British

British playwright Tom Stoppard, a playful, probing dramatist who won an Academy Award for the screenplay for 1998’s Shakespeare In Love, has died. He was 88.

In a statement on Saturday, United Agents said Stoppard died “peacefully” at his home in Dorset in southern England, surrounded by his family.

“He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language,” they said. “It was an honor to work with Tom and to know him.”

When it comes to the world of comic invention and linguistic pyrotechnics, few dramatists of the 20th century could match Stoppard’s scope and sustained success.

From his earliest hit, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, in 1966, through to 1993’s, Arcadia, and, Leopoldstadt, in 2020, Stoppard engaged and amused theatre-goers with a highly individual brand of intellect.

His writing was often philosophical or scientific, but consistently funny, a distinctive style that gave rise to the term Stoppardian. It refers to the use of verbal gymnastics while addressing philosophical concepts.

“I want to demonstrate that I can make serious points by flinging a custard pie around the stage for a couple of hours,” the Czech-born Stoppard said in a 1970s interview.

“Theatre is first and foremost a recreation. But it is not just a children’s playground; it can be recreation for people who like to stretch their minds.”

Early years

Stoppard was born Tomas Straussler on July 3, 1937, in what was then Czechoslovakia, the son of Eugen Straussler, a doctor, and Marta (or Martha), nee Beckova, who had trained as a nurse.

The Jewish family fled the Nazis and moved to Singapore when he was an infant.

But Singapore also became unsafe, and, with his mother and elder brother Peter, he escaped to India. His father stayed behind and died while fleeing after Singapore fell to the Japanese.

In India, Marta Straussler married a British army major, Kenneth Stoppard, and the family moved to England.

Boarding school followed at Pocklington in Yorkshire, northern England, before Stoppard left school at age 17.

He decided not to go to university. Instead, he went straight to work as a reporter on a local newspaper in Bristol, in western England.

While he found reporting daunting, he threw himself into working as a theatre and cinema critic, and his love of drama took hold.

Award-winning career

His breakthrough came with the overnight success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe of, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a tragicomedy centred around two minor characters from Shakespeare’s, Hamlet.

It moved to London’s West End, before winning a Tony Award for best play in the United States.

“What’s it about?” was a frequent response from bemused theatre-goers about the play. Tired of being asked, Stoppard is said to have replied to a woman outside a theatre on Broadway: “It’s about to make me very rich.”

He later questioned whether he had said “very”, Hermione Lee wrote in Stoppard’s authorised biography, but he had undoubtedly managed to transform his previously precarious finances.

Indeed, Stoppard would go on to win numerous awards on both sides of the Atlantic for his work.

He was knighted in 1997, and in 2014, he was crowned “the greatest living playwright” by the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

To non-theatre-goers, he is best remembered for his work in cinema, which included the Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchises.

In 1999, he won an Oscar for his screenplay for, Shakespeare in Love, which scooped a total of seven Academy Awards that year.

“He has no apparent animus towards anyone or anything,” said film and theatre director Mike Nichols, who directed the Broadway premiere of Stoppard’s tale of marriage and affairs, The Real Thing.

“He’s very funny at no one’s expense. That’s not supposed to be possible.”

Australia is handing out record numbers of visas to young backpackers and Brits are snapping up the most, with nearly 80,000 young British nationals heading Down Under

Australia is giving out a record number of short-term visas to backpackers. And a huge number of them are young Brits heading Down Under for the adventure of a lifetime. There were 321,000 working holiday visas issued last year, up more than a third on the previous 12 months. Young people from the United Kingdom are leading the trend, making up a quarter of all backpacker visas That means nearly 80,000 Brits headed to Oz last year. They’re taking advantage of new rules that lifted the maximum age for British working holidaymakers and dumped requirement they spend 88 days each year doing regional work.

Matthew Heyes, founder of employment site Backpacker Job Board, said there had been a clear surge in the visa class this year, with global economic conditions a driving force.

He said: “Australia has just set a new record for visa grants, and the first quarter suggests we will go even higher. We’re seeing issues like the cost of living and stagnant wages motivate young people to make the trip.” New rules brought in by former PM Scott Morrison have led to the surge.

Former Immigration Department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi said the working holidaymaker programme was going from strength to strength. He said: “Demand was inevitably going to be strong when we made it more generous, as we did. Australia is popular among Brits, and this is the first year we’ve seen the full effect of the agreement initially negotiated by Scott Morrison.

“It will have to peak at some stage, and it depends very much on our labour market – our labour market is certainly strong, and the UK’s is not as strong.”

Last year was the first time young Brits were no longer required to work and live in regional Australia to extend their stay. The number of visas issued to working holidaymakers from the UK soared from 47,000 in 2023-34 to a record 79,000 in 2024-25.

The raised eligible age for Brits, from 30 to 35, which came into effect the year before, resulted in 9100 visas being issued to that age group last financial year.

They are also staying longer overall: there were 28,600 second-year visas given to UK residents last financial year, up from 6300 the year before, and 8400 third-year visas, up from 680.

Visas issued to UK residents outstrip those from other leading nations, including France (42,000 visas issued in 2024-25), Ireland (24,100), Japan (16,000) and Germany (16,000). These visa holders still must work regionally to stay longer in Australia.

Before the 321,000 working holidaymaker visas issued in 2024-25, the highest number granted in one year was 258,000 in 2012-13.

The boom is being driven by a strong local jobs market and comparably tougher economic conditions for young people overseas. Many of Australia’s long-standing working holidaymaker agreements, including with the UK, are uncapped

A search is under way for a British man who fell overboard from a cruise ship off the coast of Tenerife.

The Spanish coastguard said it had been coordinating search and rescue efforts for the 76-year-old since 09:48 local time (09:48 GMT) on Thursday.

The incident happened on the Marella Explorer 2, operated by TUI, while it was located just north-west of the Spanish island.

TUI’s Marella Cruises said the man was “seen entering the water while the ship was on passage to La Gomera”, adding that it was supporting his family and working with local authorities.

In a statement, the coastguard said the ship participated in the search before docking in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the early hours of Friday.

Rescue boats, two helicopters and a specialist search and rescue aircraft have been deployed to the area.

Lesley-Anne Kelly, a passenger on the ship, recalled the moment an alarm sounded while she was having breakfast with her mother on Thursday morning.

She said the alarm was followed by an announcement of “man overboard”.

Mrs Kelly said the captain told passengers the ship had to stay in place until the coastguard allowed it to leave, and later announced that the search had been stood down due to darkness.

“It was pretty sombre last night, especially after the announcement that they were standing down the search,” she said.

