Even as recently as a decade ago, Las Vegas hotel concierges and plenty of locals would have described the gap between the Strip and Fremont Street as something of a dead zone. This was a ragged corridor of old warehouses and auto shops, with more boarded-up storefronts than open doors.

“You couldn’t park your car and not worry,” remembers artist Gem Jaxx, who moved to Vegas in 2006 from Monterey County, Calif. “You couldn’t even walk the streets.”

Yet the idea of an arts district had been taking shape since the early ’90s, when the city identified an 18-block area south of downtown as ripe for creative development. Loosely framed by Hoover Avenue to the north and Colorado Avenue to the south, with Commerce Street and Fourth Street marking its west and east edges, this region became known as the 18b Arts District. First Friday, launched by a small group of artists and gallery owners in 2002, started pulling crowds into the neighborhood. Sometimes tens of thousands at a time, if only once a month.

The regular influx of visitors (combined with cheap rents and plenty of retail space) drew a wave of interesting tenants: antique dealers, secondhand clothing boutiques, microbreweries, cocktail bars. As the mix of businesses grew, 18b began to matter less as a set of boundaries and more as an identity.

“Very quickly it changed,” says Josh Kellman, president of the Arts District board. “Businesses here were saying, ‘Hey, I want to be in 18b.’ No one wants to feel like they’re outside the neighborhood.”

Today, the Las Vegas Arts District is a low-key alternative to the Strip for dining, drinks, art, shopping and beyond. Centered on Main Street, but with plenty to explore on neighboring Commerce Street and Casino Center Boulevard, it’s easy to spend an afternoon browsing vintage shops and gallery spaces, catch live music or a stage show, grab dinner, coffee and craft beer — and still have money left for tomorrow.

But the neighborhood is at a crossroads. After a tragic shooting happened earlier this month during First Friday, the monthly arts festival is now on hold as organizers and city officials consider how to move forward. Meanwhile, a proposed Business Improvement District intended to fund additional safety measures and neighborhood services has stirred debate over how to improve the area while preserving the independent spirit that made it a destination in the first place.

As questions swirl, fans of the Arts District hope it holds on to what makes it such a distinctive place. At a time when Las Vegas can feel increasingly engineered around sky-high bottle service, celebrity-chef tasting menus and cocktails edging toward $30, the neighborhood remains one of the places locals actually hang out and where tourists can experience Sin City beyond the slot machines. Here are 11 worthwhile stops on a visit to the creative hub.

Theme parks attractions are never really finished, especially those intended to be built to last. And so it is with Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure, which officially reopens Friday after a six-week refurbishment. The ride is looking as fresh as it has in years. There were minor changes — more large spiders and other creepy critters were added to one foreboding tunnel — but also some substantial ones designed to increase the attraction’s capacity and reliability.

While some ride refurbishment closures result in very noticeable changes to the guest — for instance, the recent addition of a face-shifting buccaneer on Pirates of the Caribbean, or the temple-shattering projections that were added to Indiana Jones Adventure back in 2023 — other updates are less visible yet enhance the experience, such as helping to eliminate downtime.

That is the case for Indiana Jones Adventure. Behind-the-scenes engineering modifications over the last year have boosted not only the attraction’s reliability, but allowed its capacity to increase by about 125 people per hour. Ultimately, that allows for about 1,000 more guests per day, says Nicholas DiBernardo, an area manager for Attractions Engineering Services and eight-year veteran of the resort.

A yearly rehab of the ride is required, says DiBernardo, in part because it is one of the resort’s most complex, with many moving show elements. To ensure that it continues to meet the theatrical and safety standards required, it may appear to Disneyland regulars that Indiana Jones Adventure receives tune-ups with more regularity than other rides at the resort.

Nicholas DiBernardo surveys the guest load-in area of Indiana Jones Adventure. DiBernardo, an area manager for Attractions Engineering Services, helped oversee the recent refurb.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

When asked whether that’s the reality, DiBernardo answers: “Yes and no.”

“Every attraction is different,” he says. “Indiana Jones typically has a refurbishment every year just because of the size of the attraction and the amount of work that goes into keeping this attraction up. It all depends on the needs for improving show quality or maintenance reliability.”

An audio-animatronic figure of Indiana Jones, which was disassembled and rebuilt during the recent refurbishment of the attraction.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Two key changes were made to the attraction in 2026. The most recent — and the reason for the ride’s downtime this fall — was something of a wishlist item, and that was changing the machinations that drive its first major show scene, the doors that lead guests face-to-face with Mara, the deity within the Temple of the Forbidden Eye that drives the ride’s action. Prior to the refurbishment, the doors were controlled by hydraulic actuators. Now they’re fully electric. In simple terms, DiBernardo says the doors are now easier to maintain, there’s no longer a risk of a hydraulic spill, and they should properly open and close with significantly more dependability.

That may not sound like a sexy ride enhancement, but it’s one that DiBernardo says will ensure Indiana Jones Adventure runs more efficiently. “In the past, when the old actuators would fail, the doors would have to remain open, ruining the guest’s show experience,” he explains. Not just that, but it slowed down the ride, as fewer cars could be dispatched so riders weren’t seeing the vehicle in front of them.

Nicholas DiBernardo gives a tour of Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure, which just completed a six-week tune-up.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Elsewhere, DiBernardo says capacity was able to be increased by improving the loading and unloading process, again a change that will be invisible to guests. Essentially, the vehicles park more accurately.

DiBernardo, who works Disneyland’s third shift from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m., says this adjustment, a mix of hardware and software changes, was made over the course of the past year. The problem, oversimplified: Vehicles did not always park in their precise loading and unloading position. Because a theme park attraction needs to operate with extreme exactness to ensure guest safety, DiBernardo says that before this fix, operators would have to send vehicles through the temple sans guests to reset them.

“That was a major win for us,” says the lifelong San Pedro resident. The parking issue was completed in May, and it’s changed the ride’s capacity.

Skulls on Indiana Jones Adventure. The area received a cleaning and a lighting refresh.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Of course, a huge cause of downtime for a Disneyland attraction is often largely out of the park’s control. It’s us, the guests, who are the problem.

“Our No. 1 downtime driver is guest items,” DiBernardo says. “Guests will be on the attraction, and they’ll have a large water bottle or a backpack. All the vehicles have a pouch for them to store everything, but if they don’t do that, there’s many twists and turns throughout the ride, and those articles can fly out. We’ll have to stop the ride. Not only are we working on ways we can improve maintenance reliability, we’re also working with our operations to help notify guests to store their items.”

Nicholas DiBernardo, who helped lead the recent refurbishment of Indiana Jones Adventure, walks toward Mara, the deity within the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

To that end, each Indiana Jones Adventure vehicle has been outfitted with new, bigger pouches that should make it easier for riders to dump in their items. All of that should ensure more guests throughout the day can enjoy the attraction, and right now they’ll want to, as all the figures have been dusted, blacklight paint has been reapplied, and the Indiana Jones audio-animatronics have been disassembled and rebuilt.

