pay

Walt Disney Co. will pay $2.75 million to settle allegations that it violated the California Consumer Privacy Act by not fully complying with consumers’ requests to opt out of data sharing on its streaming services, the state attorney general’s office said Wednesday.

The Burbank media and entertainment company allegedly restricted the extent of opt-out requests, including complying with users’ petitions only on the device or streaming services they processed it from, or stopping the sharing of consumers’ personal data through Disney’s advertising platform but not those of specific ad-tech companies whose code was embedded on Disney websites and apps, the attorney general’s office said.

In addition to the fine, the settlement, which is subject to court approval, will require Disney to enact a “consumer-friendly, easy to execute” process that allows users to opt-out of the sale or sharing of their data with as few steps as possible, according to court documents.

“Consumers shouldn’t have to go to infinity and beyond to assert their privacy rights,” Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said in a statement. “In California, asking a business to stop selling your data should not be complicated or cumbersome.”

A Disney spokesperson said in a statement that the company “continues to invest significant resources to set the standard for responsible and transparent data practices across our streaming services.”

“As technology and media continue to evolve, protecting the privacy and preserving the experience of Californians and fans everywhere remains a longstanding priority for Disney,” the spokesperson said.

The settlement with Disney stemmed from a 2024 investigation by the attorney general’s office into streaming devices and apps for alleged violations of the California Consumer Privacy Act, which governs the collection of consumers’ personal data by businesses.

Under the law, businesses that sell or share personal data for targeted advertising must give users the right to opt-out.

Disney’s $2.75-million payment is the largest such settlement under the state privacy act, Bonta’s office said.

The attorney general has also reached settlements with companies such as beauty retailer Sephora, food delivery app DoorDash and SlingTV for alleged violations of the privacy act.

A shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that took effect early Saturday affects the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country. Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-day government shutdown that led to historic flight cancellations and long delays last year.

Transportation Security Administration officers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on Homeland Security’s annual funding. TSA officers also worked through the record shutdown that ended Nov. 12, but aviation experts say this one may play out differently.

Trade groups for the U.S. travel industry and major airlines nonetheless warned that the longer Homeland Security appropriations are lapsed, the longer security lines at the nation’s commercial airports could get.

Here’s what to know about the latest shutdown and how to plan ahead.

What’s different about this shutdown?

Funding for Homeland Security expired at midnight Friday. But the rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will receive paychecks as usual, reducing the risk of widespread flight cancellations.

According to the department’s contingency plan, about 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working. Democrats in the House and Senate say the Department of Homeland Security won’t get funded until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations.

During past shutdowns, disruptions to air travel tended to build over time, not overnight. About a month into last year’s shutdown, for example, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport. That same day, the government took the extraordinary step of ordering all commercial airlines to reduce their domestic flight schedules.

John Rose, chief risk officer for global travel management company Altour, said strains could surface at airports more quickly this time because the TSA workforce also will be remembering the last shutdown.

“It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks,” Rose said.

What is the impact on travelers?

It’s hard to predict whether, when or where security screening snags might pop up. Even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times at smaller airports, for example, if there’s just a single security checkpoint.

That’s why travelers should plan to arrive early and allow extra time to get through security.

“I tell people to do this even in good times,” Rose said.

Experts say flight delays also are a possibility even though air traffic controllers are not affected by the Homeland Security Department shutdown.

Airlines might decide to delay departures in some cases to wait for passengers to clear screening, said Rich Davis, senior security advisor at risk mitigation company International SOS. Shortages of TSA officers also could slow the screening of checked luggage behind the scenes.

What travelers can do to prepare

Most airports display security line wait times on their websites, but travelers shouldn’t wait until the day of a flight to check them, Rose advised.

“You may look online and it says 2½ hours,” he said. “Now it’s 2½ hours before your flight and you haven’t left for the airport yet.”

Passengers should also pay close attention while packing since prohibited items are likely to prolong the screening process. For carry-on bags, avoid bringing full-size shampoo or other liquids, large gels or aerosols and items like pocketknives.

TSA has a full list on its website of what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on and checked luggage.

At the airport, Rose said, remember to “practice patience and empathy.”

“Not only are they not getting paid,” he said of TSA agents, “they’re probably working with reduced staff and dealing with angry travelers.”

Will the shutdown drag on?

The White House has been negotiating with Democratic lawmakers, but the two sides failed to reach a deal by the end of the week before senators and House members were set to leave Washington for a 10-day break.

Lawmakers in both chambers were on notice, however, to return if a deal to end the shutdown is struck.

Democrats have said they won’t vote to approve more Homeland Security funding until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by immigration agents in Minneapolis last month.

In a joint statement, U.S. Travel, Airlines for America and the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. warned that the shutdown threatens to disrupt air travel as the busy spring break travel season approaches.

“Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, which increases the risk of unscheduled absences and call outs, and ultimately can lead to higher wait times and missed or delayed flights,” the statement said.

Yamat writes for the Associated Press.

Thousands of Uber, Bolt and Addison Lee drivers will log off on Valentine’s Day, urging customers to boycott ride-hailing apps as unions accuse firms and TfL of failing to address falling pay, safety risks and unfair working conditions.

Private hire drivers across the UK are urging customers to boycott major ride-hailing apps on Valentine’s Day as part of a protest over pay, working conditions and what they describe as regulatory failures.

