Heathrow Airport has warned that its planned third runway might be delayed by four years due to planning and regulatory issues.

The government had hoped the new runway at the UK’s busiest airport, estimated to cost £33bn, would open by 2035.

But Heathrow sees this deadline as increasingly difficult to deliver without further steps to simplify the planning process. It said on Saturday that it hoped to secure planning permission by 2029 and then open the runway “within a decade”.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the project’s timeline had “always been ambitious” and that it would continue to work with stakeholders “at pace” on the matter.

The airport said its “core scenario” had always been to open a new runway within a decade of securing planning permission.

It said it was encouraged by the chancellor’s efforts to streamline infrastructure and remove regulatory bottlenecks, and promised to continue to work with ministers, airlines and stakeholders to “progress the planning application with pace”.

Former chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government’s support for the project in January 2025 as a means to grow the economy, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham – who was previously critical – said he was “open-minded” about the scheme when he came to office.

Despite attracting wide opposition from environmental campaigners and local resident groups, the project is expected to create around 100,000 jobs and provide a major boost to the economy as part of a wider £49bn modernisation of the airport.

The expansion would mean demolishing hundreds of homes, diverting rivers, and rerouting the M25 motorway between junctions 14 and 15 through a tunnel under the new runway.

The number of flights from the site, currently capped at 480,000 a year, could go up to 720,000 – or nearly 2,000 a day on average.

TUCSON, Ariz. — A longtime friend of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has publicly asked the public and online communities to give her daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni privacy, revealing that the couple has returned to town and their son is back in school, nearly eight months after Nancy’s disappearance.

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills neighborhood on February 1. She is believed to have had dinner with Annie the evening before her disappearance and was reportedly dropped off at her own home by Tommaso following that dinner, making the couple among the last people known to have seen her.

Lauren Serpa, a close friend of Nancy Guthrie, shared the update about Annie and Tommaso in a Facebook post, confirming the couple’s return and asking the public to respect their privacy. “As everybody knows, Annie and Tommaso are back in town, and their son is back in school. I am requesting everybody to please leave them alone,” Serpa wrote. She went on to describe the toll the past several months have taken on the couple. “This has been a long six months for them. They deserve to lead a normal life without always being stalked and observed by people.”

Annie and Tommaso have faced sustained public scrutiny since Nancy’s disappearance, despite Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos having repeatedly stated that neither of them is considered a suspect in the case. That scrutiny intensified further after former NewsNation journalist Ashleigh Banfield publicly suggested Tommaso could potentially be involved in the case, a claim that has not been substantiated by investigators and remains at odds with the sheriff’s department’s own public statements clearing the couple.

The renewed attention on Annie and Tommaso’s whereabouts follows a broader pattern that has defined much of the public conversation around the Nancy Guthrie case throughout the year, with self-styled online investigators and social media accounts repeatedly speculating about the couple’s movements, location and potential involvement, often based on unverified claims rather than confirmed information from law enforcement. Serpa’s post represents a direct, personal appeal from someone close to the family pushing back against that continued scrutiny, rather than an official statement from investigators or the Guthrie family’s spokesperson.

Investigators have continued describing the broader case as active, even as no suspect has been publicly named and no arrest has been announced in the nearly eight months since Nancy was first reported missing. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has said its investigation continues to rely on forensic evidence, digital records and surveillance footage review, working in coordination with the FBI, though the department has provided limited additional public detail about the investigation’s progress in recent weeks.

Serpa’s appeal reflects a tension that has run throughout the Guthrie case since its earliest days: the balance between the intense public interest generated by Savannah Guthrie’s profile as a national television anchor and the personal toll that scrutiny has placed on family members who have already been cleared by investigators. For Annie and Tommaso specifically, that tension has included not only online speculation about their movements and potential involvement, but also, according to Serpa’s characterization, a persistent sense of being watched and followed by members of the public and online communities following the case closely.

The Guthrie family, including Savannah, has continued to make public appeals throughout the case seeking information that could help investigators locate Nancy or identify a suspect, even as other family members like Annie and Tommaso have largely avoided public statements of their own, a distinction Serpa’s post appears intended to help protect going forward now that the couple and their son have returned to their usual routine, including the child’s return to school.

As of the most recent available information, neither the Pima County Sheriff’s Department nor the Guthrie family’s official representatives have issued additional public statements addressing Annie and Tommaso’s return to town specifically, beyond what Serpa shared in her personal post. The broader investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to process tips and evidence without having publicly identified a suspect.

