Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows 296 departures from UK airports were cancelled this month as of Tuesday, representing 0.75 per cent of the total scheduled flights. This marks a significant increase from just 120 cancellations reported six days prior.
However, the outlook for the peak summer travel period appears more stable. Week-on-week schedule reductions for June remain limited at 48 fewer outbound flights, following the cancellation of 0.2 per cent of services. July has seen a reduction of 31 flights week-on-week, while August shows a minimal decrease of just four flights.
Around 13,000 flights were cancelled globally in May, resulting in two million fewer available seats, analyst Cirium previously revealed.
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While this figure might appear significant, it constitutes a mere 1.5 per cent reduction in total worldwide aviation capacity, saysThe Independent’sSimon Calder. These cancellations are primarily driven by the high price of jet fuel, rather than any supply shortages.
United Airlines cut its full-year outlook to $7–$11 per share from $12–$14 earlier in the year before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. (Getty)
German carrier Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines account for a substantial proportion of these grounded services, with both airlines opting to cancel flights as a cost-saving measure. In the UK, some Lufthansa operations have been affected, though this often means passengers are re-routed, for instance, those planning to fly from Glasgow to Frankfurt may now depart from Edinburgh.
Heathrow Airport has recorded just over 100 cancellations. However, these are not new disruptions but rather extensions of previously planned operations to airports in the Gulf region, where resumption dates have been further delayed.
Below is a list of how airlines are responding, in alphabetical order:
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Aegean Airlines
The Greek airline expects suspended Middle East flights and a spike in fuel prices to have a “notable impact” on its first-quarter results.
AirAsia X
The Malaysian airline’s executives said the company had cut 10% of flights across the group, with a surcharge of about 20% on fuel in general.
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Air France-KLM
The airline group said it planned to increase long-haul ticket prices to address surging fuel costs, with cabin fares set to rise by 50 euros ($58) per round trip.
The Dutch airline will not operate 80 return flights out of Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport over the next month.
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The flights are “currently no longer financially viable to operate” due to rising kerosene costs, said KLM.
Air Canada
Canada’s largest carrier plans to trim four of its 38 daily flights to New York due to higher fuel prices. The four flights to JFK International Airport will be cut from 1 June to 25 October 2026.
Jet Fuel Canada’s largest carrier plans to trim four of its 38 daily flights to New York. (AP)
Air India
The Indian carrier said it would revise its fuel surcharge from a flat domestic surcharge to a distance-based grid. It said surcharges on international routes did not compensate for the exponential rise in fuel prices.
A government document, seen by Reuters, indicates that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has set price limits for aviation fuel.
Nigerian airlines temporarily suspended a planned nationwide shutdown of flight operations, which was set to begin on April 20, after the government intervened amid crippling fuel prices. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), an industry body representing a dozen primarily domestic carriers, had warned they would halt services from April 20, citing that surging jet fuel costs had rendered operations unsustainable.
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Air New Zealand
The airline said on 7 April it would slash flights through May and June and hike fares, having been one of the first to announce broad increases to ticket prices when the conflict broke out. It also suspended its full-year earnings forecast due to fuel market volatility.
Easyjet said European consumers should expect higher ticket prices. (Reuters)
Air Transat
The Canadian airline said it would reduce planned capacity by 6% from May until October this year, with cuts expected on routes to Europe and the Caribbean and its service to Cuba remaining suspended until October.
Akasa Air
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India’s Akasa Air said it was introducing a fuel surcharge ranging between 199 and 1,300 Indian rupees ($2 to $14) on domestic and international flights.
Alaska Air
The U.S. airline said it would increase fees for the first checked bag by $5 and by $10 for the second on its North American flights, as well as for its Hawaiian Airlines unit. It hiked prices for a third checked bag from $50 to $200.
The carrier withdrew its full-year profit forecast as the sharp rise in jet fuel prices put pressure on margins.
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American Airlines
The U.S. carrier said it would hike checked baggage fees by $10 each for the first and second checked bags and by $150 for the third checked bag on domestic and short-haul international flights. It also trimmed certain benefits for economy passengers.
It had earlier said it expected a $400m increase in first-quarter expenses due to fuel prices.
Asiana Airlines
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The South Korean airline will slash 22 flights between April and July due to the fuel cost increase, Newsis reported.
British Airways
IAG – which owns British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia of Spain – is talking of “pricing adjustments to reflect these higher fuel costs”. A spokesperson said: “We are not seeing jet fuel supply interruptions, but fuel prices have risen sharply and, despite our hedging strategy, which gives some shorter-term mitigation, we are not immune to the impact.”
“BA will not come after you for more cash, and the airlines can charge only what the market will bear. And judging from some of the prices on offer, that isn’t a lot,” he said.
IAG company also warned its profits will be hit as it expects to spend about €2bn (£1.72bn) more than planned on fuel this year. But Chief executive Luis Gallego said IAG does not believe there will be “any interruption for the summer” in terms of jet fuel supplies.
Cathay Pacific
The Hong Kong airline said it would cut some flight from mid-May until the end of June, cancelling about 2% of its scheduled passenger flights, while its budget airline HK Express was cutting around 6% of flights.
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The carrier previously said it would hike its fuel surcharge by 34% across routes from April 1 and review them every two weeks.