Members of the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) Private Hire Drivers branch are asking consumers not to use Uber, Bolt or Addison Lee on Saturday 14 February, while drivers log off the platforms and join a motorcade in central London from 5pm to demand legislative reform.

Nader Awaad, chairman of the IWGB Private Hire Drivers branch, described drivers’ experiences as “systemic exploitation” caused by fare structures, rising operating costs and what he calls insufficient oversight from Transport for London (TfL).

Awaad, 59, from Walthamstow, began driving in 2019 after being made redundant from a senior management role. He told The Mirror: “The UK’s private hire industry is a wild west. With no protection from unfair dismissal, drivers see their livelihoods disappear in the blink of an eye.

“With no real safety measures, we are left unprotected from passenger violence, frequently resulting in serious injuries or, in the tragic case of our member Gabriel Bringye, death. And that’s before we even start talking about pay,” he said.

Gabriel Bringye, 37, was a much loved private hire driver from Tottemham, north London. In February 2021, he was fatally stabbed during a robbery by a group of teenagers who had booked his cab by chance. He died from blood loss despite attempting to defend himself.

The attack left a deep mark on the driving community, and following the trial, Bringye’s family established Gabriel’s Campaign for Driver Safety, calling for stronger protections for private hire drivers and measures to prevent future tragedies.

According to the IWGB, drivers can work 12 to 18-hour days just to break even, covering fuel, insurance, vehicle maintenance, traffic fines and platform commission. Awaad highlighted a case where a Heathrow-to-central London ride cost £111 for the passenger, but the driver was paid only £29. “After expenses, many drivers are earning less than the minimum wage,” he told us.

He also criticised “upfront” or “dynamic pricing,” which sets fares for passengers and pays drivers via algorithms. Research from Oxford University found that Uber driver pay has declined since the model’s introduction. Under this system, drivers have no say over fares and can bear the cost of delays or route changes.

The protest follows the Supreme Court ruling that Uber drivers are workers, entitled to minimum wage and holiday pay. Awaad argues operators responded by adjusting pay structures in ways that reduced earnings. Uber has said it complies with the ruling and provides worker protections, including holiday pay, pensions and minimum earnings guarantees.

Beyond pay, safety remains a concern. Drivers report risks of assault and abuse, along with sudden account deactivation by operators. Awaad insists TfL, as the licensing authority, should oversee any suspension decisions. The union also wants stricter passenger identity checks after incidents involving stolen or fraudulent accounts.

Awaad’s attempts to raise these concerns directly with TfL Commissioner Andy Lord, including offering detailed evidence, were reportedly declined.

When The Mirror reached out to TfL, a spokesperson said: “We take our responsibilities as the licensing authority seriously to ensure that everyone can travel safely and reliably. Operators must meet high standards in order to be licensed in London and we continually keep licensing requirements under review to ensure safe services for Londoners.”

The IWGB is lobbying Parliament for legislative changes addressing pay transparency, commission levels, safety protections, and due process in account suspensions.

Alex Marshall, IWGB president, urged public support: “If drivers and riders unite, we can push TfL and the government to implement protections similar to New York, France, Mexico and Barcelona. Drivers deserve fair pay, capped hours, holidays and safety measures. The time for change is now.”

Responding to concerns around pay and transparency, an Uber spokesperson said: “We regularly engage with drivers, especially through our industry-leading agreement with GMB Union, who are not taking part in this action. More and more people choose to earn with Uber because we offer flexibility over where and when they work, as well as offering the best benefits in the sector.

“Drivers have transparency over every trip they take – including the destination and their earnings – before they decide whether to accept it. All drivers receive a weekly summary of their earnings, which includes a clear breakdown of what Uber and the driver received from trips,” the statement concluded.

Similarly, a Bolt spokesperson said the company operates a different model outside London. “Through Bolt Flex, the first model of its kind in the UK, drivers outside London can set their own fares, negotiate directly with passengers, and operate on a transparent, flat commission with no hidden fees. Drivers are already earning up to 7% more per trip on average, while receiving 24% more orders per hour.”

In response to safety concerns, Bolt added: “The safety of drivers is our top priority. We have committed €100 million globally to strengthen safety across our platform, contributing to a 14% reduction in safety-related incidents year over year.

“Drivers are provided with passenger ratings and ride history before pickup, can share live trip details with trusted contacts, and have access to 24/7 in-app and phone support. Our Emergency Assist button connects directly to emergency services and alerts Bolt’s 24/7 safety team, and our trip monitoring technology flags unexpected or prolonged stops. We also offer one of the sector’s most affordable CCTV schemes for drivers.

“Drivers on the Bolt platform operate as independent partners, and access is conditional on compliance with our safety and community standards. Accounts are only ever deactivated following a full investigation, with a clear review process. We will continue working with drivers to raise standards across the sector.”

The Mirror contacted Addison Lee for comment.

FANS of Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo were delighted when they heard the Wicked star was hitting the West End, but have been left demanding refunds after watching her perform in the flesh.

The A-list actress is currently starring in one-woman show Dracula at the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End, which kicked off last week and sees her playing a whopping 23 characters.

However, it seems that Cynthia may have bitten off more than she can chew with the vamp role – as fans have scrutinised her for “reading off of the teleprompter” throughout.

The show is filled with complex filmed sections, which means the autocue is clearly visible on massive screens throughout.

