Rousey will return to MMA for the first time in nearly a decade when she challenges ⁠Carano on ⁠May 16 in California.

Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will end their lengthy retirements from mixed martial arts (MMA) to fight each other on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The two pioneering fighters announced their returns on Tuesday for a bout that will be staged by Most Valuable Promotions, the combat sports promotion established by influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul and his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian. The show will be broadcast on Netflix.

The 39-year-old Rousey hasn’t fought since 2016, while the 43-year-old Carano’s eight-bout MMA career ended in 2009. They’ll fight at 145lb (66kg) for five five-minute rounds.

Despite their lengthy absences, Rousey and Carano remain two of the most iconic fighters in MMA history for their trailblazing careers. Carano led their once-outlawed sport into the mainstream of broadcast television, while Rousey secured the enthusiastic acceptance of women’s MMA by Dana White and the UFC.

Rousey (12-2) rose to become arguably the biggest athlete in all of MMA after winning an Olympic medal in judo in 2008. Her armbar finishes and cage charisma single-handedly prompted White to begin the promotion of women’s MMA, with Rousey at the centre of his plans.

Rousey won the UFC’s first-ever women’s bout in 2013 to claim the bantamweight title belt, and she still holds the promotion’s record with six title defences.

After ending 11 of her first 12 fights in the first round, her career abruptly stalled when she lost back-to-back bouts to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, prompting her to move on to acting, professional wrestling and motherhood.

“Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history!” Rousey said. “This is for all MMA fans past, present and future.”

Carano (7-1) fought in the first Nevada-sanctioned MMA bout between women in 2006, and she won a series of fights that made her a network television draw in the sport’s early days. She was stopped by Cris “Cyborg” Justino in her most recent fight in August 2009, and she moved on to an acting career despite repeated rumours of a return to the cage.

“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for, and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” Carano said.

“She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honour. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community.”

Carano, who turns 44 in April, landed several prominent film roles and became a cast member of Disney’s “The Mandalorian” before her contract failed to be renewed in 2021, after she expressed controversial right-wing views in a series of social media posts.

Carano settled a lawsuit last year against Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company over her claim that she was fired for the posts.

General Atomics’ air-launched LongShort drone has made new progress toward its first flight with the completion of various tests on the ground, including a demonstration of its weapons release capabilities. LongShot, now also designated the X-68A, is set to be carried aloft first by an F-15 fighter. The goal of the program has been to explore how an uncrewed aircraft capable of firing air-to-air missiles could extend the reach and reduce the vulnerability of the launch platform, among other benefits.

The U.S. military’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released new details about the LongShot program, which it is leading, today. A “multitude of U.S. government stakeholders” have also been involved, including elements of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and NASA, according to DARPA.

General Atomics, as well as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, received initial contracts to work on competing concepts for the drone in 2020. DARPA chose General Atomics’ design for continued development in 2023. The original hope had been that the uncewed aircraft would make its maiden flight before the end of that year. The current goal is to begin flight testing before the end of the year.

“DARPA’s LongShot with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has successfully completed a series of technical milestones, moving its air-launched uninhabited vehicle – recently designated the X-68A – closer to flight testing,” according to DARPA’s release. “Recent achievements, including full-scale wind tunnel tests and successful trials of the vehicle’s parachute recovery and weapons-release systems, demonstrate significant progress in developing this next-generation capability.”

Previously released renderings of LongShot have depicted it as capable of releasing at least one AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) from an internal bay running along the bottom of the fuselage.

The overall LongShot design that has been shown to date is akin to that of a cruise missile, with an elongated fuselage and a chined nose. It has reverse-swept main wings toward the rear of the fuselage and small canards at the front, both of which pop out into their deployed positions after launch. It also has an inverted V-shaped twin-tail configuration and a vertical strake that sticks up just slightly from behind the top-mounted dorsal engine air intake.

The official entry for the X-68A in the U.S. Mission-Design-Series (MDS) designation system says that the drone is powered by a single Williams WJ38-15 turbojet, according to the Designation-Systems.net website. The use of the WJ38-15 may point to a high subsonic top speed for LongShot. This engine is also used on the German-Swedish Taurus KEPD 350 air-launched cruise missile, a 3,000-pound-class design with a stated maximum speed of Mach 0.95.

It is also worth noting that LongShot’s parachute recovery is intended, at least at present, for use in testing and training, rather than any actual combat employment of the drone.

“LongShot is intended for conflict. In combat scenarios, recovery isn’t really practical, and the price point doesn’t make it necessary,” C. Mark Brinkley, a General Atomics spokesperson, told TWZ last year. “However, for test and training, it is recoverable, and we have options for that.”

As mentioned, the first live test launch of a LongShot drone is set to be from an F-15 fighter, an aircraft type particularly well known for its ability to carry outsized payloads. F-15 variants have already been used in the United States, as well as in Japan, as aerial launch platforms for jet-powered drones. For years now, TWZ has been highlighting the particular potential of the Air Force’s new F-15EX Eagle II to carry oversized payloads and act as airborne drone controllers.

DARPA and General Atomics have also talked about the potential to launch X-68As from bombers’ internal bays, as well as from cargo aircraft using the Rapid Dragon palletized munitions system.

As TWZ has previously written:

“LongShot is intended to extend the range at which a launch platform can fire on targets, which, in turn, helps keep them further away from threats. The drones can fly forward into higher-risk areas before launching their own missiles. As designed, LongShots also simply expand the total area in which a launch platform, especially a tactical jet like an F-15, can engage threats.”

“LongShot drones could also leverage targeting data from sources other than their launch platforms. This would rely on, but also take immense advantage of long-range ‘kill web’ architectures in development now. As those kill webs expand in scale and scope, the likelihood of munitions engaging targets outside the range of a launch platform’s organic sensors will only grow. You can read more about these developments here.”

These capabilities could be further magnified by bomber or cargo aircraft carrying larger numbers of LongShot drones. Larger launch platforms could saturate a particular section of the battlespace with air-to-air assets quickly, enabling the rapid deployment of a temporary counter-air screen. The uncrewed aircraft could also provide more localized defense for larger and more vulnerable aircraft, and they would only have to be deployed as necessary in that role. That, in turn, would help reduce strain on escorting assets.

The LongShot program has so far been described in terms of scenarios that center more on direct control for the launch platform. However, control of the drones after launch could similarly be localized or executed across longer distances via beyond-line-of-sight datalink capability and/or signal relays. This could also allow for control to be handed off from one node to another. Higher degrees of autonomy would allow for the performance of tasks after launch with fewer direct human inputs, as well.

“We’ve got a program right now with DARPA that we’re working on. It’s called LongShot. And that effort is really, if you think about, it’s about an air-launched fighter,” Patrick “Mike” Shortsleeve, Vice President of DoD Strategic Development for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI), told TWZ‘s Jamie Hunter in an interview at the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2025 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference last September. “So, we’re talking about a smaller UAS [uncrewed aerial system], … but it also will be able to carry air-to-air missiles and be brought into the fight in mass when needed. So LongShot represents sort of another iteration of what we’re doing for disruption, to help the Air Force change or revolutionize the way air dominance is being done.”

General Atomics Update From Air, Space & Cyber 2025: CCA, LongShot, 9M Flight Hours

There are still questions about how efficient it would be in real combat to use an expendable drone like LongShot to get missiles closer to potential engagement areas, as well as offer some loitering capability. What the cost equation might be, in particular, compared to using more advanced, reusable drones and/or longer-ranged missiles, is unclear. Still, the Air Force and/or other services could see LongShot as a necessity for meeting certain operational needs that cannot be addressed by any other solution.

