Russia could send an armed group to occupy NATO territory in Europe, US intelligence said this week. 

The warning comes despite Vladimir Putin facing fresh humiliation as Ukraine‘s strikes intensify and move further into Russia. 

Until now, US intelligence believed the Kremlin dictator would not risk provoking NATO while fighting in Ukraine.

But this assessment changed this year, according to The Wall Street Journal.

NATO members believe Putin is already conducting probing attacks to test and fracture the alliance. 

Western fighter jets have been scrambled three times in the last few weeks to shoot down drones, while Ukraine recently intercepted a drone that had earlier crossed into Romanian airspace.

And fighter jets were scrambled over 250 per cent more in July compared with a year ago as Russia continues to probe the West’s defences. 

The sharp increase in the monthly figure for July compared with the same month in 2025 highlights Putin’s aggressive stance. 

File image: A still image taken from a handout video provided by the Russian Defence Ministry press service on 07 August 2026 shows a Russian self-propelled gun firing at an undisclosed location in Ukraine

NATO members believe Putin is already conducting probing attacks to test and fracture the alliance. Pictured: A Russian 220mm heavy multiple launch rocket system firing at an undisclosed location in Ukraine

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‘The numbers do not lie,’ said a post by NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum.

‘The possible threats range from a cyberattack on a NATO country or sending unmarked armed groups to occupy territory to a limited incursion on the alliance’s eastern flank,’ said the WSJ report.

The time frame for a Russian move is between this autumn and 2029, according to US intelligence assessments.

‘We are always thinking through and preparing for any number of scenarios,’ said NATO spokesman Col. Martin O’Donnell.

‘NATO is watching and we are ready to deter and defend as necessary.’

The warnings come amid US concern about a shortfall of munitions after supplies to Ukraine and use in the Middle East conflict.

One theory is Putin could grab a city or region in Poland or one of the three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all NATO members which have strongly backed Ukraine.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda warned recently: ‘I cannot deny that we have such information and that it concerns kinetic operations.

‘Not on a large scale, but targeted kinetic operations that are very likely to be directed against critical infrastructure.’

Russian opposition politician and chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov said: ‘I think the chances [are] that he’ll cross NATO borders — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, just a small incursion using drones.

‘I think the chances are growing because Putin needs a winning narrative and Ukraine doesn’t offer it.’

All three Baltic states have strengthened their border defences against Russia and close ally Belarus.

The Baltic states have some of the highest defence spending in all of NATO in relative terms – Lithuania directs 5.3 percent of GDP to defence, the most of NATO’s 32 members. 

Last month, Washington warned the Kremlin could be planning an armed incursion on Polish land to test Nato‘s response.

The provocation could see Putin‘s troops cross over into Poland, and vital infrastructure could be targeted by missiles and drones.

Sources close to Polish President Karol Nawrocki told news outlet Onet that the US had been warning Warsaw about the plan for a while.

Russia’s plan aims to start a crisis to scare Western nations into stopping their support for Ukraine. 

Polish security experts also warned that Russia and Belarus might send a small number of troops across the Nato border.

Until now, US intelligence believed the Kremlin dictator would not risk provoking NATO while fighting in Ukraine. File image shows a Russian soldier in an unknown location in Ukraine

A Russian serviceman intercepting Ukraine drones with a machine-gun at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on August 7

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Power stations could also be targeted in the incursion, through air strikes that would force Poland to activate its air defence systems.

Moscow’s strategy relies on the assumption that the US would compel Poland to negotiate rather than engage militarily. 

It comes as Ukrainian long-range drones hit a warehouse in the Ural Mountains belonging to Russia’s biggest online retailer, more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from the two countries’ border, local officials and the company said Friday.

Ukraine has regularly hit targets in the distant Urals this year and has even struck a Russian oil refinery in western Siberia, nearly 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) from the border. 

The attacks are examples of how Kyiv has used drone innovation as a key part of its response to the invasion by its much bigger enemy more than four years ago.

Its successes have drawn international interest and drone cooperation agreements with nine countries, with further deals being negotiated with 15 other countries, according to Kyiv officials.

