As Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley seeks to become the state’s next attorney general, a dominant issue in the campaign has been his approach to the state’s three-strikes law, with his two Republican opponents seeking to cast him as being soft on crime.

Cooley defends his policy of generally not pursuing life sentences for relatively minor offenses, saying that justice requires that the punishment should fit the crime. His approach has won widespread support during three successful election campaigns for district attorney but has also drawn fire from critics who say his policy fails to adequately protect society from repeat offenders.

One of the clearest examples of the risks involved is the case of Gilton Beltrand Pitre, a convicted rapist who in 2007 went on to kill a homeless teenage girl whose body was dumped in a Silver Lake alley.

Pitre was found guilty of her murder last month and details of his criminal history were laid out in a court record filed by prosecutors last week.

Two years before the murder, Pitre had been eligible for prosecution under the state’s “three-strikes” law when he was charged with a felony for selling $5 worth of marijuana to an undercover police officer. His two strikes included a 1994 residential burglary and a 1996 rape.

Under the law, prosecutors could have sought a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Instead, Pitre was allowed to plead guilty to a drug crime in exchange for a 32-month prison sentence, court records show.

Alyssa Gomez, 15, was killed four days after Pitre was released from prison. Prosecutors say Pitre visited the Olive Motel on Sunset Boulevard with the teenage runaway, who had been living on the streets since she was 12.

Her lifeless body, wrapped in a bedspread from the motel, was discovered the next morning in an alley behind a restaurant. Prosecutors said Pitre had sex with the girl and then strangled her.

Pitre, 38, was scheduled to be sentenced for the girl’s murder on Thursday but the hearing was postponed until July 14.

Head Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael A. Yglecias defended the office’s handling of the 2005 drug case. He said the 32-month prison sentence was appropriate given the relatively minor nature of that crime.

Yglecias noted that Pitre’s rape conviction was at the time the only violent crime in his background. Prosecutors, he said, consider not just the office’s policy when they decide how to pursue a case but also whether a judge would probably impose a potential life sentence for such a crime.

“The overriding feature in this case was that it was a sale of $5 of marijuana,” he said. “That’s pretty much what dictated the outcome.”

A district attorney’s spokeswoman said Cooley declined to comment on Pitre’s case. But his campaign strategist, Kevin Spillane, said that Los Angeles County is among the state’s top three counties when it comes to convictions for three-strikes cases.

“The reality is that the D.A.’s office is aggressive about pursuing three-strikes cases,” Spillane said. “Tens of thousands of criminals go through the D.A.’s office. It’s always easy to find someone who recommits.”

Mike Reynolds, who helped draft the 1994 three-strikes law after the murder of his 18-year-old daughter, blamed Cooley’s policy for the decision not to seek a longer sentence for Pitre.

Although district attorneys around the state are typically cautious about seeking possible life sentences for eligible third-strikers accused of relatively minor crimes, Reynolds said Cooley’s policy goes too far. He said Pitre’s rape conviction provided compelling evidence that he was a danger to society.

“You’re literally playing Russian roulette politically with every one of these guys that you let out,” said Reynolds, who has endorsed state Sen. Tom Harman of Huntington Beach in the June 8 primary race with Cooley and former law school dean John Eastman.

Under the three-strikes law, a judge can sentence an offender to 25 years to life in prison even for a nonviolent felony, such as petty theft or drug possession, as long as the offender’s criminal history includes at least two violent or serious crimes.

It is unclear from the court file whether the prosecutor who oversaw Pitre’s 2005 plea bargain realized he was eligible for a three-strikes sentence. Deputy Dist. Atty. Marlene Sanchez did not return calls seeking comment.

Under Cooley’s policy, prosecutors can seek permission from supervisors to pursue a third-strike sentence even for a minor felony. Yglecias said that was not done in Pitre’s case and that such requests are usually granted when offenders have lengthier criminal records.

“While the three-strikes law gives us a great tool … the present crime has to have the most weight,” Yglecias said. “If not, then we would be talking about the other extreme. Why is the D.A.’s office seeking 25 years to life against a guy who stole a slice of pizza? … There has to be a balance.”

Pitre’s strikes began with the burglary of his mother’s home, when he stole a television set that he sold for $40 to support a cocaine habit, according to a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors last week in the murder case. He was sentenced to two years in prison.

Two years later, in 1996, Pitre attacked his roommate and began strangling her with the cord from some Venetian blinds, according to a memo.

Pitre told the victim he was going to rape and kill her and that he had killed before, the memo said. He took her to a bathtub that he had filled with water and said she could choose whether she wanted to be choked or drowned. Then he raped and sodomized her.

After the attack, Pitre told the victim he planned to kill her so he would not have to go to jail. The victim dissuaded him by feigning a romantic interest and reminding him she had a young daughter, the memo said.

Pitre pleaded no contest to rape and was sentenced to three years in prison.

In the murder case, the district attorney’s office highlighted details about the rape to argue in court papers that Pitre is a “violent, predatory recidivist who falls squarely within the spirit of the three-strikes law.”

jack.leonard@latimes.com

richard.winton@latimes.com

Arne Slot says Liverpool are doing enough things right to be winning their matches more comfortably following a nervy 2-1 victory against Premier League bottom club Wolves.

MATCH REPORT: Liverpool 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Dec. 26 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) said Thursday it had lodged a strong protest after Coupang unilaterally disclosed what it called investigation results into a customer data breach, stressing that the claims have not been verified by the ongoing joint probe.

In a press release, the ministry said a public-private joint investigation team is still closely examining the type, scale and cause of the data leak. “The assertions made by Coupang have not been confirmed by the joint investigation team,” MSIT said.

Earlier in the day, Coupang posted a notice on its website stating that it had identified the leaker and secured all devices and hard disk drives used in the breach. The company claimed that, based on its investigation to date, the leaker stored customer information limited to about 3,000 accounts and subsequently deleted all of it.

Coupang also said it used forensic evidence, including “digital fingerprints,” to identify a former employee responsible for the leak, adding that the individual confessed to all actions and provided a detailed account of how customer information was accessed.

MSIT reiterated that any conclusions regarding the incident must come from the joint public-private investigation, cautioning against premature disclosures that could mislead the public while the probe remains underway.

–Copyright by Asiatoday

Follow our live build-up, with team news coverage, before our text commentary stream of the Africa Cup of Nations tie.

Jamie Redknapp shared how dating pop star Louise Redknapp contributed to backlash as he reflected on the early days of his football career

Jamie Redknapp said dating Louise Redknapp contributed to him “getting a lot of stick” at the height of his football career. In 1991, the sportsman signed for Liverpool FC and made his debut in a UEFA Cup match that year aged just 18.

During his 11 years at the club, Jamie, 52, and several of his teammates were dubbed The Spice Boys because of their youth and high-profile lifestyles.

As part of this period, Liverpool won the Football League Cup (also known as the Coca-Cola Cup) in 1995 and it was around this time that Jamie met Louise, who was a member of Eternal.

Reflecting on his heyday, the father-of-two said he was determined to prove he had “the mental strength” to succeed after many doubted his abilities.

Jamie gained further attention at the time when press discovered he was dating singer Louise.

Speaking on the Making A Scene podcast, he reflected: “We won the Coca-Cola final which was the lead cup at the time. We had a very young team hence why we were called The Spice Boys.”

Avoiding naming his now ex-wife, he went on to explain to hosts David Walliams and Matt Lucas: “We got a lot of stick because I was dating a popstar, David James was modelling for Armani, John Barnes was just John Barnes, Jason McAteer [was there].”

Jamie and Louise, who share two sons, Charley, 21, and Beau, 17, were married for 20 years.

The former couple split in 2017, with the singer reportedly citing “unreasonable behaviour” in divorce proceedings at the time.

Fast forward several years and the pair have since moved on with new relationships.

Jamie was the first to do so, finding love with Swedish model Frida Andersson. The couple later married in 2021 while she was pregnant with their son Raphael, who is now four.