With Serpa’s appeal for privacy circulating alongside continued public interest in the case, the coming weeks are likely to test whether the renewed attention on Annie and Tommaso’s return subsides in response to her request, or whether the pattern of sustained public scrutiny that has followed the couple since February continues even as they attempt to resume a more normal daily routine for themselves and their son.

SAN FRANCISCO — As the Golden State Warriors prepare for the 2026-27 NBA season, oddsmakers and analysts are largely skeptical that Stephen Curry has a realistic path to another championship, even as the 12-time All-Star continues to play at a high level well into his late 30s.

Sportsbooks have priced the Warriors as significant long shots to win the title. Caesars lists Golden State’s championship odds at plus-5000, implying roughly a 1.96% probability, while BetRivers has the team at plus-6000, or about a 1.64% implied chance. Curry’s individual MVP odds sit even longer, at plus-10000, or under 1%, according to Caesars.

Curry, now 38 and set to turn 39 during the season, continued producing strong individual numbers in 2025-26, averaging 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks per game. But the roster around him has been shaped heavily by injuries and age. Jimmy Butler III tore his ACL in January 2026, and Moses Moody has also been sidelined, leaving the Warriors, according to multiple analysts, likely relegated to Play-In Tournament territory rather than genuine title contention if those absences persist into the new season.

Golden State’s roster otherwise remained largely intact heading into the year, retaining Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, with 24-year-old rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick and a member of Michigan’s 2026 NCAA championship team, as the primary new addition. That continuity has come with a notable cost: the Warriors have become the oldest team in the league, and some statistical indicators point to specific decline among their veteran core. According to analysis cited by NewsBeep, Golden State’s defense was statistically better with Green off the floor last season, only the second time that has occurred in his career, with Green allowing the highest shot quality as a closest defender of his career, raising questions about whether the decline reflects age, a one-year anomaly, or some other factor.

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson offered a blunt assessment of the Warriors’ prospects during an appearance on his “All the Smoke” podcast. Asked directly whether this version of the Warriors has a real shot at winning the title, Jackson did not hesitate. “Nah, I don’t,” Jackson said, according to DraftKings. “That’s asking a lot from Steph right now.”

Curry himself has acknowledged how significantly the season’s outlook shifted once Butler and Moody went down with injuries. Speaking with NBA insider Nick Friedell of The Athletic, Curry addressed the change directly. “When Jimmy got hurt, and Moses got hurt, the whole calculus of everything changes,” Curry said, a comment that has been interpreted as reflecting the team’s more measured, patient approach to this stretch of its rebuild around Curry.

Not every assessment of the Warriors has been entirely dismissive. ClutchPoints’ season preview noted that the team’s fortunes still come down heavily to health, both for Curry, Green, Porzingis and Horford, and for Butler and Moody’s eventual returns to the court. The outlet noted that people within the Warriors organization believe the current roster has depth and skill comparable to the 2021-22 championship team, which similarly defied expectations en route to beating the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals that year. That same preview acknowledged the unpredictability inherent in any Curry-led team, writing that “anything can really happen with the Warriors this season,” including the possibility that the front office tears down the roster around Curry and pursues a more significant rebuild at the trade deadline instead.

CBS Sports’ broader championship prediction market analysis placed the Warriors outside the tier of teams considered most likely to win the 2026-27 title, a group led by the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, with the Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers cited as having a “puncher’s chance” based on recent championship history. Even so, the same analysis explicitly acknowledged Golden State as a team capable of producing a surprise run, noting “there’s always the possibility for some Stephen Curry magic,” a framing that positions the Warriors as a longer-shot wildcard rather than a leading contender.

Speculation about a potential trade sending Curry elsewhere, including to the Boston Celtics or Orlando Magic, has also circulated periodically, though people close to the situation have downplayed the likelihood of such a move. That speculation has further quieted following Curry’s recent decision to sign a two-year, $116 million contract extension with the Warriors, a deal that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season and keeps him tied to the only franchise he has played for through what would become his 21st NBA season, signaling his own continued commitment to finishing his career in Golden State regardless of the team’s shorter-term title prospects.

With the season still ahead and Butler and Moody’s health remaining the most significant variables shaping the Warriors’ outlook, most oddsmakers and analysts continue to view Golden State as an unlikely championship contender for 2026-27, even as few are willing to rule out entirely the possibility that Curry, at this stage of his career, still has one more deep playoff run left in him if the roster around him can stay healthy at the right moment.

