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Today, President Trump has publicly criticised Keir Starmer saying “This is not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with”.

The comments came during a press conference at the White House alongside the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. President Trump said he was “not happy with the UK” because of the initial refusal from London to let Washington use the British base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean during its first strikes on Iran.

It comes as the UK government has announced it is sending “helicopters with counter drone capabilities” and a warship to the region, after attacks on it’s base in Cyprus. Financial markets have also reacted to the uncertainty with oil and gas prices rising, and share prices down.

Adam and Chris are joined by Jane Corbin, Panorama Film Maker and Dharshini David Deputy Economics Editor.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

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You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

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Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Shiler Mahmoudi and Kris Jalowiecki. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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US President Donald Trump has said he “does not care” if Iran take part in this summer’s 2026 World Cup.

Trump’s comments come amid US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which has responded by launching attacks on US-allied states in the Gulf in an escalating conflict.

The US is co-hosting the World Cup which takes place between 11 June and 19 July, along with Canada and Mexico.

“I really don’t care,” Trump told Politico, external about Iran playing in the tournament.

“I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.”

BBC Sport has approached Fifa for comment.

Silent Witness star David Caves has hinted at the BBC crime drama’s future after the latest series concluded

Silent Witness star David Caves has dropped a hint about the future of the show as the current series concluded.

The 29th series of the BBC crime drama, which centres on a team of pathologists probing mysterious deaths, finished on Tuesday night (March 3) with a nail-biting episode where Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) found herself in peril after being drugged.

The programme has been a huge success with audiences and has been airing since 1996, so fans are hopeful for a 30th instalment, reports the Express.

As the final episode aired, David – who portrays Nikki’s spouse and colleague Jack Hodgson – gave a clue on X (formerly Twitter), posting: “Can’t believe that’s it for another series. To everyone who has watched and supported – thank you!”

“Here’s to the stories we’ve told – and to those still to come…” he added, tagging co-stars Emilia, Francesca Mills and Maggie Steed.

The latest series of the show kicked off in February and has featured several gripping tales including two-part finale Shame, which began on Monday (March 2).

It saw the team investigating what seemed to be the suicide of a British-Chinese pro-democracy activist, whose body was found floating in a lake.

However, as Nikki and Harriet Maven (Maggie Steed) delved deeper into the woman’s fate, evidence started to suggest something far more sinister had transpired and it became evident that things were not as they appeared.

There has already been a hint that Silent Witness is poised for a 30th series, after a photo emerged last month showing some cast and crew seemingly on location.

The image was posted on Instagram by Bodenham Arboretum in Worcestershire, accompanied by a caption which read: “For those of you who have visited Bodenham in the last two weeks you may have wondered what was going on… cryptic signage, trailers, security etc, occupying two of our car parks… well now all can be revealed..

“Bodenham had the privilege of being chosen as the BBC drama’s Silent Witness base camp whilst filming locally for the 30th series.”

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Silent Witness airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer

The UK chancellor of the exchequer would not have wanted to deliver her spring statement against the background of a fresh threat to the world economy.

For while Rachel Reeves announced that she has the “right economic plan for the country” in a “yet more uncertain world”, the conflict in the Middle East will undoubtedly complicate the UK’s economic prospects. And the latest economic forecast by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), to which she was responding, may already be out of date.

It was too late, for example, for the OBR calculations to include any potential shocks in the global supply chain, or a spike in energy prices that may result from the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. At a press conference after Reeves’ statement however, an OBR representative warned that it could have “a very significant impact”. And they added that even before the crisis unfolded, the UK had faced an unusually high degree of uncertainty.

But otherwise, the OBR report – little changed from the autumn – paints a mixed picture for the UK economy. Weaker economic and job growth is somewhat balanced by the prospects of lower inflation and lower interest rates.

