Lindsey Vonn has been through a lot over the last few weeks, even more than we previously knew.

The legendary U.S. ski racer revealed Wednesday that on the day after she crashed violently while competing at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, Vonn lost someone very close to her.

Her dog, Leo.

Vonn wrote in a lengthy Instagram post that Leo has joined two of her other canine companions, Lucy and Bear, “up in heaven.”

“This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of my life. I still have not come to terms that he is gone…” Vonn wrote. “The day I crashed, so did Leo. He had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer (he survived lymphoma a year and a half ago) but now his heart was failing him. He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind.

“As I layed in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy.”

Vonn adopted Leo from an animal shelter in January 2014, days after she came to the realization she would not be able to compete in that year’s Winter Games because of a knee injury. She wrote on social media at the time that Leo had been hit by a car and, like her at the time, had “a bad knee.”

“My boy has been with me since my second ACL injury, when I needed him most,” Vonn wrote in Wednesday’s post. “He held me on the sofa as I watched the Sochi Olympics. He lifted me up when I was down. He layed by me, and cuddle me, always making me feel safe and loved. We have been through so much together in 13 years.”

Vonn made a comeback last year after nearly six years away from ski racing. In December, the 41-year-old Olympic gold medalist announced on Instagram that she had qualified for “my 5th and final Olympics!”

On Jan. 30, a week before the start of the Milan-Cortina Games, Vonn crashed during a downhill race in Switzerland and suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, along with meniscus and bone damage.

Nonetheless, Vonn was determined to compete in the Olympics. After successfully completing multiple training runs, the 84-time World Cup winner started her downhill run at the top of the Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

It lasted 13 seconds. Vonn lost control on the first jump as her pole hit a gate, spun sideways in the air and slammed to the ground. She was airlifted by helicopter to a clinic in Cortina, then transferred to a larger hospital in Treviso.

The crash had left her with a complex tibia fracture.

After multiple surgeries in Italy, Vonn was transported by plane to a U.S. hospital this week.

“Thankful to all of the medical staff who helped me get home 🙏🏻❤️ and seriously looking forward to my next surgery when I can get the X-fix out of my leg and will be able to move more,” Vonn wrote Tuesday on Instagram.

“My injury was a lot more severe than just a broken leg. I’m still wrapping my head around it, what it means and the road ahead… but I’m going to give you more detail in the coming days.”

Vonn’s post announcing Leo’s death came on the morning of her next surgery and included more than a dozen photos and videos of her beloved pet.

“There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love,” Vonn wrote. “Heading in for more surgery today. Will be thinking of him when I close my eyes. I will love you forever my big boy.”

Hours later, she wrote on her Instagram Story: “Going in for surgery soon… lot on my mind but hoping this will be a big step forward.”

That post also included a photo that Vonn appears to have taken from her hospital bed. It shows her injured leg stretched out on the mattress. Sitting next to the bed is her laptop, which displays a close-up photo of Leo playing in the snow.

Feb. 18 (UPI) — An analysis by Climate Central found that the world’s five largest coffee-producing countries, which account for 75% of global supply, are experiencing an average of 57 additional days of extreme heat per year due to climate change.

Its researchers found that heat threatens coffee harvests and coincides with recent record highs in prices.

Climate Central, based in Princeton, N.J., is an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about climate change and how it affects people’s lives.

The analysis, released Wednesday, examined daily temperatures between 2021 and 2025 in 25 countries that represent 97% of global production. The report concluded that all of them recorded more days of harmful heat as a result of environmental warming attributed to greenhouse gas emissions.

The two main varieties that supply the global market are arabica and robusta.

Arabica accounts for between 60% and 70% of global supply and is grown mainly in mountainous regions of Latin America and Africa, where moderate temperatures have historically prevailed.

Robusta, which is more heat-tolerant but has a stronger flavor, is produced largely in Southeast Asian countriesm such as Vietnam and Indonesia.

Coffee is cultivated in a tropical belt stretching across Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, where it requires specific temperature ranges and consistent rainfall.

Temperatures above 86 degrees F are considered extremely harmful for arabica and suboptimal for robusta, as they reduce yields and can affect bean quality.

The analysis was published after a period in which the planet recorded the warmest years since modern measurements began, with episodes of extreme heat in Latin America.

According to Climate Central, this warming increased the frequency of days exceeding the critical 86-degree threshold in coffee-growing regions.

Brazil, the world’s largest producer and responsible for nearly 37% of global supply, experienced an average of 70 additional days per year with temperatures above 86 degrees. In Minas Gerais, its main coffee-producing state, 67 of these extra days were recorded.

Colombia, the world’s third-largest producer and one of the leading exporters of arabica coffee, recorded 48 additional days per year above the critical threshold. The increase threatens productivity and bean quality, the foundation of its international competitiveness.

Some of the sharpest increases were observed in Central America. El Salvador recorded 99 additional days of extreme heat per year and Nicaragua 77, according to the report.

“Nearly all major producing countries are now experiencing more days of extreme heat that can damage plants, reduce yields and affect quality,” said Kristina Dahl, vice president for science at Climate Central.

“Over time, these impacts can extend from farms to consumers, directly affecting the quality and cost of their daily coffee.”

According to the World Bank, its beverage price index rose 58% in 2024 and in December remained approximately 91% higher than a year earlier, driven by increases in coffee and cocoa amid supply concerns.

In December, the price of arabica coffee rose 13% compared with the previous month and more than 60% year over year, while robusta more than doubled compared with the same period the previous year.

SWIFTIES assemble! Your favourite superstar Taylor could be in line to make a very special surprise appearance at next week’s Brit Awards.

Right now, there is a bit of a blank space when it comes to the exact details of her possible attendance at the celebrations.

In fact, no one seems to know what will happen on the night.

I can exclusively reveal, though, that Tay, along with an enormous entourage of more than 20 people, secretly landed in the UK this week.

I’m told they’re going to be visiting Manchester next week — the location for this year’s Brits.

Their schedule then sees them leaving the UK a week on Monday — just a couple of days after the ceremony.

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My music industry mole said: “Taylor is hiding out in London at the moment and is scheduled to visit Manchester, which seems like she could be lined up for a surprise appearance at the Brit Awards.

“Taylor was handed the Global Icon Award at the ceremony back in 2021 and has a huge amount of respect for the Brits. She loves it.

“Brits bosses are trying to keep everything under lock and key, but it feels too much like a coincidence that Taylor is secretly in the UK at the exact time of the Brits.

“The fact her team are all heading home the Monday after the ceremony is fishy. Manchester is an amazing city, but Taylor wouldn’t just be coming to look at the cathedral and the Etihad, would she?”

As lovely as those landmarks are, I doubt it.

If Tay is at the city’s Co-op Live arena on February 28, I think it could be the greatest coup for the Brits. She always delivers a show, on and off the stage.

In 2015, when I was working for Heat magazine, I exclusively revealed that Taylor had hooked up with Calvin Harris at an after-party, with the pair dating for a year.

And in 2021, when she received the Global Icon Award while we were mired in Covid restrictions, she had a very safe knees-up with pals including Haim and Olivia Rodrigo.

This time around, I know Manchester is ready for one massive party and having Taylor front and centre would be phenomenal.

And given her ex Harry Styles is also on the bill, I think it could be a very exciting night.

…AND SHE’S No1 AGAIN

TAYLOR has been named the biggest-selling artist globally of 2025 – the fourth year in a row that she’s topped the list.

The singer, who also took the title in 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024, triumphed thanks to the release of her 12th album, The Life Of A Showgirl, in October.

She is just ahead of K-pop group Stray Kids, who have become megastars around the world, despite not having chart success in the UK.

The list has been compiled by the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry, which compiles streaming, downloads and physical formats in every country for its global artist chart.

The biggest gainer was Super Bowl headliner Bad Bunny, who hopped up from No20 in 2024 to No5, while country star Morgan Wallen rose from No13 to No7.

And there was good news for Lady Gaga.

She has re-entered the list at No10 for the first time since 2020, following the release of her album Mayhem.

JADE HAS A LITTLE HELPER IN GROOT

JADE THIRLWALL got comfort from a surprising source after stepping away from her musical roots when Little Mix went on hiatus in 2021.

She admitted walking around with a teddy version of Groot – the tree-like character from Guardians Of The Galaxy – on her shoulder as she pined for her girlband pals.

On new podcast By The Way  . . . With Harriet Rose, out today, Jade said: “Little Mix, that was my life. I’m very career driven and poured everything into Little Mix.

“So when that kind of stopped, that was a massive shock to the system. I had a little bit of a mini menty-b [mental breakdown].

“I had a little teddy of Groot and started wearing it on my shoulder all the time. It was really weird.

“After Little Mix, I went on holiday with my friends and they were like, ‘Why do you keep wearing Groot on your shoulder?’. I think I was replacing the girls with Groot.

“My friends were like, ‘I think it’s time to stop wearing Groot’.”

MILEY CYRUS will take part in a special for Disney+ to mark the 20th anniversary of her breakout show Hannah Montana.

In the one-off, which is to be screened on March 24, she will be interviewed by podcaster Alex Cooper in front of a live studio audience to look back at the series.

Miley said: “This ‘Hannahversary’ is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who’ve stood by me for 20 years.”

YELL OF A LOOK, PRIYANKA

PRIYANKA CHOPRA spread some joy in this bright yellow outfit ahead of the premiere for her new movie The Bluff.

She wore the thigh-high dress at a photocall before changing into a leather look for the Los Angeles launch of the action thriller on Tuesday night.

The actress was supported on the red carpet by her husband Nick Jonas, who she grabbed by the cheeks while leaning in for a kiss, inset.

Nick released his fifth solo album Sunday Best earlier this month, but it failed to crack the charts.

Here’s hoping her movie fares better.

SHAUN BLASTS TRUMP

US President Donald Trump winds up many people – and Shaun Ryder is no exception.

The Happy Mondays frontman has channelled that into music and written his angriest ever song about Donald, who he branded “orange, fat and bloated”.

In an exclusive chat about their new album, Shaun told me: “Trump keeps popping up.

“There’s plenty on that f***ing orange, motherf***ing waste of space.

“Although I’ve not been mentioning his name, some songs are definitely influenced by that w***er. I f***ing hate him.

“He’s just a p**ck. You might as well have me and Bez up there saying s**t. We have probably got more of a clue than he has.