The airline raised HK$2.08 billion ($265.58 million) from three-year fixed-rate notes at a yield of 3.78%, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
Cebu Air
The Philippines-based airline said the sharp rise in fuel prices was a key concern and it would continue to review its pricing and network strategies to mitigate the impact.
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China Eastern Airlines
The airline said it would raise fuel surcharges for domestic flights from 5 April, with flights of 800km and below hit with a 60 yuan ($9) surcharge and a 120 yuan surcharge for flights over 800km.
Delta Air Lines
Delta said it would cut capacity by around 3.5 percentage points from its original plan and raise fees for checked bags in an attempt to offset soaring jet fuel costs, with an increase of $10 on first and second checked bags and a $50 increase on the third.
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The U.S. airline pulled all planned capacity growth for the current quarter and forecast profit below Wall Street expectations. Delta CEO said it would hold off on updating the full-year outlook given uncertainty over how long the fuel price spike would last.
Lufthansa said it would ground 27 planes servicing its short-haul CityLine subsidiary. (AP)
Easyjet
EasyJet Holidays told customers they can be confident their holidays will “go ahead as planned” without extra surcharges.
CEO Garry Wilson said on Saturday, 25 April: “We know that holidaymakers may have questions about what recent global events might mean for their travel plans this summer, so we are giving our customers absolute peace of mind that no surcharges will be added to their flights or package holidays.”
EasyJet had previously warned of a bigger half-year pre-tax loss of between £540m and £560m ($731m and $758m), including £25m in extra fuel costs in March.
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CEO Kenton Jarvis previously said European consumers should expect higher ticket prices towards the end of summer, when existing fuel hedges come to an end.
Frontier Airlines
The U.S. airline is reviewing its full-year forecast as fuel prices have increased significantly since it issued the outlook.
Greater Bay Airlines
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The Hong Kong-based company said it would raise fuel surcharges on most routes from 1 April, while keeping them unchanged on mainland China and Japan routes.
Its surcharge for flights between Hong Kong and the Philippines will more than double, the carrier said.
Hong Kong Airlines
The airline said it would raise fuel surcharges by up to 35% from 12 March, with the sharpest increase on flights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal, where charges would rise to HK$384 ($49) from HK$284.
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Indigo
India’s biggest airline said it would introduce fuel charges on domestic and international flights from 14 March, including a charge of 900 rupees for flights to the Middle East and a charge of 2,300 rupees for flights to Europe. The company is also lobbying the Indian government to cut fuel taxes, sources told Reuters.
Speaking on Friday, chief executive Steve Heapy said: “Holidaymakers should have every right to book their hard-earned break in the sun, without worrying about being hit with additional costs, and they can have that complete assurance when they book a flight or holiday with Jet2. Customers booking with Jet2 know that they are locking in their price without additional cost surprises later.”
Jetblue Airways
The U.S.-based low-cost carrier said it was increasing fees for optional services such as checked baggage as it experiences “rising operating costs”. Baggage prices will rise by either $4 or $9, it said.
Joanna Geraghty, CEO of the U.S.-based low-cost carrier, told employees in a memo seen by Reuters that the carrier would not consider bankruptcy this year, even as rising jet fuel costs threaten its financial recovery. The company entered a $500 million debt financing agreement, according to an SEC filing.
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Korean Air
The South Korean carrier will enter emergency management mode from April, as rising oil prices weigh on costs, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The airline plans to implement phased response measures based on oil price levels, and step up company-wide cost efficiency to offset surging fuel costs.
It said it has axed “unprofitable” short-haul flights operated by its regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine, reducing the entire group’s capacity by one per cent in available seat kilometres this summer.
Lufthansa CityLine has hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. The first 120 daily flight cancellations took effect on Monday and will continue through the end of May. The airline said affected passengers have been notified.
The group has also permanently removed the 27 Lufthansa CityLine aircraft from operation. Some routes have also been cancelled in their entirety, including from Frankfurt to Bydgoszcz and Rzeszów in Poland, as well as Stavanger in Norway, meaning they have been temporarily removed from the flight schedule.
Norse Atlantic
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Low-cost Norwegian airline Norse Atlantic has cancelled its flight route between London Gatwick and Los Angeles due to the rise in fuel prices.
Pakistan International Airlines
The carrier said it would raise domestic flight fares by $20 and international fares by up to $100, citing higher fuel surcharges.
Qantas Airways
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KLM said on April 16 it would cancel 160 flights in Europe in the coming month. (Reuters)
Australia’s Qantas said it had delayed a planned A$150m ($106m) buyback and was raising its estimated fuel bill for the second half of 2026 to A$3.1bn-A$3.3bn, from a previous A$2.5bn forecast.
Ryanair
Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has warned that several European airlines could face significant financial difficulties and potential failures if jet fuel prices remain high throughout the summer season.
Despite the volatile market, O’Leary affirmed that Ryanair is ‘the best insulated, most hedged airline in Europe’ and committed to not imposing price increases or fuel surcharges on its customers.
SAS
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The Scandinavian airline said it would cancel 1,000 flights in April because of high oil and jet fuel prices, after cancelling a “couple hundred” flights in March.
SAS, which had already increased flight prices, said that even if it tried to absorb the rising fuel costs, the price surge would still be a blow to the aviation industry.
