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THE race to crown the Christmas No1 will get under way in two weeks.
And a dark horse, or should that be lovable bear, has entered the fray.
Paddington and McFly’s Tom Fletcher are joining forces with One Of Us, written by Tom for Paddington The MusicalCredit: SuppliedWham!’s hit has reached No1 for the last two ChristmasesCredit: Alamy
Paddington has become a major contender with song One Of Us, which is actually sung by McFly’s Tom Fletcher, who wrote it for the new Paddington The Musical in London’s West End.
He has stiff competition in what is looking set to be the most closely fought contest in years.
Martin Talbot, chief executive of The Official Charts Company, said: “The vision of Paddington taking on this year’s diverse gaggle of new festive chart contenders, alongside seasonal classics from The Pogues, Mariah Carey and Wham!, will be something to savour.”
The winning song will be revealed on The Radio 1 Chart Show just after 5.30pm on December 19.
Lee Phelps, from bookies William Hill, said: “Wham! are our odds-on favourites to be Christmas No1 for the third year running.
“They’ve been popular in the betting and are now as short as 1/2
“Kylie Minogue is the only other single-figure price at 11/2, while Together For Palestine take third spot in our market at 12/1.
“At 14/1, Taylor Swift joins Alison Limerick and Mariah Carey to top the charts on Christmas Day for the first time in the UK.”
Associate Bizarre Editor Howell Davies casts his eye over the contenders . . .
Odds provided by William Hill. See the full market at sports.williamhill.com.
Paddington and Tom Fletcher — One of Us
6/1
AS one of the nation’s favourite characters, Paddington has topped the box office multiple times.
Meanwhile McFly’s Tom Fletcher has scored seven No1 singles. Now they are joining forces with One Of Us, written by Tom for Paddington The Musical.
The video, which is out today along with the song, sees them appear together at Paddington train station in London and had to be filmed under the cover of darkness to keep the secret.
The full soundtrack to the musical will be released in March following rave reviews for the stage show.
Wham! — Last Christmas
1/2
WHAM!’s hit about a seasonal break-up, set against jingle bells, has reached No1 for the last two Christmases.
When it was first released in 1984, it was pipped to the top spot by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?.
It’s the third best-selling single in UK history and was already the highest charting Christmas song on last Friday’s rundown, when it was at No19.
The profits originally contributed to famine aid in Ethiopia, but in recent years George Michael’s estate has been dividing the proceeds between a series of other charity groups.
Roland Gift — Everybody Knows It’s Christmas
66/1
Roland Gift’s tune fuses glam rock with a festive, jingle bell ballCredit: SuppliedI hope this song brings a bit of warmth, a smile and maybe a bit of that Christmas magic your way, said Fine Young Cannibals frontman RolandCredit: Supplied
THIS number from Fine Young Cannibals frontman Roland Gift started off as a bet but has since racked up more than 86,000 views online.
It fuses glam rock with a festive, jingle bell ball and is being released on CD and 7in single, as well as streaming and download services, in a bid to boost sales.
Roland told The Sun: “It started out as a bet with my mate, who’s a big Slade fan.
“He said if I could write a Christmas song that was a hit, he’d give my car a free service and new tyres. I hope this song brings a bit of warmth, a smile and maybe a bit of that Christmas magic your way.”
Kylie Minogue — Xmas
11/2
Kylie Christmas’ new song Xmas is exclusive to Amazon MusicCredit: Getty
SHE released her album Kylie Christmas in 2015 and now the Aussie star is back to spread joy with a savvy link-up.
Her new song Xmas is exclusive to Amazon Music, meaning it can only be downloaded there or played through its streaming service.
But it’s a clever move, because it is among the first tracks to be played when people ask their Alexa devices to play Christmas music.
The last two years have seen Tom Grennan’s It Can’t Be Christmas and Sam Ryder’s You’re Christmas To Me finish in second place in the festive chart because of the power of Amazon.
Alison Limerick — Where Love Lives
14/1
This year’s John Lewis advert with Alison LimerickCredit: John LewisA cover by Labrinth of Alison’s house tune, originally released in 1990, is being tipped to be a top contenderCredit: John Lewis
THIS track has swelled in popularity since a cover by Labrinth featured in this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert.
Alison Limerick’s pulsating house tune was originally released in 1990. It peaked at No9 in 1996 but recently re-entered the charts at No44.
Now it is being tipped to rise far higher as the TV ad gets more plays.
