major

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (UPI) — South Korea’s Samsung SDI said Monday it collaborated with Columbia University to publish a paper on what it described as a major advance in futuristic lithium-metal batteries.

The study, published in Joule, one of the world’s leading peer-reviewed journals in energy science, discussed the development of a new electrolyte formulation designed to improve the lifespan and safety of lithium-metal batteries, according to Samsung SDI.

Lithium-metal batteries have been regarded as a next-generation technology because they can offer very high energy density, around 1.6 times that of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

However, their commercialization has been constrained by limited charge-discharge lifespans. Samsung SDI expected that the new findings could help address the challenges.

Once commercialized, Samsung SDI projected that lithium-metal batteries could bolster industries that require high energy density, including advanced wearable devices.

“The publication in Joule provides academic validation of our technology that improves the safety of lithium-metal batteries, which had long been considered a key weakness,” Samsung SDI Executive Vice President Joo Yong-lak said in a statement.

“We will continue to accelerate the development of next-generation battery technologies based on our global research network,” he added.

Yuan Yang, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at Columbia University, echoed the sentiment.

“This study represents a major improvement in lithium-metal battery performance through a new electrolyte formulation and brings commercialization of next-generation batteries one step closer,” he said.

The share price of Samsung SDI fell.61% on the Seoul bourse Monday. As a major affiliate of Samsung Group, the company is one of the world’s largest battery manufacturers.

Hundreds of flights departing and arriving in the UK have been cancelled across several airports due to dangerous weather conditions with passengers advised to contact their airlines

Flights departing and arriving at several UK airports have been cancelled due to dangerous weather conditions.

Storm Hernando is causing chaos in the USA and, as a result, hundreds of flights have been cancelled on Monday, February 23.

The weather conditions on the east coast of the USA have already caused thousands of flights to and from the region to be cancelled.

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Flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Dublin Airport have all been impacted by the storm.

The National Weather Service has warned: “A major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding across the Mid-Atlantic and north-east that may cause impossible travel conditions and power outages.”

Flights to JFK airport in New York, Newark airport in New Jersey and Boston airport are affected.

A huge 32 flights leaving from London Heathrow to JFK on Monday, February 23 have been cancelled. As well as departing flights, arrivals from the US destination have also been cancelled.

Three direct flights from Manchester have also been impacted. In Scotland, 35 flights that depart from Edinburgh have the second leg of their flight cancelled.

Posting on X, Dublin Airport said: “Due to adverse weather (Storm Hernando) on the east coast of the US, airlines have cancelled a number of flights due to operate to/from Dublin Airport on Monday.”

Dublin Airport said airlines had cancelled seven outbound and six inbound flights so far as a result of the storm.

Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines for the latest updates.

A MAJOR UK airport has launched new flight routes to 12 different destinations.

The planned expansion will see eight different airlines join the fleet.

London Gatwick airport is set to broaden its network ahead of summer this year.

The plans to include flights to 12 new locations will see the airport serve more than 230 destinations across Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Jet2, among seven other new airlines, will be serving Gatwick airport, bringing the total up to 62.

The popular holiday company will operate 29 routes throughout the summer holiday season, including destinations in Spain, Turkiye, Portugal, and Malta.

HEAVEN IS HELLENIC

I went to Greek island holiday resort where cast of Mamma Mia! stayed

GRAND DAME

I stayed at the grand 172-year-old hotel that is ‘London’s best connected’

This will create more than 300 jobs in the airport’s region with employees needed for the flight deck, cabin crew, engineering and ground operations.

Plus, hundreds more will be required through the wider supply chain.

The airport’s expansion will also see many existing airlines expanding their services too.

Royal Air Maroc will begin flights to Tetouan, Morocco, twice weekly from March 29, with Norwegian launching a new route to Aalborg, Denmark, starting April 2.

From May 15, Air Transat will introduce a service to Ottawa, Canada, and SWISS will increase its Zurich route to twice daily from March 29.

Speaking to The Brighton Argus, Pierre-Hugues Schmit, chief executive of London Gatwick, 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.”

The train rocks you to sleep and wakes you somewhere spectacular

Just one sleeper train ride away from a major English city is spectacular views, deserted beaches and waterfalls. Features Writer Kirsty Bosley branded it “one of the most magical days of her entire life”.

Just the previous evening, she had been stuck in gridlock at Birmingham’s Five Ways island, stressed and anxious about missing the Caledonian Sleeper – the train that lulls you to sleep in the midland city and rouses you in the Scottish Highlands.

She secured a ticket to whisk her from Brum to Inverness, awakening in Scotland following a 10-hour journey on the overnight service and granting roughly 12 hours there before her pre-booked return departure.

The purpose was straightforward: To see whether the Caledonian Sleeper merits booking, given it’s only recently begun collecting passengers in Birmingham. Kirsty gives her honest opinion on her trip…

Therefore, I was determined to cram in absolutely everything possible during those 12 hours – family-friendly attractions, trails for hikers, intimate experiences for lovers and tranquil spots for contemplation in the wilderness, much like the moment I was savouring on Dores Beach, reports Birmingham Live.

Furthermore, I aimed to accomplish everything whilst spending minimal money, surviving on Tunnocks Teacakes and Irn Bru alongside small portable snacks we grabbed en route. The day’s largest expense turned out to be the most worthwhile: a pre-paid £42 hire car from Enterprise.

After a brisk 15-minute stroll from the train station, we picked it up and embarked on our ambitious mission to navigate the entirety of Loch Ness (roughly 70 miles) in a single day.

Fuelled by a mere £15, we accomplished our goal, embarking on a clockwise journey that began with tears of joy as the loch unveiled itself, perfectly timed to Taylor Swift’s bridge from Cruel Summer blaring from the speakers.

We pulled over, rolled down the windows and danced roadside under the rising sun, brimming with anticipation for the perfect day ahead.

A masterclass in Loch Ness

Following our jubilant pit stop, our first destination was the Loch Ness Clansman Hotel to see the plaque commemorating Ozzy Osbourne’s nocturnal escapades in the loch, where he searched for Nessie alongside his son Jack.

Driving felt less like a chore and more like a pleasure with the constant backdrop of the Highlands. In Drumnadrochit, at the hotel where the monster tales originated, we made our second largest purchase of the day: £15 entry to The Loch Ness Centre, narrated in its entirety by David Tennant.

As we moved from room to room, we delved into the origins of the rumours, the ensuing frenzy, the history and geography of the land, and the Scottish myths and legends that lent an air of reality to the tale.

We also discovered the fascinating science behind why it’s impossible to definitively prove there isn’t a monster lurking in a body of water so extraordinarily deep that all the freshwater from every lake, reservoir and river in England and Wales combined couldn’t fill it.

Following that revelation, I found myself scrutinising the water far more intently, half-convinced there was a genuine possibility she might poke her enormous neck above the surface to greet us passing Brummies.

The sheer sense of wonder sparked by the centre’s masterclass justified the entrance fee entirely, as every subsequent free activity we undertook was now enhanced by our newfound knowledge.

We reached Urquhart Castle in remarkably quick time – a military ruin positioned directly on the water’s edge.

Walk-up admission costs £16 and whilst I was certain it would be spectacular to explore, we decided to save it for another visit now we were absolutely convinced we’d be returning. Boat excursions can transport you there, so that was immediately added to my ‘to-do’ list.

Enchanted woodlands and breathtaking vistas

We pressed on along the waterside A82 towards Invermoriston, the sort of place that appears lifted straight from an adventure film.

The Old Bridge spanning the thundering falls of the River Moriston, as it crashes dramatically towards Loch Ness, resembles something from a fairy tale. Despite being situated on the renowned Great Glen Way trail, it all felt like a mystical secret because remarkably few other visitors were present.

We parked up (parking is free, but donations are appreciated, as with many public toilets along the route) and embarked on a stroll into the woodland, pausing at the historic Summer House Victorian folly to soak in the surroundings, much like folks did years ago as salmon battled their way upstream.

Meandering through spongy clusters of radiant white reindeer lichen, pausing to observe the rapids and keeping an eye out for squirrels, I felt a sense of tranquillity wash over me. It’s a must-visit spot for any traveller – I wish every Brummie could experience it.

By the time we reached the South Shore, it was 2pm, and we’d managed to cover half the loch’s circumference in just four hours.