Walking through the attraction on Thursday, DiBernardo pointed out how all the figures are currently moving with full mobility. The first time we see Indy he’s attempting to force shut a door, one that moves with the figure in front of vibrant animations. Later, he’s hanging over a guest in one of the ride’s grandest illusions, one designed to trick guests into believing the vehicle is reversing (it doesn’t move backward, but rather the walls shift) as a crater of a ball closes in on us.

Walking the track, I noticed many a detail I hadn’t seen on my hundreds of rides on the attraction over the decades. As Indy hovers above us, for instance, his legs and hips subtly shift. Elsewhere in the ride, when a vehicle dips down a hill, it’s actually going down steps. The latter are painted on the track, but DiBernardo notes that over time the cars eventually strip away the paint. I had never seen the stairs. Of course, it’s easy to be distracted by the skull in front of us hovering over a pit of lava, where many of the lights have now been refreshed.

Flames amid a decaying skull on Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Indiana Jones Adventure has changed over the years. Some opening day effects are long gone, such as the illusion created by actual shifting doors at the start of the attraction, or visions of tumbling rubble near its beginning. But Indiana Jones Adventure remains one of the park’s most detailed attractions, one in which I’m still discovering artistic minutiae more than 30 years after it opened in 1995. And as the recent refurbishment proves, it’s an attraction that remains an ever-evolving work of art.

“The sky is the limit on what we can also add to this attraction,” DiBernardo teases. But for now, it looks good as new.

Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride comes out every Tuesday, but we occasionally publish special editions (like this one!) when we have breaking theme park news. Make sure you’ve signed up to be the first to know.

Since 2010, Burnley have won promotion to the Premier League on five occasions and of their five subsequent relegations they have bounced back immediately three times – but achieving that for a fourth time is looking increasingly unlikely.

After Scott Parker’s departure towards the end of last season, Nicky Hayen was finally brought in as Burnley’s new head coach less than a month before the new Championship campaign started, after a move for Wales boss Craig Bellamy fell through.

“I think there is an element of sympathy among the fans for Hayen but two things can be true at the same time – you can sympathise and also think he’s out of his depth,” said Joe Redmond, creator and host of the Turfcast podcast., external

“He was brought in after pre-season had started, has been forced to work with some coaches left over from Scott Parker and had his main striker, Zian Flemming, sold from under him on transfer deadline day.

“These are clearly errors from the hierarchy but at the same time he clearly isn’t getting the best out of this squad – I’m sure there’s a decent manager in there somewhere but I don’t think he’s what we need right now.”

A total of 11 new players arrived under Hayen during a busy summer of transfer activity with 10 heading for the exit as the Belgian overhauled the squad.

What has followed has been nothing short of a horror show in the lead up to Halloween.

“I look at that squad and it’s been scattergun,” former Watford and Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff, now an EFL pundit, told the BBC’s podcast 72+.

“They bounce up [to the Premier League], come down, go up, come down and they haven’t handled that well enough – we all knew Flemming was going but you leave it right until the end of the window and you’re killing the manager.

“Then you get [Jamie] Vardy in. I love him but he’s 39 and you cannot expect him to be your main man all season, he’s going to come on and chip in and be great around the dressing room.”

“At the very minimum we should be battling it out at the top end of the table,” added Redmond.

“This squad has proved it’s not good enough for that so far this season but one coming down from the Premier League should be able to compete, and if it can’t then something has gone seriously wrong.”

Rwanda’s controversial Formula One GP leads Lewis Hamilton to call for freedom for DR Congo, while renewing Palestine plea.

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has renewed his call for freedom for Palestine when pressed on the controversial decision to award a Grand Prix to Rwanda.

The 41-year-old is the only Black competitor in the motorsport and said an African race would make people more aware of the continent, but recognised there were concerns and used the issue to expand on his stance on humanitarian issues across the world.

Human rights campaigners Amnesty International recently accused Formula One of hollow words and offering Rwanda a “sportswashing prize” – an accusation levelled at countries perceived to be using sport to improve a tarnished image abroad.

Hamilton, who was speaking before Sunday’s US Grand Prix, has long called for a Gaza ceasefire amid Israel’s genocidal war and returned to the matter – as well as other conflicts – when asked about a Grand Prix in Rwanda.

“I think we need to make sure we’re pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine,” Hamilton said.

“There’s a lot of peace that I’m hoping we get to at some stage.”

Rwanda in the spotlight after Formula One GP award

Rwanda President Paul Kagame has been accused of repressive methods to keep his grip on power, with opponents dying in prisons, independent media muzzled, and other abuses.

Neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) joined the criticism of Formula One’s decision to award a race to Rwanda, which is accused by the DRC, the United States and United Nations experts of backing the M23 rebels fighting in the DRC.

“Of course, I don’t get to choose where we go,” Hamilton continued.

“Naturally, there are problems all over the world today, so I’ve seen many of the stories. But I think we really have to approach it with humility.

“Of course, going there doesn’t mean that you neglect the things that are happening there.

“So hopefully many people start to educate themselves a little bit more about what is happening there and what has happened there for hundreds of years. I hope that does spark the conversation.

“Growing up in England, they never taught us anything about Africa. It needs to be on the curriculum.

“A lot of the problems they have there are still results of colonialism and the West intervening.”

Formula One’s return to Africa has been Hamilton’s dream

Hamilton said a race in Africa was a dream that could keep him going longer in the sport now that Formula One has done a deal with Rwanda for a Grand Prix in the early 2030s.

The Ferrari driver will be 42 in January and has a contract for 2027. Fernando Alonso, the oldest active F1 driver, is 45 and recently signed up for another season with Aston Martin.

“I’m now forced to stay a lot longer because we have a race in Africa, and that’s been my dream, to be able to race in Africa,” Hamilton said on Thursday in a news conference alongside championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

“I have to keep fighting to try and stay fit. If I can still punch out good results over the next year, we’ll keep it going.”

Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton at Mercedes last season and is still only 20 years old, encouraged him: “You got to do at least the first one.”

Hamilton, the sport’s first and only Black champion, has long campaigned for a race in Africa – a continent that last hosted a race at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit in 1993 – and spoke of his efforts.

“Countless meetings with the stakeholders, so many meetings with (F1 CEO) Stefano (Domenicali) at his office in London, but also on race weekends, countless calls: ‘What’s happening? Where are we going? Who are you meeting with?’

“Many meetings with different presidents from different countries. Lots of phone calls with different presidents from different countries within Africa,” he recalled.

“I think for me, it’s a place that deserves to have a Grand Prix. It’s about more than just one country. It’s about the continent itself.”

New satellite imagery shows four of China’s new KJ-3000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft at the Xi’an Aircraft Company (XAC) facility at Xi’an-Yanliang, raising the possibility that the large radar planes are moving toward or have entered serial production.

Satellite imagery captured on October 5 and provided by Vantor shows three KJ-3000s near the XAC factory in the western part of the facility, with a fourth at the nearby China Flight Test Establishment (CFTE). J. Michael Dahm, a senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, assesses that the presence of four aircraft points to the type having entered serial production.

Andreas Rupprecht, an analyst of Chinese military aviation and TWZ contributor, offered a more cautious assessment, noting that the imagery could indicate that series production or low-rate initial production (LRIP) has begun. However, he also pointed out that all four previously identified prototypes could simply have been at the facility at the same time. Specifically, he identified the aircraft seen at the CFTE portion of the airfield as being a prototype.

