major

President Donald Trump has designated Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally of the United States during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, DC, where the two leaders reached agreements covering arms sales, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.

During a formal black-tie dinner at the White House on Tuesday evening, Trump made the announcement that he was taking “military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally”.

Trump said the designation was “something that is very important to them, and I’m just telling you now for the first time because I wanted to keep a little secret for tonight”.

The designation means a US partner benefits from military and economic privileges but it does not entail security commitments.

Saudi Arabia and the US also signed a “historic strategic defence agreement”, Trump said.

A White House fact sheet said the defence agreement, “fortifies deterrence across the Middle East”, makes it easier for US defence firms to operate in Saudi Arabia and secures “new burden-sharing funds from Saudi Arabia to defray US costs”.

The White House also announced that Trump had approved future deliveries of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia while the kingdom had agreed to purchase 300 American tanks.

“I’m pleased to announce that we are taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally.” – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/PXXGGCBPGU

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 19, 2025

Saudi F-35 deal raises questions about Israel’s ‘qualitative military edge’

Saudi Arabia’s purchase of the stealth fighter jets would mark the first US sale of the advanced fighter planes to Riyadh. The kingdom has reportedly requested to buy 48 of the aircraft.

The move is seen as a significant policy shift by Washington that could alter the military balance of power in the Middle East, where US law states that Israel must maintain a “qualitative military edge”.

Israel has been the only country in the Middle East to have the F-35 until now.

Asked by Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett about the impact of the jet fighter deal on Israel’s “qualitative military edge”, Trump said he was aware that Israel would prefer that Riyadh receive warplanes of “reduced calibre”.

“I don’t think that makes you too happy,” Trump said, addressing the crown prince, who was seated beside him in the White House.

“They’ve been a great ally. Israel’s been a great ally. … As far as I’m concerned, I think they are both at a level where they should get top of the line,” Trump said of the F-35 deal.

Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, reporting from the White House, said part of the almost $1 trillion investment in the US announced by Prince Mohammed included $142bn for the procurement of the F-35 fighter jets, “the most advanced of their kind in the world”.

Fisher also said the Israeli government and lobbyists had tried to block the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia.

The agreements announced were about “much more” than Saudi investment in the US, he added.

“It’s about helping each other’s economy, business and defence. Politics isn’t near the top of the agenda, but both countries believe these deals could create a political reset in the Middle East,” Fisher said.

‘A clear path’ for Palestinian state

The two countries also signed a joint declaration on the completion of negotiations on civil nuclear energy cooperation, which the White House said would build the legal foundation for a long-term nuclear energy partnership with Riyadh.

Israeli officials had suggested that they would not be opposed to Saudi Arabia getting F-35s as long as Saudi Arabia normalises relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords framework.

The Saudis, however, have said they would join the Abraham Accords but only after there is a credible and guaranteed path to Palestinian statehood, a position Prince Mohammed repeated in the meeting with Trump.

“We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we want also to be sure that we secure a clear path of a two-state solution,” he said.

“We’re going to work on that to be sure that we come prepared for the situation as soon as possible to have that,” he added.

Ukraine announced it launched Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles at military targets in Russia. The attack appears to be the first use of these U.S.-made weapons into Russia under the Trump administration. It also points to the strong possibility that another batch of the prized missiles have been supplied to Ukraine, which is noteworthy in itself due to the limited U.S. stocks of the weapons, and/or that the White House has approved the type’s use once again.

“This is a significant development that underscores Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to its sovereignty,” the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff said of the attack. “Despite the ongoing pressure of Russian offensive actions, Ukrainians remain resilient, demonstrating determination and consistent resolve in defending their homeland.”

“The use of long-range strike capabilities, including systems such as ATACMS, will continue,” the Armed Forces General Staff added.

Ukrainian officials provided no details about the ATACMS targets or how many were launched. Newer variants of these missiles can reach to nearly 200 miles, with first generation models having just over half the range.

Ukrainian and Russian mibloggers suggested that Ukraine attacked locations in Russia’s Voronezh region, among them the Pogonovo training area, located roughly 105 miles from the border. However, there is no independent verification of that.

The following video, first published by the Supernova+ Telegram channel, purports to show one of the ATACMS being shot down.

Cluster warheads packed with submunitions would be an ideal weapon to fire at a location where troops might be concentrated in the open. Ukraine used cluster munitions-equipped ATACMS to hit a Russian training ground in the occupied Luhansk region in May 2024 to devastating effect. That strike was also captured on video, which you can see below.

Though Kyiv claimed it will continue using ATACMS, just how many it has left is a mystery. Considering the long stretch between known uses, it likely ran dry for an extended period of time until the U.S. supplied more. The Trump administration could have also blocked the use of the weapons, especially into Russian territory, until now, although we cannot confirm this at this time.

Ukraine still has a number of U.S.-made Army High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS) and M270 MLRS launchers that fire ATACMs. However, the last of these munitions authorized to be sent to Ukraine by former President Joe Biden arrived in the spring, The Wall Street Journal reported in August. The publication noted that “Kyiv has a small supply left, according to U.S. officials.”

Meanwhile, in March, The Associated Press reported Ukraine ran out of ATACMs. A U.S. official told the wire service at the time that “Ukraine was given fewer than 40 of those missiles overall and that Ukraine ran out of them in late January.”

We cannot confirm that number, but we do know they were not furnished by the many hundreds or anything approaching that number. The U.S. inventory is thought to be the low thousands.

Senior U.S. defense leaders, including the previous Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, “had made it clear that only a limited number of the ATACMs would be delivered and that the U.S. and NATO allies considered other weapons to be more valuable in the fight,” according to the AP.

As we previously reported, the first tranche of about 20 early generation, shorter-range ATACMS variants arrived in Ukraine in October 2023 and were apparently mostly used during attacks on Russian-held airfields the same month. Ukraine has used the limited number of these prized weapons it has received with major results. Longer-range variants, which were not introduced into the war until the Spring of 2024, were first used in a wave of attacks on air bases and air defense installations across the Crimean peninsula, according to the Kyiv Post.

A major reason for the limited number of ATACMS given to Ukraine is that U.S. officials have expressed concern about their own stockpiles. However, in December 2023, the U.S. Army began receiving the first tranches of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) short-range ballistic missiles. The Army, which sees PrSMs as the ATACMS successor, said in September 2023 that the advent of these weapons could reduce some of the readiness risks associated with giving Ukraine ATACMS. It is quite possible that PrSM deliveries had freed-up more ATACMS rounds for Ukraine, and, given the chill between the White House and the Kremlin, these weapons would work both as a tactical tool and a strategic message.

This is especially the case as discussions continue regarding the U.S. supplying even more advanced and longer-range weaponry to Ukraine. While Trump has seemed to sour on giving Ukraine Tomahawk cruise missiles, more ATACMS, which have far shorter range and do not set a new precedent, would be a likely alternative.

After meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his American counterpart was open to lifting restrictions on Kyiv’s use of American-made long-range weapons to strike inside Russia, according to The Wall Street Journal. Trump didn’t make any commitments to do so, the newspaper reported.

A month earlier, the Journal wrote that the Pentagon had for months “been blocking Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike inside Russia.”

“A high-level Defense Department approval procedure, which hasn’t been announced, has prevented Ukraine from firing ATACMS missiles against targets in Russia since late spring,” the Journal added. “On at least one occasion, Ukraine sought to use ATACMS against a target on Russian territory but was rejected.”

