free

The cost of a standard TV Licence rose this year, with the Government increasing the price to £174.50 in April

The cost of the standard TV Licence has seen a hike for many this year, with the Government jacking up the price to £174.50 in April. This annual fee is typically mandatory for households or businesses that watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer.

However, it might come as a surprise that certain people could be eligible for a free or discounted licence under specific conditions. These reductions could also apply to those with black-and-white TVs, which usually incur a yearly cost of £58.50 under the licence scheme.

Government guidance suggests that it’s primarily people over 75 years old who receive Pension Credit who can bag a free TV Licence. The same applies if you live with a partner who receives Pension Credit, as the licence covers everyone at a particular address.

It’s crucial to make clear that Pension Credit is different from the State Pension. It refers to a means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age on a low income, topping up weekly income to £227.10 if you’re single or £346.60 with a partner.

Those claiming Pension Credit can apply for a free TV Licence when they turn 74, but will still need to cough up until the end of the month before their 75th birthday. After this point, they will be covered by the free licence, according to the Express.

Additionally, the Government states that anyone who is blind or in residential care can apply for a discounted TV Licence. To be eligible for the residential care home discount, a person must be either retired and over 60 or disabled.

For those who are eligible, the TV Licence cost plummets to just £7.50. Housing managers at residential care homes can also make applications on behalf of residents.

Furthermore, anyone who is registered blind or lives with someone who is can get a 50% reduction on their TV Licence. This slashes the price of a colour licence to £87.25.

Government guidance explains: “The licence must be in the blind person’s name – if it’s not, you can make a new application to transfer it into their name. You’ll need to provide your existing TV Licence number when you apply.”

People over 75 who receive Pension Credit can apply for a free licence online or by telephone. The Government’s official numbers for this are 0300 790 6071 (telephone) and 0300 709 6050 (minicom).

Others who are registered blind can apply for a licence on the TV Licensing website. For more information, head to GOV.UK or the official TV Licensing website.

Why did the licence fee change?

Last year, the Secretary of State announced a 2.9% price rise, coming into force from April 1 2025, in line with annual CPI inflation.

The official TV Licensing site confirms this represented an increase of slightly more than 1p daily and marks only the second licence fee rise since April 1 2021.

The change has seen the annual colour licence fee rise to £174.50, while the black and white licence fee now stands at £58.50 per annum. Future increases in the licence fee will be tied to CPI inflation for the next four years, ending in 2027.

Now, according to a fresh Mirror report, several newspapers have speculated that the annual cost could reach £182 next year. However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport reportedly told Sky Money: “No final decision has yet been made on the exact level of next year’s licence fee. We will set this out in due course.”

CHRISTMAS is just six weeks away, and with that, many festive events and experiences are opening.

But sometimes meeting Santa or heading to a light trail can set you back quite a bit of money – especially when you add on the inevitable hot chocolate your child screams for when they get cold.

With Christmas already stretching our pockets, finding something to do with the family that doesn’t require you to get out your debit card is hard.

So we’ve rounded up some of the free events across the UK you can head to this Christmas, from pop-up performances to lantern parades.

Santa’s Grottoes and Meet & Greets

In Leeds, at Kirkgate Market, families get the chance to meet Santa for free on December 6, 13, 20, 22 and 23 between 12pm and 3pm.

At the Cadbury House Christmas Fayre on December 3, families can meet Santa in his grotto between 5pm and 7pm.

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The Fayre will also have an array of stalls.

At Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, families can head to a Christmas Jamboree for free on November 28.

The event will have a Santa meet and greet, as well as a free bouncy castle, Rodeo Rudolf, obstacle course, slide and bungee run.

Visitors will also be able to meet the Grinch, and Glinda and Elphaba from Wicked.

For a slightly different Santa meet and greet, head to Hamleys toy store.

Over the Christmas period, visitors can share hugs and high fives every day at either 1pm or 2:30pm, with Santa Hamley Bear outside the Regent Street store in London.

Light trails

South Bank Winter Light Trail in London features numerous artworks by different artists that glow in the dark night.

The event takes place from November 6 to January 18, 2026.

In Liverpool, you could head to the Royal Albert Dock which features giant light-up figurines and a fairytale carousel.

Over in Sheffield, Light Up Sheffield features three of the city’s most iconic landmarks lit up – Sheffield Cathedral, Sheffield Central Library and Pounds Park.

The event will take place across 10 nights from December 5 to 14.

Light Up Wakefield will take place in Wakefield city centre from November 21 to 23.

On November 21, visitors can head to the Cathedral Precinct to enjoy live music and entertainment before the switch on event at 5:30pm.

Just after Christmas is Christmas Dubs in Clifton Village, near Bristol.

Taking place on December 26, visitors can see a number of Volkswagens light up Clifton Village, as they are decked out in lights.

In Torquay in Devon, visitors can head out on the Bay of Lights illuminated trail from November 28 to January 2, 2026.

Across the event, Torquay waterfront will become illuminated with a light trail stretching 1.5 miles.

In Devon, Lanterns, Lights and Luminations in Brixham will take place from November 21 to 22.

The popular event features a lantern parade, firework display, live music, street entertainment and a market.

Markets

A lot of markets across the UK are free to enter, but once inside you usually do spend money – whether that be on food and drink or attractions.

However, if you take some snacks with you and skip the attractions you can get into the festive spirit without spending a penny.

For example, you could head to one of Liverpool’s most loved buildings, the Bombed Out Church, for their weekend Makers Market.

From 10am to 4pm on various dates throughout November and December, you can wander around stalls selling fresh bakes and pretty creations.

In London, you could head to the Chelsea Winter Village where there is street food, artisan markets, firepits, traditional fairground rides, and an aprés ski bar.

The event is set within the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, so even if you don’t want to spend any money, it is a pretty market to see and take in the free choir performances.

Festive treasure hunts and other trails

In London, visitors can head off on the Snowman Trail, which is a free outdoor sculpture trail inspired by Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman.

Each sculpture has been decorated by artists and then place close to the city’s landmarks.

There will also be a Snoopy Trail around Fleet Street.

Light switch ons

Up and down the country there are thousands of Christmas light switch-ons taking place in November and December – and most of which are free to attend.

This includes the Christmas Light Switch On in Oldham, just outside Manchester.

Taking place on November 15, the event will feature the turning on of the Christmas lights, a visit from Santa, as well as Bluey and Bingo from the hit TV show and fireworks.

For a slightly different ‘switch on’ event, head to Tavistock in Devon on December 5, for a Victorian Christmas lights switch on, with people in Dickensian costumes and vintage entertainment.

In Richmond, the Christmas lights will be switched on, on November 27 and visitors can expect entertainment with the Wickedly Witches, Candy Cane Stilt Walkers and Giant Nutcracker.