A brief pause for photos and laughter ensued before we rounded the southernmost point and were greeted by a view so breathtaking from the Suidhe Viewpoint that we had to pull over.

Another family of tourists arrived, and although we exchanged few words, our shared silence spoke volumes about the unforgettable, life-affirming moment we were experiencing. We swapped cameras to help each other capture proof of our presence in this extraordinary place. The wild beauty of our surroundings was almost overwhelming as we continued our journey.

Wildlife and waterfalls

We encountered a majestic stag who turned to regard our car. It felt like we’d stepped into an illustration on the front of a tin of special shortbread biscuits. Overhead, giant birds, possibly including a golden eagle, soared majestically.

Our next stop was the Falls of Foyers, a spectacular 140ft waterfall nestled within a forest inhabited by elusive red squirrels. Tunnocks Teacakes and Irn Bru proved insufficient fuel for the challenging descent down steep steps, but thankfully the Waterfall Cafe offered sausage rolls and other snacks to revive us.

With daylight fading, we passed by Boleskine House (the former residence of Aleister Crowley and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page), which was shut, though we went anyway simply to say we’d been, before heading off to find a man we’d discovered at The Loch Ness Centre.

Dusk – One final adventure

Steve Feltham is a renowned ‘Nessie Hunter’ who abandoned his family business, relationship and home to move from Dorset. Since 1991, he’s lived on the loch’s shores and has devoted himself to spotting ‘the monster’ ever since.

Yet his tale is really about leaving behind what doesn’t fulfil you and pursuing the life you desire. I desperately wanted to meet him before nightfall.

We reached his modest dwelling as the sky began transforming colours above Dores Beach. He wasn’t there, but after the dog-walkers departed, I chose to wait a whilst longer in case he returned.

The pebbled shoreline is magnificent, the surroundings breathtaking. I pondered whether Steve might welcome a new neighbour, though I knew Birmingham beckoned so I could pen this account.

Both Steve and Nessie remained beyond our grasp, only one possessing confirmed existence but both surrounded by legends I yearned to explore further. Returning to relinquish the rental car and hop back on what I’ll forever dub the ‘Loch Ness Express’, we bid farewell to it all, but only physically.

I was convinced that my spirit remained in Invermoriston, still on the hunt for red squirrels. I plan to retrieve her on the next available journey aboard the Caledonian Sleeper. This time around, I’ll be sure to pack sandwiches.

Road accidents, often linked to speeding, claim thousands of lives each year in Egypt.

A collision between a truck and a passenger pick-up in Egypt’s northeastern Port Said province has left 18 people dead, mostly fishermen, and three others injured, according to reports.

The crash at approximately 12:30pm local time (10:30 GMT) on Thursday occurred on the 30 June Axis highway, to the south of Port Said, according to Egypt’s state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.

Survivors of the collision are being treated in hospital, and public prosecutors have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident, according to Al-Ahram.

Images from the scene of the accident posted online showed the aftermath of the crash, with a pick-up truck crushed between two large cargo trucks and debris scattered across the road, The Associated Press (AP) news agency reports.

AP said the pick-up truck was transporting fishermen to work at fish farms in the coastal Port Said area.

Attending the inaugural meeting of United States President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly sent his condolences to the victims of the collision and ordered that financial assistance be provided to relatives of the deceased and injured.

Madbouly said in a statement posted on Facebook that he was following up on the incident through reports from the governor of Port Said province.

Deadly road accidents are common on Egypt’s roads and claim thousands of lives each year in crashes often involving microbuses and heavy trucks. Speeding, poor road conditions, and lax enforcement of traffic laws have been cited as contributing factors in collisions.

In June last year, a truck collided with a minibus, killing 19 people, most of them teenage girls, according to local officials.

Reporting from Washington — Sen. Elizabeth Warren took the first major step toward a White House run Monday, announcing a presidential exploratory committee as she attempts to redefine populism for the left in the age of Donald Trump.

“These aren’t cracks that families are falling into. They’re traps. America’s middle class is under attack,” the Massachusetts Democrat said in a 4½-minute video posted online. “Billionaires and big corporations decided they wanted more of the pie, and they enlisted politicians to cut ’em a fatter slice.”

Aside from a few images of Trump and polarizing figures in his administration, Warren’s largely biographical video steered clear of directly taking on the president. Instead, it echoed some of the complaints that brought him to power by asserting that “corruption is poisoning our democracy” and that government has “become a tool for the wealthy and well-connected.”

Warren is the biggest name to take a formal step into a race that is expected to feature a historically large primary field for a party that is eager to displace Trump in the White House.

A fundraising juggernaut who was among the first to tap into the anger of a resurgent left, Warren figures to be a major factor in the Democratic primary with a significant chance of winning the nomination.

Some detractors say Warren would have a hard time in a general election, however, both because some voters see her as too far to the left and because the former Harvard University law professor’s style can appear pedantic and lecturing to some ears. She has also been dogged by controversy over her thin claims of Native American ancestry.

But she has proved adept at capturing the frustrations and aspirations of many on the left. She’s skilled at putting core beliefs about the need for government regulation and income distribution into simple terms on videos that go viral. And she has successfully used her position on Senate committees to grill administration figures from both parties whom she has accused of going easy on big banks and other powerful players — attracting accusations of grandstanding from detractors.

“I’m in this fight all the way,” she said at a Monday afternoon news conference in Cambridge, Mass., using her favorite word, “fight,” multiple times.

The rhetoric puts her at the forefront of an intraparty debate over how best to take on the president. Warren believes in a combative approach based on a left-wing alternative to his right-wing populism.

She has long positioned herself as a fighter — years ago saying she had “thrown rocks” at those in the wrong. She relishes an image as a leader who will not back down, even in occasional battles against her own party.

“She was a pioneer of a lot of the populist themes that are coursing through the veins of Democratic primary voters, and she’s able to channel their frustration at the current administration,” said Colin Reed, a consultant who has run a campaign against Warren and later headed a Republican opposition research group.

Like Trump, Warren attempts to channel the anger in the middle class over the decline in employment in the nation’s industrial base and stagnant incomes for a large share of American workers.

Unlike Trump, she favors more government regulation and spending — including Medicare for all — to lift more people from poverty. She also opposes him on the long list of issues of cultural and ethnic diversity that have become litmus tests for both parties.

Warren, a policy wonk, is also far different from Trump in governing style and temperament.

Other potential candidates say a more uplifting message is needed to counter Trump’s grievance-filled politics. Warren, asked about her polarizing reputation on Monday, was unapologetic, saying those unhappy with her are the drug companies, big banks and others who benefit from the status quo.

In announcing on New Year’s Eve, Warren jumped ahead of several Senate colleagues who are expected to join the race soon, including Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Cory Booker of New Jersey. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas and former Vice President Joe Biden are also among the long list of Democrats considering the race.

Warren, who is completing her first term in the Senate, is 69, younger than Trump and other potential front-runners such as Biden and Sanders, but far from the generational change some in her party are urging.

Her early entry into the 2020 primary race, on the last day of 2018 calendar year, demonstrates the eagerness of potential candidates to stake a claim on party support, fundraising and public attention.

She is entering the primaries at a time when the Democratic Party is not only grappling with its economic message; it is also trying to come to grips with its increasing diversity. Hillary Clinton’s failure to energize enough voters of color was one of many reasons she could not defeat Trump, and many Democrats believe that they must make a stronger appeal to minority voters.

Warren, whose base of support in Massachusetts is largely white, signaled her intent to court minority voters in her launch video, which showed clips of her marching in an LGBTQ parade in a feather boa and attacking Trump’s divisiveness while pointing to the harsher effects that economic inequality has had on people of color.

Trump has gone after her repeatedly, mocking her claims to Native American heritage with the nickname “Pocahontas.”

In a Fox interview Monday, Trump continued to belittle her, saying he would “love to run against her” and attacking her mental fitness by saying “you’d have to ask her psychiatrist” whether she could win the election.

Warren’s attempts to put the Native American controversy to rest, including a DNA test this year that showed trace genetic links to Native American peoples, have largely fallen flat, drawing criticism not only from Republicans but prominent Native Americans as well.

Several reviews of her records, including an exhaustive investigation by the Boston Globe, have found that her ethnicity claims played no role in her hiring at a series of law school jobs, including at Harvard.

