Children under 16 can no longer access 10 of the world’s biggest platforms, including Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

Australia has banned children under 16 from social media in a world-first, as other countries consider similar age-based measures amid rising concerns over its effects on children’s health and safety.

Under the new law, which came into effect at midnight local time on Wednesday (13:00 GMT on Tuesday), 10 of the biggest platforms face $33m in fines if they fail to purge Australia-based users younger than 16.

The law has been criticised by major technology companies and free speech campaigners, but praised by parents and child advocates.

The Australian government says unprecedented measures are needed to protect children from “predatory algorithms” filling phone screens with bullying, sex and violence.

“Too often, social media isn’t social at all,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in advance of the ban.

“Instead, it’s used as a weapon for bullies, a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators.”

The law states that Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Reddit are forbidden from creating or keeping accounts belonging to users in Australia under 16.

Streaming platforms Kick and Twitch are also on the government’s blacklist, as are message boards Threads and X. Popular apps and websites such as Roblox, Pinterest and WhatsApp are currently exempt – but the government has stressed that the list remains under review.

Meta, YouTube and other social media giants have already condemned the ban.

YouTube, in particular, has attacked the law, describing it as “rushed” and saying it would only push children into deeper, darker corners of the internet.

While most platforms have begrudgingly agreed to comply, for now, legal challenges are in the wind.

Online discussion site Reddit said Tuesday it could not confirm local media reports that said it would seek to overturn the ban in Australia’s High Court.

The Sydney-based internet rights group Digital Freedom Project has already launched its own bid to have teenagers reinstated to social media.

Some parents, tired of seeing children stuck to their phones, see the ban as a relief.

Father-of-five Dany Elachi said the restrictions were a long-overdue “line in the sand”.

“We need to err on the side of caution before putting anything addictive in the hands of children,” he told the AFP news agency.

The Australian government concedes the ban will be far from perfect at the outset, and canny teenagers will find ways to circumvent it.

Social media companies bear the sole responsibility for checking users are 16 or older.

Some platforms say they will use AI tools to estimate ages based on photos, while young users may also choose to prove their age by uploading a government ID.

There is keen interest in whether Australia’s sweeping restrictions can work as regulators around the globe wrestle with the potential dangers of social media.

Malaysia indicated it was planning to introduce a similar ban next year.

Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells said last week that the European Commission, France, Denmark, Greece, Romania and New Zealand were also interested in setting a minimum age for social media.

A Russian military Antonov An-22 Cock heavy transport aircraft crashed in the Ivanovo region, around 125 miles northeast of Moscow today, killing the entire crew. The incident is notable especially for the fact that the Soviet-era plane had been widely reported as retired, roughly 18 months ago. Exactly why the aircraft was still flying is unclear, but it does raise some questions about the overall status of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ transport arm.

According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, the country’s main federal investigating authority, the turboprop-powered airlifter went down near the village of Ivankovo. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the An-22 breaking apart in mid-air, with parts of the fuselage falling into a reservoir near the village. A video posted to social media purportedly shows a salvage team removing fragments of the aircraft from the Uvodskoye Reservoir.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has so far not disclosed how many people were on board, although the state-run TASS news agency puts the number at seven, and unconfirmed reports on social media provide names for each.

Russian state media quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying that the An-22 was undergoing a test flight “following repairs” when it crashed, suggesting it was in the process of being returned to service.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that search crews were deployed to the crash site and an investigation was opened into the accident.

Citing anonymous sources, the Kommersant business newspaper reported that the accident was likely caused by a technical malfunction.

Back in August of last year, there were unconfirmed reports that Russia had finally ceased operations of its An-22 fleet altogether. At this time, it was suggested that the last example, registration number RF-09309, built in 1974, was flown from its home base of Migalovo in the Tver region of western Russia, to Yekaterinburg in the Ural Federal District on August 16, 2024. It was expected to be put on permanent display at the military museum in Verkhnyaya Pyshma. However, no An-22 is visible in recent satellite imagery of the collection, suggesting those plans may have changed.

Potentially, RF-09309 is the same aircraft that crashed today, or it could have been one of the other four An-22s that were reportedly still active with the Russian Aerospace Forces’ 196th Military Transport Aviation Regiment as of June 2024.

At that point, Gen. Vladimir Venediktov, the commander of Military Transport Aviation, told Russia’s state-owned VGTRK broadcaster that the An-22 was headed for retirement before the end of that year.

That the An-22 survived that long, let alone that an example was still flying as of today, is somewhat remarkable.

As you can read about in detail here, the An-22 was designed and built by the Antonov company based in Kyiv, in what was then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The prototype flew on February 27, 1965, at which point it was the world’s heaviest aircraft.

In common with the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber, the An-22 was powered by four huge Kuznetsov NK-12MA turboprops, each rated at more than 14,805 horsepower and driving eight-blade contra-rotating propellers, more than 20 feet in diameter.

The powerplant gave the An-22 a distinctive mechanical roar, as heard in the video below.

The Roar of the Antonov An-22 | Рев Антонов Ан-22

In all, 68 An-22s were completed, including two prototypes, between 1966 and 1976.

Service entry with the Soviet military was in January 1969, and the aircraft was especially valued for its ability to accommodate outsized loads.

Up to more than 132,000 pounds of cargo could be carried. Alternatively, the An-22’s cargo hold had space for 151 paratroopers or 292 standard troops, carried on two decks. However, the main cargo hold was not pressurized, except for a forward cabin with seating for 29 personnel.

Items of cargo included complete missile systems, as well as large and heavy military vehicles, via the large loading ramp at the rear. The aircraft could also operate from austere airfields if required.