Taking to TikTok to share their frustration, one audience member wrote: “Did I just pay £135 to watch Cynthia Erivo read off a teleprompter?”

Agreeing in the comment section of the clip, another said: “The show was rubbish. After arguing with the ticket office I got a refund.”

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As one theatre-lover asked whether the teleprompter could really be seen from the audience, the original poster responded: ” Saw it with my own eyes unfortunately.

“As did many people in my section who were confused why there were multiple”.

Another user slammed: “Why play 20 roles if you know you can’t memorise a script consisting of 20 roles”.

The early reviews of the show will be a blow after the production budget was believed to be north of £3million, while tickets are as much as £225.

However, it’s not all bad for the Elphaba star, with some fans lauding her performance.

“I was at the first preview and it was genuinely the most incredible thing. Cynthia was epic!!,” said one fan after watching Dracula.

Another said: “My mind was blown”.

A third defended her use of the teleprompter, asking: “Did you want her to memorize 20 thousand words?”

Cynthia is no stranger to the West End and has even won a Tony award for her stage work.

In 2016, the actress won the gong for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal Celie in the revival of The Color Purple. 

Cynthia is set to star in Dracula until 31 May. 

Los Angeles County leaders are pushing forward a measure for the November ballot that would remove their ability to have final say on one of the costliest decisions they make: How much to pay firefighters and sheriff’s deputies.

The supervisors voted 4 to 0 on Tuesday to have their lawyers draft a ballot measure that would give final decision-making power in contract disputes regarding pay and working conditions for public safety workers to a three-person panel, a practice known as binding arbitration.

Supporters say the proposal, which the supervisors are pushing to get on the November ballot, would offer a new tool to smooth over disputes and provide a “reset” after recent tumultuous contract negotiations.

“It incentivizes both parties to come to a fair agreement,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who introduced the measure along with Supervisor Hilda Solis.

The supervisors are expected to vote again on the proposal in the coming months before putting it on the ballot.

Currently, if contract talks hit an impasse, the five county supervisors can, after a complex mediation process, impose a final offer. Public safety workers, who are not allowed to strike, say they have no leverage with which to fight back, giving the county final word.

Under the new proposal, the power dynamics would shift. An arbitration panel would instead make the final decision on some contract disputes for public safety employees, including firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and county lifeguards. The panel would have one arbitrator chosen by the county, one chosen by the union and one agreed to by both sides.

It’s rare for labor negotiations to get to this point. The county said it has imposed contract terms after reaching impasse over negotiations twice since 2001, once with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists in 2001 and Supervising Deputy Probation Officers in 2024.

“The goal is to never have to get to that step,” Horvath said.

Unions say the measure would give them needed leverage and remove political pressure from the thorniest contract questions. Critics say it shifts financial control away from politicians and into the hands of unaccountable arbitrators, which could lead to bloated labor costs.

“Arbitrators aren’t elected, they’re not required to weigh countywide trade-offs like homeless services, healthcare, capital improvements, all of those things,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell, the only supervisor to abstain from the vote.

Interim County Executive Officer Joseph M. Nicchitta said he viewed it as a potential “seismic change” in how the county handles labor negotiations.

“Because the arbitrators ‘pick a winner’ as between the parties’ final offers, the decision will no longer be a compromise. One side will win,” Nicchitta wrote in a Feb. 9 letter to the board.

Substantial raises mandated by arbitrators, he wrote, “could, among other things, materially and detrimentally increase the County’s day-to-day operating costs, lead to workforce reductions and program curtailments, balloon our unfunded pension liabilities, and damage the County’s credit ratings.”

The decision of who gets final say over wage increases will become increasingly important as county leaders try to steer the government through financial tumult brought on by federal cuts, booming labor costs and billions in sex abuse payouts. Last week, the supervisors unanimously approved $200 million in homeless service cuts to close the budget gap.

Horvath said more than 20 jurisdictions in California use binding arbitration for public safety workers, including the counties of San Francisco and Sacramento.

Public safety unions are simultaneously gathering signatures to get the proposal on the ballot in case the board decides against moving forward. A coalition of public safety unions has started a campaign arguing that binding arbitration would “remove politics from pay decisions” and leave “pay decisions in the hands of neutral experts.”

“They have every intention and probably all of the resources needed to collect signatures to put something on the ballot that gets them this,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “This makes sense to work on something that we can have some input in.”

THE chilling second deadline for Nancy Guthrie’s ransom has passed despite Savannah promising she would pay the kidnappers who took her elderly mom.

The heartbroken Today star urged everyone to keep an eye out for anything suspicious as an exchange deadline written in a reported ransom note passed without word of Nancy’s release.

The ransom note indicated that Nancy could be harmed if the demand of a payment of $6 million in Bitcoin is not met by Monday at 5pm MST.

Hours before the deadline came to pass, Savannah returned to social media to inform the public they couldn’t continue this search alone.

“I wanted to come on and share a few thoughts as we enter into another week of this nightmare,” she said in the video.

“Law enforcement is working tirelessly, around the clock trying to bring her mom, trying to find her.

What we know about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance…

“She was taken and we don’t know where. And we need your help,” she said.

Savannah thanked the public for their prayers, which she previously said were what her family needed most, but made it clear they could need witnesses find Nancy.

“I’m coming on not just to ask you for your prayers but no matter where you are, even if you’re far from Tucson, if you see anything, if you hear anything, if there’s anything at all that seems strange to you, that you report to law enforcement,” she said.