“Her message is a resonant one, but in terms of the messenger there are questions that weren’t there a few months ago,” said Tracy Sefl, a Democratic consultant who has been involved in many presidential races.

Sefl called the imperative to defeat Trump in 2020 “almost beyond description” and said “Democrats will be less inclined to choose a messenger who’s been called into question.”

Warren has tried to counter another potential liability — her image as part of the coastal elite — by telling her life story, which she also highlighted in Monday’s launch video.

She grew up in Oklahoma to middle-class parents. Her mother took a job at Sears when her father was unable to work following a heart attack.

A champion high school debater, she was able to make it to college and then law school while also starting a family.

Those early struggles fit within her economic argument that middle- and working-class families are often left without a safety net in the face of healthcare emergencies and other setbacks.

As a member of the Democratic minority in the Senate, Warren can’t claim many legislative accomplishments, but has succeeded in commanding attention.

She has kept financial regulation at the center of her message, the issue that brought her to prominence as an academic and allowed her to first make her mark on national politics while serving as a special advisor in the Obama administration. In that role, she advocated for and helped establish a consumer protection agency as part of the financial services and banking overhaul passed in the aftermath of the financial collapse.

Warren, a longtime critic of Wall Street, was passed over by President Obama to lead the agency on a permanent basis after Republicans made it clear they would fight her nomination. She ran for the Senate instead, winning her first term in 2012.

Despite hostility toward her policies from the financial industry, which contributes heavily to many candidates in both parties, Warren has been an especially strong fundraiser since entering politics. In her first Senate race, she raised what were then record levels of donations in both small online contributions and larger sums from the party’s big players.

She is a large draw on the campaign trail, where she gestures emphatically as she talks about what she characterizes as the “rigged” system that favors the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of middle-class people.

Warren stayed out of the 2016 race, believing Clinton was unbeatable in the primary. Since then, other contenders for the White House, including Sanders, have captured much of the attention and energy that had been directed toward her.

Questions intensified about whether her moment had passed after signs of somewhat tepid support cropped up in her home state this year.

She easily won reelection against an unknown candidate, drawing 60% of the vote, but her vote total was lower than that of Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, and polls showed the majority of Massachusetts voters did not want her to make a presidential run. Many Democrats preferred former Gov. Deval Patrick, who recently bowed out.

The Boston Globe editorial board, one of the most liberal in the country, urged her to reconsider a bid, saying she had become a “divisive figure” on the national stage.

“There’s no shame in testing the waters and deciding to stay on the beach,” the board wrote.

Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington »

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman

In the past two days, the U.S. Air Force has sent six of its 16 E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) radar planes to bases in Europe. Two of those jets are now headed to the Middle East, and the others will likely follow, as a massive buildup of U.S. airpower continues ahead of potential strikes on Iran. The deployment of nearly 40 percent of all Air Force E-3s underscores how critical the aircraft remain, but also the challenges of meeting intense operational demands with a rapidly aging and shrunken-down fleet. It also further calls into question a puzzling Pentagon move to axe the purchase of replacement E-7 Wedgetail jets, which Congress has now reversed.

Readers can first get caught up on the full scope of the U.S. buildup around the Middle East in our recent reporting here.

As of yesterday, a pair of E-3s had arrived at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom after traveling from their home station at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. Four more AWACS jets from Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma had also touched down at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Online flight tracking data shows that the E-3s at Mildenhall have now departed and are headed toward the Middle East. There is widespread expectation that those aircraft, as well as the ones at Ramstein, will eventually make their way to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

As noted, the U.S. Air Force currently has just 16 E-3s remaining in its inventory, roughly half the size of what it was just a few years ago. Six aircraft represent 37.5 percent of the total fleet. However, not all Sentry radar planes are available for operational tasking at any one time. For example, the average mission-capable rate for the E-3 fleet during the 2024 Fiscal Year was 55.68 percent, according to a story last year from Air & Space Forces Magazine. At the time of writing, this appears to be the most recent readiness data the Air Force has released for the E-3s. As such, the six forward-deployed AWACS jets represent an even larger percentage of the aircraft that can actually be sent out on real-world missions. This includes providing radar coverage for alert scrambles of fighter jets defending the homeland. This happens in some circumstances in the lower 48 states, but it is standard practice in Alaska, where there are usually a couple of E-3s typically stationed, with one on alert to launch in support of the fighters, which happens regularly. This is something we will come back to later on.

As TWZ has already noted, the deployment of E-3s to the Middle East is one of the clearest indicators that the final pieces for a major air campaign against Iran are falling into place. We made a similar observation about the appearance of AWACS aircraft flying close to the Venezuelan coast last December in the lead-up to the operation to capture that country’s dictatorial leader, Nicolas Maduro.

The E-3 is best known as a flying radar station, with its array contained inside a spinning dome mounted on top of the rear of the fuselage. From its perch, the Sentry can track hostile and friendly air and naval movements across a broad area of the battlespace. Its look-down radar capability offers particular advantages for spotting and tracking lower flying threats, including drones and cruise missiles. Kamikaze drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, would be a central feature in any Iranian retaliatory attacks on American assets on land and at sea in the Middle East.

However, each Sentry, which typically flies with 13 to 19 mission specialists onboard in addition to a four-person flight crew, is much more than just its radar. It has other passive sensors and an advanced communications suite. Its combined capabilities make it a key battle management node during operations, and not just in the aerial domain.

E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning & Control System. Take-Off, Landing, Interior Shots

“The radar and computer subsystems on the E-3 Sentry can gather and present broad and detailed battlefield information. This includes position and tracking information on enemy aircraft and ships, and location and status of friendly aircraft and naval vessels. The information can be sent to major command and control centers in rear areas or aboard ships,” according to the Air Force. “In support of air-to-ground operations, the Sentry can provide direct information needed for interdiction, reconnaissance, airlift and close-air support for friendly ground forces. It can also provide information for commanders of air operations to gain and maintain control of the air battle.”

Altgoether, E-3 crews run the air battle, and also serve as a key battle management node during operations outside of the aerial domain. These command and control functions would be key in any future offensive operations against Iran, as well as for defending against any retaliation.

At the same time, the Air Force has been open for years now about the increasing challenges involved in operating and sustaining the E-3 fleet. The last new production Sentry aircraft were delivered in 1992, and were also some of the last derivatives of the Boeing 707 airliner to ever be produced. Air Force E-3s have received substantial upgrades since then, but the underlying aircraft are still aging and are increasingly difficult to support. Between 2023 and 2024, the Sentry fleet notably shrank from 31 aircraft down to its present size, in part to try to help improve overall readiness. The fact that U.S. E-3s are powered by long-out-of-production low-bypass Pratt & Whitney TF33 turbofans has been cited as a particular issue.

“The first thing I would offer is there’s already – whether there’s 31 airplanes or 16 airplanes – there’s a gap today,” now-retired Gen. Mark Kelly, then head of Air Combat Command, told TWZ and other outlets at the Air & Space Forces Association’s main annual conference in 2022. “There’s a reason why there’s exactly zero airlines on planet earth that fly the 707 with TF-33 engines.”

“The last airline was Saha Airlines in Iran,” Kelly added at that time. “We basically have 31 airplanes in hospice care, the most expensive care there is. And we need to get into the maternity business and out of hospices.”

As already noted, the remaining E-3 fleet has continued to struggle with readiness issues amid consistently high demand. These issues have been compounded by resistance over the years to acquiring a direct replacement. When the Air Force finally did decide to supplant at least a portion of the Sentry fleet with newer and more capable E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, that effort turned into a protracted saga.

The Air Force officially started down the road of acquiring E-7s in 2022, but the program became mired in delays and cost overruns. Last year, the Pentagon revealed its intention to axe the Wedgetail purchases in favor of an interim solution involving buying more of the U.S. Navy’s E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning and control planes. That, in turn, would serve as a bridge to a longer-term Air Force goal of pushing most, if not all, airborne target tracking sensor layer tasks into space. Questions about the survivability of the E-7 were also cited as having contributed to the decision.

Questions were immediately raised about the new plan, especially about the viability of the E-2, a lower and slower flying aircraft designed around carrier-based operations, to meet Air Force needs, as TWZ has explored in the past. The service has also said that it does not expect new space-based capabilities to be operational before, at best, the early 2030s. Traditional airborne early warning and control aircraft are expected to continue playing important roles even after that milestone is reached.