Store events

Ikea stores across the country also offer a number of free events so it is worth checking out the events page for your local store.

For example, at Ikea Greenwich children can write a letter to Santa and post it in a special post box between November 10 and December 23.

At Ikea Southampton, families can even have breakfast with Santa if they are an Ikea family member – which is free to sign up to.

The same goes for Hamleys with events at the Regent Street store including Box of Christmas Mischief, a festive game show (November 6 to December 24) and Twinkle Jingle Town Parade where Hamleys elves dance their way through the store (November 6 to December 5).

If your kids love to read or you want them to explore more stories, Waterstones offers loads of events up and down the country, including regular free storytelling sessions.

Over the festive period, there are even more events such as Epsom Christmas Evening with local authors and illustrators and late night Christmas shopping nights, with free mince pies and mulled wine.

Other events

Inside Sheffield Cathedral, visitors can explore 40 Christmas trees decorated by different local charities.

A similar event will also take place at Selby Abbey – the Christmas Tree Festival, which will take place from November 28 to January 5, 2026, will feature 30 trees decorated by locals.

On November 21, when Wakefield’s Christmas lights are switched on, there will be a lantern parade through the city at 6pm.

At Windmill Hill City Farm, near Bristol – a free family farm attraction with a play area and animals – the cafe will be hosting free screenings of much-loved children’s films every weekday from 3:45pm.

In Devon, Candlelit Dartmouth is from November 28 to 30.

Visitors can see a procession of hundreds of handmade paper lanterns through the town as well as Father Christmas’ boat gliding across the River Dart.

For fans of Charles Dickens, the UK is home to some Victorian and Dickensian-themed events including a Victorian evening in Newton Abbot, Devon on December 3.

The high street will be transformed into a Dickensian Christmas Shopping scene with performers and a chance to meet Santa.

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BRITISH Airways passengers will soon be able to stay connected mid-flight without having to pay a penny.

The airline has confirmed that they will be rolling out Starlink WiFi on all of their planes next year.

Not only will it be available in all cabins, but it will be completely free for all passengers.

The high speed network means passengers will be able to stream video onboard without any lag.

This also includes over remote regions and oceans, a common area where WiFi can often cut out.

BA boss Sean Doyle, British Airways said “Launching Starlink on both our long-haul and short-haul aircraft is game-changing for us and our customers, elevating their experience on board our flights by offering them seamless connectivity from gate-to-gate.

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“Especially on short-haul, this will really differentiate us from our competitors.”

The rollout is part of British Airways’ massive £7billion expansion.

This includes new airport lounges in both Dubai and Miami, with the Sun’s Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding trying out the latter.

Another 15 airport lounges are being upgraded, with 17 new short-haul aircrafts being introduced.

British Airways is also rolling out a new First Class Suite, with its biggest bed yet as well as 32inch screens.

A new app is also being rolled out next year.

Mr Doyle said at the time the app would be similar to an Amazon when it comes to easily being able to book flights.

He explained: “The website’s been around for 22 years. We were leaders in it many years ago and we’d improved it down through the years.

“But we’ve been falling behind and we need to catch up and leapfrog the rest.”

Other inflight upgrades include larger overhead lockers – where suitcases lie on their side rather than flat – and upgraded seats made from Scottish leather.

But British Airways isn’t the first airline to roll out Starlink onboard.

Back in March, United Airlines confirmed that they would be adding the free WiFi service to more than 40 aircraft.

And Qatar Airways confirmed that all passengers will be able to use free Starlink onboard – even FaceTiming a flight attendant to show how fast it will be

A HISTORIC Victorian bathhouse is getting a new lease of life after closing nearly 50 years ago.

Manor Place Baths in South London is a 19th century bathhouse that was once a huge swimming pool complex.

It later became a boxing venue before closing in the 1970s.

However, a new attraction is set to open inside the bathhouse, as part of a collaboration with Nike and Palace Skateboards.

Inside will be a thee ‘zones’ –  The Park and The Cage, The Front Room, and The Residency. 

A free to use skatepark is in the area where the men’s swimming pool use to be (having since been paved over).

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The ‘world-class’ skatepark will be made of concrete, with ramps, ledges and benches.

There will also be an underground football cage which can be used for three-a-side.

The Front Room will be an art venue with workshops and pop ups, as well as having Nike clothing on sale.

And The Residency will be creative studio spaces, which will be on rotation every nine months.

Events will include “skate jams,” women-only sessions and a number of others.

Opening from November 11, it will be free to visit and open six days a week.

Palace co-founder Lev Tanju said: “We had an idea of creating a large space for the community that would be about skateboarding and sport, and a space you could generally hang out in.”

Gareth Skewis, also co-founder of Palace, said: “I want Manor Place to be somewhere safe and friendly where people can skate, play football and discover new things.”

It has even been backed by English footballer Lenna Gunning-Williams.

She said: “Manor Place is important for the next generation because it’s so accessible.

“It’s going to be a place where people can connect — and it’s not just for footballers, it’s for skaters and creatives too.” 

Another Victorian bathhouse in the UK is being turned into a new attraction as well.

Kings Hall in Clapton, previously called Hackney Public Bath is undergoing a £71million upgrade.

With a new swimming pool and sauna, it hopes to reopen by 2028.

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) — Farmers for Free Trade, a nonprofit group that advocates for lower tariffs and expanded global market access, wrapped up its “Motorcade for Trade” tour Tuesday in Washington to urge policymakers to ease trade tensions and support struggling producers.

Dozens of farmers joined at different points along the route to participate in town halls and farm stops, contributing to discussions on trade priorities, export markets and challenges.

The organization has prioritized five issues, including tariff reductions, exemptions for agricultural necessities, such as fertilizer and equipment, and a timely review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The caravan began Sept. 5 in Dorchester, Neb., with a cooperative event between farmers and Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb. The next three stops included sessions with Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, and Jim Baird, R-Ind.

Although the Farmers for Free Trade team did not live in its RV, the group named it Ruth after driving more than 2,800 miles with it, spending many hours inside planning and being interviewed with their furry companion, a dog named Huckleberry.

“It’s really about getting information from farmers throughout the Midwest to understand what impact the administration’s trade and tariff policies have had on individuals,” said Brent Bible, an Indiana grain farmer. “It’s had an individual impact, not just on producers, but on communities throughout rural America,”

The caravan made 10 stops — in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington.

“We hosted events throughout the Midwest — everything from meetings with members of Congress to farmer roundtables and tariff town halls,” said Brian Kuehl, the Farmers for Free Trade executive director.

Between the fourth and fifth stop, Kuehl said, it became increasingly difficult to set a schedule.

