years

The U.S. Air Force says it estimates a fleet of Next Generation Airlift (NGAL) aircraft will be flying operational missions by the 2040-2041 timeframe. The service hopes to have its C-5M Galaxy and C-17A Globemaster III cargo planes replaced by NGAL types by the mid-2040s and mid-2070s, respectively. By 2075, the C-17, a type that has been under particular strain in recent years, will have been in service for 80 years, though the remaining individual aircraft will be younger than that.

Air Mobility Command (AMC) laid out its latest vision for its future airlift fleets in a strategy memo released earlier this week. The document reconfirms that the current plan is for a single NGAL aircraft to supplant the C-5M and C17A, which AMC had first disclosed publicly in September. At that time, the command had only said it was targeting the mid-2040s timeframe to begin making the transition to its new cargo planes. The Air Force had 222 C-17As and 52 C-5Ms in its inventory as of the start of Fiscal Year 2025.

“With an accelerated NGAL Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) in FY27 [Fiscal Year 2027] and an uninterrupted acquisition process with consistent funding, the first NGAL aircraft could be produced as early as FY38,” the Airlift Recapitalization Strategy document, dated November 18, 2025, explains. “It is estimated [that] the NGAL program will reach Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in FY41.”

U.S. government fiscal years run from October 1 of the year before through September 30 of the year in question. So, for example, Fiscal Year 2041 starts on October 1, 2040, and ends on September 30, 2041.

“One NGAL aircraft will replace one C-5M aircraft until the entire C-5M fleet is retired. Then, the C-17A fleet will be replaced by NGAL at a one-for-one swap,” the document adds. “Uninterrupted inter-theater airlift capacity is paramount for global operations during fleet recapitalization. Current recapitalization projections require C-5M viability until 2045 and C-17A viability through 2075.”

The Air Force’s C-5Ms were all upgraded from older B and C variants that began their service careers in the 1980s. C-17As first began entering operational service in 1995. Neither of these aircraft is still in production.

By 2045, the youngest C-5Ms will have been flying for some 56 years. As already mentioned, the Air Force is now set to keep flying C-17s for eight decades. The service took delivery of its last Globemaster III in 2013, which will be 62 years old in 2075.

It’s also important to point out here that a succession of major crises globally has led to persistently high demand for the C-17 fleet in recent years. The aircraft have played notably critical roles in the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the delivery of military aid to Ukraine immediately before and since Russia’s all-out invasion in 2022, and various contingencies around the Middle East since 2023. This, in turn, has put immense strain on the aircraft, and their crews, and has created additional sustainment challenges. With all this in mind, how exactly the Air Force concluded it would be feasible to keep the C-17s flying through 2075 is unclear.

“To mitigate risks associated with acquisition delays, funding uncertainties, or technological challenges, the existing C-5M and C-17A fleets’ operational viability must be maintained until a fully capable replacement is fielded, which may require extending the service life and associated Military Type Certificate (MTC) of each platform,” the AMC airlift strategy document does note.

There have been growing discussions already about re-engining the C-17 fleet, which could help extend the operational life of those aircraft. New engines that offer greater fuel economy and/or higher reliability could give the aircraft a boost in performance, as well as reduce operating costs and sustainment demands.

“The C-17 and C-5 … served us well for decades, but they’re not going to fly forever, and so we’d like to recapitalize those on our timeline,” Air Force Gen. John Lamontagne, head of AMC, had told TWZ and other outlets at a roundtable on the sidelines of the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2025 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in Spetember. “We’d like to have a plan in place so when the service life starts to erode on the C-17, whether it’s wings, engines, or more, we’ve got a competition already going.”

AMC does also have plans now for other capability upgrades to its existing airlift fleets, especially the workhorse C-17s, to ensure their continued relevance, especially in future high-end fights. The Globemaster IIIs are already in the process of getting new beyond-line-of-sight communications suites, and new defensive systems could also be on the horizon.

Many questions about the successor NGAL aircraft still remain to be answered, as well, including whether or not the Air Force might require the design to incorporate stealthy features. Vertical takeoff and landing capabilities and other ways to reduce dependence on traditional runways, access to which is expected to be greatly limited in future major conflicts, might also be part of the equation. The Air Force has explored advanced airlift and aerial refueling tanker concepts that include these elements on multiple occasions in the past. TWZ has been calling attention to the growing need for more survivable cargo planes and tankers for years now.

“As far as what we want in the next[-generation airlift] platform, we want agility, we want speed, we want to be able to operate in a higher threat environment,” Gen. Lamontagne had said in September. This includes “countermeasures that are effective against those threats that are coming from increasingly longer ranges.”

On top of all this is the key equation of how the Air Force expects to replace the C-5M and C-17A with a single platform. The Galaxy and Globemaster III are very different size-wise, as well as in the kinds of missions they were designed to perform, as TWZ has highlighted in the past.

At least one company, Radia, is openly pitching a new airlifter to the Air Force that is bigger than the C-17 and the C-5. However, the Windrunner design is also still in a very aspirational phase of development, as you can read more about here.

Lockheed Martin and Boeing, among others, have also been publicly showing various concepts for advanced transports and tankers in recent years.

The Air Force has talked previously about the potential for NGAL to be a ‘system of systems’ rather than a single aircraft. Speaking in September, Gen. Lamontagne said it remained possible that multiple aircraft types could ultimately come under the NGAL umbrella, but raised concerns about whether his service “can afford, grandkids, kids, all of them.”

No matter what aircraft the Air Force ultimately acquires under NGAL, the service has now set a clear goal for them to begin entering operational service within the next 15 years or so.

Contact the author: [email protected]

One destination continues to bring in tourists from across the UK and the world, as people are charmed by its vintage feel, including its iconic high street which has barely changed in the past 100 years.

As winter starts to bite, one British seaside town is welcoming tourists deciding to avoid the summer crowds. This coastal treasure is famed for its captivating charm and vibrant artistry heritage, all set within stunning natural beauty right on the British coast.

Perched on a peninsula, St Ives in Cornwall features several spectacular beaches, each providing gorgeous panoramic views of the sea.

The town has earned its reputation as an artist hotspot, with creatives coming from far and wide, keen to capture its beauty — all whilst remarkably preserving its character for over 100 years.

Visiting here genuinely feels like stepping back in time, yet it delivers everything expected from a modern seaside getaway.

Cornwall has maintained a special place in British people’s hearts thanks to its dramatic landscape, endless golden sands, secluded coves and rugged cliffs, and St Ives is no exception.

Located north of Penzance on the Celtic Sea coast, the town combines unspoilt natural beauty with numerous attractions.

Visitors can enjoy activities around the town and the surrounding areas, ranging from surfing to coastal walks, alongside one of the country’s most impressive high streets.

