England have not had a competitive fixture since winning Euro 2025 as they beat China 8-0 and Ghana 2-0 in friendly matches at the end of last year.

Before that, they suffered a 2-1 defeat by Brazil on their homecoming return but recorded a 3-0 win over Australia three days later.

The matches gave Wiegman an opportunity to test new players and formations – handing a debut to 30-year-old goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse in the process.

Among those to receive their first senior call-ups to the squad were defenders Anouk Denton, Taylor Hinds and forward Freya Godfrey.

There was also time for England stars Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Lauren James to recover from lengthy injuries.

Chelsea defender Millie Bright, who captained England to the World Cup final in 2023, announced her retirement in October having withdrawn from the Euros.

There was a serious blow for Arsenal forward Michelle Agyemang – one of England’s key players in Switzerland – as she was carried off on a stretcher after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the win over Australia.

But it’s been a successful time for the other Lionesses in Arsenal’s squad, including captain Williamson, who lifted the Champions Cup in February.

And Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was named the world’s best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards in September, as Wiegman picked up the best coach award.

Hampton also wrapped up the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award in November after being caught up in the fallout of Mary Earps’ autobiography, which was released earlier that month.

Feb. 16 (UPI) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an agreement with Britain on Monday that will bring $1 billion in investments into his state.

The climate agreement sets a framework for British companies to expand their access to California’s market and for cooperation on decarbonization and clean energy technology.

British energy company Octopus Energy is among the companies that will expand its access in California. It has committed nearly $1 billion to clean energy companies and projects based in California. Newsom announced the partnership after meeting with British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in London.

“California is the best place in America to invest in a clean economy because we set clear goals and we deliver,” Newsom said in a statement.

“Today, we deepened our partnership with the United Kingdom on climate action and welcomed nearly a billion dollars in clean tech investment from Octopus Energy. California will continue showing the world how we can turn innovation and ambition into climate action.”

Newsom visited Octopus Energy’s headquarters in London during his trip.

California has climate agreements with several countries around the world. During the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, it entered new partnerships with Chile, Colombia, Nigeria and Brazil.

President Donald Trump criticized the new agreement between California and Britain on Monday, saying it was “inappropriate” for the two sides to be working with each other.

“The worst thing that the U.K. can do is get involved in Gavin,” Trump told POLITICO. “If they did to the U.K. what he did to California, this will not be a very successful venture.”

The Trump administration has rolled back federal climate-focused initiatives, most recently eliminating greenhouse gas emissions standards.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Diego Nacasio, 43, works full time as a salesman at a large hardware store in Florencio Varela, a city in the greater Buenos Aires area. He says he doesn’t need a calendar to know what day of the month it is. By the time his salary and that of his wife, who also works full time in a shop, run out, it is around the 15th.

From then on, they look for extra jobs, find things to sell, use their credit cards, and get small loans to pay for basics, including food, until the next paycheques arrive.

“I have never experienced anything like this,” Nacasio told Al Jazeera. “Over the past 25 years, we have worked hard, and our jobs allowed us to build a house from scratch, buy a car and give our 17-year-old son a decent life. Now, we have better jobs than we did then, and still cannot even afford food for the whole month.”

“Living on credit puts you in a very dangerous cycle. It’s very easy to fall behind with payments, and then it is a matter of chasing your own tail. Most people I know are in the same situation. We are living in a constant state of stress and anxiety, and it feels like there’s no way out.”

Nacasio’s story has become increasingly common in Argentina, where nearly half of the people say they are using savings, selling belongings or borrowing money from banks or relatives to cover basics, according to a report by Argentina Grande based on the latest official figures available. Another report, from Fundacion Pensar, found that 63 percent of Argentines have cut down on activities or services to make ends meet.

“The current situation in Argentina is extremely concerning. It is particularly worrying to see that even people who have one or several jobs are getting loans not to buy a house, a car or white goods [appliances], but to buy food,” Violeta Carrera Pereyra, sociologist and researcher at the Argentina Grande Institute and one of the authors of the report, told Al Jazeera.

A tale of two cities

Argentina’s President Javier Milei, who took office in December 2023, says his austerity economic plan, based on achieving fiscal balance while building up reserves of United States currency through drastic cuts to public spending, has revitalised the economy and lifted millions of people out of poverty. He is backed by the International Monetary Fund, which, despite Argentina’s record levels of foreign loans, projects an economic growth of four percent in 2026 and 2027.

But a closer look at the figures shows a different, more sombre, picture.

While economic activity in Argentina has increased overall, growth has been uneven. In November 2025, the most recent month for which data is available, sectors such as banking and agriculture saw growth, but manufacturing and commerce experienced sharp declines, with many factories and shops closing due to falling demand. Consumption, particularly of food, has been falling, with a 12.5 percent drop reported by independent food retailers.

Then there’s inflation, a key variable that in Argentina needs to be kept at bay in order to access essential foreign credit.

While Milei’s shock economic plan managed to significantly reduce inflation from record-high figures when he first took office in late 2023, experts say his administration has taken some controversial measures to keep it low. This includes forcing salaries to remain stagnant and under the rate of inflation, and opening the country up to cheaper imports. These policies have left many without money to spend and forced thousands of factories and small businesses to close.

Critics also say inflation figures are not representative of real price fluctuations. The tool used to measure inflation in Argentina, a sample basket of goods people consume, was developed in 2004 and does not reflect current consumption patterns, including the percentage that items like electricity and fuel – two areas that have seen price hikes considerably higher than inflation – represent in people’s real spending habits.

Carrera Pereyra says that figures also show that the rapid changes in Argentina’s economy have widened inequalities.

“On the one hand, we see that some sectors are able to consume more, so we see a rise in the sales of properties, cars, motorbikes, some as a result of the opening of imports,” she said. “But on the other hand, items like food and medicines are decreasing. So, some people can buy more things than before, while others are struggling to put food on the table.”

An obstacle course

Many Argentines who spoke with Al Jazeera said that making ends meet has become nothing short of an obstacle course. Juggling multiple demanding jobs, selling used items such as clothing, borrowing from relatives, seeking shark loans and bargain hunting have become a regular part of daily life.

“Shopping for food has become a job in itself,”  said Veronica Malfitano, 43, a teacher and trade unionist, whose salary was cut by a quarter when Milei slashed public spending. “I team up with relatives or people I work with, and we buy in bulk. I use my credit card or get small loans. This month, for the first time, I have only paid the credit card’s minimum, something I had never done before. It’s all very stressful. Everybody I know is in the same situation.”

Research confirms Malfitano is not alone. Nearly half of supermarket purchases in Argentina are paid with credit cards, a record, according to recent official data.

Both borrowing and default rates have increased. It is estimated that around 11 percent of personal loans are unpaid, the highest rate since the Central Bank of Argentina began keeping records in 2010, according to Central Bank data.

Griselda Quipildor, 49, who lives with her husband, two daughters and two grandchildren, says that even though several people in her family work, money usually runs out by the 18th of every month and they have to start taking loans.

“At the start of the month, we pay debts, the bills and then the money runs out and we have to start borrowing again. It’s an endless vicious circle, one that is very difficult to get away from. We borrow from people we know and people we don’t know. It wasn’t like this before.”

Lucia Cavallero, an analyst, economics expert, and member of Movida Ciudad, told Al Jazeera that even though Argentina’s economic problems are longstanding, their impact on people’s homes is worsening.

“Debt has long been a serious problem in Argentina, and it has now become a crisis,” she said. “The proliferation of informal lenders has created a dangerous situation, leaving many people with no other options.”

In response, a political party has proposed a bill that would help people in lower-income sectors unify their loans and apply for a long-term payment plan at lower rates.

Cavallero says there are some positive aspects to the initiative, but that it largely misses the central point.

“It is good to see the political class recognising that debts are a serious problem for people,” she said. “However, this approach follows the logic of borrowing to pay off debt. While it may provide temporary relief, deeper structural changes are needed.

“Just as banks are bailed out, we are calling for families to be supported. A more sustainable solution is for wages to keep pace with the cost of the basic basket, so that people do not have to go into debt just to afford food,” Cavallero told Al Jazeera.