While customers with flights booked can expect refunds, Spirit is not providing any help in booking alternative travel plans. Several of Spirit’s competitors have offered capped ticket prices “specifically for Spirit customers who now need to rebook cancelled flights,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
Duffy claimed during a Saturday press conference that Trump officials had made “a significant effort” to keep the airline afloat.
“There was a number of ideas being floated on how the government could step in and be helpful to Spirit Airlines,” Duffy said. “The president was like a dog on a bone trying to figure out a way to keep Spirit afloat.”
President Donald Trump had discussed a potential bailout of the airline after it found itself in bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in less than two years — and as the price of jet fuel skyrockets amidst the war in Iran.
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Spring Airlines
The budget Chinese airline said it would raise fuel surcharges on domestic flights from 5 April, with details to be announced later.
Southwest Airlines
The American carrier forecast second-quarter profit below estimates as margins were dented by high fuel prices. It previously said it would hike checked baggage fees by $10 for the first and second bags, raising costs to $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second.
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TAP
The Portuguese airline said its price hikes would partially mitigate the impact of fuel price changes on its revenue.
Thai Airways
The Thailand-based carrier said it would raise fares by 10% to 15% to address rising fuel costs.
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TUI
Europe’s largest tour operator TUI has reassured customers who have already booked their holidays that the price is fixed “with no fuel surcharges added.”
Neil Swanson, managing director of TUI UK & Ireland, said: “We understand that customers want both confidence and clarity when booking a holiday.
“Our teams are here to support people who are thinking about booking, and those who have already booked with Tui can be reassured that their holiday price is fixed, with no fuel surcharges added.”
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TUI had previously cut its underlying operating profit forecast and suspended its revenue guidance, citing uncertainty caused by the Iran war, prompting its shares to fall by 2.6%.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines has been the most severely impacted carrier, with over 3,000 flights cancelled, according to Cirium data.
This widespread disruption affects 23 routes, including Hurghada, Billund, and Leipzig, alongside various African and Middle Eastern destinations, according to The Sun.
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SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, said it would impose a temporary fuel surcharge of 10 euros per passenger from 1 May on routes between Turkey and Europe. The surcharge will apply to bookings made on or after 1 April for departures on or after 1 May.
T’Way Air
The South Korean low-cost carrier said it planned to furlough some of its cabin crew without pay in May and June as part of measures to address the impact of the war.
British Airways-owner IAG said in March it did not plan to increase ticket prices immediately. (Getty)
United Airlines
The U.S. airline’s CEO Scott Kirby said ticket prices may need to rise by as much as 15 to 20 per cent to offset a surge in jet fuel costs. The company already instated five fare increases late in the first quarter, along with higher baggage fees, which it said have started to offset rising fuel costs.
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The carrier also forecast second-quarter and full-year profits below Wall Street estimates and said it expected to recover only 40-50% of the increase in fuel prices through fares and other revenue measures in the second quarter, `improving to 70-80% in the third and to as much as 85-100% by the fourth.
The U.S. airline previously said it would cut unprofitable flights over the next two quarters as it prepares for oil prices to remain above $100 until the end of 2027, CEO Scott Kirby said.
It is also increasing first and second checked bag fees by $10 for customers travelling in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and Latin America, it said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters.
Vietjet
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The Vietnamese budget airline said it had adjusted flight frequency on selected routes due to potential fuel shortages.
Vietnam Airlines
The carrier plans to cancel 23 flights per week across domestic routes from April, Vietnam’s aviation authority said, after the airline requested government assistance to remove an environmental tax on jet fuel.
Virgin Atlantic
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The airline is adding fuel surcharges to fares but will still struggle to return to profitability this year, its CEO Corneel Koster told the Financial Times.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia said it expected an increase in jet fuel cost of around A$30m-A$40m for the second half of this fiscal year, and a 1% reduction in capacity in the fourth quarter.
The airline previously said it was adjusting fares to reflect rising cost pressures.
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Volotea
The Spanish low-cost airline introduced a new pricing policy linking ticket prices to fuel costs, which could potentially add a post-purchase surcharge of up to 14 euros ($16.50) per passenger, per flight.
Westjet
The Canadian airline has cut seat capacity for June as costs soar, the Globe and Mail reported. The carrier will add a C$60 ($43) fuel surcharge to some bookings and combine flights as costs soar, the Canadian Press previously reported.
Vladimir Putin drove himself to central Moscow, where he hugged a former school teacher and invited her for dinner at the Kremlin, a video released by the Russian government on Monday (11 May) shows.
Footage showed the Russian leader in the driver’s seat of an Aurus Komendant, a Russian luxury car brand, arriving at a hotel.
Putin, dressed informally and carrying flowers, hugged his former school teacher, Vera Gurevich, in the hotel lobby.
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin invited Ms Gurevich to Moscow for the WW2 Victory Day parade on Red Square on 9 May, and she had stayed at the central Moscow hotel.
Daily Record Political Editor says Keir Starmer does not have much time left in Downing Street.
17:00, 12 May 2026Updated 17:04, 12 May 2026
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Keir Starmer’s colleagues have given him a stay of execution rather than a pardon.
Limited Cabinet support should be enough to keep him in post for days, but hanging around for weeks is unlikely and staying on for months is a non-starter.
