The public reckoning against British actor-comedian and convicted rapist Russell Brand continues after his conviction and prison sentencing for rape and sexual assault charges.

British screenwriter and producer Jemima Goldsmith accused ex-boyfriend Brand of “violence, coercive control and abuse” during their relationship. In a tweet shared Monday morning, Goldsmith (formerly Jemima Khan) alleged that she had Brand “removed from my house in 2014 during a violent incident.” Goldsmith, whose producing credits include “American Crime Story” and “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” said she did not press charges against Brand at the time and that she was “relieved” by the actor’s recent rape and sexual assault convictions.

The BBC confirmed on Wednesday that Thames Valley Police officers responded to Goldsmith’s Oxfordshire home for a reported incident in July 2014. Officials told the outlet that police made no arrests at the time and “also ensured the victim’s partner left the address, as per the victim’s wishes.”

“I am glad and relieved that Russell Brand has finally faced justice,” Goldsmith wrote.

A legal representative for Brand did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

Goldsmith, 52, said in her post that she chose not to go public with her allegations against Brand because she was concerned about “the impact of the press attention on my then teenage children.” She said she has not been in contact with the actor, 51, since the alleged incident.

“Whilst my pain in relation to this, pales in comparison to what the women have testified in court have suffered, this was a difficult period in my life which has had a lasting impact,” she continued.

Goldsmith spoke out about her relationship with Brand as British police confirm further investigation of criminal allegations against him. The actor, famed for films including “Get Him to the Greek” and “Arthur,” was sentenced Monday to more than a decade in prison for rape and sexual assault charges. A jury found Brand guilty last week on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. He was acquitted on two rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. He stood trial for three weeks in October.

“Several people have contacted the investigation team during and since the trial to provide information or report a potential criminal allegation,” the Metropolitan Police Service said Tuesday in a statement to The Times. “Detectives are assessing this information as part of their ongoing enquiries.”

Brand was tried for charges stemming from his interactions with six women in the U.K., spanning from the late 1990s to the late aughts. Shortly after the jury handed down its verdict, police confirmed that they provided prosecutors with investigations into two additional rape allegations against the actor.

Goldsmith said in her post that she aided the British reporters behind the joint investigation by the Times of London and Channel 4 that made allegations against Brand public in 2023. Following the investigation, additional women came forward with allegations against the actor that his defense attorney took issue with during the trial. The “well of justice had been corrupted and contaminated” by the documentary, Brand attorney Ian Winter argued during the court proceedings.

After speaking out against Brand, Goldsmith addressed resurfaced reporting about a harassment injunction she and Brand obtained against a woman in 2014. The woman, a massage therapist who Goldsmith hired to work on Brand at her house, accused the actor of physical assault in 2014. Police determined at the time “there was no case to answer and that no criminal offence had been committed,” Goldsmith said.

She accused the woman of feeding “several untrue stories” to multiple British tabloids and then engaging in a “campaign of vicious antisemitic and threatening abuse online and in emails.” Goldsmith included examples of the alleged vitriolic messages in her tweet and alleged the woman sent similar messages to her loved ones, workplace and to journalists. She said the woman also accused her of “wild and untrue” crimes.

Goldsmith said she agreed to a harassment order to prevent the woman from “targeting me and my family.” She said in her post that she agreed to vary the harassment injunction so the woman could report her incident with Brand to police again if she wished.

Goldsmith added that any changes to the injunction must also be approved by Brand and that she has not heard from the woman’s attorney on the matter since May.

TDS) in drilling operation.” width=”1536″ height=”1024″ data-caption=”Thank you for your assistant/iStock via Getty Images” data-id=”2277418996″ data-image-type=”Getty” data-original-src=”https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2277418996/photo/drilling-rig-with-top-drive-system-in-drilling-operation.jpg?b=1&s=612×612&w=0&k=20&c=G9NwhbhoPFlQU-lL0NNsshm7TR2-I6VGXtsvq_RHdTU=” data-source=”” data-type=”getty-image” fetchpriority=”high”>

U.S. oil and gas producers are finding ways to increase production without substantially expanding drilling activity, a trend that could keep the industry’s rig count relatively stable through 2027, according to a UBS research report on Wednesday.

Josh Silverstein, lead analyst

ATLANTA — Joe Biden says he did not know he had cancer while he was president and would not have sought a second term if he already had been diagnosed.

The former Democratic president’s comments came in an interview with People magazine before the release of his White House memoir on Tuesday.

“If I had known that I was feeling lousy because I had cancer,” said Biden, who turns 84 on Nov. 20, “I would’ve not gone forward” with a 2024 reelection bid that ended after a disastrous debate performance against Republican Donald Trump.

Biden was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer months after leaving office in 2025.

“I don’t think an 80-year-old man with cancer should be running” for president, Biden said in the interview.

Still, he argued that the June 2024 debate, less than five months before Election Day, was not a seismic event even if it accelerated Democrats’ concerns about his age — he was 81 at the time — and his ability to defeat Trump.

“First of all, I thought there’d be another debate, which there wasn’t,” Biden said. “But notwithstanding the fact that there wasn’t another debate, it didn’t disturb me because it wasn’t consequential.”

Within weeks, Biden announced he was ending his campaign and endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris, who secured the nomination and lost to Trump in the general election.

Biden insisted he was able to perform his duties while he was in office. He said age itself was not disqualifying and meant he had experience and deep personal relationships with world leaders.

“I believe that on an objective basis, I was the best-equipped person to do the job,” he said.

His son Hunter told the BBC in August that the cancer had spread and was causing his father pain. “It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects,” he said.

Since Joe Biden left office, his son has become a higher profile public presence, sparring with Republicans on social media, posting lengthy thoughts on the nation’s direction and launching his own cryptocurrency.

