WASHINGTON — A nonprofit run by Black federal lawmakers launched a multimillion-dollar effort Tuesday to engage lower-propensity voters in key districts in the midterm elections, following years of dissatisfaction over traditional efforts to reach such voters.
The Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s “SO VOTE” campaign will seek to register and mobilize young voters, as well as voters in majority-Black and rural communities, across the South, Midwest and West. The campaign involves partnerships with dozens of local organizations, the institute said, with in-person and online outreach to voters often sidestepped by major political campaigns.
“For decades, as far as I can remember, there are those of us who have always complained about the fact that neither party spends the significant and requisite time with Black and brown and poor and rural communities,” said Marcia Fudge, a former Democratic congresswoman from Ohio who served as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Biden administration.
“So we finally decided to take it upon ourselves to do something that we didn’t think anybody else in the industry was doing,” said Fudge, who is spearheading the new effort alongside former Black Caucus colleagues.
Voter engagement efforts will cover outreach across Georgia and Mississippi, as well as target voters in 16 congressional districts that are likely to determine control of the House.
Instead of traditional television advertising, the campaign will convene local civic groups and houses of worship, as well as fraternities and sororities. The effort will also use some now-widespread techniques in political campaigns, such as geotargeting online ads and partnerships with local content creators for audiences who mainly receive their news online.
While the voter engagement efforts are officially nonpartisan, the Black Caucus’ targeted races are in many regions where Black voter turnout could prove key to whether a Democratic candidate prevails in closely divided House districts. Cedric Richmond, a former Louisiana Democratic congressman who served as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden, said the effort would focus on repeatedly engaging voters in rural communities who feel alienated from Democratic campaigns.
“If you’re not happy with the way things are going, then voting is part of the solution, but it takes constant communication,” Richmond said.
The Black Caucus’ institute has raised about $1 million for the campaign, primarily from individual donors, and plans to spend at least $4.5 million in the midterm election cycle.
The new outreach effort follows years of disappointment and frustration among some in the Black Caucus at the broader Democratic Party’s efforts to court Black, rural and younger voters.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, an influential South Carolina Democrat who decried the lackluster voter turnout in the 2024 election, said the campaign “allows us to put to practice that which we have been proposing, and we have never had the resources to do it. But this year we do.”
The effort is also a response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in multiple states, said Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat.
“These Southern states are trying to minimize Black political participation and ultimately Black political strength,” he said. “So what we have to do is take that low-propensity voter and elevate their participation so they become an additional voice to be reckoned with.”
Brown writes for the Associated Press.
YOU’VE probably strolled past the Tower of London at least once – but did you know it’s the city’s oldest tourist attraction?
Parts of it have been open to the public since 1661, and it’s just started a new tour to meet eight of its feathery residents.
Called the Ravens Experience, the new early morning tour gives visitors a chance to meet all eight permanent residents, and early access to the tower itself.
The ravens are very important to the Tower of London as the legend is that if the birds ever leave, the country will fall to ruin.
Dubbed a ‘truly unique early mornings experience’, the new tour starts at 8.15am.
It begins with a 45-minute talk from a Yeoman Warder (a guardian of the Tower of London) about the ravens – before the cage is opened.
Visitors can learn more about the ravens named Harris, Jubilee, Poppy, Edgar, Georgie, Chaos, Henry and Poe.
There’s a chance to take pictures and see them being released into the tower too.
The ticket also includes early entry to the Tower which means you skip the admission queue and are first in line as the Crown Jewels exhibition opens
And ticket holders get access to all public areas of the Tower of London.
Tickets for adults are £90, children between 5-16 are £50.00, concession tickets are £70 and under 5s go free – you have to book the tour in advance.
Building work first started work in 1078, so the historical attraction has been standing for almost 950 years.
Parts of it were first accessible since 1661 when the Crown Jewels were first put on display.
Other events at the Tower of London include Halloween special when the past will ‘creep back to life’.
There will be special visits from the ghostly past residents including a poet, pirate a queen, an astronomer – even a bear.
The Halloween trail is more family-friendly than scary and will take place between October 24 and November 1.
For those on Universal Credit, general admission tickets cost £1 each.
It was recently announced that the Tower of London will undergo a £70million project as it opens community spaces and learning centres.
THE FINAL tickets for one of the country’s biggest Christmas events will drop TODAY.
LaplandUK will release its final batch of tickets today at midday.
These will be the final tickets available for the 2026 events and there will also be tickets to the Golden Experience available.
Tickets will be available for both Lapland Ascot and Lapland Manchester – which has more availability of the two.
Fans can also nab tickets to The Golden Experience – a VIP experience with a personal guide, private check in, a meal in Pumpernickel’s secret pantry in the Eleven Village, priority seating and access, honorary elf hats, Golden Explorers pin badge, onsite currency, a signed Lapland storybook and a 2026 bauble.
Each experience will have its own online queue.
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Those who are signed up to LaplandUK’s newsletter will receive an email before midday with links to all the queues.
Then at midday, all people in the virtual queues will be randomly assigned a place in line for tickets.
Once you reach the front of that line, you will be able to make your booking.
LaplandUK states: “We recommend joining ahead of midday to give you the best chance of securing your preferred visit.”
The experience is often dubbed the ‘Glastonbury of Christmas’ due to tickets selling out fast each year.
And earlier this year when tickets were released in March, they sold out within a few hours.
