There was good news for customers announced on Tuesday afternoon

Halifax has given a new update to customers and potential customers, but there’s a warning that the good news might not last.

It announced mortgage rate reductions of up to 0.25% on Tuesday, but brokers have said the cuts could be “short-lived” as SONIA swap rates, which are used to price fixed-rate mortgages, have risen sharply following renewed tensions in the Middle East. Halifax on Tuesday afternoon said it was making reductions of up to 0.25% on two, three and five-year fixed rate remortgage products and up to 0.24% on two and five-year fixed rate product transfer and further advance mortgages.

It also announced reductions of up to 0.05% on two, three and five-year Homemover and First Time Buyer fixed rates. However, the two-year SONIA swap was up 13.2bps on Tuesday, at 4.338%, while the five-year was up 13.6bps, at 4.313%.

In recent weeks, numerous lenders have announced chunky rate reductions, but Emma Jones, MD at Runcorn-based Whenthebanksaysno.co.uk, cautioned that this kind of jump in swap rates could see lenders reprice upwards in the days ahead.

She said: “Renewed tensions in the Middle East are sending swaps north again and mortgage rates could soon follow. If they carry on climbing, the rates that are here today could be gone tomorrow.”

Nouran Moustafa, practice principal and IFA at Roxton Wealth, described the increase in swap rates as “a real warning light for borrowers” and said “if Middle East tensions keep pushing oil, inflation expectations and swap rates higher, some of today’s cuts could disappear very quickly”.

She continued: “For borrowers, the message is simple: do not wait for a perfect rate that may never arrive. If your deal is ending in the next six months, review your options now, secure something and keep monitoring. A good adviser can switch you if a better rate appears before completion.”

Riz Malik, Independent Financial Adviser at Southend-on-Sea-based R3 Wealth, agreed: “With renewed instability in the Gulf, recent rate cuts may be short-lived.”

Rohit Kohli, director at Romsey-based The Mortgage Stop, described the current mortgage market as a rollercoaster and said some lenders are pulling rates with hardly any notice.

He warned on Tuesday: “Swap rates have moved up sharply today, and when funding costs rise, lenders that price heavily off swaps often respond quickly. We have already seen other lenders pull products at short notice today, including one with less than two hours’ warning.

“My advice to borrowers is simple: if the rate works for you today, do not delay. Get your documents ready, speak to a broker and secure the deal while it is available. You can always review later if pricing improves, but you cannot lock in a rate after it has been withdrawn.”

Advertisement

David Stirling, Independent Financial Adviser at Belfast-based Mint Wealth, urged people to “think carefully before playing the waiting game”.

He added: “Any escalation could send rates back up as quickly as they came down. For any existing Halifax borrowers, a swift internal product transfer may well be worth more than sitting tight for a remortgage deal that could yet prove elusive. These can potentially be revised should rates drop.”

Mirroring Moustafa, Ken James, director at London-based Contractor Mortgage Services, said the cuts were “good news on the surface, but the market underneath is flashing warning lights, because while Halifax is cutting, the cost of funding mortgages is rising fast”.

He continued: “If swaps stay elevated, these rates won’t stick around but for those who can benefit from these cuts, the message is clear: ACT and don’t dilly-dally.”

There are lots of big decisions that come with choosing to have a baby – things like which cot should you get? How many babygros will you need? And, can you really name your child Asparagus?

Often, people will talk about the decision to try and time having a baby born at a particular time of year – like a September baby so they’ll be the oldest in the school year, or a summer baby, to avoid the expense of Christmas.

But now, some parents-to-be aren’t just thinking about what age their child will be when they’re sitting their SATs, they’re also thinking about determining their star sign.

Some keep astrology in mind believing their baby will grow up with personality traits that are reflected in their Zodiac sign, or will be more compatible with other family members because their signs work together.

This is an idea that Inbaal Honigman, 52, a psychic from Holmfirth in Yorkshire, fully understands – because all four of her children’s star signs were planned.

Though she was hoping for a full house of Pisces children, the one Capricorn fits right in. For Inbaal, the priority was avoiding Aries.