Whatever the explanation, the imagery offers a fresh look at a program set to significantly expand China’s already substantial airborne surveillance and battle-management capabilities.

The KJ-3000, also referred to as the KJ-20, is based on the four-engine Y-20 transport aircraft, specifically the improved Y-20B variant powered by Chinese-made engines. The aircraft features a large circular radome mounted above the rear fuselage, along with a prominent series of antennas on the forward fuselage. An aerial refueling probe is mounted above the cockpit, while a conspicuous intake at the base of the tailfin is likely intended to provide cooling air for its extensive onboard electronics.

The first low-quality photographs of the aircraft began circulating in December 2024. More detailed imagery emerged in May 2025, showing an example at an undisclosed Chinese airfield. That aircraft, bearing the serial number 7821 and assessed to be the first example, was still wearing primer, in contrast to the examples now seen at the XAC factory.

The KJ-3000 is expected to address longstanding limitations in China’s existing large jet-powered AEW&C fleet. To date, only four KJ-2000 Mainring aircraft have been completed. Based on the Russian-built Ilyushin Il-76MD transport, the KJ-2000 program was constrained by the limited availability of suitable airframes, and now faces the twin issues of reliance on Russian supply chains and aging aircraft.

A domestically produced Y-20-based platform provides a more sustainable basis for a much larger AEW&C fleet, with greater scope for upgrades and potentially export opportunities.

The larger airframe should also provide advantages over China’s numerous turboprop-powered AEW&C aircraft, including greater speed, range, and endurance. Its higher operating altitude would give its radar a better vantage point for detecting and tracking targets, particularly low-flying aircraft and missiles that may be masked from ground-based sensors by terrain or the radar horizon.

The aerial refueling probe could further extend the aircraft’s range and time on station, although the precise operational capabilities of the KJ-3000 remain unclear.

The exact configuration of the KJ-3000’s primary radar has yet to be established. China’s existing KJ-2000 and smaller KJ-500 use fixed radomes containing three active electronically scanned array (AESA) antennas to provide 360-degree coverage, rather than the rotating radomes found on aircraft such as the U.S. E-3 Sentry and Russia’s A-50 Mainstay. Whether the new aircraft follows the same approach remains to be seen.

As well as its large AESA radar, the new aircraft is likely to carry additional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, while its communications equipment could make it an important networking node for Chinese forces operating across the vast distances of the Indo-Pacific. Such capabilities would be particularly valuable for coordinating combat aircraft, including uncrewed ones, sharing targeting information, and extending the reach of China’s integrated air defense and broader military networks.

The KJ-3000 is also part of a broader expansion and diversification of China’s AEW&C fleet. Alongside the new jet-powered aircraft, the People’s Liberation Army continues to field and develop smaller platforms based on the four-turboprop Y-9 transport family.

These include the KJ-500, which has been produced and delivered at a rapid pace, as well as the newer KJ-700, believed to combine radar with electro-optical and infrared sensors for a broader range of surveillance missions. The precise capabilities of the KJ-700 remain uncertain, but you can read about the platform in more detail here.

The smaller turboprop aircraft offer advantages of their own. They are better suited to operating from dispersed and relatively austere airfields, and they regularly appear at Chinese island outposts and in the strategically important Taiwan Strait. Together, the different types give Chinese forces a range of options for surveillance and command and control, from persistent coverage close to home to operations farther afield.

The U.S. Department of Defense has repeatedly highlighted the growing importance of China’s AEW&C fleet.

In its latest annual report on Chinese military developments, the Pentagon specifically pointed to the KJ-3000:

“The PLA conducted an initial flight with the KJ-3000 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, which will serve as a surveillance aircraft to monitor aircraft, ships, and other vehicles. The KJ-3000 will probably be the world’s first model to use digital radar and will be capable of anti-jamming, passive detection, and target identification.”

Airborne radar and command-and-control aircraft are also important force multipliers for increasingly capable Chinese combat jets, including the stealthy J-20 and aircraft armed with long-range air-to-air missiles. Radar planes like these can serve as critical networking nodes for data sharing and, in some cases, allow Chinese fighters to prosecute targets without turning on their own radar.

In 2022, then-Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach praised the command and control associated with J-20 operations, noting that some of China’s long-range air-to-air missiles benefit from support provided by the KJ-500.

For China, a larger and more capable AEW&C fleet would support both the defense of its airspace and efforts to project military power across the Indo-Pacific. These aircraft could help coordinate operations around Taiwan and the South China Sea, improve situational awareness over maritime approaches, and support combat operations at greater distances from the mainland.

The same Pentagon report from 2025 further noted:

“China’s integration of support aircraft, such as the KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, provides the PLAAF with improved ISR capability to support PLA operations, as demonstrated during surge operations near Taiwan.”

A domestically developed, jet-powered platform such as the KJ-3000 would be a logical centerpiece of that effort, particularly since it can be produced in substantially greater numbers than the KJ-2000.

The prospect of China expanding its fleet of large, jet-powered AEW&C aircraft stands in contrast to the U.S. Air Force’s troubled effort to replace its aging E-3 Sentry. The U.S. E-7 Wedgetail program has encountered major hurdles, raising concerns about a potential gap in airborne battle management as China continues to field new capabilities.

The October 5 imagery does not confirm that serial production has begun. Further imagery showing additional airframes, activity around production facilities, or aircraft in new operational markings may provide a clearer indication of the program’s progress.

Regardless, the KJ-3000 appears poised to become an important addition to China’s expanding airborne surveillance and command-and-control architecture.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

TOMMY Fury hinted he’s ready to grant Molly-Mae Hague’s wish for more children after purchasing a £150,000 Range Rover on Thursday.

The boxer showed off his sleek new vehicle, a black seven-seater shortly after collecting it from a local dealer in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Taking to Instagram, Tommy, 27, gave his followers a first glimpse at the family friendly four-wheel drive and its luxury interiors – but admitted he still has some way to go before he can fill every seat.

Captioning the post, he wrote: “A treat to myself today. 7 seats… just need to fill them now.”

The update comes after Molly-Mae, 27, revealed she is open to the possibility of having more children – just four months after welcoming her second child with Tommy.

The influencer, who has spoken of juggling mum guilt and her career, previously told how she was happily content with two kids following the birth of her son, Midas, in June.

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But in her latest vlog Molly-Mae, who is also mum to three-year-old Bambi, shared with her YouTube fans that she is having a change of heart – and “wants to have more babies”.

She said: “This baby right here and his cuteness makes me want to have more babies. And I was so adamant that I factually didn’t want any more babies.

“I have a lot to talk to you guys about really, because I am having a lot of thoughts …

“Do you know what I mean? I am sorry but looking at him makes me want to have another baby, which is deeply concerning”.

Molly-Mae then told how she struggled to keep her “head above water” with both one and two children and quizzed how she would managed with a third.

She added: “Maybe I am just having a weird month where I am thinking ‘maybe I do want another one’”.

In June, Molly-Mae said she was “ready to stop at two”.

She said: “I’m 99.99 per cent sure I only want to have two children. So, as much as I want to give Bambi a sister… I also feel like I’m ready to stop at two.