Alison said: “Music has always had the power to bring all kinds of peeps together, but I hope this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert will give those who see it a new, emotional connection with the song.”
Denise Welch — Slayyy Bells
100/1
Denise Welch’s track has been released as a tie-in with choc brand CelebrationsCredit: Michael Leckie/PinPep
THE firm festive outsider this year is actress Denise Welch with her borderline-unlistenable offering.
The track has been released as a tie-in with choc brand Celebrations – 30 years after she hit No23 with a cover of You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me.
Denise, whose son Matty Healy is lead singer for The 1975, said: “I love Christmas, but sometimes I want to shake things up a bit. We don’t always have to have turkey or play charades. We can celebrate this special holiday our way.
“This remix, apart from being cool, catchy and a sure- fire hit, is all about having fun.”
Mariah Carey — All I Want For Christmas Is You
14/1
Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You has been in the Top 40 every year since 2007Credit: Instagram
AS the Queen of Christmas, Mariah is never far from the charts at this time of year.
All I Want For Christmas Is You was first released in 1994 and has returned to the Top 40 every year since 2007.
It is an unabashedly joyful belter, complete with bell chimes and lyrics about ditching a desire for materialistic gifts.
It topped the charts in 2021 and remains a strong contender for Christmas No1, finishing last year at No3.
In the US, it is even more popular and has been the festive No1 for the past six years.
Taylor Swift — Opalite
14/1
Opalite, another track from her The Life Of A Showgirl album, could be a contender for top spot after Taylor Swift flew to London to shoot a festive videoCredit: PA
SHE already has five No1s to her name and has spent the same number of weeks at the top with The Fate Of Ophelia. But Opalite, another track from her The Life Of A Showgirl album, is poised to become a competitor after The Sun on Sunday revealed she had flown to London to shoot a festive video.
She hired out a shopping centre in Croydon to film the scenes, with the video believed to include cameos from singer Lewis Capaldi among others.
An updated version of Opalite is expected to be launched alongside the video, just in time for Christmas.
Together For Palestine — Lullaby
12/1
Together For Palestine are hoping to raise funds with their charity single LullabyCredit: Supplied
THERE have been plenty of Christmas songs for good causes. Now Together For Palestine are hoping to raise funds with their charity single Lullaby.
Musicians including Neneh Cherry, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Brian Eno, Bastille frontman Dan Smith and Celeste have joined forces with Palestinian musicians to appear on the track, which is a reimagining of a traditional Palestinian lullaby.
Speaking about the song, out on December 12, Eno said: “We have a real shot at landing Christmas No1 – and turning that moment into vital life-saving support for Gaza’s families.”
Nov. 27 (UPI) — French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday the creation of a new voluntary military service amid concerns about a possible confrontation with Russia.
Calling it an “act of trust in our youth,” Macron made the announcement in a speech to troops stationed at a base just outside of Grenoble in southeast France, the BBC reported.
The new service will launch next summer, offering monthly payments to recruits, mostly aged 18 and 19, of at least 800 euros, or about $930, a month for 10 months of training, according to the BBC.
“The only way to avoid danger is to prepare for it,” Macron said. “We need to mobilise, mobilising the nation to defend itself, to be ready and remain respected.”
The new initiative seeks to recruit 3,000 initial volunteers and steadily increase to 50,000 youth joining by 2035, “depending on evolving threats,” with volunteers having the option to stay in the military or become reservists, the Wall Street Journal reported.
“We can’t go back to the times of conscription, but we’re in need of mobilization,” Macron said.
Macron has actively sought to bolster Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion. France recently signed a deal to sell Ukraine 100 advanced fighter jets. More broadly, Macron helped spearhead the creation of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of 34 mostly European countries willing to offer more security backing to Ukraine.
In his speech, Macron did not call out Russia, but said he was launching the initiative “at a time when all our European allies are moving forward in the face of a threat that weighs on us all, France cannot remain immobile,” The New York Times reported.
Other European countries, including Germany, Denmark and Poland, have looked into ways to increase the ranks of their respective armed forces, according to the Times.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the idea that he was planning to attack Europe.
However, the specter of a confrontation between Russia and France has loomed, according to the BBC.
Recently, Gen Fabien Mandon, France’s chief of staff, raised alarms when he said the French military was planning around the assumption of a conflict with Russia in the coming years.
A major airline is offering free flights for UK passengers to encourage travellers to explore lesser-known regions away from overcrowded hotspots and help reduce overtourism
An airline has released a new scheme for British and European travellers (Image: Getty Images/Stock Photo)
Travelling isn’t always cheap, especially when jetting off abroad when the expense of flights are thrown into the mix.