A Wildberries warehouse in Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest city, was set ablaze by the attack, the company said. 

Most merchandise wasn’t damaged, it said, unlike at some of the more than a dozen other Wildberries depots struck by Ukraine in recent weeks that have burned down. Kyiv is trying to rattle the Russian public and the Kremlin with the attacks.

File image: A fire breaks out following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on August 5, 2026, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine

File image: Smoke billows from a warehouse, after deadly Ukrainian drone attacks, as per regional governors, in Elektrostal, Moscow Region, Russia

File image: A man walks past burned-out cars and a residential building that went up in flames during a recent Russian strike are scattered in a residential area, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, July 30, 2026

The regional governor, Denis Pasler, said three drones hit the warehouse’s roof. Artyom Zhoga, the Kremlin’s representative in the region, said that 800 people were evacuated from the warehouse and nobody was hurt.

And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pushing for his country to keep up the pace of technological development, especially in air defense systems to help stop Russian ballistic missiles that are exploiting Ukraine’s shortage of American-made Patriot interceptor missiles and battering civilian areas.

A joint European anti-ballistic development program is already underway, Zelenskyy said late Thursday, with 10 countries engaged in developing an anti-ballistic shield. Europe is concerned about Moscow’s ambitions on the continent beyond Ukraine.

‘Ukraine is capable of producing its (anti-ballistic) missile and launcher, while our partners will provide the necessary components and critical elements – radars, sensors, and everything else required,’ Zelenskyy said on social media.

‘An anti-ballistic program of our own – one that is truly large-scale – will greatly benefit everyone in Europe.’

At the same time, Ukraine is working on manufacturing its own ballistic missiles to use against Russia. ‘The tests have shown strong potential. We need to turn this into a real weapon,’ Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian front-line defenses in eastern regions, meanwhile, remain under strain as Russia’s bigger army looks for a breakthrough after months of minimal advances that Western analysts and official says have had a high cost for Moscow in troop casualties.

Ukraine has been evacuating children from Kramatorsk, one of the four eastern Donetsk region cities that make up Ukraine’s so-called Fortress Belt. 

The line of four large and heavily defended cities, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) long, has been key to denying Moscow its goal of seizing Ukraine’s industrial heartland.

The head of the Donetsk region’s regional military administration, Vadym Filashkin, said Friday that more than 800 people, including 91 children, were evacuated over the previous 24 hours.

Ukraine has been deploying midrange strike drones to disrupt Russia’s supply lines and slow it advance.

Russia and Ukraine sustain nightly drone attacks

Russia’s air defenses downed 203 Ukrainian drones from late Thursday through early Friday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said.

Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 147 long-range strike drones, according to the country’s air force.

In Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, a Russian drone struck a busy market Friday morning, wounding 10 people, authorities said.

Russia also launched glide bombs and drones of various types at the regional capital, according to the head of regional administration, Oleh Hryhorov.

The attack targeted residential buildings, transport and infrastructure, wounding two people, he said.

While the FIFA World Cup has now come to an end, it’s almost time for the new football season to start.

There’ll be plenty of matches coming up, which can sometimes result in schedule changes for the soaps.

This week though, it’s an EFL Cup match that disrupts the scheduling.

Here’s what we know about the TV schedule shake-up and which episodes the changes affect.

Emmerdale and Coronation Street axed from ITV tonight

Emmerdale and Coronation Street usually air 30-minute episodes on ITV1 at 8pm and 8.30pm respectively, Monday to Friday, in what is known as the “soaps power hour” (introduced in January 2026).

However, there will be no new episodes airing this evening as an EFL Cup match, which will see Middlesbrough take on Wrexham, airs at the same time as the usual soap slots on ITV1.

Coverage of the match starts from 7.30pm and runs until ITV News at 10 begins at the later time of 10.25pm.

ITV1 will instead air an Emmerdale episode at 7pm on Sunday, August 9 followed by Corrie at 7.30pm.

Apart from the schedule changes for Friday, Emmerdale and Coronation Street has aired as normal this week.

Former Corrie star describes career as “famine” as he’s not been paid in 6 months

Actor John Thomson has revealed he hasn’t done a single acting job for six months.

