BRITS will soon feel the squeeze after the announcement of the Budget.
Yesterday Rachel Reeves announced plans for multiple price hikes in the UK from a rise in tax on alcohol and cigarettes to the rising cost of Air Passenger Duty.
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Sunny Beach in Bulgaria is a popular choice for sun, sea and cheap drinksCredit: Alamy Stock PhotoYou can still get cheap cigarettes abroad with the cheapest pack of 20 being under £4Credit: Andrea Lardani
The cost of cigarettes has risen from the average price (for a 20 pack) around £16.78 up to £17.74.
And in 2027, the government will increase all rates of Air Passenger Duty (APD) in line with the rate of inflation – which will make going abroad more expensive.
So if you quite rightly are looking for an affordable break where alcohol and a box of cigarettes is dirt cheap – not to mention getting out of the country, then here are some options for you.
Bulgaria
Under four hours from the UK is Bulgaria known for its sunny beach resorts with cheap booze and all-inclusive hotels
One unbeatable place for that is Sunny Beach on the Black Sea coast which is well-known for being cheap and cheerful.
On the Beach has offers for a 7-night stay from June 2, 2026, at Sunny Day Club for just £265pp including flights from Manchester on a bed and breakfast basis.
Eating out won’t break the bank if you head away from the main streets – a mid-range meal for two can cost as little as £10 each.
And if you’re a smoker, then Bulgaria is a great place to buy cigarettes – and again, the cheapest.
Bansko is where you’ll find the cheapest pint in Europe – it’s just 90pCredit: Alamy
The retail price for a pack of 20 cigarettes in Bulgaria according to Statista is €3.69 (£3.23).
If you’d prefer a break right now, then check out Bansko which is two hours from the capital of Sofia and is one of the cheapest places in Europe for a pint.
Experts at hopparecently analysed dozens of European locations to find the most budget-friendly depending on factors like cost of a hotel and the cost of beer.
Here you can pick up a pint for as little as 90p – and a stay in a 3-star hotel which averages out at £57.
If you’re looking for a last-minute winter ski holiday, it’s also one of the most affordable options.
Sun Travel found a five-night stay for two people from £209pp, which includes flights from London Stansted with LoveHolidays.
Starting on December 7, 2025, you can stay in the three-star Apart Hotel Dream at the foot of the Pirin Mountain, and it’s just 5 minutes from the cable lift.
There’s an indoor pool as well as a restaurant, coffee shop and a cosy lobby bar set by a log fire.
Poznan has cheap options for cigarettes and pints will be as little as £2.87
Poland
Second on the list for the cheapest place to buy cigarettes is Poland where a pack of 20 costs on average €4.88 (£4.28).
If you’re looking to get away just for the weekend, then head to Poznan in Poland.
The fifth largest city inPoland, is great for autumn and winter weekend breaks especially if you are on a budget
Beer is cheap, costing around £2.87 a pint for a local brew while coffee is less than £2.80.
Of course you can always make a week out of it – LoveHolidays has an offer for a seven-night stay at Campanile from December 5, 2025, from £199pp including flights from Bristol.
Over the week, that works out at just £28.43 per person per day.
Some holidays in Riga can be as cheap as £22.71pppn – including flightsCredit: Getty
Latvia
While it might not be a place that comes to your mind when scrolling through holidays, Latvia has some crackingly cheap deals.
If you fancy a break in the New Year, then you can go with LoveHolidays to Riga from London Stansted from £22.71pppn – including flights.
Stay in The Dodo in Riga for seven nights from December 6; it’s a budget-friendly hotel but still has free Wi-Fi, comfy beds, private bathrooms, TV, bars, and breakfast options.
The hotel has a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi and is just a few streets away from the beach.
Mains at a restaurant in Marmaris cost around 400 Turkish Lira (TL) in £7.12 – and a cup of Turkish coffee in Marmaris can cost anywhere from Turkish Lira (12p).
If you want a break in January, it’s a great choice for sightseeing, and enjoying the cheap meals and drinks Spain has to offer.
You can fly there from London Luton on January 7, 2026 and stay for seven nights.
Or if you fancy somewhere coastal and some sun, you can stay at the cosy Marissal by Dorobe Hotels with LoveHolidays – a two-star boutique hotel with just 23 rooms – and it’s two minutes from the beach.
A seven-night stay from June 12, 2026 will set you back just £259pp including direct flights to Malaga from London Gatwick.
Here’s the destination where you don’t have to pay tax at duty free…
Gibraltar, the Mediterranean destination south of Spain, is the perfect place for Brits to stock up on alcohol, bag a cheap perfume and a designer handbag.
Sun writer Adele Cooke is half Gibraltarian and reveals she often sees hordes of tourists descend on the airport to get their goods.
She told us: “Often you’ll see people on cruise ships all get off to stock up on the goods. My dad likes to stock up his alcohol trolley while we’re there too.”
When it comes to alcohol, Gibraltar has some great offers at duty-free – for example, you can pick up a litre of The Famous Grouse whisky for as little as £8.15.
A litre of Bacardi starts at £10.75 (£20 in the UK) and Captain Morgan rum at £11 (also £20 in the UK).
One litre of Jägermeister costs just £12.50 (£25 in the UK), the duty-free shop even sells one litre bottles of Glen’s Vodka for £3.40 (£17 in the UK).
With the price of alcohol set to rise – jet off to the likes of Spain for cheap pintsCredit: Sebastian Ramirez Morales
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Boeing, Saab, and BAE Systems have teamed up to offer the T-7A Red Hawk advanced jet trainer to the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. With a plan to build the jets in the United Kingdom, the partnership aims to deliver a successor to the Royal Air Force’s current fleet of BAE Systems Hawks from 2030. Saab was already deeply involved with the T-7A as an original partner to Boeing.