Passengers were told that witnesses were being interviewed, she added.

Mrs Kelly said she believed people “had clearly seen it happen”, adding: “It was breakfast time. Everybody was up and about. It was pretty bright, so yeah I can imagine if someone had gone in at that time of the day they would have been seen by multiple people.”

Local media reports say the ship was on its way back to the Canary Islands from the Portuguese island of Madeira when the incident happened.

It is believed to have departed Tenerife on 21 November for a seven-day tour around the Canaries and other nearby islands.

The Foreign Office said it has not been approached for consular assistance in this instance.

The Malta-registered Marella Explorer 2 holds up to 1814 passengers across its 14 decks and 907 cabins, according to TUI’s website.

Nov. 26 (UPI) — A former British Royal Marine pleaded guilty to injuring dozens of people, including children and babies, after driving his car into a crowd of people at a soccer victory parade.

Paul Doyle, 54, on the first day of his trial, changed his initial pleas in 31 charges linked to driving his Ford Galaxy Titanium into a crowd of people celebrating the Liverpool FC soccer club’s Premier League title in May.

More than 130 injuries were reported after Doyle accelerated into the parade crowd, sending bodies flying off his car — two of whom were babies aged six and seven months — according to The Guardian.

On Wednesday, shocking the court, Doyle reversed his not guilty pleas entered the day before, answering guilty to all 31 charges, the BBC reported.

The charges include dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, prosecutors said.

“By entering guilty pleas, Doyle has finally accepted that he intentionally drove into crowds of innocent people during Liverpool FC’s victory parade,” Sarah Hammond, chief prosecutor on the case for the Crown Prosecution Service, during the court proceedings. “Driving a vehicle into a crowd is an act of calculated violence.”

“This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle — it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem,” she said, noting that dashcam footage from his car showed that he had become “increasingly agitated by the crowds.”

Doyle, on May 26, drove down the street where the celebration was happening, and which had been closed to non-emergency vehicles, on the way to pick up friends, but lost his patience with the crowd, accelerating rapidly into it.

Although people in the celebration tried to pull him out of the car before he actually hit people — he initially claimed he was scared for his safety and pleaded innocent to intentionally ramming parade-goers — police said 134 people were injured in the melee and more than 50 people required hospitalization.

Doyle was initially charged with seven counts related to six people, prosecutors added another 24 charges in August based on some victims he had hit that were aged between six months and 77 years old after he intentionally drove his car into the crowd of soccer fans.

With the guilty pleas, Judge Andrew Menary KC will now consider Doyle’s sentence based on harm caused, the defendant himself and the effects of the crime on the community, which prosecutors have portrayed as significant.

The maximum sentence for the charges, according to the BBC, is life in prison.

“It is inevitable there will be a custodial sentence of some length and you should prepare yourself for that inevitability,” Menary told Doyle.

Sentencing in the case is scheduled for Dec. 15 and 16.

MORE flights have been cancelled today amid a nationwide strike abroad.

The walk out across Belgium is following the new plans introduced by the country’s prime minister to reduce the debt.

Brussels Airport confirmed they have cancelled 110 of the 203 incoming flights today.

This is in addition to the departing flights already axed due to the strike.

The remaining 93 incoming flights will still go ahead.

In a statement yesterday, Brussels Airport confirmed: “Due to the national industrial action on Wednesday 26 November in which the staff of the security and handling service provider is participating, we unfortunately expect major disruptions to our airport operations on that day.”   

SWAP OUT

Five European holiday spots you can still go to instead after Ryanair axed flights

GROUNDED

Major airports axe ALL flights tomorrow affecting hundreds of Brit passengers

Hundreds of Brits will be affected by the cancellations as airlines including BA and Ryanair operate flights.

British Airways has cancelled all of its London Heathrow to Brussels flights.

And Ryanair has cancelled all of their flights to Brussels Charleroi which affects routes from Manchester and Edinburgh.

Flights between Manchester and Brussels that are operated by Brussels Airlines have also been cancelled.

Brussels Charleroi Airport also said in a statement: “Due to the national day of action planned for Wednesday 26 November by a united front of trade unions and the lack of staff available to ensure safe operations, Charleroi Airport will not be able to operate scheduled departures and arrivals.

“Passengers scheduled to fly via Charleroi on November 26 will be contacted in the coming days by their airline for a rebooking or refund.”

Antwerp and Ostend-Bruges airports are fully operating stick.

It’s not just flights affected, as Eurostar travel has also been affected.

A number of trains between Paris and Belgium have been cancelled or delayed this week.

They told passengers: “Please keep an eye on our live train info page which we’ll update as soon as we know the strike impacts our timetable.

“Public transport and domestic train traffic could be disrupted. If you have a connecting journey, please check for travel updates with the relevant carrier ahead of your trip.

“You may need to allow extra time for your journey.”

Ferries and domestic trains are also being affected and cancelled.

NEW British passports are being rolled out next month – with new technology set to make them the ‘most secure UK passports ever’.

On the front cover will be the King Charles’ Coat of Arms that will replace the current Queen Elizabeth II version.

It isn’t just the cover that’s changing, there will be a difference inside too.

The watermark images will depict the natural landscapes from all four UK nations from Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay and the Giant’s Causeway.

The new passport will also have technology built into them with improved anti-forgery designs.

These include updated holographs and translucent features within the pages, which make them harder to forge or tamper with.

YULE DO

Travel expert reveals cheap UK holiday parks with Xmas breaks from £9pp a night

SNOW WAY

All the best Xmas days out under £10 including FREE ice skating & Santa’s grotto

There’s even a unique passport number built into each one using laser marking.

They’re hard-wearing too – like with the previous design the photograph page is made from an ultra-thin polycarbonate meaning it shouldn’t be easily damaged.

The UK government claim this makes it the “most secure British passport ever made”.

Migration and citizenship minister Mike Tapp said the redesign is “a new era in the history of the British passport”.

He added: “It also demonstrates our commitment to outstanding public service – celebrating British heritage while ensuring our passports remain among the most secure and trusted in the world for years to come.”

As for when you can get one, the Home Office has said that the new passports are ready to go.

So anyone applying for a new passport from now will receive one with the updated design.

You don’t need to rush to get the upgraded version though as passports featuring Queen Elizabeth II’s coat of arms will remain valid until their expiry date, the government said.

Since 2023, newly issued passports have been in the King’s name, but the coat of arms hasn’t been changed.

The last redesign of the British passport was in 2020 which saw the return of the navy blue cover which replaced the EU burgundy after Brexit.

Millions of Brits still have the previous dark red passports which are still permitted for use until they expire.

