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A MASKED man who gassed trams with a highly flammable vapour in a UK city centre has pleaded guilty.

Ghalib Saeed, 31, let off butane gas inside Manchester Metrolink tram carriages on three “disturbing” occasions on March 15, 20 and 22.

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Passengers on the trams reported hearing a “hissing sound” and seeing a man clad in a terrifying gas mask during the attacks.

A number of commuters complained they felt dizzy after the incidents but thankfully no injuries were reported.

Witnesses reported seeing Saeed board the trams with a gas mask covering his mouth and nose.

Passengers would then hear a hissing sound as he emptied gas canisters in the carriages.

People then reported a strong smell of gas filling the trams and said they developed “headaches” and were left feeling “dizzy” during the incidents.

Several reports were made to the police and Saeed was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of causing a public nuisance at the eleventh hour today.

He changed his plea just before a trial at Manchester Crown Court was due to go ahead today.

During a court appearance in April prosecution counsel Neil Fryman said: “The Crown says it’s very disturbing behaviour, a lot of people were affected on a number of occasions.”

Saeed was warned by the judge that the starting point for an offence of this nature is a prison sentence.

The case has been adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be written up.

Judge Elizabeth Nicholls warned Saeed that “all sentencing options will remain open.”

Saeed has been remanded in custody and is due to return to court to learn his fate in November.

At the time of the bizarre incidents Transport for Greater Manchester said: “We are aware of these incidents on Metrolink and are assisting Greater Manchester Police with their enquiries at this time.

“The safety of our Passengers and staff is a core priority – everyone has the right to feel safe and be safe across the Bee Network.”

At the time of Saeed’s arrest Detective Chief Inspector Paddy Connell, from GMPs City of Manchester Division, said: “We fully appreciate that incidents of this nature can cause concern in our communities, but I want to reassure the public that we do not believe there is any wider threat present.

“We have now secured the arrest of a man and are working hard to establish the full circumstances of the events that have been reported over recent days.

“As officers continue to work their way through all the evidence available, we are asking anyone who has any information to please come forward.

“This includes anyone who believes they have witnessed something suspicious, or similar to the incidents that we are dealing with.

“Our transport hubs are operating as usual, and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to speak to a police officer, who will be more than happy to discuss any queries you may have.”

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The new plan follows a proclamation on Friday requiring a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications.

The White House has released a proposal that would rework the H-1B visa selection process to favour higher-skilled and better-paid workers, according to a Federal Register notice.

The new proposal released on Tuesday followed a White House proclamation on Friday introducing a $100,000 fee for the visas.

The new process, if finalised, would give heavier weight to applications by employers who pay high wages if annual requests for the visas exceed the statutory limit of 85,000, the notice said. The move aims to better protect US workers from unfair wage competition from foreign workers, it said.

United States President Donald Trump launched a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after taking office in January, including a push for mass deportations and trying to block citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants born in the US. In recent days, his administration has intensified its focus on the H-1B programme, popular with technology and outsourcing companies for hiring skilled foreign workers.

The administration said on Friday that it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for each H-1B visa. Some big tech companies warned visa holders to stay in the US or quickly return, sparking a chaotic scramble to get back to the US. The White House later clarified the fee would apply only to new visas.

On Wall Street, tech company stocks have not responded well to the looming changes. Shares in Amazon, which sponsors the most H-1B visas of any company, have tumbled by almost 5 percent over the past five days.

The planned regulation posted on Tuesday would change an existing lottery process to obtain the visas if demand surpasses supply in a given year, creating wage tiers through which higher-paying jobs would have a better chance of being selected.

The process to finalise a regulation can take months or even years. The notice suggested that the new rules could be in place for the 2026 lottery, meaning before a March registration period.

The total wages paid to H-1B workers were expected to increase to $502m in fiscal year 2026, which begins on October 1, the notice said, citing US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates.