As we have highlighted in the past, LongShot could feed into other uncrewed aircraft efforts, especially separate, but intertwined Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs now being run by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy. In an interview with Breaking Defense last year, David Alexander, President of General Atomics’ Aeronautical Systems, Inc., division (GA-ASI), said that LongShot could be a “great fit” for Increment 2 of the Air Force’s CCA program. General Atomics and Anduril are already developing separate drone designs, designated the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, respectively, under Increment 1 of that program. The Marines are also now set to utilize the YFQ-42A design at least as a surrogate for a future CCA capability.

When it comes to LongShot, DARPA says that “ground and integration testing currently underway” is now steadily building up to “the safe and effective employment of the X-68A from an F-15, confirm the flight worthiness of the LongShot vehicle, and demonstrate its ability to safely eject a captive sub-munition” after years of schedule slips.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

THE cause of death of Victoria Jones, the daughter of Hollywood legend Tommy Lee Jones, has been revealed after more than a month.

The 34-year-old was tragically found dead at a luxury San Francisco hotel in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Officials have now confirmed the former child star died from a cocaine overdose.

A harrowing 911 call came in to emergency services at 2:52am on January 1 saying a woman had suffered a suspected overdose.

Staff thought Jones had been drinking when they found her lying on the ground on the 14th floor of the ritzy Fairmont hotel.

She was spotted by a guest who thought she “might be drunk”, a source told The Daily Mail.

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The Godfather icon Robert Duvall dies at 95 as wife mourns Hollywood ‘great’

Paramedics rushed to save her, but desperate attempts to revive her failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The initial investigation ruled out foul play and stated that there were no signs of drugs around the body.

Today, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in San Francisco announced that Victoria’s death was due to the “toxic effects of cocaine” and ruled it an accident.

Victoria Kafka Jones was the daughter of the actor Tommy and his ex-wife Kimberlea Cloughley, who divorced in 1996.

Her heartbroken family spoke out the day following her death, saying: “We appreciate all of the kind words, thoughts, and prayers.

“Please respect our privacy during this difficult time. Thank you.”

Victoria acted as a child, appearing in Men in Black II and later The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. 

She also made a one-episode appearance on One Tree Hill.

Although she stepped away from acting, Victoria still appeared with her father at public events.

In the year before her death, Victoria was arrested at least twice, court records show.

A police report was made in April last year by her husband, Navek Ceja, 44, who alleged she had been taking cocaine, the Daily Mail reports.

He claimed his wife had been using the drug over a 48 hour period while staying at his family’s luxury winery in Napa.

Cops arrived at the scene and said Jones was talking quickly and “was fighting with her body movements”.

She tried to fight away the officers and claimed the 911 call was a mistake, the report adds.

Jones later admitted to using cocaine and was taken to a local jail where officers found a white powder inside her coat.

She was charged with being under the influence of drugs, resisting arrest and possessing a controlled substance.

Two months later, Jones and Ceja reportedly got into a heated fight at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Sonoma.

Ceja, 44, told police that they got into an argument after he confronted her about her drug and alcohol use.

Jones allegedly slapped Ceja around the face twice.

Police were called and Jones was arrested and taken back to the Napa County Jail where she was charged with a misdemeanour domestic violence charge.

Both of the cases were never resolved with Jones due to be in court on the domestic violence count on January 20.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Saturday threw out a lawsuit filed by President Trump’s campaign, dismissing its challenges to the battleground state’s poll-watching law and the campaign’s efforts to limit how mail-in ballots can be collected and which of them can be counted.

Elements of the ruling by U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan could be appealed by Trump’s campaign, with just over three weeks to go until election day in a state hotly contested by Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

The lawsuit was opposed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration, the state Democratic Party, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP’s Pennsylvania office and other allied groups.

“The court’s decision today affirms what we’ve long known, that Pennsylvania’s elections are safe, secure and accurate, and residents can vote on Nov. 3 with confidence that their votes will be counted and their voices heard,” Wolf’s office said in a statement.

“The ruling is a complete rejection of the continued misinformation about voter fraud and corruption and those who seek to sow chaos and discord ahead of the upcoming election,” the statement added.

However, Trump’s campaign indicated in a statement that it would appeal and looked forward to a quick decision “that will further protect Pennsylvania voters from the Democrats’ radical voting system.”

The lawsuit is one of many partisan battles being fought in the state Legislature and the courts over mail-in voting amid the prospect that a presidential election result could be delayed for days by a drawn-out vote count in Pennsylvania.

In this case, Trump’s campaign wanted the court to bar counties from collecting mail ballots using drop boxes or mobile sites that are not “staffed, secured and employed consistently within and across all 67 of Pennsylvania’s counties.”

More than 20 counties — including Philadelphia and most other heavily populated Democratic-leaning counties — have told the state elections office that they plan to use drop boxes and satellite election offices to help collect mail-in ballots.

Trump’s campaign also wanted the court to free county election officials to disqualify mail-in ballots where the voter’s signature may not match their signature on file and to remove a county residency requirement for poll watchers.

In guidance last month, Wolf’s top elections official told counties that state law does not require or permit them to reject a mail-in ballot solely over a perceived signature inconsistency.

The Trump campaign had asked Ranjan to declare that guidance unconstitutional and to block counties from following it.

In throwing out the case, Ranjan wrote that the Trump campaign could not prove its central claim that election fraud in Pennsylvania threatened to cost Trump the election and that adopting the changes the campaign sought would remove that threat.

“While plaintiffs may not need to prove actual voter fraud, they must at least prove that such fraud is ‘certainly impending,’” Ranjan wrote. “They haven’t met that burden. At most, they have pieced together a sequence of uncertain assumptions.”

Ranjan also cited decisions in recent days by the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in hot-button election cases, saying he should not second-guess decisions by state lawmakers and election officials.

The decision comes as Trump claims he can’t lose the state unless Democrats cheat, and, as he did in the 2016 campaign, suggests that the Democratic bastion of Philadelphia needs to be watched closely for election fraud.

Democrats counter that Trump is running on a conspiracy theory of election fraud because he cannot win on his own record of fraud and mismanagement.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WATER POLO PLAYOFFS
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
SOUTHERN SECTION
SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 2
La Serna 16, Bonita 15

DIVISION 3
Glendora 15, Chaparral 4
San Dimas 6, Northwood 4

DIVISION 4
La Canada 12, Ramona 11
Schurr 15, Beaumont 11

DIVISION 5
San Bernardino 6, Laguna Hills 4
Edgewood 5, Rowland 4

Note: Finals Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College.

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
CITY SECTION
FINALS
At Valley College

OPEN DIVISION
#2 Granada Hills vs. #1 Birmingham, 7 p.m.

DIVISION I
#2 Palisades vs. #1 San Pedro, 5 p.m.

SOUTHERN SECTION
SEMIFINALS
At Woollett Aquatic Center

OPEN DIVISION
#5 San Marcos vs. #1 Mater Dei, 6 p.m.
#3 Oaks Christian vs. #2 Newport Harbor, 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION 1
Beckman vs. Foothill, 3 p.m.
San Clemente vs. Agoura, 4:30 p.m.

DIVISION 2
Murrieta Valley at Santa Barbara, 5 p.m.

Note: Finals Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College.

Navigating the high slopes of Portugal’s Serra da Estrela in midwinter requires serious negotiation with the elements, but my guide, João Pedro Sousa, makes it look simple. Angling his lean frame into the wind, he digs his plastic snow-shoes into a steep drift and pauses, scanning the white ridgeline. He’s looking for mariolas – small cairns of rocks, fused by ice, that will indicate our onward trail. “The landscape changes every day so you have to learn how to read it afresh,” he says, setting off again. “At this time of year, nature is a true artist.”

