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For all but one of the past 58 years, horse racing’s Triple Crown arrived at the same time on the calendar. The Kentucky Derby was run on the first Saturday in May, followed two weeks later by the Preakness and three weeks after that by the Belmont.

Three races for 3-year-olds in five weeks. Win them all and enter racing’s pantheon.

Those last two sentences remain true. But after 48 hours of upheaval this week, the times — and in particular the calendar — are changing. (The only exception since 1969 came in the pandemic year of 2020 when two of the three races were held in September.)

On Monday, Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Assn., which host the Derby and Belmont, respectively, announced a new six-race series for 3-year-olds that includes those two races on their traditional dates, but not the Preakness. The Thoroughbred Championship Series will feature a points system, with horses who compete in at least four races eligible to share a $5-million bonus pool that will pay down to the top eight finishers.

Then on Wednesday, the Maryland Jockey Club announced the Preakness would be moved back eight days, to the fourth Sunday in May. That date usually falls on Memorial Day weekend, though 2027 is an exception.

The goal is to get more Derby horses to run in the Preakness after more than 85% of the entrants in the last five years, including three winners — Rich Strike (2022), Sovereignty (2025) and Golden Tempo (2026) — skipped the Maryland race. Their trainers cited the short turnaround between the two events; very few horses these days compete in races two weeks apart.

“This extra week between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness opens the Preakness to potential participants who use modern training methods,” said Bill Knauf, president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Bob Baffert, the only trainer to win the Triple Crown since 1978, with American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018), said via text message. “Extra week and on a Sunday. Triple Crown tradition stays intact. Win-win for all because you have a choice to go for it if you think you have the right horse after winning the Derby.”

Baffert had said in a post Monday on X that the “greatest achievement in racing will always be winning the Triple Crown.”

But if horses were skipping the Preakness because of a 14-day turnaround, how many will run a week later knowing it’s just 13 days before the Belmont, especially since the latter race is part of the new series?

This year, no horse competed in all three races. Last year, there was one: Journalism, who sandwiched a win in the Preakness around runner-up finishes in the Derby and Belmont.

“As a traditionalist, sentimentally it’s difficult to see the timing and structure of the Triple Crown being adjusted,” Aron Wellman, president of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which co-owns Journalism, said in a phone interview. “However, as a proponent of innovation and recognizing that the industry at large has fallen behind the times in so many respects, I applaud the innovation of Churchill Downs Inc. and NYRA.”

Did those outfits just put a dagger in the Triple Crown?

“I don’t know how much more of a dagger Churchill and NYRA should be blamed for putting into the Triple Crown when in the last two years, the winner of the Kentucky Derby has skipped the Preakness and waited for the Belmont,” Wellman said.

He also noted that Churchill Downs made an $85-million offer this spring to purchase the intellectual property rights to the Preakness, but the state of Maryland matched it.

“If anything, Churchill’s move to secure the IP [intellectual property rights] for the Preakness was a gesture on their part to try to save the Triple Crown because the daggers have already proven, if not fatal, then close to it,” Wellman said.

“So I don’t place any blame on Churchill and NYRA for the steady decline or demise of the Triple Crown. … And now knowing that they [can’t] institute whatever changes they were going to make, they’ve taken it upon themselves to try to do something positive for the industry and their respective brands. Which I applaud them for.”

The other races in the new series are the Matt Winn Stakes in July at Churchill Downs, the Jim Dandy in late July or early August at Saratoga, the Travers in late August at Saratoga, and a new “championship race” that will be scheduled in September at Churchill. Each race will have a minimum purse of $1 million (the Derby is worth $5 million; the Belmont and Preakness $2 million each).

NBC will televise the Churchill races, with Fox handling those in New York. NBC also announced a new deal to carry the Preakness through 2032, the same year its rights to the Derby expire.

The airline says it’s going to start charging passengers for ‘priority carry-on’ so it can stop weighing every piece of luggage at the gate just before departure

A major budget airline is ending its free overhead cabin bag policy and replacing it with a new £13 rule.

From the start of February 2027, passengers flying with Jetstar will only be able to bring a small bag that must fit under the seat in front of them for free. The new rules end Jetstar’s free overhead luggage policy, which was limited to 7kg, and now mirrors the baggage restrictions used by European budget airlines Ryanair and easyJet.

Previously, every piece of luggage set to be taken onboard a Jetstar flight was weighed by airline staff at the gate, with anyone with overweight bags forced to pay fees in order to board with their bags.

The Australian airline, which flies across Australia, New Zealand, south-east Asia, and even as far as Japan and South Korea, says the new rules have been brought in to stop this practice.

“We know that weighing carry-on bags at the gate can be frustrating for our customers and for our crew,” said CEO Stephanie Tully.

“To make packing easier we’ve decided to remove the 7kg weight limit, so from February, the main thing customers will need to think about is the size of their carry-on.”

The new rules mean passengers who want to take more luggage than the free under-seat bag must purchase a ‘priority carry-on’ fare to access the overhead lockers. This fee costs at least another A$25 (£13, as of August 5, 2026).

Ms Tully explained why Jetstar decided to charge extra: “By giving customers an underseat bag with the option to add Priority Carry-on, we can make better use of overhead locker space, streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time.”

“Our new carry-on baggage model provides more choice to customers while helping to keep our fares low. You only pay for what you need – travelling with less means paying less, and you can always add more if you need.”

While fees start at just A$25, they climb dramatically for longer and more popular flights. It will cost A$33 (£17.30) for its most popular route, Sydney to Melbourne, A$39 (£20.45) from Perth to popular holiday destination Denpasar in Bali, and A$52 (£27.27) from Cairns to Tokyo Narita.

New size limits have also been confirmed for carry-on luggage. Underseat bags must be smaller than 40 × 30 × 20cm, while overhead bags can be up to 56 × 36 × 23cm large.

A SUMMER of free bus travel for under 16s has started in the UK and one major airport is now offering free trips too.

To encourage passengers to leave their cars behind, bus travel will be completely free to and from the terminal for all holidaymakers throughout August.

London Luton Airport in Bedfordshire will operate buses throughout the day dropping passengers right outside without having to pay a fare.

This falls under the ‘Fly and Ride’ scheme where passengers can travel free on a range of Arriva and Stagecoach services.

