Before the Six Nations next year, the Welsh Rugby Union will request that the four professional regions release players for additional training with Wales.
More than a month after the WRU announced it wanted to cut one of the teams by 2027, Cardiff, Dragons, Scarlets, and Ospreys are being asked to do so, the request comes.
Wales have lost three of their four autumn international matches, including a record-breaking 73-0 home loss to South Africa on the final weekend, and haven’t won a Six Nations game since 2023.
The Wales squad will meet up with the Wales squad on January 26th, when Steve Tandy’s side kicks off their 2026 Six Nations campaign at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on February 7.
In the upcoming two months, Cardiff, Dragons, Scarlets, and Ospreys will all host United Rugby Championship and European matches.
Richard Collier-Keywood, chair of the WRU, claims he has spoken with head coach Tandy and the union’s director of rugby and head of elite performance Dave Reddin about having extra time set aside for Six Nations preparations.
“We will be asking the regional clubs to actually let the players in between now and then so Dave and his team can have them.”
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He continued, “That’s really not helpful.” So there are some very basic and practical things that we can work with the regional clubs to change the Wales national team’s performance, in your opinion.
Wales is unable to request the release of players from French or English clubs.
Picture agency for Huw Evans
Since Tandy became the region’s head coach in July, Collier-Keywood thinks the relationship between the Wales men’s squad and the region has improved.
Since Steve’s appointment with those clubs, “I have noticed a noticeable change,” Collier-Keywood said.
He is actually speaking to them. There is a lot more dialogue to be had at the clubs, who have all welcomed him through their doors.
Collier-Keywood believes Tandy has made a positive impression in his first campaign since taking over Wales, despite his heavy defeats against Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, and Japan.
After South Africa lost to South Africa, [Wales captain] Dewi Lake addressed his final five weeks in camp in the president’s lounge, according to Collier-Keywood.
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Collier-Keywood acknowledged that the mood had changed, moving away from the relative cheer of South Africa’s 52-26 defeat.
One of our issues with the dressing room is that the players were really upbeat following the New Zealand game, Collier-Keywood said.
You approach the women in the dressing room and talk to and encourage them.
It was obviously a different story to face South Africa.
Wales have only won two of their past 23 games against Japan, losing 21 of those victories overall.
With a Christmas special, Meghan returns to the streaming platform after being criticized on Netflix for her canceled show With Love. Here we look at some of the highlights of the episode.
Meghan Markle has returned to Netflix with another edition of her panned lifestyle show in time for Christmas – and it’s set to raise eyebrows again. With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration landed on the streaming platform this morning and shows the Duchess of Sussex create a range of festive-themed crafts and dishes – as well as give a sneak peek into her life in California with Prince Harry.
In fact, Harry makes what appearst to be his longest-ever appearance in any of the With Love, Meghan episodes, featuring for a whole two minutes near the end of the episode as she whips up a Christmas-themed salad with Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio.
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Meghan and Harry previously announced a new, less-than-as-new streaming service agreement with the streaming giant, in contrast to their reportedly 100 million (£74 million) contract five years ago. We look at some of the bombshell moments now that the hour-long Christmas special is underway.
Harry PDA and brutal joke
Harry makes an appearance at the episode’s conclusion as Top Chef judge Tom prepares festive dishes with Meghan. He describes how his family customs include serving a special salad made of beetroot, black olives, and fennel on Christmas Eve.
Meghan chuckles as she reveals they are all flavours she loves but rarely eats, as all of those foods are a turn-off for Harry. And Harry arrives in the kitchen to greet her with a kiss as they finish the dish, which also includes anchovies and pickled vegetables.
When she tell him what the salad contains, he says: “Oh wow, that’s like the anti-salad”. He is told, “everything he hates,” and she laughs and says it. And Harry says to his wife and the waiter, “You must have known I was coming.”
Meghan also cooks up gumbo, which she reveals has become a tradition for her mum Doria, to cook for the family on Christmas Eve. Before the fish goes on, Harry says, “This is my favorite,” and that he prefers it with the chicken and sausage.
He replies, “I can feel it puncturing through the top of my head right now,” as Meghan prepares gumbo for him without a bowl of fish.
He follows up: “It is delicious, I’m not so sure it’s as good as your mum’s, but it’s certainly close”. Which Meghan yells, “What?” as Harry giggles. Meghan says: “My mom will love you for that. What a lovely compliment you have on your mother-in-law. And Meghan kisses Harry again at the end of the scene before embracing him and saying “thank you for coming.”