The government’s future “headroom” (the space for extra spending later on) is only slightly better than previously thought. And the OBR says that by 2031, government debt will still be 95% of GDP. At the same press conference, it added that this high level of debt relative to other countries makes the UK more vulnerable to external risks.

But Reeves bullishly told MPs: “We beat the forecasts last year […] we will beat them again” adding that stronger government finances will allow the UK to weather the storm and keep to its current spending plans.

Yet the war could well affect those spending plans and the government’s hopes of tackling the high cost of living. Oil and gas prices are already soaring, and stock markets are falling. The OBR itself accepts that “significant risks, including from conflict in the Middle East”, can significantly change its projections.

For example, gas prices have already spiked after the major Middle East supplier Qatar closed its main refinery following Iranian attacks. The effective closure of the strait of Hormuz will threaten the huge flow of oil to major Asian economies such as China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

The UK government may have capped household gas prices, but a long-term wholesale gas price increase would boost inflation and reduce the chances of a further interest rate cut by the Bank of England.

And while the UK gets relatively little gas from the Middle East, gas and oil prices are set internationally. Europe is much more dependent on gas from that region, so the disruption of supply could threaten both higher inflation and lower growth in the UK’s largest export market.

It also could be an existential threat to the high-performing export economies of Asia, which are driving global growth.

A worldwide slowdown will have serious consequences for the UK economy as it is highly dependent on foreign trade. US president Donald Trump’s unhappiness with prime minister Keir Starmer’s conditional support for his war may threaten the restoration of the UK’s favourable tariff deal.

A weaker UK economy – which is already growing at only slightly more than 1% a year – would have major consequences for government spending, tax receipts and the government’s headroom. This could mean both lower tax revenues and increased borrowing, with the costs of financing the government’s huge debts rising, reversing recent falls.

This may all make it difficult for the government to contemplate any electorally beneficial tax cuts ahead of the 2029 general election. It may even have to extend the freeze on tax thresholds further, squeezing workers’ pay packets.

These negative developments come as the government also faces major additional pressures on spending – which it has tried to delay in the hope of a stronger balance sheet later on.

These include costly reforms to increase spending on students with special educational needs and disabilities, and plans to reduce student debt. Other major long-term challenges include providing social care for an ageing population, meeting ambitious housing targets (which are well behind schedule) and providing for cash-strapped local government.

Rising geopolitical tensions could also force the government to accelerate plans to boost UK defence spending from 2.5% to 3.5% of GDP, at a cost of around £40 billion. This could well mean tax rises or further cuts in other departments.

A short and decisive war could lessen all these pressures. But uncertainty in itself can inhibit investment and threaten the UK’s ability to tackle its long-term productivity problem – the key to raising living standards.

JERUSALEM (AP) — The unfolding war in the Middle East has ricocheted across the region, with nearly every country sustaining damage from missile hits or shrapnel, many reporting casualties, and key embassies, economic engines and passageways closing down.

Foreign governments are urging their citizens to leave on any available commercial flight as Gulf airspaces largely close, cruise ships can’t pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and major airlines cancel flights. The U.S. State Department says it has evacuated nonemergency personnel and families in six nations, adding the United Arab Emirates to its list on Tuesday. It also has advised citizens from 14 countries to leave. Governments from Russia to Germany and France also scrambled to run repatriation flights.

Here’s a country-by-country breakdown of the impact of the war so far.

All airspace information is from the real-time flight-tracking service Flightradar 24, as of Tuesday, or national authorities.

Iran

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Damage and casualties: Iran has by far the highest reported death toll of countries in the region. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said the U.S.-Israeli operation has killed at least 787 people. That includes more than 160 the state-run IRNA news agency says were killed by a strike on an elementary school in Minab. Israel says it was not involved in the incident. When asked by reporters about it, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he did not have details but that the U.S. would not deliberately target a school.

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U.S.-Israeli strikes have targeted nuclear infrastructure, missile launchers, government buildings in Tehran and leadership compounds, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top military officials. Satellite images of Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility taken Monday show several damaged buildings, compared with imagery from the previous day, along with additional damage across the facility’s complex.