Those wages would increase by $1bn in fiscal 2027, $1.5bn in fiscal 2028 and $2bn in fiscal 2029-2035, it said.

An estimated 5,200 small businesses that currently receive H-1B visas would suffer a significant economic impact due to loss of labour, DHS said.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which issued the proposal, will give the public 30 days to comment starting on Wednesday, the notice said.

Slowing job market

The heightened requirements were proposed as a new AP-NORC poll was released that suggested about six in 10 US adults think companies see a major benefit from immigrants entering the US workforce, up from four in 10 in March 2024.

According to the poll, 51 percent of US adults said a “major” benefit of legal immigration is that US companies get the expertise of skilled workers in fields like science and technology.

The new proposal comes as job growth stalls in the US.

In August, the economy added only 22,000 jobs, according to the most recent jobs report released by the Department of Labor.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell cited Trump’s hardline immigration policy as a reason for a slowdown in the jobs market and part of the central bank’s rationale for cutting interest rates by 25 basis points last week, the first cut since December.

The country tops the list for travellers looking for top-quality healthcare abroad, with an overall healthcare score of 78.72. The UK didn’t make the top 10 and ranked 27th out of 110.

Almost half of Brits are planning a winter getaway, with one in six jetting off to Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, according to Scott Dunn Travel. However, health concerns while abroad are a worry for some holidaymakers.

New research from 1st Move International Removals has delved into healthcare options overseas. The study evaluated factors such as medicine availability and cost, government readiness, and medical infrastructure and professionals.

Shockingly, the UK didn’t even make it into the top 10, coming in at 27th out of 110 countries. The UK scored 47.15 out of 100 on the Healthcare Index, but did best in the Medical Infrastructure and Professionals category with 78.03, reports the Express.

So, which country offers the best healthcare for travellers?

Taiwan takes the top spot for those seeking high-quality healthcare abroad, boasting an overall score of 78.72.

With an impressive infrastructure rating of 87.16, Taiwan’s efficient medical system ensures easy access to top professionals and facilities. Its highly praised National Health Insurance (NHI) system caters to both nationals and expats, making Taiwan an ideal destination for health-conscious travellers.

South Korea takes the second spot, providing peace of mind for tourists with a robust healthcare score of 77.7. Renowned for its state-of-the-art hospitals and skilled staff, South Korea’s infrastructure scores 79.05, ensuring dependable care for visitors.

The nation’s healthcare system, which operates on a national health insurance model, also benefits expats who are eligible to enrol after six months.

Australia ranks third, offering reliable healthcare to tourists with an overall score of 74.11. With an infrastructure rating of 90.75, the country boasts some of the world’s top hospitals and professionals.

Australia offers comprehensive medical coverage for its residents through Medicare, including GP appointments and hospital visits. For expats, a two percent Medicare Levy is applicable.

Here are the top 10 countries offering the best healthcare for travellers:

1. Taiwan – 78.72

2. South Korea – 77.7

3. Australia – 74.11

4. Canada- 71.32

5. Sweden – 70.73

6. Ireland – 67.99

7. Netherlands – 65.38

8. Germany – 64.66

9. Norway – 64.63

10. Israel – 61.73

My 8-year-old daughter hates sand in her shoes, but loves to play in the sand. She doesn’t like very loud environments, but enjoys thrill rides at amusement parks. She gets uncomfortable when the playground is too full, but loves to make friends. She wants to explore new places, but often needs to take breaks. And she needs to feel safe expressing and processing her emotions — whether that means crying or crying out — without being stared at or feeling judged.

As you can see, my daughter has particular sensory needs that some may call a “sensory diet.” When she was 3, I realized she is a Highly Sensitive Child. HSC is not a diagnosis or a disorder— rather, it’s a personality trait defined by psychologist Elaine Aron in her 1996 book “The Highly Sensitive Person.” Most people think “sensitive” means emotional, but that’s not the case here. “Sensitive” refers to our senses. In their book “Raising a Sensory Smart Child,” Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske explain that when it comes to our understanding of sensory experiences, there are seven: the five we’re all familiar with — taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing — along with proprioception (knowing how one’s body moves) and vestibular (how one feels their body in space).

