It was a result that sent shockwaves throughout Wales but also around the sporting world.

Friends and relatives who had not been in contact for ages messaged each other to revel in or discuss the result.

People reminisced that their parents or grandparents never saw this day.

There was jubilation in Cardiff but also disbelief at the timing and magnitude of the occasion.

Welsh rugby has been in disarray since the end of the 2023 World Cup after so many of the golden generation retired.

The Wales men’s national team slumped to a record 18 straight Test defeats in a winless run that lasted 16 months as the side slipped to a lowest world ranking of 14th.

Tandy had only won four tests in 13 matches, those victories coming against Japan twice, Fiji and Italy. His side had been hammered twice by world champions South Africa without scoring a point and conceding 116.

So when they awoke on Saturday morning hardly anybody outside the camp would have thought this Welsh team would succeed where previous Grand Slam winning sides had failed to topple New Zealand.

There had been hope, even occasional expectation, before previous contests. That was generally not the feeling this time around, as Wales – ranked 10th in the world – took on a New Zealand side that were ranked top before kick-off in Cardiff.

So where does this staggering result stand in Welsh rugby history?

There have been some wonderful days, with Grand Slam successes clinched in Cardiff in 1976, 1978, 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2019.

Then there was the 30-3 drubbing of England in Cardiff in 2013 to clinch the Six Nations title, while Warren Gatland’s side defeated the same opponents two years later at Twickenham in the World Cup.

But this is New Zealand. The All Blacks. A Wales win an achievement many thought might never happen again.

Some might question people for celebrating a victory against a New Zealand side that had rested some top players. You will not find many of those in Wales today.

“I have never seen a performance like that from the men in red,” said Radio Wales commentator Cennydd Davies.

“They have emptied the tank and created history.”

A long-awaited pact between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China for a “code of conduct” in the disputed South China Sea is unlikely to materialise during the regional bloc’s annual gathering of leaders in Manila this week, analysts and officials say.

The agreement would aim to manage tensions and prevent conflict at sea. But talks have dragged on for more than 20 years. In 2023, foreign ministers agreed to work towards finalising the accord within three years.

That deadline fell on 2026 – the year the Philippines took its turn as chair of ASEAN. Under its leadership, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said negotiators have met at least once a month.

But they have fallen short of arriving at a consensus ahead of the summit.

“I just want to say that at this point in time, 80 percent of the document itself is finished,” DFA Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said on Saturday, adding that there are some ‘salient’ points that still need to be ironed out.

She has previously said that geographical scope is one of the contentious issues. Beijing insists it has jurisdiction over nearly the entire South China Sea despite a 2016 international ruling invalidating that claim.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia also have overlapping territorial claims.

A war of words

The Philippines would also like the accord to respect the rights of countries outside the region, according to DFA spokesman Dominic Xavier Imperial. Half of the world’s merchant ships pass through the South China Sea.

But the country may be caught between a rock and a hard place.

“You can’t win it because if you get a good document, you’ll be accused of railroading or it would come across as self-serving. But if it’s a bad document, the Marcos Jr administration will be seen as a weak government,” Aries Arugay, a political scientist at the University of the Philippines, said.

China has consistently accused the United States and its allies, who regularly conduct freedom of navigation operations with the Philippines, of interference.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022. The China Coast Guard has repeatedly deployed water cannon against Philippine vessels and maritime confrontations have resulted in collisions and, on one occasion, a Filipino soldier losing a finger.

In recent weeks, the two countries have been engaged in a war of words.

In September, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro’s public response to a handwritten note rejecting the 2016 South China Sea ruling – reportedly from Beijing’s military attache in Seoul – went viral.

“Perhaps basic decency and behaviour is what China needs to do,” Teodoro, who has been barred from entering China, said.

A month later, Beijing’s ambassador to Manila, Jing Quan, told reporters that if China wanted to use force, “we may easily win. But no, we will not choose force. We love peace”. The statement was made in response to a question about Teodoro calling China a “troublemaker”, but which Marcos said “sounded like a threat”.

What followed was a barrage of social media posts by Philippine officials criticising Jing, with the Chinese embassy replying in kind. Senators called for the expulsion of the Chinese envoy.

And, in late October, China accused Teodoro of a late invitation to the ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting in Cebu. Without ample time to prepare, it said it could only send its Manila-based defence attache.

“When that happened, I think the concern, especially on the part of the DFA, was, ‘We don’t want China not sending their premier. It would not look good on us as a host country,’” Lucio Pitlo, past president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, said.

With just days before world leaders were due to arrive in Manila, diplomats from both sides stepped in.

In a phone call, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Lazaro, his Philippine counterpart, to rein in politicians.

“The Philippines should strengthen restraint over the relevant individuals and send a rational and unified voice on its policy toward China,” Wang said in a statement released by the Chinese embassy in Manila.

Lazaro described the conversation as having been “frank and constructive”.

However, the DFA followed up with a statement saying it found public commentary by certain government officials “regrettable”.

“Whatever personal convictions public officials may hold, their public platforms carry institutional responsibilities,” it said. “They may not pursue preferred approaches toward China, or any other international partner, without regard for the consequences on the government’s overall policy.”

‘Airing dirty laundry’

Some analysts say the spat has further exposed division within the Marcos administration.

“They’re airing dirty laundry out there. It doesn’t communicate coherence. It doesn’t project a unified stance. This could have been an internal memo,” Arugay said.

But Pitlo said the last-ditch diplomatic effort had achieved its objective. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is now attending the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Manila.

Despite this, Pitlo shares pessimism about leaders reaching a conclusion to negotiations for a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

“I think with all the concerns about trade protectionism, the disruption in supply chains, economic issues will be very high in the agenda. I think it will be a tall order to get the code of conduct done.”

Strictly Come Dancing viewers claim they’ve spotted a “problem” with Saturday night’s live show, and it’s nothing to do with the new presenting team. Instead, another element left them distracted

Viewers were left furious this weekend after they claimed to spot a “problem” with the live show of Strictly Come Dancing. On Saturday (November 14), the couples took to the dance floor once more to perform, but some TV viewers were left raging.

Various fans shared their disappointment on X as they couldn’t believe how events unfolded during the course of the evening, with many issuing a similar complaint. It’s not linked to the new presenting line-up either, as their focus seemed to turn to another aspect that really seemed to distract them during the show, and they were quick to share their thoughts about it.

If you missed it, you’re still able to catch up. Since the show, the leaderboard has also been revealed ahead of Blackpool weekend.

However, it seems fans of the show were left disappointed by one thing last night, with many voicing similar concerns online. They didn’t hold back when it came to sharing their thoughts either.

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One said: “The judges comments are totally inconsistent with their scores. It’s been a theme all through this series.”

Elsewhere, another viewer noted: “These scores are embarrassing. Delta DESERVED at least one 10 for that Argentine Tango.” Someone else added: “Genuinely what are the judges watching tonight? It’s all wrong.”

A different person said: “Don’t have enough votes to correct the mistakes the judges have made with tonight’s scoring.”

One more also responded: “Totally agree.” It seems many viewers were unhappy with the scoring, with several issuing similar sorts of complaints.

Even so, there were many who pointed out that the judges know what they’re talking about. While performances can look incredible on our TV screens, many of us don’t actually know how precisely the routines are being performed.

Regarding one performance, someone said: “Craig is doing what the judges should do and judging based on the rules. It’s not his fault.”

Another added: “Considering that Delta had a change of partner at the last minute, those are some decent scores.” A different person offered: “My thoughts from tonight’s episode. Judging was much better for the most part.”

One more fan also said: “Do the public realise that #StrictlyComeDancing IS A DANCING COMPETITION and not a popularity competition? You’re worse than the judges.”

