The U.S. Postal Service is poised to launch a hastily built, error-riddled computer system that could jeopardize the process of mail voting relied upon by one-third of all voters, according to a whistleblower statement released Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

The effort is part of the implementation of President Trump’s executive order limiting mail voting and has been temporarily halted by a federal judge. The ruling is being appealed by the administration and the directive may ultimately end up back before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The disclosure from the unidentified whistleblower contends that the Postal Service has been scrambling to try to build a complex system that would normally take a year or more in only three months, sometimes in defiance of the judge’s orders halting work. The goal is to have it ready for use in the midterm elections.

The disclosure contends that, due to the new procedures, a single scanning error in a batch of tens of thousands of ballot envelopes could prevent any from reaching voters. It details a system that election officials have already warned could not be implemented before the first mail ballots begin going out Friday in North Carolina.

“The Postal Service has designed a system to disenfranchise millions of Americans,” Blumenthal told reporters in advance of releasing the whistleblower information. “This administration seems hell-bent on changing the framework on casting ballots in this country clearly for political reasons.”

Executive order is subject to furious court action with midterms nearing

Trump’s executive order, signed in March, directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the commissioner of the Social Security Administration to develop state citizenship lists and then required the Postal Service to send mail ballots only to voters who are on such a list. Ballot envelopes would have to comply with new Postal Service rules and include bar codes.

The online portal that is the subject of the whistleblower complaint is intended for states to deliver their lists of verified voters to the Postal Service.

The Postal Service did not comment on Monday night. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The White House has called the mail voting provisions “commonsense measures” necessary to combat fraud.

Trump has long opposed voting by mail, even though he has repeatedly used the method to cast his own ballot. He falsely blamed mail voting for his 2020 election loss and has spent years spreading conspiracy theories about it. A report by the Brookings Institution published in 2025 found that mail voting fraud occurred in only about four cases out of every 10 million mail ballots cast.

Since returning to office, Trump has said Republicans should be “taking over” vote counting in Democratic areas and launched a sweeping attempt to reinvestigate the 2020 election, despite a mountain of evidence that he lost fairly to Democrat Joe Biden.

Until Trump came out against mail voting in 2020, the system was used equally by both parties. Since then, it has become more common among Democratic voters. More than 29% of all voters in 2024 cast their ballots through the mail.

After Trump issued his executive order, Democrats and civil rights groups sued and eventually won a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani in Boston barring implementation of the system before the November midterms. But without ruling on the legality of Trump’s order, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority last week found that was premature and overruled Talwani, momentarily clearing the way for its implementation.

On the night of Aug. 21, the Postal Service released a final rule outlining how it would implement the order.

It said it would only send mail ballots for states that got approval for the design of their envelopes and submitted a list of voters receiving them through the still-not-active online portal. That rule gave plaintiffs a chance to sue again, and Talwani on Thursday night issued a 14-day restraining order against implementation of the measure.

Whistleblower complaint says portal development is rushed and sloppy

The letter from Blumenthal and an accompanying summary of the whistleblower’s statements says the Postal Service began work on the portal on June 15 and stopped on June 25 after Talwani’s initial order. Then on July 29, the Postal Service restarted the work. That was when the administration appealed the judge’s order to the Supreme Court. The high court did not strike Talwani’s injunction down until Aug. 24.

Talwani last week found the Postal Service violated her order by continuing to work on the final rule, but she imposed no sanctions on the government. On Monday, she issued a ruling refusing to lift the restraining order that also said the Postal Service could continue work on its portal, as long as it wasn’t forcing states to use it.

In its summary of the whistleblower’s statement, the group Whistleblower Aid says the hurried construction of the portal, with a goal of being active on Tuesday, meant it did not undergo full testing.

“The apparently sloppy and rushed manner in which the Federal Ballot Mail Portal and supporting IT systems are being built poses significant risk,” the group wrote. “Potentially millions of American voters may not receive their mail-in ballot this election cycle in a timely manner, or at all.”

The statement also says the Postal Service is implementing a “zero percent” rule in which any errors in any mail ballots sent out by an election office could lead to all of them being discarded — even if it’s simply one problem amid tens of thousands of legitimate ballots.

The rule requires ballots to be handled in a physical post office by an election official. Those will then be scanned to ensure they match the voter database. During three layers of checks, a single apparent error could cause the whole batch to be rejected, the statement says.

Blumenthal said he has “a very strong hope and some faith that our system of justice will strike down this unconstitutional and unconscionable rule.” But, he added, if it somehow goes into effect for the midterms, he would not advise voting by mail.

Riccardi writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story.

A new study suggests one in four workers are travelling more for business than before the pandemic, with many embracing the new ‘bleisure’ trend.

A quarter of workers are now travelling more for business than they did before the pandemic, research has revealed. A study of 2,000 adults who have previously travelled for work discovered 18% have undertaken 12 or more business trips in the past year.

During that period, the busiest months for travel were May, September and April, with the average employer willing to splash out £165 for accommodation. Meanwhile, £68 was the average daily allowance for meals and transport.

The research was commissioned by Hotels.com, which has introduced a new business travel experience through its app to make work trips quicker and simpler to arrange.

The app allows business travellers to save work-trip preferences, locate business-ready hotels, rebook favoured stays and earn rewards on corporate trip.

The study also forms part of the global marketplace’s Booked for Business report, which discovered 48% of workers believe the finest business travel destinations combine work and leisure, reflecting what it describes as “the growing importance of ‘bleisure’ travel”.

According to those surveyed, cities London, New York and Paris epitomise this ‘bleisure’ travel trend the most, making them the optimal destinations for work-related travel.

Business travellers are also placing greater emphasis on the benefits they receive when travelling for their jobs – with 26% revealing they make a hotel stay “great.”

These include a complimentary breakfast (51%), room upgrades (32%) and flexible check-in (26%).

But when it comes to completing the job, 57% said access to high-speed Wi-Fi is a crucial priority.

Melanie Fish, travel expert and spokesperson for Hotels.com, said : “Business travel is no longer just about getting from one meeting to the next. Travellers want a hotel and destination that can keep up with both sides of their personality.

From high-speed Wi-Fi and an early breakfast before a big presentation to a great location and a comfortable place to unwind afterwards.”

Young Brits are swapping traditional beach-day pastimes for paddleboards, surfing and a dip in the sea – but they still love one thing

Gen Z is redefining the great British day at the seaside, replacing traditional favourites like arcade games and crazy golf with paddleboarding and surfing. A poll of 2,000 adults found 11% of Gen Z consider paddleboarding to be essential to the perfect day by the sea, compared to just 7% of Millennials and 3% of Boomers. They were also far more likely to take a dip, with 38% saying swimming in the sea is a beach day priority.

Classic seaside pastimes appear to be losing their appeal among younger adults as 74% would skip arcade games, and 87% would happily avoid a round of crazy golf.

But seaside traditions such as tucking into fish and chips, a picnic and coastal walks were still among the most treasured experiences across all those surveyed.

Bryony Walker from Walker’s Shortbread, which brought its newly launched Wee Chunkies bites to a seaside pop-up on Brighton beach, said: “While the research shows beachgoers still crave the classic seaside experiences, it’s interesting to see what now makes up the ideal day at the beach.

“Activities like paddleboarding are becoming more popular with younger generations, but what remains constant is a dip in the sea.

“The coast holds special appeal, combining nostalgia, quality family time and the simple joys of a well-packed picnic, fresh air and time outdoors.”

The study, conducted through OnePoll, revealed that 15 minutes is considered the perfect amount of time to spend in the water.

Following the dip, beachgoers enjoy wrapping themselves in a toasty towel (49%) or tucking into a warm sweet snack to restore energy levels (18%) – a tradition the Scots refer to as a ‘Shivery Bite’ – something only 9% of Brits are familiar with.

Due to the unfamiliarity with this Scottish phrase, Walker’s Shortbread decided to introduce the Shivery Bite concept to Bank Holiday beachgoers and swimmers along Brighton’s bustling seafront.