“We are at an hour of desperation.”

Despite everything, Savannah said she and her siblings believe their mother can feel the prayers, no matter where she may be.

“We believe that somehow, some way, she is feeling these prayers, and that God is lifting her even in this moment, in this darkest place,” said the anchor.

“We believe our mom is still out there.”

Investigators believe that the 84-year-old grandmother was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona in the early morning hours of February 1.

The deadline comes after Savannah and her siblings sent a cryptic message to their mother’s believed kidnappers promising to pay the ransom.

“We received your message, and we understand,” Savannah said in a video posted to Instagram on Saturday.

“We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her.

“This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

SEARCH CONTINUES

Saturday’s message is the third the family has released appealing to the alleged kidnappers.

The FBI and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos announced Friday that they were “aware of a new message regarding” Nancy’s disappearance sent to local news stations.

Previous ransom notes set a deadline for Thursday at 5pm.

After the deadline passed, Savannah’s brother Camron released a video asking for a way to speak with the purported kidnappers.

The change in tone in Savannah’s Saturday message has led experts to speculate if the Guthrie family has opened a line of communication with the ransomers.

Investigators have not shared which, if any, ransom notes are legitimate.

RANSOM QUESTIONS

The shifting deadlines and lack of proof of life has led some experts to doubt the legitimacy of the notes.

Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker shared that he worries that bad actors are taking advantage of the situation and “playing with” the Guthrie family.

“I really think there’s a third party here that’s just playing with them, opportunists who think they can exploit this situation,” he said on Fox News Sunday.

Swecker added that the situation has not followed the pattern of a typical kidnapping-for-ransom plot.

“If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life,” Swecker continued, noting that no evidence has been “credibly authenticated at this point.”

“You have to allow for the possibility that this was something more or something other than a kidnapping,” he said.

The family has already been targeted by a ransom hoax.

On Thursday, Derrick Callella from California was arrested and charged for sending fake text messages demanding Bitcoin payments.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Law enforcement officials were seen leaving Annie Guthrie’s property on Saturday night with a bag.

Investigators returned to Nancy’s property the following morning to search the water septic tanks.

Nancy was last seen on January 31, when she was dropped off at home by her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni after they had a meal with his wife and her daughter Annie Guthrie.

Nancy was reported missing by her family the following day when a parishioner at the mom’s church said she failed to show up for service.

Cops have only given grim updates so far, and admitted they have no suspects and no strong leads.

NANCY Guthrie’s abductors have allegedly demanded $6 million in exchange for her safe return.

It comes as FBI agents have decoded hidden messages in the latest video released by Savannah and her siblings begging for her release and saying “we will pay”.

Local TV station KGUN 9 in Tucson, Arizona, where the 84-year-old was snatched from her bed last weekend, reported that her alleged kidnappers asked for $6 million in exchange for her life.

The alleged ransom note received by the news station requested payment by 5pm on Monday and threatened Nancy’s life if the deadline goes unmet.

The outlet highlighted that it is one of several ransom notes that have been issued to the family and to local news stations.

KGUN 9 previously said it, along with other outlets, had received a ransom note demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin.

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Their report came hours after the Today Show host released a video on her Instagram on Saturday afternoon.

Nancy’s three children held hands as Savannah made the announcement alongside sister Annie and brother Camron.

She said in the short video: “We received your message, and we understand.

“We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her.

“This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

It is unclear which ransom note the Guthries were responding to.

More to follow…

TUCSON — Savannah Guthrie told the potential kidnappers of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on Saturday that the family is prepared to pay for her safe return, as the frantic search for the 84-year-old has entered a seventh day.

“We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” Guthrie said in a video posted on social media, flanked by her siblings. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

It was not immediately clear whether the longtime co-host of NBC’s “Today” show was referring to a new message from someone who might have kidnapped Nancy Guthrie. The Associated Press reached out to the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department seeking additional details.

Tucson TV station KOLD said Friday that it received a message via email that was tied to the Guthrie case, the contents of which it could not disclose. The FBI said it was aware of a new message and was reviewing its authenticity.

No suspects identified

Investigators think Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from her home just outside Tucson last weekend. DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch was a match to her, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said. Authorities have not identified any suspects or ruled anyone out.

The sheriff said Friday that he was frustrated that a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s home was not able to capture images of anyone the day she went missing.

Investigators have found that the home’s doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday and that software data recorded movement at the home minutes later. But Nancy Guthrie did not have an active subscription, so none of the images were able to be recovered.

“It is concerning, it’s actually almost disappointing, because you’ve got your hopes up,” Nanos told the Associated Press in an interview. “OK, they got an image. ‘Well, we do, but we don’t.’”

President Trump, speaking on Air Force One on Friday, said the investigation was going “very well.”

“We have some clues that I think are very strong,” Trump said en route to his Florida estate for the weekend. “We have some things that may be coming out reasonably soon.”

Investigators return to scene

Investigators were back in Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood on Friday.

The Sheriff’s Department posted on social media to say access was restricted to the road in front of the home to give investigators space. Journalists staked out there were directed to move.

The Catalina Foothills Assn., a neighborhood group, told residents in a letter that authorities were resuming searches in the area immediately.

“I know we all stand together in our collective disbelief and sadness and greatly appreciate your willingness to speak with law enforcement, share camera images and allow searches of your properties,” the association president said in the letter.