HSCs and neurodivergent kids with autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, ADHD or other neurodivergent conditions have something in common: differing sensory needs.

An occupational therapist can prescribe a sensory diet as treatment for kids who need help calming down or being alert — in other words, to help them self-regulate. Finding or creating the right atmosphere also takes some trial and error from parents and caregivers.

I, too, am Highly Sensitive and have been mining L.A. County for play environments that are well suited for my daughter and perhaps other kids with similar sensory needs. I’ve learned the hard way that the usual loud, crowded bouncy house birthday party isn’t fun for everyone, and that’s OK. Luckily, Los Angeles has plenty of play spaces that are intentional about being inclusive to all kids.

In my experience, the best play places include a quiet room or an area for kids and their parents to be alone or separate if they need an escape. Some provide sensory bags from KultureCity, a nonprofit focused on sensory inclusion. These bags include noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys and a nose plug to help the experience. Many places offer a social narrative or story online — with pictures of what happens and where they will be — so kids know what to expect. Some have specific “sensory hours” when the lights are dimmed and the number of guests is limited. All of these inclusive spots invite kids to use their senses — to touch, feel, see, hear, sense, taste, smell or move.

Here are 10 great play places around L.A. for highly sensitive and neurodivergent kids. For each place, I’ve noted whether it’s suited well for neurodivergent kids or highly sensitive kids, or both.

Of course, the best play space isn’t some magical destination, and you don’t need a ticket for it. It’s a space where kids don’t feel judged because of their actions or reactions. It’s a space that gives them the comfort of being accepted, no matter what. You can provide your child with that space wherever you go.

IKEA fans won’t have to wait much longer — the Swedish giant’s long-awaited new store will open its doors in just 48 hours.

The brand-new branch, located in Brighton’s Churchill Square Shopping Centre, takes over the former Debenhams site which has been empty since 2021.

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Shoppers will be able to step inside from 10am on Thursday, August 14 , to explore thousands of affordable homeware items, and tuck into the famous meatballs.

Spread across two floors and 6,695 square metres, the store will offer 2,600 products for immediate takeaway and access to the full 12,000-strong range via delivery or collection.

It’s the first full IKEA store in the city, meaning Brighton locals will no longer need to trek to Croydon or Southampton for the full shopping experience.

Bosses say the new shop has been created with the “city at its heart”, with displays inspired by local homes and Brighton’s seaside style.

Six roomsets have been co-created with residents, including ceramicists Adam Johnson and Dan Mackey, to show off colourful, space-saving ideas and a nod to the city’s famous beach huts.

Adam said: “We’ve always loved IKEA because it’s like an interiors disco – and what’s life without a little sparkle?”

The first floor houses a 100-seat Swedish Deli serving meatballs, plantballs and sweet treats, all with sweeping sea views.

The Swedish Food Market will sell ingredients and snacks to enjoy at home.

On the ground floor, bargain hunters can snap up pre-loved and discontinued items in the Re-shop & Re-use area.

There’s also a home planning hub where shoppers can get one-to-one help designing kitchens or bedroom storage.

Quick bites and drinks will be available at the Swedish Bite kiosk.

Market Manager Karina Gilpin said: “Our city centre location in Churchill Square means customers can conveniently drop in while out and about, to seek inspiration for their homes, browse our range, access our expert planning advice, or enjoy our delicious meatballs or plantballs.”

To celebrate the launch, the first 100 IKEA Family Members through the doors will get a blue FRAKTA bag with a mystery gift card worth between £1 and £1,000.

Brighton will be IKEA’s third city-centre store in the UK, following Oxford Street and Hammersmith in London.

The opening is part of the retailer’s push for smaller, high street-friendly locations, moving away from giant out-of-town warehouses.