Bryony Walker added: “The insights have revealed the nation’s ideal beach day, with fresh sea air, sunshine, blue skies and that essential paddle in the water. “After a summer of intense heat, beachgoers are craving a moment of relief, whether it’s a colder coastal breeze or cosy comfort food.

“Few things beat wrapping up after a swim or enjoying a warm treat, something in Scotland we call a ‘Shivery Bite’, and our new shortbread offering is exactly for this moment, best served warm, to help make the most of the post-dip feeling.”

THE NATIONS PERFECT BEACH DAY:

1. Warm sunshine
2. Having ice cream
3. Coastal walks
4. Having fish and chips
5. Blue skies
6. Walking barefoot in sand
7. Having a paddle in the sea
8. Calm sea
9. Having a picnic
10. Take family photos
11. Visiting a pier
12. Sunbathing
13. Swimming in the sea
14. Beach snacks
15. Building sandcastles
16. Reading
17. Arcade games
18. Sharing snacks
19. Rock pooling
20. Seaside souvenirs
21. Skimming stones
22. Collecting rocks
23. Play crazy golf
24. Taking naps
25. Hot foods to warm you up after swimming.

People have been left horrified after they were unable to get off the ferry when they arrived at a Greek beach as the popular destination was packed with tourists

Imagine going on an excursion when you’re on holiday, only to be unable to get off the boat you arrived on because the island is too busy. You’d likely be furious, wanting a refund for the trip, and wondering why so many others had been allowed to travel on the same day as you to visit the island.

But that was the reality recently for disgruntled tourists as they arrived at Balos Beach in Crete, Greece, only to be unable to disembark from their boat. It was described as “hell on earth,” and people are blaming influencers for the beach pile-up.

The beach is renowned for its “hypnotising turquoise waters and a panoramic landscape,” however, it has been so heavily promoted and plastered across social media that many believe this is the root cause of the overwhelming crowds.

Visitors were pictured crammed along the shoreline, and as they queued to make their way onto the island, yet more tourists continued to pour in by boat, creating absolute chaos.

Local media have reported that authorities are now taking steps to regulate visitor numbers in order to protect the environment and guarantee the safety of those who do make the trip.

It has been proposed that a maximum of 1,200 people should be permitted on the island at any one time, according to The Daily Mail.

On X, one user shared the shocking footage, writing: “Balos Beach, Greece, a queue of tourists waiting to board the return boat, while other boats keep arriving loaded with new visitors”.

One visitor recalled that a trip in May had been a “different universe,” describing the beach as completely peaceful at that time of year compared to now.

However, many families have little choice but to holiday during the peak summer months, as parents face penalties for taking children out of school during term time.

“This is the harm that influencers do,” one man claimed, given that this beach has been branded a seriously Instagrammable destination in Greece, which has contributed to its soaring popularity.

Others described it as “horrifying,” with some arguing that entry fees should be increased to manage visitor numbers.

While some remarked it didn’t appear “very relaxing,” others drew comparisons to “attending a concert,” pointing out that queuing is sometimes part and parcel of popular experiences.

It’s not the only location that has sparked debate in Greece this summer, as one woman revealed she had to wait for two hours just to capture the perfect Instagram photograph in Oia, Santorini.

People begin queuing as early as 7am in the hope of securing the ideal shot of the iconic blue-domed buildings and stunning azure waters, but is it genuinely worthwhile?

Influencer Luiza Parente recently visited Santorini herself and documented the enormous queue required to snap a photograph.

Nevertheless, she believed it was worth the wait, as she successfully captured the perfect shot – and she even dressed in blue to commemorate the moment.

IF YOU are heading away this autumn, you might want to check if there are any attraction closures before you travel.

The autumn brings a number of seasonal closures but this year there will also be a number of permanent closures at popular attractions.

Other attractions will be coming back, but you’ll need to wait a while.

So here are all the closures – temporary or permanent – you need to be aware of:

Disneyland Paris

On September 7, Crush’s Coaster will close at Disneyland Paris through to summer 2027 for its biggest modernisation in two decades.

Across the nine- month closure, all track sensors will be replaced and other parts of the ride will be refurbished.

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The inside dark visuals will also be upgraded.

Peter Pan’s flight is also currently closed until September 19.

Pirate’s Beach is currently closed and will be until October 23 for a safety inspection as well as replacement of the ground padding.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups will be closed between September 21 and October 2 to repaint the floor.

La Tanière du Dragon will close on October 5 until the middle of the month for servicing.

Europa Park

Euro-Mir at Europa Park will be permanently closed towards the end of 2026 to make room for a new coaster.

There are also a number of water coasters at the park which will continue to operate weather permitting but usually close for the season in November.

Efteling

Efteling is open year-round so closes rides for maintenance at different times.

For example, Python will be closed between September 7 and 9 to inspect the track.

Sirocco will be closed between September 14 and 18 for servicing.

Baron 1898 will close between October 5 and 9 for cable tensioning and brake checks.

Danse Macabre will have a slightly longer closure period between October 26 and November 6 to calibrate the ride and work on the audio visuals.

Max & Mortiz will close between October 26 and 30 for vehicle maintenance.

Gondoletta will close across the same dates for cable inspection and canal cleaning.

Droomvlucht will close for a longer period between November 9 and December 4 for an overhaul of the animatronics as well as the lighting and track systems.

Halve Maen will close between November 9 and 11 to work on the braking mechanics.

And finally, Joris en de Draak will close between November 30 and December 18 for structural inspections.

Thorpe Park

Thorpe Park will shut down for the season in early November following Fright Nights until late March 2027, excluding some seasonal events.

Rumba Rapids at the park had already retired earlier this year, after 39 years.

Other UK theme parks

Drayton Manor will close on November 1 for the season, as will Chessington World of Adventures, excluding some seasonal events.

Alton Towers will then follow on November 8, after Scarefest, excluding some seasonal events.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach will then shift to weekend-only openings from November 28.

Waterparks

Caribe Aquatic Park at PortAventura World in Spain will close on September 21 for the season until late May 2027.

The outdoor parts of Rulantica at Europa Park in Germany will close in late September, with the entire indoor water world will then shut for the season in mid-November.

Aquafan in Italy will close in mid-September for the season and Caneva Aquapark also in Italy will then close in late September.

Disney‘s Typhoon Lagoon water park will temporarily close for its annual refurbishment on September 9 but a reopening date has not yet been announced.

BUTLIN’S has announced that eight new shows will launch at all three parks in 2027.

The new shows include Britain’s Got Talent and DreamWorks’ Madagascar musical.

Britain’s Got Talent will headline every school holiday break in 2027 with the talent show brought to life in Studio 36 across the Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness resorts.

Each show will be hosted by a mystery celebrity presenter and feature a line-up of faces seen on the TV show.

Guests can even show off their own talents as well.

Every break from February Half Term will then also featureDreamWorks’ Madagascar musical with Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo.

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The much-loved film will be transformed into a musical, following the friends as they escape New York to head to Madagascar.

On selected Showtime Midweek breaks, families with kids under the age of five can join children’s TV star Andy Day with Andy’s Dino- Rap.

Other shows include K-Pop Forever on every school holiday break and a new Animal Guyz show from February Half Term.

There will also be three new West End-style productions including A Billion Streams, which will feature some of the world’s biggest songs and Playtime Party with Billy and Bonnie Bear.

What makes it even better is that you could head to one of the resorts during February Half Term for just £54 – which is £13.50 per person or just £3.50 per person, per night.

Mike Godolphin, Entertainment Director at Butlin’s, said: “As the Home of Entertainment, live shows are at the heart of what we do, and our 2027 line-up is one of our most exciting yet.

“We’re taking things to another level by bringing Britain’s Got Talent to our resorts for the first time, with celebrity presenters and performers that families will recognise from the show.