There were a variety of responses issued on the topic, but it’s clear many thought some contestants deserved higher scores. Viewers clearly had some strong views on the topic.

Strictly Come Dancing can be viewed on Saturday evenings on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Australia (34) 34

Tries: Chapman 3, Bent, Surgis, Upton Goals: Southwell 5

New Zealand (6) 10

Tries: Mato, Wiki Goals: Kiria-Ratu

Jaime Chapman’s grin after acrobatically diving over in the corner said it all. Her second try of the match and Australia’s third – the World Cup final put to bed inside 15 minutes.

The red-hot Australian winning machine blew New Zealand away in the first half as they cantered to a record fourth World Cup title – and fourth in a row – with a 34-10 win in Brisbane.

Making light work of the blistering conditions, which necessitated a drinks break in either half and an extended interval, the Jillaroos ran in six tries to the Kiwi Ferns’ one in the opening 35 minutes, including an initial burst of 24 unanswered points and a hat-trick for Chapman.

Record books were consulted at the break, with Australia on course to challenge New Zealand’s 58-0 winning margin from the 2003 final. But the two sides neutralised one another during the second period, New Zealand maintaining their record of not conceding after the break at this tournament – and bagging a consolation try – albeit with Australia long out of sight.

The undisputed dominant force in women’s rugby league, Australia are now unbeaten in 16 World Cup matches – a run stretching back to July 2013.

Aside from a brief first-half scare against Fiji in the semi-finals, who became the first side for 13 years to open the scoring in a World Cup game against Australia, it has been a serene procession to the title, scoring 306 points while conceding just 30.

It was a ruthless first-half performance from the Jillaroos, who capitalised on the field position presented by a succession of errors and ill-discipline from New Zealand- combined with some sluggish defending – for their opening three tries.

Chapman overpowered three defenders on the left wing to open the scoring after just 125 seconds and produced a flying finish from a sharp offload in the same area after Shaylee Bent had sliced through New Zealand’s defence from close range for Australia’s second.

After Jess Sergis went the length of the field for Australia’s fourth, albeit with a suspected forward pass in the build-up, Shannon Mato dived over as New Zealand profited from back-to-back infringements from the hosts.

However, normal service quickly resumed, with Chapman evading multiple tackles as she ran 60 metres to complete her hat-trick before slick handling down the right wing allowed Abbi Church to feed Tamika Upton on her inside for a simple score under the posts.

Head coach Jess Skinner’s decision to select Jesse Southwell ahead of Jocelyn Kelleher at stand-off paid off, as she nonchalantly kicked five of her six conversions, including two from the left touchline.

Australia went completely off the boil in the second half, with Tarryn Aiken – denied by a try-saving tackle from Georgia Hale – producing their only scoring opportunity of note.

New Zealand, to their credit, vastly improved when defending on the front foot but remained frustrating in attack, completing barely half of their sets due to repeated handling errors, loose passing, and a consistent failure to feed stand-off Chantay Kiria-Ratu.

Mackenzie Wiki’s 70th minute try was a deserved, if futile, reward for their second-half efforts.

Southeast Asian countries that comprise the ASEAN economic bloc will meet in the Philippines this week as the region continues to bear the brunt of oil shortages caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, as well as by US-China rivalry, which has hit economies hard.

The Manila summit will be held from November 15 to 17 and will include US President Donald Trump and several other world leaders.

The 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) aims to establish a single market, although it cannot impose decisions on members. It comprises Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and East Timor, with a combined population of nearly 694 million, or 8.4 percent of the world’s population.

Several ASEAN meetings are held annually. This week’s summit is expected to be the final one for this year.

Beyond the energy crisis, other pressing issues include disputes over the South China Sea and trade.

Here’s what we know:

Who is attending?

In addition to leaders and representatives from the 11 member countries, other guests include:

• US President Donald Trump – Trump is expected to hold a special summit with ASEAN members on November 17 as Washington’s trade tensions with China continue. He is also set to hold a one-on-one meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Afterwards, Trump is due to head to China for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on 18-19 November.
• India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi – Although India is not part of ASEAN, India is a key trading partner to member states.
• Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney – Carney is set to give a speech at the summit.
• Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva – His visit will be the first by a sitting Brazilian president to the Philippines. He is expected to discuss trade, defence and other areas of cooperation with ASEAN members.
• Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov – His visit comes after the Russia-ASEAN summit in July.

What are the key issues?

US-Iran war

The summit is being held at a time when Southeast Asian countries have been hit hard by shortages in oil and gas supplies from Middle Eastern suppliers amid the US-Israel war on Iran.

The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia are among the most vulnerable to the energy disruptions in the Gulf, with Manila declaring a state of national energy emergency in March.

Millions of ASEAN citizens also live and work in the Middle East, where the war threatens their safety and earnings.

Meanwhile, Asian countries are worried the conflict could spill into the Strait of Malacca, a narrow waterway between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Trade

The US’s tariff war has seen ASEAN countries slapped with 10-12.5 percent tariff hikes since the beginning of US President Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, prompting the bloc to strengthen trade relationships elsewhere.

South China Sea

China and four ASEAN members – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam – as well as Taiwan, have been locked in decades of territorial standoffs in the busy waterway.

The area is important as it is believed to host undersea deposits of oil and gas.

In 2005, the bloc began negotiating a “code of conduct” with China to discourage aggression and prevent major clashes. The negotiations have often stalled, however, partly due to flared tensions, especially between Manila and Beijing in recent years.

In 2023, the two sides agreed to speed things up and release a finished draft this year. At least 10 rounds of talks have been held this year, led by Malaysia, with a final round taking place in October.

However, analysts doubt a definite conclusion will be reached at the summit this week, meaning talks could continue into next year.

Thailand-Cambodia tensions

Armed clashes broke out between the two ASEAN member states late last year along an 800km (500-mile) contested border area, as well as over competing claims to sacred religious sites, such as the Preah Vihear Shiva temple.

At least 150 people were reported to have been killed, and nearly one million displaced.

ASEAN members, as well as China and the US, intervened, leading to talks. Although a ceasefire has been in place since December, the wider border dispute remains unresolved, and the bloc is calling for more dialogue and the participation of third-party observers.

Myanmar conflict

The ongoing civil war in Myanmar, which has compounded the Rohingya refugee crisis, has been at the top of the agenda as the bloc pushes for the restoration of democracy in the country.

Multiple rebel forces, some of them ethnic-based armed groups, have been fighting the military government since the country’s February 2021 coup.

ASEAN has already restricted Myanmar’s participation at important summits to non-political representatives as concerns about violence and a humanitarian crisis grow.

The bloc’s five-point Myanmar peace plan, launched in April 2021 and calling for dialogue and improved humanitarian aid access, has meanwhile failed to alleviate the situation.

Cross-border haze

Months of widespread wildfires in drought-hit Indonesia have scorched an estimated 2.88 million hectares (7.12 million acres) and resulted in at least 3,500 deaths.

The resulting haze has severely impacted not just the country’s residents, but also those in neighbouring Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and East Timor.

Jakarta has faced criticism for failing to effectively respond to the fires, but the government has defended its approach, saying thousands of responders have been deployed.

Substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s late goal helps Japan avenge their defeat by Brazil in the World Cup round of 32.

Brazil forward Raphinha and manager Carlo Ancelotti were shown red cards for protesting against a referee’s decision in the South American giant’s shock defeat to Japan in a thrilling friendly match in Singapore.

Substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto netted his first international goal with a late winner on Saturday as Japan edged Brazil 3-2 at the National Stadium.

