Rio Ferdinand has been left ‘frightened’ by the ongoing Iranian missile strikes targeting Dubai.

On Saturday missiles started raining down on the city in the United Arab Emirates, which came after Iran vowed to escalate retaliation for the killing of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has long threatened to drag the region into total war if attacked, making good on that promise in response to the USA starting ‘major combat operations’ to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities.

Soon after Dubai began being targeted, many of its four million residents began sharing updates of what was unfolding on social media – including Rio’s wife Kate, who said they were ‘safe’ despite having to have a ‘sleepover’ in their basement.

A few days on, Manchester United legend Rio has now given an insight into what life in Dubai looks like right now.

Last year the retired footballer, 47, moved to the Middle East with his wife Kate, 34, and their children, Shae, two, Cree, five, as well as Rio’s daughter Tia, 14.

During the latest episode of his football podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, he opened by admitting it had been a ‘bit of a different week’.

‘Firstly, I’m in great condition this morning as the whole family did a workout. A bit like in Covid, the whole family is doing things we wouldn’t usually be doing together,’ he explained.

‘Home-schooling a bit today. It’s frightening when you hear missiles, planes and fighter jets – I don’t know what it is – going above us, and you’re hearing big bombs, and what that is we don’t know as we don’t know the details of what they are.

‘It’s telling your kids what it is and helping them navigate through this moment, which is important especially as the dad of the house. You want to try and remain calm and keep everybody as calm as possible.

‘I’ve got to be honest guys; it’s been a bit of a scary situation but at the same time weirdly enough I’ve felt very secure and looked after. My studio has become my bunker.’

He went on to share: ‘We were advised to go into the basement on the first night of all the noise started and we were down here sleeping with duvets and stuff. We are utilising the space wisely.’

His comments come after Kate shared a series of updates on social media over the weekend, which came after what she described as a ‘very scary night’.

Taking to her Instagram Story, Kate apologised for her initial silence on the matter, thanking fans for their concerned messages.

‘I just haven’t been able to find the words. We are safe,’ she began.

‘The government are doing an amazing job of keeping it that way and despite my nerves I feel we are in very safe hands.

‘We are hoping for a calmer evening tonight, last night was very scary.’

She added that ‘Cree and Shae loved it as they couldn’t believe we all got a sleepover in the basement’.

‘Thank you for all of your prayers, this whole experience is very eye opening & I am praying for anyone affected,’ she concluded.

Rio’s sons with late wife Rebecca, Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, did not relocate with the family when they moved to Dubai last year due to their budding football careers back home in the UK.

But Kate – who rose to fame appearing on The Only Way is Essex – previously admitted she was finding it difficult returning to Dubai after spending Christmas back in London.

‘I feel like we’ve opened our eyes to a different world. But I love London, I love the UK. I love so many things about the UK. I do feel happy in Dubai, but I’m just missing a part of me,’ she said on her Blended podcast.

‘I think it’s an amazing place to live, I think it’s amazing for the children. The children are thriving and happy and living a life of just outside freedom.

‘Rio loves it so much. I am enjoying it, but I miss home quite a lot. I get upset. I miss the big boys a lot and I’m just struggling with that.’

However, she added: ‘I know this decision is right for my younger children and as a family we are settled there, but the boys are following their football careers. So, they’re doing what they want to do otherwise they’d be with us. But it’s very hard because we’ve been through so much as a family and we’ve always been together and that’s a huge adjustment.’

But speaking on LBC Radio in November, Rio revealed that the move has allowed him to spend more time with family, which he said had been a ‘great thing’.

‘I love England and I’m a patriotic guy in that sense, but a new journey, a new chapter, something different, I think is a refreshing new chapter in my life,’ he explained.

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When revealing their overseas move publicly, Rio and Kate shared: ‘We’ve talked about this for so long, and now it’s finally real… we’re here, we are making a new home in the place we met!’

‘Missing some of our specials already & a bit scared, excited & nervous – but more than anything, ready for fresh starts and new beginnings.’

They have since moved to a £6.5million mansion in the luxurious gated community of Al Barari.

Since the initial strikes, UK flights to the Middle East have been cancelled, while airports in Dubai and Doha have halted all services until further notice.

On Saturday, the UK Foreign Office warned Brits in Dubai that they should ‘immediately shelter in place’.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also said in a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany that Iran must ‘refrain from indiscriminate military strikes’.

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Last year, Olly Murs found himself at the centre of a debate focused solely on whether he was hotter before or after his body transformation.

The Heart Skips A Beat singer unveiled his toned abs last April, expecting it to be just his fanbase who interacted. Instead, the whole internet suddenly had an opinion.

‘I want to say I’m used to it, but I’m normally used to it for sort of positive reasons,’ he told Metro of the out-of-the-blue attention.

