Colombia rejects deportation flights, Trump retaliates
Colombia rejects deportation flights, Trump retaliates
US President Donald Trump says he will impose sweeping retaliatory measures on Colombia, including tariffs and sanctions, after the South American country turned away two US military aircraft carrying migrants being deported.
Colombia, America’s third-largest trading partner in Latin America, swiftly responded, threatening a 50 per cent tariff on US goods.
Trump’s punitive action appeared aimed at making an example of Colombia, the second case of a Latin American nation refusing US military deportation flights.
It was a demonstration of a more muscular US foreign policy and showed a renewed willingness by Trump to force other countries to bend to his will.
Trump wrote on Truth Social the refusal by Colombian President Gustavo Petro to accept the flights jeopardised US national security.
The retaliatory measures include imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all Colombian goods coming into the US, which will go up to 50 per cent in one week; a travel ban and visa revocations on Colombian government officials; and emergency treasury, banking and financial sanctions.
Trump said he would also direct enhanced border inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo.
“These measures are just the beginning,” he wrote. “We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!”
A US State Department spokesperson said visa processing had been suspended at the US embassy in Bogota in direct response to the decision not to accept deportation flights.
“The Department of State has suspended visa processing at US Embassy Bogota in direct response to President Petro’s decision to not accept repatriation flights of Colombian citizens,” the spokesperson said.
“Embassy Bogota has notified individual applicants who are affected. American Citizens Services will not be affected and will continue as normal.”
America will “no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of”, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
Rubio said Petro had authorised the deportation flights and provided all needed authorisations but then cancelled his authorisation when the planes were in the air.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the military aircraft had departed California and were en route to Colombia when Bogota yanked the permissions to land.
The US president declared ******** immigration a national emergency and imposed a sweeping crackdown since taking office on January 20.
He directed the US military to help with border security, issued a broad ban on asylum and took steps to restrict citizenship for children born on US soil.
Colombia’s Petro condemned the practice on Sunday, suggesting it treated migrants like criminals.
In a post on social media platform X, Petro said Colombia would welcome home deported migrants on civilian planes.
“The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals,” Petro wrote.
Petro said even though there were 15,660 Americans without legal immigration status in Colombia, he would never carry out a raid to return handcuffed Americans to the US.
“We are the opposite of the Nazis,” he wrote.
Mexico also refused a request last week to let a US military aircraft land with migrants.
Trump did not take similar action against Mexico, the largest US trading partner, but has said he was thinking about imposing 25 per cent duties on imports from Canada and Mexico on February 1 to force further action against ******** immigrants and fentanyl flowing into the US.
The US is Colombia’s largest trading partner, largely due to a 2006 free trade agreement, with $US33.8 billion ($A53.5 billion) worth of two-way trade in 2023 and a rare $US1.6 billion ($A2.5 billion) US trade surplus, according to US Census Bureau data.
Petro’s comments add to the growing chorus of discontent in Latin America as Trump’s week-old administration starts mobilising for mass deportations.
Brazil’s foreign ministry on Saturday condemned “degrading treatment” of Brazilians after migrants were handcuffed on a commercial deportation flight.
Upon arrival, some passengers also reported mistreatment during the flight, according to local news reports.
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Perplexity AI proposes TikTok merger with 50% U.S. government ownership stake
Perplexity AI proposes TikTok merger with 50% U.S. government ownership stake
Perplexity AI has presented a new proposal to TikTok‘s parent company that would allow the U.S. government to own up to 50% of a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok’s U.S. business, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The proposal, submitted last week, is a revision of a prior plan the artificial intelligence startup had presented to TikTok’s parent ByteDance on Jan. 18, a day before the law that bans TikTok went into effect.
The first proposal, which ByteDance hasn’t responded to, sought to create a new structure that would merge San Francisco-based Perplexity with TikTok’s U.S. business and include investments from other investors.
The new proposal would allow the U.S. government to own up to half of that new structure once it makes an initial public offering of at least $300 billion, said the person, who was not authorized to speak about the proposal. The person said Perplexity’s proposal was revised based off of feedback from the Trump administration.
If the plan is successful, the shares owned by the government would not have voting power, the person said. The government also would not get a seat on the new company’s board.
ByteDance and TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Under the plan, ByteDance would not have to completely cut ties with TikTok, a favorable outcome for its investors. But it would have to allow a “full U.S. board control,” the person said.
Under the proposal, the China-based tech company would contribute TikTok’s U.S. business without the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app, according to a document seen by the Associated Press.
The proposal seems to mirror a strategy Steven Mnuchin, treasury secretary during President Donald Trump’s first term, discussed Sunday on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures — that a new investor in TikTok could simply “dilute down” the ******** ownership and satisfy the law. Mnuchin has previously expressed interest in investing in the company.
“But the technology needs to be disconnected from China,” he added. “It needs to be disconnected from ByteDance. There’s absolutely no way that China would ever let us have something like that in China.”
The Perplexity proposal comes as several investors are expressing interest in TikTok. Mr. Trump said late Saturday that he expects a deal will be made in as soon as 30 days.
On a flight from Las Vegas to Miami on Air Force One, Mr. Trump also said he hadn’t discussed a deal with Larry Ellison, CEO of software maker Oracle, despite a report that Oracle, along with outside investors, was considering taking over TikTok’s global operation.
“Numerous people are talking to me. Very substantial people,” Mr. Trump said. “We have a lot of interest in it, and the United States will be a big beneficiary. … I’d only do it if the United States benefits.”
Under a bipartisan law passed last year, TikTok was to be banned in the United States by Jan. 19 if it did not cut ties with ByteDance. The Supreme Court upheld the law, but Mr. Trump then issued an executive order to halt enforcement of the law for 75 days.
Mr. Trump, on Air Force One, noted that Ellison lives “right down the road” from his Mar-a-Lago estate, but added, “I never spoke to Larry about TikTok. I’ve spoken to many people about TikTok and there’s great interest in TikTok.”
TikTok briefly shut down in the U.S. a week ago, but went back online after Mr. Trump said he would postpone the ban. Mr. Trump had unsuccessfully attempted a U.S. ban of the platform during his first term. But he has since reversed his position and has credited the platform with helping him win more young voters during last year’s presidential election.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew attended Mr. Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, along with some other tech leaders who’ve been forging friendlier ties with the new administration.
Congress voted to ban TikTok in the U.S. out of concern that TikTok’s ownership structure represented a security risk. The Biden administration argued in court for months that it was too much of a risk to allow a ******** company to control the algorithm that fuels what people see on the app. Officials also raised concerns about user data collected on the platform.
However, to date, the U.S. hasn’t provided public evidence of TikTok handing user data to ******** authorities or allowing them to tinker with its algorithm.
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15 Clueless Employees Who Made Some Silly, Little — And Some *Not* So Silly Or Little — Mistakes At Work
15 Clueless Employees Who Made Some Silly, Little — And Some *Not* So Silly Or Little — Mistakes At Work
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1.The McDonald’s employee who made this very plain sandwich:
2.The employee who packed and sent a gaming chair when this customer ordered a microwave:
3.Whoever’s responsible for marking up the prices at the airport:
4.The person who displayed these “books”:
5.Whoever packed two left gloves:
6.The employee who installed this:
7.And the one who switched these up:
8.The person who packaged this mint without a mint:
For comparison:
9.Whoever was in charge of this Neopolitan ice cream that’s seriously lacking strawberry:
10.The person who installed this “STOP” sign on the bus:
11.And whoever did this:
12.The employee who fixed these tiles:
13.Whoever forgot to edit the copy on this product:
14.The florist who included this card message:
15.And finally, this person who baked a COCKROACH into this pizza:
PLEASE.