Joe Biden defended his son’s public persona and his decision to pardon Hunter Biden after the younger Biden’s 2024 conviction on federal felony gun charges and his guilty plea to federal tax charges. Hunter Biden also had faced years of scrutiny and withering Republican attacks over his international business dealings.

Hunter Biden has said the pardon damaged his father’s legacy, but the former president said Trump’s penchant for vengeance made it necessary.

“He goes after people without any basis, whether they’re viewed as an enemy. I knew what he would do,” Joe Biden said. “If I hadn’t pardoned — not just some of my family members, anyone who’s dealt with me — he would go back and try to do harm to them.”

Biden called his son “one of the brightest men I know,” adding, “I’m really proud of him.”

Barrow writes for the Associated Press.

“It’s great when fairytales come true,” England boss Roy Hodgson said after 21-year-old Tottenham striker Harry Kane scored 79 seconds into his international debut back in 2015.

“Let’s hope it’s the start of a good and long England career for him.”

Eleven years on, Kane will make his 126th appearance for his country and become the most-capped men’s player in Three Lions history when England play Croatia in the Nations League at Wembley on Thursday (19:45 GMT).

Peter Shilton, who served England as a goalkeeper, won 125 caps between 1970 and 1990.

“It’s not about me – it’s about the team,” said Kane, scorer of 91 goals in 125 appearances for his country, about his landmark moment.

“I love coming to every England camp, I love playing every game and representing the country in the best way possible.”

Kane, 33, has gone through every emotion playing for his country.

He fought back tears after missing a penalty in the World Cup quarter-final defeat by France in 2022, and sang Wonderwall with fans following the win over Croatia at this summer’s World Cup – which he labelled one of his “favourite ever moments” in a Three Lions shirt.

London-born Kane is the boy who grew up in Chingford to captain his country, become England’s record goalscorer and win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Now the Bayern Munich striker stands on the brink of making more appearances than any other man in England’s football history.

“He wins the Ballon d’Or, and deservedly so, and in the next game for England he gets the all-time record with 126 matches,” England boss Thomas Tuchel said about Kane when announcing his squad last week.

“Thursday is a deserved occasion to celebrate an extraordinary player.”

Israel’s war on Lebanon has damaged the country’s wheat production and harmed the lives of farmers, experts told Al Jazeera.

For the last three years, Israel has been waging a war on Lebanon, where it has occupied large parts of the south and destroyed homes and infrastructure, in what some experts have said is a deliberate effort to make the land uninhabitable.

Repeated Israeli attacks have created havoc on the country’s wheat production, particularly in the south and in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, where lands abandoned due to the impacts of war have increased to around 24 percent.

“They’re disrupting entire ecosystems,” Munira Khayyat, author of A Landscape of War: Ecologies of Resistance and Survival in South Lebanon, told Al Jazeera. “[Israel is] advancing the possibilities of drought and desertification, basically weakening the capacity of this land to hold life.”

Farmlands damaged

Since 2023, Israel has been attacking large swaths of southern Lebanon, including using chemicals like white phosphorus, in what analysts and locals said was an effort to make the ground sterile or uninhabitable. A ceasefire was brokered in 2024 by France and the United States, but Israel never stopped attacking targets in Lebanon.

On March 2, Israel escalated its war on Lebanon for the second time in under two years. Hezbollah had attacked Israel following Israel’s assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei two days earlier. The group also said it was in response to near-daily ceasefire violations by Israel.

Since then, Israel has reinvaded southern Lebanon, taking land up to 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) inside the country. Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-brokered framework agreement in June, which was supposed to put into motion so-called “pilot zones”. Under these pilot zones, Israeli troops would withdraw to be replaced by the Lebanese Armed Forces, who would also work to disarm Hezbollah.

Instead, Israeli troops have continued to level destruction in southern Lebanon, detonating homes and crucial infrastructure, including farmland.

“The South [of Lebanon] experienced the highest average losses [in wheat-growing areas], reaching 47 percent in 2023-2024 and 61 percent in 2024-2025,” Mariam Ibrahim, a researcher with Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research [CNRS-L] and author of a recent paper called “Wheat in Crisis” that tracked Lebanon’s wheat struggles from 2017 to 2025, told Al Jazeera. “The Bekaa plain, which accounts for approximately 64 percent of Lebanon’s national wheat production, was also significantly affected, losing around 43 percent and 57 percent of its wheat area during the two respective seasons.”

In areas like the border town Bint Jbeil, 100 percent of cropland was destroyed, while in the Baalbeck district to the east, the study says approximately 32 percent of cropland was destroyed.

Wheat price influences

Ibrahim said the Russian-Ukrainian war led to an increase in bread prices and incentivised some domestic Lebanese production.

“The depreciation of the Lebanese pound meant that farmers could potentially generate higher revenues and profits in local currency when selling their wheat, as wheat prices were increasingly influenced by international market prices,” she said. “This provided an additional economic incentive to expand wheat cultivation, and our results showed that Lebanon’s wheat cultivation area reached its peak [during] the 2022-2023 season.”

However, experts said that since 2023, Israel’s war on Lebanon led to the proportion of land that had been used to grow wheat that was now left fallow increasing from 9 percent to 24 percent, mostly in the south and the Bekaa Valley.

Elias Ghadban, a food security expert with the independent Beirut-based consultancy firm AgriDev, told Al Jazeera that the destruction of land used to farm wheat has not made a “significant difference” at the national level, but it has had a damaging effect on southern wheat farmers who “lost their livelihoods”.

Ghadban also pointed to the fact that the cost of living has increased in Lebanon while salaries have failed to match that increase. “The expenditure on basic needs went up,” he said.