‘I wasn’t raised in an environment that was open to spiritual ideas, and when I was 20, I accidentally stumbled onto Tarot and loved it,’ she tells Metro.

‘Practising Tarot readings and learning the spiritual world fascinated me, and one of the most attractive parts in learning Tarot was how the different elements, earth air fire and water, responded to one another. Star sign compatibility has fascinated me ever since.’

Long before children were on the radar for Inbaal, she knew that star signs were important when it came to meeting a future partner, and she filtered through online dating profile matches hoping to find someone who was a compatible sign.

‘In 2005 I set up a dating profile, and one of my criteria was that they had to be Pisces or Sagittarius. Not only are they my favourite signs, but I thought they’d be my most compatible signs,’ she explains.

‘I’m a Pisces and would have loved someone my own sign, and I have my moon in Sagittarius, so I thought a Sagittarian would be compatible with my more adventurous, fun loving side. I met my husband, Sean, this way – he’s a Pisces with Sagittarius rising and we were a wonderful match.’

Two years later, Inbaal and Sean began trying for a baby – and although the child’s zodiac sign wasn’t her number one criteria, Inbaal still hoped that she would have a child whose sign was compatible with her own.

‘I struggled to conceive, so I’d have been happy with any baby. But, in one of my many conversations with friends and colleagues, a fellow psychic suggested that I send my husband a Father’s Day card from our unconceived baby. That was June 21 that year, which coincided with the Summer Solstice, a traditional day of conception, and I thought, if we conceived right now, it would be a Pisces. I loved the idea so much – a happy family of three happy Pisceans!

‘We did conceive and her due date was in Pisces.’

With her baby overdue, Inbaal was offered an induction – and, although she wanted to try and hold on without intervention, she also knew how important it was to her to have her Piscean baby.

‘I was offered two induction dates, one would be in Pisces and the other in Aries. Even though I wanted to wait for her to arrive naturally, my desire for a Pisces baby made me pick the earlier date,’ she says.

‘I was absolutely elated to get my Pisces baby, I was relieved, as I know Pisces so well and what makes them tick. I felt that I could be an amazing mum to this baby, there’s nothing about Pisces I didn’t know, and I was thrilled.’

Although she admits her husband has no idea which sign is associated with which dates, when it came to planning for further children, Inbaal says he supported her desire to have children with Piscean or Saggitarian zodiac signs.

But, even with careful planning, Inbaal’s pregnancies didn’t always result in the star signs for her babies that she’d hoped for. While her second child, born in 2012 was also a planned Pisces, her third pregnancy in 2015 hit complications and resulted in a Capricorn son – a sign that wasn’t on her wishlist.

‘Originally a twin pregnancy, the due date was in Capricorn season, which was never on my wishlist. If I’d delivered as a multiple, I’d have had a caesarean scheduled for Sagittarius, and I adored the idea of two Sagittarius babies together. Only one twin made it, and he’s a Capricorn, but he’s perfect. I’ve searched my soul for any signs of regret or sadness that he wasn’t Sagittarius, and there are none. He’s a gorgeous, smart and sassy child, and I wouldn’t change him for the world.’

Inbaal’s fourth child arrived in 2017 – another Pisces, born on the same day as their first child, who she jokes arrived ‘nice and Pisces, just the way I like them!’

While the reasoning behind this trend might be to get certain traits in your child that are synonymous with their star sign, Inbaal does admit that the plan isn’t foolproof – especially as only 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date – which could spell disaster if you’ve got your heart set on a flexible Gemini but end up with a stubborn Taurus.

‘Even if you get exactly what you asked for, you may not get what you want,’ she says.

‘I planned my Pisces babies specifically to avoid Aries babies. Some of my favourite people are Aries, but I didn’t think I’d be a great mum to a boisterous, overactive baby like an Aries.

‘I got my perfect Pisceans, but they do all have strong Aries placements in their charts, which means they’re all boisterous and overactive despite being Pisces.’

This article was originally published in June 2023.