“I just can’t stand the f***ing man. You can see how it’s affecting me lyrically. I wrote one song that goes, ‘You orange, fat, bloated ****! You f***ing lying, f***ing delusional t**t!’ How’s that for a chorus?”

Brilliant, Shaun.

He also takes a pop at Nigel Farage on the record and said: “Reform, f*** me.

“Every time it gets a bit tough and people haven’t got jobs, it’s ‘blame f***ing immigrants, blame this’,’ it never changes. “That’s the f***ing world, the world is on a loop.

“We never seem to learn f*** all about wars or anything.”

RITA’S TIPS TO BRUSH OFF TROLLS

RITA ORA has advice for ignoring online trolls who target her and other celebs.

The Anywhere singer recites mantras to get into a good headspace.

Rita has teamed up with tech company Meta for a video series on Instagram in a bid to help others.

She said: “You can’t be afraid of something you can’t control.

“You can’t control it, stop thinking about it. These are the mantras I say to myself every day in the mirror.”

Rita added: “Comments can cut. Every tiny thing gets magnified and everyone can see through the walls.

“Someone in the public eye may have more people looking at them but the walls are just as fragile. The doubts are really what helps me make great songs though.”

Personally, I just like to laugh at the trolls, who are always sad, decrepit nobodies, who should get off the internet and find a job.

ACTOR Daniel Radcliffe does not want the cast of the new Harry Potter HBO TV show to be compared to those in the original movies.

He was boy wizard Harry on film, but that role is now Dominic McLaughlin’s.

Daniel said: “Just let them get on with it, it’s going to be a new, different thing.

“I’m sure Dominic is going to be better than me.”

ROB HITS WIG TIME

ROBERT PATTINSON is unrecognisable in this blond wig as he sits on the floor holding a ciggie.

The actor posed for Interview magazine, in which he and his The Drama co-star Zendaya interviewed each other.

Even she was puzzled about the snaps, saying: “The theme was, I don’t know.”

Rob revealed he doesn’t feel welcome in Hollywood, admitting: “I’m never really allowed in. I’m always knocking at the door, like, ‘Hey, guys. Where the party at?’

“And everyone just gets younger and younger.”

The United States spends more on its military than any other country. Military spending by the U.S. made up almost 40% of the total military spending worldwide in 2023, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). When adjusted to 2024 dollars, the U.S. spent $5.74 trillion on WWII alone. That’s more than WWI, Vietnam, Korean, or the post-9/11 Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

U.S. military spending is expected to increase by 10% over the next decade. Congress approved and signed the Department of Defense’s (DOD) new budget into law for fiscal year 2024, which included $841.4 billion in funding for the Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps, National Guard, and more.

According to projections by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), military expenditures will reach $922 billion (in 2024 dollars) by 2038. Almost 70% of that increase will be for the operation and maintenance of military personnel. The DOD requested $850 billion for 2025 to spend on the military. That’s about 3% of the GDP and relatively low compared to other times in U.S. history. The financial methods used to fund these expenditures will include increasing taxes and the national debt.

This level of military spending has national and global impacts and affects the economy.

Analyzing U.S. Military Spending from WWI to Post-9/11

Looking at military spending by war can show us how wars and defense spending affected the U.S. economy, factors that influenced military spending, and trends in defense spending over the years.

The total amount spent on each major U.S. war has been inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. All estimates are of the costs of military operations only and do not reflect the costs of veterans’ benefits, interest on war-related debt, or assistance to allies.

WWI (1917 – 1918): $466.91 Billion

The total cost of World War I was about $466.91 billion in 2024 dollars. When WWI began in 1914, the U.S. was in a recession. However, the economy began to recover and boom after European demand for U.S. goods increased during the war. 

This only intensified when the U.S. entered WWI in 1917, causing a massive increase in federal spending due to shifting the economy from peacetime to wartime production. Entering the war also created new manufacturing jobs and left more jobs open in the labor force, as many young men were drafted into the military. The government also funded the war by increasing taxes and selling Liberty bonds to Americans, who were later paid back the value of their bonds with interest. 

Funding WWI increased the U.S. national debt to over $25 billion by the war’s end. However, the U.S. emerged from WWI as an economic world power. Going into the 1920s, the national debt decreased, the government had a budget surplus, and stock market returns increased. The effect lasted until the economy crashed in 1929, the beginning of the Great Depression.

WWII (1941 – 1945): $5.74 Trillion

The U.S. spent nearly $6 trillion on World War II in 2024 dollars. In the peak year of spending, WWII expenditures made up 35.8% of the national GDP. Federal government spending on WWII was unprecedented.

The U.S. had one of the most significant periods of short-term economic growth between 1941 and 1945, largely fueled by government spending on WWII. The government-funded WWII mainly by increasing taxes and taking on debt. Government debt grew to more than $258 billion by the end of WWII. Tax rates also increased sharply, resulting in even families in poverty having to pay taxes. The average tax rate for top incomes rose up to 90% as well.

War-time production also boomed during this time, with over 36% of the estimated GDP solely dedicated to producing war goods. Over this short period, the U.S. produced 17 million rifles and pistols, over 80,000 tanks, 41 billion rounds of ammunition, 4 million artillery shells, 75,000 vessels, and about 300,000 planes, among other equipment and services needed for the war. However, with so many resources going into war production, it became harder for families to purchase household items like washing machines, irons, water heaters, and food that had to be rationed.   

When the U.S. entered WWII, it was reeling from the effects of the Great Depression, the most severe and prolonged recession in modern world history, from 1929 to 1941. Many attribute government spending on WWII to the end of the Great Depression. However, this broken window fallacy challenges the notion that going to war is good for a nation’s economy.

The theory also suggests that a boost to one part of the economy can cause losses in another part. While WWII reduced unemployment from the Great Depression as many were enlisted or worked in factories, the standard of living declined because of rationing and high taxes. Private sector jobs and production fell, along with overall consumption and investment.

Korean War (1950 – 1953): $476.69 Billion

The U.S. spent about $476.69 billion on the Korean War in 2024 dollars. While it was technically a civil war between the two opposing sides of the Korean peninsula, the U.S. and the United Nations joined in 1950 to support South Korea in a clash over democracy versus communism.

The U.S. funded the Korean War by implementing higher tax rates, contrasting funding by debt as in WWII. To do this, the government enacted the Revenue Act of 1950, increasing income tax rates to WWII levels. Individual and corporate taxes were raised again in 1951.

This was a financially turbulent time as the government had to implement price and wage controls to respond to the inflation created by additional government spending. Consumption and investment, two key factors contributing to the GDP, slowed down during this time and did not go back to pre-war levels.

Vietnam War (1962 – 1973): $1.03 Trillion

The U.S. spent about $1 trillion on the Vietnam war between 1962 to 1973. Military operations for the Vietnam War ramped up more slowly than WWII and the Korean War, with troop deployments starting in 1965. However, the U.S. had been providing aid and military training to South Vietnam since 1954 when Vietnam split into communist North Vietnam and the democratic South.

President John F. Kennedy expanded military aid in Vietnam as the conflict escalated between the North and the South, and President Lyndon B. Johnson continued that trend after Kennedy’s assassination. Escalating U.S. involvement in Vietnam was, in part, due to fears of the domino theory—the belief that if communism took over in Vietnam, it would spread through all of Southeast Asia.

The U.S. funded the war effort mainly by increasing taxes and advancing an expansive monetary policy that eventually led to high inflation in the mid-70s. Non-military spending was also very high during this time (unlike in previous wars, where military spending was significantly higher than non-military spending), largely due to President Johnson’s Great Society social programs, which included domestic policy initiatives such as work-study, Medicare, Medicaid, increased aid to public schools, and more.

Financing the war through increasing taxes and expansionary monetary policy left a lasting effect on the economy. It fueled inflation and caused the market to stagnate, which eventually turned into stubborn stagflation.

Afghanistan and Iraq Wars (2001 – 2021): $3.68 Trillion

The U.S. spent a total of $3.68 trillion in 2024 dollars on the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars over two decades. Military spending reached record levels under President George W. Bush, who launched the war in Afghanistan and the War on Terror in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and the Iraq War in 2003.

The Afghanistan and Iraq Wars began in weak economic conditions owing to the recession from 2001 to 2002 after the Dotcom Bubble burst. Since this was the first time in U.S. history when taxes were cut during a war, both of these wars were completely funded by deficit spending. The government used an expansionary monetary policy that included low interest rates and fewer bank regulations to help stimulate the economy, but it was unsustainable in the long term for the U.S. government’s finances. The Federal Reserve Board increased interest rates again in 2006 and 2007 to help curb the housing bubble before the Great Recession in 2008. 

Military spending on operations in the Middle East peaked at nearly $964.4 billion in 2010, although it decreased in 2012 after the Budget Control Act of 2011, which was enacted in part to limit military spending to help bring down the growing national debt. However, annual caps on military spending were removed as of 2021. The Iraq War ended in 2011 under President Barack Obama, while the Afghanistan War ended in 2021 under President Joe Biden.

Key Drivers Behind U.S. Military Spending

Breakdown of U.S. Military Spending Components

Every year, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) proposes a total budget and its specific allocations, which then go through Congress for approval. 

Military spending includes many different categories. The largest category is generally operation and maintenance, including military training and planning, maintenance of equipment, and a majority of the military healthcare system. In 2023, $318 billion was spent on military operation and maintenance.

The next biggest spending category is military personnel, which goes toward pay and retirement benefits for service members. About $184 billion was spent on military personnel in 2023. Other military spending categories include acquiring weapons and systems, research and development of weapons and equipment, and smaller categories such as building military facilities and family housing.

Influences on U.S. Military Expenditure

Military spending can be influenced by several factors, such as wars, international tensions, and government expenditures. For example, military spending dropped significantly during the 1990s after the end of the Cold War before increasing again in the 2000s because of the War on Terror and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

A shift in government priorities can affect military spending. After the Budget Control Act of 2011 was passed, military spending decreased, placing annual limits on defense spending—although these limits no longer exist.

Due to the U.S.’s involvement in other countries’ economic and political landscape, humanitarian aid and development in other countries can further affect future military spending decisions. 

Advancements in science and technology influence military spending, too. Developments in medical research, artificial intelligence, and new technologically advanced military systems affect defense spending. The Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2024 approved $21.43 billion in funding for science and technology, about $3.6 billion above the budget requested by the DOD. The bill also included more than $100 million over the requested amount for adopting artificial intelligence.

