freezing

THE first taste of oyster is like diving headfirst into an oncoming tidal wave.

And I am immediately struck by how fresh my meal is as I sit outside the Marisqueira Azul restaurant on Lisbon’s bustling Praca do Comercio square.

Despite it being the middle of winter, I feel the pleasant warmth of the sun tickling my neck as I take a sip of white wine.

Just two and a half hours from the UK, the Portuguese capital feels like a world away from the icy London I’ve left behind.

After a plate of oysters, our travelling party is met with dishes of octopus, shrimp and cod galore.

For a pescatarian like me, Portugal is a dream — with the locals very proud of their seafood.

SEA FOR YOURSELF

Ten reasons to visit Azores from whale-watching to volcano cooking classes

EVORA-LASTING LOVE

I visited underrated Portuguese city an hour from Lisbon known for wine

To press home this point, we are next whisked off to the Codfish History Interpretation Centre, where we learn about Lisbon’s long history with the fish.

The city is full of brilliant museums and galleries — some famous, others a little more off the beaten track, but no less interesting.

Next, we take a private tram tour of the city, which can be booked by groups.

And after passing boutique hotel the Palacio Ramalhete, where Madonna lived during her move to Portugal in 2018, we find ourselves at the Royal Treasure Museum.

This little gem allows you to set foot inside the spectacular Ajuda National Palace, formerly home of the Portuguese royal family.

Portugal has been a republic for more than 100 years, but what remains from the former monarchy is plenty of bling now on display to the public.

After going through a security check, we are escorted in to one of the largest vaults in the world, where we can check out everything from jewels, gold and diamonds to gifts from other countries and the silver tableware that would be used for royal banquets.

As someone who enjoys history and shiny things, this museum is a smash hit. After a pit stop for a pastel de nata (Portugal’s iconic egg custard tart pastry), we head to our hotel.

The MACAM Hotel is an 18th-century palace that now houses 64 luxurious rooms and a contemporary art museum.

Come the spring, the place to be for guests will be the rooftop pool and bar.

For art connoisseurs heading to Lisbon, Gulbenkian’s Centre of Modern Art is a must-see attraction.

Preserved head

The stunning gallery, originally designed by Brit Sir Leslie Martin, was recently renovated by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and is a sight to behold.

We also visit the Aguas Livres Aqueduct, which was built in the 1700s to transport water into Lisbon.

Crossing the Alcantara Valley, the stunning, 3,087ft stone construction features 18 arches reaching up to 215ft high.

The Roman-inspired aqueduct survived Lisbon’s huge earthquake of 1755, despite the disaster having devastated much of the city, with tremors felt as far away as Seville.

After it stopped being used as an aqueduct, the imposing structure became a public path until a 19th- century serial killer caused its closure.

Diogo Alves went on to be named the “Aqueduct Murderer” — and Portuguese folklore has him guilty of throwing as many as 70 people off it after ambushing and robbing them.

Following his execution, Alves’ head was severed and preserved in a glass jar that was donated to the University of Lisbon.

It remains on display in the university’s Anatomical Theatre.

The aqueduct now provides a sprawling view of the city.

Ahead of dinner, we also visit the Church of St Anthony in Lisbon’s Misericordia district to take in a fado concert.

Fado music is as traditional as it gets in Portugal, and its tales of heartbreak and sorrow are even more special to witness in such a poignant setting.

After the brilliant one-hour concert, we head to Pica-Pau, a restaurant that celebrates traditional Portuguese food and more excellent seafood, of course.

In the mood for beer rather than wine that evening, I ask about whether to get a Super Bock or Sagres.

“Super Bock for the north, Sagres for the south,” I’m told.

The good folk of Lisbon are fiercely proud of their favoured beer Sagres, while those from Porto in the north prefer Super Bock.

When in Lisbon . . . so I dutifully order the Sagres. Perfect.