Yet, in a new initiative from a major airline, British and European travellers can bag free flights, but there’s a catch if you’re looking to book.
In a bid to help reduce overtourism in popular destinations, Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has partnered with the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) to offer free domestic flights this winter. This will allow passengers to take advantage of two complimentary internal flights with any inbound international booking.
The hope is that this will encourage travellers to explore some of the country’s lesser-known regions, from its diverse landscapes to its stunning coastlines, rather than the touristy hotspots, such as Tokyo and Kyoto. This is the ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and experience another side of Japan, while avoiding the crowds altogether.
ANA flies to more than 40 locations across Japan, all of which are included in the deal, so there are plenty of breathtaking places to choose from, including Fukuoka, Hokkaido and Nagasaki. You could also venture to the Okinawa Islands, which have often been described as the ‘Maldives of Japan’ due to their pristine sugar-white sand and crystal clear, turquoise waters.
However, there are a few conditions that must be met to take advantage of the free domestic flights. Firstly, it only applies to travellers arriving from the UK or Europe, and you will have to pay for your own international flight into Japan with ANA.
The cheapest time to book a flight from London to Tokyo is in January, with prices starting from £821. This coincides perfectly with the initiative, as it will run from November 24 to January 31, 2026, with flights still able to take place outside of this time frame.
Passengers will be given standard class flights only with the scheme, and may have to pay tax and visa fees depending on their chosen location. However, domestic flights do not have to start and finish at the same airport, allowing for more flexibility to explore the country.
The airline notes that it hopes this limited-time offer will “make regional exploration… easier and genuinely affordable”, along with encouraging “deeper, more sustainable engagement with Japan’s culturally diverse regions”.
You can visit the ANA website for more details and to book your flights. ANA has also shared itinerary examples with a stay in Tokyo before venturing to the hidden gems to help make booking the trip even easier.
South Korean tech giant SK hynix on Wednesday introduced Honey Banana Mat chips, a crunchy snack meant to resemble semiconductors, in collaboration with 7-Eleven. Photo courtesy of SK hynix
SEOUL, Nov. 26 (UPI) — South Korean tech giant SK hynix, the world’s leading high-bandwidth memory chipmaker, announced Wednesday it launched a new semiconductor-inspired crunchy snack in collaboration with convenience store chain 7-Eleven.
The snack, called “HBM Chips,” is a play on the company’s high bandwidth memory — or HBM — technology. In this case, the acronym stands for “Honey Banana Mat,” using the Korean word for “flavor.”
The square corn chips, coated with sweet honey-banana chocolate, are meant to resemble semiconductors.
SK hynix said the product aims to make its complex technology more accessible to everyday consumers, particularly younger generations who may become future semiconductor industry talent.
“Semiconductors feel too distant for most people, but snacks are something everyone can enjoy,” SK hynix said in a statement. “We decided to explain technology through a new language of taste.”
The company also introduced a new sunglasses-wearing humanoid mascot “equipped with the latest HBM” that it said will appear in future brand communications, social media content and merchandise.
The collaboration marks the first foray into consumer packaged goods for the business-to-business chipmaker.
SK hynix holds approximately 50% of the global HBM market and recently surpassed Samsung to become the world’s largest dynamic random access memory maker for the first time, capturing 36% market share in early 2025. The company pioneered HBM technology, which stacks layers of memory vertically, in 2013 and currently supplies major tech companies including Nvidia, Amazon and Microsoft.
HBM chips are critical components in AI servers and high-performance computing, enabling faster data transfer between processors and memory.
SK hynix recently logged record-high quarterly profits and said much of its high-end chip supply has already sold out through 2026 due to surging AI demand.
The new snack chips are now available at 7-Eleven stores across South Korea.
Nov. 25 (UPI) — Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones made his attempted political comeback official Monday, announcing he was running for governor of Alabama in next year’s election.
Jones is the last Democrat statewide elected official in the deeply red state after winning a special U.S. Senate election in 2017 only to lose his seat in 2020 to Republican newcomer Tommy Tuberville. The announcement by Jones sets up a likely rematch with Tuberville, a former Auburn University football coach, who is also running for governor.
“We’re going to be listening to people across the state,” Jones said in a video posted to X announcing what he called the “worst-kept secret” in the state. “We’re going to do everything we can to bring the people back to the state capitol of Montgomery, Ala.”