Before meeting Jamie, she was married to American hedge fund manager Jonathan Lourie, with whom she has four children.

Speaking recently on The Romesh Ranganathan Show, the football pundit made a rare admission about moving on from Louise and the impact it had on their children.

When it came to telling his eldest son that Frida was pregnant, he recalled: “It didn’t go down that well with Charley, I’ve got to be honest.

“I went to pick him up at school and tell him Frida was pregnant [and] it went down like a lead balloon, if I’m honest.”

He added: “I got it, I totally understood it because his world had been turned upside down — you’re married, everything feels straightforward, and then you meet someone else and you get married again.”

As for Louise, she began dating businessman Drew Michael in 2023. The mother-of-two regularly shares updates about their relationship on social media, including attending Glastonbury Festival together last year.

Jamie appears on Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win tonight at 8pm on ITV. For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website.

WASHINGTON — Samuel A. Alito Jr. was quickly branded a hard-core conservative after President Bush announced his nomination, but a surprising number of liberal-leaning judges and ex-clerks say they support his elevation to the Supreme Court.

Those who have worked alongside him say he was neither an ideologue nor a judge with an agenda, conservative or otherwise. They caution against attaching a label to Alito.

Kate Pringle, a New York lawyer who worked last year on Sen. John F. Kerry’s presidential campaign, describes herself as a left-leaning Democrat and a big fan of Alito’s.

She worked for him as a law clerk in 1994, and said she was troubled by the initial reaction to his nomination. “He was not, in my personal experience, an ideologue. He pays attention to the facts of cases and applies the law in a careful way. He is conservative in that sense; his opinions don’t demonstrate an ideological slant,” she said.

Jeff Wasserstein, a Washington lawyer who clerked for Alito in 1998, echoes her view.

“I am a Democrat who always voted Democratic, except when I vote for a Green candidate — but Judge Alito was not interested in the ideology of his clerks,” he said. “He didn’t decide cases based on ideology, and his record was not extremely conservative.”

As an example, he cited a case in which police in Pennsylvania sent out a bulletin that called for the arrest of a black man in a black sports car. Police stopped such a vehicle and found a gun, but Alito voted to overturn the man’s conviction, saying that that general identification did not amount to probable cause.

“This was a classic case of ‘driving while black,’ ” Wasserstein said, referring to the complaint that black motorists are targeted by police. Though Alito “was a former prosecutor, he was very fair and open-minded in looking at cases and applying the law,” Wasserstein said.

It is not unusual for former law clerks to have fond recollections of the judge they worked for. And it is common for judges to speak respectfully of their colleagues. But for a judge being portrayed by the right and left as a hard-right conservative, Alito’s enthusiastic backing by liberal associates is striking.

Former federal Judge Timothy K. Lewis said that when he joined the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in 1992, he consulted his mentor, Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. The late Higginbotham, a legendary liberal and a scholar of U.S. racial history, was the only other black judge on the Philadelphia-based court at the time.

“As he was going down the roster of colleagues, he got to Sam Alito. I expressed some concern about [him] being so conservative. He said, ‘No, no. Sam Alito is my favorite judge to sit with on this court. He is a wonderful judge and a terrific human being. Sam Alito is my kind of conservative. He is intellectually honest. He doesn’t have an agenda. He is not an ideologue,’ ” Higginbotham said, according to Lewis.

“I really was surprised to hear that, but my experience with him on the 3rd Circuit bore that out,” added Lewis, who had a liberal record during his seven years on the bench. “Alito does not have an agenda, contrary to what the Republican right is saying about him being a ‘home run.’ He is not result-oriented. He is an honest conservative judge who believes in judicial restraint and judicial deference.”

In January 1998, Alito, joined by Judge Lewis, ruled that a Pennsylvania police officer had no probable cause to stop a black man driving a sports car after a rash of robberies in which two black males allegedly fled in a different type of sports car. The driver, Jesse Kithcart, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a gun, which police discovered when they patted him down after his car was stopped. After a trial judge refused to suppress the search, Kithcart pleaded guilty but reserved his right to appeal.

“Armed with information that two black males driving a black sports car were believed to have committed three robberies in the area some relatively short time earlier,” the police officer “could not justifiably arrest any African-American man who happened to drive by in any type of black sports car,” Alito wrote. He said the trial judge had erred in concluding that the police had probable cause that extended to the weapons charge because Kithcart had not been involved in the robberies.

Alito and Lewis sent the case back to the trial judge for new hearings on whether the search was legal. The third judge in the case, Theodore A. McKee, said he would have gone even further.

“Just as this record fails to establish” that the officer “had probable cause to arrest any black male who happened to drive by in a black sports car, it also fails to establish reasonable suspicion to justify stopping any and all such cars that happened to contain a black male,” wrote Judge McKee. He said he would have thrown out the search without further proceedings.

Judge Edward R. Becker, former chief judge of the 3rd Circuit, said he also was surprised to see Alito labeled as a reliable conservative.

“I found him to be a guy who approached every case with an open mind. I never found him to have an agenda,” he said. “I suppose the best example of that is in the area of criminal procedure. He was a former U.S. attorney, but he never came to a case with a bias in favor of the prosecution. If there was an error in the trial, or a flawed search, he would vote to reverse,” Becker said.

Some of his former clerks say they were drawn to Alito because of his reputation as a careful judge who closely followed the text of the law.

Clark Lombardi, now a law professor at the University of Washington, became a clerk for Alito in 1999.

“I grew up in New York City, and I’m a political independent. But I liked Judge Alito because he was a judicial conservative, someone who believed in judicial restraint and was committed to textualism,” he said. “His approach leads to conservative results in some cases and progressive results in other cases. In my opinion, he is a fantastic jurist and a good guy.”

Some of Alito’s former Yale Law School classmates who describe themselves as Democrats say they expect they will not always agree with his rulings if he joins the Supreme Court. But they say he is the best they could have hoped for from among Bush’s potential nominees.

“Sam is very smart, and he is unquestionably conservative,” said Washington lawyer Mark I. Levy, who served in the Justice Department during the Carter and Clinton administrations. “But he is open-minded and fair. And he thinks about cases as a lawyer and a judge. He is really very different from [Justice Antonin] Scalia. If he is going to be like anyone on the court now, it will be John Roberts,” the new chief justice.

Joel Friedman teaches labor and employment law at Tulane University Law School, but is temporarily at the University of Pittsburgh because of Tulane’s shutdown following Hurricane Katrina.

“Ideology aside, I think he is a terrific guy, a terrific choice,” said Friedman, a Yale classmate of Alito’s. “He is not Harriet Miers; he has unimpeachable credentials. He may disagree with me on many legal issues — I am a Democrat; I didn’t vote for Bush. I would not prefer any of the people Bush has appointed up until now.

“The question is, is this guy [Alito] going to be motivated by the end and find a means to get to the end, or is he going to reach an end through thoughtful analysis of all relevant factors? In my judgment, Sam will be the latter.”