MORE: Daily horoscope May 6, 2026: Today’s predictions for your star sign

MORE: Daily horoscope May 5, 2026: Today’s predictions for your star sign

MORE: My brother discovered his long-lost daughter – then cut me off

Two million airline seats have been cut from May schedules worldwide as soaring jet fuel prices, driven by the US-Iran war and Middle East conflict, spark mass flight cancellations including over 100 from Heathrow

Advertisement

More than 100 flights have vanished from Heathrow Airport’s May timetable as jet fuel costs continue to surge during the US-Iran conflict.

Heathrow’s schedules have axed 111 flights over concerns that prolonged jet fuel supply issues could trigger additional cancellations throughout the summer months. British carriers were informed over the weekend that they may be given greater leeway to merge flights on busy routes should the need arise.

Airlines have slashed two million seats from May’s schedules as they reshape their operations in response to rocketing jet fuel costs stemming from the Middle East crisis, according to the Guardian.

Fuel prices have skyrocketed since the US-Iran war began over two months ago, following joint American and Israeli strikes on multiple Iranian targets. Iran hit back by attacking locations throughout the Middle East and shutting down the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping channel, which handles 20% of the world’s oil trade.

Roughly 13,000 fewer flights will take off globally in May following recent cuts, based on figures from aviation data firm Cirium.

Advertisement

Part of the two million seat reduction has come through deploying smaller aircraft alongside outright cancellations.

The most significant reductions in flight numbers have occurred at Istanbul and Munich airports. Turkey’s national carrier and Germany’s Lufthansa have implemented massive cutbacks. Lufthansa has axed 20,000 short-haul services run by its CityLine division. Most short-haul airlines flying from the UK have secured strong hedging on jet fuel. This means they’re not bracing for instant cost hikes.

Low-cost operators EasyJet and Wizz Air have pledged to run their summer timetables in their entirety, despite strain on the unhedged element of their fuel expenses.

The sector reports no current supply problems, considering the typical six-week forward visibility, though international bodies have warned that Europe could face jet fuel shortages should the Middle East conflict continue disrupting supplies.

The UK government has indicated that extraordinary steps might be implemented ahead of time to prevent last-minute chaos for holidaymakers throughout the summer period. This includes merging timetables on routes where several flights to identical destinations operated on the same day.

Ministers added that where airlines haven’t shifted a substantial share of seats, flights could also be axed to avoid squandering fuel by operating near-empty aircraft.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has stated there were no “immediate supply issues”, though the government was “preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer”.

Set along the leafy banks of the River Bollin the park links the nearby town centre with the Cheshire countryside

As we edge closer to summer and with warmer weather and conditions hopefully on the horizon, spending time outside will become much more appealing. In early spring we’ve been treated to beautiful daffodils bursting through the ground, the trees coming into blossom and lush greenery covering our landscapes.

We can expect more of the same as the next May Bank Holiday approaches and it’s not too soon to start planning a day out, excursions and family activities. If we’re blessed by the weather gods, there’s a Cheshire spot just a few miles from the boundary with Stockport that’s ripe for exploring.

The Carrs in Wilmslow is a huge 71-acre park with a network of paths following the route of the River Bollin. It meanders all the way to Quarry Bank Mill and then to Styal Country Park, meaning there are plenty of walking options and places to explore.

Click here for the latest on Manchester’s food & drink scene, gigs and more in our CityLife newsletter

The word ‘Carrs’ comes from the Old Norse word ‘Kjarr’ meaning ‘meadow recovered from bog’ or ‘waterlogged woodland’ nodding to the original state and subsequent use of the area. It first started to take shape as a park in 1925 when Henry Boddington, of Boddingtons Brewery gave playing fields to the public. Then in 1935 Wilmslow Urban District Council bought the land adjacent and established The Carrs Park.

For families there’s a great deal of facilities and attractions at the park. This includes two children’s playgrounds – one modern and one wooden featuring a zip wire, obstacle features and swings and slides. There’s also a multi-use football area, outdoor gym equipment, courts, and skateboard ramp.