However, anyone using a red passport needs to be mindful of the EU rules which were introduced when the UK left the EU five years ago.

Since Brexit, any additional months on top of the 10 year validity of passports are no longer accepted.

CRITTERS & JITTERS

Vogue & Spencer insist marriage is strong – why do pals think otherwise?

BLAZE HORROR

Hundreds feared dead in Hong Kong inferno as three arrested for manslaughter

For more on passport rules – check out the common mistakes people make that put their holidays in jeopardy.

Plus, everything you need to know about the new European entry rules next month – and how it will affect your holiday.

ALL flights are being cancelled at two major European airports tomorrow and it affects Brits.

A national strike is currently taking place across Belgium, affecting public transport.

The walk out follows new laws that would change labour laws including benefits and pensions, put forward by Prime Minister Bart De Wever to tackle the country’s growing debt.

Despite starting yesterday, tomorrow will see the most chaos when it comes to flights.

Belgium’s biggest airport in Brussels confirmed all departures would be cancelled tomorrow (November 26).

Brussels Airport said in a statement: “Due to the national industrial action on Wednesday 26 November in which the staff of the security and handling service provider is participating, we unfortunately expect major disruptions to our airport operations on that day.”   

Read more on cancellations

GROUNDED

European airports forced to cancel ALL flights affecting thousands of passengers

GROUNDED

Ryanair set to cancel 600 flights next week – affecting 100,000 passengers

“To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, we have decided, in consultation with the airlines, not to operate any departing flights on 26 November. In the upcoming days, the airlines will contact passengers directly to inform them of their options.”

Some arrival flights may also be affected as well as any public transport to and from the airport.

This affects around 30 flights to the UK, according to SkyRefund, as airlines including BA, easyJet and Brussels Airlines all operate fights there.

This means hundreds of passengers will find themselves having to make alternative arrangements.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport – primarily used by Ryanair – is also being affected by the cancellations.

They said in a statement that there would be no departures or arrivals tomorrow.

They explained: “Due to the national day of action planned for Wednesday 26 November by a united front of trade unions and the lack of staff available to ensure safe operations, Charleroi Airport will not be able to operate scheduled departures and arrivals.

“Passengers scheduled to fly via Charleroi on November 26 will be contacted in the coming days by their airline for a rebooking or refund.”

SkyRefund CEO Ivalyo Danailov says passengers should contact their airline to look at rebooking and refund options.

However, compensation won’t be available as it is seen as an “extraordinary event”.

Eurostar has also warned of disruption affecting trains between Paris and Brussels.

This will have a knock on effect for Brits travelling from London St Pancras.

A number of trains were cancelled or delayed yesterday, which could also hit more today and tomorrow.

They said in a statement: “Please keep an eye on our live train info page which we’ll update as soon as we know the strike impacts our timetable.

LAVALEY VIEW

Huge volcanic eruption sends ash 6 miles high & poisonous gas toward villages

TRAITORS CHAOS

Bombshell evidence that proves Traitors star ISN’T dad to Charlotte’s baby

“Public transport and domestic train traffic could be disrupted. If you have a connecting journey, please check for travel updates with the relevant carrier ahead of your trip.

“You may need to allow extra time for your journey.”

Nov. 22 (UPI) — Two of the United Kingdom’s largest media outlets and traditional competing newspapers would unite under a proposed $655 million sale.

Publisher Daily Mail and General Trust announced it has begun negotiations with RedBird IMI to buy the Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspapers for $655 million

RedBird IMI is a joint venture between U.S.-based RedBird Capital Partners and the United Arab Emirates-based IMI.

“The Daily Telegraph is Britain’s largest and best quality broadsheet newspaper, and I have grown up respecting it,” DMGT Chairman Jonathan Rothermere said in a statement shared with The New York Times.

“It has a remarkable history and has played a vital role in shaping Britain’s national debate over many decades,” Rothermere added.

Any agreement would require the approval of Britain’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to ensure the proposed buyer fulfills “the public interest” and prevents “foreign state influence” of media, the BBC reported.

Such scrutiny prompted U.S.-based RedBird Capital Partners to withdraw a prior offer to buy the news outlet outright.

RedBIrd IMI acquired a tangible interest in the newspaper when the Barclay family announced it was for sale amid financial problems in 2023, according to The Washington Post.

RedBird IMI arranged a debt deal with the Barclays that gave it the inside track on buying The Daily Telegraph and sister publication the Spectator.

The British government blocked the sale, though, partly due to concerns of foreign influence by UAE-based IMI.

RedBird IMI then sold the Spectator to British hedge-fund owner Paul Marshall in 2024, but a potential sale of The Daily Telegraph to New York Sun publisher Dovid Efune did not materialize.

RedBird Capital then tried to buy the newspaper with the help of a minority investor from Britain, while limiting IMI to a 15% ownership stake.

RedBird withdrew that plan in October and now has its hopes pinned on the proposed $655 million deal with DMGT.

Travel experts are warning Brits about an airport security rule that could see you denied boarding if you don’t follow it.

Thousands of Brits are jetting off for some winter sunshine, with most travellers clued up on airport security protocols.

Your liquids are sorted in your carry-on, passport at the ready, and necessary visas obtained.

But there’s one obscure airport security regulation that could see you refused boarding – and it’s got nothing to do with what’s in your luggage.

Experts at WildPack American Summer Camps are urging holidaymakers to take note of this lesser-known requirement, which if violated could mean being barred from your flight.

If you’ve been rushing around getting ready for departure and allowed your mobile to run out of battery, you could face serious complications.

Travel specialist Jamie Fraser explained: “Many travellers are unaware that airport security now operates under stricter guidelines regarding electronic devices.

“If security personnel cannot switch on your phone to conduct necessary checks, they have the authority to deem the device, or you, a security risk.”

Airport personnel may request you power up your device to demonstrate it’s functioning properly, reports the Express.

Should your battery be flat, the gadget be faulty or fail to power on, you’ll be prohibited from taking it aboard the aircraft.

Official guidance on GOV.UK states: “Make sure your electronic devices are charged before you travel.

“If your device does not switch on when requested, you will not be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.”

Whilst most passengers won’t face this request, it remains a possibility, making preparation vital.

Jamie said: “While it might seem extreme, these regulations are in place for everyone’s safety.

“A non-functioning device raises suspicion and can lead to significant delays and potential denial of boarding. In some cases, security might even confiscate the device for further inspection.”

Nov. 21 (UPI) — Students and teachers were injured during a grizzly bear attack in Canada, and authorities are warning locals to stay indoors until they can find the bear.