*

Savage reported from Washington and Weinstein from Los Angeles.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

CITY SECTION

Wilmington Banning 57, Harbor Teacher 56

SOUTHERN SECTION

AGBU 62, Desert Christian Academy 24

Alta Loma 50, Eastvale Roosevelt 43

Arlington 73, Costa Mesa 46

Arcadia 64, Mayfair 59

Azusa 76, Ambassador 56

Beaumont 53, La Quinta 39

Bell Gardens 57, Covina 41

Beverly Hills 54, Camarillo 39

Bishop Amat 87, Victor Valley 49

Brea Olinda 49, Chaffey 19

Cantwell-Sacred Heart 79, Ocean View 49

Carter 70, Banning 45

Central 69, Rancho Mirage 67

Cerritos Valley Christian 55, Norwalk 33

Chaparral 75, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 67

Chino Hills 52, South Torrance 48

Colony 72, Linfield Christian 39

Corona del Mar 61, Upland 39

Culver City 68, Norco 54

Desert Hot Springs 68, Hillcrest Christian 61

El Modena 56, Segerstrom 32

Elsinore 58, Warren 53

Esperanza 50, Northview 19

Fairmont Prep 55, Campbell Hall 45

Fountain Valley 78, Saddleback 48

Gabrielino 53, Sultana 27

Gahr 61, Crescenta Valley 56

Garden Grove 53, Lynwood 48

Godinez 69, Rancho Alamitos 53

Hesperia 66, Desert Pines 51

Holy Martyrs Armenian 61, Ventura 45

Huntington Beach 75, Chino 68

Indian Springs 69, San Gorgonio 30

Jurupa Hills 67, Arroyo 58

La Palma Kennedy 53, Santa Fe 38

La Serna 63, Ridgecrest Burroughs 32

Leuzinger 83, St. Paul 45

Long Beach Cabrillo 60, Laguna Beach 42

Long Beach Wilson 62, Cerritos 60

Los Altos 71, Burbank 64

Marina 60, Compton 56

Milken 65, Alemany 55

Montebello 54, San Gabriel 46

Moreno Valley 72, Indio 45

Northwood 62, Paloma Valley 50

Oakwood 70, Verbum Dei 68

Ontario Christian 72, Temescal Canyon 38

Orange Vista 55, Shadow Hills 43

Oxford Academy 65, Anaheim 55

Paramount 72, Savanna 53

Palm Desert 96, Barstow 42

Palm Springs 68, Grand Terrace 15

Peninsula 74, CAMS 37

Pilibos 58, West Ranch 50

Portola 72, La Puente 49

Redlands 48, Kaiser 44

Redlands East Valley 68, Cathedral 65

Rialto 66, Salesian 55

Rolling Hills Prep 51, California 50

Riverside Notre Dame 74, Jurupa Valley 43

Rowland 44, Santa Ana 39

Santa Barbara 85, Whitney 61

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 47, Charter Oak 42

Schurr 83, Canyon Country Canyon 69

Shadow Ridge 50, Irvine 49

Sierra Vista 67, Highland 56

Silverado 72, Sierra Vista 29

South Torrance 66, Mary Star of the Sea 32

St. Anthony 60, Beckman 59

St. Francis 68, Burroughs Burbank 23

St. Genevieve 56, Torres 47

Summit 80, Palo Verde Valley 60

Temecula Prep 64, Diamond Ranch 62

Temecula Valley 79, West Covina 17

Temple City 78, Hoover 41

Valley View 51, Riverside North 41

Villa Park 79, Simi Valley 44

Vista Murrieta 94, Lakewood 34

Walnut 59, Whittier Christian 56

Western Christian 68, Hacienda Heights Wilson 61

Westlake 68, Saugus 51

Woodbridge 65, Western 35

Yucaipa 69, Bloomington 19

INTERSECTIONAL

Agoura 65, Alameda St. Joseph Notre Dame 57

Alameda 76, Murrieta Valley 67

Albany St. Mary’s 67, Corona Santiago 57

Ayala 56, Chula Vista Mater Dei 47

Bakersfield 71, Arrowhead Christian 45

Bakersfield Ridgeview 63, Duarte 32

Bellflower 59, St. Joseph Academy 47

Birmingham 62, Aliso Niguel 54

Bogart (GA) North Oconee 65, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 64

Bonita 57, Ponderosa 36

Brawley 62, Xavier Prep 33

Cajon 82, Sotomayor 17

Capistrano Valley 80, Hughson 50

Carlsbad Army-Navy 63, Yorba Londa 57

Chaminade 97, Kihei Charter (HI) 23

Crean Lutheran 62, Meridian (ID) Owyhee 59

Crenshaw 51, Pasadena Poly 36

Crespi 73, Layton Christian Academy (UT) 70

Cypress 64, San Diego Maranatha Christian 51

Damien 64, Dallas (TX) Parish Episcopal 56

Diamond Bar 72, Franklin 55

Dominguez 69, LACES 57

Dublin 71, Laguna Hills 46

Edison 68, Mira Mesa 65

Eisenhower 70, Gardena 42

Elk Grove Franklin 78, Rio Mesa 33

Etiwanda 53, San Joaquin Memorial 50

Folsom 54, Rancho Christian 46

Fullerton 54, Boulder City (NV) 42

Garden Grove Pacifica 66, Chowchilla 39

Glendora 63, Marquez 18

Great Oak 71, Westchester 48

Harvard-Westlake 70, Unsparing (Germany) 44

Henderson (NV) Liberty 48, Pasadena 47

Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha 67, Windward 61

Incline (NV) 52, Orange 32

JSerra 71, Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius 70

Kent (WA) Kentridge 86, South Pasadena 53

La Habra 63, Washington Prep 48

Las Vegas (NV) Doral Academy Red Rock 59, Sunny Hills 40

Legacy Christian Academy 48, Peoria (AZ) Liberty 38

Long Beach Jordan 73, Eagle Rock 58

Los Alamitos 61, Antioch Cornerstone Christian 29

Los Amigos 56, Henderson (NV) Foothill 51

Los Osos 69, Central East 61

Loyola 67, Bakersfield Christian 51

Menlo School 62, St. Bonaventure 52

Mesa (AZ) 81, Crossroads 72

Millikan 63, Danville Monte Vista 50

Mira Costa 55, La Costa Canyon 44

Moorpark 57, Fairfax 47

MSCP 45, Liberty 30

Murrieta Mesa 80, San Diego Cathedral Catholic 76

Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 64, Redwood 57

Phoenix (AZ) O’Connor 63, Corona Centennial 53

Phoenix (AZ) Sunnyslope 64, Eastvale Roosevelt 52

Pinole Valley 77, Oak Park 51

Rancho Bernardo 75, Trabuco Hills 53

Rancho Cucamonga 58, Ross Branson 55

Redondo Union 110, Clovis North 56

Richmond Salesian College Prep 80, La Mirada 60

Riverside King 76, Chatsworth 33

Riverside Prep 65, South Gate 39

Rosemead 57, Bell 37

San Francisco Lowell 51, Dos Pueblos 46

San Gabriel Academy 66, Palisades 57

San Marino 60, Carlsbad Pacific Ridge 45

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 55, Coeur de’Alene (ID) Lake City 45