I plod inelegantly in his wake, still clumsy in the frames clipped to my boots to keep me from sinking into the powder. At a quartzite outcrop rippled with rose and amber, we pause and drink in the view. Below us, cupped in the glacial scar of the Zêzere valley, is the terracotta-roofed town of Manteigas – founded in the 12th century and today the modest hub for tourism in the region. Ahead, on the horizon, João Pedro points out mainland Portugal’s highest peak, the 1,993-metre Torre, home to a small ski resort suited to beginners. “This region is full of surprises,” he grins.

As head of activities for Casa das Penhas Douradas, a design-led hotel created in 2006 and inspired by Alpine lodges, João Pedro leads treks through the massif in all seasons. More than 100 miles of trails extend from the property, following old shepherd paths into pine forests, around lagoons and across barren passes stacked with huge granite boulders – the remnants of the last ice age, scattered like a giant’s abandoned toys. This is wild country – recognised in 2020 by Unesco as a global geopark for its remarkable biodiversity and geology – but the human story is equally rich.

The hotel is a renovated 100-year-old sanatorium, its 17 birch-panelled rooms and suites gazing eastwards to the rising sun. All have vast sliding windows and doors to let in the curative mountain air during the milder months. Down the main corridor, leading from one log fire-warmed sitting room to another, a gallery of sepia photographs remembers the pioneering 1881 expedition by the Lisbon Geographic Society to this high plateau, looking for a place to treat the scourge of tuberculosis.

“The refined air, pure water and protein-rich diet here worked wonders for patients. For a period at the start of the 20th century, this was Portugal’s answer to the Swiss health resorts of St Moritz or Davos,” João Pedro tells me when we are back at the lodge, warming up with apple cake and carqueja mountain tea. The chalets peppering the surrounding slopes certainly look as if they have been plucked from northern Europe, with steep roofs, sunrooms and occasional fairytale flourishes, like finials or turrets. “Built from stone, not timber, though,” João Pedro clarifies. “The style is mixed with our Lusitanian mountain architecture.”

For the rest of my stay, the Serra is a violently shaken snow globe, the whiteout preventing safe hiking and forcing a thorough exploration of the hotel instead. I shuffle between the indoor sauna and bath-temperature swimming pool; seek out the resident masseuse for a thoroughly undeserved sports massage; and indulge in a series of three-course meals where I sample the region’s famous Iberian pork – always tender and expertly sauced. Afternoons are seen out with a glass of port and a well-thumbed tome on mountaineering from the library, a lived-in space charmingly decorated with antique skiing paraphernalia. The pièce de résistance of the property? The Nordic-style wooden hot tub, which I book for a late-night soak after the storm subsides, the stars winking down at me through spindrift and steam.

As well as injecting some panache into the local tourism scene, I discover the founders of the hotel have been pivotal in saving a dying mountain craft: burel fabric, a thick, water-resistant weave made from bordaleira sheep’s wool and used for shepherds’ capes since the middle ages. “I fell in love with the local material when creating the upholstery for the hotel – it’s amazingly tough and versatile,” owner Isabel Costa tells me, as we tour her warehouse of whirring antique looms on the outskirts of Manteigas. “Nine textile mills had already gone out of business when this one closed – I knew we had to buy it.”

In 2010, the mill reopened as the Burel Factory, with a fresh directive: vibrant colours, modern designs and new applications as tactile wall art and furniture coverings, as well as fashion. Isabel was able to rehire experienced artisans, who in turn trained a new generation of craftspeople. I meet some of them in the Room of Light, where workers stand before great windows reeling bolts of cloth to check for skipped stitches. “Generations of Manteigas women have worked in this business,” seamstress Marta Neves tells me. “It’s delicate work, and with the quantity of bespoke commissions now coming in, every day is different.”

Owing to the success of her initial projects, Isabel was able to expand further, opening the town’s first five-star hotel in 2018, Casa de São Lourenço, with a third property currently in the works. The fabric of local life has been rewoven in the process: with expanding job opportunities, young people are choosing to stay and build lives. The local school has even reopened. Today, burel shops sit on Lisbon and Porto’s most upmarket thoroughfares, popularising a native art form – and a destination – long overlooked. “It was my husband who first fell in love with Manteigas. The nature, the people – it’s like nowhere else in Portugal,” Isabel says.

I stay on in the small town itself, checking into Casa das Obras, a time-warp mansion that has been in the noble Ribeiro de Portugal family since its construction between 1770 and 1825, serving as a guesthouse for the past two decades. Here, history is palpable. Stern-looking ancestors of the current owner, Maria Amélia, look down from oil paintings lining the monumental stone staircase. Lower chambers include a tapestried billiards room and bar, while the upstairs breakfast room – a living museum of antiques, trinkets and heavy drapes – boasts original ceiling art. The bedrooms are underwhelming in comparison, but there’s a pretty garden blooming with camellias, and the location is unbeatably central.

Not that there’s too much of Manteigas to explore. One twisting lane of commerce offers up a souvenir shop stacked with knitted socks and wool slippers; a bakery famous for creating the town’s signature sweet treat, the syrupy pastel de feijoca; and a couple of delis selling wheels of creamy Serra de Estrela sheep’s cheese. The great treasure of the town is its looks, its cobbled streets and snow-dusted churches framed in all directions by dramatic valleys and forested peaks, all seemingly ripped from a storybook.

Come summer, the community will be humming with hikers and adrenaline junkies – biking, paragliding, climbing and ATV buggy rides can all be organised here, with information at the little tourist office. But for now, during its coldest months, Manteigas insists on visitors slowing down – filling their lungs with crisp air, lining their stomachs with hearty cuisine and exploring scenic mountain trails when Mother Nature allows.

The trip was supported by Casa das Penhas Douradas, where rooms start at €189 B&B, including guided hikes and a tour of the Burel Factory. Rooms at Casa das Obras start at €55 B&B. Manteigas can be reached via taxi (30min) or twice-daily bus from the town of Belmonte, which is connected to Lisbon by direct train (3h 50min).

North Korea has been designated a “high-risk jurisdiction” for money laundering and terrorism financing for the 16th consecutive year, financial authorities said Wednesday.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is tasked with combating money laundering and terrorism financing, has put North Korea in the highest risk category along with Iran and Myanmar, according to the Financial Intelligence Unit under the Financial Services Commission.

“The FATF remains concerned by the DPRK’s continued failure to address the significant deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism regime and the serious threats posed by the DPRK’s illicit activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and its financing,” the organization said on its website, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The FATF, which works under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, has categorized North Korea as a “high-risk jurisdiction” since 2011.

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Announcement follows multiple impeachment complaints against the vice president over allegations of corruption.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has said she intends to run for president in the upcoming 2028 election, following in the footsteps of her notorious father, ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

“It took me 47 years to understand that my life was never meant to be only mine,” Sara Duterte said on Wednesday.

“For a long time, I questioned the weight of responsibility to my family, to my country, to everyone who called on me,” Duterte said in a livestreamed address.

“I am Sara Duterte, and I am running for president in the Philippines,” she said.

Duterte also asked her followers for their “forgiveness” over her previous support for incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during the last presidential election.

The Philippines continues to struggle with rampant problems, from corruption to poverty and a cost-of-living crisis, she said.

“I cannot kneel before each and every Filipino to beg for forgiveness. Instead, I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation,” she added.

Despite throwing her support behind Marcos’s election bid five years ago, Duterte and the president have since become bitter rivals, particularly following the launch of a corruption inquiry in 2024 into Duterte’s misuse of government funds.