The three companies announced today that they had signed a letter of intent to work together on the British requirement for a new advanced jet trainer. The proposal puts the T-7A — developed for the U.S. Air Force — at the center of a training system that will employ synthetic training alongside live flying.
The first T-7A Red Hawk arrives at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on November 8, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Schannuth Todd Schannuth
Synthetic work is an increasingly important part of flying training, with the latest training systems offering a blend of live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) elements. This approach reduces costs while allowing students to practice tactics and capabilities that would otherwise be impossible using an exclusively live environment, as you can read more about here.
The proposal is pitching the training system to prepare pilots for fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation fighters — the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon, F-35, and forthcoming Tempest, respectively.
“The strong partnership between Boeing and Saab developed the T-7 to be the world’s best solution for future pilot training,” said Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s Aeronautics Business Area. “By working with BAE Systems, Saab believes the U.K. can gain a worthy successor to the Hawk that is the right choice for pilots for decades to come.”
If selected for the Royal Air Force requirement, the T-7As will undergo final assembly in the United Kingdom, in an effort led by BAE Systems. This would ensure the company remains involved in the production of jet trainers in the future, after the Hawk production line ended in 2020.
Hawk T1s of the Red Arrows provide a flypast over Windsor Castle to mark President Donald Trump’s State Visit to the United Kingdom, on September 17, 2025. Crown Copyright AS1 Iwan Lewis RAF
If chosen as the Royal Air Force’s next jet trainer, the T-7A would replace the Hawk T2, which is due to be retired by 2040. It would almost certainly also be the frontrunner to replace the service’s aging Hawk T1s, which continue to serve with the Red Arrows aerobatic display team, and are set to do so until withdrawn around 2030.
The partnership is also looking to use the same approach to “support future international pilot training opportunities,” which could help the T-7A secure export orders that have so far proven elusive.
“Our new collaboration with Boeing and Saab will enable us to present a compelling offer to the U.K. Royal Air Force and our global customers, leveraging the latest tech innovation in training systems and a world-class jet trainer aircraft,” said Simon Barnes, the group managing director of BAE Systems’ Air sector. “We’re committed to ensuring this solution offers the best overall outcome for the nation to support the U.K.’s combat air readiness and deliver economic benefit.”
A three-ship flight of Hawk T2s from RAF Valley, on July 5, 2024. Crown Copyright AS1 Alex Naughalty
This document stated that the Hawk T1 and Hawk T2 “should be replaced with a cost-effective fast jet trainer. The current flying training arrangements for fast jets must be urgently revised to optimize capacity, building in maximum use of contractors and provision for training overseas students.”
U.K. military flying training is undertaken in three phases. Phase one involves initial recruitment and selection and basic military training, and is carried out within individual service commands. Phase two is known as the Military Flying Training System (MFTS), part of which is overseen by a private contractor, Ascent Flight Training Management. This phase takes pilots from introductory instruction and progresses them into specialized streams, including fast jet and rotary.
Finally, phase three involves pilots training on specific frontline aircraft such as Typhoon or F-35 within an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).
As part of phase two, the Royal Air Force operates 28 Hawk T2 jets that train both its own and Royal Navy fast-jet pilots at RAF Valley in Wales, before they progress to an OCU.
An F-35B from No. 207 Squadron, Royal Air Force, the Lightning Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Marham on March 16, 2024. Crown Copyright AS1 Butler RAF
While the ‘second-generation’ Hawk T2 only entered service in 2009, the Hawk T1, now used exclusively by the Red Arrows, is much older, having first entered service in 1976.
Other contenders to replace the Royal Air Force Hawk include the TF-50, a version of the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 offered by Lockheed Martin. At the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition held in London in September of this year, Lockheed Martin displayed a model of the TF-50 in Red Arrows colors.
A model of a Lockheed Martin TF-50 advanced jet trainer displayed in Red Arrows colors during the Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) at London Excel on September 9, 2025, in London. Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images John Keeble
Meanwhile, British aerospace startup Aeralis is offering a clean-sheet modular jet trainer, which it plans to build in Scotland. While Aeralis has yet to win any orders for its products, it has been provided with funding from the Royal Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office. The service’s Chief of the Air Staff has also said in the past that the company’s approach was something the RAF was “very interested in.”
A model of an Aeralis advanced jet trainer displayed during the Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) at London Excel on September 9, 2025, in London. Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images John Keeble
That the Hawk T2 needs replacement has been clear for some time now, with the relatively young fleet already suffering from well-documented availability issues, which have had an adverse effect on the training pipeline.
In 2022, a fault was reported within the Hawk T2’s Adour powerplant, reducing the planned design life of each engine from 4,000 to 1,700 hours, leading to an average of just eight serviceable aircraft being made available each day throughout fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
In 2023, the entire Hawk T2 fleet was temporarily grounded after an engine-related incident on the runway.
Among others, these issues have resulted in a need to train British pilots overseas to make up the shortfall, at a considerable cost. This has included buying training slots in Italy, Qatar, and with the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) in the United States.
U.S. Air Force T-38C Talon jet trainers assigned to the 90th Flying Training Squadron, above Wichita Falls, Texas, July 21, 2022. The 90th FTS is part of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT), which has also trained Royal Air Force pilots. U.S Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick Tech. Sgt. Joseph Pick
Meanwhile, an update on the T-7A’s progress was provided by Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, at a pre-show media roundtable ahead of the 2025 Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates that TWZ attended.
Parker identified “really good performance this year” for the T-7A, which should see the first operational example delivered to the U.S. Air Force at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, next month. Parker added: “We’ve got the first ground-based training simulators already stationed at the base and operational, and the program is doing well in its flight test; we are really seeing some good progress there.”