The attack happened Thursday in the Bella Coola Valley of the Nuxalk Nation in British Columbia. The CBC reported that two people were critically injured, two were seriously hurt and others were treated at the scene.

The group were from the Acwsalcta School, about 435 miles northwest of Vancouver.

A male teacher “got the whole brunt of it” and some children got sprayed with bear spray as the adults tried to scare the bear away, parent Veronica Schooner told the Canadian Press, Canada’s state news agency.

Schooner’s 10-year-old son was part of the group, but wasn’t attacked.

“He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else,” she said, noting that “he even felt its fur.”

“Officers are armed” the Nation said on Facebook. “Remain indoors and off the highway.” The Facebook page also told people not to walk anywhere and take the bus, which is free to ride.

The Nation’s officials have temporarily shut the school and are offering counselling services.

BRITISH Airways has announced a new route to a country thats Brits often overlook as a holiday destination in Europe.

British Airways will launch flights to Tivat in Montenegro over the summer season.

Starting from May 2026, Montenegro was recently named one of the most under-the-radar countries in the world.

According to US News, the country is often forgotten about, especially when compared to Croatia.

Tivat is a coastal city located in the Bay of Kotor.

If you are heading to Tivat, there is a lot of different places to explore including a marina where you can spot lots of luxury yachts.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

SNOW WAY

All the best Xmas days out under £10 including FREE ice skating & Santa’s grotto

From the marina, visitors can see the mountains, which act as a scenic backdrop.

Close to the marina, tourists can head to the Tivat Submarine as well, which is a decommissioned Heroj P-821 submarine which is part of the Maritime Heritage Museum.

You could also head to the city park, which is one of the largest city parks on the Montenegrin coast dating back to 1892 and it is home to numerous different tree species.

Despite Tivat being a more modern city, there are a number of fascinating historical sites to explore such as the Buca family’s summer house.

The Buca family were one of the most powerful and noble families in Kotor during the late Middle Ages – in fact, for over 500 years the Buca family played a crucial role in evolving the social and political landscape of the region.

Today, visitors can head to their fortified home, with its own Catholic chapel and defence tower, which is a museum and gallery with fishing and farming artefacts, jewellery and folk costumes.

Of course, Tivat is home to pretty beaches as well, such as Plaza Ponta.

One recent visitor said: “Great public beach. Rocky with crystal clear water and a great view to the mountains and sunset.

“No boats parking/marina in sight so you can enjoy a free view.”

There are also a number of boutiques here to explore, as well as restaurants such as One, which serves Adriatic cuisine such as grilled octopus with creamy polenta for €22 (£19.40) or black risotto with seafood and cuttlefish ink for €15 (£13.23).

It is a great spot for a cheap breakfast with a Full English costing just €8 (£7.05)

The restaurant is also home to the country’s widest range of rose.

Whilst out and about in the city, if you fancy a tipple you can expect to spend between €2.20 (£1.94) and €3 (£2.65) on a beer.

Alternatively, a coffee will set you back around €1.88 (£1.66).

For somewhere to stay, you could opt for the five-star Regent Porto Montenegro, which sits right by the marina.

The hotel features breathtaking views as well as a spa, infinity pool and four restaurants and bars.

There are 175 rooms in total, each with an interior inspired by the hotel’s waterfront location.

It costs from £136 per night to stay at the Regent.

kell no

Jack Osbourne’s furious sister rips into ‘bully’ Kelly Brook after I’m A Celeb row

MUM PAIN

I was arrested in front of daughter for WhatsApp message, £20k won’t erase trauma

In the summer months, the average temperature reaches up to 30C and then between September and October, it starts to cool down a little.

The coldest months to visit Tivat are between November and March, where temperatures usually sit between 10C and 15C.

BRITISH Airways flies to over 200 destinations in more than 65 countries – but with so many places to choose from across the globe how does it decide on where to fly to?

Well, we thought the same so, of course, we asked the airline the question.

Rachel Riley, British Airways’ director of Route Network Development and her team are responsible for launching new routes and looking at future opportunities for the airline.

Ultimately, they then create a schedule and new flights to destinations across the globe that allow the airline to continue to thrive in the aviation industry.

Rachel told Sun Travel: “Planning our network is a fine balancing act, like completing a complex puzzle.

“It’s not only about selecting destinations that we think our customers love and want to visit throughout the year – we also think about things like aircraft availability, cabin crewing requirements, and the specific commercial and operational dynamics that influence a particular route or destination.”

Read more on travel inspo

TRIP TIPS

I’ve visited Disney 55 times… mistakes parents make that ruin trips & waste money

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

Rachel added how the process actually begins 18 months before a route launches.

“It’s certainly a marathon and not a sprint when it comes to branching out our network,” she said.

When coming up with ideas for a new route, the airline makes sure to always watch out for trends, but this isn’t the only factor that goes into deciding a new route.

Rachel explained: “Route planning is a bit like solving a giant puzzle.

“Like how my namesake Rachel Riley uses her maths skills to solve games on Countdown, my love for maths has taken me in the direction of solving route network puzzles.

“Our teams do a lot of mathematical modelling and analysis to determine the best overall network, incorporating any new destinations we want to operate.

“From market size and customer demand to competitor activity and connecting traffic, we consider many variables to ensure each new route makes sense for both our network and our customers.”

And it isn’t as simple as getting rid of one route and adding another.

When the moment does come though, when a new route is created, the team will work closely with the British Airways scheduling team to turn it into an operable route and flight schedule.

Rachel also shared: “There’s no hiding from the fact that we are impacted by external factors beyond our control [as well].”

These factors include things like geopolitical issues and engine delivery delays.

But it isn’t just about creating brand new routes, exciting routes and connections to destinations can be improved through airline codeshare partners.

For example, British Airways recently expanded its codeshare agreement with Cathay Pacific to 12 destinations in Southeast Asia and Australasia.

For the first time, the airline is also connecting Heathrow and Manila in the Philippines through this partnership as well.

Perhaps, the most exciting job though is for the person who tries the new destinations.

Rachel explained: “When we introduce a new route, visiting the destination plays a crucial role in the planning process.

“It allows us to check that the location aligns with our expectations.

“These visits enable us to evaluate a wide range of factors in person, including assessing the progress of any construction that’s underway (if it’s a new airport, for example) through to experiencing the
end-to-end customer journey.

“This is to ensure we’re confident that everything is in place and ready to go.”

As a part of this, the airline will work closely with tourism boards, as well as airport authorities and ground partners.

“We of course also engage our operational teams to assess the airport and to ensure everything from catering to cleaning is set up in preparation,” Rachel continued.