“From Madagascar and K-pop to dinosaurs and some of the biggest songs in the world, we’ve created a line-up with something for every age.

“Best of all, it’s all part of the Butlin’s experience, so families can enjoy brilliant live entertainment throughout their break at no extra cost.”

WITH its cobbled roads, charming streets and historic buildings, Rye is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in England.

And it’s set to make a TV appearance too as the East Sussex town was used as the backdrop in a new period TV series coming to Netflix.

Last year, Rye transformed into the fictional town of Meryton for a new television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

TV crew and cast descended on the town in September to create a time-warp setting for Jane Austen’s novel.

Actors were spotted wearing period costumes and the streets were dressed to look like the 1800s.

The Netflix series is set to be released this autumn starring Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, and Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy.

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The town is popular with tourists thanks to its traditionally English look and has even been dubbed the ‘new Cotswolds‘ by country lifestyle experts at Welligogs.

The experts described it as having a “storybook atmosphere” filled with “antique shops and independent boutiques”.

For shopping Mermaid Street is the place to be – it was also selected as being one the prettiest streets in Britain by The Telegraph.

While it might be miles away from Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, Rye shares lots of the same qualities as towns found in the Cotswolds like pretty cottages and independent shops.

The Cotswolds has rivers running through its villages, while Rye offers a beach escape for those who want to check out the seaside instead.

Camber Sands is just 10-minutes away in the car to get from the town to the dunes.

Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire said: “The medieval town of Rye in East Sussex isn’t strictly seaside, but you can see the sea from its cobble streets and it has a harbour where boats sail out to the English Channel.

“Plus, if you go back as far as the 15th century, the sea came much closer to the foot of the hill the town is built on.

“It’s the perfect place to spend a day out – taking an hour and six minutes on the train from Kings Cross St Pancras.”

“If you fancy a morning on the beach, a bus runs from the town to the stunning Camber Sands beach – a three-mile stretch of golden sand backed by dunes.”

She continued: “Or you can for a six-mile circular walk from Rye to Winchelsea beach.

“Back in the town after lunch, there are plenty of fantastic pubs to choose from, my favourites being the 12th century Mermaid Inn and the George In Rye, as well as the Globe Inn Marsh on the outskirts of the town.

“Equally, you could book a taxi and check out Tillingham vineyard in nearby Peasmarsh, with its Michelin Green Star wine tours and excellent pizzas.”

“Make sure to save some time to rummage through the many, many antiques shops, as well as Knoops hot chocolate shop and the wonderfully old fashioned Britcher and Rivers sweet shop.”

This huge cave is more than 2,000 metres deep.

Deep beneath a massive mountain range lies a sprawling cave system that spirals beneath the hills, extending more than 2000 metres into the earth. This cave system is the deepest in the world (depending on who you ask), its limestone caverns so huge that you could upend Ben Nevis and place it inside, and still have room remaining.

The Veryovkina Cave lies beneath the Gagra Range of the Western Caucasus within the Georgian region of Abkhazia. This cave is one of two which frequently compete for the title of the deepest cave on earth.

According to Live Science, both Veryovkina and another cave in the same region, Krubera (also known as the Everest of the Deep), alternate as record holders, depending on the most recent research.

Both caves are more than 2,000 metres deep and are frequently explored further by scientists and cavers who are constantly updating the measurements.

The caves are dark, inhospitable and cold with temperatures rarely exceeding 3°C.

As you descend further into the depths, animals begin to change. Many of the species which call these caves home have no eyes or pigmentation and have long antennae, appendages and hairs which help them sense vibrations and move throughout the blackness of the cave system.

As of January this year, Veryovkina is currently in the lead, with a depth of 2,212 metres, or 1.37 miles. Krubera is close behind, at 2,199 metres, or 1.37 miles.

Veryovkina was discovered in 1968 and given the name S-115 and then renamed in 1986 after Alexander Veryovkin, a cave diver who died in a water-filled passage while exploring a nearby cave Su-Akan.

Another major incident in Veryovkina Cave occurred in 2018, and very nearly killed a team of cave explorers.

National Geographic photographer Robbie Shone and his assistant Jeff Wade joined a team of Russian explorers who had descended to the very bottom of the cave over four days.

They were camped in the darkness to undertake a more detailed examination of the cavern.

One morning, the team were eating breakfast when the cavern shook as if an earthquake had struck, and according to Robbie an “enormous torrent” of white water appeared from a hole and began to flood the cavern.

National Geographic wrote about the team’s desperate scramble back up the cave to escape the rapid flooding.

Robbie remembered climbing through the tight passages upwards as they rapidly filled with water.

He said: “All I could see was the white rope in front of me. “And I just kept moving the ascender up a little bit at a time. I was saying to myself, ‘Just keep going. Just keep doing this.’”

The whole team escaped from the cave, barely.

Robbie said: “This team had the strength, the reserves, mentally and physically, to deal with the worst situation. That’s not only why they’re exploring the deepest cave in the world so successfully, but why we all survived.”

NOW is the time to get booked in for your winter holiday, as Club Med has launched their mega September Winter Sale.

In the Club Med September Winter Sale, you can save up to £600 on a glamorous ski holiday.

Not only can you bag major savings, but you can secure yourself a getaway before all the popular Christmas, New Year and December dates get snapped up.

Even if you’ve never skied before, Club Med makes skiing getaways remarkably easy. There are ski lessons available for everyone, from kids and adult beginners all the way to seasoned pros.

All of their ski holidays are all inclusive, packaging ski-in, ski-out access, ski passes, lessons for all levels, accommodation, dining and activities all into one price. Once you’re all booked, there’s truly nothing left for you to think about.

And when you’re not out on the slopes, there’s plenty to do at these gorgeous winter resorts – from soaking in steaming spa pools to singing your heart out at the apres-ski party events.

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The flash sale is only on for two weeks, from September 1 – September 15. So if you want to bag an all inclusive bargain, make sure to do it fast!

Here’s a selection of jaw-dropping ski holidays you can save hundreds on in the Club Med September sale.

Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon

Perched at a height of 1,600 metres with 360° views over the Giffre valley, Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon is the ultimate ski-in, ski-out playground for families.

While the slopes here are epic, there’s plenty more to see and do in this glam resort.

Food here is a massive step up from your standard mountain buffet. You can tuck into dishes crafted by a Michelin-starred chef at the Skyline Gourmet Lounge, or head to the fun Bread & Co family restaurant where kids actually get to play chef and help make dinner.

You can also join guided snowshoe hikes through the mountains, take a dip in the indoor freshwater pool, and warm up in the sauna.

Book a stay at Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon

Val d’Isère

Spend your mornings at Val d’Isère cruising down beautifully wide, rolling blue runs, or if you are feeling brave, test your nerves on the steep ‘La Face’ – a black run built for the Olympic downhill.

Once you’ve taken to the slopes via ski or snowboard, you can thaw out with some swimming in the heated indoor pool or sink into the steamy outdoor hot tubs.

Or, if you want to work up more of a sweat, you can hit the fully equipped gym, join in with aqua aerobics, or stretch those aching muscles with group Pilates and yoga sessions.

When it’s time to seriously switch off, the Club Med Spa by Cinq Mondes is waiting. Outside of the tranquil treatment rooms, there’s a hammam, a polysensorial bath (which uses colours and smells to promote relaxation) and even a hair salon to keep you looking great for the nightly apres-ski DJ sets.

Book a stay at Club Med Val d’Isère

Arcs Panorama

Club Med Les Arcs Panorama puts a massive 264 miles of runs perfect for all abilities on your doorstep.

When you’re ready to hang up your ski boots, you can enjoy a massage at the on-site spa, or simply curl up with a book in the relaxing ‘la Cachette’ lounge.

Those chasing more thrills can strap on snowshoes and explore the peaceful, pine-filled trails winding through the surrounding alpine forest.