“We’re about 78 percent through test points at Edwards Air Force Base, so making good progress,” including having started high-angle-of-attack testing, Parker added. “The feedback from the United States Air Force has been great, both the testers as well as folks who’ve flown it from the Air Force […] We think it’s going to be a game-changer. Once we get it into the air with our main user, it’s going to sell itself.”
However, full entry into service is now not expected until 2027, a delay of over four years. Earlier this year, we reported on information that emerged about serious and potentially dangerous deficiencies with the emergency ejection system on the T-7A. This followed environmental testing of the aircraft, which also exposed new problems. More generally, the U.S. Air Force has been working with Boeing to fix or otherwise mitigate a host of issues with the T-7A, which, as well as delays, prompted a shakeup of the overall plans for the program. You can read more about what has been disclosed in the past about T-7A testing in this previous TWZ feature.
When asked about export prospects for the T-7A, Bernd Peters, vice president of business development and strategy for Boeing Defense, Space and Security, confirmed that the current focus is on delivering the 351 jets on order for the U.S. Air Force. However, he noted that “customers around the world are watching and seeing the program and the potential that it has, particularly when you think about the [Middle East] region.”
Peters said that Boeing is “definitely having conversations” with potential T-7A customers in the Middle East and identified what he said was “significant potential” for the trainer with “just about any operator that flies an F-15, an F-16, or an F-35 around the world.”
“We do think that there is a significant opportunity, particularly as we begin to ramp up deliveries to the United States Air Force and some of those other nations begin to think through how they want to recapitalize their trainer fleet and close the gap on pilot shortage,” Peters added.
Other export prospects could lie in a light fighter development of the T-7A, something that we have discussed in detail in the past. Previously, the U.S. Air Force looked at the possibility of an ‘F-7’ light fighter variant or derivative of the Red Hawk as one option to supplant at least a portion of its F-16C/D fleet. Some kind of missionized or light combat aircraft version of the T-7A could fare better when offered for export.
While details of the partnership between Boeing, Saab, and BAE Systems were not provided at the pre-show media roundtable, Peters also said that Europe was earmarked for T-7A sales, especially in the 2030 to 2035 timeframe. “Europe is one where I view that there’s a significant opportunity for us to be able to address not just existing Hawk fleets, but other fleets that might be out there,” Peters said.
As to the question of whether Boeing’s manufacturing capacity will be able to cover aircraft for both the U.S. Air Force and potential export customers, Parker struck an optimistic note.
Pointing to the company’s full-size determinant assembly (FSDA) approach, which reduces build time by moving drilling to the component fabrication process, making it more controlled and efficient, Parker said it would be possible to “scale up to very large volumes” for the T-7A.
“We’re going to go well above, potentially 100 aircraft a year, and we’ll be able to scale that up further if we need to go there,” Parker said. “Right now, we’ve got good capacity that will satisfy the United States Air Force, as well as other customers, right through into the early 2030s without having to put any more capital sort of into the system for that.”
A version of the T-7 is also in the running for the U.S. Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) competition, which seeks to replace the aging T-45 Goshawk — a type that was also developed from the BAE Systems Hawk.
Of course, should the United Kingdom choose the T-7A to replace its Hawks, the prospect of an additional final assembly line would allow production to be ramped up even further, to help fulfill more export orders.
For now, however, the U.K. government hasn’t allocated funds for its new advanced jet trainer, but with the Red Arrows’ Hawks requiring a successor by 2030, time for a decision is fast running out.
Nov. 22 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Saturday said his proposed peace plan to end the war raging between Ukraine and Russia since 2022 is not his final offer.
Trump has given Ukraine a deadline Thursday to accept the 28-point proposal.
When asked by reporters outside the White House whether it is the final offer, Trump responded, “No. We’d like to get to peace.”
“One way or another we’ll get it ended,” he said, adding his familiar refrain that “the Ukraine war with Russia should have never happened. If I were president, it never would have happened.”
Asked what would happen if Ukraine rejects the plan, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “can continue to fight his little heart out.”
Trump spoke to reporters before playing golf with Jack Nicklaus at the Joint Base Andrews golf course.
The president sent officials to Geneva, Switzerland, to meet Sunday with a Ukrainian delegation, including Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, a top U.S. official told ABC News on Saturday.
National security advisers from Germany, France and Britain are also going to Geneva for talks, a diplomatic source told CNN Saturday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday posted on X about the talks.
“In the coming days, consultations with our partners will take place on the steps needed to end the war,” he said in a video.
“Our representatives know how to defend Ukraine’s national interests and exactly what must be done to prevent Russia from launching a third invasion, another strike against Ukraine — just as it has repeatedly committed crimes against our people and against other nations in the past,” Zelensky said.
In the coming days, consultations with our partners will take place on the steps needed to end the war. Our representatives know how to defend Ukraine’s national interests and exactly what must be done to prevent Russia from launching a third invasion, another strike against… pic.twitter.com/O7pR87SHTe— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 22, 2025
His office said Friday noted that “Ukraine never wanted this war and will make every effort to end it with a dignified peace.
“Ukraine will never be an obstacle for peace, and the representatives of the Ukrainian state will defend legitimate interests of the Ukrainian people and the foundations of European security,” they said. “We are grateful for our European partners’ willingness to help.”
There are planned meetings with a Russian delegation.
Russia worked with the United States on the peace plan, which was presented to Ukraine last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin said “it could form the basis of a final peace settlement.”
But the plan includes what Ukraine has said are nonstarters, including giving up land not yet occupied by Russia and cutting its armed forces by more than half.
Ukraine also would be forbidden from possessing long-range weapons and Moscow would retain virtually all the territory it has occupied — notably, its 2014 seizure of Crimea.
Additionally, Ukraine would not be permitted join NATO, which has been a demand by Russia.