Despite all the challenges he and his family face, Nacasio says many people like himself still count themselves lucky.

“At least we own our house,” he said. “If we didn’t and we had to pay rent, I don’t know what we would do. I just need things to change, for us and for everybody. Things cannot continue like this.”

This BBC Three drama based on Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel is coming to Netflix soon

A beloved BBC drama adapted from a bestselling novel that readers have described as “perfect” is arriving on Netflix by the end of this week.

Boasting a stellar cast of familiar faces from the UK, Ireland and the USA, the eight-part series originally debuted in 2022.

Adapted from Sally Rooney’s debut novel, Conversations With Friends didn’t quite achieve the cultural phenomenon status of its BBC predecessor, Normal People, which captivated audiences during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020.

Nevertheless, despite garnering mixed reviews upon release, there are numerous fans who believe the drama about two young best friends who become entangled with an older, successful couple has aged remarkably well and merits viewing.

Alison Oliver (Wuthering Heights) and Sasha Lane (Loki) portray Frances and Bobbi, alongside Sex Education’s Jemima Kirke and Hamnet’s Joe Alwyn as Melissa and Nick, whose lives grow increasingly intertwined, reports the Express.

One five-star review on Goodreads praised the novel as “stupidly good” and “perfect from start to finish”.

Another user concurred, describing the novel as a “perfect representation of life: it’s messy and unpredictable, and we are all just trying to find our footing”.

The live-action adaptation for BBC Three and Hulu is praised as a faithful portrayal of the novel’s events and themes, meaning Normal People fans are certainly in for a treat if they choose to dive in or revisit the series several years after its release. It will be landing on Netflix in its entirety this Sunday, 22nd February.

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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Bridgerton.

One viewer remarked upon its release: “Conversations With Friends the TV adaptation is a phenomenal success and I loved every moment of it. I may even re-watch.”

Meanwhile, an IMDb user described the series as “perfect”, hinting the television adaptation might even eclipse the original novel: “These are the kind of shows I love that don’t come around often. The actors were so interesting, different, and artistic. The backdrop of Dublin with its slightly melancholic and gritty feel captured me straight away.

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“I read the book some while ago, which I really enjoyed but the storyline didn’t overly stay with me. The show brought the story to life with its intelligent conversation, character flaws and nuances.

“I found the filming to be sparing and gorgeous- it created this nostalgic feeling. Such a simple storyline with no in-your-face twist or shocking reveal. It’s more human, subtle and visceral. I haven’t watched Normal People yet but this has made me look forward to watching it.”

Conversations With Friends is available to stream on Netflix from Sunday, 22nd February.

After the students’ demonstration on February 12, Venezuela’s most important university will again test how open the Rodríguez regime really is by talking about what they don’t want to hear: that chavismo lost the 2024 vote on a landslide, with Delcy running the economy and Jorge managing the campaign, before Maduro to stole the election.

This Saturday, on February 21st, an international event that advocates for amnesty in Venezuela will screen in 20 cities around the world the documentary that tells the story of the civilian mobilization that defended the votes and documented the results, the fraud, the people’s revolt, and the unprecedented crackdown.

In late 2024, Hacha y Machete, an activism network and communications platform composed of a multidisciplinary team of Venezuelan migrants and residents, dedicated itself to preserving the memory of what happened on July 28th and the days and months that followed. Now, it promotes the International Day for Amnesty in Venezuela with the support of organizations such as the Committee for the Liberation of Political Prisoners (CLIPPVE), the Washington Office for Latin America (WOLA), Laboratorio de Paz and Laboratorio Ciudadano, with the message of justice, not impunity. 

The documentary De Macedonia con amor reconstructs the courage of citizens and the consequences of repression. You can watch it here, or you can join the events. In Washington DC there will be a conversation sponsored by George Washington University (GWU) and WOLA, with Betilde Muñoz, director of Access to Rights at the Organization of American States (OAS); Isabella Picón, activist and PhD candidate at GWU; and Laura Dib, Director of the Venezuela Program at WOLA, at 2:00 pm at the Lindner Family Commons, on the sixth floor of the Elliot School of International Affairs (1957 E St, NW).

In Caracas, the screening will take place at FACES, seventh floor, at the Sala de Usos Múltiples (11:00 am). Let’s what happens.

Here’s the other participant cities and the schedule: 

• Mexico City: Cineclub Mar de Lava, Av. Francisco Sosa 298, Coyoacán. (01.00 pm)

• Madrid: Bar Cotorrita, Calle Santa Engracia, 33. (05.00 pm) 

• Barcelona (Spain): Ateneu El Poblet, Carrer de Nàpols, 268-270, Eixample. (6.00 pm)

• Buenos Aires: Casa Sur, Av. Diaz Velez, 4736, CABA. (04.00 pm)

• Bogotá: Diáspora Ideas Migrantes, Calle 58 #19-25 San Luis. (05.00 pm)

• Montevideo: José E. Rodó 2182, Esq. Joaquín Requena. (04.00 pm)

• Santiago de Chile: General Urriola, 624, Salón Gourmet. (06.00 pm)

• Brescia: Oratorio La Pace, Via Della Pace, 10. (08.00 pm) 

• Berlin: Die DeutSCHule, Karl-Marx-Straße 107. (08.00 pm)

• Portland OR: Independent Publishing Resource Center, 318 SE Main St. (03.30 pm)

• Bamberg: Kunigundenruhstr. 8 (Distel). (07.30 pm)

• Valencia (Spain): Jerónima Gales 16. (03.00 pm)

• Basel: La Tienda Latina, Klybeckstrasse 33. (3.00 pm)

• Alicante: Calle Garbinet, 67. (06.00 pm)

• Mar del Plata: San Luis 2745, Proyecto Bar. (04.00 pm)

• Torino: Sala Polivalente, Via G. Giolitti 21. (03.00 pm)

Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter, where I have emerged from my Hawaiian vacation and probably should be stopped before I buy a Maui timeshare. Please send help.

All jokes (and future debt) aside, we’re ready to roll after a weeklong break on the beach, just in time for the home stretch of the college basketball regular season. Both USC teams are still on the bubble midway through February, albeit one much more comfortably than the other.

The Trojan men’s March hopes are the more tenuous of the two. The sudden ascent to stardom of freshman Alijah Arenas has injected new hope into a hard-luck season. There’s still a ways to go: USC must face Illinois and Nebraska, not to mention UCLA twice, and could still use a couple more Quad 1 wins to bolster its resume. But the talent is there for USC to do some damage in the tournament … if it can make it to March.

The Trojan women are on much steadier ground, slotted at 22nd in the NCAA’s NET rankings. They’ve yet to lose a non-Quad 1 game this season and haven’t lost a game at all since Jan. 25. If the tournament started today, they’d be firmly in the field.

Lindsay Gottlieb has found a means to make it work over the last month, in spite of some shortcomings in a lineup that lost not just JuJu Watkins, but also all the other stars who might’ve lined up to play with her this season. Still, USC has weathered 25 games with a Watkins-sized hole in its lineup, a limited frontcourt and inconsistent play at point guard.

Gottlieb, as coach, deserves a lot of credit for that. As does Kara Dunn, the Trojans’ sharp-shooting grad transfer, who is shooting 51% and averaging 21 points, six rebounds and three assists over her past 11 games.

But USC could not have come this far this season if not for the best freshman in college basketball.

Jazzy Davidson has been every bit the difference-maker in her debut season that she was advertised to be as the top recruit in the 2025 class. She has been an elite defender, a dynamic and varied scorer, a poised and determined leader. She’s delivered in the clutch. She’s dragged USC out of deficits. She leads the Trojans in every statistical category: points (17.2), rebounds (6.3), assists (4.4), steals (1.9) and blocks (2.2).

The numbers only really tell part of the story. When Davidson signed with USC, she expected to play her first season with Watkins. Instead, Watkins injured her knee. The rest of USC’s Elite Eight lineup left. And Davidson suddenly found herself the centerpiece of the team’s hopes. As a freshman.