Olly felt the debate ‘really shouldn’t have been a story’, and was left a little baffled as strangers voiced whether they preferred his ‘before’ body.

His nutritionist, Greg, had posted a side-by-side comparison: one of Olly before starting his new training plan, and another after three months of healthy eating and what he described as ‘discipline’.

A random X account then shared a poll on which people preferred, gaining over 4,900 votes, with more than 79% of women saying they preferred him pre-training plan, compared to just 35.65% of men.

It erupted into a gender debate, which even the panel on Loose Women weighed in on, asking if our ‘fitness obsession’ had gone too far.

Having been in the spotlight since 2009, he’s grown comfortable with his life being up for public consumption, but he admitted this time ‘hurt’.

‘It didn’t affect me, well, it did a bit,’ he confessed. ‘I’d like to think it was done in jest, it was more tongue in cheek, but it did hit home to me.’

The strangest thing about the entire story was that Olly posts shirtless workout videos constantly; this was not a big reveal or an oddity on his page.

Despite the fascination with him, the former The Voice judge simply kept going to the gym and ‘let everyone else comment.’

‘I did it for many reasons, personally,’ he continued. ‘It was on my own little journey. So, for it to be put out there like it was quite odd, to be honest.’

Olly’s body overhaul came at a really transformative time in his life; he’d just welcomed daughter Madison the year before and they were expecting their second child.

Baby boy Albert was born in September, with wife Amelia declaring at the time her heart was ‘so full of love’.

He’s continued his fitness journey and is preparing to get back on the field for his eighth Soccer Aid for UNICEF, 16 years after his first time playing the charity game.

Olly took a bit of a break over the past few years, but he’s considered an original player and was basically always on the pitch for several years.

‘Soccer Aid has been a huge part of my journey in my career, really, it was one of the first things I ever did when I came off X Factor,’ he recalled.

He’s itching to catch up with ‘the old guard’, as celebrities ‘don’t really get to hang out’ outside of big events like this.

‘To spend a week with people at the hotel and during the game, it’s a real experience. And then when you meet up in like, a year or two, three years’ time, you always remember the experiences that you shared together.’

‘It’s something you always remember, and it’s pretty special.’

In 2021, he had to undergo surgery after a fragment of bone lodged in the back of his knee from an injury on stage.

He told us after the interview that he was planning to post an MRI scan with a big update on his knee, proving he’s not been intimidated by the body debate.

In the update he shared after seven years, he still gets the ‘odd arthritic niggle and moments where I feel it’.

After the long road to recovery, Olly is finally ready to step back on the pitch, taking on a variety of football stars, including Wayne Rooney.

This year’s celebrity squad boasts big names, including founder Robbie Williams, alongside Tom Hiddleston, GK Barry, Owen Cooper, Joe Marler, and Jordan North.

While it might be a charity game, Olly’s assured us it’s anything but a casual kick around, it’s a ‘really serious game of football’.

Returning player Usain Bolt is a prime example of that after being carried off on a stretcher in 2024 due to a ruptured Achilles.

Outside of his dedication to fitness and the great game, Olly is taking a break from music after dropping his album Knees Up last year.

One song, Bonkers, went particularly viral, which he had anticipated, acknowledging it was always going to be a ‘marmite sort of song’.

‘For new people, because of the internet, they were just a bit like, “Well, that’s a bit odd”. But if you’re a fan of my music, then that wouldn’t be odd, I’ve done things like that in the past.’

However, for the next year, he’s going to be putting a pause on music and focusing on his ‘nice little side projects’ instead.

He told us he planned to take a ‘nice year’ to focus on his family as well as presenting on Heart radio.

‘I’ll keep myself busy, but it’s a nice pace, relaxed,’ Olly grinned.

Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on Sunday 31st May at the London Stadium. Adult tickets start from £20 and juniors from £10: socceraid.org.uk/tickets.

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The Scottish side are the latest to be linked with the Slovenian

Scottish giants Rangers are the latest side to be tipped with an interest in Swansea CIty striker Zan Vipotnik.

The Slovenian has been in scintillating form this season, with his tally of 16 goals sending him to the top of the Championship’s goal-scoring charts.

It’s a run that’s unsurprisingly caught the attention of sides elsewhere, with a report from Football Fancast now claiming that Rangers have surged to the head of the queue in the growing race for his signature.

They say Vipotnik has been identified as a possible replacement for Danilo, who’s reportedly likely to leave Ibrox this summer.

It’s also claimed Nottingham Forest and Sunderland are also in the mix, but given that Rangers are likely to offer European football, they are now considered favourites for his signature.

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However, sources have told WalesOnline that the Scottish side are yet to express any official interest in Vipotnik.

Nevertheless, interest in the Slovenian will inevitably grow should he continue his rich run of form.