H/T: r/mildlyinfuriating and r/onejob
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Responding to Trump, Egypt and Arab League reject forced displacement of Palestinians – The Times of Israel
Responding to Trump, Egypt and Arab League reject forced displacement of Palestinians – The Times of Israel
Responding to Trump, Egypt and Arab League reject forced displacement of Palestinians The Times of IsraelTrump wants Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza. Here’s why the idea is rejected The Associated Press
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Working from home criticism sparks anger: ‘We are not lazy’
Working from home criticism sparks anger: ‘We are not lazy’
Lucy Acheson and Thomas Copeland
BBC News
Alba
Alba says chronic pain disrupts her sleep, making it “even harder to operate in the office”
The BBC has heard from hundreds of people who have been angered by comments by the former boss of M&S and Asda that working from home is “not proper work”.
In an interview with Panorama, Lord Rose told the BBC that home working was part of the *** economy’s “general decline” and employees’ productivity was suffering.
More than 350 people, the majority of whom support working from home, contacted the BBC with their stories.
One of them was Alba, 52, from Dorking, who is currently searching for a remote job. “We are not lazy. We don’t want to golf all day.”
Alba, who previously worked as a business administrator, lives with chronic pain, travel sickness and migraines, and says she needs to work from home to manage her condition.
“I just want a comfortable environment where I can deal with my health issues,” she says.
Out of 357 responses submitted by individuals who chose to contact the BBC, 250 people said working from home was essential, with many citing health issues as a key reason for flexible working
“I’m not in senior management, I’m not asking for a high salary, I just don’t want to be on sickness benefits and that’s what will happen if I can’t work from home,” says Alba.
She adds that her health issues once resulted in an ambulance being called at work.
Clare McNeil, director at Timewise, a consultancy specialising in flexible working policies, highlights that the benefits of remote work extend to employers as well, with such policies reducing staff turnover and sickness absence.
‘My career has skyrocketed’
Mark Mortensen, associate professor of organisational behaviour at the business school INSEAD, says defining productivity can be challenging, particularly in creative and collaborative roles.
But Rebecca Mitchell, 38, a software engineer from London, says the difference in her productivity at work has been “drastic” since she started working from home 10 years ago.
Rebecca, who has ADHD, says that before working remotely, she struggled to stay employed.
“Working from an office adds too much stress and leads to a wealth of mental health issues for me,” she says.
She says that whereas before, she felt overlooked for career progression because of her disability, since working from home her salary has tripled.
“Autism and ADHD are only now being accepted. People understand neurodivergence now like they didn’t before.
“People like me rely on working from home in order to be a productive part of the workforce.”
The shift towards working from home has increased in the *** since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
While the trend in working only from home has fallen since 2021, a hybrid-working model – some days travelling to work and some days working at home – has become the new normal for many people.
According to a snapshot survey from the Office for National Statistics, 25% of working adults in Great Britain were hybrid working in January 2025, while 15% were working from home. The data shows where people said they were working on the day they completed the survey, rather than their wider working pattern.
‘Feels like I’m in lockdown’Hannah Douglas
Hannah Douglas says remote work has hurt her mental health and quality of life
But, of the BBC’s responses, 50 were against working from home.
One of those was Hannah, 31, a technical support manager in Birmingham.
After the pandemic, her employer shut down all its offices so she had to work remotely full-time. She says this has taken a toll on her mental, physical and financial health, prompting her to consider changing careers and moving house to improve her situation.
“It feels like I’m in a lockdown that’s never going to end,” she says.
Lord Rose, who recently stepped down as Asda’s chairman, told the BBC: “We have regressed in this country in terms of working practices, productivity and the country’s wellbeing.”
For Hannah, who is single, remote work has left her feeling isolated.
“All the people who love working from home are in relationships, or have children, live with family – they’re not 100% alone all the time like me.”
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Warm words, for now, between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer
Warm words, for now, between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer
Reuters
The conversation between the two leaders took place on Sunday, hours after Donald Trump praised Sir Keir Starmer for having done a “very good job thus far”
When it comes to personality and to politics, the differences between the prime minister and President Donald Trump are wider than the Atlantic Ocean.
But, whisper it: outwardly, in public and for now at least, the language and diplomacy used by the two of them about each other appears to be broadly conventional.
Sir Keir Starmer and Trump spent 45 minutes on the phone over the weekend, hours after the President had told the BBC the prime minister had done “a very good job so far”.
Trump acknowledged “he’s a liberal, which is a bit different from me,” adding “I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him“.
And if diplomacy is the art of finding shared interests and instincts, particularly if one or the other or both might be in short supply, the way Downing Street and the White House described this first conversation since the inauguration is a case study in just that: diplomacy.
Sources in London describe the call as “very warm” and “very personal”. It appears the big picture, and getting to know each other, was the aim, rather than policy detail.
It is, of course, on the policy detail that disagreements loiter.
But for now at least there appears to be an effort on both sides to establish a rapport and for each to size the other up – all ahead of a trip to Washington the prime minister is expected to make in the next handful of weeks.
It is convention when two international leaders speak for each side to issue what is known as a “read out” afterwards – how each side interpreted how the call went and what was discussed.
Downing Street
Sir Keir Starmer previously called Donald Trump in November to congratulate him on his election victory over Kamala Harris
These read outs tend to broadly overlap, otherwise it would appear each side was talking about a different call, but differences of emphasis and language are worth looking for.
As you would expect, they discussed the ceasefire in the Middle East and the release of the British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari.
Also, as you would expect, both sides mentioned the president’s love of the Royal Family, a vital and unique diplomatic lever the prime minister has at his disposal in the coming years of managing his relationship with the White House.
There was mention too of the president’s condolences to the prime minister over the recent death of his younger brother, Nick.
But two other sentences, one from each read out, struck me most.
First, a sentence from Downing Street.
A Downing Street spokesman said the two men “discussed trade and the economy, with the prime minister setting out how we are deregulating to boost growth”.
A counterintuitive thing for a left wing leader to say – talk of deregulation – but a magic word to use in the company of President Trump.
And it is a consistent thing for the prime minister to be saying: both he and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have been emphasising it in various guises over the last few days as they have really leant into their desire for economic growth.
We will hear more about it this week, including in a key speech from Reeves on Wednesday and various other announcements before and after that speech.
Second, a sentence from the White House.
A spokesman there said “the two leaders also discussed…how both countries can promote a fair bilateral economic relationship”.
No explicit mention of tariffs, or import taxes, but we know they are threatened by President Trump on America’s friends as well as foes.
But that sentence, with that reference to “fair” appears to be doing a lot of work to smile through what could be some bumpy conversations ahead.
Bumpy, though, is for another day, appears to be the vibe. For now at least.
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Man arrested over alleged intimate recordings at Sydney’s Bronte Beach
Man arrested over alleged intimate recordings at Sydney’s Bronte Beach
A man was arrested at Sydney’s busy Bronte Beach after allegedly recording intimate images without consent on Australia Day.
Police were called to the popular swim spot shortly before 4pm on Sunday following reports of inappropriate behaviour.
Officers arrived and arrested a 63-year-old man, which was captured on camera by the NewsWire, before he was taken to Waverley police station.
Camera IconA man has been arrested at Sydney’s busy Bronte Beach after allegedly recording intimate images without consent. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia
He has since been charged with three counts each of intentionally recording intimate images without consent and offensive behaviour in a public place.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Monday.
Thousands flocked to beaches across the country to soak up the sun on Australia Day.