A brilliant brace by Vinicius Jr had erased a two-goal deficit after strikes by Takefusa Kubo and Keito Nakamura put the Samurai Blue 2-0 up in the opening 19 minutes.

But Sakamoto was in the right place to fire home after latching on to Kodai Sano’s deflected effort in stoppage time to give the Asian side a dramatic victory in front of 38,688 people.

Brazil appealed for a foul in the build-up to the goal, but VAR upheld the goal, and Raphinha and manager Ancelotti were shown red cards for their protests.

Ancelotti seemed surprised at the decision while Raphinha was led away by midfielder Marlon Gomes and team officials as he tried to approach referee Jansen Foo, who was instead confronted by Vinicius and Bruno Guimaraes.

“The referee gave me a red card because he said I wasn’t able to control the bench and that all the players were on the field,” Ancelotti said at a news conference.

“It’s a shame about the result because we don’t like to lose the game, but we have to look at what we did well. There are many positives. Some players who played for the first time showed good quality. For 70 minutes, the team played well.

“The result, obviously, was influenced by the referee’s performance, … but it’s not his fault. It was a high-level match, and I don’t think he had the experience to handle this kind of game.”

Raphinha apologises for his behaviour

Raphinha was still fuming over the “unacceptable” red card as he critiqued the referee’s decisions while speaking to reporters after the match.

“First of all, I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise for my behaviour and for being sent off,” Raphinha said.

“Sometimes it’s hard to keep calm, especially after what I felt were so many refereeing errors during the match. I tried to speak to him several times, and not once did I feel he was open to discussion. I believe that he made many errors throughout the game, and that is unacceptable,” the Brazil captain said.

“In my view, their first goal involved a foul when the opponent took the ball off me with his hand. I think it’s a foul, but I can understand why it wasn’t given based on the current law. Then there was the penalty in the first half. In my opinion, it was a penalty, but he said no.

“Then, for their third goal, there was a clear foul on Joao Gomes. With the help of VAR, he eventually allowed the goal. It’s very difficult not to talk about the refereeing.”

The victory carried added significance for Japan, who suffered a heartbreaking exit to Brazil in the World Cup last 32 in June. On that occasion, Gabriel Martinelli struck in stoppage time to complete a 2-1 comeback win for the South Americans.

“I’m happy that I can say that today’s match was the best match in my eight-year tenure,” Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu said after the game.

“Brazil’s intensity went up once we took the lead, and it was all about what we could do then.

“Our players performed at the world’s top standard. These wins lead to victories at the World Cup, and I hope they continue to do the same,” Moriyasu added.

The 58-year-old is expected to step down after a friendly against Paraguay on Tuesday and said he is looking forward to handing over to successor Go Oiwa.

“Now I need to pass the baton to the next coach, and that’s all I am focusing on.”

GROWING up in front of the cameras, Princess Andre was always destined for stardom.

But the daughter of Katie Price and Peter Andre has revealed how she faced a tough battle with her self-confidence.

Now, the 19-year-old has launched her own beauty range, By Princess, which was inspired by her own insecurities.

Speaking to me at Biz on Sunday HQ in London, Princess said: “I used to struggle with my self-confidence, so that was my inspiration.

“I discovered make-up and how it can make you look different and feel more confident, which is what I liked.

“I feel like, nowadays, a lot of people want to permanently change themselves.

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“But with make-up, you can do just that without having to change yourself.”

She continued: “I don’t want to influence younger girls to wear make-up because I think they should feel pretty in themselves. But that’s why I’ve made it suitable for all ages.

“So, with the lip kits, I’ve got plumping glosses for girls if they want to volumise their lips, and then the option for without.”

Princess’s range — which launches on Tuesday — is described as “your new make-up obsession” and includes mascara, setting spray, contour kits and highlighters.

The young entrepreneur revealed she has had the seal of approval from her ex-glamour model mum Katie, who released her own beauty range in 2016.

“My mum loves it,” she said. “She likes to use the contour as a base and said, ‘Oh my God, it makes my skin look smooth’. You know how she likes to look airbrushed.”

Even Princess’s brother, singer Junior Andre, has tried the new lippy set.

She said: “Junior actually tested my lip kit. He said, ‘My lips have gone so big’. He is really happy for me — we are really supportive of each other.”

Princess, who has 2.2million followers across TikTok and Instagram, told how she is excited to be entering her “entrepreneurial era” with the beauty range.

“I mean, I’m still new to it. So, each day I’m learning new things,” she said.

“I mean, having my own business is crazy to say, because I’m 19. But yeah, I feel like I’ve learned so much and I’m still gonna learn so much more.”

Asked if she inherited her incredible eyelashes from her dad, Princess added: “To be fair, all of my siblings have lovely, long eyelashes — so it must have come from somewhere.”

I’M TOO BUSY FOR BLOKES

SINGLE Princess revealed she has been scared off dating apps after watching crime documentaries.

The star insists she would much rather get to know a guy in a natural setting.

She said: “I like to meet people organically. If I see someone and I have a good chat with them, I’ll just continue the chat.

“I’m not against dating, but I’m not actually looking for a boyfriend right now. I’m so busy – I don’t need a boyfriend.

“I don’t know if apps are my thing. I’ve watched too many crime documentaries.”

Princess has been linked to Love Island star Harrison Solomon after they were spotted together at Thorpe Park’s Fright Nights last month.

But online romance rumours were quashed after it was revealed that the pair just share the same management.

Princess said: “People are going to pick up on everything. I wrote in the comments, ‘Just because a boy and girl laugh does not mean it’s anything romantic’.

“I have a lot of guy friends, but it doesn’t mean there’s anything romantic going on.”

RACE GAVE ME TRAVEL BUG

APPEARING on Celebrity Race Across The World has inspired Princess to go travelling in Asia.

She signed up for the fourth series of the hit BBC One show with big brother Junior.

They had to find their way from Malaysia to Melbourne, Australia, with no phones, credit cards or home comforts.

Princess, pictured with Junior on the show, said: “The first few weeks I struggled. I was like, ‘This is not for me’. As time went on, I was like, ‘OK, I’m getting the hang of it’. We actually were there for each other quite a lot. It was out of my comfort zone . I had none of my home comforts.

“I was carrying a 15kg rucksack. It has made me want to travel.

“I definitely want to go to Thailand now.”

The series, which is currently airing, has brought the siblings even closer.

Princess admitted: “We butted heads a few times, but I think that is because I gave up a few times.

“He lifted us up and, to be fair, we didn’t argue as much as I thought we would.”

AGELESS SINITTA HAS SKIN IN THE GAME

EIGHTIES popstar Sinitta looks like she drinks from the fountain of youth – and now she is set to share her age-defying secrets with the world.

The So Macho hitmaker is planning her own cosmetics range.

She has logged the trademark Skinitta which could be used on everything from sunscreen and lipgloss to perfume and beauty serums.

The singer could also release her own range of clothing, if approved.

Looking incredible at 63, Sinitta puts it down to always slapping on the SPF, eating well and regular exercise.

Jaws dropped when she showcased her enviable figure wearing just banana leaves in front of Simon Cowell on The X Factor in 2009.

I’m sure plenty of fans will be keeping their eyes peeled for her range.

WHY HOWARD LOVES LIFE IN A POP GROPE

CRACKING a grope joke may not be advisable in the current celebrity climate – but that didn’t stop Take That’s Howard Donald making a cheeky quip about enjoying getting up close and personal with handsy fans.

Taking to the stage with bandmates Gary Barlow and Mark Owen for a special album launch show at the London Palladium on Friday night, he shared plans for their upcoming tour – on which he is looking forward to being pawed by the adoring crowds.

Howard said: “What is great is next year we are going out to quite a few new territories that we’ve actually not visited before. That’s quite bizarre.