The Cold Feet and Fast Show star is best known for roles such as Pete Gifford in the romantic drama Cold Feet, Jesse Chadwick in Coronation Street, and the dim-witted barman Ken in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly.

The 57-year-old also appeared in the Fast Show for character sketches.

Although 2025 was busy with his appearances in Art Detectives and The Madame Blanc Mysteries, he said this year has brought “famine” in his acting career – part of what he believes is a wider trend affecting traditional broadcasters.

In a recent interview on the Scarred For Life podcast, John said: “Last year was feast, this year famine.

“I haven’t done a single acting job for six months.

“It’s hard now.

“No one has got any money.

“The thing is that commercial stations that rely on advertising everybody has switched to platforms where just pay subscriptions.

“If you want to advertise your product why would you pick a commercial station that people are kind of tuning out of?

“You’re not getting the views.”

Are you a big soap fan? Tell us your best Corrie and Emmerdale moments in the comments below.

People are overconfident, on the whole. Most of us believe we are more intelligent, more skilful or better drivers than the average person. But we can’t all be right.

Such beliefs are not harmless. Overconfidence – and the self-deception that drives this excessive self-belief – can contribute to extreme risk-taking, failed businesses, disastrous investments, dangerous driving and political miscalculations. Why then have so many of us retained this trait?

According to the late evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers, self-deception evolved in humans because it also helps us deceive others more effectively. He argued that when people genuinely believe in a lie or falsehood, they suppress the subtle cues that betray deception – such as nervousness, hesitation, vocal strain or a forced expression.

But we think something is missing from Trivers’s account. When overconfidence is such a common trait, why should anyone believe your hype simply because you believe it yourself? This is the question our latest research set out to answer.

Our approach was based on the handicap principle developed by Israeli biologists Amotz and Avishag Zahavi. The classic example is the peacock’s tail, which demands enormous metabolic energy to grow and maintain, and makes flying, running and escaping from predators harder.

Only an unusually healthy, capable bird can grow such plumage and survive while dragging it around. Because the tail is so costly, it works as an “honest signal” of these attributes. Our claim is that self-belief is a peacock’s tail for people, signalling attributes that are hard to observe directly.

The signal works because the cost of high self-belief is lower for more capable people. Think of it this way: if a complete novice driver has a self-belief rating of ten out of ten, they are very likely to crash with potentially disastrous results. A near-expert driver with extreme self-belief is, of course, much less likely to crash.

Moreover, the benefit of high self-belief is generally greater for more able people. While self-belief opens doors, ability dictates how far someone goes as a result.

But because self-belief is an effective signal of ability, a confidence “arms race” ensues that culminates in the widespread overconfidence among people that we described earlier. Beliefs become excessive – yet even then, we argue that they remain informative. And that’s why overconfidence is such a common condition.

Reappraising the Dunning-Kruger effect

In an influential 1999 paper, US psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger stated that the least competent people tend to be the most confident.

According to their original interpretation, most people who are bad at a task lack the awareness needed to recognise how badly they are doing it. They are “unskilled and unaware of it”.

The original study followed a simple design. Participants completed tests of humour, grammar or logical reasoning. Before receiving feedback, they estimated how well they had performed. Researchers then examined whether the expectations of high scorers were more accurate than those of low scorers – and found they were. Less skilled participants overestimated their performance more egregiously.

However, there is a fundamental flaw in this methodology that even Dunning and Kruger recognised. Test performance depends heavily on random factors like luck. As forecasts cannot take these factors into account, low scorers appear more overconfident to a large degree because they were simply unlucky on the test.

To overcome this statistical illusion, the procedure can be flipped. Instead of sorting people by their test scores, they are grouped by their expectations. Asking whether those with high expectations overestimate by more or less than those with low expectations eliminates the “unlucky” measurement bias.

For our study, we revisited data from one of the largest modern replications of the original Dunning-Kruger experiments, involving several thousand participants. Building on the flipping logic to treat randomness in both test scores and predictions equally, we found that those with high expectations performed better and overall exhibit greater overconfidence – exactly as the signalling theory implies.