Camera IconThousands of people flocked to Sydney’s beaches on Australia Day. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia
The celebrations came as an online survey of more than 21,000 people, conducted by News Corp, showed at least 87 per cent think our national day should remain as it is, and at least three in four Australians declared any government that changes the date would losetheir support.
Just 12 per cent of respondents backed calls to change the date, and one per cent advocated for no celebrationat all. At Circular Quay, RAAF Roulettes flew over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Shortly after midday, the annual Ferrython was held in Sydney Harbour, with eager fans watching in anticipation as four ferriescompeted for first place along the iconic stretch of water.
Camera IconPolice were out in force throughout the day, including at Bronte Beach. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia
Four Emerald Class ferries – named after famous Australians including May Gibbs, Catherine Hamlin, Bungaree and Fred Hollow – took up their starting positions at Sydney Harbour Bridge before completing two laps of Fort Denison and towards the SydneyOpera House.
Each vessel was decked out in decorations and bright colours to honour their namesakes, with the teams of each ferry supportingdifferent groups, with May Gibbs supporting the State Emergency Services (SES).
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Fosters needed after St. Augustine-based animal rescue building burns down, animals killed
Fosters needed after St. Augustine-based animal rescue building burns down, animals killed
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A St. Augustine-based animal shelter is mourning the loss of multiple animals following an overnight fire.
Over social media, Ayla’s Acres No-Kill Animal Rescue said that the fire broke out at its 45-acre Greenville, Fla. sanctuary around midnight Sunday morning. We’re told one of their buildings was completely destroyed.
The posts say that two dogs and two birds made it out of the Madison County home safely, but multiple animals were killed and the caretaker, Chuck, was severely burned.
Ayla’s Acres fire (Photo: Facebook)
Read: ‘He was a football superstar’: Mother of murdered Jacksonville 7-year-old calls for justice
Ayla’s Acres says the Fire Marshall is investigating and believes the fire began with wiring by the building’s heat pumps.
Now, the shelter is looking for fosters and temporary homes for several animals.
That includes three donkeys, four horses, eight dogs and four cats.
Officials with the rescue say they will provide all the supplies needed for fosters.
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To learn about fostering, click here.
To donate directly, click here.
Donations can also be donated to the Ayla’s Acres Thrift Shop located at 411 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, Florida 32080.
Read: 43 monkeys returned to research facility after escaping 3 months ago
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Southern California Rainstorms Raise Risks of Mudslides – The New York Times
Southern California Rainstorms Raise Risks of Mudslides – The New York Times
Southern California Rainstorms Raise Risks of Mudslides The New York TimesHere’s how much rain Southern California has received this weekend KTLA Los AngelesRisk rises for mudslides around L.A. County fire zones, prepare for worst-case scenario, officials warn Yahoo! Voices
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Debt-stricken calls surge – but here’s how to cope
Debt-stricken calls surge – but here’s how to cope
Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent
BBC
Rachel chose to take more responsibility for getting out of debt
Helpline calls from people worried about debt have surged in January as energy bills rise and credit payments for Christmas spending are due.
National Debtline received 57% more calls in the first two weeks of January compared with the same ******* last year. The first Monday of the new year was its “busiest ever”, according to the Money Advice Trust, which runs the line.
Concerned callers were often behind with energy and water bills and many owed money to family and friends, the charity said.
But, as many people vow to tackle unmanageable debts this year, some have taken to social media to document their journeys to becoming debt-free.
The BBC has spoken to people who once owed thousands of pounds to find out how they cleared, or are working to escape, their debts.
They have joined a host of charities, such as Citizens Advice – which has also seen a rise in calls – in urging people to address their money worries.
‘Use cash when you can’
Rachel says there are spending pressures on parents
Rachel Hargreaves said seeing other parents posting presents for their children on Instagram used to trigger her overspending – even as her mortgage and household bills went up.
Now, she is using her social media account to record her progress in clearing more than £7,000 and to get support in the process.
“There is a community. It is nice to speak to people in a similar situation,” she said.
It had also helped her to take more responsibility for her finances, she said. That included being clear about how much money was coming in and going out, and cutting back on impulse purchases.
Using cash, rather than cards, to make it clear how much was being spent helped maintain control, she said.
‘Delete card details from online shopping accounts’Emma Quinn
Emma Quinn, 32, has bipolar disorder and has experienced periods of mania accompanied by impulsive and reckless behaviour including spending sprees.
“You had the euphoria of buying something, followed by the elongated and severe periods of depression and self-loathing,” she said.
She once had an income and a manageable amount of credit card debt, but following her diagnosis this had spiralled to – at their worst – debts of £20,000.
“I felt suffocated by it, constantly trying to shuffle it around, but not reducing the debt,” she said.
Eventually she opened up to her dad, describing telling him about her debt as “the worst day of my life”.
Together they cut up cards, put caps or freezes on accounts and made a budget and payback plan. She is now debt-free, has a mortgage and is saving for retirement.
Emma said she removed cards from online accounts and deleted her details saved on retailers’ websites to “slow everything down” and avoid impulse purchases.
She also recommended setting up a trusted contact who is alerted for any large or unusual transactions.
‘Don’t be proud, ask for help’
Paul and Sam admit that Yorkshire pride held them back from seeking help
When their family construction business was hit by the rising cost of materials, Sam and Paul Helsby found themselves in serious difficulty.
When Paul suffered a stroke at the age of 44 they lost the business and their linked personal debts spiralled. The couple quickly found themselves £60,000 in debt, with bailiffs at the door and demands streaming through the letterbox.
“We were scared to open the curtains. We shut the world out,” said Paul.
They have no photos of the Christmas before last because it was one they did not want to remember.
They volunteered at a food bank and had got to know staff from the debt charity, Christians Against Poverty, which runs a money coaching course. One evening they sent a text and opened up to one of them.
“As a joiner, I’ve always been a person who can fix everything,” said Paul. “Saying I can’t fix it, you have to let go and ask for help.”
Soon afterwards, they were provided with food and energy vouchers, and an adviser helped them to make sense of their financial “mess”.
Paul was made bankrupt, and Sam signed up to a debt relief order.
Getty Images
Now, they lock money into virtual pots in their bank account that only open on certain days – such as a budget for food every week, and others for birthdays, with extra going into a savings pot.
This Christmas emphasised time spent with the family, rather than money spent on presents, so January has been stress-free.
‘Apply for debt breathing space’Rob Smale
Rob urges people to start controlling the small things
When Rob Smale’s marriage ended he said his mental health deteriorated and his financial position nosedived.
At one point he owed £35,000 due to spending on multiple credit cards and gambling.
The 58-year-old is still looking for a job, having made more than 300 applications, but his financial situation is now much more healthy.
He puts that down to “an odd combination of dealing with big and little things” – ranging from knowing when the discount yellow stickers are added to items in the supermarket, to seeking help from a debt charity.
He said the breathing space scheme, which gives people temporary respite from creditors, was crucial for anyone to get some sense of control over their finances.
“Ask for help and be aware,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just about creating better habits. It’s better to stay out of trouble, but not to panic when you are.”
How can I pay off my debts?
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Are DR Congo’s plans to build the world’s largest hydropower dam still on track?
Are DR Congo’s plans to build the world’s largest hydropower dam still on track?
Wedaeli Chibelushi in London and Emery Makumeno in Kinshasa
BBC News
Mbelechi Msochi
Inga I and II were built in the 1970s and 1980s, while construction for Inga III was supposed to begin in 2020
From a set of roaring rapids, comes a grand vision.