“It’s literally like going back to the 90s because they’ve never had you in their country.

“It’s brilliant – I love getting groped . . .  still.”

Then acknowledging his other half Katie in the audience, he chuckled: “Sorry, wife!”

Excited Take That fans have indeed been known to grab their idols.

Former bandmate Robbie Williams has even got in on the action, giving Mark a little crotch squeeze on The X Factor in 2018.

On Friday the group performed tracks from new album Dreamers – Sweet July, Wonderkids and the title track – for the first time in front of a live audience. They also had a chat with Dermot O’Leary about making the new record and their huge summer Circus Live Tour.

Then the audience were treated to a run of their biggest and best-loved hits including Patience, Never Forget, The Flood and Greatest Day.

In the gloaming, the trees stand dark and impenetrable on either side of the path. An owl, wide-faced and pale as a spectre, glides out of the pines ahead of me. Heart pounding, I pick up speed and continue uphill, the silence thick around me.

Just a few minutes earlier, I had been scuffing my feet in the sand by the loch shore, watching as the clouds draped themselves across the top of the Grampians. In the absence of other people, Loch Laidon, silvery in the half-light, had been mine to enjoy; in the woods, however, my solitude feels unnerving.

It is not long before I break out of the trees, following rough boards over boggy moorland to reach the top of the nearest hill. Below, past the green viaduct that carries the West Highland Line, stretches the eastern edge of Rannoch Moor, with layer upon layer of Perthshire’s hills beyond that. Out in the open, my fears dissipate – there is no one here, except for me and the fieldfares that fly squeakily away at my approach.

Nov. 14, 2026 10:44 PM PT

CIF SOCAL REGIONALS

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Semifinals

OPEN DIVISION

#1 Mater Dei d. #4 San Diego Cathedral Catholic, 25-17, 27-25, 20-25, 25-13

#2 Sierra Canyon d. #3 Torrey Pines, 25-12, 25-18, 25-19

DIVISION I

#4 Redondo Union d. #8 San Juan Hills, 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20

#14 Coronado d. #7 San Luis Obispo, 25-20, 25-17, 25-14

DIVISION II

#5 Santa Fe Christian d. #16 Mission College Prep, 25-18, 19-25, 25-14, 25-15

#6 Newbury Park d. #2 North County San Marcos, 25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 23-25, 15-11

DIVISION III

#4 Helix d. #1 Santa Barbara, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22

#2 Point Loma d. #3 Sage Creek, 25-22, 19-25, 27-25, 25-16

DIVISION IV

#1 El Camino Real d. #5 Chatsworth, 14-25, 25-22, 26-24, 26-24

#3 Castaic d. #7 Capistrano Valley Christian, 15-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, 16-14

DIVISION V

#5 Bakersfield North d. #1 Rio Mesa, 3-2

#3 Desert Christian Academy d. #7 Rancho Mirage, 3-2

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)

Finals

OPEN DIVISION

#2 Sierra Canyon at #1 Mater Dei

DIVISION I

#14 Coronado at #4 Redondo Union

DIVISION II

#6 Newbury Park at #5 Santa Fe Christian

DIVISION III

#4 Helix at #2 Point Loma

DIVISION IV

#3 Castaic at #1 El Camino Real

DIVISION V

#5 Bakersfield North at #3 Desert Christian Academy

Note: State Finals (all divisions) Friday, November 20 at Santiago College.

Secret votes, coloured ballot papers, straw polls and backroom efforts to force a consensus — with the threat of powerful vetoes hanging over it all. These could be the contours of how boards of mubil-billion dollar corporations decide on contentious issues.

It’s also the way the United Nations picks its secretary-general, the person at the apex of a vast and sprawling machinery tasked with upholding fast-fraying international laws and practices.

That process is now barrelling towards a tense climax, with the UN Security Council holding multiple straw polls in a bid to select its new secretary-general by December 31, when incumbent Antonio Guterres must step down.

Eight candidates are in the fray — from Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, the head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the organisation’s trade body, and Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates minister of state for foreign affairs.

The UNSC recommends a candidate who gets nine votes without a veto from its five permanent members. The process ends after the UN General Assembly (UNGA) gives its seal of approval to that candidate.

Here’s what we know:

Who chooses the secretary-general?

In effect, the 15-member UNSC chooses the UN chief.

The council has five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – who hold veto power.

Ten elected non-permanent members also make up the council. Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia are the current UNSC members — non permanent members are elected by rotation every two years.

According to Article 97 of the UN Charter, the UNSC decides on a candidate and recommends them to the UNGA for a vote by all members.

There has never been a time when the council has picked a candidate who was voted down by the assembly, meaning that while, in theory, everyone has a say, the assembly have never gone against the 15-member security council. And because the five permanent members wield a veto, the secretary-general in effect is chosen by them, once they’ve convinced the non-permanent members.

However, one time, in 1950, the UNGA voted to extend the term of the then secretary-general without the UNSC’s recommendation after a deadlock in the council.

How does the Security Council make its choice?

The council holds informal, anonymous polls, also known as straw polls, on whether the members “encourage”, “discourage”, or “have no opinion” about a candidate.

Although it is expected to be secret, the number of encourage, discourage, or no-opinion votes is often leaked.

In later rounds of voting, coloured paper ballots are used to distinguish between the UNSC’s permanent members and the 10 elected members, providing a clearer sense of where members are leaning.

Once a straw poll confirms that a candidate has at least nine “encourage” votes and no vetoes against them, the council holds a formal vote to recommend them to the UNGA, which is expected to endorse that nomination.

Jane Kinninmont, CEO of United Nations Association UK, an independent, non-governmental organisation, explained that the process to select a candidate has traditionally been “closed and secretive” but has become more open as a result of campaigning by civil society groups and member states.

“However, the Security Council continues to guard its secrecy tightly – part of a political culture that many other countries regard as outmoded,” Kinninmont told Al Jazeera.

“One of the stated reasons is that no country wants to have a situation where it votes for one candidate, but another candidate actually is appointed and resents them for not voting for them,” she said.

Al Jazeera’s UN correspondent, Gabriel Elizondo, also explained that the secrecy behind the selection was just due to the way the system was set up.

“Now, there have been some talks in recent years, including this year, about trying to make the process more transparent in the Security Council, but the five permanent members just want to keep it the way that it is,” he said.

Who are the candidates this year?

Eight candidates are currently running to become secretary-general, after some dropped out earlier in the race.

Two leading candidates are IAEA chief Grossi from Argentina and Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan, the UNCTAD head.

Grynspan, who, if successful, could become the first woman and first Jewish person to lead the UN, played a key role in brokering the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Russia and Ukraine in 2022. The deal allowed for millions of tonnes of food to be exported from war-torn Ukraine, much of which went to developing nations.

Grossi has headed the UN nuclear agency since 2019, and has been at the centre of the UN’s efforts to prevent nuclear escalations between Russia and Ukraine, amid their ongoing war. But Grossi has also faced criticism, especially from Iran, over perceptions that some of his reports critiquing Tehran’s nuclear programme helped serve as pretext that the US and Israel used to attack Iran.

The other candidates include:

• Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces (Former UNGA chief, Ecuador)
• Lana Zaki Nusseibeh (UAE minister of state at the Foreign Ministry )
• Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu (Organization for Security and Co-operation chief, Turkiye)
• Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett (Guyana’s ambassador to the UN)
• Ivonne A-Baki (Politician, Ecuador)
• Olara Otunnu (Politician, Uganda)

What’s happened in the 2026 straw polls so far?

Eight polls have been held so far, but no consensus has emerged on a candidate who has received no discouraging votes.