Those expectations would have weighed heavily on most first-year players, even before considering Watkins’ shadow looming over all the proceedings. But in this case, they haven’t seemed to faze the star freshman in the slightest. She’s been a picture of poise through a season that asked her to be just that. It’s an impossible thing to ask of most 18-year-olds.

And yet, in Davidson’s case, it’s working.

“You talk about overdelivering, to be a freshman and carry the load for us,” Gottlieb said, “she’s just capable of doing almost anything on a basketball court. She’s unique. I know there are several good freshmen in the country. We know how good she is. We see it every day, and we think there’s no one better.”

Someone in SEC country will surely make the case that Vanderbilt point guard Aubrey Galvan has been the nation’s top freshman. Advanced metrics, for one, will tell you that Galvan is worth 3.3 win shares compared to 3.1 for Davidson. She’s certainly been special on the offensive end, pairing up with national player of the year candidate Mikayla Blakes to make the most lethal 1-2 punch in women’s college basketball.

But Galvan is the No. 2 in that attack. That’s the role Davidson was supposed to play as a freshman. Instead, Davidson has been the focal point of opposing team’s game plans from the start, and yet still managed to adjust to the college game on the fly. Her usage rate (28.8%), which measures how often a possession ends with the ball in one’s hands, is higher than any freshman in the country. And she’s only getting better with the ball in her hands.

USC’s hopes this March hinge on Davidson continuing that ascent. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. But here we are. And in some strange, roundabout way, the experience might wind up making USC and its star freshman much better in the long run.

Because next year, USC will welcome not only Watkins back from injury, but also the No. 1 recruit in the nation, Saniyah Hall, as well as 6-foot-4 Aussie forward Sitaya Fagan, who’s redshirting this season. That lineup might be the most talented in USC history.

How it fits together will be the story of next season. But in this one, Davidson has proven she can be whatever USC needs her to be.

Not only the best freshman in college basketball, but the glue that’s kept this Trojans season together.

Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt pulls in a long reception to score against St John Bosco.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

—One last thing about Jazzy. She could stand to be more efficient from the three-point line, where she has made just nine of her last 52 attempts (17%). USC, as a team, has really struggled from behind the arc, which is not something you want in March.

—Chad Baker-Mazara should be back this week. It’s not clear if he’ll be ready for Wednesday’s big matchup. When USC welcomes No. 8 Illinois to Galen Center, it will have been more than two weeks since Baker-Mazara sprained his medial collateral ligament against Indiana. A Grade I sprain usually requires sitting out a week or two, so the timeline is pretty normal. USC is going to need its full arsenal, Baker-Mazara included, to hold its own against the Illini. But if not Wednesday, the sixth-year senior will definitely be back by Saturday against Oregon.

—Chad Bowden wasn’t subtle about his expectations for next season. USC’s general manager told reporters that he was “on a warpath” heading into 2026. He made clear that success next season is “black and white. You’re either in the playoffs or you’re not,” he said. He added that fans “should be unhappy” with a nine-win season and that he was “sick to his stomach” about it. Strong words from someone whose opinion matters a lot within Heritage Hall. Chalk it up as more evidence that a Playoff appearance is the baseline of expectations for Lincoln Riley next season.

—Blue-chip pass-catching prospects Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Mark Bowman both took less money to sign with USC. That’s a good sign. Bowden said USC hadn’t talked to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt in three or four months while the top-50 receiver recruit was committed to Ohio State. But Dixon-Wyatt decided out of the blue that he was coming to USC, to stay home and play in front of family, even if it meant taking less money than he would’ve gotten in Columbus. He wasn’t the only one. On signing day, Lane Kiffin and LSU swooped in to offer Dixon-Wyatt’s Mater Dei teammate, tight end Mark Bowman, “significantly more” than the deal he had with USC, Bowden said. Bowman made Bowden wait most of the day before reassuring he was always bound for USC. We might look back on that decision as a pretty consequential one, if Bowman lives up to his billing from Bowden as “one of the best players in the country.”

—USC is putting a lot of faith in its linebacker room for 2026. Bowden says he thinks the room will “take the biggest leap” of any position next season, but for the moment, that would require quite a bit of projection. Riley pointed to the progress from Desman Stephens down the stretch of last season, as well as the late emergence of Jadyn Walker, as reasons why USC didn’t feel the need to add more in the transfer portal. USC did add Deven Bryant, who the front office viewed as a quality run defender, and welcomes a freshman in Talanoa Ili who could be involved right away.

—The Big Ten is still pushing the 24-team Playoff – *shakes head* – but its plan isn’t all bad. I am not a fan in the slightest of doubling the size of the Playoff. That would significantly devalue the regular season, while lining the coffers of college football’s ruling class. The Big Ten has dominated the last three years of the 12-team Playoff, and yet it wants to open the field up more? It doesn’t make sense. What does sound logical to me, amid an otherwise insane plan, is the elimination of the conference championship games. Not only would that cut a full week out of the calendar, which needs to happen, it would do away with any questions about whether teams can hurt their resume just by playing another game. Go to 16 teams, do away with conference championship games and please — I beg you — stop tweaking the system.

—USC baseball’s season opened with a combined no-hitter. After beating Pepperdine in its season opener, the Trojans went one step further in their Saturday matchup, serving up the school’s first no-hitter in eight years. Sophomore right-hander Grant Govel went seven innings and struck out 10 batters while walking just one, and freshman Cameron Fausset closed the door with another hitless inning before Andrew Lamb hit a two-run homer to invoke the 10-run rule. Hard to imagine a better start to USC’s first season back on campus.

Olympic sports spotlight

After winning its first indoor NCAA title in 53 years last season, the future of USC men’s track has looked strong this indoor season.

Jack Stadlman, a Temecula native, set the indoor 400-meter freshman record at USC, finishing in second with a 45.51 on Day 1 of the Don Kirby Elite Invite on Friday. Stadlman actually didn’t start running track until his junior year at Temecula Valley High and didn’t start running the 400 until last spring. Now already he’s run the fastest indoor time ever for a freshman at USC and the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA in the event this season. That should set Stadlman up nicely for next month’s NCAA indoor championships.

Freshman Cordial Vann also made a strong impression, tying the indoor freshman record at USC with a 6.60 in the 60-meter sprint. The NCAA best so far this year is a 6.49.

In case you missed it

USC coach Lincoln Riley completes staff featuring new defensive blood, continuity

‘She’s unique.’ Jazzy Davidson helps USC climb out of early hole and win fifth in a row

USC men come up a bit short against Ohio State

What I’m watching this week

Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme.”

I finally had the chance this past weekend to watch “Marty Supreme,” the best picture nominee starring Timothée Chalamet and directed by Josh Safdie. And boy was it worth the wait.

Let me start by saying that I generally dislike sports movies. There are exceptions to this rule, of course. But as someone who spends a lot of time thinking about the beauty and romance and drama inherent to sports, I am a documented hater of the genre.

“Marty Supreme,” though, was no ordinary sports movie. This was a propulsive, anxiety-inducing roller coaster ride as we follow Marty Mauser, played by Chalamet, as he tries to become the face of the emerging sport of table tennis in a post-World War II America. Those plans, as you might imagine, unravel along the way, and in the process, Chalamet gives one of the best performances of the year.

I’m still partial to “One Battle After Another” if we’re talking best picture in next month’s Academy Awards, but “Marty Supreme” is no doubt one of the best movies of the last year.

Until next time …

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at ryan.kartje@latimes.com, and follow me on X at @Ryan_Kartje. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Nissanka’s unbeaten century batters former cricket champions Australia, who now need other results to go their way to survive.

Sri Lanka’s opener Pathum Nissanka scored the first century of the T20 World Cup to put his side into the Super Eights of the cricket tournament and leave Australia on the brink of elimination.

Nissanka scored 100 not out off 52 balls with five sixes and 10 fours as Sri Lanka, chasing Australia’s 181, reached 184-2 with two overs to spare in Kandy to win by eight wickets on Monday.

“We’re in the lap of the gods now, I think,” Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said after the match.

“Lot of emotions in the room right now,” he said of the 2021 champions. “Haven’t been at our best. Disappointed bunch at the moment.”

Nissanka was involved in a 97-run stand off 66 balls with Kusal Mendis for the second wicket, with the wicketkeeper-batsman posting his third fifty in the competition.

