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“Sinners” has made Oscars history.

The 98th Academy Award nominations were announced Thursday and Ryan Coogler’s musical horror earned 16 overall nominations, breaking the record for the most nominations for a film previously held by “All about Eve” (1950), “Titanic” (1997) and “La La Land” (2016). “Sinners’” nominations include best picture, directing, original screenplay and individual acting nods for stars Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedic political thriller “One Battle After Another” followed with 13 total nominations, which included nods for picture, directing, adapted screenplay and actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ alien comedy “Bugonia,” Chloé Zhao’s tragic Shakespeare drama “Hamnet,” Joseph Kosinski’s racing drama “F1,” Guillermo del Toro’s gothic monster mash “Frankenstein,” Josh Safdie’s ping-pong picture “Marty Supreme,” Brazilian political thriller “The Secret Agent,” Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value” and Clint Bentley’s lyrical period piece “Train Dreams” rounded out the nominees for best picture.

Performers from both “The Secret Agent” and “Sentimental Value” also earned acting nominations, making it another banner year for international features. Other top nominees include “Frankenstein,” “Marty Supreme” and “Sentimental Value,” which earned nine nods apiece.

Actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman announced the nominations at the academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. See the full list of nominees below.

Best picture
“Bugonia”
“F1”
“Frankenstein”
“Hamnet”
“Marty Supreme”
“One Battle After Another”
“The Secret Agent”
“Sentimental Value”
“Sinners”
“Train Dreams”

Actress in a leading role
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue”
Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
Emma Stone, “Bugonia”

Actor in a leading role
Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”

Actress in a supporting role
Elle Fanning, “Sentimental Value”
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value”
Amy Madigan, “Weapons”
Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”
Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”

Actor in a supporting role
Benicio del Toro, “One Battle After Another”
Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”
Delroy Lindo, “Sinners”
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value”

Directing
Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet”
Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value”
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”

Adapted screenplay
“Bugonia,” Will Tracy
“Frankenstein,” Guillermo del Toro
“Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell
“One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson
“Train Dreams,” Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar

Original screenplay
“Blue Moon,” Robert Kaplow
“It Was Just an Accident,” Jafar Panahi
“Marty Supreme,” Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein
“Sentimental Value,” Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt
“Sinners,” Ryan Coogler

Documentary feature
“The Alabama Solution”
“Come See Me in the Good Light”
“Cutting Through Rocks”
“Mr. Nobody Against Putin”
“The Perfect Neighbor”

Documentary short
“All the Empty Rooms”
“Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud”
“Children No More: ‘Were and Are Gone’”
“The Devil Is Busy”
“Perfectly a Strangeness”

Animated feature
“Arco”
“Elio”
“KPop Demon Hunters”
“Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
“Zootopia 2”

Animated short
“Butterfly”
“Forevergreen”
“The Girl Who Cried Pearls”
“Retirement Plan”
“The Three Sisters”

Cinematography
“Frankenstein,” Dan Laustsen
“Marty Supreme,” Darius Khondji
“One Battle After Another,” Michael Bauman
“Sinners,” Autumn Durald Arkapaw
“Train Dreams,” Adolpho Veloso

Costume design
“Avatar: Fire and Ash,” Deborah L. Scott
“Frankenstein,” Kate Hawley
“Hamnet,” Malgosia Turzanska
“Marty Supreme,” Miyako Bellizzi
“Sinners,” Ruth E. Carter

Film editing
“F1,” Stephen Mirrione
“Marty Supreme,” Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
“One Battle After Another,” Andy Jurgensen
“Sentimental Value,” Olivier Bugge Coutté
“Sinners,” Michael P. Shawver

International feature
“It Was Just an Accident” (France)
“The Secret Agent” (Brazil)
“Sentimental Value” (Norway)
“Sirāt” (Spain)
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” (Tunisia)

Live-action short
“Butcher’s Stain”
“A Friend of Dorothy”
“Jane Austen’s Period Drama”
“The Singers”
“Two People Exchanging Saliva”

Makeup and hairstyling
“Frankenstein,” Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey
“Kokuho,” Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu
“Sinners,” Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine and Shunika Terry
“The Smashing Machine,” Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin and Bjoern Rehbein
“The Ugly Stepsister,” Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg

Original score
“Bugonia,” Jerskin Fendrix
“Frankenstein,” Alexandre Desplat
“Hamnet,” Max Richter
“One Battle After Another,” Jonny Greenwood
“Sinners,” Ludwig Göransson

Original song
“Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless”
“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters”
“I Lied to You” from “Sinners”
“Sweet Dreams of Joy” from “Viva Verdi!”
“Train Dreams” from “Train Dreams”

Production design
“Frankenstein”
“Hamnet”
“Marty Supreme”
“One Battle After Another”
“Sinners”

Sound
“F1”
“Frankenstein”
“One Battle After Another”
“Sinners”
“Sirāt”

Visual Effects
“Avatar: Fire and Ash”
“F1”
“Jurassic World Rebirth”
“The Lost Bus”
“Sinners”

Casting
“Hamnet”
“Marty Supreme”
“One Battle After Another”
“The Secret Agent”
“Sinners”

ACTRESS Florence Pugh revealed her bloody face and welts on her forehead in new photos after undergoing “Botox and fillers.”

The A-list star got candid about the beauty treatments she’s endured and their shocking side effects in a series of social media posts.

