Should Morgan and Lake depart, the uncertainty in crisis-stricken Welsh rugby will have been a major factor in their decisions.

Ospreys have said publicly they want to keep the pair, who are close friends, but the two players are unsure what the future holds in their homeland.

Ospreys supporters were told in September Morgan had warned the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) he would leave professional domestic rugby in Wales if Ospreys ceased to exist.

The WRU announced in October that it planned to reduce the number of professional men’s sides in Wales from four to three.

Welsh rugby’s governing body confirmed it proposes to grant three licences for men’s clubs.

There will be one in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west, which is expected to result in a straight survival fight between Swansea-based Ospreys and Scarlets in Llanelli.

Another option that has now emerged is Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, taking over WRU-owned Cardiff, which could produce the desired number of three professional sides.

One of the main purposes of the planned reduction in sides in Welsh rugby is to concentrate Welsh talent into three squads.

But if Lake and Morgan leave, they will be joining top Welsh players like Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Dafydd Jenkins who play in England.

Wales head coach Steve Tandy selected 13 players in the autumn series who plied their club trade in England or France.

THE last time Britain had a white Christmas was 15 years ago – and its unlikely to be one this year either.

But there is one way of guaranteeing one in the UK thanks to a holiday lodge that has a sneaky way to make sure you have snow.

You can get festive quite easily with cosy log fires, a cup of mulled wine, and a classic Christmas dinner.

But there’s one thing that would make it that extra special – a blanket of snow outside.

And Holiday Lodges have announced a stay that will actually guarantee snow – thanks to hidden snow machines throughout.

Tucked away in the heart of Wales is its White Christmas Lodge where in December guests will wake up to snow outside.

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The description reads: “From the moment you arrive, you’ll step into a winter wonderland. Fully decked out in Christmassy decor and covered in snow”.

The lodge sleeps up to eight people and has its own hot tub, games room, cosy living and dining room along with icy lake views and you can stay there from £350 per night.

For further festivities, you can add a “decorate-your-own tree” experience or a festive wreath-making class.

In the evening, the kitchen is full-kitted out so you can relax with a cup of hot chocolate, mulled wine or spiced cider.

Not to mention it’s the perfect place to watch movies like Home Alone, Elf and for classic fans, White Christmas.

There might even be a special visit from Santa himself.

The following morning you’ll actually get to see snow falling outside (thanks to the hidden snow machines too).

The lodge has captured attention on social media too. TikTok‘s @_miawootoon said “I feel like it would be the most incredible experience in the world to have a white Christmas – why hasn’t it been done before?”.

@alexandratealeaf added “it looks like it’s straight out of a Christmas movie”.

More details are yet to be announced and the lodge isn’t available for booking quite yet.

But if you’re interested in a stay at the White Christmas Lodge next tear then head here to register your interest at holidaylodges.co.uk.   

For more on Christmas, check out the popular UK attraction with the tallest Christmas tree in the WORLD – and they need a crane to decorate it.

And here are 15 unusual places to see Santa this Christmas from underground mines to water attractions.

The build-up to the ceremony has been tinged with shadowy intrigue, after the Nobel institute earlier said Machado’s whereabouts were unknown.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado will not receive the Nobel Peace Prize in person at an award ceremony in Oslo but she will be in the European city, the director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute has said.

Machado, 58, was due to receive the award on Wednesday at Oslo City Hall in the presence of Norway’s monarchs and Latin American leaders, including fellow right-wing politicians Argentinian President Javier Milei and Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa.

The opposition leader of the Vente Venezuela party was awarded the prize in October, with the Nobel committee praising Machado’s role in the country’s opposition movement and her “steadfast” support for democracy.

Machado, who holds many right-wing views, dedicated it in part to United States President Donald Trump, who has said he, himself deserved the honour and was infuriated that he did not.

“Although she will not be able to reach the ceremony and today’s events, we are profoundly happy to confirm that Machado is safe and that she will be with us in Oslo,” the institute stated.

She is expected to reach Oslo “sometime between this evening and tomorrow morning,” the institute’s director Kristian Berg Harpviken told the AFP news agency on Wednesday, shortly before the 1pm (12:00 GMT) ceremony, at which her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, is set to accept the award in her place.

“I will be in Oslo, I am on my way,” Machado stated in an audio recording released by the institute.

The announcement was part of a sequence of events more befitting of cloak-and-dagger intrigue, as the institute had earlier stated Machado’s whereabouts were unknown. A planned news conference a day earlier was also cancelled due to her absence.

Machado has a decade-long travel ban on her and has spent more than a year in hiding.

Alignment with right-wing hawks

The political leader has welcomed international sanctions and US military intervention in Venezuela, a move her critics say harkens back to a dark past.

The US has a long history of interference in the region, particularly in the 1980s when it propped up repressive right-wing governments through coups, and funded paramilitary groups across Latin America that were responsible for mass killings, forced disappearances and other grave human rights abuses.

Venezuelan authorities cited Machado’s support for sanctions and US intervention when they barred her from running for office in last year’s presidential election, where she had intended to challenge President Nicolas Maduro. Machado has accused Maduro of stealing the July 2024 election.

Shortly after her Nobel win in October, Machado also voiced support for Israel in a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during its ongoing genocidal war in Gaza.

Machado has previously pledged to move Venezuela’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, as Trump did with the US diplomatic presence during his first term in office, if her movement comes to power. This would be on par with other right-wing Latin American leaders who have taken pro-Israel stances, including Argentina’s Milei and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Machado has aligned herself with right-wing hawks close to Trump who argue that Maduro has links to criminal gangs that pose a direct threat to US national security, despite doubts raised by the US intelligence community.

The Trump administration has ordered more than 20 military strikes in recent months against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and off Latin America’s Pacific coast.

Human rights groups, some US Democrats and several Latin American countries have condemned the attacks as unlawful extrajudicial killings of civilians.

Maduro, in power since 2013 following the death of Hugo Chavez, says Trump is pushing for regime change in the country to access Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. He has pledged to resist such attempts.

Venezuela’s armed forces are planning to mount a guerrilla-style resistance in the event of a US air or ground attack, according to sources with knowledge of the efforts and planning documents seen by the Reuters news agency.

The celebrated adaptation with a 91% rating is making a welcome return to Prime Video.

The second season of a TV series hailed as ‘one of the best video game adaptations‘ is nearly here.

New episodes of Fallout will begin to drop later this month exclusively on Prime Video. The show is based on the highly successful gaming franchise of the same name.

Season one proved to be a big hit with critics and fans alike. As a result, expectations are high for its follow up. The title boasts a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing, with one fan claiming : “Perfect show. Great characters and great story.”

Another added: “Walter Goggins absolutely steals the show in this brilliant adaptation of an epic video game saga. Nothing short of praise, Ella Purnell is simply perfect in her role. You’ll get hooked right away.”

But what will season two be about? Who is in the returning cast and are there new recognisable faces being introduced? Does the story take any direct inspiration from the games? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Fallout season 2 about?

The synopsis for the new season has been kept brief and simple in an aim to avoid any spoilers. However, it will pick up in the aftermath of season one’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas.

It will continue the hunt for Lucy’s father, Hank, while delving deeper into Vault-Tec’s dark secrets, the pre-war world, and iconic Fallout: New Vegas elements like Caesar’s Legion, Mr. Robert House, and the iconic Deathclaws, promising more factions and locations.

Who is in the Fallout season 2 cast?

Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins are set to return to reprise their roles from season one as Lucy and The Ghoul respectively. Also set to appear once again are Aaron Moten as Maximus, a knight of the Brotherhood of Steel and Kyle MacLachlan as Hank, Lucy’s father.

There are few standout newcomers to the season as well. While the details of their characters are mostly left to speculation, fans did get a good idea of how they will appear in a recent trailer.

This includes former child star known for Christmas classic Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin. Also making his Fallout debut will be Kumail Nanjiani, known for Silicon Valley and Eternals.