And while new routes can be introduced at any point throughout the year, the airline will usually make any exciting announcements before flights go on sale for our winter and summer schedules.

This is usually around the end of October for winter and end of March for summer.

For example, last year the airline launched a winter route to Tromsø, and this winter, it is expanding its seasonal offering with two new BA Euroflyer routes – Rabat in Morocco and Graz in Austria, both starting this month.

Rachel added: “Ultimately, our goal is to fly where our customers want to go, and to do so with the world-class service they expect from British Airways.

“Last year alone, we welcomed 13 new aircraft into the fleet, including the Airbus A350-1000, four Boeing 787-10s, and several A320neo and A321neo aircraft.

“This continued investment opens exciting possibilities for our future network, and our teams are constantly evaluating new opportunities – so watch this space.”

kell no

Jack Osbourne’s furious sister rips into ‘bully’ Kelly Brook after I’m A Celeb row

MUM PAIN

I was arrested in front of daughter for WhatsApp message, £20k won’t erase trauma

British Airways crew also recently told Sun Travel their top European spots – from uncrowded Spanish cities to hidden gem neighbourhoods.

Plus, the insane training regime BA First Class flight attendants have to go through – with strict teapot and pillow rules.

Sparkling wine, Canterbury, Kent

Stock up on festive fizz with a trip to the heart of Kent’s flourishing wine region. Start the tastings at Simpsons’ wine estate, 10 minutes’ drive from Canterbury, then head to Domaine Evremond, Taittinger’s UK vineyard, where its first release, Classic Cuvée Edition I, is available at the Cellar Door shop. Nearby, the medieval village of Chilham makes an ideal stop for lunch at the Woolpack Inn. Back in Canterbury, Corkk is a specialist English wine shop with more than 100 labels to try, and cheese and charcuterie platters to nibble on while you decide what to buy. Stay at the Millers Arms, in the heart of town, with B&B doubles from £93.50.

Foodie treats, Narberth, Pembrokeshire

Swap Tesco’s crowded aisles for Narberth in Pembrokeshire, fast becoming Wales’s premier foodie hub. Wisebuys is a great first stop; pick up locally produced goodies: laverbread and rapeseed oils, handmade chocolates, chutneys and cheese, available in a range of hampers. Pop into Rock ’N’ Dough Bakehouse for fabulous freshly made pastries and coffee, before stocking up on Mediterranean treats at Ultracomida, a tapas bar and deli offering authentic Spanish cured meats, patés and cheese to take away, along with classic paella pans and ceramics. Stay at Top Joe’s Townhouse, with rooms above a buzzy pizzeria, from £90 B&B.

Outdoors kit, Bakewell, Derbyshire

Blow away the winter cobwebs with a Peak District weekend and bring an empty rucksack to snaffle gifts from Bakewell’s plethora of outdoorsy shops. Trespass is good for van lifers and campers, with folding furniture, lighting and clever cooking stoves, alongside ski, surf and hiking gear; while Mallon & Green has rods, lines, tools and accessories for the angler in your life. Pause for coffee at Summat, the in-house café at Inov8 – a shop that sells everything from bags and beanies to running and hiking footwear and nifty accessories – and reward yourself with a Bakewell pudding (never a “tart”) from The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop. Stay at the Rutland Arms Hotel, a grand old coaching inn right in the centre of town, with doubles from £104 a night, room only.

Jewellery, Birmingham

Whether you’re seeking a bespoke pair of cufflinks, a one-off pendant or something for a Christmas proposal, Birmingham’s jewellery quarter has more than 100 shops, offering everything from vintage pieces to handmade designs. Browse the historic workshops on Legge Lane, pop into Deakin & Francis, where jewellery has been designed and created in the same building since 1786, and take a guided tour of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. Ponder your purchases over lunch at 1000 Trades, a historic pub that was originally a jewellery workshop. Stay at Saint Pauls House, a bar, restaurant and slick boutique hotel with room-only doubles from £99.

Art, Cambridge

Cambridge’s historic streets are dotted with galleries and elegant museum shops, which makes it a great place to pick up a one-off artwork or unusual gift. Byard Art, opposite King’s College, is a good place to start, with works by more than 50 contemporary artists, while Cambridge Contemporary Art, just along the road, specialises in handmade prints, ceramics and crafts. Get inspiration from browsing some of the half a million artworks at the Fitzwilliam Museum, before picking up more art-themed gifts at the excellent museum shop; or dip into the shop at Kettle’s Yard for art-themed books, homeware, fashion and stationery. Stay at the Varsity on the banks of the River Cam, with room-only doubles from £155.

Books, Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway

Home to 17 bookshops and book-related businesses, Wigtown is the perfect place to find literary treats, vintage titles and specialist books that make unusual Christmas gifts. Allow plenty of time to browse in the Bookshop, where more than a mile of shelving holds about 100,000 new and secondhand books, dip into the Old Bank Bookshop for vintage books on everything from art and architecture to travel and memoirs, and pick up presents for younger family members at Foggie Toddle Books. Pop into Books & Bakes (6 Bank Street) for hearty sandwiches and coffee, and stay at the Creebridge House Hotel, around 15 minutes’ drive away in Newton Stewart, with doubles from £120 B&B.

Chocolate, York

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without an unseemly amount of chocolate, and few places have a more cocoa-rich history than York, home to Rowntree’s, Nestlé and Terry’s. Kick off a chocoday with a visit to York’s Chocolate Story, where the interactive displays cover everything from how chocolate is produced to the history of the most familiar brands, with plenty of tastings along the way. Then pop into York Cocoa Works where the Christmas collection includes stocking fillers, hampers, vegan chocolate and mince pie-flavour caramels. Finish up at Monk Bar Chocolatiers – the oldest artisan chocolatier in town. Stay at the Fat Badger, a cosy inn with room-only doubles from £119.

Ceramics, Stoke-on-Trent

There’s no such thing as too many mugs – or vases, dinner plates or jugs – particularly when they’re handmade in one of Stoke’s historic potteries. Middleport Pottery is a great place to start; it’s the UK’s last working Victorian potbank in continuous production, with guided and self-led heritage tours, a well-stocked gift shop and the Burleigh Factory Shop, where the shelves brim with affordable seconds. For quirky, contemporary designs, head to Emma Bridgewater; while for something more classic, World of Wedgwood has a large outlet centre and a store selling Waterford crystal, alongside chinaware. Stay at the Hilton Garden Inn, with room-only doubles from £132.