The economic crisis, followed by three years of war, has devastated many farmers, particularly as much of southern Lebanon’s farmland is largely unindustrialised. Experts warn that the destruction caused by Israel’s war could prevent many farmers from rebuilding their livelihoods, even after the fighting ends.

“All those small farmers who have made southern Lebanon what it is today and have been able to hold that land through their attachment to it, through their farming of it, through their existential need to be on that land in order to make their lives viable, that’s going to be broken,” Khayyat said.

Abdel-Malek, the captain and goalkeeper of Gaza Sports Club, recently played in the Thousand Martyrs Cup final.

Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Kamal Fares Abdel-Malek has been killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has confirmed.

The PFA said Abdel-Malek, the captain and goalkeeper of Gaza Sports Club, was targeted in Tuesday’s attack on Gaza City’s southern Sabra neighbourhood.

The 20-year-old was the 1,017th person involved in sport to be killed in Gaza in Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, according to figures provided by the PFA.

Abdel-Malek’s death came five days after he played in the final of the Gaza and Northern Gaza division of the Thousand Martyrs Cup, a tournament named after the more than 1,000 athletes and sports officials killed in the Strip since October 2023.

“Club legend and goalkeeper of the first team Mahmoud Kamal Fares Abdel-Malik was martyred moments ago,” the club wrote in a social media post announcing his death.

Gaza Sports Club finished as runners-up in the final of the tournament that Al Jazeera covered last week.

More than 200 clubs competed, including 146 from the occupied West Bank, 44 from Gaza, and 36 from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

The tournament kicked off simultaneously in the three locations.

PFA President Jibril Rajoub said the event showed that Palestinians had not lost their “national will”.

“Nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life,” he added.

Abdel-Malek’s death comes days after Israeli forces killed 15-year-old Mohammad Nidal Barbak on Friday, shooting him while he was playing football with his friends in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis.

The incident has highlighted FIFA’s inaction towards Israel, despite its multiple breaches of the global football body’s anti-discrimination rules.

In March, the PFA called for the Israeli Football Association (IFA) to receive a ban after a report by FIFA’s disciplinary committee found that the IFA “failed to take meaningful action against Beitar Jerusalem” for “persistent and well-documented racist behaviour”.

“We maintain our right and continue our efforts to ensure that the Israeli Football Association is expelled from all international institutions,” Rajoub, who also heads the Palestine Olympic Committee, said at the time.

On the alleged criminal activity of Israeli sports officials, Rajoub said he was referring to instances of players killed during the three years of genocide in Gaza, and the destruction of many of the territory’s sports facilities.

Israeli attacks have devastated Gaza’s sports infrastructure, destroying stadiums, clubs, sports halls and academies as well as bulldozing several sports facilities, Palestinian sports officials say.

The human losses and destruction have left Palestinian sport in an “existential” crisis, according to Palestinian Sports Media Federation Secretary-General Mustafa Siam.

Israel has destroyed more than 50 of Gaza’s 56 sports clubs and about 20 five-a-side football fields established by the PFA with support from FIFA, he told the Anadolu news agency in August.

At least 74,645 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023, while 175,978 have been injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The next series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here will begin on Monday with some huge names taking part, including Wayne Rooney, a Gavin & Stacey star and a Paralympian

I’m A Celebrity is back on Monday with a fresh new cast, ready to take on Bushtucker Trials. From Wayne Rooney to AJ Odudu, this is perhaps one of the most Jungle-ready casts ever – but who will walk away as the champion?

According to insiders, this year’s cohort are coming in well-equipped with survival skills they’ve learnt from previous TV shows and travels. Paralympian Ade Adepitan, took part in BBC Two’s Beyond Boundaries in 2005, and spent four weeks trekking 220 miles through the Nicaraguan jungle in a customised wheelchair, while Mariella Frostrup has hiked in the foothills of Mount Everest and explored remote parts of South America as a hobby.

To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed.

YouTube star Sharky has already taken part in a 24-hour survival challenge in the Australian wilderness, while model Leomie Anderson experienced life in the Costa Rican jungle during Netflix’s Celebrity Bear Hunt. Even Big Brother presenter AJ Odudu has experience of roughing it outdoors, having spent time in the freezing Chilean Andes during Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

A show insider said: “The show can be very tough at times especially when the weather turns and hunger kicks in but this year’s jungle intake are much more hardy than usual and should be able to take being in the wilderness in their stride.

“The casting team couldn’t believe it when the extent of the contestants’ experience became clear – it should, in theory, be a walk in the park for some of them but we will have to wait and see.”

But, despite the skills of these contestants, some have guessed that it will be Gavin & Stacey actress Joanna Page who walks away a winner. The star touched down in Australia earlier this week, dress the part in leopard print trousers.

Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of Good Morning Britain, entertainment correspondent Richard Arnold wasted no time in tipping Gavin and Stacey star Joanna for victory, citing her “chattiness” and “warming personality”. Richard told GMB hosts Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid: “Joanna Page has absolutely what it takes to be Queen.”

He added: “She loves a chatter, she loves a natter, and if you’ve listened to her podcast, you know that. She’s so warm, she’s the every woman.”

Richard went on to say: “Joanna Page has also said in a pre-interview she wants people to know the real Joanna, and to make her children proud. I think Joanna has already opened a book quite far, as I say, on her podcast, but she is so adorable. So I think I’ve probably staked my claim already; I’m probably getting in early for her to be queen of the jungle.”

Richard also added that Ricky Wilson, of the Kaiser Chiefs, was an “every man” who would be able to get the jobs done that needed doing, while footballer Wayne had “some skin in the game”. He said Claire Sweeney was likely to be “singing around” as she had “a gob on her, and it’s a lovely one”.