A former prosecutor, Jones narrowly won his Senate seat against Republican Roy Moore as he faced accusations of past sexual misconduct, which he denied. Three years later Tuberville beat Jones in a lopsided victory.
Jones said in the video that people in Alabama “deserve a governor who is going to fight for them” and not treat the office as “a rest stop on the way to the Florida beach,” a reference to allegations that Tuberville’s primary residence is in Florida.
The Alabama Democratic Party announced earlier it would challenge Tuberville’s candidacy on the basis he does not meet the state’s residency requirements to run for governor and his primary residence is in Florida.
“Assuming he’s the Democratic nominee and Tuberville’s the Republican nominee, it sets it up for a very interesting matchup with two candidates, both of whom have good name identification, which is a big part of being electable,” said Lori Owens, a political science professor at Jacksonville State University, told AL.com
Owens said the matchup would mean Tuberville would have to campaign harder against Jones because he’d “be running against somebody who has won and who has a career record himself.” Running Jones would also give the Democratic Party more credibility, Owens said.
However, roughly two-thirds of Alabama voters cast straight-party ballots in 2024, with most voting Republican, according to AL.com
Trump signs order to integrate supercomputers and data assets in order to create ‘AI experimentation platform”.
United States President Donald Trump has unveiled a national initiative to mobilise artificial intelligence (AI) for accelerating scientific breakthroughs.
Trump signed an executive order on Monday to establish “The Genesis Mission”, the latest iteration of his administration’s aggressive strategy for spurring AI development through deregulation, infrastructure investment and public-private collaboration.
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Trump’s order directs US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to unite scientists and technologies at the country’s 17 national laboratories into “one cooperative system for research”.
Under the initiative, US supercomputers and data resources will be integrated to create a “closed-loop AI experimentation platform”, according to the order.
The White House, which likened the initiative to the Apollo programme that put the first man on the moon, said priority areas of focus would include the “greatest scientific challenges of our time,” such as nuclear fusion, semiconductors, critical materials and space exploration.
Michael Kratsios, the White House’s top science adviser, said the initiative took a “revolutionary approach” to scientific research.
“The Genesis Mission connects world-class scientific data with the most advanced American AI to unlock breakthroughs in medicine, energy, materials science, and beyond,” Kratsios said.
Chipmaker Nvidia and AI startup Anthropic said on Monday that they were partnering with the Trump administration on the initiative.
“Uniting the National Labs, USG, industry, and academia, this effort will connect America’s leading supercomputers, AI systems, and next-generation quantum machines into the most complex scientific instrument ever built – accelerating breakthroughs in energy, discovery, and national security,” Nvidia said in a social media post, referring to the US government (USG).
Since re-entering the White House, Trump has made cutting red tape to fast-track the development of AI a key plank of his economic agenda.
Last week, Trump called on the US Congress to pass legislation to create a national standard for AI, while criticising state governments over their laws regulating the emerging technology.
“Overregulation by the States is threatening to undermine this Growth Engine,” Trump said on his platform, Truth Social.
“We MUST have one Federal Standard instead of a patchwork of 50 State Regulatory Regimes.”
Benjamin H Bratton, an AI expert at the University of California, San Diego, welcomed the initiative as a move towards the “diffusion” of the technology.
“It is less important ‘whose’ AI people have access to than they have universal access at all,” Bratton told Al Jazeera.
“Most attempts to throttle AI in the USA and EU [European Union] come from cultural, economic and political incumbents protecting their turf.”
“Those locked out of positions of artificially scarce social agency have the most to gain,” Bratton added. “I support diffusion, not any particular administration.”
An Israeli ‘kamikaze’ drone blew up a vehicle on a busy street in Gaza City on Saturday, the latest test of the fragile ceasefire. It was just one of several Israeli attacks that killed at least 22 people across the enclave.
LA28 hopes to sell more tickets for the 2028 Games than any other Olympic organizing committee in history, and the private group launched a fundraising campaign Thursday to help keep those tickets accessible to local fans.
The fundraising effort invites local sports teams, philanthropists and partners to fund ticket donations that will go to local organizations that will distribute tickets within their communities. The Rams are the inaugural partners, donating $5 million to the campaign.
“The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are for everyone,” LA28 president Casey Wasserman said in a statement. “This program is about making sure that the people who live, work and contribute to the spirit of Los Angeles can access the Games taking place in their hometown. We’re incredibly thankful to Stan Kroenke and the Rams for being the first to step up for the people of their city. This is true partnership in action, and we look forward to welcoming others for this meaningful initiative.”