There are plans to build a magnificent, multi-billion dollar mega-dam on the Congo River – one that would produce enough renewable electricity to power vast areas of Africa.
The structure would be called the Grand Inga Dam. Located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it would have twice the power generation of China’s Three Gorges and, therefore, be the world’s largest hydroelectric plant.
The Grand Inga Dam enticed investors and developers but decades after it was first dreamt up, the site reserved for the structure remains untouched.
While DR Congo’s government has insisted the plan is still in motion, critics point to the long delays, DR Congo’s record of poor governance and the potential for serious environmental harm.
There is also concern about the project’s revolving set of international partners. Just last week, ******** state-owned firm the Three Gorges Corporation, withdrew from the project, a source close to the partnership told the BBC.
And then there is the eye-watering bill, which is reportedly as high as $80bn (£63bn) in a country that is one of the poorest in the world.
But some believe the nay-sayers are holding Grand Inga to a different standard than other major infrastructure projects. And while construction has not begun, there has been a flurry of meetings and discussions between interested parties over the past year.
The need for the Grand Inga is certainly there. Roughly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity, according to the International Energy Agency, a global watchdog.
Attempts to solve this problem date back decades – and in the early 2000s DR Congo and its neighbours – South Africa, Angola, Namibia and Botswana – dreamt up an interconnected electricity grid.
They looked to the vast Congo River, realising that its powerful waters have an immense hydropower potential.
The international collective – known as Westcor – sought to multiply the two dams that already existed on the river – Inga 1 and Inga 2.
DR Congo’s long-time leader Mobutu Sese Seko oversaw their construction in the 1970s and 1980s, but by the end of the century, both dams were dilapidated due to a lack of funding for their maintenance.
Westcor eventually disbanded but their Grand Inga dream lived on. Inga 1 and 2 now work at around 80% of their capacity and DR Congo has drawn up plans to supercharge this output, by adding six more dams along the river.
These extra dams are forecast to generate up to 40,000MW of electricity at any one time – enough to power New York city for approximately four days during the summer.
Through Inga, DR Congo will play its role as “the trigger of the African revolver… a catalyst for the industrialisation of Africa,” says the country’s Agency for the Development and Promotion of the Grand Inga Project.
The BBC contacted the agency for this article but it did not comment.
Despite its previous projections that Inga 3 would be completed by 2018, construction has not even begun.
The lack of visible progress suggests the project has stalled, but recent messaging from the World Bank – the world’s leading development organisation – implies otherwise.
Late last year, the bank announced it was back in talks with the Congolese government, having withdrawn its funding for Inga 3 back in 2016.
The World Bank had cited “strategic differences” but eight years later – and with Félix Tshisekedi having replaced Joseph Kabila as DR Congo’s president – it has done a U-turn.
“I think it’s the first time that I feel more optimistic. I almost believe that we can get it done,” Demetrios Papathanasiou, the World Bank’s global director of energy and extractives, told a South African panel last February.
This optimism seemed to be felt elsewhere, also. A pan-African alliance of finance institutions – including the African Development Bank – has recently been working together to help attract private investment to the project.
The Grand Inga is like a “serpent – it is up, down, visible, not visible,” José Ángel González Tausz, chairman of AEE Power, a Spanish-run company and partner in the project, tells the BBC.
In November, Fabrice Lusinde, the head of DR Congo’s public electricity company Snel, said that if work on Inga 3 began in 2026, two of its turbines should be up and running by 2032. Electricity produced by these turbines would then finance the plant’s other turbines, he said.
On its own, Inga 3 is projected to produce 4,800MW of electricity. South Africa, a country hindered by regular power cuts, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) stating that they will import just over half of this amount.
South Africa’s authorities have argued that Inga will deliver consistent and reliable energy, but critics in the country say cheaper electricity can be found elsewhere.
A ********* company, Natural Oilfield Services, has also reportedly signed up as a buyer. Like South Africa, Nigeria also suffers from severe electricity shortages.
Guinea and Angola have reportedly expressed interest in the Grand Inga Dam too.
So why – after decades of talks – have no new dams materialised?
“It is a project in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Mr Tausz says bluntly. “Even if the project is one of the best all over the world – it does not have the credibility.”
For decades, DR Congo has been blighted by corruption, a lack of infrastructure and sluggish development. Conflict in the east of the country also makes international headlines – though Inga is thousands of kilometres away from the fighting.
Investors are also “afraid” because the Grand Inga would not show returns for decades, Mr Tausz says, adding “who knows what will happen in Congo in the next 30 years”.
Mr Tausz – whose father worked as an engineer on Inga 1 in 1972 – also says that a lack of financial commitment by the Congolese government has contributed to the delay.
And then there is the funding issue. In September 2023, DR Congo’s president told reporters that the country was “still facing difficulties in mobilising investments” for the dam.
The recent withdrawal of China’s Three Gorges Corporation intensifies these difficulties. Three Gorges was a major partner, which brought money and expertise to the complex project.
According to the BBC’s source, who spoke under condition of anonymity, Three Gorges pulled out as they were frustrated with the way DR Congo President Tshisekedi was handling the project.
There has been no official confirmation of the pull-out.
Mbelechi Msochi
Inga I and II have not been operating at their full capacity for several years
But are these problems unique to the Grand Inga Dam? Not really, says Professor George Aggidis, a hydropower expert at the ***’s Lancaster University.
He says years of delays and numerous changes of partners are “normal” for a major infrastructure project like the Inga Dam.
He points to the ***’s Mersey Tidal Project – which if successful would be the world’s largest tidal barrier. The idea was first floated in 1984 and has been abandoned, then revived in the decades since.
“Does that mean we are unstable here in the ***?” Mr Aggidis asks. He describes the Inga project as “doable”.
A similar sentiment is shared by Alexander Schwab, an executive at Andritz, an Austrian-based company that signed on to supply equipment for Inga 3.
Mr Schwab says Andritz signed a MoU with the Congolese authorities but has not received any word on the project since 2021.
He seems largely unfazed by the lack of communication, saying that one in three major infrastructure projects will be “stalled somewhere”.
For Mr Schwab, the Grand Inga is “one of the best mega projects… in the world”.
But despite its potential, there are deep concerns about the project’s environmental and social impact.
A common criticism is that the dam will benefit South African consumers and DR Congo’s mining companies, but not the Congolese people. Some 80% of the population lack access to electricity.
“Inga will not bring electricity for the people,” says Emmanuel Musuyu, the head of Congolese civil society coalition Corap. He alleges that the majority of electricity has already been promised to South Africa and the mines.
In a recent report on Inga 3, the DR Congo authorities acknowledged that the dam is “alone not sufficient to address DRC’s energy and development challenges” but said it could act as a “catalyst” for national change.
The World Bank said it was exploring how it could support the government to ensure Inga “delivers broad benefits for energy access”.
Environmental and rights groups also worry that approximately 37,000 residents in the Inga area will be displaced without compensation. According to organisations like International Rivers and Observatori del Deute en la Globalització, thousands were forcibly removed from their homes and never compensated when Inga I and II were built.
They also say that the first two dams damaged the region’s biodiversity and that any extra dams are likely to do the same.
“It will have a specific impact on the fish and all animals in the water… when you change the flow of water in rivers, we can see some species of fish disappear,” says Mr Musuyu.
A 2018 study argued that many large-scale hydropower projects in Europe and the US have been disastrous for the environment.
DR Congo’s authorities have recognised that people would be displaced by Inga III, but said residents would be resettled in areas with basic services and promised that “fair compensation” would be awarded.