“I have been concerned. We have E-3 capability up north, of course, but we were all counting on the E-7 Wedgetail coming our way. We’re kind of limping along up north right now, which is unfortunate. And the budget proposes terminating the program,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, had said during a June 2025 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, where the E-7 cancellation plans first emerged publicly. “Again, the E-3 fleet [is] barely operational now, and I understand the intent to shift towards the space-based – you call it the ‘air moving target indicators’ – but my concern is that you’ve got a situation where you’re not going to be able to use more duct tape to hold things together until you put this system in place. And, so, how we maintain that level of operational readiness and coverage, I’m not sure how you make it.”

Congress has since taken action to save the E-7, but the program may now be even more delayed as a result of the impasse over the past year. Legislators have also taken steps to block any further E-3 retirements, at least through the end of Fiscal Year 2026.

Still, the truncated E-3 fleet clearly remains under immense strain. Sen. Murkowski’s comments last Summer also remain particularly relevant in light of the fact that two of the six E-3s recently sent across the Atlantic came from Elmendorf in Alaska. Recent tracking data suggests that there may only be one Sentry at Elmendorf now to meet operational needs in and around the High North, a part of the world that has only grown in strategic significance in recent years.

There is also a question now about the availability of E-3 coverage should a crisis break out somewhere in the Indo-Pacific. If a major contingency were to emerge in the region tomorrow, the Air Force would be faced with a situation compounded not just by low availability rates and high demand elsewhere globally, but also the so-called ‘tyranny of distance.’ The sheer expanse of the Pacific, much of which is water, presents additional requirements when it comes to total coverage area and sortie generation rates to maintain a steady flow of aircraft on station around designated operating areas. Just getting to those areas and back could take many hours. Any future conflict in the region could occur over a massive total area, as well, which would be problematic for such a tiny fleet. All this is exacerbated by the age of the airframes and copious amount of maintenance to keep them flying in the best of conditions, let alone when deployed to the Pacific.

As a point of comparison, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which would be fighting from its home turf during a major conflict in the Pacific, has made significant investments in a diverse and still growing array of airborne early warning and control aircraft. The Chinese see a force-multiplying need for these aircraft, and for large numbers of them to be able to cover a lot of territory at once, as you can read more about in this past TWZ feature.

Moving capabilities into space is an admirable goal, and has many advantages in theory, but the capabilities are not available now. Further, while some of the sensing can be distributed to other platforms and leveraged via advanced networking, there still is a place for an integrated and powerful airborne early warning and control solution, at least till the ‘all-seeing’ space layer is actually in place. Saving money now by leaving such a glaring gap, especially in the current security environment globally, appears bizarrely short-sighted.

It does remain to be seen whether or not the United States ultimately launches a new major air campaign against Iran. U.S. and Iranian officials have now met twice to try to reach some type of diplomatic agreement, with the focus largely on the latter country’s nuclear ambitions. At the same time, the ongoing build-up in U.S. airpower around the Middle East, and not just limited to the E-3s, aligns with recent reports that assets are being positioned at least for possiblity of a sustained, weeks-long operation.

“The boss [President Trump] is getting fed up,” an unnamed Trump adviser said, according to a report today from Axios. “Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.”

“One thing about the negotiation I will say this morning is, in some ways it went well. They agreed to meet afterwards,” Vice President J.D. Vance said during an interview on Fox News yesterday following the second round of negotiations. “But in other ways it was very clear that the President has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.”

VP VANCE on negotiations with Iran: “One thing about the negotiation I will say this morning is, in some ways it went well. They agreed to meet afterwards, but in other ways it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to… pic.twitter.com/AbgH9t3lY0

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 17, 2026

For its part, Iran has continued to threaten major retaliation in response to any new U.S. strikes.

Regardless, as mentioned, the deployment of the six E-3s is one of the strongest signs that the last pieces needed for a new major operation against Iran are increasingly in position. All of this puts a particular spotlight on the critical capabilities that the AWACS aircraft provide, but also the new strain that has been put on such a highly in-demand, but shrinking fleet, as well as the puzzling decision to slow-roll or entirely eliminate their replacement.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

A MAJOR airline has axed over a hundred flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick.

Qatar Airways has made big changes to its spring schedule and has cancelled 131 upcoming flights from its rota.

Qatar Airways flies from both London Heathrow and Gatwick with direct services to Qatar’s capital, Doha.

Between the months of April and June 2026, there had been 951 departures from the two London airports to Doha.

But according to the new schedule, it now has just 818 outbound flights, which is a reduction of 133 flights across the three months.

SimpleFlying found that on week starting May 1, 2026, Qatar Airways has planned for 59 weekly departures rather than 70.

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During that week at Gatwick, there will be 11 weekly departures, which is reduced from the previous double daily service at 22 flights.

That same route will continue to have 11 weekly flights throughout September.

At the same time in London Heathrow, Qatar Airways will provide 48 flights rather than 59 – a loss of 11 services.

SimplyFlying added that it’s “believed that it’ll hand slots back to British Airways”.

Qatar Airways and British Airways are part of the Oneworld alliance, meaning BA effectively serves Doha on the carrier’s behalf.

Currently, there are no changes planned to BA’s flight offering.

The route between London and the capital of Qatar takes on average six hours and 45 minutes.

Other changes Qatar Airways has made changes to its upcoming schedule. include suspending flights to Aleppo.

It will also reduce services to other destinations like Peshawar, San Francisco, Sialkot and Venice.

Qatar Airways also plans fewer London services from July to October – but this is a decrease of only two per cent.

Sun Travel has gone to Qatar Airways for comment.

For more on Qatar Airways, here’s what one Sun Travel writer made of the airline when she flew with them in business class.

The airline was even named the best for the ninth time in the Skytrax Awards last year.

WITH Heathrow Airport set to add a third runway, there are growing fears that it could increase the price of flights.

Airlines warn that the planned expansion could result in a £250 price increase for passengers on a family fare.

With the expansion set to cost £33billion, The Times has reported that airlines are “seriously worried” that Heathrow’s landing charge will increase to pay back the cost of the project for investors.

Their landing fees are already the highest in the world.

In July 2025, Heathrow Airport proposed to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to increase airport charges to fund the expansion.

The average charge over the next five years could increase to around £33.26 per passenger, up from the current average of £28.46 per passenger.

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Now, The Times added that airline bosses have pointed out that the cost of the project would add “at least” £60-£65 to average ticket prices.

This means that the additional cost for a family of four could be as much as £250.

Officials from IAG – the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus – raised their concerns to Downing Street.

Another group called ‘Heathrow Reimagined’ have written to Rachel Reeves about the expansion.

The letter raised points that going ahead with the current model will “deliver a scheme which negatively impacts connectivity, competitiveness and the wider UK economy“.

It added that increased charges that are “already the highest in the world” would undermine the “government’s commitment to reduce the cost of living.”

The letter was signed by the boss of IAG, the chief of Virgin Atlantic and the director-general of the airline trade body International Air Transport Association (Iata).

However, a Heathrow spokeswoman told The Times: “Expansion provides a rare opportunity to drive real economic growth for the UK and deliver value for future generations of passengers.

“With demand consistently outpacing supply, incumbent airlines currently compete to charge a premium and the evidence speaks for itself: airfares at Heathrow have risen by 30 per cent in real terms since 2014, whilst the airport passenger charge has decreased by 19 per cent.”

They added that the analysis has “shown fares will be lower with expansion than without it” and said that they did not “recognise those numbers nor have we seen calculations that would support them.”

The huge expansion for the UK’s busiest airport was given the green light in November 2025.

The Heathrow proposals involve building a 3,500-metre runway which will require a new M25 tunnel and bridges to be built 130 metres west of the existing motorway.

The expansion is estimated to cost £33billion which includes building a 3,500 metre runway.

It will see Heathrow’s capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers per year.

The project has received government backing and is moving forward, but it has not yet received final planning approval or development consent.

Heathrow Airport is making other big changes this year…

London Heathrow will undergo a series of developments this year starting with Terminal 2 and 4…

The airport will improve the passenger experience by using AI-technology and has plans to make flights more punctual along with better baggage facilities.

 Heathrow Airport revealed it will start upgrading Terminal 4 next year costing £1.3billion.