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

WASHINGTON — The White House’s top lawyer is raising the possibility of criminal investigations into House Democrats, arguing that the inquiries they plan to open into President Trump and administration officials could themselves break the law.

Will Scharf, the White House counsel, made the warning in a letter dated Monday to Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), who is in line to lead the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, when Democrats take control of the chamber in January.

“We are monitoring the abusive and capricious threats that are now proliferating from Democrat legislators who seek to abuse the legislative process to intimidate and to interfere with the lawful functioning of government,” Scharf wrote.

Scharf cited recent statements by Democrats in news reports about their intent to investigate alleged corrupt practices by administration officials, and wrote that Congress needs to “identify a legitimate purpose underlying its investigative acts.” Otherwise, he argued, a “process designed merely to abuse or instill fear in the recipient may cross the line into blatant criminality.”

“And issuing unlawful subpoenas with the intention of depriving citizens of their constitutional rights and privileges may warrant further investigation,” he wrote.

The letter marks a sharp escalation in the administration’s posture toward Congress, which will soon be under the control of Democrats following the midterm elections. Rather than fighting congressional investigations after they begin, the White House is moving preemptively, threatening the investigators before they even take control of the chamber.

It is an effort sets up a showdown over Congress’ oversight powers and the White House which is likely to define the last two years of Trump’s term.

Garcia had not received the letter as of Wednesday morning, a person familiar with the matter told The Times, adding that Democrats learned of it through news reports. The letter was first reported by Punchbowl News.

In a statement, Garcia argued the threats from the White House are an attempt to infringe on the committee’s constitutionally protected right to conduct congressional oversight.

“It appears Donald Trump has something to hide,” Garcia said. “Let’s be clear: Congress’ authority comes from Article I of the Constitution, not from the permission of the White House. Congress has wide latitude to conduct investigations and oversight, an authority inherent in the power to legislate.”

He added: “We are a co-equal branch of government and will not be deterred by baseless threats from a weaponized DOJ or from the President’s lawyers.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered a 4-0 defeat by Shaun Murphy at the Champion of Champions tournament in Leicester.

O’Sullivan, who has been struggling for form, was playing for the first time since losing to Ka Wai Cheung at the Northern Ireland Open last month.

The 50-year-old found himself 2-0 down against Murphy, who knocked in a 68 in the second frame.

Murphy made a 41 break to take the next frame before taking a tense fourth frame 61-42 to secure victory and a spot in the last eight.

He will play the winner of the other Group Three match between world champion Wu Yize and Chang Bingyu.

IT’S a very, very long time between now and being able to enjoy T-shirt weather here in the UK.

So if you’re finding the prospect of several months of dark afternoons and cloudy skies a bit depressing – we’ve found some VERY cheap sunshine holidays to break up the grey.

I’m a holiday expert who spends all day searching through customer reviews, hotel prices and live holiday bookings – and when I’m not doing that I’m on the ground, reviewing all inclusive hotels.

So here I am, sharing what I’ve learnt about some of the best places to go for a cheap bit of sun between now and late spring.

I’ve picked my favourite five-night escapes every single month, from November 2026 through to April 2027, that all cost less than £150pp.

The £150 covers the flights and accommodation, so you’ll still need spending money, but it’s an incredible starting point.

I’ve found the deals and made sure to mix in places where there’s plenty to explore with somewhere to slow down, get by the sea and enjoy a change of scenery.

Something different each month, with the next trip already waiting when you get home. Here’s how I’d do it…

November: Marrakech, Morocco, from £105pp

I’d kick things off somewhere that feels a very long way from a British November.

And Marrakech does that in heaps: spice stalls, colourful courtyards, rooftop cafés and the bustle of Jemaa el-Fna.

You can spend hours exploring the souks, watching craftspeople at work and trying to convince yourself you’ve got room in your luggage for that Moroccan lamp.

With average daytime highs around 23C in November, there’s a very appealing prospect of sitting outside in the sunshine while everyone back home is discussing whether to put the heating on.

The deal I found is five nights, room only, at Hotel Aday from £105pp, including direct return flights from Manchester on November 28, 2026.

The hotel is in the medina, a few minutes from Jemaa el-Fna and, for this trip, that’s where the value lies: you’re staying close to the action, with the markets and historic centre ready to explore.

I’d spend the first day getting my bearings, then work through the souks and sights at my own pace, then come evening, I’d find somewhere overlooking the square and watch the city put on its show.

At £210 for two people, including flights, that’s quite the opening act.

December: Bugibba, Malta, from £110pp

December’s escape is Malta, where five nights gives you time to combine a seaside base with some brill days out.

I’d use Bugibba as the starting point, then head into Valletta for a day in the capital and make another trip to Mdina (both are accessible by bus from Bugibba, so you can get a good taste of the island without hiring a car).

There’s something particularly satisfying about spending a December afternoon having coffee outside with the sea nearby, and Malta gives you the opportunity to do exactly that, with sightseeing to fill the rest of the diary.

The deal I found is five nights, room only, at Topaz from £110pp, including direct return flights from Bournemouth on December 7, 2026.

One hotel feature I especially like for these dates is the indoor pool, available during the colder months.

There’s also a lounge with a small library for anyone whose holiday ambitions include finally finishing their book.

That’s £220 for two people, including flights, for five nights away before Christmas.

So leave space in your suitcase as it’s a great place for some Christmas shopping too.

January: Naples, Italy, from £110pp

January needs a better plan than sitting around, waiting for payday, and my ideal plan would involve Naples and a considerable amount of pizza – for just over £100.

This is the month I’d definitely lean into a city break: beautiful churches, delicious coffee stops and the only decision to be made is which pasta dish to try on the menu.