It’s understood the likes of West Ham United, along with several clubs in Italy were watching the forward during the January window, although a serious approach never arrived before deadline day, with Swansea’s valuation cited as a key sticking point.

The Swans slapped a price tag of £15m on Vipotnik’s head, a move that clearly succeeded in warding off potential suitors.

But the landscape could be different come the summer, and should the player continue to score goals, his valuation may well be seen as less of a risk.

It’s possible the Swans may look to tie down the former Bordeaux star to a new and improved deal in a bid to further strengthen their hand. But, at the time of writing, no such talks have yet taken place.

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Matos has freely admitted he expects there to be growing interest in his top scorer should his form continue, describing it as ” the normal circle of football.”

When asked whether Vipotnik has the potential to thrive at Premier League level, he added: “It will always depend where he goes, how he fits the squad, how he fits the style.

“I think he has a lot of qualities. He has much more [to come] as well, that’s what I said before.

“He helps so much the team at the moment, pressing-wise, setting triggers, being a reference. So he’s improving his game as well.

“And I think if he keeps on that direction, he’s becoming a more complete number nine. The more complete he becomes, the closer he is to having an impact on the future for his career.”

Customers who have bought the product should return it to store for a full refund and watch for symptoms

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Tesco has issued an urgent food recall alert after customers were warned about the detection of Salmonella. The bacteria has been discovered in Bastides Saucisson Sec, a French dry-cured pork sausage.

The product comes in a 200g pack, with a best before date of 4 March 2026, and a barcode 5010292933486.

Customers who have purchased this item are strongly advised not to consume it. However, if you have already eaten it, you should monitor for symptoms of Salmonella.

These typically include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. The FSA advised: “If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should stay away from work, school or nursery until you have stopped having symptoms for at least 48 hours to avoid passing it on to others.”

The FSA further stated: “If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to your nearest Tesco store for a full refund. For more information email customercare@compleatfood.com.”, reports the Mirror.

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The recall notice clarified: “We are voluntarily recalling the following Bastides product sold exclusively in Tesco stores, with the best before date 04/03/2026, due to a presence of salmonella.

“If you have purchased this product, please do not eat it. Return it to the Tesco store where it was purchased for full refund, this is an isolated incident and no other Bastides products are known to be affected.”

Salmonella bacteria is a common cause of food poisoning. The NHS stated: “The symptoms usually start within a few hours or a few days of eating food that caused the infection.

“Sometimes symptoms do not start for a few weeks.”

It notes that many people can manage food poisoning at home, with symptoms typically improving within a week.

The NHS added: “The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.”

If you do have food poisoning, you must remain at home and get plenty of rest.

You need to drink lots of fluids, eat when feeling able to and take paracetamol if in discomfort. You must not have fruit juice or fizzy drinks and should avoid foods that are fatty or spicy.

The NHS says you must call 999 or go to A&E if you vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee.

Other signs you need urgent medical help include green vomit, stiff neck, pain when looking at bright lights, sudden and severe headache or tummy ache, blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.

Severe difficulty breathing or taking lots of quick, short breaths and being confused or not responding as usual are also key warning signs to watch out for.

Light therapy sounds wholesome. Clean. Almost pastoral. Sit in front of a lamp. Feel better.

In our latest episode of the Strange Health podcast, we discovered that it can also mean strapping on a flashing mask and watching your own brain generate kaleidoscopic hallucinations behind closed eyelids.

The spark for this episode was a stroboscopic light device called the Lumenate Nova, promoted on social media by celebrities including Jennifer Aniston and Rosamund Pike, who serves as the brand’s creative director and is also an investor. The device claims to use carefully timed pulses of light to guide users into altered, meditative states, described by the company as “sober tripping”.

I was sceptical but gave it a go. “Sober tripping” sounded like a level of experimentation I could live with.

After watching what looked like brightly coloured fireworks, I eventually felt as if I were surrounded by a mountainscape, basking in a warm ray of sunshine coming from the left side of my vision. I had to remind myself I was on my sofa in Doncaster at 7pm. There was no sun.

The visions quietened my usually chatterbox brain. For 15 minutes, that alone felt like relief.

So what is actually happening? Stroboscopic light delivers rhythmic pulses that pass through the eyelids and stimulate the retina. When those flashes align with rhythms the visual system naturally oscillates at, including alpha-range activity, signals in the visual cortex begin to synchronise with the pattern. The result can be surprisingly vivid: spirals, tunnels, lattices, shifting colours and, for some people, more complex scenes with recognisable shapes and places.

The brain is constantly predicting what it expects to see. It breaks visual input into edges, colour and movement, then rebuilds it into the seamless scene we experience. When rhythmic light disrupts those patterns, the brain tries to make sense of the signals. Sometimes that means geometry. Sometimes it feels like landscapes.