More widely, and for everyone to enjoy are the plentiful riverside and woodland walks, open grassland and number of spots to have a picnic. Within walking distance of Wilmslow, it’s an easy spot to access if you want to explore the Cheshire town during a visit too.

Advertisement

Just beyond the playground you’ll come across the route map which shows you various different paths to take but also the types of wildlife you might encounter should you plan to walk all the way to Styal Country Park.

Wildlife in the Carrs to be on the lookout for includes Grey Herons, Pipistrelle Bats, Kingfishers, and Brown Trout. Also within the Carrs, and of historical interest is the ruined St Olaf’s chapel, which was built in Victorian times by the Boddington family.

For those wanting to take a picnic in the park there are designated picnic areas with tables for use – and some of these are right by the river where there’s a chance to paddle in the shallower water.

Cheshire East Council has published some guidance about holding gatherings in the park and picnics – and if you’re holding an organised event for more than 20 people you will need to fill in a form via the council’s website.

For those wanting a good stroll, the park is a good starting point to Styal Country Park and the wider Dean Valley. Equally, you can just do a short riverside loop with points marked out to spot the aforementioned wildlife species.

After a walk and if you finish up at the end by the modern playground there’s a hut run by Tiger Coffee and Ice Cream which serves hot drinks, cakes, snacks and ice cream tubs.

There’s also the ice cream van selling classic Mr Whippy soft-mix ice cream with the classic Flake and raspberry sauce, as well as an assortment of other treats. You can also venture into Wilmslow where there’s a strong roster of cafes and coffee spots.

The Carrs Park, Wilmslow, Chancel Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4AA. There are two car parks at either end, and the one at Parish Hall is limited to 60 spaces, but has toilets and baby changing facilities.

Bishopton PRU, which looks after 67 children between 11 and 16 at risk of exclusion, was failing to provide an acceptable standard of education during an Ofsted inspection in January. 

Students at the Billingham school were found to experience “significant disruption to their learning” with a “narrow” curriculum leaving them “ill-prepared” for later life. 

Leaders also raised concerns about “insufficient support” from the Atomix Educational Trust, which runs the site, amid serious issues with attendance. 

Dr Sharon Dobson Waters, director of quality and curriculum at Atomix, said it welcomes the external support and said a number of improvements have been made over recent months. 

‘Urgent improvement’

While relationships between staff and pupils were positive, inconsistencies in management meant some students did not feel safe because of their peers’ behaviour. 

Some students were reluctant to come to school over fears of being bullied – and pupils do not get the support they need to boost attendance, despite staff working hard to try and help. 

Bishopton PRU does not have an “effective or rigorous approach” to overseeing pupils’ whereabouts and being assured of their safety.

Some pupils and parents have little confidence in the site’s ability to keep them safe, and the trust has not acted on requests from school leaders to make sure that the site is secure. 

Pupils do not achieve well, including the high proportion of pupils who have special educational needs (SEND) and/or disabilities. 

Many pupils have gaps in their prior learning when they join the school and are not supported well enough to catch up, meaning these gaps are widened. 

Systems to monitor and record what pupils know as they progress are weak. 

While leaders express “high ambition” for the curriculum, current staffing arrangements do not support the full delivery of it. 

Staff do not get the training they need to develop their subject knowledge and curriculum guidance for teachers is inconsistent. 

Despite this, when serious concerns are raised about a pupil, leaders “take appropriate action to check on their welfare” and record a “clear picture of actions to safeguard pupils”. 

‘Frequent absences’

Bishopton PRU has low rates of attendance, with strategies to improve this “not effective”.

In the 2024/25 year, the school had an overall absence percentage of 61.7 per cent – although this was up from 2023/24’s figure of 51.5 per cent.

Behaviour at the site has improved since the previous inspection, but inconsistencies in management remain. 

Rates of suspensions increased during the autumn term this year because leaders enforced tighter rules – but the reintegration process after doesn’t offer pupils “sufficient support to change their behaviour”. 