“So the fact we were blessed with a boy and we have a son is just genuinely… we couldn’t be luckier and I couldn’t be happier and I just can’t process that we have a boy.

“I just can’t believe it guys, like we literally have a son, that will never feel real.”

Molly-Mae previously disclosed a ‘terrifying’ health scare involving her baby son Midas.

The former Love Island star said her four-month-old boy has become so poorly that she recently took him to be checked by a doctor after initially thinking he had caught his first cold.

Molly-Mae, who shares Midas and three-year-old daughter Bambi with boxer Tommy, said: “The doctor actually thinks he’s got… she wasn’t really sure, but she was like, ‘It does sound a bit like RSV, which can be really serious in babies.”

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) usually causes cold-like symptoms but can be dangerous for young babies. It can lead to bronchiolitis, a chest infection that can cause breathing difficulties and sometimes requires hospital treatment.

Michael Carrick is never short of advice around how he should do his job as head coach of Manchester United.

Few of his players divide opinion quite so much as skipper Bruno Fernandes.

So, it stands to reason there are a variety of views around whether Fernandes should be dropped for Sunday’s vital Premier League game against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Former Everton and Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson has no doubts.

“It is a big problem for Michael,” he told The Overlap podcast. “Put people in the team you trust. Your captain has thrown you under the bus. If you don’t think he is playing for you, get him out. I wouldn’t pick him even though he is their best player.”

Joe Smith, respected host of Manchester United fan channel Stretford Paddock, is of the same opinion.

“I don’t think Fernandes should play on the weekend,” he said. “I don’t think (Lisandro) Martínez should’ve played against Leeds, because otherwise they’re running the ship here.”

United fans heading back on flights from Como to Manchester had a view, although much of it was wrapped up in their general thoughts about the club, most of which were negative.

But only one man’s opinion really counts. Carrick is the man who picks the team.

His friend and former team-mate Wayne Rooney has a view on that.

“When Martinez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart,” he said on the United Stand podcast.

“That was the start. We’ve seen it now with Bruno and you’re going to see it with more players because they don’t want to take responsibility.

“I was in that situation [as manager at Plymouth and Birmingham City] and if I was in Carrick’s position now, I’d come out fighting. There’s no more Mr Nice Guy.”

Oil prices have climbed towards their highest levels in five months as attacks on tankers in and around the Strait of Hormuz mount and efforts to end the United States-Israel war on Iran are deadlocked.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose by more than $2 to $110.85 a barrel on Wednesday, close to a five-month peak.

A day earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two tankers were “set ablaze” after hitting mines at what it called an illegal crossing point in the strait. Then, on Thursday, the IRGC said it hit seven more tankers although Washington dismissed the claim. In a statement, the IRGC said four of the vessels were transferring oil when they were targeted and caught fire overnight.

In September, the Houthis, an armed group also known as Ansar Allah (Arabic for Supporters of God), seized territory in Yemen close to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical chokepoint into and out of the Red Sea and a gateway to Egypt’s Suez Canal.

The escalation came as the world’s emergency oil stocks, already tapped heavily since the Iran war began on February 28, sit at their lowest levels in decades.

Al Jazeera put a question to analysts: If fighting resumes in full, the Strait of Hormuz is shut off completely and Houthi attacks choke off Bab al-Mandeb, how long could the world’s reserves last?

Here’s what you need to know:

What emergency oil reserves are there?

Strategic oil reserves are stockpiles of crude oil and fuel held by governments or by companies on their behalf for use in a supply emergency.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), which was established in 1974 after the Arab oil embargo, coordinates most of them. Its importing members must hold at least 90 days of net imports. China and India are not members.

How much of the reserves has already been released this year?

A record amount.

On March 11, days after the start of the US-Israel war on Iran, the IEA’s 32 members agreed to make 400 million barrels available from emergency supplies, more than double the volume released after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The US pledged 172.2 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and Japan 79.8 million, according to IEA figures.

The SPR has since fallen to 283 million barrels, its lowest level since October 1982, according to the US Department of Energy.

Much of that oil was lent rather than sold and must be returned with extra barrels, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

How much oil is left?

Far less than before the war began in February, and not all of it can be used.

Aaron Kildow, a senior crude oil analyst at Sparta Commodities, told Al Jazeera that global strategic stocks excluding China and Iran have fallen by nearly 327 million barrels since the end of December 2025 with the US, Europe and Japan accounting for about 95 percent of the draw.

He estimated that leaves only about 400 million barrels of usable reserves worldwide, excluding China’s stockpile, which is unlikely to be exported, and Gulf stocks, which could be cut off by a total closure of Hormuz.

Nearly half of these available stocks are in Japan.

Europe has about 76 million barrels uncommitted, but members such as Germany are holding some back for a local emergency, Kildow said.

“Europe is the real wildcard, both on timing and willingness,” Kildow said.

Meanwhile, China’s onshore crude stocks stand at 1.13 billion barrels, down from 1.23 billion in late February but still enough for about 80 days of refinery intake, Muyu Xu, a senior crude oil analyst at the analytics firm Kpler, told Al Jazeera.

India’s reserves cover just eight days of its imports, the Reuters news agency reported.

What would a full closure of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb mean?

Before the war, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, or roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day, passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia has increased the amount of crude it transports from its oilfields in the east to its Red Sea port of Yanbu in the west via the East-West Pipeline, thereby bypassing Hormuz.

But there have been strikes on that pipeline, and tankers heading south from Yanbu must pass through Bab a-Mandeb, where the Iran-backed Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in July.

Only a confirmed 373,000 barrels a day of Saudi crude have transited Bab al-Mandeb so far this month, the lowest level since February, Xu said, with most Yanbu cargoes now heading north via Egypt instead.

If Hormuz were shut and the Houthis blocked all Saudi tankers, Gulf producers could export only through a few pipelines and Yanbu’s northbound route, Xu said.

That would leave about 7.5 million barrels a day of Middle Eastern crude, against 16.8 million now, a shortfall of about 9.3 million barrels a day, she estimated.

“If such attacks occur, the supply disruption could be even more severe and prolonged,” Xu said, referring to strikes on oilfields, terminals and pipelines.

So how long would reserves last?

Not for long – possibly just weeks, according to experts.

If Kpler’s estimated shortfall had to be covered entirely from the roughly 400 million usable barrels that Kildow identified, they could not, in practice, be released that fast. Japanese and South Korean reserves can move quickly, Kildow said, but US barrels are staged over three months, and Europe’s contribution is uncertain.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG Group, said the world was fortunate after the first closure. “The salient feature of March and beyond was how a crisis didn’t actually develop. We got away with it,” he said.

“I don’t think the global economy will be as lucky next time if there is a protracted conflict,” Beauchamp said. “A month or two is all we have.”

The world would not literally run out of oil. Instead, prices would rise until enough demand disappeared. “One hundred fifty dollars [per barrel] becomes a very distinct possibility, which then sees significant demand destruction,” Beauchamp said.

The sharpest squeeze would be on diesel, which is already nearly double the price of crude, the IEA said.

Refiners would compete for crude grades rich in diesel, “a cost that ultimately lands on consumers,” Kildow said.