The last recorded case of a Ukrainian ATACMS strike inside Russia was on January 14 as part of a massive attack also using U.K.-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and long-range drones. That took place in the waning days of the Joe Biden administration, which also took a circuitous route in giving Ukraine ATACMS and then allowing them to strike inside Russia. The following graphic, produced as Biden was debating allowing Ukraine to hit Russia with ATACMS, gave a sense of what kinds of targets could be reached.

The first such attack took place almost exactly a year ago. On Nov. 19, 2024, a munitions storage facility near the town of Karachev in the Bryansk region of western Russia was hit by ATACMS. The target was around 70 miles from the Ukrainian border, well within range of these missiles.

There are many questions unanswered about Ukraine’s claimed ATACMS strike today. We have reached out to the White House, Pentagon and State Department to see if we can get some answers about the last time Ukraine was given these weapons and the last time they were used in Russia. We will update this story if they give us any useful details.

While ATACMS did have major lasting battlefield effects, it never proved to be a game-changer based on the tiny quantities provided. But they are another long-range weapon that has existed in Ukraine’s arsenal that packs a punch far heavier than the long-range drones Kyiv has been using across Russia. With Ukraine’s introduction of home-made cruise missiles, this equation is changing, but still, ATACMS are survivable and hit very hard when equipped with a unitary warhead and its cluster warheads can blanket large areas with explosions and shrapnel.

If the strike occurred as stated today, it points to a shift in the Trump administration’s policy when it comes to long-range strikes with U.S. weapons into Russia and it could also indicate the ATACMS supplies are flowing once again.

Contact the author: [email protected]

Luxair, Finnair, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Loganair have already made the change with two others to follow

Passengers at one UK airport are advised to be aware of two significant changes taking effect from later this week. A number of key airlines have already mde a change to their operations at the regional airport.

Now, although Emirates and easyJet are not yet operating from Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2, that will soon change. In an update to X, formerly Twitter, Manchester Airport said: “Reminder! From 19th November, all airlines, except Ryanair, will operate from Terminal 2.

“This change is part of our £1.3bn transformation programme, bringing more airlines into our upgraded terminal and improving facilities for passengers.” While Emirates departures currently take place at Terminal 1, this will switch to Terminal 2 on November 18. Meanwhile, easyJet departures will move to Terminal 2 on November 19, just one day later.

Luxair, Finnair, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Loganair are among the numerous other airlines that have already transferred to Manchester’s Terminal 2. Additional developments to Terminal 2 will also be occurring over the coming months.

The X update, published on November 14, continued: “Further parts of Terminal 2 will be opening over the coming months including the Great Northern Market, the airport’s first Wetherspoons pub, new shops and bars including Fever Tree, and a new pier that will allow more flights to depart from the Terminal.

“As part of our multi-million-pound investment, we’ll be expanding Terminal 3 to make use of space that will be available when Terminal 1 closes. Some new parts of Terminal 3 will open early next year, including new sports bar Sporting Chance.”

Further guidance from Manchester Airport states that ‘all airlines will contact passengers directly to confirm the details’ and staff will be available to support these arrangements. Check-in desks for Terminal 2 are located on the upper level of the Terminal.

If you’ve reserved a parking spot in Terminal 1 or 3 but your flight has been relocated to Terminal 2, the airport can transfer your reservation to the nearest parking area at no additional cost. You will need to fill in an online form to have these changes applied.

However, this is only possible if you booked parking directly through the official Manchester Airport website, including Meet & Greet or multi-storey car parks. Unfortunately, the airport cannot modify third-party bookings, so you must contact the provider directly in such cases.

For those who have reserved a lounge in Terminal 1 or 3 but are now flying from Terminal 2, the airport adds: “If you booked your lounge directly on the official Manchester Airport website, you’ll need to cancel your current booking and rebook a lounge in Terminal 2, subject to availability.

“If no availability is shown for Terminal 2 lounges, you can still cancel your original booking for a full refund. If you booked through a third-party website or provider, please contact them directly. We’re unable to make changes to third-party bookings.”

For more information, head to Manchester Airport’s website here.

ONE tube station has just been awarded Grade II listed status just 25 years after opening.

The station has been described as “one of the most memorable and theatrical spaces on the London Underground network” – and has become a landmark in its own right.

On November 20, 1999, Southwark Underground Station opened to the public, and it’s now been added to the National Heritage List.

The underground station was one of six new stations built for the Jubilee Line Extension and was designed by engineers in 1994.

As regular commuters and London tourists will know, the underground station has a circular ticket hall, a towering blue glass screen and steel-panelled tunnel in the lower concourse.

During its design, the six stations were set to have their own unique identities with different looks but be linked by materials like steel and polished concrete.

YULE DO

Travel expert reveals cheap UK holiday parks with Xmas breaks from £9pp a night

STREET SMARTS

I visit New York 6 times a year – my expert budget guide including £1 pizzas

A building usually has to be over 30 years old to be considered for listing.

But Southwark Underground Station became eligible for listing last year as the age of the building is calculated ‘from the point at which the ground was first broken’.

There are 72 London Underground stations on the National Heritage list – and Southwark Underground Station is the youngest.

Announcing the tube station’s listing was heritage minister Fiona Twycross, who said the station is a ‘stunning example’ of late 20th-century architecture.

She added: “I’m thrilled to celebrate and help protect this bold design, with its striking play on natural and artificial light.

“Used by thousands every day, this station is a great reminder of the extraordinary breadth of our country’s architectural heritage.”

Both locals and tourists are just as impressed with the train station.

One called it a “cosmic cruiseship” while another said it was a “space aged looking station”.

A third simply wrote: “This place is what I think the future looks like.”

Southwark was one of six new stations built for the Jubilee Line Extension in the 1990s, overseen by the architect Roland Paoletti.

The other stations built alongside it are Bermondsey, Canada Water, Canary Wharf, North Greenwich and Canning Town.

According to the C20 Society, the new stations on the Jubilee Line Extension were said to be the biggest architectural sensation of their kind since the Moscow Underground back in 1999.

Now, millions pass through Southwark Underground Station every day, with the most recent figure from 2023 recording 8.51 million passengers.

There’s another underground station in the UK that doesn’t have listed status but thanks to its design looks like it could be in Moscow.

Gants Hill sits on a roundabout in Zone 4 and from the outside, doesn’t look like anything special.

The interiors were designed by modernist Charles Holden, known for creating most of the London Underground system.

It was inspired by the Moscow Metro system, after Holden returned from the Russian city during WWII having been there as a consultant.

The barrel vault ceilings are similar to Elektrozavodskaya metro station in Moscow.

The central concourse even has the nickname “Moscow Hall”, and while it’s not a listed station, some believe it should be.

Joshua Abbott, author of the Modernism in Metroland blog, told local media that the underground “should be listed.”

He added: “It is unique among Holden’s stations due to the Moscow Metro influenced platform design and lack of surface buildings – Gants Hill should be very proud of its most secret building.”

HORROR TOWN

Our once proud town is besieged by masked machete yobs – even cops are targets

CRUEL ORDEAL

I was blinded & my pals were killed by dangerous trend in Brit holiday hotspot

Here’s more on the creepy hidden tunnel under UK’s busiest streets where you can spy on commuters – visitors wish they never entered.

And here’s how you can visit a secret abandoned tube station used in Bond, Paddington and the Bourne movies.

TWO of the UK’s major airports are rolling out new travel rules and it is great news for passengers.

Both London Stansted and London Southend will allow much easier travel to and from the airport.

The new rules will mean holidaymakers can tap in and out, using contactless tickets.

This means passengers travelling from London will no longer have to pay for a physical ticket, and can instead use their bank card or Apple Pay.

The new tap-in and tap-out rules are being introduced from December 14, for the first time.

This will affect millions of passenger travelling to Stansted Airport by train, which saw around nine million use the station last year.