One new cast member whose character we do know about is Justin Theroux. Star of The Leftovers and Mulholland Drive will take on one of the most popular characters from the game Fallout New Vegas. Theroux plays Mr. House and judging from images and trailers released, he will play the character before and after the nuclear apocalypse.

Which game is Fallout season 2 based on?

While the Fallout series is based on the game series, it is not a strict adaptation of any storyline. It mostly follows an original plot with unique characters. However, the premise from season one, with Lucy tracking down her father after he leaves the vault, is very similar to the player’s main questline in Fallout 3.

Likewise, season two will include characters and key locations from one of the most popular entries, Fallout New Vegas. While that game had multiple endings, the show’s makers have confirmed they will not be choosing any one to become an official canon. Instead, they are telling their own story within a location familiar to fans.

When are Fallout season 2 episodes released?

Fans will need some patience for new episodes this season. That is because instalments will drop on a weekly basis rather than allowing viewers to binge the season all at once.

The first episode will premiere on December 17 with more dropping each week after that. Here is the full episode release schedule as confirmed by Prime Video:

• Episode One – December 17, 2025
• Episode Two – December 24, 2025
• Episode Three – December 31, 2025
• Episode Four – January 7, 2026
• Episode Five – January 14, 2026
• Episode Six – January 21, 2026
• Episode Seven – January 28, 2026
• Episode Eight – February 4, 2026

Fallout season two is streaming on Prime Video from December 17, season one is streaming now.

Less than five months after the House wilted under the heat of an organized pressure campaign and voted down higher pay for members of Congress and other federal officials, Speaker Thomas S. Foley is again saying that judicial and executive branch pay should be raised, preferably by action this year. He’s right, and it would be just as right to extend the prospect of higher pay to Congress as well, however politically unpalatable that idea might seem right now. The fact is that pay scales in all branches of government have fallen far behind what they ought to be. Worse, in the case of Congress, the present pay ceiling continues to provide an excuse for accepting outside fees, thus inescapably corrupting the legislative process.

A lot of people, to be sure, remain distinctly unimpressed by calls for higher federal pay. It’s not hard to see why. At $89,500 a year, a member of Congress, a federal district judge, a civilian secretary of one of the armed services or a deputy secretary in the Department of State, Defense or Treasury already earns far more than the great majority of people. Indeed, these salaries, like the $99,500 Cabinet officers are paid annually, puttheir recipients among the 4% or 5% best-paid Americans. People who have to get by on a lot less have every reason to wonder why certain well-paid public servants should be paid even more.

The best answer, at least for the judicial and executive branches, has to do with equity and pay competitiveness. Americans want high-quality public servants; that, we think, can be taken as a given. But quality is a marketable value.

There are, happily for the nation, a lot of talented and selfless people in the federalgovernment who are willing to work for less than they could earn elsewhere because they aregenuinely committed to public service. It’s one thing, though, to be prepared to work for less; it’s something else to be asked to accept a rate of pay that is effectively punitive.

A good lawyer invited to the federal bench is usually asked to give up an annual income three or more times greater than what he will earn as a judge. And a Cabinet officer or senior executive-branch official almost certainly could expect to earn four, six or even 10 times as much in the private sector. No one has ever suggested that government should pay such people what the private sector offers. But certainly, if talented people are to be drawn to and remain in federal service, they deserve to be paid 40% or 50% more than what they are offered now.

And Congress? The Senate and House are institutions where the idea that you get what you pay for almost certainly doesn’t apply, because as an institution Congress really doesn’t compete with the private sector. The real issue with Congress is that its members should be paid more primarily so they will no longer have an excuse for accepting money from special pleaders in the form of “honoraria,” speaking fees or phony book “royalties.” What’s needed, in short, is a congressional pay increase of, say, 40%, which is comparable to the Senate’s present limit on outside income, welded to a ban on accepting any fees or rewards for outside appearances, talks, publications or whatever. That provision ought to seriously weaken, even if it doesn’t wholly eliminate, the temptation to sell votes and influence for cash and other favors.

Yes, Congress should be held to a strict standard of legislative honesty even without the incentive of higher pay. The unpleasant fact is that we’re not likely to achieve the first without providing the second. In any event, Congress will probably be asked to reconsider the question of higher federal pay before the year is out. This time it ought to do the right thing and vote senior federal officials, members of Congress included, the pay boosts that are so long overdue.

Prepare for lots of tears this weekend at the CIF state championship football games in Orange County.

“No doubt,” Ventura High quarterback Derek Garcia said.

Seniors are playing in their final high school football games. Others will never play again unless it’s intramural football. And others are heading off to college in a matter of days as scholarship athletes, so win or lose, change is coming, which will challenge emotions when reality sets in.

“It’s been a great feeling all week knowing this will be my final high school game because most of the time you go in it’s up in the air,” Garcia said. “Win and you keep going or lose and you go home. It’s a great feeling we made it this far and we’re in the last possible game to play. We’re ready to go.”

Garcia has been playing for his father, Tim, Ventura’s head coach, for years. Now it will end on Friday in a Division 3-AA final against San Francisco St. Ignatius at 8 p.m. at Fullerton High before heading off to Nevada Las Vegas.

“It’s hard sometimes, but it’s been able to bring us so many memories and so many great times together,” Garcia said. “It’s been an awesome journey and wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Some of the teams in state championship games are playing in their 16th game in a long, memorable season.

“It’s been cool to still be playing,” Garcia said.

On Jan. 18, he moves into his UNLV dorm, driving his truck and relying on his parents to help him move. But will his mom let him leave the family nest?

“We’ll see when the day comes,” he said.

Yes, it’s that time for tears from football players and their parents.

There’s a tripleheader on Saturday at Saddleback College that should produce memorable games.

Open Division

De La Salle (12-0) vs. Santa Margarita (10-3), 8 p.m.

A Northern California team has not won in the state’s highest division since 2015. De La Salle’s speed could produce some big plays against the state’s best defense, particularly if 100-meter record holder Jaden Jefferson gets room to run. But Santa Margarita has its own big-play weapon in Trent Mosley, who had 10 catches for 292 yards two weeks ago against Corona Centennial. The pick: Santa Margarita.

Division 1-A

Oxnard Pacifica (15-0) vs. Fresno Central East (13-1), 3:30 p.m.

This is a battle of junior quarterbacks. Pacifica’s Taylor Lee has has passed for 3,742 yards and 51 touchdowns. East has passed for 4,298 yards and 56 touchdowns. If you like offense, this could be the most entertaining game. The pick: Pacifica.

Division 2-A

Rio Hondo Prep (15-0) vs. Sonora (14-0), 11:30 a.m.

This is the game where small schools finally get the spotlight. Both love to run the ball, so the game might get completed in less than two hours. Sonora rushed for 340 yards in its regional final. Rio Hondo Prep had 263 yards rushing and attempted one pass. The pick: Sonora.

Division: 3-AA

Ventura (13-2) vs. San Francisco St. Ignatius (8-6), 8 p.m., Friday, at Fullerton High

Garcia has passed for 3,360 yards and 36 touchdowns and has rushed for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Cougars also have Oregon-bound linebacker Tristan Phillips. St. Ignatius is on a six-game winning streak after getting more consistent play at quarterback. The pick: Ventura.

Dec. 10 (UPI) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine could hold elections within the next three months in response to allegations by U.S. President Donald Trump that Kyiv was using the war as an excuse to stay in power.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday evening, Zelensky said he was ready for elections and would seek to hold them on condition that the United States and other allies provided guarantees to keep voters safe at a time when Ukraine’s cities were under attack day and night.

“I’m asking now, and stating this openly, for the U.S. to help me. Together with our European partners, we can ensure the security needed to hold elections. If that happens, Ukraine will be ready to conduct elections in the next 60 to 90 days,” said Zelensky.

“I personally have the will and readiness for this,” he added, saying that he had instructed lawmakers to come with proposals to amend legislation that currently prohibits the holding of elections while the country is under a state of martial law.

“I’m waiting for proposals from our partners, expecting suggestions from our lawmakers, and I am ready to go to the elections,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky’s comments came after Trump, in an interview with Politico, said “it’s time” for Ukraine to hold an election because it was getting to the point where it was no longer a democracy.