The Ofsted report also found the trust, formerly the Tees Valley Collaborative Trust,  was not meeting its statutory responsibilities for educating or safeguarding SEND pupils. 

Leaders do not ensure that learning is adapted well enough to support SEND pupils and there are significant weaknesses in the school’s approach with supporting them. 

Staff do not get the training they require so that they know how to adapt support when necessary and the overside of SEND pupils who attend education off site is poor. 

School and trust leaders were found to lack the strategic direction, capacity and oversight needed to secure rapid and necessary improvement. 

Leaders have raised concerns about insufficient support from the trust, while trustees and governors appear to be unaware of the scale of support that the school needs. 

Leaders assert that the school is improving but “overestimate” the success of their work to improve attendance. 

However, the school has a “coherent” PSHE curriculum that is approached by staff with sensitivity and care. It also is developing an appropriate careers provision. 

‘Continuing challenge’

Atomix Trust said pupils remain at the “very heart” of the school’s commitment to education, safeguarding, and care. 

Dr Waters said the trust welcomes external support and will “continue to work openly and collaboratively”. 

She said: “Bishopton is one of the largest pupil referral units in the region and it serves some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community, including many pupils who have experienced exclusion, trauma and disrupted education. 

“Supporting these young people back into learning is complex work that takes time, partnership and sustained effort.

“The recent inspection recognised improvements in staffing, curriculum and behaviour, but also highlighted the continuing challenge of attendance and school refusal. 

“These are not issues any school can solve in isolation. They require close working between schools, families and the local wider system that supports children. 

“There have been many new updates at Bishopton to meet the new Ofsted inspection framework and we continue to work closely with the Local Authority.

“Over recent months Bishopton has introduced new leadership structures, curriculum changes and community-based outreach, to re-engage pupils who are struggling to attend. 

“This work is still at an early stage, but the direction is clear: the focus is on keeping children safe, supporting families and helping pupils back into education.

“We encourage the community to support the school and its leadership through our open-door approach, and we want to reassure our pupils, families, staff and community that we will continue to take decisive, detailed action as part of our ongoing commitment to our number one priority – putting young people first.”

What happens to your will after a divorce?

Divorce is a major life event that often brings significant personal and financial changes.

While many people focus on property, finances, and arrangements for children during divorce proceedings, updating a will is often overlooked.

Understanding what happens to your will after divorce is important to ensure your estate remains consistent with your wishes.

Is your will valid after a divorce?

Your will generally remains valid after divorce, but the law changes how certain parts of it are treated once the divorce is finalised.

When the family court issues the Final Order, the law treats your former spouse as though they have died for the purposes of your will.

This means:

· Any gifts left to your former spouse or civil partner will usually fail

· Any appointment of your former spouse as an executor or trustee may no longer apply

This can create problems if your will is not reviewed, especially if your former spouse played a major role in your estate planning.

What happens before the final order?

These changes do not happen when separation begins or when divorce proceedings start. They usually only take effect once the Final Order is granted.

Until then, your existing will still applies fully. This means that if something happens before the divorce is legally completed, your spouse or civil partner may still inherit under your will.

This is particularly important for estranged spouses where the relationship has ended, but the legal divorce is still ongoing.

Why you should update your will

Even though your will may remain valid after divorce, failing to update it can lead to unintended consequences.

For example:

· Children or family members may not inherit as intended

· Your chosen executor or trustee may no longer be appropriate

· Part of your estate could fall under the rules of intestacy. The rules of intestacy apply where there is no valid will, or where part of your estate is not fully addressed. These rules follow a strict legal order, which may not reflect your wishes.

How AFG Law can assist

At AFG Law, our experienced private client team provides clear advice on wills and estate planning following divorce and separation.

We can assist with:

· Helping you understand whether your current will remains suitable

· Advising on how divorce affects your estate planning

· Preparing a new will that reflects your updated wishes

· Replacing a former spouse as executor or trustee

· Supporting wider planning, including Powers of Attorney and tax planning

Divorce is the right time to review your will.

Updating it now can help avoid complications later and give you peace of mind for the future.

Not the picture-perfect version. The real version.