St. Ives, with its stunning beaches and quintessential Cornish townscape, is a delight for anyone seeking a springtime stroll.

The town’s iconic high street has recently been praised as one of Britain’s best, thanks to its cobbled lanes, unique boutiques, and charming whitewashed buildings.

The Telegraph, who penned the glowing review, gushed: “Fore Street in St Ives, with its slate-hung shops and independent galleries, has changed little over the last century, offering a perfect mix of local and artistic charm.”

It urged people to come as soon as they can, but gave great recommendations on when to avoid the height of the crowds.

Whilst taking in nature’s fierceness, you can witness the awe-inspiring sight of waves crashing against the rocks below in a truly enthralling moment.

There’s no shortage of things to do in St. Ives either, with a plethora of pubs and restaurants to try out, not to mention a vibrant arts scene featuring numerous studios and galleries.

Art lovers will appreciate the Tate St. Ives gallery, which hosts rotating contemporary art exhibitions, while the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is a must-see.

“I have never seen such a beautiful place in the UK as St. Ives. Many have said it’s like being abroad and it really is,” gushed one TripAdvisor reviewer.

Another added: “The town was beautiful and really peaceful; we will definitely be back.”

Other reviews were quick to point out the natural beauty of the area and the local transport links to other towns such as Penzance. Some people were even thrilled to see the beauty of the town amidst the dull British weather.

One commentator wrote: “In the afternoon the weather had clouded over and with the grey sky, the bay is even more beautiful. Being an English bay facing the ocean; with the sun — it was breathtaking.”

Justice Department prosecutors accused Grammy-winning rapper Pras Michel of betraying his country for money.

A United States district judge has sentenced Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, a member of 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees, to 14 years in prison for illegally funnelling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former US President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

Michel declined to address the court before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced him on Thursday. The trial in Washington, DC, included testimony from former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

This week’s sentencing came after a federal jury convicted Michel on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, in April 2023.

Michel obtained more than $120m from fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho – also known as Jho Low – and steered some of that money through straw donors to Obama’s campaign.

Low is wanted for his leading role in the 1MDB scandal, in which billions of dollars were pilfered from Malaysia’s state investment fund in one of the largest financial frauds in history.

Several senior financial figures and members of Malaysia’s government have been convicted for their role in the scandal, including disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was handed a 12-year prison sentence in 2022, which was later halved.

Court documents, filed by Justice Department prosecutors on Thursday, said the 52-year-old Grammy-winning rapper “lied unapologetically and unrelentingly to carry out his schemes” as he syphoned illegal payments from Low to the Obama campaign.

It is illegal in the US for foreigners to donate to election campaigns, as well as to pay someone else to make a campaign contribution.

“Prakazrel Michel betrayed his country for money. He funnelled millions of dollars in prohibited foreign contributions into a United States presidential election and attempted to manipulate a sitting president to serve a foreign criminal and a foreign power,” prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said Michel had attempted to end a Justice Department investigation into Low and the 1MDB scandal, as well as “tampered with witnesses and then perjured himself at trial”.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly was advised by prosecutors that federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for such crimes, urging her to take into account the “breadth and depth of his crimes, his indifference to the risks to his country, and the magnitude of his greed”.

Michel’s lawyers downplayed the extent of his crimes, saying Low’s motivation for donating money was not to “achieve some policy objective”.

“Instead, Low simply wanted to obtain a photograph with himself and then-President Obama,” Michel’s lawyers wrote.

Low – who remains in hiding and claims innocence – courted America’s rich and famous during a years-long spending spree allegedly financed by funds stolen from 1MDB.

Notably, he was one of the primary financiers of the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring DiCaprio.

Defence lawyer Peter Zeidenberg said Michel will appeal.

He labelled his client’s 14-year sentence “completely disproportionate to the offence” and “absurdly high” given such terms are typically reserved for deadly terrorists and drug cartel leaders.

Instead, Zeidenberg recommended a three-year prison sentence for Michel.

Michel, a Brooklyn native whose parents immigrated to the US from Haiti, was a founding member of the Fugees along with childhood friends Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean. The group won two Grammy Awards during their peak in the 1990s and sold tens of millions of albums.

KATIE Price has revealed she is planning her next procedure in the form of a hair transplant.

The 47-year-old has confirmed she is undergoing the cosmetic enhancing procedure after being left riddled with bald patches.

Katie has been left with the patches after years of using hair extensions which have left her with excessive damage.

The star confirmed her plans to undergo the transplant during the latest episode of her self-titled podcast which she hosts with her sister, Sophie.

Speaking on the podcast, Katie was quizzed on her future surgery plans by Sophie who said to the star: “I have seen your diary and I haven’t told mum what I’ve seen.”

As Sophie refused to go into detail in what she was referring too, Katie shot back as she asked: “How do you know it is not a hair transplant?”

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Katie then added: “I need that!

“That I need… I think because I’ve had my face pulled…”

She then became distracted as she was interrupted by son Harvey who was showing off his press-ups.

However, she went on to say: “I have no time for surgery [before Christmas] but what you have seen in my diary is probably getting a hair transplant.

“That’s the end of January.”

Katie previously spoke out about her bald patches back in 2022.

At the time, she began to plug a product on Instagram that she claimed could help with baldness – a problem she revealed she was dealing with.

Katie said in 2022: “Look at my hair everyone.

“Now I was starting to bald at the side of my hair, and I’ve been rubbing this on my scalp and the side of my hair.”

Amid her hair worries, she also filmed a mini-documentary on alopecia.

The TV star tackled the stigma around baldness and alopecia – the autoimmune condition that causes hair all over the body to fall out.

She teamed up with Channel 4 show Steph’s Packed Lunch on the candid mini-film.

The FA credited the Lionesses’ home success at Euro 2022 as key in “shaping government discussions and driving forward policy change”.

Sarina Wiegman’s winning side signed an open letter to then Conservative party leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, asking for “every young girl” to be able to play football at school.

The FA says 90% of schools now offer girls equal access to football through PE lessons at Key Stages 2 (aged 7-11) and 3 (aged 11-14).

“This was never about girls becoming the next Lionesses, it was about normalising girls playing football, just like boys do. It’s about equality,” said former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who is an ambassador for Barclays Football.

After winning the Euros at Wembley in 2022, England reached the Women’s World Cup final the following year, losing to Spain. But they then beat Spain to retain their European crown in July.

“No girl should ever face barriers to playing football in school,” said Stacey Mullock, the head of development at the FA.

“That belief drove us to set ambitious targets and push for a cultural shift where girls have the same access and opportunities as boys.”

However, the FA said there is “more work to be done” for Key Stage 4 (aged 14-16), where “many teenage girls stop participating in team sports due to barriers like confidence, body image, and negative perceptions”.