Loss aversion – a complicating factor?

The same signalling logic, we think, also illuminates another common human trait: loss aversion. It is sensible to dislike losses, but the evidence shows we dislike them too much.

While loss aversion is easily confused with standard risk aversion, the two are fundamentally different. Risk aversion arises because gaining £300 isn’t twice as joyful as gaining £150, so it is rational to prefer a guaranteed £150 over a 50-50 opportunity to gain £300 or nothing.

The evidence is, though, that many choices cannot be explained by this framework. Instead, it is loss aversion, our excessive aversion to losing, that is now the dominant explanation for our excessive rejection of risks.

Overweighting the downside pulls in the opposite direction to overconfidence: it makes us cautious, wary of risky investments, speculative trades and uncertain ventures.

At first glance, this looks like a problem for the whole story. If loss aversion makes us too cautious to ever act on our confident claims, then surely big talk would cost – and mean – nothing? In which case, why has caution not simply cancelled out overconfidence, leaving us with accurate beliefs and no signal value at all?

We argue there are two reasons it has not. The first is that caution cannot be tuned precisely enough to neutralise overconfidence. Doing so would require a different, finely judged level of loss aversion for every situation we face – entrepreneurship, trading, courtship, competition – and that degree of case-by-case calibration is cognitively far too demanding.

So, on a population-wide level, our estimates of caution offset overconfidence only imperfectly. While this balance varies significantly from person to person, enough average cost survives across the population for the signal to remain credible.

In addition, while confidence must be displayed to be effective, there is obviously no need to brag about your timidity – and no gain to be had from doing so. This means that overconfidence remains a costly, and thus credible, signal for many people.

So, we think former US president Franklin D. Roosevelt had a point when he said of his army general, Douglas MacArthur: “Never underestimate a man who overestimates himself.”

Victoria Beckham and Kim Turnbull continued their summer fashion parade on board the family’s £16million yacht on Thursday.

The Beckham clan are currently visiting different parts of the Balearic Islands on the luxury yacht, Seven. 

And fashion designer Victoria, 52, and her son Romeo’s model girlfriend Kim, 25, have packed swimwear to match their stunning surroundings.

Victoria was pictured relaxing on board in her favourite £95 Agent Provocateur Tora halterneck bikini with flesh-flashing sheer inserts. 

Kim meanwhile looked gorgeous walking around the deck of the 130ft boat in a halterneck bikini top which she teamed with low-slung sweatpants.

Not to be outdone, David and Romeo both stripped off, going shirtless to top up their tans in the French sunshine.

The Beckham clan are currently visiting different parts of the Balearic Islands on the luxury yacht, Seven

David showed off his huge tattoo collection as he soaked up the sun in a pair of black swim shorts.

Also joining the family fun was Victoria’s dad Tony Adams, 80. Posh added a chic wide-brimmed hat to protect her skin in the sunshine as she happily chatted to her father. 

David and Victoria are also holidaying with their daughter Harper but youngest son Cruz has missed out this summer as he is currently touring with his band, The Breakers, around north America. 

Meanwhile Posh and Becks almost ran into their estranged son Brooklyn, who was on holiday with wife Nicola just miles away in Nice last week. 

Brooklyn and Nicola holidayed with Elton John on his yacht, just a stone’s throw from where the Beckhams were also staying at the time.

The Beckhams and Elton have been pals for more than 30 years, with David affectionately calling the musician ‘Uncle Elton’ after the pair became friends in his football heyday.

Yet Elton appears to be pledging an allegiance with Brooklyn and Nicola as they enjoyed lunch on the sundeck.

Before heading to the South of France, David and Victoria had been in the US – with Romeo and Kim, Harper, 15, Cruz, 21, and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30 – to watch the World Cup, but despite living in California, Brooklyn avoided meeting up with his family amid their ongoing estrangement.

It comes after reports Brooklyn and Nicola will reportedly no longer celebrate their first wedding due to the ‘bad memories it holds’.