This year will mark the second edition of LaplandUK Manchester at Capesthorne Hall.
At both experiences, guests can enjoy immersive sets and live performances.
Tickets include a four-and-a-half hour journey through the Enchanted Forest and into the Eleven World.
Children get to help the elves make toys and Mother Christmas to decorate gingerbread.
And of course, after all that, guests will get to meet Father Christmas himself.
Both UK experiences will be open from November 7 to December 24.
And ticket prices range from £60 to £155 per person, depending on the day you visit.
Golden Experience tickets range from £299 to £599 per person.
SYDNEY Sweeney bounced in a little white bralette and underwear – while launching the latest Syrn campaign.
The Euphoria and White Lotus actress, 28, launched lingerie brand Syrn in January 2026.
On Instagram, Syrn’s account posted a clip of Sydney showing off her incredible physique as she modelled some of its clothing range.
The caption read: “Comfy, cozy and layered for extra support.
“Syd’s look: Top: Tit for Tat Triangle Bralette layered with the Lowdown Cami.
“Bottoms: No Show High Rise Short layered in Pillow Fight and After Dark.”
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One person commented: “I want this outfit.”
Another penned: “So adorable but I know I won’t look like this.”
It comes as Sydney previously spilled out of an incredibly sexy Syrn bra while licking cake off her fingers – ahead of her 29th birthday.
The star, who is turning 29 on September 12, showcased a black bra, thong and garters that she designed for her lingerie brand.
One person commented: “I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU.”
Another added: “Prettiest girl and most beautiful lingerie.”
FAMILIES can save even more on holidays this month with a new deal that lets kids fly for FREE.
Turkish Airlines Holidays, the holiday brand of Turkish Airlines, has launched an offer that allows children under 11-years-old to fly for free.
The offer is available on specific holiday packages booked up to September 29.
And it includes some exciting holiday destinations such as Turkey, Mauritius, the Maldives and Dubai.
The offer is for any holiday departing between now and March 30, 2027.
Other offers include 15 per cent off Economy Class basic fares or 20 per cent off Business Class fares.
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You’ll also get complimentary seat selection as well on eligible flights.
For example, you could head to Istanbul in Turkey from £249 per person for two nights.
You’d stay at the four-star Darkhill Hotel, close to all the city’s main attractions.
The hotel also has its own rooftop bar with views across the city.
Alternatively, you could head to Dubai for three nights, costing from £769 per person.
You’d stay at the five-star Paramount Hotel Midtown, with breakfast included.
In the hotel there are a number of restaurants and bars including a rooftop terrace with a huge screen and views across the city skyline.
Want to splash out? Well, you could travel to Mauritius and stay at the five-star Maritim Resort & Spa for five nights, from £1,369 per person.
The new offer brings Turkish Airlines Holidays in line with other tour operator such as TUI and easyJet holidays.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has launched a series of air attacks against Houthi positions in the country, marking a significant escalation in the conflict, with some of the country’s heaviest fighting since a fragile truce in 2022.
Government warplanes carried out at least 15 strikes on Friday against Houthi positions, gatherings and vehicles in the western provinces of Taiz and Hodeidah, according to the Yemeni military.
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The air assault against Houthi positions provided support to government forces fighting a major Houthi offensive towards the Red Sea coast and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
These are not the first air attacks by government aircraft since Yemen’s fragile truce began to unravel in July. On July 25, government aircraft struck Houthi missile and drone launch sites and weapons depots in Marib and al-Jawf, according to Yemeni military officials cited by the Reuters news agency.
And less than two weeks earlier, on July 13, Yemen’s internationally recognised government said its forces had struck the runway at the Houthi-held Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing.
However, the latest attacks mark a significant step up in the government’s use of its own air power against the Houthis, after Saudi-led coalition aircraft provided much of the aerial firepower supporting anti-Houthi forces during the most intense years of Yemen’s war.
Friday’s air campaign comes as the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been vying for control of Yemen for years, attempt to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah towards al-Makha (Mocha), and territory overlooking the critical Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the opening to the Red Sea.
Control of the area could strengthen the Houthis’ position along the Red Sea, where the group has previously attacked commercial and military vessels, while threatening a key government supply route.
The fighting unfolds against a backdrop of the wider regional conflict, with the Houthis recently declaring a Red Sea maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, while disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israel war with Iran has raised the strategic importance of alternative routes through the Red Sea. This means any expansion of Houthi influence around Bab al-Mandeb could have consequences for shipping far beyond Yemen.
Here’s what we know.
Fighting erupted on Thursday as Houthi forces launched a major offensive along front lines in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah, using ballistic missiles, drones and artillery as ground forces attempted to advance towards government-held territory along the Red Sea coast.
The fighting has centred on areas west of Taiz and around al-Makha, a government-held port near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
A Yemeni official in Aden told the AFP news agency that the Houthis were seeking to capture hills overlooking Bab al-Mandeb and al-Makha before pushing towards the coast.
Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry, reporting from Sanaa, said Houthi forces had made gains in western Taiz.
“According to military officials from the internationally recognised government, the Houthis have been able to take some of those territories,” Mawry said. “In western Taiz, they’ve managed to take over a strategic military base, which is settled on top of a strategic mountain and gives the Houthis an overview of the entire area.”
Mawry said there had been particularly heavy fighting around al-Barah and Maqbanah, where a main road is used to resupply government forces stationed in Taiz and al-Makha.