Earlier this week, Florence, 30 – who is set to star in the first James Bond Amazon spin-off – shared several snapshots from her recent visit with her plastic surgeon, showing herself receiving injections in her forehead and lips.

One pic captured the Oppenheimer star sticking her tongue out at the camera while her doctor smiled as she injected a needle into her forehead, which already showed multiple red bumps.

“Just mama Pugh freezing her forehead like a responsible adult,” the Thunderbolts star teasingly wrote over the clip.

A second snap showed Florence with a neutral expression as she received filler injections in her top lip.

The Don’t Worry Darling star then showed the after-effects of the injections, including visible marks on her face.

“I wasn’t stung by a bee. I repeat: I wasn’t stung by a bee. Just had some tox and fillers,” Florence jokingly clarified in her caption.

The Pretty Woman star appears to have made a habit of prioritizing herself from a young age.

Last February, during an appearance on the National Geographic series No Taste Like Home, Florence opened up about her childhood battle with severe respiratory issues.

“I wasn’t supposed to live,” the United Kingdom native revealed.

“When I was born, they told my parents that it wasn’t going to happen, and just enjoy the time whilst you have it.

“I had many struggles growing up with my breathing, constantly being ill. Going in and out of the hospital,” Florence added.

The We Live in Time star previously revealed that she was diagnosed with tracheomalacia as a baby, a condition that causes the windpipe to collapse and makes breathing difficult.

Her parents uprooted their lives to Spain when she was three years old after doctors suggested that a warmer climate would help her breathe better.

“We were in Spain because I have a breathing issue,” Florence said in a past interview.

“I have asthma and this thing called tracheomalacia. From a young age, I’ve just had a different breathing system.”

Florence was initially on the show to trace her family’s roots through culinary creations in Oxford.

She then discovered that her 3x great-grandparents, Mauritz and Anna, who emigrated from the Netherlands to London in the mid-1800s, had a daughter, Florence, who died at just four days old.

The actress learned that her relative likely died from tuberculosis, prompting her to reflect on her own health struggles growing up.

With the Trump administration reportedly in talks to create an anti-fraud task force for California, state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta on Thursday vehemently denounced what he described as the administration’s “reckless” and “false” rhetoric about fraud plaguing the state.

At a news conference at the Ronald Reagan State Building in downtown Los Angeles, Bonta said the Trump administration’s claims that state programs are overrun by fraud and that its government was itself perpetrating or facilitating this fraud was “outrageous and ridiculous and without basis.”

Bonta said most states struggle with some fraud from outside actors, saying that “anywhere there’s money flowing there’s a risk” and that the state’s Department of Justice has thrown immense resources into cracking down on illicit activities and recovering funds for taxpayers.

As a politicized national fight over waste, fraud and abuse led by Republicans have targeted California and its Democratic leadership, Bonta and other state officials have moved swiftly to combat the claims.

In California, Bonta said, authorities have recovered nearly $2.7 billion through criminal and civil prosecutions since 2016, including some $740 million through Medi-Cal fraud related prosecutions, about $2 billion under the state’s False Claims Act, and an additional $108 million from a task force focused on rooting out tax fraud in the underground economy.

State authorities have frequently partnered with the federal government in the past on such investigations and welcome a good-faith partnership in the future, Bonta said.

CBS News reported on the creation of a California-focused fraud task force earlier this week, citing multiple unnamed sources familiar with the plans. The outlet, whose new editor in chief, Bari Weiss, has been aligned with Trump and spearheaded a major overhaul of the news organization, reported that the president plans to soon sign an executive order naming Vice President JD Vance as head of a group that would also include the head of the Federal Trade Commission as vice chairman.

Trump’s rhetoric fueled doubts about California programs and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s leadership at the start of the year, when he declared that “the fraud investigation of California [had] begun.”

On the president’s social media platform, in formal letters and in recent news conferences, officials in the Trump administration have alleged fraud in child care, hospice funding and unemployment benefits.

Last week, the topic took center stage again when Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, posted a video accusing Armenian crime groups of carrying out widespread hospice fraud in Los Angeles.

That viral video received more than 4.5 million views on X.

Oz’s video received fierce backlash from California politicians and the local Armenian community, who collectively alleged that it contained baseless and racially charged attacks on Armenians.

The video shows Oz being driven around a section of Van Nuys where he says that about $3.5-billion worth of medicare fraud has been perpetrated by hospice and home-care businesses, claiming that “it’s run, quite a bit of it, by the Russian Armenian mafia.”

He also points to Armenian language signs, incorrectly referring to them as written in a cerulean script, and saying “you notice that the lettering and language behind me is of that dialect and it also highlights the fact that this is an organized crime mafia deal.”

Newsom filed a civil rights complaint against Oz on Jan. 29, asking the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the “racially charged and false public statements” made in the video.

On Monday, California Sen. Adam Schiff followed suit, demanding an independent review of Oz’s alleged targeting of Armenian American communities.

“To suggest markers of Armenian culture, language, and identity are indicative of criminality underscores a discriminatory motive that could taint any investigation into fraud and incite the further demonization of the community,” Schiff said in a statement.

Glendale City Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian said in an interview that Oz’s statements feed into the Trump administration’s playbook of using allegations of fraud to sow racial divisions.