The first step will be building a new multi-storey car park and upgrading its check-in area.

The works will be phased to ensure that there’s no disruption to the running of Terminal 4 – and these are expected to be completed in 2031.

Over in Terminal 2, Heathrow has announced that work will also begin on a new baggage system that will be able to handle 31,000 bags each day.

In order to speed up flights and improve punctuality, it will install AI-powered turnaround tech. This will involve a network of cameras being installed across Heathrow.

Using AI to analyse data, the airport will speed up turnaround times between flights, which will make journeys more punctual.

Coverage is expected to be across all terminals by the end of 2026.

Line of Duty is back for a new series – with Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston all reprising their roles for the seventh series

Line of Duty is back for a new series – and now a big plotline has been let slip ahead of the new episodes. The BBC show – featuring Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston – ended four years ago but will make a return for a seventh series.

In a shocking turn of events, the fictional police anti-corruption unit AC-12, which investigates bent coppers, finally unmasked the mysterious ‘H’, who was unmasked as bumbling detective Ian Buckells.

Fans were left fuming by the big reveal – which had been years in the making – and begged for the show to continue. It is now back, with the unit having been ditched and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.

In the story, Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer winning plaudits for a string of takedowns of organised crime, is accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator. But the team must work out whether Gough’s case is actually a deliberate distraction from a bigger threat.

Creator Jed Mercurio said of the upcoming new series: “Everyone involved in Line of Duty feels enormous gratitude to the show’s fans. We’re privileged to have had so many of you follow the ups and downs of AC-12 over six previous seasons, and we couldn’t be more delighted to be returning for a seventh.

“Corruption in this country is supposed to have come to an end while Line of Duty was off air so I’ve been forced to use my imagination.”

Martin Compston – who played Steve Arnott since its inception – added: “Line of Duty has been a job of a lifetime. Not only in terms of the show’s success but the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with I now call some of my closest friends. I can’t wait to pull the waistcoat on again and get the team back together.”

Vicky said: “It goes without saying I’m so excited Line of Duty is back – can’t wait to work with Jed, Martin and Adrian again. Belfast, we’ll see you soon!”

With Adrian adding: “As we count down the AC12 days of Christmas what a joy it is to know that the Three Amigos will be back filming together next year. Delighted with the news and looking forward to those mercurial twists and turns.”

Now, sources have claimed that there will be a revisit of the ‘H’ storyline in a shocking twist.

“There was genuine anger about the way series six ended and that was part of the reason that a seventh outing was ordered. But this is the first time that there’s been any news on whether they’ll bring back the ‘H’ storyline — and devotees will be thrilled to hear Jed will be giving them just what they want,” a source told The Sun.

“Although there is still likely to be a new villain introduced into the new season, just as there has been with every series since the show was launched. But the incoming baddie’s storyline is likely to be intertwined with that of ‘H’ in a sensational double-whammy.”

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A MAJOR regional airport in the UK has launched its largest ever flight schedule as it prepares for its busiest year yet.

Newcastle Airport is expecting to see six million passengers this year, as it adds 19 new routes.

New destinations include Lisbon and Porto in Portugal; Nice in France; Palermo in Italy and Preveza in Greece.

A number of flight routes are also returning to the airport including Berlin in Germany; Copenhagen in Denmark and Enfidha in Tunisia.

And there will be services to:

• Malta
• Antalya
• Malaga
• Alicante
• Gran Canaria
• Tenerife
• Paris
• Faro
• Geneva
• Paphos

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Of the new routes, easyJet will start flights to Nice, France in March 2026 and Malta this summer.

The airline will also start flights to Faro in Portugal between March and October and to Enfidha, Tunisia, flights will begin in time for summer.

Jet2 will start operating flights to Preveza, Greece in May 2026, for the summer season and flights to Palermo, Sicily from May too, with weekly flights until November.

The airline will also launch its first flights to Porto in Portugal in May, running for the summer season until October.

The airport also recently announced that easyJet is launching new routes to Lisbon and Rome Fiumicino.

The two routes will launch this summer with the Newcastle to Rome route starting on March 30 and the Newcastle to Lisbon route starting on June 22.

Both new routes will operate on Mondays and Fridays.

Leon McQuaid, director of Aviation Development at Newcastle Airport, said: “Lisbon is a brand-new destination from Newcastle Airport and one we’ve been keen to deliver for the region on the back of strong customer demand and feedback, so it’s fantastic to see flights and package holidays now on sale, alongside easyJet’s new route to Rome.”

“With just two months to go until easyJet opens its new base, this investment is not only delivering exciting new routes but will also bring significant economic benefits to the North East, including creating 130 direct jobs and supporting around 1200 UK jobs in total as well as attracting more visitors to the region.”

The new routes come as the airport expects 120,000 passengers this half-term, which is a 10 per cent increase compared to last year.

In total, over 750 flights will arrive and depart the airport, with popular destinations including Alicante, Antalya, Dubai and Tenerife.

Ski trips are also expected to be popular, with families heading to Chambery, Grenoble and Geneva.

The new routes are part of a wider £60million investment plan at the airport, which will see facilities updated as well as a larger departure lounge and international arrivals baggage hall.

In the departures lounge, there will be more seating areas, toilets and additional food and drink spots.

The three-storey terminal expansion will also have a new security search area with extra check-in desks and new self-service bag drop counters.

By 2040, the airport hopes to welcome nine million passengers a year.

In other aviation news, the 37 new flights launching from a major UK airport this year, including budget routes to Asia and Jet2’s first ever.

Plus, four-hour airport queues set to cause chaos for Brits this summer.

Most UK visitors will need a key document to enter the UK, but this will depend on your nationality and reasons for travel

Travellers regularly encounter changes in regulations when navigating international borders. Now London Heathrow Airport has issued a reminder regarding new rules coming into force in days

Under the changes an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), will be a legal requirement for certain people from this month. This £16 fee allows travellers to enter the UK for tourism, family visits, and other purposes for up to six months.

On X, formerly Twitter, the major airport said this week: “Starting 25 February, whether your final destination is the UK or you are connecting via Heathrow, eligible visitors will need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation). Find out more on http://GOV.UK.”

While most UK visitors will need an ETA or visa to enter the UK, this will depend on your nationality and reason for travel. For instance, an ETA is generally required if you’re coming from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada and certain other countries.

Each person travelling is required to have an ETA, including babies and children. So, for a family of four, you’ll likely need to pay £64 in total, while a family of six will typically pay £96. Visitors can apply for an ETA on behalf of other people.

Anyone who has a British or Irish passport, or has permission to work, live or study in the UK, will not need an ETA. According to official Government advice, other exemptions include:

It’s important to remember that having an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. Those with a criminal record or who have previously been denied entry should consider applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead.

Beyond this, the UK Government highlights exactly what can and can’t be done with an ETA. For instance, the ETA allows:

Meanwhile, these five things are not permitted with an ETA:

• Staying in the UK for longer than six months
• Doing paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you’re doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession
• Claiming public funds (benefits)
• Living in the UK through frequent or successive visits
• Marrying or registering a civil partnership, or giving notice of marriage or civil partnership – a Marriage Visitor visa is needed

Visitors can apply for the £16 ETA online or via the UK ETA app. To do so, they must have a passport, an email address, and a payment method, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. The payment is non-refundable once an application has been made.

For more information, head to GOV.UK here.

A MAJOR UK train station has closed for nine days as planned upgrades get underway.

Rail passengers can expect disruptions as the bustling travel hub undergoes a “once-in-a-lifetime overhaul”.

Network Rail is investing £8 million in an upgrade to Manchester Piccadilly train station in an effort to reduce future service disruptions.

Track and signalling upgrades are scheduled to take place from Saturday, 14 February to 22 February.

The southern approach to station, which was built in the 1980s, will see significant upgrades to a stretch of track.

Network Rail previously explained that issues with its outdated infrastructure can disrupt all trains running in and out of Manchester.

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This amounts to around 400,000 trains into the station every year.

Manchester Piccadilly has advised passengers that no trains from the south and east of the city will run into the station over the half-term break.

Some trains from across the north will also be impacted as well as direct connections to Manchester Airport station, which were impacted by a signal failure earlier this week.

Services normally running to and from Manchester Piccadilly will terminate at other stations, including Stockport, over the next nine days.