All travellers have to do is show a valid printed or digital boarding pass for a flight departing from London Luton Airport during August.

The offer is valid on Arriva routes 101, X1, X2, X3, X4, A and Z.

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It’s also valid on Stagecoach’s MK1, which covers the nearby towns of Stevenage, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Bedford and Dunstable.

The free journey will count from any stop between August 1-31.

Return journeys must be completed by August 31 to qualify.

The offer does not include National Express and Greenline services.

August is the busiest month for most airports and last year 1.8million holidaymakers travelled through Luton Airport.

This was a five per cent increase from the year before, according to the CAA.

Alberto Martin, CEO of London Luton Airport, said: “This is a fantastic initiative and a great example of how we continually look to extend our simple and friendly passenger experience far beyond the terminal doors.

“As we prepare for our busiest summer on record, we’re delighted to offer passengers the opportunity to leave the car at home, take advantage of excellent local bus services and travel to the airport for free.”

This comes after part of the new government scheme where under 16s can get on bus for no cost as part of the government’s Great British Summer Saving scheme.

Child fares typically cost between £1 and £2 so families will be able to save on the cost of travel.

The scheme is running from now until August 31.

AS the drought continues across Europe, low water levels in Europe are now threatening river cruise holidays.

The River Rhine and the Danube River have started to dry up with passengers being re-routed at the last minute after two ships ran aground.

On the morning of June 29, the ship called Viking Einar ran aground on the Rhine River at Cologne in Germany.

Days later, the Viking Ullur ‘experienced a grounding incident on the Danube River‘ in Bulgaria with 186 passengers being evacuated.

It came ‘into contact with a sandbank during a period of exceptionally low water levels‘, Viking said in a statement.

With no rain on the horizon, river cruise companies are having to take action with some having to change sailings completely.

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One woman who booked with Riviera Travel wrote on Facebook: “We have just received an email to tell us that our Rhine and Switzerland cruise is being re-routed and will not be travelling to Switzerland but instead north to Netherlands and Belgium.”

She added that she was given the option to change the itinerary or “cancel with full refund and have been offered compensation”.

Riviera Travel, issued a statement about potential alterations on its website.

It explained that “individual sailings may continue to develop right up until departure and, occasionally, during the cruise itself.”

Passengers who have booked after August 5 are being contacted up to two weeks before departure with updates and between 48 hours and 24 hours before departure to “explain the latest position, any expected changes and the options available.”

Talking to The Independent, Riviera Travel said that cancelling a cruise is always a last resort.

In another case, one woman heading on a river cruise with TUI shared her new itinerary on a Facebook page.

Instead of sailing from Basel, through Germany to Amsterdam, the new suggested route starts in Zaandam through to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Middelburg, Dorecht and Amsterdam.

In the email, TUI also offered a 15 per cent refund of the holiday cost with £150 holiday vouchers per person on the new sailing.

Other options were to rebook another river cruise with a refund in cost if the new sailing is cheaper, or if it’s more expensive, an incentive of up to 10 per cent of the value of an existing holiday.

Or there was an option to cancel the booking with a full refund.

On TUI’s website, it says “Most sailings go ahead without any disruptions, but water levels on the rivers can go up or down depending on the weather.”

It continued: “If your cruise is affected, we’ll make every effort to complete your itinerary. To do this there may be changes to berth locations, modifying shore experiences or completing some sections of the itinerary by coach.”

Emerald Cruises confirmed that reduced water levels are affecting sections of the upper Danube between both Vienna and Budapest, and Regensburg and Passau near Pfelling.

On its website it has said that it may make “operational adjustments” with passengers possibly being transferred to a “sister ship” as well as embarkation and disembarkation being amended.

There could also be overnight stays in hotels.

AmaWaterways said: “Due to unusually low water levels on sections of the Rhine and Danube rivers, operational adjustments to select sailings have been deemed necessary.”

It continued to add that “modifications may include changes to ports, embarkation or disembarkation locations, motorcoach transfers, ship scheduling or other itinerary elements”.

No date will ever top Oct. 27, 2002, the date the Angels won their lone World Series.

We could talk about Sept. 30, 1984, the date Mike Witt threw the Angels’ lone perfect game. Or June 9, 2009, the date the Angels drafted the best player in franchise history, Mike Trout. Or July 29, 2018, the date Vladimir Guerrero became the first player to wear an Angels cap on a Hall of Fame plaque.

Or, if you care to look at it from a cynical angle, that fateful fall day in 1979 when then-general manager Buzzie Bavasi said he could replace Nolan Ryan, who had just gone 16-14 in his final year in Anaheim, with “two 8-7 pitchers.”

This isn’t about trivia. This is to say that Monday might well be remembered as one of those significant dates in Angels history.

In recent years, the Angels have deluded themselves and their fans with such beliefs as: they had assembled a young core that could win; Shohei Ohtani really wanted to stay; and the universally and consistently poor rankings of their minor-league system should be dismissed.

On Monday, John Mozeliak changed all that. The Angels’ interim general manager traded seven players off the major-league roster ahead of the trade deadline, including five within the final nine hours. Mozeliak imported nine prospects, only one of which will report to the major-league team.

It was one thing for owner Arte Moreno and new team president Molly Jolly to recruit Mozeliak six weeks ago and promise that he could embark on a desperately overdue rebuild.

To see it actually come to fruition? Maybe there really are Angels in the outfield.

“What’s really impressive for me is just the amount of trust I’ve been granted,” Mozeliak said.

The Angels finished in last place last year, and the year before that. They are on pace to lose 100 games this season, for the first time in franchise history. Their postseason drought is about to hit 12 years, the longest in baseball.

But now there is a plan, not just a bunch of ifs and hopes, even if the Angels might have to take another step back to take two steps forward.

“I would say we took a step forward today,” Mozeliak said on a videoconference after the trade deadline passed.

Prospects! Tell me more!

Arjun Nimmala takes part in batting practice for the Toronto Blue Jays on July 14, 2023.

(Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images)

The only top-50 prospect the Angels acquired: shortstop Arjun Nimmala, 20. The Toronto Blue Jays swapped him and two other minor leaguers for pitcher José Soriano. Mozeliak said Nimmala is about two years from the majors.

The only prospect coming to the majors: catcher/designated hitter Moises Ballesteros, whom Mozeliak said would DH in two of the next three games.