Nissanka became the first Sri Lankan to score two hundreds in T20 internationals.

After Mendis’s dismissal, Nissanka and Pavan Rathnayake put on 76 off 34 balls to see Sri Lanka to victory.

Nissanka played some glorious cover drives off the spinners and played some elegant flicks against the quicks.

Rathnayake hit the winning runs straight after Nissanka reached his century off 52 balls and was greeted by massive cheers in Pallekele International Stadium.

The packed crowd roared again one delivery later when Rathnayake finished the match with a boundary to deep square.

Sri Lanka came into the World Cup after a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of England, but have gained momentum and have won all three games so far.

Australia’s campaign has been plagued by injuries.

Their captain Marsh, who missed the first two games, returned and gave them a rollicking start by scoring 54.

Marsh and Travis Head (56) scored 104 runs off 51 balls for the first wicket.

With Australia eyeing a total in excess of 200, Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers kept them to 181 with leg spinner Dushan Hemantha picking up 3-37.

Australia collapsed as they looked for quick runs, losing their last six wickets for 21 in 24 balls.

Super Eights: Sri Lanka through; Australia on the brink of elimination

A victory by Zimbabwe over Ireland in Group B on Tuesday, or against Sri Lanka on Thursday, would eliminate Australia.

If Zimbabwe lose both matches, Australia will need to beat Oman in their final game on Friday by a big margin to get through on net run rate.

Meanwhile, Australia could fail to get out of the group stage for the first time since 2009 if unbeaten Zimbabwe beats Ireland on Tuesday.

England have also reached the Super Eights after surviving a scare from Italy in Kolkata. England came back from 105-5 to post 202-7. Italy were cut short on 178.

In New Delhi, Afghanistan shrugged off back-to-back defeats to finally register a win after beating the United Arab Emirates by five wickets. That helped them stay in the tournament and saw South Africa secure a spot in the Super Eights.

WHEN it comes to seaside resorts, Relais Cooden Beach Hotel is one of the most beautiful along the English coastline.

Here’s everything you need to know from room prices to dining.

What is the Relais Cooden Beach Hotel like?

A recently restored mock-Tudor hotel, the former holiday home of the aristocratic De La Warr family, set right on Cooden Beach.

A lot of hotels claim to be by the sea but this one really is – and with uninterrupted views across the Channel.

It’s friendly, welcoming and perfect for relaxing or for walking the dog.

What are the rooms like?

Take your pick from a range of comfortable and spotless sea-themed rooms and suites, many with sea views and all with wifi, 24-hour room service and tea and coffee-making facilities.

Read more on hotel reviews

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The Holiday Inn, Cambridge hotel review

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There are single rooms, family rooms, accessible and dog-friendly ones available.

Rooms from £170 a night with breakfast included.

What is there to eat and drink there?

The Rally Restaurant offers a good range of evening meals, from burgers, steaks and pork belly to fish and chips and catch of the day, much of it locally sourced.

Plenty for veggies too.

If it’s sunny, sit on the terrace and enjoy the view as you eat.

What else is there do to at the hotel?

For a real taste of luxury visit the hotel’s spa.

We had a Deep Sea Soother facial, which was 90 minutes of bliss – but make sure you book treatments when you book the hotel room as it gets very busy.

The Relais is also very handy for Cooden Beach Golf Club and there is free parking.

It’s a great base for a holiday exploring East Sussex, for a long weekend or that special celebration.

It’s also perfect for an overnight stay if you go to a gig at the De La Warr Pavilion in nearby Bexhill.

Is it family friendly?

Yes, there are family rooms that sleep four and have direct access to the shoreline.

The restaurant has a kids menu, along with an ice cream cart and garden games in the summer.

Does it have accessible facilities?

They have accessible rooms which have wide doorways and an adapted bathroom with grab rails and a walk-in shower.

‘Let the practice of democracy continue,’ said Yunus, who has overseen the country’s post-uprising transition since 2024.

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has announced he is resigning to pave way for a new government elected several days ago.

Speaking in a farewell broadcast to the nation on Monday, Yunus said the interim government he oversees “is stepping down”.

“But let the practice of democracy, freedom of speech, and fundamental rights that has begun not be halted,” he said.

An 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, Yunus returned from self-imposed exile in August 2024 to serve as Bangladesh’s chief adviser after a student-led uprising toppled the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh held its first general elections since that uprising on February 12, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, won a landslide victory.

Rahman, a scion of one of the country’s most powerful political dynasties, is set to serve as prime minister of the incoming government when it is sworn in on Tuesday, according to Bangladeshi media.

Yunus praised the recent elections, which European Union observers called “credible and competently managed” as a “benchmark for future elections”.

“The people, voters, political parties, and stakeholder institutions linked to the election have set a commendable example,” Yunus said.

‘We must remain united’

Rahman’s BNP-led alliance won at least 212 seats in the 300-seat parliament, giving it a strong mandate to lead. In second place was the Jamaat-e-Islami party, which won 77 seats, positioning it as the main opposition party. Hasina’s Awami League party was barred from participating.

Rahman appealed for unity in the wake of his party’s victory, saying “our paths and opinions may differ, but in the interest of the country, we must remain united”.

In addition to electing their new representatives, Bangladeshi voters also endorsed sweeping democratic reforms in a national referendum.

The lengthy document of reforms, known as the “July Charter” after the month when the uprising that toppled Hasina began, proposes term limits for prime ministers, the creation of an upper house of parliament, stronger presidential powers and greater judicial independence. It enshrines a key pillar of Yunus’s post-uprising transition agenda.

The referendum noted that approval would make the charter “binding on the parties that win” the election, obliging them to endorse it.

“Sweeping away the ruins, we rebuilt institutions and set the course for reforms,” said Yunus, praising the reforms.

However, several parties raised questions before the vote, and the reforms will still require ratification by the new parliament.

“The challenge now is to ensure good governance, law and order, and public safety, and to establish a rights-based state, which was at the heart of the aspirations of the 2024 mass uprising,” Rezaul Karim Rony, a Dhaka-based political analyst, told Al Jazeera.

Ardal O’Hanlon is famed for Father Ted, My Hero, and, of course, Death in Paradise as DI Jack Mooney

Netflix fans have been “hooked” by this “hilarious” new series which quietly stars a Death in Paradise icon.

Since leaving his days at Saint Marie behind as the lovable DI Jack Mooney, Irish star Ardal O’Hanlon has featured in Derry Girls, The Woman in the Wall, Extraordinary and Sherlock and Daughter, just to name a few.

Now, BBC Death in Paradise fans have stumbled upon his latest venture with Netflix’s newly released Irish comedy-drama How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.

Released last week, the eight-part comedy revolves around friends Saoirse (played by Roisin Gallagher), Robyn (Sinead Keenan) and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) who learn that their troubled friend Greta (Natasha O’Keefe) has mysteriously died.

O’Hanlon is behind the wacky and upbeat Seamus, the manager of the local seaside hotel where the three women stay as they investigate their friend’s death.

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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.

Netflix fans haven’t been able to stop singing O’Hanlon’s praises with one fan describing him as an “absolute icon” in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.

Another said: “Loved him on Death in Paradise. He was my favourite”, while a third labelled the star as “absolutely superb”.

O’Hanlon headed up Death in Paradise for three years as DI Jack Mooney before he chose to leave Saint Marie and return to London with his daughter Siobhan Mooney (Grace Stone).

He finally came to the realisation that he had been running away from grief after losing his wife so Jack chose to finally face up to reality and start over again.

Death in Paradise went on to replace O’Hanlon with Ralf Little as DI Neville Parker, followed by the latest detective Mervin Wilson, portrayed by actor Don Gilet.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is currently the number one watch on Netflix with the comedic thriller brought to life by the creative team behind the hit series Derry Girls.

Creator Lisa McGee told Tudum: “This is the show I’ve always wanted to make; a mash‑up of my two favourite genres, mystery and comedy.

“We want to keep you guessing and keep you laughing. I can’t wait for you to meet Saoirse, Robyn and Dara, and go on this wild, weird adventure with them – an Irish odyssey – full of twists, turns, and arguments about eyelash extensions.”