“Our No. 1 one priority was to meet with members of Congress, and a lot of times you wouldn’t know their schedule until a few days in advance. Then, in the middle of the tour, we had the government shutdown. A bunch of members we had events with canceled because they had to be in D.C.,” Kuehl said.

His team then pivoted to hosting listening sessions and trade talks with farmers, along with visiting the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin and various farms.

Despite some adjustments, Kuehl shared his team’s optimism for the tour.

“One of the things that’s so cool about agriculture is how diverse it is throughout the United States,” he said. “In the Midwest, you’re looking at soybean and corn farms. As we moved east, we saw more dairies and hog farms. We even visited a winery in Pennsylvania. Pretty much the trade disruptions are impacting them all negatively.”

In Indiana, Bible said, “Our input costs have gone up dramatically because of tariffs on imports — fertilizer, equipment, steel, aluminum. If we need a replacement part or a new tractor, all of those things are impacted. We’re getting squeezed at both ends, and when that happens, there’s nothing left in the middle.”

In Ohio, corn, soy and cattle farmer Chris Gibbs said, he’s felt that squeeze firsthand. After more than 40 years in agriculture, he described 2025 as “a cash flow and working capital crisis,” noting that he’s paying well above production costs for major crops.

“We’re about $200 per acre under the cost of production for corn and about $100 under for soybeans,” Gibbs said.

Because of the shutdown — now the longest in history — the U.S. Department of Agriculture “is essentially not functioning,” Gibbs said. “They normally release reporting information that the market relies on, but that hasn’t been occurring. Farmers are having to make major business decisions without the data we depend on.”

Gibbs added: “I’ve been farming almost 50 years, and I’m struggling, If I’m having to move money around just to stay afloat, what happens to the young farmers who don’t have savings yet? They’re hanging on by a thread.”

Farmers strategically planned the finale of their motorcade to be in Washington this week in alignment with the Supreme Court of the United States’ schedule. The high court plans to hear oral arguments Wednesday on whether the International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes President Donald Trump to impose tariffs to the extent he has.

“We’re in a commodity business,” Bible said. “If we have a truly free, functioning market, we can be competitive. But that hasn’t been the case. Prices have been artificially manipulated by policy decisions and retaliation from other countries.”

TUCKED away in 500 acres of woodland is an enormous climbing frame, that now doesn’t cost a penny to enter.

Called Hermit’s Hollow, it’s a play haven for kids with wooden bridges, walkways, treetop canopies and spiral slides.

Hermit’s Hollow is found at Coombe Abbey Park in Coventry and was built just two years ago in 2023.

Since its opening, families had been charged a £3.95 entry fee with visitors having to book tickets for a two hour slot online.

But the great news is that these fees have been scrapped from November 3, 2025 and entry is now completely free.

Hermit’s Hollow is an exciting place for kids to run about along the wooden walkways, tree towers, a tube slide and an accessible companion slide.

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There is also a small area for toddlers to explore.

The only bad news is that Hermit’s Cafe and on-site toilets which is located within the woodland playground will close.

It’s a popular spot for families, especially during the warmer weather with one mum writing on Tripadvisor that it’s the best place for a “perfect day out with the kids“.

Another said: “The walk is lovely not huge but the kids loved it, log walking, making dens, and they loved the woodland climbing.”

The climbing area is open between 10am until 4pm each day.

Aside from the climbing frame, there’s plenty to do in Coombe Abbey Park as it has plenty of woodland and lakeside walks as well as other activities, and even Go Ape.

The adventure chain is found within the grounds and there’s plenty to do from Treetop challenges, to axe throwing, archery, driving mini land rovers.

Or head closer to the huge Coombe Abbey Hotel where you can stroll around the pruned gardens and mazes.

Visitors can pop into Café in the Park at Coombe Abbey where they serve up breakfast offerings from the ‘Full Park Breakfast’.

There are as well as toasties, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, or main meals like fish and chips, chilli and there’s a dedicated kid’s menu.

Coventry itself has been labelled as an ‘underrated’ city in the UK, and it’s seeing an increase in the number of tourists.

Some of the biggest attractions there include The Wave in Coventry which is an enormous indoor waterpark with one of the biggest wave pools in the country.

It has six water slides, one being The Crestar, which has two giant spheres with lighting effects.

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The Cascade is another ride at the waterpark, as is The Torrent, which is a ride where the floor drops from beneath – and is arguably one of the scariest rides.

The Rapids, which has been described as the “Big Dipper on water”, is the park’s water coaster, where powerful jets hurl riders uphill before dropping them down through tight corners and tunnels.

One writer reveals what his stay at the Coombe Abbey Hotel was like…

Read on to hear what one writer made of this historic hotel…

Where is the Coombe Abbey Hotel?

On 500 acres of renowned beauty, this historic hotel is in Coventry situated in Coombe Abbey’s Country Park, just off the M6.

What is it like?

Next time somebody wants to send you to Coventry, stay at this complex, which dates back to 1150 and has links to royalty, the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII and the Gunpowder plot. Enjoy a view of the moat, the lake and the courtyard to the Capability Brown designed gardens, depending on where you are in the hotel.

What is there to do at the hotel?

The corridors and communal rooms are packed with artefacts, art, history and heritage, that are well worth exploring as you wander from bar to room to

restaurant, while the scenic lake, gardens and grounds are perfect for a stroll. 

Enjoy one of the many choices of afternoon tea, from Abbot’s Afternoon Tea to Sparkling Afternoon Tea as a post-walk treat. For kids, you can discover Go Ape in the woodlands.

What is there to eat and drink?

Unless you want to drive, you’d better eat here as it’s about a ten-minute walk to the edge of the grounds and some way beyond that to any restaurants. That being said, you really do want to eat here. The ambience is classy, the food is great, and the breakfast really sets you up for the day.

The dinner menu features meaty dishes of beef shin with fondant potato and confit duck leg with spiced braised cabbage, as well as vegan, vegetarian and fish options.

What are the rooms like?

The minimum standard in basic rooms is real quality and comfort, while the decor and design in the feature heritage rooms are charming and characterful. Rooms start from £149 a night based on two sharing.

Kyle Schwarber, 33, DH, 4.7, 19.9: Schwarber is a premier slugger with 187 home runs in four seasons with Philadelphia, where he also was an exceptional clubhouse leader. He is pretty much restricted to designated hitter and is approaching an age where offensive production might decline. He still merits a lucrative multi-year deal, although going longer than four years at a $30 million average annual value (AAV) might be inviting buyer’s remorse in 2030.

Kyle Tucker, 29, OF, 4.5, 27.3: Although his 2025 bWAR was lower than that of Bellinger and Schwarber, Tucker might have the highest sticker price in this free-agent class. The average of projections from 20 ESPN experts is 10 years and $391.5 million for a $38.8 million AAV. The Dodgers are considered a prime suitor because of their deep pockets and need for a productive corner outfielder.