They have also recognised the risks to the local environment and said an assessment aiming to reduce this impact would be completed within the next two years. However, according to the BBC’s source close to the project, the authorities have not yet raised enough money to fund these studies.
If the Grand Inga is simply experiencing the ups and downs that come with big infrastructure projects, the World Bank may still have cause for optimism.
But the dam is a complex engineering project – one that requires its many stakeholders to work together in harmony.
The World Bank returning, only for the Three Gorges to leave, suggests DR Congo is struggling to maintain such unity.
And despite DR Congo’s ambition, construction cannot begin unless funding is secured.
So for now, it appears as though this project which has the potential to change the lives of millions of people in Africa remains just that – a grand vision.
You may be interested in:Getty Images/BBC
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How mothers are fighting to stop drowning deaths in Indian wetlands
How mothers are fighting to stop drowning deaths in Indian wetlands
Swastik Pal
Kakoli Das with a photographer of her six-year-old son Ishan, who drowned three months ago
Mangala Pradhan will never forget the morning she lost her one-year-old son.
It was 16 years ago, in the unforgiving Sundarbans – a vast, harsh delta of 100 islands in India’s West Bengal state. Her son Ajit, just beginning to walk, was full of life: frisky, restless, and curious about the world.
That morning, like so many others, the family was busy with their daily chores. Mangala had fed Ajit breakfast and taken him to the kitchen as she cooked. Her husband was out buying vegetables, and her ailing mother-in-law rested in another room.
But little Ajit, always eager to explore, slipped away unnoticed. Mangala shouted for her mother-in-law to watch him, but there was no reply. Minutes later, when she realised how quiet it had become, panic set in.
“Where is my boy? Has anyone seen my boy?” she screamed. Neighbours rushed in to help.
Desperation quickly turned to heartbreak when her brother-in-law found Ajit’s tiny body floating in the pond in the courtyard outside their ramshackle home. The little boy had wandered out and slipped into the water – a moment of innocence turned into unthinkable tragedy.
Swastik Pal
Every home has a pond used for bathing, washing, and even drawing drinking water
Today, Mangala is one of 16 mothers in the area who walk or cycle to two makeshift creches set by a non-profit where they look after, feed and educate some 40 children, who are dropped off by their parents on way to work. “These mothers are the saviours of children who are not their own,” says Sujoy Roy of Child In Need Institute (CINI), which set up the creches.
The need for such care is urgent: countless children continue to drown in this riverine region, which is dotted with ponds and rivers. Every home has a pond used for bathing, washing, and even drawing drinking water.
A 2020 survey by medical research organisation The George Institute and CINI found that nearly three children aged between one and nine years drowned daily in the Sundarbans region. Drownings peaked in July, when the monsoon rains began, and between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon. Most children were unsupervised at that time as caregivers were occupied with chores. Around 65% drowned within 50m of home, and only 6% received care from licensed doctors. Healthcare was in shambles: hospitals were scarce and many public health clinics were defunct.
Swastik Pal
Mangala Pradhan, whose son drowned in her home pond 16 years ago, now looks after children in a creche
In response, villagers clung to ancient superstitions to save rescued children. They spun the child’s body over an adult’s head, chanting invocations. They beat the water with sticks to ward off spirits.
“As a mother, I know the pain of losing a child,” Mangala told me. “I don’t want any other mother to endure what I did. I want to protect these children from drowning. We live amid so many dangers anyway.”
Life in Sundarbans, home to four million people, is a daily struggle.
Tigers, known to attack humans, roam dangerously close to and enter crowded villages where the poor eke out a living, often squatting on land.
People fish, collect honey, and gather crabs under the constant threat of tigers and venomous snakes. From July to October, rivers and ponds swell due to heavy rains, cyclones lash the region, and rampaging waters ******** villages. Climate change is worsening this uncertainty. Nearly 16% of the population here is aged one to nine.
Swastik Pal
More than a dozen mothers look after 40 children in makeshift creches called Kavach or armour
“We’ve always co-existed with water, unaware of the dangers, until tragedy strikes,” says Sujata Das.
Sujata’s life was overturned three months ago when her 18-month-old daughter Ambika, drowned in the pond at their joint family home in Kultali.
Her sons were at their coaching classes, some family members had gone to the market, and an elderly aunt was busy working at home. Her husband, who usually works in the southern state of Kerala, was home that day, repairing a fishing net at the nearby trawler. Sujata had gone to fetch water at a local handpump because a promised water connection at her residence had still not materialised.
“Then we found her floating in the pond. It had rained, water had risen. We took her to a local quack, who declared her dead. This tragedy has woken us up to what we should do to prevent such tragedies in the future,” says Sujata.
Swastik Pal
Kakoli Das and her daughter Isha, who tragically lost their son and brother when he drowned while going to a neighbour
Sujata, like others in the village, plans to fence her pond with bamboo and nets to prevent children from wandering into the water. She hopes that children who don’t know how to swim are taught in village ponds. She wants to encourage neighbours to learn CPR to provide lifesaving aid to rescued drowning children.
“Children don’t vote, so the political will to address these issues is often lacking,” says Mr Roy. “That’s why we’re focusing on building local resilience and spreading knowledge.”
Over the past two years, around 2,000 villagers have received CPR training. Last July, a villager saved a drowning child by reviving him before he was sent to the hospital. “The real challenge lies in setting up creches and raising awareness among the community,” he adds.
Implementing even simple solutions is challenging due to costs and local beliefs.
Swastik Pal
Swimming classes in a newly fenced pond in Sundarbans
Swastik Pal
Sujala Sasmal, whose son drowned during the pandemic, stands at the edge of her fenced pond
In the Sundarbans, superstition about angering water deities made it hard to get people to fence their ponds. In neighbouring Bangladesh, where drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged one-four, wooden playpens were introduced in courtyards to keep children safe. However, compliance was low – children disliked them, and villagers often used them for goats and ducks. “This created a false sense of security, and drowning rates slightly increased over three years,” says Jagnoor Jagnoor, an injury epidemiologist at the George Institute.
Eventually non-profits set up 2,500 creches in Bangladesh, cutting drowning deaths by 88%. In 2024, the government expanded this to 8,000 centres, benefitting 200,000 children annually. Water-rich Vietnam focused on children aged six-10, using decades of mortality data to develop policies and teach survival skills. This reduced drowning rates, especially among schoolchildren travelling on waterways.
Swastik Pal
Sujata Das has decided to fence her pond…
Swastik Pal
…after her 18-month-old daughter Ambika drowned in it last year
Drowning remains a major global issue. In 2021, an estimated 300,000 people drowned – over 30 lives lost every hour, according to the WHO. Nearly half were under 29, and a quarter were under five. India’s data is scanty, officially recording around 38,000 drowning deaths in 2022, though the actual number is likely much higher.
In the Sundarbans, the harsh reality is ever-present. For years, children have been either allowed to roam freely or tied with ropes and cloth to prevent wandering. Jingling anklets were used to alert parents to their children’s movements, but in this unforgiving, water-surrounded landscape, nothing feels truly safe.
Kakoli Das’s six-year-old son walked into an overflowing pond last summer while delivering a piece of paper to a neighbour. Unable to distinguish between the road and the water, Ishan drowned. He had suffered seizures as a child and couldn’t learn to swim due to the risk of fever.
“Please, I beg every mother: fence your ponds, learn how to revive children and teach them how to swim. This is about saving lives. We cannot afford to wait,” says Kakoli.
For now, the creches serve as a beacon of hope, offering a way to keep children safe from the dangers of water. On a recent afternoon, four-year-old Manik Pal sang a cheerful ditty to remind his friends: I won’t go to the pond alone/Unless my parents are with me/I’ll learn to swim and stay afloat/And live my life fear-free.
