Delays around certain weeks of the year could prove to be an annoyance due to the high volume of people also travelling, as well as the potential costs.

If you want the greatest chance of avoiding those sorts of issues, there are more effective weeks to fly out.

Research from the travel search engine KAYAK has looked into this to find the best way to avoid high costs and delays.

KAYAK’s Summer Check-in Report has shared a number of destinations that will be cheap to travel to this summer.

Recommended reading:

Discussing the best time to fly out for this period, Mumford explained: “International return tickets are around one-third of peak summer prices, averaging just £209 in the week commencing September 7 and £238 the week prior, compared with £690 in the week commencing July 13 and £694 in the week commencing July 20.

“This makes late August and early September the clear sweet spot for value-conscious travellers this summer.

“Those who can dodge peak weeks stand to save significantly, with more left to spend on the ground.”

When are you planning to fly out from the UK this year, and has this advice been brought into your travel plans? Let us know in the comments.

Holidaymakers face major disruption as Portuguese transport workers plan industrial action in June

Brits travelling at the start of the summer holidays are being warned to expect severe disruption as a major transport strike threatens to bring one of Europe’s most popular destinations to a standstill.

Airline cabin crew, rail staff and public transport workers across Portugal are preparing to walk out on Wednesday, June 3, in protest at proposed government reforms, prompting officials to urge holidaymakers to make contingency plans well in advance.

Up to 500 flights may be cancelled, while trains, ferries, metro services and buses are all likely to be affected, raising the prospect of widespread travel chaos at the height of the getaway period, reports the Mirror.

TAP Air Portugal is expected to be among the hardest hit, with its mainline and regional operations, Portugália and SATA, facing staff absences of up to 79 per cent, according to industry reports. Other airlines are also bracing for shortages that could disrupt services for thousands of passengers.

The personnel shortfall could prove problematic at the height of summer for Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, Ryanair, as well as rival easyJet. Both airlines operate services from Portuguese airports.

Airlines are generally obliged to assist or compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled due to strike action and its circumstances.

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However, this depends on individual airline terms and conditions, with some not providing cover for strikes outside their control. This would include walkouts by airport or baggage handling staff.

Compensation also depends on the extent of a passenger’s travel insurance coverage. Such details should be easily accessible on the airline or insurer’s website. Those who book a flight during a period when industrial action has already been announced are unlikely to have any grounds for compensation.

Travellers are strongly advised to check whether any strikes are affecting their chosen airline, as well as both their departure and arrival airports.

Industrial action is primarily deployed as a bargaining tool in negotiations between trade unions and employers. There remains every chance that both parties will come to an agreement before any strike actually goes ahead.

The supermarket chain has recalled the Morrisons Savers Cashews as a result of the possible presence of glass.

The affected items come in packs of 125g and have best before dates of August 9, September 6, September 26, September 28 and October 9.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: “Morrisons is recalling the above product.

Tuesday 26 May 2026. Morrisons recalls Morrisons Savers Cashews because of the possible presence of glass #FoodAlert https://t.co/i4jvyQBfRw pic.twitter.com/wGZYTG5x2J

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) May 26, 2026

“Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling it. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought it.

“If you have bought the above product do not consume it. Instead, return it to the nearest store for a full refund.”

A Morrisons spokesman added: “No other products are affected by this issue.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and assure customers of our continuing commitment to the highest standard of product quality and safety.”

What is a product recall?

If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).

The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued.

This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.

Morrisons introducing new ‘£13 rule’

Morrisons will increase staff pay above the national living wage as part of a three-stage rise agreed with union Usdaw.

The supermarket chain secured a 91.87 per cent vote in favour of the increase, which will lift shop assistant pay from the current £12.71 an hour to £13 in July and £13.11 by October.

The rises follow talks with the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw), and come after the introduction of the new National Living Wage in April.

Jodie Keating, group people director at Morrisons, said: “We’re pleased that we can now implement the pay proposal and increase pay for our colleagues to reward them for the contribution they make to our business.

“I would like to thank all our colleagues for everything they continue to do for Morrisons.”

The first rise will see pay move to £12.81, followed by a rise to £13 on July 20.

A final increase to £13.11 will be implemented from October 26.

Other staff covered by the agreement will also see pay rises, with a 19p increase in July and a further 11p in October.

Morrisons has confirmed that all eligible hourly paid employees will also receive a one-off payment of between £25 and £175, depending on contracted hours.

The National Living Wage, which increased to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over on April 1, represented a 50p (4.1 per cent) rise from the previous rate.

This move aligns Morrisons with other major retailers including Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and Primark, who have all raised their hourly rates in what has become known as the “£13 rule”.