The Churchill Square store will open 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

Where is my closest Ikea?

A quick way of figuring out if you have an Ikea store near you is by using the retailer’s locator tool on its website.

You just have to enter the town or city where you live, or your postcode and it will pull up the nearest site.

The same page has a helpful map showing where all of the 21 current stores are located.

Below we reveal the full list of Ikea stores in the UK:

• Croydon
• Hammersmith
• Greenwich
• Lakeside
• Wembley
• Birmingham (Wednesbury)
• Nottingham
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Exeter
• Belfast
• Manchester
• Warrington
• Edinburgh
• Gateshead
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Sheffield
• Milton Keynes
• Reading
• Southampton

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Chipmaker Intel is the latest tech company facing political pressure from President Trump.

On Thursday, Trump called for the immediate resignation of Intel Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan, who took the helm in March to turn around the beleaguered chipmaker.

“The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem. Thank you for your attention to this problem!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Trump didn’t say what the conflicts were in his post, but his remarks came after Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) sent a letter to Intel’s board, expressing national security concerns about Tan’s reported ties to Chinese companies. Cotton cited a report from Reuters that said Tan has invested in more than 600 Chinese firms and some of them have links to the country’s military.

Trump’s call for Tan’s resignation adds to a list of issues Intel already has to deal with.

The 57-year-old tech company, once the most valuable U.S. chipmaker, is trying to keep up as the race to dominate artificial intelligence escalates. The Santa Clara, Calif., company has been losing money and has seen its stock plunge while it falls behind rivals such as Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.

As of Thursday morning, Intel’s share price was down 2% to $19.92. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump said Wednesday during an event in which Apple announced an additional $100-billion investment in the United States that he plans to place a tariff on semiconductors, but that there won’t be a charge for companies building in the United States.

While he praised companies such as Apple and Nvidia, he criticized Intel.

“Intel was just taken over the coals. They were taken to the cleaners, frankly, and moved to other places, in particular Taiwan,” Trump said at the event.

Intel, known for making the “brains” that power computers, has been investing heavily in its foundry business, taking on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which makes chips for companies including Apple and Nvidia. During the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Intel roughly $8 billion to support manufacturing and advanced packaging projects in the United States.

Warnings have been issued ahead of many summer holidays

Brits planning a summer getaway to Portugal are being cautioned that the country is entering a period of heightened environmental risk. The Foreign Office has issued a warning, as Portugal faces an increased threat of wildfires from April to October due to the hotter and drier conditions.

Moreover, the wildfire risk spans across the entire country, meaning all travellers to Portugal should exercise caution. British tourists could also face legal issues if they ignore local warnings.

Official advice from the Foreign Office states: “There is an increased risk of wildfires from April to October when the weather is hot and dry. Wildfires can start anywhere in Portugal. Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable.

“The Portuguese authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons.” Furthermore, Brits have been warned that it is illegal to start a fire in Portugal, even if by accident.

Committing this offence could potentially lead to a fine or even a prison sentence in some cases. If holidaymakers are travelling to Portugal when there is a risk of a wildfire, they are advised to do the following:

• follow the advice of the Portuguese authorities
• call the emergency services on 112 if you see a fire
• familiarise yourself with local safety and emergency procedures
• check the fire risk index for your location

Further details on the risk of wildfires in Portugal can be found through the nation’s Met Office here. An interactive map is included on the site ,which helps to quickly communicate which specific parts of the country are most at risk of a wildfire breaking out.

Major wildfire outbreaks in Portugal

While there have been no significant wildfires in Portugal this year, the risk remains high. In 2025, over 1,000 wildfires ravaged the north of the country, requiring thousands of firefighters to control the flames and resulting in at least nine fatalities.

If you are travelling and staying in a specific part of Portugal during your holiday, you can find the local emergency and safety procedures put in place in the event of a wildfire outbreak here. Furthermore, a complete breakdown of any severe weather warnings both in Portugal and the surrounding region can be found via the European Meterological Services website here.