“This time the focus just happens to be the Armenians,” he said. “In places like Minnesota, it’s the Somali community.”

California has been investigating healthcare fraud since a 2020 Los Angeles Times investigation uncovered widespread Medicare fraud in the state’s booming but loosely regulated hospice industry.

From 2010 to 2020, the county’s hospices multiplied sixfold, accounting for more than half of the state’s roughly 1,200 Medicare-certified providers, according to a Times analysis of federal healthcare data.

Scores of providers sprang up along a corridor stretching west from the San Gabriel Valley through the San Fernando Valley, which now has the highest concentration of hospices in the nation.

The state Department of Justice has charged more than 100 people with hospice-related fraud since 2021 and shuttered around 280 hospices in the last two years, according to data from the California Department of Public Health.

But those shuttered hospices barely represent a dent in the massive hospice home healthcare industry. There are 468 hospice facilities in the Van Nuys area alone, according to the state database of medical facilities.

There are 197 licensed medical practices, including 89 licensed hospices, in a single two-story building located at 14545 Friar St. in Van Nuys — suggesting a concentration of fraudulent businesses.

When asked why the number of licensed medical practices in Van Nuys and at that address are so high, a spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health said that the department is committed to fighting fraud and unable to comment on pending investigation.

Recent turmoil in Minnesota has demonstrated the potential ripple effects of allegations levied by the Trump administration.

Ahead of sending in thousands of immigration enforcement agents into the Midwest state, Trump had repeatedly cited a fraud case involving funds for a child nutrition program involving COVID-19 pandemic relief funds.

He used the case, which involved a nonprofit where several Somali Americans worked, to vilify the immigrant community, even though the organization was run by a white woman. After the state became a lightning rod, Gov. Tim Walz dropped his reelection plans.

At Thursday’s news conference, Bonta described major cases in other states, such as $11.4 million healthcare fraud and wire fraud conspiracy involving a nursing assistant in Florida and a $88.3 million Medicaid fraud case in in Ohio involving over billing by a pharmacy benefit manager — to show abuse of state programs is not unique to California — or to blue states.

“We know Vance hails from Ohio, so maybe he should take a look in his own backyard before leading an unnecessary political stunt focused on California,” Bonta said. “We thought we should set the record straight.”

Times staff writers Melody Gutierrez and Dakota Smith contributed to this report.

Flights are fuller than ever with UK load factors reaching 85-90%, increasing the risk of passengers being ‘bumped’ from overbooked planes during the busy February half-term break

Within just a few weeks, thousands of British families will be jetting off during the February half-term break, with airports bracing themselves for exceptionally high passenger volumes. However, holidaymakers have been cautioned about possible travel chaos during this period, as flights are operating at peak capacity.

The aviation sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, with more aircraft taking off each year to whisk passengers away to sought-after destinations. The industry has witnessed remarkable expansion in its scale, capabilities, and global connectivity, showing no indication of easing off.

Last summer proved particularly remarkable, with over 90 million travellers passing through UK airports between July and September alone – the busiest three-month stretch ever recorded, according to figures from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Furthermore, ACC Aviation reports that a staggering 3,593 new flight routes were introduced across various carriers throughout 2024 and 2025 to meet surging passenger demand.

READ MORE: Spain holiday warning for Brits after major clampdown this week

Despite February half-term being a considerably shorter holiday window, flights are still anticipated to be jam-packed as families escape abroad for a winter getaway. Yet lurking behind this travel boom could be an unseen hazard for passengers, as aircraft are being booked out more heavily than at any point previously.

Figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) published last week showed that the global passenger load factor – the proportion of available seats occupied by travellers – hit an all-time high of 83.6 per cent in 2025, marking a 5.3 per cent increase. Breaking down the statistics, European carriers recorded a load factor of 84.1 per cent, whilst UK airlines routinely surpassed 85-90 per cent, according to Air Advisor, reports the Express.

READ MORE: Cheapest dates to travel during the 6-week summer holidays – including ‘golden’ week

Looking ahead, travel demand in 2026 is projected to climb further, meaning more than 83 out of every 100 seats could be taken, leaving minimal spare capacity. This not only complicates rebooking cancelled flights but may also see passengers denied boarding at airports altogether.

Carriers routinely overbook flights to offset no-shows, however when capacity runs high, this practice can trigger significant issues. Air Advisor highlighted that if a carrier anticipates 10 per cent of passengers won’t turn up and overbooks accordingly, but only 5 per cent actually miss their flight, it could end up with more passengers than available seats.

Furthermore, airlines may struggle to accommodate all confirmed passengers if they deploy a smaller aircraft than originally scheduled. With aircraft fuller than ever before, the likelihood of overbooking incidents has substantially increased.

This means certain passengers could find themselves being asked – or even compelled – to surrender their seat on the aircraft. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website: “If this happens to you, it means you have been ‘bumped’ from your flight. It is also called ‘denied boarding’. Often, you can volunteer to be bumped, but sometimes airlines will bump you without your agreement.”

However, passengers who voluntarily agree to be ‘bumped’ will receive compensation from the airline, ranging anywhere from £110 to £520. Furthermore, travellers – whether they volunteered or were involuntarily ‘bumped’ – will be provided with either a refund or an alternative flight, though the wait time for the next available departure can differ based on flight availability.