“I think it’s an important time to hold an election. You know, they’re using war not to hold an election, but I would think the Ukrainian people would, you know, should have that choice. And maybe Zelensky would win. I don’t know who would win, but they haven’t had an election in a long time,” Trump said.

“You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”

Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, meaning that Zelensky has remained in office long beyond the expiration of his five-year term in May 2024.

Zelensky said in September that he would not run for a second term, saying his goal was to serve his country amid a crisis and finish the war, not win elections.

The offer represents a new position for his administration. For the first half of the war it completely rejected suggestions that elections should be held before relenting to U.S. pressure and saying toward the end of 2024 that it would consider holding elections if a cease-fire were implemented.

A significant majority of Ukrainians say elections should be held only after the war ends, with only around a fifth in favor of elections following a cease-fire. Support for Zelensky is also down markedly, after a recent corruption scandal involving some of his close associates.

Critics warn of numerous pitfalls of elections, ranging from the logistical issue of people being in the wrong places with large numbers of Ukrainians displaced internally, 4 million refugees overseas and 1 million mobilized in the military. There is also the question of how to include Ukrainians living in regions of the country occupied by Russia.

“In order for these elections to be fair all of the people of Ukraine would need to be allowed to vote,” Ukrainian opposition MP Lesia Vasylenko told the BBC.

“Elections are never possible in wartime.”

The United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all held elections during World War II with only Britain effectively suspending democracy in favor of a government of national unity through July 1945. However, Britain was the only nation under direct, sustained attack and imminent threat of invasion.

Tuesday’s moves came amid a U.S. drive to broker a peace deal that was making little to no headway in bridging the gap between Moscow, which is demanding Ukraine cede territory and demilitarize and Kyiv, which has vowed not to give up land or cut the size of its military without cast-iron security guarantees.

Malta was a British colony from 1814 to 1964. Sam Teesdale went to check out a small island state has kept itself closely aligned to the UK since its independence

Malta is a country with long and proud ties to the UK. A British colony from 1814 to 1964, the small island state has kept itself closely aligned to the UK since its independence. There are many similarities, socially, politically, and physically, between the UK and Malta, and it’s no wonder so many Brits take their holidays there.

Easyjet crowned Malta as 2025’s most coveted alternate holiday destination, and with flights from the UK at just £20 and a flight time of just over three hours, it’s no wonder it ranks so highly. So what similarities and home comforts can Brits find on the tiny island nation?

Driving on the left

In the cab from the airport, I was surprised to see cars with the steering wheel on the right-hand side of the car. Maltese roads are driven on the left, just like the UK, which will help make any nervous British drivers feel a lot more at ease.

Many of the roads are narrow and crowded. Maltese drivers are not particularly known for their politeness on the roads, unlike British drivers, so the familiarity certainly helps. They tend to drive in a more Mediterranean/ island style, so quick thinking and adaptable driving skills are needed when navigating busy roads.

Zebra and Pelican crossings

I also noticed that Malta has the same zebra crossings as we have in the UK, featuring black and white stripes, a designated crossing area, and flashing yellow Belisha beacons that sit atop poles. It was also interesting to see that Pelican crossings in Malta have the same text and push/wait buttons as those in the UK.

UK brands

I was also struck by the abundance of British brands on the island, such as Marks and Spencer, Costa Coffee, Iceland and Spar. It was a humbling sight to see frozen Greggs Steak Bakes in the local Iceland, but it quickly made me feel right at home from the get-go.

Plug sockets

All plug sockets in the hotel I stayed at, the Ax Odycy, were those of the famously three-pronged sockets that we have in the UK. This was a welcome change, as gone was the need to shell out on an overpriced EU adapter in duty-free.

So, British travellers will be relieved to know that each of their plugs is completely compatible with Maltese power sockets.

Legal and educational system

Malta has a parliamentary system similar to Britain, and the Maltese educational system features a two-year sixth form and A-levels, in preparation for university.

The language

English is one of the two official languages, with Maltese being the other. It’s a common sight to spy street signs and information presented in both English and Maltese – a helpful tool for any lost tourists trying to find their way back to their villa.

A Brazilian lawmaker was removed from Congress by police on Tuesday as he staged a protest against a bill which could drastically reduce ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence.

GRAMMY-nominated opera singer Jubilant Sykes was fatally stabbed at his California home as his cops arrested his son on suspicion of murder.

Officers responded around 9.20pm on Monday to a 911 call reporting an ongoing assault at a Santa Monica residence.

They found Sykes, 71, inside his own home with “critical injuries consistent with a stabbing.”

Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Cops say his son, 31-year-old Micah Sykes, was found in the home and taken into custody without incident.

He was booked on suspicion of homicide, and the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

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Authorities recovered a weapon and say the attack appears to have been an isolated domestic incident.

Lieutenant Lewis Gilmour of Santa Monica Police Department told the Daily Mail Jail that Micah is being held on a $2 million bail.

Investigators are still determining what led to the stabbing.

Police say the victim’s wife made the 911 call, and Micah Sykes reportedly had a history of mental health struggles.

Lieutenant Gilmour added: “The family reports the suspect had prior mental health issues. However, it is unknown if that contributed to the incident.”

Years before his father’s tragic death, Micah Sykes’ behaviour reportedly had already raised serious concerns.

In 2017, a Southern California woman secured a restraining order after alleging Micah had become threatening and unpredictable, according to Rolling Stone.

A petition obtained by the outlet reads: “Micah shows signs of mental instability. His behaviour is unpredictable. Micah poses a real threat… and he has been violent with his own family members.”

The filing claims he confronted the woman outside a church, declaring his love for her and insisting she felt the same.

When someone stepped in, Micah allegedly asked the man, “Do you have a sharp object in your back pocket?”, according to Rolling Stone.

He was later arrested following an attempted break-in at the man’s father’s home and placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold.

The restraining order was officially granted in October 2017.

Jubilant Sykes, a Los Angeles native, was a celebrated baritone nominated for best classical album at the 2010 Grammy Awards for “Bernstein: Mass.”

He performed at major venues including the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Apollo Theater, the Hollywood Bowl, the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Arena di Verona. 

He once told NPR: “My singing is like breathing – it’s an extension of me. I don’t think of it is extraordinary. It’s my passion.”

Orchestra Santa Monica said he served as an artistic advisor and performed and narrated with the group.

Music director Roger Kalia said: “Jubilant was a true inspiration—his artistry, generosity, and kindness touched countless lives.” 

His management team, ACM 360 Artists, said in a statement: “We are saddened to share news of the tragic passing of Grammy-nominated baritone, actor, husband, father, and beloved friend, Jubilant Sykes

“Jubilant’s remarkable artistry touched millions, and his voice was rightly described as ‘art at its highest expression.’”

Neighbours described Sykes as modest despite his international career, often seen gardening or shaping a tree in front of his home into a heart.

Anyone with information is asked to contact SMPD Detective Peter Zamfirov at 310-458-8451 or the department’s 24-hour Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.

This is breaking news. More to follow… please refresh for more updates and follow the-sun.com for the biggest stories of the day…

Published on 10/12/2025 – 12:08 GMT+1
•Updated
12:11

Silver prices continued to rise on Wednesday, hovering at around $62 per ounce after trading at roughly $50 in late November. That represents a significant jump from the metal’s average price of around $30 at the beginning of the year.

The price jump follows news that the US administration is interviewing final candidates to replace current Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. Investors are also expecting the Fed to cut its benchmark rate after its meeting later on Wednesday.

The top three candidates for the chair job, and in particular the reported frontrunner Kevin Hassett, the director of Donald Trump’s National Economic Council, are expected to implement more aggressive rate cuts — while Powell has overseen a slower pace of easing.

Since January, the Fed under Powell has cut rates in two quarter-point increments, once in September and once in October.

This steady easing has pushed down returns on interest-bearing assets, increasing the attractiveness of silver as an investor alternative.