Their relationship then soured further last year when Marcos signed off on the arrest of her father by the Philippine National Police and Interpol, acting on behalf of the ICC.

Duterte’s candidacy announcement comes during a difficult week for the vice president and her family. She is facing multiple impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives for alleged corruption and making a death threat against President Marcos.

Her father is also due to receive the confirmation of charges against him in The Hague, where he is accused of committing crimes against humanity as part of his so-called “war on drugs” while president of the Philippines between 2016 and 2022.

Cleve Arguelles, political scientist and CEO of the public opinion company WR Numero Research, said her father’s trial in The Hague has raised the stakes for the vice president and her family.

Arguelles said the announcement was likely designed to “freeze panic inside” her political faction “before it prematurely unravels”.

“When legal risk rises, so does the temptation to defect early to save one’s own skin,” Arguelles said.

“When the boat starts taking in water, some passengers look for lifeboats; others start pushing people overboard,” he said.

Pikachu? More like Pi-ka-ching.

A rare Pokémon card owned by wrestler and social media personality Logan Paul sold for $16.5 million on Monday, setting a new record for the auction price of a trading card. Paul had acquired the Pikachu Illustrator card in a trade worth $5.275 million in 2021 — the most expensive Pokémon trading card sold at a private sale at the time.

The retail price for a standard pack of Pokémon cards is usually around $5 for 10 cards — though, much like hunting for shiny Pokémon, successfully purchasing a new pack may require some luck, strategy and patience as the cards have exploded in value in recent years. Paul, who began unboxing Pokémon cards on video during the COVID-19 pandemic, is often credited with helping propel the boom.

Described as an “unimaginable Holy Grail piece,” the card Paul sold features beloved Pokémon mascot Pikachu holding a pen and feather sweeper. The art on the card is by Atsuko Nishida — the graphic artist who designed a number of popular Pokémon, including Pikachu. It is believed only around 40 were ever printed, and they were given out as prizes for an illustration contest in the late 1990s.

The Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon trading card once owned by Logan Paul.

(Goldin)

Paul’s card was graded 10 by Professional Sports Authenticators, or PSA, a third-party service that authenticates and grades trading cards and other collectibles. According to Goldin, the auction house that organized the trading card auction, Paul’s is the only Pikachu Illustrator card to achieve that “virtually perfect” PSA grading.

On top of its rarity and quality, this Pikachu Illustrator card had been placed in a bejeweled case on a diamond necklace and was worn by Paul at WWE WrestleMania 38 in 2022. The card was also featured in Season 3 of Netflix’s “King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.”

The winning bid for the rare card was placed by venture capitalist AJ Scaramucci, the son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.

According to People, AJ Scaramucci is on a quest of “collecting the uncollectable.” He reportedly also hopes to eventually buy “a T-Rex dinosaur fossil” and the Declaration of Independence on his “planetary treasure hunt.”

WASHINGTON — The death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could allow legal conservatives to take full control of the Supreme Court for a decade or more, imposing a historic shift to the right with vast implications for U.S. jurisprudence and society at large.

A conservative court could use its majority to overturn Roe vs. Wade, which guarantees a woman’s right to abortion, and strike down Obamacare and its promise of health insurance for millions, including those with preexisting conditions.

A more conservative court would be likely to strike down affirmative action laws and many current gun control regulations, possibly including laws in California that limit the carrying of firearms in public or restrict the sale of semiautomatic rifles.

After decades of frequent 5-4 decisions that kept a relative balance in major court rulings, a decisive 6-3 conservative majority also could stand in the way of future progressive legislation from Congress.

President Trump said Saturday he expects to nominate a new justice in the coming week to succeed Ginsburg and he indicated it would be another woman. He predicted the necessary Senate hearings and confirmation vote will go “very quickly,” although he did not offer a timeline.

If Democrats score big wins in November and capture the Senate, they are likely to press ahead in Congress with proposals to expand social programs and put new taxes and regulation on corporations and the wealthy.

But even if passed into law, those measures will face legal challenges from the right.

In the past, it was often said the future of the Supreme Court depended on the outcome of the presidential election. The winner of White House would have four years to fill vacant seats on the court.

But in this presidential election year, conservatives could win a lock on the high court for a generation even if Trump is soundly defeated by Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

The outcome will turn on whether Senate Republicans will march in line behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to confirm a conservative jurist by the end of the year. That’s far from certain, but Trump is hoping to make it a reality.

The high court now has five Republican appointees who lean right, and none appears likely to retire anytime soon. The youngest, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, is 53, and the eldest, Justice Clarence Thomas, is 72.

Liberals breathed easier this summer when Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who is 65, joined with Ginsburg and the court’s other liberals to strike down a Louisiana abortion law, to block Trump’s repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for young immigrants known as “Dreamers,” and to uphold rights for LGBTQ employees.

In doing so, the chief justice sent the message that he wanted to steer the court on a middle course and avoid a sharp turn to the right.

That meant the retirement of moderate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in July 2018, and the Senate confirmation three months later of the more conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, 55, have had little impact on the court’s direction so far.

But if Trump can replace the liberal Ginsburg with a solidly conservative jurist in her 40s, the court would have five reliably conservative votes without the chief justice.

That would cast doubt on the future of Roe vs. Wade, the abortion ruling that has been a target of the conservative legal movement since the 1980s.

At least half a dozen Republican-led states have adopted laws to ban some or nearly all abortions, hoping to force the more conservative Supreme Court to reconsider its precedent.

So far those laws have been struck down or put on hold. But that could change at any time.

Trump has also put dozens of new conservatives on U.S. appeals courts, including in the South and the Midwest. If one of those courts were to uphold a state abortion ban, it would send the issue to the Supreme Court and force the justices to decide whether to uphold or strike down the right to abortion.

Ginsburg’s death has also raised new doubts about the future of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, the most far-reaching social legislation in a generation. The high court’s conservatives fell one vote short in 2012 of striking down the law.

On Nov. 10, a week after the election, the justices are scheduled to hear a constitutional challenge to the healthcare law that was widely seen as a long shot.

A conservative judge in Texas and a 2-1 appeals court ruling in New Orleans adopted the notion that the entire law may be voided as unconstitutional because Congress in 2017 voted to eliminate the penalty for not having insurance.

This was seen as a victory by conservatives, including Trump, because it effectively ended the much disputed “mandate” to have insurance.

The challengers, including Trump’s lawyers, argue that the mandate was crucial to the law and that all of it — including the protections for people with preexisting conditions — must fall with it.

The case is called California vs. Texas because California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra is leading the blue states’ defense of the law. The Trump administration has taken the side of the red-state challengers led by Texas.

Until Friday, that challenge looked highly doubtful, since Chief Justice Roberts and the four liberal justices had voted twice to uphold the law.

But Ginsburg’s death could lead to a 4-4 split, which would have the effect of upholding the lower-court ruling.

A more conservative court likely would also target some gun control laws.

For the last decade, the high court has said that Americans have a right to keep a gun at home for self-defense, but the justices have refused to go further and hear 2nd Amendment challenges to laws in California and elsewhere that limit the carrying of firearms in public or restrict the sale of semiautomatic rifles.

Four of the conservative justices have signaled they would like to hear challenges to those laws, but Roberts has balked.

A strengthened conservative court could also put in jeopardy affirmative action policies in colleges and universities nationwide. This comes as California voters weigh Proposition 16 and decide whether to repeal the state’s 1996 ban on affirmative action.

Roberts has long believed the government may not use race as a factor for awarding benefits or making other decisions, including the drawing of electoral districts. He has not won a majority for that view, however.

In 2016, shortly after Justice Antonin Scalia died, Kennedy joined with the liberal justices to uphold an affirmative action policy at the University of Texas.