Sierra Canyon 79, Clackamas (OR) 41

St. Bernard 65, Snoqualmie (WA) Mount Si 64

St. John Bosco 56, American Fork (UT) 39

Stockton Lincoln 59, St. Monica 44

Sonora 75, Scripps Ranch 52

South Hills 52, North Hollywood 41

Thousand Oaks 68, Davis Sr. 61

Torrance 85, South East 41

Torrey Pines 70, Riverside Poly 51

Valencia 76, Maple Valley (WA) Tahoma 54

Victory Christian Academy 68, Norte Vista 62

Washington D.C. Digital Pioneers Academy 62, North Torrance 48

Westminster La Quinta 68, Loara 53

Westmont 50, San Marcos 44

GIRLS

CITY SECTION

Carson 50, Gardena 16

Grant 51, RFK Community 31

LA Hamilton 54, Arleta 42

Rancho Dominguez 43, Port of Los Angeles 36

SOUTHERN SECTION

Agoura 45, Fillmore 39

Aliso Niguel 60, Desert Christian Academy 22

Anaheim Canyon 42, Glendora 39

Beckman 61, Mira Costa 45

Bonita 68, Temescal Canyon 32

Brentwood 67, Flintridge Prep 50

Buena Park 56, Cypress 43

Burbank 55, Moorpark 39

Cerritos Valley Christian 39, Montclair 30

Chino 57, Yucaipa 56

Chino Hills 51, Chaparral 48

Coachella Valley 52, Brawley 18

Corona Centennial 90, Camarillo 31

Crean Lutheran 62, Riverside Poly 31

Desert Hills 64, La Palma Kennedy 39

El Modena 56, Costa Mesa 32

Elsinore 42, Riverside Notre Dame 36

Fullerton 48, Irvine 37

Gardena Serra 63, Rancho Buena Vista 29

Godinez 58, St. Bernard’s 50

Heritage Christian 41, Millikan 40

Huntington Beach 64, Northwood 25

Keppel 58, Cerritos 51

Laguna Beach 62, Santa Ana Valley 29

Laguna Hills 46, Apple Valley 31

La Habra 48, Capistrano Valley 35

La Salle 73, Northview 20

La Serna 63, Eastvale Roosevelt 60

Long Beach Wilson 56, Arroyo 10

Los Alamitos 45, South Torrance 37

Los Altos 55, Silverado 35

Los Osos 79, Vista Murrieta 40

Marlborough 66, Bishop Amat 50

Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 56, St. Paul 29

North Torrance 69, Alemany 61

Oakwood 64, Palm Desert 43

Ramona 66, Beaumont 30

Rancho Christian 92, Victory Christian 32

San Dimas 49, San Jacinto 46

Savanna 59, Santa Ana Foothill 32

Shadow Ridge 47, Rosary Academy 44

Sierra Canyon 82, Rancho Cucamonga 36

Sonora 62, San Bernardino 44

St. Bonaventure 82, Ridgeview 32

St. Margaret’s 51, Liberty 41

Temecula Valley 36, Fontana 32

Thousand Oaks 67, Buena 23

Torrance 68, Sierra Vista 36

Trabuco Hills 53, Corona Santiago 41

Tustin 57, Garden Grove 28

Westminster La Quinta 48, Century 20

West Ranch 58, Milken 38

Whittier 50, Rosemead 37

Whittier Christian 48, Placentia Valencia 30

Xavier Prep 51, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 42

INTERSECTIONAL

Bernstein 39, Mary Star of the Sea 24

Calexico 40, Banning 24

Corona 82, Rancho 23

Dinuba 59, Capistrano Valley Christian 19

El Capitan 59, Ontario 49

Granada Hills 58, Maranatha 33

Imperial 60, Palm Springs 25

Long Beach Jordan 36, Hawaii Baptist Academy (HI) 33

Louisville 52, Reed 20

Newbury Park 53, Cleveland 44

San Pedro 41, Gahr 39

Shadow Hills 55, Bellevue (WA) Sammamish 52

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 59, Granada Hills Kennedy 46

Sierra Pacific 73, Ridgecrest Burroughs 26

St. Anthony 65, Philomath (OR) 48

St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 60, San Pascual 35

Trinity Classical Academy 52, Verdugo Hills 32

Troy 57, King/Drew 46

Windward 71, Coronado 54

Saudi defence minister urges Yemen’s STC to withdraw “peacefully” from seized provinces, Hadramout and al-Mahra.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says it will respond to any separatist military movements that undermine de-escalation efforts in the southern region, as Riyadh doubles down on calls for the group to “peacefully” withdraw from recently seized eastern provinces.

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman said on X on Saturday that “it’s time” for troops from the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) to “let reason prevail by withdrawing from the two provinces and doing so peacefully”.

Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said “any military movements that violate these [de-escalation] efforts will be dealt with directly and immediately in order to protect civilian lives and ensure the success of restoring calm,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Al-Maliki also accused the STC separatists of “serious and horrific human rights violations against civilians”, without providing evidence.

The statements came a day after the STC accused Saudi Arabia of launching air strikes on separatist positions in Yemen’s Hadramout province, and after Washington called for restraint in the rapidly escalating conflict.

Earlier this month, forces aligned to the STC took over large chunks from the Saudi-backed government in the provinces of Hadramout and al-Mahra. The STC and the government have been allies for years in the fight against the Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

Abdullah al-Alimi, a member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, the governing body of the internationally recognised government, welcomed the Saudi defence minister’s remarks, considering them to “clearly reflect the kingdom’s steadfast stance and sincere concern for Yemen’s security and stability”, he said on X.

Rashad al-Alimi, the head of the Presidential Leadership Council, said after an emergency meeting late on Friday that STC movements posed “serious violations against civilians”.

The STC, which has previously received military and financial backing from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is seeking to revive the formerly independent state of South Yemen. The group warned on Friday that they were undeterred after strikes it blamed on Saudi Arabia hit their positions.

Diplomacy, de-escalation?

In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “We urge restraint and continued diplomacy, with a view to reaching a lasting solution.”

Azerbaijan, meanwhile, said it welcomed efforts led by both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to de-escalate ongoing tensions in Yemen.

Following Friday’s raids, Yemen’s government urged the Saudi-led coalition to support its forces in Hadramout, after separatists seized most of the country’s largest province.

The government asked the coalition to “take all necessary military measures to protect innocent Yemeni civilians in Hadramout province and support the armed forces”, the official Yemeni news agency said.

A Yemeni military official said on Friday that about 15,000 Saudi-backed fighters were amassed near the Saudi border but had not been given orders to advance on separatist-held territory. The areas where they were deployed are at the edges of territory seized in recent weeks by the STC.

Separatist advances have added pressure on ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, close allies who support rival groups within Yemen’s government.

On Friday, the UAE welcomed Saudi efforts to support security in Yemen, as the two Gulf allies sought to present a united front.

Yemen’s government is a patchwork of groups that includes the separatists, and is held together by shared opposition to the Houthis.

The Houthis pushed the government out of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, and secured control over most of the north.

Liverpool and Wolves paid tribute to Diogo Jota on an emotional day at Anfield as his two former sides met for the first time since his death.

The Portugal forward, 28, was killed in a car crash in Spain in July, alongside his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva.

Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 after three seasons with Wolves.

Dinis and Duarte, two of his three children, joined the matchday mascots on the pitch before their Premier League game on Saturday.

Jota’s sons, along with other young family members, led the Liverpool team out of the tunnel, walking out ahead of captain Virgil van Dijk.

Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, was also in attendance.

A banner which read ‘Diogo Jota, forever in our hearts’ was held aloft in the Kop stand before kick-off.

Chants of “Diogo, Diogo, Diogo” rang out from the Wolves fans in the away end before all of Anfield stood and applauded as Liverpool supporters sang in tribute to Jota in the 20th minute.

Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch scored Liverpool‘s opener and dedicated it to Jota – recreating the shark-style celebration that the Portugal forward sometimes used.

I have been reading in The Times for over a year that California’s economy is doing great and that we have a state budget surplus. Isn’t this surplus in cash? Then why is the voter being asked to approve bonds for schools, libraries, parks and clean water?

I’ve also been reading that one should apply any extra cash to pay down high-interest debts and that, to ensure financial security, one should be careful about spending and to try to save a little for the future. Does this only apply to individuals and not to governments?

KATHRYN FONG ROUSH

Granada Hills

*

Not much is said about Prop. 16, the veterans bond. If passed, bonds will be sold to pay for retirement homes for American veterans. I will be voting yes on Prop. 16, and I urge you to do the same. These veterans served our country with honor. They were ready to sacrifice their lives for us, and I’m sure we can sacrifice a few bucks for them now, when they need our help.

AMUL PANDYA

Moorpark

Rams players enjoyed the day off they got for Christmas, perhaps no one more than Puka Nacua.

The previous week, the star receiver was fined $25,000 by the NFL after he made critical comments about officials during a livestream and then again in a social media post immediately after the Rams’ crushing 38-37 overtime defeat by the Seattle Seahawks.

The fine capped a week during which Nacua also apologized for making an antisemitic gesture during the livestream — an incident that caused the Rams and the NFL also to issue statements.

So Nacua said Friday that he was happy to enjoy Christmas before continuing to prepare for Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

“It’s been nice to celebrate and rejoice and get ready for what’s ahead of us,” he said after practice at SoFi Stadium.

Nacua said the fine “definitely hurt” but was not unexpected.

“An experience to learn from and, man, never let it happen again,” he said. “There’s going to be moments of frustration later on in the career … so just being able to manage those emotions and be able to send that energy in the right direction.”