Who would feel it first?

Asian importers with thin reserves.

Most Gulf exports in September and October went to Asian buyers, and India and Pakistan are among the most exposed, Kildow said, adding that their nearest alternative supply, from West Africa, is 25 to 28 days away by sea, compared with two days from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

“The squeeze won’t hit uniformly. It lands fastest and hardest where reserves are thinnest and substitute supply is farthest away,” Kildow said.

Who would gain?

Oil producers far from the Gulf.

In the second quarter of this year, as the US-Iran war was under way, ExxonMobil reported earnings of $14.5bn, its highest in four years while Chevron posted $12bn, its best in six years and Shell more than doubled its earnings to nearly $10bn. Their profits are largely down to the high oil prices.

A second shock would send refiners scrambling for supplies from the US, Latin America, West Africa and Russia, Xu said.

“This would allow non-Middle Eastern producers to benefit from higher crude prices, potentially alongside lower transportation costs,” she said.

In August, US President Donald Trump said companies such as ExxonMobil and Chevron were “making too much money based on a shortage”.

Kane, who scored 73 goals for club and country last season, is among the favourites for award with Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is hoping for a “special night” at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in his hometown of London, where the England captain is the bookies’ favourite.

The 33-year-old scored 73 goals for club and country last season, the second-best mark in history after Lionel Messi’s 82 in 2010-2011.

But in continuing his habit of tormenting old foes Arsenal on Wednesday, the former Tottenham striker again demonstrated how complete a player he has become since moving to Germany in 2023.

At one point, dropping back to take goal kicks to ignite Bayern’s attack, Kane also set up Alphonso Davies’s first-half equaliser with a pinpoint long-range pass.

In the second half, Kane won and then converted a penalty, giving Bayern the lead before England teammate Declan Rice scored late to grab a share of the spoils for Arsenal with a 2-2 finish.

Open field

Kane is odds-on to claim what would be his first Ballon d’Or, but the outcome is anything but certain in one of the most open fields in recent memory.

The Bayern striker faces stiff competition from Spain’s World Cup-winning duo Lamine Yamal and Rodri along with France captain Kylian Mbappe and teammate Michael Olise.

While Yamal and Mbappe in particular have taken to the airways to extol their suitability for the award, Kane has been typically circumspect despite constant media questioning.

Repeatedly asked about his chances after Wednesday’s star showing, Kane said: “I try not to think about it. Obviously, it’s hard.

“There’s rumours flying around, so you try and stay away from it. I’m going to try and enjoy Monday night as much as possible. It’s a big occasion and a big event.”

Officially, there are three broad criteria upon which the Ballon d’Or is awarded: individual performances and impressive character, team performances and class/fairplay.

In recent years, recipients have either won the Champions League and/or World Cup or have made their case through sheer weight of numbers. Kane clearly satisfies the latter criteria.

Long criticised for a failure to win team trophies at Tottenham, Kane brought his total to five with Bayern after last year’s league and cup double, but the Bavarian giants’ dominance of Germany may count against him.

Bayern made the semifinals of the Champions League, going out narrowly to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.

England finished third at the World Cup with captain Kane scoring six times and laying on an assist.

‘Ridiculous’ Kane

After scoring against Arsenal, Kane has at least one goal in each of his past 10 Champions League matches, one short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 11.

“Whenever you’re in any conversation with Ronaldo it means you’re doing something special, especially in this competition,” Kane said.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany praised Kane’s team-focused efforts, saying: “What made Harry happy the most in recent years is that he finally won his first team trophies here.

“Now if he can crown his career or his season with the Ballon d’Or, that would be deserved for the way he plays for the team.”

After Wednesday’s match, Rice had special praise for his international captain.

“Harry is the clear winner [of the Ballon d’Or]. His numbers speak for themselves. The year he had is remarkable.

“For a striker to play that pass for their first goal, then take the penalty how he did, … he’s ridiculous. He’s such a good player.”

Former Three Lions midfielder Steven Gerrard on Wednesday joined Jude Bellingham in calling Kane “arguably the best England player there’s been” after Kane’s masterclass against Arsenal.

Michael Owen was England’s last Ballon d’Or recipient, winning it in 2001, while in 1981 another striker, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, was the last Bayern player to claim the honour.

“Monday could be a special night. We’ll have to wait and see,” Kane said on Wednesday.

“I’m trying not to think about it too much because we have important games and another one on Sunday.

“I know it’s a massive event. I am looking forward to it for sure. Hopefully, it’ll be a special night.”

A NUMBER of flights to and from a UK airport have been cancelled today as Storm Austen hits the UK.

The country is set to be battered with 80mph winds with the south of England and the Channel Islands set to be affected the most.

Southampton Airport has cancelled the majority of its flights this morning to destinations like the Channel Islands, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Some of the flights that have been taken off the schedule including the 11.20am flight from Southampton to Alderney and the easyJet flight to
Glasgow this afternoon.

Guernsey-based airline Aurigny has cancelled all its services this morning due to the weather.

Departures have been cancelled until at least midday and arrivals until 2pm.

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The Aurigny spokesperson said: “We recognise how frustrating and disappointing these cancellations will be over the holiday period.

“However, these decisions are never taken lightly, and safety must always come first.”

On its website, travel information explained that ‘all cancelled flights will be eligible for a full refund’ and affected customers will be contacted by the airline.

Some flights from Southampton remain on the schedule for this afternoon including the 12.35pm to Belfast with Aer Lingus and the 2.35pm Loganair flight to Newcastle.

On the Channel Island of Jersey, the airport has cancelled all flights this morning but should restart this afternoon.

Meanwhile, holidaymakers flying from Heathrow, Gatwick, or London City Airport have been advised to check the status of their flight today.

The area where Gatwick is located has a yellow wind warning today with predicted wind speeds of up to 60mph.

Liev Schreiber appeared to be scolding an interviewer Tuesday during the red-carpet premiere for his new Apple TV series, “Nocturne.”

A bystander captured a behind-the-scenes snippet of the 59-year-old, who was seen speaking to a female reporter, likely part of the Apple TV team.

“Talk to people like they value what they do,” Schreiber said in the clip. “It’s not a f— sound bite, especially when we’re doing it in-house for our own people.”

The Tony Award winner added, “We’re trying to make the show compelling” and suggested that the reporter “engage” with the individuals involved in the project.

It is unclear what question was asked in the lead-up to the awkward interaction, although the “Ray Donovan” actor followed up with: “Three words isn’t gonna do anything for anybody and the monkey who f— thought of that is shooting themselves in the foot.”

The woman, who was holding an Apple TV microphone, continued to smile, telling someone in the background, “I hope you’re rolling on this.”

“What I’m trying to say is,” Schreiber continued, “if you wanna give them something that they can use, talk to people like they’re humans, not like they’re social media.”

The woman then appeared to reframe her question, to which the “Spotlight” actor agreed to respond on camera, adding, “That’s a real question; let’s talk about that.”

The Times reached out to Schreiber’s representatives and Apple TV but did not hear back.

Schreiber is both executive producer and star of “Nocturne,” which is set to premiere Oct. 30.