By the early 2000s, it already looked like the An-22’s career was nearly over, with just nine airworthy examples at Migalovo. It was now outnumbered by the far more capable, jet-powered An-124 Condor, which had entered service in the 1980s as the world’s heaviest production transport aircraft, capable of carrying a normal load of 300,000 pounds.

However, the Russian military chose to keep the An-22, even in limited numbers, since it was cheaper to operate than the An-124, but had a much bigger hold than the Ilyushin Il-76 Candid.

Plans to modernize the surviving An-22s failed, however, with the result that the active Russian Aerospace Forces’ fleet dwindled to five.

A sixth was still operated by the Antonov Design Bureau in Kyiv until it was reportedly damaged beyond repair during fighting at Hostomel Airport at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

The fact that at least one An-22 was apparently being prepared to return to active service with the Russian Aerospace Forces appears to paint a bleak picture of its air transport arm.

While it still operates significant numbers of Il-76s, in terms of heavy transports, Russia has also failed to reinstate production of the An-124. The main problem has been a lack of suitable engines — the original D-18T turbofan is manufactured by Motor Sich at its plant in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Meanwhile, Motor Sich is also the only company capable of overhauling these engines, reducing the availability of the Russian An-124 fleet. This factor also may have driven the An-22’s planned return to service.

Plans to develop an all-new, all-Russian successor to the Ukrainian-designed An-124 have so far also failed to materialize.

Overall, the Russian transport aircraft fleet is aging fast, and this may also have contributed to other recent accidents.

In July of this year, a civilian-operated Antonov An-24 Coke twin-turboprop regional airliner crashed near Tynda in the Amur region of eastern Russia. All 42 passengers and six crew members on board died. The aircraft, long obsolete, had been manufactured in 1976.

In the same month, two people were killed after an An-2 Colt utility transport crashed in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region. The An-2 was first flown in 1947, and the Soviet Union and Russia have collectively failed to develop a suitable successor for a type that remains in widespread use.

There have also been other Russian transport aircraft losses that may or may not be connected to the conflict in Ukraine, as well as pinpoint attacks on these aircraft by long-range Ukrainian drone strikes.

At the same time, the fleet, in general, is likely suffering from the effects of sanctions, especially when it comes to readiness levels.

With the war in Ukraine still raging, the Russian military’s demand for heavy-lift air transport is only going to continue. Whatever the reason for today’s crash, it is a blow to the Russian Aerospace Forces. Apart from the slim possibility that a contractor might try and obtain the remaining aircraft to exploit their unique capabilities, it seems altogether unlikely that the An-22 will find a way back into regular service after this latest incident.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

Fans of the BBC soap EastEnders are fearful for a ‘vulnerable’ character as a desperate Sam Mitchell appears to target him for money as part of her ‘manipulative’ scheming

EastEnders fans are worried for a ‘vulnerable’ character after some scenes between him and a desperate Sam Mitchell suggest he will be the next target of her manipulative ploy for money.

In Tuesday’s episode (9 December), Sam was caught at the train station by her ex Jack Branning and revealed she found a lump and believes she has breast cancer.

As such, she had taken £20,000 from her brother Phil to pay for a flight back to Spain and to put into an account for her son Ricky. But, whilst she was at the station, Phil, who had learned of the theft from his friend Nigel Bates, caught up with her and took the money back.

READ MORE: EastEnders legend supported by co-stars after announcing major life updateREAD MORE: EastEnders fans ‘devastated’ as plot twist revealed amid sad Mitchell scenes

She also tried to convince Jack and Denise Fox to give her the money, telling Denise that she would get a doctor’s appointment about the lump if she and Jack agreed to send her the money.

Denise told Sam she would do it, but refused to until she had been to an appointment with Sam to make sure she kept up her end of the bargain. Unbeknownst to Sam, Denise has her own plans to trick the Mitchell woman into leaving without a penny.

Meanwhile, Sam had to beg Phil to let her crash on his couch. It was there that she got talking to Nigel. During Monday’s episode, Sam was caught going through Phil’s safe by Nigel, who is suffering from dementia. He let her go, as he mistook her for his daughter Clare, who he is estranged from.

As Sam got to talking to Nigel during Tuesday’s episode, he still believed she was Clare and told her that he had some money saved up that she could have. Sam sneakily smiled just as the duff duffs rang out.

Fans are convinced Sam will manipulate Nigel, exploiting his dementia and sending her scheming ways to a new low. One wrote online: “I know Sam’s always been a scheming character but scamming a man with dementia out of money would be very low even for her.”

Another added: “Oh no, Sam’s going to manipulate Nigel for money.” Meanwhile, another warned Sam not to do it: “Oooh Sam don’t do it girl.”

Many pointed out that Nigel’s illness makes him vulnerable and hoped Sam would not exploit it. One added that they would be sick if Sam targeted Nigel: “If I have to watch Sam Mitchell scam Nigel and steal his money by exploiting his dementia then I will physically vomit.”

Another said: “Tonight’s Duff Duff! If Sam steals off a vulnerable Nigel I swear to god…” And a third simply said: “Oh Sam better not scam Nigel. I don’t like that look on her face.”

Sam returned at the beginning of December after three years away. She is just one of several returns to the Square since Ben Wadey took over as the showrunner. Since September, Zoe Slater has returned, as has Max Branning, who will make a proper return later this month and feature heavily in the New Years episode.

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

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a law prohibiting federal officials from taking enforcement actions against immigrants near courthouses, in hospitals, on college campuses or in day care facilities.

The law, which takes effect immediately, is in response to the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration in the Chicago area, launched in September.

The law also provides for legal steps for those whose constitutional rights were violated during enforcement action, including a $10,000 in damages for someone unlawfully arrested while attempting to attend a court proceeding.