Come evening, you can sip some well-deserved drinks on the sun-drenched panoramic terrace overlooking the Tarentaise valley, before getting stuck into the nightly entertainment with live bands and shows.

Book a stay at Club Med Arcs Panorama

Tignes

Club Med Tignes brings a serious dose of modern luxury to the mountains.

While the ski-in, ski-out access to the 186-mile Tignes-Val d’Isere domain is epic, the off-slope scene here is just as impressive.

Here you can take a dip in the heated indoor pool – the largest of its kind in the Alps – complete with jaw-dropping mountain views and a dedicated children’s pool.

If you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for more activities, you can even book extras like paragliding over the peaks or ice diving beneath the frozen Lake Tignes.

When it comes to chill time, you can grab a chilled beer or cocktail on one of the four sunny, south-facing terraces, or head to the massive ‘Energy’ outdoor bar for lively BBQs and DJ sets.

Fitness fans are totally covered too, with a top-tier gym, spin classes, and yoga sessions to stretch out tired ski legs.

Book a stay at Club Med Tignes

Val Thorens

If you’re looking for high-altitude thrills mixed with a serious party atmosphere, Club Med Val Thorens is your best bet.

Sitting at a dizzying 2,300 metres with direct access to the colossal Three Valleys domain, this resort ditches traditional wood cabins for sleek, modern glass architecture.

Right in the middle of the massive four-storey atrium, you’ll find a 10-metre indoor climbing wall to tackle.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can head to the Epicurious Gourmet Lounge for daily wine tastings and a menu designed by a Michelin-starred chef.

The apres-ski scene here is legendary – you can grab a cocktail at the glowing pink Oxygen bar, soak up the sun on the huge panoramic terrace, or party late into the night.

Plus, if you want a different kind of outdoor adrenaline rush, you are perfectly placed to try out the Cosmojet, France‘s longest toboggan run.

Book a stay at Club Med Val Thorens

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Balos Beach in Chania, Crete, was inundated with tourists at the end of August, many of them struggling to keep steady among the intense throngs attracted to the pretty spot

A beautiful Greek beach has gone viral for all of the wrong reasons.

Some people are bucket-and-spade beachgoers. Others prefer to relax on the sand, enjoying a glass of wine. Some can spend hours splashing about in the waves.

However you prefer to enjoy a day at the beach, it’s unlikely your ideal seaside trip involves getting crushed by hundreds of fellow sunseekers scrabbling not to fall into the water.

That was the scene at Balos Beach in Crete at the end of August. Footage taken at the beautiful coastal spot shows it inundated with tourists, many struggling to keep steady among the intense throngs.

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In the roasting hot Greek weather, beachgoers were unable to move, packed as they were onto an increasingly popular beach on the north-east of the island. More tourists kept arriving by boat, even as it became apparent that Balos was full.

A video of the beach shared on Instagram has attracted more than a million views and hundreds of comments, many of them despairing about the crowds.

“I get that it’s beautiful and everyone wants to see this… BUT it’s a protected area! Maybe just let a few groups of people at a time go … and not a whole invasion … I’m Greek and this makes me sad … so please if you visit… respect that beautiful place,” one person wrote.

Another added: “Poor Balos. In a few years, this beautiful natural environment will be destroyed.” A third wrote: ” Pathetic. At least leave an unspoilt corner for us Greeks and go to Mykonos. Please.”

Efforts have been made to protect some of Crete’s best-loved beaches from the impacts of overtourism.

Balos Lagoon, Elafonisi and Falassarna are all protected under the European Union’s Natura 2000 network due to their ecological importance and rich biodiversity, according to Kathimerini.

Balos is known for its shallow turquoise waters and white and pink-tinged sand.

Giorgos Koukourakis, a special environmental adviser to the Municipality of Kissamos, told the publication: “We have had a problem with overpopulation for the past three or four years. Because these areas have such a good reputation, too many people go there.”

Some steps have already been taken, including limiting the number of sun loungers at Balos to 150, down from 400.

“But even this measure is not enough. When you have to manage 4,000 to 5,000 people a day, it is frightening,” Koukourakis added.

There are now proposals to control beach visits through an online booking system. Officials hope to have it ready next year.

YOU don’t need to go abroad to lock in a hassle-free, all-inclusive holiday.

A growing number of UK holiday parks and seaside resorts are introducing all inclusive options, packaging a place to stay, meals, drinks, and entertainment into one price.

And let’s be honest, holidays are a lot more enjoyable when you don’t have to ask, “Whose round is this?” or scan the menu for the cheapest option at dinner.

From five-star adults-only retreats with four meals a day, to action-packed family parks with unlimited Costa Coffee and amazing activities, here’s our pick of the top UK resorts where you can go all inclusive – from only £25pp a day.

Butlin’s

Family breaks to Butlin’s really do pack a lot in – West End-style entertainment, loads of activities, plus a free fairground and waterpark on-site to make use of.

In the last year, Butlin’s has added the option to go all inclusive to their stays too.

Butlin’s all inclusive bundles include accommodation, breakfast, dinner, drinks, as well as the usual access to the fairground, activities and shows.

It’s worth it for the drinks package alone, which includes alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and unlimited Costa Coffee.

The all inclusive offer is only available during Showtime Term-Time Midweek breaks, so they are ideal for families with little ones or older kids who are outside of school age.

Butlin’s offer all-inclusive breaks for £28pp per night, based on two adults and two children on a Showtime Term-time four night break.

However, you can also bolt on the all-inclusive drinks package and the all-inclusive food package to regular family breaks across school holidays.

Potters Resort

Fancy a truly all-inclusive holiday without having to leave the country?

Potters have five-star resorts in both the Norfolk and Essex countryside, directly on the east coast.

Accommodation at these resorts ranges from spacious bungalows to swanky hotel suites, all of which come with complimentary toiletries and towels.

Spend your days getting stuck into activities like archery, air rifles, pickleball and bingo and your evenings watching all-singing, all-dancing shows with talent who have appeared on the West End.

You can tuck into four meals a day here, as late night dishes are included, where you can help yourself to snacks like bacon rolls or a hot cooked dinner late into the evening.

As for drinks, you can enjoy all the branded spirits like Bacardi, Malibu and Jameson’s, plus fun cocktails, smoothies and milkshakes.

The resorts remain adults-only for most of the year, perfect for enjoying some peace and quiet away on a couples’ retreat.

However the Norfolk resort opens up to families during selected school holiday periods.

The five-star, all inclusive breaks start from £175pp per night for a four night break. Make sure to check your specific dates on their website.

Parkdean Cherry Tree

Tucked between the Norfolk Broads and the sandy shores of Gorleston Beach, Parkdean Resorts Cherry Tree is a pretty and quiet coastal park.

Go swimming whatever the weather thanks to both indoor and outdoor heated pools, and if you bring little ones with you, there’s a toddler splash zone, too.

As for activities, there’s pirate-themed crazy golf, an adventure playground, a multi-sports court, and a buzzing amusement arcade.

You can go all inclusive here from £25 per day, which includes three meals a day served in the park’s main restaurant, plus unlimited soft drinks and Costa Coffee.

You can go all inclusive at Parkdean resorts for four-night breaks with Monday arrivals during school term time – so if you’re visiting as a couple or a group of friends, it can be the ideal time to visit. Check the park’s website for specific dates.

Lower Hyde

You really get your money’s worth with a stay at Lower Hyde holiday park.

Just minutes from the pretty seaside town of Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, this holiday park has plenty of free attractions nearby like Shanklin Beach and the beautiful Quarr Abbey.

And if you book your stay in a luxurious glamping safari tent, you’ll wake up to a view that feels more like being abroad than in the UK.

On-site you can battle it out on the sports courts, go for a swim in the heated outdoor pool, and settle down to Parkdean‘s signature entertainment.

But the best part is that a stay here essentially gives you access to two holiday parks for the price of one, as you also get free access to all the facilities at the neighbouring Landguard holiday park.