According to the 1 for 8 Billion campaign, supported by organisations and individuals worldwide to call for a fair, open, and inclusive selection process for Guterres’s job, the eighth poll had Grynspan leading.

Last week’s poll saw Grynspan receive 12 encourage votes and three discourage votes.

In second place, Grossi received nine encourage votes, four discourage votes, and two no-opinion votes. He was followed by Birkett, who received eight encourage votes, five discourage votes, and two no-opinion votes.

While it is unclear how the permanent members voted and whether any had used a veto, candidates need zero discourage votes from them to secure the nomination.

According to Kinninmont, there is “growing resentment” about the five permanent members of the council using their vetoes that have often led to a paralysed council.

“The appointment of the SG is a different issue from any single conflict, but ultimately this person is supposed to be the world’s leading defender of the UN Charter and a spokesperson for the peoples of the world, in whose name the charter is written,” she said.

“Thus, it seems hard to defend the idea that any single power should be able to veto a candidate even if that candidate has the support of the majority of other countries on the Security Council and indeed a majority of the countries in the world.”

On more powers for the General Assembly in the selection process, Elizondo said that while there is talk of reforming the system, it would mean the permanent members would have to give up some of their power.

“None of them want to give up their power because, essentially, the truth is, while the United Nations is made up of 193 member states, it’s really the five permanent members (the US, Russia, China, France, and the UK) that really have the overwhelming amount of power to select who the next Secretary General is,” he said.

What happens if no one is picked by December 31?

It’s unclear.

There is nothing in the UN Charter about what happens if no candidate is picked before Guterres’s term ends.

The UNSC has some options if it is struggling to decide on a pick, including recommending a candidate for a shorter term or compromising on a candidate, as it did in 1996 to select Kofi Annan after a deadlock.

Member states could also let a senior UN official oversee operations in the meantime.

According to Elizondo, Guterres has also been asked if he would stay on if no secretary-general was selected.

“He gives a pretty noncommittal answer. He says as of January 1, he hopes to be and expects to be back home in Portugal. What would happen? Nobody knows because that’s never happened before,” Elizondo said.

Kinninmont said one way of achieving a more “transparent and democratic process” in selecting a candidate could be for the Security Council to agree on two or three candidates and the General Assembly to vote on those.

Two guided-missile destroyers assigned to the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG), USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy, have returned home after 357- and 346-day deployments, respectively, more than a month after the carrier they escorted returned to San Diego. Both are reportedly longer than any previous destroyer cruise since World War II. However, the record may not hold for long, as USS John Finn is on pace to surpass both.

Spruance pulled out of Naval Base San Diego on November 21, 2025, alongside Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, on what the crews expected would be a routine deployment to the Western Pacific. Murphy linked up with the strike group 10 days later as it sailed past her homeport at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Both ships, which endured conditions just as grueling as Lincoln, if not more so, returned to their homeports over the past 24 hours. Spruance departed Pearl Harbor on November 6, according to MarineTraffic, and arrived in San Diego today. Planet Labs satellite imagery reviewed by TWZ showed Murphy in Guam on November 3, her last stop before transiting northeast back to Pearl Harbor and pulling into port yesterday.

The extended deployments are a reminder of how the war with Iran and the blockade that followed have pushed the Navy’s surface fleet past the seven-month cruises it long treated as standard. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle told Sailors recently to expect the new normal for deployments to last 10 months, at a minimum, going forward.

Spruance’s deployment is the longest since World War II by a destroyer, based on a report by the San Diego Union-Tribune that cited the Navy, and broke the record previously held by USS McFaul, which returned to Norfolk on October 23 after 332 days. TWZ has not been able to independently verify the paper’s sourcing on the WWII comparison. When asked about the record, Naval History and Heritage Command told Stars and Stripes that it “does not officially track or verify superlative claims such as ‘the longest deployment’ for a destroyer.”

Before 2020, destroyer deployments rarely exceeded nine months. USS Stout’s pandemic cruise included a record-setting 215 consecutive days at sea and was among the longest in the modern era at 269 days. Since then, USS Gravely and USS Mason, while escorting carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2023 and 2024 during combat operations against the Houthis, were out for 275 and 263 days, respectively.

Notably, Spruance and Murphy have been deployed even longer than any aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War, surpassing the 326-day record set by USS Gerald R. Ford in May. Ford’s high mark could fall, though, as Navy leaders recently told families of USS George H.W. Bush at a town hall to plan for a yearlong deployment if the blockade continues or war with Iran restarts.

What Role Did USS Spruance And USS Michael Murphy Play In The Iran War?

As part of the Abraham Lincoln CSG, which also included USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. serving as the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Commander, Spruance and Murphy were instrumental in the opening act of Operation Epic Fury, the nearly 40 days of combat operations that followed, and both rounds of the blockade.

Spruance was spotted firing a never-before-seen black Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) on February 28, the first night of the war, and later fired rounds from her Mk 45 5-inch gun into the engine room of an Iranian-flagged container ship to prevent it from running the blockade – a first in nearly four decades. Murphy was the last U.S. warship out of the Persian Gulf before hostilities kicked off, docking in Dubai from February 25 to 27, and also launched salvos of TLAMs at land targets on Iran’s southern flank.

While Spruance’s cruise has drawn media attention, Murphy’s accomplishments have received little to no recognition.

Murphy and Petersen Jr. were the first warships to transit back through the Strait of Hormuz after major combat operations ended in April. Open-source intelligence indicated the two destroyers came under heavy enemy fire during the maneuver. Capt. Casey Mahon, the commanding officer of Petersen Jr., told reporters at the ship’s homecoming that the strait transit was “Quite a voyage… obviously there was stress we had to face when we did that… on the sea, under the sea, and in the air.”

“In recognition of extraordinary heroism and combat achievement while executing dozens of Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile strikes and defending against hostile drone and missile attacks, USS Michael Murphy and its crew were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Combat Action Ribbon,” a press release from U.S. 3rd Fleet announced.

When Lincoln began the long trip home and stopped in Thailand after setting a record for the most consecutive days at sea without a liberty port call, Spruance and Murphy were left behind in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) to continue enforcing blockade measures. Petersen Jr., due to her role as IAMD Commander, accompanied the carrier during the visit, as did guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls for additional air defense coverage.

Could USS John Finn Break USS Spruance’s Record?

Spruance’s record might not stand for long. USS John Finn, a destroyer based out of Yokosuka, Japan, part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF), got underway on January 9, 2026. The crew expected a routine three-month patrol in the Western Pacific, which is typical for warships assigned to FDNF, but the ship was redirected to the CENTCOM AOR, where she’s been since the start of the war. The Sailors were informed in October to expect to return in March 2027, according to a report by Defense One. If that timeline plays out, Finn would pass Spruance at year-end 2026 and log over 400 days deployed (13 to 14 months).

“You can kind of expect at least a 10-month deployment, and so that’s just the nature of what the capacity of the Navy can do,” Caudle said at the U.S. Navy Memorial Special Edition SITREP Series on October 26. “I need a bigger Navy,” he added. The total battle force today sits at just over 280 warships, with approximately 78 destroyers in various states of readiness.

Two other destroyers forward-stationed in Yokosuka, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mustin, have been told to expect to return in April 2027, according to the report by Defense One. Peralta left port on March 9 after returning home for a brief three weeks following a seven-week patrol; Mustin departed on April 14 on a surge deployment that was supposed to end in August. If that’s the case, both will approach or surpass the one-year mark.

How Do Extended Deployments Impact The Navy?