Economic Impact of U.S. Military Spending

The U.S. government has historically used a combination of methods to help fund wars including increasing taxes, pulling back on non-military spending, debt, and managing the money supply. All of these methods have affected the economy in various ways.

For example, WWII and the post-9/11 wars were largely funded by debt, whereas the Korean and Vietnam wars were financed by increasing taxes and inflation. One common thread between the wars, however, is that they increased pressure on inflation. Though inflation can be useful for reducing debt, the overall effects harm the economy and cause issues such as eroding purchasing power and reducing international competitiveness.

Military spending can also spur technological growth and innovation, creating demand and new jobs. However, some argue that defense spending on military research can divert talent away from other industries. High levels of military spending during WWII helped end unemployment and even increased income distribution. However, consumption and investment decreased because of resource redirection to the war effort. 

While military spending has had some positive effects over the years, the macroeconomic effects of military spending on major U.S. wars have been largely negative, according to an analysis by the Institute of Economics and Peace. War financing through debt, taxation, or inflation puts pressure on taxpayers, reduces private-sector consumption, and decreases investment.

U.S. Military Spending Relative to GDP

It’s important to note that while current U.S. military spending is higher than at any point of the Cold War (when adjusted for inflation), it is still low when considering defense spending as a percentage of the country’s GDP. The DOD has requested $850 billion in spending for 2025, which is about 3% of the GDP—that’s relatively low compared to other times in U.S. history. Looking at military spending in terms of GDP reveals that the U.S. economy has generally grown faster than military spending, so its share of the GDP has been lower. Military spending in the U.S. increased by 62% between 1980 and 2023, from $506 billion to $820 billion after adjusting for inflation. However, military spending still trails behind overall federal spending, which increased 175% over the same period.

The Bottom Line

The U.S. spends more on its military than any other country. The government has financed major wars by increasing taxes and debt and adjusting the money supply. Although military spending has reduced unemployment and has led to new developments in technology, the financing methods have increased inflationary pressures, causing negative long-term effects such as decreased purchasing power.

The larger macroeconomic consequences of large-scale military spending have included issues such as higher taxes, inflation, and larger government budget deficits.

The chair of Kick It Out, Sanjay Bhandari, says the lack of support from Benfica and the response of their manager Jose Mourinho has “set the tone” in the racism row between the Portuguese club and Real Madrid, after Vinicius Junior alleged he had been racially abused by midfielder Gianluca Prestianni.

READ MORE: Benfica claim ‘defamation campaign’ against Prestianni

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 18 (UPI) — The United States is tightening the noose on Iran-backed Hezbollah, stepping up pressure with new sanctions aimed at cutting it off from the global financial system and hindering its efforts to regroup and secure new funding sources.

Severely weakened by the recent war with Israel, the group is seeking to recover after losing much of its military capacity, senior leadership and key funding channels that once enabled it to become a powerful regional actor.

With the loss of Syria as its primary supply corridor from Iran after the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and of Venezuela as a suspected financial safe haven amid allegations of drug trafficking and money‑laundering operations, Hezbollah’s financial strains have emerged as one of its most pressing challenges.

Gone are the days when Hezbollah could generously support its popular base, paying reconstruction grants, salaries and stipends that helped it secure loyalty and maintain influence.

Today, the group is increasingly forced to prioritize its financial obligations, redirecting scarce resources to maintain core operations.

Limiting housing allowances or delaying payments to villagers whose homes were destroyed or damaged during the recent war in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, illustrates Hezbollah’s growing inability to meet its regular financial obligations.

Its efforts to secure funds, generate revenue and evade international sanctions were again targeted by the U.S. Treasury Department, which last week sanctioned Jood SARL, a Lebanon-based company linked to the group’s gold trading network.

The firm is accused of creating a chain of businesses to trade gold within Lebanon and potentially abroad, converting Hezbollah’s gold reserves into liquid funds.

The sanctions also extend to an Iran-based shipping network with connections involving Turkey and a Russian national based in Moscow, underscoring the global reach of Hezbollah’s revenue-generating activities.

According to Mohammad Fheili, a risk strategist and monetary economist, the U.S. Treasury is attempting to “pollute the ecosystem” Hezbollah uses to convert assets into operational cash.

“The immediate effect is less about ‘zeroing funding’ and more about raising the friction cost of money,” Fheili told UPI, explaining that the sanctions increase counterparty caution among dealers, shippers and intermediaries, and can effectively freeze access to “clean” trade channels.

He pointed out that procurement then becomes slower and more expensive. When networks are exposed, replacement channels tend to be costlier, involving more intermediaries, greater leakage and a higher risk of interception.

“Even when Hezbollah can move value through cash-heavy channels, everyone around it — licensed exchange houses, logistics firms and commodity traders — faces higher compliance and reputational risks,” Fheili said. “This, in turn, shrinks the pool of ‘willing’ facilitators.”

Some Lebanese businessmen, who have long acted as Hezbollah’s facilitators both in the country and across the diaspora, are reportedly becoming more cautious, fearing they could be targeted by U.S. sanctions and face civil or criminal penalties.

Ali Al-Amin, who runs the “Janoubia” website from southern Lebanon, which focuses on the Shiite community and Hezbollah, said those businessmen were initially drawn to Hezbollah’s rising power — not its ideology — for financial gain.

Al-Amin said that some people, particularly those with established operations in African countries, worry they could face pressure or become targets of the new financial restrictions on Hezbollah in the coming phase.

“They are distancing themselves and keeping away from Hezbollah to protect themselves,” he told UPI. “Being close to the group has become more costly than rewarding.”

He contended, however, that if the Americans had wanted to put Hezbollah — which he said has long enjoyed freedom of movement in Europe and Africa — in check, they could have done so a long time ago.

“It gave facilitators the impression that they had some kind of cover, even internationally,” he said.

Although Hezbollah has long been under U.S. and international sanctions as a designated terrorist organization, U.S. Treasury officials say the group has managed to evade many of these restrictions by maintaining a complex global financial network and using front companies to launder funds.

At the height of the Hezbollah-Israel war, Lebanon tightened security at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport and indefinitely suspended flights to and from Iran to prevent Israeli strikes on the country’s main air and sea gateways, which Israel claimed were being used to smuggle funds and weapons to Hezbollah.

Rigorous security checks have been implemented at the airport, with stricter inspections on flights from Iraq and other designated destinations and thorough screenings of passengers and baggage. Even diplomatic pouches carried by visiting Iranian officials were denied clearance.

The measures forced Hezbollah to seek new smuggling methods, including passengers or pilgrims to Iraq’s holy sites in Najaf and Karbala carrying back cash money , or concealing funds in parcels from various countries.

Even if some of these attempts were successful, the smuggled funds remain limited and insufficient to meet Hezbollah’s actual needs, according to al-Amin, who said the group has “100,000 salaries to pay every month” and has shifted to dealing in gold and digital currencies.

He said that although Hezbollah’s followers are “worried and cautious,” they still view the group as a safety net, capable of leveraging its power and influence within public institutions “to secure government compensation, a hospital bed, or a school seat.”

“But the Shiites [in Lebanon] also realized that Hezbollah led them into disaster, leaving them without allies in Syria, Lebanon, or the wider world,” al-Amin said.

In a surprise move early this month, Kuwait placed eight Lebanese hospitals on its terrorism sanctions list, citing suspected involvement in or facilitation of terrorism — a move aimed at Hezbollah.

“This is significant because it extends ‘pressure targeting’ from financiers and front companies to service institutions such as healthcare, which are socially sensitive and politically symbolic,” Fheili said.

To confront the challenges stemming from the Israeli war, Hezbollah’s new leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has embarked on what appears to be a comprehensive restructuring of the group, sidelining some figures, promoting others and dissolving or merging units.

The resignation of Wafic Safa, head of the Liaison and Coordination Unit — a post that allowed him significant influence and interference over security, political and judicial authorities — was a clear sign of structural change within Hezbollah.

Safa, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt during the war, will be reassigned as part of the group’s internal restructuring that began after the cease-fire agreement, according to Kassem Kassir, a political analyst who specializes in Islamic movements and is close to Hezbollah.

With Safa gone, reports suggest that merging the group’s security units under a central authority has limited its dealings with the Lebanese state to political intermediaries.

Kassir said a new media unit, consolidating all the party’s outlets, has been set up under Ibrahim Mousawi, a Hezbollah deputy in parliament. Former minister and MP Mohammad Fneish was appointed to oversee political relations and preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for May.

“Hezbollah is preparing more measures for the post-war phase to showcase its stability and evolution, highlighting its civil society organizations — from scouting and cultural groups to women’s and educational institutions,” he told UPI. “This is intended to reaffirm its commitment to the state option, to political engagement, and to the decline of its military role.”

However, that commitment may not be enough.

“Hezbollah knows its military role is over, but still cannot admit it,” al-Amin said. “Moving from being a resistance and a regional power to something else requires courage.”

He said the group is evading “difficult questions” and has failed to reassess its relations with Iran and Lebanon now that it is no longer a regional power.

“It seems there is confusion within Hezbollah, and much of it is tied to Iran and what its future holds — whether there will be a [U.S.-Israeli] war against Iran or not,” he said.

SITTING on some former royal grounds, Hyatt Regency Blackfriars is bang in the middle of London.

Here is everything you need to know about the hotel from room rates to restaurants.

Where is the Hyatt Regency Blackfriars?

The Hyatt Regency Blackfriars hotel is in a great location.

It’s opposite Blackfriars train station and minutes away from St Paul’s Cathedral, this very grand looking Grade II-listed five-star hotel  is fit for a King.

The property sits on the former grounds of King Henry VIII’s Bridewell Palace, which was built around 1515.

What are the rooms like?

All the 205 rooms and suites have luxury mattresses, air conditioning, decent WiFi and a fridge.

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We stayed in a club twin room on the fifth floor.

It was a good size, especially for London, with super-sized single beds and a small sitting area.

The bathroom was equally lovely, with a good shower and luxurious toiletries.  

Rooms from £228 per night and suites from £420. See hyatt.com.

What is there to eat and drink at the hotel?

On site there are two restaurants and a lounge which serves light meals, coffee and pastries as well as a Latin American-inspired cocktail bar set in the former prison vaults.  

We had the cocktails and dinner of dreams in the Chinese Cricket Club.

It serves modern Chinese cuisine and was recently awarded two AA Rosettes.

We feasted from the Rose Set Menu which is £78pp and includes dim sum, smoked Peking duck and stir-fried lobster.