Silver, like gold, pays no interest or dividends, so it tends to fall out of favour when US interest rates are high and investors can earn more attractive returns on cash and bonds.

The metal’s value has roughly doubled this year, even surpassing gold’s 60% increase — which brought bullion to record highs.

At the same time, traders are also seeking clarity on whether the US will impose tariffs on silver.

In early November, the US government added the metal to its 2025 Critical Minerals List, a designation normally reserved for materials seen as strategically important to the economy and national security.

That new status also puts silver within the scope of possible Section 232 investigations, the same legal tool previously used to justify tariffs on steel and aluminium.

Section 232 investigations allow the US government to apply tariffs, import quotas, or other limits on products believed to create an overreliance on sources outside the country, harming national security interests.

For now, no such probe has been launched and no tariffs have been announced. Even so, the prospect alone is enough to make traders nervous, since any future duties on imported silver could disrupt trade flows and push up costs for manufacturers. Such expectations have prompted an increase in silver stockpiling.

Increased demand from certain manufacturers is pushing prices up further. Silver is a key material in the production of electric vehicles and solar panels, and industrial demand accounts for more than half of total silver consumption.

Donald Trump’s public feud with the Muslim family of a fallen soldier has drawn attention to the businessman’s own record of military service.   

Khizr Khan delivered an emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention in which he told the story of his son, Humayun, who was killed in 2004 by a car bomb while serving in Iraq. In his remarks, Khan, with his wife at his side, said the Republican presidential nominee had “sacrificed nothing” for his country. 

And in a response condemned by both Democrats and Republicans, Trump criticized the Gold Star parents and insisted his own “sacrifices” included creating jobs and helping establish a Vietnam War memorial in New York.

But for all of Trump’s boasting about his support from veterans, he has never served in the military, thanks to a string of deferments that enabled him to avoid the draft during the Vietnam War. 

Here’s a look at what happened: 

Trump graduates from New York Military Academy in 1964 as Vietnam War is ramping up.

At the military academy, Trump wore a uniform and participated in marching drills all four years, up until his graduation in the spring of 1964.  In March 1965, the first U.S. combat troops arrived on the ground in Vietnam.

Shortly after his 18th birthday, Trump registered with the Selective Service on June 24, 1964. Federal law requires men at age 18 to register and be available for military draft. His Selective Service card noted that Trump was 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. Under a section titled “physical characteristics” it stated that Trump has a birthmark on both heels. 

Registering made Trump a candidate for a military draft, which was about to ramp up as U.S. involvement in Vietnam grew. 

But Trump said he wanted to pursue his education so he could enter the real estate business and follow in the footsteps of his father, Fred, who had built a profitable company in New York.

Donald Trump’s Selective Service card (National Archives and Records Administration )

(Kurtis Lee)

College deferments during his years at Fordham and the University of Pennsylvania.

Trump decided to stay in New York, enrolling at Fordham University in the fall of 1964. He would remain there for two years, before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he would study business. 

Trump received four education deferments while in school, according to the National Archives and Records Administration.

The first education deferment came on July 28, 1964, several weeks before he began his freshman year at Fordham. Trump received similar deferments his sophomore, junior and senior years. 

The deferments ended once he graduated from Wharton, making the then-22-year-old Trump eligible to be drafted again.

After college, Trump receives a medical deferment.

Trump graduated in 1968, one of the most turbulent years of the war. He set his sights on returning to New York.

On Oct. 15, several months after his graduation that spring, Trump was granted a 1-Y medical deferment. 

In an interview with the New York Times, Trump said the reason he received the medical deferment was because of  bone spurs in his heels.

The National Archives and Records Administration does not specify the reason for the medical deferment, only that it resulted from a September 1968 physical exam that “disqualified” him from service. 

“I had a doctor that gave me a letter — a very strong letter on the heels,” Trump told the New York Times.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks declined to offer additional comment about the deferment. 

Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter

What’s a 1-Y medical deferment?

This deferment was handed out to individuals with health conditions that would have limited their effectiveness to serve. Those conditions, among others, included high blood pressure, severe asthma and allergies. 

Registrants who received this deferment were deemed “not qualified for military service” by the Selective Service. 

Trump’s high lottery number for the draft.

When the draft lottery for Vietnam began in December 1969, Trump was already shielded because of his medical deferment. 

Over the years, Trump has offered few details about his deferments, but has sometimes said the reason he did not fight in Vietnam was because he was fortunate enough to receive a high lottery number. 

“If I would have gotten a low number, I would have been drafted. I would have proudly served,” he told ABC News last year. “But I got a number, I think it was 356. That’s right at the very end. And they didn’t get — I don’t believe — past even 300, so I was — I was not chosen because of the fact that I had a very high lottery number.”

An official for the National Archives confirmed that Trump received a draft number of 356 out of 365.

But before that, Trump was protected from the draft for more than year by his 1-Y medical deferment. 

The draft ended in 1973. 

Listen to Trump talk about his draft number and deferments:

What are Trump’s views on not serving?

At a campaign rally in New Hampshire last year, after Trump had criticized the war record  of Sen. John McCain for being captured and held prisoner in Vietnam, he expressed some guilt about having not served. 

“I didn’t serve, I haven’t served,” said Trump. “I always felt a little guilty.”

Trump’s relations with veterans groups.

Trump has aggressively courted veterans in his presidential campaign and boasted of his contributions to veterans’ causes. But many of those donations remain undocumented. 

Earlier this year, the Washington Post found that Trump had raised $3.1 million at a January fundraiser for veterans, despite proclaiming  he had raised about $6 million. At that same fundraiser, Trump pledged to personally donate $1 million to veterans’ causes. Only after intense pressure and questions from reporters did Trump make good on his pledge four months later. 

While speaking at the Veterans of Foreign Wars conference last month, Trump asserted he would be the best commander-in-chief that veterans have ever seen. “Our debt to you is eternal — yet our politicians have totally failed you,” he said. 

Yet after his confrontation with the Khan family, the VFW issued a statement condemning Trump’s remarks. 

“Election year or not, the VFW will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression,” said Brian Duffy, head of the veterans organization. “There are certain sacrosanct subjects that no amount of wordsmithing can repair once crossed.”

Numerous other Gold Star families called upon Trump to apologize, but he has said he does not regret responding to what he called Khan’s “vicious” attack against him.

At a Virginia rally Tuesday, a retired lieutenant colonel gave Trump his Purple Heart medal in a gesture of support. Trump thanked him and said, “I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier.”

Follow @kurtisalee on Twitter 

kurtis.lee@latimes.com 

ALSO

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‘A sense of panic is rising’ among Republicans over Trump, including talk of what to do if he quits

(All times BST)