That means Jorge Soler won’t be the DH for the moment. Who was traded?

Soriano, outfielder Jo Adell, catcher Logan O’Hoppe and relievers Ryan Zeferjahn, Brent Suter, Kirby Yates and Chase Silseth. All but Suter and Yates were under the Angels’ control beyond this season.

And who was not traded?

In addition to Soler, pitcher Reid Detmers and shortstop Zach Neto (“We definitely listened to offers, but we were not comfortable with the offers we received”) and first baseman Nolan Schanuel (“He was asked about, but not to the level of others”).

Mozeliak had said last month that a Trout trade was “not happening.” He said Monday that he had invited Trout to observe the team’s war room ahead of the trade deadline.

“He’s the face of this franchise,” Mozeliak said. “From where I stand, from being around him, we want to get this better for him, and for others. Our fans want to see winning.”

Mozeliak had said the Angels should not need a total rebuild because the resources available to a major-market team should mitigate the need to tank and just play kids. Does he believe the Angels could be better next season?

Hear it from him: “We need to remain disciplined and patient to a process and not just try to rush some people to the big leagues. … If they’re not ready, and we’re not ready to compete with that group, that’s where we’re going to augment using more of the free-agent model.”

This is starting to sound like a long-term plan. Is Mozeliak here for the long-term, as most inside the industry believe he is?

Mozeliak insists he hasn’t decided if he wants to stay, and he hasn’t yet met with Moreno and Jolly to discuss the matter. But he said two things that stuck out to me.

One: “It’s fun being back in the game. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”

Two: “We have made a difference. Change has been real.”

ONE airport in Europe has just become the most busy on the continent – beating London Heathrow’s record.

It’s about to get even busier too as it’s preparing to open a fourth runway later this year.

In the hope to get up to 200million passengers by 2028, Istanbul Airport in Turkey is increasing the amount of runways it has from three to four.

Kadri Samsunlu, the CEO of İGA revealed the fourth runway was being been constructed at the cost £428million, according to local media.

At the moment, the hub has a rare triple runway – and it was the first hub in Europe to have one.

Essentially, it means the airport can have three flights take off or land at the same time.

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As a result, it increases the airport’s hourly traffic capacity from 120 to 148 aircraft movements.

The airport recently saw a record-breaking number of passengers through its doors with 289,260 people passing through the hub on August 1, 2026.

That makes it even busier than London Heathrow, which saw exactly 270,869 passengers in 24 hours.

Istanbul Airport handled a total of 39.92 million passengers in January-June.

These figures show an increase from 39.25 million in the same period of last year, according to data from the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ).

Istanbul Airport is the second airport in the city and officially opened in late October 2018, before becoming fully operational in April 2019.

It was even announced as being the ‘world best’ in 2024, according to Travel + Leisure.

Inside, the airport has sleep pods for anyone with a layover who wants to take a nap.

It also has business pods for those needing to take work calls.

For passengers aged between 15 and 30 years old, there is a Youth Lounge Area with lots to do, it has a PlayStation, music, snacks and four hours of free Wi-Fi.

The airport even has its own spa offering wellness treatments and massages and TV-viewing areas as well as a museum and library.

What is it like to travel through Istanbul Airport?

THE Sun’s Assitant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski visited the airport in 2024 – here’s what she found…

“If there’s one airport I wouldn’t mind being seriously delayed in, it’s Istanbul in Turkey.

“The place is vast and shiny with enough food (for any budget), shopping (think chic clothes and hand-painted kitchenware), and entertainment (there’s even a library home to 2,000 books) to keep you occupied for hours on end.

“Better still, if your flight gets cancelled you won’t even need to endure the faff of security again as the large Yotel sits airside.

“I visited last year and couldn’t have been more grateful for the size of the place, meaning I could whizz straight past the screaming kids in the massive Lego store and head straight to the food courts where I had no problem finding a quiet seat for a drink – Çay Saati has traditional Turkish tea.

“In fact many stores in the airport blend Turkish traditions with the modern world and you could certainly get a flavour of Turkey without ever leaving the terminal.

“The size of the place comes with a downside, though. Make sure you keep an eye out for your gate as it will take you a while to walk there – and try not to get lost on the way.”

A BUDGET airline is axing two of its routes from London Heathrow – less than a year after they launched.

It has said that the Iran conflict as well as rising fuel costs and restricted airspace have all contributed to its axing.

Budget airline IndiGo has announced it will suspend flights between London Heathrow and India from October 25.

At that time, it will hand back its leased aircraft to Norse Atlantic Airways.

It had provided direct routes to both Mumbai and Delhi from the London airport.

Return fares to Mumbai with IndiGo could be as little as £395.

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The airline cited the “challenging operating environment triggered by the ongoing geopolitical tensions” as well as rising fuel costs and airspace constraints as a reason for its axing.

IndiGo said it will “work closely with affected customers to offer suitable alternatives” including other travel arrangements or refunds.

The suspension of these routes is set to be temporary.

The airline explained it does plan on reinstating travel to India once it receives new aircraft – it’s waiting for new A350-900s to be delivered.

IndiGo already announced plans to stop its other routes from Manchester Airport, which is scheduled for later this month.

The two cancelled routes are to Mumbai and Delhi, which started in July 2025 and will stop flying on August 31.

IndiGo isn’t the only one to provide these routes – but did offer them at a lower price.

One-way flights between Manchester and Mumbai started from £290.

YouTubers Alex and Emma bought a six-room house with an attic in Sicily for £35,000, but they noticed an issue when they considered the cost of doing the necessary renovations

A British couple who bought a cheap Italian property noticed a major issue with the property that they hadn’t considered.

There’s been a growing trend of foreigners snapping up cheap houses in Italy, sometimes for as little as £1. The idea is that decaying and dilapidated buildings are bought, often by international buyers, to replace ageing and shrinking local populations.

The problem is that there is often a catch with the properties, and this is something that British YouTubers Alex and Emma noticed when they paid £35,000 for a six-room house in Sicily.

After buying the property two years ago, the couple, who post on their channel Travel Beans, decided to do up the building. But they have now put those plans on hold as they fear it will cost them a lot more money than they originally bargained for.

They originally intended to spend £45,000 on the renovations, but now fear the total cost of the project could exceed £100,000 (including the initial house purchase) after a word of warning from their friends Sara and Luca.