Platforms 1-12 will be closed but the concourse will remain open to the public, while there will be a limited service westbound from platforms 13 and 14.

Julien Dehornoy, Network Rail’s North West & Central deputy regional managing director, said: “Once the job is done, we will have a better, more reliable railway. 

“The major overhaul over six railway lines can only take place during a full railway closure and we are working closely with train operators, TfGM and Manchester City Council on alternative travel plans to keep people on the move.”

In an incredible offer, British Airways is offering flights for just £2 to two popular sun-soaked destinations, but only some holidaymakers will be able to take advatnage of the flights

To help beat the winter blues, British Airways is offering flights to two beautiful holiday hotspots for as little as £2.

Holidaymakers could jet off to the sun-soaked city of Madrid, Spain, with its famed landmarks and beautiful parks, or to the coastal city of Toulon in France, home to one of the most spectacular harbours in Europe, for just £2. However, not everyone will be able to take advantage of the British Airways offer, as the £2 flights are Avios-only and available only to members of The British Airways Club.

Yet, for members, it’s a deal worth noting with flights departing from London City Airport to Madrid and Toulon. Plus, with the promise of blue skies, blistering sunshine and picturesque vistas at either of these popular destinations is more than appealing amid the gloomy British weather, especially when it could cost less than a cup of coffee.

Seats are now available to book, with prices starting from just £2 plus 21,500 Avios for Toulon, and £2 plus 28,000 Avios for Madrid. What’s more, 23kg of checked baggage is included, making it even more affordable.

Toulon is a new destination for the British Airways fleet arriving this summer, making it the ideal opportunity to explore the picturesque French city and discover its fascinating harbour. Meanwhile, Madrid has long been a route for the UK airline, yet it remains just as popular with its art hub, thriving food scene and gorgeous architecture.

British Airways launched Avios-Only flights in 2023 and has since operated 48 Avios-Only flights to 16 destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East, including Cape Town, Barbados, Sharm El Sheikh, Málaga and Marrakesh. The return flight from Madrid to London will mark its 50th dedicated Avios-Only flight.

Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’re excited to release these latest Avios-Only flights to two top leisure destinations for summer. These flights are always incredibly popular, and we’re delighted to give our loyal customers even more opportunities to enjoy the benefits of The British Airways Club.”

Adam Daniels, IAG Loyalty’s CEO, said: “While it’s not been too long since our last Avios-Only flight, we are excited to be starting the year by announcing another two flights on London City Airport’s hottest new routes to Toulon and Madrid. With all seats onboard only available to book with Avios, the initiative shows the continued power of loyalty and opens up greater redemption opportunities for customers during the peak summer months.”

British Airways confirmed that the flights for the Madrid Avios-Only flight are as follows:

• 22 May 2026, BA3272, Depart London City 09:50, Arrive Madrid 13:10
• 25 May 2026, BA3273, Depart Madrid 13:55, Arrive London City 15:15

Meanwhile, the Avios-Only flight to Toulon, which also offers the chance to explore St-Tropez, will take place on:

• 13 June 2026, BA8747, Depart London City 07:00, Arrive Toulon 10:00
• 20 June 2026, BA8748, Depart Toulon 10:45, Arrive London City 11:50

For more information or to book your seat, you can visit the British Airways website.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

RAIL services to and from a major UK airport are currently down, sparking travel chaos.

Passengers are facing major disruptions and delays due to a points failure on the line.

All trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport are currently cancelled.

Trains are currently unable to run in either direction, with Northern, TransPennine Express, and Transport for Wales services all affected by the issue.

The points failure has occurred near Heald Green, approximately half way between the two stations, according to National Rail.

Passengers are advised to use the Metrolink or buses to travel between Manchester city centre and the airport this afternoon.

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National Rail said “major disruption” is expected until at least 5pm today.

Network Rail confirmed it is “on site to investigate and resolve the issue”.

Failure to operate points correctly creates difficulties in safely switching tracks and avoiding rerouting trains.

One broken part can trigger larger, systemwide service outages.

The disruption comes ahead of planned engineering works on rail lines in the area scheduled to begin this weekend.

Anyone planning to travel should should check real-time updates through the official websites and apps of the applicable rail operators and consider alternative routes. 

The show proved to be a hit with ITV viewers but the show is now reportedly facing an uncertain future

There’s bad news for fans of the reality show, The Fortune Hotel, as it’s been reported ITV has “shelved” the show with no confirmed plans for its comeback.

The series, fronted by Stephen Mangan, debuted in May 2024 with a second run following in August 2025, and was branded as the broadcaster’s rival to The Traitors.

The format brings together 10 pairs of contestants at The Fortune Hotel, where each receives a crucial briefcase. One case conceals the grand prize of £250,000 in cash, eight contain nothing, and one holds the feared Early Checkout Card.

Whichever duo ends up with that particular case at each episode’s conclusion will face an abrupt and dramatic exit from the competition. Daily, the contestants get opportunities to deduce who possesses which case by tackling engaging challenges, as the puzzle intensifies for those staying at the hotel.

Each episode reaches its tension-filled peak during the case exchange in the alluring Lady Luck bar, where every pair must choose whether to retain or switch their briefcase, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Audiences are kept guessing whether the couple holding the fortune managed to deceive their rivals and deflect attention, or whether their case will be mercilessly snatched away.

Home viewers remain informed throughout, privy to every scheme and tactic as events unfold. The well-received programme attracted substantial audiences but now faces an unclear path forward despite its millions of fans.

The Mirror has contacted ITV for comment. Nella and Tope emerged victorious in the latest series, walking away with an impressive £210,000. The pair triumphed over rivals Fred and Min, as well as Martina and Briony.

During the finale, the Hotel Game saw contestants frantically tackle a cunning puzzle in their rooms before dashing across the Caribbean Sea in the series’ final Day Trip Challenge.

Yet only one duo could depart with the prize money, and fortune favoured Nella and Tope in the concluding Night Cap. As Stephen Mangan congratulated the victorious pair, ITV viewers flocked to social media to express their reactions to the outcome.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan wrote: “Fair play, they played a consistently strong game. #TheFortuneHotel.”

Another added: “I wanted Nella and Tope to win, and they won.” A third person said: “LET’S GO TOPE AND NELLA #thefortunehotel.”

A fourth social media user said: “Aww Nella and Tope ! ! I’m so happy for you #TheFortuneHotel #FortuneHotel. “Nella and Tope well well deserved. They played a great game,” a fifth person said.

Meanwhile, Sheffield mother and son duo Jo-Anne and Will claimed victory in the inaugural series, securing an impressive £210,000.

The Fortune Hotel is available to stream on ITVX

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website

ONE of the UK’s busiest airports is getting 37 new flight routes this year – some for the first time ever.

London Gatwick Airport is welcoming eight new carriers, with some starting flights from next month.

The newest to join is budget carrier AirAsia X.

Last flying from the UK in 2012, the new route will connect Brits to Kuala Lumpur.

Flights were scrapped more than a decade ago due to high operational costs as well as a lack of demand

The new flights, operating once a day, will stop in Bahrain before continuing to the Malaysian capital.

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The new route will start from June 2026 although flight prices are yet to be confirmed.

Pierre-Hugues Schmit, CEO, London Gatwick said: “The new daily service will provide excellent opportunities to visit the city or onward connectivity across the region – ideal for holidaymakers, businesses and the many British‑Malaysian families who will now have even better options for visiting friends and relatives.”

One of the biggest new additions to London Gatwick is Jet2, which is launching its first ever flights for London Gatwick.

The first take taking off next month, with flights to Tenerife on March 26.

However, this is just one of 29 new routes from the airline connecting to Europe.

This includes flights to Spain, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy and Cyprus.

One of the longest new Jet2 flights will be to Turkey, flying to Antalya.

It comes after they launched their first flights from London Luton last year too.

A number of other airlines are also launching flights from London Gatwick from next month.

This includes:

• Bucharest with AnimaWings from March 22
• Cologne and Stuttgart with Eurowings from March 29 and April 13
• Sharjah with Air Arabia March 29
• Paris with Air France from March 29
• Frankfurt with Condor from April 1
• Qingdao with Beijing Capital from June 24

The 37 new routes will take London Gatwick’s destinations to 57 this year.

Mr Schmit added: “AirAsia X is the latest airline to choose to fly from London Gatwick, ahead of what will be a fantastic summer for our passengers.”