The governing body also aims to increase the amount of schools offering equal opportunities through extra-curricular clubs from 83% to 90% by 2028.

A writer who has been visiting France for half a century has shared his thoughts on the country, and there’s one thing that would make things “just about perfect” if it were scrapped

A writer who has been visiting France for an incredible five decades has pinpointed one thing that would make the country “just about perfect” if it were scrapped. Anthony Peregrine, a journalist with half a century of French adventures under his belt, recently shared his thoughts on how Britain’s nearest continental neighbour has evolved over the decades.

Looking back on his earliest French excursions, Anthony recalled living in a “haze of cheap wine, easy friendships and simmering dishes”—though he also suggested the country has “moved on” since those early days.

Among the areas he highlighted were drains, trains, hotels, motoring, and cafés. But once he touched on the subject of restaurants, he identified what seems to be a modern pet peeve of his.

Writing in The Telegraph, Anthony observed: “Traditional French restaurants, whether Parisian brasseries, family-run operations or village bistros, are still around. Fast food, chain restaurants, sushi bars and the rest are complementary, not replacements.”

Anthony said the choice on offer is now “greater than ever,” with waiters being “mainly professional” and world-class wine and cheese. He also noted the scallops, which he described as his “chosen meal the night before my execution.”

He added: “If only someone would get rid of QR codes masquerading as menus, things would be just about perfect.”

The recommendation comes on the back of another recent report in which writer Sydney Evans highlighted a beach they discovered on the French Riviera, only a 15-minute train ride from Nice.

Writing for the Express, Sydney praised the resort town of Villefranche-sur-Mer in the Alpes-Maritimes department, describing a beach “even more serene” than one in the Riviera’s capital.

Sydney wrote: “Stretching on for 10km, finding a spot to sunbathe was never a problem. But the beach at Villefranche-sur-Mer was even more serene, and it’s no surprise it’s known as one of the region’s most beautiful towns.

“Protected by plunging cliffs, complete with pastel-coloured houses overlooking the turquoise sea, walking out of the train station and taking in the beach felt like the very definition of a picture-perfect moment.”

The writer went on to highlight the destination’s “laid-back feel” and “incredibly calm” waters, noting that the promenade also features “pretty” cafés and restaurants.

Meanwhile, prior to October’s introduction of the EU entry-exit system, reports surfaced that French authorities would enforce certain requirements on British tourists.

In September, The Independent reported that Eurostar passengers at London St Pancras International would be asked whether they had somewhere to stay, enough money, medical insurance, and a ticket home.

The report added that passengers without these could be refused entry and noted that this would also apply to people travelling non-stop to Belgium via France.

Welcome back to another Oscar season!

I’m Matt Brennan, editor in chief of The Envelope, and each Wednesday from now until Jan. 7, I’ll be sending you a (digital) editor’s letter with some highlights from our Phase I issues.

Our first issue of the 2025-2026 campaign features stories on documentaries, films about the Palestinian experience and “Marty Supreme’s” Odessa A’zion.

A Deeper Dive: Documentaries

(Illustration by Daniel Stolle / For The Times)

I won’t pretend to be Nostradamus when it comes to Hollywood’s top awards — my Gold Derby Emmys ballot didn’t even crack the top 1,000 — but most anyone who ran into me at this year’s Sundance Film Festival heard at least one bold prediction that turned out to be correct: 2025 has been a sterling year for documentaries.

With journalists under attack in the U.S., Ukraine, Gaza and beyond, the form’s close connection to reportage has never felt more urgent, at least not to me. In the contraband prison images of “The Alabama Solution,” the body camera footage of “The Perfect Neighbor,” the conflict coverage of “2000 Meters to Andriivka” and “Love + War,” the portraiture of “Cover-Up” and much more besides, the year’s finest documentaries — no, the year’s finest films — manage to unearth new ways of seeing our society’s most pressing issues, often with more precision and subtlety than scripted films much longer (and costlier) in the making.

To that end, this week Steve Dollar asks the filmmakers behind five of the year’s many worthy nonfiction films — “Apocalypse in the Tropics,” “Folktales,” “Predators,” “Seeds” and “The Tale of Silyan” — to share what images became the keystone of their latest projects.

Digital Cover: Odessa A’zion

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

I can confirm Tim Grierson’s reporting that Odessa A’zion is a hugger: I received several myself from the “Marty Supreme” and “I Love L.A.” performer when she stopped by The Times newsroom recently for an Envelope digital cover shoot, her own 16mm still camera in hand.

As Grierson notes of the actor, A’zion “doesn’t behave like a rising star” — and she’s not particularly comfortable with the label, either.

“A’zion has heard those predictions before, so she’s wary about being anointed the next big thing,” he writes. “After all, she remembers all the auditions that went nowhere. She remembers being behind on her rent. She remembers almost being evicted. She remembers getting fired from gigs. Simply being cast in a Josh Safdie film doesn’t make those old wounds disappear. ‘To all of a sudden be like, “OK, I’m done [worrying about my career]!” — I don’t see that feeling coming anytime soon.’”

A trio of Palestinian films in the international feature race

A scene from “All That’s Left of You.”

(Watermelon Pictures)

Palestinian stories are no stranger to awards season. But this year, as Gregory Ellwood writes, a trio of films from female directors — each submitted by a different country and each set in a different time period — make for a particularly remarkable confluence.

“In a way, the movie lived what most Palestinians live: war, exile, fleeing,” “All That’s Left of You” filmmaker Cherien Dabis told Ellwood of her film having to shift production after the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war. “All of the uncertainty, the financial and logistical crisis of it all. I think that what really grounded me during that time was just knowing that the movie was more relevant than ever, and that it had to get done.”

Read more on “All That’s Left of You,” “Palestine 36” and “The Voice of Hind Rajab.”

Additional highlights from our Nov. 20 issue

PA Media

Reuters

PA Media

How did we get here?

PA Media

Action Images/Reuters

Theme parks may seem like a modern invention. but there is a surprisingly long history behind the attractions. The first theme park in the UK is over 180 years old and still delighting visitors

From thrilling rollercoasters to interactive games, theme parks are always inventing new and more exciting ways to keep people entertained. But the concept of a theme park, or amusement park, actually dates back as far as the Middle Ages, when travelling fairs would bring markets and live entertainment to towns and villages.

In Victorian times, pleasure gardens kept people entertained, with music and theatre, social events, street entertainment, and al fresco dining. At the same time, Victorians were also growing more interested in improving their health. They’d often escape the grimy city streets to enjoy seaside resorts, believing the fresh air and sea water were good for curing any ailments. The Isle of Wight became a particularly desirable destination among well-heeled Victorians, and this gave a local businessman an idea for a new venture.