Five nights gives you time to get beyond the first few sights and start finding your own favourite corners.

The deal I found is five nights, room only, at Royal Art House H Duomo from £110pp, including direct return flights from London Stansted on January 9, 2027.

The property is on Corso Umberto I, putting you close to the historic centre, although its transport connections also make Pompeii or Herculaneum very possible additions to the itinerary.

January’s typical daytime temperatures are around 12–13C, which suits a trip where you’re out exploring rather than planning everything around a sunlounger.

Catch a bright afternoon and I’d make time for an outdoor cocktail between sights.

I’d explore Naples itself for a few days, then consider one bigger excursion – there’s no need to rush back after a single night when five nights and the flights cost £220 for two.

February: Alanya, Turkey, from £135pp

February takes us to Alanya, where I’d make the most of the mix of history, Turkish food and decent weather in a gorgeous location.

The castle is the obvious place to start, with the harbour and town giving you plenty more to explore.

It’s a holiday where you can do something interesting in the morning, then spend the afternoon deciding how much or how little you fancy doing next.

Average daytime highs are around 15C in February, giving you some welcome mild-weather potential for getting out and about.

The deal I found is five nights, room only, at Villa Sonata Hotel from £135pp, including direct return flights from Manchester on February 23, 2027.

Villa Sonata is one of a villa complex, and there’s an on-site restaurant for meals at a modest extra cost.

It has the sort of setting I’d enjoy returning to after a day exploring: somewhere to sit down, order something and declare myself finished for the afternoon.

For £270 for two people, including flights, you’ve got five nights to enjoy Alanya’s sights, sample Turkish dishes and take February at a much more agreeable pace.

March: Lloret de Mar, Spain, from £145pp

For March, I’d head to the Costa Brava and give Lloret de Mar a go – and the Santa Clotilde Gardens would be high on my list.

They’re perched above the Mediterranean, with terraces, greenery and sea views that make a very convincing case for taking your time.

If you watched House of the Dragon, you might even recognise the setting as scenes were filmed here!

The deal I found is five nights, self catering, at Els Llorers Apartments from £145pp, including direct return flights from London Luton on March 14, 2027.

The apartments have kitchens with a fridge and microwave, so breakfast, snacks and cold drinks are easy to sort yourself – that leaves more of the spending money available for the things you actually want to do.

I’d build this trip around exploring the town and making the most of bright spring afternoons by the sea.

Having your own apartment also makes the slower days easy: breakfast when you fancy it, a book and no pressing reason to check the time.

All for just £290 for two people, including flights. Crazy deal!

April: Albufeira, Portugal, from £145pp

I’d finish the six-month run soaking up the sun in the Algarve.

Albufeira gives you beaches, an old town to explore and plenty of choice when it comes to eating out – Fishermen’s Beach sits directly in front of the historic centre, so you can combine a morning around town with an afternoon on the sand.

With average daytime highs around 20C in April, this is one where I’d be hoping to get plenty of use out of the sunglasses.

The deal I found is five nights, room only, at Areias Senses (Adults Only 16+) from £145pp, including direct return flights from London Luton on 25 April 2027.

There’s an outdoor pool with sunloungers, giving you somewhere to settle on those sunny afternoons.

And the room only basis also means you can try different places for breakfast and dinner rather than organising the day around set mealtimes.

I’d mix exploring Albufeira with beach time and a couple of afternoons doing very little around the hotel.

Plus, by holiday number six, I’d expect to be quite accomplished at that. And for £290 for two people, including flights, it’s a very, very tempting finish.

Tehran, Iran – After months of oscillating between new bouts of fighting and negotiations, the administration of United States President Donald Trump has reportedly opted for a third option – gradual economic pressure on Tehran.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his Group of Seven (G7) counterparts in Paris on Tuesday that a naval blockade, stringent sanctions and overland border disruptions could continue without a clear endpoint in sight, according to US media. He later said that Iran’s economy “continues to collapse” and predicted worsening conditions over the next one to three months.

Tehran-based economist and market analyst Isaac Saidian said that if the persistent economic siege on Iran brings the country’s oil incomes down to near-zero levels, Tehran will be faced with one of the most difficult challenges in its recent history.

“The issue is not just a decline in foreign currency incomes, but the government’s ability to account for current expenditure, paying salaries and pensions, providing essential goods, preserving the value of the national currency, and preventing budget deficits from turning into a new inflationary wave,” Saidian told Al Jazeera.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated that the cash-strapped civilian government is preparing to deal with a prolonged economic crisis caused by siege and sanctions, but has admitted that the lingering “no war, no peace” conditions will be harmful.

But the authorities have stressed that there are no prospects of economic collapse. They have also raised the prospect of “breaking the blockade” if necessary, although it remains unclear by what means.

In a budget directive on November 3, Pezeshkian’s administration set out two scenarios. One was the continuation of sanctions, the maritime blockade and present regional conditions. The other prediction was an improvement of the situation involving fewer financial and commercial restrictions, including a substantial or complete removal of the blockade.

“The government must prepare for circumstances in which oil revenue reaches zero,” Mohammad Ghasemi, deputy for coordination of planning and budget at Iran’s Plan and Budget Organization, told local media on Monday about a contingency for next year.

The US military first imposed a naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports, through which most of the country’s trade passed, on April 13. A memorandum of understanding in June lifted the blockade and allowed some oil and trade to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but the deal fell apart within weeks. The second blockade has been in place since July 14, as Iran and the US fight for control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military says it has redirected 147 ships and disabled five while enforcing the blockade. It also claimed to have destroyed 10 Iranian oil tankers linked to the shadow fleet of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the US Treasury, the blockade has led to Iran loading no oil onto vessels since August 25.