London Gatwick isn’t the only airport getting some exciting new flights this year.

From March, Turkish Airlines will launch a new route between London Stansted Airport and Istanbul.

And Indian airline IndiGo launched its first UK flights, connecting Manchester to India.

Virgin Atlantic will connect the UK to Phuket and Seoul, while British Airways is starting flights to St. Louis in Missouri.

Here are all of the other flight routes launching in 2026.

MORE than 86,000 holiday rentals have been removed from a region in Spain as the crackdown continues.

Last year, the Spanish government said they would suspending licenses for accommodation that breaches regulation rules.

This includes not having an official license number, or no information on the owner.

The region of Andalucia has since taken down 13,037 holiday listings following these new rules, local media reports.

Nearly 5,000 of these affect the province of Malaga, which saw the highest number of removals.

The region of Valencia has removed another 14,387, followed by the Canaries (13,726) and Catalonia (13,350)

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Last year, Catalonia removed more than 9,000 Airbnbs from being listed.

This affected cities such as Barcelona, Reus and Tarragona.

And Madrid said that another 5,000 rentals also breached the regulations and were removed.

Despite this, it is thought there are still thousands of properties that are breaking the rules.

Another 53,000 properties could be removed from private property companies, and go back on the rental market.

Until then, Brits are still able to book a holiday rental but should check if they follow the guidelines.

Otherwise hotels and resorts are unaffected by the rules.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot explained it could have a “big impact on Brits looking to book a holiday rental this summer“.

She added: “If you have booked a short term rental via Airbnb or any other booking service like Booking.com this summer, then the first thing you should do is check the rental has been registered correctly. It should be clearly displayed on the listing.”

It’s also not the only tourist crackdown in Spain.

Malaga is banning any new holiday rentals for the next three years.

Barcelona announced a full ban in holiday apartments by November 2028.

And Seville now only allows 10 per cent of homes in each neighbourhood to be Airbnbs.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emerged rattled but ultimately unscathed after a day and night of drama during which a key member of his Labour Party called for him to resign over revelations about a former ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Starmer has faced more than a week of mounting pressure since the release of the latest tranche of documents from the US Department of Justice relating to the criminal cases against the late sex offender. They revealed that Mandelson had maintained a close friendship with the disgraced financier even after Epstein had pleaded guilty to solicitation of sex with a minor and was jailed in 2008.

They include documents and emails that suggest Mandelson may have received payments from Epstein and passed sensitive information to him during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

Since then, Starmer has admitted that he knew of the pair’s friendship when he appointed Mandelson as ambassador but said the peer had lied about the extent of it. The affair has caused outrage in parliament. Two key members of Starmer’s inner circle have resigned and a third is under pressure to go. On Monday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for the prime minister to do the same.

While Starmer’s position has been shored up for now by a rally of support from his cabinet on Monday night, just how badly has this affair shaken his government?

Why did Anas Sarwar call for Starmer to resign?

Sarwar said at a news conference early on Monday afternoon that he had called Starmer and told him it was time for him to resign. “I spoke to the prime minister earlier today, and I think it’s safe to say he and I disagreed,” Sarwar said.

He said “too many mistakes” had been made in relation to the appointment of Mandelson.

“The distraction needs to end, and the leadership in Downing Street has to change,” Sarwar said as he became the first Labour heavyweight to stand against the prime minister.

While Sarwar said he believed Starmer to be a “decent man”, the fury over the Epstein files had severely damaged the government’s support and wrecked its chances in the upcoming Scottish parliament elections. Opinion polls put Scottish Labour some distance behind the Scottish National Party, followed by the far-right Reform party, led by Nigel Farage.

But cabinet members came out in support of Starmer, ultimately ending the coup that never was. Angela Rayner, former deputy prime minister and a senior member of the Labour Party, was the first to show him support. She said in a post on X that while she did not defend Starmer’s judgement, “the worst possible response [to the scandal] would be to play party politics or factional games.”

“I urge all my colleagues to come together, remember our values and put them into practice as a team,” she wrote on X. “The Prime Minister has my full support in leading us to that end.”

Within hours, nearly every minister had followed suit. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, urged people to “give Keir a chance”. Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, said he hoped the prime minister would stay on, and Douglas Alexander, Scotland secretary, said he “respected” Sarwar’s stance but backed the prime minister.

On Monday night, Starmer addressed more than 400 MPs and peers at a Labour Party meeting. “I have won every fight I’ve ever been in. I fought to change the Labour Party to allow us to win an election again,” he told them.

“But I’ll tell you this, after having fought so hard for the chance to change our country, I’m not prepared to walk away from my mandate and my responsibility to my country or to plunge us into chaos as others have done.”

Who has resigned from Starmer’s team and why?

Two key figures have already resigned, and a third is under pressure to do so, UK media has reported.

Amid growing outrage over the new revelations about Mandelson and Epstein, Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned on Sunday, taking “full responsibility” for advising the prime minister to appoint Mandelson to the ambassadorship, which he took up in 2025, despite the risks.

“The decision to appoint Mandelson was wrong,” McSweeney said. “He has damaged our party. … I advised the prime minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that.”

Mandelson was dismissed from the post in September after serving seven months after the UK daily The Sun obtained other emails between him and Epstein that showed the depth of their friendship.

After the release of the latest tranche of Epstein documents on January 30, Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords.

Tim Allan, Starmer’s communications chief, resigned on Monday, saying he was leaving to pave the way for a “new No 10 team” to be built as Starmer tries to reset his government.

Allan, who founded the Portland Communications firm specialising in reputation management, had been in the job for only five months, and Starmer is now looking to hire his fifth communications chief since taking office in 2024.

Chris Wormald, the cabinet secretary and senior-most civil servant in Downing Street, is also reportedly under pressure to resign and is said to be currently negotiating his exit from the role, which he has been in for less than a year.

The UK’s Guardian newspaper reported that some people close to Starmer view him as a “disastrous” appointment.

What did the Epstein files reveal about Mandelson?

The latest release of files showed Mandelson maintained his relationship with Epstein after the latter was jailed in 2008.

They also suggested Mandelson received payments from the late financier and may have shared market-sensitive information with him that was of financial interest to Epstein.

Leaks of sensitive information by Mandelson allegedly took place in 2009 while he was serving as the UK’s business secretary.

The UK police have launched a criminal investigation over suspected misconduct in public office linked to Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein.

In one of the emails revealed in the most recent tranche of documents released from the US Justice Department, Mandelson told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced in 2008.

“I think the world of you,” Mandelson told Epstein, adding about his prosecution: “I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can.”

How damaging has this all been for Starmer?

Starmer has apologised publicly for appointing Mandelson as ambassador to the US despite knowing of his ties – but not the extent of them, he said – to the disgraced financier.

“None of us knew the depth and the darkness of that relationship,” Starmer said on Thursday as he apologised to Epstein’s victims.

“I am sorry – sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you, sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointing him.”

But this has not been enough to let him off the hook entirely, experts said.

Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said the scandal has been hugely damaging for Starmer. “A more popular PM might have been able to ride it out, but he was already facing a good deal of hostility from voters before it blew up,” Bale told Al Jazeera. “He’s managed so far to hold on to his cabinet, but he’s completely lost the trust of the electorate – and that’s hard to get back.”

Bale said “people are disgusted by” Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson “despite knowing that he’d stayed friends with Epstein after he’d been convicted”.

Can Starmer’s leadership still be challenged?

While Starmer has survived Monday night, his position is still weak with low approval ratings, experts said.

Labour is expected to suffer losses in crucial Scottish elections in May. A parliamentary by-election is also due on February 26.

“The immediate danger [to Starmer] is that [Labour] suffers catastrophic losses in a by-election and then a big set of elections in May,” Bale said. “That will reignite calls for Starmer to resign and, if he doesn’t, a challenge from one or more of his colleagues.”

Among the top runners to replace Starmer are Rayner, his former deputy prime minister who resigned from the cabinet last year over a tax scandal.

A website pitching Rayner as leader, angelaforleader.co.uk, went live in January briefly, The Guardian newspaper reported. Rayner has denied any links to the website.

Another politician gearing up to replace Starmer is Wes Streeting, the health secretary.