Crafting ‘ cheat ‘ claim
Naomi Osaka, the four-time tennis Grand Slam champion, is invited to participate in Christmas crafting earlier in the episode. On Christmas Eve, they get to decorating plates for their children so they can leave treats and drinks on for Santa Claus and the reindeer.
As they attempt to decorate their plates, both women complain about how poorly they can draw. Before giving up, Meghan begins to attempt to draw holly because it appeared to be bats.
In the end, she decides to resort to her signature calligraphy, writing a message on the crockery. Meghan says to Meghan, “You’ve got to stick with what you know,” but Naomi notices. The tennis player teases her, though, by saying, “It kind of feels like cheating though.”
Christmas with the royals
Although her days in the Royal Family are well behind her, Meghan does draw on her experiences of spending the festive season in the UK.
She tells restaurateur Will Guidara they will create their own personalised Christmas crackers as they welcome him after spending two Christmases in Sandringham in 2017 and 2018.
Will inquires about the significance of crackers, who are more seasoned. And she continues, “I live in the UK, it’s undoubtedly a big part of the culture. Typically, people cross their arms and do it. They all pull simultaneously while they are seated around the table.
They would always have some sort of fortune cookie-sized joke or riddle, which I discovered when I first got to know them. And something sweet. “
She labels the personalized cracker as “My Love” rather than “Harry,” and adds, “My husband’s has a little love letter, a chocolate, a little hat.”
Lilibet and Archie’s “grown up” romantic partners
While making the crackers, Meghan decides she is going to make some for her children Archie and Lilibet, with personalised gifts inside as well as sweets and confetti.
She inserts a mini rollerball perfume into the cracker to make a gift for Lili and states, “Lilly really enjoys trying to be a grown-up lady at the moment. This is like a little lavender rollerball. So I pondered that a little bit.
While Archie’s cracker and a red car are a toy burger and reflect Meghan’s two passions, burgers and vibrant color are.
Earlier in the episode, Meghan explains the idea of advent calendars as she puts tiny gifts into Archie and Lili’s named fabric pocket calendars, saying:” I wanted to do it for my own kids… All it’s really about is having a surprise and delight every single day for 24 days until you get to Christmas. “
She also writes, “I love you because you are so kind,” and “I love you because you’re so brave,” in handwritten notes for her children, which she refers to as “little findings.” Lili and Archie are not in the episode.
Tree tips and wrapping hack
In other episodes of the show, Meghan offers her decorating advice, stating that you want to find the tree’s “lit from within and on the border, right on the outside” and that you want to find the spot where they’re going to find their light.
And in a segment named Tips and Tricks for Festive Wrapping, Meghan recommends folding “outwardly” rather “inwardly”. She explains: “One technique that’s really fun is just the different way in which you’re folding the paper. If you fold it outwardly instead of inwardly, it creates a different world there.”
The duchess speeds through the method, adding:” A little bow right there could be awfully darling. For a “tone on tone” look, Meghan also reveals how much she enjoys adding a pre-made wax seal and how the color matches the wrapping paper. The smallest detail suddenly seems higher, she claims.
Meghan adds:” Another anomaly for people at the holidays is: how on earth to wrap a wine bottle? She recommends using a scarf in a Japanese furoshiki way.
Additionally, she creates a rectangular cracker made of paper to encase challenging shapes like cuddly toys. The duchess also cracks a number of food-related jokes, saying:” Beets, beets, beets. Drop that beet, “and:” This resembles fondue. Nobody has ever said “fon-don’t” like it.
Brunch in pyjamas
Lindsay Roth and Kelly McKee Zajfen, Meghan’s pals, are the only guests in the Christmas special. The two women make unique Christmas wreaths together with the Duchess.
But beforehand, Meghan wants to make them a special Christmas brunch and agrees to appear on camera in a pair of bright red pyjamas with the letter M on the pocket.
She says to the camera, “Well, she’s wearing pyjamas gang,” as she prepares some quiches and a cinnamon bun that looks like a star. This is how much I love my friend. On a television program, why do I wear pyjamas?
“My dear friend Lindsay and I have been friends since we were 17 years old. Linds has a tradition with her family of always wearing matching pyjamas for the holidays So, for the love of Linds, they forced me to wear pyjamas for this brunch to honour her tradition”.
Not-so-perfect
The duchess makes gougeres with cacio e pepe, French cheese puffs made with black pepper and festive cinnamon, tiny quiches, and “Reindeer chow,” a sweet treat renamed after Meghan’s childhood favorite, which includes two cups of powdered sugar, two cups of powdered sugar, and an unnamed cereal.