“Dropping your kid off at day care, going to the doctor, or attending your classes should not be a life-altering task,” Pritzker said at a bill-signing in a largely Latino neighborhood in Chicago. “Illinois — in the face of cruelty and intimidation — has chosen solidarity and support.”

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s “Operation Midway Blitz” arrested more than 3,000 people.

Despite a lack of first-team opportunities at Leicester, Maswanhise benefitted from being moulded by top-level coaching during his long spell at the club.

He played just once, an opportunity afforded to him by now Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca when he came on as a substitute in an FA Cup win over Millwall.

Pre-Maresca, Maswanhise credits part of his development to former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who worked at Leicester between 2019 and 2023.

“Having the experience to work under them was really good,” the Motherwell man tells BBC Scotland. “I’d like to say I’ve learned quite a lot, adapting to two high-level managers.

“When I was with Brendan, it was more about getting used to the environment. Enzo needed a platform – he was really good tactically.”

But how do those two compare with his current boss?

Jens Berthel Askou has received plenty of plaudits for implementing a fearless and vibrant approach to a Motherwell side well worth their current standing of third.

“I’d say he is similar,” Maswanhise says when comparing Askou to Rodgers and Maresca. “The tactics and the system are really helping. It’s clearly paying off right now.

“We’re competing with the top teams in Scotland. If we can keep doing this, maybe we’ll see ourselves on a European tour next season.”

Dec. 9 (UPI) — Job openings inched up slightly in October, despite fears of shrinkage.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its government shutdown-delayed October Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary Tuesday, showing a small uptick in job openings that month.

But the job market isn’t rosy quite yet. Hiring stalled, layoffs increased and employees did not quit their jobs. The voluntary quits rate was at a five-year low.

The report also includes some data from September, which hadn’t been released because of the government shutdown from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12. The October data also was affected by the agency’s inability to collect data during the month.

At the end of October, there were about 7.67 million job openings in the United States, which is a slight raise from 7.66 million in September and 7.23 million in August, the report said.

In October, the number and rate of total separations (quits, layoffs, firings) were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2%. The number of total separations decreased in health care and social assistance by 111,000 and in the federal government by 34,000.

The quits were at 2.9 million and 1.8%, which was down by 276,000 over the year. A drop in quits can indicate a lack of confidence in the job market.

The Federal Reserve is expected to release its decision on interest rates on Wednesday.

Tour operators are already saddling up, offering Three Lions fans the ‘ultimate match-day adventure’ with packages to watch England play in the World Cup 2026 in Texas

England fans heading to the 2026 World Cup are being tempted with special sporting packages which combine the first game with a trip to a Rodeo and a taste of the ‘Wild West’.

With the Three Lions playing their first match in Texas tour operators are already looking at laying on bespoke holidays to give supporters a ‘once in a lifetime’ adventure. Just a few miles down the road from the game against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 is the city of Fort Worth. There England fans can enjoy some incredible experiences and even become cowboys for the day on special ranches. Two tour operators in Cheshire are already trying to tempt some fans with the ‘ultimate match-day adventure’.

READ MORE: All you need to know about England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s World Cup gamesREAD MORE: Donald Trump’s Peace Prize farce sparks demand for FIFA boss Gianni Infantino probe

England’s two super fans Neal Weekes and Fil Sollof have already they would be up for a bit of Wild West Texan fun. A spokesman for one firm said: “Calling All England Fans! The World Cup is coming to Dallas this June and your ultimate match-day adventure starts in the Wild West heart of Texas!

“Forget the usual city break – why not catch England’s group stage in the iconic Dallas (Arlington) stadium and stay in Fort Worth, just a quick ride away? This isn’t just football, it’s a real slice of American adventure…take it from me – Fort Worth is full of surprises and stories to tell!

“Picture this: Wandering the brick streets of Fort Worth’s famous Stockyards, where cowboy boots tap to live country music Sipping legendary Texan moonshine after the match Dining at incredible steakhouses and buzzing local restaurants Exploring unique museums, rodeos, and the welcoming square I’ve fallen in love with on my own visits.

“With rich history, welcoming southern charm, and that genuine cowboy feel, Fort Worth is the perfect home base for your World Cup adventure. I’ll make sure you get the best flights, hotels, and local tips for an experience you’ll never forget.

“Ready to join the Three Lions in Texas style? Drop me a message for match-day packages, handpicked Fort Worth stays, and all the insider info you need for cheering England on in true cowboy fashion!”

Tottenham fans Weekes, 60, and Sollof, 60, will be flying to the US to attend their seventh World Cup together. He laughed: “This sounds brilliant. We always try and do something a bit different around the England matches. It was camels in Qatar!

“A bit of ‘Wild West’ sounds great – it will be a bit different from going to west London to watch Spurs play Chelsea in the ‘80s. But certainly safer Think my bull riding days are over but some cowboy stuff sounds fun. This is going to be a great World Cup.”

Russia’s Lukoil has until December 13 to negotiate the sale of most of its international assets following U. S. sanctions and the rejection of Swiss buyer Gunvor. Lukoil’s international assets, which include oil and gas ventures, refining, and over 2,000 gas stations across various regions, are valued at around $22 billion, and any deals must be approved by the U. S. Treasury.

Potential buyers for Lukoil’s assets include major U. S. oil companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron, the Abu Dhabi International Holding Company, Austrian investor Bernd Bergmair, Hungary’s MOL, and U. S. private equity firm Carlyle.