What else is there to do at the hotel?

Although the hotel is five-star, it has a chilled, easy-going vibe so you feel relaxed  from the moment you arrive.

The location is also ideal: It’s super-close to the City, plus we walked to the South Bank in ten minutes and Covent Garden in just 15 minutes.

Is the hotel family-friendly?

The hotel has options including the Family Room, which has two connecting King bedrooms and two bathrooms, sleeping up to five people.

Kids also get their own bathrobes and slippers, plush toys and activity books.

Is there access for guests with disabilities?

There are accessible rooms as well as accessible access to the public areas including bathrooms and the restaurant.

Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.

VOGUE Williams has hit back at an online troll who made cruel claims about her.

The troll claimed Vogue, 40, “leeches off men for money and exposure” in a cruel attack.

The TV personality took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a screenshot of the cruel comment which was left underneath one of her posts.

The comment was left under a post Vogue shared about becoming Grand Marshall for the St Patrick’s day parade.

Under the post she had shared, the troll wrote: “The brain to leech off men for exposure and money while p***ing on everyone around me?

“Nah thanks, I’d rather be a nice person that doesn’t use others around her. But carry on.”

SNOWKINI QUEENS

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new role

Vogue Williams reveals new job on ITV’s Lorraine after I’m A Celeb success

Vogue, who was seemingly angered by the comment, responded: “Well you’re certainly not doing well on the nice front! 

“Go check MY company accounts and then come back and tell me I’m leeching off men. See you at the parade hun!”

Sharing the interaction to her stories on Instagram, Vogue penned: “I’m never sure of the motive or need for people to publicly scrutinise someone they know nothing about.

“It’s so s**t.”

She added: “I’m sick of seeing horrible cr** on the internet and people just abusing other people because they feel like it. 

“This person should practice being a nice person a bit more…”

This comes after Vogue’s son Otto, whom she shared with husband Spencer Matthews, was rushed to A&E at the weekend.

The ITV star, who featured in the 2025 instalment of the jungle reality series, documented the three-year-old tot’s woe in a series of candid Instagram snaps.

She told how brave son Otto had been rushed to A&E after breaking his collarbone.

She started her grid post with an image of the adorable youngster with his right arm in a sling, attempting to flash a smile.

The Lorraine host wrote in her caption: “What a weekend ended up in A and E with Otto and a broken collarbone.

“Otty keeps telling us it’s not broken it’s better!

“Staff at Chelsea Westminster are amazing and flew through everyone… v impressive and thankful to them.”

Referring to her subsequent images, which showed her kids playing at home, she added: “Play Doh fixes all!”

Vogue shared three children with her husband Spencer.

Theo was born in 2018, Gigi arrived in 2020 and youngest Otto was born in 2022.

Published on 18/02/2026 – 18:59 GMT+1•Updated
19:20

EU lawmakers have drafted a procedure to select the future host of the European Custom Authority, a new decentralised agency tasked with supporting and coordinating national customs administrations across the bloc.

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The agency is expected to be set up in 2026 and operational in 2028. Many EU countries have put themselves forward as potential hosts for the new body, including Belgium, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Romania.

In a committee meeting in January, all the nine countries presented their candidacy, with Spain, France, Poland and The Netherlands receiving the majority of questions from EU lawmakers.

The need to establish a dedicated selection procedure arises from the fact that no predefined method exists for choosing the host country. As the location of an EU agency often becomes a politically sensitive contest among member states, the institutions have sought to design a detailed procedure aimed at ensuring the decision is as impartial and balanced as possible.

And with the business of customs management and trade surging in importance since US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on countries worldwide, the debate over which country will host the future European Customs Authority has become particularly tense.

According to a draft procedure seen by Euronews, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union will each independently select two preferred candidates. The two institutions will then meet in a joint session to reveal their selections. If at least one candidate appears on both shortlists, that overlapping candidate will be automatically declared the winner.

If there is no overlap, two or four candidates will move to three rounds of votes, all with different rules.

In the first round, a candidate who obtains a majority in both institutions will be elected immediately. But if no candidate achieves a majority in either body, additional scenarios will apply to determine who advances to the second round.

Specifically, if two candidates are tied with neither securing a majority, both will move forward to the second round. In a scenario with four candidates, the two receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated. However, if there is a very close result between the second- and third-placed candidates, three candidates may advance to the second round instead.

In the second round, a joint vote of the two institutions will take place. A candidate must obtain a three-quarters majority to be elected; if no candidate reaches this threshold, the process will move to the third round.

If three candidates remain, the one receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated. However, in the event of a very close result between the second- and third-placed candidates, all three may proceed to the third round.

In the third and final round, the same joint voting procedure will apply, but the required threshold is lowered to a two-thirds majority. This vote may be repeated up to three times. And if no candidate secures the required majority after these attempts, the threshold will be reduced to a simple majority.

Feb. 18 (UPI) — Tesla will stop using the term “Autopilot” in marketing of its vehicles in California, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles announced.

In December, a judge ruled that the company was using deceptive wording in its marketing of the cars in California and recommended a suspension of sales and manufacturing in the state. But the DMV allowed the company 60 days to change its wording.

Autopilot is Tesla’s driver-assistance mode, and its self-driving setting is called Full Self-Driving. The DMV argued that both terms mislead customers and distort the abilities of the driver-assistance systems.

Tesla had changed the self-driving system to be called “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” to indicate that drivers must still monitor the system. But it stayed with “Autopilot,” prompting the DMV to refer the case to the California Office of Administrative Hearings.

The judge ruled with the DMV and recommended the suspension. But the DMV gave the company the grace period.

“Since then, Tesla took corrective action and has stopped using the misleading term ‘Autopilot’ in the marketing of its electric vehicles in California,” the DMV said in a press release Tuesday. “Tesla had previously modified its use of the term ‘Full Self-Driving’ to clarify that driver supervision is required. By taking this prescribed action, Tesla will avoid having its dealer and manufacturer licenses suspended in the state for 30 days by the DMV.”

But Tesla went a step further and changed its driver-assistance plan altogether. It discontinued the former Autopilot mode and now requires owners to pay for an FSD Supervised subscription. Until last week, owners paid a one-time fee of $8,000 for FSD. Now, they pay a $99 monthly fee. CEO Elon Musk has said the fee will increase as FSD Supervised improves, TechCrunch reported.

California is Tesla’s biggest market, with about 30% of its sales. Tesla recently announced that its Fremont, Calif., factory will begin making its Optimus humanoid robots by the end of 2027. It discontinued its Model S and X cars, previously manufactured there.

Shivan Dube shines as India warm up for South Africa by beating Netherlands in final group game at T20 World Cup.

India completed their clean sweep of Group A at the T20 World Cup by beating Netherlands by 17 runs in Ahmedabad.

The tournament co-hosts, along with Sri Lanka, had already secured their place at the Super Eights stage with wins in each of their opening three matches, but Wednesday’s win confirmed their form against a Netherlands side that nearly shocked Pakistan in their opening game.

Having won the toss, India recorded 193-6 with Shivam Dube top scoring with 66 off 31, including hitting 19 off the 16th over.

“I try to hit boundaries, and I enjoy hitting sixes, but the bowling was good, and I had to prepare myself,” Dube reflected.

“I know all the bowlers will not bowl me yorkers or length balls; they will bowl slower, short balls, and I have prepared for that [as well].

“The captain and coaches have told me I have to keep the strike rate high, that wasn’t the case when I came in, but we got there.”

As Dube alluded to, it was not such a steady start, with India opener Abhishek Sharma dismissed for his third duck in a row at the competition.

The left-handed Abhishek, the world’s number one T20 international batsman in the ICC rankings, had his stumps splattered third ball by off-spinner Aryan Dutt, leaving the home fans at the world’s biggest cricket stadium stunned.

The 25-year-old Abhishek is yet to score a run in the tournament in three appearances, having missed the second group-stage match against Namibia with a stomach infection.

Tilak Varma (31 off 27) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (34 off 28) had earlier given impetus to the innings with cameos, after Sharma’s opening partner Ishan Kishan also fell relatively cheaply for 18, although he did score at a strike rate of 257.

Hardik Pandya also continued his fine run with a late onslaught, hitting 30 off 21 as part of the inning’s highest partnership of 76 (in 5.5 overs) with Dube.

Wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s 14-3 led the bowling performance as Netherlands were dismissed for 176-7. Dube was not to be left in the shadows in the field, however, as he claimed two wickets, including Netherlands top-scorer in the innings, Bas de Leede, for 33.

India’s next assignment is their first match in the Super Eights on Sunday against South Africa at the same Ahmedabad venue.

FOR years, Katie Price battled to fulfil her dream of having a sixth baby.

Now, following claims the 47-year-old has fallen pregnant with her new husband Lee Andrews, pals fear it’s a “huge mistake”.

In a scathing social media post aimed at Lee’s ex partner Alana Percival, who he was engaged to last year, Katie declared: “I’m having his child.”

The shock admission comes just weeks after their whirlwind wedding.

Katie’s family are said to be worried sick about her new relationship after his exes Alana and Crystal Janke claim they were hoodwinked by the businessman — branding him a lying swindler who preys on women.

Now friends have sensationally said it’s unlikely Katie wrote that she’s having Lee’s child – claiming it was posted by Lee instead.

BABY BOMBSHELL

Katie Price & hubby claim she’s PREGNANT as she says ‘I’m having his baby’

HAVING HIS SAY

Katie Price’s husband hits back after being accused of ‘f***ing over father’

One pal told The Sun: “Katie has tried for years to have another child. It’s been a very sensitive and vulnerable part of her life she has struggled with.

“Although a pregnancy should be happy news, Katie’s family say having a baby with Lee is another story entirely.

“It’s been a big enough worry that she is being conned by Lee – with fears Katie is paying for everything or being tricked or talked into handing over money to him.

“Although they weren’t happy with her rushing down the aisle, at least divorce was always an option.

“However, if her pregnancy claim is true, Katie will now be tied to Lee forever.”

Katie has bravely spoken about her desperation to conceive, having gone through heartbreaking rounds of IVF while filming a Channel 4 documentary, Katie Price: Making Babies in 2023.

Katie is already a mum to 22-year-old Harvey Price who she raised as a single mum after he was disowned by her ex Dwight Yorke.

She also shares Princess, 17, and Junior, 18, with her ex-husband Peter Andre and has two younger children with her third husband, Kieran Hayler.