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is available to watch on Netflix.

MILAN — The U.S. advanced to the final of the women’s hockey tournament at the Milan-Cortina Olympics with a 5-0 rout of Sweden on Monday and will meet the winner of the second semifinal between Canada and Switzerland in Thursday’s gold-medal game.

The goals came from Cayla Barnes, Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne, Hayley Scamurra and Abbey Murphy. Hannah Bilka had two assists while Aerin Frankel turned back 23 shots in pitching the Americans’ fifth consecutive shutout, running their scoreless streak to more than 331 minutes. The unbeaten U.S. has scored at least five times in each of its six games, outscoring opponents 31-1 overall.

Kendall Coyne, top left, celebrates with her teammates after scoring against Sweden in the second period Monday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Barnes got things started 5:09 into the first period, taking a pass from Kelley Pannek behind the goal line, settling it inside the right faceoff circle, then blasting a shot over the shoulder of Swedish goalie Ebba Svensson Traff for her first goal of the Games. Barnes is the 15th American to score in the tournament.

But that was all the U.S. would get in a first period in which it built a 13-2 shot advantage.

Heise doubled the advantage midway through the second period, although Bilka did most of the work, taking the puck at center ice and driving hard up the right wing before slipping a deft pass across the front of the goal for Heise, who had an easy tap-in.

Six minutes later Murphy made it 3-0 and the rout was on, with Coyne and Scamurra adding goals 109 seconds apart to extend the U.S. lead to 5-0 heading into the second intermission.

U.S. forward Abbey Murphy, right, scores past Sweden goalkeeper Ebba Svensson Traff in the second period Monday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

OVER the past four years, I have lived in the ‘danger zone’ of Infernos nightclub in South London yet somehow managed to avoid visiting it.

But this past weekend, in the name of journalism (and perhaps self-sabotage) I finally crossed the threshold after Hollywood royalty, Margot Robbie, confessed her love for the venue.

In fact, the actress – who is currently celebrating the release of her latest film Wuthering Heights – admitted to signing the lease on a house just down the road from Infernos, because it was close to the club.

Infernos has welcomed partygoers since the 1980s, previously named Cinatra’s, before it became the famous Infernos in the 90s.

Since then, it has become somewhat of an institution for London newbies moving to Clapham, with other young celebs even including Lola Tung being spotted inside (as well as the lads from Inbetweeners after it doubled as Malia in the movie).

Despite only opening on Friday and Saturday nights, it has remained one of London’s most popular clubs – so what is it really like inside?

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The Sun’s Travel team have spent their own time there – Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey said: “I lived in South London for more than eight years, so that included a trip to the famous nightclub.

“It’s safe to say I only went a few times. Call it a ‘rite of passage’ if you will, it’s the kind of place where you go in with great intentions, and come out with a drained bank account, wet hair from thrown drinks, missing half your friends and a shoe, before passing out at one of the few kebab shops still open at 3am”.

Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski echoed this: “Infernos is like Disneyland for 20-somethings.

“I’m a terrible dancer, but here no one cares. The only rule is make sure you’ve fuelled well at pre-drinks and come with an anything-is-possible attitude.

“You don’t need to be cool to visit. And there are no hard rules. Want to let loose? Go for it. After a dancefloor snog? So is everyone else. Tight for cash? Brian, who you met just five minutes ago will probably buy you a drink – because that’s just the type of friendly and deliriously happy environment this club fosters.”

Now, myself – I hate clubbing. I don’t like the crowds, the cost of it or the conversations that feel more like talking to your deaf grandmother.

And one thing you should probably know about Infernos is that most nights, its queue snakes down Clapham High Street, as it tries to fit in as many as the 1,500 capacity allows.

And that’s before you fork out as much as £20 for entry.

My night started off pretty well – not only did the queue move pretty quickly even at 11pm, but I was left disappointed by the lack of sticky carpets I was so-warned about.

There are two rooms to choose from – the main club and the 70s vibe ‘Discotheque’.

I squeezed past finance bros chugging VKs to the massive dancefloor, where hundreds of mid-twenty-somethings danced to noughties throwbacks like Beautiful Girl by Sean Kingston and Black Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling.

It has all the makings of a cheesy nightclub from the discoball DJ booth to the dancing podiums on either side.

Waiting my turn from the revolving wannabe-dancers of the podiums, I took to one myself.

Any embarrassment I thought I would feel from essentially dancing on a table top in front of the club was quickly gone.

For a few minutes, I scream-sing, becoming feral and questionably moving to the music.

I hopped off on a buzz, before being replaced by another woman wearing an outfit much more appropriate for the dancing occasion.

The debauchery continues over at the two ‘Kissing Corners’.

I watched clubbers linger as if they were auditioning to be on Love Island – just Clapham’s own version.

My courage did fail me here, having never aspired to become a Love Islander, although I may have yelled “I’ve got a text” just to get away from it all.

Not that anyone would have believed me – the lack of mobile phone service in Infernos means you have no hope of contacting any lost members of the group.

If you feel you have swayed too close to the dark side, then tucked away in another corner of the vast club is, bizarrely, a confessional booth.

I lined up to confess to the ‘priest’ although sadly my sin was not sin-worthy enough. If it had been, I’d have been rewarded my own sacramental wine in the form of a shot.

It’s here I spotted a Blue Plaque too – Margot’s very own shrine installed about six months ago.

My plans to leave the club by 1am had already been thwarted by this point, but there were more surprises in store.

If you manage to stay until 1:30am, you’ll be there for the balloon drop too, another nod to teenage nostalgia.

After venturing around every corner of this chaotic club, why Margot loves Infernos became clear.

In a world of nights out curated for Instagram, Infernos is unapologetically itself and invites everyone who visits to be the same.

It’s a fever dream experience where unseriousness is celebrated and you become just another member of the crowd.

Most people say Infernos is grotty, unhinged, sticky-floored and expensive (a double G&T is £12, while cloakrooms are £3.50 per item).

Though they all come to the same conclusion that it is a great night out.

Will I return soon? Let’s not be dramatic.

But if Margot Robbie felt even the slightest bit of liberation that came with being unashamedly yourself, then I finally understand the appeal.

Staggering out at 3am – I think I did Margot proud. Even I didn’t get thrown out like she did…

In other travel news, here are the 50 best bars around the UK.

Plus, here’s a very extensive list of London’s 35 best pubs – by the locals who drink in them.

Feb. 16 (UPI) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated President Donald Trump‘s support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday ahead of what is expected to be a close election.

Rubio said during a news conference with Orbán in Budapest that Trump is “deeply committed” to his success, adding that it is key to the United States’ interests in Central Europe.

“That person-to-person connection that you’ve established with the president has made all the difference in the world in building this relationship,” Rubio said.

Trump has endorsed Orbán, who has transformed Hungary’s government into what he calls an “illiberal state.” Orbán has peeled away at Hungary’s system of checks and balances, moving closer to an autocratic government.

Orbán has also maintained close ties to Russia, relying on Russian energy. The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions for continuing to use Russian oil and gas because of Orbán’s relationship with Trump.

“If you have financial struggles, if you face things that are impediments to growth, if you face things that threaten the stability of your country, I know that President Trump would be very interested because of your relationship with him and because of the importance of this country to us,” Rubio told Orbán.

Orbán is being challenged in Hungary’s election by Peter Magyar, a former member of his Fidesz party.

During his comments on Monday, Orbán said the United States has agreed to 17 “investments” in Hungary since Trump took office.

DANCE fans are going to be thrilled to hear that an iconic group from the 90s are releasing their first single in over two decades.

The Sun can also reveal that the band has also filmed the music video to go with their song.

The dance group we are referring to is none other than N-Trance, who are best known for their smash hit song, Set You Free.

Students Kevin O’Toole and Dale Longworth formed the group in 1990.

They were soon signed by Pete Waterman’s 380 Records and went onto recruit vocalist Kelly Llorenna, who was just 16 at the time.

The Sun can now reveal that the group is back together and have even released a new song, called Higher.

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The band have even recorded a brand new music video to go with it.