Blackgang Chine was originally conceived as a kind of pleasure garden by founder Alexander Dabell, opening its doors in 1843. Since then, the park has remarkably not only stayed open, but also stayed within the family, with Alexander’s descendants still running Blackgang Chine to this day.

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The site was initially a general purpose park with some curiosities to amuse Victorian guests, such as a large whale skeleton, which is still on display today. Rumours and legends about smugglers around the island gave the park its theme, and one of its most iconic sights is the giant fibreglass smuggler at the entrance. There are also lots of local stories about the ghosts of smugglers haunting the park at night.

After going through many changes throughout the years, the park has 40-acres of gardens with several themed lands to explore. There are thrill rides such as Extinction, which make the most of the park’s clifftop position to offer an adrenaline fuelled experience. This swing rotates 360-degrees and hangs off the edge of a cliff, with nothing but the sea beneath your feet. There’s also Evolution, a tower drop ride which gives riders amazing views of the Jurassic Coast before plummeting 400 metres in seconds.

There are many pirate and smuggler-themed rides including the Jolly Robin, a pirate ship ride, and the spinning Shipwrecked. The park is also home to Waterforce, the Isle of Wight’s biggest waterslide, and the Crooked House, which is fun for all ages to explore.

There’s also fun stuff for younger kids such as The Blackgang Beach, a giant water pillow you can walk and bounce across, and the classic twirling Pirate Barrels, which both adults and children will love.

Blackgang Chine has many fans, having delighted visitors for decades, and among them is a celebrity. In 2010, former child star Rupert Grint, known for his role in the Harry Potter films, expressed his love for the Isle of Wight and said his favourite attraction was Blackgang Chine.

Find out more about Blackgang Chine on its official website. The park opens from late March to early November with 2026 dates to be confirmed.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at [email protected].

WASHINGTON — President Trump is set to fete Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday when the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia makes his first White House visit since the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship had been sent into a tailspin by the operation targeting Khashoggi, a fierce critic of the kingdom, that U.S. intelligence agencies later determined Prince Mohammed likely directed the agents to carry out.

But seven years later, the dark clouds over the relationship have been cleared away. And Trump has tightened his embrace of the 40-year-old crown prince he views as an indispensable player in shaping the Middle East in the decades to come. Prince Mohammed, for his part, denies involvement in the killing of Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen and Virginia resident.

Khashoggi will likely be an afterthought as the two leaders unveil billions of dollars in deals and huddle with aides to discuss the tricky path ahead in a volatile Middle East. They’ll end their day with an evening White House soiree, organized by first lady Melania Trump, to honor the prince.

“They have been a great ally,” Trump said of the Saudis on the eve of the visit.

Rolling out the red carpet

Technically, it’s not a state visit, because the crown prince is not the head of state. But Prince Mohammed has taken charge of the day-to-day governing for his father, King Salman, 89, who has endured health problems in recent years.

Most foreign leaders who come to meet with Trump are driven up to the doors of the West Wing, where the president often greets them. But Prince Mohammed, accompanied by the Saudi prime minister, will be welcomed with an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn.

An Oval Office meeting and luncheon in the Cabinet Room will follow.

Trump will then see the crown prince off in the afternoon but he’s expected to return to the South Lawn, with the first lady, to welcome the crown prince when he returns for the evening East Room dinner.

In addition to White House pomp, the two nations are also planning an investment summit at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday that will include the heads of Salesforce, Qualcomm, Pfizer, the Cleveland Clinic, Chevron and Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s national oil and natural gas company, where even more deals with the Saudis could be announced.

Fighter jets and business deals

Ahead of Prince Mohammed’s arrival, Trump announced he has agreed to sell the Saudis F-35 fighter jets despite some concerns within the administration that the sale could lead to China gaining access to the U.S. technology behind the advanced weapon system.

Trump’s announcement is also surprising because some in the Republican administration have been wary about upsetting Israel’s qualitative military edge over its neighbors, especially at a time when Trump is depending on Israeli support for the success of his Gaza peace plan.

But the unexpected move comes at a moment when Trump is trying to nudge the Saudis toward normalizing relations with Israel.

The president in his first term had helped forge commercial and diplomatic ties between Israel and Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates through an effort dubbed the Abraham Accords.

Trump sees expansion of the accords as essential to his broader efforts to build stability in the Middle East after the two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

And getting Saudi Arabia — the largest Arab economy and the birthplace of Islam — to sign on would create an enormous domino effect, he argues. The president in recent weeks has even predicted that once Saudi Arabia signs on to the accords, “everybody” in the Arab world “goes in.”

But the Saudis have maintained that a clear path toward Palestinian statehood must first be established before normalizing relations with Israel can be considered. The Israelis, meanwhile, remain steadfastly opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state.

The U.N. Security Council on Monday approved a U.S. plan for Gaza that authorizes an international stabilization force to provide security in the devastated territory and envisions a possible future path to an independent Palestinian state.

Assurances on U.S. military support

The leaders certainly will have plenty to talk about including maintaining the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, mutual concerns about Iran’s malign behavior, and a brutal civil war in Sudan.

And the Saudis are looking to receive formal assurances from Trump defining the scope of U.S. military protection for the kingdom, even though anything not ratified by Congress can be undone by the next president.

Prince Mohammed, 40, who has stayed away from the West after the Khashoggi killing, is also looking to reestablish his position as a global player and a leader determined to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil by investing in sectors like mining, technology and tourism.

To that end, Saudi Arabia is expected to announce a multi-billion dollar investment in U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the two countries will lay out details about new cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly ahead of the formal announcement.

A coalition of 11 human rights groups ahead of the crown prince’s visit called on the Trump administration to use its leverage to press Saudi authorities, who badly want to broaden its business and defense connections with the U.S., to make concrete commitments on human rights and press freedom during the visit.

The activists say Saudi authorities continue to harshly repress dissent, including by arresting human rights defenders, journalists, and political dissidents for criticism against the kingdom. Human rights organizations have also documented a surge in executions in Saudi Arabia that they connect to an effort to suppress internal dissent.

“Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is trying to rebrand himself as a global statesman, but the reality at home is mass repression, record numbers of executions, and zero tolerance for dissent,” Sarah Yager, Washington director at the group Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “U.S. officials should be pressing for change, not posing for photos.”

Madhani writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Josh Boak and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

ONE of the most famous streets in London is going car-free for one very festive day.

Without the hassle of dodging cars and going up and down the pavements, it means you can shop and even dance on a party bus well into the evening.

On Saturday, December 6, Regent Street will close to traffic and will be turned into a winter wonderland.

All of the festive mile will be completely walkable between 2pm and 9pm and as well as exploring the shops, there will be plenty of other fun festive activities too.