The Prime Minister’s temporary reprieve reflects the weakness of the rivals who covet his job.
A cloud hangs over Angela Rayner due to her decisions on tax and moderates fear sacking Starmer could lead to her taking over.
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting – Labour’s best communicator – worries that knifing the PM in the back will backfire.
And Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – the favourite, if he was an MP – has no easy route back to Westminster.
In the current climate, Labour could not be guaranteed to win any by-election manufactured for Burnham’s benefit.
But luck does not change the fundamentals and Starmer will quit either in the short or medium term.
YouGov polling found 70% of respondents believe Starmer is doing badly as Prime Minister, with only 22% taking the opposite view.
Half of Britons say he should stand down while 29% say he should remain in the job.
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Even his closest allies privately admit he has struggled with the demands of leading the UK.
Signing off the winter fuel payment cut was a catastrophe that haunts Labour to this day.
Promising economic growth while hitting businesses with higher national insurance costs was a disaster.
His inexplicable decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK’s top diplomat to the US simply reinforced his unfitness for office.
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Starmer’s error was in misinterpreting Labour’s historic general election win against the Tories.
Winning an incredible 174-seat majority led some in the Government to believe it was a Blair-style victory, with the Right banished for a generation.
The reality is Labour only won 33.7% of the vote and the victory was rooted in hostility to the Tories and SNP, not a love of Starmer.
Voters wanted to turn the corner on fifteen years of Tory rule but Starmer felt like he had built up the political capital for so-called tough decisions.
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The public revolted early on and Starmer had been doomed from the early days of his premiership.
Even if Starmer soldiers on, Reform and the Tories have enough ammunition from this week’s soap opera to torment his party until the next election.
Around 80 of his MPs no longer have confidence in him, with eight of his Scottish contingent demanding his departure.
Starmer was already persona non grata in Scotland – voters were viscerally hostile about him during the Holyrood campaign.
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The quit calls from north of the border are damning and cannot be taken back.
Alan Gemmell, the MP for Central Ayrshire, said the Prime Minister’s “unpopularity” stopped Labour from beating the SNP.
Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy MP Melanie Ward resigned as a PPS after saying voters could not back Labour “as long as Keir Starmer remains Prime Minister”.
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Richard Baker, the chair of the Scottish Labour MPs, demanded Starmer walk because “too many people” believe he cannot provide the leadership the country needs.
North Ayrshire and Arran MP Irene Campbell backed an “orderly transition of leadership” while Glasgow North East MP Maureen Burke urged a “timetable” for his departure.
Glasgow South MP Gordon McKee was more direct: “If we don’t change, the outcome could be Nigel Farage in Downing Street and all of the disastrous consequences that would have.”
Party sources believe the most honourable course of action would be Starmer resigning in a way that gives Burnham a chance of entering the contest.
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Shutting him out, one MP said, would cause division and deprive MPs and members of the fullest possible range of options.
The MPs now calling for Starmer’s head do so with no malice and plenty of regret.
He took over as Labour leader in 2019 from the ashes of the failed Corbyn project.
He reformed a party that had been infected with anti-semitism and put Labour back on the same page as the voters.
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Overturning a huge Tory majority in one election will go down as an astonishing achievement.
But there is a big difference between being leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister.
He excelled at the first – after a few struggles – but has failed at the second job.
Starmer is on the way out and a new Prime Minister is required to defeat Farage.
Jake Hall’s heartbroken relatives have travelled to Majorca, just days after the former reality star was found dead after sustaining injuries to his chest from ‘shards of glass’
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
It was claimed that the dad-of-one ran through a single-glazed glass door, causing catastrophic injuries. Reports claim that Hall sustained injuries to his thorax, and shards of glass were found when he was discovered.
Local police have confirmed his death is being treated as accidental after questioning four men and two women, as fans, friends, and family come to terms with the devastating news. But Jake’s relatives have now headed to Majorca.
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His dad, Greg, mum, Jacqueline and his brother, Sonny, were seen visiting a sculpture at NU Mallorca beach club, which Jake had revealed just weeks ago. In one snap shared by Sonny on social media, he showed his mum and Jake’s close friend, Sophie Brooke Flecks, consoled as they consoled one another.
Meanwhile, Greg also shared a snap of the family posing in front of the beachfront sculpture. He captioned his post: “Thank you so so much for all your love. Visited our son’s sculpture yesterday.” Friends of Jake say he had returned to Majorca to focus on his artwork, a passion he’d shown on social media.
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Jake is said to have arrived in Majorca just one week ago, with locals seeing him arrive in the picturesque village where he was staying, carrying a suitcase. However, just hours later, he headed out on a night out before returning to his villa, alongside two men and three women.
The group are believed to have continued their party until the early hours. However, at around 7:15am local time, local residents heard a loud bang and the sound of shattering glass. An autopsy took place just two days later, and the results, which would subsequently confirm whether alcohol or other substances were involved, will not be made public.
A resident at a neighbouring property claimed that men were running up and down the street begging for help after the fatal accident. Rafael, 70, says he “found a boy on the floor” and instantly checked his vitals but knew Jake had died.