That defeat did not end the battle. The same challengers who sued Texas launched a lawsuit against Harvard University alleging its admissions office regularly discriminates against Asian American applicants.

Regardless of the outcome in the federal courts in Boston, that case will be appealed to the Supreme Court, giving the court’s conservatives another opportunity to strike down affirmative action.

Jaden Bailes, JSerra’s leading scorer, was being patient. He had just eight points going into the fourth quarter Tuesday night in a Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal playoff game against Rolling Hills Prep at North Torrance. The Lions were clinging to a seven-point lead.

That’s when Bailes decided to go into Stephen Curry mode. He made three consecutive threes to ignite a 15-0 surge that left Rolling Hills Prep helpless. The Lions pulled away for a 66-49 victory that only took 71 minutes to complete. The Lions (22-12) are a 12-loss team that’s looking pretty good with no fellow Trinity League teams left in Division 1. They do have to figure out a way to contain high-scoring Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood in Friday’s semifinals at JSerra.

Bailes certainly can make shots with Crowe if given the opportunity.

“They were doubling him on everything and I told him to be a playmaker,” JSerra coach Keith Wilkinson said.

Said Bailes: “I was confident the ball was going to come back to me. It’s a collective team effort. Lanes started opening up and I took advantage.”

Bailes finished with 19 points, Earl Bryson had 18 points and Godschoice Eboigbodin had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Kawika Suter scored 16 points for Rolling Hills Prep, which trailed by five points at halftime and 41-34 after three quarters.

Harvard-Westlake 83, Santa Margarita 62: After losing three of their last four games, the Wolverines have come back big time in the Open Division playoffs, winning their pool with an impressive road win. Joe Sterling and Pierce Thompson each scored 22 points and Amir Jones 21.

Redondo Union 69, Corona Centennial 57: Chris Sanders scored 22 points to help Redondo Union win its pool and move on to a quarterfinal home game Friday against La Mirada.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 69, St. John Bosco 60: The Knights won their Open Division pool and will host Corona Centennial on Friday. NaVorro Bowman Jr. scored 20 points and Zach White had 14 points.

Sierra Canyon 95, Corona del Mar 65: Maxi Adams had 25 points and Brandon McCoy 23 for the 24-1 Trailblazers, who won their pool and will play host to Santa Margarita on Friday.

Inglewood 82, Fairmont Prep 69: Jason Crowe Jr. finished with 45 points to help Inglewood reach the Division 1 semifinals and assure Crowe will be in the state playoffs.

Mater Dei 82, El Dorado 72: Luke Barnett led the way with five threes and 26 points and Zain Majeed added 25 points to advance the Monarchs into the Division 2 semifinals.

Crean Lutheran 83, Village Christian 58: The top-seeded Saints routed Village Christian to move into the Division 1 semifinals, where it will face Rancho Christian, a 71-62 winner over Long Beach Millikan.

This tiny European island is a spectacular gem hidden in plain sight boasting incredible food, breathtaking views and fun activities for travellers to indulge in without breaking the bank.

While most Brits will have heard of the island nation of Malta, relatively few are aware of its sister island, accessible via a short ferry journey.

A more tranquil, less touristy and altogether more laid-back option compared to mainland Malta, this tiny island is a spectacular gem hidden in plain view.

Despite its modest size, Gozo delivers an impressive array of attractions, with diverse sites, pursuits and scenery simply crying out to be discovered.

Reaching Gozo is straightforward – begin by flying into Malta’s principal international airport, then hop aboard either a brief but picturesque 25-minute ferry from the Cirkewwa terminal in Malta’s north or a 45-minute crossing from the gorgeous capital Valletta to Gozo.

UK flights to Malta are reasonably priced at present – merely £35 one-way at the time of writing for a direct service from London Stansted Airport to Malta International Airport on February 26, with complimentary allowance for one cabin bag included, reports the Express.

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Another advantage of visiting Gozo during the February/March period is its climate – a pleasant range spanning 16C to 20C, offering classic Mediterranean sunshine and gentle breezes to keep you perfectly comfortable on a bright, sunny afternoon.

The icing on the cake? Beverages in Gozo are inexpensive – refreshing cold pints of excellent local beer for £1.80 – every traveller’s fantasy.

Things to do in Gozo

Gozo boasts an abundance of pristine beaches, nestled away from the tourist bustle. The island’s crystal-clear, azure waters and distinctive red-tinged sands create an enchanting atmosphere, ideal for snorkelling, taking a dip, or simply unwinding beneath the Mediterranean sun.

Ramla Bay, one of Gozo’s finest beaches, has been rightfully designated as a Natura 2000 protected site. Visit Gozo, the island’s official tourism authority, notes: “Despite its popularity, Ramla Bay remains wonderfully undeveloped, preserving its natural charm.

“There are a few cafes and a small stall set back from the beach, providing refreshments without compromising the area’s serene atmosphere.”

Brimming with experiences and activities for visitors to enjoy, Gozo presents a wealth of distinctive attractions.

The Ġgantija temples in Gozo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, rank amongst the planet’s oldest and most excellently preserved free-standing structures. This magnificent site is enveloped by verdant countryside and features two colossal temples awaiting discovery.

Indeed, according to local legend, the enormous rocks forming these temples led inhabitants to believe they had been constructed by giants.

The Ta’ Kola Windmill represents another jewel of the island, offering guests a fascinating glimpse into how Gozitans traditionally ground wheat to produce bread and other baked delicacies in bygone times. Dubbed the ‘island of the three hills’, Gozo’s landscape is characterised by distinctive flat-topped elevations that prove absolutely mesmerising.

The trio of most notable peaks are widely recognised as Xagħra hill, the Nadur hill, and Żebbuġ.

Additionally, there’s the Cittadella, Gozo’s freshly renovated historic settlement nestled within the island’s capital, Victoria (Rabat), representing another essential destination should you venture to this magnificent haven.

However, Gozo offers far more than scenic attractions – the island features four Michelin guide establishments – Tmun, Level Nine at The Grand, Al Sale, and Ta’ Frenc – poised to whisk you away on an exquisite gastronomic adventure.

Gozo’s culinary and viticulture offerings are practically unrivalled, with the island’s nutrient-dense terrain and distinctive microclimate yielding some of the finest wines globally. Food and wine excursions have naturally become hugely popular amongst tourists, and understandably so.

Those seeking unconventional experiences need look no further than the age-old practice of milking sheep and goats in Gozo, subsequently crafted into authentic Gozitan cheese. For energetic pursuits, clifftop rambles, kayaking and cycling present excellent choices for an ideal outing.

Mountain biking, kayaking and clifftop trekking all await active travellers, whilst Gozo’s food and wine culture emphasises premium locally-sourced ingredients and ocean-fresh seafood.

Regardless of your preferences, this Maltese gem is genuinely exceptional, and the limited tourist numbers make exploration all the more delightful.

Forgotten village in Wiltshire was evacuated in 1943 for US troops to train ahead of World War II, and residents were never allowed to return home

Just a stone’s throw from the ancient monument of Stonehenge, and roughly an hour from Bath, lies a hidden village frozen in time.

The abandoned village of Imber in Wiltshire stands devoid of inhabitants, its buildings crumbling into decay. This once-bustling parish on Salisbury Plain now remains eerily silent, cut off from civilisation and accessible to visitors for only a handful of days each year.

Similar to several other communities nationwide, Imber’s residents were forcibly removed from their properties in 1943 as war loomed. They received just 47 days’ warning before their village was requisitioned to provide training facilities for American forces preparing for the Second World War.