Ukraine struggles to restore heat, electricity as temperatures plummet to -19 degrees Celsius.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that a state of emergency is being declared for Ukraine’s energy sector, as repeated Russian attacks have left thousands of homes without heat and electricity amid freezing winter conditions.

Zelenskyy’s announcement came as temperatures dropped to -19 degrees Celsius (-2.2 Fahrenheit) in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, where hundreds of apartment buildings remain without heat following a massive Russian attack last week.

“The consequences of Russian strikes and deteriorating weather conditions are severe,” said Zelenskyy in a post on X late on Wednesday, adding that “repair crews, energy companies, municipal services, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine continue to work around the clock to restore electricity and heating”.

Zelenskyy also said he had asked his government to review curfew restrictions during “this extremely cold weather” and that the country was working to increase its electricity imports to try to alleviate the dire situation.

In Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, 471 apartment buildings remained without heat on Wednesday, almost a week after a Russian attack left thousands of apartments without heat, electricity and water, according to city officials.

The attack, which began last Thursday night, prompted Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko to urge people to leave the city, saying that “half of apartment buildings in Kyiv – nearly 6,000 – are currently without heating because the capital’s critical infrastructure was damaged by the enemy’s massive attack”.

Energy supply has been a frequent target during Russia’s war on Ukraine, with Moscow and Kyiv launching attacks on oil refineries, gas pipelines, pumping stations and nuclear and thermal power stations, which are powered by coal, oil and gas.

Russian-appointed local official Yevhen Balitsky said on Telegram on Wednesday that a Ukrainian attack had left more than 3,000 people without electricity in Russian-occupied areas of Zaporizhia.

Black Sea attacks

The frequent attacks on energy supply during Russia’s war with Ukraine have also expanded beyond both countries’ borders, including to oil tankers in the Black Sea.

In recent months, a number of oil tankers have come under attack from drones in the Black Sea, prompting concerns from neighbouring countries, including Turkiye and Kazakhstan.

On Tuesday, drones struck two oil tankers in the Black Sea, chartered by United States oil giant Chevron, according to the companies involved. The ships were sailing towards a terminal on the Russian coast, with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday blaming the attacks on Ukraine, which had yet to publicly comment.

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that three oil tankers were hit in the attack and that they were heading to a Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal, where an oil pipeline from the central Asian country ends.

The ministry urged the US and Europe to help secure the transport of oil.

“The increasing frequency of such incidents highlights the growing risks to the functioning of international energy infrastructure,” it said.

Jan. 13 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he plans to freeze federal funds to so-called sanctuary cities amid his administration’s intensifying immigration crackdown, a move expected to be met with litigation.

“Starting Feb. 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens and it breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come,” Trump said Tuesday during a speech at the Detroit Economic Club.

“So we’re not making any payments to anybody that supports sanctuary cities.

Asked later Tuesday by reporters for details about what funding would be cut, Trump said: “You’ll see. It’ll be significant.”

Sanctuary cities are those with policies that support immigrant populations, in particular limiting state and local police cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement. According to the American Immigration Council, the policies promote trust between local law enforcement and communities with notable immigrant populations.

Trump has targeted sanctuary cities since his first administration over their refusal to comply with his strict immigration policies. His attempts to limit federal funds then were largely blocked by the courts.

Since returning to the White House for his second term, he has renewed his attacks.

In April, he directed Attorney General Pamela Bondi to compile a list of sanctuary jurisdictions for punishment, which she produced in August naming 18 cities, 13 states and four counties that are generally considered to be Democratic-run.

The Trump administration has brought lawsuits against a handful of them, including New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, among others.

“Punishing states and cities that refuse to participate in the federal government’s inhumane and cruel attacks on immigrants is simply a playground bullying tactic,” Mrad Awadeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a statement.

“We expect New York City and other sanctuary jurisdictions to call this bully’s bluff by litigating this egregious violation of our City and State’s 10th Amendment rights and the federal government’s responsibility to provide essential services to all counties, cities and states.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he will not negotiate the city’s policies.