Airspace: Closed.

Israel and the Palestinian territories

Damage and casualties: Several locations have been hit by Iranian missiles, killing 11 people. The extent of damage to Israeli military bases and other sensitive locations is unknown; the military does not reveal that information.

Airspace: Closed for commercial flights.

Lebanon

Damage and casualties: The Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday, prompting Israel to retaliate. At least 52 people have been killed and 154 wounded, Lebanese authorities said.

Israel hit Beirut with more airstrikes early Tuesday, saying it was targeting “Hezbollah command centers and weapons storage facilities,” and sent ground troops into southern Lebanon border areas. Hezbollah also said it launched drones targeting an Israeli air base. The Israeli military said it downed two drones.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a war for more than a year, ending with a November 2024 ceasefire that left the militant group greatly weakened.

The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon said Tuesday it was closing to the public until further notice.

Airspace: Lebanon’s airspace is not fully closed. Flights are coming and going, but many airlines have canceled flights.

Saudi Arabia

Damage and casualties: Iran struck the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital early Tuesday. The attack from two drones on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh caused a “limited fire” and minor damage, according to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound.

Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery also came under attack from drones, but its defenses downed the aircraft, a military spokesman told the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The refinery has a capacity of over half a million barrels of crude oil a day.

Airspace: Partially closed in the area bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf.

Kuwait

Damage and casualties: On Monday, the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait was struck. On Tuesday, it announced it was closing to the public until further notice.

Six U.S. soldiers in a logistics unit were killed by a strike in Kuwait, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry said Sunday that one person was killed and 32 injured in an Iranian strike, all migrant workers from unnamed countries.

Airspace: Closed

United Arab Emirates

Damage and casualties: Three people were killed in the UAE — foreign workers from Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The city of Dubai, with a global reputation as the safest place in the Middle East and a hub for global investment, has sustained damage to its international airport and, according to CENTCOM, hotels along its coastline. Iran also targeted two Amazon data centers in the UAE, the company said Tuesday.

Airspace: Closed for commercial flights. Some evacuation flights began Monday.

Egypt

Damage and casualties: The ripple effects of the war have hit Egypt’s struggling economy, as global shipping firms decided to reroute vessel fleets away from the Suez Canal. The canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas, is a major source of foreign currency for the cash-strapped country.

Airspace: Commercial flights are leaving the country, though there have been cancellations, and most countries are recommending residents travel through Taba and Sharm al-Sheikh instead of Cairo.

Jordan

Damage and casualties: Jordanian police announced Sunday that five people were injured by falling shrapnel after Iranian projectiles were intercepted in the kingdom’s airspace.

Airspace: The Jordanian Civil Aviation Authority said the airspace will be closed from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily until further notice.

Qatar

Damage and casualties: Iran has hit energy facilities in Qatar.

Airspace: Closed.

Iraq

Damage and casualties: Strikes on Iranian proxy sites by the U.S. or Israel have killed militia members. Multiple drone and missile attacks have been launched at the U.S. bases and consulate in Irbil, and protesters attempted to storm the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil said Tuesday that it would stop production in a key oil field because of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, causing crude oil prices to surge worldwide. The ministry cited a shortage of tankers entering the Gulf, forcing them to “stop production and pumping” from the southern Rumaila fields near the city of Basra.

Airspace: Closed.

Bahrain

Damage and casualties: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said fire from a strike killed one Asian worker and seriously wounded two others early Monday morning. There was also a drone impact near an Amazon data center, the company said Tuesday.

Airspace: Closed.

Syria

Damage and casualties: Several people, including children, suffered minor injuries in the countryside outside Damascus from Iranian missile debris, Syria’s state news agency SANA said. Some areas in Syria’s southern provinces also saw missile debris fall from Iranian projectiles fired toward Israel, with no additional injuries or material damage reported, SANA said.