“Since the first days of the war, we have taken one, extremely simple position: Ukraine needs peace,” Zelenskyy said in an address on Friday. “And a real peace — one that will not be broken by a third invasion.”
Driscoll met with Zelensky on Thursday about a “collaborative plan to achieve peace in Ukraine,” according to a U.S. official.
Allies: Additional work needed
U.S. allies have been skeptical of the plan, including those attending the G-20 summit in South Africa.
The U.S. is absent because of “human rights violations” in the nation, Trump said on Nov. 8.
Twelve European Union leaders, joined by the Canadian and Japanese prime ministers, released a joint statement saying it welcomed “continued U.S. efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. The initial draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace.”
Bur it noted the draft proposal “will require additional work. We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable. We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack.”
And these leaders said they must sign off on portions of the agreement that affect them.
“We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to NATO would need the consent of EU and NATO members respectively,” the statement said.
In a statement ahead of the meeting, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he expected friends and partners of Ukraine to “meet in the margins of the G-20 summit to discuss how we can secure a full ceasefire and create the space for meaningful peace negotiations.”
“We will discuss the current proposal on the table, and in support of President Trump’s push for peace, look at how we can strengthen this plan for the next phase of negotiations,” Starmer added.
Republicans unhappy with plan
The plan was also criticized by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the former Republican majority leader, as a way to appease Putin.
“Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool,” McConnell posted Friday on Facebook. “If Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisors.
“Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to America’s interests. And a capitulation like Biden’s abandonment of Afghanistan would be catastrophic to a legacy of peace through strength,” he said.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally, called parts of the plan “problematic and can be made better” in a post on X.
“The goal of any peace deal is to end the war honorably and justly — and not create new conflict,” Graham said. “Finally, to the world: what about the fate of the almost 20,000 Ukrainian children kidnapped by Putin’s forces? This issue has to be addressed in any negotiated settlement.”
A bipartisan coalition of pro-Ukraine legislators will seek to force a House vote to impose crippling sanctions on Russia
Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania said in an X post Friday that he and his allies have “officially notified both the Clerk of the House and House leadership of our discharge petition to force a vote on crushing Russian sanctions immediately upon our return” from the Thanksgiving holiday recess.
President Donald Trump meets with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on Friday. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo
I was a bit skeptical when an emailer suggested touring Torrance as a way to appreciate this South Bay hidden gem. As a San Gabriel Valley product, I’ve enjoyed excursions to the iconic Rose Bowl or the historic San Gabriel Mission.
But Torrance? Really?
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I’m a fan of the divine paradise cakes baked at two King’s Hawaiian locations in Torrance and am aware that Compton-based hip hop group N.W.A recorded “F— tha Police” in a city music studio.
Yes, that’s all fine and notable, but is this city of 140,000 actually tour worthy?
Debbie Hays, a resident and Torrance Historical Society docent, was up to the challenge of proving it certainly was when we met for a tour this week.
History meets Hollywood
We started at the Torrance Historical Society. Inside, visitors receive a quick lesson about the city’s creation, from a Spanish land grant to its founding by financial broker Jared Sidney Torrance in 1912.
A good portion of the talk centers on one of the city’s heroes, Louis Zamperini, known as the “Torrance Tornado.”
The Olympic and USC star, who competed in the famed 1936 Games, was a larger-than-life pillar captured in book and film, the latter the 2014 movie “Unbroken.”
“Louis was a bit of a misfit in his early days and his story is one of redemption and finding his purpose,” Hays said. “It started with track and of course he’s most known about his role in the war.”
“No other place in the world has more information and pieces of history tied to Louis than we do,” Hays says.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Zamperini was a U.S. Army Air Force bombardier in 1943 when his B-24 Liberator went down in the Pacific on May 27 with 10 additional crew members.
Zamperini floated on a life raft for 47 days, battling sharks and hunger before being picked up by a Japanese patrol boat.
He was tortured for two years before he was finally freed.
Hays showed off heirlooms, trophies and files donated by the Zamperini family, including more than 60 pounds of notes and awards, used in production of the movie.
“No other place in the world has more information and pieces of history tied to Louis than we do,” Hays said.
The ‘Ramen Capital of Southern California’
One of the more surprising details about Hays’ tour was the number of excursions the city offers.
You can take one of several self-guided tours of the city’s dozen or so microbreweries and craft beer tasting sites that highlight a burgeoning craft industry.
The most delectable tour, however, may be shown on the city’s Ramen Trail map, which declares Torrance the “Ramen Capital of Southern California.”
As for locales, the film and television map tour denotes more than 200 locations where movies like “Scarface,” “Boogie Nights” and “Horrible Bosses” and television sitcoms like “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Barry” were filmed.
“We aren’t Hollywood, but we have many spots worth visiting,” Hays said. “All they’re all relatively close together.”
The Buffy home
One of her most popular excursions is the Fall Tour of Old Torrance, held annually in October.
Hays offers architectural and historic showings of Tudor, Mission and Spanish Colonial revival homes often butting up against each other. Most homes are over 100 years old.
“It’s a very eclectic tour that you don’t see every day in every town,” Hays said. “We’re not a cookie-cutter neighborhood.”
Yet, it’s the No. 4 spot on that tour, a 1914 Craftsman-style home at 1313 Cota Ave., that draws a pilgrimage year round.
The 2,296-square-foot home is forever known as “the Buffy home,” where the popular television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was filmed.
The four bedroom, two bathroom home served as the home of main character Buffy Summers, played by actress Sarah Michelle Gellar.
“I’ve led private tours to the home, with sometimes as many as 80 people,” Hays said. “Fans come to the house, they cry, they take pictures, they hug the tree. They love it.”
Paradise cakes, ramen noodles, craft beer and Zamperini memorabilia. You don’t have to love Buffy to appreciate Torrance.