The increased appetite for travel, resulting in fuller planes, also creates additional challenges. It becomes significantly more difficult to secure an upgrade, reduces the number of available empty seats, and can occasionally affect last-minute bargains.

To minimise the risk of being ‘bumped’, holidaymakers are encouraged to check in online as soon as it opens, choose their seat in advance and turn up at the boarding gate with time to spare.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

One UK city has four restaurants on SquareMeal’s prestigious top 100 UK restaurants list for 2026, with the rankings celebrating venues outside London

Britain’s top 100 restaurants have been unveiled, with one English city boasting four entries on the coveted list. An array of establishments have secured places on this prestigious ranking, spanning from budget-friendly options to truly extraordinary dining experiences.

The venues have been assessed according to their “performance, value and quality” by SquareMeal. Each establishment featured in the top 100 is deemed worthy of recognition amongst Britain’s premier restaurants.

The SquareMeal panel observed: “It’s no secret that the UK’s restaurant sector is facing formidable challenges. And yet, with each year that passes, hospitality pros continue to invest everything they have into projects for the love of what they do.”

Claiming the crown is Bristol’s Wilsons, which holds one Michelin star. Operated by Mary Wilson and Jan Ostle, the establishment is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, reports the Express.

Runner-up honours went to Manchester’s Skof, with Nottingham’s Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms securing third position. Whilst missing out on the podium places, Birmingham certainly has plenty to celebrate.

The West Midlands metropolis features four establishments on the 2026 rankings, which champion Britain’s finest offerings beyond the capital.

Birmingham’s top four restaurants

Opheem

Address: 65 Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JJ.

Claiming the number 21 position, Opheem stands as Birmingham’s highest-rated restaurant. The venue is characterised as a “modern, plush eatery” delivering “elevated, modern Indian plates alongside shaken cocktails and wine”. Opheem holds a Michelin star and is operated by Aktar Islam. Their menu evolves with the seasons, being refreshed several times annually. Guests can choose between five or 10 courses based on their preferred dining duration.

The Wilderness

Address: 27 Warstone Ln, Birmingham B18 6JQ.

Discover fine dining at Alex Claridge’s establishment, which secured 51st position on the top 100 rankings. They present “provocative, playful tasting menus” showcasing seasonal produce. The Wilderness guarantees a distinctive culinary journey as the venue occupies a converted factory, “to the soundtrack of rock, punk and heavy metal.” They hold Michelin Guide Recommended status and boast 3 AA Rosettes.

Riverine Rabbit

Address: 1464 Pershore Rd, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2NT.

Claiming 87th spot nationally is Riverine Rabbit, which originally launched in Cape Town, South Africa. It represents the vision of Ash and her partner Erin, who prioritises building relationships with farmers and sourcing sustainable produce. Ash secured Michelin Young Chef of the Year 2025 and the Rabbit earned Michelin Guide recognition with a Bib Gourmand last year. Riverine Rabbit presents two daily menus, which vary from day to day.

670 Grams

Address: 4 Gibb St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AA.

Completing Birmingham’s remarkable selection of eateries on the list is 670 Grams, at number 87. Situated in a former custard factory, the culinary team say they draw inspiration from “the diverse culture that’s within the heart of the country”. 670 Grams serves up a tasting menu that is “globally influenced” and hopes the eatery will be “approachable to everyone”.

The UK’s Top 100 Restaurants (outside London)

1. Wilsons (Bristol)

2. Skof (Manchester)

3. Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms (Nottingham)

4. Vraic (Guensey)

5. L’Enclume (Westmorland and Furness)

6. Grace & Savour (Solihull)

7. The Greyhound Beaconsfield (Buckinghamshire)

8. JÖRO (Sheffield)

9. Pine (Northumberland)

10. Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms (West Lancashire)

11. Ynyshir (Ceredigion)

12. Restaurant 22 (Cambridge)

13. Lyla (City of Edinburgh)

14. Woven by Adam Smith (Windsor and Maidenhead)

15. Upstairs at Landrace (Bath and North East Somerset)

16. Myse (North Yorkshire)

17. Updown Farmhouse (Dover)

18. Osip (Somerset)

19. The Little Chartroom (City of Edinburgh)

20. The Kinneuchar Inn (Fife)

21. Opheem (Birmingham)

22. The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant (Perth and Kinross)

23. The Old Stamp House (Westmorland and Furness)

24. Lark (West Suffolk)

25. Tallow (Tunbridge Wells)

26. The Angel at Hetton (North Yorkshire)

27. Alchemilla Nottingham (Nottingham)

28. Dogstar Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)

29. Heft (Westmorland and Furness)

30. Argoe Newlyn (Cornwall)

31. Stow (Manchester)

32. Juliet (Stroud)

33. Bavette (Leeds)

34. Paul Ainsworth at No 6 (Cornwall)

35. Hansom (North Yorkshire)

36. Vetch (Liverpool)

37. Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall (North Yorkshire)