Locals are believed to have assumed they would reclaim their homes following the conflict’s conclusion, but permission to return was never granted. Salisbury Plain subsequently evolved into Britain’s most extensive military training facility, now spanning more than 94,000 acres.

History

Whilst evidence suggests a modest community existed at Imber from as far back as 967 AD, with documentation indicating habitation in the Domesday Book of 1086, the village housed over 150 inhabitants when evacuation occurred.

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During the 14th century, its population peaked at approximately 250 residents, declining to roughly 152 by the 1940s, and following the conflict, the village mourned 28 of its men who had been in service.

A correspondence sent to a resident, providing brief notice of evacuation, read: “Arising out of the decision that increased training facilities are to be made available in the Imber area, I regret to inform you that it is necessary to evacuate the major part of the Department’s Imber Estate, including your dwelling.”

Despite protests from villagers, their efforts proved unsuccessful, and authorities determined even years after the conflict that the terrain remained invaluable for military purposes and too hazardous for civilian habitation.

Initially, however, many people were prepared to leave, viewing it as their patriotic responsibility and wanting to support those serving on the battlefield.

Numerous structures within the settlement sustained damage from explosions during and following the conflict, as well as from military exercises, and subsequently deteriorated further due to exposure to the elements. Even had former inhabitants been permitted to return, the properties would have been uninhabitable.

Battle for the village

In 1961, following years of separation and discontent, over 2,000 individuals gathered to campaign for the villagers’ return. This triggered a public inquiry, though it ultimately ruled in support of Imber’s ongoing military utilisation.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that certain evidence finally emerged, resulting in an agreement permitting villagers to return, but by that point it was considerably too late.

It was subsequently determined that the church could be preserved and would welcome worshippers on the Saturday nearest to St Giles’ Day each year for residents and locals to gather. This tradition continues to this day.

Present Day

Whilst the remainder of the parish has fallen into decline, neglected and forgotten, St Giles’ church in Imber stands preserved as it always has been, safeguarded by the Diocese of Salisbury.

The church achieved Grade I listed status in 1987 and remains a meaningful site for those wishing to commemorate the village and its formerly thriving community.

Annually around St Giles’ Day, a service takes place which draws former inhabitants alongside soldiers who trained in the village and other members of the public. A further service occurs on the Saturday preceding Christmas, a custom established in 2009.

The Ministry of Defence must permit public entry to the village on these occasions, which are now restricted to merely three times annually. Honouring the village’s heritage, ImberVillage.co.uk commemorates the lives of former inhabitants and enables their stories and recollections to be preserved.

This medieval abbey boasts spectacular 13th-century stone carvings of knights and saints, but many tourists miss this national monument in favour of the Rock of Cashel

While the Rock of Cashel looms majestically over Tipperary, attracting history lovers from far and wide, few realise an equally captivating ruin awaits discovery in a neighbouring county.

Stretching back to the 12th century, this monastic ruin in Kilkenny is truly remarkable. A classic mediaeval Cistercian abbey in Ireland, Jerpoint Abbey deserves far more attention than it receives, offering a compelling glimpse into the nation’s heritage through its stunning sculptures.

Jerpoint’s reputation stems from its collection of stone carvings, scattered throughout the monastery grounds. These artistic treasures date back to the 13th century, depicting knights, mensa tombs, and various other memorials.

Today, the ruins hold official national monument status and have been under the stewardship of the Office of Public Works since 1880. Their efforts to preserve the structure and enable visitors to immerse themselves in this slice of Irish history are clearly appreciated by those who make the journey.

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One visitor recounted their experience on TripAdvisor, writing: “Visited here today and was so impressed with the history of the Abbey. The staff were extremely helpful in explaining the carvings and building styles and helping us to visualise the time period of that time. Highly recommend.”

The Monastery

For architecture aficionados, Jerpoint Abbey is an essential destination, as it’s believed to showcase the evolution from Romanesque to Gothic architectural styles – incorporating elements of both.

While the tower and cloister originate from the 15th century, the church itself was constructed during the 12th century.

A standout feature of these stunning ruins is the 15th-century cloister arcade, which boasts numerous stone carvings. The stonework depicts saints, creatures and religious personalities, including one portrayal of St Anthony with a pig beneath him.

The remarkably preserved medieval artistry extends beyond this, however. The south wall contains a cupboard alongside a collection of traditional stone seating adorned with chevron patterns.

What previously served as administrative chambers on the east range now functions as an exhibition space displaying various stone sculptures.

Perhaps the most captivating feature on site, though, are the tombs located in the abbey’s northern section, crafted by the renowned O’Tunneys of Callan.

When exploring Jerpoint, numerous visitors choose the guided tour option, which they’ve praised for helping to “bring the Abbey to life”, with countless glowing five-star reviews for the experience. Many have characterised their tours as “brilliant”, whilst others describe them as “informative” and suggest taking one to fully appreciate the historical context and understand precisely what you’re observing.

Access

During winter months, Jerpoint Abbey closes its doors but is scheduled to welcome visitors again in March. Once reopened, there’s a modest admission charge.

At present, adults pay €5.00, youngsters €3.00, senior citizens €4.00, and a complete family ticket costs €13.00.

The site offers on-site parking, secure bicycle storage, and has been designed to be fully wheelchair accessible, making it suitable for pushchairs too.

At the adjacent visitor centre, youngsters can pick up a treasure hunt activity that enables them to investigate the ruins and uncover all the creatures and saints hidden within its ancient walls.

To locate this captivating destination, you’ll need to head 2.5km south west of Thomastown. It’s positioned just off the R448 and can be found by following signposts for Thomastown.

Nearby history

If that’s insufficient to satisfy your curiosity, there’s additional history to absorb in the vicinity, with Grennan Castle practically on the doorstep.

In Thomastown, Kilkenny, stands this 12th-century castle positioned along the River Nore’s banks, and whilst it doesn’t provide as much detailed information, it certainly makes for an intriguing additional site to explore.

One visitor commented: “Plenty of parking, hardly anyone visits, many picnic tables and an excellent view, as we cannot get enough of old stuff, especially castles. The attraction is not life-changing, however, it is worth a visit.”

Feb. 17 (UPI) — Search-and-rescue personnel were working through dangerous weather conditions Tuesday to reach a group of six stranded skiers and locate 10 others unaccounted for in Northern California’s backcountry following an avalanche, authorities said.

Rescue ski teams from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center have departed to reach the six known survivors sheltering at the avalanche site, while 46 first responders search for the 10 people unaccounted for, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Videos posted to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page show a handful of people, seemingly rescuers, bundled up and walking through heavy snow underfoot and through a snowstorm.

The avalanche occurred at about 11:30 a.m. PST Tuesday in Castle Peak, located in California’s mountainous Nevada County near Lake Tahoe, affecting the four ski guides and 12 clients of a ski tour.

Capt. Russell Green of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office told KCRA 3 that authorities were notified of the avalanche by activated emergency beacons and by the ski tour company.

His office described weather conditions as “highly dangerous,” and Green remarked that rescue efforts would be “slow going.”

Specialized SnoCat vehicles have been brought in, rescuers on skis have been deployed and snowmobilers are on standby, he said.

“We have several different ways that people are attempting to get in there,” he said. “It’s just going to be a slow, tedious process. They also have to be very careful accessing the area due to the fact that the avalanche danger is still very high.”

An avalanche warning from the Sierra Avalanche Center was in effect from 5 a.m. Tuesday through 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Green said people use the backcountry in all weather.

“We advise against it, obviously,” he said. “But I wouldn’t say it’s uncommon, not that it was a wise choice.”

Concerning the six people accounted for, Green said they have taken refuge in a makeshift shelter and are “doing everything they can to survive and wait for rescue.”