More than 120 fighters have been killed since the Houthi offensive began, according to an AFP tally, making the clashes among Yemen’s deadliest in years.
Several civilians were also reported killed and others injured after a ballistic missile hit a restaurant in the al-Makha area, according to government-run Saba TV.
On Saturday, at least four civilians were killed and nine others injured in a Houthi missile strike on a crowded road in southwestern Yemen, according to Saba news agency.
The attack by the Iran-backed group on Saturday targeted a gathering of civilians along the strategic Heijah al-Abd Road, south of Taiz city, Saba said, citing local and medical sources.
The Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 and subsequently took control of much of northern and western Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition of Arab countries to intervene in support of the internationally recognised government in March 2015.
A United Nations-brokered truce in April 2022 sharply reduced fighting. Although the agreement formally expired six months later, large-scale hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces remained relatively limited and Saudi Arabia pursued negotiations with the group.
No comprehensive peace agreement followed, however, leaving front lines largely frozen rather than ending the conflict.
That fragile status quo came under increasing pressure after the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on February 28, but tensions escalated further in July with the government air force strike on the Houthi-held Sanaa International Airport, preventing an Iranian aircraft from landing.
The modern Yemeni Air Force was created after North and South Yemen unified in 1990, bringing together two militaries equipped with both Soviet and Western aircraft.
Its fleet subsequently included MiG-21 and MiG-29 fighters, Su-22 fighter-bombers, US-made F-5 fighters and a range of helicopters and transport aircraft.
But Yemen’s armed forces fractured when the Houthis seized Sanaa and the political crisis descended into war in 2014 and 2015.
When Saudi Arabia intervened soon after, its coalition targeted airbases, air-defence systems and combat aircraft in a bid to prevent the Houthis from making use of Yemen’s air force.
That left the Saudi-led coalition – rather than the Yemeni government’s own depleted air force – providing much of the air power supporting government forces during the subsequent war.
Saudi-led coalition aircraft conducted tens of thousands of air raids between March 2015 and the 2022 truce, striking Houthi military positions and providing air support during major government ground offensives. The campaign also caused extensive civilian casualties and became one of the most controversial aspects of the war.
Between 2014 and 2022, Human Rights Watch documented dozens of apparently unlawful coalition air attacks on homes, markets, hospitals, schools, detention centres and other civilian sites.
In 2024, the US and the United Kingdom launched a new round of air attacks against Houthi positions in Yemen following strikes on Israel-linked shipping in the Red Sea. Earlier this year, the US Pentagon disclosed that US military attacks against Yemen’s Houthis killed 153 civilians in 2025 and wounded another 243. The US had previously denied its attacks had caused civilian deaths.
The conflict in Yemen has caused a huge humanitarian crisis. In 2021, the UN estimated that 377,000 people had died in Yemen since 2014, with 60 percent the result of food shortages and lack of accessible health services.
Previously relying on Saudi-led coalition air force power, the government’s decision to deploy its own warplanes now comes as it tries to blunt a Houthi offensive that initially made gains across several fronts in western Taiz and threatened the main road linking Taiz with the Red Sea port of al-Makha.
Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemeni American analyst and former spokesperson for Yemen’s embassy in Washington, told Al Jazeera that the Houthis had achieved “some initial gains during a surprise, multi-axis offensive across western Taiz” this week, temporarily capturing positions and threatening areas overlooking the Taiz-al-Makha corridor.
But those advances did not produce the wider breakthrough the group appears to have sought, he said.
“The front did not collapse, the Taiz-al-Makha corridor was not severed, and attempts to expand the offensive towards other strategically important positions were stopped,” al-Basha added.
Government and allied forces recovered much of the territory lost during the first day of fighting, according to al-Basha, while Houthi advances on several other axes were contained or repelled.
The government has since sent reinforcements, and the use of aircraft gives those forces another means of attacking Houthi positions and concentrations as they try to retake high ground and prevent the group from cutting the Taiz-al-Makha road.
Al-Basha said Jabal Numan, overlooking the Taiz-al-Makha road, is one of the most important remaining contested areas, while a Houthi attempt to capture Jabal Dhu Ba’s, north of Hays, was repelled by National Resistance forces.
Taking such high ground could allow the Houthis to observe and threaten government supply routes, while losing it could make further advances towards al-Makha substantially more difficult.
“The first day therefore ended with a mixed battlefield picture,” he said. “The Houthis gained ground through the initial surprise and speed of their multi-axis assault, but much of that ground was subsequently recovered.”
The arrival of new government-aligned forces, coupled with air support, could make it harder for the Houthis to repeat their initial breakthrough.
“The next phase is likely to be more difficult,” al-Basha said. “Both sides are reinforcing, several positions remain contested, and control of Jabal Numan remains a key immediate objective.
“The coming hours will likely centre on attempts by anti-Houthi forces to recover the mountain, consolidate their lines and prevent another Houthi push towards the Taiz-al-Macha corridor.”
EASYJET’S well-loved Big Orange Sale has returned – and there are some VERY cheap flights and holidays on offer.
More than 780,000 seats are on sale with up to 20 per cent off.
The sale is on until September 15, although the sooner you book, the better deals you will find.
And you can plan ahead as the flights in the sale are for anytime between September 14, 2026 to March 18, 2027.
But where can you go?