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Australia's Jordan Mailata through to Super Bowl with Philadelphia Eagles
Australia's Jordan Mailata through to Super Bowl with Philadelphia Eagles
Jordan Mailata is set to become the first *********** to play in two Super Bowls after his Philadelphia Eagles advanced to the NFL showcase game.
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US FDA OKs monthly maintenance dosing for Eisai/Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug
US FDA OKs monthly maintenance dosing for Eisai/Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug
(Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved monthly maintenance dosing for Japan’s Eisai and partner Biogen’s Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi, the companies said on Monday.
The drug received standard U.S. approval in 2023 after showing it slowed cognitive decline in patients with the brain-wasting disease but growth has been slow, in part because its administration is time-consuming and it requires regular MRIs and screenings.
Patients can switch to a monthly dose after having received an intravenous infusion of the drug every two weeks for 18 months, the companies said in a joint statement. They can also continue to dose once every two weeks.
Leqembi clears sticky deposits of a protein called amyloid beta in the brain, believed to be a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Patients receive the drug at an infusion center in almost an hour-long process.
The companies said that modeling simulations of trial data predicted that maintenance dosing would maintain benefits of the therapy.
A rival drug from Eli Lilly, Kisunla, was approved in July and is given by infusion once a month. Patients stop taking the treatment once brain scans no longer show amyloid plaques.
Both drugs have safety warnings regarding the potential for brain swelling and bleeds. Patients are recommended to undergo monitoring with scans.
Eisai has a collaboration agreement with BioArctic on the drug.
(Reporting by Mariam Sunny, Bhanvi Satija and Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Editing by Caroline Humer and Richard Chang)
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Washington’s repeated offside fouls nearly triggered application of very obscure rule – NBC Sports
Washington’s repeated offside fouls nearly triggered application of very obscure rule – NBC Sports
Washington’s repeated offside fouls nearly triggered application of very obscure rule NBC SportsCommanders warned referees can ‘award a score’ after 4 straight penalties near goal line vs. Eagles The Associated PressNFC championship: Commanders warned by officials that bad goal-line ‘behavior’ could result in free Eagles TD Yahoo SportsWhy referees warned they will award score to Eagles for ‘palpably unfair act’ USA TODAYHere’s What the NFL Rulebook Says About Referees Awarding a Touchdown Sports Illustrated
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Inside the race for Greenland’s mineral wealth
Inside the race for Greenland’s mineral wealth
Adrienne Murray
Business reporter
BBC
Mining firm boss Eldur Olafsson says Greenland can supply the minerals the West needs for “decades”
President Donald Trump has said he thinks the US will gain control of Greenland, underlining a claim on the Arctic island that he has repeated several times recently, on one occasion pointing to “economic security” as the reason. While the autonomous Danish territory has been quick to say it isn’t for *****, its vast and mostly untapped mineral resources are in great demand.
Jagged grey peaks suddenly appear before us, as the motorboat navigates choppy coastal waters and dramatic fjords at Greenland’s southern tip.
“Those very high pointy mountains, it’s basically a gold belt,” gestures Eldur Olafsson, the chief executive of mining company Amaroq Minerals.
After sailing for two hours we stepped ashore at a remote valley beneath Nalunaq mountain, where the firm is drilling for gold.
It’s also scouring the surrounding mountain range and valleys, hunting for other valuable minerals, having snapped up exploration licences spanning over 10,000 sq km (3,861 sq miles).
“We’re looking for copper, nickel, and rare earths,” says the Icelandic boss. “This is uncharted, and still has the potential to have multiple big deposits.”
The base camp is a cluster of mobile buildings and bright orange accommodation tents housing more than 100 staff, including Greenlanders, Australians, and British former coal miners. From there a road climbs up the valley, and we drive by car into the gold mine, following a dark tunnel upwards inside the mountain.
“See here!” says Mr Olafsson pointing to a seam of white quartz and a thin dark line. “Gold, gold, gold. All the way over. Isn’t that extraordinary?”
The mine, which Amaroq bought in 2015, had operated for most of the preceding decade, but closed due to then falling gold prices, and high operating costs.
Amaroq is confident that the mine will now be profitable. And it plans to ramp up production this year, where it has built a brand new processing plant to crush the ore and refine the precious metal into gold bars.
“We can either walk off site every month with a suitcase of gold, versus a 30,000 tonne ship [carrying the ore],” explains Mr Olafsson.
He says that Greenland presents an unrivalled opportunity because its huge mineral reserves are largely untouched.
“It can be the supplier of all the minerals the Western world will need for decades,” adds Mr Olafsson. “And that is a very unique position.”
The mining facility at Nalunaq is based at a dramatic location
Yet currently there are just two active mines on the entire island.
Greenland is a self-governing territory that is part of Denmark, but controls its own natural resources.
It’s endowed with the eighth largest reserves of so-called rare earth elements, which are vital for making everything from mobile phones to batteries and electric motors. It also has large amounts of other key metals, such as lithium and cobalt.
There is oil and gas too, but new drilling is banned, while deep-sea mining has also been ruled out.
Christian Kjeldsen, director of Greenland’s Business Association, says that the global “geopolitical situation right now is driving interest in the world’s biggest island”.
He points to China having the world’s largest reserves of rare earth metals, while the West wants to secure alternative supplies.
“You have a very strong China sitting very heavily on the critical raw materials,” he says.
That has fuelled a growing focus among Western nations to get access to Greenland’s minerals. China has also been keen to get involved, but its presence is limited.
Reuters recently reported that the US lobbied an *********** mining firm not to sell Greenland’s biggest rare earth project to potential ******** buyers.
Greenland’s Minister for Business, Trade and Raw Materials, Naaja Nathanielsen, says that interest in the territory’s minerals has “absolutely increased within the last five years or so”.
She adds: “We’re used to being a hotspot for the climate crisis. We want to be a part of the solution.”
Permits have now been given for 100 blocs across Greenland, where companies are searching for viable deposits. British, ********* and *********** mining firms are the biggest foreign licence holders, while Americans hold just one.
But there are many more steps before these sites become potential mines.
Current accommodation at the Nalunaq mine is very basic
Yet while Greenland may be sitting on mineral riches, any “gold rush” continues to be slow to materialise.
The economy, which has an annual GDP of just over $3bn (£2.4bn), is still driven by the public sector and fishing. And the territory also relies on an annual $600m subsidy from Denmark.
Greenland’s politicians hope that mining revenues will reduce reliance on the annual $600m subsidy from Denmark, and help boost independence efforts. But in the meantime Greenland is making more money from tourism.
Officially mining is still important for independence, says Javier Arnaut, head of Arctic Social Sciences at Greenland University. “But in practical terms, you can see that there are very few mining licenses awarded.”
Ms Nathanielsen concedes that while there are partnerships being developed with the US and EU, “we still have not seen large amounts of money flowing into this sector”. She hopes that there will be another three to five mines operating within the next decade.
However mining is not easy in Greenland because of its remote geography and weather. It’s the world’s largest island and 80% of it is covered by an ice sheet. It has rugged mountains and no roads between settlements.
“It’s an arctic terrain,” says Jakob Kløve Keiding, from the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, which has mapped the territory’s deposits. “We have problems with harsh conditions in terms of the climate and limited infrastructure. So it’s quite expensive to open a mine.”
Those high costs, coupled with low global metal prices, have held back investors.
Others blame red tape for the sector’s slow growth. The territory has strict environmental regulations and social impact requirements, and getting permits can take time.