Meghan also emphasizes the value of making mistakes and not making them perfect, remarking, “I get so upset about everything being perfect that you lose the magic that even happens in the mistakes.”
And she shares her love of Christmas trees, revealing: “There’s just something about it that, in one area in your house, you’re able to really encapsulate your family story, really feel the passage of time and the different chapters of your life through the ornaments”.
King Charles is getting ready for his fourth Christmas Day speech, which royal experts say will include a sincere plea for your condolences.
Mitya Underwood Senior Celebrity &, Royal Writer
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King Charles has faced a number of huge hurdles since becoming monarch(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
For nearly a century, the monarch’s festive message has been a Christmas Day tradition that is as essential today as roast turkey, mince pies and dodgy cracker jokes. Delivered on the big day at 3pm, the speech provides the sovereign with an opportunity to speak personally to the nation and Commonwealth, uniting millions of households for a few minutes of reflection.
“For many people, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without the monarch’s message”, says royal commentator Katie Nicholl. The late Queen has been resident in our living rooms for a long time, and now it’s the King. He clearly makes a lot of effort to capture the essence of the past year and reflect on those who have faced enormous difficulties.
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This Christmas, Charles will certainly have plenty of topics to discuss. “As well as highlighting the awful things happening in places like the Middle East and Ukraine, I’m sure he will talk about the importance of religious tolerance and understanding, and building community coherence in the UK,” says royal reporter Richard Palmer.
“Immigration is such a big issue, and though he won’t touch on politics, he may make a plea for peace and understanding in Britain and around the world.” Richard believes Charles will also pay tribute to the late Duchess of Kent, who passed away in September. “The monarch usually references those who’ve been lost to the family, and they were apparently all very fond of her.”
There are, of course, some positives to draw on too. “I think Charles will focus on the commemoration of the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day and the debt of gratitude we owe the wartime generation – especially as it won’t be long until there are no survivors left,” adds Richard. “And I’m sure he’ll mention the state visits of Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump, because the pomp and pageantry they brought have been real highlights of the royal year.”
Finding a balance between hope and hardship is undoubtedly challenging, despite the monarch’s broadcast’s typical 10-minute runtime. “It’s not easy because, of course, the monarch would want the speech to be filled with good cheer”, says Katie. Unfortunately, there will never be a year without disaster, loss of life, and difficulties for people. In a way that encourages public support, empathy, and gratitude for those working hard to improve things, such as emergency and healthcare workers, is necessary.
Last year, the King showed his appreciation for those who helped him and the Princess of Wales through their respective cancer ordeals. “From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed,” he said.
The 2024 recording was made at London’s Fitzrovia Chapel, which was once a hospital chapel, rather than Windsor Castle, as is customary. It was the first time in more than a decade that the speech was recorded outside a royal palace or estate, as Charles wanted a health-related location.
Even his choice of attire – a navy blazer, white shirt and blue patterned tie – was seen as a subtle nod to the NHS. In his speech, the King also drew attention to the plight of those suffering “the devastating effects of conflict – in the Middle East, in Central Europe, in Africa and elsewhere,” and he singled out humanitarian organisations “working tirelessly to bring vital relief.”
He added that we all need one another and that, “everyone experiences some form of suffering at some point in our lives, whether it be physical or mental. How much of our civilisation as nations is measured by how much we support one another and receive support from one another, whether we are people of faith or not.
The King’s first Christmas speech came from Windsor in 2022, when he focused on the loss of his late mother the Queen, who died that September. He said, “Christmas is a particularly heartfelt time for all of us who have lost loved ones.” We experience their absence at every cherished holiday season’s turning point and keep them in mind.”
Stepping into the shoes of his “darling Mama” would certainly have been a daunting prospect – especially as Elizabeth gave 68 Christmas broadcasts in all. She had become so skilled that she was even known as “one-take Windsor,” and, as Richard Richard puts it, “the queen frequently likened herself to playing the role of an actor or performer during her reign.”
The last of her speeches came in 2021 when she paid tribute to Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years. He died that April, and Elizabeth reflected lovingly on the “one familiar laugh missing this year.” She also told how his “mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.”