Eugenio Suárez, 34, 3B, 3.6, 26.8: A drop of nearly one win above replacement from the top three free agents — Cody Bellinger, Schwarber and Tucker — still puts Suárez in an enviable position. Splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, Suarez tied a career high with 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs.

Alex Bregman, 32, 3B, 3.5, 43.1: Even though Bregman’s bWAR was slightly lower than that of Suárez, he should command a larger deal because he’s younger and more well-rounded. Bregman missed 44 games because of injury in his single season in Boston but still put up solid numbers. His average bWAR over his 10-year career is 4.3.

Trent Grisham, 29, OF, 3.5, 14.6: Grisham is an enigma, a first-round draft pick who blossomed with the Padres only to crater and bat under .200 three years in a row. But in 2025 he rebounded, swatting a career-high 34 home runs with the Yankees in 2025. Grisham also has two Gold Gloves in center field. Still, he’s a bit of a gamble.

Bo Bichette, 28, SS, 3.4, 20.8: Bichette showed his toughness by playing effectively in the World Series despite a lingering knee injury. Bichette can flat-out hit, accumulating more than 175 hits in four of the last five seasons with above-average power. He also plays a premium position and will turn only 28 in March, meaning he could command a contract exceeded only by that of Tucker.

Toronto Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette hits a three-run home run during Game 7 of the World Series, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto.

(Ashley Landis/AP)

Pete Alonso, 31, 1B, 3.4, 23.3: Alonso was disappointed by the tepid interest in him as a free agent last offseason, re-signing with the Mets on a one-year, $30-million deal with a player option. He’s expected to test the market again after once again posting the glittering power numbers that have made him a fan favorite in New York for seven years.

Josh Naylor, 28, 1B, 3.1, 8.4: The 5-foot-10, 235-pound left-handed slugger produced well in 2025 while splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, batting a career-high .295 and hitting precisely 20 home runs for the third time in five seasons.

Gleyber Torres, 29, 2B, 2.9, 18.7: Torres needed to restore his value after taking a one-year deal with the Tigers following a ho-hum 2024 season with the Yankees. He did so incrementally and should land a measured multi-year deal this time around.

J.T. Realmuto, 35, C, 2.6, 38.8: Realmuto is recognized as one of the top-hitting catchers in baseball, and he’s clearly the top free-agent backstop, proving in 2025 that he can still catch upward of 130 games while putting up solid offensive numbers. Still, he will be 35 on opening day and his .700 OPS was his lowest in a decade.

Jorge Polanco, 32, 2B, 2.6, 20.7: Polanco hit 26 home runs and posted an .821 OPS, the switch-hitter’s best season since 2021 when he hit 33 homers and drove in 98 runs. Chronic knee problems have put his shortstop days behind him and cut into his range at second or third base, but the bat still plays.

Mike Yastrzemski, 35, OF, 2.6, 16.8: Although the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski posted his best OPS (.839) since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he might be entertaining only contract offers of one year at $10 million or so.

Ryan O’Hearn, 31, 1B/DH, 2.4, 3.1: O’Hearn is an accomplished left-handed hitter coming off a season split between the Orioles and Padres. He can expect a large raise from the $3.5 million he made in 2025, perhaps tripling it.

Marcell Ozuna, 35, OF/DH, 1.6, 29.5: Ozuna is a proven power bat who has exceeded 20 home runs in nine seasons and led the NL with 18 homers and 56 RBIs in pandemic-shortened 2020. After tremendous 2023 and 2024 seasons in which he totaled 79 homers and 204 RBIs, Ozuna slipped in 2025, batting .232 with 21 home runs while battling hip pain.

Luis Arráez, 29, 1B, 1.3, 16.5: Arráez doesn’t get much love from bWAR or fWAR, but he sure can hit, leading all major leaguers with a .317 lifetime average. He led the NL with 181 hits in 2025, but because he doesn’t hit for power or walk much, his OPS was a pedestrian .719. The three-time batting champion should continue to be paid about $14 million a year, with the question becoming for how long.

Paul Goldschmidt, 38, 1B, 1.2, 63.8: Goldschmidt boasts the highest career bWAR of any free-agent hitter and he has made it clear that he is not ready to retire. His productivity, however, is trending downward, especially his power. With only 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 534 plate appearances with the Yankees last season, Goldschmidt is no longer an elite hitter.

Victor Caratini, 32, C, 0.9, 4.3: Catchers are at a premium in this free-agent class and Caratini is one of the few with a potent bat and ability to play more than 100 games in a season. He most recently delivered decently on a two-year, $12-million deal with the Astros and could land a similar contract because of the scarcity of backstops.

EVERY year an enormous – and free – parade takes place in London with floats and live bands – and something new is launching this year.

The Lord or Lady Mayor’s Show dates back to the 13^th century and is full of of celebratory entertainment, and this year is a very special one.

Dame Susan Langley DBE will be appointed as the Lady Mayor, which makes her only the third woman to hold the post in over 800 years, and the 697th Mayor of the City of London.

She will also be the first ever to be titled the ‘Lady Mayor of London‘.

To celebrate her inauguration, there will be a traditional parade of bands and 50 floats throughout the city.

Over 7,000 people take part in the event from all over the world – and the procession is over three miles long, which is longer than the actual route.

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The event is completely free and you’ll get to see marching bands, a huge Cinderella carriage, dancers, even a resorted Bluebird K7 (a hydroplane) will make an appearance.

There are representatives of all three armed forces there too, Taiko drummers and mounted knights.

This year, the Lady Mayor’s Show will be held on November Saturday 8, 2025 between 11AM and 2.30PM.

Roads will be closed as people line up in the streets to see the event underway – so don’t travel by car as you’ll meet lots of no entry signs.

In the morning, the Lady Mayor’s Show will begin at Mansion House and go towards the Royal Courts through St Paul’s.

In the afternoon, the parade will come back through Embankment and Victoria Street.

The official website suggests for a ‘full experience’, to watch the outward procession between 11AM and 12PM between Bank and St Paul’s.

For a quieter experience with fewer crowds, watch the parade on its return to Mansion House between 1.15PM and 2.30PM around Embankment.

Historically, the Lord Mayor’s Show is the oldest and longest civic procession in the world.

It started as early as the 13th century when King John granted that the City of London could appoint its own Mayor.

The condition being that each new Mayor would have to pledge loyalty to the Crown.

The journey then became a huge event that has been held for around 800 years and was eventually named the Lord Mayor’s Show.

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For more free events in London, check out the full list of London’s best Christmas lights and when they will be switched on this year.

Plus, is this England’s most beautiful Christmas market? The 100-stall festive event in the middle of a palace courtyard.