Caudle also warned that the destroyer fleet faces a problematic maintenance backlog when the ships return home after such a long period of time at sea. “You’re talking hundreds of availabilities and millions of dollars,” he said. “But this is a years-long recovery. There is no workaround on that.” That backlog would still be working its way through the yards if a contingency in Asia arose in the next few years.

The impact of intense combat operations was apparent when Lincoln pulled into Thailand looking worse for wear with running rust and algae along the hull.

Spruance’s next maintenance period was originally scheduled to begin in July but has now been pushed to January 2027, based on budget documents reviewed by TWZ.

Open-ended deployments also weigh on the morale of Sailors and take a toll on their families and friends back home. “We are hearing they’re supposed to come home sometime next month, but we’ve been hearing about ‘next month’ for several months,” a family member of a Sailor aboard Spruance told Navy Times in late October. Speaking anonymously, a Sailor on the ship told the outlet, “Our boat isn’t as big as an aircraft carrier, but our 300-plus families matter to us just as much as anyone else’s.”

In recent decades, as mentioned above, a typical deployment has lasted six to seven months. “That commitment is being violated now,” Katherine Kuzminski, a vice president at the Center for a New American Security, told Defense One. The issue for Sailors and families, she explained, is the “dissonance between what was said at the beginning and what is happening in actuality.” A spouse of a Sailor aboard Finn told the outlet, “I can do a long deployment. The problem with this is that there is no answer as to when this will be over.”

The Navy did not announce either homecoming date publicly in advance.

Spruance began broadcasting AIS again on November 11 but was holding roughly 50 nautical miles northwest of San Diego. U.S. Navy Patrol escorted Spruance into the port with a two-boat security element just after 9 a.m. local time today. Murphy switched her AIS on south of Hawaii yesterday, an hour and a half before arriving in Pearl Harbor.

To the crews of both ships: welcome home.

Contact the author: ian@twz.com or @ianellisjones

Phil Collins, Queen Latifah, Billy Idol, Sade, Oasis and the Wu-Tang Clan are among the acts being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday night in a ceremony at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Here’s a look at what the stars are wearing on the red carpet.

Flavor Flav, center, walks the red carpet.

Cappadonna and his wife yoNasDa Lonewolf.

Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches).

Young Dirty Bastard, Icelene Jones, Shaquita Jones and Taniqua Jones.

From left to right, Chuck D, Huey Lewis, Flavor Flav and Jimmy Kimmel.

Steve Stevens and Josie Stevens.

Cappadonna, left, and DJ Mathematics.

Kirk Hammett, left, and Robert Trujillo of Metallica.

Jack Harris, left, and Greg Harris.

MASERATI is set to open an ultra-luxurious residential island in just four years’ time – and it even features private beaches and a central lagoon.

The high-end carmaker will incorporate elements of its iconic design within the luxury island development.

Located in Dubai’s World Islands – specifically the Spain Island – the project will feature 840 residences ideal for those seeking a private island escape.

Properties will range from self-contained studios to four-bedroom apartments, each featuring an open-plan layout, sprawling sea views and decorated with furniture from the Giorgetti Maserati Edition collection.

Created in collaboration with real estate developer Samana Collecta, prices are expected to start from $408,000, with the total project value exceeding $1billion (£755million).

For those wishing for an even more exclusive retreat, seven waterfront villas and two tree villas will also be available, set among tropical landscaped gardens. 

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Centred on culture, dining and social experiences, the luxury resort will contain a range of wellness facilities including private beaches, a central lagoon, swimming pools, and spas.

Indoor and outdoor fitness facilities, as well as a marina dedicated for water sports, will also appeal to thrill-seekers looking to make the ocean their home.

The sandy landmass won’t be short of dining options either, with a signature floating Italian restaurant and a beach club among the multitude of options on offer for residents.

And those wishing to maintain connections to the mainland will be able to do so also through executive co-working lounges and high-speed internet.

Speaking of the development’s creation, Santo Ficili, chief executive of Alfa Romeo and Maserati, said: “With Maserati Island, we’ve taken an important step in the journey that began with Casa Maserati, transforming our vision of Italian luxury into an exclusive living experience.

“It is a project that embodies the Made in Italy excellence that the Trident has represented and championed around the world for over a century.”

Connections to mainland Dubai will be provided by dedicated luxury yacht shuttles, with departures scheduled every 30 minutes.

The first of the branded residences is expected to be ready from 2030.

As he held the championship trophy high, San Pedro flag football coach Ron Carter faced his players and shouted “third time’s a charm!”

The Pirates beat Marine League rival Banning 14-7 in the City Section Open Division final Saturday night at Contreras High in L.A. to capture their first flag title and avenge an overtime loss in the final two years ago.

The first half was a defensive stalemate, but the Pirates scored on an eight-yard strike from sophomore quarterback Daniela Ardaiz to senior receiver Lexi Lopez late in the third quarter. Ardaiz ran for the one-point conversion to make it 7-0.

The Pilots tied it on Victoria Guerra’s 11-yard touchdown catch and the subsequent one-point conversion run by Arianna Martinez with 8:55 left in the fourth quarter.

San Pedro (18-8) marched to the five-yard line on its ensuing possession before Ardaiz threw a dart to Lopez, who outmuscled a defender for the ball at the goal line for the go-ahead score with 2:13 left. Maya Solorio caught the one-point conversion to make it 14-7.

Banning (12-11), which lost both of its league contests against San Pedro by six combined points, moved to the Pirates’ 26 before Ardaiz picked off a pass over the middle at the 15 and returned it to the 35 to seal the victory with 7.6 seconds left.

Ardaiz finished the season with 60 touchdown passes and Lopez had 28 touchdown catches, none bigger than the last one — the final grab of her career.

“I was the only freshman on the team the first year and this is my last game, so I wanted to play my best,” said Lopez, who also plays second base and pitches for the Pirates’ softball team.

The winning touchdown play was called “Smash Right.”

“The most important thing was to catch it with two hands and hold onto the ball,” Lopez said. “I didn’t know if it would be a touchdown. … I didn’t think it was across the plane.”

It was San Pedro’s 90th win in the last four seasons — the most of any City school since the sport debuted in 2023 — and it eased the pain of the Pirates’ previous playoff failures. They had a tying score called back in a loss to Birmingham in the inaugural Open Division final, lost to Banning the next year and were upset 14-13 by eventual champion Marshall in the semifinals last season.

Nina Ramirez threw three touchdown passes — two to Cindy Martinez and the other to her sister Amber — and Taiya Johnson and Sydney Tibbals each intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter to preserve the shutout in Cleveland’s 18-0 victory over King/Drew in the preceding Division I final. The Cavaliers (13-5) finished on a seven-game winning streak.

Cleveland lost to El Camino Real 26-0 in the Division II final in 2024. King/Drew lost to Narbonne 7-0 in the Division I final the same year.

North Hollywood scored twice in the first half of the Division II final and held on for a 12-6 victory over Westchester, which cut its deficit in half with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. It was the first City title for the Huskies (16-4), who denied the Comets (12-6) their second crown. Westchester captured the Division III crown last fall.

In the first game of the day, Crenshaw defeated South Gate 7-0 in the Division IV final, and in the following Division III final, Sotomayor scored late in the fourth quarter to edge Santee 6-0. The Cougars (10-10) and Wolves (19-8) both won their first City titles.

Delegates at NYC-DSA convention pass resolution formally calling on Congresswoman AOC to run in 2028 presidential race.

The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has voted to urge Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for United States president in 2028, a move that could serve as an early bellwether for the Democratic Party’s direction in the presidential race.

The resolution passed 291 to 123 at the chapter’s convention on Saturday. While it is not a formal endorsement by the DSA, it commits the New York City chapter to encouraging a presidential bid and building the groundwork for a potential campaign.