The week’s biggest stories
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The FA credited the Lionesses’ home success at Euro 2022 as key in “shaping government discussions and driving forward policy change”.
Sarina Wiegman’s winning side signed an open letter to then Conservative party leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, asking for “every young girl” to be able to play football at school.
The FA says 90% of schools now offer girls equal access to football through PE lessons at Key Stages 2 (aged 7-11) and 3 (aged 11-14).
“This was never about girls becoming the next Lionesses, it was about normalising girls playing football, just like boys do. It’s about equality,” said former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who is an ambassador for Barclays Football.
After winning the Euros at Wembley in 2022, England reached the Women’s World Cup final the following year, losing to Spain. But they then beat Spain to retain their European crown in July.
“No girl should ever face barriers to playing football in school,” said Stacey Mullock, the head of development at the FA.
“That belief drove us to set ambitious targets and push for a cultural shift where girls have the same access and opportunities as boys.”
However, the FA said there is “more work to be done” for Key Stage 4 (aged 14-16), where “many teenage girls stop participating in team sports due to barriers like confidence, body image, and negative perceptions”.
The governing body also aims to increase the amount of schools offering equal opportunities through extra-curricular clubs from 83% to 90% by 2028.
Disney has a private island in the Bahamas you can book as part of cruise holidays but when I arrived I was completely caught off guard by the whole experience
Julie at Castaway Cay(Image: DAILY MIRROR)
There are plenty of incredible destinations around the world, but there are a handful that truly are those ‘once in a lifetime’ destinations; and the Bahamas are definitely in that category with those ridiculously beautiful beaches.
So as a Disney fan, the chance to not only tick the Bahamas off the list AND explore Disney’s private island – well, that was literally the stuff of my dreams. (Ask my friends and family how often I’ve mentioned that I’ve been to the Bahamas recently and they will testify that I have been insufferable).
As part of a sailing onboard Disney Cruise Line’s new heroes and villains themed ship, our itinerary included a stop at Disney’s Castaway Cay. From the moment I arrived, I realised I had underestimated what I’d signed up for.
Quite frankly, I’d expected a large stretch of a beautiful beach, a few loungers and then some fun activities/sprinkles of Disney magic for families. I didn’t anticipate the sheer amount of activities on offer, or just how much there would be to explore.
For a start, it’s genuinely an entire island to explore. There are multiple beaches (family-friendly and adults-only), beautiful cabanas, cycling trails, hiking trails, a waterpark complete with a slide that takes you right into the ocean, a shop and plenty of places to stop for a snack and drinks.
It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk to the main areas once you disembark the ship, although you can get a tram that stops off at various points on the island if you’d rather skip the stroll.
Of course there are plenty of Disney touches throughout the island; Daisy Duck and Chip and Dale were all on hand to greet passengers as we disembarked, and I spotted Pluto getting up to some mischief and commandeering a golf cart. There are heaps of photo opps too, with cute signs, fun backdrops and plenty of space so nobody’s having to sharpen their elbows!
Then of course there are those glorious beaches that I thought I’d only ever see on social media. Yes, those sands are as soft as they look, and those crystal-clear waters are not the stuff of Photoshop.
There is a dedicated reef where you can go snorkelling (and there are some Disney statues hidden underwater to seek out), but I didn’t even have to get into the water to spot wildlife, as a school of fish passed by while I wandered along the lagoon’s edge, only for a stingray to appear a few minutes later.
There are heaps of sunloungers alongside the beach but if you want to do something a bit special, you can hire a cabana for the day which includes a covered seated area, mini fridge with waters and soft drinks, and a button you can push to call servers to take your food and drinks orders.
The only downside? We were only there for a day trip. I felt like I could easily have stayed ashore but sadly, the crew are actually very good at their jobs and ensuring that people actually get back on board. (It turns out that you can actually book some Disney cruises that stop off at Castaway Cay twice in one itinerary, and I can see why that would be tempting).
Still, when you’re heading back to a Disney cruise ship where you know there’ll be more character interactions, shows and themed dining on offer, that does ease the blow a little.
Book the holiday
Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers four nights on the Disney Destiny from £5,384 for a family of four. Includes direct Virgin Atlantic Economy Classic flights from London Heathrow to Miami, room-only stay at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale in a Deluxe 2 Double Ocean View Room for one night before boarding, followed by a Disney Destiny sailing visiting Nassau and Castaway Cay.
Price is based on a family of four (two adults and two children aged 3–11) travelling and sharing an Inside Stateroom and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges. Price is based on a departure on 30th September 2026.
Virgin Atlantic Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected. To book, visit Virgin Atlantic Holidays or call 0344 557 3859. Prices subject to change and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays terms and conditions apply.
Warner Bros. Discovery has modified Chief Executive David Zaslav’s contract for a second time this year to prepare for the company’s proposed breakup.
This month’s alterations were outlined in an SEC filing on Thursday — a week before initial bids are due in the Warner Bros. Discovery auction. Industry sources expect Paramount, Comcast and Netflix to make offers for the embattled entertainment company that owns HBO, CNN, Food Network and the storied Warner Bros. movie and television studios.
Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment.
The sale kicked off in September when David Ellison-led Paramountmade an unsolicited offer for Warner Bros. Discovery — a month after Ellison and RedBird Capital Partners had acquired Paramount from the Redstone family in an $8-billion deal. The company since has made at least three bids — but all were unanimously rejected by the Warner Bros. Discovery board, which viewed them as too low.
Paramount’s most recent solicitation for Warner Bros. Discovery was for $23.50 per share, which would value the company at about $58 billion.
The external jockeying for Warner Bros. Discovery set the stage for Zaslav and the Warner board to amend his employment agreement. The contract was revised Nov. 7 to clarify that various spin-off configurations would result in the same incentives for Zaslav.