38. The Sportsman (Canterbury)

39. The Shed (Swansea)

40. The Parkers Arms (Ribble Valley)

41. Higher Ground (Manchester)

42. Moss (City of Edinburgh)

43. Meadowsweet (North Norfolk)

44. The Pony Chew Valley (Bath and North East Somerset)

45. Dongnae (Bristol)

46. Gorse Cardiff (Cardiff)

47. The Barn at Moor Hall (West Lancashire)

48. Fish Shop Ballater (Aberdeenshire)

49. OTHER (Bristol)

50. Winsome (Manchester)

51. The Wilderness (Birmingham)

52. Restaurant Interlude (Horsham)

53. The Pass at South Lodge (Horsham)

54. Furna (Brighton and Hove)

55. Big Counter (Glasgow City)

56. Roots York (York)

57. The Swine Bistro (Leeds)

58. Seasonality (Windsor and Maidenhead)

59. The Muddlers Club (Belfast)

60. The Abbey Inn Byland (North Yorkshire)

61. The Forest Side (Westmorland and Furness)

62. The Cottage in the Wood (Cumberland)

63. The Greyhound Inn – Pettistree (East Suffolk)

64. Root Bath (Bath and North East Somerset)

65. Upstairs by Tom Shepherd (Lichfield)

66. Forge at Middleton Lodge (North Yorkshire)

67. Maré by Rafael Cagali (Brighton and Hove)

68. Waterman Bistro (Belfast)

69. Gwen (Powys)

70. Bybrook Restaurant at The Manor House (Wiltshire)

71. Wild at Bull Burford (West Oxfordshire)

72. The Black Swan at Oldstead (North Yorkshire)

73. Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai (Cumberland)

74. Long Friday (Newcastle upon Tyne)

75. Aven (Preston)

76. Olive Tree Bath (Bath and North East Somerset)

77. Emilia (Teignbridge)

78. The Jackdaw Conwy (Conwy)

79. Manifest (Liverpool)

80. Shwen Shwen (Sevenoaks)

81. Catch at The Old Fish Market (Dorset)

82. Riverine Rabbit (Birmingham)

83. Amari (Brighton and Hove)

84. Ardfern (City of Edinburgh)

85. The Blue Pelican (Dover)

86. Skosh (York)

87. 670 Grams (Birmingham)

88. The Coach Marlow (Buckinghamshire)

89. Gloriosa (Glasgow City)

90. Cardinal Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)

91. The Victoria Oxshott (Elmbridge)

92. Briar (Somerset)

93. Bench Sheffield (Sheffield)

94. Henrock at Linthwaite House (Westmorland and Furness)

95. Lapin Restaurant Bristol (Bristol)

96. The Suffolk (East Suffolk)

97. Tharavadu (Leeds)

98. Belzan Liverpool (Liverpool)

99. The Oarsman (Buckinghamshire)

100. Legacy at The Grand, York (York)

Cricket fans will turn their attention to India and Sri Lanka as the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) T20 World Cup 2026 gets under way from February 7.

The tournament’s 10th edition, which will be spread over 54 matches, will conclude on March 8.

Here’s what you need to know about the T20 World Cup 2026’s format and schedule:

Which teams are in the T20 World Cup, and what are their groups?

The tournament was expanded to include 20 teams in 2024, and the number of competitors will remain the same this year.

However, there was a late change in the team list as the ICC expelled Bangladesh from the tournament following a weeks-long impasse on their participation. Scotland replaced Bangladesh, who were kicked out due to their refusal to travel to India for the World Cup over security concerns.

The 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five teams each. These are:

Group A:

• India
• Namibia
• Netherlands
• Pakistan
• USA

Group B:

• Australia
• Ireland
• Oman
• Sri Lanka
• Zimbabwe

Group C: 

• England
• Italy
• Nepal
• West Indies
• Scotland

Group D: 

• Afghanistan
• Canada
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

What’s the format of the T20 World Cup 2026?

The tournament will be divided into two group-based rounds and a knockout round, comprising the semifinals and the final.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the Super 8 stage, where they will be divided into two groups of four teams each.

The two best-performing Super 8 teams will enter the semifinals.

Here’s a breakdown of the tournament’s schedule:

• Group stage: February 7 – 20
• Super 8: February 21 – March 1
• Semifinals: March 4 and 5
• Final: March 8

Venues

Five stadiums in India and three in Sri Lanka will host the tournament.

The venues for all fixtures, barring one semifinal and the final, have been confirmed by the ICC.

If India qualify for the semifinals, they will play in the second one at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Should Pakistan qualify for the last-four stage, they will play their match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on March 4.

Here’s a list of the venues:

India:

• Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
• Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
• Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
• Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Sri Lanka: 

• R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
• Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
• Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo

Full match schedule

Group stage

Saturday, February 7

Netherlands vs Pakistan at 11am (05:30 GMT) – SSC, Colombo

Scotland vs West Indies at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

India vs USA at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Sunday, February 8

Afghanistan vs New Zealand at 11am (05:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

England vs Nepal at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Sri Lanka vs Ireland at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Monday, February 9

Scotland vs Italy at 11am (05:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Oman vs Zimbabwe at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – SSC, Colombo

Canada vs South Africa at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Tuesday, February 10

Namibia vs Netherlands at 11am (05:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

New Zealand vs UAE at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Pakistan vs USA at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – SSC, Colombo

Wednesday, February 11

Afghanistan vs South Africa at 11am (05:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Australia vs Ireland at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

England vs West Indies at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Thursday, February 12

Sri Lanka vs Oman at 11am (05:30 GMT) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Italy vs Nepal at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

India vs Namibia at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

Friday, February 13

Australia vs Zimbabwe at 11am (05:30 GMT) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Canada vs UAE at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

Netherlands vs USA at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Saturday, February 14