“If the US can elect Trump, I think we can elect Democratic Socialists,” Gustavo Gordillo, NYC-DSA co-chair, told Al Jazeera, referring to President Donald Trump.

The convention was held following a strong showing by DSA-endorsed candidates in the midterm elections. A record eight DSA-endorsed candidates were elected to federal office and will hold congressional seats in January.

Ocasio-Cortez, popularly known as AOC, is a longtime member of NYC-DSA, the chapter covering her home city. The New York City branch, which has about 15,000 members, has become one of the movement’s most influential. It endorsed Mayor Zohran Mamdani last year and has backed Ocasio-Cortez in all five of her congressional general elections since 2018.

That electoral influence has given the chapter a prominent voice in shaping the direction of progressive politics in the US.

“Now that we have put a mayor into City Hall and we’ve elected three socialists in the city, I think regardless of how a politician feels about DSA personally, they’re definitely looking at what we say and how we’re moving,” NYC-DSA co-chair Grace Mausser said. “We are one of the biggest political actors in the city, in the state, and the country, frankly.”

Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat representing New York’s 14th congressional district, rose to national prominence in 2018 after defeating a 10-term incumbent in a congressional primary. A prominent Democratic Socialist, she has advocated for policies including universal healthcare, tuition-free public college and labour protections.

The chapter has yet to finalise a national presidential platform. Mausser said it would be built around issues members encounter when speaking with voters.

“The top issues at the doors that we encounter are housing, healthcare, childcare – the hallmarks of affordability,” Mausser said. “Those would all become the core of a federal platform.”

The resolution text says the campaign would provide an opportunity for “continued crafting of a platform that engages the working class”. It also identifies public housing, stopping the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, labour organising and “the anti-war and pro-Palestine movements” as priorities.

The NYC-DSA vote adds to mounting efforts on the left to persuade Ocasio-Cortez to enter the 2028 presidential race, following a debate within the national DSA over her possible endorsement and the launch of an independent campaign urging her to run, called “Ready for AOC”.

Ocasio-Cortez has previously she will decide on her political future after the midterm elections, leaving open the possibility of a 2028 presidential bid or a challenge for a US Senate seat.

Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda clash over who should lead the organisation of French-speaking nations.

Leaders of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) are meeting in Cambodia amid a dispute between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda over who should lead the association of French-speaking nations, which threatens to split the group.

The OIF is holding a three-day summit in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, through Monday. A loose confederation of 90 states and governments where French is spoken or widely used, the OIF has 53 full members, five associate members and 32 observers.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who chaired the last summit in 2024 and will hand the chair to Cambodia, arrived on Saturday and met Prime Minister Hun Manet, The Associated Press news agency reported.

About 20 leaders are expected, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Vietnamese President To Lam, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.

A fight over the top job

On Monday, leaders will choose the organisation’s next secretary-general for a four-year term.

Rwanda’s Louise Mushikiwabo, who has led the OIF since 2018, is seeking a third term.

The DRC, however, which accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 armed group in the country’s east, has threatened to leave the OIF if she is re-elected. Congo, the United States and United Nations experts say Rwanda backs the M23, one of about 100 armed groups in the mineral-rich region.

Rwanda denies the allegations.

On Saturday, the DRC withdrew its candidate, Juliana Lumumba, the daughter of independence hero Patrice Lumumba, and backed Romanian former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos to allow “consensus around a unifying candidacy”.

Rwanda’s foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, said Mushikiwabo would stay in the race. Mauritania’s Coumba Ba, a former minister, is also running, the AFP news agency reported.

Macron’s office said that most members agreed on the need for consensus and that he would take it up with his African counterparts. France is the biggest contributor to the OIF’s 2026 budget of 71.7 million euros ($79m).

Rwanda has said Macron asked Kagame to withdraw its candidate and that Kigali refused, AFP reported.

The DRC has a population of more than 110 million, roughly 40 million more than France, and is the most populous country where French is an official language. Its exit would be a blow to the organisation, which lost Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which announced their withdrawals in March 2025 following suspensions over military coups.

Cambodia in the spotlight

The summit’s slogan is “Reinvest in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Lasting Stability”. Activists see it as a chance to press Cambodia, a de facto one-party state, on rights.

UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews urged delegates to press for the release of detained activists. “No one should be detained for defending human rights, reporting on matters of public concern, or voicing critical opinions,” he said.

Macron arrived as France faces widespread protests at home. He is due to visit the Angkor World Heritage Site on Monday before leaving for Malaysia.

FORMER Strictly dancer Ola Jordan had a massive telephone row with her estranged husband James after he went on TV to deny cheating on her.

Furious Ola spent the day in tears following James’ appearance on Jeremy Vine’s Channel 5 show on Friday.

During a chat with the host, James insisted his new relationship with Russian ballroom beauty Polina Mayer began after his 22-year ­marriage to Ola had ended.

It comes after The Sun on Sunday revealed Polina’s hubby, Jamie Cutler, had called Ola claiming that his wife was sleeping with James — and to say he was filing for divorce.

Now, in another agonising twist, we can reveal Ola was particularly upset because she had welcomed Polina to stay in the spare room at their family home last year while she and James worked together.

A source said: “Ola feels betrayed and hurt by James’ actions. She can’t believe he is being so blunt and ­disregarding her feelings.

“She is shocked and devastated. It’s as if their decades of marriage and years as a couple meant nothing.

“She spent Friday in floods of tears after arguing with him on the phone.”

Ola and James — who also used to be a Strictly professional — announced their break-up in August.

He said he “needed to focus on getting myself into a healthier place”.

On Friday, James and fellow former pro Brendan Cole appeared on Jeremy’s show to promote their upcoming stage tour, Dance Rebels: Strictly Unleashed.

Asked about his marriage breakdown, James — who has performed on stage with Polina since 2024 — said: “I moved out . . . which was in the Press.

“I haven’t really spoken about it because I always said I wouldn’t speak about it, because I don’t think it’s fair unless Ola was to be here as well.”

Jeremy told him: “There was a story that you were having an affair with somebody and her ­husband rang Ola.”

James responded: “Apparently so, I don’t know if that is true or not.”

And Brendan interjected: “It’s hard to have an affair if you’ve moved out.”

As he was probed further, James insisted: “There was no affair. I have grown closer to someone since I moved out back in June . . . The problem is, if I say nothing it makes me look guilty.

“If I say something, it looks like I’m being defensive.

“So, for me, it’s a lose-lose. I will put out a statement at some point on social media to try to clarify what’s been going on.”

James’ suggestion he might set out his version of events online caused the exes to lock horns.

A source said: “Ola was left incensed and didn’t think it was fair that James was trying to ­control the narrative.

“She is devastated that he is now dating Polina after she welcomed her into their house and supported them dancing together.

“Ola feels she couldn’t have done more to be an encouraging spouse, and now he is rubbing her nose in his new romance by parading around with Polina. She has been really struggling.”

James and Polish Ola met in 1999 and married four years later.

They signed up as pros on BBC One’s Strictly in 2006, becoming two of its most popular dancers.

James stayed on until 2013 while Ola, who lifted the Glitterball in 2009 with sports presenter Chris Hollins, departed in 2015.

After having their daughter Ella in 2020, following years of IVF, the couple opened up about their weight gain and told The Sun their “bellies” were getting in the way of their sex life.

But they later revealed they had shed six-and-a-half-stone between them.

Meanwhile, in 2021, Polina, who also danced on Strictly, got engaged to Jamie and the pair tied the knot two years later.

In 2024, James started working with Polina on Legends Of The Dance Floor, along with other former Strictly pros. Jamie helped choreograph the routines they ­performed on stage.