NO GO

Budget airline slashes flights from major UK airport in scramble to cut costs

TAKING OFF

Jet2 to launch first ever flights from big UK airport with 29 ‘sunshine’ routes

For Southend, it will affect around 118,000 passengers who travel there by train.

It also means passengers can avoid the strict £100 fines if they tap in at the start of their journey and forget to tap out before.

This is welcome news for thousands of travellers, with as many as 16,000 a year caught out.

Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said: “The introduction of contactless travel on the Stansted Express is great news for passengers and will make rail travel between Stansted and London even more simple and convenient.

“More seamless rail travel between the airport and London Liverpool Street will significantly improve our passengers’ experience and make choosing the train even more attractive.”

This was backed by Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at Transport for London (TfL), who said: “We are delighted to be extending pay-as-you-go with contactless to a further 50 stations from 14 December, including Stansted Airport, making it easier for those arriving at the airport to travel to London and experience all the city has to offer.”

It is also a boost ahead of London Stansted’s major expansion plans.

Currently welcoming nearly 30million passengers a year, this could increase to 51million by the 2040s.

While there are no plans for a new runway, the airport is set to welcome more flights launched by airlines.

The rollout of the new contactless travel rules is part of a major £18.7million investment plan.

The upgraded contactless rules is also being rolled out at another 50 train station around the UK, including in cities such as Leeds, Derby and Nottingham.

Both London Heathrow and London Gatwick already allow passengers to use contactless payment to travel to and from the airport.

Along with London City and London Luton, this means that all of the ‘London’ airports will be contactless.

HORROR TOWN

Our once proud town is besieged by masked machete yobs – even cops are targets

CRUEL ORDEAL

I was blinded & my pals were killed by dangerous trend in Brit holiday hotspot

Another new change coming to UK airports is contactless passport travel.

Border Force successfully trialed new technology at Manchester Airport which replaces passport checks with facial recognition.

Budget airline Wizz Air plans to reduce the number of flights from Gatwick Airport, instead shifting its fleet to Luton, due to operating costs and ‘inferior slots’

Budget airline Wizz Air is set to cut the number of flights it operates from Gatwick Airport.

József Váradi, chief executive of Hungarian firm Wizz Air, said his airline is losing money in its operations at the UK’s second busiest airport. The carrier is instead set to shift towards operating more flights out of Luton due to lower costs.

This process will start with Wizz Air moving a single plane from Gatwick to Luton, Mr Váradi said. This will kickstart an “ongoing process” to slowly shift the fleet.

This follows the closure of an Abu Dhabi-based offshoot of Wizz Air, announced in July, as well as the scrapping of its base in Vienna due to “airport costs and taxes”.

Mr Váradi told The Telegraph: “Gatwick is expensive and we have been operating an inferior set of slots there. We think that we can enhance financial performance by operating that capacity from Luton.”

“Circumstances change and you have to take action. Whichever bases give you the most profitability, you should be biased toward them. That includes moving aircraft over from Gatwick to Luton.”

Mr Váradi added that the airline doesn’t plan on leaving Gatwick entirely, but instead aims to “optimise” its base there. He added: “You have to churn your network for profit. We are simply more efficient financially in Luton.”

This comes after Wizz Air revealed ‘Wizz Class’, which will allow passengers to pay extra to sit on a row with an unoccupied middle seat – giving them a little extra room in the process.

Other perks include priority boarding, a carry-on bag allowance and guaranteed space in overhead bins. The airline said Wizz Class is “designed to meet the demand of travellers seeking more space, comfort and a quicker exit from the aircraft”.

Commercial officer Silvia Mosquera said: “The roll-out of Wizz Class follows feedback from our growing number of business travellers who value low-cost travel options and prefer additional space during the flight.”

The new seating option will appear on selected flights departing from London, Rome, Warsaw, Bucharest and Budapest in December.

WIZZ Air is pulling back at Britain’s second-busiest airport as it races to stem rising costs in a Europe-wide shake-up.

The Budapest-based budget carrier will slash flights from Gatwick after deciding it is losing money there, boss József Váradi said.

High operating fees and badly timed departure slots have made Gatwick a drag on performance.

Mr Váradi said: “Gatwick is expensive and we have been operating an inferior set of slots there.

“We think that we can enhance financial performance by operating that capacity from Luton.”

As part of the overhaul, Wizz will start by moving one aircraft from Gatwick to Luton, giving Luton 13 jets and cutting Gatwick’s fleet to seven.

TAKE OFF

Wizz Air relaunches ‘all-you-can-fly’ pass – passengers say they’ve saved hundreds

UP UP AND AWAY

How to cancel a Wizz Air flight and get a refund

He added: “Circumstances change and you have to take action.

“Whichever bases give you the most profitability, you should be biased toward them.

“That includes moving aircraft over from Gatwick to Luton.”

Gatwick has been near capacity for years, keeping prices high and limiting space for rivals.

A £2.2billion plan to convert an emergency strip into a second runway is expected to double passenger numbers, but not until the 2030s.

Wizz insists it isn’t quitting Gatwick entirely.

Mr Váradi said the base will be “optimised”, adding: “You have to churn your network for profit. We are simply more efficient financially in Luton.”

He dismissed any link to Jet2’s plan to position seven aircraft at Gatwick from next year.

“Gatwick is stuck. It is so set with regard to slots that no newcomer can make any significant difference. Jet2 will be very sub-scale versus the established players,” he said.

The retreat comes as Wizz battles a series of financial shocks.

The airline has been hit hard by the Ukraine war, which has disrupted some of its biggest routes, and a global recall of faulty Pratt & Whitney engines that has grounded up to 45 planes at a time.

Mr Váradi has responded with aggressive cost-cutting.

The carrier shut its Abu Dhabi offshoot in July and is axing its Vienna base because of “airport costs and taxes”.

The shake-up in Austria has already triggered fresh disruption for UK passengers.

Earlier this month Wizz said it would cease operations to Vienna next year after a “strategic review”.

The decision will end two daily Gatwick–Vienna flights, which drop to one over winter, with all services stopping by March 2026.

CAR SMASH TRAGEDY

Three men and two women in 20s killed in horror two-car crash

BUM NOTE

New horror side effect plaguing fat jab fanatics – and it can be a sign of cancer

“We are ceasing operations in Vienna. After a strategic review, we are gradually closing our base in Vienna,” the airline said on X.

Routes to Bilbao and London Gatwick will be pulled on 26 October 2025, with all remaining Vienna flights stopping on 15 March 2026.

WASHINGTON — The nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday in a display of U.S. military power, raising questions about what the new influx of troops and weaponry could signal for the Trump administration’s drug enforcement campaign in South America.

The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford, announced by the U.S. military in a news release, marks a major moment in what the Trump administration says is an antidrug operation but has been seen as an escalating pressure tactic against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Since early September, U.S. strikes have killed at least 80 people in 20 attacks on small boats accused of transporting drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.

The Ford rounds off the largest buildup of U.S. firepower in the region in generations, bringing the total number of troops to around 12,000 on nearly a dozen Navy ships in what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dubbed Operation Southern Spear.

The Ford’s carrier strike group, which includes squadrons of fighter jets and guided-missile destroyers, transited the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands on Sunday morning, the Navy said in a statement.

Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, who commands the Ford’s carrier strike group, said it will bolster an already large force of American warships to “protect our nation’s security and prosperity against narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.”

The administration has maintained that the buildup of warships is focused on stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S., but it has released no evidence to support its assertions that those killed in the boats were “narco-terrorists.” An Associated Press report recently found that those killed included Venezuelan fishermen and other impoverished men earning a few hundred dollars per trip.