11 June: Mexico v South Africa (20:00 BST) – ITV

12 June: South Korea v play-off D (03:00) – ITV

12 June: Canada v play-off A (20:00) – BBC

13 June: USA v Paraguay (02:00) – BBC

13 June: Qatar v Switzerland (20:00) – ITV

13 June: Brazil v Morocco (23:00) – BBC

14 June: Australia v play-off C (05:00) – ITV

14 June: Scotland v Haiti (02.00) – BBC

14 June: Germany v Curacao (18:00) – ITV

14 June: Netherlands v Japan (21:00) – ITV

15 June: Play-off B v Tunisia (03:00) – ITV

15 June: Ivory Coast v Ecuador (00:00) – BBC

15 June: Spain v Cape Verde (17:00) – ITV

15 June: Belgium v Egypt (20:00) – BBC

15 June: Saudi Arabia v Uruguay (23:00) – ITV

16 June: Iran v New Zealand (02:00) – BBC

16 June: France v Senegal (20:00) – BBC

16 June: Play-off 2 v Norway (23:00) – BBC

17 June: Argentina v Algeria (02:00) – ITV

17 June: Austria v Jordan (05:00) – BBC

17 June: Portugal v play-off 1 (18:00) – BBC

17 June: England v Croatia (21:00) – ITV

18 June: Ghana v Panama (00:00) – ITV

18 June: Uzbekistan v Colombia (03:00) – BBC

18 June: South Africa v play-off D (17:00) – BBC

18 June: Play-off A v Switzerland (20:00) – ITV

18 June: Canada v Qatar (23:00) – ITV

19 June: Mexico v South Korea (02:00) – BBC

19 June: USA v Australia (20:00) – BBC

19 June: Scotland v Morocco (23:00) – ITV

20 June: Paraguay v play-off C (05:00) – ITV

20 June: Brazil v Haiti (02:00) – ITV

20 June: Netherlands v play-off B (18:00) – BBC

20 June: Germany v Ivory Coast (21:00) – ITV

21 June: Japan v Tunisia (05:00) – BBC

21 June: Curacao v Ecuador (01:00) – BBC

21 June: Spain v Saudi Arabia (17:00) – BBC

21 June: Belgium v Iran (20:00) – ITV

21 June: Cape Verde v Uruguay (23:00) – BBC

22 June: Egypt v New Zealand (02:00) – ITV

22 June: Argentina v Austria (18:00) – BBC

22 June: France v play-off 2 (22:00) – BBC

23 June: Senegal v Norway (01:00) – ITV

23 June: Algeria v Jordan (04:00) – ITV

23 June: Portugal v Uzbekistan (18:00) – ITV

23 June: England v Ghana (21:00) – BBC

24 June: Croatia v Panama (00:00) – BBC

24 June: Colombia v play-off 1 (03:00) – ITV

24 June: Canada v Switzerland/Play-Off A v Qatar (20:00)

24 June: Scotland v Brazil & Morocco v Haiti (23:00) – BBC

25 June: Mexico v play-off D & South Africa v South Korea (02:00) – BBC

25 June: Germany v Ecuador & Curacao v Ivory Coast (21:00) – BBC

26 June: USA v play-off C & Paraguay v Australia (03:00) – ITV

26 June: Japan v play-off B & Netherlands v Tunisia (00:00) – BBC

26 June: France v Norway & Senegal v play-off 2 (20:00) – ITV

27 June: Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia & Uruguay v Spain (01:00) – ITV

27 June: Egypt v Iran & New Zealand v Belgium (04:00) – BBC

27 June: England v Panama & Croatia v Ghana (22:00) – ITV

28 June: Algeria v Austria & Argentina v Jordan (03:00) – BBC

28 June: Colombia v Portugal & play-off 1 v Uzbekistan (00:30) – BBC

The military gains made by forces of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southern Yemen mark a significant turning point in the country’s political and military conflicts.

The latest fighting is between the STC and internationally recognised Yemeni government, known as the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), and led by Rashad al-Alimi. The irony here is that the STC, led by Aidarus al-Zubaidi, is also a member of the Yemeni PLC. But the relationship between the two groups is shaky and at times, turbulent.

Yemen’s government condemned the STC’s latest military advance and land grab across the south and labelled the group separatists – calling their action a “unilateral and a blatant violation of the transitional phase’s framework”.

On the ground, STC forces have completed their control over the remaining southern governorates, furthering the group’s efforts to revive its decades-old aspiration of establishing an independent state in the south of Yemen.

The battle of Hadramout

The latest and rapid developments are redrawing the map of control in Yemen, and it could have further implications on the future of a strong, coherent and unified country.

The fall of Hadramout last week was sudden, and it was seen as a shocking development – although it came after a long period of tension in the oil-rich province. The Yemeni government remained more of a bystander – maintaining some military brigades stationed in its camps in the governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra. While local and tribal proxies affiliated with regional countries, they were competing for control and influence.

Taking advantage of its superior military equipment and massive forces, the STC advanced nearly unchallenged to overtake Hadramout and al-Mahra.

The government forces lacked modern weapons, sufficient manpower and perhaps the willingness to fight.

The fall of Hadramout was pivotal and posed greater importance in the eyes of many Yemeni politicians, given the special status of this governorate locally and regionally. It dealt a final blow to what remained of the components of Yemeni unity and the government’s legitimacy, and it thwarted all the bets that considered Hadramout to be immune from falling to STC forces.

Both the incoming STC forces and government and local tribal fighters had their own alliances and allegiances to competing regional powers – with connections and loyalties with tribal leaders, politicians and local actors in Hadramout.

Why does Hadramout matter?

Hadramout is a crucial and essential governorate in Yemen, occupying more than a third of the country’s area, approximately 200,000 square kilometres (77,000 square miles), with a population of nearly two million.

It is home to the largest share of Yemen’s oil wealth, containing the most important oil fields and export terminals. Furthermore, it is a stronghold of Yemeni and Arab Gulf businessmen and a cradle of cultural and historical wealth. In short, Hadramout is the Yemeni governorate that possesses the elements of a fully fledged state, and its inhabitants had hoped to establish a Hadrami state that would restore their past glories, far removed from the political and military conflict that engulfed the rest of Yemen’s governorates.

Hadramout governorate has always had a unique political and administrative character throughout all eras and political systems, especially during the socialist regime that ruled the South from the early 1970s until 1990, when the two Yemeni parts, North and South, unified.

This unique character continued under the unified state, as Hadramout remained governed by its own people and refused to accept officials from outside its geographical boundaries. Consequently, the people of Hadramout consider the STC’s control over it an unprecedented occupation, given that most of the STC’s leaders come from the Lahj and Dhale governorates, which are marginal areas – and that would be unacceptable for them. Therefore, the stability and continuity of the STC’s authority in the governorate are doubtful because the group lacks local and popular support.

‘Divorce without return’

These repercussions will undoubtedly cast a shadow over the eight-member PLC in Yemen, headed by Rashad al-Alimi, who, along with his cabinet members and his guards, was expelled from the presidential palace in the al-Maashiq district of Aden.

Many considered this a “divorce without return” and a disastrous end to all previous understandings and agreements aimed at maintaining a political order based on shared principles that would not harm any party.

In light of these developments, the legitimate government now only controls modest areas of land in the governorates of Taiz and Marib.

But Marib is already besieged by Houthi forces from the north, and by the STC forces from the south. The Houthis are a group backed by Iran and control the capital and the north and northwestern parts of Yemen. Taiz is besieged by the Houthis from the north and from the east by the forces of Brigadier General Tariq Saleh, the son of the ousted Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

It is not unlikely that these areas will fall into the hands of either of these two powerful parties at any moment. If that happens, the legitimate Yemeni government will become just a piece of paper, even though it practically lacks any influence on the ground since the rise of the STC forces and the growing power of the Houthis.

The unattainable southern aspiration for secession

As political sociology researcher Fayrouz al-Wali says, the STC does not have the authority to declare southern independence, despite its military control on the ground, because this decision rests not with it but with external regional powers that have deep interests in southern Yemen.

She noted that the path to statehood in the south does not lead through the gates of the Ma’ashiq Palace in Aden, but rather through the United Nations Security Council, where regional powers could play a pivotal role.

There is also a realisation that it would be difficult for the STC to declare independence in the foreseeable future, at least, because of the lack of essential resources to fund the budget of a nascent state without even the most basic elements of sustainability. Such a state would inherit an empty treasury from a country exhausted by more than a decade of war.

In addition to the economic, security and military challenges, and the lack of public services, the southern state envisioned by the STC would face discord with neighbouring powerful countries and other nations that do not wish to see Yemen fragmented into warring mini-states. This would create an unstable security situation with dire consequences for the entire region.

A HISTORIC English train station is set to close this Sunday – and it won’t reopen for another two years.

A new, modernised station will re-open 200 metres west from its current location.

Ravensthorpe station, near Dewsbury, will be shutting down from Sunday, December 14 until the summer of 2028.

Passengers traveling between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury will be offered a rail replacement bus service during the closure, but should plan their journeys.

The new Ravensthorpe station will have a footbridge with lifts for step-free access, along with a new forecourt and drop-off facilities.

The revamped forecourt will make it easier for cars to drop off passengers, while a longer island platform means larger trains and more seats for commuters.

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The project is part of the massive Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) which is tasked with rebuilding huge chunks of the northern rail network.