Some of the cheapest flights include Edinburgh to Belfast for £14.99, but lots of flights to Europe are under £20.
For example, you could fly to Alicante from London Gatwick from £18.99.
Over in Bristol there are flights to Malaga for £18.99, or go to Amsterdam from Glasgow for £18.49.
Or head over to London Luton and you could fly to Antalya or Barcelona for £18.99.
Other airports you can fly from in the UK include Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle, with destinations across Spain, France, Morocco and Portugal are also on offer.
EasyJet has 30 new flight destinations too, including Newcastle to Marrakech and Tenerife, and London airports to Sharm el Sheikh and Pristina.
The sale also includes easyJet holidays too, with up to £400 off.
Using the cost ORANGESALE, it can be used on any holidays that depart before October 31, 2027.
The biggest saving is for holidays that cost £4,000 or more, with £400, although you can also get £50 off holidays worth at least £500.
A NEW premium economy seat is set to change the way you fly – with business class-like privacy screens.
Emirates has revealed its new seats, with premium usually only a small jump up from economy (often with more legroom and better food).
However, the designs show something much closer to a business class seat too.
Launching on the Airbus A350, they will be the first fully electrically powered premium economy seats.
This means with a flick of the button, you can choose from ‘lounge mode’ to ‘meal mode’.
Don’t worry about annoying the person behind you when you recline – each seat is built into a ‘cradle’ so it doesn’t affect them.
But the highlight is the privacy screen between seats, the first ever for premium economy seats.
The divider can be lowered if sitting with family or friends, or raised and locked into position.
The new seats will be laid out in a 2-3-2 layout, with 28 seats in the cabin.
Pitch will be up to 39 inches – compared to most having around 38 inches – as well as 50.8cm width.
Other perks include wireless charging – a first for premium economy – as well as USB-C chargers and phone holders.
The new premium seats are part of wider regeneration of the plane cabins.
Recently, the airline unveiled the new economy seats with built in adjustable headrests.
Called the U-Dream Headrest, it means you can ditch the travel pillow as the headrest pulls down to offer neck support.
There are also plans to launch the world’s first ever private bathrooms onboard, albeit only for first class passengers.
Here’s what it is like to fly business class with Emirates.
BlackJack3D
Solana (SOL-USD) has launched Payment Channels, allowing AI agents to authorize a spending limit once and make multiple payments without requiring approval for every transaction.
The feature lets AI agents pay for things like data, computing power, and AI-generated answers
United States President Donald Trump’s face has officially found its way onto the country’s currency.
On Tuesday at 12pm Eastern Time (16:00 GMT), the US Mint began circulating – and selling – a “once-in-a-generation” $1 coin bearing Trump’s likeness to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
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The gold-coloured coins feature Trump’s portrait on one side, alongside inscriptions of “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST”. On the reverse is an illustration of the US presidential seal with “250” inscribed on its shield.
The US Mint says the coins “capture the spirit, pride, and legacy of a nation approaching its landmark anniversary”.
It’s the first time in nearly 100 years that a living person has been featured on US currency, drawing a heavy dose of criticism, since such honours are largely reserved for long-dead dignitaries.
How did this $1 coin come to be? Here’s what you need to know:
Since Trump returned to the White House last year, the administration has taken steps to put his name or image on an array of buildings and items, including the Kennedy Center, the US Institute of Peace, National Parks passes, a limited-edition passport and a $1m “gold card” visa that was announced last year.
The Trump administration has tied some of those efforts to celebrations of the country’s semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
On July 15, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent first announced the coin in a post on social media. Bessent said the coin “celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all”.
The Trump administration has also pointed to another anniversary coin as a precedent for the Trump-branded $1 piece.
In 1926, for the 150th anniversary of the country, the US Mint struck a coin featuring side-by-side portraits of George Washington and Calvin Coolidge, a president who was in office at the time.
But critics have pointed out that the 1926 coin was commemorative and not intended for circulation as currency.
In May, Bessent also said preparations were under way to print a new $250 banknote featuring Trump’s face.
Bessent added that the Trump administration was seeking congressional approval for the new bill.
Despite the coin being valued at $1, consumers can purchase a 25-coin roll for $61 or a 100-coin bag for $154.50 — a significant mark-up.
While the coins are being sold at a premium, the US Mint emphasises they are not solely decorative.
They are valid currency and can be used to make everyday purchases, just like a $1 bill.
US federal law states: “Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities.”
Congress passed that law in 1866 after a Department of the Treasury official, Spencer M Clark, put his own face on a note valued at five cents, angering lawmakers.
However, during his first term, Trump signed legislation known as the Circulating Collection Coin Redesign Act of 2020 (CCRA), which gave the Treasury the authority to mint $1 coins “with designs emblematic of the United States semiquincentennial”.
That law prohibits the portrait of “any person, living or dead” on the reverse side of those coins. However, Trump’s image on the new $1 coin appears on the obverse — the front of the coin — meaning it likely complies with the law.
Late last year, Democratic Senators Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Jeff Merkley of Oregon introduced legislation that would block Trump from placing his face on the coin.
“While monarchs put their faces on coins, America has never had and never will have a king,” Cortez Masto said. “Our legislation would codify this country’s long-standing tradition of not putting living Presidents on American coins. Congress must pass it without delay.” Their bill did not become law.
The Treasury Department and US Mint did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
Search and rescue operations under way as authorities lose contact with 10 crew members after a vessel collision near Istanbul.