Truckee-based mountain guide company Blackbird Mountain Guides confirmed in a statement that four of its guides and 12 clients were involved.

“The group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip when the incident occurred,” the company said, adding it was cooperating with authorities and was in contact with the emergency contacts of the clients and guides.

Last month, a snowmobiler was killed in the Castle Peak area after being buried in an avalanche while out for a ride.

China has previously criticised the role, accusing the US of interfering in China’s internal affairs.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the Trump administration has appointed an envoy to the position of United States special coordinator for Tibetan issues.

The role, which was created by the US Congress in 2002, will be filled by Riley Barnes, who is currently also serving as the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labour.

Rubio announced Barnes’s appointment in a statement on the occasion of Losar, the Tibetan New Year, on Tuesday.

“On this first day of the Year of the Fire Horse, we celebrate the fortitude and resilience of Tibetans around the world,” Rubio said in a statement.

“The United States remains committed to supporting the unalienable rights of Tibetans and their distinct linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage,” he added.

The new appointment comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump has stepped back from speaking out on a range of human rights issues globally, and as the US has either intervened directly or threatened other countries, including Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, and Denmark’s Greenland.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to Rubio’s announcement, which comes during the Chinese New Year holiday, but Beijing has criticised similar appointments in the past.

“The setting up of the so-called coordinator for Tibetan issues is entirely out of political manipulation to interfere in China’s internal affairs and destabilise Tibet. China firmly opposes that,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said after a similar appointment was made by the US State Department in 2020, during Trump’s first presidency .

“Tibet affairs are China’s internal affairs that allow no foreign interference,” Lijian had said.

China has governed the remote region of Tibet since 1951, after its military marched in and took control in what it called a “peaceful liberation”.

Exiled Tibetan leaders have long condemned China’s policies in Tibet, accusing Beijing of separating families in the Himalayan region, banning their language, and suppressing Tibetan culture.

China has denied any wrongdoing and says its intervention in Tibet ended “backward feudal serfdom”.

More than 80 percent of the Tibetan population is ethnic Tibetan, while Han Chinese make up the remainder. Most Tibetans are also Buddhists, and while China’s constitution allows for freedom of religion, the governing Communist Party adheres strictly to atheism.

Also on Tuesday, the head of the Washington-based Radio Free Asia announced that the US-government-funded news outlet has resumed broadcasting into China, after shutting down its news operations in October due to cuts from the Trump administration.

Radio Free Asia President and CEO Bay Fang wrote on social media that the resumed broadcast to audiences in China in “Mandarin, Tibetan, and Uyghur” languages was “due to private contracting with transmission services” and congressional funding approved by Trump.

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans were left stunned by an unexpected death in episode five.

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continues to surprise fans with the Game of Thrones’ prequel ending on a major cliffhanger this week.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Returning for episode five, entitled In the Name of the Mother, on Sky Atlantic and NOW, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms this week revolved around the dreaded Trial of Seven.

Depicted as a “man of the people”, Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen (played by Bertie Carvel) surprisingly chose to join Dunk’s (Peter Claffey) in a bid to protect his brother and nephews on the other side.

It was also his way of doing what was right and honorable and initially after the Trial of Seven, it appears that Baelor comes out unscathed.

But unfortunately for him and fans, Baelor didn’t have the happy ending that fans were hoping for.

The two Ser Humfreys Beesbury (Danny Collins) and Hardyng (Ross Anderson) were killed and the prince emerged among the victors after Dunk forced Aerion (Finn Bennett) to yield.

However, when Baelor does take off his helmet, it is revealed that the back of his head had been caved in by Maekar’s (Sam Spruell) mace.

Fans were hopeful that he would still survive but Baelor ultimately dies from his gruesome injuries, leaving his loved ones heartbroken.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, a distraught user wrote: “All of us at Baelor’s funeral,” followed by a crying emoji.

A second exclaimed: “Baelor take me with you,” as another stated: “Baelor Targaryen you will be missed by all.”

Someone else shared: “What I love the most about how A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms portrays Baelor is that he is not just this perfect man who’s inherently good, but rather his goodness and honor is A CHOICE he makes every time.

“One that he could choose differently, and it ultimately makes what he does choose have meaning.”

While a fellow viewer added: “Just want to give a huge round of applause to Bertie Carvel for his performance as Baelor Targaryen.

“He really brought to life one of the best Asoiaf characters.”

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Jesse Jackson’s overwhelming victory in the recent Michigan Democratic primary may well have “blown the minds of party leaders,” as Dan Rather put it on the evening news. But it clearly didn’t do much for their understanding. Party professionals and political pundits continued to use words like “weird” and “wacky” to describe Jackson’s growing support. In fact, Jesse Jackson represents a vintage American phenomenon consistently overlooked and misunderstood by the experts: He is an authentic populist. His appeal is far broader–and different–than can be summed up in labels like “liberal” or “left wing.”

Put simply, as his message has matured this year, Jackson combines protests against what is happening with a positive and hopeful vision of what America can become. “Populism” is a term that has been much bandied about this election season, used to cover everything from Richard Gephardt’s call to “get tough” with trade competitors to Albert Gore’s declaration that he “stands with working men and women.” Populism as a fashionable label means “us against them,” the little guy against the big shots.

But Jesse Jackson’s populism is far from simple-minded complaint. The first Populists were black and white farmers who made an alliance in the 1880s to save rural communities and their ways of life from the stranglehold of banks, railroads and merchants. Like theirs, Jackson’s protest goes to the heart of what America stands as a society. Drawing on the rich black church tradition that has always had the pathetic prophetic capacity to point to the clash between American ideals and realities, Jackson speaks to people’s anxiety that America has begun to abandon crucial, defining values.

Here, his challenge to the violence of drugs and unemployment is reinforced by his campaign itself, a low-budget “people’s alternative” to politics as the marketing of slickly packaged personalities. When Jackson says his victories represent “flesh and blood” winning out over “money and computers,” he connects not only with people who have been economically left behind in the Reagan years. His message also resonates with millions who worry that local communities and ordinary citizens are endangered by a high-tech culture that idolizes the rich and famous.

Further, Jackson, like the first Populists, does not simply protest. He also issues an empowering call for responsibility. In the face of a good deal of initial resistance from some black groups, Jackson this election season has preached that the preeminent issue today is not racism, but economic justice that calls for corporations to be accountable for actions that affect workers and the community welfare. He calls upon black and white youths to take positive action against drugs and teen-age pregnancy. He challenges his audiences to act to overcome racial hostility. Moreover, Jackson emphasizes not only increased personal responsibility but also the need for a renewed sense of collective economic responsibility as well.

The Populists of the 1880s and 1890s envisioned a “cooperative commonwealth” in which private property would be seen as a civic obligation and where citizens would commonly assume responsibility for the foundations of economic life like basic utilities, transportation and communication systems. This tradition continued in the 20th Century, in the arguments of Presidents like Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, that property is a “public trust” beholden to the commonwealth.

Jackson stands clearly in this tradition. His cause for “economic power-sharing” and “reinvestment in America” are given specific meaning in his proposals to repair America’s basic economic infrastructure. Indeed he has been the only candidate to date to talk about what the National Council on Public Works Improvement recently documented in its report to Congress and the President: Our roads and waste facilities and waterways and other essential foundations have been gravely jeopardized in recent years by a spirit of neglect and careless “privatization”.

Thus Jackson’s populism points out a widespread uneasiness about what’s wrong today and offers some concrete and constructive things to do about it. Whatever the outcome of the nominating process, he has broken fresh ground and revitalized an old vibrant tradition. American politics will never be the same.