The sheriff said Thursday that investigators have not given up on trying to retrieve camera recordings.

“I wish technology was as easy as we believe it is, that ‘here’s a picture, here’s your bad guy.’ But it’s not,” Nanos told the AP. “There are pieces of information that come to us from these tech groups that say, ‘This is what we have and we can’t get any more.’”

TV station receives note

The sheriff also said he had no new information about the note to the TV station or other purported ransom letters sent to some media outlets, saying the FBI is handling that side of the investigation.

Meanwhile, concern about Nancy Guthrie’s health condition has grown, because authorities say she needs vital daily medicine. She is said to have a pacemaker and have dealt with high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff’s dispatcher audio on broadcastify.com.

“Her conditions, I would imagine, are worsening day by day,” Nanos said. “She requires medication. And I have no way of knowing whether they’re getting that medication to her.”

Pleas from family

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a previous video message on Wednesday, saying they were ready to talk but wanted proof of life. Camron Guthrie, Savannah’s brother, repeated that in a video Thursday.

It is not clear if all of the ransom notes were identical. Heith Janke, the FBI chief in Phoenix, said details included a demand for money with a deadline that passed Thursday evening and a second deadline for Monday if the first one was not met. At least one note mentioned a floodlight at Guthrie’s home and an Apple watch, Janke said.

SAVANNAH Guthrie has said she will agree to pay a ransom to the people who are believed to have kidnapped her 84-year-old mom.

The Today Show host filmed a video pleading with Nancy’s suspected captors to return her safely after alleged ransom notes were uncovered.

Nancy’s three children held hands as Savannah made the announcement alongside sister Annie and brother Camron.

She said in the short video: “We received your message, and we understand.

“We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her.

“This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

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What we know about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance…

No other details about the ransom were mentioned and it remains unclear if the Guthrie family have been in contact with the suspected kidnappers.

It comes after the alleged captors behind Nancy’s abduction reportedly issued two stern deadline demands.

The first deadline was set for 5pm on Thursday with the demands not met.

Snippets of the alleged ransom note have been reported by various news outlets in recent days.

The letter is said to have demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency be transferred to a Bitcoin address.

Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the Bitcoin address provided in the letter is active.

FBI special agent Heith Janke told reporters on Thursday that authorities had reason to believe the note was legitimate.

It contained details about the crime scene, including what Nancy was last wearing as well as mentions of a flood light that activated on the property.

Authorities said the note contained information “only the abductors would know”.

Agent Janke added that there was an additional demand with a deadline set for February 9.

This was described by TMZ as being “much more serious”.

Arizona cops and the FBI are still searching for any signs of Nancy as they continue to build up their case on her disappearance.

US President Donald Trump revealed that the FBI have some “very strong” clues in the search for the missing mom.

When asked what the clues would help with, Trump replied: “I’m not talking about a search. I’m talking about a solution.”

Cops were seen swarming Nancy’s Arizona home on Friday as they seized a car and camera wired to the roof.

FBI agents confiscated an SUV from the property where Guthrie is believed to have been kidnapped sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

A tow truck removed the blue Subaru SUV from her home before cops escorted it to an impound lot near Pima County Sheriff’s Office, according to Fox News.

Investigators did not share why the vehicle had been seized from the property on their third visit to the crime scene.

Forensic teams were also seen scouring the roof of the Tucson property to retrieve the camera that had been missed in several previous searches.

Blood drops were also found on Nancy’s front step, but detectives have not confirmed who the blood belongs to.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has stated the force believes the 84-year-old is “still alive”.

A reward of $50,00 is being offered for any information leading to a breakthrough in the case.

It comes as a man behind fake ransom note texts to the missing woman’s desperate family has been arrested.

Derrick Callella from California was arrested and charged for sending fake text messages demanding payments and making phone calls to Nancy’s family.

For Mikayla Tencer, being self-employed already meant juggling higher taxes, irregular income and the constant pressure of finding her own health insurance. This year, it also meant rethinking how often she could afford to see a doctor.

The 29-year-old content creator in San Francisco paid $168 a month last year for a Blue Shield health plan through Covered California. This year — without enhanced federal subsidies that expired at the end of December — that same plan would have cost $299 a month, with higher copays.

“People assume that because I’m young, I can just pick the cheapest plan and not worry about it,” Tencer said. “But I do need regular care, especially for mental health.”

Tencer is among tens of thousands of middle-class Californians facing steep increases in health insurance costs after Congress allowed enhanced federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans to expire Dec. 31.

Those extra subsidies were enacted in 2021 as part of temporary, pandemic-era relief, boosting financial help for people buying coverage on state-run insurance marketplaces such as Covered California. The law also expanded eligibility to people earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level, about $62,600 for a single person and $128,600 for a family of four.

Mikayla Tencer records a TikTok video featuring eyeliners. Her blog showcases Bay Area attractions and local businesses.

(Paul Kuroda/For The Times)

With the expiration of the enhanced subsidies, people above that income threshold no longer receive federal assistance, and many who still qualify are seeing sharply higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs. On top of the loss of the extra federal benefits, the average Covered California premium this year rose by 10.3% because of fast-rising medical costs.

To lower her monthly bill, Tencer switched to the cheapest Covered California option, bringing her premium down to about $161 a month. But the savings came with new costs. Primary care and mental health visits now carry $60 copays, up from $35.