Published On 2 Sep 20262 Sep 2026
Turkiye’s coastguard has launched a search and rescue operation after two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided off Istanbul and contact was lost with one vessel and its crew of 10.
The collision took place at 3am (00:00 GMT) in the Marmara Sea a little more than 20 miles (32 kilometres) south of Silivri, a suburb of Turkey’s largest city, the Istanbul governor’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.
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Contact was lost with the crew of the Tugberk Imamoglu, flagged to Turkey, after the collision with the Turkish-flagged Alsu, which appeared undamaged, the governor’s office said.
“Numerous naval units from the coast guard’s Marmara and Bosphorus Command and a coast guard helicopter were dispatched to the scene,” the office said.
DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,
US says it is attacking IRGC targets following ‘attempted attacks’ on ships in Strait of Hormuz.
Published On 1 Sep 20261 Sep 2026
The United States military says it is conducting new strikes against Iran as fighting renews between the two countries.
The Middle East-based Central Command (CENTCOM) of the US military said on Tuesday that it was hitting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets.
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“The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region,” CENTCOM said.
Iran has previously responded to similar US attacks, so the strikes risk sparking a new cycle of fighting.
Iranian semiofficial news agency Tasnim reported explosions in the south of the country, including in Konarak, Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island.
Tuesday’s strikes follow an exchange of attacks on Sunday when the US military struck Larak Island in southern Iran and Tehran retaliated with missile launches against a base housing American troops in Jordan.
The fighting on Sunday saw the first attacks by both countries since July. The administration of US President Donald Trump had said that it was shifting its strategy from military strikes to intense economic pressure on Iran.
The US has imposed a naval siege on Iranian ports while threatening Tehran’s trade partners with secondary sanctions.
But Iran continues to assert its control over Hormuz – a major artery for the global energy trade. However, in recent weeks, Trump and his aides have said that the US is managing to get millions of barrels of oil through the strait daily despite the Iranian blockade.
Still, attacks on ships around the strait have been reported almost daily.
On Monday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said an oil tanker was hit by three “unknown projectiles” while transiting through Hormuz.
More to come…
BUTLIN’S has announced that eight new shows will launch at all three parks in 2027.
The new shows include Britain’s Got Talent and DreamWorks’ Madagascar musical.
Britain’s Got Talent will headline every school holiday break in 2027 with the talent show brought to life in Studio 36 across the Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness resorts.
Each show will be hosted by a mystery celebrity presenter and feature a line-up of faces seen on the TV show.
Guests can even show off their own talents as well.
Every break from February Half Term will then also featureDreamWorks’ Madagascar musical with Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo.
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The much-loved film will be transformed into a musical, following the friends as they escape New York to head to Madagascar.
On selected Showtime Midweek breaks, families with kids under the age of five can join children’s TV star Andy Day with Andy’s Dino- Rap.
Other shows include K-Pop Forever on every school holiday break and a new Animal Guyz show from February Half Term.
There will also be three new West End-style productions including A Billion Streams, which will feature some of the world’s biggest songs and Playtime Party with Billy and Bonnie Bear.
What makes it even better is that you could head to one of the resorts during February Half Term for just £54 – which is £13.50 per person or just £3.50 per person, per night.
Mike Godolphin, Entertainment Director at Butlin’s, said: “As the Home of Entertainment, live shows are at the heart of what we do, and our 2027 line-up is one of our most exciting yet.
“We’re taking things to another level by bringing Britain’s Got Talent to our resorts for the first time, with celebrity presenters and performers that families will recognise from the show.
“From Madagascar and K-pop to dinosaurs and some of the biggest songs in the world, we’ve created a line-up with something for every age.
“Best of all, it’s all part of the Butlin’s experience, so families can enjoy brilliant live entertainment throughout their break at no extra cost.”
Aug. 30 (UPI) — NASA used SpaceX‘s Falcon Heavy rocket to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope into space Sunday for a 1 million-mile journey to study some of the universe’s deepest secrets.
The rocket launched at 7:26 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Falcon Heavy rocket separated 31 minutes into the flight and returned back to the launch site for later reuse.
There had been a 60% chance of favorable weather for the launch.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called the launch of the telescope “exactly the kind of success story we want to see across NASA.”
“Delivered ahead of schedule and on budget, this mission reflects more than a decade of dedication from the NASA workforce and our industry partners. Now, Roman will give us a new atlas of the universe, push the boundaries of discovery, and demonstrate what is possible when America’s space program pairs bold ambition with disciplined execution.”
NASA said the telescope deployed its solar panels and lower instrument sun shade 1 hour and 23 minutes after launch. In the coming days, it will also deploy its high-gain antenna and a visor-like deployable aperture cover, perform two course corrections, and power on the Coronagraph Instrument.
In a few weeks, the telescope’s Wide Field Instrument — an infrared camera considered to be its primary instrument — will activate.
The Roman Space Telescope will travel 1 million miles in three months to reach its final orbit, a location called the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point. There, it’s expected to rapidly scan the sky and survey the universe about 1,000 times faster than the Hubble Space Telescope.
NASA said it expects to release its first images from the Roman Space Telescope in early 2027.
It’s back-to-school time for the Broad.
The Broad museum is launching a new educational initiative, it announced on Saturday. “Our Block, Our Stories” will pair students with contemporary artists to explore how those artists have been inspired by their local neighborhoods, communities and personal experiences.