Not to be outdone, David and Romeo both stripped off, going shirtless to top up their tans in the French sunshine

Romeo matched his dad with a baseball cap as he showed off his tattoo and tan too 

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Victoria was pictured relaxing on board in her favourite £95 Agent Provocateur Tora halterneck bikini with flesh-flashing sheer inserts

Fashion designer Victoria, 52, and her son Romeo’s model girlfriend Kim, 25, have packed swimwear to match their stunning surroundings

Kim meanwhile looked gorgeous walking around the deck of the 130ft boat in a halterneck bikini top which she teamed with low-slung sweatpants

Kim was pictured getting close to Romeo as they lounged around on board the luxury yacht

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Sources close to the couple have claimed their April 2022 wedding, that was attended by his family, is not an ‘occasion they look back on fondly’.

The couple officially tied the knot at a three-day extravaganza at the Peltz family Palm Beach estate in April 2022 in front of 500 guests.

They later renewed their vows in August 2025 – and pointedly did not invite the Beckham family. 

In another swipe at his estranged parents, Brooklyn and Nicola will now see their secret second wedding as their ‘official’ anniversary.

Brooklyn failed to post a tribute to Nicola on their original anniversary this April, while Nicola has never marked the celebration.

Pointedly, the pair both marked their new anniversary in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

Also joining the family fun was Victoria’s dad Tony Adams, 80. Posh added a chic wide-brimmed hat to protect her skin in the sunshine as she happily chatted to her father

Victoria looked fabulous in her racy swimwear and chic hat for another day on board 

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David and Victoria are holidaying with their daughter Harper, as well as Romeo and Kim but youngest son Cruz has missed out this summer as he is currently touring with his band

Kim shared a look inside the Beckham’s lavish yacht as she snapped selfies before heading out for dinner this week

A source said: ‘Brooklyn and Nicola’s first wedding in April 2022 is not an occasion they look back on fondly. Nicola ended up in tears. It’s not something they want to be reminded of.

‘Their second wedding, where they renewed their vows last August with just her family and their friends, does hold so many happy memories however.

‘Going forwards, they’ve decided that this is the date they will celebrate publicly together,’ they added to The Sun.

The Daily Mail has approached Nicola, Brooklyn and the Beckhams for comment. 

Marking the vow renewal on Tuesday, Brooklyn called the actress, 31, his ‘absolute princess’. 

He penned: ‘Happy anniversary Nicola I can’t tell you how much I love you x you are my best friend and I love you more than life itself xx.

‘I am so lucky to be able to call you my wife xx you are my absolute princess and I promise to always protect you xx.’

Nicola also posted, writing: ‘happy anniversary my love you make life so beautiful. thank you for being the most amazing husband i could ever dream of.’

Meanwhile Posh and Becks almost ran into their estranged son Brooklyn, who was on holiday with wife Nicola just miles away in Nice last week

Brooklyn and Nicola holidayed with Elton John on his yacht, just a stone’s throw from where the Beckhams were also staying at the time

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It comes after reports Brooklyn and Nicola will reportedly no longer celebrate their first wedding as their anniversary due to the ‘bad memories it holds’

Romeo and Kim, who have been dating on and off for over two years, looked blissfully happy

In Brooklyn’s scathing bombshell statement earlier this year, the eldest Beckham son explained that he and Nicola hosted a vow renewal without his family, as they wanted to ‘create new memories that bring us joy and happiness’ after Victoria ruined their wedding. 

In his statement in January, Brooklyn detailed the ‘anxiety and embarrassment’ he felt when Victoria hijacked their first dance and called him ‘evil’ when she wasn’t seated at his table.

He wrote: ‘During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me ”evil” because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola’s Naunni at our table, because they both didn’t have their husbands.

‘Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours. The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was “not blood” and “not family.”

In Brooklyn’s scathing bombshell statement earlier this year, the eldest Beckham son explained that he and Nicola hosted a vow renewal without his family, as they wanted to ‘create new memories that bring us joy and happiness’ after Victoria ruined their wedding 

In his statement in January, Brooklyn detailed the ‘anxiety and embarrassment’ he felt when Victoria hijacked their first dance and called him ‘evil’ when she wasn’t seated at his table

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‘We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment,’ he said 

‘My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song.