When she showed up for a psychiatric appointment to manage her ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder, she said, she learned her doctor was out of network.

“That visit would have been $35 before,” she said. “Now it’s $180 out of pocket.”

Because of the higher costs, Tencer said she has cut therapy from weekly to biweekly sessions.

“The subsidies made it possible for me to be self-employed in the first place,” Tencer said. “Without them, I’m seriously thinking about applying for full-time jobs, even though the market is terrible.”

For another self-employed Californian, the increase was even more dramatic.

Krista, a 42-year-old photographer and videographer in Santa Cruz County, relies on costly monthly intravenous treatments for a rare blood disorder. She asked that her full name not be used but shared her insurance and medical documents with The Times.

Last year, she paid about $285 a month for a Covered California plan. In late December, she received a notice showing her premium would rise to more than $1,200 a month. The rise was due to her loss of federal subsidies, as well as a 23% increase in the premium charged by Blue Shield.

“It terrified me. I thought, how am I ever going to retire?” she asked. “What’s the point?”

Krista ultimately enrolled in a plan costing about $522 a month, still nearly double what she had been paying, with a $5,000 deductible. She said she cannot downgrade to a cheaper plan because her clinic bills her treatment to insurance at roughly $30,000 a month, according to medical statements.

To cut costs and preserve the ability to save for retirement and eventually afford a place of her own, Krista decided to move into an RV on private land. The decision came the same week she received notices showing a rent increase and a steep jump in her health insurance premiums.

Mikayla Tencer, a marketing influencer, with her elder dog, “Lucky” at Alamo Square Park.

(Paul Kuroda/For The Times)

Krista said she had been planning for more than a year to find a long-term living situation that would enable her to live independently, rather than continue paying more for an apartment.

“Nobody asks to be sick,” Krista said. “No one should have their life ruined because they get diagnosed with a disease or break a leg.”

Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California, said that about 160,000 Californians lost their subsidies when the enhanced federal assistance expired because their incomes were higher than 400% of the federal poverty level.

Although overall enrollment in Covered California this year has held steady, Altman said, she worries that more people will drop coverage as bills with the higher premiums arrive in the mail.

Those fears are already playing out.

Jayme Wernicke, a 34-year-old receptionist and single mother in Chico who earns about $49,000 a year, said she was transferred from Medi-Cal to a Covered California Anthem Blue Cross plan at the end of 2023. Her premium rose from about $30 a month to $60, then jumped to roughly $230 after the subsidies expired.

“For them to raise my health insurance almost 400% is just insane to me,” Wernicke said.

Her employer, a small family-owned business, does not offer health insurance. Her plan does not include dental or vision care and, she said, barely covers medical costs.

“At a certain point, it just feels completely counterintuitive,” she said. “Either way, I’m losing.”

Wernicke dropped her own coverage and plans to pay for care with cash, calculating that the state tax penalty is less than the cost of premiums. Her daughter remains insured.

Two other Californian residents told The Times that they also decided to go without coverage because they could no longer afford it. They declined to provide their full names, citing concerns about financial and professional consequences.

Under California law, residents without coverage face an annual penalty of at least $900 per adult and $450 per child.

One, a 29-year-old self-employed publicist in Los Angeles requires medication for epilepsy. Last year, she paid about $535 a month for a silver plan through Covered California. This year, the same plan would have cost $823.

After earning about $55,000 last year, she calculated that paying for care out of pocket would cost far less. Her epilepsy medication costs about $175 every three months without insurance, and her annual doctor visits total roughly $250.

“All of that combined is still far less than paying hundreds of dollars every month,” she said.

Another, April, a 58-year-old small-business owner in San Francisco, canceled her insurance in December after her quoted premium rose to $1,151 a month for a bronze plan and $1,723 for a silver plan, just for herself. Last year, April said she paid $566 for both her and her daughter. This year, her daughter’s premium alone jumped from $155 to $424.

The bronze plan also carried a $3,500 deductible for lab work and specialist visits, meaning she would have had to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket before coverage kicked in, on top of the higher monthly premium.

“The subsidies were absolutely what allowed me to sustain my business,” April said. “They were helping me sustain my financial world and have affordable care.”

She rushed to complete medical tests before dropping coverage and hopes to go a year uninsured.

“The scariest part is not having catastrophic coverage,” she said. “If something happens, it can be millions of dollars.”

Tencer, the content creator in San Francisco, believes that in order to make the nation healthier, affordable healthcare should be universal.

“Our government should be providing it.” she said. “People can’t go to the doctor for routine checkups, they can’t get things checked out early, and they can’t access the resources they need.”

The TV Licence fee rose to £174.50 in April 2025, but some people may need to pay twice

Many households faced a rise in the TV Licence fee last year, with the Government pushing the price up to £174.50 in April 2025. This yearly payment is generally required for homes and businesses watching live television, including broadcasts on services such as Netflix and YouTube, as well as BBC iPlayer content.

Whilst just one licence covers each household, the situation is different for people with a second home or a caravan. Sometimes, you might need to get another TV Licence for that property, which could see the total bill jump to £349.

Additional TV Licences are particularly necessary if you intend to view TV channels on any service, live broadcasts on streaming services, and BBC iPlayer from a second property. According to official TV Licensing online guidance, this covers any device in a house, flat, bungalow, or cottage.