Spain has seen the most recent cases of the disease as experts say one activity ‘drastically increases’ the risk of catching it

New cases of a killer virus have been detected in holiday hotspots loved by British tourists – and experts have warned it could reach the UK. It’s been described as the current biggest threat to public health, after breaking out in Iraq and Namibia.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), has also caused two reported deaths in Pakistan – with several cases reported in Spain. Last week, insiders speaking to Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee revealed it was “highly likely” there could soon be cases in the UK.

In its most recent report the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was recetnyl reported in Spain with the illness ‘known to be circulating among animals in this region and human CCHF cases have been previously reported in the area.”

In the eight years to 2024 a total of 16 autochthonous CCHF cases have been reported in Spain with dates of disease onset between April and August. The province of Salamanca is a hotspot for CCHF, with 50% of the cases being exposed to ticks.

It adds that in certain conditions in Spain people are much more likely to catch Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: “This risk drastically increases for people performing activities that expose them to tick bites (e.g. hunting, forestry work, hiking, animal surveillance).

The UK Heath Security Agency has said it is estimated that globally between 10,000 and 15,000 human infections, including approximately 500 fatalities, occur annually, although this is likely to be an underestimate as many cases.

Confirmed CCHF cases have been imported into the UK, including one fatal case in 2012 and one in 2014. In March 2022, a CCHF case was reported in the UK following an initial positive test result.

To prevent CCHF:

• Use DEET-containing insect repellent to prevent tick bites.
• Wear gloves, long sleeves, and pants when handling animals where CCHF is found.
• Avoid contact with body fluids of potentially infected animals or people.

“As a general precaution against CCHF, but also against other tick-borne diseases, people who may potentially be exposed to ticks should apply personal protective measures against tick bites. In 2023 experts speaking to Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee revealed it was “highly likely” there could soon be cases in the UK.

During the hearing, James Wood, head of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, said CCHF could find its way to the UK “through our ticks, at some point”. The disease is caused by Nairovirus, a condition that is spread by ticks and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and has a fatality rate of between 10 and 40 percent. Typically, the condition is found at small stages in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia, reports the Express. However, the disease could be expanding out of its usual territories and moving towards the likes of Britain and France due to climate change.

WHO noted CCHF was among its nine “priority diseases”, a system that lays bare the biggest public health risks. CCHF was first described in the Crimea in 1944, among soldiers and agricultural workers, and in 1969 it was recognised that the virus causing the disease was identical to a virus isolated from a child in the Congo in 1956. Humans (and possibly non-human primates) are the only animal species known to manifest severe clinical CCHF disease.

Symptoms of CCHF

Among the virus’ symptoms include headaches, high fever, back and joint pain, stomach ache, and vomiting. Red eyes, a flushed face, a red throat, and petechiae (red spots) on the palate are also common.

In severe cases, WHO warns, jaundice, mood swings and sensory perception are encountered. As the illness progresses, large areas of severe bruising, severe nosebleeds, and uncontrolled bleeding at injection sites can be seen, beginning on about the fourth day of illness and lasting for about two weeks.

In documented outbreaks of CCHF, fatality rates in hospitalised patients ranged from nine percent to as high as 50 percent. The long-term effects of CCHF infection have not been studied well enough in survivors to determine whether or not specific complications exist. However, recovery is slow.

Globally, there have been case reports, virological or serological evidence of human infection in at least 55 countries. In the European Region and its neighbouring countries, locally acquired human cases and/or outbreaks have been reported from Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Russia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine. Spain officially reported its first autochthonous case in August 2016, the first in Western Europe, following their first detection of CCHFV infected ticks in 2010. At the end of October 2023, French officials reported the detection of CCHFV in H. marginatum ticks collected from cattle in the eastern Pyrénées, which was the first time the presence of the virus in tick populations had been confirmed in the country.