Registration for tickets will open in January and single tickets will start at $28. Amid concerns about skyrocketing prices for sporting events, LA28 said it will not use dynamic pricing that is common for large sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup.
Tickets for the FIFA World Cup coming to Canada, Mexico and the United States next year will start at $60 for some group-stage matches and climb to $6,730, the international soccer governing body said this year. Excluding the opening or closing ceremonies, tickets for the Paris Games ranged between 24 euros (about $27) and 950 euros ($1,097).
Leading up to the Games, the Paris organizing committee set aside more than 1 million tickets at 24 euros each and ensured half of the tickets on sale to the general public would be 50 euros or less. Hoping to keep the Games relatively affordable to fans, Paris 2024 used an “adapted pricing policy” that aimed to use the 15% of the tickets offered at the highest rates to allow the millions of lower-priced tickets.
The Paris Games sold a record 12 million tickets for the Olympics and Paralympics, which helped the organizing committee blow past its initial ticketing and hospitality revenue estimate by $365 million.
LA28 organizers expect to make 14 million tickets available for the largest Olympics in history and the first Paralympics in L.A.
After fans register for the ticket lottery beginning in January, purchasing windows will open that spring. Fans living near Olympic venue cities will have access to presale opportunities.
The Olympics are spread across more than 40 venues, with most clustered in L.A., Long Beach, Inglewood and Carson. Southern California residents and those living in Oklahoma City where softball and canoe slalom events will take place who are selected for the presale window will have access to all tickets for all venues.
Tickets for the Paralympics will go on sale in 2027.
easyJet is launching two new routes from Manchester Airport for summer 2026, with fares starting from £34.99 and £40.99 for the two sunny, beach-rich destinations
The region of Preveza has excellent beaches (Image: www.europeanbestdestinations.com)
EasyJet is launching two new routes from a UK airport.
The budget airline has announced new routes for summer 2026 from Manchester Airport, with seats now on sale.
New connections to Montpellier in southern France will operate on Mondays and Fridays, starting on 30 March. Customers can now explore the historic city centre of Montpellier, visit the impressive Place de la Comédie, and enjoy the vibrant local cafés and markets. sunny Mediterranean climate and proximity to the coast. Fares will cost from £34.99.
EasyJet’s new route to Preveza in Greece will start from 24 June and operate on Wednesdays and Sundays, costing from £40.99. Preveza, part of the Epirus region, sits at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf on mainland Greece. It enjoys stunning views over the Ionian Sea and is home to plenty of excellent beaches.
“Although this is an area largely untouched by mass tourism, you will find there‘s a pleasant buzz around during the summer months when the port is full of luxury yachts and boats and the street cafes are frequented by holidaymakers. Preveza has a charming seaside esplanade and a pedestrianised centre so you can spend many a leisurely hour browsing the various shops and stopping to eat and drink at the bars and restaurants,” writes Designer Travel.
“Preveza itself has a low-key charm and is worth stopping by if you’re in the area. True, there are no real tourist sites in town, but if you enjoy taverna-hopping then Preveza really excels. It has a cute old quarter packed with colourful tavernas and shaded alleyways. There’s lots of seafood on offer including the local specialties → specialities, shrimps and sardines. Yachts moor next to the wide cafe-lined promenade which runs between the town and water,” writes Steph of the Mediterranean Traveller
Preveza is mostly known for its international airport, Preveza-Aktion, which is small but served by seasonal European budget and charter airlines. It’s the primary gateway by air for those visiting the island of Lefkada and the region of Epirus, particularly the pretty resort town of Parga.
Kevin Doyle, easyJet UK country manager, said: “In our 30th year, we’re still as committed as ever to making travel easy and affordable for our customers in the UK. With two new routes and package holidays now available to book from Manchester Airport for next summer, we’re continuing to provide our customers in the Northwest with even more choice and connectivity at fantastic fares, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard.”
EasyJet has been growing in Manchester and this summer launched new routes to Izmir, Kalamata, Larnaca, Madrid and Rennes for the first time last summer and now operates 23 aircraft from the airport. This means easyJet will connect customers in the North-West with 88 routes throughout the UK, Europe and North Africa. EasyJet serves 22 UK airports, offering more than 630 routes to 140 destinations from the UK to Europe and beyond.
The attacks in March killed thousands, many from the Alawite religious minority.