Engineers are putting in a new four-track railway through the old and new station sites, plus a brand-new Baker Viaduct.

Once finished, it’ll let faster trains overtake slower ones, cutting journey times between Manchester, Leeds and York.

Overhead line equipment will also be installed throughout the area which will power greener, electric trains in the future.

Ravensthorpe is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire in England.

The village has a single shop, a pub (the Chequers), a playing field, a small park and a woodland maintained by the Woodland Trust.

Andrew Campbell, TRU Sponsor, said: “The upcoming closure of Ravensthorpe station marks the beginning of an important phase for the programme, as work intensifies until summer 2028.

“The station area, known as Ravensthorpe triangle, has already seen a great deal of progress, and is currently one of the biggest civil-engineering sites in the North.

“Work already underway includes the installation of concrete beams to form the new Calder Road bridge and the installation of piers for the new Baker Viaduct.

“Both of which are helping enable major track realignment work for more reliable, smoother journeys across the Pennines.

“We’d like to thank the local community for their understanding as we deliver a modernised Ravensthorpe station which will support better rail travel across the region.”

IF the expensive London property market has you priced out, then have you ever considered a life at sea?

There’s one cruise ship that has announced it will allow people to live on board forever – and it’s cheaper than buying a flat in the city.

Villa Vie Residences has announced it is planning on launching a new luxury ship under the working name Project Lumina.

Similar to its current ship, Odyssey, it will allow people to permanently live onboard.

Prices will start from $539,999 (£405,695) for Oceanview, according to social media.

Meanwhile, the average price for a flat in London generally sits between £530,000 – £610,000.

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Or you can splash out on a balcony suite for $899,999 (£676,000).

Odyssey’s sister ship will offer those who love to travel fully-owned private residences along with top amenities and services.

Villa Vie Residences said in a statement: “With the introduction of Lumina, future residents will enjoy a wide spectrum of ownership options – from attainable world-travel homes aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey to ultra-luxury villa experiences aboard the upcoming Lumina flagship.”

It’s even cheaper if you are older too –  anyone aged between 75 and 79 can buy a place from $189,999 (£145,500).

The launch date of the ship is set to be announced.

The Odyssey prices are slightly cheaper, as you can own your own private villa from $129,999 (£97,640).

Currently there’s a Black Friday Sale offer (until December 15, 2025) where prices start from $109,999 (£82,614).

Details on ownership reads: ” Villa ownership offers a permanent home aboard our ships, giving you unlimited access to global exploration, personal customization, and all-inclusive living with none of the hassle.

“With long-term value, personal flexibility, and the ability to welcome friends or family onboard, your villa becomes a floating sanctuary—yours to enjoy or share as you see fit.”

Owners can decorate their own villa so your room or suite will feel more homely.

There are different cabin options from Inside, Porthole, Ocean View, Balcony, Suite, or Balcony Deluxe.

Villa Vie Odyssey has a total of eight decks and 650 residents.

There are multiple dining areas, library, networking area, club room, theatre, pub, cafe, fitness centre and a swimming pool on the top deck.

And there’s a spa which offers treatments like haircuts, time in a sauna and steam room, nail salon and massages.

Included in the residence is bi-weekly housekeeping and laundry, three meals a day, high-speed Wi-Fi, onboard activities and wellness plans.

The ship sails to 425 destinations across 147 countries every 3 and a half years, all while your homely villa stays the same.

For more more cruising, here are four of the new ships that have launched this year from Virgin Voyages to Disney.

Plus, check out the European cruise that’s the ‘ultimate girls trip’ with onboard speakeasy, prosecco walls and beach club-like pools.

When I first started playing “Dungeons & Dragons” as a tween, my friends christened me with a new good-natured nickname: gamer geek. While we could spend hours in front of a screen with the latest “Zelda” title, the dice-focused tabletop role-playing game was viewed with suspicion, a ’70s-era invention that belonged to a certain subset of nerd.

Times have changed.

Today, “Dungeons & Dragons” enjoys mainstream recognition, and live game sessions from the likes of Critical Role and Dimension 20, the latter of which last summer enjoyed a date at the Hollywood Bowl, have only further cemented its wide appeal. Now a heavily improvised theatrical production, “Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern” has come to the Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood.

The show, which ran off-Broadway in 2024 after years of development, is celebratory, a victory lap for a game that has endured more than half a century. It invites participation, with actors performing the action inspired by the dice rolls and allowing the audience to influence the direction of the show by making choices via a smartphone.

Alex Stompoly, left, and Anjali Bhimani in “Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern,” a production that invites audience participation.

(Andromeda Rodriguez)

“Twenty-Sided Tavern” brought me back to days and nights crowded around my family’s living room table. My father was an executive with TSR, Inc., the company that created “Dungeons & Dragons” — there were glass dragons on our fireplace mantle, pewter dragons on our bookshelves, painted dragons on our walls and even a metal dragon that hung from a necklace I wore too often (and that probably didn’t help me with getting dates). As a junior high kid, the game was a refuge, a creative tool where I could envision characters, worlds and fantastical scenarios.

There was a lot of math, too, and quite a bit of rules, not to mention addendums to rules and fine print to those rules, but I discovered early on a key to its personal appeal, one that likely makes many hardcore followers of the game cringe: Story comes first, the rules a distant second. In fact, I discarded any directive that got in the way of a more fanciful tale.

It pleased me that “Twenty-Sided Tavern” does as well. When my showing the other week began not with beholders and battles but instead a yarn about trying to flirt with and seduce a dragon, I couldn’t help but smile. For the best “D&D” games, no matter how serious, tense or dramatic they may get, are always a bit silly, or at least they are to me.

“I know we hear about toxicity in gaming all the time, but when I picked up my first ‘D&D’ set that my brother gave to me when I was 8 years old, what was open to me was not just a world of storytelling,” says Anjali Bhimani, a co-producer of the production as well as a regular performer in it. “It was a world where a halfling could kill a red dragon, where it didn’t matter where you came from. There was always a seat for you at the table.

Anjali Bhimani in a production of “Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern.” The actor views the game as a storytelling tool.

(Andromeda Rodriguez)

“I think the sense of belonging that tabletop RPGs and ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ can provide is so, so, so powerful, and I think it really is a means to just bring people together in a way that a lot of other media can’t,” she adds.

“Twenty-Sided Tavern” does have some constraints. It is, after all, staged in a theater. But it also throws the traditional rules of theater by the wayside. Expect, for instance, to be on your phone most of the show. We’ll lightly direct the production, voting, for instance, to explore a castle’s catacombs or the mysterious woods. Many will cheer a good dice roll, and it wasn’t out of the norm at my matinee for the audience to shout suggestions or requests. When, for instance, said storyline about romancing a dragon became a bit risqué, a woman kindly reminded the cast that there were children present. It was toned down, but not before an actor made a joke about the show being educational.

“This doesn’t have to be a stuffy, fourth-wall drama,” says Michael Fell, the show’s creative director. “We can create a sense of community. As much as there is a script — there kind of is — we aim to have engagement with the audience every two pages. That means they’re calling out a name, asked to come on stage or it’s just an election on your phone where you make a choice or play a small mini-game. No engagement on the phone ever lasts more than nine seconds.”

In “Twenty-Sided Tavern,” there are three core actors playing and acting out the game, one dungeon master and a sort of tavern keeper helping to keep score and track of the story. There’s a setup at a bar and a quest involving a threat to the town, but each show is unique. The cast may swap roles, the audience may concoct a monster — my group envisioned a giant, destructive slice of pumpkin pie — and settings will shift based on audience vote, done via smartphone.

It’s a little bit like theater as sport.

“This is gamification of live entertainment. Part of what I’m doing is mirroring what happens in sports entertainment, but in a live theatrical setting,” says David Carpenter, the founder of Gamiotics, which co-developed the show and powers the smartphone tech behind it. “This show has surprised me for years, but one of the early surprises was the entire audience losing their mind when someone rolls a 20. It’s like someone scoring a touchdown. The audience goes nuts because they didn’t see it coming.”