The program, open to grades 3 through 12, includes off-site activities and field trips to the museum. The Broad is paying for students’ transport to the museum.
The inaugural project will focus on South Los Angeles students and spotlight L.A. artist Lauren Halsey. Students will visit Halsey’s South L.A. sculpture garden, “sister dreamer, lauren halsey’s architectural ode to tha surge n splurge of south central los angeles,” to explore themes of neighborhood, memory and belonging. Halsey’s work, which debuted in March, was presented by Los Angeles Nomadic Division and curated by LAND co-founder Christine Y. Kim.
Students will then, on the same day, travel to the Broad for guided tours, discussions and writing prompts. They’ll be encouraged to connect their personal experiences to works in the museum’s collection while also considering how they might creatively express their own life stories, from their individual communities, through art. April De Leon, Broad interim school program manager, is overseeing the program.
“It’s so we can bring hundreds of young people [to the museum] so they can be inspired to be creative — and in a way that helps their community, gives back to their community, transforms their community and their city,” said Ed Patuto, Broad director for audience engagement. “We’ll look at how other artists, too — like Mark Bradford, John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres — deal with their neighborhoods and opportunities in their neighborhoods for inspiration.”
The museum will provide educators with on-site worksheets and background materials on the artists, along with other pre-visit and post-visit resources in English and Spanish.
Field trips to the museum begin Sept. 18, though the Broad is still enrolling schools in the program. It’s giving priority to schools and youth organizations in and around South L.A. The Halsey program runs through Dec. 11.
Lauren Halsey’s South L.A. sculpture garden, “sister dreamer.”
(Allen Chen @_h_studio)
Patuto said that Halsey was the perfect artist to launch the program. Not only is her work represented in the Broad’s collection, but “she’s an artist who’s influenced by her community and, like a Mark Bradford, is actually building something in her community, for her community,” he said. “And that needs to be supported by arts institutions around the city.”
The idea behind the sculpture park, when Halsey first conceived it about 16 years ago, she said in an interview, was a space that represents and pays homage to the neighborhood, both aesthetically and conceptually.
“The heroes, the poetics, the material culture, the everyday,” she said. “But also, that it’s a sculpture park that serves — and for free — the neighborhood and L.A. at large.”
The Broad says it will continue to develop “learning modules” over the next several years.
The next one will launch in conjunction with the upcoming exhibition, “Has the myth been shattered,” opening in November. The show of Broad collection works spanning six decades, as curated by Jen Vanegas Rocha, addresses myths “and the way social media, mass media, can kind of mythologize things that happened to us,” Patuto said.
Free, youth-oriented cultural programming such as “Our Block, Our Stories” is a game-changer, Halsey said, adding that field trips she took to LACMA in middle school helped give her confidence to create and solidify her identity as an artist.
She hopes the Broad’s new educational initiative does the same for other young artists.
“It builds pride in one’s own neighborhood and validates experiences and expands on the possibility of what you can be as a young child and sparks your imagination,” she said. “I didn’t have that growing up in South Central, this access to art. So it’s really cool that the Broad came in and is partnering with me to bring this amazing, free programming to the neighborhood.”
BRITISH Airways has launched its September sale making it the ideal time to book a holiday to get over the seasons changing.
The September sale started yesterday and will run until September 29, with loads of destinations included.
Travellers can get discounts on British Airways Holidays as well as flights.
For Europe, there are a number of Club Europe (business class) seats in the sale including to the Dutch capital – Amsterdam – which costs from £120 per way.
You could pay the same price and head to Berlin in Germany.
Or if you fancy some last minute Spanish sun, you could head to Ibiza for £120 per way or Madrid for £130 per way.
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Perhaps you want to splash out on a long-haul flight? Well, there are plenty of options.
If you fancy heading off to the US, you could travel to New York from £401 return.
Perhaps you want somewhere sunnier? Then you could go to Los Angeles from £401.
For those who have always wanted to go to Australia, return flights to Melbourne cost from £846 – and the timing couldn’t be better as Australia is due to host some pretty major sporting events.
Alternatively, if you want to see crystal clear waters and white sand beaches you could fly to Barbados from £523 return.
There are some great British Airways Holidays packages in the sale too.
For example, you could head to Barcelona for two nights between November 30 and December 2, staying at the Parador de Cardona with return flights included for £163 per person.
Alternatively, you could go on holiday to the Algarve in Portugal for seven nights at the four-star Alcazar Hotel and Spa from £319 per person.
If you book between now and September 1, British Airways Holidays will offer members of The British Airways Club 20,000 bonus Avios points when booking a holiday as part of the sale.
Andrew Flintham, Managing Director of British Airways Holidays, said: “We know many customers are already thinking about their next break and looking for opportunities to escape the everyday.
“Whether it’s a relaxing beach escape, a cultural city break or an unforgettable far-flung adventure, our September Sale offers great value on flights and holidays across our network.”
Virgin’s new route will start in October(Image: GETTY)
Virgin Atlantic is opening its newest route, offering travellers a direct 14-hour flight from London Heathrow to the largest island in Thailand. It will become the only direct route between London and Phuket, with most other direct flights to Thailand ending in Bangkok instead.
Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and a popular resort destination famous for its long sandy beaches, jaw-dropping scenery and rich culture. Phuket International Airport itself is a tourist attraction as the runway sits right next to Mai Khao Beach, making for some iconic photographs as beachgoers can watch planes coming in for landing just overhead.