President Trump has indicated military action would expand beyond strikes by sea, saying the U.S. would “stop the drugs coming in by land.”

The U.S. has long used aircraft carriers to pressure and deter aggression by other nations because their warplanes can strike targets deep inside another country. Some experts say the Ford is ill-suited to fighting cartels, but it could be an effective instrument of intimidation for Maduro in a push to get him to step down.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States does not recognize Maduro, who was widely accused of stealing last year’s election, as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. Rubio has called Venezuela’s government a “transshipment organization” that openly cooperates with those trafficking drugs.

Maduro, who faces charges of narco-terrorism in the U.S., has said the government in Washington is “fabricating” a war against him. Venezuela’s government recently touted a “massive” mobilization of troops and civilians to defend against possible U.S. attacks.

Trump has justified the attacks on drug boats by saying the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels while claiming the boats are operated by foreign terrorist organizations.

He has faced skepticism and opposition from leaders in the region, the United Nations human rights chief and U.S. lawmakers, including Republicans, who have pressed for more information on who is being targeted and the legal justification for the boat strikes.

Senate Republicans, however, recently voted to reject legislation that would have put a check on Trump’s ability to launch an attack against Venezuela without congressional authorization.

Experts disagree on whether or not American warplanes may be used to strike land targets inside Venezuela. Either way, the 100,000-ton warship is sending a message.

“This is the anchor of what it means to have U.S. military power once again in Latin America,” said Elizabeth Dickinson, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for the Andes region. “And it has raised a lot of anxieties in Venezuela but also throughout the region. I think everyone is watching this with sort of bated breath to see just how willing the U.S. is to really use military force.”

Finley writes for the Associated Press.

Officials launch probe days after breach emerged amid widespread concern and speculation over leaked data.

Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency has confirmed that hackers breached its electronic visa platform, exposing sensitive personal data of travellers who used the system.

The admission on Sunday marks the first official acknowledgement by Somali authorities after the United States and United Kingdom issued warnings earlier in the week.

At least 35,000 people, including thousands of American citizens, may have had their data compromised when “unidentified hackers” penetrated the system, according to a US Embassy statement issued on November 13.

Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi had praised the electronic visa system this week, claiming it had successfully prevented ISIL (ISIS) fighters from entering the country, as a months-long battle continued in the northern regions against a local affiliate of the group.

The leak came to wider attention last week after clusters of accounts on the social media platform X began circulating what they claimed was personal information from affected individuals.

The breach has cast a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of a digital system that Somalia’s government had promoted as essential for improving national security.

The immigration agency said it was treating the issue with “special importance” and announced it has launched an investigation into the issue.

The agency said it was investigating “the extent of the attempted breach, its origin, and any potential impact”, adding that a report would be published and those affected would be informed directly.

However, the statement did not indicate how many people were affected, nor did it give any sense of how long the process might take.

The government has since quietly moved its e-visa system to a new website.

The UK embassy warned travellers on November 14 that “this data breach is ongoing and could expose any personal data you enter into the system,” advising people to “consider the risks before applying for an e-visa”.

Mohamed Ibrahim, a former Somali telecommunications minister and tech expert, told Al Jazeera that while hacking is a significant challenge, the authorities’ lack of transparency is troubling.

“Somalia isn’t high-tech, and hacking, in itself, is neither here nor there. But they should have been upfront with the public,” Ibrahim said.

“Why was the website’s URL changed, for example? That hasn’t even been explained,” he added, referring to the domain name change for the e-visa application site.

On Saturday, the Somali immigration agency’s director-general dismissed media reports about the breach as “coordinated misinformation campaigns” intended to undermine state institutions.

“A Somali individual cannot undermine the dignity, authority, honour or unity of the state,” Mustafa Sheikh Ali Duhulow told an audience in Mogadishu on Saturday night, without directly addressing the hacking allegations.

The breach has sparked fury among officials in Somaliland, the breakaway region that declared independence from Somalia in 1991, who have generally resisted attempts by Mogadishu to impose control over the territory.

Mohamed Hagi, an adviser to Somaliland’s president, called Mogadishu’s administration “institutionally irresponsible” for keeping the visa portal active despite the breach.

The incident came amid escalating tensions between Somalia and Somaliland over airspace control.

Somalia’s government has been working to tighten control of its national airspace and centralise visa procedures, despite authority in the country being fragmented among autonomous regional states.

Just one day before the breach emerged, Somaliland declared that “entry visas issued by the Federal Government of Somalia bear no legal validity” within its territory.

MANCHESTER has a well- deserved reputation as one of the UK’s sportiest cities.

It has enjoyed decades of football dominance thanks to Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as giving us the boxing talents of Tyson Fury, Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton.

Then there is the huge Team GB Olympics success from the likes of cyclist Jason Kenny.

Golf hasn’t really featured on the long list of successes yet – but that could be about to change thanks to a new venue in the city centre.

Pitch, an indoor golf venue and sports bar, is the chain’s first venue in the north of England and the fifth in the UK.

Fresh from Europe’s latest Ryder Cup victory in New York against America, I teed up a couple of mates and we spent an enjoyable afternoon whacking a ball around a virtual golf course.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Buoyed by the success of Rory McIlroy and some premium lager, we took on the New York Bethpage Black course.

Our performance over the next two hours suggested we are unlikely to make the Europe team for 2027.

But we had a great time, and it’s a lot more enjoyable tucking into food and drinks while the computer locates our ball instead of walking around the rough for hours.

Each of the bays start at £30 per hour during off-peak times, can seat up to ten guests and features cutting-edge Trackman technology, which allows golf fans to play pretty much any course in the world.

Each bay has a set of clubs to allow anyone to pitch up and play.

The vibe of the place is relaxing, with a quality Asian-inspired menu along with a good selection of drinks.

Anyone bored of golf can play shuffleboard or watch sports on the big screens.

The body did begin to ache from all the swinging, so afterwards we headed ten minutes down the road to the Good Sauna just off Manchester’s Deansgate, which boasts two cold plunge baths (£15 for a 50-minute session).

I successfully tackled the 8C bath for about 30 seconds before fleeing into the wood sauna to warm up.

But weirdly, I fancied another go – and apparently that is the best way to do it.

So back and forth I went four times, reaching a dizzy one minute and 12 seconds in the 8C bath.

Stripped off

I was proud of myself, until another guy casually wandered in, stripped off and submerged himself up to his ears in the the 4C bath for a couple of minutes.

Despite being freezing, we felt energised and quickly warmed up in Freight Island – a food and drink venue close to our Marriott hotel, a stone’s throw from Manchester’s Piccadilly station.

CAR SMASH TRAGEDY

Three men and two women in 20s killed in horror two-car crash

BUM NOTE

New horror side effect plaguing fat jab fanatics – and it can be a sign of cancer

We headed into its sports bar to watch a Premier League game and enjoyed a couple of pints.

It was either the effects of the cold plunge or the cold pints, but my bed was calling by 10pm and I had a brilliant night’s sleep after a full day of sporting experiences.

European markets opened significantly lower on Friday, following a retreat in Asian shares in the morning and Wall Street’s tumble on Thursday, as investors reassessed the outlook for interest-rate cuts and questioned the lofty valuations of leading US technology and AI stocks.

“Markets are down across the board as investors fret about cracks in the narrative that’s driven the mother of all tech rallies over the past few years,” said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell. The key concern is “about rich equity valuations and how billions of dollars are being spent on AI just at a time when the jobs market is looking fragile”, he added.