For Golden Corral CEO Lance Trenary, strong leadership begins with a strong foundation.

The restaurant executive told FOX Business that his faith, family and sense of purpose shape the way he approaches each day, while staying close to customers has remained one of the most important habits throughout his 41-year career with the company.

“One of the key things for me is saying a prayer,” he said. “My personal faith is really important to me, and my family is incredibly important to me. So faith, family and purpose always lead my day.”

Just as important, Trenary said, is spending time inside Golden Corral restaurants and speaking with franchisees, employees and guests.

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Golden Corral CEO Lance Trenary said staying close to the customer is “really important.” (FOX Business)

“Staying very close to the customer is really important,” he said. “I like being out in our restaurants. I’ve been with Golden Corral for 41 years, and I love traveling to restaurants. I know every franchisee, I know every manager in the stores, and I love visiting them.”

Trenary said that those visits are where some of the most valuable feedback is shared.

“That’s when you get the unfiltered truth about what’s really going on — the way people really think about you and your brand,” he said. “And so staying close to the customer is a habit that I’ll never break. I think that’s critically important.”

Trenary also credits Golden Corral’s leadership team and franchisees with helping the company navigate both good times and difficult ones.

“If you can surround yourself, if you will, with great people, then that gives you the opportunity to find successful answers in whatever situation you’re facing,” he said.

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Trenary credited Golden Corral’s leadership team and franchisees with helping the company navigate both good times and difficult ones. (Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Even as the restaurant industry faces new challenges, Trenary said he’s confident in Golden Corral’s ability to adapt because of the strength of its people.

“We’re having a difficult year this year,” he said. “This is the first year in several that we’ve had some challenges, but at the end of the day, I don’t get too nervous about it because I’ve got such an incredible team.”

Looking back on his career, Trenary said aspiring entrepreneurs should first make sure they’re doing work they’re genuinely passionate about.

“If you don’t love what you’re doing, if you can’t get excited every morning, whatever time you get up — 5 or 6 a.m., whatever — and jump out of bed because you’re excited about going to face whatever challenges you might have in your business that day, then you’re probably not in the right business for you,” he said.

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Even as the restaurant industry faces new challenges, Trenary said he’s confident in Golden Corral’s ability to adapt because of the strength of its people. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

He also encouraged future leaders to define success not by personal accolades, but by the opportunities they create for others.

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“Success is not about something that I’ve been able to achieve or something that is an accolade for me as a leader,” he said. “It’s more about the people that I work with and the opportunities that I can create for them.”

Growing method, harvest handling, storage, aroma, moisture, trimming and batch testing can all influence how a flower looks, smells and holds up over time.

For customers comparing cbd flower online, the most useful approach is to look beyond a strain name or headline CBD percentage and assess the product as a whole. A well-presented flower should come with enough information to understand where it came from, how it was grown and what was found when the batch was tested.

Start With the Growing Method

One of the first things worth checking is whether the flower was grown indoors, in a greenhouse or outdoors under natural sunlight.

Indoor-grown CBD flower

Indoor cultivation gives growers a high level of control over variables such as temperature, humidity, lighting and airflow. This can help produce consistent flowers with good structure and a carefully managed finish.

Indoor cultivation is also usually more resource-intensive. Lighting, climate control and ventilation all add to production costs, which is one reason indoor flower can command a higher retail price.

That does not automatically mean indoor flower is always better. The individual grow, genetics, harvest and curing process still matter.

Greenhouse-grown CBD flower

Greenhouse cultivation sits somewhere between indoor and outdoor growing.

Plants benefit from natural sunlight while still being protected by a controlled growing structure. Depending on the facility, growers may also supplement lighting, temperature and airflow.

Good greenhouse flower can offer an excellent balance between appearance, aroma and value. It is often worth considering for customers who want a high-quality product without necessarily paying the premium associated with fully indoor cultivation.

Sun-grown CBD flower

Sun-grown flower is cultivated outdoors using natural sunlight.

Outdoor growing can produce excellent results when the genetics are well suited to the climate and the crop is managed properly. Sun-grown flower may have a different structure and appearance from indoor flower, but that should not automatically be interpreted as lower quality.

The important point is that growing method tells you how the plant was cultivated. It does not, by itself, tell you whether the finished flower is good.