Nacua understands that he has opportunities to convey positive messages, quarterback Matthew Stafford said.

“He’s obviously never going to be perfect, nobody is,” said Stafford, a 17th-year pro. “We’ve all had things that we wish we had maybe handled a little bit differently, but he’s still our brother.

“We love him and we’ll continue to support him and try to help him out as best we can.”

Nacua, a third-year pro, was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time while producing another stellar season that could put him in the conversation for NFL offensive player of the year.

He leads the NFL with 114 catches. His 1,592 yards receiving ranks second, and he has caught eight touchdown passes.

Former Rams receiver Cooper Kupp was the 2021 offensive player of the year when he claimed the so-called triple crown of receiving by leading the league with 145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdown catches.

Nacua and Stafford, who also was voted to the Pro Bowl, have been especially in sync the last three games.

In a Dec. 7 rout of the Cardinals, Nacua caught seven passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. The next week, he caught nine passes for 181 yards in a victory over the Detroit Lions.

Four days later, with fellow star receiver Davante Adams sidelined because of a hamstring injury, he caught 12 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the defeat by the Seahawks.

Nacua has been notably effective on critical third- and fourth-down plays.

“It’s been fun to have those pressure moments, because that’s what you play sports for,” he said. “You live for the third-down the fourth-down conversions, and you’re finding whatever way to convert.

“It makes it fun when those opportunities come up.”

During the three-game stretch, Nacua did “the same thing he’s done all season,” Stafford said, noting that the Rams have had more snaps the last few games.

“He runs great routes,” Stafford said, “and plays really tough with and without the football.”

The Rams (11-4) have clinched a playoff spot and are currently seeded sixth in the NFC. They play the Falcons (6-9), and then finish the season at home against the Arizona Cardinals.

Nacua aims to continue the recent streak of amplified success, which stems from the connection he has with Stafford and the “excitement” that permeates the Rams’ locker room.

“There’s just an excitement to continue to go out there and prove ourselves,” he said, “and so it makes it fun when you get the reward you want.”

Etc.

After practicing at SoFi Stadium on Wednesday and Friday, the Rams will return to their Woodland Hills facility for practice on Saturday. … Adams, left tackle Alaric Jackson (knee), right guard Kevin Dotson (ankle) and defensive back Josh Wallace (ankle) did not practice, according to the Rams’ injury report.

STROLLING the empty grounds of the “UK’s most beautiful castle”, I imagine myself as former resident Catherine of Aragon – minus the impractical clothing and messy divorce.

It was an autumnal Sunday morning after I had booked my family into one of the new Knights’ Retreat Lodges at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone in Kent, for the night.

The wooden lodges, named after mythical creatures such as Basilisk, Gryphon and Hippogriff, are built at the far end of the grounds, next to the children’s playground and falconry — an important detail for families when the grounds span 500 acres.

Our lodge slept five people, with a double bed in one room and three single beds decorated with cute shield pillows (available in the gift shop for a reasonable £14), plus a lounge area with a kitchenette and a bathroom. The lodges are a masterclass in small space management.

This allowed the adults to spend an enjoyable couple of hours chatting over a bottle of wine in the lounge, while the two boys battled it out in the bedroom with their shields.

Huge sandpit

But we weren’t there for chilling. Because a stay in the lodges gets you two-day access to Leeds Castle and its grounds, so we had to use our daylight hours wisely.

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First stop, the Knights’ Stronghold Playground, an enormous medieval-themed play area that is potentially the best “climbing frame” in the country. The four-storey castle has enough bridges, turrets, walkways, ziplines and slides to keep your child entertained for hours.

But we gave ourselves a strict two-hour time limit so we didn’t miss out on the rest of the action.

In the kids’ corner of the grounds, there is a huge sandpit almost as big as a small beach, an obstacle course and the birds-of-prey centre, which holds falconry shows featuring the resident hawks, falcons and owls.

The impressive show saw the handlers weaving through the crowd so that the birds were encouraged to whizz among us. They were so close that I had to duck on more than one occasion.

But the attraction that has been discussed most since our return to the commoner life is the maze, which was built in 1988 from 2,400 yew trees.

We were so bad in there that we had to ask for help to reach the middle. At that point, we were rewarded (for our cheating) with entrance to the magical underground grotto.

Thanks to back-to-back activities we’d worked up quite the appetite, so we took the woodland path over to the Castle View Restaurant for dinner.

We dined on classic dishes including ham hock terrine, rib-eye steak, chargrilled cauliflower and glazed pork chops, with a fantastic view of the castle all lit up at night.

Another brilliant thing about a stay in the Knights’ Retreat Lodges is you get access to the castle grounds before they open to the public. We took advantage of that with a magical hour’s stroll.

For the price of a night’s stay in a lodge that works out from £69 per person, it was quite something to have such a famous location to ourselves.

On the whole walk, we bumped into just two members of staff and got plenty of fantastic crowd-free pictures of ourselves outside the castle.

It also meant we were among the first inside the castle itself, so the four and six-year-olds in our company were able to exclaim loudly at obscure details in the lavish property, last decorated by Lady Baillie in the early 20th century.

As a rule, heritage properties don’t hold much interest for young boys, but Leeds Castle allows you to walk in among the items in many of the rooms instead of being roped off. You’re even encouraged to play a game of chess in the games room.

And at Christmas, they decorate the entire place, making it the perfect time to visit.

If you’re looking for some extra festive magic, they also have a Christmas Lights Trail, which runs until December 31, and features a small food market and fairground.

Even the great Catherine of Aragon would have been impressed.

The bus, which was travelling between Guatemala City and San Marcos, crashed for unknown reasons, authorities say.

At least 15 people have been killed and 19 injured after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine on the Inter-American Highway in western Guatemala, local authorities say.

The deaths included 11 men, three women and a minor, according to Leandro Amado, a spokesperson for local firefighters.

Amado told reporters on Saturday that some 19 injured people were taken to hospitals near the scene of the accident.

The crash occurred in the Solola Department between kilometres 172 and 174, in an area nicknamed “Alaska Peak” because of its rugged terrain, in the department of Totonicapan (western Guatemala).

The dense fog in that area also often reduces visibility for drivers taking the route in question.

‘Reason unknown’

The bus, which was travelling between Guatemala City and the department of San Marcos, on the border with Mexico, fell into a ravine almost 75 metres (250ft) deep for unknown reasons, Amado added.

Images shared by the fire department on social media early on Saturday showed the wrecked bus in the ravine as firefighters worked at the scene of the incident to rescue the wounded and recover the bodies of the victims.

Relatives of the passengers have arrived at the scene of the accident as well as the hospitals around the area searching for their loved ones, local media reports said.

Early in 2025, more than 50 people died and many others were injured in another major bus crash in the country, when the vehicle plunged into a polluted ravine outside Guatemala City.

Incursion follows Israeli defence minister’s order for military to ‘act forcefully’ against the Palestinian town.

Israeli forces have carried out mass arrests and forced dozens of families from their homes in the town of Qabatiya in the occupied West Bank, on the second day of a sweeping military operation ordered by Israel’s defence minister.

Israeli forces sealed off entrances to Qabatiya while rounding up and interrogating dozens of residents on Saturday, local sources told Al Jazeera. They converted several homes into military interrogation centres, displacing their occupants, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency.

Israel’s Army Radio reported that the town is subject to a “full curfew”.

The crackdown follows an order by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ​to “act forcefully … against the village of Qabatiya”, where he claims a Palestinian alleged of carrying out a stabbing and car-ramming attack in northern Israel hails from.

In a statement on Friday, Israel’s military said it had deployed troops from multiple divisions, along with border police and members of the Shin Bet security service, into Qabatiya. It said forces had raided the attack suspect’s home and were preparing to demolish it.

Rights groups have long condemned Israel’s practice of demolishing the family homes of Palestinians accused of attacks against Israelis, describing it as an illegal form of collective punishment.

Israel’s military claimed its forces would “scan additional locations in the village” and “work to arrest wanted individuals and locate weapons”.