After the Jordans confirmed their split to The Sun in August, James issued a statement saying: “I’ve been struggling more than I’ve let people see and I’m taking the time I need to focus on getting myself into a healthier place, both for myself and for Ella.

“Neither of us is in a good place right now. We’re both doing our best to navigate one of the hardest chapters of our lives.”

James threw himself into his new podcast, entitled Manopause, with his pal and ex-Strictly co-star Brendan and said he was going through a “midlife crisis”.

He also appeared on ITV’s This Morning, saying: “I’m now sitting in a one-bedroom apartment on my own at night, watching TV, going, ‘What is going on?’. But I just feel I need that time to find myself again.” James and Polina’s latest tour, The Legends In Vegas: After Hours, ended last weekend.

Last week, Ola told Hello! magazine how the breakdown of her marriage to James had left her devastated.

She said: “I’ve not just lost my husband, I’ve lost my best friend and business partner all in one go.

“It’s difficult for me to describe what happened between us because this wasn’t my decision. It came as a shock to me.”

She added: “At the end of last year, things came to a head when he told me that he was thinking of moving out, which obviously broke my heart. I tried to stop him and save the marriage, as you do when you love someone. Because I knew that if he went, we might never get back what we once had.”

The Sun on Sunday approached James and Ola for comment.

But the suspensions will do little to dampen what was another encouraging night at Windsor Park.

Hungary had piled the pressure on Northern Ireland by winning in Georgia earlier on Saturday, and Northern Ireland’s response sets up a showdown to top the group on Tuesday.

“We were aware that Hungary had won the game earlier and we’re in a great position,” O’Neill added.

“It would be great to win the group. It will be a tough, tough game but this is a brilliant game for us. It’s a great arena to play in.”

Having kept five clean sheets in as many matches, O’Neill is targeting completing the campaign without conceding.

If they can do that, they would not only win promotion but secure a play-off for Euro 2028 as a back-up should their qualifying group not go to plan.

“For a nation of our size, with our players at this stage of their careers, to have a chance to win the group and also to be playing Nations League A is a big achievement.

“I think we would probably be one of the smaller nations to play at Nations League A level since the start of the competition.

“We want to try to achieve that and we have a chance to do that on Tuesday night.”

We tend to think of cinematic crowd-pleasers as movies that contain underdogs and uplift, a few tears, a little laughter, a cup of corn and an ending that melts your heart. These films rarely receive much love from Oscar voters. But they have been nominated for best picture (“The Blind Side”) and, on occasion, even won (“CODA”).

This year, we have a quartet of crowd-pleasing contenders vying for (most likely) one spot among the best picture nominees. Will one of these underdogs go the distance? Grab a tissue box and let’s take a look.

‘I Play Rocky’

(Claire Folger / Amazon MGM Studios)

Struggling actor writes a movie and demands he play the lead. The actor: Sylvester Stallone. The movie? “Rocky.”

Oscar pedigree: Director Peter Farrelly made the 2019 best picture winner “Green Book.” And “Rocky,” of course, took the top prize in 1977.

Forget the crowds. Were the critics pleased? Sits at an OK 68 on review aggregator Metacritic.

Sympathy for the hero? Anthony Ippolito plays Stallone as a cuddly, quixotic figure whose biggest flaw is that he believes in himself too much.

Secret weapon: As was the case half a century ago, Butkus the bullmastiff steals every scene he’s in. And Tracy Letts plays another glorious grump, in this case a studio exec none too happy with Stallone’s stubbornness.

Tears? Of joy, yes! But only if “Rocky” makes you misty-eyed.

Cheers? [Spoiler alert] “Rocky” wins! Cue Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” one more time!

Faith in humanity restored? As far as actors writing their own tickets, I’m more of a “Good Will Hunting” guy. But the movie is a lesson on the value of determination. The next time my wife suggests we order out the bird on Thanksgiving, I’m now inspired to say, “I Cook Turkey.”

Verdict: Hollywood loves scrappy self-mythology. It could be a contender.

‘Club Kid’

Hard-partying queer club promoter sobers up when he learns he has a 10-year-old son.

Oscar pedigree: Producer Alex Coco won best picture two years ago for “Anora,” which has the same chaotic energy as “Club Kid.”

Forget the crowds. Were the critics pleased? Very much so. It has an 80 score on Metacritic.

Sympathy for the hero? Writer-director Jordan Firstman wrote himself a part, just like Stallone. His Peter starts as a congenial cokehead and then discovers a new outlook on life, all thanks to fatherhood.

Secret weapon: Reggie Absolom is poised and adorable as the cool kid who shows up at Peter’s door. He likes the Cocteau Twins and Björk? Can I adopt him?

Tears? When the complications arrive, as they must because somebody has to question the wisdom of Peter raising this child, you will feel for our protagonist as Firstman taps into his vulnerabilities in a way that will disarm even the hardest of hearts.

Cheers? The ending is grounded and thoughtful, and the movie is all the better for it.

Faith in humanity restored? In many respects, yes. Don’t we all want to love someone so much that we’d spend $300 to buy their favorite album on vinyl?

Verdict: A24 has so many best picture contenders this year — “You Can See Everything,” “The Invite,” “The Debut” — that the Oscar victory would be for Firstman to earn an original screenplay nod, a strong possibility.

‘Being Heumann’

Judy Heumann leads the fight for access for the disabled.

Oscar pedigree: Director Siân Heder, who co-wrote the movie with Rebekah Taussig, won an Oscar for writing the 2022 best picture winner “CODA.”

Forget the crowds. Were the critics pleased? Eh. It’s at a 63 on Metacritic.

Sympathy for the hero? The world needs more defiant activists like Heumann, a woman who forgoes politeness for righteous anger at an indifferent world.

Secret weapon: Lead Ruth Madeley brings Heumann’s fire and wit and, yes, abrasiveness to life with a complexity that serves the film’s tough-minded subject well.

Tears? “Being Heumann” does not approach the emotional catharsis that “CODA” wrung out of its audience, which, I’d guess from watching the movie, Heumann would appreciate. (Heumann died in 2023.)

Cheers? I don’t think you need a spoiler alert. Just look around at every public building and sidewalk. Activism can work!

Faith in humanity restored? Heumann never stopped. The movie ends with a striking wide shot of Heumann in her wheelchair in front of the steps of the Capitol in Washington, not a ramp in sight, shaking her head, saying that this won’t do.

Verdict: It’s an inspiring film about a woman few people know even though we see the impact of her work every day. But the storytelling is a little too cute and formulaic for it to go far with the film academy.

‘Mr. Irrelevant’

(Sarah Enticknap / Paramount Pictures)

The last player chosen in the 1983 NFL draft, John Tuggle makes the team. But his fight has only just begun, as he’s diagnosed with cancer the following year.

Oscar pedigree: Michael Shannon, playing New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells, has two nominations.

Forget the crowds. Were the critics pleased? It has yet to screen for critics. But strong audience test scores prompted Paramount to give the movie a prime Christmas Day release date.

Sympathy for the hero? More than once, Tuggle (played by David Corenswet, last seen as Superman) tells people that he’s “kinda likable.” He is! He might be the sunniest character this side of the “Air Bud” golden retriever.

Secret weapon: Tuggle’s mustache is epic.

Tears? Parcells cries. (Well, almost.) You think you’re tougher than Parcells?

Cheers? It’s an inspirational sports movie. Tug-gle! Tug-gle! Tug-gle!

Faith in humanity restored? Next time it rains, I’m going outside and running wind sprints for an hour.

Verdict: Peak dad-core, but no awards. However, if dads get to pick the movie the family goes to see during the holidays, this is going to be it. Unless they live in Philly.