Nearby Landguard has a stunning woodland setting that is ideal for outdoors-y types, with plenty of walking trails plus an outdoor adventure playground for any little ones.

Going all inclusive here starts from £25 per day – check their website for a range of dates.

Carmarthen Bay

Overlooking the Gwendraeth Estuary in South Wales, Carmarthen Bay is a very picturesque holiday park.

Nearby you can explore the huge, 520-acre Pembrey Country Park, or head out on a wildlife safari at WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre.

Plus Carmarthenshire is home to one of the best-preserved Normal fortresses in Wales, Kidwelly Castle, which is just five minutes away. You might even recognise it from Monty Python.

The park itself has plenty to do, too. Here you can challenge the crew to crazy golf, plus toddlers can burn off energy in the soft-play arena.

End your evenings with a meal at The Boathouse Bar & Restaurant before catching live stage shows late into the night.

You can go all inclusive at Carmarthen Bay from £25 per day.

Whitley Bay

Perched on the cliffs with views of St Mary’s Lighthouse, Parkdean Whitley Bay trades chaotic holiday park energy for crisp coastal air and rugged North East landscapes.

Days here revolve around morning swims in the heated indoor pool, nature trail walks, and letting the kids loose on the outdoor play areas and sports court.

The beach and famous white dome of Spanish City sit just down the road, making it easy to enjoy an evening of coastal cocktails or fish and chips with sea views.

Make sure to be back in time for bingo at the Showbar, where there’s big cash prizes to be won.

Book an all inclusive break at Whitley Bay from £25 per day.

Newquay Holiday Park

Gone are the days of sitting around a packed swimming pool on holiday – Parkdean Newquay has three to pick from, plus a 200ft waterslide for good measure.

Set in Britain’s surf capital, this park provides perfect beach holiday energy.

You’ve got seven famous beaches on your doorstep, including Fistral Beach, as well as cool Cornish towns like Padstow and Rock nearby, too.

If you like an active holiday, you’ve got high-ropes courses, a climbing wall and kayaking available here.

There’s an entire Tots program if you’re bringing any along, which includes messy play and miniature bike sessions.

Equally, the park offers ‘Grown up getaways’ with 60’s tribute acts, adult-only swim sessions, karaoke parties and events like Country night and the chilled out Brunch Club.

Go all-inclusive at Parkdean Newquay from £25 per day.

AN AIRLINE has cancelled all of flights from a popular UK airport until further notice.

IndiGo has now stopped its flights from Manchester Airport to Delhi and Mumbai.

The suspension, originally announced back in June, is due to rising costs and airspace restrictions.

But from yesterday (August 31), the airline is “temporarily discontinuing” the flights, citing closed airspaces and higher costs.

There is currently no date of when the flights could return.

One of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft used for the route will be returned to Norse Atlantic Airways.

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IndiGo introduced its first direct flights from Manchester in July last year, with a non-stop route to Mumbai.

In November, the airline then introduced the route to Delhi.

At peak, the two routes would operate nine times a week.

With the removal of flights from Manchester, if you want to fly with IndiGo, you will now need to go to either London Heathrow or London Gatwick.

Abhijit Dasgupta, Senior Vice President – Network Planning & Revenue Management, IndiGo, said: “We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester, and witnessed very encouraging demand response.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that longer flying times due to airspace constraints, coupled with dramatically escalating cost, has compelled us to take the decision to temporarily discontinue our India – Manchester services.

“We would like to thank our customers, trade partners in India and in the UK, and Manchester Airport for their amazing support.

“The response and support for these services have reinforced our belief in the opportunity for IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions, and this discontinuation is temporary in nature.

“We look forward to serving this route again at the earliest viable opportunity and are exploring innovative solutions to continuing our collaboration with Norse Atlantic Airways.”

MORE travel chaos could be on the horizon for Brits as a change to the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced in a matter of days.

EES has already resulted in huge delays at airports, missed flights and these could get worse in a few weeks’ time.

Currently, EU member states are allowed to pause EES checks in “exceptional circumstances”, which includes when queues get too long.

But from September 7, EU states will no longer be able to temporarily switch off the system at their airports.

Over the summer when the number of holidaymakers increased, countries were able to switch the system off for up to six hours.

With an influx of passengers, some countries that made use of this over the summer included France, Portugal and Greece.

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At some airports, the machines had to be shut down and turned on again when they get overwhelmed, just to get them to work.

Air France-KLM told Politico: “When lines form during the busy summer  months, the system is shut off to ensure smooth transit at our hubs in Paris and Amsterdam.”

However, from September 7, EES will be fully enforced with no exceptions.

EES was first introduced in April and requires Brits to register biometrics upon any first entry to a Schengen country.

However, this registration process has been causing long queues and delays at border control across European airports.

Some Brits reported waiting for up to six hours in airports and others even missed their flight.

There have been some other issues as well including one woman who is an identical twin and faced a problem when she was mistaken for her sister.

And older passengers have faced a problem with ‘faded fingerprints’.

WHAT’S your rainy day activity checklist with kids? Soft play, museum, cinema… how about flying?

No, not the kind where you go up in a plane – the real flying.

Reaching the tail end of the school summer holidays and fresh out of ideas for what to do with my seven year old, I decided to think outside the box with a trip to iFly Indoor Skydiving.

With five venues in Milton Keynes, Manchester, Birmingham, Basingstoke and London, we opted for the one at the O2 Arena in London’s Docklands.

And you can get half price iFly tickets with Sun Club. 

Sun Club members can get 50% off tickets on first time flyer packages if they book between August 31 and September 29. 

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But while your tickets must be booked by September 29, you can buy tickets to fly right up until January 1, 2027, so plenty of rainy day activity options for October half term and the Christmas school holidays. 

Sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 a month or just £12 for your first year, then £19.99 thereafter, then head to the Sun Club Offers hub and find the iFly offers page.

Plus, you’ll get unlimited access to our award-winning articles plus exclusive showbiz scoops, and a huge range of other offers and discounts too – from early access to book Hols From £9.50, free racing tickets to top UK racecourses and 2-4-1 tickets to theme parks.

The concept to iFly indoor skydiving is simple(ish) – decked out in a jumpsuit, helmet and goggles, you stand inside a huge, glass wind tunnel that sends air upwards at speeds of 120mph to 165mph, and attempt to do your best flying squirrel impression.

The activity was barely on my radar before this summer, because I’d always assumed it was something exclusively for daredevils that needed to train for real flying out of planes.

But in reality, you don’t actually have to be any good at all. Because anyone is welcome aged 3 upwards, and they have highly experienced instructors on hand at all times.

After watching the safety video, my son and I were understandably nervous, but the instructor was so kind and patient that by the time we got to the tunnel, my child was confident enough to volunteer to go first.

The wind is STRONG. So strong that you simply have to flop forwards as you enter the tunnel. And it’s also loud, which is why they provide you with ear plugs and communicate via hand signals.

But I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a big grin on his face as the moment he first flew off the ground, which only got wider when he opted for the special “High Flight” add-on, where the instructor took him on a spinning flight, 40 feet up towards the top of the tunnel.

Each session lasts around a minute, and everyone in our group got four sessions as part of their package (although that might change depending on group size), with the opportunity to add a High Flight to each of their goes in the wind tunnel, which cost £15 a pop.

It’s well worth doing the add-on at least once if you can afford the extra cost, as unless you’re planning on jumping out of a plane anytime soon, this is the closest you’ll ever come to flying high above the ground.

If you’re not feeling confident (or flush) though, there is still plenty of tunnel time six feet off the ground, where the instructor helps you to steer around the tunnel, using hand signals to instruct you to bend or straighten your legs and arms.

My son has become obsessed with ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences, which apply as a justification for everything from eating an ice cream at the park on a sunny day, to buying the latest Lego magazine.

But when he declared at the end of our iFly experience that it was ‘truly the best once in a lifetime experience ever,’ I had to agree with him.