“There is a sense of fear among people in town,” one resident told Al Jazeera. “There are Israeli threats and Israeli incitement.”

The Israeli military raids on Saturday also extended elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, including to several villages surrounding Ramallah and Hebron, Wafa reported. Israeli forces assaulted and arrested eight people from the towns of Dura, Abda and Imreish near Hebron, according to the news agency.

Israeli military incursions and attacks across the occupied West Bank have been a near-daily occurrence during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have arrested nearly 21,000 Palestinians. As of December 1, some 9,300 Palestinian prisoners were in Israeli jails, more than a third of them detained without charges.

Palestinian prisoners have been tortured, sexually abused and even killed in custody.

EXCLUSIVE: Death in Paradise star Don Gilet has teased the return of a familiar face in Sunday night’s Christmas special

Don Gilet, known for his role as Mervin Wilson in the BBC series Death in Paradise, has hinted at the reappearance of a well-known character in the upcoming Christmas special. In an exclusive chat with Reach PLC and other media outlets, Don gave a sneak peek into what viewers can anticipate from the festive episode airing this Sunday.

Without revealing too much, Don hinted that fans should brace themselves for the return of a familiar face – a speculation some fans believe they’ve already figured out.

He revealed, “It’s a very interesting thing to think about that one of the characters, who is the beating heart of this whole thing that has been there from the beginning, the thought that, from a character perspective, they may not be there anymore, and what hole that leaves.

“Because I suppose, in terms of family, they are the closest thing, and then to think, Mervin is back to feeling like an orphan again, just when he’s starting to embrace what Saint Marie has to offer.”

Speaking on the UK crossover in the holiday episode, Don added, “I think it’s great to see what the UK looks like at the very same time as Mervin is solving crimes in the beautiful sunshine,” reports the Express.

This revelation follows Don Warrington’s surprise cameo in Beyond Paradise’s Christmas special last weekend. Warrington, who portrays Commissioner Selwyn Pattison in Death in Paradise, was seen reuniting with Humphrey Goodman (played by Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (portrayed by Sally Bretton) as the pair finally tied the knot.

The episode concluded with Selwyn receiving a phone call from Mervin, hinting at the Commissioner’s appearance in the upcoming festive episode.

Fans took to a Facebook fan page to share their theories and excitement. One viewer exclaimed, “What a surprise ending and lead into DIP Christmas special.”

Another chimed in, “Should be interesting, looking forward to it.”

A third fan added, “Loved the crossover with Selwyn involved.”

Yet another commented, “Intriguing about the Commissioner’s phone message, and hopefully we will find out in the DIP Christmas special.”

The synopsis for the Christmas episode teases: “The office Christmas party of a lifetime takes a dark turn when four co-workers wake up to find a stranger dead in the pool of their Caribbean villa.

“DI Mervin Wilson and the team identify the murder weapon, but they’re left baffled when they find that it was locked in a drawer when the murder took place… thousands of miles away from the crime scene, in Swindon!”

“Stranded in Saint Marie, the team enlists the help of a familiar face to solve the case. Meanwhile, Mervin anxiously awaits news from his newly discovered brother, which hinders him from fully embracing the Christmas festivities of Saint Marie. Can Mervin resolve his family situation and get into the festive spirit – for the sake of his team and the island?”

Death in Paradise is set to air on Sunday at 8.30pm on BBC One.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

Reporting from Sacramento — Sworn in Tuesday as California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra said he will team up with his counterparts in other states to form a united front to defend state policies against any challenge from the administration of President Trump.

The Los Angeles Democrat, who resigned Tuesday from Congress to become California’s top lawyer, was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to counter Trump proposals that are expected to include mass deportations, a roll-back of environmental laws and the dismantling of the national healthcare system that Californians have come to rely on.

“I don’t think California is looking to pick a fight, but we are ready for one,” Becerra told reporters Tuesday at his first news conference as attorney general.

One of Becerra’s first actions will be to arrange meetings with like-minded attorneys general in other states to “start charting a path together as a team on how we deal with representing our people.”

Becerra is supported by Democratic lawmakers as “the tip of the spear” for California in a coming legal battle with the federal government. Some observers see the state becoming the leading antagonist of the Trump administration in much the same way Republican elected officials in Texas were a leading counterforce to the administration of former President Obama.

At the same time, Becerra has been counseled by former top officials of the state attorney general’s office to avoid suing the federal government “early and often” because it could result in legal precedents that they say might hurt California for decades.

“Becerra will need to box, not brawl,” former state attorney general’s office advisors Michael Troncoso and Debbie Mesloh wrote in a recent op-ed piece published by The Times.

Becerra, 58, is the state’s first Latino attorney general and supports California policies that provide immigrants in the country illegally with driver’s licenses, college financial aid and legal services to appeal deportations.

He weighed in quickly Tuesday with concerns about a Trump administration proposal to deport criminals in the country illegally who could pose a threat to the community. While committed to removing dangerous people from California streets, Becerra worried that any eventual deportation orders may be too broad, unfairly catching in the net those with minor offenses who are otherwise productive members of society.

“Is someone who has a broken tail light a criminal?” he asked. “I hope that’s not the definition that the administration in Washington, D.C., will use.”

Becerra was given the oath of office at the Capitol by Brown, who said that he “will be a champion for all Californians.” The ceremony was held before Brown delivered his annual State of the State address, and a day after Becerra received final confirmation by the state Senate.

Becerra was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, physician Carolina Reyes, two of his three daughters, and his parents, both immigrants from Mexico.

Brown noted his appointee’s background during his speech.

“Like so many others, he is the son of immigrants who saw California as a place where, through grit and determination, they could realize their dreams,” Brown said.

Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, congratulated Becerra for making history as the first Latino in the post, and predicted he “will set the gold standard for defending the values of the Golden State and fighting for the rights of Latinos and all Californians.”

Asked what it means to have a Latino become attorney general, Becerra said “It’s about time.”

Updates from Sacramento »

Brown appointed Becerra to fill a vacancy created when former state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris won election to a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Becerra, who did not attend the Trump inauguration, said he would take direction from Brown’s speech Tuesday.

“You heard the governor,” Becerra said later to reporters. “He laid out a game plan that’s forward leaning. It’s clear that we’re going to move forward and we’re not stopping.”

The new attorney general said he planned to meet with staff at the state Department of Justice on Tuesday. He said he also looks forward to working together with former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder, whose law firm was hired by the California Legislature to provide advice in dealing with potential threats from the federal government over conflicting policies.

“The more we prove that we are ready to take on any battle, the better off we will be,” Becerra said.

Becerra met with some county sheriffs on Monday, but plans to meet with more of them next week to talk about law enforcement issues facing the state. His first meetings with residents, civic leaders and others in coming weeks will be in the state’s Central Valley, he said.

“Some people think that California revolves around Los Angeles, San Francisco, sometimes Sacramento. There are a whole bunch of phenomenal Californians who often feel neglected,” Becerra said of people who live in the central part of the state.

The initial focus on local law enforcement in the Central Valley was welcomed by Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, president of the California State Sheriffs’ Assn.

“He wants to start with law enforcement in the San Joaquin Valley, and I think that’s a really positive step,” Youngblood said. “I’m impressed with his credentials. I’m impressed with his background, and I think he’s going to be a good attorney general.”

Becerra will fill out the last two years of Harris’ term before the next election. He said he plans to run to keep the post in the 2018 election.

“I will officially open an account and do everything it takes to be a candidate for this office,” he said. “I hope that I can prove to the people of this state that I will be able to earn their support to be reelected.”

After 12 terms in Congress, Becerra’s appointment represents a homecoming, he told reporters.

“It’s nice to be here in Sacramento, where I grew up,” he said. “It’s nice to be in California. It’s nice not to have to do red-eye flights. It’s great to be home.”

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

Twitter: @mcgreevy99

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THE UK is home to some breath-takingly beautiful seaside towns.