Freshness Matters More Than Many Buyers Realise

Even high-quality flower can deteriorate if it is stored poorly or kept for too long.

Fresh CBD flower should generally retain its natural aroma and structure without feeling excessively dry or brittle.

Flower that has lost too much moisture can become crumbly, while overly damp material can create storage problems of its own. Good storage aims to protect the product from unnecessary exposure to heat, light, air and excessive humidity.

Packaging also matters.

A product stored in suitable airtight packaging is better protected than flower left exposed to air for long periods. Once opened, customers should also avoid leaving flower sitting in direct sunlight or in hot environments.

When buying online, useful signs of good stock management include:

• clear product information
• regularly updated availability
• identifiable strains or batches
• appropriate packaging
• access to current laboratory information

A retailer that continually rotates stock and updates its catalogue is generally in a better position to supply fresher product than one carrying old inventory indefinitely.

Aroma Can Tell You Something, But Not Everything

Aroma is one of the first things people notice when opening a bag of flower.

Cannabis and hemp plants naturally produce aromatic compounds known as terpenes. Different genetics can produce noticeably different profiles, ranging from citrus and fruit through to pine, earth, fuel, herbs and spice.

A strong and distinctive aroma can indicate that the flower has retained more of its volatile aromatic compounds during drying and storage.

However, aroma should not be used as the sole measure of quality.

A subtle-smelling flower is not automatically poor, and an extremely strong smell does not prove that the underlying product is superior.

Customers should consider aroma alongside other factors, including:

• genetics
• growing method
• visual condition
• freshness
• batch information
• laboratory testing

It is also worth being cautious when a product’s smell seems unusually intense or inconsistent with the listed strain. Transparency about ingredients and processing is important.

Look at Flower Structure and Trim

Appearance is useful, although it should not be treated like a beauty contest.

Flower can naturally vary depending on genetics and how it was grown. Some strains produce dense compact buds, while others have a lighter or more open structure.

Indoor flowers often appear tighter and more uniform, whereas outdoor varieties can look slightly more natural or irregular.

Trim quality is another factor.

A carefully trimmed flower should generally have excessive leaf material removed while leaving the bud intact. Poorly handled flower may contain unnecessary stalk or leaf matter.

At the same time, an extremely polished appearance should not be mistaken for proof of quality. Some of the most important characteristics of a flower cannot be seen in a photograph.

That is where product information and testing become important.

Do Not Judge Quality From CBD Percentage Alone

One of the easiest mistakes to make is choosing flower purely because one product advertises a higher CBD percentage.

Cannabinoid concentration is useful information, but it is not a complete quality measurement.

A higher number does not necessarily mean:

• fresher flower
• better genetics
• stronger aroma
• superior cultivation
• better storage
• more thorough testing

Two flowers with similar CBD percentages can look, smell and feel completely different because of genetics, terpene profiles and cultivation methods.

Percentages should therefore be treated as one part of the product specification rather than a ranking system.

Batch Testing Is One of the Most Important Checks

Laboratory testing is where customers can move beyond marketing descriptions and look at measurable information about a batch.

A useful laboratory report should clearly identify the sample that was tested.

Customers should look for information such as:

• sample or batch identification
• laboratory name
• date received
• date tested
• cannabinoid results
• units used in the report
• testing methodology where provided

One of the biggest mistakes customers make is seeing a laboratory report and assuming that every possible test has been carried out.

That is not necessarily the case.

A cannabinoid analysis may tell you about cannabinoids, but it does not automatically mean the sample has also been screened for pesticides, heavy metals, microbiological contamination or other substances.

Always check what the report actually covers.

Make Sure the Laboratory Report Matches the Product

A laboratory report is most useful when there is a clear connection between the report and the product being sold.

That connection may be established through a batch number, sample reference, strain name or other identifying information.

If the connection is unclear, customers should ask the retailer which report relates to the current batch.

This becomes increasingly important when products are restocked regularly. A report from an older batch may not accurately describe a newer harvest.

Good retailers should be able to explain which laboratory document relates to the flower currently being sold.

Origin and Genetics Are Worth Checking

Knowing where a flower was grown can give customers additional context.

The United States, Switzerland and other European countries all have established hemp cultivation industries, but quality varies within every country.

The name of the country alone does not guarantee anything.

It is more useful when the retailer provides details such as:

• country of cultivation
• indoor, greenhouse or sun-grown method
• breeder or genetics where known
• strain lineage
• current batch information

Genetics can also explain why two products look and smell very different even when their cannabinoid results appear similar.