Published On 18 Nov 202518 Nov 2025
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Syria has launched the trial of the first of hundreds of suspects for their role in deadly clashes earlier this year that killed hundreds in the country’s coastal provinces.
Syrian state media reported on Tuesday that 14 people were brought before Aleppo’s Palace of Justice following a months-long, government-led investigation.
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Hundreds of people from the Alawite religious minority, to which ousted President Bashar al-Assad belonged, were killed in the massacres in March.
The violence erupted after attacks on the new government’s security forces by armed groups aligned with the deposed autocrat. Counterattacks soon spiralled out of control to target civilians in the coastal regions that host the Alawite population.
Seven of the defendants in the court on Tuesday were al-Assad loyalists, while the other seven were members of the new government’s security forces.
Charges against the suspects could include sedition, inciting civil war, attacking security forces, murder, looting and leading armed gangs, according to state media.
The seven accused from government forces are being prosecuted for “premeditated murder”.
The public and the international community have put pressure on the country’s new rulers to commit to judicial reform.
“The court is sovereign and independent,” said Judge Zakaria Bakkar as the trial opened.
The proceedings are important for President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of forces that formerly had links to al-Qaeda, who since coming to power in December has scrambled to step out from diplomatic isolation. He is working to convince the United States to drop more of its crippling sanctions against Syria and to boost trade to rebuild the war-torn country.
However, despite initial reports by the state media that charges could quickly be brought against the defendants, the judge adjourned the session and rescheduled the next hearing for December.
The National Commission of Inquiry said in July that it had verified serious violations leading to the deaths of at least 1,426 people, most of them civilians, and identified 298 suspects.
It claimed 238 members of the security forces and army had been killed in attacks attributed to al-Assad’s supporters. The authorities then sent reinforcements to the region, with the commission estimating their number at 200,000 fighters.
The commission said there was no evidence that Syria’s new military leaders had ordered attacks on the Alawite community.
A United Nations probe, however, found that violence targeting civilians by government-aligned factions had been “widespread and systematic.”
A UN commission said that during the violence, homes in Alawite-majority areas were raided and civilians were asked “whether they were Sunni or Alawite.”
It said: ”Alawite men and boys were then taken away to be executed.”
IT’S never too early to book a holiday for next year – and with Butlin’s launching its Black Sale Friday, you might want to look now.
The holiday park is offering bargain breaks for families to adults-only weekends with up to 40 per cent off.
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Butlin’s has released its Black Friday offers with big savingsCredit: South Of Heaven2026 will see new shows like Maximum Pro Wrestling and a new show from DiversityCredit: Butlins
Butlin’sBlack Friday sale, or as they like to call it, the Red Friday Event, hasplenty of great offers for breaks next year, including family-friendly holidays across its three resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.
You can book now for up to 40 per cent off – and that includes getting to see their new headline acts for 2026 if you book before December 2, 2025.
From Maximum Pro Wrestling to The Masked Singer Live and Diversity, which will perform their brand-new, exclusive show ‘Time Capsule’.
Peppa Pig and her baby sister Evie Pig will trot into the spotlight in a brand-new live show for 2026 during school holidays and Showtime breaks.
Another new addition is The Dinosaur that Pooped, a Rock Show that’s a high-energy live musical and will be at all resorts.
And Fireman Sam will be solving clues and saving the day in The Lost Pirate Treasure show.
February Half Term breaks start from £67 based on a family of four staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room on February 23, 2026 in Bognor Regis for four nights.
The Showtime midweek breaks start from £39 which across four nights works out at just £2.44pppn.
It’s not just for kids though – adults can also book themselves onto a Big Weekender for 2026.
Big Weekenders, which are exclusively for adults, and also has savings of up to 40 per cent.
Adults can enjoy child-free weekends at the Butlin’s Big Weekender eventsCredit: Paul Underhill
These start from £54 per person which includes three-nights’ accommodation, access to all music venues and plenty of daytime and evening activities.
Performers include the likes of Peter Andre, Cascada and B*Witched; these are all included in the price.
During the day guests can check out the Saddle Up Line Dancing, Soul Stroll and pool parties to Club Classic Nights and silent discos in the evening.
Next year, four brand-new Big Weekenders will begin across all three resorts.
Dress up and hit the dance floor where big names like Peter Andre and Cascada will performCredit: Paul Underhill
My Generation Weekender, devoted to Mod culture, will kick off in Minehead in early 2026.
Meanwhile, Skegness resort will be immersed in the ‘neo-soul’ era at the Soul Power Weekender.