Network Rail is carrying out a major upgrade, which will undoubtedly cause headaches for passengers who live between two key UK cities

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Significant works on a four-mile tunnel will temporarily shut down a stretch of railway line between two cities. Rail passengers are being advised to plan their journeys in advance as Network Rail undertakes a major upgrade at the Severn Tunnel from 23 May until 9 June.

The rail network operator confirmed that its work alongside contractor ARQ would overhaul the tunnel’s overhead power system to better withstand the tunnel’s “harsh, corrosive” environment. Nia Watkins, Regional Asset Manager at Network Rail Wales and Borders route, said: “Running beneath the Severn Estuary, the 4.35-mile Severn Tunnel is one of the most challenging environments on the UK rail network.”

She stressed that carrying out the works was vital to sustaining safe, dependable services and securing the tunnel’s long-term future.

Ms Watkins added: “This complex and highly coordinated upgrade is being delivered at a world-first scale across the tunnel’s full length – making the railway more resilient and reducing the risk of future disruption for passengers and freight.”

Network Rail describes the tunnel as one of the most demanding environments on Britain’s railways, with moisture and saltwater accelerating the deterioration of equipment, reports the Express.

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Network Rail noted that since electrification, the overhead power system has been susceptible to electrical wear and corrosion.

Its Wales and Borders team is deploying a single 7km copper contact wire supported by modified bridge arms to “eliminate” corrosion. According to Network Rail, the new system will run the entire length of the tunnel in a “world-first” at this scale.

This encompasses 838 bridge arms to support the electrical cables, a total of 9,000 metres of replaced wiring and additional infrastructure improvements.

Alongside the tunnel works, Network Rail confirmed it is also replacing track serving the new Bristol Brabazon station.

Network Rail stated the station will mark the return of passenger services on the Henbury and Portishead lines for the first time since 1964.

The works mean the railway between Newport and Bristol Parkway will temporarily close.

Services will not operate between Newport and Bristol Parkway from Saturday, May 23 until the end of Monday, June 8. The line is expected to reopen on the morning of Tuesday, June 9.

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Replacement bus services will run between Newport and Bristol Parkway while some trains will travel between London and South Wales via Gloucester, except on Sunday, May 24. There will be a reduced service between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.

Trains will not be diverted via Gloucester on May 24, with services running solely between Paddington and Bristol Parkway as well as Newport and Swansea.

Marcus Deegan, GWR’s Station Manager at Bristol Parkway, said: “We know bus replacement services are a significant ask of passengers and we’re genuinely grateful for their patience while this vital work is completed.

“This investment to improve and maintain the Severn Tunnel will make a real difference to the reliability and resilience of the route for many years ahead.

“The wider work taking place will also allow us to introduce train services to Bristol Brabazon later this year, and in time to Portishead and Pill – reconnecting people to rail and providing a vital economic catalyst across the area.”

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet said: “As part of the joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet to eliminate the terrorist Muhammad Odeh, several buildings in the heart of Gaza City that served as a hideout for him were attacked, after months of intelligence surveillance in order to track his movements and the movements of his assistants in the organisation.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander overcame a slow start to score 32 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 to move within one win of a second consecutive NBA Finals appearance.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first four shots of game five of the Western Conference finals in Oklahoma City, but recovered with five consecutive points to help the Thunder overturn an early eight-point deficit.

The hosts took an 11-point lead into half-time before scoring the first nine points of the third quarter to pull away and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Two-time MVP Gilgeous-Alexander made only seven of his 19 shots from the field but succeeded with 16 out of 17 from the free-throw line.

“If it was four or five of me out there, we would’ve been down 20 after the first quarter,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “[I] probably should never start like that again.”

Jared McCain came into the team for Cason Wallace, and after a tricky start scored 18 points after the break to finish with 20.

Alex Caruso bounced back from a scoreless night in game four with 22 points.

Donald Trump says negotiations with Iran are “proceeding nicely” as he urged Muslim nations to join the Abraham Accords.

The US president said it will only be a great deal for all or, no deal at all – with the latter meaning a return “to the battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before”.

Trump added it should be mandatory for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain to sign onto the Abraham Accords, given “all the work done by the US to try and pull this very complex puzzle together”.

“It may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing so, and that will be accepted, but most should be ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would, otherwise, be,” he added.

“I am mandatorily requesting that all Countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and that, if Iran signs its Agreement with me, as President of the United States of America, it would be an Honor to have them also be part of this unparalleled World Coalition.”