Compare Like With Like

Price comparison should also be done carefully.

A 3.5g pack cannot be directly compared with a 14g pack simply by looking at the total price.

Compare the same weight, and then consider the other information available about each product.

A cheaper flower can still represent excellent value, while a more expensive flower should ideally offer a clear reason for the higher price, whether that is cultivation method, genetics, smaller-scale production or another identifiable characteristic.

Quality Is a Combination of Factors

There is no single number or visual feature that defines good CBD flower.

The most useful assessment combines several factors:

Growing method tells you how the plant was cultivated.

Freshness tells you how well the product has been handled and stored.

Aroma provides clues about genetics and terpene preservation.

Appearance and trim help assess how the flower was processed.

Batch testing provides measurable information about the product.

Origin and genetics provide context about what you are buying.

The strongest products are usually those where these factors are supported by clear information rather than marketing claims alone.

Consumers increasingly want to know more than a strain name and CBD percentage. They want to understand how a flower was grown, where it came from, what the batch contains and whether the information being provided can actually be checked.

That level of transparency makes it much easier to compare products properly and choose based on the characteristics that matter most to the individual buyer.

In response, the Treasury has pointed to the UK having the highest growth and the fastest falling borrowing of the major G7 countries so far this year and our overall energy prices starting to decouple from high and volatile gas prices.

However, the IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva this week dismissed the idea that advanced nations could pause their fiscal homework, while the Gulf situation calmed.

“Bring debt levels down, make fiscal consolidation as a priority… it is impossible to stress strongly enough how critical it is to get the courage to take the steps that are necessary,” Georgieva told me, acknowledging the UK’s “fairly consistent, credible” plans.

Then there is the curious conundrum of British productivity. Last year, the government’s official forecaster the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) downgraded the UK’s productivity peformance, leading to a notable hit to the public finances.

Now the UK’s productivity record has been upgraded materially by the Office for National Statistics, although this is because of fewer hours worked. There could therefore be an argument to reverse some of that downgrade.

Separately, the new chair of the OBR Jonathan Haskel is known for his argument that official statistics understate investment in intangibles like software and data. His latest research suggests AI-related investment is already visible in US productivity figures, and he has long been optimistic about tech’s impact on the future.

While it seems unlikely that such factors will make it into the OBR’s calculations next month, there is a real debate here.

Officially, however, part of the job at the Budget is to identify cuts to fund the Defence Investment Plan, inherited from Sir Keir. That’s before funding the additional move to 3% of GDP and a new social care system.

Even a promise of less welfare spending looks like being built on an upfront investment in jobs for young people.

One change from last year is that so far, the government has parked the “pitch-rolling” with a silence that would rival the Trappist monks.

Instead, policy announcements are strategically timed such as the “Your First Home” scheme just as the Labour party conference got underway. We can expect to hear plenty more as the Budget nears.

TAT promotes “Healing is the New Luxury” at Tourism Expo Japan 2026, focusing on wellness, culture, and immersive travel to attract quality Japanese travelers and encourage repeat visits and longer stays.

Thailand’s Focus at Tourism Expo Japan 2026

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to make a significant impact at Tourism Expo Japan 2026 by introducing the theme “Healing is the New Luxury.” This initiative emphasizes Thailand’s appeal as a wellness destination, inviting quality Japanese travelers to experience the nation’s rich culture and immersive travel opportunities. By highlighting wellness tourism, this campaign aims to create a deeper connection with visitors interested in health and rejuvenation.

Encouraging Extended and Enriched Travel

A key objective of the campaign is to encourage repeat visits and longer stays to attract higher-value segments in the tourism industry. TAT intends to promote travel beyond popular areas, reaching secondary destinations that offer unique experiences. By encouraging tourists to explore lesser-known regions, TAT hopes to enhance Thailand’s tourism offerings and provide visitors with diverse experiences that highlight the country’s beauty and cultural richness.

Strategic Collaborations with Japan

To achieve its goals, TAT is focusing on strategic collaboration with airlines and travel trade partners throughout the Japanese market. These partnerships aim to facilitate travel and ensure a seamless experience for Japanese tourists visiting Thailand. Through these efforts, TAT hopes to strengthen Thailand’s reputation as a premier travel destination, particularly in wellness and cultural tourism.

Source : TAT showcases Healing is the New Luxury at Tourism Expo Japan 2026