The only exception is if you exclusively use devices running on their own batteries, so they’re not linked to an aerial or connected to the mains electricity. In those circumstances, your main residence’s TV Licence will suffice.

Yet completely separate rules apply to those living in a touring caravan, static caravan, boat, mobile home, or moveable chalet. Official guidance confirms that your main home’s TV Licence should cover you, provided nobody is watching live programmes or accessing BBC iPlayer at the same time at your main licensed address.

In this case, you’ll be required to complete a declaration form, which ought to take just a few minutes. The forms can be accessed in both English and Welsh.

Official TV licensing guidance adds: “You could be prosecuted if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally. The maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay.

“A standard TV Licence costs £174.50 and a black and white licence costs £58.50.” For more information, click here.

Why has the licence fee gone up?

The Secretary of State approved a 2.9% hike in the licence fee for 2024, coming into force from April 1, 2025, aligned with annual CPI inflation. This represents a daily increase of just over 1p and is only the second fee rise since April 1, 2021.

The adjustment has raised the annual colour licence fee to £174.50, while the black-and-white licence now costs £58.50 annually. Moving forward, licence fee rises will track CPI inflation for the following four years, ending in 2027.

What does a TV Licence include?

Your payment encompasses four main elements. According to the Express, these include:

• All TV channels – like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels
• Pay TV services – like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV
• Live TV on streaming services – like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video
• Everything on BBC iPlayer

This covers watching, recording, and downloading on any device.

Win-win might be overstating the outcome. But when the Dodgers emailed their roughly 55 tour guides Wednesday to say they were getting the pay raise they sought during a failed attempt to unionize, there must have been more smiles than frowns.

The Dodgers and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees reached an agreement in October, but ratification of the pact by the union failed by one vote. A second vote also narrowly failed. Then in January the tour guides voted to decertify the union, meaning the pay raise and increased stadium security on non-game days IATSE and the Dodgers had agreed upon were off the table.

Not for long. The Dodgers bumped up the guides’ pay from $17.87 to $24 an hour — the same increase they would have gotten under the scrapped union contract.

That’s hardly Kyle Tucker money: The Dodgers’ new right fielder signed a contract for $240 million over four years, an average annual value of $60 million. The Dodgers will pay the tour guides a grand total of about $650,000 in 2026 — $170,000 of that reflecting the raise of about $3,000 per person. Tucker will make 92 times the entire tour guide payroll annually.

Dodger Stadium tours have become increasingly popular — generating more than $1 million a year in revenue — because of recent stadium renovations, two consecutive World Series championships and the signings of Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

“The tour program has grown so much in the age of Ohtani,” said Ray Lokar, a veteran Dodgers tour guide whose full-time career was as a high school coach and athletic director for nearly 40 years. “The visibility and security responsibilities have been amplified. It’s grown from a mom‐and‐pop operation of a dozen people showing folks around the stadium to a multimillion-dollar asset.”

Tours now take place every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The burgeoning demand has caused breaches in stadium security, with guides flagging instances of tour participants entering the top deck with backpacks and even rolling suitcases going unchecked.

The union agreement included a promise by the Dodgers to beef up security. Some guides worried that the decertification would mean the team might continue to ignore their safety concerns. However, the letter to tour guides announcing the raise also addressed stadium security without offering specifics.

“I want you to know that we hear you, team, and we see you,” wrote Kayla Rodiger, Dodgers senior manager of tours. “Your concerns are valid, and I’ll be working closely with our front office colleagues to ensure we make a sincere and meaningful effort to address them.

“That being said, we are actively discussing security issues around the stadium, and I hope to have an update for you on your Top Deck concerns soon.”

Nicole Miller, president of IATSE Local B-192, led the union negotiations that fell short of a contract but likely nudged the Dodgers into addressing the pay and security issues on their own.

“Make no mistake, our IATSE Local B-192 bargaining team’s efforts were crucial in the tour guides obtaining a significant wage increase, and we hope they follow up on their promise to increase security,” Miller said.

The letter from Rodiger also said that the Dodgers’ longtime practice of offering tour guides comp tickets would continue. The perk of four reserve-level tickets for each of the 13 homestands in a season is worth $2,600 assuming the tickets are valued at $50 each. Miller said that in 2024 only three tour guides took all 52 tickets; on average, each guide took 32.

The Dodgers refused to mention free tickets in the union agreement because they said other part-time union employees would demand the same perk. Still, the uncertainty surrounding the tickets kept several guides from voting for union representation.

The contentious negotiations and near 50-50 split among the membership prompted veteran tour guide Cary Ginell to retire, sending a letter Jan. 23 to several of the Dodgers’ top executives.

“I’m writing to let you know that the tour program has become a dysfunctional battle between pro and anti-union factions with resentment and animosity on both sides,” wrote Ginell, a Grammy-nominated author of more than a dozen books on American music. “As an executive, you should be concerned about this, because it reflects on the entire Dodger organization.

“Above all, I wanted what was best for the tour guides, especially the younger ones who struggle to earn a living by working multiple jobs, but come to work afraid of who will be reporting on them and what threats might occur due to the absence of building security.”

Less than two weeks later, the Dodgers responded.

“Over the past two years, our department has thrived, earning recognition across the Dodgers organization, the league, and the City of Los Angeles,” Rodiger wrote to the tour guides. “Your ability to stay focused and uphold our standards to continue to give World Champion level tours has not gone unnoticed, and I promise you all that your contributions to this organization are not taken for granted.”