Previously, his contract was amended to outline his compensation and incentives should the Warner Bros. studios and HBO Max spin off from the parent company, as envisioned when Warner announced its breakup plans in June. At the time, Zaslav planned to stay on to run the studios and streaming company, which would be called Warner Bros. in a nod to its historic roots and the pioneering days of the movie industry.
The plan was for the company’s two dozen cable networks, including CNN, TNT, Animal Planet and TLC, to remain behind and the company renamed Discovery Global.
The company is forging ahead with its breakup plans. However, it now plans to spin off the cable channels (Discovery Global) and keep the studios, HBO and the HBO Max streaming service as the surviving corporate entity (Warner Bros.).
“The amendment clarifies that if the separation is achieved by retaining Warner Bros. and spinning off Discovery Global (a ‘Reverse Spinoff’) rather than spinning off Warner Bros. … the Reverse Spinoff will be treated in the same manner … for all purposes of the Zaslav arrangements,” the filing said.
Previously, the company had envisioned that the split would be complete by Dec. 31, 2026. But a full-blown auction could upset those plans — and the transaction could close at a later date.
Zaslav’s contract was modified to extend his employment through December 2030. Previously, his contract was set to expire in December 2027.
“This extension is intended to secure Mr. Zaslav’s leadership of WBD for the same period that we had contracted to have him serve as the chief executive officer of Warner Bros. following a separation,” the filing said.
It’s been created ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics
09:44, 13 Nov 2025Updated 09:44, 13 Nov 2025
An artist’s impression of the shelter in the Italian Alps(Image: CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati/SWNS)
An incredible new glass house will let mountaineers shelter from high-altitude perils. Designers have created the camp ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, where it will be showcased in Milan before being airlifted to its permanent location in the Alps.
The eye-catching bivouac is the brainchild of Italian design firm CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, in collaboration with Salone del Mobile.Milano. Designed to harmonise with the Alpine landscape, its creation began with a 3D scan of rock formations in the region.
Carlo Ratti, co-founder of CRA, said: “Unfortunately, today bivouacs often look like airships that have landed on our beautiful alpine landscapes. Here we took the opposite approach: a structure that blends as much as possible with the surroundings.”
CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati say the resulting design minimises visual impact while maximising functionality – incorporating energy production, storage, and water harvesting through air condensation.
Maria Porro, president of Salone del Mobile.Milano, said: “It is a gesture that turns research into a form of harmony with the natural world and that, in its journey from our Milan to the Alps, expresses the principles we share: a circular, responsible design.”
Carlo Ratti added: “Great 20th-century Italian architect Gio Ponti once said that architecture is ‘like a crystal’. We took that literally in this design, using digital fabrication to design a bivouac as if it were part of the natural rock formations that shape the Alps.”
United States Senate Majority Leader John Thune has promptly swatted down a Democratic offer to reopen the US government and extend expiring healthcare subsidies for a year, calling it a “nonstarter” as the partisan impasse over the shutdown continued into its 38th day.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer made the offer to reopen the government on Friday as Republicans have refused to negotiate on their demands to extend healthcare subsidies. It was a much narrower version of a broad proposal Democrats laid out a month ago to make the health tax credits permanent and reverse Medicaid cuts that Republicans enacted earlier this year.
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Schumer offered Republicans simultaneous votes to end the government shutdown and extend the expiring healthcare subsidies, along with a bipartisan committee to address Republican demands for changes to the Affordable Care Act.
“All Republicans have to do is say yes,” Schumer said.
But Republicans quickly said no, and Thune reiterated that they would not trade offers on healthcare until the government is reopened. “That’s what we’re going to negotiate once the government opens up,” Thune said after Schumer made his proposal on the floor.
Thune said he thinks the offer is an indication that Democrats are “feeling the heat”.
“I guess you could characterise that as progress,” he said. “But I just don’t think it gets anywhere close to what we need to do here.”
It was unclear what might happen next. Thune has suggested a weekend Senate session was possible. US President Donald Trump called on the Senate to stay in town “until they have a Deal to end the Democrat Shutdown”.
Despite the impasse, lawmakers in both parties were feeling increased urgency to alleviate the growing crisis at airports, pay government workers and restore delayed food aid to millions of people. Thune pleaded with Democrats as he opened the Senate on Friday to “end these weeks of misery”.
Moderates continue to negotiate
As leaders of the two parties disagreed, a small group of Democrats led by New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen continued to negotiate among themselves and with rank-and-file Republicans on a deal that would end the shutdown.
The group has been discussing for weeks a vote for a group of bills that would pay for parts of government – food aid, veterans programmes and the legislative branch, among other things – and extend funding for everything else until December or January. The three annual spending bills that would likely be included are the product of bipartisan negotiations that have continued through the shutdown.
But the contours of that agreement would only come with the promise of a future healthcare vote, rather than a guarantee that Affordable Care Act subsidies are extended by the end of the year. Many Democrats have said that this is unacceptable.
Still, Republican leaders only need five additional votes to fund the government, and the group involved in the talks has ranged from 10 to 12 Democratic senators.
Republicans eye new package of bills
Trump urged Republicans at a White House breakfast on Wednesday to end the shutdown quickly and scrap the legislative filibuster, which requires 60 Senate votes for most legislation, so that they bypass Democrats altogether and fund the government.
“I am totally in favour of terminating the filibuster, and we would be back to work within 10 minutes after that vote took place,” Trump said on Friday.
Republicans have emphatically rejected Trump’s call, and Thune has instead been eyeing a bipartisan package that mirrors the proposal the moderate Democrats have been sketching out. But it is unclear what Thune, who has refused to negotiate, would promise on healthcare.
The package would replace the House-passed legislation that the Democrats have now rejected 14 times. That bill would only extend government funding until November 21, a date that is rapidly approaching after six weeks of inaction.