Lukoil’s significant upstream operations in the Middle East include a 75% stake in Iraq’s West Qurna 2 oilfield and a 60% stake in Iraq’s Block 10 development. In Egypt, the company holds stakes in various oilfields alongside local partners. In the UAE, Lukoil has a 10% stake in the Ghasha gas development. In Central Asia, Lukoil owns portions of important oil and gas projects in Kazakhstan and operates fields in Uzbekistan.

In Africa and Latin America, Lukoil holds interests in several offshore oil blocks in Ghana, Congo, Nigeria, and Mexico.

Lukoil also possesses refining assets, including the Neftohim Burgas refinery in Bulgaria, which is the largest in the Balkans. The Bulgarian government has made moves to potentially seize and sell these assets. The U. S. Treasury has allowed some transactions involving Lukoil’s Bulgarian refinery until April 29, 2026. In Romania, Lukoil owns the Petrotel refinery and has about 300 gas stations, with companies reportedly interested in purchasing these assets.

For fuel retail, the U. S. Treasury extended the deadline for transactions involving Lukoil’s gas stations outside Russia to April 29, 2026. Despite this, Lukoil’s Finnish subsidiary Teboil has filed for restructuring and anticipates selling its petrol stations. The Romanian government is also moving to take control of Lukoil’s assets in the country. Lukoil operates around 200 gas stations in the U. S.

U. S. sanctions are dismantling Lukoil’s trading arm, Litasco, causing significant layoffs in its offices worldwide.

With information from Reuters

FOLK singer Jewel showed off her incredible figure in a brown and white zebra bikini in pics shared to Instagram. 

The singer, 51, captioned the carousel, “#Barbuda for a few days of sun before more winter snow.” 

Her shredded abs were on display in the string bikini in two photos of the carousel, which also included photos of spiny lobsters and the blue Caribbean sea.

Fans admired the star’s bikini bod and flowing beach blond hair, although she didn’t drop any details on her diet or workout. 

One fan wrote, “You look incredible.”

”Truly a beautiful lady,” a second fan commented. 

CROWN JEWEL

90s pop star Jewel, 51, puts muscular legs on display in black swimsuit

A third fan called the singer “Hot mama.”

Jewel is mom to Kase, 14, with her ex-husband, rodeo star Ty Murray.

She appears to be currently single, after a rumored fling with actor Kevin Costner in 2023.

She also gained notoriety after signing the American national anthem at San Diego’s Super Bowl XXXII. 

Fans and music reviewers criticized the singer for lip synching over a digitally-recorded track of her own voice.

The slip up was caught on camera when she missed a cue during the first words of the patriotic song.

The Sun reported on a similar situation that occurred at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. 

What kind of team would commit $141 million to two closers?

The one that won last year. The one that won this year. The one that plans to win again next year.

“All I have to say to you,” Dodgers owner Mark Walter told fans at the team’s World Series championship celebration last month, “is we’ll be back next year.”

The Dodgers handed Tanner Scott $72 million last winter. It hasn’t worked out. So, on Tuesday, the Dodgers handed Edwin Díaz $69 million.

If the Dodgers are going to be Exhibit A for Walter’s rival owners to cry about how desperately they need a salary cap, bring it on. If Walter’s rival owners demand that players be locked out next winter and not be allowed back until they relent and accept a salary cap, well, bring that on too.

There is a sentence players are taught to utter: “I can’t worry about what I can’t control.” The Díaz signing is basically the Dodgers’ ownership saying the same thing: “We can’t worry about other owners pointing their fingers at us. We’re here to win. If the rules change, then we’ll worry about that.”

Or maybe not.

“Honestly, I think that we have an organization that, whatever rules or regulations or constructs are put in front of us,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday, “we’re going to dominate.”

In what they call their golden age, the Dodgers are chasing history. No team had won back-to-back championships in 25 years. Next up: tying the major league record of 14 consecutive postseason appearances, and becoming the first National League team ever to win the World Series in three consecutive years.

“What’s better than two?” Roberts hollered at the World Series celebration. “Three! Three-peat! Three-peat! Let’s go!”

It ain’t bragging if you can back it up. For the first time in what will be his third season with the Dodgers — and after winning consecutive most valuable player awards — Shohei Ohtani should be available to pitch and hit for the entire season.

“I’m ready to get another ring next year,” Ohtani said at the celebration.

Mookie Betts, the only active player to win four championships, will come off a Gold Glove-nominated year in his first full season at shortstop and, presumably, will not have to fight off an illness like the one that derailed his strength and hampered his offense at the start of last season.

“I got four,” Betts told the celebration crowd. “Now it’s time to fill the hand all the way up, baby. ‘Three-peat’ ain’t never sounded so sweet. Somebody make that a T-shirt.”

Roberts stirred some conversation last week when he told the Amazon Prime show “Good Sports” that he would support a salary cap.

“You know what? I’m all right with that,” Roberts said. “I think the NBA has done a nice job of revenue sharing with the players and the owners. But if you’re going to suppress spending at the top, I think that you’ve got to raise the floor, to make those bottom-feeders spend money, too.”

The owners of those bottom-feeders ought to be aware of that, because they would have to spend, and they would not be able to point their finger at the Dodgers. The owners, after all, are pitching a salary cap to the public as a cure for competitive balance.

The Dodgers would welcome that challenge. A salary cap would limit salaries, but it would not limit spending on coaching, analytics, biometrics, facilities, nutrition, team planes, and other areas in which the Dodgers’ owners have earned championship rewards for their significant investments.

For now, though, the Dodgers needed a closer. The Dodgers got the best one available in free agency, a guy who has struck out at least one-third of opposing batters in each of his past seven seasons and has limited opponents to a batting average under .200 in each of his past five seasons.

Would the Dodgers like to get younger? Yes. Did they field the oldest group of position players in the majors last year? Yes. Do the Dodgers now have Díaz and Scott for the next three years, and do both turn 32 next year? Also yes.