Higher was filmed on a race track, and features a car similar to that of Back To The Future.

The single has just dropped on YouTube and fans are already going wild for it.

One wrote: “I’m 53, born 1973 N-Trance rocked my world in my 20’s. I’m on dance floor again.”

Another said: “For a guy born in 1973 that was 22 when Set You Free blew up this is a welcome return to when dance music was proper!”

A third added: “It’s got anthem and Set You Free vibes I love it good to hear that sound back.”

A fourth was thrilled: “This is what I call a good dance song!”

N-Trance had 14 chart singles in the UK during 1994–2004, with Set You Free being their biggest single to date.

Kevin and Dale met at Oldham College, where they were studying sound engineering.

The pair decided to start making music and used their college’s free recording studio before moving on to Revolution Studios, where they produced Set You Free.

It was at this time that they met fellow student Kelly Llorenna who lent her vocals to the song.

Although the single was eventually certified Platinum, and also hit No. 2 in the charts, it wasn’t immediately popular when it was first released in 1992.

However, three years later it finally reached mainstream success, and proved lucrative for the group.

Away from N-Trance and as a solo-artist, singer Kelly dominated the mid-nineties and early 2000s charts, having bagged six UK top 10 singles thanks to her series of clubland classics. 

She had a number of hits as a solo performer, including Tell It To My Heart, Heart of Gold, and This Time I Know It’s For Real.

Her song Dress You Up reached No.1 on the dance charts in 2008.

Published on 16/02/2026 – 18:22 GMT+1•Updated
18:32

Failing to recognise that it is now essential to advance the digital euro is harming Europe, German Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told journalists on Monday, ahead of a meeting of euro area ministers in Brussels.

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The digital euro, a legislative proposal currently being discussed among the European Union’s institutions, is currently blocked in the European Parliament, where MEPs working on the file are struggling to come to an agreement.

“All I can say is that anyone who, in this situation, has not understood that it is now essential to advance the digital euro as quickly as possible is not serving Europe, but harming it. And everyone responsible for making decisions must be aware of that,” Klingbeil told journalists.

Spanish centre-right MEP Fernando Navarrete of the the European People’s Party (EPP), who is leading the work on the file, is now proposing a new design for the digital euro, which would essentially reduce the scope of the tool as outlined by the European Commission.

The EPP is divided over the digital euro, with the German delegation actively in favour. If the Parliament cannot agree a position on the file, the legislation will not be able to move forward.

What is the digital Euro?

The digital euro would be an electronic form of cash issued by the ECB, and would serve as an additional form of payment supplementing the cash and cards issued by commercial banks.

“We want to move the digital euro forward because it is important for the sovereignty of our continent, but cash will, of course, remain”, the vice-chancellor clarified.

Unlike everyday card payments, where payments are “private”, the digital euro would allow citizens a direct use of digital “public” money, now mainly available in the form of cash.

Under the European Commission’s proposal, the digital euro would include a digital wallet that could be used both online and offline, with payments not trackable.

An alternative to Visa and Mastercard

The digital euro proposal has surged in importance thanks to economic tensions between the EU and the US, offering as it does an alternative to Visa and Mastercard, the two US-based payment systems used in everyday life by most Europeans.

“Today, when a European customer makes a card payment, it is most often executed by a US firm”, Peter Norwood, senior research and advocacy from the NGO Finance Watch told Euronews.

In Europe, Mastercard and Visa account for 61% of card payments and nearly 100% of cross-border ones, according to data from the European Central Bank data from 2025.

“That gives foreign actors meaningful leverage over the day-to-day functioning of the European economy. A properly designed digital euro, with both online and offline functionality, would give Europeans a publicly backed digital payment option. One that keeps costs down, protects privacy and ensures European control over critical payments infrastructure”, Norwood added.

However, in Navarrete’s proposal, the digital euro would not be an alternative means of payment to Visa and Mastercard.

The European Parliament is expected to vote on the digital euro in May. If the legislation passes, there will begin negotiations between the European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

WASHINGTON — Before a Mt. Rushmore-like painting of seven revered and deceased black heroes, a tuxedoed Bill Clinton stood in a darkened hall recently to describe himself to an audience of black Americans.

The 10-minute speech by the Democratic presidential nominee to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Dinner in Washington expressed a simple, direct and unspoken–though clearly understood–contrast to the last 12 years. Clinton did not have to spell out a course of action to win their support.

Rather, he swore to the 4,000 black diners that if they helped him fulfill his quest to win the presidency, he would provide “full participation, full partnership” in a Clinton White House.

“If I change my address, I will only be a tenant there,” he said. “You still own the place, and I want you to act like it.”

For Clinton, the moment was special only because it occurred in the harsh glare of a spotlighted public gathering. More typical of his efforts to court black support was the private, closed-door fundraiser held hours earlier and a few blocks away at a downtown Washington art museum. That reception, hosted by some 60 affluent black American business owners, produced $600,000 for the Arkansas governor.

“This was a historic event,” Rodney Slater, one of Clinton’s top black aides, said immediately after the fund-raiser. “This represents the fact that African-Americans want to be key players in the Clinton Administration. When they can raise that kind of money–that’s more than African-Americans have ever raised for anybody–you can bet the candidate will pay attention to them.”

Like all contemporary Democratic presidential candidates, Clinton is counting on overwhelming support from the nation’s black voters to propel him to victory. But to achieve that, he has taken a significantly different approach than the party’s previous nominees.

Clinton has avoided offering himself as a benefactor of black Americans through dramatic, highly publicized appeals to them or by proposing a host of social programs. Rather, the Arkansas governor has conducted an almost stealth-like campaign within black communities, quietly collecting chits from influential leaders and middle-class blacks while limiting efforts directed at poor, ghetto-dwelling African-Americans. And in targeting middle-class blacks, he has tried to blend their political and economic concerns into the same mix of issues aimed at attracting the highly coveted white suburban voting bloc.

He has done this in order to claim a larger share of the white vote–especially suburban white males, who polls have suggested viewed previous Democratic presidential candidates as too eager to genuflect to black demands. No Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 has won a majority of the white vote, a major reason the party has lost all but one presidential election since then.

With this strategy, Clinton sought to give his campaign an inclusive middle-class cast, effectively defusing race as an issue and avoiding the need to reassure white voters that he would not unduly bend toward poor and needy blacks.

Surprisingly, as Clinton has pursued this strategy, polls have shown he has garnered increasingly enthusiastic support from black voters. A recent survey of 850 blacks by the Washington-based Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies showed more than 80% giving Clinton highly favorable marks on questions of knowledge, fairness and leadership.

In fact, if there has been any genius–or luck–to Clinton’s handling of black voters, it has stemmed from amplifying the hard-edged pragmatism with which many black political leaders and their constituents approached the 1992 campaign. Minimizing conflict within their ranks, they have kept their eyes fixed on the prize: returning a Democrat to the White House. And Clinton appears to have been the beneficiary of this growing political maturity among black voters.

“We’re smart,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), one of Clinton’s earliest and most important black backers, said recently. “We know where our best interest lies. Even if it means that we campaign a little bit differently and not in the ways that we have before, we are out to win, and we can win with Bill Clinton.”

Overall, blacks make up about 1-in-6 of Clinton’s voters, according to recent polls. In the final Times national pre-election poll, released last week, he was favored by 78% of black voters, with President Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot each backed by 9%.

Many of these voters are the legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s unsuccessful 1984 and 1988 campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, which excited political passions among blacks and swelled voter registration rolls within their communities.

Democratic nominees Walter F. Mondale in 1984 and Michael S. Dukakis in 1988 each publicly enlisted Jackson to their cause in hopes of gaining the allegiance of his followers. But while both Mondale and Dukakis harvested the vast majority of black votes cast in their respective races, neither was able to generate a huge turnout by African-Americans. That was especially apparent four years ago, when the failure of blacks to turn out in large numbers was seen as a major reason Dukakis lost close races to then-Vice President Bush in several states, including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Missouri.

Clinton, during most of his campaign, took the alternative approach of keeping Jackson at arm’s length while beckoning an aspiring breed of black leaders to supplant him as a link to black voters.