Parked up on Regent Street will be three vintage red buses with a different surprise in each.

In one will be The Spirit of Christmas Selfie Station where there will be an ‘Instagrammable’ selfie spot on the top deck with the backdrop of the iconic angel light displays.

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On another vintage bus will be a disco from ‘Choose Love’ where you can enjoy a boogie under flashing lights.

There will also be live music from choirs and DJs who bring the festive cheer.

Then make sure to check out The Gift Wrap and Festive Crafts Bus where you’ll find all sorts from wreath making or children’s Christmas crafting – you might have to book in advance for some so head here for more info.

If you’ve bought some gifts from the shops along Regent Street, take them onto the bus and take advantage of the free wrapping station.

Just show the receipt from a Regent Street or St James’s store and leave with a perfectly wrapped present.

This is the first time since 2020 that the busy shopping street has closed for a Christmas shopping afternoon.

Some of your favourite shops are holding special offers too – at NEOM you can have a go on the spin-to-win wheel.

If you land on the right spot, you’ll get your hands on some goodies and enjoy a complimentary travel candle (with any £20 purchase).

Marc Jacobs are having an exclusive in their shop with a DJ set and drinks.

66°North are giving out drinks to customers and if you choose to dine at Ziggy Green – the Soho Saint Brass Band will be playing in the background.

Or head over to Bentley’s where there will be Christmas carols on the terrace which you can listen to while sipping on mulled wine or having oysters – which you can also take away.

For Christmas, The Choose love Shop will return to Regent Street as part of the charity’s 10^th birthday.

Free gift wrapping will also be available in-store on December 11, 14, 20 – all that’s needed is a valid receipt from a shop in Regent Street or St James’s.

While this experience is just for one day, the road in the West End that runs between Piccadilly Circus and St James’s Park.

As part of the proposal, Regent Street St James would be prioritised for pedestrians, and Haymarket would become a two-way street for motors.

Some surrounding side streets would be restricted for vehicles too in order to make space for pedestrians, and possibly outdoor cafes too.

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It will introduce safer cycling routes, better pedestrian crossings and the removal of the central island on Regent Street itself.

Other areas that could become car-free include Oxford Street and Camden.

Here’s what you’ll find at Winter Wonderland this year…

Winter Wonderland in London – which was recently named the UK’s best Christmas market – will launch on November 14 and run for six weeks until January 1.

Santa Land has been revamped this year with a new interactive Elves Workshop experience.

Visitors can play puzzles, spin giant cogs and help the elves bring Santa’s toys to life. Families can also uncover hidden treasures and get Santa’s autograph.

Part of the revamped Santa Land will also be a free Santa’s Grotto experience.

Visitors will head off on a journey through the new Elves Workshop and see Mrs Claus before meeting the big man himself.

Completely new for this year is the world’s first street food market just for kids.

Known as Jingle Bell Bistro, inside elves have collected the top foodie finds from across the globe for kids to enjoy.

Whilst the Magical Ice Kingdom is nothing new, it will have a new theme this year – ‘A Mystical, Mythical Fantasy World’.

Visitors will be able to adventure through the Four Realms of Earth, Fire, Air and Water, which will all be made from 500 tonnes of snow and ice by sculptors from the UK and Belgium.

The Magical Ice Kingdom is rather chilly at -10C and it is one of Europe‘s largest ice attractions.

Over in the much-loved Bavarian Village – where there is usually live music, traditional German food and mulled wine – there will be a new Apres-Ski themed village.

Here visitors will be able to grab a festive-themed drink, bratwursts and enjoy live DJ sets.

The iconic Luminarie light arches were introduced to Winter Wonderland back in 2015, but this year will feature a new extension with an additional 50,260 LED bulbs.

It will also feature a market selling unique and traditional festive gifts.

This year the award-winning Cirque Berserk will return with their “most thrilling exclusive show yet” called Ignite.

It will include a number of daredevil performers, including motorbike stunts and fire acts.

An experienced travel agent has listed the underrated Spanish destinations that you should see “before you die” – and they’re all easy to get to from the UK

A travel agent has listed the underrated destinations in Spain you should consider putting onto your bucket list.

Globe-trotter Carlos Lavilla has seen it all over the years – from beautiful beaches to villages perched in the mountains and cities steeped in history. So, to make the most of this experience, he puts all this knowledge to good use by sharing his top tips for fellow holidaymakers.

In a recent TikTok video, Carlos listed some Spanish spots that are more off the beaten track than Madrid or Barcelona. He praised the areas for their authenticity, history and local charm.

Carlos said: “These are the five destinations in Spain you should visit at least once in your life. Remember, this is just my personal opinion as a travel agent and an inveterate traveller for more than 30 years.”

So would you ever give them a visit? You can check out the full list below for inspiration before booking your next trip…

1. Frigiliana, Malaga

Located a few miles away from the Costa del Sol, Frigiliana has earned the title of ‘jewel of the Axarquia’.

Its old town, with its Moorish-Mudejar heritage, has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site, and every corner seems designed to make time stand still.

The whitewashed façades, bougainvillaea-filled planters and views of the Mediterranean turn every stroll into a living postcard.

We’d recommend taking a taxi into the town because parking can be very limited.

This also means you can enjoy some of the region’s delicious (and cheap!) wine without having to get behind the wheel.

2. Merida, Badajoz

Founded in 25 BC as Augusta Emerita, Merida was the capital of Roman Lusitania.

So it’s a hotspot for history buffs, who can visit one of the most complete archaeological sites in Europe.

It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is home to a Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre, as well as historic bridges and the Los Milagros Aqueduct.

After all that exploring, you’ll get the chance to try some delicious local cuisine.

The region is famous for its top-quality Iberian products, which are bound to leave your mouth watering.

3. Albarracin, Teruel

Considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Albarracín seems suspended in another era.

Its ochre colour buildings and winding stone streets of stone transport you back in time – especially in the historic quarter.

Be sure to visit the Cathedral of El Salvador, as well as the walls that crown the hill.

It’s a great spot for a charming rural escape – and isn’t as hot and crowded as other places in Spain, making it perfect for those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere.

4. Salamanca, Castilla y León

Few cities combine such artistic heritage and vitality as Salamanca.

Its famous university, founded in 1218, is one of the oldest in Europe and has been the cradle of scholars, artists and writers.

The Baroque-style Plaza Mayor is a bustling local meeting point, active day and night.

Be sure to stop at The University, the Old and New Cathedrals.

Then do as the locals do by finishing off your day with some tapas and enjoying the ample nightlife.

5. Consuegra, Toledo

If you’ve read Don Quixote, this location is a must-visit.

The windmills of Consuegra stand on Calderico hill, which is what inspired the famous novel.