“Our values and our laws are not bargaining chips,” he said on social media. “We will always defend New Yorkers, even in the face of federal threats to withhold funding.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was more direct: “See you in court, @realDonald Trump,” he said on X.

MORE European airports have temporarily closed due to icy weather conditions.

Three major travel hubs were forced to shut earlier today, while a fourth operated “restricted” services.

“Adverse weather conditions” led to the brief closure of airports in Vienna, Austria, Budapest in Hungary, and Bratislava in Slovakia.

Runways in Vienna closed temporarily due to a thick layer of ice, which reportedly kept refreezing.

“Due to current weather conditions, disruptions to flights to and from Vienna are expected on January 13, 2026,” a statement on the airport’s website read.

Meanwhile, Budapest Airport revealed in a post on X that there were “increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing”.

FLY BYE

Hundreds of jobs at risk as airline axes long-haul flights from major UK airport

FROZEN IN

Thousands of tourists stranded in Lapland as flights to UK cancelled

“Due to the adverse weather conditions, and similarly to several airports in Central Europe, a temporary airport closure has been implemented at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport,” the update read.

After a brief closure, Bratislava reopened at 11.15am local time this morning, advising passengers that delays would continue as a result.

Meanwhile, Václav Havel Airport in Prague continued to operate in a “restricted mode” despite “intense freezing rain”.

“As of 11:00, the number of permitted arrivals has been increased from 2 to 6 per hour due to de-icing operations and to ensure the operational readiness of runways and other airside areas,” a statement read.

“Safety of flight operations, passengers, and employees remains the top priority.

Air passengers travelling to or from any of the above hubs have been advised to follow the latest updates from their airport and airline.

The disruptions are the latest caused by harsh weather conditions, with British tourists stranded in Finland’s Lapland after flights were cancelled due to the severe cold on Monday, 12 January.

Flights to London, Manchester, Paris, and Amsterdam were axed as temperatures at Kittila Airport plummeted to nearly -40C.

LOVE ISLAND star Mary Bedford has ignored the freezing temperatures as she stripped down to her bikini while posing in the snow.

Much of the UK is dealing with the aftermath of Storm Goretti but that hasn’t dampened Mary’s mood as she took part in a photoshoot in the freezing temperatures.

The model took to Instagram to post two pictures of herself wearing a black bikini as she showed off her stunning bronzed up body.

She perched a matching fur coat on her arms and accessorised with some black ankle boots and fluffy ear muffs.

Mary had her blonde extensions straightened and went for a pretty make-up look complete with a nude lipgloss, mascara and some blush.

The ITV star was surrounded by blankets of snow as she sizzled in her gorgeous two-piece and seduced the camera.

A NEW DASH

Love Island star in A&E dash after suffering horror foot injury

my oh maya

Maya Jama looks incredible flaunting her curves as Love Island is postponed

She captioned the post: “snow barbie,” alongside a blonde girl emoji, a pink ribbon and a snowflake.

Her loyal followers flocked to the comments section to compliment her as one person gushed: “Too HOT to feel the cold.”

Another social media user enthused: “Absolutely beautiful,” with fire flame emojis.

Somebody else commented: “Snow queen baddie,” and yet another said: “Honestly, you look INCREDIBLE.”

A fifth follower added: “omg!! Way to just show us up girlie!!!!”

Mary shot to fame on the seventh series of Love Island back in 2021 and made her entrance on day 29 as one of the Casa Amor bombshells.

She struck up a connection with Aaron Simpson but the pair were dumped from the villa just six days before the final.

Despite attempting to make their relationship work on the outside, the two split not long after being axed.

Her series was won by Liam Reardon and Millie Court who called time on their four-year romance last year.

Mary also reportedly dated fellow Love Island star Chris Hughes prior to her stint on the ITV2 show.

Her career as a model reached new heights last year as she walked the runway at Miami Swim Week alongside Grace Jackson.