Forget pigs flying, this middle-aged mum never thought it would happen to her either.

And yet, I’ve got a school of flight certificate with full marks for my ‘stable belly flying’ to prove it.

18+ England, Scotland and Wales residents only. Sun Savers multiple code collect 29/08/26-05/09/26 or subscription to Sun Club or digital subscription required. Online access required. Booking closes 23:59pm on 29/09/26. Non-transferable & non-refundable. Offer valid on a first time flyer experience only at all IFLY locations across England. Flights must be booked between August 29- September 29 and must take place before Friday January 1, 2027. Subject to availability. Not valid on voucher purchases. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other other offer, discount, voucher or promotion.  T&Cs apply, see sunsavers.co.uk or club.thesun.co.uk/sun-club. Sun Club new customer offer: £1.99 per month or £9.99 for the first year, then £19.99 thereafter unless you cancel at least seven days before your next billing date. Full T&Cs apply, see thesun.co.uk/club.

Vaughn Grissom drove in four runs, rookie Walbert Ureña pitched seven strong innings and the Angels ended a seven-game losing streak with a 10-1 victory over the sloppy New York Yankees on Monday night.

Mike Trout had a two-run single and Christian Moore drove in a pair of runs as the Angels won at home for the first time since Aug. 15. Ureña (9-9) gave up five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.

Elmer Rodríguez (0-3) failed to make it out of the fourth for the Yankees (78-60), giving up four runs and four hits with three walks over 3⅔ innings. It was the shortest of his six career starts since making his major league debut in April.

Spencer Jones homered for the Yankees, who committed three errors after scoring a combined 25 runs in consecutive wins over the rival Boston Red Sox at home last weekend. New York is three games ahead of Boston for the top American League wild-card spot and 4½ games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.

The Angels (53-85) took a 1-0 lead in the third on Grissom’s run-scoring single. Zach Neto had an RBI single in the fourth after both Oswald Peraza and Tyler Heineman were hit by pitches from Rodríguez with two outs.

Trout added his two-run single in the fourth for his first multi-RBI hit since a two-run homer on July 8.

Jones connected in the fifth to make it 4-1.

Moore had a bloop RBI double in the bottom of the fifth and scored on an errant pickoff throw to second by Michael Fulmer. Neto scored in the sixth for a 7-1 lead when Yankees shortstop José Caballero made two errors on what could have been an inning-ending double-play grounder by Grissom.

In the eighth, Grissom made it 9-1 with a two-run double off the wall in left field and Moore added an RBI single. Grissom finished with three hits and scored twice.

Up next: Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (7-3, 3.19 ERA) faces Angels RHP Grayson Rodriguez (4-5, 6.03) in the middle game of the series Tuesday.

For about a month, the United States had refrained from attacking Iranian targets as the Trump administration turned toward economic warfare against the Islamic Republic. However, that changed last night when U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) struck what it said were Iranian rocket launchers preparing to fire naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. The problem is that mine-deploying rockets are not a common capability, so much so that the statement seemed bizarre at first glance. But it just turns out that Iran does claim to have such a system and that system would have a glaring application in the current state of play of the conflict. In fact, it would be absolutely critical to do exactly what CENTCOM did, blowing them up prior to launching, because if they didn’t, the final and very fragile energy lifeline between the Persian Gulf and the world could be severed at the worst possible time.

“I can confirm that earlier today U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island,” Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, CENTCOM’s spokesman, told us Sunday evening. “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.”

The U.S. strikes against the launchers on Sunday spurred Iran to respond with ballistic missile attacks on a Jordanian air base housing U.S. troops. Jordanian officials said all eight missiles were intercepted, and no casualties or damage was inflicted.

Hawkins did not specify what exact type of rocket launcher was struck or whether this was the first time CENTCOM had seen Iran use this type of system to launch sea mines.

Though CENTCOM won’t comment on what kind of system was attacked, Iran did tout just this kind of a system last year with exactly the kind of range needed to be a huge problem for the U.S. and its allies. This system uses a variant of the Fajr-5 rocket that is converted with a sea mine warhead.

You can see a video of that system below.

The clip shows the rockets being fired from a truck-mounted multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). The video later cuts to nose cone-shaped mines that appear to float on the surface above the spent missile body, however, little is known about the Fajr-5 sea mine warhead conversion process that allows them to be delivered by rocket.

We also don’t know the full extent to which Iran has developed and/or fielded this particular capability, or whether it has other options for similarly deploying naval mines by rocket. Neither Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) think tank, nor the Ambrey maritime security firm has seen any indication that Tehran has used an MLRS to launch sea mines in the past.

At the same time, “the Fajr-5 is an Iranian calling card, a 333mm caliber rocket that can reportedly travel 75 km carrying between an estimated 90 to 170 kg warhead, depending on the payload,” Taleblu, an expert on Iranian weapons systems, told TWZ.

The Fajr-5 is an established design that traces its roots back to the 1990s and has been evolving since then. “The Fajr class was initially designed as unguided artillery rockets, though Iran claims to have developed a guided version,” Taleblu added.

In general terms, being able to seed naval mines via artillery rockets would offer several advantages for Iran, most immediately by offering an alternative to traditional maritime mine-laying platforms. The destruction of Iran’s naval forces was a top stated objective for the U.S. military during the opening phases of the conflict earlier this year. Iranian vessels, including ones capable of laying mines, were heavily targeted. Still, Iran has retained a large number of its smaller boats that can be used for seeding minefields.

Regardless of what boats they have left, mining the area that actually matters most would be impossible to do as any vessel approaching the southern coast of the Strait of Hormuz would be destroyed. It’s through these tight and complex littorals that a reduced flow of commercial vessels are still traveling, under the kinetic umbrella of the U.S. and its Gulf state allies. The Fajr-5, fired from Iranian controlled islands in the strait, has the range to land in these waterways, seeding mines without risking any boat crews or other platforms. If the rocket-delivered mines splash down, the de-mining process would have to begin, which can be arduous and last weeks, potentially shutting down all shipping.

With that in mind, Iran’s weapon is remarkably relevant to the situation, assuming it works. But even if it doesn’t, it could still pose a risk to mariners even if its efficacy is questionable.

Furthermore, being able to turn any launcher for Fajr-5s (and/or potentially ones for other types of artillery rockets) into a naval mine layer rather than having to rely on specialized systems would be a boon unto itself. Artillery rockets and launchers are something Iran had deep stockpiles of before the war with the United States and Israel started earlier this year. How many naval mine rockets Iran might have, and whether it might be possible to convert existing types to that configuration, are open questions.

Using a road-mobile launcher would also give Iranians a ‘shoot-and-scoot’ option for deploying naval mines where the launch could be exposed only for a short period of time. This, in turn, would create additional targeting challenges for U.S. forces. It is possible that, as it does elsewhere, Iran has constructed tunnels under Larak Island to hide these systems, as well. 

Overall, the “deployment of naval mines by missile significantly speeds up the deployment process, improves the ability to penetrate airspace, and increases the standoff distance between the minelayer and the field, making it the least risky minelaying method,” a piece published by the Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) think tank last year, which also highlighted Iran’s apparent demonstration of the Fajr-5-based capability, noted.

While the Fajr-5’s estimated payload capacity is “light compared to U.S. or Chinese naval mines,” the mines the rockets could deliver “are still heavier than diver-delivered limpet mines and could conceivably disable a ship if struck by enough mines from the field,” the piece added. “Most importantly, this field could be delivered rapidly and with little warning. Even though the explosive capacity of this mine individually is small, the psychological impact from inflicting minor damage on a small number of merchants could still be enough to force shipping companies to avoid the area.”

“Though it’s a bit unconventional, using a rocket launcher again signals that the regime is sensitive to cost and risk, and is trying to deploy mines in a way that doesn’t put as much personnel at risk as by dropping them overboard,” Taleblu posited. “It was reported in the military exercise over a year ago that the regime had used an MLRS system like the Fajr to deploy these, but I haven’t seen significant video confirmation of this most recent round.”