The drama is based on the Lars Kepler crime novels, including “The Sandman” and “Lazarus.” The series follows Jonah Lynn (played by Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who moves from Philadelphia to western Pennsylvania for a quieter life. But the town is shaken up by an imprisoned serial killer, Jurek Walter (“Adolescence” actor Stephen Graham), which prompts FBI agent Saga Bauer (“Atlanta’s” Zazie Beetz) to go undercover.

This lesser known traditional Christmas market has been crowned the world’s best Christmas market for 2026 with up to 180 stalls

With Christmas fast approaching, a trip to a traditional Christmas market abroad tops many people’s festive wish lists, and there’s one that truly stands out from the rest.

Plenty of people choose a weekend break to soak up the seasonal atmosphere, and this particular destination has just ranked highly in new research carried out by Christmas Tree World, which assessed various markets based on key criteria.

They examined Google searches, December hotel costs, admission charges, number of stalls and access to public transport to ultimately crown the world’s finest Christmas markets for 2026.

Their findings revealed that Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland is ideal for budget-conscious travellers, Dresden’s Striezelmarkt is perfect for families, and Winter Wonders in Brussels serves up the most affordable mulled wine.

Yet, there could only be one overall champion, and that honour went to the hidden treasure that is Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany.

If any location could stake a convincing claim to wearing the crown as the ultimate Christmas market destination, it would be Nuremberg.

It’s nestled within a picturesque and historic city and provides the ideal traditional escape with reasonable prices, accommodation and excellent value for money.

It achieved an impressive 8.2/10 in the study, as a market that has been running for 398 years and still attracts huge crowds today.

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Thanks to its fascinating history and delightful setting, it represents the quintessential traditional German Christmas market many people fantasise about, and with its enormous range of stalls, it certainly delivers. It’s thought to feature around 180 stalls, offering glühwein, bratwurst and the market’s own distinctive Zwetschgenmännle, which are small and adorable decorative figures traditionally crafted using dried prunes.

After paying a visit, one traveller left a review, writing: “The Nuremberg Christmas Market is absolutely magical. The atmosphere is festive and authentic, with beautiful lights, traditional wooden stalls, and a wonderful holiday spirit.

“There is a great variety of local food, mulled wine, and handmade crafts. It can be busy, but it’s well organised and definitely worth the visit. A must-see Christmas market in Germany.”

Another shared their experience, saying: “Visited here after seeing multiple reviews, stating that Newberg market is one of the best in Germany and it truly lived up to the expectation.

“The number of stalls, different handicrafts, and gift items – and obviously the gluhwein was one of the experiences. There are multiple parking spots around the market and easily reachable by train and bus.”

In comparison to other markets throughout Europe and beyond, a December hotel stay costs an average of £144 per night, making it considerably more affordable than other destinations. Most significantly, admission to the market is entirely free, and mulled wine comes at a relatively modest price.

The market runs from Friday 27 November until Thursday 24 December this year, situated in the heart of Hauptmarkt, Nuremberg.

A MAJOR airport is about to spend billions on a huge upgraded terminal.

Not only that, but British Airways is launching the new route in January with year-round flights every day.

Melbourne Airport has announced its one step closer to its $4.5 billion (£2.35million) International Terminal expansion.

New designs show off expanded check-in, arrivals and departure areas.

It will have a larger check-in hall with high-tech, common-user systems and expanded baggage claim with additional carousels.

Five additional aircraft stands will accommodate more flights.

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Throughout the International Terminal will be windows to maximise natural light for a calming atmosphere.

There will also be more retail, dining and lounge options as well we improved waiting areas for passengers.

Works will coincide along the construction of Melbourne Airport’s third runway.

Stats revealed that in January, more than 1.26million passengers travelled through the international terminal which was their busiest month on record.

Just last month the airport opened its new Pick up and Drop off zones for Terminals 1,2 and 3 and a new pedestrian bridge linking passengers to the terminals.

For anyone who lands and immediately wants a slice of Australia, the famous “kangaroo spotting trail” is right next door to the airport at Woodlands Historic Park.

British Airways is launching its Melbourne route on January 9, 2027 – flights will operate year-round from London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur, on a daily basis.

Flights will take off from Heathrow at 9.10pm and land in Kuala Lumpur at 6.05pm the following day.

The plane will then take off again at 7.45pm and land in Melbourne the following morning at 6.40am.

Return flights will start on January 11, taking off each day at 4.35pm and landing in Kuala Lumpur at 9.35pm.

The flight will then take off from Kuala Lumpur at 11.15pm and land back at Heathrow the following day at 5.20am.

Return flights will cost from £1,130.

Melbourne is well-worth the visit too being Australia’s second-largest city.

It was recently named the world’s best city by Time Out for its food scene, art and culture scene nightlife.

There’s the lively arts scene in Fitzroy which also has vintage shops, record stores and cosy cafes.

The city often hosts major sporting events as well, such as Formula One, and the flights are in time for the Australian Open.

NEWARK, N.J. — Arseny Gritsyuk and Nico Hischier scored first-period goals, Nico Daws made 16 saves and the New Jersey Devils beat the Ducks 4-1 on Thursday night.

Anthony Mantha restored the two-goal lead with 6:33 left in the third, and Jack Hughes added an empty-netter with 6.1 seconds remaining. New Jersey won its second straight to improve to 6-4-0, while the Ducks dropped their fifth in a row to fall to 4-6-0.

Gritsyuk and Hischier each scored their fifth goal of the season, with Jesper Bratt assisting on both scores. Hughes assisted on Gritsyuk’s goal.

Tim Washe scored for the Ducks on a tip at 8:20 of the third period. Ville Husso made 25 saves for the Ducks.

Gritsyuk opened the scoring at 4:38 of the first, connecting from close range off Bratt’s centering pass. Hischier scored off a rebound on a power play with 41 seconds left in the period.

Up next for the Ducks: at Philadelphia on Saturday.

For the past four-and-a-half years, the war on Europe’s doorstep has haunted policymakers. Yet they have treated it as a looming threat rather than one already eroding the very foundations on which Europe stands.

Russia’s war has devastated much of Ukraine’s south and east, even as the front lines have shifted only slowly. For Europe, however, the challenge has never been confined to the battlefield. Supporting Ukraine and constraining Russia have tested the continent’s economic resources and political unity. Now, as United States President Donald Trump seeks to force a disadvantageous settlement on Kyiv and repeatedly threatens to withdraw US support, Europe faces the prospect of shouldering even more of that burden alone.

Even if the latest crisis is averted, Europe can no longer assume that Washington will guarantee its security. It must develop the financial capacity to sustain Ukraine’s defence, the industrial strength to defend itself and the economic leverage to constrain Moscow. To meet these challenges, Europe must build a war economy.

The past four years offer lessons in how Europe can finance such an effort, but also warnings about the divisions that could undermine it. The European Union has already been at the forefront of Ukraine’s recent financing, moving from an 18.1-billion-euro ($21bn) share of the G7’s $50bn Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans in 2024 to finalising a new 90-billion-euro ($100bn) loan this April, one that came without US commitment. Yet internal divisions remain over numerous issues, particularly as they pertain to constraining Russia. This month, the EU adopted its largest-ever round of sanctions listings. But while the measures added a record number of designations, they did little to broaden the scope of restricted activity and did not accelerate the phase-out of Russian energy imports, with pipeline gas imports still permitted until autumn 2027. European leaders have also expressed concern over Trump’s decision to waive new Russia-related sanctions as he seeks to grapple with the costs his foreign policy has wrought.