She wowed in a plunging blue swimsuit that featured a hip-skimming cut.

Mary took to Instagram to share videos from friends who captured her catwalk moment.

One clip showed the villa beauty wearing a lingerie inspired bikini with blue lace trim, matched with a sheer yellow sarong.

SUNSHINE fan Scott Dixon has spent every winter in Benidorm for the past seven years and the canny traveller insists the annual pilgrimage SAVES him money.

The 55-year-old takes his work with him on his annual lengthy getaways, saying he sleeps better and returns to the UK refreshed and energised. Sound too good to be true? Here, he explains how he gets such “staggering value’ on his winter sunshine breaks.

“It’s a no brainer,” says Scott, as he preps to jet away from his “freezing” home for the Spanish holiday resort. 

“Many people think extended winter sun breaks are a luxury but I say it’s smart budgeting.

“Covid has opened up a whole new world of possibilities to work and live anywhere affordably

“I’ll have no food bills, no heating bills, no petrol bills and I’ll be spending my days in 20C sunshine instead of enduring it in freezing Edinburgh.”

For the past few years, Scott has tried out several different kinds of accommodation in Benidorm’s Old Town for the season, including self-catering long term lets, but this year he has booked two, three week half-board holidays with Jet2. 

The digital nomad’s Benidorm package deals will include breakfast, evening meals with half a bottle of wine each night, flights, transfers and WiFi. 

The ‘snowbird’, a name for people who move to sunnier climes for the winter, says the three weeks in December costs him £1,443 and the three weeks in February £1,205, totalling £2,648.

This, he has worked out, breaks down to a spend of £63 a day. 

“To put it into perspective, my one bedroom flat in Edinburgh costs me up to £45 a week for electricity,” says Scott, who is mortgage free.

“Food is another £30 a week plus a load of other household costs.  

“At home, I’m paying hundreds of pounds just to sit around in the cold, cooking for myself and keeping the heating on.

“The value for money I’m getting abroad is staggering – I’m getting sunny weather, daily cleaning with no housework and cooked meals.”

Thousands of Brits head to Benidorm every winter, with the resort’s long-stay visitors attracted by its weather and British-style pubs and shops. 

“I’ve got to know a few familiar faces over the years,” says Scott, who is single and travels solo.

“Regular winter visitors, locals, bar staff and people who have become friends. 

“You see a lot of the same people each year and there’s a real community feel.

“It’s become quite common for people to escape the UK winters, especially pensioners, remote workers and anyone who realises they can live well for less in the sun for a few weeks.”

While the lively, budget-conscious destination in Southern Spain has been unkindly dubbed ‘Blackpool with sunshine’ by some, the writer insists Benidorm’s Old Town is a true hidden gem.

Filled with whitewashed buildings, narrow streets and traditional architecture, this area is known for its tapas bars and vibrant nightlife. 

“The Old Town is traditionally Spanish and a polar contrast to the New Town, which is where everyone forms their ‘Brits abroad’ and ‘Blackpool with sunshine’ negative opinions,” says Scott.

“People who have seen my photos can’t believe how nice and clean it is, with pristine beaches and everything you can wish for.

“It’s reliable, warm, affordable, has everything I need and only a two-and-a-half-hour flight each way.

“Benidorm is a completely different place compared to the summer peak season in general – it’s calm, clean and more chilled out.”

The weather in the winter is mild and pleasant, with an average of six hours of sunshine each day compared to less than two hours back in the UK.

“The weather is the biggest draw,” says Scott.  

“It’s perfect. Not too hot, not too busy and the weather is warm enough to sit outside with a beer on the beach front, go for long walks or just have a snooze on the beach without getting burned.

“Once you’re into January and February, it can sometimes be a bit too hot to sit out in.” 

Moderate exposure to sunlight is a primary source of vitamin D for most people and this vitamin produces the ‘happiness hormone’ serotonin that positively affects people’s mood, appetite and sleep.   

