reopens

A CLOSED-off part of a major London landmark is opening to the public today after being shut for almost a century.

The Natural History Museum is letting visitors inside a hidden gallery that has been closed since World War II.

Previously, it was used as a skeleton gallery, then closed in order to store a surviving botanical collection after the museum’s original herbarium was damaged during the war.

It completely closed in 1943 but reopened to the public earlier today.

The new gallery is called ‘Nature and Us’ and on display are 50 specimens and objects all to do with humans’ relationship with the natural world.

This includes a miniature model of a Crystal Palace dinosaur, a Victorian skeleton of a monk seal and visitors can touch a replica jaw of one of Britain’s very first domesticated dogs.

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There’s also a 400,000-year-old handaxe and a bryozoan-encrusted Star Wars toy.

Visitors will still be able to see the room’s original wooden cabinets from when it was used as a herbarium.

The gallery will remain open for 18 months, with some objects being moved to a permanent space in 2029. Those chosen will be based on visitor feedback.

Dr Doug Gurr, director of the museum, said: “It’s a wonderful space with a fascinating history, and we’re excited for visitors to discover it for themselves.

“Opening the doors is a really special moment for everyone involved in bringing this space back to life, and we can’t wait to see visitors exploring it for the first time.”

If you want to see the gallery, you’ll find it on the second floor of the South Kensington’s Waterhouse Building.

The reopening of the gallery is part of the NHM150 campaign which includes opening a new or revitalised gallery each year until 2031.

Another new attraction coming in 2027 will be a new permanent  gallery specifically for young children.

It will be designed for four to seven-year-olds with lots of hands-on interactive experiences about the natural world.

The Natural History Museum is completely free to enter – if you want to guarantee entry at a certain time then make sure to book in advance.

AN airport that was closed for almost three days after a volcanic eruption has finally reopened.

But hundreds of thousands of passengers are scrambling to get home with flights still being delayed or cancelled.

On Monday, Indonesia’s Transport Ministry reported on Monday that as many as 270,000 travellers were stranded with their flights “cancelled, delayed, or diverted” – including those at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International Airport which has since reopened.

Now it’s believed as many as 370,000 passengers are said to have been affected by the disruption across the last three days, with 3,000 flights cancelled.

It started on Friday when there was an eruption on Anak Krakatau.

An ash cloud drifted into the city of Jakarta and the Lampung province, halting flights at its airports with seven being forced to close.

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The biggest airport to close was Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International which grounded flights from Sunday until early this morning.

The current FCDO advice reads: “Soekarno Hatta Airport and Halim Airport in Jakarta were temporarily closed due to the volcanic ash clouds from Mount Anak Krakatau on 5 September.

“Both airports have reopened, but there are continued flight disruptions and many flights are cancelled or delayed.”

For anyone due to travel, it advises to check with your airline or travel provider for up to date information on your flight status.

On Flightradar24, Soekarno Hatta Airport has had 9 per cent of its flights cancelled today with 20 per cent delayed.

Lots of travellers were told they wouldn’t be able to fly for a few more days, including a newlywed couple on a honeymoon in Bali.

Talking to Bernama, they asked: “What are we going to do here for another five days? We only prepared enough money for our honeymoon and [were supposed] to go home yesterday.

They continued: “We thought we would just sleep at the airport for a few hours and then take the morning flight home [on Monday]. We never thought we would end up being stuck here for days.”

Yesterday, another passenger told AFP how they had not heard any updates from the airline and were seeking out hotels only to find most of them have been fully booked.

Airlines like Qantas are offering anyone who booked to go to or from Jakarta before September 5 the chance for a free refund on travel up to September 11.

But its services are resuming as scheduled from today.

Indonesia’s Geological Agency has warned however that “the probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high”.

Flight compensation rules

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When am I not entitled to compensation?

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

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

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

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

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

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

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

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

ONE of the UK’s last remaining seaside funiculars has reopened after an eight month closure.

The Saltburn Tramway shut back in January 2026 ahead of major restoration works.

It has since reopened, with guests able to use the funicular between the town centre and seafront.

Some of the works included restoring the carriages, by both modernising while keeping the historic style with oak interiors and larger windows.

Safety improvements include new brake systems and buffers.

The funicular dates back more than 140 years, having opened in 1884.

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It is also the oldest of its kind in the UK, being a water-balanced cliff funicular.

A spokesperson for the attraction said: “What an incredible day as we welcomed passengers back to the Saltburn Cliff Tramway for the first time following its refurbishment.

“Seeing the tramway back in operation and filled with smiling passengers once again was a proud moment for everyone involved in the project.

“Thank you for your patience during the refurbishment works and for giving such a warm welcome to the tramway’s beautiful new handcrafted carriages.”

Tickets cost £2.10 for adults or £1.50 for kids aged between 4-15 years old.

Kids under three go free while dogs and bikes cost 20p each.

Saltburn-by-the-Sea, or simply Saltburn, is more of a traditional seaside town due to its lack of arcades or rides on the promenade.

Earlier this year, the town saw a huge surge in interest according to Trainline, with bookings up 133 per cent.