In Europe, sentiment was gloomy on Friday morning as UK government bond yields jumped following reports that Chancellor Rachel Reeves has abandoned plans to raise income tax rates in this month’s Autumn Budget. The ten-year gilt yield climbed above 4.54% before easing slightly. If confirmed, the chancellor’s move — first reported by the Financial Times — would leave a shortfall in the public finances.

London equities weakened, with bank shares among the worst performers on the FTSE 100 as investors digested the prospect of a tighter fiscal backdrop.

By around 11:00 CET, the FTSE 100 was down more than 1.1%, the European benchmark Stoxx 600 had lost nearly 1%, the DAX in Frankfurt dipped more than 0.7% and the CAC 40 in Paris fell nearly 0.7%. The Madrid and Milan indexes were down 1.2% and 1% respectively.

“Despite the doom and gloom, the scale of the market pullback wasn’t severe enough to suggest widespread panic,” said Coatsworth, adding that “a 1% decline in the FTSE 100 is not out of the ordinary for a one-day movement when markets are feeling grumpy”.

On the corporate front, luxury group Richemont was among the best performers, soaring 7.5% after beating forecast first-half results. Siemens Energy jumped more than 10% after the company raised its targets for the 2028 financial year. In other news, French Ubisoft delayed its financial report for the past six months; trading in its shares was suspended after an earlier drop of more than 8%.

Across the Atlantic, Wall Street endured one of its weakest sessions since April on Thursday, with the S&P 500 sliding 1.7% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 1.7% from its record high set a day earlier. The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 2.3%.

Shares in major AI-linked companies came under heavy selling pressure, with Nvidia down 3.6%, Super Micro Computer off 7.4%, Palantir falling 6.5% and Broadcom losing 4.3%. Oracles lost more than 4%.

The sector’s extraordinary gains this year have prompted comparisons with the dot-com boom, fuelling doubts about how much further prices can rise.

Expectations for a further US interest-rate cut in December have also diminished, with market pricing now suggesting only a marginal chance the Federal Reserve will move again this year.

Asian markets mirrored the downbeat tone as fresh data showed China’s factory output grew at its slowest pace in 14 months in October, rising 4.9% year on year — down from 6.5% in September and missing expectations. Fixed-asset investment also weakened, dragged down by ongoing softness in the property sector.

South Korea’s Kospi led regional losses, tumbling 3.8% amid heavy selling of technology shares. Samsung Electronics dropped 5.5% and SK Hynix slid 8.5%, while LG Energy Solution lost 4.4%. Taiwan’s Taiex declined 1.8%.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 shed nearly 1.8%, reversing Thursday’s gains, with SoftBank Group plunging 6.6%. In China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 2% and the Shanghai Composite slipped 1%.

Meanwhile, oil prices strengthened. Brent crude rose nearly 1.6% to $63.99 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate added 1.8% to $59.76. The dollar was slightly firmer at ¥154.55, while the euro traded at $1.1637.

THOUSANDS of travellers are being warned to brace for major disruption this weekend as engineering works are set to cause significant delays at the UK’s busiest airport.

Heathrow, which is set to handle around 84 million passengers this year, has announced that major rail connections to and from the airport will be closed this weekend while essential maintenance work is carried out.

The disruption will affect travellers using the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line on Saturday November 15 and Sunday November 15, prompting airport officials to advise passengers to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.

Heathrow Airport announced the closure on X, formerly Twitter, warning: “Due to planned engineering works, there will be no Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line train services to/from Heathrow on Sat 15 & Sun 16 November 2025.

“Piccadilly Line services to/from #Heathrow will be running as normal. Please plan your journey in advance as other services will be busier than normal.”

The engineering works are taking place between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport stations, and according to National Rail, “all lines” on the route will be closed during the two-day period.

QUEUE KNEW

UK’s worst airport for flight delays revealed – does your local make the list?

GROUNDED

Thousands of Brits to be hit by major strike in Europe affecting all transport

The National Rail website also states: “No trains to / from London Heathrow Airport from Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 November.”

This means that both the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line will be completely out of service over the weekend, affecting thousands of passengers travelling to or from the airport.

Routes listed as affected include the Elizabeth line between Shenfield and Heathrow Airport and the Heathrow Express between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport.

To help travellers plan ahead, Heathrow has released the times of the final trains before the closures begin.

The last Heathrow Express service from Terminal 5 will leave at 11.57pm on Friday, while the final train from Terminals 2 and 3 will depart at 12.03am.

From London Paddington, the final Heathrow Express departs at 11.25pm.

As for the Elizabeth line, the final service to central London will depart Terminal 5 at 12.07am, Terminals 2 and 3 at 12.12am, and Terminal 4 at 11.37pm.

The last Elizabeth line train from Paddington will leave at 11.24pm.

Those travelling from Terminals 2 and 3 to Terminal 5 can catch the final Elizabeth line service at 11.37pm, while the last train from Terminal 4 to Terminals 2 and 3 departs at 11.52pm.

Despite the disruption, the Piccadilly line will continue to operate as normal, providing the only direct underground connection to Heathrow throughout the weekend.

Travellers are being urged to consider alternative routes, including TfL Rail replacement buses, coach services, and taxis, which are likely to experience increased demand.

A Heathrow spokesperson reminded passengers: “We encourage everyone travelling on 15 and 16 November to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journey.

“With trains not running, roads and alternative transport will be busier than usual.”

The works form part of ongoing infrastructure improvements aimed at maintaining safety and reliability on the network.

However, the timing has sparked frustration among passengers planning half-term holidays and weekend getaways.

Experts have also warned that disruption could spill over into Monday morning as services return to normal and trains are repositioned.

PEATY FEUD TWIST

Adam Peaty’s brother arrested over stag do threats sent to Olympian

CHOC HORROR

‘Disgusting’ price of 750g Quality Street tins are slammed by Tesco shoppers

For up-to-date travel information, passengers are being advised to check the Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line, and National Rail websites before setting off.

The Sun has approached Heathrow for comment.

JET2 is launching nearly 30 flights next year from a new UK airport – for the first time ever.

The airline confirmed they are to start operating from London Gatwick in 2026.

It is the biggest new airline to launch from London Gatwick since 2020.

And flights are already on sale, with the first flight taking off to Tenerife on March 26, 2026.

Other new routes include destinations across Spain, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, Italy and Cyprus.

Bulgaria, Malta and Turkey will also gain new Jet2 flights from London Gatwick.

SPLASH OUT

All-inclusive hotel that’s the best in Europe with 10 pools and Jet2 flights 

JETTING OFF CANCELLED

What you need to do to cancel a Jet2 flight

The new routes will be operated by five new Airbus A321neo aircraft.

The addition of Jet2 flights at London Gatwick takes their bases in the UK to 14.

Jet2’s CEO Steve Heapy said: “Today’s announcement represents an incredibly exciting moment for Jet2.

“For many years, our ambition has been to provide our differentiated, service led, end-to-end product offering from London Gatwick, and we see this as a once in a generation opportunity to accelerate our growth from the UK’s largest beach and city leisure destination airport.”

He added that they saw “high demand” from passengers wanting to travel with Jet2 from London Gatwick, which he called a “game-changer” move.

The news was also welcomed by London Gatwick’s Chief Executive Pierre-Hugues.

They added: “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.”