A choice for Democrats
A test vote on new legislation could come in the next few days if Thune decides to move forward.
Then Democrats would have a crucial choice to make: Do they keep fighting for a meaningful deal on extending the subsidies that expire in January, while prolonging the pain of the shutdown? Or do they vote to reopen the government and hope for the best as Republicans promise an eventual healthcare vote, but not a guaranteed outcome?
After a caucus meeting on Thursday, most Democrats suggested they would continue to hold out for Trump and Republican leaders to agree to negotiations.
“That’s what leaders do,” said Senator Ben Ray Lujan, Democrat from New Mexico. “You have the gavel, you have the majority, you have to bring people together.”
Hawaii Democrat Senator Brian Schatz said Democrats are “obviously not unanimous”, but “without something on healthcare, the vote is very unlikely to succeed”.
Johnson delivers setback to bipartisan talks
Democrats are facing pressure from unions eager for the shutdown to end and from allied groups that want them to hold firm. Many Democrats have argued that the wins for Democrats on Election Day show voters want them to continue the fight until Republicans yield and agree to extend the health tax credits.
A vote on the healthcare subsidies “has got to mean something”, said Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats. “That means a commitment by the speaker of the House, that he will support the legislation, that the president will sign.”
But Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, made clear he will not make any commitments. “I’m not promising anybody anything,” Johnson said on Thursday when asked if he could promise a vote on a healthcare bill.
NEW YORK — At the top of his victory speech at a Brooklyn theater late Tuesday, Zohran Mamdani — the 34-year-old democratic socialist just elected New York’s next mayor — spoke of power being gripped by the bruised and calloused hands of working Americans, away from the wealthy elite.
“Tonight, against all odds, we have grasped it,” he said. “The future is in our hands.”
The imagery was apropos of the night more broadly — when a beaten-down Democratic Party, still nursing its wounds from a wipeout by President Trump a year ago, forcefully took back what some had worried was lost to them for good: momentum.
From coast to coast Tuesday night, American voters delivered a sharp rebuke to Trump and his MAGA movement, electing Democrats in important state and local races in New York, New Jersey and Virginia and passing a major California ballot measure designed to put more Democrats in Congress in 2026.
The results — a reversal of the party’s fortunes in last year’s presidential election, when Trump swept the nation’s swing states — arrived amid deep political division and entrenched Republican power in Washington. Many voters cited Trump’s agenda, and related economic woes, as motivating their choices at the ballot box.
The wins hardly reflected a unified Democratic Party nationally, or even a shared left-wing vision for a future beyond Trump. If anything, Mamdani’s win was a challenge to the Democratic Party establishment as much as a rejection of Trump.
His vision for the future is decidedly different than that of other, more moderate Democrats who won elsewhere in the country, such as Abigail Spanberger, the 46-year-old former CIA officer whom Virginians elected as their first female governor, or Mikie Sherrill, the 53-year-old former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor who won the race for New Jersey governor.
Still, the cascade of victories did evoke for many Democrats and progressives a political hope that they hadn’t felt in a while: a sense of optimism that Trump and his MAGA movement aren’t unstoppable after all, and that their own party’s ability to resist isn’t just alive and well but gaining speed.
“Let me underscore, it’s been a good evening — for everybody, not just the Democratic Party. But what a night for the Democratic Party,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said during his own remarks on the national wins. “A party that is in its ascendancy, a party that’s on its toes, no longer on its heels.”
“I hope it’s the first of many dominoes that are going to happen across this country,” Noah Gotlib, 29, of Bushwick said late Tuesday at a victory party for Mamdani. “I hope there’s a hundred more Zohrans at a local, state, federal level.”
On a night of big wins, Mamdani’s nonetheless stood out as a thunderbolt from the progressive left — a full-throated rejection not just of Trump but of Mamdani’s mainstream Democratic opponent in the race: former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Mamdani — a Muslim, Ugandan-born state assemblyman of Indian descent — beat Cuomo first in the Democratic ranked-choice primary in June. Cuomo, bolstered by many of New York’s moneyed interests afraid of Mamdani’s ideas for taxing the rich and spending for the poor, reentered the race as an independent.
Trump attacked Mamdani time and again as a threat. He said Monday that he would cut off federal funding to New York if Mamdani won. He even took the dramatic step of endorsing Cuomo over Curtis Sliwa, the Republican in the race, in a last-ditch effort to block Mamdani’s stunning political ascent.
Instead, city voters surged to the polls and delivered Mamdani a resounding win.
“To see him rise above all of these odds to actually deliver a vision of something that could be better, that was what really attracted me to the [Democratic Socialists of America] in the first place,” said Aminata Hughes, 31, of Harlem, who was dancing at an election-night party when Mamdani was announced the winner.
“A better world is possible,” the native New Yorker said, “and we’re not used to hearing that from our politicians.”
In trademark Trump fashion, the president dismissed the wins by his rival party, suggesting they were a result of two factors: the ongoing federal shutdown, which he has blamed on Democrats, and the fact that he wasn’t personally on people’s ballots.
Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s chief advisors, posted a paragraph to social media outlining the high number of mixed-status immigrant families in New York being impacted by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and mass deportation campaign, which Miller has helped lead.
Democrats in some ways agreed. They pointed to the shutdown and other disruptions to Americans’ safety and financial security as motivating the vote. They pointed to Trump’s immigration tactics as being an affront to hard-working families. And they pointed to Trump himself — not on the ballot but definitely a factor for voters, especially after he threatened to cut off funds to New York if the city voted for Mamdani again.
“President Trump has threatened New York City if we dare stand up to him. The people of New York came together and we said, ‘You don’t threaten New York,’” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). “We’re going to stand up to bullies and thugs in the White House.”