However, the US-Israel war on Iran has, if anything, shown that Europe’s measures against Russian hydrocarbons could have gone further. Before February, some 20 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude and oil products and roughly 110 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) passed through the Strait of Hormuz. By comparison, Russia exported about 6.5 million bpd of oil and products in September, and some 43bcm of LNG last year – about a third of Hormuz’s oil and two-fifths of its LNG. As the crisis continues and Trump seeks additional Russian supplies, Europe must complement its efforts to constrain Moscow with greater investment in its own security.

The first and most important step is to establish a standing framework for joint EU borrowing – not only to finance Ukraine’s continued defence, but also to fund the defence industry Europe will need to sustain its own defence and, if necessary, prevail against future threats from Russia. Crisis begets innovation, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when EU member states pushed past their long-held aversion to mutualised borrowing, creating the 750-billion-euro NextGenerationEU recovery fund in 2020. The EU’s contribution to the ERA loans and this year’s 90-billion-euro facility, both financed by common EU borrowing, extended that logic to wartime finance. But these remain crisis-by-crisis improvisations. Deepening fiscal and capital markets union and building a genuine fiscal-military state would provide the foundations of Europe’s power and its ability to deter and win wars.

The same logic plays out in the US today, where deep capital markets have given companies such as SpaceX, which invested heavily for years before seeing returns, the space to develop technologies such as its Starlink network that have reshaped modern warfare. The importance of this technology is now keenly felt on Ukraine’s battlefields, where Kyiv’s communications have rested on a network subject to the whims of one man, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Europe therefore needs the fiscal capacity to fund its own technological development and procurement.

There are understandable jitters about the existing indebtedness of European states such as France and the United Kingdom. However, Russia’s frozen sovereign assets offer a potential way to support further borrowing. Divisions remain over using these assets, with Belgium, which hosts the lion’s share at Euroclear, opposing such a move over fears of Russian legal action and damage to its position in the global financial system. The bloc must come together to share that risk, which is overblown in any case. Not all EU fiscal support needs to come in the form of direct joint debt either. Greatly expanding the EU capital markets union and creating tax-advantaged structures across the region for defence firms and technological innovators may prove even more effective.

Beyond the assets themselves, Europe must also take greater control over its continued economic linkages with Russia. That means intervening far more actively in cases such as that of Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank. In 2025, following a Russian court ruling, more than 2.1 billion euros were taken from Raiffeisen’s Russian subsidiary to compensate Rasperia, a company tied to the sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska. A Vienna court’s ruling last month now paves the way for Raiffeisen to seek compensation from Rasperia’s frozen assets in the EU – using the same sanctions derogation through which Euroclear released some $3bn in 2025. It is precisely this kind of legalised dealing with Moscow that keeps threats like those levelled at Belgium credible: if the Kremlin can seize European assets and prompt the release of Russian-linked assets frozen in the EU, every expropriation becomes a bargaining chip.

Furthermore, the UK and the EU have increasingly made use of measures against circumvention that share some features with US secondary sanctions. Europe should now be more assertive in making it clear that firms helping Russia evade its sanctions risk losing access to European financial systems and markets. US firms will choose Europe over the Kremlin, even if Trump waives more sanctions.

Finally, Europe should seek to reduce US influence over its foreign and security relationships. Speaking in Qatar this week, US Ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack said Washington was moving away from its decades-old bargain of security for Gulf oil. Europe may not be able to offer the same level of security, but it can offer a mutually beneficial partnership that addresses both sides’ concerns. And it is Europe that is now stepping up in the Gulf, with the UK and France deploying jets, air defences and refuelling support to help Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks. Unlike Washington, Europe can promise a deeper partnership in the future and serve as a reliable buyer of Gulf oil and gas exports in exchange for Gulf states doing more to address Europe’s security concerns about Russia through enhanced sanctions compliance and, first and foremost, ending the Kremlin’s role in OPEC plus.

Europe has the means to finance its own security. It must now find the will to borrow for it.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

Law firm Eversheds Sutherland, which carried out the independent investigation, said there were “high levels of stress and concern” within NESO’s Electricity National Control Centre over the “current state of the energy industry generally” and the longer-term ability to keep it balanced.

It said this was, according to evidence gathered from staff, due to the fact that traditional methods of electricity generation such as gas were “easier to manage”, compared to renewables, which were “less flexible”, and were making the job of ensuring supply meets demand “more difficult”.

The probe also found there to be a “significant disconnect” between those working in the control room and NESO’s leadership.

Multiple witnesses expressed the view that those in senior leadership and executive positions “do not fully appreciate or understand either the way in which the control room works, or the reality of the pressures faced by those on the frontline who are responsible for ‘keeping the lights on'”, Eversheds’ report said.

The investigation was prompted after Conservative shadow energy secretary Clare Coutinho said in July she had been contacted by a whistle-blower alleging that NESO had been “hiding information about how securely our grid is being run”.

One of the claims was that control room staff were encouraged to conceal or alter records to avoid leaving a paper trail linked to efforts to stabilise the grid during a period of extreme heat in June.

This was done in order for NESO, which is owned by the government, to avoid public scrutiny or reputational damage, according to the allegation.

Eversheds said its investigation did not substantiate any of the allegations from whistle-blowers but did identify “cultural, governance and control issues” that it said were “significant findings in their own right”.

Fintan Slye, chief executive of NESO, said the investigation identified “areas where we could improve how colleagues can raise concerns and how we respond to them”.

“I want all colleagues at NESO to feel heard. We will act on the recommendations, working closely with our trade unions, and be open with colleagues about the progress we make,” he added.

Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh and Richard Madeley were on hand to detail the latest headlines to ITV viewers but one news segment sparked backlash

A Good Morning Britain star sparked concerns from viewers after reporting live from Cornwall during Storm Austen.

Fans of the ITV show have been left less than impressed with coverage of the first named storm of the season. During the programme, Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh and Richard Madeley handed over to Jonathan Swain to share more information about the storm.

However, it wasn’t long before people commented on Jonathan being sent outside in the strong conditions, with many saying the same thing. On X, one person said: “Tiz the season for TV reporters to be out in the wind and rain shouting at the camera. Every autumn it’s the same.”

Someone else wrote: “I think most of us have experienced rough weather before. I don’t think we need a ‘roving reporter’ sent to Cornwall to show us what it’s like. Stop the fear mongering!” Another added: “FFS, why does GMB send reporters to storm spots? Absolutely pathetic.”

One person commented: “It’s windy and raining ffs. Scaremongering #storm.” As another added: “What is the point of having poor old Jonathan Swain out in horrible weather just to tell us it’s windy and raining? Your viewers aren’t so thick that they need to see a man struggling to broadcast to understand what wind and rain is. Get him back into the studio!” ITV has been contacted by The Mirror for comment.

When the camera showed Jonathan, he was seen outside battling the strong gusts while it was raining. He told viewers: “It’s certainly not peaceful down here in Newquay this morning. There have been gusts reported of 82mph here in Jersey.