The full list of flight destinations launching from London Gatwick with Jet2 in 2026 are:

• Fuerteventura – two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)
• Gran Canaria – two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)
• Lanzarote – two weekly services (Tuesday and Saturday)
• Tenerife – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)
• Ibiza – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
• Majorca – 10 weekly services (Monday, 2 x Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 2 x Saturday and 2 x Sunday)
• Menorca – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
• Alicante – five weekly services (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
• Girona – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
• Malaga – four weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday)
• Reus – three weekly services (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)
• Faro (The Algarve) – ten weekly services (Monday, 2 x Tuesday, Wednesday, 2x Thursday, Friday, 2 x Saturday and Sunday)
• Antalya – three weekly services (Monday, Friday and Saturday)
• Corfu – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
• Crete (Heraklion) – two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
• Kalamata – one weekly service (Wednesday)
• Kefalonia – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
• Kos – two weekly services (Monday and Thursday)
• Halkidiki – two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday)
• Preveza – two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)
• Rhodes – two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
• Skiathos – one weekly service (Tuesday)
• Zante – one weekly service (Wednesday)
• Malta – two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday)
• Naples – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
• Verona – one weekly service (Wednesday)
• Paphos (Cyprus) – two weekly services (Monday and Thursday)
• Pula – one weekly service (Saturday)
• Bourgas (Bulgaria) – two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)

Earlier this year, Jet2 celebrated 22 years of flying, after first launching back in 2003.

This was followed by the launch of Jet2holidays in 2007.

And it isn’t only London Gatwick that has new Jet2 flights.

The airline launched their first flights from London Luton back earlier this year, with the take off to Majorca on April 1.

This is alongside another 16 destinations in Europe including Greece, Spain and Portugal.

It was the first new airline base or London Luton in 20 years.

The services will fly to 17 destinations across Europe, including Greece, the Balearic Islands and Portugal.

Boss of Luton Airport, Alberto Martin, said that today was the “start of a bright future” and “a day of celebration”.

moving fast

MAFS couple PREGNANT days after they get married as strangers on show

WEDDING RIFT

Adam Peaty’s family feud escalates as he BANS mum from wedding to Holly Ramsay

It is the first time in 20 years that a new base airline has arrived at Luton.

Jet2 was also named the Most Trusted Travel Company in this year’s Sun Travel Awards, while Jet2holidays was named the Best Short Haul Operator.

I’m A Celebrity bosses will make a major change to proceedings this year on the ITV jungle show to stop one person hogging the limelight in a huge rule shake-up

I’m A Celebrity bosses are clamping down on celebrities doing repeated trials and hogging the limelight in a major rule shake-up. We can reveal how contestants will now no longer be able to do more than two Bushtucker trials in a row.

Insiders claim it gives more celebs the chance to shine on the show and endear themselves to the public. But it also comes after a row last year over Dean McCullough, who was voted to do a total of seven Bushtucker Trials, two of which he ended early.

Even Ant McPartlin expressed his frustration with Dean repeatedly being put up for trial, saying: “Who’s still voting for Dean, I don’t get it.”

At the time, some fans were convinced he was faking his tears to ensure he was repeatedly voted for by the public. Dean later insisted his tears were “100 per cent real.”

Nigel Farage, who took part in 2023, has previously lamented how those doing challenges got “25 percent of the airtime”.

The rule change will also effectively prevent the public targeting certain celebrities as much as before. Stars such as Helen Flanagan and Gillian McKeith were repeatedly picked on by viewers who were keen to see them suffer in trials.

Viewers will be unable to vote for that person for a third consecutive day, but then the system will be “reset” allowing that person to be voted for again.

A source said: “Celebrities all want the opportunity to take on a Bushtucker Trial and bring home stars for camp. Viewers would much prefer to see different celebrities take on the iconic Bushtucker Trials as opposed to the same person every day.”

Bosses are keen for more contestants to shine in the camp, and have taken on feedback from previous celebs on the show who want the trials to be spread more evenly.

A source added: “This is a great move for fans of the show so we don’t see the same faces doing the trials, as well as uncovering new favourites. Plus it’s a win-win for the celebs too, who are keen for more chances to get their personalities across.”

Several contestants have done multiple trials over the years.

Waterloo road actor Adam Thomas performed 12 trials when he took part back in 2016, while Scarlett Moffat and Janice Dickinson undertook 10 in 2016 and 2007 respectively. Jacqueline Jossa did 10 Trials in 2019, while Helen Flanagan did seven trials in 2012, of which a number were aborted.

Celebs flying Down Under include Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley, YouTuber Morgan Burtwistle, known as Angry Ginge, EastEnders actress Shona McGarty comedian Ruby Wax, TV presenter Alex Scott and Jack Osbourne. They are to be joined by rapper Aitch, and presenter Vogue Williams.

Ant and Dec are returning to host the hit series, which is in its 25th year. A source close to the show said: “Producers are expected to pull out the stops to ensure the 25th series is the most memorable yet.”

Like this story? F or more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

EastEnders fans have been left furious after a online release of a new episode was delayed ahead of a major twist on the long-running BBC soap opera following a dramatic storyline

EastEnders fans have been left furious after a online release of a new episode was delayed. Fans of the BBC soap are normally able to catch all the latest Walford action from 6am when it is released on iPlayer, but several complained that their morning routine had been severely disrupted when the latest instalment did not appear.

Warning, this article contains spoilers from Tuesday night’s episode now available on BBC iPlayer.

One fan wrote: “Someone’s messing up my morning routine by forgetting to flip the switch on the 6am iPlayer release of today’s Eastenders,” and a second said: “It’s 9 minutes PAST six where is #eastenders!”

A third raged: “where the f*** is my eastenders?? this is throwing off my morning routine ffs,” whilst a fourth pointed out that more than two hours later, the episode still hadn’t dropped.

They wrote: “Hello @BBCiPlayer, it’s 8.10am you haven’t released today’s episode of Eastenders. What do I pay tv licence for?” Another said: “They didn’t fire everyone at the @BBC did they? Where’s #EastEnders,” and another angry viewer wrote: “No iPlayer release of #EastEnders this morning. Damn it BBC I could have had an extra half an hour in bed this morning.”

Some speculated that the content of the episode could be the reason behind the delay. One said: “I need commissioners to upload Eastenders to iPlayer on time. If not because of sensitive content, please let us know. Some of us start our day at 6am and look forwards to this!”

Another wrote: “I guess something big is happening as no early release, but if it’s the death spoiler that’s already been confirmed then what the point.”

The episode did eventually become available though, and fans were impressed with it despite the delay. One fan wrote: “Best episode in quite a while that one today,” and another said: “Okay I thought tonight’s episode was the first good one in ages!” As the episode progressed, Harry, having left the house to buy drugs, received a message and went to check on friend Koji, who was being held at knife point by Okie.

Harry Mitchell got involved in a violent tussle, and was knocked unconscious but when he came around, he realised that he had accidentally stabbed Okie. He panicked and tried to help Okie but it was too late as he was already dead, and when Harry’s dad Teddy rushed onto the scene, he decided to take the blame for his son.

Just before the credits rolled, Teddy was arrested and was seen being driven off in a police car. The dramatic scenes were part of a conclusion of a cuckooing storyline, which has seen Okie take part in the criminal practice of taking over the home of a vulnerable person with the intent to deal drugs.

Speaking about the storyline, executive producer Ben Wadey said: “At EastEnders, we’re proud to tell stories that reflect the real challenges people face, and Kojo’s cuckooing storyline is one that feels especially important. Cuckooing is a form of exploitation that too often goes unseen and hasn’t featured on EastEnders before.

“Through Kojo’s experience we hope to have shined a light on how easily vulnerable people can be manipulated and isolated – something that can happen in any community, but feels particularly resonant in a city like London, where people live side by side and yet can still slip through the cracks.

“Working closely with experts and charities, our aim has been to tell this story with care and authenticity, and to raise awareness as to how to identify the signs of exploitation and the importance of reaching out for help.”

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat ,Instagram ,Twitter ,Facebook ,YouTube and Threads

A THEME park in the UK has announced it will open all of its major rides throughout the festive season – for the first time.