We spoke to David Schwartzman, a research fellow at the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science at the University of Sussex, who has been studying these effects for more than a decade. He describes stroboscopic hallucinations as a controllable way to explore how the brain constructs visual experience. They offer a glimpse of the underlying machinery of perception rather than a treatment in themselves.

Interest in stroboscopic light is not new. In 1819, the Czech anatomist Jan Purkyně described geometric patterns seen when moving his fingers in front of a candle with eyes closed. In the 1960s, artists Brion Gysin and Ian Sommerville built the “Dreamachine”, a spinning cylinder designed to induce altered states without drugs.

More recently, a large public installation called Dreamachine toured the UK in 2022, allowing tens of thousands of people to lie inside a purpose-built structure and experience synchronised light and sound. Participants reported everything from gentle patterning to overwhelming geometric worlds.

But what about the health claims? The phrase “light therapy” now covers very different technologies. Some regulate sleep and mood. Others aim to alter perception itself. Bright light therapy is well established for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Used correctly, typically in the morning at prescribed intensities, it can help regulate circadian rhythms and improve mood in some people. That is different from stroboscopic stimulation, which targets visual perception rather than sleep-wake cycles.

À lire aussi :
How light can shift your mood and mental health

Research into strobe-based interventions for depression is ongoing. Early studies are exploring safety, tolerability and whether the immersive experience might influence mood in ways researchers are beginning to compare with psychedelic-assisted therapy. It is promising, but not yet a standard treatment.

There are also experimental trials using 40 hertz flickering light in Alzheimer’s disease, based on the idea that synchronising brain rhythms could influence disease processes. This approach remains in clinical testing and is not an established therapy.

There are risks. Flashing lights can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy, although only a small proportion of people with epilepsy are photosensitive. Even in people without epilepsy, intense exposure can cause discomfort, headaches or nausea. Dose, brightness and individual sensitivity matter. People with epilepsy or migraine disorders may be advised to avoid stroboscopic devices.

Light can be therapeutic. It can also overwhelm. From SAD lamps to UV treatment for psoriasis and neonatal jaundice, light is powerful biology, but it is not automatically benign.

Strange Health is hosted by Katie Edwards and Dan Baumgardt. The executive producer is Gemma Ware, with video and sound editing for this episode by Anouk Millet. Artwork by Alice Mason.

Listen to Strange Health via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript is available via the Apple Podcasts or Spotify apps.

WASHINGTON (AP) — For Democrats demoralized at being shut out of power in Washington, the past several months have offered reason for optimism.

A party often beset by ideological division has largely been unified in opposition to President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration tactics, particularly after two U.S. citizens were killed in Minneapolis. Heading into a midterm election year in which they are just a few seats shy of reclaiming the U.S. House majority, Democrats have also kept the White House on defense with criticism of Trump’s economic policies and ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

But the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran could test the durability of that cohesion. Initially, Democrats balanced condemnation of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed over the weekend, with calls for Congress to quickly pass a war powers resolution that would restrain Trump’s attack options.

“We need a strong, clear, vocal united opposition party to fight back and put a check on his power,” Daniel Biss, the mayor of Evanston, Illinois, who is competing in a Democratic congressional primary this month, said in an interview.

But some divisions are surfacing as a handful of Democrats, especially those who are strongly aligned with Israel, express reservations about the war powers measure. Reps. Greg Landsman of Ohio won’t back an Iran resolution. Before the strike, Rep. Josh Gottheimer also said he would vote no.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who backed a war powers vote tied to Venezuela in January, also has broken with Democrats over the Iranian measure and rejected arguments that the attack was illegal, spurring frustration among some party leaders.

“John Fetterman knows better,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday on CNN as he pressed for an Iran vote this week.

Republicans are also facing internal dissent, with prominent supporters of Trump’s “America First” movement openly questioning how the strikes square with his longtime condemnation of military adventurism.

Trump, who did little to prepare Americans for the prospect of such a dramatic conflict, said Monday the operation could last four to five weeks. He hasn’t articulated a clear exit strategy and warns that American casualties could mount, which will pose a severe test of voter patience for the conflict.

The war could also lead to rising gas prices and economic volatility that may only bolster Democratic arguments that the president is out of touch with the financial realities facing many Americans.

But the dynamic nonetheless poses challenges for Democrats, who have faced a searing internal debate over the party’s relationship with Israel in the wake of the war in Gaza. Then-President Joe Biden’s loyalty to Israel during the heat of the 2024 campaign was starkly at odds with younger generations outraged by the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. By the time Kamala Harris rose to the top of the ticket that year, she struggled to win over some younger voters who are critical to Democratic success.