A late October assessment by Kpler said Iran’s oil production had fallen below 2 million barrels a day in the preceding months. Iran produced 3.45 million barrels of crude per day in January and 3.59 million in the following month, but Israel and the US’s war on Iran began on February 28.

The volume of Iranian crude and condensate floating outside the blockade zone had also fallen from 88.8 million barrels on July 14 to zero in mid-October. Because Chinese buyers generally pay one to two months after discharge, Kpler anticipated crude and condensate receipts potentially drying up around mid-December. Around 43 million barrels remain stranded inside the blockade area.

The US sanctions have also limited air travel to and from Iran, while a new US task force announced this week aims at closing or disrupting most of Iran’s land borders with its seven neighbours.

The Iranian economy has already been dealing with chronic inflation, falling investments and purchasing power, as well as banking and budget imbalances for years. So removing oil revenues will undoubtedly exacerbate the situation.

The government has increasingly relied on taxes to account for a larger share of the budget, but oil still accounted for roughly one-third of planned government funding in the 2026–27 budget proposal.

Economist Saidian said if oil revenues fall sharply, the government’s next step should be to review public spending. Cutting spending on overlapping administrative structures and opaque budgetary grants, while suspending low-return public investment projects, could ease some of the fiscal pressure on the state, he said.

Reforming tax exemptions and tackling tax evasion, as well as carefully managed bond issuance and sale of some non-essential government assets, are other options. But he cautioned that any abrupt drops in salaries, pensions, or social support budgets would only deepen poverty.

The government has signalled that it will likely have to resort to reducing fuel and other energy subsidies again, which will increase prices, but the process will be gradual to lessen the impact on inflation.

“Expanding non-oil exports and facilitating trade with neighbouring countries are also essential,” Saidian said. “Even so, these exports cannot be expected to replace oil revenue in the short term, especially while restrictions on banking, insurance and transport remain in place.”

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday that next year’s budget would prioritise inflation control through fiscal discipline, household support and tighter oversight of banks. The administration will continue handing out electronic food coupons, although it has been struggling to preserve their value due to runaway prices.

Year-on-year inflation was at nearly 89 percent in the Iranian calendar month ending October 22, according to the Statistical Center of Iran.

Saidian pointed out that no amount of austerity measures or budget reforms can fully replace sustainable access to foreign trade, investment and foreign currency incomes, so exiting inflationary stagnation for a prolonged period would require reduced tensions.

“The historical significance of the 2027-28 budget lies in what it can reveal about how prepared Iran’s government is to move beyond an oil-dependent economy and toward transparent, accountable fiscal governance. The budget should not merely be a plan to manage the government in a difficult year, but a plan to prevent passing on today’s crisis to future generations and to start structural reforms in Iran’s economy,” he said.

“The greatest danger is not that the government might run short of funds for a few months. The real danger is that it could stay afloat on paper while passing the cost of doing so on to the public, leaving society poorer, eroding the middle class, widening poverty and weakening the country’s productive capacity.”

Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled a new fully uncrewed surface vessel (USV) design, which is based on a hardy fishing vessel, intended to meet the Royal Navy’s emerging Type 92 requirement. It calls for autonomous platforms to persistently hunt Russian submarines in the increasingly contested waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic.

Dubbed the Arctic Hunter USV, the vessel combines a proven commercial ship design with Kongsberg Maritime’s remote-control and autonomous technologies. It is being developed around an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission, with a particular emphasis on providing persistent underwater surveillance in the High North.

The announcement, made November 9, comes as the Royal Navy moves ahead with its broader Hybrid Navy concept, which will see uncrewed vessels and other autonomous systems operate alongside traditional crewed warships and aircraft. The Type 92 is one of four new uncrewed vessel types envisioned under this effort, which is intended to significantly expand the fleet’s overall sensing and weapons capacity.

Bruce Balchin of Kongsberg Maritime, which is headquartered in Norway, told TWZ that the Arctic Hunter concept emerged from the Royal Navy’s stated desire to address the submarine threat in the High North with capabilities that could be delivered quickly and in significant numbers, using commercial shipyards.

“We’ve been following the Royal Navy’s Hybrid Fleet and some of the statements that have been coming from the First Sea Lord,” Balchin explained. “The immediate threat is submarines in the High North. I need things at mass to be delivered at mass and at pace. I need commercial shipyards.”

Kongsberg’s response was to look at an existing commercial vessel design that could be adapted to tow a powerful submarine-hunting sonar. Rather than developing a new military ship, the company saw an opportunity to repurpose an Arctic fishing vessel, replacing its fishing equipment with the systems needed for ASW surveillance.

The resulting Arctic Hunter is based on an existing 184-foot hull design. Kongsberg plans to remove the wheelhouse and fish-processing factory, freeing up space for the military mission systems and equipment needed to operate the vessel remotely.

“Replace towing fish with towing sonar,” Balchin said, describing the basic concept. “It’s not a stretch to say we straight away got a vessel which is hardened to that environment, used to working at that sea state.”

There are other advantages to starting with a fishing vessel, too. These ships are already designed to operate for extended periods in demanding Arctic conditions, with relatively straightforward maintenance requirements. They also have the machinery, power generation, and internal volume needed to support substantial mission equipment.

The platform is being designed around a relatively high-performance towed array, the Sonar 2087, developed by Thales Underwater Systems. The Type 92 is intended to provide a significant extension of the Royal Navy’s ASW sensing capabilities, and Kongsberg believes that requires a substantial towed array.

Sonar 2087 already equips Royal Navy Type 23 frigates and will be carried aboard its forthcoming Type 26 ASW frigates.