She tried for three years to have a baby with her ex, car salesman Carl Woods before their turbulent split when Carl discovered Katie had cheated on him with former international polo star Jamie Morrison and traded sexy messages with an England footballer.

She sparked backlash after introducing three newborn hyper-realistic dolls to fans, which cost anywhere between £300 to a staggering £20,000 and are often used by mothers grieving the loss of a baby. 

After dating Carl, Katie soon moved on to Married At First Sight’s JJ Slater.

The couple suffered a devastating miscarriage a year later after conceiving the baby naturally – despite being told she had only a 1% chance. 

It was Katie’s fourth miscarriage, in addition to a previous ectopic pregnancy.

A fertility expert insisted she only had ”a couple of awake eggs” and was starting to show the first signs of menopause.

Weeks after breaking up with JJ, Katie posted photos of her wedding proposal, with flowers spelling “Will you marry me?” at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa hotel. 

The pair had struck up a relationship on social media before their whirlwind wedding last month, days after they met in person. 

He has not yet travelled to the UK to meet her family or kids.

Katie Price’s relationship history

We take a look back at the highs and lows of Katie Price’s relationship history.

1996-1998: Katie got engaged to Gladiators star Warren Furman – aka Ace – with a £3,000 ring. But their relationship didn’t make it as far as ‘I do’.

1998-2000: Katie described Dane Bowers as ‘the love of her life’ but she broke up with the singer after he allegedly cheated on her.

2001: Footballer Dwight Yorke is the father of Katie’s eldest child Harvey. He has had very little to do with his son throughout his life.

2002: Rebounding from Dwight, Katie famously had one night of passion with Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, allegedly taking his virginity.

2002-2004: Katie was dating Scott Sullivan when she entered the jungle for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!. He threatened to “punch Peter’s lights out” when chemistry blossomed between her and Peter Andre.

2004-2009: The jungle romance resulted in Katie marrying Aussie pop star Peter. They had two kids, Junior and Princess, before their bitter split in 2009.

2010-2011: Fresh from her break-up with Peter, Katie enjoyed a whirlwind relationship and marriage with cage fighter Alex Reid. They split 20 months after their Las Vegas wedding.

2011: Katie briefly dated model Danny Cipriani… but it ended as quickly as it begun.

2011-2012: They didn’t speak the same language, but Katie got engaged to Argentinian model Leandro Penna in 2011. He later fled home to South America.

2012-2018: Wedding bells rang once more after Katie met Kieran Hayler in 2013. They eventually called it quits after a rocky marriage.

2018-2019: Katie moved on quickly with Kris Boyson. They had an on-off romance for one year and even got engaged. They split for good in 2019.

2019: Katie was linked to Charles Drury during her on-off relationship with Kris. Charles, who also dated Lauren Goodger, has always denied being in “official relationship” with her.

2020-2023: Car salesman Carl Woods took a shine to Katie in 2020. Their relationship was up and down for three years. They broke up for a final time last year.

2024-2026: After weeks of rumours, Katie confirmed her relationship with Married At First Sight star JJ Slater in February 2024. The pair split in January 2026 after two years together.

2026: Katie shocked fans when she revealed she had married Dubai-based businessman Lee Andrews after a 48-hour engagement and only knowing him a week.

However, Katie claimed she’s pregnant with his child in a shock rant on Instagram today, writing: “Alana I know rejection doesn’t feel nice and I’m married to Lee Andrews the man you want and will never have again.

“Your constant lies and put downs is clearly showing how bitter you are, go live your life little girl.

“I know the truth and your now embarrassing yourself, go and have the little respect for yourself that’s left.

“I know all about you and who you are.

“At least I’m the real woman he has found and deserves, but please just enjoy watching us build our empire as I’m having his child.”

Dominated by anti-crime measures passed by the 1994 Legislature, hundreds of new state laws took effect Sunday. In all, 1,349 laws were signed by Gov. Pete Wilson during the year.

The standout in the crime category, the “three strikes and you’re out” provision, took effect months ago, but now other new laws join the anti-crime arsenal.

Some substantially widen the grounds on which wrongdoers can be convicted. Others, including a tough “one strike” sentencing law for rapists, ensure that they will stay behind bars longer.

Among other new laws, one bans smoking in practically all indoor workplaces. Another lifts a ban that some employers impose against women wearing pants to work. But at schools, students may now be required to wear uniforms.

Here’s a sampling of the state’s new laws. For more information about a particular law, write to the bill’s author at the state Capitol, Sacramento, Calif. 95814. Further information is available to computer users through the Internet; a user’s guide is available from legislators.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES

Violent crimes–The minimum age at which minors charged with serious violent crimes can be tried, convicted and imprisoned as adults drops from 16 to 14. (AB 560 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-Bonita).

Parole hearings–An inmate serving time for murder is permitted to seek parole before the Board of Prison Terms only once every five years instead of once every two years. (SB 826 by Sen. Bill Leonard, R-Big Bear Lake).

Work-time credits–Violent felons can reduce their prison sentences with work-time credits by only 15%, no longer by as much as 50%. (AB 2716 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

Gun sales to minors–Prison sentences are increased for people convicted of the illegal sale or transfer of handguns to minors. (AB 2470 by Assemblyman Richard K. Rainey, R-Walnut Creek).

Ammunition sales–It is now a crime to sell ammunition to anyone under age 18. (AB 2449 by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert, D-Coronado).

Looting penalties–Judges can require community service in addition to jail time for people convicted of looting during a state of emergency such as the riots that erupted after the Rodney G. King beating trial. (AB 2965 by Assemblywoman Martha M. Escutia, D-Huntington Park).

ATM robberies–Robbing a customer at an automated teller machine becomes a specific crime, subject to penalties of three, four or six years in state prison. (SB 2908 by Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Santa Monica).

Church services–The penalty is doubled from six months to one year in jail for those convicted of disrupting religious services or preventing people from attending them. (AB 3103 by Assemblyman Gil Ferguson, R-Newport Beach).

Criminal profits–Any income derived by criminals convicted of serious crimes from books, movies or similar works resulting from their notoriety will be placed into a trust fund for the benefit of the victims of their crimes. (SB 1330 by Sen. Charles M. Calderon, D-Whittier).

911 calls–It is a crime to repeatedly harass 911 telephone operators and block legitimate emergency calls from getting through. (AB 2741 by Assemblyman Sal Cannella, D-Ceres).

Prisoner rights–Prison officials can require inmates to bathe and get haircuts, prohibit receipt of pornographic magazines and racist hate literature, and charge them a $3 fee for filing civil lawsuits. (SB 1260 by Sen. Robert B. Presley, D-Riverside).

Child abuse–A prison sentence of 15 years to life is established for those convicted of abusing a child under the age of 8 and causing the child’s death. (AB 27X by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

SEX CRIMES

Rape sentences–Perpetrators of aggravated rape or child molestation, such as those who kidnap their victims, face prison terms of 25 years to life upon a single conviction. The sentence is 15 years to life for first-time sex offenses in less violent circumstances. The law took effect Nov. 30. (SB 26X by Sen. Marian Bergeson, R-Newport Beach).

Sex offender information–The state Department of Justice will maintain a 900 toll number that people can call to find out if someone who is a registered sex offender is living in their neighborhood. (AB 2500 by Assemblywoman Barbara Alby, R-Fair Oaks).

Registration list–The list of crimes for which sex offenders must register with local law enforcement authorities after their release is expanded. (AB 1211 by Assemblyman Richard K. Rainey, R-Walnut Creek).

Sex offenders–Parents who are registered sex offenders are prohibited from assuming custody of their children and barred from making unsupervised visits. (SB 25X by Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward).

HIV–Victims of sex offenders are guaranteed the right to request and obtain the result of HIV testing of their attackers. (AB 2815 by Assemblywoman Paula L. Boland, R-Granada Hills).

Child molesters–A special unit is added to the state Department of Justice to investigate child molestation complaints. (AB 3273 by Assemblyman Tom Umberg, D-Garden Grove).

Custody restrictions–Convicted child molesters are prohibited from getting custody of children conceived through their illicit conduct. (AB 1082 by Assemblyman Dean Andal, R-Stockton).

Job restrictions–Convicted child molesters or registered mentally disordered sex offenders cannot become state-licensed social workers, educational psychologists or counselors for families or children. (AB 2956 by Assemblywoman Valerie Brown, D-Sonoma).

Sex offenders–Registered sex offenders are prohibited from serving as classroom or play yard volunteers in the public schools. (AB 3458 by Assemblyman Trice Harvey, R-Bakersfield).

Sexual assault–A woman’s request that an attacker use a condom or other birth control device does not constitute consent to sexual assault. (SB 1351 by Sen. Milton Marks, D-San Francisco).

Palm prints–Registered sex offenders are required to submit full palm prints to law enforcement authorities in addition to blood and saliva samples before their release from prison. (AB 151X by Assemblyman Sal Cannella, D-Ceres).

Rape definition–The legal definition of rape is expanded to include situations in which women are unable to resist because they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (AB 85X by Assemblywoman Diane Martinez, D-Monterey Park).

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Catching killers–The governor can offer a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person who kills a police officer acting in the line of duty. (SB 435X by Sen. Robert G. Beverly, R-Long Beach).

Firearms records–Gun dealers are required to make their sales records available to law enforcement officials, and the Department of Justice is required to computerize its handgun records. (SB 1308 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-Bonita).

Inspector general–An inspector general’s office is created within the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency to conduct internal audits and investigations. (SB 1462 by Sen. Ken Maddy, R-Fresno).

Stalking crimes–It will become easier to prosecute state inmates who continue to harass their victims from inside prison. (AB 3730 by Assemblyman Tom Umberg, D-Garden Grove).

Inmate movies–Wardens can prohibit sexually explicit or extremely violent movies from being shown to state prison or Youth Authority inmates. (AB 1685 by Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta).

Jailhouse sex–It is a misdemeanor for law enforcement personnel to engage in sexual relations with inmates. (AB 1568 by Assemblywoman Hilda Solis, D-El Monte).

GRAFFITI

Graffiti materials–It is a misdemeanor to possess an aerosol paint can, felt tip pen or other marking device with the intent to write graffiti or commit public vandalism. (SB 583 by Sen. John R. Lewis, R-Orange).

Graffiti cleanup–Parents of minors convicted of graffiti crimes are required to spend at least 12 hours helping their children clean up the mess. (AB 2595 by Assemblyman Tom Connolly, D-Lemon Grove).