It’s one of the most photographed panoramic views in central Spain and a great place to watch the sun set.

You can visit from Madrid or Toledo, making it a brilliant option for those just looking for a day trip.

Seventy-six Palestinian patients and their attendants have returned to Gaza after being stranded for two years in hospitals in occupied East Jerusalem where they’d been getting treatment, unable to come back due to Israeli restrictions.

Nov. 15 (UPI) — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday returned 62 Indigenous people’s artifacts held for more than 100 years by the Vatican to leaders of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The pope, meeting with the high clergy members in the Vatican, fulfilled a promise made by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died on April 21.

The original inhabitants of Canada are the First Nations, Inuit and Metis, who comprise 1.8 million people, or 5% of the total population.

The CCCB said in a joint statement with the Vatican that it is “committed to ensuring that these artifacts are properly safeguarded, respected and preserved.”

In early December, after being packaged, they will be taken to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, where the museum curators will examine and catalog them before they are delivered to Indigenous groups across the country.

They will be returned to the National Indigenous Organizations, who “will then ensure that the artifacts are reunited with their communities of origin,” CCCB said in a news release

Leo XIV met with three members of the Canadian clergy — Bishop Pierre Goudreault, the CCCB president; Archbishop Richard Smith; and Father Jean Vezina, general secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops — according to the Vatican.

“The Holy Father’s gift is a tangible sign of his desire to help Canada’s Bishops walk alongside Indigenous Peoples in a spirit of reconciliation during the Jubilee Year of Hope and beyond,” Goudreault said.

“As CCCB President, I would like to thank the National Indigenous Organizations for their openness and collaboration in this work. I assure them of the Church’s unwavering commitment to reconciliation,” he added.

In the joint CCCB-Vatican statement, Holy See officials said that “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV desires that this gift represent a concrete sign of dialogue, respect and fraternity.”

“This is an act of ecclesial sharing, with which the Successor of Peter entrusts to the Church in Canada these artifacts, which bear witness to the history of the encounter between faith and the cultures of the indigenous peoples,” the Vatican said.

The artifacts were part of the Vatican Missionary Exhibition of 1925, encouraged by Pope Pius XI during the Holy Year “to bear witness to the faith and cultural richness of peoples,” according to the Vatican.

The artifacts were subsequently combined with those of the Church’s Lateran Ethnological Missionary Museum.

According to the Vatican, returning the artifacts “takes place amid the Jubilee of 2025, which celebrates hope, and the centenary of the Vatican Missionary Exhibition.”

Indigenous communities for years have been asking to have the items returned.

In spring 2022, community representatives visited the Vatican for meetings with Pope Francis before his trip to Canada in 2023, which included visiting the Vatican Museums and receiving a private tour of the collection.

“This is the Seventh Commandment: If you have stolen something, you must give it back,” Francis said at the time.

In 2024, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Francis during the G-7 meeting in Italy and urged him to make good on returning the artifacts, which include an Inuvialuit kayak once used for beluga and whale hunts, according to Canada’s embassy.

“This is historic, something Indigenous communities have been asking for,” said Joyce Napier, Canadian ambassador to the Holy See.

“A big part of the mandate of the Canadian embassy to the Holy See, when I took on this job, was to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It was a priority for the government. Today’s announcement is a significant step towards reconciliation.”

SACHA Baron Cohen hooked up with a stunning Kylie Jenner lookalike 28 years his junior – just hours after his ex-wife said she had “cried” over being a single woman.

The Ali G comic, 54, who finalised a £120million divorce from actress Isla Fisher in June, flirted with American influencer Kelsey Calemine, 26.

After they had left an exclusive new nightspot in Hollywood, the movie star chatted intimately with Kelsey, before handing her his pink mobile phone, as she appeared to tap her number into it.

Sacha, who is just two years younger than Kelsey’s 56-year-old dad, had spent two hours inside the club between 1am and 3am on Friday morning.

Kelsey and her friend had also emerged from it when the actor got talking to her outside.

Brunette Kelsey – wearing a figure-hugging pink dress – leaned in close to the actor as he whispered into her ear.

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The US socialite and foodie influencer – who has 2.8million Instagram followers and is friends with Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and entrepreneur Lauren Perez – spent several minutes laughing and chatting with Sacha.

After appearing to exchange phone numbers they finally got into separate Ubers, as he waved fondly at her.

An onlooker said: “Sacha arrived at 1am at a hot new exclusive nightclub that is just up and coming in Hollywood.

“He was on his own with no security.

“He left the club at 3am just seconds after Kelsey and her friend left.

“He instantly noticed her.

“He was staring at Kelsey and then walked over and started chatting to her. Someone told me he had been flirting with her inside the club.

“Outside they were both very flirty and they didn’t stop laughing.

“He then walked over to her Uber when it came and gave her his phone which had a pink case and she typed her number into it.”

Kelsey was previously linked to ex-England and Chelsea footballer Ben Chilwell in 2021 after she was seen with him in a Mykonos club. Fellow Premier League ace Jack Grealish was also there.

She has a mega-wealthy real estate developer father Robert Peck, 56.

Insiders said Sacha, who was wearing a brown jacket and white trainers, has been “playing the field” after his marriage split to Isla.

In an interview with Elle Decoration magazine, published on Thursday – just hours before Sacha was pictured with Kelsey – former Home and Away actress Isla, 49, said her partying days were over as she attempts to build a new life for herself in London.

The star – who was married to Sacha for 13 years – said the move “has been challenging, but deeply rewarding”.

She revealed that creating a fresh life from “a grassroots level” has been “tough”.

Discussing the moment her furniture arrived, Isla added: “I did have a bit of a cry because this was my first time as a single woman, being in a home of my own.”

‘LONG TENNIS MATCH MARRIAGE’

She and Sacha announced their split in April last year, saying that after a “long tennis match” their marriage had come to an end.

They met in 2001 and married nine years later in March 2010. They have three children.

Isla previously revealed how the methods of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung had helped her heal from the divorce.

The Jungian method is a therapeutic approach that explores dreams and symbols.

In a statement at the time, Sacha and Isla said: “We are proud of all we’ve achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children.”

In July Isla admitted: “I’ve had a tough couple of years but I’m making it through.”

But a month after they received their decree nisi, Isla was accused of poking fun at his manhood.

It was understood the pair resolved their split amicably.

Pals of Sacha said that he’s enjoying being single and is having fun but he also gives out his number for career advice because of his respect in the industry.

She posted on Instagram: “For all those men who say ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free’ here’s an update for you. Nowadays 80 per cent of women are against marriage. Why? They realise it’s not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage.”

It comes after The Sun revealed in September that Sacha dined out with a 27-year-old blonde model called Hannah Palmer.