When asked whether he was concerned those divisions could resurface, Paco Fabian, the political director for the progressive advocacy group Our Revolution, said “definitely” and acknowledged that Democrats “aren’t monolithic.” But he also suggested a shift was underway, noting the results of a New Jersey special election last month.

During that campaign, the affiliated super PAC of the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs committee sought to thwart the moderate candidate, Tom Malinowski, after he questioned unconditional aid to the Israeli government. Those efforts appeared to backfire with the more progressive contender, Analilia Mejia, winning the primary.

“A lot of folks are waking up to that influence,” Fabian said. “Given what’s going on right now, I don’t think the moment is doing AIPAC and Israel any favors.”

Sympathy toward Israel appears to be shifting. Three years ago, 54% of Americans sympathized more with the Israelis, compared with 31% for the Palestinians, according to Gallup polling released last month. Now, their support is about evenly balanced, with 41% saying their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians, and only 36% saying the same about the Israelis.

Americans’ initial reactions to airstrikes also appeared more negative than positive, early polling suggested. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults disapproved of the U.S. decision to take military action in Iran, according to a CNN poll conducted via text message over the weekend. A separate snap poll from The Washington Post conducted via text message on Sunday suggested that about half of those polled opposed the strikes, while 39% were in support. Roughly 1 in 10 were unsure.

Democrats and independents drove much of the disapproval in those early polls, while Republicans were much more supportive.

The CNN poll found majorities of Americans thought Trump should be required to get congressional approval for any further military action in Iran. About 8 in 10 Democrats and roughly 7 in 10 independents said that, compared to about 3 in 10 Republicans.

The initial political impact of the attacks in Iran could emerge as soon as Tuesday during the first primary elections of this year’s midterm campaign.

In North Carolina, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam was already going into her bid to unseat two-term Rep. Valerie Foushee with backing from Our Revolution and other top progressives. After receiving support from groups tied to AIPAC during her 2022 campaign, Foushee’s campaign rejected such contributions this cycle. Over the weekend, she said she doesn’t support “Trump’s illegal war with Iran” and would back the war powers resolution.

Still, Allam, who would be the first Muslim elected to Congress from North Carolina, was quick to release a video ahead of Tuesday’s vote criticizing Trump for “starting another endless war” and promising to never accept support from “the pro-Israel lobby.”

Ahead of the March 17 primary in Illinois, AIPAC-aligned groups have also criticized Biss, the Evanston mayor who is aiming to become the Democratic candidate to succeed the retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky. In the interview, Biss spoke of the “backlash I’m hearing people have against AIPAC, their MAGA-aligned money and their Trump-aligned policy agenda.”

Asked about such predictions, Patrick Dorton, a spokesman for AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, said “the key distinction will be between those who recognize that Iran is a murderous regime that tortures women for leaving their hair uncovered, hangs gay people, and executes peaceful democratic protestors, and those who will turn a blind eye to the regime’s atrocities.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran add yet more question marks around a U.S. economy already buffeted by on-and-off tariffs, weak hiring, and lingering inflationary pressures.

The war has already raised oil prices and could lift prices at the pump as early as this week, but the ultimate impact on the economy and inflation will depend on the length and severity of the conflict, economists say. Should it wind down in a week or two, its economic effects would be minor and short-lived.

Yet a longer war that pushed oil past $100 a barrel for an extended period would worsen inflation, at least temporarily, while slowing growth and intensifying Americans’ unhappiness with the cost of essentials. After nearly five years of rising prices, concerns around affordability have undercut President Donald Trump’s support in polls and bolstered Democrats in recent elections.

For now, the price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 6.3% Monday to settle at $71.23. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 6.7% to $77.74 per barrel. An increase at that level, even if sustained, would barely lift inflation, economists said.

“While cost-conscious Americans who are dealing with an affordability crisis will not take this increase lightly, such an increase will not materially affect economic growth,” Joe Brusuelas, an economist at RSM, a consulting firm, said.

Stock prices rebounded to show a small gain Monday after initially falling sharply, a sign of optimism that the war will be short-lived.

But a longer-lasting conflict, particularly one that closed down the Strait of Hormuz at the edge of the Persian Gulf, through which roughly 25% of the world’s oil passes, could push oil past that $100 a barrel mark. Gas prices in the U.S. could then reach $3.50 a gallon, up from just under $3 on average nationwide on Monday.

Such price jumps would accelerate inflation in the U.S. and slow growth, economists said.

“Markets are right now really under-pricing the tail risk of a sustained engagement and an operation that does not wrap up quickly, restore travel through the Strait of Hormuz and get everything back to de-escalation and normal in a timely manner,” said Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at the Groundwork Collaborative and an economic adviser to the Biden White House.

Here are some ways the war could affect the economy.

Inflation has lingered even as gas prices have fallen

While some measures of inflation have cooled in recent months, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure has been stuck at about 3% for roughly a year. That is above the central bank’s 2% target, and has occurred even as gas prices fell steadily in 2025.