In previous years, the only open rides were in one just section of the park but now there are Christmas thrills all over.

Drayton Manor in Tamworth has announced all of its major rides will remain open throughout the festive period for the very first time.

Throughout December weekends, Christmas week and Twixmas (the period between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day), Drayton Manor will operate its major rides and attractions.

In previous years, it’s only been a selection of rides in Thomas Land that have been open rather than the bigger coasters.

This year rides that will stay open include Gold Rush, a rollercoaster in the new Wild West area, The Wave and Maelstrom.

STREET SMARTS

I visit New York 6 times a year – my expert budget guide including £1 pizzas

SNOW WAY

All the best Xmas days out under £10 including FREE ice skating & Santa’s grotto

There will also be plenty of Christmas experiences between November 22 and December 31.

For the festive season, Drayton Manor has launched its new Elves Behavin’ Badly | Elftoria experience.

Here there’s a Christmas Tree Maze, Snowball Fight Arena, Live Pranking Workshop and Show, Elf Meet and Greet, and elf slide.

There’s festive food and drink too like a pink peppermint milkshake, roast potatoes topped with hot gravy and bacon bits, plus the Christmas classic, pigs in blankets.

There’s even a Yorkshire pudding wrap with chicken, stuffing, roast potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce.

Elves Behavin’ Badly | Elftoria will be open on selected dates up to December 24 between 4pm to 6pm.

There will also be a Christmas Grotto, the Twinkle Express light trail, and pantomime performance of Cinderella.

Plus, at the end of the day, there will be a new festive show that’s the largest of its kind in the UK – which is included in the price of a park ticket.

Called ‘Drayton Manor’s Christmas Miracle’, it transforms the onsite lake into a stunning visual spectacle.

The new show features a 30-metre water screen, with more than 65 choreographed water jets, dramatic fire effects, vibrant lighting and festive animations.

Earlier this year, Drayton Manor picked up the top prize when it came to the ‘Best Value Theme Park’.

The awards were organised by ThemeParks-UK.com, and winners were announced after a series of votes made by 330,000 members of British public along with scores from expert judges.

There were 22 categories including Best New Attraction, Best Theme Park for Families, for Toddlers and for Thrills, the Best Seaside Park and Theme Park of the Year.

Best Value Theme Park wasn’t the only award Drayton Manor won, it also came in second place for Best (Large) Theme Park for Families, and for Best Theme Park for Toddlers.

Drayton Manor came in first place for Best New Accessibility Initiative, and third for Best Use of IP in an Attraction.

It also came second for its 75th Anniversary Fireworks which won Best New Event.

Park entry tickets are £25 for visitors aged between four and 66. Anyone over the age of 66 can grab a ticket for £19.90.

The festive experiences can be bought on top of the park fee. The Elves Behavin’ Badly l Elftoria experience starts from £20.

The Enchanted Santa’s Grotto costs £10 to enter. The Twinkle Express and Cinderella Pantomime are £5 each.

moving fast

MAFS couple PREGNANT days after they get married as strangers on show

WEDDING RIFT

Adam Peaty’s family feud escalates as he BANS mum from wedding to Holly Ramsay

For more theme parks, hear from one writer who went to one of Europe’s biggest theme parks with more than 40 attractions and record-breaking rollercoasters.

Plus, Head of Sun Travel (Digital), went on a day out at the UK’s best theme park and there were no queues for the rides.

Here’s how to visit Drayton Manor on a budget…

One writer reveals her top tips on how to do Drayton Manor on a budget…

Tesco Vouchers

If you’ve got a Tesco Clubcard, you can double up your Clubcard vouchers and use them to pay for entrance on the gate.

You can’t book in advance online or use the vouchers towards car parking or season passes though, so it’s worth comparing to some of the other offers out there to see which is best for your family.

Blue Light Card

Using a discount scheme like Blue Light Card for public sector workers or Kids Pass can offer savings all year round and also access to special member days, when the park is not open to the public and parking is included in the entry price.

The Blue Light Card member day at Drayton Manor in March offered tickets for £26 per person, with toddlers aged 2 and 3 costing £15 and babies under 2 free.

Black Friday Offers

It’s worth keeping an eye out over Black Friday to see what offers pop up – last November, you could buy four tickets for £75 and they were valid until the end of May this year, which covered Easter and half-term holidays.

The engineering works are set to disrupt trains on Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16

A major London airport has issued an alert regarding scheduled engineering works in November. No Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line train services will operate to or from Heathrow Airport on two days this week.

In a message to X, formerly Twitter, London Heathrow Airport said: “Due to planned engineering works, there will be no Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line train services to/from Heathrow on Sat 15 & Sun 16 November 2025. @TfL Piccadilly Line services to/from #Heathrow will be running as normal. Please plan your journey in advance as other services will be busier than normal.”

A similar alert has appeared on National Rail’s website, urging travellers to use the network’s Journey Planner to identify the most suitable routes. It also noted several other travel disruptions happening this weekend, in addition to the cancellation of Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line services to the airport.

Regarding the Elizabeth line specifically, the National Rail site reads: “No trains will run to / from Heathrow Airport. Services between Shenfield and London Paddington (and beyond) will run between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street (high level) only.

“Services between Abbey Wood and London Paddington (and beyond) will not run. There will be an amended and reduced service between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington / Maidenhead / Reading.

READ MORE: Parents warned over term-time holidays as fines soarREAD MORE: Brits flying to Spain, France, and Italy can now get extra legroom for free

“Please note that trains will run to / from the high level of London Paddington station. On Sunday, until 07:00, trains will only run between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington / Maidenhead / Reading.”

It also added: “There will be no Heathrow Express service.” More than 20,000 miles of track, 45,000 bridges and tunnels and 65,000 level crossings make up our national network, according to National Rail.

This weekend, engineering work will occur between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport.

Like National Rail, Heathrow Airport also provides its own online Journey Planner to help travellers organise their routes. The tool allows people to enter their postcode or local station address alongside the location of a Heathrow terminal before calculating the travel distance between them.

For more information, please visit Heathrow Airport’s website by clicking here or National Rail’s website here.

Get all the hottest shopping deals, cash saving tips and money news straight to your phone by joining our new WhatsApp Community – The Money Saving Club. Just click this link to join https://crnch.it/eutplxS1

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice here https://crnch.it/jeQqC872

The budget airline has already abandoned a number of regional airports this year, including Strasbourg, Bergerac, and Vatry, and more could be added to the list in the coming months

Ryanair has announced it will stop flying from several French regional airports due to tax changes. The budget airline has criticised a rise in taxes across the region, leading to this significant decision.

Several regional airports have already been dropped this year, including Strasbourg, Bergerac, and Vatry. Ryanair’s commercial director, Jason McGuinness, now says more French airports will join the list in the coming months.

Speaking to French magazine Challenges, he said a 180% tax increase made regional airports ‘unviable’ for the airline. The 2025 Budget introduced by the French government includes a tax hike for air travel, adding an extra cost of 4.77 euros per ticket for both domestic and European flights leaving France.

Speaking about the summer of 2026 to the magazine, Jason McGuinness, commercial director of the low-cost airline, said: “We will be leaving several regional airports in France this summer. When you increase taxes by 180%, it makes these airports unviable for us.”

The tax increase also means long-distance business-class tickets will cost up to an additional 120 euros. Initially, the French government claimed the higher taxes would bring financial benefits, but it has faced strong opposition from many parts of the aviation industry.

Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, previously told Le Parisien that the airline would cut its travel capacity across France if the government decided to raise taxes related to air travel. He described a significant tax increase on air travel as ‘unjustified’ because the sector doesn’t generate a substantial amount of revenue.