With all this in mind, the point about “psychological impact” mentioned in the CIMSEC piece could be particularly relevant in this case. By launching the attacks on Larak Island, CENTCOM has in a way given credence to Iran having a real capability to launch mines via rocket into the Strait of Hormuz. That threat by itself could be enough to cause commercial ship crews, their corporate operators, and insurance companies to think twice about attempted transits.

This is exactly the issue that President Trump, among others, has repeatedly sought to downplay, including multiple times just within the past week.

“We’re taking them in,” Trump told Glenn Beck last week. “The mines are gone. You probably saw that, we put it out yesterday, all the mines. We got rid of the mines. But the strait, it’s functioning, it’s a functioning strait. Uh, yes, every once in a while, there’ll be a drone or a rocket or something shot, but it is a very functioning strait.”

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“Last week, CENTCOM completed clearing sea mines from the strait’s international shipping routes,” Hawkins, the CENTCOM spokesman, told us yesterday. “U.S. forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway.”

“The U.S. military has achieved a major milestone in the Strait of Hormuz,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM’s commander, stated last week. “We have successfully cleared sea mines in the strait’s international shipping lanes that were laid months ago by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Internationally recognized transit routes in the strait are free of Iranian sea mines, thanks to the incredible work of the U.S. military.”

Shares in fast-fashion giant Shein fell as much as 10% on their trading debut on Hong Kong’s stock market on Tuesday, before recovering some of their losses, following years of delay to the company’s plans to list publicly and regulatory setbacks in Europe and in the US.

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Shein’s initial public offering opened on 24 August, with the final share price set a week later on 31 August. Trading began the following day, on Tuesday.

The gap reflects standard IPO process, as investors placed their orders over about a week, the banks running the deal then fixed the final price and decided who got shares, and trading opened a few business days later once the exchange gave the final go-ahead.

The listing marks the end of a long search for a stock market willing to take Shein after plans to list in New York and London stalled amid scrutiny over its Chinese supply chains, forcing the company to turn to Hong Kong instead.

New US and EU tariffs on low-cost parcels from China, along with rising shipping costs from the war in Iran, have contributed to Shein’s swing from a $395 million (€340mn) profit to a $99 million (€85mn) loss in the first quarter of this year.

Shein raised about $1.7 billion (€1.46bn), pricing shares at HK$48.56 (€5.33) each, in one of the city’s biggest share sales this year.

“Shein’s Hong Kong listing marks a new starting point,” said Leigh Gui, Shein’s chief financial officer, in a short speech at its listing ceremony.

But in early trading, the shares fell to below HK$44 (€4.83) before losses narrowed.

Tariffs squeeze profits

Shein has built its appeal to customers on ultra-fast, affordable fashion, delivered from China to the West within days.

However, the end of “de minimis” tariff exemptions in the US and the European Union has raised duties on low-value parcels from China, including Shein’s products. Higher logistics costs, driven partly by the war in Iran, have also squeezed the company’s low-price business model and profitability.

Tariff costs have forced Shein to raise prices, “cutting into its main advantage,” said Jacob Cooke, CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies.

Back to its roots

Shein, pronounced “she-in,” earlier explored listing its shares in New York and London, and moved its headquarters from China to Singapore in 2021.

But increasingly strict scrutiny by Beijing and by regulators in the US and Europe led it to embrace its Chinese roots and switch to a Hong Kong listing.

Launched in 2012 in China, much of Shein’s operations were in the southern province of Guangdong before it moved its corporate headquarters out of the country.

“Guangdong is Shein’s roots, and the starting point of our journey,” founder Sky Xu said in a speech in February.

Pivoting its focus back to China also highlighted the advantages Shein derives from a supply chain system that “only exists” in Guangdong, said William Ma of GROW Investment Group, referring to its small-batch, fast-response manufacturing model.

Shein has hit other roadblocks in expanding in Europe. In February, the EU launched a probe into the company with a focus on “illegal” products, including alleged child sexual abuse material.

In May, Shein acquired San Francisco-based eco-friendly clothing retailer Everlane, a move some analysts said was not the best fit.

Hong Kong’s IPO boost

The company’s market value was roughly $27 billion (€23.2bn) as it listed in Hong Kong, a fraction of its peak valuation a few years ago.

“Shein has probably missed its golden listing window due to the shift of momentum toward AI and tariffs, which can affect valuations and profitability,” said Gary Ng, a senior economist for Asia Pacific at French bank Natixis.

Still, Shein’s listing is welcome news for Hong Kong, as the Chinese territory makes increasing efforts to hold onto its role as a global financial hub following a downturn in 2023.

Hong Kong’s stock exchange has had a strong year for IPOs, raising more than $40 billion (€34.4bn) so far.

There is also a backlog of companies seeking to list there, said Lorraine Tan at investment research firm Morningstar.

State lawmakers have approved a series of modest changes intended to bolster California’s film and TV tax credit program.

Among the key revisions, independent filmmakers would be exempted from the $5 million state corporate tax credit cap that was approved earlier this year as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state budget.

Film industry advocates lobbied hard for a carve-out, saying the cap would undercut gains made under the current film and TV tax credit program at a time when Hollywood has been reeling from job losses.

The exemption is a compromise. Film industry advocates were hoping all types of producers would be exempt from the corporate tax cap.

The bill includes other changes intended to help Hollywood, such as allowing companies to carry forward older tax credits for up to 15 years (the old limit was nine) and reducing the discount they are charged when they opt to seek a cash refund on unused credits.

Producers will also be able to collect their refund money more quickly — within two years instead of five.

California offers tax credits of up to 35% on qualified expenses, which can be applied to any tax liabilities the production companies have in the state. The program allocates $750 million annually in film and TV tax breaks.

The budget trailer bill was introduced to the Senate on Friday by Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica).

The new cap, issued by Gov. Newsom, would have undermined the “competitiveness” of the current California Film and Television Jobs Program, said the Entertainment Union Coalition, an advocacy group that supports the bill. But with these new modifications, the group — which represents the Directors Guild, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and more — said the program will be able to continue to “support the fragile recovery of our industry here in California.”

“Most importantly, we want to recognize the major role our members played in today’s success as advocates for their industry in California,” Rebecca Rhine, the coalition’s president, said in a statement. “They sent an unprecedented 450,000 letters to the California legislature, making clear the negative impact that SB 122 [the new cap] would have on their livelihoods, their families, and their communities.”

Over the program’s first full year in its expanded $750-million form, the California Film Commission says it delivered $6.6 billion in direct production spending and $4.3 billion in qualified expenditures, supporting nearly 35,000 cast and crew jobs across 6,630 filming days statewide.

The bill cleared the Assembly floor by a vote of 68-2, with the Senate approving its companion measure by a vote of 32 in favor, 8 against the same day. It now awaits Gov. Newsom’s signature.

“It’s a good day that we took steps to strengthen the program and while we have to do more next year, this was a crucial first step,” Zbur said in an interview.

Zbur said he believes everyone in the state’s film and TV tax credit program should have been exempted from the corporate tax credit cap and he plans to look at that within the context of next year’s budget.

“There were budget implications to doing that, so we really did all the things that are viable to do in this legislative session,” Zbur said.

The provided text explores the historical and geopolitical significance of Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast. It highlights the city’s complex colonial past, detailing how it transitioned from Portuguese conquest in 1415 to official Spanish rule via the 1668 Treaty of Lisbon. The source explains the origin of the region’s local flag and why its official holiday, Ceuta Day, is observed annually in early September. Furthermore, the digest addresses modern challenges, reporting on the thousands of migrants attempting to enter the territory from Morocco to reach Europe. The publication also touches on global news and sports, including football updates and international currency exchange rates. Together, these excerp … 

Los Angeles County announced Monday that it had filed a lawsuit against State Farm General after hundreds of victims of last year’s devastating wildfires complained that their claims had been delayed, denied or underpaid.