Should gas prices rise significantly, air fares could also rise as airlines face bigger fuel costs. Shipping would also become more expensive, which could add to grocery prices.

Natural gas prices also jumped Monday, as roughly 20% of the world’s gas travels through the Strait of Hormuz and a liquid natural gas plant was shut down in Qatar. That could raise heating prices in the U.S. Natural gas has already gotten 10% more expensive in the past year, thanks in part to spiking energy usage by data centers powering AI.

Still, economists noted that the U.S. economy is not as oil-dependent as it has been in the past, with most Americans now working in services, rather than manufacturing.

And other factors may help keep oil price increases relatively limited. Rory Johnston, founder of Commodity Context, an oil analytics firm, pointed out that oil inventories were quite high before the conflict, which helped keep prices in check. That’s in sharp contrast to the winter of 2022, he said, when post-COVID supply chain problems had already pushed up oil costs even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused a much bigger spike.

Monday’s increase “is a very minor spike relative to” what happened after Russia’s invasion, Johnston said.

Businesses may pull back amid uncertainty

If the Iran war drags on for months, it could also torpedo business confidence, which could lead companies to invest and hire less, said Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist at Nationwide Financial.

“When there is an injection of new uncertainty into the business environment … that’s a hit to confidence,” she said.

The result could be similar to the impact of Trump’s tariffs, which did not raise prices as much as many economists feared, but did appear to weigh on job gains. Hiring in 2025 was the weakest, outside of a recession, since 2002.

Consumers sour further on economy

Even without a big inflation spike, a major risk for Trump is that Americans sour on his economic leadership.

According to surveys, Americans already have a gloomy outlook on the economy, largely because of the lingering effects of the price spikes of the past five years. Trump’s attempts to portray the U.S. as in a “golden age” have had little impact on those attitudes.

A protracted conflict in Iran that raised gas prices would likely make it worse, Jacquez said.

“People generally don’t think that President Trump is focused on the things that they are focused on,” Jacquez added, “and what they want him to be focused on is the price of groceries. What they think he’s focused on are things like tariffs and foreign policy.”

Flights from Dubai airports had been suspended due to the conflict in the Middle East with passengers stranded

The conflict between Iran and the US and its allies has caused widespread airspace closures in the Middle East, sparking major disruption to flights.

About half a million passengers per day use airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, which are vital hubs for travel between Europe and the continents of Asia and Australia.

A handful of flights, including to Manchester, will bring British nationals stranded in the Middle East back to the UK on Tuesday but the majority of departures from the region remain cancelled.

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Emirates plans to operate two flights to Heathrow and one each to Gatwick and Manchester. Other flights departing on Tuesday morning were scheduled to arrive at Frankfurt, Jeddah and Paris. At least some of these flights will be operated by the airline’s A380 jets, which can each carry up to 615 passengers depending on how they are configured.

And this morning, Dubai International Airport said a limited number of flights will resume at the airport and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.

Posting on X, Dubai International Airport has posted advice for travellers.

These include not travelling to the airport if your airline has not confirmed your flight. The airport also warned that schedules to flights will continue to change, so checking your airline’s website or app, is advised.

The airport said priority is currently being given to departing flights, with movements gradually increasing based on capacity and airspace availability.

Dubai International Airport also warned that flights could change possibly suspended, depending on events associated with the conflict in Iran.

The airport added: “Please monitor airline communications for real-time updates before heading to the airport.”

Emirates usually operates 146 weekly flights to the UK, which is the equivalent of about 21 per day.

Etihad Airways has scheduled one UK flight on Tuesday, from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow. This is with a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, which has 336 passenger seats.

Qatar Airways – which usually serves Heathrow and Gatwick from Qatar – said on Tuesday morning that its operations remain suspended because of the closure of Qatari airspace.

And British Airways cancelled its timetabled flights to Heathrow from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha and Dubai on Tuesday.

The airline told passengers: “We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East.

“Safety is always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.”

Passengers with bookings on certain routes up to March 15 are being allowed to amend the date to fly on or before March 29.

Virgin Atlantic axed a flight from Dubai to Heathrow. It is likely to take several days to clear the backlog of passengers.

And UK-based aviation consultant John Strickland said it could take weeks to clear the backlog of passengers.

He told the Press Association: “It’s a bit uncertain (when that will happen) because of course it will depend on how long the airspace restrictions remain in place.

“But factoring in the high volumes of normal daily traffic and the high capacity of aircraft such as the A380 and the Boeing 777, plus the fact that other flights covering similar routes operate at high occupancy, then it will certainly be quite a period of time which would likely run into weeks.”

You can find out more on the Dubai Airports website here.