“Today we said ‘no’ to Donald Trump and ‘yes’ to democracy,” New Jersey Democratic Chair LeRoy J. Jones Jr. told a happy crowd at Sherrill’s watch party.
“Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win,” former President Obama wrote on social media. “We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.”
In addition to winning the New York mayoral and New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races, Democrats outperformed Republicans in races across the country. They held several seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and won the Virginia attorney general’s race. In California, voters passed Proposition 50, a ballot measure giving state Democrats the power to redraw congressional districts in their favor ahead of next year’s midterms.
Newsom and other Democrats had made Proposition 50 all about Trump from the beginning, framing it as a direct response to Trump trying to steal power by convincing red states such as Texas to redraw their own congressional lines in favor of Republicans.
Trump has been direct about trying to shore up Republicans’ slim majority in the House, to help ensure they retain power and are able to block Democrats from thwarting his agenda. And yet, he has suggested California’s own redistricting effort was illegal and a “GIANT SCAM” under “very serious legal and criminal review.”
Trump had also gone after several of the Democrats who won on Tuesday directly. In addition to Mamdani, Trump tried to paint Spanberger and Sherrill as out-of-touch liberals too, attacking them over some of his favorite wedge issues such as transgender rights, crime and energy costs. Similar messaging was deployed by the candidates’ Republican opponents.
In some ways, Trump was going out on a political limb, trying to sway elections in blue states where his grip on the electorate is smaller and his influence is often a major motivator for people to get out and vote against him and his allies.
His weighing in on the races only added to the sense that the Democrats’ wins marked something bigger — a broader repudiation of Trump, and a good sign for Democrats heading into next year’s midterms.
Marcus LaCroix, 42, who voted for Proposition 50 at a polling site in Lomita on Tuesday evening, described it as “a counterpunch” to what he sees as the excesses and overreach of the Trump administration, and Trump’s pressure on red states to redraw their lines.
“A lot of people are very concerned about the redistricting in Texas,” he said. “But we can actually fight back.”
Ed Razine, 27, a student who lives in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, was in class when he heard Mamdani won. Soon, he was celebrating with friends at Nowadays, a Bushwick dance club hosting an election watch party.
Razine said Mamdani’s win represented a “new dawn” in American politics that he hopes will spread to other cities and states across the country.
“For me, he does represent the future of the Democratic Party — the fact that billionaires can’t just buy our election, that if someone really cares to truly represent the everyday person, people will rise up and that money will not talk,” Razine said. “At the end of the day, people talk.”
The Associated Press and Times staff writer Connor Sheets contributed to this report.
Travel expert Neil Atkinson has revealed the best Christmas markets in the UK – perfect for those who want a festive break without the huge crowds
Isobel Pankhurst Audience Writer
09:46, 05 Nov 2025
These are the most underrated Christmas markets in the UK, according to one expert(Image: George Pachantouris via Getty Images)
With the festive season rapidly drawing near, Christmas markets will soon be springing up throughout Britain. From the hugely popular Winter Wonderland in London to more intimate Christmas fairs, there’s undoubtedly something to suit all tastes – and occasionally it’s the less celebrated venues that turn out to be the most unforgettable.
Neil Atkinson, proprietor of Luxury Group Stay, has shared his favourite picks of under-the-radar Christmas markets delivering genuine festive atmosphere without the packed crowds found in Manchester, Birmingham or Edinburgh.
He commented: “Some of the best Christmas events are tucked away in smaller spa towns and cathedral cities. They’re often more personal, better value, and filled with genuine local craftsmanship rather than mass-produced souvenirs.”
Underrated UK Christmas markets, according to a travel expert
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market – Hampshire
Championing Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas market, Neil remarks: “Set in the shadow of the magnificent Winchester Cathedral, this market has become a southern secret for those who want European-style charm without leaving the UK.”
Running from November 21 through to December 22, Winchester’s market provides visitors with opportunities to buy handcrafted presents, artisan food, and premium crafts, all beneath sparkling lights that turn the Cathedral Close into a festive scene.
With the cathedral choir delivering multiple performances throughout this time, it genuinely is pure Christmas enchantment.
From December 4 to 7, Worcester takes a nostalgic trip back in time, with the streets brimming with Victorian-garbed traders, a classic carousel and the enticing aroma of roasting chestnuts for the Victorian Christmas Fayre.
Expect to encounter local artisans peddling crafts, street food and festive beverages, while carol singers and buskers maintain a lively atmosphere.
Durham Christmas Festival – County Durham
Recommending the Durham Christmas Festival, which runs for a mere three days, from December 5 to 7, Neil added: “Few settings are as striking as Durham Cathedral at Christmas.”
This brief festival features a Craft & Producers’ Marquee on Palace Green, a vibrant outdoor market and a Children’s Lantern Parade culminating at the cathedral.
Canterbury Christmas Market – Kent
From November 12 to December 24, Canterbury adds a cathedral-city sparkle with one of the South East’s most scenic markets.
Visitors can anticipate over 170 stalls offering handmade gifts, candles, crafts and festive foods lining the streets under the glow of the city’s ancient cathedral.
The Canterbury Christmas Market strikes an ideal balance between atmosphere and size, showcasing robust local craftsmanship and an abundance of family-friendly activities.
Harrogate Christmas Fayre – North Yorkshire
The Harrogate Christmas Fayre, running from December 5 to 14, is perfect for those who prefer a more leisurely pace when soaking up the festive spirit.
The Harrogate Christmas Fayre, with its approximately 40 adorned chalets scattered throughout the spa town, is a chic, compact and naturally festive option.
Neil commented: “It is beautifully curated, easy to explore, and perfect for a festive weekend with a touch of class. Expect artisanal gifts, gourmet treats, and mulled wine breaks between boutique shops and cosy tearooms.”