He said the airline could potentially double its annual passenger numbers in France by 2030, provided the government scrapped the taxes. But he warned there were more attractive options elsewhere, and threatened further capacity reductions if taxes rose again.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot hit back at Ryanair’s announcement, accusing the carrier of using ‘aggressive’ tactics to “evade their obligations”. The row comes despite Ryanair cutting its winter capacity in France by 11%, even as it added 31,000 more flights and six million extra seats compared to last winter.

The capacity reductions followed a hike in aviation taxes and the loss of approximately 7.3 million passengers due to French Air Traffic Control (ATC) disruptions. Strasbourg, Vatry, Bergerac, and Brive saw services virtually brought to a stop by the airline, whilst Beziers lost more than 100 flights during the winter season.

The flight route has now been taken over by Skybus

Flights connecting London Gatwick and another major UK airport are set to return this month, officials have confirmed. This comes after Eastern Airways, the former carrier for these routes, suspended all flights before collapsing into administration.

The flight route between Gatwick and Cornwall Airport Newquay has now been taken over by Skybus, which is part of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group. Tickets for these journeys became available on November 7, with the first flight scheduled for Sunday, November 23.

Cornwall Airport Newquay, the county’s main commercial airport, announced that a refreshed flight timetable will initially operate once daily. However, this is expected to increase to twice-daily services on weekdays from February 14, 2026.

Amy Smith, Managing Director, Cornwall Airport Newquay, said: “We’re delighted that Skybus, our longest-serving airline partner, will be taking over the vital London Gatwick service later this month. We know just how important a regular, reliable service between Newquay and London is for our passengers and we look forward to working with Skybus to deliver just that going forward.”

According to Cornwall Live, a 2021 agreement between the Government and Cornwall Council saw Eastern Airways previously operating daily services between Cornwall Airport Newquay and London Gatwick.

It is understood that this service operated under a four-year PSO to maintain the route throughout the year, which was considered vital to the economy. However, countless travel plans were completely disrupted when Eastern Airways halted operations last month.

On October 27, the UK Civil Aviation Authority advised its customers to avoid travelling to the airport and to opt for train travel instead. “We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Eastern Airways flights are cancelled,” Selina Chadha, Consumer & Markets Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said at the time.

“We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Eastern Airways flights are cancelled. Eastern Airways customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for the latest information.”

Cornwall Airport Newquay asserts that resuming the route will restore convenient travel between London and Cornwall, while providing people with easy access to Gatwick’s international destinations.

Skybus fares starting at £79.99 one-way include a 15kg checked baggage allowance. Customers can also purchase extra baggage or a Skybus FlyFlexi add-on, which offers additional baggage, ticket flexibility, and fast-track security (if available), for prices starting from just £22.50 one-way.

Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director of Skybus, said: “We are thrilled to launch this new service between Cornwall and London Gatwick. It is not just about making travel easier for passengers; it’s about creating opportunities – for businesses, for tourism, and for the local communities we serve.

“As a Cornish company with more than 40 years of aviation experience, we understand how crucial dependable air links are for our region and are proud to step up and operate this vital route. Our focus is on rebuilding confidence and offering reliability, and we look forward to providing passengers with the service they deserve.

“None of us underestimate the challenge ahead to build the Newquay-Gatwick route to be a thriving cornerstone of the local economy once more. We’re wholly confident that we can achieve this through Skybus’ record for reliability and service.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, said: “I’m delighted we’ve managed to find a replacement operator so quickly, and even more so to see a Cornish company stepping in.

“It has been a difficult time, with disruption for many people who use the service and had already booked flights, so I am pleased this announcement will help end the uncertainty around this vital connection to the Capital.”

Flights can now be booked at www.skybus.co.uk, which launched its new website on November 7 to handle bookings for the service. Flights for summer 2026 will be available to book by mid-November.

The budget airline will implement the new rule from November 12

Ryanair will bring in a major change from Wednesday (November 12) in a move aimed at improving its airport experience for passengers. The change – which will see the airline adopt 100% Digital Boarding Passes (DBP) – means travellers will no longer be able to download or print a physical paper ticket, and must instead access it in their Ryanair App.

This scheme, initially scheduled for May 2025, intends to eliminate check-in charges, save around 300 tonnes of paper each year, and provide travellers with direct flight updates. The budget airline claimed that almost 80% of its over 207 million annual passengers have already adapted to the transition.

In an update last week Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, explained: “While over 80% of passengers already use Digital Boarding Passes, and therefore won’t be affected by this progressive change, we remind the small number of passengers who still print boarding passes to download the myRyanair app ahead of the move to 100% digital boarding passes from Wednesday, 12 November.

“Moving fully digital means a faster, smarter, and greener experience for passengers, whilst also providing easier access to a range of innovative in-app features, including ‘Order to Seat’, live flight information and direct updates during disruption. We look forward to delivering an enhanced travel experience for 100% of our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class myRyanair app.”

If you’re worried about the practicalities of Ryanair’s change, look no further. Below, the Mirror has explored all the essential details you need to know before November 12, including instructions on check-in and accessing your DBPs.

1. What is a DBP, and how do I get one?

A DBP, or Digital Boarding Pass, is the electronic ticket you receive after checking in with Ryanair. Starting from November 12, passengers will be required to use a DBP rather than a physical ticket to board a Ryanair flight.

Passengers can check in online at Ryanair.com or through the Ryanair App, available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. To avoid additional fees, travellers should complete this step before arriving at the airport.

After checking in, a DBP will automatically appear in the Ryanair App. You will need to present this at airport security and the boarding gate before your flight.

However, please note that for flights from Morocco on or after November 12, passengers must check in online as usual and then present their DBP at the airport to receive a printed boarding pass. This physical boarding pass must then be shown to board flights.

Besides displaying your DBP, the Ryanair App also offers several other features that may be useful before boarding. According to the airline’s website, this includes the following:

• Order to seat abilities: Place food and drink orders via your phone to receive priority service.
• Live flight information: Get real-time updates on boarding, gate changes, and delays.
• Direct updates: Receive instant notifications from Ryanair’s operations centre during disruptions.
• Alternative flight options: Access real-time information on alternative flights during disruptions.
• Travel documents: View all your travel documents in one easy-to-access location.

2. What happens if my phone dies or I lose it before boarding?

Losing your mobile can be very stressful, but Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary reassures that it won’t stop you from boarding your flight. In a previous interview on The Independent’s daily travel podcast, he said: “The big concern that people have is: ‘What happens if I lose my battery or what if I lose my phone?’

“…If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you’ve checked in before you got to the airport, we’ll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge.”

O’Leary also mentioned that if a mobile device has run out of power, staff will have each traveller’s ‘sequence number’ at the departure gate. Therefore, passengers can still board without it, so there’s no need to worry.

Advice on Ryanair’s website mirrors this, adding: “If you have already checked in online and you lose your smartphone or tablet (or it dies), your details are already on our system and you will be assisted at the gate.”

After completing the online check-in, your DBP can be accessed offline through the Ryanair App. This means there’s no need for Wi-Fi or mobile data to view it.

3. What if I don’t check in online before arriving at the airport?

All Ryanair travellers should get reminders to check in online 24 to 48 hours prior to their flight departure. If they do not check in before arriving at the airport, they will be required to pay a fee.

Currently, the fee is £55/€55 per passenger for the majority of flights. However, passengers departing from Spain are required to pay £30/€30, while those leaving Austria will be charged £40/€40.

Ryanair’s website adds: “The fee is charged per passenger and per sector.”

For further details about the upcoming changes, please visit Ryanair’s website here.