So its no surprise that each summer, hoards of holidaymakers flock to the coasts to make the most of the sun.

However, visiting these seaside towns in winter can actually be a much better time to go.

Visiting in winter gives you all the time, peace and quiet to enjoy the beauty of these towns – sometimes practically all to yourself.

So whether you’re looking for a big family day out with amusements and plenty to do, or a quaint and scenic spot to enjoy some fish and chips – we’ve rounded up some of the best seaside towns to visit this winter.

Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire

The dramatic cliffs of Robin Hood’s Bay, a small village in North Yorkshire, feel even more magical during the winter.

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Weathered rock faces, continuously battered by a moody sea, and views of windswept countryside create an ambience that would fit in well with an Emily Brontë novel.

Don’t expect stereotypical seaside beauty here.

Instead it’s the ruggedness of the place that makes it special, with asymmetrical houses lining the hilly streets and pokey shops where huge bay windows showcase books and little souvenirs.

Wrap up warm for a ramble along the Cleveland Way coastal path to the neighbouring shores of Whitby before holing up in one of the cosy pubs in front of a roaring fire.

For cracking homemade pub grub, head to the 17th century Smuggler’s Inn, so named because of the region’s history as a smuggling cove, where spirits, tea and tobacco were snuck through cavernous tunnels.

– Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Broadstairs, Kent

Having made the move from London to Kent nearly four years ago, it’s fair to say I’ve explored my fair share of seaside towns.

But one that I always love visiting even in winter is Broadstairs.

The magic of the town comes alive when the crowds have gone, where you can head to The Mermaid for some fish and chips before going to the Charles Dickens for a pint.

It’s even great in the winter if you need to do some early Christmas shopping.

I’ve already half finished my list of presents thanks to the independent stores. Kope + Loko does beautiful clothing behind its coffee shop while Hope by SP is the best for interiors and knick knacks.

Make time for the award-winning,cosy Bar Ingo for some small plates, where even now I don’t understand how a simple fish of mushrooms and butter beans can be one of the best things I’ve eaten.

The fresh glass of Portuguese wine might have perhaps been one of the reasons…

If you don’t want to get the last train, book a stay at the newly-opened Smiths Townhouse, a a trendy yet intimate space that makes you feel like you are staying at your cool mate’s house.

– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Southwold, Sussex

Southwold always holds a special place in my heart because of the sheer amount of weekends I’ve had there with my family over the years, especially during blustery winter.

The beach is great, but let’s face it when it gets cold, you’re just wanting to go inside

Despite this, it is worth going for a quick stroll to see the multi-coloured beach huts, as well as the traditional amusement arcades.

The town has great shops as well as an Adnams brewery – you can go and experience tastings and tours too.

There are plenty of fish and chip shops throughout the town, but for the best ones head to the Sole Bay Fish Company which is out of the town towards the harbour.

– Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

Dartmouth, Devon

Whilst not strictly a ‘seaside’ town, Dartmouth does sit on the coastline in Devon and features pretty beaches.

The waterfront town is full of charm, with cobblestones, streets and wonky buildings.

All centred around a harbour, it is the ideal place for a day trip with everything close together.

Tucked away from the more popular seaside towns of Torquay and Paignton, Dartmouth is a top coastal retreat.

It sits on the banks of the River Dart and its estuary position is ideal for boat trips and cruises that venture from the town to the sea. 

And at Castle Cove, there is a small shingle beach only accessible when the tide is low.

For those who don’t like the crowded beaches and arcades found in seaside towns across the country, Dartmouth is a great alternative.

– Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

Seahouses, Northumberland

The vast swathes of sweeping beaches on the Northumbrian coast from Seahouses up to Bamburgh are beautiful at any time of year.

But winter means less crowds and the chance to explore the dramatic coastline on wonderful windswept walks.

This pretty fishing village has a bustling Victorian harbour – enjoy some of the freshest fish and chips at Neptune’s Fish Restaurant.

Seahouses is also a great base for joining boat trips over to the Farne Islands, home to one of the UK’s largest colonies of Atlantic grey seals.

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours has special grey seal cruises with pups born from October to December.

The cruises also offer an insight into the heroism of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter who rescued survivors of the SS Forfarshire paddle steamer in 1838.

For a cosy end to a blustery beach walk, enjoy a pint at the Olde Ship Inn that has been serving the community since 1812.

– Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

I was born and raised in this North Norfolk seaside town which surges in popularity in summer – and I can understand why we draw in the crowds!

But in the winter, you can enjoy all the beauty of the town without the chaos that comes with the summer holidays.

Next door to royal favourite Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea has everything you could want for a day at the seaside.

This includes a fishing boat-dotted quay to go crabbing, a high street with independent shops, traditional arcades, a sweeping golden beach, and some of the best fish and chips you’ll ever eat. (Tip from a local – French’s beats Plattens for me!)

I grew up quay jumping with my friends and causing mischief at the annual carnival, which takes over the town with unique music acts, foods, crafts and events.

But one of my favourite and lesser-known parts about my hometown is that you can go alpaca trekking across the marshes.

Book an alpaca trek and bring some apples in your bag, and suddenly you’re having the most unique day out at the seaside!

Plus, the grand Albatross boat that sits on the quayside once used to serve Dutch pancakes – now it’s opening up as a quirky four-room boat B&B.

For me, Wells-next-the-Sea is the best seaside town in Norfolk, with its perfect blend of seaside tradition and quirky character.

– Jenna Stevens, Travel Writer

St Mawes, Cornwall

St Mawes is a bit of a unicorn in terms of Cornish seaside towns – it’s beautiful with great pubs and restaurants, but is hardly ever busy because the windy roads into the centre make it virtually impossible for coaches to get there. 

As a result, the town is a wonderfully peaceful coastal destination, where children can play on the sand while their parents sip their pint in the nearby pub. 

While I love St Mawes in the summer, which is also when I usually visit, it’s also a fantastic winter break thanks to all the places to eat and drink. 

The Rising Sun is great for a lunchtime drink if the sun’s shining, as it beams right down on the front courtyard. 

But the St Mawes Hotel is my favourite pub, with excellent food served too. Bagsie one of the squidgy leather sofas and play a boardgame with views of sea from the balcony and a pint of Cornish cider. 

Plus the kids can catch a movie in the hotel’s own private cinema. 

If you fancy a bracing walk, the Place Ferry takes you over to the SW Coastal Path along the Roseland Peninsula. 

Or alternatively, check out the St Mawes Castle that was built by Henry VIII – which is even more fun on a blustery day.

– Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel – Digital

Blackpool, Lancashire

When it comes to the British seaside, Blackpool has a bit of everything.

Sea swimming and sunbathing are off the agenda in winter (for me, anyway) but between September and December is the best time to visit.

The Blackpool illuminations have been running for 140 years and are a staple winter attraction along the seafront.

The streets are decorated with light installations, illuminated trails and even the classic Blackpool trams are kitted out with hundreds of fairy lights. 

The seaside town’s unique attractions are just as fun in the winter months.

You can visit the iconic Blackpool Tower year-round and Blackpool Pleasure Beach is open until the end of November with special Winter Weekends on selected days until March.

You can also ice skate for free on the beach at the Christmas by the Sea village in front of Blackpool Tower. 

However, nothing beats a good fish and chip tea, sitting on a bench on the promenade. It’s what England does best, whatever the weather.

– Helen Wright, Travel Writer

Istanbul, Turkiye – Turkish authorities and Libyan officials are conducting an investigation into the crash of a private jet that killed Libya’s army chief, Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, and seven other people near Ankara.

The probe, coordinated by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, is focusing on technical evidence, flight recordings, crew activity and aircraft maintenance, officials said. The French civil aviation investigations agency, BEA, has announced that it will participate in the probe.

General al-Haddad had been received in Ankara on Tuesday for talks with his Turkish counterpart, Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, and Defence Minister Yasar Guler.