Another critical consideration is the vessel’s acoustic signature. A sonar platform needs to be quiet enough that its own machinery and propellers do not interfere with its ability to detect submarines.

“You can have the best sonar in the world, but if you’ve got a very noisy ship, it drowns out everything else you’re trying to find,” Balchin said. “You need a very quiet platform to maximize the performance of your sonar.”

Kongsberg has considerable experience in this area, having designed propellers for the Royal Navy’s Type 23 and Type 26 frigates. The company has applied some of that expertise to the Arctic Hunter, optimizing its hull and propeller design to reduce underwater radiated noise (URN).

The fishing vessel design already offered a relatively quiet platform, partly because of the requirements of its original mission. Kongsberg says it is further improving that performance for the ASW role.

The Arctic Hunter also draws on technology from another Kongsberg project called Reach Remote, an existing uncrewed offshore vessel that operates in the North Atlantic, deploying remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for survey work.

Reach Remote: Powered by partnership, proven by performance

Rather than developing an entirely new autonomous control system, Kongsberg intends to transfer the proven remote-operation technology from Reach Remote into the Arctic Hunter platform.

“We’re taking a proven platform, proven flag-approved remote autonomy technology with a proven sonar, and then we’ve also added on another layer of military communications,” Balchin said.

Those communications will be designed to provide secure connectivity in the contested and degraded environments expected in the High North.

Kongsberg is designing the Arctic Hunter for up to 60 days at sea without human intervention aboard. The company’s existing Reach Remote vessels already operate for around 30 days at a time, providing a basis for extending that endurance.

The vessel is uncrewed by design, rather than being a conventional ship subsequently adapted to operate without a crew, and this has significant implications for its layout and cost.

“Putting anybody on it for any period of time massively complicates a ship and adds significant costs,” Balchin explained, pointing to the need for accommodation, a galley, water supplies, and other systems required to support a human crew.

Engineers may occasionally board the vessel for maintenance or servicing, but its normal operation will be controlled from shore.

The initial concept is deliberately focused on a relatively straightforward ASW sensing mission. Balchin described this as a “minimum viable capability,” intended to get additional submarine-hunting sensors into the High North as quickly as possible.

Initially, the Arctic Hunter vessels could operate as an uncrewed flotilla, collecting underwater surveillance data and transmitting it to military decision-makers in the United Kingdom. This would provide the Royal Navy with additional sensing capacity without requiring the vessels to operate directly alongside crewed warships from the outset.

Over time, however, Kongsberg sees the vessels working more closely with the Type 26 frigates as those warships enter service.

“Type 26 at the core, and these acting as autonomous wingmen,” is how Balchin described the longer-term concept.

This would give the Royal Navy considerable flexibility in how it deploys the vessels, allowing them to operate independently or as part of a wider ASW formation. It could also help address gaps in the existing frigate fleet by providing additional sensing assets that do not require a crewed warship to remain continuously on station.

Although the Arctic Hunter is being developed primarily as a sensor platform, its design has considerable room for additional capabilities. Balchin highlighted the vessel’s installed power, payload capacity, and unused internal volume as factors that could allow it to accommodate other mission systems.

“We have resisted the temptation to go on flights of fancy at this time around what else it could do, and instead stick to that very simple: we want to get a program of record in quickly,” he said.

The vessel’s potential flexibility could nevertheless be attractive to other navies. Balchin emphasized that the underlying platform is not inherently tied to British systems. For the U.K. Type 92 requirement, it would carry sovereign British sonar and secure military communications, but other customers could select their own equipment.

“If America said, ‘I want to tow a different sonar, and I’d like to have an American communication system in there,’ that’s very easy as well,” he said. It’s worth noting that a version of the Sonar 2087, known as CAPTAS-4, had been planned for the U.S. Navy’s now-canceled Constellation class frigate. The FF(X) that has superseded it currently lacks any built-in sonar array, fixed or towed, and other anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Unrivalled Anti-submarine warfare with CAPTAS-4 VDS and FLASH dipping sonar – Thales

Kongsberg believes its underlying platform could therefore provide a common commercial foundation for different national requirements, with the military payload adapted to suit each customer.

For the British program, the company is working with its established shipbuilding partner Balaena Maritime, with construction planned at the latter’s Birkenhead yard.

A commercial approach to construction is central to the Arctic Hunter proposition. Fishing vessels operating in Arctic waters typically spend around six weeks at sea before returning to port to unload their catch, refuel, and undergo servicing. They then head back out again, with relatively straightforward shore-based support.

Kongsberg believes the same model can be applied to the uncrewed ASW vessels. Existing commercial shipyard infrastructure, including dry docks and slipways, could support routine maintenance, with additional facilities required for sonar and military communications servicing.

There would also be a remote operations center in the High North to control the vessels themselves. However, the more important decisions about where the flotilla should operate and how its missions should be managed would remain in the United Kingdom.

The Arctic Hunter is also being presented as a potential export product. Balchin said Kongsberg’s separation from the wider Kongsberg Group earlier this year had given the maritime business greater freedom to work with different defense companies and national partners.

For the Royal Navy, the Type 92 is part of a much broader effort to reshape how the service operates at sea. Under the Hybrid Navy concept, four new types of uncrewed vessels will take on different roles, ranging from providing additional missile capacity to extending the fleet’s ability to detect and engage threats underwater and in the air.

The move toward a fleet built around autonomous vessels represents a new venture for the Royal Navy. However, the service is already beginning to establish the operational structures needed to make that transition.