It could be why wintering in the holiday resort always has a positive effect on Scott’s mental wellbeing.  

“I started going during the winter in 2018 because I realised I didn’t need to spend it in the UK, freezing, paying high bills and feeling miserable,” he explains. 

“And the first time I tried it, I honestly couldn’t believe the difference in how I felt – more energy, better sleep, a better mood and a different mindset. 

“That made it a yearly habit.

“I eat better and walk more, and return home refreshed and energised – not run-down and drained.”

Scott, a consumer rights expert known as The Complaints Resolver, takes his work with him on his extended holidays – and says he usually isn’t the only digital nomad around. 

“Since I freelance, I’ve built flexibility into my schedule,” he explains.

“WiFi is good, and hotel staff are used to digital nomads now.

“I have stacked my work in advance so I can relax, and do some light work in the sunshine if necessary.”

So as Scott packs his suitcase for Spain, he has a simple message for anyone thinking of becoming a ‘snowbird’: do it. 

“You don’t need to be wealthy,” he says.

“Package deals in winter are cheaper than many people think and if you compare it to the cost of staying at home you may find it’s not that expensive.

“The endless days of blue skies and warm sunshine really lift your spirits and benefit your mental health, you can’t put a price on that.

“It’s a place where you can relax without thinking about life admin, bills and the day-to-day drudgery of winter in the UK.

“I couldn’t imagine spending winters anywhere else.”

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s administration announced late Tuesday that it’s freezing child care funds to Minnesota and demanding an audit of some day care centers after a series of fraud schemes involving government programs in recent years.

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill said on the social platform X that the move is in response to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz pushed back on X, saying fraudsters are a serious issue that the state has spent years cracking down on but that this move is part of “Trump’s long game.”

“He’s politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans,” Walz said.

O’Neill referenced a right-wing influencer who posted a video Friday claiming he found that day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis had committed up to $100 million in fraud. O’Neill said he has demanded Walz submit an audit of these centers that includes attendance records, licenses, complaints, investigations and inspections.

“We have turned off the money spigot and we are finding the fraud,” O’Neill said.

The announcement comes one day after U.S. Homeland Security officials were in Minneapolis conducting a fraud investigation by going to unidentified businesses and questioning workers.

There have been years of investigations that included a $300 million pandemic food fraud scheme revolving around the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, for which 57 defendants in Minnesota have been convicted. Prosecutors said the organization was at the center of the country’s largest COVID-19-related fraud scam, when defendants exploited a state-run, federally funded program meant to provide food for children.

A federal prosecutor alleged earlier this month that half or more of the roughly $18 billion in federal funds that supported 14 programs in Minnesota since 2018 may have been stolen. Most of the defendants in the child nutrition, housing services and autism program schemes are Somali Americans, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota.

O’Neill, who is serving as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also said in the social media post Tuesday that payments across the U.S. through the Administration for Children and Families, an agency within the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, will now require “justification and a receipt or photo evidence” before money is sent. They have also launched a fraud-reporting hotline and email address.

The Administration for Children and Families provides $185 million in child care funds annually to Minnesota, according to Assistant Secretary Alex Adams.

“That money should be helping 19,000 American children, including toddlers and infants,” he said in a video posted on X. “Any dollar stolen by fraudsters is stolen from those children.”

Adams said he spoke Monday with the director of Minnesota’s child care services office and she wasn’t able to say “with confidence whether those allegations of fraud are isolated or whether there’s fraud stretching statewide.”

Trump has criticized Walz’s administration over the fraud cases, capitalizing on them to target the Somalia diaspora in the state, which has the largest Somali population in the U.S.

Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, has said an audit due by late January should give a better picture of the extent of the fraud. He said his administration is taking aggressive action to prevent additional fraud. He has long defended how his administration responded.

Minnesota’s most prominent Somali American, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, has urged people not to blame an entire community for the actions of a relative few.

Golden writes for the Associated Press.