The One Show hosts announced some sad news on Wednesday’s instalment (February 4) of the BBC show

Alex Jones and JB Gill delivered a touching tribute to John Virgo on The One Show.

The beloved snooker icon and BBC commentator has died at the age of 79, reports Wales Online.

Sharing the sad news at the close of Wednesday’s edition of the BBC programme (February 4), TV star JB announced: “Before we go we just wanted to take a moment to mention today’s news about the death of former UK snooker champion John Virgo at the age of 79.”

“Many of us also fondly remember him from his commentating work and his TV programmes like Big Break so of course our thoughts are with his family and his friends,” continued the star.

“Of course,” his co-host Alex Jones acknowledged as she sat beside him on the sofa.

Whilst the presenters paid tribute, a photograph of the late snooker legend appeared on screen.

It was revealed earlier in the day that Virgo had died, prompting a wave of sorrow from his fans and the snooker community.

A statement on the World Snooker Instagram account read: “Everyone at World Snooker Tour is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of legendary snooker player and broadcaster John Virgo, aged 79.

“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, JV.”

It was shared on the platform alongside a black and white photograph of Virgo with the dates 1946 to 2026.

Fans have been offering tributes on social media following the announcement.

“Aww he was great RIP,” one person wrote on X, which was formerly Twitter.

“To me John Virgo was like Eddie Butler was to rugby commentary, he was the voice of snooker,” remarked another person. Others hailed him as a “legend”.

One fan of the late snooker ace wrote on the platform: “I grew up watching the snooker decades ago and watching John Virgo was always brilliant. His skill as a player was immense but what a great character RIP.”

“Mr Virgo you were very much loved,” they added in the moving post.

The One Show airs from 7pm on BBC One on weekdays

How much you’ll pay for a new or replacement passport can vary

The price of a new or replacement passport rose in 2025, with some people having to shell out as much as £222 for the important travel document. Everyone in the UK needs a passport for international travel.

As per Gov.uk, you can apply for a British passport if you’re a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British overseas citizen, a British subject, a British national (overseas), or a British protected person. These documents are issued by HM Passport Office and currently take roughly three weeks or less to arrive.

Most people will have to pay a fee to renew an existing passport or to apply for a new one, including those for children. As of April 2025, a standard adult passport, for those aged 16 and over, costs £94.50 when applying online, or £107 when applying using the paper form.

A standard child’s passport now costs £69, or £74 for a postal application. If you need the document urgently, you can expect so pay significantly more for a passport. The fee for a Premium Service (one day) application is £222 for adults, or £189 for a child’s passport.

Those applying for a UK passport from overseas will have to pay £108, or £70 for a child’s passport. If applying internationally via the paper form, the cost is £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

While the majority of applicants will need to pay for their passports, some people can get theirs for free. If you were born on or before September 2, 1929, you can apply for a new British passport or renew your existing one without any cost.

You can also use the Post Office Check and Send service at no charge and benefit from complimentary secure delivery. However, the government has confirmed that charges must be paid if you require a passport urgently or if you wish to obtain a frequent traveller passport (one containing more pages than the standard version).

The UK government is said to be planning a significant increase in the cost of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), hurting travellers’ pockets once again.

Travellers heading to the UK could soon be forced to dig deeper in their pockets as the government plans to increase the cost of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). A 25% rise is claimed to be in the offing, which would push the fee up from £16 to £20.

The ETA scheme, first rolled out back in 2023, applies only to visitors from countries that do not require a visa to enter the UK. This includes citizens from EU member states, as well as visitors from the US, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, among others.

It allows multiple trips to the UK with stays of up to six months over a two-year period, or until a traveller’s passport expires. Nevertheless, this isn’t the first price rise in recent times, and is yet another sign of people’s pockets being hit.

Just last year, the cost of an ETA jumped up by 60%, going from £10 to £16, with this higher fee enforced in April 2025. Now, a home office briefing suggests ministers want to pump up the price once again, although no official date has been confirmed, and the increase would still require parliamentary approval.

“As with all our fees, the cost of an ETA is kept under review, and we intend to increase the cost of an ETA to £20 in the future,” said a Home Office spokesperson. “We will provide more information in due course.”

The government has been a strong defender of the scheme, revealing that 19.6 million ETAs were granted over its first two years of operation, up to last September. Further changes are on the way, however, with new rules from February 25 preventing eligible visitors from boarding transport on route to the UK without an approved ETA.

Travellers passing through UK airports on connecting flights via passport control still need an ETA, unless they are going through London Heathrow or Manchester airports and do not cross the UK border.

This potential price hike has sparked concern across the travel industry, with Joss Croft, CEO of travel association UKinbound saying: “Increasing visa and ETA costs risks pulling the visitor economy in the wrong direction and stunting that growth.

“International visitors have a choice, and the UK already has some of the highest entry costs in the world. Making it even more expensive to visit undermines our competitiveness and puts valuable export income at risk.

“Inbound tourism supports jobs, high streets, pubs and hospitality businesses in communities across the UK. If the government wants growth to be felt locally, it must rethink these increases and keep the UK open, welcoming and competitive.”

It comes after other countries and regions confirmed plans to raise their own travel authorisation fees. The EU is expected to charge €20 for its upcoming ETIAS system, due to launch in late 2026, while the US ESTA fee almost doubled to $40 in September 2025.