‘In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead.

‘She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.

‘We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment.’

The train operator, which runs services across Lancashire, received the message following a major power failure on Thursday afternoon at 1.40pm on Thursday which affected train services across the North West.

The outage impacted the Manchester Rail Operating Centre, which controls rail services across north-west England, causing widespread disruption.

In response to the abuse, a Northern spokesperson said: “We understand that disruption on the railway can be frustrating and we will always do all that we can to help every customer that comes to us – unless they talk to us like this.

“This will not be tolerated and is not acceptable.

“Treat others with kindness and respect, you will see that people are much happier to help.

“This is abusive and threatening.

“You have been reported. Be kind.”

The hateful message said: “Your trains are so s*** they can’t even store oil on the engines.

“I’m simply trying to get to work and you f*** my entire morning up. [redacted] you all you bunch of f****** rats. You’re lucky I don’t know where any of you live”

Northern issued a ‘do not travel’ notice on Thursday afternoon (August 6), which remained in place until 10am on Friday.

Passengers are being advised to check before they travel as some routes may still be cancelled or heavily amended.

Northern is reminding passengers that while travel disruptions are frustrating, abusive language and threats toward staff will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Discerning guests trying to book a short summer break at one of Surrey’s most prestigious hotels, the historic country manor house Beaverbrook, might have been surprised to find three days scratched off the calendar in early August. 

Reports yesterday shed a little more light as to why the luxurious hotel, where rooms start from £560-a-night for bed and breakfast, was firmly unavailable for those dates.

Hollywood power couple Tom Holland and Zendaya are thought to have had a second bite of wedding cake – after a rumoured smaller ceremony earlier this year – welcoming family and friends to the 470-acre Beaverbrook estate for an almighty three-day party. 

It’s no surprise that Surrey-raised Tom, 30, who grew up in Kingston-upon-Thames and now resides with his new bride close to Richmond Park, chose one of the poshest addresses in the county to celebrate his big day. 

Nestled in the Surrey Hills not far from Tom’s hometown of Kingston upon Thames, the couple had their dream day at the hotel (pictured) surrounded by friends and family

While Beaverbrook ticks all the boxes as a classic historic rural country house, this stuccoed, late Victorian mansion is likely to have appealed to the Spider-Man star and his glamorous 29-year-old wife for both its gilded former guests and its thoroughly ‘English eccentric’ features. 

It is not your average historic British hotel – there’s al fresco dining at hot air balloon-inspired tables, Japanese afternoon teas and spiritual meditation retreats guided by a Tibetan teacher. 

The union of a British star and his Californian bride in a hotel, once owned by the Daily Express’ publisher Lord Beaverbrook, that has seen the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, 007 creator Ian Fleming and Winston Churchill check in, continues the property’s history of welcoming the world’s most famous faces too. 

And Beaverbrook, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World group, takes privacy very seriously. 

Phones for both staff and wedding attendees are said to have been banned during the celebrations, which are thought to have cost £500,000, and some of the estate’s additional guest properties are so hidden away, even those staying in the main house don’t know they’re there.

‘Secret’ Dower House, described on the Beaverbrook website as being ‘secluded and unseen’ and ‘reserved for those who value discretion as highly as design’, could be where the couple retreated to each night when they bowed out of their wedding party. 

The estate boasts several houses including the ‘secluded and unseen’ Dower House, a five-bedroomed home on 60 acres that’s just a five minute drive by buggy to the main house

Available only on request, the private residence is a flint and red brick retreat surrounded by trees that boasts an outdoor pool, terrace and 60 acres of its own grounds. 

The interiors are sympathetic to the building’s Arts and Crafts heritage, with chequerboard tiles, punchy colours and florid wallpaper all in the mix. 

Trendy Bamford products are found in the bathrooms and ensuites, which are said to boast Lefroy Brooks fittings and underfloor heating. 

Dinners a deux can be prepared by the hotel’s chefs in the property’s kitchen and there’s a private massage area for treatments away from Beaverbrook’s main spa. 

The main house though is just a five-minute ride away by golf buggy, with additional guest accommodation in The Garden House, The Village and The Coach House also close by.  