The age at which you can get a free bus pass can differ greatly depending on where you are based

People across the nation could be in line for additional assistance with their travel expenses, including a bus pass offering free or discounted journeys on local bus services. No matter where you reside in the UK, there is a plethora of schemes designed to make public transport more wallet-friendly, though not everyone will qualify.

Eligibility can vary greatly depending on your location within the UK. For instance, the age at which you can receive a free bus pass can differ significantly if you are located in England, Scotland, or Wales.

Most of the complimentary bus passes nationwide are primarily reserved for the elderly, especially after the government confirmed it will abandon a proposed trial of free bus passes for anyone under 22 in England. As per a BBC report, the government stated that there were no funds available to support the scheme during the current spending review period, which runs until 2028/29.

Continue reading for a comprehensive overview of all the available assistance.

England

In England, pensioners become eligible for a free bus pass when they hit the state pension age of 66, which applies to both men and women. So, if you were born in 1959, you will be able to get your hands on the free bus pass this year.

You can apply for this scheme through your local council under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, although the actual name of the bus pass may change depending on where you live.

When applying, you might be asked to provide a passport-style photo as well as a document proving your age and address. However, there is one city in England that has slightly different rules.

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London

Free travel on buses, tubes and other transport is available from the age of 60, but this is only within London. This can be accessed via the 60+ London Oyster photocard which also allows you to get free transport on Transport for London services anytime Monday to Friday, except between 4.30am and 9am.

Further details of free bus travel in England can be found here.

Scotland

In Scotland, once you hit 60, you can get your hands on a National Entitlement Card which gives you free bus travel all over Scotland. However, bear in mind that this Scottish concessionary travel only applies to registered local and long-distance bus services.

So, certain premium-fare services, tours, excursions and group hire services aren’t part of the deal. If you are also between the age of five and 21, you may also be eligible for a National Entitlement Card (NEC) which allows you to access the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme.

Further details on free bus travel for older people in Scotland can be found here.. Meanwhile, further details on free bus travel for younger people in Scotland can be found here.

Wales

Within Wales, you may be able to get free travel on buses if you are disabled, aged 60 or over, or an injured service personnel which you can apply for through Transport for Wales. While not free, people aged between 16 and 21 caaan apply for a MyTravelPass which allows them to get up to a third off the cost of bus travel in many circumstances.

Further details of this in Wales can be found here.

An underrated period drama based on one of the most influential books of all time is available to watch for free

Viewers shouldn’t miss out on this incredible four-part drama based on a classic novel, as it’s available to watch without spending a penny.

This breathtaking adaptation was originally aired in 2023 on ITV and PBS Masterpiece in the US and has developed a passionate cult following despite not receiving critical fanfare at the time.

Based on the novel by Henry Fielding, Tom Jones brings the seminal 1749 novel to life like never before with an ensemble cast of British legends.

William Tell’s Solly McLeod portrays the titular downtrodden hero, a young man with mysterious parentage who falls in love with his spirited neighbour Sophia Western (played by Sophie Wilde).

Sophie decides to flee her arranged marriage to be with Tom, but the pair are kept apart by a series of increasingly fraught misadventures.

They’re accompanied by some of the most recognisable names from the British screen, including Coronation Street’s Lucy Fallon, Harry Potter’s Shirley Henderson, New Tricks’ Alun Armstrong and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham.

Many viewers consider the drama an essential watch and it’s still currently available to stream for free on ITVX.

One 10/10 review from an IMDb user declared it “Gorgeous viewing with a top notch cast”.

They continued: “The cast list is like a who’s who of the cream of British talent, topped by two lovely and good looking leads.

“The episodes fair gallops on its way, cutting through the boring exposition and getting quickly to the important stuff, the love story between Tom and Sophia.”

The review continued to particularly praise Waddingham’s performance as Lady Bellaston, declaring “Seriously, put this woman in EVERYTHING”.

“If you get a chance, watch it in one go, it’s perfect lazy weekend viewing,” the reviewer concluded.

Another warned that fans of the book should expect some changes to the narrative, but admitted: “Even though the story is not like really really the one from the book is one pretty entertaining and very fun to watch. The choice of actors was really good and they did a great job.

“I really recommend for you to watch it if you want some light series combined with romance, a bit of jealousy and of course some British scenery.”

And a 9/10 review said: “This is what you want from English costume drama – and more. I really liked it.

“Fans of historical dramas and literary adaptations will find Tom Jones a must-watch, as it stays true to the spirit of the novel while making it accessible and enjoyable for modern audiences.”

In the mood for a cosy period romance with plenty of laughs and scenery-chewing performances from British greats? Look no further.

Tom Jones is available to stream on ITVX.

THE last major airport in the UK to allow free drop offs is set to scrap them completely.

London City Airport has said that it will bring in a fee for passenger drop offs “by the end of the year”.

According to bosses of the airport, the charge will help support sustainable transport goals.

The airport told The Independent: “The charge will help London City meet its wider sustainability goals by reducing the number of vehicles travelling to and from the airport, supporting efforts to lower congestion, reduce emissions and improve air quality in the surrounding area.”

Currently, 70 per cent of passengers at London City Airport use public transport to reach the airport – which includes the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

Only 10 per cent of passengers then arrive by car – and around 14 per cent use taxis, minicabs or Ubers.

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Whilst a date or cost for the new charge hasn’t been revealed yet, other airports in the UK have fees of £6 to £7.

Blue badge holders will be exempt from the charge.

Rod Dennis, the RAC‘s senior policy advisor, added that for drivers this will be an “unwelcome watershed moment”.

He added: “Compared to many, London City has excellent public transport connections so arguably most people dropping off are only those that really need to.”

He also explained that this isn’t the usual practice elsewhere in Europe, with eight of the top 10 European airports still allowing drivers to drop off travellers for free.

Airports that have introduced a fee usually have a designated area to drop off passengers.

And they also normally have other ways of getting into the airport where you aren’t charged.

For example, via taking a shuttle bus or using walkways to get to the terminal.

However, this might not be introduced at London City Airport as there is limited space.

In terms of other London airports, Heathrow introduced a drop off fee of £6 back in 2021.

London Gatwick Airport also introduced its fee in 2021, but in comparison, it costs £7 for 10 minutes and then an additional £1 for each minute thereafter, up to 20 minutes.

The maximum daily charge is £27.

In 2009, London Luton Airport introduced a similar process with the first 10 minutes costing £7 and then each minute thereafter being an additional £1.

There is a maximum stay of 30 minutes.

London Stansted Airport introduced its fee in 2012 and drivers pay £7 for 15 minutes, or £25 for drop offs over 15 minutes.

Southend Airport was the latest airport to introduce a fee which took place over the summer and costs £7.