Bognor Regis will host the Don’t Tell Mama LGBTQ Weekender and Bugged Out! will return after 10 years with the biggest names in the EDM space.
Soul Power Big Weekender starts from £54pp based on a two bedroom Comfort Room that sleeps four on January 16, 2026 in Skegness.
One writer checked into Butlin’s for a Big Weekender…
“Clutching my bottle of Smirnoff Ice in the middle of a packed dancefloor wearing silver combat trousers and a bum bag, I felt like I had been transported back to my youth.
“And for a fleeting moment, I forgot I was a mother of three with a job, a mortgage and a pile of laundry to tackle when I got home.
“This is part of the joy of a Butlin’s ’90s Reloaded Weekender where garage legends DJ Luck and MC Neat were belting out the floor fillers from my teen disco days.
“Held across Butlin’s resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, each “weekender” break celebrates a different era or genre, from the Ultimate ’80s to I Love Ibiza.
“I was at the Bognor Regis Resort with three old school friends, which only enhanced the nostalgia of the Nineties-themed weekend.
“The fancy dress aspect alone provided plenty of entertainment. Luckily, the Nineties are enjoying something of a fashion revival, which means it was easy to source some party gear.
“And the trends of the decade were out in force — from bucket hats and Kappa tracksuits to cycling shorts and, of course, shell suits.
“There were plenty of hilarious costumes celebrating Nineties icons, too. The winner had to be one ingenious reveller who dressed head-to-toe as a bottle of Nineties alcopop Hooch, an outfit she ran up on her own sewing machine.
“In true Nineties style, midnight felt too early to go to bed so we hit the silent disco at the resort’s sports bar venue Hotshots where we could flick between channels on our light-up headphones, blasting everything fromWhigfieldto Warren G.
“The brilliant thing about a Butlin’s Weekender break is you know exactly what you’ll be spending. All entertainment and accommodation is included in the price of your visit so it’s great value for groups like ours.
“If you do have a little extra cash to splash, you can book additional activities like the ’90s Bottomless Brunch in Butlin’s restaurant The Diner.
“The bottomless prosecco and cocktails, accompanied by a live DJ, were a great way to kick off our Saturday, and my delicious build-your-own burger perfectly set me up for another day of drinking and dancing.
“In the afternoon, Butlin’s huge swimming complex opens for pool parties, also complete with DJ.”
Anne has launched its new groundbreaking health and wellbeing toolkit for the UK’s trans community.
Over the last few years, the LGBTQIA+ community – particularly trans and non-binary people – have become the target of conservative political figures and hateful bigots.
Amid the rise of anti-trans sentiment and hateful misinformation worldwide, UK-based not-for-profit health care provider Anne has launched its new Accessing Gender Affirming Care Toolkit.
The community-built resource grants UK-based trans people and allies the ability to better navigate the “increasingly challenging healthcare system against a backdrop of rising social and political hostility.”
The groundbreaking toolkit includes an overview of gender-affirming healthcare pathways in England — across both NHS and private routes for trans adults — plus core legal protections and context on systemic challenges like long waiting times, inconsistent GP support, regional disparities, and the mental health consequences of delayed care.
It also includes advice for individuals self-medicating, information on moving between private and NHS pathways, and a detailed, extensive directory of trans+ service providers.
In a statement, Anne co-founder Lizzie Jordan opened up about the importance of the new Accessing Gender Affirming Care Toolkit and why it’s needed more than ever.
“We created this toolkit because trans+ people deserve to access healthcare with confidence and dignity. The reality is that Ann shouldn’t need to exist – but whilst barriers persist, we’re committed to equipping our community with every resource they need to advocate for themselves and get their needs met,” Jordan said.
“This toolkit is about empowerment. It’s about giving trans+ people the knowledge and tools to navigate a system that too often works against them. We will continue building resources like this because we believe trans+ people don’t just deserve to survive – they deserve to thrive.
“By bringing together information that is often fragmented, inaccessible, or inconsistent, the Anne Toolkit provides a trusted point of clarity and source of support during this time of uncertainty. It has the potential to transform daily life for trans people across the UK by informing trans+ people of their rights, offering step-by-step guides to navigating commonly encountered medical roadblocks and educating trans+ patients with accessible resources.”
Anne co-founder Susie Green echoed similar sentiments, adding that the first-of-its-kind resource gives trans people “the practical tools they need to advocate for themselves with confidence.”