Alex joked: “The worst thing that could happen – people who know more than us peed on our dreams.”

Emma then added: “Is this becoming a money pit? Could the money be better spent elsewhere? Sara and Luca told us that it (the money they were quoted for renovations) could even double. As they have no much more experience than us it would be ridiculous not to listen to their warning.

“The question is at this point in our life where do we want the next £50,000 or £60,000 to go.”

They plan to renovate the roof terrace, which has views overlooking the Mediterranean, as well as putting in a second bathroom and doing some other odd bits and pieces.

Alex and Emma are also concerned that putting money into their Italian home could get in the way of one of their big dreams – ultimately buying a home back in the UK.

They are wondering whether their Sicily dream is competing with their desire to buy property in the UK as Emma said: “Every pound spent on the Sicily house delay our UK dream.

The digital nomads, who have two children, initially chose Sicily because it “represents freedom from the conventional way of living.

Emma said: “Sicily wasn’t a completely random purchase for us. It’s what we’ve been doing our whole adult life. Finding unconventional ways of living, prioritising freedom, and not needing a tonne of money to do it.

Alex added: “Sicily was the next logical step to have a base in Europe now that we’ve got a family. It was an affordable asset that improved our life.”

With their eldest child set to start school in just over a year, and they concede that this will be the last opportunity to travel in a straightforward way for while.

July 31 (UPI) — Federal officials on Friday released an updated framework for the Colorado River, requiring Arizona, California and Nevada to significantly reduce their water use in the coming years.

The plan, released by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation, reduces the water available for use by the three states by 3 million acre-feet in the coming decade.

One acre-foot is enough water for as many as four households to use for a whole year. The cuts represent the largest proposed cuts for those states to date

“The [report] contains a framework that includes sideboards that are unacceptable for the state of Arizona,” the Arizona Department of Water Resources said in a statement to The Colorado Sun. “Such reductions would devastate Arizona’s water users and its economy.”

The Colorado River’s resources are divided among seven states, combined into two groups: Upper Basin states include Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, while Lower Basin states are Arizona, California and Nevada.

Upper Basin states have a target for voluntary cuts of up to 200,000 acre-feet per year, or 5% of their annual water use.

The Colorado River provides water for some 40 million people.

Federal officials said drought conditions over the past 25 years have dwindled the water capacity available to the states that rely on the river.

“The department has a responsibility to ensure the Colorado River system remains reliable and resilient for the millions of Americans, communities and industries that depend on it,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “This framework provides the flexibility to respond to changing hydrologic conditions while preserving the opportunity for the Basin States to continue working toward durable, consensus-based solutions.”

The head of Operation Aspides, the European-led task force created to provide security for ships transiting the Red Sea region, tells TWZ that there has been a major increase in the number of commercial vessels seeking escorts since the U.S. and Israel started attacking Iran in February. Security concerns in that region have spiked after the Houthi rebels of Yemen imposed a blockade on Saudi shipping and began attacking the kingdom’s vessels and oil infrastructure. Late Thursday, the leader of the Houthis promised additional escalation against the Saudis.

“We have witnessed a significant increase in requests from commercial vessels seeking Aspides’ support for their safe transit through the High Threat Area (South Red Sea/Strait of Bab-al-Mandeb [BAM]/Gulf of Aden),” Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, Commander of EUNAVFOR Aspides, told TWZ in an email. “In particular, the number of protection requests increased by 39% from February 2026 (the start of the US-Israel-Iran confrontation) until now.”

“The increasing number of protection requests clearly demonstrates that, in times of insecurity, the shipping industry views Aspides as a credible and reliable maritime security provider,” Gryparis added. “We are working daily to maintain and strengthen bonds with the shipping industry, as mutual understanding and effective collaboration are essential to maritime security and the preservation of Freedom of Navigation.”

As we were one of the first to report, Aspides was launched in February 2024 during the previous Houthi campaign against shipping that ended last September. It was created to provide “a shield…to act in purely defensive mode to protect merchant vessels, and two non-executive tasks of ‘accompanying’ to deter with [its] presence and to strengthen maritime situational awareness,” a now former top EU official told reporters at the time.

Since its founding, the task force “has facilitated the safe passage of more than 2,240 merchant vessels and has provided close protection to more than 690 merchant vessels of different flags and interests,” the Aspides commander explained.

Aspides did not provide assistance to vessels recently attacked by the Houthis because the task force was not asked, Gryparis told us.

“Those vessels were sailing within the territorial waters under the responsibility of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (KSA MRCC),” he stated. “Consequently, assistance was provided by the Saudi Arabian authorities. The vessels in question had not registered their transit with the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) and had not requested protection from EUNAVFOR Aspides.”

In addition to the blockade and strikes on Saudi assets, the Houthis are reportedly considering imposing a toll on Bab al-Mandeb Strait transits. Gryparis told us that such a move, which has yet to be enacted, would not alter Aspides’ goals.

“Such a development would not change the mandate or the mission of Operation Aspides,” the admiral proffered. “Our mission remains clear: to contribute to Freedom of Navigation, protect the lives of seafarers, support the secure flow of global trade by protecting merchant shipping, improve Maritime Situational Awareness, and contribute to regional stability.”

“Of course, any measure that could affect the free passage of commercial shipping has the potential to impact Freedom of Navigation and the confidence of the shipping industry,” he added. “How states or private shipping companies decide to address such a development would be a political and commercial decision for them.”

“From our perspective, we will continue to implement our mandate within our means and capabilities, continuously assess the maritime security environment, provide protection to eligible merchant vessels in accordance with our mandate, and support the shipping industry through Maritime Situational Awareness and the timely dissemination of information and recommendations via the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO),” Gryparis noted.

In a fiery speech, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned Saudi Arabia of an all-out escalation. He described his group’s actions as being in response to a Saudi “siege” on the Houthis in Yemen.

“The indicators show that the Saudi [side] is heading toward comprehensive escalation,” al-Houthi proclaimed. “We will seek God’s help against it — we will meet his comprehensive escalation with comprehensive escalation.”

“In this phase, regarding what the Saudi [side] has done, the outcome has been good since establishing the equation of (siege for siege) — in targeting Saudi oil tankers, in preventing their movement, turning back 16 ships, and also in shooting down the Saudi [-operated] aircraft that come to conduct reconnaissance and penetrate our airspace — armed drones,” the Houthi leader continued.