Ireland vs Oman at 11am (05:30 GMT) – SSC, Colombo

Scotland vs England at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

New Zealand vs South Africa at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Sunday, February 15

Nepal vs West Indies at 11am (05:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Namibia vs USA at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

India vs Pakistan at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Monday, February 16

Afghanistan vs UAE at 11am (05:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

England vs Italy at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Australia vs Sri Lanka at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Tuesday, February 17

Canada vs New Zealand at 11am (05:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Ireland vs Zimbabwe at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Scotland vs Nepal at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Wednesday, February 18

South Africa vs UAE at 11am (05:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

Namibia vs Pakistan at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – SSC, Colombo

India vs Netherlands at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Thursday, February 19

Italy vs West Indies at 11am (05:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Afghanistan vs Canada at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Friday, February 20

Australia vs Oman at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Super 8

Saturday, February 21

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Sunday, February 22

TBD vs TBD at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Monday, February 23

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Tuesday, February 24

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Wednesday, February 25

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Thursday, February 26

TBD vs TBD at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Friday, February 27

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Saturday, February 28

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy

Sunday, March 1

TBD vs TBD at 3pm (09:30 GMT) – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

TBD vs TBD at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Knockouts

Wednesday, March 4

First semifinal at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Eden Gardens, Kolkata or R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Thursday, March 5

Second semifinal at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Sunday, March 8

Final at 7pm (13:30 GMT) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad or R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

The beautiful country has been named the best retirement destination for 2026, beating Spain with affordable living and excellent healthcare

If you’ve been considering spending your golden years overseas, there’s no shortage of things to weigh up. Thankfully, International Living’s yearly report analysed everything from living costs to how easy it is for Britons to make the move.

Crucial factors include visa stipulations, access to medical services, and the country’s weather conditions. After putting 195 nations under the microscope, the research crowned Greece as the ultimate retirement haven for 2026.

Greece boasts great weather, a thriving expat scene, and remarkably, pensioners can get a three-bedroom property with coastal vistas for just £900 a month.

International Insurance notes that Greece operates both state-funded healthcare and private medical facilities. Retirees can shell out roughly £220 monthly for private cover to access “consistently good” treatment.

“There are also high ratios of medical specialists for the population, and basic emergency care is free for everyone, even foreigners. Pharmacies, after-hours clinics, and community health centers provide more care options. In small towns and on remote islands, pharmacies are equipped to provide many medical services, including helping with small emergencies.”

Coming in at second place for 2026 relocations is Panama. The Central American nation features a bustling British community abroad, whilst healthcare comes in both public and private forms, with the latter boasting cutting-edge facilities and English-fluent medical professionals.

Favourite retirement hotspots like Spain, Portugal, and Italy also secured spots in the top 10.

Top countries to retire in 2026

1. Greece
2. Panama
3. Costa Rica
4. Portugal
5. Mexico
6. Italy
7. France
8. Spain
9. Thailand
10. Malaysia

At the 2024 Oscars, Ryan Gosling, reprising his role as Ken in Greta Gerwig’s 2023 movie “Barbie,” donned a bedazzled pink suit and belted the ballad “I’m Just Ken.”

“I’m just Ken, anywhere else I’d be a 10,” the actor sang. “Is it my destiny to live and die a life of blond fragility?”

Barbie’s needy male counterpart, it turns out, is not “just Ken.” His full name is Kenneth Sean Carson, according to Mattel, which says the doll saw a uptick in popularity in the years following the hit movie’s release.

Ahead of Ken’s 65th birthday, the El Segundo-based toy giant shared a laundry list of niche biographical details about the doll, including his official “birthday” — March 11, 1961, making him a Pisces — as well as his relationship history with Barbie.

The company said in a statement Monday that Ken has “experienced a resurgence in recent years.”

A Mattel spokesperson cited the “Barbie” movie as a driving factor, as it showed a “different side” of Ken. In a meta move, the company later in 2023 released Ken dolls modeled after Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of Ken.

The “Kenbassador” line launched last year was a “great success,” the spokesperson said. The first product in that toy series was a $75 doll modeled after basketball player LeBron James released in April.

Mattel says it does not break out sales of Ken dolls, but in 2017, when Mattel unveiled Ken dolls with different body types, including one that invited “dad-bod” comparisons, the company told the Wall Street Journal that, on average, girls have one Ken doll for every seven Barbies they own.

Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie, named the original doll after her daughter, Barbara. The glamorous doll, unique in that it depicted a grown woman rather than a baby, was an instant hit when it debuted at the New York Toy Fair in 1959. Barbie has significantly evolved in the decades since. Recent additions include Barbies with Type 1 diabetes and another with autism.

The Ken doll, created in 1961, was named after Handler’s son, Kenneth. He featured molded hair, wore red swim trunks and carried a yellow towel.

Kenneth Handler told The Times in a 1989 story that there were few similarities between him and the doll named after him. He died in 1994.

“Ken doll is Malibu,” he said. “He goes to the beach and surfs. He is all these perfect American things.”

But when Kenneth Handler was at Hamilton High School in Beverlywood, he “played the piano and went to movies with subtitles.” He continued, “I was a nerd — a real nerd. All the girls thought I was a jerk.”