But, given where both the Dodgers and Major League Baseball are right now, this might be the more pertinent question for the Dodgers: Can Díaz become the first Dodgers reliever to close out a World Series clincher since Steve Howe in 1981? (Orel Hershiser did the honors in 1988, followed by Julio Urias in 2020, Walker Buehler in 2024 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2025.)

If you believed the Dodgers were ruining baseball, then the signing of Díaz will only intensify that. After all, 11 teams did not open last season with a payroll of $141 million — the combined value of the Díaz and Scott contracts.

And, if enough owners believe the Dodgers are ruining baseball, then those owners can find a solution short of a salary cap — or they can set fire to the game, and to the momentum generated by a global superstar leading an internationally popular team, and an internationally popular World Series.

The Dodgers cannot resolve that by themselves. They can act in their best interest, and on Tuesday they did.

Blair was the only figure named for the board when Donald Trump announced a 20-point plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza.

Tony Blair has been dropped from consideration for a role on a proposed US-led “board of peace” for Gaza after objections from Arab and Muslim governments, the Financial Times (FT) newspaper has reported.

Blair was the only figure named for the board when Donald Trump announced a 20-point plan to end Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza in September, with the US president describing the former UK prime minister as a “very good man”.

Blair praised the plan as “bold and intelligent” and signalled he was willing to serve on the board, which would be chaired by Trump himself.

But diplomats from several Arab and Muslim states objected to Blair’s involvement, the FT reported on Monday.

As British Prime Minister, Blair strongly supported the US-led so-called “war on terror” and sent tens of thousands of British troops to join the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which was launched based on false claims that Iraq’s then leader, Saddam Hussein, had developed weapons of mass destruction.

In the Middle East region, Blair remains widely viewed as partially responsible for the war’s devastation.

Since leaving office in 2007, he has set up the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), which has worked with governments accused of repression to help improve their image.

His institute was also involved with a project, led by Israeli business figures, developing “day-after” plans for Gaza alongside Israeli business figures.

The project included proposals for a coastal resort dubbed the “Trump Riviera” and a manufacturing hub named after Elon Musk – ideas critics said ignore human rights and threaten Palestinians with displacement.

There was no immediate comment from Blair’s office. An ally quoted by the FT rejected claims that opposition from regional governments had forced him out of Trump’s planned “peace board”, insisting discussions were ongoing.

Another source said Blair could still return in “a different capacity”, noting he is favoured by both Washington and Tel Aviv.

Trump’s Gaza plan led to a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with Israeli forces continuing attacks across the besieged territory. At least 377 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire took effect in October, according to Gaza authorities. More than 70,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza in October 2023, according to Gaza health authorities.

Follow the build-up, analysis and live text commentary as Inter host Liverpool for league-phase game at the San Siro.

Sheinelle Jones is taking the chair next to Jenna Bush Hager on the fourth hour of “Today,” the NBC News program announced Tuesday.

The brand extension of the NBC News morning franchise, which airs daily at 10 a.m., will be renamed “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” on Jan. 12. Hager has handled the hour alongside guest hosts since Hoda Kotb left “Today” in January.

Jones, 47, will step back from her duties on the program’s third hour which will continue with Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer.

The Kansas native was on leave from “Today” for much of this year due to the death of her husband Uche Ojay, who suffered glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. She returned to the program in September.

Jones, a mother of three, has been a fixture on “Today” since 2014. She joined the program as a co-anchor for the Saturday edition after nine years as a local morning TV anchor in for the Fox station in Philadelphia. She became a co-host for the third hour in 2019.

The fourth hour of “Today” is a breezy, daytime talk show with advice and celebrity conversation. NBC News launched the hour in 2007 with Ann Curry, Natalie Morales and Kotb as co-hosts.

The program gained a cult following when it was co-hosted by Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, and evolved into a wine mom gathering. Gifford left the program in 2019 and was succeeded by Hager.

Los Angeles County’s inspector general is retiring as chief watchdog for the Sheriff’s Department, stepping down from the post he has held since it was first created a dozen years ago.

Max Huntsman, 60, announced his plans in a letter Tuesday.

“It has been my honor to work with a talented, brave, and tireless group of public servants to ensure that the public knows what its government is doing,” he wrote.

Huntsman, a former L.A. County prosecutor, also included comments that were critical of how the county has responded to efforts at civilian oversight of the Sheriff’s Department.

Time and again, he wrote, efforts by his office “were ignored” by county leaders.

“The county is putting all its efforts into convincing the public and the courts that it is following the law and has no room to honestly evaluate itself and make the changes it would need to really follow those laws,” Huntsman told The Times in a message early Tuesday. “That’s not compatible with my oath of office.”

In stacks of detailed reports, the inspector general’s office has described a wide range of abuses and failures by the Sheriff’s Department, the L.A. County Probation Department and county leaders. Huntsman’s office has documented poor conditions in L.A. County’s jails, called out the Sheriff’s Department’s for noncompliance with portions of of the Prison Rape Elimination Act, and criticized the inability or unwillingness of sheriff’s department officials to rein in so-called deputy gangs, whose tattooed members have repeatedly been accused of misconduct.

The Inspector General’s Office has independently probed hundreds of on-duty shootings by deputies, along with other use of force incidents. Under Huntsman’s direction, the office also scrutinized deficiencies in the county’s skilled nursing facilities during the early days of the COVID-19 epidemic.

In 1991, Huntsman graduated from Yale Law school and immediately joined the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office. A father of two, he served as a deputy district attorney for 22 years, prosecuting political corruption, police misconduct and fraud cases before leaving the courtroom for the helm of the new Office of Inspector General.