Mérida, September 2, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar International Airport, located in Maiquetía, La Guaira State, officially resumed commercial flight operations on Tuesday through newly constructed temporary terminals.

Air connections resumed more than two months after a powerful double earthquake struck central and coastal Venezuela on June 24, causing severe structural damage to the Simón Bolívar Airport, including fractured runways.

The initial phase of renewed operations relies on four modular, temporary terminals erected in the airport’s external parking areas. Spanning more than 10,000 square meters, the temporary structures house fully functional services for ticketing, baggage drop and retrieval, security checkpoints and migration control.

Venezuelan authorities have also set up shuttle buses to take passengers from the modular gates to the aircraft on the tarmac. They have also issued operational guidelines for passengers and organized a security deployment in the airport grounds and surrounding areas.

Before official operations began, national aviation authorities executed four operational simulations to test passenger circulation routes, security protocols, luggage handling, and overall system readiness.

During an official inspection, Minister of Transportation Francisco Garcés outlined the operational milestones, technical parameters, and long-term recovery timeline for the nation’s main aviation hub.

“There is full operationality from these temporary terminals, with capacity to accommodate 720 departing and 496 arriving passengers in the international area, and 480 and 472, respectively, in the domestic sector,” Garcés stated during a media briefing. “We have made a strong effort to maintain rigorous international standards for user comfort and safety, completing this complex logistical solution in record time.”

Garcés explained that the current facilities restore approximately 25 percent of the airport’s pre-earthquake operational capacity, with projections of expanding to 40 percent within the next two months and 60 percent by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, engineering teams continue comprehensive structural repairs on the main permanent terminals, with full reconstruction scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

On September 1, the opening day of the temporary facilities featured eight scheduled flights split equally between domestic and international routes, with the inaugural flight departing to Valera, Trujillo State.

Air carriers currently operating or scheduling their immediate return to Maiquetía include national lines Conviasa, Laser Airlines, Estelar, Avior and Venezolana, alongside international operators such as American Airlines, Iberia, and Copa Airlines.

Throughout the two-month shutdown following the June 24 seismic events, national and international air transit was diverted through smaller, regional airports across the country, including Barcelona (Anzoátegui State), Valencia (Carabobo State), and Maracaibo (Zulia State).

Alongside the reopening of Venezuela’s main air hub, the acting Delcy Rodríguez government has continued to address housing rehabilitation and structural reconstruction in damaged urban centers.

In La Guaira State, Rodríguez oversaw the formal handover of 210 fully repaired apartments in the Ana Victoria community. The rehabilitation works under the Plan Venezuela Renace allowed displaced families to return to their homes after two months in temporary shelters.

Additional structural works in La Guaira include “tetra-houses” in Catia La Mar and public infrastructure reconstruction near the El Trébol highway interchange.

Concurrently, Rodríguez announced the delivery of direct financial assistance and low-interest loans to 104 condominium boards and 1,216 individual housing units in the Chacao and Altamira areas of Eastern Caracas.

“We have begun an inspection process; I know it may take some time, but it is important because we are in a phase of changing the seismic resistance standards for construction,” she said.

Disbursed through joint public and private banking channels, individual loans can be up to US $5,000, while funding for common area repairs can reach $20,000.

These funds enable residents and homeowner associations to address structural issues on buildings categorized under yellow and red risk tags, ensuring compliance with updated seismic resistance construction standards.

Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.

A POPULAR UK theme park will reopen today after being forced to close due to flooding.

The owners issued a statement on social media yesterday stating that it needed to shut to ensure the “safety of its customers”.

Drayton Manor Resort has now said it will open as usual today between 10.30am and 6pm – although it has warned not all of its rides may be open depending on conditions.

Today, Dayton Manor said on social media: “We’re open today and operating as normal.”

It continued: “As always, ride availability can be affected by weather or operational requirements, so we recommend checking our ride availability page before visiting for the latest updates.”

Yesterday, the theme park was closed due to heavy downpours and thunderstorms caused flooding in the area.

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Floods swamped Birmingham and the West Midlands on Wednesday night.

Locals reported their cars having been stranded and homes were inundated with flood water.

A statement on the theme park’s Facebook said on Thursday: “Due to adverse weather and flooding, Drayton Manor Resort will be closed today.

“We know many of you were looking forward to visiting, and we’re very sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience this causes.

“There’s no need to contact us at this stage. We’ll be in touch with affected guests shortly with information on how to rearrange your visit for another date.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding while we make alternative arrangements. We look forward to welcoming you to Drayton Manor soon.”

Drayton Manor, located in Tamworth in Staffordshire, is considered to be the best-value park in the country.

It has over 50 rides and attractions, and is home to Europe’s only Thomas the Tank Engine Land and a 15-acre zoo.

In 2024, Drayton Manor opened its new Wild West themed world called Frontier Falls.

It opened in July 2024 with a new rollercoaster called Gold Rush where visitors are whisked away in a runaway mining cart.

It’s the first rollercoaster in the UK to feature a backward launch into an outdoor gravity track.

The roller coaster has a two-minute ride time, with Drayton Manor claiming it to be the longest track length for a family coaster in the country.