Although the royals have long had a reputation for being emotionally distant, the festive address allows them to be more candid. According to Katie, “the most memorable speeches have always been those with that extra personal touch,” just as she did when Elizabeth remembered Philip and Charles spoke about his and Kate’s cancer journey after such a challenging year. That is what people really seem to find to resonate with, ” “
In 2017, the Queen’s speech was highly emotional as she paid tribute to victims of the London and Manchester terror attacks, and the horrors of the Grenfell fire. In 2012, her speech was recorded in 3D for the first time, and another first came in 2006 when it was made available as a podcast. That year was particularly unusual as it was recorded at London’s Southwark Cathedral instead of a royal palace. Another year of note was 1997, when her broadcast was published on the internet for the first time. It came direct from the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, marking the end of extensive renovations following the devastating fire of 1992.
During that speech, the Queen expressed her “shock and sorrow” over the death of Princess Diana. Further back in time, her 1982 message was beamed out of Windsor Castle’s library for the first time, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the debut Christmas broadcast by her grandfather King George V.
That had taken place in 1932, upon the suggestion of the BBC ’s Director-General Sir John Reith. It was transmitted from Sandringham, and though only heard on the radio, still reached an audience of around 20 million across the world – an extraordinary feat which ensured it became an annual fixture in the royal diary.
In 1975, the Queen moved to the gardens of Buckingham Palace for her recording. And in 1967, the advent of colour TV meant her bright yellow dress could be seen in all its glory.
Elizabeth’s first televised speech in 1957, which was equally groundbreaking technologically, was ten years earlier. She said, “I sincerely hope that this new medium will make my Christmas message more direct and personal.”
Her very first address came from Sandringham in December 1952, following the death of her father King George VI. She ostented the country in it, saying, “God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I will faithfully serve him and you throughout my life.”
There is no denying that she accomplished that throughout her remarkable 70-year reign.
When the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will resume later this month, according to the nation’s Ministry of Transportation.
When the Boeing 777 aircraft, which was traveling from Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, China, vanished from radars shortly after takeoff on March 8, 2014, bringing 227 passengers and 12 members of the crew.
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The Transport Ministry stated in a statement on Wednesday that “the search will concentrate on the areas where it is determined that the aircraft has the best chance of being located.”
According to the official Bernama news agency, the ministry stated that the government of Malaysia’s renewed search effort “underlines the government’s commitment to providing closure to the families affected by the tragedy.”
The unfortunate flight’s Chinese passengers came from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, and other countries, with the other half coming from China.
In a 495-page report on the disappearance, flight investigators claimed they had no idea why the plane had vanished and that someone had taken the jet off its usual course.
According to satellite data, the plane departed from its intended destination and headed south, to the far-southern Indian Ocean, where it is thought to have run out of fuel and crashed.
An Australian-led search effort focused on 120, 000 square kilometers (46, 300, 000 miles) of ocean over the course of three years, but only a few pieces of possible debris were discovered along the coasts of East African and Indian Ocean nations, including Mozambique, Madagascar, and Reunion Island.
After several weeks of unsuccessful underwater reconnaissance, the maritime exploration company Ocean Infinity completed its most recent search for MH370 in early April due to bad weather.
On December 30, according to Bernama, Ocean Infinity, which conducted the missing airliner’s search, will resume its search.
According to The Associated Press news agency, Malaysia’s government signed a “no-find, no-fee” contract in March with the United Kingdom and American-based Ocean Infinity to restart a seabed search operation at a new 15, 000 km (5, 800 miles) site in the Indian Ocean.
Only if significant amounts of plane wreckage are discovered, Ocean Infinity will be paid a $70 million fee.
Families of the passengers and crew have long fought for the continuation of the hunt and, among others, have pressed Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, the maker of aircraft engines, and the Allianz insurance group for compensation.
At its fifth annual remembrance event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2019 [File: Lai Seng Sin/Reuters], Michelle Gomes, the daughter of Patrick Gomes, comforts her son Rafael Gomes.
With the exception of Pat Cummins, Australia has left the name of their team open for a surprise return against England.
Cummins, a pace bowler, had a back injury that had prevented him from playing since July, making his debut Test debut.
The 32-year-old was not included in the squad for the day-night Test in Brisbane starting on Thursday, but he did do so in Perth during the first Test and once more in his hometown of Sydney following Australia’s victory.
At the captain’s pre-game press conference on Wednesday, Steve Smith, the team’s captain, announced their team names later that day.
On the Gabba square, Cummins, Smith, head coach Andrew McDonald, and selector George Bailey met, and McDonald welcomed him.
It was confirmed that the Australian team wouldn’t name their team until the toss on Thursday following the team’s break from the ground.
There are “a whole heap of things on the table,” Smith said earlier in the day.
He said, “We’ll wait and see what the wicket looks like later, and then we’ll decide a playing XI.”