Anjali Bhimani, left, Will Champion and Jasmin Malave appear ready for battle in a production of “Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern.”

(Andromeda Rodriguez)

Like the game, “Twenty-Sided Tavern” theorizes that stories can be at their most powerful when they are not passive, when we as audience members have a role to play and invitation to interact.

Carpenter is curious how far the audience choice can be pushed to shift a narrative. He talks in the future of experimenting more with moral or ethical decisions. There are none in “Twenty-Sided Tavern,” where occasionally the audience may influence an action in a way similar to a dice roll. We’ll tap, for instance, to fill up a meter on a screen, and where it lands may indicate a success or a failure. Here, the smartphone gamification is used to prod a narrative rather than define it, a reminder to me that “D&D” is in some ways a story creation tool.

“There are stories that we have told in tabletop games that I have played that I never would have imagined coming up with in the writers’ room because the dice told the story that they did,” says Bhimani.

The large-scale audience participation of “Twenty-Sided Tavern” naturally invites a jovial, party-like atmosphere. It succeeds in extending a hand to the audience, welcoming us into what can be a complex, daunting fantasy world. It argues that “Dungeons & Dragons” is for all, much as I did as a junior high kid who made it something of a mission to convert my name-calling friends with the hopes of showing them the joys of gathering with little more than paper, pencils, dice and an imagination.

“It’s still somewhat intimidating to a lot of people because they think, ‘I have to know all these rules and learn all these spells and read all these books,’” Bhimani says. “Coming to the ‘Twenty-Sided Tavern,’ it’s about telling a great story. Yes, we roll dice. Yes, there are spells. But ultimately, that’s just scaffolding to tell a beautiful, improvised story.”

I remember when I played weekly games in high school, my friends used to joke that I, as dungeon master, would “lose” because I did everything in my power to keep everyone’s character alive and playing, wanting to see a narrative to a conclusion that didn’t end in anyone’s death. They wondered if I was running the game incorrectly because they always succeeded. Yet I saw “Dungeons & Dragons” as a wholly collaborative endeavor, and I felt that way again watching “Twenty-Sided Tavern,” an ode to the idea that “Dungeons & Dragons” is best when shared.

And a reminder, too, that there is no wrong way to play it.

If you’re planning to travel with children and parents this holiday season, may the grace of whatever god you believe in descend upon you with alacrity. May you never grow weary, frustrated or borderline psychotic when your 80-something mom questions your every decision moments after you make it, or when your child loses that wildly overpriced souvenir hours after you finally agree to buy it.

But let’s be real: Being on vacation with a parent and child requires many coping mechanisms that aren’t obvious before you’re deep into the experience. As the sandwich-generation adult responsible for your multigenerational holiday, you need to be part tour director, part therapist and part life coach to everyone counting on you for a vacation of a lifetime.

I know, because earlier this year I spent three weeks in Austria, Switzerland and southern Bavaria with my 81-year-old mother and grade-school daughter. This was a vacation that we’ll each remember, always. It was that good. But it wasn’t easy.

And it required a lot of preparatory work and patience. Here are my Top 10 lessons learned, for anyone who plans to soon or someday travel with a child and an older parent.

No. 1: Think of yourself as an expedition leader and master every logistical detail

For my daughter’s sake, I never left our hotel or Airbnb without a full water bottle and a hard-boiled egg or two from the breakfast buffet. Or a couple oranges or other fruit that wouldn’t get crushed at the bottom of a backpack. Nothing is fun on vacation if your kid gets “hangry.”

The calculation for a parent is different. Because my mom wasn’t interested in managing more than her own aches and pains, I knew I had to be in charge of every move every day, from getting to sites to negotiating purchases to finding places to eat and managing the heat and everyone’s daily moods and energy levels.

No. 2: Create an itinerary that suits your parent’s and child’s needs and personalities

You probably know your parent’s tolerances for everything from how much he or she wants to do to how regularly they need a food or rest break to how much time they need to get up and out the door each day. Some activities that your kid has her heart set on aren’t realistic for an older parent.

In Switzerland, for example, my daughter really, really wanted to go tubing at the top of Jungfraujoch, a massive glacier 10,000 feet above sea level near Interlaken. So she and I trekked to and played in the snow for an hour while my mom had coffee at a glaciertop restaurant.

Similar to how marathoners manage a race, multigenerational family vacations tend to have fast parts and slower parts, based on how draining (or rejuvenating) the previous day was. Monitor parent and child end-of-day energy (or exhaustion) levels. They’re a good indication of how ambitious you should be the following day.

For instance, after a long day of train travel, from Vienna to Interlaken or from Interlaken to Bavaria, I made sure the next day was free of any grand excursion or event. To recharge personal batteries, everyone needs to have their coffees, or play on a playground, or feel the sun on their faces, and spend time not being scheduled.

No. 3: Give your parent and child an idea of what to expect, and ask their opinion

What works for children often works for older parents: Clearly explain well ahead of time what they should expect from the daily vacation experience.

The lovely part of traveling with parents is that, unlike young children, they often have informed, realistic opinions about what they want and don’t want from the experience writ large and on a daily basis. Ask them: What do you want out of this vacation?

For my daughter, who was excited to see Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria — the one that is said to have inspired the Disneyworld facsimile — the key piece of advance intelligence I gave her was that we’d be spending three to four hours on our feet with a tour guide.

That helped her pre-set her patience for a lot of continuous listening.

No. 4: Adjust on the fly

As the quote attributed to Mike Tyson goes: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the nose. On vacation, the punch will be figurative: You miss a train, are too tired to visit that must-see exhibit or natural wonder, or don’t like your hotel or resort as much as you thought you would.

Be willing to adjust your plans based on what will make your parent and child happy and willing to pivot when necessary.

When the June heat in Vienna became a little too much for my mom, we agreed to cut out the walk through an ornate Hapsburg garden and go to lunch somewhere with air-conditioning.

While my mom nursed her post-prandial local beer, my kid and I went for a leisurely stroll through a nearby park. The definition of a vacation win-win.

No. 5: Identify your aging parent’s individual ‘kryptonite’ — e.g., heat, distance, foreign languages or big crowds

For my mom, extreme heat is a major barrier to her ability and desire to venture out of an air-conditioned hotel room. If the temperature is cool, my mom will walk until the hounds of hell stop her, no matter how much pain she’s in; she equates taking a short taxi ride as a moral failure. But if the temperature rises above, say, 75, she wilts within minutes.

So, I checked the weather forecasts and planned strategically.

No. 6: Calibrate daily walking distances and stairs to match your kid’s and parent’s tolerances

Think realistically about exactly how long a walk, how many stairs up and — especially important for older parents! — stairs down.

I carried a small lightweight camping stool in my backpack every day, in case my mom needed to sit with no bench in sight. We used it only once … for my daughter, during the four-hour Bavarian castle tour. (My mom refused to sit down, saying she might not be able to get up again.)

Pro tip: If you’ll be traveling by train, beware the unexpected challenge of many, many stairs at the stations. There may also be stairs up and down a medieval castle tour, where people behind you may grow impatient with an older person’s slow pace. Think about whether to put your parent and child at the back of your tour group during long stair climbs and descents.

No. 7: Diffuse inevitable inter-generational friction and frustration

At some point in your journey, Mom, Dad or child will be as fed up with you as you are with them. Perhaps more so. Usually, it’s the small things that, repeated daily, push family members traveling together to a point of needing to blow off some steam.

Plan regular “steam valve” times when you let your loved ones express whatever is on their mind. (Who knows, maybe it’ll be pure gratitude … but probably it will be a gripe you’re rather familiar with.) It’s like couples therapy sessions, except the “couple” is parent and child on a vacation together. Let them speak their truth, and accept it with a mature, “Thank you for letting me know.”

On our trip, my mom and I made each other howl with laughter by doing imitations of each other. She made fun of my haranguing her for carrying her own luggage off trains, and I poked fun at her for habitually asking whether we were on the right train.

We did this over half-liters of beer, which didn’t hurt.