For its part, Saudi Arabia is creating its own maritime coalition to protect transits in the region.

“Recognizing the growing challenges facing global maritime security, and the resulting need to strengthen collective naval defense cooperation to protect freedom of navigation and international trade routes, and to secure global energy supply routes through the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden,” the Saudi Defense Ministry announced on Thursday. “The founding states affirm that the establishment of the Multinational Naval Defense Coalition represents a strategic step toward strengthening maritime security in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, consolidating defense cooperation among the member states, and supporting stability and prosperity — in a manner that contributes to complementing international efforts to protect international peace and security, in accordance with the provisions of international law.”

About 50 nations were asked to join and 14 so far have signed up. It is unclear at the moment how this will differ from Aspides.

Meanwhile, Iran claims it has completely shut down the Strait of Hormuz to vessels in the wake of recent U.S. attacks.

“Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) says that passage through the Strait of Hormuz is currently impossible because of the continued ‘aggressive actions’ of US military forces in the region, adding that applications for transit would only be processed once stability returns,” the official Iranian Press TV media outlet claimed. Iran, however, frequently makes statements that are outright fabrications or extremely exaggerated. TWZ cannot independently verify this claim.

Traffic through that strategic chokepoint had already been significantly reduced by Iran since the launch of Epic Fury.

In a post on X, U.S. Central Command pushed back on that claim, saying the Strait remains open to shipping.

“CLAIM: Once again, the Iranian government claims it has closed the Strait of Hormuz. This is FALSE,” the command stated. “FACT: The Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Iran does not control it. Thousands of ships have sailed through the international waterway over the past four months.”

Regardless of the dueling claims, traffic through the Strait has slowed to a trickle, according to the Kpler global trade intelligence firm.

“The latest maritime risk data points to growing divergence across the region’s two strategic chokepoints,” Kpler stated on X. “Strait of Hormuz crossings fell 77% day on day to just five vessels, with all transits concentrated through the Iranian Unilateral Scheme, suggesting reduced operational confidence and limited routing flexibility. At the same time, Bab el Mandeb remained active, recording 47 crossings despite ongoing sanctioned vessel movements, shadow fleet activity and a dark transit. With US and Iranian public positions still at odds, operators are closely monitoring traffic volumes, routing behaviour and any diplomatic developments that could reshape risk across regional shipping lanes in the days ahead.”

Adding to concerns about energy exports, Egyptian officials yesterday confirmed that the port facility of Damietta was hit by a drone strike on Wednesday, the first public acknowledgment that the country has come under fire during this conflict. Cairo did not say who launched the attack, but Trump hinted it was the Iranians. The New York Times reported that two Iranians, who asked not to be named to discuss security matters, “said the explosion was a drone attack designed to show that global shipping and energy supplies could be more deeply disrupted if Iran chose to escalate. The individuals did not say whether Iran or an Iran-allied militia in the region had launched the attack, or from where.”

Iran, for its part, suggested Israel was to blame. Regardless, the incident raised the specter of another part of the region being brought into fighting that is largely centered on the flow of energy supplies.

While tensions on the waters are heating up, the pace of kinetic strikes on land targets seems to be slowing.

Kuwait reported its air defenses shot down several drones earlier on Friday.

“The sinful Iranian aggression targeted a number of vital and military facilities, where the hostile targets were dealt with and destroyed, resulting in material damage due to the fall of shrapnel, with no human casualties recorded, praise be to God,” the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry reported on X. “The armed forces affirm their continued execution of their missions and duties with high efficiency, within the framework of ongoing readiness and permanent preparedness, and taking all necessary measures to protect the sovereignty of the homeland, preserve its security and stability, in coordination with the competent authorities, in a manner that preserves the safety of citizens and residents.”

Tit-for-tat attacks between the U.S. and Iran have also slowed, with the last American strikes launched on July 29. However, during a cabinet meeting at Camp David, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that more offensive action could be in the offing.

“We just want to win,” he stated. “We’ll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they will say we can’t take it anymore.”

When asked about a recent report that he had been given a proposal to “go big,” the president said that has already happened.

“We’ve already gone big,” Trump responded. “What’s big?”

That’s it for now. We’ll update this when there is more information to share.

UPDATE: 8:06 PM EDT –

The Houthis’ Sanaa-based Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) sent us a statement pushing back on claims that the Yemeni rebel group is seeking tolls on the BAM.

“The Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) has recently become aware of the circulation of a number of reports and claims across certain news websites and media platforms alleging that the Republic of Yemen [Houthis] intends to impose tolls for transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The HOCC categorically denies the accuracy of these claims and confirms that it has neither taken nor considered any decision to impose fees for transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The HOCC further emphasizes that transit throughthe Bab al-Mandab Strait is free of charge.

Furthermore, the services provided by the HOCC — including the Safe Transit Service for vessels — are, as is well known, entirely free of charge. The Safe Transit Service is a voluntary and cost-free service offered by the HOCC to vessels/companies (falling outside the scope of the declared ban) that wish to confirm the safe transit of their vessels through the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea. All vessels outside the scope of the declared ban may transit safely. Additionally, for added assurance, such vessels may submit a Safe Transit Request by email to the following address: clearances@hocc.gov.ye at any time, and a response will be provided within a few hours.

Accordingly, the HOCC categorically confirms that any individual or entity requesting the payment of money in exchange for transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait does not represent the Republic of Yemen or HOCC in any capacity whatsoever. The HOCC urges shipping companies not to make any payments or provide any information to unauthorized individuals or entities.

The HOCC warns against any unauthorized use of its name or logo, or any false claim of representation, for the purpose of collecting fees or other payments in connection with transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait. It further calls upon anyone who is asked to pay such fees to refrain from making any payment, document the incident whenever it is safe and practicable to do so, and report the matter via the email address: compliance@hocc.go.ye, attaching all available details and supporting evidence that may assist in verifying the incident and taking the necessary action.

The HOCC calls upon all media outlets and news websites to adhere to professional standards, exercise due diligence and accuracy when reporting news and information, and refrain from publishing or circulating any information concerning transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait before verifying it through the HOCC’s official channels.“

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

Emmerdale is preparing for a huge summer surrounding some of the soap’s biggest female characters including Charity, Sadie, Dawn, Sarah, Gabby and Serena

Emmerdale’s strong female characters will take centre stage this summer in a string of big storylines.