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Rafael added that there was a group of “nervous” men around that he told to call the police and an ambulance. Another neighbour, Antonino Arriero, who also lives opposite the rental property, said: “We saw a man lying down on the floor with two to three police officers standing by him.” Antonino had been on a morning walk and said that Jake was taken away by an ambulance around 30 minutes after he was found.
Sources close to Jake have since said that joining TOWIE, on which he appeared between 2015 and 2016, was the worst decision he made. Speaking to the Daily Mail, they said: “Being on the show was the worst thing he could have done, it sent him off the rails. He was very up and down.”
They claimed he had been suicidal for years before his death. “We weren’t sure if it was about attention, but he was distressed for sure. He was a beautiful boy, but so lonely and so lost.”
*If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
Queen Camilla was joined by James Middleton, the brother of the Princess of Wales, at Clarence House today as she welcomed cancer-detecting dogs to the royal residence
James Middleton, who is known for his love of dogs, was seen greeting Camilla with a kiss on the cheek as they welcomed two pooches trained by Medical Detection Dogs to sniff out signs of cancer in humans.
The Queen patted the heads of golden Labrador Jodie and fox red Labrador Floren, who waited for her in the royal residence’s hallway today. Floren, 11, has been trained to detect prostate cancer, while Jodie, nine, can pick up the disease in the bowel. The Queen smiled as Jodie showed off her skills by spotting the disease among four urine samples.
Mr Middleton’s dog food company, Ella & Co, donates treats to Medical Detection Dogs and told the Queen he was “mind-blown” by what the dogs have been trained to do.
Camilla was also shown an “electronic nose” developed to replicate the animals’ diagnostic abilities, though she said “nature will always lead the way” and “we’re always going to need the dogs”.
After the demonstration and speeches, Camilla requested that the canines be brought back to Clarence House soon and said: “I think it’s becoming a second home for the dogs. We’ve had so many people here, and a lot of sceptical people who come and have gone away transformed.”
Scepticism on this medical use of canines still exists, and Camilla added: “We’ll just have to bring more people back here… and more dogs.”
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The Queen also met black Labrador Wolfie, six, who is trained to alert owner Lucy Burls before a spike in symptoms of her Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS). Ms Burls, 39, said Wolfie will usually alert her by making eye contact, but if her condition worsens, he will rest his head on her lap.
She said Camilla was surprised to learn Wolfie can travel with Ms Burls on planes and even speedboats for a holiday. He particularly enjoys double-decker buses, Ms Burls said.
The electronic nose device was developed by the charity and Dr Andreas Mershin, from RealNose.AI. Dr Mershin put the technology in the Queen’s hands and blew into it to demonstrate its ability to pick up scent. Camilla joked that the dogs were far faster, only taking about four seconds.
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Whereas the machine, she was told, takes about 10 minutes to detect cancer. Dr Mershin said: “The dogs are leading, they’re still beating us on every metric, we have to start somewhere, and the best thing is to compete against them.”
The Queen said: “Nature will always lead the way. However brilliant, as the machine is, we’re always going to need the dogs”, she added, telling the engineer: “It’s fascinating, thank you very much… I shall look forward to an update.”
Camilla has been Patron of Medical Detection Dogs (MDD) since 2014. In recent years, Her Majesty has seen many Bio Detection Dogs at work, such as cancer detection dogs and Covid-19 detection dogs.
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MDD trains dogs to save lives using their sense of smell. It does this with Medical Alert Assistance Dogs and Bio Detection Dogs, both of which can be trained to detect even the tiniest trace of the smell caused by a medical condition.
The debut novel by Paul Hodgson, John’s Journey, will be unveiled through a TikTok livestream on May 16 at 6pm.
Mr Hodgson said: “I’m over the moon, this is my first novel, which has been 15 years in the making (on and off).
“I really hope people like it.”
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The story follows Private John Wray, whose encounter with a college friend-turned-enemy on the front lines of the First World Wa forces him into a maze of deception and survival.
Years later, Wray resurfaces as an undercover MI5 operative in Nazi Berlin during the Second World Wa.
Caught between betrayal and pursuit, he places his trust in the father of his former friend as he attempts a perilous escape to the Swiss border.
Mr Hodgson’s writing career began in the late 1990s.
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His first published work was Flipper’s Side, released in 2000 by Scarsdale Books.
A revised version, Give Them Wings, was published in 2021 by G2 Entertainment.
In 2022, he published One Hundred of the Best, which highlights his favourite Darlington FC matches.
This was followed in August 2024 by For the Love of Darlo, a prequel focused on his school years.
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In January 2025, another edition titled Another One Hundred of the Best was released.
He is also the author of The David Speedie Story, published in September 2025 by Pitch Publishing, chronicling the life of the former Chelsea and Liverpool striker.
His work has earned national media attention, including interviews on the BBC World Service and TalkSport.
Mr Hodgson is an accomplished scriptwriter and the winner of more than 150 writing awards.
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JD Crist of Pumkin Head Publishing said: “John’s Journey is such an amazing story.
“I am honoured that Paul has entrusted me with helping to share his amazing work with the world.
“I hope readers are drawn into John’s life as much as I was.”
One of Mr Hodgson’s earlier books, When Push Comes to Shove, published in 2003 by G.W. Belton Ltd, documented two seasons following Darlington Football Club.
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Flipper’s Side was later adapted into a film starring Bill Fellows and Toyah Willcox, who played Mr Hodgson’s mother.