Streeting, 43, has also been called out for his ties with Mandelson. In a bid to distance himself from the former ambassador, Streeting this week shared private chats he had with Mandelson that questioned the government’s growth plan.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, 45, is another possible successor to Starmer. She has grown popular among several right-aligned leaders of the Labour Party with her moves to tighten border controls and crack down on unauthorised immigration.

What other issues has Labour faced under Starmer?

The Labour Party swept to power in July 2024, ending nearly 14 years of Conservative rule. However, the prime minister has since had a difficult time in Downing Street.

In the 2024 elections, Reform UK, the right-wing, populist, anti-immigration party led by Farage, won just five of the 650 seats in parliament. However, it has gone on to become one of the best polling British parties. In July, a YouGov poll put Reform in the lead, predicting it could win 271 seats if elections were held then.

In his speech on Monday, Starmer called the challenge posed by the rise of the Reform party, which has won over a number of high-profile defectors from the Conservative Party in recent weeks, “a fight for our lives”.

Starmer is also facing domestic pressure to put a stop to undocumented immigration to the UK. More than 32,000 people tried to cross the English Channel from France in small boats last year. These crossings are dangerous and have resulted in many deaths.

The UK and France have laid the blame on each other for the rising numbers. This led to a “one-in-one-out” migrant deal signed between the UK and France last year, under which the UK returns one migrant to France for each accepted refugee. The scheme has had little success, however, with only a handful of migrants returned.

Starmer himself has dropped in popularity by 20 percentage points from July 2024 to January this year, according to YouGov.

“Reform has obviously spooked some in the Labour Party,” Bale said, adding, however, that Reform is eating into the Conservatives’ base more. “And Labour probably needs to worry more about the Greens and the Liberal Democrats at this stage.”

“The break-up of the two-party duopoly that has dominated British politics for a century is no longer simply an aspiration among challenger parties but an ongoing reality,” Bale said.

The Countryfile presenter has opened up about her initial nerves during Strictly Come Dancing, which she joined following her split from rugby player Richie Myler

Former Blue Peter host Helen Skelton navigated a difficult period following her separation from rugby league player Richie Myler, ultimately reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing. However, the Countryfile star has admitted she felt “terrified” during the competition’s early weeks.

“I tried to leave,” she disclosed on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast. “I ran and hid on the fire escape, and they filmed Strictly next to The Crown, and there’s a massive wall. I kid you not, I was looking at the wall and thinking, ‘I could get over that’.”

Helen revealed that a member of the production team persuaded her to return to the studio, where her professional dancing partner Gorka Márquez delivered some crucial words of encouragement: “I remember he said to me: ‘It’s like jumping out of a plane, you’ve got to engage the parachute’.”

“He was so wonderful,” Helen continued, praising the Spanish dancer’s unwavering support, which helped build her confidence from those anxious beginnings through to her memorable Cabaret-themed Couple’s Choice routine in the final, which earned a flawless score of 40.

“By the final, I’ve gone from hiding on the fire escape, being terrified to look at the dance floor, to just freestyling. Even all the professionals were crying laughing. They were like, ‘Who are you?'” she said.

Helen’s Strictly experience wasn’t without its challenges, including an unfortunate costume mishap during the semi-finals when part of her outfit tore and hung around her leg for the remainder of the routine. Nevertheless, Helen persevered and secured an impressive 37 points — with Shirley Ballas awarding her and Gorka the lowest mark of 8, while Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke both gave them a 10.

Speaking to Kate, Helen revealed that despite the personal anguish of her eight-year marriage ending, she remained resolute that the circumstances wouldn’t impact her performance — or influence how the Strictly judges scored her.

She remembered: “A few people said if you’d have just cried and gone on about what was going on, you might have won it.”

Helen added that numerous friends had urged her to take up the Strictly opportunity purely due to the massive public fascination with her marriage split: “My friends were just like, ‘Just do it. Just do it.

“It’s going to swallow you up. Just do it. Like, there’s so many people talking about you and looking at you. They may as well look at you in a sparkly dress, mate.'”

Following Helen’s decision to accept the invitation, some audience members claimed she might have had an advantage due to her childhood tap-dancing background. Speaking to ITV’s Lorraine at the time, she said: “I found it so funny when they said it was a fix — Helen’s a tap-dancing champion. When I was seven, yes, I did tap dancing.

“Like lots of little girls and boys, I did dancing and absolutely loved it. I hit an age where I didn’t want to be in a leotard in public and I gave it up. I wish I hadn’t!”

A picturesque village just off the motorway boasts pretty cottages, a microbrewery and plenty of shops and restaurants as well as strong links to dinosaurs

When driving along the motorway, most people will have a go-to service station or stop on the way. However if you’re heading towards the likes of Cheshire and Warrington, there’s one picture-perfect village that’s well worth having on your radar.

With the busy roads, high-sided lorries and fast traffic, people could be forgiven for thinking any quiet villages of the North West must be miles away.

But the chocolate box village of Lymm in Cheshire is mere minutes away from the grey blocks of perpetually busy road on the M62 and M6, and it’s a historic gem of a place that has plenty to occupy and entertain visitors on a day trip or those wishing to stay a little bit longer.

A short walk from the village centre brings you out at the picturesque scenery of Lymm Dam – with woodlands and meadows teaming with wildlife – or, back in the village, you could choose to take a stroll along the towpath of the Bridgewater Canal which has an abundance of interesting boats moored up that add to the village’s unique atmosphere.

The area is not only famous for its water but also for a history that includes a dinosaur’s footprint that’s a staggering 240 million years old.

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At Lymm Heritage Centre, those interested can even meet the reimagined Chirotherium dinosaur, often referred to as a ‘hand beast’ – a Triassic creature which has feet roughly the same size as a human hand. The actual fossilised footprints are in a nearby town centre display.

Meanwhile Lymm Cross dates back to the 17th Century when it was likely used as a meeting point, and was restored in 1897 for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. It’s now recorded in the National Heritage list of England as a designated Grade I listed building.

Away from history, the village has its own micro-brewery and also a huge choice of pubs, bars, coffee houses and restaurants from The Jolly Thresher described as the ‘best pub in Lymm’ to La Boheme which serves old school French fare and Mediterranean eatery, Ego at The Green Dragon.

OPINION

Amy Jones

The centre also has plenty of independent shops selling a range of items appealing to all kinds of visitors.

One reviewer said: “Lymm is lovely, the village centre is very quaint and Lymm Dam is beautiful. It has a magnificent amount of picturesque countryside.”

Another commented: “Lymm is a perfect day out – peaceful, pretty and full of charm. Lymm Dam is a beautiful, peaceful spot with just the right mixture of woodland walks, calm water and village charm. The cottages along the dam are like something out of a storybook with white walls, yellow doors and flowerboxes bursting with colour. The whole area is spotless and well-kept.”

A MAJOR European airline has introduced strict new luggage rules, with huge fines for rulebreakers.

Spanish airline Iberia is cracking down on passengers who travel with non-standard shaped luggage.

This can mean any bulky or irregular shaped items, which can also include soft luggage if it doesn’t fit the usual shape.

The new rules were rolled out last month since January 28.

The website states: “Starting today, January 28, an extra charge may apply for checking in irregularly shaped baggage.

“Irregularly shaped baggage is defined as any item whose shape, material, or dimensions may interfere with the airport’s automated systems (for example: soft bags, plastic packages, round or oval bags, or non-rigid packaging).”

PACK IT IN

Ryanair warning to any Brits jetting off with Xmas presents in their luggage

Taking flight

Hand luggage sizes explained: Each major airlines baggage allowances

The airline warns that the bag will be assessed at the special baggage check in counter.

The maximum fine is £125, for anyone on a connecting long-haul flight to America or Asia.

Brits are more likely to be fined around £55 for a flight from the UK to Europe.

Passengers could even have the bag refused if it is said to fail any “operational or security reasons”.

Or, it might have to travel on a later flight in “exceptional cases”.

The Sun has contacted Iberia for additional comment.

Last year, Ryanair changed its hand luggage for the better.

The airline increased the size of the free bags that can be taken into the cabin from 40cmx20cmx25cm to 40cmx30cmx20cm.

This means the overall capacity increased from 20 litres to 24 litres.

Here are some other hand luggage rules to be aware of.

We’ve rounded up some of the best suitcases to buy ahead of your summer holiday.

And here are our best underseat cabin bags.