built two mock-ups of the passenger compartment that will be suspended beneath the helium-filled flotation system.

The firm previously operated a test aircraft which caused traffic gridlock when it soared above Bedford in August 2016. However, it has since been withdrawn from service.

That situation may soon shift as manufacturers HAV have secured a site in Doncaster to construct the new, enhanced Airlander 10 within the coming 12 to 18 months. The company then faces a lengthy Civil Aviation Authority approval process that could result in the South Yorkshire facility churning out two dozen units annually from 2030.

The aircraft promises an end to the cramped, deafening cabins of conventional aeroplanes, according to HAV, with the vessel described as a “more comfortable” flying experience. It cruises at 3,000 metres, sufficiently low that air-pressurisation isn’t required.

With a maximum speed of 80mph, it avoids the drone and vibration of contemporary jets. While it sacrifices speed, being six times slower than a Boeing Dreamliner, it compensates with endurance, claiming the capability to cover 4,000 miles in a single journey.

The Airlander 10 is set to be one of the most environmentally friendly aircrafts, thanks to a collaboration between HAV and UK-American company ZeroAvia. The partnership aims to power the aircraft with hydrogen-electric engines, significantly reducing the Airlander 10’s emissions to perhaps just 1 or 2 per cent of those from a typical kerosene-powered commercial plane.

Val Miftakhov of ZeroAvia commented: “Airlander is another exciting airframe for line-fit for our powertrains as it can open up a whole new market in air travel due to its range, efficiency, and ability to operate from almost anywhere.”

He added: “Like ZeroAvia, Hybrid Air Vehicles is an aerospace innovator with exciting manufacturing and growth plans for the UK that can deliver hundreds of well-paid jobs in different regions in the UK.”

Jan. 24 (UPI) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope for ending the nearly four-year-old war started by Russia after the first trilateral talks concluded on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Zelensky was not among his country’s representatives but said six Ukrainian officials negotiated with Russian military intelligence and armed forces representatives, while the United States sent Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Dan Driscoll, Alexus Grynkewich and Josh Gruenbaum to help create a viable framework for ending the war.

He thanked officials from the United Arab Emirates for hosting the talks, which he described as “constructive,” and said Ukraine is ready to move forward on securing an agreement to end the war.

“The central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war,” Zelensky said in a post on X.

Such parameters would include participation from U.S. officials to help encourage a peace agreement.

“I highly value the understanding of the need for American monitoring and oversight of the process of ending the war and ensuring genuine security,” Zelensky said, adding that U.S. officials asked which “security conditions” might be required to secure the peace.

He said the Russian military contingent identified several issues to be discussed if another meeting is held, and attendees are to report on the talks with their respective national leaders.

The talks were held for two days and were the first in which Russian and Ukrainian officials met to negotiate an end to the war that started when Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump met while in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week to discuss the talks that were held on Friday and Saturday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is winning the war and is prepared to continue fighting until all military objectives are achieved, no matter how many Russian troops are killed, The New York Times reported.

Russia also launched an aerial attack early Saturday morning that sent more than 350 drones and 15 missiles to strike targets in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

The attack killed one and damaged a hospital and maternity ward, Ukrainian officials said.

The U.S. contingent acted as mediators to help ensure the talks are more productive and stand a better chance of ending with a viable peace deal that ends the fighting.

A 37-year-old Minneapolis man, who is believed to be a US citizen, has been killed by a federal agent.

Greg Bovino, Border Patrol commander said that officers tried to disarm an individual who “violently resisted”.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he spoke to the White House after “another horrific shooting by federal agents”.

More on this story.

Applicants are advised not to book any travel before receiving their valid passport

People have been told they can save money when buying their new passport by doing one thing. Holidaymakers and business travellers have been told it will also usually mean they get their document in three weeks.

According to His Majesty’s Passport Office, if you apply for your UK passport online, it is not only cheaper but typically quicker as well. His Majesty’s Passport Office says applying online costs £12.50 less than completing a paper form and sending it by post, with most people using the standard online service receiving their passport within three weeks.

In a message posted on X, the Passport Office said: “It’s cheaper and easier to apply for your passport online! You’ll usually get your passport within 3 weeks using our standard service. Our processing time starts from when we receive your documents.”

An adult passport costs £94.50 online versus £107 by post, a saving of £12.50. The online service can be used to apply for, renew, replace or update a passport, with payments made by debit or credit card. Applications can be made here.

Crucially for those still holding older documents, passports that are burgundy or bear the words ‘ European Union ‘ on the cover remain valid until their expiry date. Applicants are warned not to book travel until they have a valid passport in hand, as any new passport issued will carry a different number from the old one.

For those in a rush, faster – and pricier – options are available, including the Online Premium service and the one-week Fast Track, though the Passport Office advises checking processing times before applying. For those who are not as tech-savvy, assistance is available at the Post Office through the digital Check and Send service.

Here, staff can help with taking a digital photo and filling out the application, although this service does come with an additional charge. Paper applications can still be obtained from Post Offices, but these take more time to process and require applicants to supply their own photos. A distinct paper Check and Send service is also provided for an extra fee.

Standard Passport Fees (UK applications)

Method Adult (16+) Child (under 16)

Online (standard service): adult – £94.50; child – £61.50

Postal (paper form): adult- £107.00; child- £74.00

Premium (same-day service): – adult – £222.00*; child – £189.00

Fast Track (1-week): adult – £178.00*; child – £145.00

*Not available for first-time adult applications

For the latest money saving tips, shopping and consumer news, go to the new Everything Money website