Airspace: Closed.

Oman

Damage and casualties: Oman has been attacked by drones multiple times since the Iran war started. The attacks targeted the country’s largest port of Salalah, as well as Duqm port. At least one vessel also was hit off the country’s coast.

Airspace: Open, but many commercial flights are canceled.

___

AP writers Abby Sewell in Beirut, Samy Magdy in Cairo and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report.

England centre Seb Atkinson says his teenage fly-half hopes were frustrated by Fin Smith, the man he will line up outside against Italy on Saturday.

The pair, both 23, have been drafted in as part of wholesale changes to a team that has lost two of its first three games in the Six Nations.

Atkinson and Smith came through Worcester Warriors academy and briefly appeared in the first team together during the 2021-22 season.

“We started playing together when we were 13,” Atkinson told Rugby Union Weekly.

“I was a fly-half at the time, which didn’t last long because Fin was better than me!

“I had to learn a few other skills, which pushed me out to 12.

“We went through the whole system together and I made my Premiership debut and my first Premiership start outside him, which was quite comforting.”

When Worcester went into administration in autumn 2022, both soon picked up new clubs with Atkinson heading to Gloucester and Smith signed by Northampton.

Atkinson says their relationship remains strong despite no longer being in the same club dressing room – and it will be something he leans on when they come under pressure in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

“He’s easy to talk to, someone who I know I can ask questions to and pick his brains and also tell each other what our expectations are of each other,” added Atkinson.

“You need to have those conversations before the game so that in the game you sort of know subconsciously what’s going to happen.

“Just having that sort of that link and a bit of composure between the two of you is definitely a big thing, so hopefully that gives us a good opportunity.”

Head coach Steve Borthwick admitted the shared history of his 10 and 12 was a factor in a selection that lacks established Test and club combinations, and added Atkinson has an under-rated all-round game.

“He is a really good distributor of the ball, he sees space and is able to get the ball to space,” said Borthwick.

“As well as that, he has that carry threat and his running ability to cover ground is exceptional. He has multiple strengths.”

A really special treat, afternoon tea services in Wales are prolific – but this one’s definitely worth trying one day

As someone who went for a lot of afternoon teas during the mid-2010s cake-on-a-tiered plate boom, I got pretty bored of them and these days, my bar is still pretty high if my presence is required for the odd hen tea, baby celebration or birthday.

But there’s one destination in Wales I would never turn down and I was lucky enough to take my mother there for a Mother’s Day treat in recent times.

Grove of Narberth is a multi-award-winning boutique hotel from the Seren Collection, with a Michelin and Good Food Guide approved restaurant, The Fernery, and chef, Douglas Bailish. They also have an afternoon tea service which is very high on my crumbly cake and tiny sandwich Richter scale.

As you weave your way down to the hotel, tucked away in a glade, overlooking a pond and surrounded by cherry blossom trees and the wilder Welsh countryside, it’s a magical place to visit on the frostiest morning in mid-winter or sunny evening during summer.

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The food stands toe-to-toe with the stunning setting and cosy luxury of the Grove. It would definitely be a destination dining experience I’d repeat for a special occasion, hopefully soon.

Coming in currently at £36 for their classic afternoon tea, you get a savory selection of sausage roll, smoked salmon, cheese scone and pastrami sandwich, as well as assorted cakes and sweets that change with the seasons and a buttermilk scone with preserve and clotted cream. Of course it comes with a choice of tea or coffee.

You can also upgrade to a gin afternoon tea, and there’s a Champagne version, too. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here

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On our visit we picked one regular afternoon tea and one gluten-free afternoon tea, as I’d heard that the chefs here provide just as great care and attention to the gluten-free options as they do with the regular tea. I didn’t want to be disappointed – and I wasn’t.

Beautifully presented, the scones were hot and fresh and melt in the mouth, even the GF one.