Ms Nathanielsen maintains that most communities do support mining, and that it boosts local economies. “They [overseas miners] are shopping in the local shop. They’re employing local employees. They’re chartering a local boat or helicopter,” she says.
Greenlanders are unsure whether a mining ***** will help local people
Yet in the south’s biggest town, Qaqortoq, resident Heidi Mortensen Møller is sceptical whether new mines will lead to employment for locals. “When they say they’re going to add jobs, who are they talking about?”
Jess Berthelsen, head of local labour union, SIK, says that many people think mining income “will leave the country”, and not benefit Greenland. But he supports the growth of the sector. “Greenland needs more income and to earn money from other ways than fishing.”
It’s unclear how Trump’s latest gambit on Greenland will play out. However, the territory’s prime minister Mute Egede said earlier this month that “we need to do business with the US” and that it was “doors open in terms of mining”.
Mr Kjeldsen from the business association, hopes it will be bring “much needed investment” to the sector. “On the other hand, if the uncertainty surrounding the signals from Trump drag on for a longer *******, there is a risk that this might impact the investment environment negatively.”
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NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Monday, January 27 (game #330)
NYT Strands today — my hints, answers and spangram for Monday, January 27 (game #330)
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #330) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Viva Las Vegas
NYT Strands today (game #330) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
GAME
GAMER
GLEE
GLUE
CLUE
BACK
NYT Strands today (game #330) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• Games of chance
NYT Strands today (game #330) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: left, 5th row
Last side: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #330) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #330, are…
SLOTS
CRAPS
POKER
BLACKJACK
ROULETTE
BACCARAT
SPANGRAM: GAMBLING
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
I’ll never forget the noise of the Las Vegas casino I visited on vacation once: a constant din of bells, coins, electronic belches, and chimes coming from the legions of slot machines. It was a sound that followed me around wherever I went and which rang in my head for days.
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The place seemed like some scientifically designed venus fly trap intended to keep me inside for as long as possible, with the sound, the hypnotic carpets, the free drinks, the sense that it could be any time of day… all of it calibrated to make me lose sense of reason and transform into a gambling zombie.
GAMBLING is a fool’s game, so being a fool (and broke already) I had to get out sharpish – although it took me a while to find the exit.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, 26 January, game #329)
NICKEL
IRON
COBALT
CADMIUM
ALUMINUM
TITANIUM
SPANGRAM: PURE METAL
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
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NFL play-off results: Philadelphia Eagles reach Super Bowl 59 after beating Washington Commanders
NFL play-off results: Philadelphia Eagles reach Super Bowl 59 after beating Washington Commanders
The Philadelphia Eagles ran the Washington Commanders ragged to win 55-23 and reach their second Super Bowl in three years.
Washington made a surprise run to the brink of their first Super Bowl since 1992 but their dream died as they could not cope with Philly’s devastating run game.
The Eagles came in to Sunday’s NFC Championship game as slight favourites to win Super Bowl 59 and took charge with this season’s rushing leader Saquon Barkley scoring twice in the first quarter.
Philly led 27-15 at half-time, before Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts finished with three rushing touchdowns apiece.
Barkley had 118 rushing yards as the Eagles claimed the highest-ever score in the Conference Championships.
A touchdown from Jayden Daniels, aiming to become the first rookie quarterback to reach a Super Bowl, helped Washington cut the score to 34-23 in the third quarter.
But the Commanders’ hopes were hindered by four turnovers, with Philly punishing each one with a touchdown.
The Eagles will make their fifth Super Bowl appearance in New Orleans on Sunday, 9 February, and it could be a rematch of two years ago, when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs aim to continue their quest for a third straight Super Bowl win as they host the Buffalo Bills later in the AFC Championship game.
More to follow.
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Quordle today – my hints and answers for Monday, January 27 (game #1099)
Quordle today – my hints and answers for Monday, January 27 (game #1099)
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #1099) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #1099) – hint #2 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.
Quordle today (game #1099) – hint #3 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #1099) – hint #4 – starting letters (1)
Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?
• The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #1099) – hint #5 – starting letters (2)
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• A
• G
• M
• B
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #1099) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1099, are…
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I returned to my regular starting combination of AUDIO and STEER today and it appeared to work out. I’m sure there are better start words than these but I like including all the vowels, the common S start letter and a couple of Es.
It took me a wildshot – guessing BLOKE – to unlock today’s *********, with GLOBE leading to the next three words.
Meanwhile, the Daily Sequence was a nightmare today. Congratulations if you completed it. I did not.
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Daily Sequence today (game #1099) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1099, are…
Quordle answers: The past 20
Quordle #1098, Sunday 26 January: WATER, ORBIT, BRIDE, TOUCH
Quordle #1097, Saturday 25 January: GIVER, GROOM, GUSTO, MAKER
Quordle #1096, Friday 24 January: GRIND, STOCK, SERVE, TOUCH
Quordle #1095, Thursday 23 January: RUGBY, SASSY, WORRY, BANAL
Quordle #1094, Wednesday 22 January: ******, TRUNK, WOOZY, EATEN
Quordle #1093, Tuesday 21 January: CHART, VIGOR, PRINT, SPAWN
Quordle #1092, Monday 20 January: SIXTY, THONG, TATTY, ROBIN
Quordle #1091, Sunday 19 January: WREST, RINSE, SCOUR, CANNY
Quordle #1090, Saturday 18 January: BLARE, ITCHY, BICEP, PIPER
Quordle #1089, Friday 17 January: CATCH, WEARY, SWOON, LATHE
Quordle #1088, Thursday 16 January: PARTY, BLUNT, TWEED, PLANT
Quordle #1087, Wednesday 15 January: RISEN, PLATE, RURAL, ENVOY
Quordle #1086, Tuesday 14 January: SWARM, SCRAP, ONION, BELCH
Quordle #1085, Monday 13 January: EYING, GIDDY, CHEAP, PETAL
Quordle #1084, Sunday 12 January: BRIEF, PETAL, WOMAN, FELON
Quordle #1083, Saturday 11 January: ASCOT, FIBER, ROGUE, SMELL
Quordle #1082, Friday 10 January: BIGOT, INLET, LEECH, TUNIC
Quordle #1081, Thursday 9 January: RESET, HUMOR, TENOR, IMAGE
Quordle #1080, Wednesday 8 January: ******, SADLY, RISEN, VOUCH
Quordle #1079, Tuesday 7 January: CREED, FILET, ROUTE, TAPER
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#Quordle #today #hints #answers #Monday #January #game
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Barcelona back on track with 7-1 rout of Valencia
Barcelona back on track with 7-1 rout of Valencia
Barcelona have got back on track in the Spanish league by overwhelming Valencia with four different players scoring in the first 24 minutes of a 7-1 rout.
Frenkie de Jong opened the scoring in the third minute, Ferran Torres added to the lead in the eighth, Raphinha found the net in the 14th and Fermín López struck in the 24th at Montjuic stadium.
López added the fifth in first-half stoppage time as Barcelona ended the first half with a 5-0 lead.
Valencia got their goal with Hugo ***** in the 59th before Barcelona scored again with Robert Lewandowski in the 66th and an own-goal by César Tárrega in the 75th.
Sunday’s victory moved Barcelona within three points of second-placed Atletico Madrid and seven points off leader Real Madrid, who won 3-0 at Valladolid on Saturday with a hat trick by Kylian Mbappé. Atletico were held 1-1 by Villarreal on Saturday.
“We hadn’t been doing well in the league and we needed to bounce back with a victory like that,” López said. “We have to keep fighting.”