Mr Fellows, a supporter of Mr Hodgson’s work, wrote the foreword for John’s Journey.
Katy Perry shared a comical reaction to the news her ex, Josh Groban, is engaged after admitting her hit song ‘The One That Got Away’ was about the singer
16:32, 12 May 2026Updated 16:32, 12 May 2026
Katy Perry has reacted to the news her ex, Josh Groban, is engaged. The star revealed he is set to marry stage actress Natalie McQueen after announcing their sweet news last month.
But years before Josh and Natalie got together, he was in a relationship with Firework singer Katy. They were briefly an item in 2009 and have remained friends since.
And now Katy has offered a joking response to his exciting news. She posted a video of herself jokingly crying as she listened to her tune, The One That Got Away. She was seen taking a drink while crying and wearing a white dressing gown.
She had previously revealed the track was about her ex. In 2017, while promoting her Witness album, she labelled Josh the ‘one that got away’.
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The chorus of the song reads: “In another life I would be your girl/ We’d keep all our promises/ Be us against the world/ In another life I would make you stay/ So I don’t have to say you were/ The one that got away/ The one that got away.”
Josh admitted in 2018 that he was “not expecting that”. “That was a double take and a spit of my coffee when I saw that,” he said. “It’s very sweet of her to say that. I’m very flattered by it. But I was very surprised by it too.”
But he claimed he didn’t have a clue as the tune didn’t match him. He went on: “I listened to the lyrics of the song. And I’m like, ‘I never owned a Mustang. I don’t have a tattoo. Are you sure that’s about me?”
Describing why the pair broke up, Josh said: “We were both very private and we realised we were better as friends and we’ve been very, very good friends to this day. She’s the best.”
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At the time, he also played down any chance of getting back with the star. He went on: “I think we’re both very taken at the moment, but it’s very sweet.”
Josh proposed to Natalie during a trip to Disneyland. Sharing the update last month, Josh gushed: “MY BEST FRIEND SAID YES!!! Sharing this life with you is my happiest place.”
He shared a number of snaps from their getaway. Among them was a photo of thje pa in front of Snow White’s Wishing Well and the King Arthur Carrousel. The last images showed a cake with “congratulations” written in icing on top and the couple’s hands, including Natalie’s big diamond.
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Speaking about their relationship in 2023, Josh told People: “We’re both people pleasers and we’re both introverts, so that can sometimes mean that it takes a little bit of prodding, like, ‘No, how are you really feeling? And so we always just want to make things great for each other.”
Katy is currently dating former Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
From May 12, 2026, learner drivers must book their own driving tests as the DVSA confirms instructors will no longer be permitted to make bookings on their behalf
Certain motorists will be affected by new driving rule changes coming into force on Britain’s roads from today (May 12). Learner drivers will notice significant updates from today in the second phase of a major overhaul of driving tests.
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The DVSA has already introduced amendments to the number of changes learners can make to their test booking. Under the previous regulations, learners were permitted to alter details relating to their test up to six times, but this has now been reduced to just twice.
From May 12, further changes will be made regarding who can book and manage driving tests, with instructors set to lose this ability. Previously, either the learner driver or the instructor were entitled to book tests. However, under the new rules, only the candidate will be permitted to make a booking.
The DVSA previously stated: “From 12 May 2026, you will need to book your car driving test yourself on GOV.UK. Your driving instructor will not be allowed to book it for you. From 12 May 2026, it will be against the law to book a driving test for someone else.”
Prior to booking a test, drivers should consult their instructor to confirm they are ready to sit the test, reports the Express. It is also essential to obtain a driving instructor reference number, which is vital to ensure their instructor is available on the chosen date.
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Beverley Warmington, DVSA’s chief executive, previously said: “We have listened to learners, driving instructors and voices from across the driver training industry on how to make the booking rules fairer. Our priority is to stop learners being exploited by third parties and put them in control of booking their driving test.”
Nevertheless, the DVSA emphasised that learner drivers ought to only reserve their test at a centre they actually plan to attend. Ian Edwards, young driver expert at Veygo by Admiral, previously outlined how the May changes would impact road users.
Ian said: “From May, learners will be the only ones allowed to book their driving test. If your instructor has handled this for you in the past, you’ll now need to do it yourself through the official DVSA booking service at GOV.UK.
“Make sure you’re registered and have your driving licence number to hand before you try to book. Avoid third-party websites charging inflated fees – the standard test fee is £62, and that’s all you should ever pay.”
Local residents in Lambeth have failed in their latest bid to stop several music festivals including Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla and Field Day, from going ahead in Brockwell Park.
Resident Juliet Chambers challenged Lambeth Council over its decision to use part of the park for the events, arguing it had misinterpreted the meaning of “recreation”, but Mr Justice Jay dismissed the claim, ruling the festivals qualify as a “cultural activity”.
The decision was welcomed by organisers, who said preparations would begin shortly ahead of the events, due to start at the end of May.
Similar battles have hit other London festivals this year, with LIDO Festival scaled back over ground condition fears, while Wireless Festival 2026 was cancelled after headliner Kanye West was barred from entering the UK following his previous antisemitic and racist remarks.