UN warns that Israel’s plan will lead to widespread dispossession of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.

More than 80 United Nations member states have condemned Israel’s plan to expand control over the occupied West Bank and claim large tracts of Palestinian territory as Israeli “state property”.

“We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s unlawful presence in the West Bank,” Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said on Tuesday, speaking on behalf of the coalition of 85 member states and several international organisations.

“Such decisions are contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed. We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any form of annexation,” Mansour said.

“We reiterate our rejection of all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,” he said.

“Such measures violate international law, undermine the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region, run counter to the Comprehensive Plan and jeopardise the prospect of reaching a peace agreement ending the conflict”, he added.

The Comprehensive Plan is a November agreement between Israel and Hamas to end Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which includes a halt to Israel’s illegal settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.

Signatories to the joint statement on Tuesday include Australia, Canada, China, France, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye , the United Arab Emirates, the European Union, the League of Arab States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

The joint statement follows Israel’s decision to implement land registration in Section C of the West Bank for the first time since 1967, when Israel began its occupation of Palestinian territory.

Section C makes up about 60 percent of the West Bank’s territory, according to the illegal settlement monitoring organisation Peace Now.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, earlier this week, warned that Israel’s land registration plan could lead to the “dispossession of Palestinians of their property and risks expanding Israeli control over land in the area”.

Guterres warned that the process could be both “destabilising” and unlawful, citing a landmark 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that stated Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is unlawful and must end.

Israel’s “abuse of its status as the occupying power” renders its “presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful”, the ICJ said in its ruling.

“Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law,” the court added.

According to the ICJ, approximately 465,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank, spread across some 300 settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law.

Separately on Tuesday, a 13-year-old Palestinian child was killed, and two other children were seriously injured, in the occupied West Bank’s central Jordan Valley area by ammunition discarded by the Israeli military, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.

The injured children, aged 12 and 14, are receiving treatment in hospital, Wafa said.

Dozens of actors and directors, including Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton, have condemned the Berlin International Film Festival for its “anti-Palestinian racism” and urged organisers to clearly state their opposition to “Israel’s genocide” in Gaza.

In an open letter published in Variety on Tuesday, the 81 film workers also denounced comments by this year’s president of the awards jury, Wim Winders who – when asked about Gaza – said, “We should stay out of politics”.

They noted that the festival’s stance stands in direct contrast to its policy on Russia’s war on Ukraine and on the situation in Iran.

All of the signatories are alumni of the festival, which is also known as the Berlinale, and include actors Cherien Dabis and Brian Cox, as well as directors Adam McKay, Mike Leigh, Lukas Dhont, Nan Goldin, and Avi Mograbi.

In their letter, the film workers expressed dismay at the Berlinale’s “involvement in censoring artists who oppose Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza” and the German government’s key role in enabling the atrocities.

They said the festival has been policing filmmakers, and listed several examples from last year’s Berlinale.

“Last year, filmmakers who spoke out for Palestinian life and liberty from the Berlinale stage reported being aggressively reprimanded by senior festival programmers. One filmmaker was reported to have been investigated by police, and Berlinale leadership falsely implied that the filmmaker’s moving speech – rooted in international law and solidarity – was ‘discriminatory’,’ they wrote.

“We stand with our colleagues in rejecting this institutional repression and anti-Palestinian racism,” they added.

The film workers said they “fervently disagree” with Wenders’s statement that filmmaking is the “opposite of politics”, saying, “You cannot separate one from the other.”

Their letter comes days after Indian author Arundhati Roy said she was withdrawing from this year’s festival after what she called “unconscionable statements” by jury members, including Wenders.

This year’s festival runs from February 12 to 22.

The film workers noted that the Berlinale’s actions come at a time when the world is learning “horrifying new details about the 2,842 Palestinians ‘evaporated’ by Israeli forces” in Gaza through thermobaric weapons made by the United States.

An Al Jazeera investigation, published last week, documented how these weapons – which are capable of generating temperatures exceeding 3,500 degrees Celsius (6,332 degrees Fahrenheit) – leave behind no remains other than blood or small fragments of flesh.

Germany, too, has been one of the biggest exporters of weapons to Israel despite the evidence of Israel’s atrocities. It has also introduced repressive measures to discourage people from speaking out in solidarity with Palestinians, including in the arts.

In their letter, the Berlinale alumni noted that the international film world is increasingly taking a stance against Israel’s genocidal actions.

Last year, major international film festivals – including the world’s largest documentary festival in Amsterdam – endorsed a cultural boycott of Israel, while more than 5,000 film workers have pledged to refuse work with Israeli film companies and institutions.

Yet, the film works said, the Berlinale “has so far not even met the demands of its community to issue a statement that affirms the Palestinian right to life, dignity, and freedom”.

This is the least it can and should do, they said.

“Just as the festival has made clear statements in the past about atrocities carried out against people in Iran and Ukraine, we call on the Berlinale to fulfil its moral duty and clearly state its opposition to Israel’s genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Palestinians, and completely end its involvement in shielding Israel from criticism and calls for accountability,” they added.

All nine seasons now have a new streaming home making it easier for fans to rediscover

An underrated sitcom that some claim is even ‘better than Malcolm in the Middle’ was just added to Netflix.

All seasons of The Middle are now available to stream on the platform from today (February 18). It actually shares a very similar premise and set up to the comedy series it is compared to but some find it superior if not as well recognised.

There’s no better time for fans to find out for themselves as The Middle finds a new streaming home, as we all wait for the upcoming revival of Malcom in the Middle coming later in the year.

According to the synopsis of The Middle, the series follows the Heck family. At the head of the clan is middle-age, middle-class, middle-America mom Frankie Heck who uses a sense of humour to try to steer her family through life’s ups and downs as she tackles her career goals.

Her unflappable husband, Mike, is a manager at the local quarry. Oldest son Axl is an obstinate young man; awkward daughter Sue cannot seem to find her niche, despite much enthusiasm in her attempts and youngest son Brick is an unusual child whose best friend is his backpack.

The cast is lead by sitcom legends including Patricia Heaton, who won two Emmys during her time as Debra Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond. She is joined by Neil Flynn, who plays her on screen husband and is recognisable as the Janitor on Scrubs.

A debate on Reddit discusses whether The Middle was a better show than Malcolm in the Middle with opinion fairly split. One replied simply: “I love both shows but The Middle is my favourite show.”

While someone else claimed: “Malcom In The Middle fell off around season 4, while The Middle had consistent, solid quality for the entirety of the show. They are also nothing alike, they are only similar in the fact they are both about a middle class family.”

Either way, most fans agree that The Middle is worth streaming on its own merit. With some critics even agreeing that it is ‘one of TV’s most underrated comedies’.

As one fan agreed: “An underrated show of brilliance. The Middle is a superb show that has sadly never really gained the wider acclaim it deserves, though it has a very loyal fan base, and that’s just as important. This show wouldn’t have lasted half as long if it wasn’t for the casting of the kids, who steal episodes with their portrayals. We have seen them grow up, and it’s been a joy.”

While one fan added: “What I love about this show is that it’s not just any easy shallow cheap written comedy show. There are a lot of gags and ‘inside’ jokes that return throughout the series, which I like because it shows the writers put effort into it, and make the show funnier watching it as a regular, it’s great!

“Also, they are not a picture perfect family what a lot of shows are about, but at the heart of it all they do love each other, this feels more ‘real’. From my point of view this show is very underrated, I highly recommend it!”

Someone else actually claimed another sitcom was the reason it was so overlooked. They said: “This show should have been much bigger than it was. It was definitely overshadowed by Modern Family.”

The Middle is streaming on Netflix and ITVX. For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.