The one where life gets busy. Where conversations get shorter. Where you’re both trying to keep everything going, and connection slowly takes a back seat.

I’ve felt this myself. When you’re juggling work, family, and responsibilities, it’s easy to slip into routine. You’re talking, but not really connecting. You’re there, but your mind is somewhere else.

And over time, that creates distance. Not because you don’t care, but because you’re stretched.

Then comes the guilt. Feeling like you’re not showing up properly. Not giving enough. Not being present.

But here’s something I always come back to. Connection doesn’t need hours.

It needs intention. So instead of trying to fix everything, start small.

The State Shift (NLP Tool)

Before you walk into your home or into a moment with someone important, pause. Take a breath. Drop your shoulders. Think of one thing you genuinely appreciate about that person. Hold that feeling for a few seconds, then walk in with that energy.

That small shift changes everything.

Kirsty Redford (Image: Kirsty Redford)

Now add mindfulness. When you’re with someone, put your phone down and really listen. Notice their tone, their expressions, their presence. Stay in that moment fully, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Also check in with yourself:

Have I been present today? Have I actually listened? Have I shown how I feel? And then check in with them, too.

Because sometimes all someone needs is to feel seen. Relationships don’t break from one big moment.

They drift from lots of small ones. So bring it back, one moment at a time.

See you next week!

Kirsty Redford is the founder of Firewalk Events, based in the North West. She specialises in mindset, empowerment and wellbeing experiences, helping individuals, charities and businesses build confidence, resilience and connection through powerful, interactive events.

Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) is still trying to adjust to life back in the Emmerdale village after his stint on remand.

His time inside has taken its toll, particularly as he spent a chunk of his final days in there in solitary confinement.

A tough day in court also weakened the fragile former wrestler, after Simo’s appearance in the stand triggered Bear’s PTSD and saw him spiral at the worst possible time.

Bear then had to take the stand himself and nearly crumbled as he told his side of the story.

He’s now a free man once again, but despite being home and with his loved ones, he’s no less fragile.

He is, however, determined to get back to normal life and with Mandy (Lisa Riley) having lost the salon after her customers deserted her for her association with Bear and Paddy, the two team up to get back into the work force.

They both manage to secure themselves jobs at the depot, meaning both now have to deal with Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) as a boss. Jai introduces a ‘Productivity Chart’ to keep an eye on his workers and it does the job of spurring them on. As it becomes a competition, Bear easily wins.

Having spent some time as a slave, he knows how to work hard.

Just as Bear is getting settled, Jai has some strong words for him and Bear’s anxiety shoots through the roof at being disciplined – the exchange triggers a traumatic flashback for Bear and places him right back on that farm.

As the trauma swirls inside him, he snaps at both Mandy and Kerry (Laura Norton). Jai responds in kind, raising his voice, causing a broken Bear to flinch as if at the hands of Ray (Joe Absolom).

Bear is in a bad way and Mandy and Kerry explain to Jai he needs to back off and show Bear some compassion.

Don’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Add us as a Preferred Source

Advertisement

But will he take their advice, or will he drive Bear right back into the ground?

MORE: Emmerdale confirms verdict in Bear trial as dark story ends with major twist

MORE: Ray and Celia laid bare in Emmerdale but it may be far too late for Bear

MORE: Emmerdale legend reels as character ‘returns from the dead’ amid murder story

The platform flashes on the screen at Euston station, but you’ve no need to join the stampede to get on the train: you’ve reserved your seat.

But when you make it to your coach, someone is already sitting in the very spot you should be enjoying. Then, they refuse to move.

This unbecoming behaviour isn’t new, but now Metro has given it a name: ‘T-bagging’.

Get your mind out the gutter – it’s an abbreviated term for ‘ticket baggers’ – who are rife on cross country trains, and opt to sit in a reserved seat, sometimes even despite other seating options being available to them.

And we aren’t the only ones who have a problem with them either.

One train traveller, Lydia Wilson, took to TikTok to share her frustration with these inconsiderate passengers, in a video that hit nearly 400,000 views.