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Bodily harm–The maximum prison sentence for domestic violence convictions is increased to five years and the maximum fine is increased to $10,000. (SB 739 by Sen. Marian Bergeson, R-Newport Beach).

Firearms possession–Anyone subject to a domestic violence restraining order is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm while the order is in effect. (SB 1278 by Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara).

Visitation rights–A father’s right to visit his children can be restricted in court cases in which a battered woman has obtained a domestic violence restraining order. (AB 356 by Assemblywoman Margaret Snyder, D-Modesto).

Restraining orders–A statewide registry of people under domestic violence restraining orders is established for use by law enforcement officials. (AB 3034 by Assemblywoman Hilda Solis, D-El Monte).

LEGAL SYSTEM

O.J. Simpson case–Witnesses and jurors in high-profile criminal cases such as the O.J. Simpson trial are prohibited from selling their stories to tabloid newspapers or television shows before or during the trial. (AB 501 by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, D-San Francisco).

Attorney conduct–The State Bar is to draft rules of conduct to restrict trial attorneys from making out-of-court public comments that could prejudice potential jurors. (SB 254 by Sen. Quentin L. Kopp, I-San Francisco).

900 numbers–Courts are authorized to establish 900 telephone numbers to provide callers with recorded information regarding scheduled trial dates and traffic court sessions. (AB 1800 by Sen. Tom Campbell, R-Stanford).

Attorney advertising–Attorneys are prohibited from engaging in television or radio advertising of their services that is misleading to the public. (AB 3659 by Assemblyman Paul Horcher, R-Diamond Bar).

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Juvenile decoys–Law enforcement officials are allowed to use people under age 21 as decoys to apprehend merchants who illegally sell beer, wine or liquor to minors. (AB 3805 by Assemblyman Bernie Richter, R-Chico).

Liquor stores–Licensing of new liquor stores is restricted in high-crime neighborhoods already saturated with liquor stores and bars. (AB 2897 by Assemblyman Louis Caldera, D-Los Angeles).

Beer and wine licenses–A three-year moratorium is imposed on the issuance of new beer and wine licenses in some cities in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, depending on the ratio of population to the number of existing licenses. Fines and penalties are increased for existing liquor store operators who break the law by selling to obviously intoxicated people or to minors. (AB 463 by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker Jr., D-Inglewood).

Nude juice bars–Cities and counties are empowered to regulate so-called nude juice bars that currently sidestep local laws regulating nude entertainment by not serving alcoholic drinks. (SB 1863 by Sen. Tim Leslie, R-Carnelian Bay).

DRUGS

Trucker drug tests–Intrastate truck drivers will be subject to random drug testing just as interstate truck drivers are under existing federal law. (SB 2034 by Sen. Ruben S. Ayala, D-Chino).

Drug sales–Prison penalties are increased for those convicted of selling illegal drugs on the grounds of public parks or public beaches, including adjacent parking lots and sidewalks. (AB 2638 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman, D-Brentwood).

Driver’s licenses–A six-month driver’s license suspension is authorized for those convicted of any drug offense, even if it is unrelated to operation of a motor vehicle. This measure took effect Dec. 1. (AB 79X by Assemblyman Robert Frazee, R-Carlsbad).

Seized assets–The state will continue to seize property and money from convicted drug dealers, using those assets for law enforcement purposes, with new safeguards added to protect innocent people from losing their assets. (AB 114 by Assemblyman John Burton, D-San Francisco).

WOMEN

Dress codes–Employers may not stop women from wearing slacks to work in place of dresses or skirts. (SB 1288 by Sen. Charles M. Calderon, D-Whittier).

Sexual harassment–State law allowing women to sue employers and instructors for sexual harassment is expanded to allow them to sue doctors, lawyers, accountants and other white-collar professionals. (SB 612 by Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Santa Monica).

Abortion protesters–Health care facilities can sue anti-abortion protesters who block access to their premises. (AB 600 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

CHILDREN

Child support–State business and professional licenses held by parents who fail to make court-ordered child support payments can be suspended. (AB 923 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

Juvenile vandalism–The amount of money that parents or guardians may be liable for because of acts of vandalism committed by their minor children is increased from $10,000 to $25,000. (AB 308 by Assemblyman Dean Andal, R-Stockton).

Parental liability–Parents are held responsible for making court-ordered restitution for property damage committed by their children. (AB 1629 by Assemblywoman Betty Karnette, D-Long Beach).

Missing children–Telephone, gas and electric companies are required to quickly provide law enforcement officials with customer information to help find missing or kidnaped children. (AB 2333 by Assemblyman Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside).

Child seat belts–The fine for the first offense of transporting a child age 4 through 12 in a vehicle without using safety belts is increased to $50 from $20, and to $100 from $50 for subsequent offenses. (SB 2004 by Sen. Nicholas C. Petris, D-Oakland).

Bicycle helmets–Bicycle riders under age 18 are required to wear approved safety helmets or face $25 fines. (AB 2268 by Assemblyman Louis Caldera, D-Los Angeles).

Medical expenses–Divorce court judges are required to specify legal responsibilities of each parent regarding the payment of the children’s medical expenses and health insurance. (SB 1807 by Sen. John R. Lewis, R-Orange).

Tobacco sales–Merchants who illegally sell tobacco products to minors face increased fines and penalties, and the state is permitted to use sting operations to catch them in the act. (SB 1927 by Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Santa Monica).

Curfew fines–Parents whose children break local curfew laws are subject to fines of $50 or more. (AB 3797 by Assemblyman Tom Umberg, D-Garden Grove).

Adoption consent–The time period is reduced from 120 to 90 days during which a birth mother of an adopted child can change her mind, revoke consent and have the child returned to her. (AB 3336 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

Pornography–It is a misdemeanor to sell pornographic matter in a news rack unless the news rack is supervised by an adult or located in an area that is not frequented by children. (AB 17 by Sen. Steve Peace, D-Bonita).

CHILD CARE

First aid and CPR training–Child day-care home providers must undergo training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to help cope with possible injuries to children under their care. (AB 243 by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert, D-Coronado).

Portable classrooms–Administrative procedures are streamlined for school districts to lease surplus portable classrooms for use as private day-care facilities. (AB 3466 by Assemblyman Ted Weggeland, R-Riverside).

Baby cribs–Manufacture and sale of baby cribs that do not comply with federal safety requirements and present an unreasonable risk of injuries to infants is prohibited in California. (AB 3760 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

SCHOOLS

School uniforms–School boards can adopt dress codes requiring students to wear uniforms on campus and stop them from wearing gang-related clothing. (SB 1269 by Sen. Phil Wyman, R-Tehachapi).

Metal detectors–One million dollars is provided to purchase metal detectors for Los Angeles senior and junior high school campuses to catch students who bring guns to school. (AB 777 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

Campus firearms–It is a felony to carry a firearm within 1,000 feet of a public or private school campus. (AB 645 by Assemblywoman Doris Allen, R-Cypress).

Hate violence–The State Board of Education is instructed to adopt policies designed to reduce acts of hate violence in kindergarten through high school. (AB 2543 by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee, D-Oakland).

Student harassment–School boards can suspend or expel students who harass, threaten or intimidate other students and create a hostile school environment in grades 4 through 12. (AB 2752 by Assemblywoman Doris Allen, R-Cypress).

Teaching credentials–The state will permanently revoke the teaching credentials of any teacher who is convicted of a felony sex offense or a drug offense involving a minor. (SB 2005 by Sen. Tim Leslie, R-Carnelian Bay).

Volunteer police–Local school boards can create unpaid volunteer police reserve corps to supplement salaried school police forces. (SB 281 by Sen. Ruben S. Ayala, D-Chino).

School leave–Employers must allow parents and grandparents of school-age children up to 40 days off per year, without pay, so they can take part in school activities. (AB 2590 by Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin, D-Fremont).

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

New state university–A portion of the old Ft. Ord Army training base in Monterey County is set aside as the site for a new state university campus. (SB 1425 by Sen. Henry J. Mello, D-Watsonville).

Cross-enrollment–Students enrolled in the community college, state college or University of California systems may take one course each term, if space is available, at a campus in one of the other systems by paying a $10 administrative fee. (SB 1914 by Sen. Lucy Killea, I-San Diego).

DRIVING

Unlicensed drivers–Police can confiscate, in some cases permanently, automobiles driven by unlicensed drivers who have a prior conviction for driving without a license or for driving with a suspended or revoked license. (AB 3148 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

Suspended licenses–Penalties are increased for those convicted of driving with a suspended license as a result of a prior drunk driving conviction. (AB 2416 by Assemblywoman Grace F. Napolitano, D-Norwalk).

Driving tests–On a two-year trial basis, private driving schools can give license-qualifying driving tests to 15,000 minor students per year with the Department of Motor Vehicles closely monitoring the program. (SB 1390 by Sen. Charles M. Calderon, D-Whittier).

Automobile theft–A statewide automobile anti-theft prevention and investigation program is established, financed by requiring auto insurance companies to pay a 20-cent fee for each vehicle that they insure. (SB 1723 by Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward).

Concealed firearms–Judges can suspend or delay issuance of the driver’s licenses of minors convicted of carrying a pistol or other concealable firearm, and order them to complete up to 500 hours of community service. (AB 3499 by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell, D-Carpinteria).

Truancy punishment–The courts can suspend or delay for up to one year the driving privileges of a habitually truant minor. (SB 1728 by Sen. Teresa Hughes, D-Inglewood).

FIRES

Aggravated arson–A mandatory prison term of 10 years to life is prescribed for convicted arsonists who set fires that cause injury, $5 million in property damage or the destruction of five or more homes. (SB 1309 by Sen. William A. Craven, R-Oceanside).

Arson tracking–A statewide computerized arson information system is to be established to help local fire and law enforcement officers track, arrest and prosecute arsonists. (AB 2336 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

Arson registration–All people convicted of arson or attempted arson must register with local law enforcement officials upon their release. (AB 8X by Assemblyman Bill Hoge, R-Pasadena).

Re-roofing requirements–Residents of fire-prone regions are required to use fire-retardant materials when they re-roof their homes. (AB 3819 by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, D-San Francisco).

Super Scoopers–On a trial basis, the state will lease two so-called Super Scooper aircraft that can swoop low over bodies of water to pick up water to fight forest fires. (AB 2802 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman, D-Brentwood).