Craft beers, Sheffield

There are 58 breweries in and around Sheffield, making it the perfect place to pick up unusual ales and beers for the festive period, or gifts for any enthusiasts in the family. Choose from more than 200 beers – from Belgian to barrel-aged – at Hop Hideout, while the Bear offers everything from lagers and sours to dark beers and IPAs. The wonderfully named Saint Mars of the Desert is also worth tracking down; the taproom is open from 2pm to 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with cans and bottles of fruity, hazy bitters to take home. If coming by train, start with a pint or two at Triple Point Brewery, a five-minute walk from Sheffield station, where all the beer is brewed on site, and stay at the Crow Inn, known for its range of cask ales, with room-only doubles from £50.

Toys, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire

A small market town on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Llandeilo punches above its weight in terms of shops. Eve’s Toy Shop is a gift when it comes to buying Christmas presents for younger family members, with hand-carved wooden games and puzzles, mini gardening tools and “kidnoculars” for junior explorers, along with all the unicorns you can carry. Once the kids are ticked off, pop into Davies & Co for handmade Welsh blankets; Peppercorn for culinary-themed gifts; and Dot Clothing for elegant womenswear from niche designers. Stay at the Cawdor, a revamped coaching inn on the high street, with B&B doubles from £115.

IF the life of Spain is calling you and you’re tempted to ditch the UK, then there is one city that has been named one of the best for expats.

it might be tempting to try out the larger cities of Barcelona and Madrid.

But an alternative city that often comes out on top for happy expats is Valencia.

Not only does it have 300 days of sunshine, but it has been raved about by other expats.

According to couple Alastair and Alison, who moved to Spain themselves and give their advice online, it is one of the best ones.

They said: “Valencia City is significantly cheaper than Madrid and Barcelona in terms of rent and daily expenses.”

OU-NO

I’m an expat living in Greece & I always cringe when I see Brits doing these 6 things

SPAIN PAIN

Expats reveal big mistakes that make Brits stand out on holiday in Spain

Not only is there a big English speaking community, but they also said it is “big enough to have urban amenities but small enough to be manageable”.

Another 2024 Expat City Ranking also ranked Valencia as the no.1 Spanish city for expats, praising it for its good quality of life.

And a Reddit forum of expats talking about where they moved – Valencia was often praised.

One wrote: “I’d recommend Valencia, I’ve lived in 8 different countries and it has the best quality of life. Security, beautiful park and beach.

“Sunny all year around, mild winter and long summer. Not as hot as the rest of Southern Spain thanks for the sea close by. It’s also a very multicultural city.”

Another said: “I can’t recommend Valencia enough. If you are retiring Valencia is great.”

According to figures from Numbeo, when it comes to renting, an average one bedroom flat can range from €840 to €1100 (£741-£970) depending on location.

For living costs, things like a monthly gym membership are on average €36 (£32) while bills can be around €127 (£112).

Bottles of beer can be around €3 (£2.50).

Last year, Valencia was named the best city in Europe by Conde Nast Traveler.

However, we spoke to some Brits who left the UK for Spain on some of the big no-nos when it comes to trying to blend in.

Johnny, who left the UK with his wife Sarah in 2003, told Sun Online Travel: “Brits tend to underdress in Spain.

“Spanish people dress quite smartly, while Brits can sometimes show too much flesh.”

She also added the Brits need to expect things to move a bit slower, such as supermarkets.

She explained: “You might be in a short queue at the supermarket, but the person who is being served is more interested in having a conversation with the cashier than packing their shopping away and paying.”

SEE CLEARLY

Mechanic reveals ‘secret’ button that will defrost your windows even quicker

waltzing off

La Voix’s statement in full as injured star is forced to pull out of Strictly

One Brit who helps others move abroad reveals some of the amazing deals for moving to Spain.

And here’s another Brit who ditched the UK for Spain revealed where tourists are more accepted.

Britain’s Fabio Wardley is expected to be elevated to WBO heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk decided to relinquish his title.

It comes after Ukrainian fighter Usyk informed the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) he would not proceed with a mandatory title defence against Wardley.

The WBO said Usyk had “elected to relinquish his title after thoughtful consideration”.

Usyk still holds the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, having beaten Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

He first became the four-belt undisputed champion in May 2024 by beating Tyson Fury, before giving up the IBF title five weeks later and deciding not to fight the mandatory challenger.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri called Usyk “a champion of champions” in a statement.

“The WBO extends its profound respect, admiration and gratitude to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, two-division WBO undisputed world champion,” Olivieri said.

“His career stands as one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era.”

The WBO added that its doors “will always remain open to Usyk and his team”.

A BRIT has become the first person to fly around the world in economy class.

Dale Charman, 44, spent £1,300 to set off from London Heathrow to return just 67 hours later, having stopped at Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Los Angeles.

The tube driver, who posts videos on YouTube on his channel ‘Dale Charman Travels’, said he had seen videos of people online doing the same challenge, but for business and first class – not economy.

So the flight enthusiast decided to be the first to fly around the globe in economy.

Dale set off from London Heathrow at 9:35pm on August 25 and then returned to the capital – after 24,000 miles of flying – on August 28 just after 5pm.

According to Dale, he was “absolutely knackered” after his journey, which included four flight.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

He said: “I knew I’d be tired, because that’s obvious.

“What I didn’t think about was I wouldn’t be laying down for the best part of three days.

“It’s amazing how much pain you get in your knees and your hips, just being in a sitting position for so long.

“My friends and family all think I’m crazy – some people think it’s cool, my mum thinks I’m absolutely crazy.”

Over the course of nearly three days flying, Dale explained how he tried to sleep as much as possible and when he wasn’t asleep he would watch films via the in-flight entertainment screens.

After spending 12 hours on a Malaysia Airlines flight from London to Kuala Lumpur, Dale had just a five-hour layover before boarding another Malaysia Airlines flight, lasting eight hours, to Sydney in Australia.

Once in Sydney, Dale had a seven-hour layover, so had enough time to make a quick visit to the Sydney Opera House.

He then returned to the airport and boarded a 13-hour Qantas flight to Los Angeles in America.

Dale added that the flight has the best “comfort food” out of all the flights, consisting of beef and mash.

Even though Dale had another seven-hour layover in Los Angeles, this time he decided to stay in the airport as it took over an hour to get through immigration.

Then, all that was left was a 12-hour Virgin Atlantic flight back to London Heathrow, landing just after 5pm on August 28.

Dale then had a couple of days of rest, before heading back to work on August 31.

Dale said: “I just think it’s a cool thing to do. Obviously the environment doesn’t particularly like it.

“I’d never flown across the Pacific.

“I’ve been to Australia and I’ve been to the US many, many times, but I’ve never done that other bit.

“I thought it was cool to cover that, and it’s just an adventure.