The lawsuit alleges that State Farm engaged in illegal and deceptive business practices that kept victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires from receiving what they were entitled to under their policies.

County officials said their investigation into the complaints found unreasonable delays in processing claims, as well as “systematic underpayments.”

Officials said they also found that State Farm had illegally suppressed smoke damage claims.

“Survivors are just asking for what’s right,” L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, said at a Monday news conference.

Bob Devereux, a State Farm spokesman, said in a statement that the company would respond to the lawsuit through the legal process.

“State Farm General strongly disagrees with Los Angeles County’s characterization of our wildfire claims response,” he said.

Devereux said that State Farm has so far paid more than $6.2 billion on claims related to the two wildfires, including about $1 billion for smoke-related damage. About 78% of the claims have been closed, he said.

“We continue working directly with customers whose claims remain open and evaluating each claim based on the facts of the loss and the coverage provided by the customer’s policy,” he said.

“Our focus remains on helping customers recover,” he said.

Wildfire victims praised county officials for the lawsuit, which was filed in L.A. County Superior Court.

Joy Chen, executive director of Every Fire Survivor’s Network, said at the news conference that, in the months after the fires, it became apparent in talking to victims that those with State Farm policies were not getting the benefits they had paid for.

She said for those families, insurance had become “a barrier to recovery” rather than a safety net.

“Nineteen months after the fires, families are still suffering,” she said.

The county’s investigation included looking at complaints that Chen’s group and others had collected, as well as hundreds of other documents from State Farm policyholders.

County officials said that State Farm “failed to substantially comply” with their requests for documents and information during their investigation.

With more than 2.8 million residential and commercial policies, State Farm is California’s largest private insurer.

The county’s lawsuit includes dozens of complaints of L.A. County fire victims.

“After six decades of paying thousands a year for insurance, we expect them to honor their agreement,” said one family.

Many families say the insurer refused to test their homes for toxins left by smoke.

The lawsuit claims that State Farm “drastically lowballed” estimates of financial losses for destroyed or partially damaged homes.

“They offered us $11,000 to remediate our five-bedroom house,” complained one family. ”That’s only 13% of the actual cost.”

According to the California Department of Insurance, 11,300 State Farm policyholders filed homeowner claims arising from last year’s L.A. County fires.

The lawsuit asks the court to require State Farm to pay full restitution to policyholders, as well as civil penalties for violating state law.

‘The wind is in from Africa / Last night I couldn’t sleep.” Joni Mitchell has ear-wormed her way into my head as my wife and I step out from Zahara de la Sierra into the mountains of Sierra de Grazalema natural park. The Africa bit probably comes from yesterday’s visit to Zahara’s castle museum. Here, high above the tiled terracotta mosaic of village rooftops, we learned how the recapture of this picturesque hill town was a turning point in the Reconquista – the military campaign of the 1400s that saw the Catholics retake southern Spain after seven centuries of Moorish control. As for sleep deprivation, I may just have overdone it on last night’s tapas.

Either way, Africa feels present as we tramp through the countryside of Andalucía, if only in the wildlife. The painted lady butterflies drifting over the flower-spangled verges, the turtle doves purring from the olive groves and the booted eagle drifting overhead: all are summer visitors recently blown in from the great continent to our south.

It’s day two of our White Villages of the Ronda Mountains walking tour, a self-guided seven-day route from On Foot Holidays that explores this alluring corner of southern Spain. We arrived yesterday by bus from Málaga, winding up through the mountains until the whitewashed dwellings of Zahara appeared like teeth in the hillside ahead. This was the first of the week’s four pueblos blancos, all tucked picturesquely into the natural park’s rugged 51,695 hectares (127,740 acres) of limestone peaks and serpentine river valleys.

I’ve walked with On Foot before, so the routine is familiar: water bottles and packed lunches stashed in daypacks, laminated map around neck on lanyard and route app open on phone (belt-and-braces navigation). Best of all, our luggage is already wending its way by taxi to the next destination.

The conditions couldn’t be more perfect. The hillsides burst with blossom and birdsong, the May temperature is a pleasant mid-20s (midsummer out here would be punishing), and the peaks stand proud against the clear blue sky. It’s hard to believe February brought such heavy rains that much of our route was then impassable – and some areas of the park were affected by wildfires later in the summer.

But each month here has its own character. September/October – also prime walking season – sees the chestnuts and cork oak forests turn russet and gold, and the spring irises and orchids replaced by the post-summer bloom of wild asparagus and autumn crocus. Overhead, those booted eagles will be massing for their return journey – along with bee-eaters, honey buzzards and other winged voyagers – back to Africa.

Today’s hike takes us south towards Grazalema: pueblo blanco number two. We skirt a reservoir then wind along a lush river valley, nightingales serenading us from the oleander thickets, and by late morning are rising into the mountains, the vista gaining grandeur as we gain height.

Lunch is in a high meadow, where we unwrap our bocadillos while bees buzz and butterflies busy themselves among the blooms. Afternoon brings a long uphill slog, then finally a cool descent through shady pines to sleepy Grazalema. Another 11 miles (18km) under our belts.

We stay two nights in Grazalema at the Hotel la Mejorana, meeting wild ibex on a mountain circuit high above town, and eating at the cosy Cádiz el Chico restaurant, where a menu featuring partridge and wild boar (though, thankfully, not ibex) reflects the region’s hunting traditions. At night, the cobbled streets are quiet beneath a canopy of stars.

Benaoján, the third of our pueblos blancos, lies about 16 miles to the south-east. We exit Grazalema early in the morning, beneath the Los Peñascos mirador. Roosting griffon vultures line the cliffs like pterodactyls, warming up in the morning sun before, one at a time, flapping off on table-top wings for another day combing the plains.

Our route leads down through the oak woods before rising again into the hills. Here we enter a limestone wonderland, the karst formations sculpted by wind and rain into Henry Moore-like statues. Bee-eaters dart overhead, their liquid chirrups audible long before we lay eyes on them. A passing walker greets us with a cheery “Buen camino!” He’s returning with his father to see the farmhouse where they grew up. We find Dad sitting on a nearby rock, devouring an empanada. They’re the only other walkers we meet all day.

Our hideaway at Benaoján is the Molino del Santo hotel, where we dine beside a chuckling stream on a terrace crowded with potted geraniums. From here, it takes us two hours to hike to the Cueva de la Pileta, an immense cave system discovered in 1905 when a local farmer spotted bats streaming from a fissure in the hillside.

Local guide Ainhoa Bullón leads us down cool, narrow passages into measureless caverns, her thin torch beam illuminating flowstone formations as enormous and elaborate as a Gaudí cathedral – formed, she explains, by the drip-drip of lime at the rate of 1cm every 400 years. The farthest recesses hold exquisite shamanic rock art, some more than 25,000 years old. Ainhoa overflows with information, talking us through the cave’s successive ages of antiquity, from Neanderthal to Neolithic. Most important, she delivers us safely back to the blazing sunshine outside.

Our week ends at Ronda, perched atop the precipitous El Tajo gorge. The celebrated clifftop town seems to beckon us onward like some mythical sky citadel as we tramp our final kilometres towards it. Below the cliffs, we find ourselves back in tourist land, sharing the steep climb to the top with a gaggle of selfie-snapping day trippers.

We make it, slumping at the first available cafe table to lever off boots, fold away the map and order a celebratory cold cerveza. Tomorrow, we catch our bus back to Málaga. For now, a final night lies ahead, with a stirring panorama from our room at the Parador de Ronda and the promise of a slap-up meal down in the old town. Our beers arrive, and any lingering strains of Joni are soon lost to a busker’s volley of flamenco guitar.

The trip was provided by On Foot Holidays. It costs from £985pp for a seven-night self-guided route in Grazalema natural park, ending in Ronda; five-, six- and eight-night routes also available. The walking season is February-May and September-December (April, May, September and October being optimum)