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Brockwell Park, where approval has been given for festivals this summer
AFP via Getty Images
It is a clash between between cash-strapped councils needing rental revenue and local residents fighting to protect public green space from what they have described as irreparable ecological damage.
The countryside charity Campaign to Protect Rural England has also waded into the fray, urging the Government to introduce London-wide restrictions on park events to prevent “over exploitation”.
Over in west London, Anton Henriksen braces himself for a weekend soundtrack of thumping background music whenever the hoardings start to go up around Gunnersbury Park and a convoy of lorries streams towards its gates.
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Henriksen, 47, moved to the area in 2022, blissfully unaware that each summer the 200-acre, Grade II* listed open space is repurposed as a music venue.
Last summer it was the scene of concerts including The Libertines and The Smashing Pumpkins, as well as Pub in the Park, the Soho House Festival, Waterworks Festival and DnB Allstars Festival.
Objectors complain that, including set-up and clean-up, the park was partially closed for 116 days during 2025.
When he learned that Gunnersbury Estate CIC — the not-for-profit that manages the park and pays a £1-a-year peppercorn rent for the park and in return is given £500,000 council funding — had applied for a 10-year blanket planning application to use the park for up to 118 days per year for the next decade, Henrikson had had enough.
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Henrikson and his fellow members of Gunnersbury Heritage are currently awaiting a response to a legal letter sent to the park’s freeholders, Hounslow and Ealing Councils, asking them to put a stop to the fun and games at Gunnersbury Park.
They point out that under a 1926 covenant, the park is reserved for recreation and community use. Not for music events where VIP tickets routinely cost more than £100-a-head.
Graffiti on a high metal fence surrounding a temporary festival area in Brockwell Park last year
Getty Images
If their demands, which are backed by the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate Residents’ Association, are not met, legal action could follow.
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The group has urged the councils to cut the number of events held in the park back to 28 days per year, reduce gate numbers and slash noise levels.
Both groups have separately objected to the CIC’s planning application.
Beyond long days of unwelcome techno beats, Gunnersbury residents complain about the side effects of the events: thousands of people crowding through their local stations, drug dealers loitering on their street corners to service the crowds arriving at the event, private gardens used as public toilets, late-night noise as crowds make their way home, and streets strewn with litter including thousands of discarded nitrous oxide canisters.
Peter Bainbridge, chair of the residents association, is frankly fed up with people accusing him and his neighbours of nimbyism. Bainbridge, 48, has lived inthe area for nine years and has seen the number and scale of events crank up in that time in order to help fund a multi-million pound restoration.
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“They want a blank cheque to run events in the park over the whole summer for 10 years,” he says.
“There is almost no engagement with the local community, and the CIC seems to wash its hands of everything happening outside the park. Yes, you could call us nimbys, but it is our backyards that are being littered and urinated in.”
Yes, you could callus nimbys, but it is our backyards that are being littered and urinated in
Peter Bainbridge
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“Impact on the local community and on plants and wildlife remains a top priority for us,” says Elizabeth Coningsby, head of commercial at Gunnersbury Park and Museum, adding that sound limits during advents had never been breached.
She adds: “Every incidence of reported antisocial behaviour outside the park boundaries that can be attributed to concert goers is treated seriously, and the CIC, event organisers and the two councils — Ealing and Hounslow — work with the police to respond to reports and to improve street management services.”
Park events, says Coningsby, create jobs for the local community and boost local businesses, and profits will be funnelled into upgrading the park, which is on Historic England’s “at risk” register and requires £20 million to £25 million worth of restoration.
A spokesman for Ealing and Hounslow councils said the public events provided vital funds to maintain the park, as well as supporting local businesses.
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Most of the park remains open, even during events, and free tickets are given to some local residents on a raffle basis.
“We understand some residents hold strong views about events in the park and we take those concerns seriously,” he said. “All events are subject to strict planning and licensing conditions… [and] every event is strictly monitored, in person, for its full duration.”
Fight for the right to their park
Campaigns against outdoor events in London have been going on for decades. For years, long-term former Hampstead resident (and Victor Meldrew actor) Richard Wilson waged a spirited one-man war against the summer classical concerts with fireworks hosted at Kenwood House.
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And there were mass objections to the equestrian events at the 2012 Olympic Games being held at Greenwich Park, on the grounds that the horses’ hooves would churn up the pristine green space.
But none had been so successful as the battle waged to keep Brockwell Park festival-free.
In 2024 a group of residents formed campaign group Protect Brockwell Park and raised some £50,000 via a crowdfunding platform.
They used the money to seek a judicial review against Lambeth Council’s decision to permit Brockwell Live to use the park for six separate summer festivals, shutting off part of the park for about five weeks per year and, they fear, damaging ancient trees in the process.
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Left, Lucy Akrill (co-founder of Protect Brockwell Park) with, right, lawyer and local Jen Hawkins
Handout
Lawyer Jen Hawkins, 44, has lived close to the park for the past 16 years and was aware Lambeth could be in breach of planning rules by not requiring event organisers to apply for full planning permission for the summer season. It was in the habit of granting consent using less strict permitted development rules.
Last May the judicial review was upheld. Lambeth Council promptly appealed, then backed down, having spent almost £200,000 on legal advice — an expenditure the council now characterises as “unfortunate”.