“Nothing makes me happier and more fulfilled than watching the animals head off to their new homes happy and healthy”

Meet the woman saving and campaigning for reptiles and exotic animals needing a home in Northern Ireland.

Lindsey Adams has been nominated for ‘Hooman’ Hero of the Year at the National Pet Awards 2026, taking place in Belfast next month, for her work at Northern Ireland Exotic Sanctuary.

Founded in 2021, the rescue is dedicated to providing a safe haven for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates in need, with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals while educating the public about their needs.

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With a passion for animals starting when she was just a child, she could never have imagined that in a few short years, she would have saved the lives of countless exotic animals across the country.

Lindsey said: “Growing up I loved watching shows like David Attenborough’s ‘Life’; Mark O’Shea’s ‘O’Shea’s Big Adventure’ and Steve Irwin’s ‘The Crocodile Hunter’, so there’s always been a curiosity for the cold-blooded.

“It was only in adult life that I was able to keep reptiles of my own, rather than admiring others and it all bloomed from my very first pet snake.

“While researching before getting her, I noticed just how many reptiles were constantly being passed from home to home, and that just didn’t sit right with me how little their lives were being valued and how their condition and welfare seemed to drop with every resale.”

What started in a spare bedroom with a couple of rehomed animals has grown into a space that can house upto 100 animals at at time and runs close to or at full capacity for most of the year.

“Looking back, it’s clear now just how much demand there was but owners had no other option than to pass them around on free sites as no rescue for reptiles existed until we came along,” she explained.

“I generally see the rescue as a very positive place – as somewhere that is a temporary stop gap for reptiles coming from one home to another, getting the care, rehabilitation and socialisation they may need to fully prepare them.

“I see it as a place for those who have been neglected to heal and decompress and put their history behind them; and for the animals that stay with us permanently, I try to give them the best life possible and make adaptations as needed for their medical conditions or disabilities.

“While it is very upsetting at times to see animals coming in injured and neglected, I remind myself that it stops with us and will never be allowed to happen to them again.”

Northern Ireland Exotic Sanctuary receives no government funding and has no paid staff, relying on a team of fantastic volunteers, who help to do everything from cleaning, feeding and socialising animals, to attending fundraising events and helping to plan future fundraisers.

Lindsey runs the rescue on top of working a full-time job, getting up as early as 5.30am to walk her pets before heading into work and managing the sanctuary on her breaks and after she finishes for the day.

She continued: “My family and friends are also incredibly supportive and understanding of the work I do and my sometimes unavoidable absences from events or meet-ups.

“It’s important for everyone in rescue to have a support network whether internally or working together with other rescues.”

At present, Lindsey and the team are looking after tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards and invertebrates, ranging in size from a little Western Hognose snake at 10/11 inches, to a 10 and a half foot common boa and everything in between.

A big part of their work is not only rescuing but also educating on the ownership of reptiles and exotic animals.

“We are lucky to have a lot of adopters that would rather rescue than buy, but we still have a lot of work to do to convince others that rescue animals aren’t ‘second hand’ or damaged animals,” she explained.

“Exotic animals, in particular reptiles, I do believe are often overlooked, despite being the third largest group of pets after cats and dogs.

“I feel that education should be a huge part of any rescue’s ethos, but particularly in exotics. A large amount of the neglect we see is purely accidental and as a result of the previous owner’s poor knowledge.

“If I can demonstrate or teach proper care and husbandry, I hope that it will help improve the lives of these people’s animals and reduce the potential for suffering.

“I know I will never be able to educate everyone, but if I can make a difference to even one animal and person’s life, then it’s worth the effort for me. Research into care and keeping has changed so much over the last 20-plus years, and there is so much misinformation online that it is easy to get confused or believe the wrong thing, especially as a beginner.”

Lindsey launched an education programme aimed at the younger generation earlier this year to try to “break the stigma around reptiles and invertebrates as gross and scary”.

She added: “I feel if kids have positive experiences when young, that will help influence an attitude change in future generations.”

Starting off with a dream to make a difference has grown into a community and space that she is so proud of and she is continuously looking ahead to see how she can change perspectives on these pets across the country for the better.

“Nothing makes me happier and more fulfilled than watching the animals head off to their new homes happy and healthy, and receiving updates from those homes down the line makes the tough days that little brighter.

“I think as well, the more I have achieved, the more determined it has made me to continue to grow and develop the rescue as an organisation, and I’m already planning for 2027 and beyond.

“The rescue for me is a lifelong commitment and has become so ingrained in my life that I cannot imagine it not being around or my not being a part of it.”

Find out more about Northern Ireland Exotic Sanctuary and their work here

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