“We’ve just been speaking to some locals in the area who have woken up to window rattling, fences falling over, people posting messages saying they’re feeling quite scared.”

The ITV star told viewers that it’s been reported that 5,000 homes have no power in Cornwall and parts of Devon. He continued: “We understand some schools are likely to have staggered starts later on today.

“It is pretty dangerous just being out here on the roads this morning, so that’s quite a sensible option to ensure people can get to schools safely.”

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Speaking to one of the locals, he called the weather “horrendous” before revealing it’s the worst he’s ever seen in the county. Wrapping up his segment, Jonathan added: “This is the amber weather warning that’s down here in Cornwall. This is what it looks like, this is what it feels like. It’s going to be like this for certainly, most of the morning.”

According to Met weather, Storm Austen will move from west to east through Friday, with winds generally diminishing later in the day. However, on Saturday, Storm Boelo is expected to hit, as wet and windy weather is expected across the whole of the UK.

Good Morning Britain continues weekdays on ITV from 6am

Saira Hayati and her daughter wanted a ‘better lifestyle’

A British mum moved abroad to afford a better lifestyle and said she saves £2,141 a month as well as enjoying weekly £20 massages, polo lessons, a cleaner and a pool.

Saira Hayati, 50, from Gravesend, Kent, relocated in 2024 after years of navigating financial uncertainty and learning to prepare for economic downturns. The mum-of-five said her monthly household budget in the UK was around £3,612 to £3,929 and stretched to the rare massage, a gym membership and access to a lake in the summer.

She now estimates she spends £1,788 to £1,874 a month in Melaka, Malaysia, and gets more luxuries – including a weekly massage and a cleaner. Her plan was originally to retire, but she has found work doing social media and doesn’t stress about inconsistent earnings as she doesn’t “need” it.

Saira, a content creator and entrepreneur, said: “The problem is in England no matter how much you earn it’s not enough. I’m swimming, juicing, enjoying the sunshine. I feel healthier, happier, and more relaxed. My kids have said they noticed a difference.”

About more than money

The move has been more than just money saving for Saira, who is now embracing a new chapter with her youngest child while working to rebuild connections with her older children after spending most of her time focused on her career. Her other children are still living and working in England.

After a 22-year marriage ended, she found love again in Malaysia and remarried four months ago. The former director of a national mortgage brokerage says the lower cost of living has given her more freedom to enjoy everyday luxuries without the same financial pressure she experienced in England.

She said: “Over here for me to have a two-hour massage is £20. So I go for massages every week.”

Her Malaysian monthly budget includes £150 for a cleaner, £300 for her daughter’s online tuition and £87 for weekly massages. She pays £20 a month in local charges, compared with £280 in UK council tax, while her electricity costs around £100 a month – three times less than her gas and electricity in England.

Her water bill is just £5 a month, compared with £150 in the UK, while her mobile phone costs £10, rather than £50. Saira spends around £639 a month on eating out and takeaways in Malaysia, covering breakfast and dinner for three every day rather than food shops.

In England takeaways and eating out was a treat, at £100 to £200 per month. Buying her 3,700sqft five-bedroom, six-bathroom, home outright in Malaysia cost her £165,000 and Saira benefited from a better exchange rate in December 2023. In Kent, her monthly mortgage was £1,400 a month for a four-bedroom detached house.

How Saira’s outlook was shaped

Saira’s financial outlook was shaped by experiencing four major recessions and the impact of the 2008 crash on her property management business. At the time, she was working as a director of a property management agency and had a professional portfolio of 350 properties, alongside around ten properties in her personal portfolio. She spoke about the fear of falling into negative equity and having to “tighten the purse strings” on her family’s finances during the credit crunch, including pulling her children out of private school.

She said: “The cost of living is making people squeezed from every angle. The burden is heavier now than it was and people just aren’t in a position to do what they strive to.”

She said the pressure facing households in England had become increasingly difficult, regardless of how much people earned. Saira began selling properties from her personal portfolio before leaving the UK, eventually putting more than £100,000 into a Singapore vault with gold to give her family a financial safety net.

The fund means she no longer feels compelled to keep earning more money simply to feel secure. She said the £100,000 was enough to protect her family for years in an emergency living in Malaysia.

She said: “I’m comfortable in the sense that I don’t need any more emergency fund and I don’t need to earn any more than I need.”

For Saira, moving abroad was not just about cutting bills, but about finding somewhere she could enjoy a better quality of life and spend more time with her family without constantly worrying about money.

She said: “I’ve positioned myself somewhere that I know I can have a decent lifestyle that isn’t going to cost me a lot of money. That’s the kind of guidance I’m giving people having done it myself.”

Saira’s costs

Mortgage/rent

UK: £1,400

Malaysia: £0 – home owned outright

Council tax/local collection charge

UK: £280

Malaysia: £20

Service charge: grounds, pool and gym

UK: Not included

Malaysia: £30

Gas and electricity

UK: £300

Malaysia: £100 – electricity only

Water

UK: £150

Malaysia: £5

Internet

UK: £50

Malaysia: £50

Mobile phone

UK: £50

Malaysia: £10

Groceries

UK: £650 to £867

Malaysia: £80 – fruit, juicing supplies, and toiletries

Eating out/takeaways

UK: £100 to £200

Malaysia: £639 – breakfast and dinner for three daily

Fuel

UK: £217

Malaysia: £87 to £173

Car costs: insurance, tax, service, repairs

UK: £200

Malaysia: £110

Home insurance

UK: £75 – buildings and contents

Malaysia: £20 – buildings

Cleaner

UK: Not included

Malaysia: £150

Child tuition

UK: £0

Malaysia: £300

Gym

UK: £40

Malaysia: Included in service charge

Clothes, toiletries, haircuts and dental

UK: £100

Malaysia: Toiletries above; other costs not totalled

Weekly massages

UK: Not included

Malaysia: £87

Monthly totals

UK: £3,612 to £3,929

Malaysia: £1,788 to £1,874

Annual totals

UK: £43,344 to £47,148

Malaysia: £21,456 to £22,488

Need to know

HM Passport Office has issued an alert to anyone applying for a new or replacement child passport in the UK

All you need to know as HM Passport Office issues alert over children’s passports:

• HM Passport Office has issued a new alert for parents applying for a new or replacement passport for a child.
• All children must hold their own passport to travel internationally – a rule that has been in place since October 1998. The sole issuer of UK passports shared the alert on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
• It stated: “A child’s application must be completed by a person with parental responsibility. You’ll also need to provide documentation to confirm this.”
• Parental responsibility is automatically granted to those who give birth to the child. Fathers or second female parents may also have automatic parental responsibility depending on their circumstances.
• For example, parental responsibility is also automatically granted if you are married to or in a civil partnership with the birth mother at the time of the child’s birth.
• Should the biological father wed or enter into a civil partnership with the child’s birth mother following the birth, he will automatically obtain parental responsibility.
• A standard child’s passport costs £66.50 online or £80 by paper form, rising to £80.50 or £94 for a 54-page frequent-traveller passport.

READ THE FULL STORY: HM Passport Office alert to anyone applying for a child