The couple live close to Richmond Park, the 1000-hectare green space once used as a hunting ground for Henry VIII, after snapping up a townhouse for £2.5million back in 2017 (pictured in July)

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It’s thought that an A-list guest list descended for the couple’s big day, with Timothée Chalamet and his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, plus Holland’s fellow on-screen superhero, Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr also attending. 

The 250 guests were said to have made the most of the estate’s extensive facilities, which includes a heated lido, pickleball and petanque courts and the luxurious spa. 

There’s a quartet of restaurants and two bars, with the Japanese-inspired Dining Room likely to have created Tom and Zendaya’s wedding breakfast menu.

A rehearsal dinner was said to have taken place on Monday, a day before the wedding, with Tom’s chef brother Sam, 27, acting as best man.

A source told The Sun this week: ‘The ceremony was so beautiful and romantic. Tom and Zendaya aced their speeches as well — they were both very funny but also very emotional.

‘There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. They’re incredibly hard-working and lovely people, and this stunning wedding has capped off an amazing year for them.’

The Daily Mail has approached Tom and Zendaya for comment.

The newlyweds recently finished promoting Spider-Man: Brand New Day, in which Zendaya flashed her wedding ring for the first time.

The 29-year-old and Holland have been romantically linked since 2016, when they met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming.

In an Esquire UK interview published last month, Holland ended months of speculation about the couple’s marriage, declaring: ‘I found my person, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.’

The Spider-Man stars now spend their time in the UK in their home close to Richmond Park, the 1,000-hectare green space once used as a hunting ground for Henry VII.

The couple, who have dramatically renovated the townhouse they bought for £2.5million back in 2017, have been spotted shopping in Waitrose in nearby New Malden, enjoying long walks with their beloved black miniature schnauzer, Noon, in the royal park close to their luxury property and dining out at posh garden centre, Petersham Nurseries.

In the last few years, some of the UK’s biggest cultural institutions have experienced major threats to their security. A report by the public accounts committee (PAC) has warned that such incidents have exposed serious weaknesses across the sector but that the government has failed to devise a strategy to prevent them. This has left Britain’s cultural institutions open to similar future attacks.

We live in a time when digital systems underpin everything from ticketing to surveillance and building access. Sidelining cybersecurity leaves museums vulnerable to attacks that could threaten both their finances and their collections.

If the UK wants to avoid major attacks and thefts, it needs to learn a lesson from the recent Louvre heist where €88 million (£78 million) of jewels were stolen. An audit conducted just weeks before the incident exposed the Louvre’s spending priorities that left them vulnerable to theft. The report found that €169 million was spent on artwork and exhibitions but only €26.7 million on all forms of maintenance, including security.

The likely thinking of cultural institutions is that to remain financially resilient they have to spend more on money-making attractions, like artwork and exhibitions. However, this means that security sometimes becomes a low priority – less money is spent and less thought given to the importance of keeping it up to date. However, the financial loss from theft affects financial resilience by eroding emergency cash reserves and driving up insurance premiums.

As the Louvre’s audit shows, the museum could have perhaps avoided the theft had it taken its findings more seriously.

The issue of outdated security measures at the Louvre goes back to at least 2017. An audit at the time found that “certain workstations [had] obsolete operating systems (Windows 2000 and Windows XP) which no longer guarantee effective security”. Security updates for Windows 2000 ceased in 2010, and Windows XP in 2014.

Three weeks after the heist in 2025, the Louvre was criticised by France’s Court of Auditors for not taking the audits seriously and spending money on art instead of security in the years before the theft.

Similar weaknesses in investment priorities as the Louvre’s were exposed in a report made by The British Library in March 2024 into their cyber-attack.

In October 2023, The British Library experienced a severe cyber-attack. The library’s systems were infiltrated by hackers who locked out all network users and demanded a ransom of 20 Bitcoin (approximately £590,000). The ransom was not paid and the stolen data was auctioned and then leaked on the dark web.