POULTRY

California grown–It will be a misdemeanor to say “California grown” on supermarket poultry labels if the birds were not raised in this state. (SB 1412 by Sen. Henry J. Mello, D-Watsonville).

Fresh chickens–Poultry advertised and sold as “fresh” by markets must be just that and not pre-frozen. (SB 1533 by Sen. Dan McCorquodale, D-Modesto).

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Travel agencies–A fund of more than $1.5 million is to be set up from fees paid by travel agencies and tour operators to reimburse customers if the agencies and operators skip town or go bankrupt. (AB 918 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

Price gouging–It becomes a crime for merchants to increase prices for vital goods and services by more than 10% after a natural disaster such as the Northridge earthquake. (AB 36X by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar, and AB 57X by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson, D-Los Angeles).

Ticket sales–Ticket brokers who sell tickets to events such as football games and rock concerts must possess the tickets they advertise, or have an option to purchase them, and tell buyers exactly how much they will cost. (AB 3083 by Assemblyman Dede Alpert, D-Coronado).

Towing services–It is a crime for towing service operators to accept kickbacks or gifts in return for taking disabled vehicles to certain auto repair shops. (AB 3017 by Assemblywoman Juanita M. McDonald, D-Carson).

Charitable contributions–Professional fund-raisers hired by charity groups are required to give at least 50% of received donations to the sponsoring group. (AB 3443 by Assemblyman Tom Connolly, D-Lemon Grove).

Charity report–The attorney general’s office is required to publish an annual report on charitable fund-raising activities in the state with copies of the report made available to public libraries. (AB 3778 by Assemblyman Tom Umberg, D-Garden Grove).

Cable television–Cable TV customers must be notified in writing that their names and addresses will, if they wish, be deleted from mailing lists that are sold to potential advertisers. (SB 1941 by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal, D-Los Angeles).

HEALTH CARE

Premarital blood tests–Marriage license applicants no longer have to take expensive blood tests to check for syphilis and rubella. (AB 3128 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

Health care–Health insurance plans are required to allow women to name their obstetrician-gynecologists as primary care physicians. (AB 2493 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

Dalkon shields–The statute of limitations is waived for women filing claims for damages alleging that they were injured by Dalkon shield intrauterine birth control devices. (AB 2855 by Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson, D-Los Angeles).

Genetic disease–Health care insurers are prohibited from using genetic testing to discriminate against people who carry the gene for a disease but have no symptoms of it. (SB 1146 by Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton).

Paramedic training–A statewide system is established for the examination and licensing of California’s 7,000 paramedics, replacing current local programs that vary from county to county. (AB 3123 by Assemblyman Johan Klehs, D-San Leandro).

Whistle-blowers–Continuing-care facilities are prohibited from terminating a contract with a senior citizen as retaliation for the resident filing a complaint against the care provider. (AB 2847 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

ENVIRONMENT

Offshore oil drilling–New offshore oil and gas drilling is banned in all state coastal waters–those within three miles of California’s 1,100-mile coastline. (AB 2444 by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell, D-Carpinteria).

Mono Lake–A $36-million state fund is established to permit the city of Los Angeles to replace water supplies it gets from Mono Lake, which will soon be cut off. (AB 3096 by Assemblyman Richard Katz, D-Sylmar).

District budget–The South Coast Air Quality Management District must submit its annual budget for suggested changes, and its extended forecasts for review, to the state Air Resources Board, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Legislature. (AB 1853 by Assemblyman Richard Polanco, D-Los Angeles).

Ride-sharing programs–The air quality district cannot force employers to use cash incentives or disincentives to encourage employee ride-sharing programs. (SB 1134 by Sen. Newton R. Russell, R-Glendale).

ANIMALS AND FISH

Two-rod fishing–Purchase of a $7.50 stamp in addition to a fishing license will allow anglers to use a second rod while fishing in inland lakes and reservoirs. (SB 2115 by Sen. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena).

Bear poaching–Penalties are increased for the illegal sale or possession of bear parts that are highly valued as medicine and aphrodisiacs among some ethnic groups. (SB 1597 by Sen. Milton Marks, D-San Francisco).

Horse tripping–Intentional tripping of running horses, sometimes a feature of Mexican-style rodeos, is prohibited. (AB 49X by Assemblyman John Burton, D-San Francisco).

Meat–Slaughterhouses, stockyards and auction yards are prohibited from buying or selling animals that cannot walk by themselves, to prevent diseased meat from being sold. (SB 692 by Sen. David A. Roberti, D-Van Nuys).

VETERANS

Cabinet status–The state Department of Veterans Affairs is elevated to gubernatorial Cabinet level status and its director must now be a U.S. military veteran. (AB 2597 by Assemblyman Stan Statham, R-Oak Run).

HOUSING

Homeless shelters–National Guard armories can be used as emergency shelters for homeless people in cold and wet weather between Dec. 1 and March 15 until 1997–as a matter of law rather than executive order by the governor. (AB 1808 by Assemblyman Rusty Areias, D-San Jose).

Shelter transportation–Police officers are authorized to take people lacking evidence of any residence to the nearest homeless shelter, if there is space available and the person does not object. (SB 2083 by Sen. Tom Campbell, R-Stanford).

Mobile homes–Mobile home installations are required to meet state earthquake and wind safety requirements so they cannot be knocked or blown off their foundations. (SB 750 by Sen. A. David Roberti, D-Van Nuys).

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

No smoking–With few exceptions, a statewide smoking ban is imposed for restaurants, offices, factories and other enclosed workplaces. (AB 13 by Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman, D-Brentwood).

Workplace violence–Business owners can obtain temporary restraining orders and court injunctions against customers and others who engage in violence or make credible threats of violence against employees. (AB 68X by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert, D-Coronado).

Employer fines–Fines are increased for employers who pay their employees in cash under the table in order to avoid paying state taxes. (SB 1490 by Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton).

Home addresses–Owners of small at-home businesses who use mail-receiving services are exempted from having to disclose their home addresses so they will be less susceptible to break-ins and stalkers. (AB 171 by Assemblyman Mickey Conroy, R-Orange).

Armed security guards–State officials are charged with developing minimum standards for the selection and training of armed security guards hired to protect private businesses. (AB 1713 by Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara).

Late payment fees–The cap on late payment fees is increased from $5 to $10 for retail store charge cards and installment contracts. (SB 1583 by Sen. Teresa Hughes, D-Inglewood).

Tourist information–A statewide network of visitor information centers is authorized, to encourage tourism in California to help boost the state’s economy. (SB 1983 by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal, D-Los Angeles).

MISCELLANEOUS

Chavez holiday–March 31, the birth date of the late Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers union, becomes an unpaid state holiday. (SB 1373 by Sen. Art Torres, D-Los Angeles).

Gifts and parties–A state law is repealed that previously let the lieutenant governor, attorney general, controller, treasurer, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and chief justice each spend up to $10,000 a year in state funds on gifts and parties. (AB 1921 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-Burlingame).

Political reform–Local elected officials are held to the same restrictions regarding acceptance of speech honorariums and gifts as state elected officials. (AB 1542 by Assemblyman Tom Umberg, D-Garden Grove).

Judicial gifts–Limits are imposed on gifts that judges can receive, to be enforced by the Commission on Judicial Performance. (AB 3638 by Assemblyman Burt Margolin, D-Los Angeles).

Attorney lobbyists–Cities and counties can require attorneys who are lobbyists to register and disclose their lobbying activities. (AB 3432 by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell, D-Carpinteria).

Lawsuit damages–It is illegal to use public funds to pay court judgments against elected officials who are sued for unethical or illegal actions. (AB 2467 by Assemblywoman Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey).

Obsolete state laws–Obsolete state laws dating back to Gold Rush days are repealed, relating to such subjects as dueling penalties, “wanted dead or alive” posters and prohibiting horses from mating where they can be seen by the public. (AB 3326 by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell, D-Carpinteria).

South Africa–A ban on the investment of state pension funds in businesses that operate in South Africa is lifted now that apartheid has been abolished in that country. (AB 2448 by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, D-San Francisco).

Voter registration–Access to voter registration records is restricted to prevent stalkers from obtaining home addresses and telephone numbers of potential victims. (SB 1518 by Sen. Milton Marks, D-San Francisco).

When women take the ice for Thursday’s Olympic free skate in the global fashion capital of Milan, five skaters will compete in dresses made by Los Angeles-based designer Lisa McKinnon.

McKinnon has become the must-have name in figure skating couture, dressing the entirety of the U.S. and South Korea women’s teams. Americans Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito wore McKinnon’s designs in the short program and will do so again in the free skate.

And one of those dresses may be featured on the medal podium. Liu stands in third place after Tuesday’s short program, while Levito is in eighth and Glenn tumbled to 13th with the free skate still to come.

McKinnon knows exactly how clothing needs to fit on bodies moving across the ice — for spins, for jumps, for everything it takes to win. The fabric must be able to stretch in all directions, which necessitates a four-way stretch fabric. Design with a two-way stretch and a skater might not be able to lift their arm. Dress skaters in spandex, power mesh and stretch velvet, and they’ll move like they do in training.

American Amber Glenn competes in the figure skating short program at the Winter Olympics in Milan on Tuesday.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

McKinnon sources most of the fabric locally from the fashion district in downtown L.A.

“It’s really great to just go in person because sometimes it’s the fabric that can inspire you to create something with,” McKinnon said.

McKinnon’s time on the ice that taught her how to create fashion for an athlete tailored for movement and aesthetic appeal. She grew up as a competitive figure skater in Sweden, and she started making bodysuits and dresses — which she wore to practice — for herself at age 11 or 12. By 16, she was designing dresses for elite skaters in her hometown, Mariestad, Sweden, including a Swedish national champion. At the time, they shared a coach, and the coach asked McKinnon to design a dress for the skater.

“They had seen the dresses that I made for other skaters,” she said. “They were just — you know — putting their faith in my hands that I could do this.”

After high school, McKinnon skated in tours in Europe and then North America. In the United States, she first settled in Las Vegas, where she designed dresses for local skaters. When she moved to L.A., bigger name skaters started calling. She designed for Ashley Wagner, three-time U.S. champion, and Karen Chen, who competed in her dresses at the 2018 Olympic Games. McKinnon says they were the ones who “got her noticed.” Noticed to the point that Milan is by no means the designer’s Olympic debut. In 2018, she outfitted pairs gold medalists Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot from Germany.