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In other airport news, Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey’s local airport was recently named the best in the UK – it beats London Heathrow and City by miles.

Plus, these are the best and worst airports in the UK – with a regional airport coming in number one.

The budget airline has announced a new upgrade option for fliers who’d like more space, which it claims will still be cheaper than buying two seats and will come with some extra perks

When you fly on a budget airline, every inch of space counts, and now Wizz Air is offering the ultimate upgrade for those who want to stretch out.

We all know the excitement of boarding a plane only to find the seat next to you empty, and now passengers can guarantee they won’t have a fellow traveller crammed in next to them. When booking with Wizz Air from December, passengers will be able to upgrade to Wizz Class, which will leave the middle seat next to them free.

While the change is being dubbed ‘budget business class’, travellers shouldn’t expect lie-flat beds, free champagne, or a separate cabin to escape the chaos of economy class. In addition to the extra middle seat space, the only other perks will be a seat towards the front of the plane, allowing you to disembark first, as well as priority access to the overhead bins.

Wizz Air hasn’t confirmed how much this new seating option will cost, although Bloomberg reports that executive Michael Delehant said: “In terms of fares, it’s never going to be more than buying the cost of another seat. It’s not meant to be a money-grab.”

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In a statement to the Independent, Silvia Mosquera, the commercial officer at Wizz Air, explained: “The roll-out of Wizz Class follows feedback from our growing number of business travellers who value low-cost travel options and prefer additional space during the flight”.

Currently, Wizz Air passengers can pay to select their seat when flying, with complimentary seat selection available to Wizz Plus and Privilege Pass members. However, the only real upgrade available is choosing the front seats or exit rows, which come with additional legroom.

The new seating option will appear on selected flights departing from London, Rome, Warsaw, Bucharest and Budapest in December.

Wizz Air also recently announced the return of the All You Can Fly membership, which for €499.99 (approx. £440.37) offers access to numerous flights per year, with a booking fee of €9.99 (approx. £8.80) per booking. According to the company’s press release, members who’ve previously taken out a subscription used it on average nine times in a year. People who sign up can fly on over 950 routes across their network, with destinations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Members can book flights between 72 hours and three hours before departure, making it ideal for people who enjoy spontaneous adventures. However, only 10,000 memberships are available each year.

However, reviews of the product have been mixed. In a Reddit post, one customer claimed: “I recently bought Wizz Air’s “All You Can Fly” pass, thinking it would be an amazing deal to travel more affordably. But honestly, this has been one of my worst decisions.

“The “unlimited” flights feel like a joke because there’s almost never any availability! When there is, it’s typically for routes that would have cost around £20 anyway.

“The whole thing feels like it’s set up to make it nearly impossible to use, especially with their 3-day rule. You can only book flights 3 days in advance, which just seems designed to trap you into buying a return ticket separately.”

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But another poster had a more positive experience, saying: “I’ve had 20 flights with Wizz Air from Budapest. They offer a lot of flights from Budapest so its a good start. Sometimes the availability was very good (for example, I could fly to Tenerife in Christmas time when the round trip was around 1000 €).

“I’ve had a flight to Eindhoven in Eastern period when the flight would have been almost 500 €. So it could be a good deal if you don’t have fixed dates and you fly alone.”

Announcing the move, staff at the outlet said ‘authoritarian regimes are already celebrating’ its potential demise.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) will shut down its news operations on Friday, citing the government-funded news outlet’s dire financial situation caused by funding cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration and the ongoing US government shutdown.

Bay Fang, RFA’s president and CEO, said in a statement that “uncertainty about our budgetary future” means that the outlet has been “forced to suspend all remaining news content production”.

“In an effort to conserve limited resources on hand and preserve the possibility of restarting operations should consistent funding become available, RFA is taking further steps to responsibly shrink its already reduced footprint,” she said on Wednesday.

Fang added that RFA would begin closing its overseas bureaus and would formally lay off and pay severance to furloughed staff. She said many staff members have been on unpaid leave since March, “when the US Agency for Global Media [USAGM] unlawfully terminated RFA’s Congressionally appropriated grant”.

On March 14, Trump signed an executive order effectively eliminating USAGM, an independent US government agency created in the mid-1990s to broadcast news and information to regions with poor press freedom records.

Alongside RFA, USAGM also hosts sister publications Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE) and Voice of America (VOA).

Following March’s executive order, RFA was forced to put three-quarters of its US-based employees on unpaid leave and terminate most of its overseas contractors.

Another round of mass layoffs followed in May, along with the termination of several RFA language services, including Tibetan, Burmese and Uighur.

Mass layoffs also took place at VOA in March when Trump signed another executive order placing nearly all 1,400 staff at the outlet – which he described as a “total left-wing disaster” – on paid leave. It has operated on a limited basis since then.

Trump has said operations like RFA, RFE/Radio Liberty and VOA are a waste of government resources and accused them of being biased against his administration.

Since its founding in 1996, RFA has reported on Asia’s most repressive regimes, providing English- and local-language online and broadcast services to citizens of authoritarian governments across the region.

Its flagship projects include its Uighur service – the world’s only independent Uyghur-language outlet, covering the repressed ethnic group in western China – as well as its North Korea service, which reports on events inside the hermit state.

An announcement penned by RFA executive editor Rosa Hwang, published on the outlet’s website on Wednesday, said, “Make no mistake, authoritarian regimes are already celebrating RFA’s potential demise.”

“Independent journalism is at the core of RFA. For the first time since RFA’s inception almost 30 years ago, that voice is at risk,” Hwang said.

“We still believe in the urgency of that mission – and in the resilience of our extraordinary journalists. Once our funding returns, so will we,” she added.

RFE/Radio Liberty, which went through its own round of furloughs earlier this year, said this week that it received its last round of federal funding in September and its news services are continuing for now.

“We plan to continue reaching our audiences for the foreseeable future,” it said.

It’s not immediately clear why RFA and RFE/Radio Liberty – which share the same governing and funding structure, but are based in the US and Europe, respectively – are taking different approaches.

It’s time to resume your island getaway — and possibly incur more virtual debt. (We see you, Tom Nook.)

Nintendo announced Thursday that its cozy social sim “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is getting a Switch 2 upgrade. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition,” which will offer improved visuals, mouse controls, an in-game megaphone that uses the console’s built-in microphone and multiplayer enhancements, will be released Jan. 15.

In addition to allowing players to experience the game in 4K when playing on their TV, the upgraded edition of “New Horizons” will enable them to utilize the mouse controls on the Joy-Con 2 controller when redecorating their homes, creating custom designs and writing messages on the bulletin board.

The megaphone, which will be available at Nook’s Cranny, can be used to locate fellow villagers by calling out their names. “New Horizons” players also will be able to play online with up to 12 other Switch 2 edition players and use a webcam.