Among the first black officials to join the Clinton cause early in the primary season–at a time when Jackson’s disdain for the Arkansas governor was undistinguished–were Reps. John Lewis of Georgia, Mike Espy of Mississippi and William J. Jefferson of Louisiana.

These three, like others, are not especially well-known nationally. But for the Clinton camp, what counts is that each commands strong and favorable name identification among blacks in their home states. And while in large measure these politicians offered their early support based on their association with Clinton as a fellow Southerner, it also reflected the new pragmatism among them.

Waters, a national co-chairwoman of the Clinton campaign, most vividly illustrates this phenomenon, given her past close ties to Jackson. Echoing countless other black elected officials, she makes clear that winning the White House is what matters to her this year, not the strategy the candidate employs to get there.

“I don’t question it at this point,” she said. “I want George Bush out of the White House so bad, I’ll buy (Clinton’s) strategy.”

Like Waters, Rep. Craig Washington (D-Texas) is unconcerned about Clinton’s primary focus on white, middle-class, suburban voters.

“He needs to go where he can get votes that I can’t get for him,” Washington said. “The fact that he doesn’t come into black churches every Sunday and that he doesn’t campaign in black communities (to avoid) turning off Joe Willie Six-Pack doesn’t bother me. He doesn’t want to send them back to help the Republicans.”

Linda Faye Williams, associate professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland, said statements like those from black elected leaders–most of whom were faithful Jackson supporters in the past–reveals the “12 years of pent-up leadership hopes” among black leaders.

She also said that “many black elected officials chafed during the last two (presidential) elections over their own roles as leaders because Jesse was always the one out front. Clinton has answered their prayers by giving them room to maneuver.”

Ironically, in the campaign’s final hours, Clinton finds himself more dependent on black votes in some key states than many of his advisers anticipated. As many polls have shown the race tightening, the Arkansas governor’s fate appears increasingly tied to a heavy turnout among traditional Democratic constituencies, including blacks.

That’s especially true in two key regions. It appears Clinton needs a high black turnout in the Midwestern battleground states of Michigan and Ohio–where blacks cast 8% and 12%, respectively, of the votes four years ago–and in such hotly contested Southern states as Georgia and Louisiana, where blacks constituted about a fifth of the vote in 1988.

These political realities have helped lead to a rapprochement between Clinton’s campaign and Jackson. The campaign is hoping Jackson can help spur a big turnout among blacks for the Democratic ticket. And the civil rights leader, for his part, is quietly cooperating in hopes of gaining clout.

Meanwhile, some blacks have remained lukewarm toward Clinton, worrying that his campaign strategy will serve only to get him elected without demonstrating a real commitment to helping poor blacks. These leaders were distressed that the well-publicized bus tours that helped define the Clinton campaign immediately after the summer’s Democratic National Convention focused on small towns and rural America, where the crowds were made up mostly of white faces.

“We’re going to have to put a lot of pressure on Brother Clinton once he gets in the White House,” said Cornell West, director of Afro-American studies at Princeton University. “I hope he wins, but I recognize he’s not a true warrior for our cause.”

After a flurry of complaints that the campaign was avoiding black voters and ignoring their issues, Clinton’s staff squeezed in time for him to campaign a few weeks ago with a delegation of black congressional leaders as they barnstormed several Southern states in a get-out-the-vote effort sponsored by the Democratic National Committee.

Still, the bus trip failed to quell all of the concerns. Even some of those who joined in the journey dubbed it “The Back of the Bus Tour.”

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — World-class athletes, thrilling events, stirring medal ceremonies, I will remember all of those from the Winter Olympics. But what I experienced Sunday on my 45-minute bus ride from my hotel to Cortina will stay with me longer.

There was a young woman sitting across the aisle. She looked to be in her mid-20s, about the age of my daughter, and was wearing a knit cap with a Switzerland logo. Her dark hair was in long, thin braids and framed her friendly face.

“How’s it going?” I asked, setting down my backpack.

“Nervous,” she said with a faint smile.

That started the conversation, one that would have me repeatedly wiping my eyes with my sleeve.

Her name was Michelle Gloor. She’s 25 and from a small town outside of Zurich. Her boyfriend, Cedric Follador, is pilot of the Swiss bobsled team and has races throughout the week. She was heading to watch him practice.

Michelle knows all about the sport. In fact, she had been the brake woman on the Swiss national team and had hoped to be competing in these Olympics herself. She grew up as a track-and-field athlete, a sprinter, and only took up bobsled in 2022.

Women’s bobsled — or bobsleigh, as Europeans call it — is a two-person operation with a pilot in front and brake woman in back.

“The first responsibility is pushing the sled as fast as I can, together with my pilot,” she said in a German accent and near-flawless English. “I have to sit still and count the curves until we reach the finish line, when I have to pull the brakes. I’m responsible that the sled won’t crash into something.”

Her best friend had made the transition from track to bobsled, was looking for a brake woman, and convinced Michelle to give it a try.

“My first bobsleigh ride was in St. Moritz and I was so nervous,” said Gloor, a third-year law student at the University of Zurich. “I think I was crying in the back of the sled because I’d never felt anything like that, all the G-forces and you don’t have any cushion in the sled. It all hurts.

“But after the second run, I felt the adrenaline and it was great. It caught me from then. It took me two runs.”

She was 22 and the future was bright. They entered the Swiss championships and won. Michelle got serious about her new sport, training every day, eating right, building muscle.

Immersed in that world, she met Cedric but for the first 1½ years they were just casual friends. Their conversations were all bobsled-related.

“Then in spring 2024 he texted me and asked, ‘How are you?’” she said. “More personal stuff.”

They had been dating for about six months when a discovery would dramatically change their lives.

In November 2024, during a routine check-up, a gynecologist found evidence of cancer in Michelle’s ovaries. If there were signs she was ill, Michelle hadn’t noticed them. She had been tired the prior summer, yes, but she attributed that to her training.

“It was pretty advanced,” she said of the cancer. “I went to the women’s doctor every year and they couldn’t explain why they couldn’t see it earlier. I don’t know. I’m not questioning that anymore. It’s just … yeah.”

There was no time to wait. By December, she was in surgery. Doctors opened her abdomen from her breast bone down, looking for more growths. They deemed the operation a success, and six months of chemotherapy began in February.

“I lost my hair,” she said. “I had long, black hair. Losing that wasn’t bad. But I lost the hair on my face — my eyebrows, my eyelashes — that was hard. But I always knew it just had to be.”

Her doctor told her her cancer was Stage 3.

“That means it’s on the other organs too,” she said. “But the difference between Stage 3 and Stage 4 is it’s not in my lungs. It’s in my tummy area but not more upwards.”

Cedric was by her side.

“I asked him after the diagnosis if he wants to join me in this journey or not,” she said. “I can understand if he won’t because we were together not even half a year, and I can understand if he said, ‘Hey, it’s too much for me. I can’t do that.’

“Then he took time for himself, and he came back and said he wants to stay with me. He wants to support me in every imaginable way.

“He drove me to therapy when he was in town because he had a bobsleigh season going on from November until March, in my toughest time. Every time he was home, he was there for me. When he wasn’t there, we were phoning every day. He was there all the time, even when he wasn’t there physically.”

Her parents and younger brother were there for her too, of course, but she wanted to give them some time to themselves. Cedric was her rock.

There are elements in his job as a driver that both help him in his sport, and her in her disease.

“As a driver, you really need to focus on what’s going on straight ahead of you,” she explained. “You can’t really switch away your thoughts. You have one minute of full concentration. I think you can compare it to Formula One because you only see the next curve in front of you.

“He’s very calm and I think that helps him in a sporting way to not overreact emotionally and stuff like that. But also for me as a partner, I’m very emotional. When I’m too excited or too sad or too angry, he can calm me down to a normal level. On a stress-less level, and to be stress-free is very important for someone who has cancer.”

Switzerland’s Cedric Follador, right, and Luca Rolli compete in two-man bobsled at the Milan-Cortina Olympics on Monday.

(Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)

Michelle, petite and pale, has lost about 40 pounds over the past year. Mostly muscle.