Barcelona were coming off victories in the Champions League, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, but had been winless in their last four league games.
Hansi Flick became the second-fastest coach to reach 100 goals with Barcelona, who has now scored 101 goals in 32 games in all competitions under the *******. Helenio Herrera reached the mark in 31 matches in the 1950s.
Luis Enrique and Tito Vilanova each needed 34 games to reach the 100 mark, three quicker than Pep Guardiola at 37 matches.
Barcelona have scored five goals or more in four of their last five games across all competitions. They were coming off a 5-4 win over Benfica in the Champions League, and beat Real Betis 5-1 in the Copa del Rey and Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup.
Valencia are 19th in the 20-team standings. The club had the return of defender Mouctar Diakhaby 11 months after he sustained a serious knee injury.
“The only positive from this game was the return of Diakhaby,” Valencia coach Carlos Corberán said. “We all know how important he is for us.”
Midtable Real Sociedad fell 3-0 at home against 14th-placed Getafe, losing for the third time in a row across all competitions.
****** Nteka scored in the 80th and 83rd minutes as seventh-placed Rayo Vallecano came from behind to beat eighth-placed Girona 2-1.
Fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao was held to a 0-0 home draw against struggling Leganes.
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#Barcelona #track #rout #Valencia
Pelican News
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South Korea reports initial findings of Jeju Air ****** to ICAO, U.S. and Thailand
South Korea reports initial findings of Jeju Air ****** to ICAO, U.S. and Thailand
By Jack Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s authorities investigating last month’s Jeju Air plane ****** have submitted a preliminary accident report to the U.N. aviation agency and to the authorities of the United States, France and Thailand, an official said on Monday.
The investigation into the deadliest air disaster on the country’s soil remains ongoing, the report made available on Monday said, focused on the role of “bird strike” and involving an analysis of the engines and the “localiser” landing guidance structure.
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“These all-out investigation activities aim to determine the accurate cause of the accident,” it said.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the U.N. agency, requires accident investigators to produce a preliminary report within 30 days of the accident and encourages a final report to be made public within 12 months.
The Boeing 737-800 jet, from Bangkok and scheduled to arrive at Muan International Airport, overshot the runway as it made an emergency belly landing and crashed into the localiser structure, killing all but two of the 181 people and crew members on board on Dec. 29.
The localiser aids navigation of an aircraft making an approach to the runway, and the structure built of reinforced concrete and earth at Muan airport supporting the system’s antennae was likely a cause of the disaster, experts have said.
The report highlighted much of the initial findings by the South Korean investigators that was shared with the families of the victims on Saturday, including the pilots discussing a flock of birds they spotted on its final approach.
The exact time of a bird strike reported by the pilots remains unconfirmed, the accident report said, but the aircraft “made an emergency declaration (Mayday x 3) for a bird strike
during a go-around.”
“Both engines were examined, and feathers and bird blood stains were found on each,” it said.
“After the ****** into the embankment, fire and a partial explosion occurred. Both engines were buried in the embankment’s soil mound, and the ***** fuselage scattered up to 30-200 meters from the embankment,” it said.
The report does not say what may have led to the two data recorders to stop recording simultaneously just before the pilots declared mayday. The aircraft was at an altitude of 498 ft (152 metres) flying at 161 knots (298 km/h or 185 mph) at the moment the blackboxes stopped recording, it said.
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Sonali Paul)
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#South #Korea #reports #initial #findings #Jeju #Air #****** #ICAO #U.S #Thailand
Pelican News
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Monopoly Go joins the Six-Nations rugby tournament as its first ever partner
Monopoly Go joins the Six-Nations rugby tournament as its first ever partner
Monopoly Go is set to become the first-ever mobile gaming partner with the Six Nations
Digital and in-stadium promotions are set to take place with a new rugby-themed tournament
*** players can be in with a chance to win match tickets to boot
While it may be outside the purview of our usual readership, some of you may know that as we head into February, one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar is coming up. The rugby Six Nations Championship, which brings together some of the biggest rugby-playing teams on the planet, is set to begin.
How does this tie into mobile, you may ask? Well, funnily enough, it’s because Scopely, the developers behind Monopoly Go, are set to become the first-ever mobile gaming partners with the Six Nations! As for what it’ll include? Well, try some major new additions to Monopoly Go.
You’ll be able to experience both digital and in-stadium activations, while *** players can also have a chance to win the ultimate Tycoon experience, with exclusive Six Nations Super Saturday fixture tickets on the line. You’ll be able to enjoy the action up close, while Monopoly Go players across the six nations can join in with a rugby-themed in-game tournament to get into the sporting mood!
Conversion
While I know that rugby is something of a niche sport for many of you reading, for some of us it’s practically a national pastime. With that being said, I’m sure that there’ll be many confused older gentlemen at the matches wondering why the familiar top-hat-wearing Monopoly Man is so prominently on display.
It’s certainly unsurprising the Six Nations chose Monopoly Go as their choice for a team-up considering that it’s proven to be a massive hit for Scopely. Maybe we’ll see even more unusual team-ups for this hit release as a result? We’ll have to wait and see.
In the meantime, if you’re in need of a bit of a boost when you’re hopping back into this hit release, why not check out our list of daily free Monopoly Go dice links?
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#Monopoly #joins #SixNations #rugby #tournament #partner
Pelican News
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Floods, landslides threaten Los Angeles along wildfire ‘burn scars’ – New York Post
Floods, landslides threaten Los Angeles along wildfire ‘burn scars’ – New York Post
Floods, landslides threaten Los Angeles along wildfire ‘burn scars’ New York Post Here’s how much rain Southern California has received this weekend KTLA Los AngelesRisk rises for mudslides around L.A. County fire zones, prepare for worst-case scenario, officials warn Yahoo! Voices
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#Floods #landslides #threaten #Los #Angeles #wildfire #burn #scars #York #Post
Pelican News
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Israeli hostages: Benjamin Netanyahu secures additional early releases, Palestinians to return to north Monday
Israeli hostages: Benjamin Netanyahu secures additional early releases, Palestinians to return to north Monday
****** is preparing to release six Israeli hostages this week after what the Israeli Government has called “vigorous and determined negotiations”.
The release, which will include civilian Arbel Yehud, soldier Adam Berger and an additional hostage, will now include three additional hostages after ****** “backtracked”, bringing forward additional releases.
Confirming the development on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said: ”Following the conducting of vigorous and determined negotiations led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ****** has backtracked and will carry out an additional phase of releasing hostages this Thursday.”
Mr Netanyahu’s office confirmed it is now in possession of a list that includes the status of all hostages that are to be released in the first phase.
“Under these agreements, Israel will – from tomorrow morning – allow the passage of Gazans to the northern Strip,” the statement added.
Mr Netanyahu said on X that Israel will allow displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza starting Monday morning.
Mediator Qatar said an agreement was reached to release Israeli civilian hostages and allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. The deal eases the first major crisis of the ceasefire between Israel and ******.
According to Qatar’s statement early on Monday, ****** will hand over civilian hostage Yehoud, along with two other hostages before Friday. And on Monday, Israeli authorities will allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.
“The Prime Minister reiterates that Israel will not tolerate any violation of the agreement. We will continue to act for the return of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased,” Mr Netanyahu’s statement warned.
On Saturday, four hostages were released by ******.
Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag were all freed, after being held for over 15 months.
Israel believes ****** is holding over 80 hostages, with just only 50 of those believed to be alive.
– With Reuters, AP
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#Israeli #hostages #Benjamin #Netanyahu #secures #additional #early #releases #Palestinians #return #north #Monday
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