A free update for all “Animal Crossings: New Horizons” players, regardless of console, will also be available Jan. 15. This will include access to a new resort opening on the pier, which will allow players to decorate guest rooms and purchase new items at a souvenir shop. The update will also see the “Animal Crossing” world’s familiar grumpy mole, Resetti, offering a “reset service” to clean up a player’s island.

Other offerings include the option for players to upgrade their home storage to hold up to 9,000 items — including trees, shrubs and flowers — and the ability for Nintendo Switch Online members to design and save up to three islands that they can collaborate on with friends online. New Nintendo-themed goods, including playable classic Nintendo console games, and Lego items also will be available within the game through the update.

Released in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch console, “Animal Crossing: New Horizon” became a balm during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering players a way to connect and be social during quarantine and uncertain times. The fifth main installment of the “Animal Crossing” franchise would go on to become one of the best-selling Switch games ever.

AS the car turned, there it was – a towering island next to an isolated and ruined castle, emerging from the water – it truly was a real-life Neverland.

Located in the Inner Hebrides in Scotland is a tiny island with a population of just nine people.

Known as Eilean Shona, this tidal island is completely car-free and was the inspiration behind J.M Barrie’s creation of Neverland in Peter Pan.

As my boat approached the shores of the island, it was obvious why.

Towering green trees and serene still waters were both welcoming and peaceful.

Once I reached the island, the soft soil, earthy smells, chimes of birds and light breaking through the trees made it feel magical.

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The island is littered with a number of houses and cabins for visitors to stay in – for my stay, I was in the main manor house.

Stepping inside, I found myself in a Traitors-like castle, decked out with tartan features, roaring fireplaces and cosy corners with well-read books.

The feeling of being somewhere else continued when I found my room – a plush bed stood proud in the centre, and old-style windows looked out onto fresh green grass just as if I was in my own magical bubble.

The main house sleeps up to 18 people and inside has a number of spaces including nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, a dining room, library with a full-size billiards table, a drawing room, and a large kitchen.

Guests can either book the house as catered or self-catered, and for prices, you will need to contact the island (though split between 18 people it wouldn’t work out too expensive per night).

Whilst there isn’t much to do on the island, it is the perfect retreat away from the modern world and the stresses of day to day life.

Thanks to there being no shops, no restaurants and patchy phone signal, it really helps you disconnect from your mobile (and consequently social media).

This particularly hit me when I ran a bath, and the water ran yellow-brown.

Initially, I was disgusted, thinking it was dirt, and reached for my phone to do a quick Google search.

But I stopped myself.

Instead, I embraced it and later asked one of my hosts why it was that colour.

Turns out the water is in fact so clean – cleaner than most places in the UK – and the colour comes from the peat found in the surrounding landscape.

I was told it is perfectly safe to drink and bathe in, and in fact carries minerals that are good for you.

One of the activities to do on the island that is well worth experiencing, though, is taking a cold water plunge or swim – the scenery is stunning and the water is serenely calm.

Heading off the pier, I floated for a few minutes in the water, taking in the smell of the fresh, earthy air and noting the silence around me.

For those who aren’t too fond of a cold dip or want to warm up quickly afterwards, there is also a sauna near the water’s edge.

During the evening, I headed to the Village Hall, which is the island’s social hub.

Here you can enjoy a weekly pub night, table tennis, wildlife books and board games.

After enjoying my dinner, I snuggled up to the fire cocktail made from a Sapling Spirits – a climate-positive vodka brand that first started on the island.

For each bottle sold, the brand plants a tree, something I even got to do with my own tree sapling – perhaps it will be used by the Lost Boys to find their way home.

Obviously, the island has an endless amount of walks you can take, and a couple of mine included heading to the summit and to the opposite side of the island where I found Shoe Bay, with a white sand beach and crystal clear waters.

For guests who want to venture around the island’s shores, there are kayaks, canoes and paddleboards available for hire.

And whilst exploring the island, make sure to keep an eye out for wildlife as birds of prey often circle overhead.

In less than 24 hours I had completely fallen in love with the island.

It really did feel like Neverland for adults wanting to escape the modern world and I cannot wait to go back.

There are a few ways to get to the island, including via the Caledonian Sleeper to Fort William.

From there, Eilean Shona is about an hour’s drive or in a taxi.

Alternatively, you could fly to Glasgow Airport, then hire a car and make the three-hour trip to Eilean Shona.

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China and 11-member regional bloc sign an upgraded version of their free trade pact, as both weather the impact of the US tariffs.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have upgraded their free trade agreement as trade between the two regions continues to rise in the shadow of United States President Donald Trump’s trade war.

The trade pact was signed on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, in a ceremony witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The “3.0 version” of the deal will broaden collaboration on “infrastructure, digital and green transition, trade facilitation and people-to-people exchanges”, according to China’s State Council. It builds on the region’s first free trade pact with China, which came into force in 2010.

The 11-member ASEAN and China have become each other’s largest trade partners in recent years, thanks to the China Plus One supply chain that emerged after Trump’s trade war with China in 2018.

Trade between China and ASEAN has already hit $785bn in the nine months of 2025, up 9.6 percent year-on-year. Much of this trade reflects integrated manufacturing supply chains, but it also increasingly includes finished goods from China that are destined for Southeast Asian consumers.

In his remarks to the ASEAN summit on Tuesday, Li praised China and the bloc’s deepening trade relationship, and spoke of his expectation for “expanded and higher-quality economic cooperation” under the upgraded trade pact.

“Cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, trade volume continues to grow steadily, and ASEAN governments have promoted even closer people-to-people exchanges,” he said.

Zhiwu Chen, a professor of finance at the University of Hong Kong, told Al Jazeera that the “3.0” trade pact comes at a time when China is trying to shore up its relationship with ASEAN.

“This is very important for China, as its trade tensions with the US and EU have been rising, and China needs ASEAN countries. At the same time, this is a time for ASEAN to take advantage of the window of opportunities precisely for the same reason,” he said, describing the deal as a “win-win outcome for both sides”.

In his remarks, Li also took aim at Trump’s tariffs, which have disrupted global trade, and marked the most protectionist policy pursued by the US government since the 1930s.

“Unilateralism and protectionism have seriously disrupted the global economic and trade order. External forces are increasingly interfering in our region, and many countries have been unfairly subjected to high tariffs,” Li said.

The US president also attended the ASEAN summit on Sunday, and is due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this week.

While at ASEAN, Trump signed trade deals with Cambodia and Malaysia, as well as framework agreements with Thailand and Vietnam, highlighting his preference for bilateral trade deals hammered out in one-on-one discussions.

The deals appeared to finalise Trump’s “reciprocal tariff” rate on the four countries, which were set earlier this year at 19 to 20 percent.