“You never know when you’ll wake up tomorrow, and I thought it was just a cool thing to say I’d done.

“It’s a shame I didn’t have more time to actually visit these places properly, but I always use it as an excuse – I’ll have to do it again when I’ve got more time and more money.”

SEE CLEARLY

Mechanic reveals ‘secret’ button that will defrost your windows even quicker

waltzing off

La Voix’s statement in full as injured star is forced to pull out of Strictly

In other aviation news, a budget airline has slashed flights from a major UK airport in a scramble to cut costs.

Plus, Jet2 is set to launch its first ever flights from a major UK airport with 29 new ‘sunshine’ routes.

SHE sang about the Hollywood icon on her new album – and now it seems Taylor Swift could pay homage to Elizabeth Taylor’s British roots by filming the music video here.

Hitmaker Tay is flying to the UK next week for a top-secret shoot.

And I have heard whispers that it is for her track Elizabeth Taylor, which features on her chart-topping record The Life Of A Showgirl.

Sixties acting legend Elizabeth — famous for her roles in Cleopatra and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? — was born in 1932 in Hampstead, North London, where there is a plaque, right, on her childhood home. She moved to LA with her family when she was seven.

A source said: “Taylor is super excited to be back in London filming for her new music video.

‘Luxurious and feminine’

“Elizabeth Taylor is a British icon and Taylor wants to pay homage by shooting scenes in the capital.

READ MORE ON TAYLOR SWIFT

POP BOOST

Huge sum Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift & Charli XCX helped to add to UK economy revealed

JUST SAY YES

Taylor Swift’s A-list bridesmaids revealed ahead of wedding to Travis Kelce

“Taylor has always written about her love for London, and the video will capture different locations around the city.”

Actress Elizabeth, who died aged 79 in 2011, was married eight times, including twice to British acting legend Richard Burton, and was often portrayed as searching for lasting love.

Speaking about the track for the official release party of her latest album, Taylor said: “It has got to do with fame, attention, love, notoriety, anxiety that this isn’t going to be forever — and how heartbroken would you be then?

“I wanted to tell a story that referenced some of the cool things about her life, but that are also parallel to mine.

“I used details from her life, but the feelings of what it kind of conveys are things I’ve absolutely experienced time and time again.

“The production of this is something that I’m so proud of because it’s luxurious and feminine and then goes really hard and tough in the chorus.

“It’s just one of my favourite songs.”

The track has gone viral on TikTok thanks to a remix with Backstreet Boys’ 1997  banger Everybody (Backstreet’s (Back).

Sounds like Taylor’s fans will be in for a treat.

RED-HOT MILLIE’S IN GOOD NICK

MILLIE BOBBY BROWN gave fans her Christmas presence by draping herself across a fireplace.

The Stranger Things star dazzled in tiny hot pants, a crop top, fur-trimmed boots and an oversized Santa hat in the shoot for fashion and beauty label Florence By Mills.

Sharing a snap of Millie on Instagram, the brand wrote: “Elf on the shelf? Try Mill on the sill.”

It will be Millie’s first Christmas as a mum after she and hubby Jake Bongiovi adopted a daughter this year. Looks like she’ll sleigh it.

IS IT GET BECK, MACCA?

CRUZ BECKHAM has hinted that he is hoping to work with Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney.

The wannabe pop star and son of David and Victoria Beckham said he would love to collab with Macca, who he was introduced to when he was a kid.

Chatting to me at London’s Winter Wonderland, Cruz revealed: “There are so many people I would love to collaborate with.

“Paul McCartney – he’s such a legend. I’ve always been a huge fan – I met Paul when I was little.

“John Lennon is also a hero of mine.”

He added: “There’s more music coming out next year. Hopefully an album when the record label will let me.”

Cruz officially launched his music career last month by releasing singles Lick The Toad and Optics – the latter an explicit pop track about drugs and sex.

It includes the lyrics: “Take a thousand selfies in your bed while I trip in mine. I love me some mushrooms and good head.”

Cruz has also teamed up with The Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard to work on some songs.

Earlier this year, Luke said: “He’s naturally going to come under criticism because of who his parents are. He’s aware of that.

“It was great when he said, ‘Jesus was a nepo baby too’. I thought that was quite a funny response.”

Meanwhile, Cruz was spotted kissing his girlfriend, songwriter Jackie Apostel at Winter Wonderland on Thursday.

They went Instagram official last year after they were first seen hanging out at Glastonbury in Somerset.

Cruz is clearly going to be a busy boy in the coming months, but hopefully baby Becks and Macca can Come Together at some point.

TELLY etiquette guru William Hanson said he declined to appear on BBC’s Celebrity Traitors after show bosses approached him earlier this year.

The final was watched by 12 million fans earlier this month, with comic ALAN CARR crowned the winner.

At Richmond Theatre, William told me: “They didn’t sell it brilliantly to me.

tragic news

Strictly’s George Clarke reveals his mum has been diagnosed with cancer

WATCH OUT

Dark side of smart cameras and baby monitors & eerie signs someone is watching

“They were, like, ‘There is no hair and make-up, if you are in it, you have to film for 12 days, you need 406 different outfits, you are in the Travelodge by Inverness Airport and it is a 40-minute drive and the fee is rubbish.

“I thought, I don’t know if I really want to do this.”
William was a bit of a traitor after all.

The British Basketball Federation says it will enter liquidation as the crisis engulfing the sport in the UK continues.

A statement from the BBF said it had ceased to trade “due to a significant and unanticipated reduction in income” and “unforeseen expenditure resulting in the company’s inability to meet its liabilities”.

It has been reported, external the BBF’s financial position had been affected by legal costs incurred during its battle with Super League Basketball (SLB).

In April, the BBF awarded a 15-year licence to run a new professional men’s competition – the Great Britain Basketball League – to GBB League Ltd (GBBL).

The BBF said GBBL, a consortium led by American businessman Marshall Glickman, would provide £15m funding in the first two years.

However, the existing nine SLB clubs claimed the tender process run by the governing body was “illegal and unjust” and refused to join the new league.

A week ago SLB reached an agreement with basketball’s world governing body Fiba to oversee the top-tier men’s competition in Great Britain.

Last month basketball’s world governing body Fiba suspended the BBF over governance issues.

The BBF statement added that the immediate priority was for domestic basketball stakeholders to work with Fiba “to ensure the ongoing stability and security of the Great Britain national teams”, including forthcoming Fiba competitions.

Fiba, which set up a taskforce in August to investigate regulatory non-compliance within British basketball, said it will continue to support the BBF to “restore its operations and secure its position as the basketball governing body in Great Britain”.