One of the main reasons the Sheriff’s Department is still plagued by many of the problems Huntsman confronted when he first became inspector general, he wrote in the Tuesday letter, has been the county’s reluctance to swiftly implement many of his office’s recommendations.

“In my twelve years at this work, I have longed for the day that the county would address the conditions in our reports without a court fight,” he wrote. “Some things never change.”

The Inspector General’s Office is now expected to undergo a sea change with the retirement of the only leader it has ever had.

Huntsman is the latest in a recent string of oversight officials to abruptly depart from their posts. In June, L.A. County Civilian Oversight Commission Chair Robert Bonner told the public that county officials were terminating him from the position. Earlier this year, Sean Kennedy, a member of the commission and its former chair, resigned over what he described as undue county interference in the commission’s activities.

The oversight bodies themselves also have faced cuts. In August, a county office proposed eliminating the Sybil Brand Commission, which conducts civilian oversight of the largest county jail system in the U.S. The county also announced that it would be reassigning or eliminating about a third of Huntsman’s staff.

Yet Huntsman and other county oversight officials continued to advocate for change. For instance, in October, state lawmakers approved Assembly Bill 847. The law will allow oversight commissions across the state, including L.A. County’s Civilian Oversight Commission, to view confidential documents in closed session.

“When government abuses occur, they are sometimes kept secret, but that is no longer the case for much of what is happening in Los Angeles County,” Huntsman wrote at the end of his Tuesday letter. “What you do about it is up to you.”

In their appeal, Palace claimed that other clubs had been given preferential treatment to modify their ownership structures for admission to Europe after 1 March.

Palace highlighted the case of Nottingham Forest. Owner Evangelos Marinakis had diluted his control of the club in preparation for Champions League qualification for both Forest and Olympiakos.

In a similar situation, Chelsea owners BlueCo had issued millions of new shares in Strasbourg in case both clubs ended up in the same competition.

Palace claimed this was proof that some clubs had been given extra time by Uefa to sort out their structures.

This was thrown out by CAS, stating that there was no clause in Uefa’s regulations that permitted it.

It was not tested though, because these clubs did not end up in the same competition. If so, it would have prevented an even bigger test of the regulations.

It makes Uefa’s communication with clubs this week all the more important because it appears to completely close off any loophole beyond 1 March.

Clubs in a multi-club ownership structure who think there is any chance of being in Europe must take the necessary steps to be compliant before this date. If they have not, Uefa will be back next summer to take action again.

This could impact clubs such as Manchester United and Nice, who are in the same ownership structure.

Dec. 9 (UPI) — A federal judge in New York on Tuesday granted a Justice Department request to release the grand jury files from the indictment hearing of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell’s attorney David Oscar Markus had argued against releasing the grand jury evidence. In a filing, Markus wrote that Maxwell “does not take a position” on the Justice Department’s request to unseal the material, but said that releasing the material “would create undue prejudice” and prevent “the possibility of a fair retrial.”

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer on Tuesday ordered the release of grand-jury transcripts and evidence from the case against Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison for sex trafficking of minors.

He also ordered the release of evidence shared between the prosecution and defense before Maxwell’s trial, but said that the Justice Department should take care not to release any identifying information on the victims. He said the Justice Department filed a motion to unseal grand jury materials in July but didn’t notify the victims. He ordered that a district attorney must “personally certify” that the material is “rigorously reviewed” before its release.

The new law passed last month by Congress requires the release of the Epstein files by Dec. 19. The Epstein Files Transparency Act was passed and signed by President Donald Trump on Nov. 19.

The new law’s language is “strikingly broad,” Engelmayer wrote. Congress’s “decision not to exclude grand jury materials despite knowledge as to their existence, while expressly excluding other categories of materials (such as classified information), indicates that the Act covers grand jury materials.”

On Dec. 5, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith of Florida ordered the release of grand-jury transcripts from the investigation against Epstein from 2005 to 2007. That investigation was abandoned.

While awaiting trial in 2019, Epstein died by suicide in jail.

British backpackers have been warned that a popular border crossing is off-limits after fighting between Thailand and Cambodia resumed following the failure of a Donald Trump ceasefire deal

British tourists heading along a popular backpacking route have been warned by the Foreign Office after deadly fighting erupted between two neighbouring countries.

Locals in parts of Thailand and Cambodia took shelter last night as the two countries fired a salvo of rockets across the border. Each side has accused the other of breaking a Trump-brokered ceasefire that ended a heated five-day conflict earlier this year.

It came as Cambodia’s senate president Hun Sen pledged a fierce fight against Thailand. And in a sign that neither side was willing to back down, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Cambodia had not yet contacted Thailand about possible negotiations – and that fighting would continue

READ MORE: Thailand launches airstrikes along Cambodia border in latest Donald Trump humiliationREAD MORE: Brit teen lost in Thai jungle found alive after ‘eating insects’ to survive

Around one million UK nationals visit Thailand every year. And in recent times, it has become a common practice among some travellers to make short trips across the land border to Cambodia by boarding a coach in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

But the border has been closed for much of this year amid the outbreaks of violence, with current UK Foreign Office advice as of this week stating that British nationals should avoid “all but essential travel” to within 31 miles of Thailand’s border with Cambodia. This includes Koh Chang, Koh Kood and other islands in between them.

The advice reads: “Land borders and crossings between Thailand and Cambodia continue to be suspended. Some tourist destinations in border areas such as the Khao Phra Wihan/Preah Vihear temple, the Ta Kwai/Ta Krabey temple and the Ta Muen Thom/Tamone Thom temple are closed. There are also unexploded landmines in the border area. We advise against all but essential travel to the affected border areas.”