The solution it proffered was to request promoter Summer Events Ltd apply for planning permission for future events. This summer’s events were duly given the green light last month, despite receiving hundreds of public objections.
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“We are disappointed but not surprised,” says Hawkins, who will now need to consider future legal options.
For her, the argument is not about killjoys and nimbys but about proportionality.
“I would like to think that a public park is there for the use of the local public and the council holds the park in trust for the local people,” she says. “One in three people in this part of London don’t have their own outdoor space.“
We are trying to protect a beautiful green space for the benefit of all local people. The commercial events are ticketed and expensive and they exclude people from their own public space.”
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A festival in Brockwell Park
Brockwell Park
Residents who enjoy the party
Of course for every Londoner frustrated by the way parks are being commercialised, others are all in favour. Filmmaker Ruth Sewell, 41, has lived close to Victoria Park all her life and appreciated the way money earned from summer events like All Points East and LIDO is invested in the park.
“Yes, it kind of destroys the grass for a bit, it’s loud, and it restricts public access,” she said. “The flipside is that the money from these events helps to keep the park in the condition we want it to stay in.
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“Also, local residents can enter a ballot for free tickets to events, which we’ve won a couple of times over the years. And even if you buy a ticket, what could be better than walking home after a huge rave up? Can’t complain.”
Emma Kirston moved to east London in 201 2, which is when she first discovered Victoria Park and started attending the Lovebox festival, which was held in the park between 2005 and 2017.
When, in 2014, Kirston was ready to buy a flat she picked Victoria Park village specifically because she wanted to live in the thick of a vibrant, fun community.
“I had a choice of being near the Tube, or somewhere which had community and spirit and fun going on, and that is what I chose,” says Kirston.
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There has been some local pushback against events in Victoria Park over the years — last summer more than 200 people petitioned Tower Hamlets Council asking it to reduce the number of major event days in the park and stop using their “beloved green space” as a “cash cow”.
Kirston, 49, a freelance account director in the healthcare industry, firmly disagrees. She enjoys the atmosphere of happy crowds in her neighbourhood. “I like seeing life in London — there should be more of it,” she says.
“The events draw people into the area and it is great for the local shops and businesses. If the wind is blowing in the right direction and the windows are open I can hear the music in my flat, but I like hearing people enjoy themselves. People should do their research — if they don’t want that they should go and live somewhere else.”
But what’s the difference between a sweet potato and a yam to begin with?
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Sweet potatoes vs yams: differences explained
1) They’re from different families
Sweet potatoes – which aren’t actually that closely related to “normal” spuds – are from the Convolvulaceae family, while yams belong to the Dioscoreaceae family.
Yams are quite closely related to lilies and grasses.
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2) They’re different parts of their respective plants
Sweet potatoes usually have thin, papery skin and a yellow or orange-ish inside. Sometimes they can have purple flesh too.
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Yams have tougher, more “scaly” skin and can weigh as much as 45kg in extreme cases. They’re more cylindrical and sometimes have protrusions called “toes”.
4) They’re often grown in different places
Yams are common in parts of Africa and Asia, with about 95% of the plants being grown in Africa. It can be hard to find true yams in mainstream Western supermarkets.
Sweet potatoes are predominantly grown in China, India, and some African countries. They’re native to Central and South America and are more common in Western stores.
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5) They taste different
Yams are starchier and “not nearly as sweet as sweet potatoes,” America’s Test Kitchen said.
Sweet potatoes’ flesh is softer and fluffier when cooked, meanwhile, and can be creamier and more moist than yams.
6) They’re nutritionally different
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Sweet potatoes have ever so slightly more protein than yams, while yams are considerably higher in carbohydrates.
Yams have slightly more vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B6, and iron, while sweet potatoes are higher in sugars, fat (though neither has much at all), beta-carotene, and calcium.
But, Healthline notes, both are rich in nutrients, fibre, and vitamins.
Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has heaped praise on Zendaya after she was really put through the ringer filming a stunt in the latest episode of the award-winning drama.
Zendaya’s character Rue has been on quite the journey so far in Euphoria’s third season, descending even further into a criminal underworld as she works to pay off her mounting debts.
In Monday’s instalment, Rue was kidnapped and dragged out to the desert, where she was buried up to the neck, in another nod to season three’s Western themes, before having dirt kicked in her face and being threatened with a croquet mallet by the crime boss Alamo.
“It was a really complicated thing to pull off, because we wanted to shoot it practically – so it meant that we had to build some container with a box that Zendaya could duck under in the case of an earthquake.”
HBO has released behind-the-scenes footage of Zendaya’s jaw-dropping Euphoria stunt
He continued: “I hand it to Z. She was a real trooper. She spent about three days buried up to her neck on the side of this hill.”
Meanwhile, NFL-star-turned-actor Marshawn Lynch – who plays G in the show – recalled: “Man, Z. That shit was wild as fuck. We had to kick dirt on her. And I’m like, ‘you cool with this?’. She’s like, ‘oh, yeah’. Just like it was another day at the office or something.
“And one of the set dressers said, ’just make sure when you kick the dirt on her, kick her from this pile, ’cause this is the clean dirt. And I’m like, ‘what the fuck do you mean?’. I ain’t never heard of no clean dirt before.”
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This wasn’t the only stand-out scene in the episode, though.
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