Elizabeth Holman dressed as a navvy to work on the railways in the 1850s, and is one of the earliest known women to do the job – now she is among those being honoured at King’s Cross and York stations

A woman who disguised herself as a man to secure work on the railway is among a group of heroines being celebrated this International Women’s Day.

Elizabeth Holman, one of the earliest known women to work on the British railway, defied the social restrictions of the 1850s by dressing as a navvy to undertake dangerous and physically demanding railway construction work. She is now being recognised in two new Hollywood-style Walk of Fame installations for International Women’s Day on March 8.

Elizabeth will be memorialised alongside Gladys Garlick, one of the first female train guards who served during WW2 air raids, and Betty Chalmers, who joined LNER in 1937 at the age of 16 and worked in an underground shelter for two years. The trailblazers are among the women honoured in LNER’s Hollywood walk of fame style installations unveiled at London King’s Cross and York train station ahead of International Women’s Day.

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READ MORE: Major change to train tickets coming in weeks – check if you’re affectedREAD MORE: World’s longest train is over a mile long and has passengers in 100 carriages

The installations highlight the incredible contribution of females within the rail industry, both past and present. Modern-day railway revolutionaries are also being recognised, including train driver Helen Donagher, whose quick thinking on duty saved a passenger’s life, and Rezwana Rahman, the first LNER female driver to wear a hijab.

Despite the rich history of female contribution to the railway industry, research commissioned by LNER reveals a significant perception gap. If parents asked their children to draw a train driver, three quarters of UK children would draw a man, new research has found.

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It also revealed that 97 per cent of Brits have no idea more than 35,000 women currently work in the UK railway industry. Despite three in ten women who were surveyed saying they would consider a career in rail, 67 per cent said they were unaware of opportunities available for women within the industry.

Lesley Cook, daughter of Gladys Garlick, said: “Seeing my mother’s legacy live on for her unwavering dedication to British rail is such a special moment for our family. The railway is part of our roots, with my mum as a female guard which she was so passionate about and took a huge amount of pride in, and my father being a train driver.

“It’s truly incredible to see a light shone on her story and all the other women who are receiving the recognition they deserve with this installation.”

LNER has long been a leading example for gender diversity and equality in the transport industry, and it shows no signs of slowing down, Paula Bullock, the train operator’s People Director said. Its latest data report reveals it has a 44 per cent female workforce, compared to the industry benchmark of 16 per cent.

Paula added: “Gender equity in the transport industry – particularly within rail – is something we’re deeply passionate about and firmly committed to improving at LNER. By unveiling this installation, we’re not just shining a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women, past and present, we’re also recognising there is still work to be done.”

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s Eastern Region Managing Director, added: “It’s inspiring to see so many remarkable women from across the rail industry celebrated through this campaign. Their stories span generations – from the pioneers who opened doors for others, to the women who played vital roles during the Second World War, to the talented colleagues shaping the railway of today and tomorrow. Each of them shows what’s possible and why representation matters.”

The stars will be in place at London King’s Cross until after International Women’s Day on March 8, when they will then move into the Family Lounge, and in York railway station. People can scan the QR code on the installation which takes them to LNER.co.uk to read more about the incredible stories of these women.

More than five years after the murder of Sarah Everard by former police officer Wayne Couzens, the disgraced killer remains locked inside a high-security jail alongside notorious inmates.

He was once seen as a trusted member of society, but that trust was shattered when he abused his authority and coerced Sarah Everard into his vehicle — and she was never seen alive again.

On the evening of March 3, 2021, former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens exploited his position to detain the young woman, handcuffing her under the guise of his official powers.

The crime shocked the nation and sparked widespread protests after 33-year-old Sarah was sexually assaulted and murdered. Prior to joining the police, Couzens had already faced allegations of a sexual offence involving a child.

After abducting Sarah in south London, Couzens drove her to Kent, where he killed her and later burned her remains before dumping them in woodland. His actions deprived her grieving family of the chance to see her one last time.

The case brought the issue of violence against women into sharp focus. Yet more than five years on, many believe progress has been limited. A report published last year warned that too many offenders are avoiding justice because of serious failures in how crimes are recorded.

Lady Elish Angiolini, who led the inquiry launched after Sarah’s murder, found that many sexual predators are still slipping through the system and that preventive measures often amount to little more than promises.

Now 53, Couzens is serving a whole-life sentence at HMP Frankland in County Durham — a high-security prison sometimes nicknamed “Monster Mansion.” The Mirror says reports about life inside the prison frequently attract public anger and scrutiny.

Recently, fellow inmate Ian Huntley was attacked at the prison and left seriously injured. It was the third assault on him during his 24 years behind bars. Before the incident, Huntley had reportedly become increasingly paranoid that other prisoners were trying to poison him. After the attack, which took place shortly after 9 a.m. on a Thursday, he was found lying in a pool of blood. Authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the suspected attacker, though triple killer Anthony Russell has been named in reports.