While going to an area designated ‘essential travel only’ by the Foreign Office is not illegal, by doing so your travel insurance is likely to be void – even if it works in other parts of the same country that are deemed safe. This means you will personally liable for costs like medical emergencies, cancellations, or repatriation, and it will be generally be much more difficult to get assistance from the British Embassy if anything goes wrong.

Meanwhile, Cambodian senate president Hun Sen said in a statement posted to Facebook and Telegram that his country had refrained from retaliating on Monday but began to fire back at Thai forces overnight. He said: “Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight back to defend its territory.”

And the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that military action was necessary to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and ensure public safety. He said: “We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.” He added: “The government will support all kinds of military operations as planned earlier.

Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting and what was Donald Trump’s role?

The current conflict between Thailand and Cambodia marks an escalation between the two countries over a border dispute dating back several decades, which had up until this year largely resulted in only sporadic clashes.

In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed in one of these clashes – triggering an escalation of tensions that resulted in five days of full-blown conflict in July. At least 48 people were killed and 300,000 displaced as a result.

A peace deal brokered by Donald Trump was signed by the Thai and Cambodian governments in Malaysia in October, with US President having threatened not to make trade deals with either country if they refused the agreemeent. But this week, fighting resumed after the ceasefire was broken – and each side blames the other for shooting first.

Thailand’s military said Cambodia attacked Thai positions with artillery and rocket and drone attacks on Tuesday, having accused it of previous attacks on Sunday and Monday. Cambodia meanwhile claims that Thai forces attacked first, in the Preah Vihear province.

Cambodia’s military announced today that the new round of fighting had killed seven civilians and wounded 20. A Thai military spokesperson said that three soldiers have been killed.

Egypt international Mohamed Salah is attracting interest from the Saudi Pro League amid doubt about Liverpool future.

Saudi Arabia says it will do “whatever it can” to recruit unsettled Liverpool star Mohamed Salah during the winter transfer window, a source at the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has revealed.

“We follow Salah’s position thoroughly and believe there can be a move either by loan or buying his contract,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, referring to the standoff between the Egyptian and Liverpool.

“There is still no direct negotiations or talks with the club at the moment but there will be a move at the right moment.”

The PIF source said the wealthy Gulf monarchy wanted to sign the Egyptian winger in January, during the next transfer window, to join stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.

PIF holds a 75 percent share in Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, but the source said it was not alone in wanting the Arab world’s biggest football star.

“There is a competition inside the Saudi league who will bring Salah,” the source said, adding that a club affiliated with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil and gas company was also interested.

“Aramco’s Al Qadsiah has shown an interest, too. So it’s not only the PIF-affiliated clubs.”

Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr, Salah’s former Liverpool teammate, Darwin Nunez, is at Al-Hillal, another former Premier League player of the season, N’Golo Kante, is at Al-Ittihad, but Salah is the biggest football star from an Arab country.

Salah said, after he was an unused substitute in the 3-3 draw with Leeds on Sunday, that he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool and no longer had a relationship with manager Arne Slot.

The 33-year-old Egypt forward was then left out of Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League tie at Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Salah has played a key role in Liverpool’s two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his iconic spell on Merseyside. He signed a contract extension in April as he led Liverpool to the title.

Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations after next weekend’s home match against Brighton in the Premier League.

He hinted that the Brighton game could be his last with the Reds before leaving during the winter transfer window.

In 2024-25, Salah scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists last season, but he has been a shadow of his former self during Liverpool’s struggles this season — the title-holders are 10th in the table — with just four goals in 13 top-flight appearances.

“All players have their ups and downs. Salah is just 33 and has a lot to do here,” said the PIF source.

“Salah is a beloved footballer around the globe and will have a massive impact on the Saudi League both on and off the pitch.”

Some of the films will jump out faster than a Marvel reboot, but others will be much trickier to spot We’re confident we’ve cracked the lot – think you can beat us? Scroll down for the answers…

Think you’re a true movie buff? Time to put your bragging rights on the line – because this baffling brainteaser is about to weed out the pretenders from the real cinema geeks.

Hidden in the below picture – which we’ve teased above – are little nods to 27 iconic films. Some will jump out faster than a Marvel reboot, but others will be much trickier to spot.

The puzzle first popped up on the Latest Deals, Extreme Couponing & Bargains Facebook group, and has put even the most confident film fans through their paces. One admitted: “Apparently there are 27 films in this picture! I’ve not found all of them… can you?”

The 27 movies have been squeezed into one picture, each represented by a small detail, visual hint, or clever little signal. We’re confident we’ve cracked the lot. Think you can beat us? Scroll down for the answers — complete with pictures to prove it.

Full image and answers

1. Jumanji. This one’s painfully obvious and sits front and centre of the image.

2. Forrest Gump. Anyone who’s ever set foot in a cinema will recognise Tom Hanks from his starring role in the 1990s drama classic.

3. Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Arnie fans should remember his cyborg eye from the 1991 sci-fi sequel.

4. Gremlins. Tucked away under the bench sits one of the creatures from Joe Dante’s 1984 horror-comedy.

5. Edward Scissorhands. Another stark inclusion behind Tom Hanks is Johnny Depp’s character from Tim Burton’s 1990 movie.

6. E.T. This one is a bit trickier to spot and lingers in the background – the unforgettable bike scene from the Steven Spielberg classic.

7. Ghostbusters. Slimer from Ivan Reitman’s 1984 film Ghostbusters can be seen sneaking up on Tom Hanks behind the bench.

8. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. The 1989 family adventure pops up with tiny characters sitting on the bottom right of the bench.