But did the taste match up with the presentation? It absolutely did. For my mother, the sausage roll was the “nicest I’ve tasted” with crisp, buttery pastry casing a melty, flavourful hunk of sausage meat in the centre and the puffy cheese and chive scone was gone in an instant but its crispy exterior and the bite of cheddar flavour left its mark – great elements to add to a meal that we often find has too much sweet stuff.

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For the GF option, I was really impressed by the alternates on this visit, it takes a lot to replace a top-tier sausage roll, but the mini fishcake, topped with sweet/sour crunchy pickles, elevated my expectations – there really is no excuse for rubbery or chewy gluten-free snacks. The arancini had loads of flavour and crunch, too, without its garlic element being overpowering.

Sandwiches were nice, filled with salmon and cream cheese and smoked ham, with the free-from bread a step above – it had a lovely lightness and bounce that’s often missing from drastically overpriced, flavourless, gluten-free bread.

I’ve not had an afternoon tea like it since I drastically cut down on gluten and wheat, and I would recommend it. The regular one too was simply one of the best I’ve seen. The care, attention and effort put into creating the tea menu is right there in front of you.

Grove of Narberth is an obvious choice to book if you’re after a bonafide treat, not only does it have maximum effort put into its dishes and menu, it’s somewhere you’ll recieve a warm welcome and an escape from the everyday.

Grove of Narberth, Molleston, Narberth SA67 8BX | Book here: grovenarberth.co.uk

A TikTok influencer who falsely accused a University of Idaho professor of being involved in the 2022 slayings of four college students has been ordered to pay her $10 million in damages.

A federal jury in Boise deliberated for less than two hours on Friday before finding Ashley Guillard liable for defamation and awarding damages to history professor Rebecca Scofield, who testified that the online accusations shattered her mental health, career, and reputation.

Guillard, 41, had built a following online theorizing about high-profile cases through what she described as “spiritual intuition,” often using Tarot cards.

In a series of TikTok videos just after the November 2022 murders, she repeatedly claimed that Scofield was linked to the stabbing deaths of the four University of Idaho students, despite Bryan Kohberger being arrested six weeks later. In July 2025, Kohberger plead guilty to the murders of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and was sentenced to life in prison.

In the videos, which continued until 2025, Guillard also alleged that Scofield had been romantically involved with one of the victims and ordered the killing when the student threatened to expose the relationship. She posted Scofield’s photo and personal information online without evidence, The Idaho Statesman reported.

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In December 2022, Scofield filed a defamation lawsuit. But court records show Guillard continued posting videos even after receiving cease-and-desist letters and after Moscow police publicly stated Scofield was not a suspect.

In June 2024, Guillard’s statements were ruled defamatory by Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond Patricco, who found that they were based “only” on her “spiritual intuition” and not on “any objective basis.”

The most recent trial, which lasted four days and ended on Friday, focused solely on determining damages.

Scofield testified that the accusations caused severe anxiety, PTSD, and nerve pain throughout her body, making it difficult for her to work as chair of the University of Idaho’s history department. She said she and her family avoided a vigil for the victims out of fear and felt cut off from their own community.

“There was a moment where it felt like I lost ownership of my face and my name, and it was no longer stitched to my body,” Scofield told jurors during the trial. “It was utterly terrifying.”

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Guillard represented herself at trial and called only one witness – herself.

She told jurors she believed she had psychic abilities and learned tarot reading through YouTube videos, numerology, and self-study. She said she began posting videos to raise awareness and push authorities to investigate possible leads.

“I kind of lost a little bit of hope that she would be investigated, but something in me wouldn’t allow me to give up,” Guillard testified.

Guillard acknowledged she made more than 100 videos about the case, continuing until August 2025, after Kohberger had already pleaded guilty to the murders.

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More than three years after the murders, and seven months after Kohberger was sentenced, Scofield confronted Guillard in federal court.