“I was avoiding sugar in the beginning of the illness,” she said. “You read so much stuff. But after losing so much weight, doctors told me just eat what you want to eat. Because having energy is more important than eating too much sugar.”

In August, doctors discovered more cancer in her. Another surgery to open her abdomen.

“They said it’s still there,” she said. “Those microcells which they couldn’t remove because they couldn’t see them, they grew. But once all those microcells have grown up and been removed, or have been killed by therapy and medication, there won’t be any new cells because the ovaries have been removed, so they don’t produce any more.”

She tries not to Google her illness anymore. It doesn’t help her frame of mind. She’s changed in other ways, too.

“I was a very direct person before my illness,” she said. “Now I’m even more direct and straight-forward. I say no, and I don’t explain myself. If I don’t want to do something, I don’t have to. I just say no.

“Before that, I had a bad feeling about myself and explained myself just because I say no. I don’t do that anymore.”

In December, she began radiation. She has another scan after the Olympics.

There are times she just can’t believe this is happening.

“Women or even men my age, you live in your world, you are following your dreams,” she said. “And you don’t think about something happening in your life. I only know young people in Switzerland, so I can only speak for them. But they don’t talk about that.

“They are not sensible about what can happen, and that’s why it’s important for me to speak out about it. For example, with a women’s doctor, you have to go. It can happen to anyone.

“I’m a young woman. I do sports since I’m 10 years old. I don’t drink alcohol. I don’t smoke. But it still can happen.”

Her illness has shined a spotlight on her friendships. Lots of her old friends showed concern at first, then went on with their lives. A handful checked in on her frequently. Some are new.

“I got in touch with a woman during chemotherapy, she was there too,” Michelle said. “She has breast cancer. She saw my cross necklace, and we were talking about faith and how it helped in those hard times.

“We are still in contact now. We are writing letters to each other. We’re not texting or phoning, just writing letters and sending postcards. She’s as old as my mom, but it’s very cool to have someone with almost the same story.”

How will that story end? Michelle has her hopes, this fearless young woman who took to bobsledding on her second time down the track.

“My goal is to be in the Olympics in four years,” she said. “I’ll be 29 by then. The age is still good — even better than now for a bobsleigh athlete. And I have a great team. My bobsleigh pilot is very supportive and she said she always has a place for me in the sled.”

This week, Michelle is supporting Cedric — just a sliver, she said, of the way he has supported her. They got engaged in December. It happened at sunset in his little hometown in the Swiss Alps.

“He was talking about himself and us, and then he proposed to me,” she said. “I said yes. Of course.”

The charming Georgian market town is packed with independent shops, cafés and a rich history dating back to the 1708 Great Fire – and it’s one to have on your staycation wishlist

Strolling through the delightful market town of Holt, situated near the north Norfolk coastline, you’ll undoubtedly be captivated by its wealth of exquisitely maintained Georgian architecture.

Yet without a devastating blaze, the town’s appearance might have been entirely different, and its heritage extends much further back than the Georgian period. Holt featured in the 1086 Domesday Book, where it was recorded as a market town boasting five watermills and twelve plough teams, establishing it as a thriving and affluent community by medieval measures.

Its fortunes shifted dramatically on 1st May 1708 when The Great Fire of Holt swept through the town, its timber-framed medieval structures proving powerless against the inferno. In just three hours, a substantial portion of the town’s heritage vanished forever, with damage exceeding £11,000 reported – equivalent to more than £2.1 million today.

Contributions flooded in from throughout the nation and reconstruction commenced, though this time with a striking Georgian character that persists to the present day. Among the handful of structures surviving in an earlier architectural style is the Norman church of St Andrews.

Whilst its thatched roof was consumed by flames, the majority withstood the fire and it remains amongst the town’s most ancient buildings. Many of the watermills were decimated and never restored, but Letheringsett Watermill emerged in their stead in 1802, reports the Express.

It now holds the distinction of being Norfolk’s oldest operational watermill, producing flour to this day. Visitors can delve into the mill’s rich history or indulge in a homemade cake at the tearoom, made with locally sourced ingredients.

The town boasts a delightful high street dotted with Georgian buildings that have been transformed into quaint independent boutiques. Meander through the streets and you’ll stumble upon cosy cafés, historic pubs, and traditional tearooms.

From April to December, on the first Sunday of each month, Holt Sunday Market commandeers the town centre, featuring a plethora of traders peddling crafts, artisanal local food and drink, and global street food.

Holt also serves as a gateway to some of north Norfolk’s top attractions. Baconsthorpe Castle is merely a 10-minute drive away, offering free entry to explore the remnants of this once magnificent 15th-century castle.

Once the pride of a wealthy family, the castle was gradually sold off piece by piece as their fortunes dwindled, though parts of the edifice still stand.

A short journey will also take you to the Muckleburgh Military Collection. This family-run museum, located in a former Royal Artillery Anti-Aircraft training camp, is a treasure trove for military enthusiasts, housing an extensive collection of tanks, weaponry, and uniforms.

It’s a must-visit for any history aficionado. For those seeking somewhere distinctive to rest their heads, Byfords in the town centre is worth considering. Housed within a grade II listed building that ranks among Holt’s most historic, it offers 16 well-appointed bedrooms alongside a favoured restaurant downstairs dishing up seasonal fare.

Alternatively, secure accommodation at The Feathers, a Georgian coaching inn boasting 24 rooms – including dog-friendly options – and a welcoming pub below complete with an open fireplace.

Iran launched naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, state TV reports, ahead of US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday. Video shows Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, overseeing the drills.

If you’re looking for alternatives to Benidorm, there’s a destination that’s becoming increasingly popular with Brits who are seeking sunshine, inexpensive pints, and lively nightlife

Benidorm is the perfect choice of destination if you like a lively atmosphere, plenty of beach space, and clubs within walking distance of your hotel. However, in recent years, many tourists have been looking for alternatives to the Spanish town, and if you’re bored of Beni, there’s another fun destination about 3.5 hours from the UK.

Sunny Beach in Bulgaria has many similarities to Benidorm. Both resorts were developed in the 1960s with the package holiday boom, and Sunny Beach’s promenade with its high rise hotels could easily be mistaken for Benidorm’s Levante Beach area.

However, with some tourists complaining about Benidorm prices in recent years, Sunny Beach offers a cheaper alternative. YouTuber Travel with Col made a video of some of Sunny Beach’s prices in June of last year and showed deals such as two cocktails for £4.60, and beers for £1.50.

As the name implies, Sunny Beach sits on a long stretch of sandy coast. The Blue Flag beach is about six miles long, and there are quieter spots to be found for those who want to relax or enjoy more of a family-friendly atmosphere. The sand gently slopes into the Black Sea, and waters are shallow, clear, and calm, ideal for swimming or snorkelling.

Central Beach is at the heart of the action, and along the coast is a huge number of beach bars, nightclubs, and large hotels. By day, you’ll see people lounging on sunbeds with cocktails and enjoying DJ sets, while at night, the clubs are packed with people dancing until dawn. Many clubs open until five or six am, just as the sun comes up, but some spots such as Cacao Beach open 24-hours a day, so the party never stops.

Inland, the town is a tourist haven, full of shops selling beachwear, a market with lots of colourful stalls, and inexpensive fast food joints. You’ll find restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, as well as a few Bulgarian places where you can try Balkan dishes. Sunny Beach Amusement Park is popular with families, offering fairground rides and rollercoasters, while the Action Aquapark has pools, slides, and a lazy river.

Most Brits arrive via Burgas Airport, which has seasonal connections with airlines including easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI, and Wizz Air. It’s about half an hour from Sunny Beach, and has good public transport connections.

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It’s worth taking a day trip to Burgas to explore this historic Bulgarian city. Attractions include The Sea Garden, famous for its pier which looks a lot like something you’d see at the British seaside. Dino Park is an amusement park with animatronic dinosaurs, allowing you to feel like you’ve stepped back in time, and there’s the vast Mall Galleria where you’ll find lots of popular European chains.

Finish your day with a boat trip to St. Anastasia Island. Dating back to medieval times, this tiny 2.5 acre island has a monastery, museum, and historic lighthouse to explore.

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