My daughter added her laugh-out-loud imitations of me being overly bossy or short-tempered, and her grandma’s habit of asking whether we were on the right train and sitting in the right seats.

No. 8: Expect to be exhausted by all the daily planning and guiding

You’re going to be doing the work of two people, caring for your parent and child on a vacation — as well as yourself. That is an hourly emotional and physical load you’ll need to monitor and manage.

Anticipate that tour-leader stress, and give yourself regular off-ramps from it. Maybe it’s a night off that you spend on your own while Dad or Mom stays in the room with your kid, watching cat videos on the iPad. Maybe it’s sleeping in for once, and having morning coffee by yourself.

Like they say on airplanes, put on your own oxygen mask before helping others with theirs.

No. 9: Don’t expect every day to be a thrill or feel like a postcard

Every day of your multigenerational vacation probably won’t be as rejuvenating as you perhaps had hoped. As I told my mom and daughter before our trip: Some days will feel like the best ever; other days not so much. Expect to feel the minor let-downs along with the surprising delights.

No. 10: Offer encouragement regularly (and especially on hard days)

Whether directed at a child or octogenarian parent, a few artfully supportive words from you — “You’re doing such a great job,” “You’re so strong for your age!” or my psy-ops favorite: “Gosh, I think I’m complaining more than either of you are” — will help keep them going through a rough patch.

During the first few days in Vienna, for example, I praised my daughter for holding my mom’s hand while crossing streets or walking over tram tracks. She never missed another opportunity to look out for her Grandma.

Likewise, when my mom’s hip began hurting after two miles of walking, I made the conscious decision to announce, rather loudly on the street, “You’re doing great, Mom!” She said nothing, but I knew she heard me. And she made it back to the hotel.

Think about what words of encouragement from someone else would make you feel great (e.g., “You’re doing an incredible job managing this trip for your mom!”) and do that for them.

And never, ever forget: You’re making big memories for you and your loved ones.

Salah’s relationship with Liverpool is strained, but the disgruntled star will be welcomed by Egypt teammates for AFCON, beginning December 21.

While the future of Mohamed Salah at Liverpool hangs in the balance, Egypt teammates have rallied behind the national team captain ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The record seven-time continental champions are in Group B with Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and will be based in the southern coastal city of Agadir throughout the first round.

“Players like him do not get benched,” said striker Ahmed “Kouka” Hassan on social media, referring to Salah being a substitute in the last three Liverpool fixtures, and coming on only once.

“If he starts on the bench, you must make sure he is the first to come on, after 60 minutes, 65 at the latest.

“Mo is not just a teammate, he is a leader, a legend for club and country. Keep working hard, brother, every situation in life is temporary, moments like this pass, what stays is your greatness.”

Head coach and former star Hossam Hassan posted a photograph of himself and Salah and a message: “Always a symbol of perseverance and strength.”

“The greatest Liverpool legend of all time,” wrote winger Ahmed “Zizo” El Sayed. Goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy called Salah “always the best”.

Liverpool have struggled in their title defence this season and lie 10th after 15 rounds, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal. Salah has also battled with just four goals in 13 top-flight appearances.

After twice surrendering the lead in a 3-3 draw at Leeds United last Saturday, Salah told reporters, “It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus”.

“I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame (for the slump) … someone does not want me in the club.”

Salah was omitted from the squad that travelled to Milan for a Champions League clash with Inter on Tuesday and has hinted that he may not play for Liverpool again.

‘Great feeling’

Saudi Arabia says it will do “whatever it can” to recruit Salah during the mid-season transfer window, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) source in the kingdom told AFP.

Although Egypt last won the AFCON 15 years ago in Luanda, Salah, 33, believes they will lift the trophy again before he retires.

“It will happen – that is what I believe. It is a great feeling every time you step on the field wearing the Egyptian colours.”

Salah has suffered much heartbreak in four AFCON tournaments as Egypt twice finished runners-up and twice exited in the round of 16.

He created the goal that put the Pharaohs ahead in the 2017 final, but Cameroon clawed back to win 2-1 in Libreville.

Hosts and title favourites Egypt were stunned by South Africa in the first knockout round two years later, conceding a late goal to lose 1-0.

Egypt reached the final again in 2022, only to lose on penalties to Senegal after 120 goalless minutes in Yaounde.

In the Ivory Coast last year, Salah suffered a hamstring injury against Ghana and took no further part in the tournament. Egypt lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a last-16 clash.

This year, Egypt boast an array of attacking talent with Salah, Omar Marmoush from Manchester City, Mostafa Mohamed of Nantes and Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan and Zizo from Cairo giants Al Ahly.

Group B is the only one of the six in Morocco featuring two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with Egypt and South Africa heading to the global showpiece in North America.

South Africa exceeded expectations by finishing third at the 2024 AFCON, but Belgian coach Hugo Broos expects a tougher campaign in a tournament that kicks off on December 21.

“It will be harder because every opponent will be more motivated to beat us after our bronze medals,” said the tactician who guided Cameroon to the 2017 AFCON title.

Angola and Zimbabwe recently changed coaches, with France-born Patrice Beaumelle and Romanian Mario Marinica hired.

The Angolans have reached the quarterfinals three times, including last year, while the Zimbabweans have never gone beyond the first round.

Raul Malo, who as frontman of the Mavericks brought a Latin rhythmic flair and a sweeping sense of romance to country music, died on Monday. He was 60.

His death was announced by the band in an Instagram post that didn’t specify the cause or say where Malo died. Last year, the singer told fans that he had been diagnosed with cancer; in September, Malo wrote on Facebook that he had developed leptomeningeal disease — a condition in which cancer metastasizes to the membranes around the brain and spinal cord — and was calling off the group’s upcoming concerts.

This past weekend, bandmates Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez and Jerry Dale McFadden performed with a cast of friends and admirers at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to mark the Mavericks’ 35th anniversary. Among the acts who paid tribute were Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Patty Griffin and Marty Stuart.

Their sound built around Malo’s muscular baritone, the Mavericks broke out in the 1990s with an expansive style of country music that pulled from big-band pop, ’50s-era rock and the Cuban music Malo heard growing up in Miami as the son of Cuban immigrants. As a singer, Malo was frequently compared to Roy Orbison; in 2001, he told The Times about his love for Tony Bennett.

The Mavericks released their self-titled debut album in 1990 and were quickly signed by MCA Nashville, which put out “From Hell to Paradise” in 1992. (The album’s title track was Malo’s description of his parents’ journey to America.) The band’s next LP, 1994’s “What a Crying Shame,” went platinum and spun off a series of hit country singles including the title track, “O What a Thrill” and “There Goes My Heart.” The next year the band recorded a cover of Rodgers & Hart’s “Blue Moon” for the soundtrack of Ron Howard’s Oscar-winning movie “Apollo 13.”

In 1996, the Mavericks won a Grammy Award for “Here Comes the Rain,” a chiming roots-rock number from their album “Music for All Occasions,” which featured appearances by Trisha Yearwood and the accordionist Flaco Jiménez. The Mavericks were twice named vocal group of the year at the Country Music Assn. Awards, in 1995 and 1996.

For 1998’s “Trampoline,” the band leaned into torch-song balladry and classic R&B but struggled to connect on country radio. The album “threw a lot of people for a loop,” Malo told The Times. “That’s OK. I liked it.” He followed the album with a solo debut, 2001’s “Today,” that further explored his Cuban heritage.

Malo was born in Miami in 1965. He co-founded the Mavericks in 1989 with Robert Reynolds, who had fronted an earlier band in which Malo played bass.

The group broke up after 2003’s “The Mavericks,” then reunited a decade later. The band’s most recent studio album, “Moon & Stars,” came out last year.

In addition to the Mavericks and his solo work, Malo also played with Los Super Seven, a sprawling roots-music supergroup whose other members included Jiménez, Freddy Fender and members of Los Lobos.

Among Malo’s survivors are his mother, Norma; his wife, Betty, and their sons, Dino, Victor and Max; and his sister Carol.