“You spoke lies into a camera, about me and my husband,” Scofield told Guillard from the witness stand. “You were making (dozens) of videos about me, someone you never met, you never talked to, someone you had no connection to. I don’t know how anyone could not feel threatened by that level of interest from someone they had never met.”

At the end of the trial, Scofield was awarded $6.5 million for false accusations related to the murders and $3.5 million for claims of an inappropriate relationship with a student. Most of the award, $7.5 million, was punitive damages meant to punish Guillard and deter similar conduct from others in the future. The remaining amount covered medical costs and emotional distress.

“The $10 million verdict reinforces the judge’s decision and sends the clear message that false statements online have consequences in the real world for real people and are unacceptable in our community,” Scofield said in a statement to PEOPLE after the verdict.

“The murders of the four students on November 13, 2022, was the darkest chapter in our university’s history. Today’s decision shows that respect and care should always be granted to victims during these tragedies.”

The four UK travel companies that have closed down in 2026 (so far) are:

• Regen Central Ltd
• Gold Crest Holidays
• Asiara UK Ltd
• Simply Florida Travel Ltd

All four have ceased trading, according to Companies House, and have lost their Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL).

ATOL is a government-backed financial protection scheme that all tour companies in the UK are required to have.

ATOL guarantees customers receive refunds if a company collapses.

UK travel companies that have closed in 2026 (so far)

Regen Central Ltd

Regen Central Ltd was founded in Hertfordshire back in 2009 and offered package holidays to places like Italy, Bali, Thailand, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia.

The company, which recently moved its base of operation to London, also traded under the names One Haji and Umrah, Regen Travels, and Oneworld Travels.

Regen Central Ltd filed for liquidation, before it ceased trading on January 13, Companies House and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed.

It has also lost its Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL).

All trips cancelled with no refunds

As a result of Regen Central Ltd’s closure, all flights and holidays booked through the company will be cancelled.

No refunds will be issued by the company following its closure, as there are no outstanding ATOL-protected bookings, according to the ATOL website.

It continues: “Bookings sold as accommodation only, non-flight packages, and flight only bookings for which tickets were issued are not protected by the ATOL scheme.

“If you believe you are owed a refund for an ATOL protected booking, under Regen Central Ltd.’s ATOL, please contact us via email at claims@caa.co.uk.”

Gold Crest Holidays

Gold Crest Holidays, based in Ilkley (West Yorkshire), was a family-owned coach holiday tour operator offering city and themed short breaks to places like Paris and Disneyland (Paris).

But after more than 30 years, the travel company announced on January 23 that it had ceased trading after entering voluntary liquidation.

A statement on the Gold Crest Holidays website reads: “After more than 30 years of creating unforgettable holidays, we are deeply saddened to announce that Gold Crest Holidays has ceased trading with immediate effect and has taken steps to enter voluntary liquidation.

“This difficult decision follows the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, strategic changes in key partner arrangements that adversely affected our business, and a challenging trading environment with significantly rising costs.

“We are immensely grateful to our loyal customers, travel agents, suppliers, and dedicated staff for your support over the years. We are truly sorry we can no longer continue.”

All Gold Crest Holidays trips booked through the company have been cancelled.

Anyone who has an outstanding booking with the travel company is urged to contact the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), which is handling refunds.

All refund claims through ABTA must be submitted within six months.

Customers who booked through a travel agent are urged to contact their agent before submitting a claim with ABTA.

While those who booked and paid Gold Crest Holidays by credit card should download a credit card referral letter and send it to their credit card issuer for a refund, ABTA said.

Gold Crest Holidays concluded by saying: “We apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience caused. ABTA will provide clear support to affected customers.

“Thank you for the wonderful memories.”

Asiara UK Ltd

Asiara UK Ltd, based in Ipswich, offered tailor-made and small-group tours to places like Thailand, China, India, Japan, and Singapore.