Virgin’s new route is expected to launch on October 18, 2026, after being announced last autumn. The Boeing 787-9 planes hold more than 250 seats and will be taking flight seasonally to Phuket three times a week.
Phuket’s winter season runs from November to February, but even these cooler months can see average daytime highs hitting over 30°C and cooler evenings rarely dipping below 20°C. This is also the dry season for the island, following the heavy summer rains and monsoon season.
The new route adds to the winter sun destinations Virgin offers British travellers, with other hotspots including the Maldives, Dubai, Cape Town and year-round Caribbean options.
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic, said when the route was announced last year: “We’re thrilled to introduce our new direct service to Phuket, giving our customers a flavour of one of Southeast Asia’s most captivating destinations.
“As well as making the trip more convenient, they can enjoy exploring Thailand’s unique heritage, natural beauty and delicious cuisine. We can’t wait for our customers to experience our trademark hospitality on their next unforgettable journey.”
Virgin has also partnered with Bangkok Airways, allowing travellers to use the new Phuket route and get easy connections over land and sea to Thailand’s other islands, including Bangkok, Koh Samui and Krabi.
The London to Phuket flights will be taking off every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday this winter, with return flights leaving the island on Thursday, Saturday and Monday.
Travellers wanting to head to the Andaman Sea before October 18 are still able to book their holiday with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, but they will be flying on an Emirates plane with a connection in Dubai.
Seats on Virgin’s inaugural Phuket flight are currently priced around £1,300 for a one-way in economy and up to £4,097 for upper class seats.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is launching an Ebola vaccination campaign to tackle the deadliest outbreak of the virus the country has ever seen. It is using a vaccine for a different strain of the virus, since there is no vaccine yet for the outbreak’s Bundibugyo variant.
Published On 28 Aug 202628 Aug 2026
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Richard Osman is excited for Netflix’s live competition show(Image: Getty)
Fans of tense competitions are in for a treat as Netflix has announced a new show with a life-changing cash prize.
Netflix has unveiled an intense competition that could see one person win £501,000, with none other than Richard Osman and Gary Lineker at the helm. The show is a “high-stakes” darts competition that will see amateurs go up against the world number one, Luke Littler.
Beat Luke Littler is the name of the Netflix show in question, and it offers people one chance to win one perfect leg of 501, earning them the £501,000 prize if they are able to beat the 19-year-old champion.
A nationwide hunt to find the 20 competitors brave enough to take on the challenge has opened, with regional heats due to be held in Manchester and London in September. The show will air live on Netflix on October 30, with Lineker as host and Osman as the expert analyst.
Darts prodigy Luke ‘The Nuke became the youngest world champion in the sport’s history at just 17 years old. A two-time PDC player of the year, he was recently named in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list. He featured in the Netflix sports documentary series Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen and appeared as a guest on The Rest Is Football.
The show marks Lineker’s return to live sport following his departure from the BBC last year. He shared in a statement: “I am delighted to be deepening my relationship with Netflix after such a brilliant experience with The Rest Is Football at the World Cup, and Beat Luke Littler feels like exactly the kind of unpredictable, live event television that gets me excited – I cannot wait to see who fancies their chances.”
Osman, who will star in a role similar to that on Pointless, said: “As a huge darts fan, and proud owner of a signed photo of Jocky Wilson, I couldn’t be more excited to join the amazing Beat Luke Littler live show.
“He’s the greatest player in the world. But 20 legs in a row? I honestly think someone is going to win that £501k. It’s going to be an incredible night.” Littler will be asked to play 20 separate legs against the 20 different opponents, meaning each qualifier only needs one successful leg to beat him.
However, this will still be a huge challenge given the level Littler has reached in 2026. The 19-year-old has won every PDC major staged so far this year, according to dartsnews.com, retaining both the World Championship and World Matchplay, and his Blackpool title came with a record-breaking 111.04 tournament average.
Get Netflix free with Sky
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV bundle.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
He teased to Netflix’s Tudum: “Everyone thinks they can beat me. Now they get a chance to prove it.” Fans have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the concept and the interesting choice of experts. One joked: “That classic darts expert… Richard Osman.” Another quipped: “So Lineker buys a dartboard for the Rest Is Football studio and is now hosting darts shows? Come on.”
To watch Beat Luke Littler, viewers just need an active Netflix subscription. Once signed in, they will just need to select the Beat Luke Littler stream to tune in.
Beat Luke Littler arrives on Netflix on October 30
IF YOU are getting sad that the summer appears to be over in the UK, then it’s good news as TUI is launching holidays to three North African cities.
The new holidays will be to Fez, Rabat and Tangier in Morocco.
Head to Fez if you want to explore Morocco‘s oldest imperial city, with a number of medinas and souks to discover as well as hands-on workshops where you can learn traditional Moroccan crafts.
Make sure to get mint tea as well, which will set you back just £1.
Temperatures in September often exceed 30C as well.
A four-night break to Fez staying at the Hotel Nouzha on a bed and breakfast basis costs from £156 per person (£39 per person per night).
Read more on travel inspo
Alternatively, in Rabat you can head to the old medina where you will find a number of cosy cafes.
From the city, you can also head to the popular Chefchaouen, known as the ‘Blue City’ for its narrow streets full of blue buildings.