UK Sport said: “We have taken robust steps throughout this period of uncertainty to safeguard public funds and to help enable GB teams to continue to compete.

“We will now work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the basketball community to establish a way forward for the sport.”

A spokesperson for GBBL told BBC Sport it was “working with its legal counsel to evaluate its options” relating to the status of the licence it was awarded by the BBF.

“In accordance with the terms of the licence, significant sums of money have been paid to the BBF and this is of grave concern to GBBL,” they added.

The Trump administration is pushing an Israeli-crafted resolution at the UN Security Council (UNSC) this week aimed at eliminating the possibility of a State of Palestine. The resolution does three things. It establishes US political control over the Gaza Strip. It separates Gaza from the rest of Palestine. And it allows the US, and therefore Israel, to determine the timeline for Israel’s supposed withdrawal from Gaza, which would mean never.

This is imperialism masquerading as a peace process. In and of itself, it is no surprise. Israel runs US foreign policy in the Middle East. What is a surprise is that the US and Israel might just get away with this travesty unless the world speaks up with urgency and indignation.

The draft UNSC resolution would establish a US-UK-dominated Board of Peace, chaired by none other than President Donald Trump himself, and endowed with sweeping powers over Gaza’s governance, borders, reconstruction, and security. This resolution would sideline the State of Palestine and condition any transfer of authority to the Palestinians on the indulgence of the Board of Peace.

This would be an overt return to the British mandate of 100 years ago, with the only change being that the US would hold the mandate rather than the United Kingdom. If it were not so utterly tragic, it would be laughable. As Marx said, history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. Yes, the proposal is a farce, yet Israel’s genocide is not. It is a tragedy of the first order.

Incredibly, according to the draft resolution, the Board of Peace would be granted sovereign powers in Gaza. Palestinian sovereignty is left to the discretion of the board, which alone would decide when Palestinians are “ready” to govern themselves – perhaps in another 100 years? Even military security is subordinated to the board, and the envisioned forces would answer not to the UNSC or to the Palestinian people, but to the board’s “strategic guidance”.

The US-Israel resolution is being put forward precisely because the rest of the world – other than Israel and the US – has woken up to two facts. First, Israel is committing genocide, a reality witnessed every day in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where innocent Palestinians are murdered to the satisfaction of the Israeli military and illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Second, Palestine is a state, albeit one whose sovereignty remains obstructed by the US, which uses its veto in the UNSC to block Palestine’s permanent UN membership. At the UN this past July and then again in September, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for Palestine’s statehood, a fact that put the Israel-US Zionist lobby into overdrive, resulting in the current draft resolution.

For Israel to accomplish its goal of Greater Israel, the US is pursuing a classic divide-and-conquer strategy, squeezing Arab and Islamic states with threats and inducements. When other countries resist the US-Israel demands, they are cut off from critical technologies, lose access to World Bank and IMF financing, and suffer Israeli bombing, even in countries with US military bases present. The US offers no real protection; rather, it orchestrates a protection racket, extracting concessions from countries wherever US leverage exists. This extortion will continue until the global community stands up to such tactics and insists upon genuine Palestinian sovereignty and US and Israeli adherence to international law.

Palestine remains the endless victim of US and Israeli manoeuvres. The results are not just devastating for Palestine, which has suffered an outright genocide, but for the Arab world and beyond. Israel and the US are currently at war, overtly or covertly, across the Horn of Africa (Libya, Sudan, Somalia), the eastern Mediterranean (Lebanon, Syria), the Gulf region (Yemen), and Western Asia (Iraq, Iran).

If the UNSC is to provide true security according to the UN Charter, it must not yield to US pressures and instead act decisively in line with international law. A resolution truly for peace should include four vital points. First, it should welcome the State of Palestine as a sovereign UN member state, with the US lifting its veto. Second, it should safeguard the territorial integrity of the State of Palestine and Israel, according to the 1967 borders. Third, it should establish a UNSC-mandated protection force drawn up from Muslim-majority states. Fourth, it should include the defunding and disarmament of all belligerent non-state entities, and it should ensure the mutual security of Israel and Palestine.

The two-state solution is about true peace, not about the politicide and genocide of Palestine, or the continued attacks by militants on Israel. It is time for both Palestinians and Israelis to be safe, and for the US and Israel to give up the cruel delusion of permanently ruling over the Palestinian people.

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

Waitrose may be one of the last retailers to unveil its Christmas adverts but it has produced a cracker, with Actress Keira Knightley and comedian Joe Wilkinson making an unlikely match

Actress Keira Knightley and comedian Joe Wilkinson star as the unlikely pairing in a romantic Christmas advert for Waitrose.

The festive offering, directed by Bafta-award winning director Molly Manners, follows Knightley and Wilkinson as their relationship blossoms over a shared love of food.

It begins with Wilkinson’s character, forlorn ‘Phil’, sitting in a pub with mates who are urging him to move on in love. He says of his lost love that “the only person I could move on with was Keira Knightley”, to which his friend replies “good luck with that mate.”

As luck would have it, a downcast Phil pops into a branch of Waitrose and standing at the cheese counter when he asks – at the same moment – for the identical ‘Sussex Charmer’ variety as Knightley. Phil plucks up his courage and asks her out, to which Knightley agrees. From there love slowly blooms. But it all appears to go wrong when Phil finds a present to what he assumes is a love rival. Using his culinary skills, Phil vows to win her heart by recreating Keira’s Nan’s turkey pie recipe.

Knightley, whose big screen hits include Bend It Like Beckham through to Pirates of the Caribbean alongside Johnny Depp, said: “I love food, and so when I received this script where I get to fall head over heels in love over a shared love of cheese, I couldn’t turn it down. I adored working on this silly, fun and delicious film with Joe, and I hope those watching it fall in love too.”

Wilkinson, fresh from starring in hit BBC show The Celebrity Traitors, said: “As you can imagine, it was tough having to eat the delicious Waitrose food and falling in love with Keira, but I just got on with it, like the trooper I am.”

Wilkinson reprises his role as Phil from the grocer’s 2024 ‘whodunnit’ festive advert. The soundtrack features the song She’s A Star by British band James.

Waitrose chief customer officer Nathan Ansell said: “Our four-minute Christmas film – an industry first – pays homage to the seasonal romantic comedy tradition, celebrates the exciting and elevated Waitrose festive food offering, and adds a little more of that warm, fuzzy feeling to the holiday season.”

Ms Manners said: “We had such a great time making the perfect miniature romcom with food as a love language deep at its heart. The combination of Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson is magical in such an unexpected way. I hope they knock your socks clean off, as they did mine.”