The library’s report into the attack acknowledged that it happened because it had muddled through with a historical mixture of old systems from many sources, which didn’t have a recovery plan. This meant it took the British Library months to restore the most basic tool – the online catalogue. And even now, five major services, including the catalogue of illuminated manuscripts, remain unavailable.

The cultural institutions, government and even the PAC make the classic mistake of divorcing cybersecurity from physical security.

The report by PAC does mention “bringing together chief digital information officers and chief information security officers” and separately it praises the “National Museum Security Group”. However, there is no mention of encouraging dialogue between the groups.

This divide is very common, and is often built into organisational system. The most junior person responsible for both physical and cybersecurity is often the CEO, or possibly a chief operating officer (COO). This structure worked in the days when physical security did not rely on computers. However, today, when so much physical security relies upon technology, it just does not make sense. There should be someone further down the chain, such as a “chief security manager” or equivalent.

As the report by Apolo Security into the Louvre attack found: “this case highlights another growing challenge: the convergence between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). When camera, climate or access control systems are connected to the network, any digital divide can have immediate physical consequences.”

This false split between standard IT cybersecurity (the domain of the chief information security officer), operational technology (the unnoticed computer-enabled devices that keep things working like electronic doors or intruder alarms) and physical security is far from unique to the scope of PAC’s report.

A classic example is the cyber-attack on the Colonial Pipeline in 2021 – an American energy system that connects 29 refineries and serves major airports, military bases and more than 50 million Americans. Only the classic IT systems (billing) were attacked, but management shut down the entire operation as they feared the attack spreading to the operational devices on the pipelines themselves. This stopped all pipeline operations leading to flight alterations, panic buying and over 10,000 petrol stations running dry.

A more integrated approach was exhibited by the train operator Go-Ahead in 2022 in the UK, which had a similar attack on its systems. The company was able, however, to keep the trains running and deal with the source of the attack instead of halting all their operations.

It would be good to think that the UK culture sector would also learn these lessons. But alas, neither the evidence the government gave PAC nor the final report give us any reason to believe that things will become more connected when it comes to a joined-up view of security and stopping future attacks.

The force received a record-breaking 152,000 contacts from the public, the highest ever recorded in a single month.

Despite the surge in demand, officers attended 14,991 Grade 1 emergency incidents across the region, achieving an average response time of just seven minutes and 54 seconds.

Steph Parker, assistant chief constable, said: “July was the busiest month in GMP’s history, and I would like to thank every officer, member of staff, and volunteer who worked tirelessly to serve the people of Greater Manchester during this unprecedented period of demand.

“From our frontline officers and neighbourhood teams to detectives, custody staff, FCCO colleagues, and the many police staff working behind the scenes, everyone played a vital role in keeping our communities safe.

“I would also like to thank the public for their patience and assistance.”

Officers made an average of 200 arrests per day during the month.

Crimes ranged from serious offences such as murder and robbery to persistent neighbourhood issues like shoplifting, theft, and anti-social behaviour.

Ms Parker said: “Despite the significant pressures we faced throughout July, the resilience shown across GMP ensured we continued to deliver for the people of Greater Manchester when they needed us most.”

In order to respond to each call, the force relied on various different members of staff to ensure the safety of the public.

Frontline officers responded to emergencies, while colleagues in Force Contact, Crime Operations (FCCO) answered calls, assessed risk, and dispatched resources.

Detectives continued investigations and supported victims, and neighbourhood officers focused on building community confidence and tackling anti-social behaviour.

Police staff, including intelligence teams, analysts, administrators, and custody teams, kept the force running behind the scenes and managed the high number of detainees following arrests.

Ms Parker said: “From our frontline officers and neighbourhood teams to detectives, custody staff, FCCO colleagues, and the many police staff working behind the scenes, everyone played a vital role in keeping our communities safe.”

The month tested the force’s systems and personnel, but police say it demonstrated the professionalism and commitment of its workforce.

Neighbourhood policing teams continue to deal with lower-level crime and community concerns, helping to build public trust while detectives concentrated on serious offences and supporting those affected by crime.

Police staff provided essential support in areas like intelligence, investigation, and administration, while custody staff processed and managed detainees and Ms Parker thanked the public for their cooperation during the month.