Like Barbie, Ken dabbled in many different careers over the decades. There have been doctor, pilot, tennis player, firefighter, lifeguard, barista and even Olympic skier Kens, among many others. In 2006, he received a “mid-life makeover” from celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch.

According to the company, Ken and Barbie “met” on the set of their first television commercial in 1961 and soon began dating. After more than four decades, the doll couple broke up in 2004, but reunited in 2011.

Mattel was founded by Ruth Handler; her husband, Elliot Handler; and Harold “Matt” Matson in 1945 in a Los Angeles garage. The toy maker became a publicly traded company in 1960.

Mattel, which also owns Fisher-Price and Hot Wheels, wrote in its October Securities and Exchange Commission filing that “industry-wide shifts in retailer ordering patterns” pushed its third quarter net sales down 6%.

In 2024, Barbie gross billings — which measure the total value of products Mattel ships to retailers before sales adjustments — were down 12% from 2023, which had seen a boost from the movie, according to the company’s annual SEC filing.

The UK’s best gastropub has been crowned, beating off competition from thousands of venues. It’s a spot that’s much loved-by celebrities and famous for pouring the best Guinness in the country

The top gastropubs across the UK have been named, and the winner is a spot that has been enjoyed by many celebrities and was praised for its “premium quality, homemade food, focusing on the best of British produce”.

The Devonshire in Soho, which prides itself on offering a warm and welcoming vibe and has the style of a traditional British pub, took the number one spot in the new ranking. The venue sits on one of the lively neighbourhood’s narrow streets, amongst theatres, restaurants, and busy shops.

Downstairs is a wood-panelled bar which looks a lot like many of the historic pubs found in this part of the capital. Tourists and Londoners just finishing work crowd around the bar, often spilling out onto the street on sunny days, giving the pub a friendly, lively atmosphere.

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What sets The Devonshire apart from other pubs in the area is its claim to serve the “perfect pint of Guinness”, with bar staff obsessed about getting the perfect pour. Its bar snack menu offers the chance to try the cuisine on offer, and includes snacks such as sausage on a stick, scotch eggs, and chips, among other British favourites.

Upstairs, the restaurant has a more upmarket vibe, and the handwritten menus feature seasonal specials and local ingredients. With an on-site butcher and baker on the team, you can be assured that everything is fresh and local. Highlights include Scottish beef, which is dry-aged and butchered on-site, and seafood from Devon, including lobsters and hand-dived scallops.

The Devonshire has gained a number of celebrity fans in recent years. Last summer, A-listers including Margot Robbie, Jon Bon Jovi, and Ed Sheeran were spotted among its diners. Yungblud and Florence Pugh even surprised punters by taking on duties behind the bar and having a go at pulling pints.

In second place was The Unruly Pig in Woodbridge, which, by contrast, sits among the Suffolk countryside. This 16th-century inn has a traditional pub vibe with wooden beams and a roaring fireplace, but adds a contemporary twist with colourful modern artworks on the walls.

The menu is a fusion of British and Italian cuisine, which they’ve dubbed ‘Britalian’, and uses fresh ingredients that are sourced locally whenever possible. In the bar, there’s a wide selection of craft beers as well as over 60 choices of wine and fizz to accompany your meal.

The menu changes monthly, and in addition to its a la carte selection, the restaurant offers a three-course lunch menu for £35pp, with a choice of three dishes per course. It also offers a popular Sunday lunch, where you can opt for a sharing roast platter for two or dishes such as iberico pork and parmesan gnocchi.

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Another London venue, The Red Lion & Sun, came in third on the list. The pub, set in leafy Highgate Village, has two beer gardens that are incredibly popular in the summer. And in fourth place was The Woolpack Inn, set in the quaint Cotswolds village of Slad, which offers real ales and hearty cuisine.