He appears to me to be bowling in the nets, which is admirable. He’s tracking well and has a good sense of his body, though obviously games have different intensity.
He has been bowling for a while, improving, and upping his stature. He is feeling well. Since facing him, he bowls nicely in the nets.
If Australia chooses to skip the frontline spinner, then pace bowler Brendan Doggett, who made his Test debut in Perth, or Nathan Lyon.
England captain Ben Stokes responded to a question about Australia’s decision to ignore their team by saying, “We’ll just have to wait and see what XI they choose.”
“Pat is fantastic. He has been doing so for a very long time. Since taking the position of captain for Australia, he has accomplished great things both as a player and as a person.
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After opener Usman Khawaja’s back spasms prevented him from resuming his Test debut, at least one member of the Australian team will be changed.
Josh Inglis, a batter from Leeds and a member of the Australia slip cordon, is the most likely starter.
The order will continue to be led by Travis Head, who won a match-winning century in Perth after being promoted to open in place of Khawaja.
Inglis made his Test debut against Sri Lanka this year with a century and moved to Australia when he was 14 years old.
The 30-year-old, who has three Test caps, scored a century against the England Lions in the first Test over the weekend.
He “is a pretty attacking batsman,” Smith remarked. On his Sri Lanka debut, he did a fantastic job. He has been playing fast bowl well and has been in excellent form. He’ll do really well, I’m confident of it.
With a chance to advance one step closer to retaining the Ashes, the return of Cummins, one of the best fast bowlers in the world, would be a huge boost for an Australia team that is currently 1-0 up.
In floodlit Tests, Mitchell Starc is the only player to surpass Cummins in wickets taken. When using a pink ball to bowl with, Cummins has a higher average, strike, and economy rate than a red.
Cummins will also improve Australia’s long-tail-equipped starting lineup in Perth by starting him at No. 8.
England announced their team on Tuesday, making their debut after winning neither Test in Australia or a match since 1986.
Will Jacks, an injured pace bowler who replaced Mark Wood as spin-bowling all-rounder, will play his first Test in three years.
Because of the runs he could provide at number eight, England decided that a spin option was necessary. Jacks was chosen ahead of Shoaib Bashir, who had first-choice spinner.
There was a bit of a tactical element to spin, Stokes said, and we tried to examine how we thought spin would be used.
Jacksy’s ability to play that down the order for us is also beneficial.
According to the United Nations, Myanmar’s crop area has increased in all of the country’s war-scarred regions, with the country’s cropping area increasing by 10 percent.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently conducted a survey of Myanmar’s opium crop, finding that poppy cultivation increased by 17 percent from the previous year’s 111, 700, and 53, 100 hectares (roughly 131, 200 acres) of land.
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Following Afghanistan’s continued decline in cultivation, the UNODC said on Wednesday, “reaffirming Myanmar’s position as the world’s known main source of illicit opium.”
This significant increase in cultivation demonstrates how much the opium economy has grown over the past few years, according to Delphine Schantz, UNODC’s representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
A new report is now available!
According to the #MyanmarOpium Survey 2025, poppy cultivation has increased by 17% over the previous year. The production of #Opium is at a 10-year high, continuing to grow.
Read the entire report at https://t.co/OQ9ensS8Vo pic. twitter.com/vTptwukxT2
The UNODC claims that while the area of land grown poppy in Myanmar increased significantly between 2024 and 2025, the amount of opium produced per hectare has not kept up.
According to the UNODC, the country’s growing instability contributed to the discrepancy between opium cultivation and production because “intensifying conflict and insecurity” have made it increasingly difficult for farmers to maintain their crops and produce high opium yields.
The rising cost of opium, which has more than doubled since 2019, when 1 kg of fresh opium has cost $145, is a major factor in Myanmar’s increased poppy farming. According to the UNODC, one kilogram of opium costs $329 in Myanmar right now.
The UNODC report also mentions “emerging signs” of heroin entering international markets from Myanmar that were previously supplied by Afghan-originating narcotics, and warns that “heroin supply shortages from Afghanistan” are increasing globally as opiates are being produced. The highly addictive narcotic heroin is produced using opioids.
In 2024 and early 2025, commercial airline passengers seized 60 kg (132 lbs) of heroin allegedly manufactured in and around Myanmar, according to the European Union’s Drugs Agency (EUDA).
Farmers in Myanmar are being drawn to poppy cultivation because of the “intensifying conflict, the need to survive, and the lure of rising prices,” according to UNODC’s Schantz.
“The future of Myanmar will have significant implications,” the author declares.