They spent two hours at a Beverly Hills steakhouse and then left in a limo.

SACHA’S DATES

Kelsey – who has a food page where she reviews restaurants – was snapped in April with basketball player Michael Porter Jr, 27, at an Italian eatery in St Tropez, France.

She posts videos on social media of herself eating food and then rating it.

On her TikTok page she describes herself with the title: “I love food and food loves me.”

She also has a channel called “Cooking w Kels” where she shows her followers meals that she has made.

On Friday she posted pictures to her 2.8million followers on Instagram at a fashion event wearing the same pink dress as in our exclusive snaps.

She captioned it: “Lowkey eating.”

Fans posted online that Kelsey was bought a Tesla by dad Rob to “encourage her to drive” and that she once had an OnlyFans page.

Sacha rose to comedy fame in the 1990s with his character Ali G, a wannabe gangster with the catchphrase, “Is it because I is black?”

He won more fans with characters Borat Sagdiyev, a bigoted Kazakh journalist, and Brüno Gehard, a flamboyant Austrian fashion reporter.

It led to film hits including the Madagascar franchise, Anchorman 2 and Grimsby.

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Oman-born Isla moved to Australia as a child and starred as Shannon Reed in the soap Home And Away.

She got her film breakthrough in Wedding Crashers.

When I broke into journalism years ago as a fledgling Whittier-based high school sports reporter, one of my favorite side hobbies was asking locals what made their city famous.

Downey was always an interesting test case.

Some said Downey’s claim to fame is the oldest standing McDonald’s, or the Stonewood Mall, with some students boasting the rivalry between Downey and Warren high schools. Some have also cited the title of the “Mexican Beverly Hills,” which I and colleague Gustavo Arellano have always considered more appropriate for Whittier.

What wasn’t mentioned enough about Downey, particularly among the high school-aged students I spoke with, was the city’s ties to the Space Shuttle program. It was somewhat remarkable given the city’s “Home of the Apollo” nickname.

Downey’s reputation, especially among its younger residents, may reset soon thanks to a groundbreaking this Monday to announce the latest upgrade to the Columbia Memorial Space Center, a space museum that opened in 2008.

Benjamin Dickow, the center‘s president and executive director, spoke with The Times about what to expect Monday and beyond.

What’s happening Monday?

Astronaut Garrett Reisman, former Rockwell International and Boeing employees and area dignitaries will take part in a groundbreaking for an about 40,000-square-foot expansion to the existing museum.

The museum’s centerpiece will be a 122-foot-long, 35-foot-tall Downey-made space shuttle mock-up named the “Inspiration,” which is not available yet for public display.

The event begins at 10 a.m., rain or shine, and is located at 12400 Columbia Way in Downey.

For more information, check out https://www.columbiaspacescience.org/

A rendering of the completed front entrance of the museum.

(Nadia Gonzalez, on behalf of the Columbia Memorial Space Center)

Space Center changes and expansion

Dickow said the center was in the middle of completing the first of three phases, to be finished before the L.A. Olympics.

“Once the major construction really gets going, it’s about an 18-month process,” he said, “but if something happens with the shuttle, it’s going to add some time.”

Part of the first phase began in October 2024, when the partially-covered wood and plastic model was paraded down Bellflower Boulevard from a city maintenance yard to a temporary housing unit.

The expansion, known as the Downey Space Shuttle Exhibit and Education Building, would include a new two-story, 29,000-square-foot space shuttle museum, event courtyard, STEM building and courtyard, children’s outdoor classroom, pavilion, lawn and other amenities.

The space shuttle mock-up is also undergoing a “process of rehab and refurbishment,” according to Dickow, but is in “generally great shape.”

“The main work is getting it ready for the public, where visitors will be able to enter and get a sense of what it’s like inside a space shuttle,” Dickow said.

Astronauts would typically access the flight deck, mid-deck and crew compartment through a hatch, according to Dickow.

According to renderings, guests will instead enter through a much more accessible stairwell that puts visitors inside a cargo bay.

A rendering of the space shuttle mock-up, dubbed “Inspiration,” at its place in the center of the museum expansion.

(Nadia Gonzalez, on behalf of the Columbia Memorial Space Center)

What is the mock-up and what’s its tie to Downey?

The shuttle mock-up’s history with Downey spans decades.

North American Rockwell International, now part of Boeing, built the prototype in 1972 at its Downey facility. The space shuttle became the world’s first reusable winged orbiting spaceship.

In total, 12,000 workers developed and manufactured the shuttle at the program’s peak on a sprawling 120-acre campus.

From April 12, 1981, through July 21, 2011, NASA fleets of shuttles flew 135 missions and helped build the International Space Station.

One of those shuttles — Endeavour — was hauled into the middle of its future home, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at Exposition Park, in January 2024.

That museum is also expected to be open before the Olympics.

“This is going to be something that the L.A. area will be able to show off to people from around the world and I want to make sure we’re a part of that,” Dickow said. “Downey and Southeast L.A. sometimes don’t get a lot of the spotlight and this is something that we’ll be able to put out there.”

The week’s biggest stories

Pedestrians cross the street in downtown Los Angeles under light rain on Friday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

SoCal treads through stormy weather

Rebuilding after January fires

Opposition to immigration forces in California

A Sacramento corruption bombshell

• The federal fraud case against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff and other well-connected aides is entangled with one of California’s — and the country’s — most powerful political circles.
• Dana Williamson, who joined the governor’s office in early 2023 and departed late last year, was arrested Wednesday and faces charges of bank and tax fraud.

Explosive Epstein emails about Trump

• Donald Trump “knew about the girls” and “spent hours at my house,” Jeffrey Epstein wrote in emails.
• See what’s in the emails released by House Democrats on Wednesday.

More big stories

This week’s must-read

More great reads

For your weekend

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Going out

Staying in

L.A. Timeless

A selection of the very best reads from The Times’ 143-year archive.

Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team

Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
June Hsu, editorial fellow
Andrew J. Campa, weekend writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to [email protected]. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.

DUBAI has finally cracked open its £10billion mystery islands to sun-seeking holidaymakers after they lay deserted for more than two decades.

The city has long been recognised for its architectural wonders including the 828m tall Burj Khalifa.

But the glamourous city has revealed its latest gem, known as ‘the world’s islands’, which is now officially open to tourists after years of development.

Rocky beginnings

The £10.6bn fantasy archipelago was supposed to reshape the coastline into a giant world map made from 300 man-made islands.

The mad dream began as a sketch on a cocktail napkin and back then, ambitious tycoons queued up to claim their slice of the fantasy.

There were even plans for a Giant’s Causeway on the ‘Ireland’ island and a fashion paradise overseen by Karl Lagerfeld himself.

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Bit in 2008 the crash hit and money vanished, turning the whole thing into a sandy graveyard.