The ITV soap has promised a huge summer for some of the biggest characters, with explosive secrets being revealed, new alliances forming and devastating consequences.

For fan favourite Charity (Emma Atkins), there is much drama ahead as her lies catch up with her. With Charity desperate to protect her family, she falls deeper in the lies that the baby she carried belongs to her and Ross Barton.

With everything she holds dear at risk, a confession comes – and the secret she reveals threatens to shake the entire village to the core, with devastating scenes set to air for the wider Dingle family.

Sarah, played by Katie Hill, will struggle to cope when she gets pushed to the edge by devastating news. Her world could come crumbling down if she learns the truth about where her and Jacob’s daughter Leyla’s true parentage lies.

It is bad news for Dawn – played by Olivia Bromley – who finds herself caught in the crossfire of a terrifying feud. She seems happy with Joe Tate and her new family, but things take a turn for the worse.

As her wedding day approaches, she’s trapped and needs to make a huge choice. A present life as it is now, or the hope of finally having the future she wants for her and her family.

New arrival Serena (Casey Al-Shaqsy) has caused quite the star since she showed up as the newest member of the Sugden family. She faces more drama this summer, and needs to decide how much she will face to lose to protect her biggest secret.

Gabby – played by Rosie Bentham – has always been the centre of some big storylines in the Dales, but this summer, she is struggling to keep things under control. Her health will be devastatingly impacted by her struggles and her life is at risk.

She is faced with the biggest moral decision of her life when a terrible incident takes place. Will she destroy the lives of the people she cares about with her terrifying decision?

There’s also a huge return for Patsy Kensit’s character Sadie, who has quite the agenda when she waltzes back into the Dales. Armed with a big surprise, she has a secret to tell, and the village will be left reeling.

Emmerdale Producer, Laura Shaw, teased: “From explosive secrets that shatter lives to dangerous new allegiances that threaten to tear the village apart, this season promises to be one of our most intense yet. The village is set for a dramatic transformation, and we can’t wait for our audience to see the peril these characters face.”

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THE price tag for John Travolta’s Saturday Night Fever suit is every bit as eye-watering as his dance moves.

The flared white three-piece outfit from the 1977 hit movie is expected to sell for as much as £300,000 at auction next month.

It is one of more than 1,400 items from film and TV that Propstore will be putting under the hammer in its four-day Summer Entertainment Memorabilia Auction.

The sale includes the fake axe wielded by Jack Nicholson in The Shining, a Harry ­Potter golden snitch and a hoverboard ridden by Michael J Fox in Back To The Future II.

A 15-inch stop-motion animation puppet from the 1949 film Mighty Joe Young is estimated to be worth up to £1.5million.

Here, we look at the most memorable mementoes up for grabs.

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Climate change has helped southern Europe’s likelihood of wildfires double since 1981, say researchers.

Southern Europe is “becoming more flammable,” with the number of summer days featuring conditions likely to produce fires having more than doubled since 1981, according to a new report.

The study, published on Thursday in the Scientific Reports journal, said that this “major intensification” of fire-prone weather is driven by climate change. It noted that these effects are especially pronounced in France and Spain, which have been battling some of their largest blazes since records began in recent weeks.

The steep increase in the frequency of fire weather – characterised by searing temperatures, low humidity, dryness, and strong winds – “can only be attributed to global warming,” said study co-author Raul Cordero.

European countries are enduring an above-average season for wildfires, and have already overtaken 2025, which was a record-breaking year for destructive blazes.

Cooling weather and rain helped to calm the worst of the fires in France and Spain on Thursday.

France told 84,000 evacuees in the southwest of the country that it was now safe to go home, as France’s largest wildfire since 1949 pulled back.

Spain ended its state of national emergency as wildfires threatening areas near Madrid – the largest Spain has experienced since records began in 1961 – began to come under control.

However, as high temperatures moved eastwards, fires were being fought in Greece, Turkiye, and the United Kingdom.

In Greece, two firefighters died on the island of Crete on Wednesday, the fire department said, as several fires started around the country, fanned by gale-force winds. Another died in a separate fire in the Peloponnese region as the blazes continued into Thursday.

“We have difficult days ahead of us,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

Firefighters in Turkiye have been battling at least 115 fires across the country, although at least 110 were under control, according to the country’s agriculture minister.

An enormous wildfire has forced evacuations and prompted road closures in eastern England. The fire at Dunwich Heath, a significant biodiversity site, is one of the largest the region has seen.

As the threat of artificial intelligence continues to creep into the music industry, major record labels are proposing new guidelines for how music generated by artificial intelligence should be treated on the charts.

The coalition of labels, which includes the industry’s biggest players like Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, as well as some smaller independent labels like BMG and Concord, is trying to establish a new framework for official charts that better separates human creativity from purely synthetic and unauthorized AI creations.

The proposed guidelines unveiled Wednesday say that AI music would qualify for the charts if the AI service used to create it is “properly authorized and lawful” and if it doesn’t violate any copyright laws. The track also has to be “substantially human-made,” and it shouldn’t raise concerns about stream or chart manipulation.

“The principles are intended to provide a unified roadmap for the consideration of official chart compilers, industry bodies and affiliated stakeholders worldwide,” wrote the coalition. “Together, the organizations proposing these principles stand ready to work with charts and industry bodies around the world to discuss these principles and support implementation of these important safeguards for human creativity by charts and industry bodies.”

The labels are hoping that official charts can both “accommodate appropriate use of AI” and maintain “an authentic celebration of human artistry.”

AI-generated tracks are becoming increasingly prevalent on streaming platforms.

Recently, Spotify added a verification badge to distinguish human artists from AI, and Tidal banned AI-generated music from receiving royalties on its platform. Deezer, a French streaming platform, was the first to detect, tag and exclude AI-generated music from algorithmic recommendations.

The company recently disclosed that up to 90,000 AI tracks are being uploaded to the platform daily, representing more than 50% of its new music uploads.

Despite the coalition’s effort to introduce AI guardrails, some labels involved have already inked partnerships with AI companies such as Suno, Udio and Nvidia. Several music advocacy groups have previously raised concerns about artists facing “non-negotiable AI usage clauses.”