Since then, McKinnon has become the go-to designer for elite women’s figure skaters in the United States. At U.S. nationals in St. Louis in January, eight of the 18 senior women competed in McKinnon’s dresses. In the final warm-up alone — composed of the six skaters leading after the short program — five wore McKinnon designs. There, Glenn, Liu and Levito stood on the podium in her dresses.

In St. Louis, McKinnon hand delivered a dress to Liu, the reigning world champion who debuted a long-awaited Lady Gaga free skate routine. Liu practiced in the dress and McKinnon was able to make on-the-spot adjustments.

Surprisingly, hand delivery isn’t the norm for the dresses that run from $3,000-$8,000, averaging around $5,000 (McKinnon charges by the hour). Because McKinnon designs for skaters who train all over the country — Liu in Oakland, Glenn in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Levito near Philadelphia in southern New Jersey — FedEx shepherds the dresses across the country. Skaters make sure the dresses fit OK before McKinnon and her four-person seamstress team add sparkle, which usually means a crystal count in the thousands. Beads, paillettes and pearls are often mixed into the shine. Each crystal is hand affixed with E6000 glue.

American Christina Carreira and partner Anthony Ponomarenko compete during the ice dancing free skate at the Winter Olympics on Feb. 11 in Milan.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

McKinnon affixed faux rose pedals to a dress for American ice dancer Christina Carreira to debut during the skater’s own Olympic debut. Midway through the skating season, Carreira and partner, Anthony Ponomarenko, returned to their free dance from two years ago, “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.” They needed new costumes to differentiate from their performances two years ago, and McKinnon had already designed costumes for the team’s rhythm dance to La Bouche’s “Sweet Dreams.” McKinnon made the new dress in a little over a week, and it was set to arrive three days before Carreira left her training base in London, Canada, for the Games.

Except the dress didn’t arrive.

McKinnon learned that the package was stuck at a FedEx facility in Memphis, Tenn., after Winter Storm Fern pummeled the region.

“We would call and sometimes they’d say it’s in L.A., sometimes they’d say it’s in Memphis, so we didn’t know where it was,” Carreira said. “We weren’t getting answers, but going on social media actually helped.”

Carreira woke up after her flight to Milan to find an Instagram message with a photo of her dress. A woman told Carreira that her husband had found the package and put it on the first plane to Detroit, where Carreira’s coach, Scott Moir, retrieved the package to bring to Milan.

Carreira first tried on the dress in Milan. “It fit perfectly,” she said. “Lisa has never met me. She’s only seen me over FaceTime, and the two dresses she’s made fit perfectly.”

Carreira and Ponomarenko placed 11th in their Olympic debut.

“I wanted a dress that made me feel special at the Olympics,” Carreira said. “And both of those dresses did that.”

Carreira came to McKinnon’s designs through Glenn, who skated her short program to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” wearing a McKinnon design based on the 1989 music video. After admiring McKinnon’s designs, Carreira talked it over with Glenn at an early season competition in Oberstdorf, Germany.

“She said Lisa was super easy to work with,” Carreira said. “The dresses fit perfectly.”

McKinnon designs from her studio, which occupies the first floor of her apartment in West Hollywood. There, McKinnon and her team watch their dresses take the runway in Milan. Except the runway is made of ice and the skaters will do much more than walk.

Feb. 18 (UPI) — Human Rights Watch urged Venezuela’s government led by Delcy Rodriguez to dismantle what it described as the country’s repressive state apparatus and implement deep judicial and electoral reform.

The group noted that recent political prisoner releases have not dismantled mechanisms used to suppress dissent.

The rights group said the releases mark progress, but warned that institutions responsible for arbitrary detentions and political persecution remain active amid what Venezuelan authorities call a process of “national pacification.”

The organization called for the removal of Attorney General Tarek William Saab, saying he “led the state action that resulted in human rights violations” after the 2024 presidential election and describing him as part of “the government’s repressive machinery.”

The statement follows the Jan. 3 capture of former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a U.S. military operation and the subsequent release of hundreds of detainees held for political reasons.

The Trump administration has continued working with former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in what it describes as a plan with phases of “stabilization, recovery and transition,” focused largely on reforms in Venezuela’s oil sector, the organization said.

“The release of political prisoners is an important relief, but the repressive apparatus used to detain them remains in place,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.

“Venezuelan authorities must carry out real reforms of their laws and judicial and electoral institutions,” she said. “Anything else would amount to a simulated transition that may serve the interests of the governments of Venezuela and the United States, but will not vindicate the rights of the Venezuelan people.”

Human Rights Watch said some 600 people remain imprisoned for political reasons, and that an amnesty bill under debate in Venezuela’s National Assembly, the country’s legislature, does not guarantee unconditional release for all those arbitrarily detained for political events dating to 1999.

“Its discussion should not be used as an excuse to delay the unconditional release of political prisoners or the structural reforms needed to restore democracy in Venezuela,” Goebertus said.

The organization said many people released from prison remain under criminal investigation and face restrictions on free expression and political participation. Some have been placed under house arrest, including opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, who was freed Feb. 9 and detained again hours later after calling for protests.

Human Rights Watch also called for measures to restore judicial independence, which it said was weakened after a 2004 reform under then-President Hugo Chavez, and reiterated its demand for Saab’s removal, saying his continued tenure is incompatible with meaningful reform.

The group further urged steps to ensure free and fair elections, including a review of the National Electoral Council, the body responsible for organizing elections, whose members backed Maduro’s reelection and blocked opposition candidacies such as Maria Corina Machado.

Human Rights Watch said only sustained structural reforms will allow a credible political transition and full restoration of human rights in Venezuela.

Eurostar offer an easy way to explore the continent without needing to hop on a plane, and a new rule change means it could become an even more convenient mode of travel

Eurostar has announced a change to its check-in rules at St. Pancras International in London in a bid to ease overcrowding and make journeys easier for passengers.

Currently, passengers taking a Eurostar train need to arrive at least 60 minutes before their journey and then have to wait in the departures area. However, the change will see passengers able to arrive just 30 minutes before their departure time.

The Telegraph reports that there are plans to allow passengers to board their Eurostar train as soon as it arrives at St Pancras, reducing crowding in the departures area. Speaking to the news outlet, Wendy Spinks, Chief Commercial Officer at London St Pancras Highspeed, said that she wanted the experience of taking the Eurostar to be more like a train journey than flying.

She said: “It cannot be the equivalent of an airport departure lounge. We see it being a really quick process. Going straight to the train is part of the plan. It has become too close to the airport experience, where you check in, go to security, wait in the lounge and then rush to the gate.”

The changes come as Eurostar prepares to expand its services, including the introduction of double-decker trains, as well as new direct routes to Frankfurt and Geneva, expected to launch from early 2030.

It’s also expected that by then, Virgin Trains and Italian operator Trenitalia will be offering rival services from St Pancras, challenging Eurostar’s monopoly on the Channel Tunnel route. Wendy went on to admit that bottlenecks in the departure areas were an obstacle to expanding these services and offering international trains from all five of its available platforms.

St Pancras has also recently needed to install new kiosks with the technology to run the EU’s entry and exit system (EES), which will be required at all external border crossing points by April 9.

Last summer, Eurostar and London St. Pancras Highspeed announced they were joining forces on an ambitious project to double the capacity of St Pancras station, enabling the historic building to handle 5,000 international passengers an hour.

Expected to cost £100m, the plans would improve the “international area and its connection to the main concourse, helping the passenger flow and customer experience” by the end of 2028. A further phase could see arriving passengers redirected to a lesser-used upstairs area, and this change is set to be completed by the end of 2030.

READ MORE: Balearic Islands could be hit by anti-tourism protests this summerREAD MORE: Spain’s ‘ghost islands’ deliberately cut off from the mainland to keep tourists out

Any new operators would share platforms with Eurostar, and passengers would need to make sure that they were boarding the correct train. However, it’s speculated that the expansion of St Pancras could cut check-in times to 15-minutes, meaning passengers could simply head straight to their service.

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“The talks have not broken down, but they have not really yielded any results.” Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid explains what happened—and what didn’t—at the third round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

A must-watch new documentary series has just hit Netflix and it’s a must-watch for foodies

Netflix has just released a compelling documentary series that follows a globally renowned TV chef as he tackles the most formidable challenge of his professional life.

The fresh six-part series launched today (Wednesday, 18th February) is essential viewing this week for food lovers.

Not only will it leave you salivating over Michelin Star-calibre cuisine but it also provides unprecedented access to one of Britain’s most cherished culinary icons.

Being Gordon Ramsay tracks the Kitchen Nightmares star’s latest audacious venture: launching five distinctive dining experiences atop 22 Bishopsgate, amongst London’s loftiest skyscrapers.

Throughout the thrilling behind-the-scenes look at the pioneering food and beverage enterprise, audiences will also discover Gordon’s domestic life with his wife Tana and their six children, reports the Express.

The London-based celebrity, who also maintains properties in Cornwall and Los Angeles, divides his time between treasured moments with his family and the gruelling demands of his career both domestically and internationally.

Admirers of the celebrated chef will experience poignant scenes as Gordon farewells his daughter Tilly to culinary school and reconnects with his youngest children following weeks of separation, alongside touching and frequently amusing exchanges with the chef and his wife as they playfully quarrel during the taxing new undertaking and reflect on their formative years together.

Netflix’s synopsis for the six-episode series guarantees a “pulse-racing” experience as “pressures mount” on the A-list chef.

Audiences will also be moved by his candid conversations about “fame and parental guilt” before Gordon “turns up the heat” in the nail-biting finale.

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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. This lets customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Bridgerton.

Within hours of its release, subscribers have already been championing Being Gordon Ramsay as they flock to watch the must-see new docuseries in their thousands.

One fan characterised the series as “Pressure. Passion. Perfection” on X, whilst another shared: “gordon ramsay chaos? i’m already hooked.”

Another posted: “Gordon going all-in on five restaurants at once with £20M of his own cash? This is gonna be absolute chaos… and I’m 100% here for it Already hitting play tonight.”

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“I will be there!” another user vowed, and someone else concurred: “Oh I will be sat!”

The series has also garnered favourable reviews from critics thus far, with The Telegraph labelling it “stressful” yet “surprisingly enjoyable”, adding it “puts the Beckhams to shame”.

Are you craving mouthwatering exclusive insight into the life of Britain’s leading chef? Netflix has certainly delivered this week.

Being Gordon Ramsay is available to stream on Netflix.