“As someone who has spent decades advocating for trans+ rights, I’ve seen firsthand how the lack of clear, accessible information can leave people feeling powerless and alone,” Green said. “This toolkit is our way of saying: you have rights, you have options, and you deserve to be supported every step of the way.”
NBCUniversal is launching a new cable network Monday that will carry live sports events, including some that are currently exclusive to its streaming service Peacock.
The company announced Thursday that the new NBC Sports Network will be carried on YouTube TV and parent Comcast’s Xfinity service. Deals with other pay-TV providers are expected in the coming months, the company said.
The new channel will enable NBC to make its sports offerings more attractive to advertisers who may balk at the limited reach of its Peacock streaming service, which currently has 41 million subscribers. There is little duplication between Peacock subscribers and the nearly 60 million households still buying a traditional pay-TV package.
Sports is also a key reason consumers keep paying for cable and satellite TV. NBCU executives believe the channel will help distributors such as Comcast to retain customers.
The new channel will carry Monday night NBA games that were previously exclusive to Peacock. During the Winter Olympic Games in February, it will be the home of Gold Zone, the daily whip-around coverage show hosted by Scott Hanson that was offered only on Peacock during the Summer Games in 2024.
While the deal has not been officially announced, NBCU is expected to get a package of Major League Baseball games, some of which will be shown on NBCSN.
Other events from the NBC sports portfolio that will appear on the channel include WNBA regular-season and playoff games, Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 men’s and women’s college basketball, select coverage of major golf tournaments, Premier League Soccer and undercard races at the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oats.
NBCUniversal had a cable sports network but folded it in 2021 after it lost the TV rights to the NHL. But the company has since made a significant investment in live sports that has strong appeal to advertisers.
In 2024, the company entered an 11-year deal to be a major media rights partner with the NBA.
The new channel will also carry Peacock’s sports talk shows including “The Dan Patrick Show,” “The Dan Le Batard Show,” and “Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry.”
Jet2 has announced that it is launching 26 new flights, meaning British passengers can fly out to destinations including Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Ibiza
Milo Boyd Deputy travel editor and Neil Lancefield PA Transport Correspondent
10:12, 12 Nov 2025
Jet2 has announced the new flights (Image: tulcarion via Getty Images)
Jet2 has announced it will launch 26 new flights to a whole host of sunny destinations across Europe
The budget airline has revealed plans to initiate flights and holidays from Gatwick Airport. The firm says it has secured slots for six aircraft “following the release of additional capacity” by the UK’s second busiest airport. Jet2 will station five Airbus A321neo aircraft at the West Sussex airport, with an additional aircraft positioned overseas. Its inaugural Gatwick flight is set to depart for Tenerife, Spain, on 26 March next year.
The airline – which recently went viral for its catchy adverts featuring Jess Glynne’s Hold My Hand – will fly to a whole host of sunny destinations next spring and summer. They are:
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, said: “Today’s announcement represents an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2. For many years, our ambition has been to provide our differentiated, service-led, end-to-end product offering from London Gatwick, and we see this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate our growth from the UK’s largest beach and city leisure destination airport. We know all too well how much demand there is among customers and independent travel agents for us to operate our award-winning flights and holidays from London Gatwick, so it is fantastic to be able to share that we are here and ready to meet their travelling needs.”
Gatwick is set to become the 14th UK airport with a Jet2 base. Initially, the company will offer flights from Gatwick to 29 “sunshine destinations” in countries such as Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Italy. The airline confirmed that over 300 direct positions will be established in the Gatwick area, spanning pilots, cabin crew, engineering and ground operations roles, with several hundred additional indirect posts also being generated.
Gatwick chief executive Pierre-Hugues Schmit said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jet2 to London Gatwick, marking an exciting new chapter for the airport and our passengers. Jet2’s arrival brings even more choice and flexibility to passengers across the South East and beyond, strengthening London Gatwick’s vision to be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey.
“It is an exciting time for Jet2 to join London Gatwick following the recent Government approval for routine use of our northern runway, which will further expand connectivity and economic growth. We are committed to delivering exceptional service and we look forward to supporting Jet2’s growth and success here at London Gatwick.”
Jet2 is regularly voted one of, if not the, best airline in the UK. It was named Best Airline at the Routes Europe Awards in 2025 and won The Telegraph Travel Awards for Best Short-Haul Airline for the third year in a row, based on reader votes. It has also been recognized as the Most Reliable UK Airline by AirAdvisor and has been a Which? Recommended Provider for a decade, partly due to very low cancellation rates.