China’s top leaders pledged on Thursday to support the country’s slowing economy by accelerating spending on already-approved infrastructure projects instead of rolling out large-scale stimulus measures. The decision came after recent economic data showed second-quarter growth slowed to 4.3%, the weakest pace in more than three years and below the government’s annual target range of 4.5% to 5.0%.

The commitment followed a meeting of the Communist Party’s Politburo, where policymakers acknowledged mounting economic challenges but signaled confidence that existing fiscal resources would be sufficient to stabilize growth through the remainder of the year.

Infrastructure Spending Takes Center Stage

Rather than introducing fresh stimulus packages, Beijing plans to speed up implementation of projects that have already been budgeted. Analysts said the government still has significant fiscal room because infrastructure spending and bond issuance progressed more slowly than planned during the first half of the year.

Economists expect much of the spending to focus on China’s “six networks” initiative, covering investments in water systems, logistics infrastructure, underground pipelines, electricity grids, telecommunications and computing power centers. State media has previously indicated that roughly $1 trillion has been allocated for these projects.

Analysts viewed the Politburo’s statement as confirmation that Beijing intends to support growth without significantly expanding its fiscal deficit.

Concerns Over Overcapacity Remain

Chinese leaders continue to avoid aggressive stimulus partly because they remain focused on tackling industrial overcapacity and encouraging local governments to maintain fiscal discipline.

The Politburo reiterated its commitment to addressing what it described as “involution competition”—a term referring to intense price wars among manufacturers competing for market share at the expense of profitability. While many economists argue that excess industrial capacity is driving these price wars, Beijing continues to reject claims that overcapacity is a structural problem.

Weak Consumer Demand Continues to Weigh on Growth

Although manufacturing exports and advances in artificial intelligence have supported parts of the economy, domestic consumption remains weak.

China’s prolonged property downturn, sluggish wage growth and a challenging labor market have reduced household confidence. Millions of workers have shifted into lower-paying gig economy jobs with limited social protections, encouraging higher savings rather than consumer spending.

This imbalance has increased China’s reliance on exports to sustain growth, raising concerns among trading partners that Chinese manufacturers are flooding global markets while domestic demand remains subdued.

Employment Support Remains a Priority

The Politburo pledged to strengthen domestic demand by expanding employment support, particularly for flexible workers and those in newer forms of employment. However, officials did not announce specific policies aimed at boosting household incomes.

Economists noted that while Beijing continues to emphasize consumption, its strategy remains focused on improving the supply of goods and services rather than directly increasing consumer purchasing power through large-scale income support or cash stimulus.

Outlook

The latest policy signals suggest Beijing is seeking to balance economic stability with long-term structural reforms. Rather than relying on broad stimulus, China’s leadership is betting that faster implementation of existing infrastructure investments and targeted employment measures will be enough to keep the economy on track while avoiding a surge in debt and further industrial overcapacity.

With information from Reuters.

BRITS heading to Spain are being warned to expect more strikes both this week and next week.

Baggage handlers have already staged a walkout at Palma Airport and will do so again this Saturday and again from next Tuesday.

Workers for the company Swissport, which provides baggage-handling services, are set to walk out on August 1 between 7am-12pm then again between 7pm and 10pm.

After that, an ‘indefinite strike by ground-handling workers’ is set to start on Tuesday unless an agreement is reached, according to local media.

Some airlines that use the company for baggage-handling include Condor, Air Canada and TUI.

The airport has warned that others could be affected too, as a statement said that “its impact will stretch beyond Swissport-handled airlines“.

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Popular airlines taking Brits to the island include Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.

The airport said: “Large-scale airport strikes can occasionally create a minor knock-on effect. If Swissport-served flights experience delays at the gates, it can sometimes lead to localised congestion on the tarmac or minor delays at security control.”

To minimise disruption, Palma Airport has advised customers to do the following:

• Check in online: Complete your check-in online before heading to the airport to minimise time spent in queues.
• Travel light if possible: Travelling with hand luggage only allows you to bypass potential check-in and baggage carousel delays.
• Monitor your airline’s app: Keep a close eye on text alerts or app notifications from your airline for real-time schedule updates.
• Arrive on time (but not too early): Stick to the standard arrival window recommended by your carrier (usually two to three hours before departure). Arriving half a day early can worsen airport congestion.

The airport did see some disruption during the previous strike on July 28 when Swissport workers action coincided with a 24-hour walkout by the Regional Metal Sector.

The Regional Metal Sector covers technical personnel across the entire airport – their final strike is scheduled for today.

On July 28, one man wrote on X: “Stuck on a staircase in palma airport due to swissport ground staff and baggage handlers on strike until midday.”

On the same day, another called on the strike to end with “people waiting on bags to start their holiday”.

A third wrote: “Been to Palma airport recently. It’s not just UK airports, that place is an absolute shambles.”

On the strike, a TUI spokesperson said: “We are aware of planned industrial action affecting airline operators at Palma airport.

“At this stage, we do not anticipate any disruption to our customers. However, we are working closely with our local teams and airport partners to minimise any potential impact.

“As always, we will proactively update our guests if there are any changes to their itinerary. Customers should continue to check their flight details as usual before travelling.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair told Sun Travel that it will “operate as normal” with “no impact to operations”.

easyJet also said its flights will be operating as normal.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

A MAJOR European airport is set to close for months in 2028, impacting all flights.

Charleroi Airport in Brussels, Belgium, will close for 11 weeks as its runway is renovated and the airport is revamped.

All flights will be impacted between August 15 and October 31 – which includes travellers heading away during both the school summer holidays and October half-term break.

Charleroi Airport is the second largest airport in Belgium.

It will undergo a number of updates during the closure, estimated to cost around €50million (£42.8million).

Airlines that operate to and from the airport include popular budget carriers, Ryanair and Wizz Air.

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For UK travellers, this will include flights from and to Newcastle and Manchester.

Airlines will need to temporarily reroute their flights to different airports.

Currently there is no further information of what this will look like although is likely to mean cancellations and diverted.

According to several reports, the airport stated: “A complete refurbishment of Charleroi airport’s sole runway, together with other major infrastructure modernisation works, has been scheduled by SOWAER (the company behind the works) for the second half of 2028.”