The company began as Haivenu Tours, with offices in both Northern and Southern Vietnam, before expanding in 2022 with the launch of Asiara Holidays in the UK.

Asiara UK Ltd filed to be struck off and dissolved in October last year, according to Companies House.

The travel company was removed from the Companies House register on January 6, before dissolving on January 13.

Finally, it ceased trading as an ATOL holder on January 21.

As a result of Asiara UK Ltd’s closure, all flights and tours booked through the company will be cancelled.

The ATOL website says that anyone who requires assistance regarding their Asiara UK Ltd booking should contact Protected Trust Services (PTS) by emailing emma.collis@protectedtrustservices.com.

Simply Florida Travel Ltd

Simply Florida Travel Ltd, based in Glasgow, offered holiday packages to destinations such as Disneyland, New York, Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Miami.

The company filed to be struck off and dissolved in October last year, according to Companies House.

The travel company was removed from the Companies House register on December 30 (2025) before dissolving on January 6 (2026).

Finally, it ceased trading as an ATOL holder on January 20.

All flights and holiday packages booked through the company will be cancelled.

The company operated under a franchise arrangement with the Travel Trust Association (TTA), the ATOL website explains.

The ATOL website says that anyone who requires assistance with a Simply Florida Travel Ltd booking should contact TTA directly by emailing customerservices@thetravelnetworkgroup.co.uk.

Other UK travel companies that closed in 2025

Several other travel companies in the UK closed in 2025, according to the ATOL website, including:

• Ickenham Travel Group Ltd (November)
• Great Little Escapes LLP (June)
• Jetline Travel Ltd (March)

Have you been affected by any of these travel company closures in 2026? Let us know in the comments below.

Jo from Manchester quit Jonathan Ross’ Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing after just over 24 hours following a disagreement with producers over showering arrangements

A contestant from Manchester has withdrawn from a Channel 4 show after merely one day following a disagreement over showering arrangements.Jo and Reuben were one of the nine pairs chained together by Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing host Jonathan Ross in a bid to win £100,000.

Those who signed up will have to manage being chained to one another 24/7, doing everything together. Whilst they can unlock at any time, if they do they’ll be eliminated from the competition and will forfeit a chance to win the prize fund. After spending their first night in the same bed together, Jo confessed that she couldn’t switch her brain off and things took a turn when it came to showering.

An emotional Jo explained: “I was hoping to use the shower to decompress and reset myself to carry on with the challenge.”, reports the Mirror.She later requested a phone call with a producer, who explained to the plus-size fashion brand owner from Manchester that the process was about the two of them “working together”.

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The explanation wasn’t sufficient for Jo and despite Reuben’s efforts to reassure her, she dragged him downstairs and smashed open the red box to retrieve the key for the handcuffs. After being freed and departing Jo’s house, Reuben said: “Sorry, I can’t say much. I’m f**king fuming. We signed up for this challenge we knew it was going to be hard. She’s a nice person but she was never cut out for this competition.”

Jo said: “It was like nothing I’ve ever encountered in my life. Every single thing that comes out of his mouth is to impress somebody but he really needs to learn to show a bit of compassion.

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“There is a positive from this and it is that I’ve stopped him from winning and that is worth £500,000 let alone £50,000.” Reuben and Jo became the second pair to abandon the experiment after enduring just 24 hours and 16 minutes.

British aristocrat Sir Benjamin Slade withdrew after just over 12 hours cuffed together with East London prison officer George.The two men struggled to find common ground as they spent time in the 79-year-old’s 14th century ancestral home in Somerset.

George clashed with one of Benjamin’s friends about Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, during a heated dinner party.

Marching through his residence, Benjamin demanded that the Channel 4 filming crew return his phone, despite their strict rules that they were not permitted to have them.

When the crew refused to comply, Benjamin then dragged George to the basement to use a pair of bolt cutters to set them free.

Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing is available to watch or stream Mondays and Tuesdays on Channel 4 at 9pm

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