9. Space Jam. The sticker on the bench is a reference to the 1996 classic.

10. Pulp Fiction .The 1994 Tarantino classic is nodded to by John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson faintly positioned behind the Jumanji board.

11. Back to the Future .The hoverboard on the bottom left is taken from the sci-fi comedy classic.

12. Jurassic Park .Spielberg’s 1993 dinosaur blockbuster is referenced through the Barbasol shaving cream can on the right.

13. Wayne’s World .The 1992 comedy favourite is included via a sticker placed on the bench slat.

14. Hook .The 1991 family fantasy is hinted at by Captain Hook’s metal hook on the right-hand edge of the image.

15. Harry and the Hendersons .The 1987 creature-comedy appears as a Bigfoot figure lurking near the tree.

16. Home Alone. The 1990 Christmas classic is referenced with “Wet Bandits” carved onto the bench.

17. Predator .The 1987 action sci-fi film is signalled by writing on the bench nodding to its famous catchphrase.

18. Indiana Jones .The 1981 adventure classic is represented by the small golden idol near the bench leg.

19. Batman .The iconic franchise is referenced through the Wayne Enterprises logo on the chocolate box.

20. Short Circuit .The 1986 robot comedy shows up via Johnny 5 perched on the right edge of the image.

21. The NeverEnding Story .The 1984 fantasy adventure appears through the Auryn necklace hanging around his neck.

22. The Goonies .The 1985 cult adventure is referenced with a bronze medallion peeking from his jacket pocket.

23. The Last Action Hero .The 1993 action-comedy is hinted at by the “Admit One” golden ticket resting on the bench.

24. Titanic. Movie buffs should have spotted the heart-shaped necklace around Edward Scissorhands.

25. Dumb and Dumber .The 1994 comedy classic is visible through the two men riding the mini-motorbike on the right.

26. Mars Attacks! Tim Burton’s 1996 sci-fi parody appears with a Martian head visible in the top right.

27. The Big Lebowski. The cult comedy is referenced by a bowling-themed item tucked into the jacket pocket.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Coming into the offseason, the Dodgers signaled that they would be conservative when it came to pursuing help in the bullpen.

Turned out, they were quietly plotting one of the most surprising — and impactful — signings of the winter.

In a blockbuster move on Tuesday, the team agreed to a three-year, $69 million deal with top free-agent closer Edwin Diaz, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, snatching the three-time All-Star and three-time Reliever of the Year award winner in a move that will transform their previously shaky bullpen.

Diaz, 31, was the consensus best relief pitcher in this year’s free-agent class. Over his nine-year career, he has a 2.82 ERA and 253 saves. This past season with the New York Mets, he had one of his best campaigns, posting a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves in 31 opportunities, while striking out 98 batters in 66 1/3 innings.

That track record positioned Diaz to be the highest-paid reliever on this year’s market, with most projections pegging him for a five-year deal. Because of that, the Dodgers appeared to be long-shots to sign him, with the club believed to prefer a shorter-term contract after watching their big relief signings last offseason (namely Tanner Scott) struggle in a bullpen that ranked just 21st in ERA.

However, in recent weeks, the Dodgers’ approach had begun to subtly shift.

The team had strong interest in Devin Williams before he signed with the New York Mets, staying in the running even as his bidding reached the level of multi-year offers.

They were showing interest this week in Robert Suarez, another high-powered arm likely to sign a multi-year contract.

Then, on Tuesday morning, they stunned the Winter Meetings by making their surprise signing of Diaz — giving the right-hander the biggest contract, by annual average value, for a relief pitcher in MLB history.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

“I hope he continues at Liverpool and Arne Slot gets sacked.” Mohamed Salah fans at the Arab Cup told Al Jazeera’s Rylee Carlson he has done a lot for his club and shouldn’t be sidelined. Salah had said he felt disrespected after being benched in several games, prompting a backlash from Liverpool management.

Sébastien Lecornu faces a vital test to his premiership over the social security budget bill.

France’s National Assembly is set to vote on a major social security budget bill, in a critical test for the embattled Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who has pledged to deliver the country’s 2026 budget before the end of the year.

Debate on the legislation began on Tuesday afternoon. Lecornu governs without a majority in parliament, and has sought support from the Socialist Party by offering concessions, including suspending President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pension reform.

If lawmakers reject the plan, France could face another political crisis and a funding gap estimated at 30 billion euros ($35bn) for its healthcare, pension, and welfare systems.

“This social security budget bill is not perfect, but it is the best possible,” Lecornu wrote on X on Saturday, warning that failure to pass it would threaten social services, public finances, and the role of parliament.

Socialist leader Olivier Faure said on Monday that his party could back the bill after the government agreed to suspend Macron’s 2023 pension reform, which raised the retirement age, until after the 2027 presidential election.

But the far-right National Rally and the hard-left France Unbowed have both signalled their opposition, along with more moderate right-wing parties.

Even government allies, including the centrist Horizons party and conservative Republicans, could abstain or vote against the legislation. They argue that freezing the pension reform and raising taxes to win socialist support undermines earlier commitments.

France, the eurozone’s second-largest economy, has been under pressure to reduce its large budget deficit. But political instability has slowed those efforts since Macron’s snap election last year resulted in a hung parliament.

Lecornu, a close Macron ally, said last week that rejection of the bill would nearly double the expected shortfall from 17 billion to 30 billion euros ($20bn-$35bn), threatening the entire 2026 public spending plan.

Without a deal before year-end, the government may be forced to introduce temporary funding measures.

The government aims to bring the deficit below 5 percent of GDP next year, but its narrow political options have led to repeated clashes over public spending.

Budget disputes have already toppled three governments since last year’s election, including that of former Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who lost a no-confidence vote over his own budget bill.