The city often reaches 30C in September.
A four-night holiday to Rabat staying at the Belere Rabat on a bed and breakfast basis costs from £213 per person (£53.25 per person per night).
And finally, in Tangier you can explore a slower-paced city, where highs usually sit around 28C in September.
Head to the Grand Socco, which is a lively market square that acts as the entrance to the old medina.
If you like history, head to the Kasbah museum which is inside the former sultan’s palace and has a colourful tiled courtyard.
A five-night holiday to Tangier, Morocco staying at the Fredj Hotel & Spa on a bed and breakfast basis costs from £321 per person (£64.20 per person per night).
Chris Logan, Commercial Director at TUI UK&I, said: “Morocco is a brilliant choice for customers looking for sunshine, culture and value close to home.
“From beach breaks in Agadir and Taghazout to the buzz of Marrakech, it’s a destination that gives holidaymakers so much choice in one short-haul trip.
“With packages at great prices, regional flying options and flight times of under four hours, Morocco is easy to get to from the UK.
“Some customers want the beach, some want the buzz of a city and others want to discover somewhere that feels a little more off the beaten track.
“With Fez, Rabat and Tangier now in our programme, we’re giving holidaymakers even more ways to experience Morocco and pack culture, value and sunshine into one easy getaway.”
MORE THAN 100 passengers were left stranded in Tunisia after their easyJet flight home was cancelled.
A number of travellers from Northern Ireland were due to fly back from Tunisia Enfidha-Hamamet Airport three days ago, when easyJet cancelled their flight and told them they had no other flights available for 10 days.
According to BBC News Northern Ireland, one man claimed to have spent £4,000 just to get home, having to fly via Brussels, while another passenger branded the situation “an absolute nightmare”.
Other passengers have noted how they have run out of medication for health issues.
The airline has since been heavily criticised for not offering enough support to the travellers and arranged a ‘rescue’ flight yesterday at 9:20pm.
According to the airport’s website, an easyJet flight to Belfast departed at 10:25pm.
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Around 100 people were booked onto the original flight which was cancelled.
One passenger, Martine Murray, said: “There has been a complete blackout of communication.
Another passenger, Natasha Dovbijenko, revealed that the hotel easyJet provided was very dirty as well.
Passengers were arranged a two-night stay at a nearby hotel, with the airline adding that other passengers who had sought alternative transport or accommodation would be reimbursed.
The original flight was cancelled due to a “technical issue and was unable to operate” according to the airline.
A spokesperson for the airline said: “We have been doing everything we can to support our customers, providing hotel accommodation and meals and we will be reimbursing expenses that may have been incurred.
“As alternative flight options including with other carriers are very limited at this busy time of year, we will be operating an additional direct flight from Enfidha to Belfast this evening and providing onward transfers home where needed.”
“The welfare of our customers is our highest priority and we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused.”
TUI is set to launch new flights to a pretty island with golden beaches and quaint villages
Next summer TUI will launch flights between the UK and Djerba in Tunisia.
The flights will take off from London Gatwick Airport twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.
Just three hours and 15 minutes from the UK, Djerba is known for its 34C weather, sandy beaches and Star Wars sights.
Even in winter you can still expect temperatures around 20C – much warmer than the UK.
As one of Tunisia‘s lesser-known islands, travellers can book a holiday to the island with TUI from £659.
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The island sits off Tunisia‘s south-east coast and across the island’s coast you will find resorts and pretty villages.
Travellers can book many different experiences on the island including seeing the desert, heading to cave villages and exploring Star Wars filming locations.
Away from the beaches, there are also sprawling souks to explore such as Houmt Souk.
Lisa Minot, Head of Travel, who recently visited, said: “Relatively undiscovered by us Brits, Djerba is a great-value option for those looking to explore beyond the Med favourites.
“The resemblance to the alleyways of Mykonos and Santorini is striking and my arty stroll ends at a small cafe under a sprawling canopy of trees in a sunlit square.
“But when I tell you a small cup of strong coffee here costs 25p, you’ll know I am nowhere near the trendy Greek isles.
“The small town of Erriadh sits at the centre of the island of Djerba —which was used as a filming location for Star Wars — just off the south coast of Tunisia.
“And at its heart is Djerbahood, the passion project of a famous French art gallery owner who convinced some of the world’s best street artists to travel to Djerba, and its inhabitants to allow their walls to be daubed.
“Now, more than 250 murals and sculptures have transformed the heart of the neighbourhood.”
You could stay at TUI BLUE Palm Beach Palace which is a beachfront, adults-focused hotel.
Alternatively, head to TUI MAGIC LIFE Penelope Beach, which is an all-inclusive resort ideal for family holidays, with sports, entertainment, food and drink included.
TUI UK & Ireland Managing Director Neil Swanson said: “Tunisia has been growing in popularity with our customers, and it is easy to see why.
“It offers sunshine, great beaches and really good value, which is exactly what many people are looking for when they are planning their next holiday.
“Djerba gives them all of that, but with something a bit different too. It has a lovely laid-back island feel, beautiful sandy beaches, warm temperatures for much of the year and plenty to explore if you want more than a week by the pool.
“By adding TUI Airways charter flights from London Gatwick, we are making it even easier for customers to get there as part of their TUI holiday.
“It is a brilliant option for families, couples and groups who want somewhere sunny, great value and a little less expected.”