Huntley, who worked as a cleaner on A Wing, had reportedly stopped eating prison meals because he believed other inmates were targeting him. Instead, he relied on food and sweets from the prison shop, which caused him to gain weight. He is serving life sentences for the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, who disappeared after leaving a family barbecue in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August 2002.

Former inmate Ricky Killeen, who previously served five years at Frankland for a machete attack, said Couzens will likely spend the rest of his life constantly on guard — particularly because he was once a police officer. According to Killeen, former officers can become prime targets in high-security prisons, where violence can be severe.

Inside such prisons, inmates have reportedly used makeshift weapons fashioned from everyday objects, including broken electronics and shattered ceramic fixtures. In one particularly brutal attack, a prisoner suffered severe burns after boiling liquid mixed with melted butter was thrown at him — a form of assault known among inmates as “swilling,” intended to cause maximum injury.

Because of the notoriety of his crime and his former role in law enforcement, Couzens is considered at high risk from other prisoners. Sources have suggested that his profile makes it impossible for him to live on a standard wing. Instead, he is expected to remain segregated or housed in a small unit for vulnerable prisoners, separated from the general population.

Clinical psychologist Dr Tracy King said managing high-profile offenders has always been difficult, and the strain on the prison system makes it even more challenging. In cases like Couzens or Huntley, she explained, the individuals are more than just inmates — their crimes carry strong public emotion, increasing the risk of hostility from other prisoners and requiring stricter supervision and separation. Staffing shortages, she noted, can make maintaining that level of oversight harder.

King also said Couzens’ former role as a police officer adds another layer of complexity. When someone who once represented authority commits such a crime, it can feel like a deep betrayal to the public and even to those working within similar institutions. For prison staff, this can create a difficult balance between their duty to protect prisoners and the emotional weight of managing someone whose actions shocked the country. Social media and rapid digital communication, she added, can intensify public scrutiny and pressure on those overseeing such cases.

In 2022, it emerged that Couzens had been allowed to buy an Xbox 360 after good behaviour but complained when he learned that violent, adult-rated games would not be permitted. According to reports at the time, he had hoped to play shooting games such as Call of Duty and Gears of War but was limited to less violent titles instead.

That same year, reports also suggested Couzens had struck up a disturbing friendship with David Fuller, a convicted murderer and serial necrophile known as the “Morgue Monster.” The two were said to have bonded while housed on the same wing at Frankland and reportedly discussed shared connections to Kent. Fuller had been convicted of murdering Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in Tunbridge Wells in 1987 and was later linked to further crimes through advances in DNA technology.

In April 2024, reports claimed Couzens filed a complaint after prison officials blocked a birthday gift sent by his mother. The parcel, which reportedly contained a book and clothing, was refused under rules that prevent inmates from receiving packages sent directly from home. In his grievance to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, he allegedly argued that the restrictions had not been clearly explained and even requested compensation for the cost of the items.

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Dr King said such complaints are not unusual among prisoners. When someone loses their freedom, she explained, relatively small details — such as access to entertainment or receiving parcels — can become disproportionately important because they are among the few aspects of their environment they can try to control. In some cases, personality traits such as entitlement and limited empathy can mean a person focuses on their own frustrations rather than the harm they caused.

Last June, it was reported that Couzens was taken to an NHS hospital for a lumbar procedure, a spinal operation estimated to cost around £7,000. Transporting him under heavy security reportedly added roughly £10,000 more. The move drew criticism from Luke Akehurst, MP for North Durham, who questioned whether the murderer had effectively jumped the queue ahead of other patients waiting for treatment.

According to reports, Couzens spent three days in hospital before returning to the prison’s healthcare unit. Sources said the operation was not considered an emergency but was carried out to relieve his back pain. Due to the risk posed to him rather than by him, the transfer involved a bulletproof Category A prison van, multiple officers and armed police guarding him at the hospital.

In August 2023, it also emerged that the house Couzens had shared with his wife and children in Deal, Kent, had been put back on the market after failing to sell earlier in the year. The three-bedroom property was relisted with a reduced asking price after initially attracting no buyers.

Marking the fifth anniversary of Sarah Everard’s murder on March 3, Gemma Sherrington, chief executive of Refuge, said the case continues to highlight serious concerns about trust in policing among women and girls. She said that while there have been promises of reform and some policy changes, more meaningful action is still needed to prevent similar crimes.

Sherrington noted that the inquiry into the case found several key recommendations had not yet been fully implemented, including proposals to prevent individuals with prior sexual offence records from serving as police officers. Refuge has long argued for major improvements in vetting and accountability within policing, warning that stronger safeguards are needed to ensure positions of authority cannot be abused in the future.

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