According to officials, the French-made Dassault Falcon 50 took off from Ankara Esenboga Airport at 2:17pm on Tuesday, heading back to Libya, reported an electrical malfunction 16 minutes later and requested an emergency return.

Radar contact was lost shortly after at 2:41 pm (17:41 GMT) while the aircraft was descending towards the runway.

Officials said there was only a two-minute window between the emergency alarm and the crash.

The probe’s many factors

The forensic examination of the bodies of General al-Haddad and his military companions was completed early on Saturday and they have been repatriated to Libya after a ceremony in their honour at an airbase outside Ankara.

The site of Tuesday’s crash – near Kesikkavak village in Haymana district, roughly 70km (43 miles) south of Ankara – has been sealed off by Turkish security forces. All wreckage, including the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, or “black boxes”, has been secured and transported for analysis, according to authorities.

As part of the prosecutor-led investigation, specialists are examining air traffic control recordings, radar data and airport security camera footage.

Authorities have also requested communication logs between the pilots and the control tower and are reviewing the crew’s rest periods, medical history and records of meals or medication taken before the flight.

Maintenance logs and documentation related to the aircraft’s most recent checks are also under scrutiny to identify any possible technical lapses.

Fuel samples have been taken from both the wreckage and airport tanks to rule out contamination or incorrect fuel use, while local weather data from the time of the crash has been requested.

If evidence points to a structural failure or design flaw, investigators said, the inquiry could be expanded to include manufacturers and maintenance contractors.

International rules and reporting timeline

Gursel Tokmakoglu, former head of the Turkish air force’s intelligence agency, said the crash should be viewed as an international case, given the number of actors involved.

“The Libyan government chartered an aircraft from a foreign country. The aircraft was manufactured in another country. The pilots were from elsewhere. The passengers were Libyan, and the crash happened in Turkiye,” he said.

“If you also consider insurance companies and international aviation bodies, this is clearly a multinational incident.”

Earlier, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu had announced that the black boxes may be sent to another country for further analysis, raising some questions about why analysis could not be done in either Turkiye or Libya.

Tokmakoglu said Turkiye could either examine the black boxes domestically or send them abroad for further analysis.

“Transferring the recorders can help ensure greater transparency and a clearer understanding of what happened, especially in a case involving so many international stakeholders,” he said.

Tokmakoglu noted that according to preliminary findings, the aircraft transmitted the 7700 emergency “squawk” code, which indicates an emergency that requires immediate attention, and the crew reported an electrical malfunction.

However, he added, it would be premature to assume that the electrical malfunction was the cause of the aircraft’s crash.

“In aviation, an electrical failure can trigger other problems,” he said, likening such a situation to “being admitted to intensive care for heart failure but dying later from a lung infection”.

Aviation industry analyst Guntay Simsek told Al Jazeera, citing his own sources, that there are no indications so far that the crash was caused by an external factor such as an explosion, adding that the technical investigation remains ongoing.

The probe starting immediately is within general best practices after a crash, aviation industry analyst Guntay Simsek said, pointing to ICAO regulations that govern aircraft accident investigations, which require a preliminary report within 30 days and a final report within 12 months.

A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia has come into effect along the border, where almost three weeks of deadly clashes have forced nearly one million people from their homes.

In a joint statement, the defence ministers of the two countries agreed to freeze the front lines where they are now, ban reinforcements and allow civilians living in border areas to return as soon as possible.

The ceasefire took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. Once it has been in place for 72 hours, 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand since July will be released, the statement said.

The breakthrough came after days of talks between the two countries, with diplomatic encouragement from China and the US.

The agreement prioritises getting the displaced back to their homes, and also includes an agreement to remove landmines.

Thailand’s Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit described the ceasefire as a test for the “other party’s sincerity”.

“Should the ceasefire fail to materialise or be violated, Thailand retains its legitimate right to self-defence under international law,” he told reporters.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk said he hopes the ceasefire will “pave the way” for peace, while an EU spokesperson urged “good faith” in its implementation.

Thailand had been reluctant to accept the ceasefire, saying the last one was not properly implemented. They also resented what they saw as Cambodia’s efforts to internationalise the conflict.

Unlike the last ceasefire in July, US President Donald Trump was conspicuously absent from this one, although the US State Department was involved.

That ceasefire agreement collapsed earlier this month, when fresh clashes erupted. Both sides blamed each other for the breakdown of the truce.

The Thai army said its troops had responded to Cambodian fire in Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province, in which two Thai soldiers were injured.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said it was Thai forces that had attacked first, in Preah Vihear province, and insisted that Cambodia did not retaliate.

Clashes have continued throughout December. On Friday, Thailand carried out more air strikes inside Cambodia.

The Thai Air Force said it had hit a Cambodian “fortified military position” after civilians had left the area. Cambodia’s defence ministry said the strikes were “indiscriminate attacks” against civilian houses.

How well the ceasefire holds this time depends to a large extent on political will. Nationalist sentiment has been inflamed in both countries.

Cambodia, in particular, has lost many soldiers and a lot of its military equipment. It has been driven back from positions it held on the border, and suffered extensive damage from the Thai air strikes, grievances which could make a lasting peace harder to achieve.

Disagreement over the border dates back more than a century, but tension increased early this year after a group of Cambodian women sang patriotic songs in a disputed temple.

A Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash in May, and two months later, in July, there were five days of intense fighting along the border, which left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead. Thousands more civilians were displaced.

Following intervention by Malaysia and President Trump, a fragile ceasefire was negotiated between the two countries, and signed in late October.

Trump dubbed the agreement the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords”. It mandated both sides to withdraw their heavy weapons from the disputed region, and to establish an interim observer team to monitor it.

However, the agreement was suspended by Thailand in November after Thai soldiers were injured by landmines, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announcing that the security threat had “not actually decreased”.

TYLER Perry is facing a second sexual assault claim from an actor who is seeking $77 million in a new lawsuit.

Mario Rodriguez, who had a minor role in Tyler’s 2016 movie Boo! A Madea Halloween, has alleged the actor sexually assaulted him and made unwanted sexual advances while promising him future movie roles.

The model is being represented by attorney Jonathan J. Delshad, who also represented Derek Dixon, another actor who made allegations against the 56-year-old earlier this year.

However, Tyler’s attorney has claimed the lawsuit is a “failed money grab.”

Alex Spiro said in a statement: “Having recently failed in another matter against Mr. Perry, the very same lawyer has now made yet another demand from more than a decade ago which will also be a failed money grab.”

According to PEOPLE, who obtained the lawsuit, Mario has alleged that he was approached by a trainer while at a gym in Los Angeles who said Tyler wanted to meet him.

He said that the two ended up having a conversation on the phone and he was offered the role of Frat Guy #10 in the Halloween film.

The lawsuit alleges that in November 2018, Perry allegedly “grabbed [Rodriguez’s] penis” and he “repeatedly told Mr Perry to stop” and he had to “physically struggle to get away”.

Mario goes on to claim that Perry would allegedly tell him to “let it happen” and “if you were to be with me, I would take care of you.”

The lawsuit claims that after two incidents, Tyler reportedly apologized, handed him $5,000 “and sent him away”.

The pair allegedly had their final encounter in April 2019 where Mario has claimed: “More than ever before, it was clear that Mr. Perry would do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, to whomever he wanted no matter how many times he was rejected.”

The U.S. Sun have contacted Tyler’s representatives for a comment.

The lawsuit comes after the media mogul was sued by actor Derek Dixon after the pair two worked together on his show, The Oval.

Derek accused Tyler of sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual battery, with his team denying all allegations and labelling the lawsuit as a “scam”.

The Hollywood star was officially handed the papers at his lavish mansion on August 25.

The filing listed his description and stated he received the documents while he was home at 2:29 pm.

His lawyer Matthew Boyd said in a statement at the time: “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam.

“Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”

Derek, who is seeking $260 million in damages, originally filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Supreme Court.

However, it’s since been transferred to federal court in Georgia, where Tyler Perry Studios is headquartered.