The pricey stunt had costed enough dredged sand to fill Wembley nearly 100 times over.

Developers soon went bust, investors fled, and by 2011 officials were admitting the project was basically “in a coma.”

For years, the only excitement came from tourists peering out of plane windows, gawping at the ghostly outline of a world that never was.

The only resident for years was Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who quietly bagged ‘Greenland’ for a private palace in 2011.

But in true Dubai fashion, the city has refused to give up and the forgotten islands are back, open for business, and dripping in luxury.

Open for business

The islands are now open to tourists, offering a game-changing new experience.

Travellers can enjoy the World islands, which consist of 300 islands, situated just off the cost of the mainland.

Each island has been designed to mimic different countries or continents, including luxury resorts, fine dining spots and high-end beach villas.

While many are still under construction, a select few are fully accessible to tourists.

‘Heart of Europe’

Austrian developer Josef Kleindienst, snapped up half a dozen islands and nearly two decades later, his sprawling resort, ‘The Heart of Europe‘, is now open.

The islands resemble popular European destinations, including ‘Sweden,’ ‘Switzerland,’ ‘Germany,’ ‘Monaco,’ and ‘St Petersburg’.

Guests can take a trip to the glitzy Voco Monaco hotel, blasting out endless techno, offering visitors a luxury, high end party experience.

The star attraction is the bonkers “raining street,” where sprinklers blast out a fake downpour every 15 minutes.

In 35°C heat, it creates a misty, Paris-in-August atmosphere.

Further along the map, the mood shifts from rave to relaxation.

The Anantara World Islands resort offers a Maldives-on-Sea escape full of private pools, beachfront villas and pampering sessions.

Guests can even have breakfast served in their own pool.

There are also 133 floating seahorse villas, making up a £5billion floating city in the middle of the sea.

This new wave of luxury comes as Dubai doubles down on its quest to be the world’s go-to playground for the rich and restless.

More resorts and mansions are set to come through soon.

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Even a former “dead” island, ‘Chile’, is now hosting parties, while another has been reborn as ‘Zuhha Island’ with luxury villas on sale.

The World Islands were once written off as an embarrassing folly, but the new development is bound to be a game changer for the cities’ already bustling tourist scene.

Parisians marked ten years since the deadly November 2015 attacks that upended French society, reflecting on the 132 people lost.

I USED to fancy the pants off of Charlie Hunnam.

But after seeing him turn into creepy serial killer Ed Gein in the latest instalment of Ryan Murphy’s Monster series on Netflix, I have cooled a little.

Luckily for Charlie, his girlfriend Morgana McNelis was spotted with a huge diamond on her ring finger, so it looks like she said yes top being his wife.

She was seen wearing the enormous rock during a day out this week.

A photographer friend of mine in the US said: “Charlie and Morgana have been together for almost 20 years so it’s about time he popped the question.

“She had this huge diamond on her ring finger, so it seems like Charlie has asked her to be his wife.

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“This is the first time she’s ever been seen wearing it too, so maybe that Netflix pay cheque came in handy.”

Charlie previously admitted Morgana had been pushing him towards the aisle, despite the actor feeling “indifferent” about getting married.

He said: “She does not feel the same. She’s very eager.

“I’ll do it because it’s important to her but I don’t have any great romantic feelings towards it.”

After feeling the heat from social media, Charlie later clarified his comments and said: “That really hurt my girlfriend’s feelings and I really regretted saying that.

“I actually didn’t mean it at all, it was, frankly, just stupid s**t I said in the heat of the moment.

“I’m, like, so romantic, and the reality is I sort of consider myself married. I’ve been with my girlfriend for 14 years.

“I suppose what I was trying to articulate is the official government sanction of it doesn’t mean anything to me, but the romance of it means an enormous amount.”

After that hoohaa, I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie went all out with his proposal.

Ellie’s beau strips for vid

ELLIE GOULDING has roped in a favour close to home for her new video – by enlisting her real-life boyfriend to play the love interest.

She will drop the visuals to Destiny at 3pm today and my exclusive first look shows her with muscly actor Beau Minniear, who I told you she was dating in July.

It features a series of steamy scenes, including Ellie hugging the topless hunk, straddling him with a camera in hand, and, in one of the quirkiest parts, snogging with veils over their faces.

Now I’m excited for the next album.

Gaga lithium breakdown

LADY GAGA had a psychotic episode after shooting A Star Is Born, which is why she cancelled much of the European leg of her 2018 Joanne tour.

She told Rolling Stone magazine: “I did A Star Is Born on lithium.”

On breaking down afterwards, she said: “There was one day that my sister said to me, ‘I don’t see my sister any more’.

“And I cancelled the tour. There was one day I went to the hospital for psychiatric care.

“I needed to take a break. I couldn’t do anything. I completely crashed, it was really scary.

“There was a time where I didn’t think I could get better . . .  I feel really lucky to be alive. I know that might sound dramatic, but we know how this can go.”

Thankfully Gaga, who said she is on “some, but not as many” antipsychotics now, is in a much better place.

And she’s got a surprise career away from music, having co-founded a skin-health research firm in the US alongside her fiancé Michael Polansky.

It’s called Outer Biosciences and 20 employees.

Meanwhile, the couple are more eager than ever to tie the knot.

Michael said: “We’re talking about it all the time. We have these breaks, and they’re tempting.

“It’s like, ‘OK, can we get married that weekend?’ We don’t want a really big wedding, but we want to enjoy it.”

Sara sis surprise

IT’S the final day of Sara Cox’s epic Radio 2 Great Northern Marathon for Children In Need – and she has absolutely smashed it.

Through tears and triumph, the teatime presenter proved that with great support, physical resilience and pure grit you can achieve so much.

She will today complete the 135 miles, heading past my old University digs in Headingley, Leeds, for the final mission of getting Pudsey Bear to the Yorkshire town of Pudsey.

Sara was yesterday given an extra boost as her sister Dot turned up to give her a cuddle, with Sara telling me: “That was a lovely surprise.”

And she got another when her mum Jackie rang her, saying: “We’re tracking you from India.”

Sara said: “It’s been amazing and painful. My shins are so sore.”

Speaking to me ahead of the final day, Sara paid tribute to the thousands of people who have turned out for her along the route.

Some have driven miles to catch a glimpse of her.

Sara told me: “The people coming out in the villages made me skip along a little bit faster. It’s been tough finishing in the dark because miles in the dark just seem to go so slowly.

“It has been brutal and tough but I’ve been given such a boost from people. It’s been amazing.”

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Sara was this morning starting to push her fundraising to over £3million. I expect donations to go through the roof as she appears live on BBC One’s Children In Need tonight.

If you can, join me in donating at donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/sara.