Tariffs and trade barriers are also expected to headline Trump’s meeting with Xi, after US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent announced that the two sides had reached a “framework agreement” on tariffs this week.

Earlier this month, Trump had threatened to impose a tariff of 100 percent on Chinese goods by November 1, after China strengthened export controls on rare earth minerals. Bessent said the framework agreement should help both sides “avoid” a tariff hike, according to Reuters.

Paying for the extra fees on a flight is a big no-no, but former check-in agent Ashley Bautista revealed this one travel hack that will guarantee a seat charge at no extra cost

When it comes to travelling for long hours, especially on a plane, comfort is the number one priority to start the holiday on the right foot.

The first challenge comes whilst booking your ticket. Airlines charge for almost everything, including seat selection – and there’s nothing worse than being stuck in the middle seat, or at the back of the plane away from your family and friends, especially on a long-haul flight.

As a former check-in agent at one of the world’s busiest airports, Ashley Bautista revealed what you can do instead to get your seat changed at no extra cost – and it works almost every time.

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Everyone has a preferred seat, whether it’s the window to take pictures of the sky, the emergency exit row for extra legroom, or the back of the plane to be close to the toilet. For that reason, airlines then began to implement charges for passengers to reserve their seats. The other option is to deal with your allocated seat, which is given based on the weight and balance of the aircraft.

According to MSE, a few airlines allow passengers to select their seats free of charge as soon as they book their flight. For example, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways do this, with some exceptions. Virgin Atlantic also allows passengers to choose their own seat once check-in opens, and British Airways allows those with checked luggage.

If you’re travelling with a big group, the seat allocation system will always try to seat groups on the same booking together. However, if the bookings are, that’s a whole different story. But don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world.

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Ashley’s advice is to head to the airport check-in counter as soon as it opens, and politely ask the agent if there are any seats together available. Unless the flight is completely full, most of the time, the agent will put you together with the person you’re travelling with.

Another secret is that even if the flight appears to be full, airlines often don’t manage to sell their pricier extra-legroom seats or emergency rows. In fact, some airlines keep them empty and assign them to random passengers. So, it never hurts to ask for a seat upgrade.

Of course, there are no guarantees and on some occasions, you will have to wait until check-in closes or all passengers are seated. Then, you can move around as you wish, as long as you’re not causing a disturbance to other passengers on board.

A private Scottish estate is looking to hire a couple on a long-term basis who will support the smooth running of the estate, which includes a seven-bed main property

A “special opportunity” for a couple to relocate to a private Scottish estate for work has come up. Included with the positions is a three-bedroom cottage.

An estate in rural Dumfriesshire is currently looking to hire two people on a long-term basis. The successful couple will support the smooth running of the “beautifully restored” estate in the south of Scotland.

The salary for the positions is listed as between £70,000 and £80,000 on the Greycoats Lumleys job listing. As well as the “private” three-bedroom cottage, the accommodation includes council tax and firewood.

One half of the couple will serve as the estate’s housekeeper, overseeing a seven-bed main residence plus several guest properties. The other partner will work as a handyperson, taking charge of the estate’s upkeep and maintenance.

Core duties for the housekeeper include cleaning, laundry, ironing, and wardrobe management, alongside maintaining household inventories and shopping responsibilities. They’ll also handle household supplies and coordinate with estate contractors, whilst caring for antiques, fine furnishings, and delicate finishes.

The housekeeper will also assist with entertaining guests and their arrivals, plus handle light cooking and meal preparation. Overall, they’ll be expected to establish and maintain a serene, well-organised, environmentally conscious, and efficiently managed household.

Meanwhile, the handyperson will handle general upkeep and care for all properties both indoors and outdoors. Duties will encompass pressure washing sandstone terraces and pathways, coordinating tradespeople and overseeing repairs and timetables, plus supporting security and the seamless daily running of the estate.

The handyperson will also need to provide driving and errand assistance, alongside inspecting all estate properties—including one situated a 15-minute drive away. Additionally, they’ll be expected to maintain a swimming pond and building.

Candidates applying for these roles should possess prior experience in comparable positions, plus hold a full UK driving licence and solid references. Further sought-after qualities include “a good understanding of privacy and discretion”, adaptability to work evenings and weekends, and contentment working in a rural countryside environment.

The job advert reads: “Greycoat Lumley’s client are seeking a kind, capable, and discreet Domestic Couple to support the smooth running of a beautifully restored Private Estate in rural Dumfriesshire. The previous housekeeper was in post for seven years prior to the building work.

“There is a seven bed principal property and further ancillary guest properties. Full details are available on application.

“This is a long-term opportunity for a professional Couple who bring warmth, initiative, and pride to their work and who value the rhythm of life in the countryside. You’ll be joining a supportive, established estate team, and caring for a home with beautiful interiors set in a stunning garden.

“Willingness to work flexible hours is essential as this is a second home and there are consequently periods of intense activity balanced by quieter spells.”

The Greycoat Lumleys website adds: “This is a special opportunity to join a thoughtful and well-supported household where your contribution will be genuinely appreciated. The right couple will enjoy the peace and beauty of the locality while helping to maintain a beloved family home.”

According to the job advert, the positions are set to begin in February 2026. For further information about the roles, visit the Greycoat Lumleys website.

Oct. 20 (UPI) — Police in Nigeria broke up several protests calling for a separatist leader who has been detained for more than four years to be freed and cleared of terrorism-related charges on which he has been held.

Protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist party, had tear gas fired at them by police in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, according to reports.

Witnesses said they saw police officers block major roads in Abuja and fire multiple rounds of tear gas at protesters who had gathered near the Transcorps Hilton Hotel in order to break up the protest.

Ahead of Monday’s protest, Nigeria Police Force spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin announced a nationwide security alert urging the protesters to avoid inciting violence, carrying weapons or engaging in other illegal acts.

“The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining public peace in accordance with constitutional provisions,” Hundeyin said in a statement.

“All groups, whether in support of or opposed to the ongoing agitation for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, are expected to comply strictly with the provisions of the court order” authorizing the protest, he said.

Kanu has been held since 2021 on charges of terrorism, which followed Nigeria outlawing the IPOB, whose goal is to establish a separate state of Biafra for the Igbo people.

In 2022, Kanu was discharged and acquitted but the ruling was overturned in 2022 and he has remained jailed ever since.

Monday’s protest was organized by Omoyele Sowore, who publishes the Saraha Reporters news website and has long sought Kanu’s release.

Sowore reported on X that at least 13 people had been arrested and detained during the initial protest, which was relocated to the nearby federal capital territory police command “where the police responded by attacking us right in front of the command.”

Among those arrested during the protest were members of Kanu’s family and his lawyers, Sowore said.