Last week, it formally commissioned its 1st Autonomous Squadron at Portsmouth, a unit of around 180 personnel that will operate uncrewed surface vessels on frontline missions. Initially equipped with Kraken and Rattler craft, the squadron is intended to develop the skills, tactics and experience needed to bring increasingly sophisticated autonomous systems into the fleet. The Type 92 and other larger uncrewed vessels would represent a significant expansion of that effort, moving beyond smaller boats toward persistent, ocean-going capabilities.

The Arctic Hunter announcement also highlights the growing emphasis on industrial cooperation between the United Kingdom and Norway in the maritime domain. The two countries have been working more closely on security in the North Atlantic and High North, including through the Lunna House agreement, which includes an ambition for both nations to lead NATO’s adoption of autonomous systems in the region.

The proposed Type 92 program also comes amid mounting concern over Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic, where Moscow’s undersea forces remain a significant threat to NATO’s maritime communications, reinforcement routes, and naval forces. Persistent uncrewed sensors could help address the challenge of maintaining surveillance over such a large area, particularly as crewed ASW platforms face competing operational demands.

Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic has been a growing worry for NATO for years, with the challenge involving not just the number of deployments but the increasingly capable boats involved. As TWZ has reported, Russian submarines are operating for longer periods and carrying more lethal weapons, while newer designs such as the Yasen class are quieter and harder to detect. In April of this year, the United Kingdom and Norway disclosed a month-long operation with Norway and other allies to track a Russian Akula class attack submarine and two small, special-missions submarines operating near critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic. The episode underscored the demands placed on crewed ships and patrol aircraft to maintain persistent surveillance across the region.

For now, the Arctic Hunter represents an industrially focused proposal for a major element of the U.K.’s emerging Hybrid Navy concept. Its combination of commercial shipbuilding, autonomous vessel technology, and sovereign British ASW systems is intended to offer a relatively rapid route to expanding the Royal Navy’s underwater surveillance capacity.

More broadly, the Type 92 points toward a future fleet in which crewed warships are increasingly supported by uncrewed platforms that distribute weapons, sensors and other capabilities across a wider operating area. While embracing so much unproven technology and concepts comes with risks, the Royal Navy is betting that a combination of autonomous systems and traditional warships can deliver greater firepower, persistence, and operational reach.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

People could claim a refund if their living situation changes, with some eligible for up to £155

TV Licence holders could be missing out on a refund if their circumstances change. In certain situations, people may be losing out on as much as £155, and they can put in a claim for up to two years ago.

Consumer and lifestyle expert for ITV’s This Morning, Grace Forell, suggests more people could be eligible to reclaim a portion of their TV Licence fee. There are particular circumstances that people must satisfy to qualify – though she says these situations happen more frequently than you might think.

Brits require a valid TV Licence if they watch television and stream live broadcasts on services such as YouTube or Amazon Prime. Many people mistakenly believe the Licence isn’t necessary if they don’t watch BBC content.

Reclaiming the maximum portion of a TV Licence could see households receive up to £155, provided they hold a standard £180 colour TV Licence. The application process is available to anyone who meets the criteria.

The highest refund available is eleven-twelfths (11/12ths) of the total licence fee, which presently amounts to £155.37. Since a TV Licence refund is worked out based on complete, unused calendar months left on the licence, it’s impossible to receive a full 100% refund once the licence has commenced, reports the Express.

Grace said: “If you buy a licence and then your living circumstances change, you can apply for a refund for the unused months. Say you move into university halls and buy a licence, but then move back home nine months later, as long as your family home has a suitable licence, you can cancel yours and get money back.”

It’s not only students who stand to gain from this. Those who move in with a partner, friend, or family member who already holds a valid licence can apply for a refund on their own licence prior to relocating.

There is, however, one crucial condition that all those seeking a refund must meet. Grace confirms that refunds will only be possible if people have “at least one complete month remaining” on their licence.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings

You can request a TV Licence refund online via the TV Licensing Refund Form, or alternatively, ring TV Licensing directly on 0300 790 6071. Applications can be submitted up to 14 days before the date you no longer need the licence. Should your refund be approved, your TV Licence will be cancelled automatically.

For most standard refund claims, TV Licensing states that customers can claim a refund for a licence that expired up to two years ago, with the refund still calculated based on “unused complete months”.

Those making backdated claims will need to supply evidence confirming the precise date they no longer required the licence, such as a tenancy agreement showing when they moved out. Speaking directly with TV Licensing can be particularly helpful for those in more complex situations, where additional proof may be required before a refund is released.

Wall Street’s major market averages rebounded higher for the most part on Wednesday as strong results and upbeat guidance from CoreWeave lifted sentiment across the technology sector.

The blue-chip Dow (DJI) was last -0.2%, the benchmark S&P 500 (

After the earthquakes, Defence Minister Gustavo González López and former Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia stand alongside Maj. Gen. Kevin Jarrard and other US military officers. US personnel then gained access to Maiquetía’s control tower and operations. Source: US Southern Command.

How are the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) and the rest of the security apparatus actually changing? Both publicly and behind closed doors, a military institution forged in Hugo Chávez’s operational doctrine and hardened under Nicolás Maduro’s governance of patronage, corruption and systemic repression is now actively coordinating with the foreign force that entered national territory on January 3, inflicted heavy casualties across the FANB (predominantly among young service members) and captured the man they answered to as Commander-in-Chief.

The recent news cycle offers hints of how this military cooperation is taking shape in the bilateral Caracas–Washington relationship. On Tuesday, November 3, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration is seeking to lay the groundwork for US military forces to operate and establish a footprint inside Venezuela. Days earlier, local human rights group FundaRedes reported a lethal FANB offensive against the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Apure state, which was reportedly mirrored shortly after in a mining zone in western Bolívar state. Sources cited by the Times noted that the Apure operation was conducted with direct US intelligence and drone assets.