Full list of top 100 gastropubs in the UK

1. The Devonshire, Soho, London
2. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge, Suffolk
3. The Red Lion & Sun, Highgate, London
4. The Woolpack Inn, Slad, Gloucestershire
5. The Star Inn, Harome, York
6. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton, North Yorkshire
7. Parkers Arms, Clitheroe Lancashire
8. The Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland
9. The Rum Fox, Clitheroe, Lancashire
10. The Cornish Arms, Tavistock, Devon
11. Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
12. The Dog at Wingham, Wingham, Kent
13. The Abbey Inn, Byland, North Yorkshire
14. The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe, Somerset
15. The Broad Chare, Newcastle
16. The Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market, Norfolk
17. The Baring, Islington, London
18. The Merry Harriers, Hambledon, Surrey
19. The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury, Kent
20. The Bell, Langford, Oxfordshire
21. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
22. The Crown, Burchetts Green, Berkshire
23. The Marksman, Hackney, London
24. The Hero, Maida Vale, London
25. The Kerfield Arms, Camberwell, London
26. The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
27. The Mariners, Rock, Cornwall
28. The Bull, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
29. The Coach, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
30. The Highland Laddie, Leeds
31. The Pipe and Glass Inn, South Dalton, East Yorkshire
32. The Silver Cup, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
33. The Waterman’s Arms, Barnes, London
34. Heft, High Newton, Cumbria
35. The Tamil Crown, Islington, London
36. Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
37. The Killingworth Castle, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
38. The Gurnard’s Head, St Ives, Cornwall
39. The Bull & Last, Highgate, London
40. The Kinneuchar Inn, Leven, Fife
41. The Tartan Fox, Newquay, Cornwall
42. The Queen of Cups, Glastonbury, Somerset
43. The Knave of Clubs, Shoreditch, London
44. The Mason’s Arms, Bampton, Oxfordshire
45. The Wild Rabbit, Kingham, Oxfordshire
46. The Black Bear Inn, Bettws Newydd, Monmouthshire
47. The French House, Soho, London
48. The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling, Old Windsor, Berkshire
49. The Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax West Yorkshire
50. The White Horse, Chester, Cheshire
51. The White Swan at Fence, Fence, Lancashire
52. The Cross at Kenilworth, Kenilworth
53. The Castle Inn, Castle Combe, Chippenham
54. The George, Kempsford, Fairford
55. The Hoop, Stock, Essex
56. The Scran and Scallie, Edinburgh
57. The Black Bull, Sedbergh, Cumbria
58. The Edinburgh Castle, Manchester
59. The Bull’s Head, Craswall, Herefordshire
60. The Camberwell Arms, Camberwell, London
61. The Parakeet, Kentish Town, London
62. The Boat, Lichfield
63. The Longs Arms, South Wraxall, Wiltshire
64. The Anchor and Hope, Southwark, London
65. The Pelican, Notting Hill, London
66. The Pack Horse, Hayfield, Derbyshire
67. The Drapers Arms, Islington, London
68. The Hand and Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
69. St Kew Inn, Bodmin
70. The Three Fishes, Mitton, Lancashire
71. The Bull Inn, Totnes
72. The Clarence, Glasgow
73. The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton, Cumbria
74. Heathcock, Cardiff
75. The Fat Badger, Notting Hill, London
76. The Chagford Inn, Chagford
77. The Eagle, Farringdon, London
78. The Clarence Tavern, Stoke Newington, north-east London
79. The Five Elms, Weedon Aylesbury, Bucks
80. The Horseguards Inn, Tiilington, Petworth, West Sussex
81. The Oarsman, Marlow
82. The Two Pigs, Barton under Needwood, Burton on Trent
83. The Lady Mildmay, Newington Green, north-east London
84. The Royal Oak, Witney, Oxfordshire
85. The White Hart, Lydgate, Oldham
86. WildMoor Oak, Bromsgrove
87. The Double Red Duke, Clanfield, Oxfordshire
88. The Blue Stoops, Kensington, London
89. The Crown at Bray, Bray, Maidenhead
90. The Bucks Head, Sevenoaks, Kent
91. The Parlour, Kensal Rise, London
92. The Dog and Pickle, Essex
93. The Burleigh Arms, Cambridge
94. The Charlton Arms, Ludlow
95. The Suffield Arms, Gunton
96. The Hare & Hounds, Vale of Glamorgan
97. The Sun, Felmersham, Bedford
98. Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
99. The Standard Inn, Portscatho, Cornwall
100. The Swan, Bampton

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

AFTER 20 years of strict liquid rules, airports are finally starting to scrap them.

The rule, introduced back in 2006 after a foiled liquid explosive bombing at London Heathrow, has long caused problems for unaware travellers heading abroad.

However, new CT scanners are slowly being rolled out across the UK, which will eventually end the rules that require liquids to be under 100ml, and fit in a small plastic bag.

Earlier this week, London Heathrow became the latest to lift some of the rules.

Despite this, there is some confusion – some airports no longer require liquids to be taken out of the bag, but still be 100ml, while others now allow up to 2l.

So we’ve rounded up all of the airport rules to explain which ones have lifted which rules, as well as which are yet to.

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(And don’t forget to check the rules of your return airport too, as many across Europe still follow the 100ml guidelines).

London Heathrow

The UK’s busiest airport is the latest to scrap the requirement 100ml liquid requirement.

Following a £1billin upgrade, the new advance scanners have been rolled out across all four terminals.

Passengers can now carry liquids up to 2l through airport security, and can keep them in their bags.

London Gatwick

The 100m liquid rules were scrapped at London Gatwick Airport last year across both terminals.

Passengers can take liquids up to 2l in their hand luggage and can keep them in their bag when going through security.

Birmingham

Birmingham Airport also lifted the strict 100ml liquid rules last year back in July.

Up to 2 litres of liquid can be taken in hand luggage, with no need for plastic bags and can stay in hand luggage.

Bristol

Bristol Airport passengers can ditch the small 100ml bottles in favour of 2 litre bottles of liquids.

They can also be kept in bags when going through airport security.

Edinburgh

The first Scottish airport to lift the rules, Edinburgh scrapped the 100ml liquid rule back in July 2025.

The new 2 litre rule now applies.

And the airports yet to lift the rules…

The below airports are yet to lift the strict 100ml restriction in favour of the 2 litre limit.

However, they have all scrapped the requirement for them to fit in a plastic bag, and they can all be kept in hand luggage at airport security.

• London City
• London Luton
• London Stansted
• London Southend
• Manchester
• East Midlands
• Leeds Bradford
• Liverpool John Lennon
• Newcastle
• Teeside
• Norwich
• Southampton
• Bournemouth
• Newquay
• Cardiff
• Aberdeen
• Glasgow Internatinal and Glasgow Prestwick
• Inverness

Here are some of the airlines that are banning passengers from using power banks onboard.

And here is all of the food and drink which is banned from being taken on flights.