Works include completely resurfacing the 3,200 metre runway.

The works are expected to impact two million travellers.

The Sun has contacted Charleroi Airport for comment.

AN AFFORDABLE airline has delayed its flights from a major UK airport – before they’ve even taken off.

AirAsia X was due to launch flights from London Gatwick on August 27, however flights have been removed from the schedule.

The airline has said that due to “prolonged geopolitical instability in West Asia” the route is now expected to launch in March 2027.

Benyamin Ismail, General Manager of AirAsia X said: “Following a thorough review of the operating environment, we have made the difficult decision to defer the commencement of our Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Gatwick services due to the prolonged geopolitical instability in West Asia.

“This decision was made in view of ongoing safety and operational considerations, with the safety and well-being of our guests and crew remaining our highest priority.

“It is also in line with actions taken by other carriers that have reduced or suspended operations in the region.

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“We will continue to closely monitor developments in the region and review the route when conditions are conducive to safe and sustainable operations.”

The route will travel between London Gatwick and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, stopping at Bahrain and would’ve operated four times a week and then daily from the start of November.

Flights were set to be on an Airbus A330-300, which with AirAsia X, holds between 285 and 377 passengers.

Despite being a long-haul flight, the airline has been able to make the route low-cost due to the stopover in Bahrain and choosing Gatwick Airport over London Heathrow.

The Malaysian airline already delayed the launch of the route due to conflict in the Middle East.

However, the airline said at the time that it was still focusing on growth, with specific destinations including Busan, Batam, Bahrain and London.

When flights eventually launch, British travellers will be able to head to 100 destinations across Asia through the airline’s Kuala Lumpur hub, including Japan and Sri Lanka.

The airline used to operate budget long-haul flights from Kuala Lumpur to London but the service stopped in 2012.

AirAsia X added that all impacted travellers will be informed and offered either a full refund or credit to be used within 730 days.

A HISTORIC UK train station has partially reopened after a massive fire forced its closure last week.

Paignton Station in Devon sits in the heart of the town centre and acts as a gateway to one of the three towns on the English Rivera – a popular summer family holiday spot.

Last week, a fire broke out at the station causing “significant damage”.

Three boys aged 13, 15 and 16 were arrested on suspicion of arson.

Despite the damages, Great Western Railway and Network Rail have confirmed that services returned to the station from 8am.

Services to resume include between Paignton and Newton Abbot.

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However, due to a damaged platform the station cannot currently host nine carriage trains, which provide direct services between the town and London Paddington.

If you are due to travel to London, you’ll need to head to Newton Abbot or Exeter St Davids instead, for the time being.

There are also currently temporary entrances and exits at the station, as well as temporary ticketing facilities.

And the car park remains closed.

According to the BBC, Daniel Parkes from Network Rail said that they are working to restore “services as swiftly and as safely as possible”.

He added that “work to fully rebuild parts of the station will continue for some time”.

The change has just come into place for the peninsula, and Brits flying to the area will need to make sure their travel documents meet the new requirements, or could find themselves stranded at the airport

Budget airline easyJet has issued a warning to Brits flying on any of its four routes from the UK to a popular holiday hotspot visited by approximately 1.3million Brits every year, as new entry requirements came into force earlier this month.

In a statement, easyJet said: “From 15 July 2026, Gibraltar will align with Schengen entry requirements. If you’re travelling to Gibraltar, please check that your travel documents meet the new rules before you fly.”

The airline operates four routes from the UK to Gibraltar International Airport from Birmingham, Bristol, London-Gatwick, and Manchester. The only other airline that operates from the hub is British Airways, which has a London-Heathrow service.

The airline set out the key changes, saying: “UK visas and UK residence permits/share codes will no longer be accepted for entry to Gibraltar.” It also clarified: “Passports for travellers from non-Schengen countries (except Ireland and Cyprus) must have been issued within the last 10 years, and be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Gibraltar.”

The requirements are now aligned with what Brits can expect at the other 29 countries in the Schengen area. This means they’ll need to go through registration under the Entry/Exit System (EES). EasyJet added: “Before travelling, please make sure you have the correct documents for your journey to avoid any issues at the airport, you can check the government website.”

While Gibraltar remains a a self-governing British Overseas Territory, as of July 15 a post-Brexit deal has allowed the border with Spain to be removed, getting rid of border controls and customs checks for those passing between Spain and Gibraltar.

Historically, the border has caused hold-ups and long queues for locals as it has had to handle an average of 15,000 people passing through it each day for work, education, and social purposes.

But the change means that, while Gibraltar still has autonomy, it’s now a de facto part of the Schengen free-movement area, which is why Brits will notice a change when visiting the territory. The EES system will involve the same fingerprint and face scans as the EU requires at every airport.

The FCDO added: “On arrival at Joshua Hassan Gibraltar International Airport, you should expect two sets of checks which will satisfy entry into Gibraltar and the Schengen Area: Gibraltar entry immigration controls performed by the Gibraltar authorities and Schengen entry immigration controls performed by the Spanish authorities as the authorities of the neighbouring Schengen State

“This includes registration under the Entry/Exit System (EES) where it applies. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will also apply once it is operational. Once you have cleared these checks, you can move freely across the land border from Gibraltar into Spain and the wider Schengen Area.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

One of the busiest airports in the UK is the first to introduce robotic parking for passengers meaning drivers will be able to leave their car near a terminal and head away with their keys

Gatwick Airport is set to launch a brand new parking service that will make the airport experience smoother for drivers.

The airport will be the first in the UK to introduce a robotic parking service.

The service is expected to begin from next month. Passengers will drop off their cars into dedicated garages in the airport’s South Terminal.

Then, they can head to catch their flights whilst keeping their car keys with them. Robots will then lift the cars by the tyres and move them to secure parking spots.

The process aims to make the parking process quicker for holiday goers.

The parking service, being offered with Stanley Robotics, is expected to work for around 95% of car models – but drivers with “unusual dimensions or features” should check beforehand.

Oli Bedford, Gatwick’s head of airport access, described it as a “real game-changer”, adding: “It’s quick, easy and completely hassle-free.”

While on holiday passengers will be able to keep their keys on them at all times.

On return, travellers cars will be ready and waiting for them to collect.

The drop off points will only be a short walk or bus ride away from the terminal.